The Rich Planet

Me with Elder Rangel and Elder Canchig, my zone leaders from Armenia. I think Elder Robison is in one of them too.

Dear everyone,

Much to everyone's surprise, I've been transferred again! Crazy, right? So it looks like Elder Chipana will have his training finished by someone else. Sad to leave so quickly, I really liked Armenia. But before I tell you the fun news, you have to read about my week. Ha! I don't think you'll be able to handle the suspense. You must all be on the edge of your seats right now... Or just scrolling down to read. Tsk tsk. Anyway, we found eight or so new investigaters in one day when we went to visit an old couple. They are very interested and we taught them the restoration. Now they just have to read and go to church! We taught Giselle and Diana about the word of wisdom and they accepted to try it out. Coffee is the bane of the missionaries in "el eje cafetero" which as far as I can tell means "where they grow all the coffee of the world"

Elder Chipana found out he doesn't need surgery, but he needs to take care of himself and he'll be just fine. Elder Robison is the new district leader for Tres Esquinas. My new zone leader is from my group, Elder Weber. I guess that's all the news for this week... Oh wait, almost forgot the best part!!!

I'm now district leader in Planeta Rica, with Elder Zegarra, a Peruvian from the same group as me! Elder Rosero is also in my district, an Ecuadorian from my group as well. I think there is another North American, Elder Norrell if I remember right. Just us four, which is way easier. I'm back in Monteria. Actually, another little town just outside of Monteria. Back into the oven it seems! Oh well, I forgot how much I liked the food here, even though I just ate half a fish... Travelling back was no fun. I guess the Lord knows I can handle fifteen straight hours of travelling better than other missionaries, because that has been every single transfer for me so far. Maybe that's not it, but anyway, I'll be here for another little while I imagine. I'm still on the lookout for fried cheese stands.

Well, I think thats about all. Any questions? I'll be on for a bit, so go ahead. How's life now that Trump won? I know that's a loaded question, because everyone asks me the same one. Heck, I've been here for a year, I don't know what's going on in the US! Any fun stories you want to tell me, go ahead. I like hearing about your lives.

Love,

Elder King

 Brother Ruiz, Elder Chipana, Sister Penagos, Roxanna Ruiz, Me and then in the wheelchair Vanessa Otalvaro. These are members from Armenia

                                        Elder Canchig and Elder Rangel. from left to right

New Stuff

Dear everyone,

So this week we got a new branch and district presidency. The new district president is our old branch president, and our new branch president is the old counselor. Interesting all around and everyone is super excited about the new district president. The old one has been there for nine years. As far as news this week goes, not much happened. Natalie and Jonathan moved into the other area, so that's a bummer for us, but oh well. We spent a good portion of this week dealing with colombian medical system, which is terribly inefficient. My companion still hasn't recieved much official treatment and the diagnosis is pending. It's been impeding the work a bit in this week, but I can't torture the guy. So we'll just wait and see what happens.

I imagine for all of you this will be an interesting week, what with daylight savings and elections on top of your regular daily routines. Just do what is right and let the consequence follow. It all works out if you do what you're supposed to. That's the big struggle, doing what is right. Keep on reading your scriptures, you all know the drill.

Love you all,

Élder King

Doors

Dear everyone,

Another pretty lame week, but there were some highs and lows. So my companion has been sick since Saturday night which kind of complicated our plans. We will probably be visiting the clinic today to see if we can get him all fixed up.  Anywho, Diana and Giselle both committed to keeping the law of chastity, so they are making good progress. They made some Venezuelan food for us yesterday. Best days have food. We had just finished fasting because next week we have district conference here in Armenia. I have no idea how we are going to get people to church next week because it's in Castellana, which is kind of far. No matter, we'll figure it out.

I felt the spirit tell me how much the Lord loves me this week, and I know if you pay attention, you'll all be able to feel it too! It's really kind of crazy, because logically we don't deserve it that much.

We found some really old Liahonas and it's fun reading conference talks from 1995. I really love the prophets from all ages. Their different styles and emphasis intrigue me, and if you take the time, you find really interesting doctrinal statements.

Anyway, Love you all!

Élder King

p.s. my companions sickness is confidential, so don't ask

PSS:  The reason for my title, I don't like Colombian doors. They are all made of metal and they always have a big space underneath. It lets all the water and cockroaches in. The only thing worse is that there isn't carpet anywhere so cleaning is a chore

I Had A Good Title

Dear everyone,

Sorry, I really did, but I forgot it. It was going to be hilarious. Anyway, not much new this week. Gisel and Diana came to church, even though they got there about the end of Sacrament. Gospel Principles was about the Law of Chastity, so that ought to make that principle easier to teach next week. Seems like Gisel might have some problem with that, but she has a great drive to do what is right. Diana just drinks coffee and alcohol every once in a while, but she says she's going to work on it. They are both reading, although very slowly. None of our other families had time to meet with us this week. 

I was a bit down this last Saturday, but I read a talk by Jeffrey R Holland and revamped my attitude. I really don't have too much time to be messing around here and Elder Holland helped me realize that in the way that only he can do. So, don't let life get you down, just keep on swimming I guess! Maybe watch the Pixar short "Boundin'" and let that make you happy. I just finished the war chapters this morning and now just for one of the long spells of iniquity found in the Book of Mormon and I'll be back to the Ministry of Christ in the Americas! Super pumped.

Anyway, halfway done with my tenth transfer, so my shoes are starting to show their complaints.

Love you all!

Élder King

Digging for Gold Investigaters

Dear everyone,

Sorry for not writing yesterday, but we had a multizone conference all day yesterday. President Calderon is an amazing teacher.

So, this week was really wet but we managed. We're entering wet season in Colombia, so it will probably be like this for a long time. Ate some soup that disagreed with me. Working with an upset stomach isn't much fun, in case you were wondering. We taught the Restoration three times in one day and we have some investigaters that are progressing. Natalie brought her son to church and both she and her husband accepted baptismal dates for December. She is the lady that came up to us in the street last week. We have an appointment with her tonight. We have two new investigaters, Gisel and her friend Paula. Gisel learned about the Church in Venezuela when she was 11 and she already has a testimony. Paula is her friend who is working here to support her son back in Venezuela. She isn't registered in the country, so we'll see if that becomes a difficulty later on. Gisel came to church, which was actually where we met her. These next weeks ought to be fruitful. We have Sylvia's new phone number, so we should be in contact with her again this week.

My companion is crazy, but I love the guy. I'm a bit more than half way through the Book of Mormon in Spanish again, and I'm loving the experience. The Book is true, and the Doctrine it contains is pure.

Love you all,

Élder King

Travel and Travail

Elder Chipana and Me

Dear everyone,

This week was surprisingly long.

In Medellin I went to El Hueco which means "the hole" which is basically just a big street market where you can get stuff for really cheap. Got a few new ties and a shirt for home. The next day we just kind of walked around and got some really expensive peruvian food. Wasn't that great, but they have some pretty good spicy sauce stuff. Don't remember what it's called.

My new companion is Élder Chipana. He is from Peru and he is hilarious. We found three new families this week. One lady just came up to us in the street and asked us where the chapel was. She moved into the neighborhood two days ago and she says she wants to be a member along with her husband and two kids. She lives really close to the chapel, so I'm hoping things go smoothly and we can baptize a family! Another family Elder Robison found contacting with Elder Morillo last week. They seem very interested and they live right behind the chapel. The family we found when we got caught in the rain also seems very interested. Once again, we seem to be starting from zero, but with three new families I'd say it's a jump start!

So, that's it for this week. Any questions?

Love,

Élder King

Transfers That Fly

Dear everyone,

So, just like that, transfers again! I didn't think our companionship would get changed, but sure enough, Elder Morillo is on the bus for Monteria. Poor fella. Worst part is he is going back with his first companion, who he didn't get along with. So, Elder Robison and I are in Medellin after a long night's bus ride awaiting our companions to arrive from the MTC. We are both going to be training, so these upcoming months are going to be interesting. But also exciting!

This week was kind of bad for lessons, but we went contacting a lot, so this next week with the new missionary should be full of new people. Really it's what we have been needing for a while.

Conference was amazing! We got to watch most of it in English and it's hard picking a favorite talk because they were all soo good! I really enjoyed saturday afternoon session. Elder D. Todd Christofferson has become one of my favorite apostles and his talk on Heavenly Father's Love was amazing. J. Devn Cornish warmed my heart with his talk. He talked about repentance and comparing ourselves to others. There were so many more that just made my heart swell with gratitude for our leaders. How inspired they are!

So let me know which talk was your favorite, what scriptures you have found recently that have helped you in your life, and any other spiritual experiences

Love,

Elder king