We had a BBQ!

Hola mis amigos y familia,

Como les van, this week flew by super fast!

Martes, we had a lot of lessons fall through, and it also was raining so the hermana that was washing our clothes wasn't finished because she was drying them outside and it has been raining a lot so they aren't really drying. Later we went through our area book to call all the people that have been contacted or taught by previous elders. After we finished we were about to go out and contact but then we got a call from the relief society president asking us to come to a family home evening with her. We taught The Family A Proclamation to the World. we were going to give them one to keep but Elder Mora accidently ruined it in his bag, jaja.

Miercoles, we got up and ready super fast to get to the chapel and have it opened for President. We got there and there was garbage full of food and water because it rained the night before. I took it to the dumpster, but on the way got my suit pants dirty because there was a hole in the bag. Later we started zone conference and it was super good. We ate lunch, and took some pictures as a zone and then individuals so they can make a Christmas card. While we were at zone conference this guy walked in looking for help. He had been drinking a lot and wants to quit so he is looking for help. Later that day we went to visit him and he wasn't there. We asked the owner of where he lives what happened, and she told us that he had gone to the hospital in the morning and returned saying he got robbed and left. She wasn't happy and so she was yelling at us because I guess she was mad at him. Then we contacted this guy who doesn't believe in religion. We tried to help him understand that there is a God and that he created everything including our bodies, but he just wasn't interested at all. His perspective on life was sad. Basically he told us our purpose it to be born, have kids and die. I feel super sad for him.

Jueves, again we woke up super early to get to the chapel. We were the first ones to have our interviews with president. he showed us a sneak peek of the new missionary handbook that right now is available online. Then I got a Christmas cookie that hermana Barlow made. They were so good, but moms are better. Afterwards we had a lesson with Humberto and her wife. They are super solid because they want to find the truth, but they aren't married so I hope we can help them understand the importance of getting married. When we arrived, Humberto came out and told us they were receiving the Jehova Witnesses, and they thanked us for our visits but they didn't want to learn more. I asked if we could just talk for a few minutes so he went to ask his woman and they let us in. They didn't understand the Book of Mormon and said it only talked about Mormon and not God, later we read it with them and they found out it is similar to the Bible. Then they started questioning about Jesus Christ, saying that he is a spirit, because that is what they had learned from the other religion. We then searched in the Bible and the Book of Mormon for multiple accounts that he has a body and in the end they believed us. At the end of the lesson we had them pray to know if the book was true. They also committed to go to church. This lesson was so awesome. I could feel the spirit so strong and it was a miracle that we were able to help them. Later we had our first ward council meeting to make a ward mission plan, but it turned out to be a ward plan in which we were included for 5 minutes. After we got to our part we left and ate food.

Viernes, we had district meeting and then a lesson that fell through. We went to lunch and they gave us the biggest bowl of soup and a plate of food I have ever seen on my mission. It was good, but super hard to finish. Later we did exchanges with Elder Wilcox and Moscuzza. We both had bad luck and ended up contacting instead of having lessons. While I was with Wilcox we talked only in english and knocked doors, but like only two people answered. Then we went to the church because his ward was having a movie night so we had to help set up for that. At the end of the night we switched back.

Saturday, we were doing our studies in the morning when the zone leaders called to have us go to the church. We went to help with the blood drive that was happening. Our job was to stand outside and bring people in from the streets to donate blood, and while they were stuck inside to contact them. Well we got maybe two or three people inside and that was it. we had a ton of Books of Mormon and pamphlets that we were also handing out. At on point, Elder Moscuzza and I went in the street when cars were stopped and were giving out pamphlets and Books of Mormon. It was so fun! Later we had lunch with a family who has some returned missionaries and we spent a lot of time there talking to them. In the night we had a lesson but it fell through so we went to another person who lives close by and he wasn't home, so then we went to the soccer stadium that was super close. A game had just ended so we walked in and got some pictures and then asked if we could do a tour someday. They told us to come back on monday and ask. If we would have stayed longer we could have seen the players come out of the stadium to their bus, but instead we went to another investigator to talk to them.

Domingo, we picked up Humberto and Maria to go to church and then later went to Andreas to talk to her. Andrea and her son don't want to go to church because they feel like they don't need to. We were able to help her realize that she has received a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and that she knows that going to church is a commandment, but she feels like God understands and that he is ok with her not going to church. Her son says the same that his mom says and so it is difficult. We gave her every reason possible to go to church but still she wants to think about it. We invited her to pray about it, and I hope she really does it, because she is super solid in everything else. After that lesson we went to a party at the zone leaders house for elder Mora and Mosczza having finished their English books. We had a big BBQ and Elder Torres cooked it all because he is a chef, and it was super duper good! Ended the week on a good note!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Tolman

Bautismo

Hola mis amigos y familia!

This week we had a baptism!

Tuesday, we had verifications so Monday night we traveled to the secretary's house. On our way there I wasn't paying attention and we ended up in the other mission, jaja. We made it there and then Tuesday in the morning we ate Hna. Barlow's famous french toast and then Papa Johns. My companion was super happy to have real pizza.

Wednesday we had a lesson with a guy we put on date. He said he was divorced but later found out that he was living with someone else so he can't be baptized. Now we are working with him and his girlfriend to get married. Later we had correlation and then a noche de hogar with Betzy and Camila. We did an activity about the Holy Ghost and then had bread and then herbal tea. They call it aguita here. So we had aguita y pancitos.

Thursday, we had district meeting in the morning and later that day we had a lesson with Byron and Karen who were also on date, but as we were going over the law of chastity we asked them again if they were married and this time they said no. Which means, before they lied. So now we are working with them that they can get married. We had a member in the lesson too who recently returned from his mission. After the lesson he roasted us saying that we need to do things better.

Friday, we spent a lot of time in a cyber. We had to make an agenda for a baptism and then the owner of the cyber left to eat and locked us in for an hour extra. Later we stopped by Camila's house to say happy birthday. We also dropped off some food because we were going to make pepitos the next day. We said happy birthday and were going to leave but then Camila said, “no se vayan”. And it was too cute to say no so we stayed to celebrate her birthday. We sang feliz cumpleanos the Venezuelan way which his super fun. Camila also had her own little parts she sang and it was too cute. Unfortunately I didn't think to take a video.

Saturday, we went to Joan Centeno's house in the morning to help him make empanadas. He is another Venezuelan who is trying to get baptized. He and his wife need to save money to get married, so we had an activity with the ward. He sold empanadas and members were going to by them. Well, the members never showed up so we had to stay with him all day waiting for members. In the end we ended up buying 20 dollars worth so that he could sell them all. Then we had the baptism. Elder Mora baptized but had to do it three times because her feet kept coming up. Then we went to her house to make pepitos. They were sooooo good.

Sunday, I confirmed Camila and later we did a lot of studies and had some lessons. We also worked really hard on Elder Moras English book because if he finishes before Wednesday we get a party!

Les quiero mucho!

Elder Tolman

Work=Milagros and we worked hard

Hola mis amigos y familia,

So this week was pretty fun and we had lots of success!

Tuesday, we went to a return appointment of someone we contacted Sunday night. He told us he couldn't but to come back later. When we returned we started teaching him. Normally we start with getting to know him and talking about our purpose as missionaries, but my companion went right into the lesson and I followed him, and then later he blamed me for not getting to know the guy, jaja. Then later had lessons with the people who are on date. On our way home that night we passed by this person who I thought was a woman but she was super tall, I said buenas noches and she replied the same but it a weird voice. That creeped me out so we walked home super fast the rest of the way.

Wednesday, we had no lessons so it was going to be a full day of contacting. Knowing my companion hates contacting I decided to get super hyped about contacting and brought a ton of Books of Mormon and pamphlets. We were talking to everyone and handing out books and pamphlets. We were able to teach a few people right off the contact and get return appointments. I think the highlight contact was when a lady came out and thanked us for what we do and explained how a lot of people don't open their hearts to the word of God. I started to introduce the Book of Mormon and she wasn't quite getting what it was or why it was important. She thought it was replacing the Bible. I kindly explained it all over again but she wasn't interested, asking questions like who wrote it, and who called the prophets in this book. She declined our invitation to read it the first time. Afterwards I had the thought to say the following, As missionaries we invite people to open up their hearts to this book and to ask God in prayer if it is true. I could see the internal conflict she was having as she muttered, compare the Book of Mormon to the Bible and ask if it is true. She then accepted the book! Then later we had to go to the zone leaders' house to film a video for Sister Barlow. Our theme was don't be stupid and these videos are going to be shown to all the greenies that come in, jaja. Later that night we had correlation meeting and then a noche de hogar. Later we ate pinchos with the district. They are so good!!

Thursday, we went to a lesson but it fell through so we contacted in the area. We met this old guy and he started to tell us about these women that would visit him and teach him the word. We then asked what he believed about Jesus Christ and he gave a definition that made us think it was another religion teaching him, well turns out he came to church on Sunday and one of the members knew him because he would go with the sister missionaries to teach him jaja. Later we contacted some more and knocked on this door where two girls under the age of 16 came out. Told us their parents weren't home so we started to leave when one of them yelled at me, Amigo, eres guapo! If she wasn't so young and I wasn't a missionary I would have accepted that compliment, but it just made me super uncomfortable jaja.

Friday, ate lunch at a restaurant that sold bacon burgers. That was the best. Later went contacting and found a pretty cool family. The kids didn't want to talk to us but we were able to talk to the parents. Then went to a lesson with Camila to prepare her for her interview and her mom made arepas for us.

Saturday, we had a zone activity in a park again but it was super small so we just ended up knocking doors. I met a drunk guy and his hand was super cut open and it was so gross. He didn't even know that it was like that. Later we also ran into another interesting person. We were walking and there was a person in front of us. He was walking directly towards me so I moved to the side and he did the same. I moved again and so did he but this time he was a lot closer. I said como esta and he replied how are you in a womanly voice. I was with another elder and he started to freak out saying chuta loco, es un gay. Super funny and scary at the same time. Later in the night we also found one more new!

Sunday, we got ready super fast to go pick up the old guy and bring him to church. Church was super weird, the talks were. After that we ate three different lunches and also have some new referrals that we are going to get to know.

Like the subject says, we had a ton of miracles. We are super blessed and I can't wait for the rest of the transfer. I also forgot to mention that Camila is going to be baptized on Saturday and my companion is going to baptize her. Couldn't be happier right now!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Tolman

NO PHOTOS sorry!

Colada Morada

Hola mis amigos y familia,

This week went by super fast at the beginning and then slowed down towards the end. I have no clue why nor have a clue how time works, but I know that all things happen for a reason, and in the Lord's timing.

Lunes, we went to the hospital for my companion's check up appointment. Then came back, and talked to our family. Later we visited Jose who is a singer. He showed us a crazy video of this guy singing, ranging from super low to super high. Then he proceeded to do the same. It was super impressive.

Martes, we went out contacting in the morning. I am feeling more confident in where we are going, but then proceeded to get lost and accidentally contacted a sister from the other ward. We found out because she was very confused that there were elders instead of sisters. oops. Later we were able to finally meet another family that was being taught by the elders before us. After them we had two other lessons that both fell through. Later that night we were going to have a noche de hogar, but the hermana understood me wrong and didn't think it was going to be at her house so we just shared a message and left.

Miercoles, we were going to pick up our clothes in the morning but the hermana wasn't there so we had a huge late start to our day. We ate breakfast at 12 and then had lunch at 1 but the hermana just gave us the food to take home and save for later. Later contacted in a park and found a guy who had talked to the missionaries before but they just stopped visiting him. Then had correlation meeting and right after we went with the ward mission leader to a lesson and we put the family on date.

Jueves, had district meeting. Later we ate at KFC and then went out to contact. We weren't having too much success and then it started to rain. My companion didn't want to contact so we said a prayer, I gave him my sweater cause he didn't have anything and we continued in the freezing rain. Later we met at the church with the other elders to plan our activity for the colada morada which is their version of day of the dead or Halloween. They drink the colada morada with guaguas de pan which are baby shaped bread and filled with jelly or with manjar.

Viernes, We spent the whole morning helping a member in another ward move dirt. We were in regular clothes and I forgot to put on sunscreen and because my neck normally isn't exposed to the sun, I got super burnt. Later we tried getting to lunch, but our lunches changed this month and nobody told us till today so then we had to find the house and were searching for 30 min. Later went to a lesson with Joan and Enaisa. We helped them set a date to get married for December 2. Then went to the ward activity and had colada morada and played some games and also did a little skit about the life of a missionary contacting and how we get rejected a lot, but with the help of members we can have more success. Afterward we ate pizza with the zone leaders.

Sabado, we went to get our lunch calendar from the relief society president. She gave us more colada morada and bread. Then later we ate with another new family so we had to search the house. I also thought you should know that it is really hard to find these houses because the directions are not always the best, jajaja. We got to the house and had to wait for them to cook it and then we ate, so we were there for like 2 hours. We contacted and then started to make our reference box. We are making one for each companionship. The zone leaders already have theirs done and it is named Salva Vidas, jaja. We are still trying to figure out a name for ours. We ran out of tape so it is still not finished.

Domingo, we had fast and testimony meeting. Elder Torres gave his because it is his last of the mission. Later we went to our house to make burritos and later we ate lunch. Elder Mora didn't like it so he asked to use the bathroom. He was in there until I finished and asked if he was ok. The family thought he was just not used to food, but really he just went in there to wait till I was done so he didn't have to eat! Then we did studies and practiced how to contact and went out to contact and actually had a lot better success than we normally do!

Les quiero mucho!

Elder Tolman

Views of Quito

Stadium

 

Shirt Elder Gutierrez gave me

Ceviche with Elder Gutierrez

Eating peruano food