Christmas Nerf War--Thanks Woodwards!

Well christmas morning we woke up full from the gynormus dinner we had the night before and we opened up our christmas presents. Thanks to the Woodward family we had a bunch of presents to open! 
My companion was pretty excited. We ate ice cream for breakfast and then had an extreme Nerf War for our exercise at 6:30 in the morning. 
Just thought I'd send a few pictures of the great WW3: America vs Chile! 
Thank you so much for all the love and the support we can really feel it and taste it. : ) 

We had a huge Christmas Eve dinner with Sister Virjel this week.  She cooked for the whole office and my companion and I.  We woke up very full Christmas morning we ate so much food. So we just ate ice cream  for breakfast...because it was Christmas haha! 

This is a picture of our Missionary Christmas Party.

For our christmas activity we watched "The Cokeville Miracle" with the President and all the Elders in Barranquilla. Then we listened to a lot of Christmas miracle experiences from all the Elders.  

Our christmas miracle was a man we found on Christmas.  I wrote about it in my journal, but I forgot to take a picture so I'll send it to you next week. 

It was super cool to see you guys!  Braden sounds like he is trying to talk super manly or something. ; )  When did he get that deep voice?? I've only been gone 6 months.  

I hope you guys are doing good. I'm super jealous you have tons of snow!

Transcriptions from voice recordings--

Transcription from voice recordings sent this week:

"We had a pretty cool week! We had lots of people come to church.  We have ward council in the morning before church.  And we have a bus that helps people come to church.  So my companion and I did divisions so one of us could go to ward council, and the other could help pick up the members who needed a ride.  We pass by their houses and pick them up.

 We had lots of new investigators that came to church this week.  We were able to pass by their houses with a bus, if and they were interested in the message we were teaching, they could get a ride to church.  We had 7 people come to church today!  For five of them, it was their first time coming to church.  The ward council is super awesome here.  They definitely get a lot done.  The Bishop and his counselors work really well together.  Everything is progressing well here.  It's great!

The biggest problem here, is that the people are not reading their scriptures every single day. They lose this opportunity to remember who they are every single day.  The scriptures have a ton of power to help us have a stronger testimony in our lives. All you have to do is open them up.  Consistency is the key.

One of the new people that we found this week is Estevan.  He was someone we just talked to in the street.  My companion met him first.  We went to his house this week to visit him.  When we came, his wife looked at us, saw the Book of Mormon, and didn't want anything to do with us.  As we left, we started walking down the street, and we saw him.  He was crouched down behind some bushes by a wall, not wanting us to see him.  I thought, ah great, he doesn't want anything to do with us either.  But my companion said, No, we'll just go talk to him!  So we went over and talked to him.  We all went back to his house and talked to him.  His wife was mad that we had returned.  She didn't want anything to do with us.  But the more we talked to him, the more excited he got.  After the lesson, we left him with our information and headed home.  That night, he called us to check and see if our number was real.  He told us he really wanted to learn more, and wanted to come to our church on Sunday.  We went back to visit him again.  Then this morning, he called us, so we passed by his house, and pick him up.  He totally came to church!  He loved it.  Everybody in Elder's Quorum welcomed him, he told him his name, and everyone was yelling, Welcome! Welcome to church!  It was wonderful.  They made him feel like he was right at home.

There is a less active that we found  couple weeks ago that told us he hasn't been to church for 30 years.  He was active for 10 years, then moved.  So it's been 30 years since he's been back.  His name is Heimrich.  He's the only immediate member of the church in his family.  His wife and children are a different religion.  He has 9 kids, he makes very very little money, but Sunday's are his best day.  It's really hard.  We go down by the beach and found him living in a tiny little house by the water.  He tells us stories about when God has blessed him in his life--like when he found garbage to put over his house to keep the rain off, or when he gave rice to his neighbor because he had a little extra and they were starving. He's a really cool guy, we're just having difficulty getting him to come to church.  He gave us a reference to one of his friends from his childhood, she just lives a block away.  Her name is Silvia.  We went to her house and taught her a couple of lessons.  She got super excited.  She loves everything, she loves the Book of Mormon and hasn't had a single doubt.  She's accepted everything.  She came to church for the first time this week too.  She brought her kids.  The coolest moment was when we introduced her to the Primary President.  She went to welcome her, gave her a hug, told her she'd take the kids to class, and Silvia just loved it.  The spirit definitely works in every single person, in the exact way that they need it.

God works in mysterious ways.  He loves every single one of his children.  He knows that some of them are ready to learn more, and some of them are not.  We are all in different levels of conversion.  The Lord has blessed us with agency so we can choose and grow in whatever way that we need to.

We were listening to a talk by an area seventy that spoke about conversion.  He said that when we are talking to people in a normal conversation, they may say things that are rude or are gross things that we shouldn't say, sometimes it bothers us, and sometimes it doesn't.  Sometimes there are dirty jokes that get into our thoughts, and sometimes it doesn't.  These kind of things prove to us what level of conversion we are.

The Savior would feel the same about all of it, because he has become perfect.  The Savior feels the same about every single commandment.  We can each get to that level, but we have to keep working every single day to get there.

I know that we can get there and that's what we are all trying to do, just in our own different ways.  If you ask any person what the attribute of Christ that is most important, they will all say something different.  Whatever they say, is the most important to them, at that moment.  It is what they need to work on the most.  A few years later, there answer may be completely different.

I know that Christ lives.  I know that He loves every single one of us. I hope that we can all strive to be like Him.  It should be our life goal to do everything we can to become like Him.  I hope that you guys can read the scriptures this week and study Moroni 7 about Charity.  That is an attribute of Christ that is really important.  I know my Savior lives!

 I can't wait to see and talk to all of you on Christmas.

Christmas Skype

The anticipation of Mason's phone call from Colombia couldn't have been more exciting.  We opened presents together, and took turns clicking the space bar on the keyboard, to keep the computer awake, so we didn't miss his call.  

Mom impatiently waiting by the computer for Mason's call from Colombia.

The picture was not too clear, but we loved seeing and hearing him in our family room.  He skyped us  from a local internet shop in his area.  He told us all about his current area, his companions, what he has learned in his mission, and how he would have read the Preach My Gospel manual more before serving a mission. He specifically told Braden and Spencer to read Chapter 10, and start memorizing chapters 1-5.  

Elder Burk skyping from Barranquilla Colombia

 We asked questions, and he answered everything.  It was the most wonderful Christmas gift!  

His time was short, just 45 minutes.  He's happy, he's doing great with his Spanish, and we are all so happy for him to have this opportunity to serve the Lord in Barranquilla Colombia.  His next transfers are the Monday after Christmas.  Who knows what's coming next in his mission adventure.

The family gathered around the computer listening to Mason tell all about his mission.

 It's great having a missionary at Christmas time.  His call was definitely the highlight of our entire day.

Burk's Christmas card, family at Temple Square, Mason on his mission.

We love and miss him so much!

The Battle is at hand...it's do or die.

*Here’s the letter Mason sent for me to forward to his hair dresser.  She cut his hair all the way through high school.  He misses her—pretty funny.

Dear Clarissa,   

Well, I’ve been gone almost 6 months now, I hope you don’t miss me too much!  I’ve had 6 haircuts.  The 1^st one was in the MTC by a crazy lady who talked a ton and super fast and did a pretty good job at making my hair as dumb looking as possible. 

The 2^nd was another fast talking lady in a street shop who actually did an ok job.  But charged a ton. 

Haircuts numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6 consisted of

3-a gay guy who learned from practicing on his friends,

4-an ex military who learned in the military and only does on cut,

5-a street punk who learned from trial and error, and

6-my new grumpy little Chilean companion who left a big line on one side of my head. 

So…I’ve decided that’s ENOUGH!!

The battle is at hand.  The time is now.  It’s do or die.  Make it or break it.  Every man for himself. 

I bought myself a hair clipper!  I’m taking the power into my own hands and no one can stop me!!  I’m leaving this childishness behind (1 Cor. 13:11) 

I really miss you lots. 

Elder Mason Danger Burk

The Savior said, give all you have to the poor and follow me

I showed my companion the picture of me as a littlin with the missionary plaque.  He laughed, thought it was pretty awesome. His name is Elder Troncoso. He's from Chile.  He's 20 years old, likes soccer, girls, and fast food--very typical Chilean.  He's a little trunky, so I'm having to be a little more strict with him but its all good!  

We cleaned the house today for three hours.  Mom, I thought of you the whole time.  I had to help Elder Troncoso learn how to clean up to Mama Burk expectacions. ha ; )  He really cares for the people. He has been a member all his life but he was less active from 10 to 16 years old.  He got reactivated by his seminary teacher.  

I loved the picture  you sent of Logan, that was awesome. hahaha When I saw Elder Marecos the first time was in Malambo (a part of my old zone) but when I got transferred I didnt get a picture with him.  Now he's in my district! those two look so much alike. Crazy.

Being here has made me think about Christmas.  We got your package with the candy and the music and the videos and decorations.  Don't worry, I didn't open the letters, but we did decorate the house. Pretty awesome! Thanks for those!  Christmas here doesn't really feel like Christmas at all. It's hot.  And pretty much nothing changes except there's lots of fireworks.  In the big super markets you hear Christmas music and the rich people have decorations but there's not much else.  I think it's pretty awesome, though, minus the lack of Christmas music.  There's not a single kid begging for a bunch of plastic toys. I think I'm gonna make my family like that.  No commercial Christmas. They won't know the difference until later.  

Message and challenge for Christmas: 

mateo 10 39 El que halla su vida, la perdera; y el que pierde su vida por causa de mi, la hallara. 

The message is really simple. We hear it all the time. Just like when the Savior told the rich man who wanted to be saved, leave all his riches to the poor and follow him, but then he didn't do it. 

We read all sorts of stuff like this but we never apply it.  How many families in the ward could actually not do a commercial Christmas for their kids??  We have the thought to spoil all our kids with toys on Christmas and have them give little thought for others.  But do we really have the love them enough to not buy them a bunch of crap? Could we actually do it? os digo que si. 

The difference between knowledge and wisdom is that wisdom is when we apply everything that we know.  We know the gospel.  God is just waiting for us to apply it.  My challenge for you guys and all the other families in Shafer View is to put their conversion to the test.  Don't buy a big Christmas for your kids.  Instead, help them buy things to give to others in need.  Love them enough to help them grow.  They will remember it way longer then a piece of plastic. 

The blue book is true!  Read it!  

Amen Gloria a Dios. Haleluja. 

Elder Burk

------------------

That's pretty funny about Spencer missing his choir concert. Oops!  Tell him about when I was in 6 grade and had an F in choir, 36 percent and I got it up to a B in two weeks. Don't worry about it, middle school doesn't count for anything anyway. Wish somebody would've told me that back then.  haha.   

And Braden has lots of tries for the ACT hahaha.  He'll get it.  I had to try it three times!  Maybe you should just make him pay for it the next time. That was the only reason I finally studied hahaha. 

I can't really take pictures while were proselyting.  Sorry about that, but I'll try to get something this week. 

Love you guys!

The Barber, the Athiest, and the man in the box

Missionaries in my new zone
*I'm the good looking one.

Great Parable: 

Once a bearded man walked into a barber shop to cut his beard. He decided it was time, to shave it off, so he found a barbershop and went inside.  When the barber came out, the who men talked about the cut.  Once they agreed upon the plan, the barber started trimming.  

As the barber was shaving the man, they started talking.  Eventually the conversation led to religion.  The bearded man asked the barber if he believed in God and the barber said "No way. There's no way God exists.  If there really was a being so perfect and that knows all things, how could he watch all the suffering that exists on earth and not act?  How could he not help his children?"

 The bearded man in hearing this, looked out the window and saw another bearded man and said, "Well, I don't believe in barbers."  The barber gasped and said "What?! How could you not believe in barbers? I'm right here!" 

The bearded man said, "Well, there's tons of people with beards all over the world.  Some of them are really ugly. If barbers really existed, then why would they not help all the ugly bearded people?"  When the barber heard this, he said, "Well I would help everyone of them, if they decided to come to me.  My shops is always open.  All they have to do is come inside, and I will help them."

The bearded man smiled and said, "It's the same with God.  His shop is always open.  He hears every prayer.  All they have to do is come to Him, and He will help them.  He won't force them, they have to come on their own. But once they are there, he will do everything necessary to help clean them up."

Fun find:

We knocked five doors this week in a rich part of my area to show my companion what missionaries do in the states haha.  We were confronted by an athiest who is the professor for philosophy at the nearest collage.  When we arrived, we didn't say one word about who we were, before he spilled out this long speech about how God doesn't exsist and how humans just have the need to believe in something bigger then them.  Except for him.  He doesn't believe in anything.  And he made it very clear that he's very content with who he is.  He doesn't need any help.  I asked him if he had ever prayed, and he said no.  We offered to pray with him, but he refused.  That's ok, because we'll pray for him later when we get back to our apartment.  Ha. 

Best reality check this week:

This week we visited a less active that contacted us in the street.  He told us he left the church 30 years ago but has always known it to be true.  This man lives with his wife and 9 children in a little tiny brick house by the shore in the swamp area.  When he came to the coast, 20 years ago, he literally arived with nothing.  He lived in a little wooden box for a long time.  But he says that God has never abandoned him.  He knows this is true because he found a plastic sign to put on the roof for when it rains.  And when he had no money, he found food for his kids. Now he has a "house" which is great.  But the real blessing is that this man can really see the blessings the Lord has put in his life.  We could all learn a lot from him.  

During this holiday season, choose to look for God.  He's everywhere.  He has his arms streched out to recieve us.  But we have to look and choose to come unto Him.  Search and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened up unto you. 

Merry Christmas friends, 

Elder Burk

I know that Christ lives

My new apartment is super nice. It's on the third floor. We live kind of far away from where we work but the place is nice. 

 We cook breakfast and dinner we have a lunch contract with a Chinese restaurant. I usually just snack or eat little stuff we only have a stove a fridge and a sink. Nobody here has ovens or microwaves unless they’re rich. But we found the store that is like Costco so we are eating pretty well. I weighed myself this week vie only gained 6 pounds. And we started running in the mornings this week. 

 I’m just studying for the people every day. There’s nothing better to do. I’ve learned that sometimes missionaries try to understand Kolob or Abrahamic covenant or all sorts of complicated stuff but the truth is if anybody tries to tell you they completely understand the concept of faith they are lying or trying to sell you something. We can never learn enough about the first 5 principles of the gospel.  Keep it simple. 

 Here's a house we found made out of a Harry Potter Poster

 My companion is from Santiago Chile. He’s 20 years old he’s been a member all his life but was less active for a long time. He came back to the church because of his seminary teacher who busted his door down to drag him to seminary every day. He’s pretty awesome easy to work with. 

The ward is pretty awesome.  The only bad part is that all of the leaders live in the other area, near the other set of missionaries. We have problems getting people to church because they are all poor and have no transportation.  Sometimes we can rent a bus to get them there, but sometimes it's kind of difficult. There’s a ton of recent converts and less actives. There are a lot of them that don’t have testimonies.  So we have lots of work to do! 

 I know that Christ lives. I know it better then I know that you’re living right now. He came to the world to save every single one of us. Even the people that didn’t want it. He did it not because he had to, but just because he loves us. Christ has charity for every one of us. This means that he not only loves us as we are, but that he loves us for what we can be. He loves us enough to see the potential in every single person. There is nothing more noble that we can do or obtain in this life then to have pure charity for the person next to us. It’s what Christ did and it's what he wants us to do. 

Give my love to everyone.

Elder Burk

Our Thanksgiving...from Price Mart

In my new area we have Price Mart...that's pretty much like a Costco.  So we went there and stocked up on all the things we are Thankful for.  Here is our Thanksgiving Feast:

Thanksgiving from Price Mart

Brinley's letter

Heyo--New Area!

November 17, 2015

I am not in Soledad 2000 anymore!  Today was my first Cambio (transfer).  My new companion is Elder Troncoso.  Our area is La Playa en Zona Paraiso.  Our area goes all the way out to the beach and our chapel is the same chapel where I first arrived in the mission (super pupi).  We also have the temple grounds in our area.  Pretty awesome!  

My last night in Soledad, the zone leaders, Elder Slack and Elder Gonzales, came to check our house and tell us about all of the changes.  When they said that I was going to Paraiso, Elder Cavero laughed and said I was going to 'suffer.'  But this new ward is actually super awesome!  The area is HUGE and there's a ton of less actives and recent converts.  They just had two baptisms this Sunday and we will confirm them this coming Sunday. 

November 22, 2015

Today Elder Troncoso and I went to get "Elder"--an investigator, that was baptized but not confirmed.  His name is actually "Elder," Pretty weird.  Then we went to Ward Council.  Wow.  It was super different!  In Soledad, the ward council felt more like a Deacon's Quorum meeting.  But this is one of the best wards in the mission.  It was pretty sweet.  They reviewed their commitments from the week before and wrote everything down.  Everyone showed up, and came on time.  I couldn't believe it!  They worked through all the names we had and made plans and assignments.  It was like being back home in the Shafer View ward, only in Spanish .... well, almost.  I think the main reason is because this is the wealthiest part of Barranquilla.  The people are very well to do here and well educated.  The Bishop and his family speak English.  There are also several other ward members who speak English.  

This week we met the ward mission leader.  He's from Washington State.  His whole family lives here.  They look like Utah Mormons.  It was the weirdest thing ever.  He and his wife served Spanish speaking missions and he got a job as a school director here in this super rich private school where the kids all learn English starting at age 3.  It costs $15,000 US dollars to attend per semester.  So only the very wealthy can go.  

We share this ward with the secretaries of the mission.  The offices are in downtown, so not too far away.  Their area is the area that's super rich.  Our area has the beach and there's some rich people, but the majority are pretty poor.  My zone leaders are Elder Crandal and Elder Tijerino.  The both finish their missions this cycle, so they are super trunky.  Elder Crandal is from Arizona and Elder Tijerino is from Costa Rica.  

Should be a great week!

Elder Burk

They say it's your Birthday...

Well, I got your two packages you sent me for my Birthday in the mail this week.  And even one from the Chuggs!  Thank you all so much for the LOVE!

Changes are tonight, so tomorrow I could be in a different city...Today was pretty crazy.  We only had 20 minutes to write.  Our clothes got soaked by a huge rainstorm while we were out, so I hung my shirts between two suitcases.  I hope I don't have to pack them into the suitcases tonight to leave tomorrow.

This week was your birthday Mom!  We celebrated it!  We even bought a cake and stole a birthday hat from the other Elder's in Hipodromo during exchanges.  Below is the picture of the piece of cake we saved for you!  We ate it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Pretty awesome, right?! ; )

I want you to know I love you Mom.  You are very different then a lot of the Moms here in Colombia.  They don't know how to do half the things you do.  I have come to appreciate the faith of the family I come from more and more, as I see what families are like in other parts of the world.  There's nothing more important than your family and the gospel.  These are the only things you can really take back home after this life is over.  That, and the person you have become.

I love you Mom!  I hope you had a happy Birthday.  I'm sorry I wasn't there to eat cake with you...but you probably had a little more because I'm not there.  haha  Love you!!!

Mom, Here's your Birthday cake.  It was great!

A little favor...
Elder Cavero is about to end his mission in 6 weeks.  We have been working really hard on his English because he wants to enter the program called Pathway.  It's a program for missionaries to learn English through BYUi.  We need more information.  How does it work, how much does it cost? I know you can do it two ways, with online or in person at BYUi.  We talked a lot about his future after his mission.  And it doesn't look like he has a big plan.  So... we made one!
He wants to study at BYUi and learn English and get a good job after his 4 year degree.  But he needs help.  idk if he knows how to do all the papers and stuff.  I don't really know much about it at all, but could you please help us by researching the program, and help us find out?

One more little favor...
I would like to make laminated photos of a few pictures to use for teaching that are the same size as my scriptures.  I have the picture book you sent, but it's really big and sometimes when we go into dangerous areas, we only take our scriptures so we don't get robbed.  I'll send you a list of which ones specifically for next week.

Thanks!  I love you Mom!
Mason

Good Bye Elder Flores

This week was kinda slow. Not much happened. Hermano Flores left this morning. It was kinda weird. Because he didn't want to leave, haha poor juancho! 

He just caught a taxi in the morning and left. It was different being in a trio here. It's a lot harder to teach.  You really have to talk less in order for the Lord to speak.  But now that we're back to normal, it's kinda weird too. I really hope he gets reassigned so he can get back out in the field. He's a great missionary with a strong conversion. 

Good Bye Elder Flores! 

Elders: Slack, Cavero, Gonzalez, and Burk

Today for p-day we had a great zone activity planed with Hermano Borjah. He's the stake mission high council member. He works at the army airforce base.  The plan was to go tour the base and take pictures of the planes.  Great idea, right?!  Well, apparently the general was really mad today and we didn't get clearance from the right person.  So we all went there and waited for two and a half hours in the air conditioned lobby and then went home and cleaned our house.  Awesome.  So here's a picture with me Elder Gonzalez, Elder Cavero and Elder Slack (the zone leaders) in front of the Airforce sign that we did not visit! Pretty sweet. 

We had a ton of progress with people coming to church this week.  We had several less actives that came to church after the first visit and without reminders.  Remberto Izquierdo was one of them.  He's 21.  We found him in Prado Soledad. (lejos) His family has been less active for 10 years.  They are fantastic.  I could totally see the dad as a stake president and him as a missionary.  I guess well see what happens!

 

I can see the future...

The zone leaders snuck into our house to eat our food. 

They threw balloons at us when we walked in for Halloween.  It was kinda funny. 

October 25—Today was Stake Conference.  There were more than 200 people there.  President Searle and his wife spoke as well as the Area seventy, Elder Vallejo.  It rained pretty hard today during our last lesson with Alice Chaparro.  She’s lives close to the chapel.

October 28—Today I finished the Book of Mormon!  I also killed one of my white pilot pens.  It ran out of ink after 6 weeks of using the same pen.  Today in the morning, we contacted a reference from Rodrego Areas, close to where he used to live.  The family was hard core Catholic.  The Mom definitely knows her stuff, (or thinks she does).  “We believe in the same organization of Christ’s church” Uh huh, and why do you have a Pope??  “My job is to make sure that everyone understands baptisms, because in these days no one understands.”  Right, and that’s why you baptize infants.  Yea, oh well, the church is true.  

October 31—We started the day today with a service project for German Castillo.  He is a stake high council member.  He was assigned to barrio (ward) Hipodromo, but they just reassigned him to our ward.  He is moving from Dueno Soledad (an apartment complex) to a house close to the familia Marquez.  So we helped him get all the stuff out of his house and into the truck.  While we were there, he talked a little about his mission and told me he knows Aunt Bonnie!!  He was the assistant when she was on her mission in Chile.  Pretty Crazy!  He just got back from his mission 2 years ago.  We finished helping him kinda late, so we got permission from our zone leaders to go to lunch in p-day clothes.  When we walked into the house of Hrm Vicentra, the look on Rodrigo’s face was absolutely priceless.  After lunch, we went to the sacar dinero and we went all the way out to Prado Soledad.  We talked with the familia Sermienta and passed by Hrm Isquierdo.  Later we went to Youani and Karen.  Karen pretty much taught us about the 12 tribes of Israel.  She is a recent convert that studies like crazy.  Her husband Yovani works construction and maintenance at the Institute and has a ton of church history books and manuals. 

Also on Saturday we were in Prado Soledad (really far away) and we were looking for un hermano who is a member of the church and his brother is not. We haven’t had a lesson with them, but we’ve talked to them several times. Neither one was there, but while we were in the street his neighbor came out and started talking to us.  She said that she knows a little bit about the Mormons.  So we sat down with her and listened to what she knew.  We introduced ourselves. then she told us that she had a special gift from dios (God).... She can see the future!  Exciting, right?!  

She told us a bunch of experiences when she helped the police catch a robber and then they executed him.  She also told us about how one man wanted to deep fry her.   She thinks her neighbor is doing bad things to people... she seriously told us stories forever and ended with "So I have this special gift from God.  If you guys need to know anything just let me know."  Sweet.  Honestly, I almost lost it.  I was just cracking up.  This was the third self-proclaimed prophet we’ve found in just two weeks.  I was seriously sooooo close to asking her the name of Elder Cavero’s future wife.  Sooo close!  We ended the discussion quickly and invited her to church, not thinking anything of it.... The scary part was, she acutally came!

On Halloween night, when we arrived at our house, the Zone Leaders were hiding inside with balloons & the kitchen light on, with our ice cream out, cooking French fries.  It was pretty funny.  We entered the house and yelled, “WHO TOUCHED MY ICE CREAM?!” They took pictures of everything they did.  (Elder Slack and Elder Gonzalez--guilty)

November 1--Today lots of people came to church.  They changed Sacrament meeting to be first, so everyone was there for the classes.  We had divisions (splits) today and I went with Edubaldo to Prado Soledad.  It rained and we got drenched by a little wave from a car passing by.  I thought that only happened in movies.  The lady that can “see the future” came to the Sacrament Meeting.  Elder Cavero was scared.  Pretty awesome.  She was there for 20 minutes.  She said hi to us and left.  I was waiting for her to try to read Elder Cavero’s palm.  He was so freaked out. hahahah crazy.  I loved every minute.

Confession for the week... I have eaten fries and ice cream for dinner every single night for two weeks.... but it’s ok because we live in Colombia!

A little online chat:  It's always a fun surprise to catch Mason when he's actually online.  

Mason: ¿esta alla?

Mom: ?What the? English please.  M

Mason: bueno tiene que practicar...

Mom: No, I don't have to practice, my mission was English speaking. And every other calling the Lord has called me to has been to teach in English. So yeah, nope.  But I'm really happy you are learning Spanish! Smarty. 

Mason: well what happens if you get called on a mission to Spain with dad to be a mission president? gotta be ready... 

Mom: Ha. Fine, you win. IF Dad and I get called to Spain, I'll learn Spanish.  Hey, you're on the computer early today, do you have lots of extra time to write us all lots of letters???!!

Mason: I almost always get on at 5 and end at 6 but it takes me a long time to write or think in English. That’s why I like to just take pictures of my journal....

Mom: We love getting your journal. You are very descriptive in recording what happens each week. *But I might give you a bill at the end of your mission for how tedious it is for me to retype it for normal human beings to read…

Mom: Spencer wants to know if people in Columbia went trick-or-treating?

Mason: They used to copy the American tradition, but then kids started disappearing and lots of bad stuffed happened so no not really anymore.... but they sure love to party! Tell spencer to look up Vallenato music. He’ll like that.