COLOMBIAN CHRISTMAS

The lizards here are like Cardinals at home.  You can't touch them because they are the areas pride and joy.  This lizard is about 2 times as big as the picture looks. 

This week we got to have our Christmas devotional with the president and it was great.  He taught us some new games that we can play with the investigators in order to get them more active in the discussion which is great.  But we also got to perform our Christmas musical that our zone put together.  We have a small zone of 12 people but we were the best, why, because we had Christmas hats, and Christmas hats with lights automatically make you the best zone in the area.  I was especially happy that we got to have an area picture, I haven't received it yet, but when I do I'll send it home.  But I have photos of my zone which I can send home.   I got a new tie and we got to watch a musical which was great.  First real TV in 9 months.

This week we were working a lot to help the members change the way to do the work,  we have been preparing for a capacitacion (training) here in order to help them change the way we have the branch council so that we can focus more on the members that need help and less on the activities that we have to plan or other things that are important but not as important as the members or the work of salvation. It was a great success.  We could talk in greater unity and the members were able to see how they could improve themselves in order to get everything more organized and find the members that at times can "fall through the cracks."  The best part of the week was that we were able to find a few more people to teach. Not all are ready for the gospel but we are here to plant seeds the same as to harvest the seeds planted from before us.  I'm really looking forward to this week to share it with the members to learn there customs and the way that they celebrate the birth of the savior.  They celebrate Christmas but then every day leading up to New Years is a different festival.  Spiritually would have to be that we were in the taxi today and we started talking to the taxista, we were with the sisters because we aren't all going to go to the same place in separate taxis, and they started to sing a hymn to him and he broke down told us that he has a lot of pain because his mother passed away and he would like us to visit him.  Never had that happen before but that's the power that the sisters have, they sing a song for someone and they want to listen to the gospel.  We tried it and we almost broke the windows, so no more singing for us. We help the Orduñas every week with something.  It will be great for them when their house is done.  Love you all

I GOT A CHICK FOR CHRISTMAS!

I received this chick as a Christmas present.  It was a nice surprise and very generous from this family. 



We had the weddings of the Ordunña and Diaz families before their baptism.  I wanted to send pictures so that you can see how happy they are.  Then the following week they got baptized.  They are such special families and I'm so happy that I know them.  I hope that I can see them get married and sealed in the temple.   We are working on having a couple other families ready for baptism this week and the next.

 Kimberly and Alberto. (Kimberly is 17 and Alberto is 16.  Alberto read the whole Book of Mormon the first week we found them and its through his influence that his family wants to get baptized.  His mom is Kathryn Arce.   She's been writing me every 2 or 3 weeks since I arrived here in Colombia.

Mission President with a balloon sombrero.

EXCITING WEEK! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

EIGHT BAPTISMS TODAY!

The week was great.  The sad part was that we had to leave a few families because they weren't progressing and weren't ready at this time.  Which is always hard for us. But we have to have faith at times to leave families so that you can find the ones that are prepared.  We wanted to make the baptisms a little more special so we printed out programs which we have every week at home but they do without here since ink is a lot more expensive.  We also talked with the youth in the ward and organized them into a choir in order to have something a little extra during the program.  We were going to have a baby shower for a sister on Friday but she had to travel so the funds for the baby shower were given to the baptism, so we also got to have cake and soda. We explained to them that this is not normal nor should it be considered as such.  But it was a special night for the branch since we don't have 8 baptisms every night or month.  But yes we had the baptisms and it was great. I was able to baptize Jose Diaz and his son Deivi (Davy).  Jose has had some problems in his life and so he doesn't  smile a lot but he was a lit up after and it was great to see how he was just happy to have the opportunity of being baptized.  We had testimonies after with the families and it was a great experience as always to let the families give their testimonios to show how they appreciate the gospel that they have earned and learned about.  We are working this month to find more people to teach and we are hoping for 2 baptisms this week and 3 the following week, but we are going to be working diligently with them to make sure everyone is ready.


ME WITH THE ORDUNA FAMILY!

WORKING ON MY SPANISH.
 

Funny story of the day.  Elder Guajardo and I were visiting a family yesterday and he tried to sit in a little kids chair so that an investigator could have the big one, but it was a little to small so he tried to stand up and it was stuck to him.  I thought it was hilarious but he didn't think so until after.

We are still helping out with the house for the Orduña family and that's going good.  We got the roof on so we just have to get the floor finished.

 I got the snow pics but they people down here have television so they see the snow when the movies have snow, so they aren't very surprised but it was nice to have them.

 I was going to surprise you that I was learning to play the violin but the president says that it's a distraction to have an instrument in the house so they're taking it from me until I come home, so no more violin.  Was going to practice it and play it when I got home but oh well. 

Have a very Merry Christmas.  Please email me and send me some news from home.  You can email  me at justin.bandy@myldsmail.net.   Tell me why you love Christmas.  I'm so happy that I can be a missionary like Jesus and teach those that are looking to change their lives.  I'm blessed to be with these wonderful people and to be able to help them build houses and see that in their humble environment that they are happy and are seeking to be more Christlike.  They are so kind and generous to me.

Love,

Elder Bandy

P.S.  Mallory can visit the Jom of Elder Bandy whenever she wants, so long as she brings Elder Bandy dulces.



 

CHECK OUT THE NEW PLACE!

We finished moving in on Monday and that was a chore. I will post pictures of the new place.  It is a lot better and has less critters.   We still have a lot of things that we need for the house but it's coming together nicely.  

Outside of our building

Bathroom and suitcases/dresser



We have a balcony!



















Study area/kitchen



Our sink and stove and ironing board.









































The week was uneventful. We did a lot of teaching this week.  We are going to be working more this week on finding new people to teach so that we can start having the area progress more rapidly.  We are doing service for the Familia Orduña.  They are investigators who are getting married on Friday.  They are building a new addition on to their house so we're helping them with that.  It's a little different than a house where we need to put on a foundation and everything.  Here they just start building and fix it as they go.  But we'll be doing that this week on and off to help them out.  The sister of Esmeralda (Hma. Orduña) is going to be living in the addition with her daughters so we are helping so they can move in sooner.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We are having the weddings of the Ordunña and Diaz families this Friday but the baptisms are set for the 14th.  We are working on having a couple other families ready for baptism this week and the next.  This month is going to be super great for us if we remain strong and obedient.  The families Diaz and Orduña are getting baptized the 14,  the sister of Esmeralda and her daughter the 21st and Lizette the 21st as well.  We are working on the family of Lizette so that they can be baptized with her. They need to get married as well, but they are coming around little by little and really appreciate the lessons and the teachings that we bring.  We are also working with a couple Jury and Jadirson.  They are super nice people and they need to get married as well but Jury told us that she wants to get married so she can get baptized so we just need to animar (encourage) Jadirson to do it so they can get baptized together.  We're going to work on the 28th for them so they can join before the New Year.  I'm looking forward to a year from now when I can go to the temple with all of them to help them get sealed that would be great.

 2 investigators that I was teaching in Florida emailed me and said they got baptized.  Yay, so happy for them!

 

 
 

                         Nuestras metas y actuales para este cambio.

                   (Our schedule and goals)

 

Iguana in a tree

 
 
 
 
 

The zone,  Elder gonzalez in the center went home on Thursday.  Finished his 2 years strong.

 

NO PUMPKIN PIE!

ROSA AND ME!



THE WHOLE FAMILIA
 

I completely forgot that Thanksgiving was Thursday.  Of course, they don't celebrate it here so I didn't even think to do anything for it.  They don't have any holiday similar to it except for Christmas.  I'm not sure if they have anything different that we don't celebrate.  I could use a Pumpkin Pie!

A CHRISTMAS TREE WE DECORATED

This week we are focusing on making it to all our appointments on time.  Which I'm about 95% sure my OCD for being places on time has gone up quite a lot since I started the mission.   I had my interview with the Mission President on Saturday.  He's super excited with the progress we are having in this area and is putting great expectations on us to fulfill our metas (goals) in the coming transfer.  We are hoping for 14 to 16 baptisms in December if we can get the people we are teaching to really feel the spirit and the truth of the message.  But we have 7 baptisms scheduled for the 7th  of December.


ME AND MY COMP AND THE BIRTHDAY GIRL.

We had a lot of packing to do to get ready for the move to the new house and that took up a lot of time for us.  But the highlights of the week were the baptism of la hma. Rosa and the broadcast that we received from the area authorities in South America to animate the members and missionaries to act more in the work with faith in order to find and help more people.  Here they are putting special emphasis on finding the members that are less active to bring them again to the knowledge and joy of the gospel and we are trying our best to be a part of it.

Love you all!