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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Still here. Remember me?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Hace calor...
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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Time flies.
First, we had interviews with President and Sister Hacking. That was really cool. It's always nice to kind of touch bases (in English. hehe) and be reminded why I'm out here and to not lose focus and remember that even though I haven't baptized the whole area yet, I'm still an effective missionary. ;) Hehe. I love my president. He's a really cool guy. He's originally from Utah, but apparently he and his wife have been living here in South America for 13 or so years. Crazy! He was going to retire here, and then he got the call to be mission president. So they're going to retire next year when he's done being pres.
Oh, and I asked him about mail, and apparently you can send mail to Colombia fairly easily for about $1, but to get mail from here to the US is super-expensive and not very reliable. Colombia doesn't have a national mailing system. They're all private companies. So you pay through the nose (which doesn't really work on a missionary budget...hehe) and you can't even be sure it'll get where you want it. So excuse me if I reply by email to your snail mail. That's the only possible way at the moment. Another thing I found out though, is that you can send packages here to Colombia...although I'm not sure how. A tip I received, as funny and almost sacreligious as it seems, is to put a picture of the virgin on the package, and then people (central/south americans mostly) will be much less likely to mess with it. Crazy, huh? But whatever works, right? ;)
The work is going good. I am loving it here in Bucaramanga. I keep hearing that this is everyone's favorite area, because of the weather. The weather would be perfect...if I were wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and...didn't have to walk 10 miles a day. But it could always be worse. There are areas in the mission that are much hotter. :P
Speaking of which, cambios are coming up. Er, transfers. Pres. Hacking told me I'd be staying with Elder Rapalino for another transfer, but he didn't tell us if it'd be here or somewhere else. Elder Rapalino has been here for 6 months, so he thinks we're going to move, but I honestly have no idea. Maybe we'll go somewhere else here in Bucaramanga. :) That'd be cool.
The language is coming along. I'm not fluent, but I can say what I want probably 95% of the time, and can understand probably about 90% of what people say. Unless they're from the coast, Chile, or talk super-fast. And not that I have anything against Chile, but thier accent is really hard to understand. The funny thing is, my companion is from the Coast here in Colombia (Santa Marta), so he talks with the drop-all-my-S's accent. I kind of hope I don't pick it up. :P Heh. Costeños. Who needs 'em? ;)
Our investigators are progressing for the most part. We're teaching one family that has been super-interested (except the papá), and are reading the Book of Mormon and everything. They came to church, and we invited them to be baptized. It was a soft invitation, but still. I hope they get baptized. I probably hope that about everyone here in Colombia, but whatever. ;)
Did I tell you that I ate an intestine the other week? I can't remember if I told y'all or not. Definitely the most disgusting thing I've ever eaten. I didn't have the courage to ask what animal it came from, but I'd probably guess pig. Ulgh. It was slimy, and tough, and smelled...weird. Yuck. Other than that, the food here has been heavenly. Rice, rice, and more rice, plus some kind of meat, usually some platacones (spelling?) and a salad. Oh, and the juice. Can't forget the juice. Sugh. :) Jugo de piña, de tomate de árbol, maracuyá, mora, limón, banana, the list goes on and on. I would translate the names of those fruits, but I don't know all their names in English. I'm pretty sure they don't all exist in the US. :P But oh my goodness, how delish they all are. :) If they don't give us juice, they give us gaseosa. Uh...soda pop. Usually apple, pineapple, or orange. I think I've consumed more soda in this past month than I have my entire life. Holy tomato.
Everyone gets the same sized desk, little hitler.
I'm attaching some pics of our actividad de zona that we had today. I hope they make it. :) (The cake was delicious, btw's)
Well, the most important thing, is that I am in love with the gospel and with the people. Personal study is my favorite time of day, and lessons with investigators takes a close second. Knocking doors is a little bit lower on the list still...but that doesn't mean I do it less. Haha. We knock a lot of doors. All the houses here are pegados. Um. They're...close together. They touch. They don't have yards like they do in the US. The most they have is a little patio with room enough for a chair or two. We found my house on Google Maps with a member's cell phone the other day, and she was surprised at how huge it was, even though I had described it as pretty small, because...compared to other houses in the states, ours isn't that big. But compared to all the houses here, it's big. Even for 10 people. :P Count your blessings, eh? ;)
Anyway, onward, ever onward. I love you all. Don't hesitate to send me letters or Dear Elders, because they do get to me. Even if I can't send anything back. :-/
Love always,
Elder Moscas
P.S. I just don't see why you guys get all the waffles...
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Bucaramanga is cool. Today.
Yesterday we taught the message of the Restoration 3 times. It was kinda cool. I just love the Spirit that I feel each time we testify of what happened there in the Sacred Grove. It's such an amazing story, and more than amazing, it's true. I know that with all of my heart and soul. Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. As a representative of Jesus Christ, it's my job to teach and testify of this event, and to invite people to pray and receive an answer from God if it's true.
It's interesting at times, seeing people's laziness. We teach and teach and teach, and ask them to pray, or to come to church, and they just don't do it. Not to be judgmental, but a lot of the time, people are just lazy. Lamesauce. I wish they'd just do it. Just pray! It'll all make sense. All you have to do is say one little prayer with faith, real intent, and a sincere heart, and He'll manifest the truth of it unto you! Sigh. But they don't, and that's their choice. People always have their agency. Can't change that. Satan was the one that wanted to take our agency away, so I'm realy glad they have their agency, I just wish they'd use it for good.
Anyway, the work goes ever onward. Speaking Spanish is becoming easier and easier every day, but there are still times (lots) when they talk so darn fast, that there's no way I could understand them. My companion included. Haha. He's from the coast, which means he drops his S's, and talks fast, and...I have to tell him to slow down every now and again so I can understand him. :P I love Spanish though. It's a beautiful language.
Did I tell you, that the Sunday before last, I ate some sort of intestine? Ulgh. Blegch. Ew. With the exception of that...meal, the food here is very delish. There's rice, rice, and...rice. Haha. Lots of rice, and also lots of other delicious things, like meat and beans and ried plantains, etc.
Well, my time's about up. We only get an hour each week to email. I wish I knew how to get real mail, or even pouch mail out of this country. Nobody I ask seems to know. We'll have to see.
Dear Colombia, please let me send mail home to the United States. Love, Elder Cannon.
Anyway, I love you all. Keep on keepin on. :)
-Elder Cannon
P.S. Here are some pictures of Beautiful Colombia. There was a lightning storm the other night, and my cool camera (that I hope doesn't get stolen) helped me take a picture of it. Enjoy. :)
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Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Hi there.
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Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Whew. I'm alive.
I survived my first whle week in Colombia! Hehe. I'm loving it here, even though it' super different thn the Estados Unidos. I have had to get back in the habit of calling it that instead of America, becuase this is America too. Most people call me a gringo, but the more polite ones call me norteamericano. Then there's the other side of the scale that call me monito. Hmm. I don't take offense though. I feel just as gringo as they think I am. I am the whitest, blondest, blue-eyedest person within 1,000 miles. :P
The work is going ever onward. I've decided to start the small plates and the large plates of Elder Cannon. Because there's so much to say, and I think that'll help to organize it a little. The large plates will contain the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of the people, and the small plates will contain my profesyings and spiritual teachings.
Large plates, entry 1:
This week was good. I didn't get bit by any dogs. There are probably about 6 times more dogs in this country than people, but they all come about half way up my shin, so they don't worry me too much. I'm thoroughly convinced that they feed their dogs and cats rice, because they're some of the skinniest, smallest little animals I've ever seen. It's pretty hot here. The first few days were cooler, with lots of rain, but then it warmed up to...I'm not sure how hot. I'm still getting used to this whole Celcius thing. :P The good thing is, there's no hot water, so I get to cool down in the shower every night and morning. If you ever have problems waking up, a cold shower works perfectly. Colombia played Colsta Rica last night, which made contacts hard. Everyone was watching the game. I think Colombia won...but I don't know. I do know that they scored at least 3 points. When Colombia makes a goal, you know about it, no matter where you are.
It rained a TON yesterday. My companion and I were bien mojado! Super wet. We stopped at a member's house to dry off for a bit, and the rain stopped pretty much right when we got there. Of course it did. I still havent had the chance to buy a paragua. I think I'll do that today. That'd be a good idea. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have an eternal sock-line. The only time I'm not wearing church socks is when I'm in the shower, or in bed. Hehe. My muscles are probably going to start growing in funny shapes because I always have socks on. :P
Here's some Colombianisms for you:
"¿Qué te digo?" "What'd I tell you?" (Literaly, "What do I tell you?")
"¡Tranquilo!" "Chill!"
"Que pena" They use this for pretty much anything that happens that's semi-negative. It means something like "What a pity." But you here it an average of 47 times a day. :)
Small plates, entry 1:
This week we taught quite a few lessons. We work mainly with investigators and less active members. There are a good amount of investigators, and way too many less actives. Why do people have to go inactive? Sigh. But we work with them. The members should be going to church more than the investigators, not the other way around. But really anyone that comes to church is just my hero. Go to church this week, okay? And then go every Sunday until you're dead and maybe even later. ;)
I'm getting more used to teaching, and more used to contacting. My companion and I have kind of worked out a way that...works. Anyway. It's getting easier. I'm finding myself better able to communicate what I want. Sometimes the word that I want just doesn't come...and that's when I look over at Elder Rapalino and hope he knows what I'm trying to say. Heh. Last week we taught 21 lessons, which includes investigators with a member present and otherwise, as well as recent converts or less actives. I love this work! It's wonderful. :) I see the hand of the Lord in this work every day, and I see the blessings from the countless prayers that come from all of you. I could never thank you enough. :) I really wouldn't be anywhere without the support of all of my wonderful family and friends. Thanks for everything.
That's all for now, folks!
I'm gonna try to send some photos. I hope it works.
Love always,
Elder Cannon
P.S. Reason #2: Look what I can do. Haha. Ha!
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Monday, August 1, 2011
Guess who's in Colombia?
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