Birthday Cake

Monday November 25 - We had a zone activity and we played a bunch of soccer and basketball. Then we went inside the church to do something...the zone leaders pulled me aside and told me they needed to interview. And after a minute into the interview, one of the sisters interrupts the interview and says that our President is here to talk to me, but she said it so fast in Spanish I didn't really understand. And so they were like what did you do! So then she leads me into the room where...the zone says Happy Birthday! There is a cake on the table and they then tell me that I have to eat the cake, and they all knew that I don't like to eat junk food, anyways so I agreed, to eat a small piece. But then they tell that I have to stick my face in the cake to eat it. So I was like alright, I bit a little piece. And then the next thing I know, I feel a hand on the back of my head and then my face in the cake. So yeah that's apparently the tradition for Birthdays here. But I was the first birthday, so I didn't know it was coming haha.

Tuesday November 26th We had our district meeting, and then contacted and visited people the rest of the day. One experience in particular was pretty interesting as we tried to visit the guy named Eldier. We knocked on his door and someone came out another door, that wasn't him. He asks us what we want and then he says "Tengo una pistola, ustedes tienen una pistola!?" Which means, "I have a pistol!, do you guys have a pistol!?" As he holds one arm behind his back. But my companion didn't believe him and he said yea I do too. Then we explain that were just missionaries and he calms down haha but yea he didn't actually have a gun behind his back. Anyways, we then went to talk to the aunt of Jose and Ruby to verify that they could be baptized because their parents were out of town. And, she says yes. And then we go visit and teach Sotero and Vicky, and this visit I showed him some US Dollars and he started asking me about the Presidents. And he then tells me that he knew George Washington, so yea this dude is just crazy, but so funny haha.

Wednesday November 27 was my 3 month mark on the mission. We went to teach Ruby and Jose, and review previous lessons as well. That night we were invited by one of the members to one of the school assignments. And we go to this museum place and my companion shares his culture with the other people. I guess it was a cultural night, and people from Columbia and Spain were there too. But the people from Spain, talked so fast, I honestly couldn't understand what they were saying which felt bad haha.

Thursday, November 28 - My companion hit his 1 year mark so he lit his shirt on fire, so that was cool. This day, I witnessed my first car crash about 10 yards in front of me! While we were waiting for our bus, a car turned in front of this motorcycle and he tried slowing down, but he couldn't and so he crashed and flipped of his bike and landed on the ground. Luckily, everyone was ok, but that was crazy to witness it so close to me. Later that day, we went to visit Alma, who we have knocked on her door like 6 times and finally we were let in. We got to know Alma and her sister and then we taught the Restoration and gave them Book of Mormons and it was a really good lesson. They both thought that we were really old. They thought I was 25, so when I told them I was 19, they were very very surprised haha. After the lesson, we left to go visit other people. But as we were walking away, one of their daughters came after us and told us to come back. So then we come back, and they feed us bread and milk, so that's always a good sign that people like you haha.

Friday, November 29 - We went to the church to obtain the white clothes and to prepare for the baptism service. Then we return and our District interviews Jose and it turns out they had been drinking coffee, which they hadn't told us so they didn't pass the interview. However, they promised us that they will stop drinking and so now we are planning to have their baptism in 2 weeks.

Saturday November 30 - We had an activity to prepare for Light the World. We made these bags that we are going to pass out to people and then we are also going to wrap up Book of Mormons and then hand them out. On the way back from the Activity this crazy Sotero sees us while riding his motorcycle, gets off and buys us some drinks. And then rambles to the cashier about San Antonio Texas and a bunch of random stuff and then we leave haha. The rest of the day we try and find people and everyone is busy, except this less active member family who is not sure if they are in the right church. So our next appointment with them, we are going to teach them and help bring them back into the church.

Sunday December 1 - I listened to a bunch of General Conference talks and we had hour fast Sunday. Pretty much every Sunday, our branch starts late, as we are waiting for all 15 to show up. Then after church, we had our correlation meeting with the Branch Mission Leader, and he explained how we need to change the way we are working, better way of contacting, teaching more with the Spirit, etc and it was all good advice. However, to actually implement it is the hard part and is something we have been struggling with. But overall, I had another great week, full of learning and practicing and I know that it just takes time to figure everything out. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, because I didn't have one at all haha

Elder Talbot