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

Christmas was pretty sick.  We ate at the bishops house with most of  the missionaries.  I appreciate all the gifts.  So far I got the Frisbee, which I used today,  the pants, the puzzle,the suspenders, the jump rope, and the candy.  Thanks!

This week starts the carnivales in Nariño.  It's gonna be nuts.  I got a free carnivales poster.  There's lots of super cheap stuff you can buy in the streets.  I love it.  It's like a giant swap meet. I bought a laser pen.  It helps keep the dogs away.

This Sunday I hit a year and a half...  crazy stuff.

Hope things are going well.  Things are fine here.  We're just chugging along like usual.

elder chase

Fernanda got baptized last week.  It was really cool because she has been investigating for like a year and all  her kids are members of the church.

 

The Capitan Moroni award is for getting 10 baptisms within 3 months.  I'm pretty stoked because it's one of those goals that all the missionaries in the mision have and I finally got it.  Pretty sweet.

Elder A. comp,  Elder R. (J), is leaving and Elder C. from Argentina is gonna be his new comp.  He was in my district in Pasto when I first arrived here.  He and Elder A. have had some issues in the past.  Hopefully everything works out ok.  Elder A. (former comp) is the new Assistant to the President.

élder chase

Captain Moroni award recipients

Zone Christmas gathering

Talent Show

We had some baptisms last Saturday.  Pedro P., Gloria N. and Heider Dubán P..  Pedro and Gloria got married on Friday and baptized Saturday.  I baptized Dubán. We got really lucky with him cause without knowing beforehand, we set the baptismal date for his parents on the 7th and it just happened to be the same day Dubán turned 8.   I got to baptize Dubán and confirm Gloria.

I think maybe God wanted me to learn something  because the first half of my mission I was only able to baptize 10 people and now, in the first 5 months of the second half, I've been able to baptize 15 more (if I counted right).  Maybe God needed me to seed a bit before harvesting.  Who knows... but it's nice to be seeing a bit of success.

I hope Joey Johnson does alright.  And hope his family is okay. 

I played mircosoccer again today.  Woot. I scored a couple goals again.  Nice.

I ate rabbit for the first time yesterday.  It was alright.  I sent a picture of Cuy (guinea pig) and potatoes. 

Por el momento todo está bien.  Solo trabajando como siempre.  Voy hacia los 18 meses.  ya casi en la última cuarta del partido jaja.  Nos vemos.

Élder Chase

Today was a crazy pday.  First we went to this giant catholic temple a little outside of Ipiales called Las Lajas.  I'll send pics.  Then, we played soccer against the Pasto missionaries.  I saw Elder A.

We also sold lunches to both zones.  It was absolutely insane, but we are raising money for a couple so they can get married and baptized this Saturday with their 8 year old.

 Elder Chase