Hey

I am getting transferred after three months in Ipiales.  My new zone is called Zarzal and I am going to a city called Bugalagrande.  I have also been called as a Zone Leader.  My new companion is Elder D., yeah the same Elder D. who was with me in Ciudad Modelo and when I was in Villa Gorgona.  It's funny because we've already been comps (although it was a trio for only three weeks).   I'm pretty dang excited.  I've never been to the northern part of the mission and they say its awesome.  I really am lucky.  I get to go to a place I wanted to go and I already know my future comp and we get along really well.  My current comp is also leaving.  He's going to Pasto.  Elder A. is going to Palmira, which is a little dangerous.  I don't know too much about my new zone, but it consists of like four different cities.  It's too bad I won't be able to be here for the new chapel.  The missionaries that end up here are definitely going to see a lot of success because of it. 

I've figured out something about people in my time here.  I don't know if it's just Colombians or if this applies to everyone, but if you ask someone if they are going to do something and the answer is anything but a for sure yes, they most likely are not gonna do it.  

But yeah, we gotta go clean up the house for the new guys that are coming and go say goodbye to everyone.  The one thing that sucks about the mish is that you get to meet a lot of cool people but then it's likely that you'll never see them again.

I'm excited for the opportunity and extra responsibility the mission  and God have given to me.  I'm just gonna try to do all that I can to help out the other elders of my zone.

Nos vemos pronto.  

elder chase

Hey

We finally had some investigators come to church.  We had six on Sunday.

I got sick this week again.  Wasn't too fun.  I lost a lot of weight again.  I had been working out pretty hard the past couple of weeks but will have to start over.

The new chapel should be dedicated this week.  That should make the work a little easier.

We usually teach at least a few lessons a day.  The majority of the time it's either the Restoration, the Gospel, or sabbath day.  I'm trying out this new idea where I've got a sheet of questions that is answered by one of the lessons.  For example, if the person chooses the question "Why are there so many churches today and how can a know which is true?" we teach them the first lesson on the Restoration.  Or if they pick "Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where will I go after dying?" we teach the 2nd lesson on the Plan of Salvation, etc.

Our focus lately has been bringing members to all the lessons.  It's not always easy, but it's a lot easier for the members to hermanar(?) [fellowship] them when they already know who the person is and it's not just some name on a progress report. 

Vamos bien por aquí.  No me puedo quejar de nada.  Tenemos cambios la semana siguiente y es probable que me den otro compañero.  Que estén bien.

elder chase 

Things are going alright.  As far as the work goes, were struggling a bit.  We're in a weird situatuion where we've baptized all the people who were really interested in the gospel and now we are left with the more challenging investigators.   Other than that. really everythñing is the same-  Elder Scott Grow of the Quorum of the Seventy is gonna come but we won't be able to attend porque it's kind of far away.  We are gonna have to just watch on a a video conference.

We played soccer today.   I slid on the concrete and now my legs are killing me.

Transfers are at the end of the month.  I'm pretty sure I'll stay here, but I will probably get a new companion.  legs still hurt

elder chase

So today was pretty dang nuts.  Today was the last day of carnivales in Nariño and since it was pday, we went to watch.  The line lasted more or less 5 hours.  We were so dead by the end after standing for so long, but it was cool.  What everyone does is buy these canisters of foam and spray it on everyone.  It doesn't matter if you know the person or not, you just spray them in the face.  They also take flour and throw it in your face or cover their hands in paint and just nail you by rubbinbg their hands all over your face,  it was nuts!. 

Other than that though, the carnivales have been making life pretty rough as far as the work goes.  Nobody is coming to church  and all the members are in Ecuador at the temple, and plus, they are finishing up anew chapel so everyone wants to wait until they finish it before coming to church.

I'm trying to finish out these last 6 months strong.  I hit the year and a half mark...pretty dope-  in the fourth quarter.

later

elder chase