This Week Was Transfers

Well, what a week

There really isn’t much to say about this week either that is the weird thing. We really didn’t do anything, especially my companion and I. We taught, we ate lunches, we walked and taught some more.

Then we hit Thursday, that’s when my companion and I had a huge fight. Seriously we were starting to get along real rottenly. However I’m pretty sure it’s a guy thing cause when the hermana’s fight they don’t talk to each other for a while. When the elders fight, we fight and then we feel like we are best friends right afterwards. AHAHA

My companion and I after Thursday had a BLAST

Oh my gosh, we have had so much fun. We helped another couple get married; the people here call us the cupids. This couple then got baptized three hours after their marriage. Claudina, the mom, Alejandro, the son, and Sofia the daughter, The father was a less active member that reactivated and then baptized his entire family, what an incredible experience to see the huge change in their lives since we first started teaching them. 

However, nothing can beat the change that I have witnessed in the family of Evelin, my first investigator here. Now that her whole family is baptized they are such incredible members of the church of Jesus Christ. They came to the baptisms that we had this week, 4 in total, and shared their testimony at every single one. They are truly amazing and the change that I have witnessed in their lives is immense!!

I love my investigators and I love my area and my companion is the best and we are having the times of our lives here. That is why on Friday night a good friend of Elder Jones from our district called President Prince to ask if we could not have transfers in our district. 

President Prince told Elder Jones that we would have transfers in both Americas 1 and Americas 2 and also the two missionary companionships. 

That was kind of heartbreaking. My companion will finish his mission in 4 weeks so we thought for sure that I would be his last companion. But it will not be. 

Sunday night came around and we heard the news. 

Elder Jones will go to Jamundi as a district leader

Elder Borg will go to Americas 1

Elder Lyle will stay in Americas 2 

And the old companion of Elder Jones,

Elder Carrasco will be my new companion. 

Well there are a few things that I like about this.

I stay in my area.

Elder Borg still is my district leader and is in my area. 

However may I just say, ever since Elder Carrasco arrived here in Popayan he and I have been fighting. We really don’t get along at all. That is how I know that President Prince is inspired to make these changes. Because, out of 160 some odd missionaries, I was chosen to spend the next month and a half to 3 months with the one person I have the most trouble with. 

Why you may ask?

James 1:3-4

3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Yup. You see I will become a better missionary, it’s that simple. I will be tried heavily but from these trials of my faith I will receive more patience. 

That is why we have trials. Really if you haven’t read the book of Job I challenge you to read at least the first 4 chapters. It’s really not that much. It really will show you the divinity of God and why we have trials. It is those who have the most trials that will receive the most blessings. IF we accept these trials as a way to better ourselves. That is the big IF of the situation.

YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT IT AS A WAY TO BETTER YOURSELVES

Yes I understand that all the missionaries in Popayan have called to tell me sorry. 

Yes I understand that the members may not allow us to come for family home evenings anymore.

BUT 

I will do the best I can because when I think of it I know that I can be the best missionary. That is something that Elder Borg has taught me, that every missionary has the capacity to be the best missionary, you just have to tell it to yourself until you believe it. When you believe it, normally it will happen.

I know I can be a great missionary, I will show love to the investigators, I will show care to those in need. I do that now, but now is the test I must overcompensate for. 

God will work miracles, as long as we are faithful. 

Be Faithful

Since I received NO emails about how the last challenge went, I do believe I will discontinue the challenges as it is a waste of my time, hahahaha

But do know 

This is the week to show love for whomever you meet 

Wherever you meet them

Okay it’s a challenge I lied!

CHALLENGE:

LOVE EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING this week. 

This is the time to just shower mercy, happiness and love to everyone

Love you all 

Elder Lyle

Photos from last week

My first wedding that I conducted

The whole family after the wedding

Happy Birthday Elder Borg

Surprise Birthday Party for Elder Borg

Elder Borg stoked on cake!

Feliz Cumpleanos

I got him good!

Our neighbors are the BEST!

We're COOL!

Elder Lyle & Elder Jones

Baptisms

Cupid

Well, what a week, seriously folks this one was a doozy. 

Things were fairly normal until… 

Wednesday: 

We went to Timbío, which as you know for me is heaven on earth. I have never been to a place more perfect in my life, I always love going to Timbío. So green, not very densely populated and the people are always awesome.

We have a family that lives out there; family Bentincur. They are seriously awesome. They had some families that wanted to hear us, which means every single one of their neighbors. It was awesome they are all very interested. The only problem is there isn’t a church in Timbío and to travel to get to church they have to spend at least 7 dollars per person for the trip to Popayan. This may not sound like a lot but really it is here. These people are truly amazing. The only problem is that well, we also had to be at the other end of the Popayan area which is like an hour journey at 6, and well we were in Timbio for a long time. So we were majorly late coming back into Popayan. Super hectic but super fun. 

Thursday:

Thursday was the birthday of my companion, 

and to begin the big day we went back to Timbio because one of the families that we contacted the day before was celebrating the birthday of their daughter as well, so the two celebrated together for an hour, before we had an appointment at 11 in the morning. We left running after the lady somehow snuck a kiss on my companion both of us were completely shocked. He began to sweat profoundly and then said: wow is it hot in here, when well; there was a pretty good breeze, ha-ha.

We left immediately for the wedding in the Notaría. This is where Yoneida and Sandro the parents of Evelyn got married. 

Such an awesome experience. My companion and I were the best men. 

It seriously is amazing to see families progress. They are calling us the cupids because we have another wedding this week as well. After the wedding we rushed off to Katerin’s house were she had a surprise party for Borg. We ate the cake and then jetted off so we could bring the cake to the wedding. 

Then back to Katerin’s and then back to the wedding reception. Huge day. We got back to the house where I had to fulfill the Colombian birthday tradition and hit my companion in the head with an egg and then through flour and water on him. Ha-ha-ha, typical my companion couldn’t let me get away unscathed and rubbed it all over me, ahahaha!

Friday:

We made salchipapas for 40 again.

Saturday:

BAPTISMS…

The stepmother and father of Evelyn got baptized! And the grandma as well. It’s incredible how a girl who didn’t really want to get baptized has changed the life of her entire family forever.

That’s kind of what I want to talk about this week:

How the actions of one person can change the lives of others forever. Little acts of faith really do make a difference. 

However the main point of the week is: 

Patience

When I started my mission here 3 months ago my companion and I had a hard time getting along. I was a person with very little patience, and my companion a person with a very strong will. However in the past three months I have learned the grand importance of patience. Now my companion and I have a great companionship that shows itself through our work and the conversions of our investigators. 

Romans 5:3-5 

3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Really you can learn just so much through the tribulations of your life if you let them teach you knowing that today was crappy but tomorrow will be better.

However if you need more:

Mosiah 23:21-22

 21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

22. Nevertheless – whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people.

We are tried so that we can grow. Trials of our faith, tries our patience, the greater our patience the greater we are. Patience is everything here in this life. 

I know it’s hard, I know I know I know

However it is worth it. We just have to put it in our work little by little.

41. But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

42. And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all the is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43. Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Work on patience and

 You will be rewarded

CHALLENGE!

Spend one night or do an activity with someone you can’t stand. Try your best to be nice, and afterwards say nothing about how difficult it was, if anyone asks say it was a good time. 

Then I want to here about it people 

I want to hear about your experiences if you are even accepting these challenges or just reading them and turning away from fear or laziness

Tell me about it 

Rawlings.Lyle@MyLDSMail.net

Love you guys

Elder Lyle

And yes it's been...

Wow, it is so hard to believe

Only 21 months to go :)

Elder Borg's Birthday Celebration

One of the sweet Mom's, Katerin Vidal, had a 

SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY

for 

ELDER BORG

She was kind enough to send these pictures to me

And after a wonderful evening off into the night the Elder's go

Thank you Katerin for sharing these with us

This week was a week of pictures!

Pictures from the Scout Hike

Getting ready to leave

Hiking away

On the trail we blaze

Up the water pipe to the top

In the middle of the jungle

No trail

We got lost

Here we all are

Stopping to drink water

Elder Borg & Rawly on the trail

River bed in the jungle

Not even sure where we are at

Lost again

The rain came down 

and

The floods came up

We began to run down the side of the mountain

Soaked through & through

(Notice Rawly is the only one that looks happy in this photo)

My companion recuperating

Ha-ha-ha

Pictures from around the neighborhood

My family here

Familia Hincapie

Cooking with the neighborhood

P-Day Cooking

Elder Borg made:

Chicken in coconut milk

Paola, her mom & my companion

After Elder Borg's coconut chicken

&

I made gnocchi in cheese sauce

We are...

FULL

It wouldn't be a week with pictures if we didn't have...

Breakfast photo

Toast & cinnamon rice