Monday, December 30, 2013

The Kiss part 2

Well what a week family and friends,

Getting to Skype with my family for the first time and talking to them after 6 months was pretty awesome a little difficult when you can’t speak Spanglish though, ha-ha.

Thursday I ate fried guinea pig with the little paws and all, quite an honor really as it is the most expensive food that you can buy here in Nariño. 

Saturday was the Day of the Innocents, so what does that mean: 
It’s kind of like April Fools Day but you throw water on people. So what does the city of Ipiales do to fight that? They shut off all water in the city for 48 hours without telling anyone a thing. Well that made things interesting.

Another interesting thing that happens here on the Day of the Innocents is: 
The men dress up as women and threaten people with kisses until they give them money.
So...
We were walking and we happened to cross paths with a parade. My companion began to film it all when a she-man saw him filming. That’s when he started our way. Stockings, fake boobs with a bunch of paper towels and dressed up in his mini jean skirt. My companion directly put some coins in his purse and then he started my way. I put the coins in his purse but he kept coming…
I was so worried… as he started to put even more lipstick on. I kept the coins coming but nothing was working. I started to panic. That’s when he grabbed me and smacked me with a big fat kiss on my cheek. 
It was one of the worst experiences I have had here in Colombia!
I’m not sure if this is bad news or good news… 
My companion has the whole thing recorded. I guess it’s pretty funny, so; I hope to send it to you all soon. 

SO many things have happened these last few days. 

Angela our investigator got baptized.
We were having a lesson with her and she was getting bugged by a bunch of drunk guys in the parking lot. So what does she do? She pulls out her phone, calls her husband, who is a policeman, and says, “Fix it”. Makes us popcorn and sets us up outside to watch the scene. Our version of going to the movies, ha-ha.
The police arrive in a huge van and begin to escort every single one of them to the van. They were all shouting and throwing arms but all 9 got in the van and they left. 
Don’t mess with Angela. Ha-ha

Well Hello 2014! 

I have a question for you guys. 
How do you want to start off the New Year? 
The same as last year? 
Or even better?
We have many hopes for the New Year, many goals, perhaps, but let me help you with these goals. 

James 2:17
17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Faith without works is dead.

Somebody told me something very interesting recently. Personally I have problems fighting for a cause; I always work best when I’m fighting against something. Sometimes we have the perspective that the commandments is a way to follow God, which it is, however, there is something else about following the commandments. We are indirectly throwing a blow at Satan every time we follow a commandment. The more obedient you are you show Satan that you are that much stronger than he is and that he is weak. 
The war in heaven continues on the Earth today…

BE A HERO
Challenge:

Make a physical list of how you are going to be stronger on this Earthly battlefield. 
A strategy plan how you can better follow the commandments and beat the adversary.

I love you all 
BE A HERO!

Elder Lyle


Monday, December 23, 2013

What???

Well what a crazy week

CAMBIOS or TRANSFERS

My companion left at 5 in the morning Tuesday and my new companion didn’t get here until 10:30 in the evening on Wednesday so for two days I just wandered.

I was companion hopping across Ipiales. Slept on the floor of the other missionaries. I was seriously a wandering missionary for 2 days. Also we didn’t have a cell phone so I was just calling in to the Zone Leaders every 6 hours or so to tell them I was still alive as they also left me because they had a meeting in Cali. So I was here completely alone. 

Elder Aguilera, my new companion, is awesome. He’s actually hilarious. He has 18 months in the mission, and he’s been through a lot. 
While he has been here on his mission, 3 of his family members have died, his father and his uncle from gunshots and his grandfather from a stroke. 
He is from Honduras. 
He is 21 years old.
And is a convert to the church. 3 years ago he got baptized and left for the mission 1 year after he got baptized. He is the only member in his family. 
He has his difficulties but he is getting better. We are doing great together and he’s taught me the invaluable skill of how to solve a Rubik’s cube, hahaha

Noemi and Lucia moved again to a better house. 
They are growing so much in terms of their testimony of the gospel it’s incredible. They had an experience last Sunday when they fasted for a new house, and in less than 5 days they found a new place where they paid the same but their new home has a window and electricity something that their old house didn’t have. 

We are currently working with a couple, Angela and Jhonaton Marquez, they are two awesome people from Cucuta and Bucaramanga, but they live here in Ipiales. They are both white, ha-ha, Jhonaton has blue eyes and Angela is blonde. 
They are having serious marriage problems and we are going to go over to their house right now. We have hopes for them to get baptized this Saturday. 

The Vidal Family is doing AWESOME they had a baptismal interview yesterday and will get baptized as a family tomorrow on Christmas Eve. 
SO SO SO EXCITED FOR THEM

I love what we do. 

This week I wanted to talk about the importance of a Prophet. 

Prophets are the people that guide us in times of need. We have the teachings of old prophets. However, Moses, Isaiah and Jeremiah never talked about computers, financial problems, college, and many other things that we face today. It is necessary to have a prophet in these latter days.

Luke 11:49
49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute

Or lets just go further back in time to Amos a prophet from the Old Testament

Amos 3:7
7. Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

God will do NOTHING but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Think about that. 
Nothing. 

God does nothing.... No, he does lots of things and that is why he calls prophets to guide us. 
We have a prophet today. 
Thomas S. Monson

Challenge:
Make a list, a physical list of how you can better follow the prophet in the New Year. 

I love you all 
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 
See you all in 2014
Elder Lyle


Sunday, December 22, 2013

Love it when members send pictures

Rawly & his new companion
Elder Aguilera

Not sure what they are doing here...


Looks like the boys are doing a little 
cleaning of the church

Elder Aguilera

Rawly & Elder Aguilera with
Sharon Perea

Rawly at church

Rawly & Elder Hogan singing in church

Elder Lyle, Elder Aguilera & Elder Hogan
Looks like they are trying to convenience
Elder Aguilera to sing

And the odd picture...
Rawly having something to eat

Thank you Sharon Perea for 
sharing these with us


Thursday, December 19, 2013

Monday, December 16, 2013

Behold the Lamb of God

Well, this week was pretty normal.

Thursday we moved Noemi and Lucia to a new house. Oh my gosh it was a lot of work. The car that we loaded up was so illegal with couches tied on top, TV’s in the couch, drawers everywhere, but hey I live in Colombia everything passes here. 

Saturday I taught English with our investigator who is an English teacher in a little town outside of Ipiales. Super cool, a little sketchy, but we're good.

I have CAMBIOS
Well I don’t but my companion does. He is on his way to Palmira 14 hours north of here. My new companion is from Honduras, Elder Aguilera. 

And I am now District Leader. 
I’m a little nervous to be honest, I am now in charge of all the baptismal interviews in my area and it so happens that my district, which consists of 4 missionaries, also contains the zone leaders. The zone leaders are in charge of all the missionaries here in Ipiales but I’m in charge of them because they are in my district. So now I have to tell President Prince all the things they do wrong, if they do things wrong...no pressure. 

Things are going a lot better here in Ipiales this Christmas season.

We have a family that we are very attached too, the Vidal Family; English Teacher-Jorge, and his wife Vicky, and their son Christian. I think we are going to spend Christmas with them as they are practically our neighbors. 

CHRISTMAS!
Mathew 2:11
11. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Luke 2:8-12
8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Although Christmas isn’t really the time of year that Jesus Christ was born, we take this time of year to celebrate and to remember the birth of the Savior of the World. 
Sometimes we forget that the biggest present that we ever received didn’t come wrapped and found under a tree or in a stocking hung by the fire. 
But came from the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. 

Do you really know what the Savior did for you?
He suffered for your pains and sins. Individually he did that just for you. 
Yes he suffered for the whole world, but in order to do that he had to suffer for your sins as well, he suffered for you and if we just sit around and think, well he already suffered I can do whatever I want, I warn you beware of the day of judgment when you stand before Jesus Christ, the man that died for you and you just say, thanks for all you did. 

Faith without works is dead. 
Show your faith 
Show your love 
Be a disciple of Christ. 

CHALLENGE:
To remember the true spirit of Christmas plan to do something big for a family in need. Have a family home evening before you deliver the presents and talk about what exactly Jesus Christ did for you. 

I love you Hermanos and Hermanas 
In the name of Jesus Christ
Amen

Elder Rawly Lyle


Monday, December 9, 2013

This weeks pictures but be aware some are pretty graphic

Bon Apetit

I couldn't help myself
Ha-ha-ha

Visiting Las Lajas last Monday



Navidad

Christmas candle tradition

Lighting candles the 7

Missionaries & Fireworks
Vamos Bien Carajo


The Messenger

Well, 
I went to Las Lajas last week it was super, super cool.

 The terrain here is really weird kind of picturesque like its not real, ha-ha.
(This was taken on the way to Las Lajas)

This week we all went to Pasto for the zone conference with the Prince’s. Awesome, may I just say, it was so good. 

They have always talked to us about what we say and how we can help people, but this time it was very different, it was about:
The Messenger, Us

Super awesome lessons about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Then we watched the best movie ever! It's called Ephraim’s Rescue and I recommend it to all.

While we were there my companion got horribly sick, it started with his eye watering, and then he had a horrible pain in his head, and then congestion, and then he started vomiting violently. I gave him a priesthood blessing and at once the watering in his eye stopped and he didn’t have any more nausea or a headache. The power of the priesthood works.

These past few days I’ve had a seriously hard time in the mission. Especially with all that is happening to the members and our converts. They are all losing their jobs, which is horrible this time of year. Noemí and her sister-in-law, Lucia are 25 and 22 years old with 4 children between them ranging from the age of 2 to 8 and Lucia is pregnant. They don’t have money to buy food. They only have enough to pay the rent from what Noemi receives from working. They have recently been going out to the potato fields to see what has been left behind after the harvest with little avail. 
We bought them shampoo and soap because we heard they didn’t have any and they were so grateful they started crying.
Lucia, Tidei and I taught. Noemi, Tidei taught with his old companion. 

The people here are really impoverished, it’s incredible. But we know that if they keep trucking on and doing exactly what the Lord needs them to do, they will be blessed. The same thing happened to another hermana, now she is doing everything possible to help the missionaries and remain strong in the church. She has always found just enough for everything and she has no idea how. 
Blessing are real.
Luke 2:7-14
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manager: because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manager.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

In this time of year, think about the impact that angel had on the shepherd's simply by saying two sentences he changed their lives. 

We can do the same in our own lives.
We are messengers of God. 
We are here to help those in need, do small acts, and show that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. 
We are The Messengers.
 Acts 19:11-12
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

We have the power to bring miracles to pass. 

The same authority that the apostles had we now have today. 
The priesthood, something that is incredible, and when worked through righteous hands brings miracles to pass. 
30 But behold, from among the righteous, he organizes his forces and appoints messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissions them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men.

According to your faith. 
The power of the priesthood is brought to pass

Challenge:
Share your testimony of Jesus Christ with someone. Without feeling ashamed. If we don’t feel ashamed to share our names with someone why would we be ashamed to share the name of Jesus Christ who we are; 
The Children of God. 
Share your testimony at least with one person this week
AND 
Remember if you need a priesthood blessing, the priesthood is here on this earth for a reason. We can be healed spiritually, physically and emotionally through the same authority that Jesus Christ had and his apostles. 
 The power of God has been restored to the Earth
I know it because I use it everyday and I have brought to past miracles here in Colombia because of the faith of those I helped and because I live as righteously as I can. I am not perfect but I try to be, that is a commandment from God and I try to live worthily everyday so that when I am called upon to act in the name of Jesus Christ I can. 

Glory to God in the highest, 
and on Earth, 
Peace, Good Will Toward Men

In the name of Jesus Christ
Amen 

Elder Lyle

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Christmas Zone Conference & receiving the Captain Moroni Award

They all met in Pasto for 
Christmas Zone Conference

Ipiales Zone

Rawly receiving his
Captain Moroni Award!
(Missionaries receive this award after having 10 baptisms in a month)

Christmas Dinner

Receiving his Christmas Gift from Hermana Prince

Elder Lyle, Elder Tidei, 
President Prince, Hermana Prince, 
Elder Hogan & Elder Faundez

Sending Warm Wishes to 
ALL
the Missionaries and their families!
Merry Christmas

Monday, December 2, 2013

No letter this week, just a couple of thoughts

Hello Family and Friends

This week consisted of: 
Skinning a guinea pig
Getting caught in the pouring rain
Eating an artichoke
Conducting a birthday party with 50 
Getting to bring no one to church
Having the hopes to baptize someone but unfortunately they disappeared and people think that he was murdered by the husband of a crazy ex. 

Remember whatever the troubles
 Walk with faith
Peter walked across the water until he let himself focus on how hard the wind was blowing and how turbulent the water was

Walk with faith undeterred 
Lots of Love
Pictures next week
Elder Lyle

Monday, November 25, 2013

Lots of pictures this week...

It's Christmas here in Ipiales

Elder Rawly Lyle in Ipiales

Elder Tidei!

Tree Tomato

Weirdest Fruit Ever

All of us at Lucia's baptism

So cute he fell asleep in the late baptism

Ha-Ha-Ha
Elder Tidei: The Monk

Caught in the freezing pouring rain

DRENCHED!!!
We are freezing here in Ipiales!

A Heavy Week

Well this was yet another hard week, it started off when I said goodbye to a good friend, Hermana Medina, who is headed off back to her own country, Argentina.
(Ciao Hermana Medina)

The week started off a little difficult. 
My area is hard. Like REALLY, REALLY HARD. There are so many problems that I’m trying to solve that my head hurts like 24/7.

People inactivate themselves from the church because of one family in my little humble branch of 70 people. 27 of the 70 people belong to this one family. It’s difficult, it’s just that this family thinks that you have to be perfect to be a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ. But the truth is it is exactly the opposite. The church itself is perfect but the people within it are not. We are there to try to perfect ourselves not to be perfect, but try for perfection because we are far, far, far from perfection.

Zulma and Saul, Saul is a drug addict, he keeps on escaping from his house until, well, until Zulma left him.

We are kind of like marriage counselors, and are currently working with 4 couples to resolve marriage issues. Things are going well with them.

We are working with 6 couples who are not married.

There are so many challenges in this area but I’m learning so much everyday.
We had a baptism of a pregnant lady yesterday named Lucia.
She had an amazing experience.
She wasn’t really sure if she wanted to get baptized and received her interview to get baptized with many doubts. When she was in the interview her baby kept kicking her but she said it was in a soft way that didn’t cause her any pain like her baby was telling her to go ahead and do it. 
In her baptism her baby was so happy and active she said she had never felt anything like that.
What an amazing experience.
(Baptism of Lucia)

My week included the following. 
Alcoholics
Drug addicts
Abortions
Suicide Attempts 
And then the most spiritual baptism I have ever attended.

An investigator of ours asked us a question that has really got me thinking,
Why is there such bad things in this world?
Why does the bad come before the good?
I found my answer in The Book of Mormon
2 Nephi 2:11
11. For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first born in the wildereness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

I testify that this is true. That we must have an opposition in all things, to know the good from the bad, the sweet from the bitter. 

I love this gospel
I love my life here

CHALLENGE:
Invite the missionaries over for a Family Home Evening in the house this week. Ask them to center their message in this question:
¨Why do bad things happen in this life.¨
Should be fun.

I love you brothers and sisters
Be thankful this week
In the name of Jesus Christ 
Amen
Elder Lyle

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Monday, November 18, 2013

MUD...

All right so P-DAY
We play soccer, soccer and more soccer. But to be completely honest I love soccer now, who would have ever guess, ha-ha. 

My area is HUGE, like massive, like HUUUUGELY massive. I have about 200 square km of houses alone that I am teaching. Everything is super spread out here.  We need to plan everything really well so that we get a good day in. 

It rains all the time here, and it is super, I mean super, super cold. I bought gloves and a scarf, who would have ever guessed that I would be the person to buy a scarf.... well I did okay.  And you know what? I love my scarf because it keeps me warm at 10,000 feet.  

The other day we were heading off to almuerzo (lunch) when my companion told me, “hey I think there is a short cut through here", we are always looking for a short cut because where we were going was like 45 minutes walking to this house. So we headed off in search of the shortcut. Well we found it. It was raining, of course, it always rains. The shortcut was down the side of a mountain, dirt now mud track and was super steep. 
SO, what did we do? 
WE WENT FOR IT. 
AND I fell, ha-ha, of course. 
And I didn’t stop sliding until I reached the bottom. My umbrella upside down sliding behind me. My companion attempted to stop me but then he started to slide down standing up.  But it’s all good. I was just covered in mud from head to toe. My face was black and the first thing my companion said to me was. 
“Well at least the people don’t think you’re a gringo anymore.” Ha-ha
We have a good time together. 

 The other missionaries had baptisms on Saturday. It was crazy cause they sent us to fill the baptismal font. You can’t baptize with cold water here in Ipiales or the people turn into popsicles. So Elder Tidei and I frantically tried turning on the heater. However we had no idea how to do it. We somehow had to light the gas that was inside a locked box to which we did not have the key.
We finally found the key and turned on the gas. However the stupid thing didn’t want to light. 
I’m really surprised that we didn’t blow the place up, as the gas ran for like 15 minutes straight without being lit. We finally lit the gas and ran for our lives.

The baptisms were super cool. Although afterwards the President of the Branch came up to tell as that all the missionaries have talks tomorrow, ha-ha oh man
I LOVE THE MISSIONARY LIFE. 

So lately I’m dealing with some serious English/Spanish problems. I stutter in English now. I need to practice my English but I feel really awkward doing it. Talking is super hard for me in English. I have no idea why. It’s kind of making me feel more alone because the people here don’t understand my Spanish or Elder Tidei’s. They speak really weird here. 
SO

For my spiritual thought of the week:

I want to start with an investigator I’m helping right now. His name is Saùl. I’m helping him and his family. His wife asked us to come and help him. He says he wants help, but really he doesn’t. 
Saul is a drug addict. He drinks way too much. He is on house arrest but in the last week escaped twice and went missing for 2 days at a time. It’s really hard for the family. We have been helping him with his problem but the truth is, is that he thinks he can do this alone and that he doesn’t need God.  

 Moroni in the book of Mormon realized that really we are nothing without the strength of the Lord:
“I have but the strength of a man”

 A prophet in ancient times told his people:
“Cry unto the Lord for strength”

We do not always have the strength to accomplish all things,
 That is why we ask of the Lord to help us. 

The situations around us will not change. That is a fact. However the strength in which we have within us can change so we can rise up above our challenges. 

Like Nephi; 
His brothers tied him up and told him that he had no power over his older brothers.

16: And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.
17: But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.
18: And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.

Something is very important in this story in that he prayed for the strength to break the bonds not the bonds should be loosened. He did not look for the easy way out. He looked for the strength in the Lord. 

We must act on faith, ask of the Lord for strength and face our problems in order to overcome them.

The situations normally do not change. 
We do. 
We adapt and grow to meet the challenge. 

Challenge:

Think of one thing that you have in your life that is challenging.
This week pray for strength and face the problem. 
Rise above the challenges.
We have so much potential.
SIEZE YOUR OPPORTUNITY!

I love you all
Elder Lyle

A few pictures this week from Ipiales

The Zone Leaders are rich and living in style here in Ipiales

Saturday baptisms 
Notice the cool scarf, yup I'm warm

Well this picture says it all
Anyone that knows me knows that I'm going to fit in just great here


Friday, November 15, 2013

Pictures from the members in Popayan

Rawly & 
The Astudillo Family

Rawly, Natalia, Leidy & Diiana

Rawly & Natalia

Cooking at a members home


Monday, November 11, 2013

Pictures from Rawly's new area... Ipiales

The bus ride to Ipiales

I moving to the Andes!

Ciao Silva!

My new apartment
View from the second floor to the kitchen

My new companion, Elder Tidei in our new kitchen

We made tacos brah

My itsy chapel that is an hour away walking time

Elder Tidei, Elder Cordova & I

Julian, Elder Tidei & I

Elder Hamblin, I mean Faundez, Elder Cordova & I

They call us monos (gringos)
(by the way this little boy is sooo adorable!)

Welcome to Scotland everyone, ha-ha