Feeling thankful for the ride...

I have always loved this quote by President Hinckley:

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

I am sure this can be applied to a mission...some days are just not fun.  Some companionships require a high degree of mutual toleration.  Not all investigators arrive at the waters of baptism. Not all lunch appointments are kept.  There are a lot of disappointments but the occasional success and the lives changed brings a thrill to hearts.  They learn to depend on the Lord and they eventually become thankful for this life changing journey they are on.  

Yesterday I felt thankful for this ride...not only the 2+ years in Colombia, but for all I have learned in my life.  (those birthdays are adding up!)

My gratitude centers around those who hold me up on this journey...so many friends in my life have helped me over all the rough spots and celebrated the good times. 
How grateful I feel to the Lord who has let my life be touched by so many wonderful young men and women in the mission. 
Those who have put their trust in the Lord and embraced the gospel.  Those who serve untiringly.
Those who pray for us and put our names on temple prayer rolls.  
Family members who unselfishly have supported our being away and encouraged us on.

Those who trust our kind Heavenly Father and thank HIM for letting them have the ride.

This week there is reason to give thanks, rejoice, and have a party!

                                                

Ajiaco for my Birthday lunch

now what isn't there to be enjoyed about that??!!

Poncho had his birthday on Sat, Sept 14 

and so we were celebrated together!

cutting the cake

with our missionaries...Elders Hidalgo and Farinango

and 

Sisters Campos and Quispe

with our dear friends the Moyano family

And the party continued with our office crew the day after....

This crew works well in the kitchen, too...

...especially when they are hungry!

yes, it was as good as it looks!

And the magic behind it all...

Maria and Ana! 

I am thankful daily for their friendship!

The best traveling companion on my journey...

I am grateful that Mission Presidents don't have companion changes!

Our dear faithful friend, Ramon!

Love this office crew...I had to include a lot of pictures of them.

Their faces make me smile!

And they even baked me a cake...

it really was better than the store boughten one!

How sweet it is...

that on this journey we can have moments of bliss

and be grateful for the ride!

Headed home...

 Two years are over...

The young boys who arrived have become men.

They have served faithfully 

and 

are returning home with honor!

This will be their last meal in the mission home.

They are hungry for the food that only their moms can fix.

They are ready to move on with their lives.

They will never be the same

and 

Neither will we for having known them!

Elders Bello, Novoa, and Malca

we love these great missionaries!

 They say that a missionary is not only assigned to a mission but to a President.

We are sure each one has taught us something and left their prints on our hearts.

Headed home...

well done thou good and faithful servants!

 Elder Novoa arriving home!!

Elder Bello was welcomed home by 
our returned Elder Jamett and his wife!!
(Elder Jamett was the AP who received Elder Bello when he arrived in Cali!)

Getting understanding...

In Proverbs we are told:

"Wisdom is the principal thing;  therefore get wisdom:

and with all they getting get understanding."

This was a week of "getting understanding"...

so many things that I just don't understand.

But the Lord does, and I do get that!

In Isaiah 55:8-9 we read:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Elder Christopher Waddell of the first Quorum of the 70 

visited the Colombia Cali Mission this week.  

His visit was scheduled before any of the problems 

began in Colombia.

I think Heavenly Father knew that I would need understanding.

We divided the mission into 3 groups of 5 zones...that was the initial plan we had!

Wednesday, DAY 1...Zarzal, Tuluá, Buga, Paraíso, 
and Palmira zones

On this first day I understand better what it means to be flexible and that there is
one thing you can always count on in the mission...CHANGE.
Our meeting was supposed to start at 10:30am.
Elder Waddell's plane was delayed coming out of Bogotá and he arrived 2 hours late.
We started the meeing at 12:30pm...Elder Waddell personally greeted each missionary.

I understand what it means to be comforted by the Holy Ghost.

BUGA

Front: Hermanas Guzman, Villacis, Princes, E. Waddell, Rapalo and Flores

Back:  Elders Checo, Morgan, Anderson, Cha, K. Rodriguez, and Suarez

ZARZAL

Front:  Hermanas Cruz, C. Campos, Princes, E. Waddell, M. Hernandez y Cedano

Back:  Elders Cervantez, Quisbert, Bran, Camacho, Lamoreaux, Sanhueza, Rowley, B. Payne, Lang, and Lipe

PALMIRA

Front: Elder Hogan, Princes, E. Waddell, Elder Calle

Back:  Elders Xochicale, Alfonso, Caja, Melgarejo, Santizo, Kendrick, Nail, Calvillo, Gonzalez, and Reyes

PARAISO

Front:  Elder Faúndez, Princes, E. Waddell, Elder Dahlin

Back:  Elders Olguin, Low, Fuentealba, Robbins, Rosario, J. Walker, Nunez, Ramos, Saez, P. Lopez, Mancilla, and Chumacerro

TULUA

Front:  Hermanas Galan and C. Hernandez, Princes, E. Waddell, E. Williams and Rojas

Back:  Elders Candia, Mendez, Mina, Sacco, Wilkerson, and Separovic

Some lunch pictures

         

Thursday, DAY 2...Villa Colombia, San Fernando, Calima, 
La Costa, Agua Blanca, and Farallones 
(6 zones!...remember flexible?)

On day 2 I understand better the need to bring others to Faith in Jesus Christ.
I understand the importance of conversion vs baptism.
I understand that there is power in the Lord's anointed servants.

SAN FERNANDO 

             

Front:  Elders Perrenoud y Rogche, Princes, E. Waddell, Hermanas Campos y Quispe

Back:  Elders Farinango, Bautista, Hidalgo, and Medina

FARALLONES

Front:  Elder Wilcox, Princes, E. Waddell, Elder Zambrano

Back:  Elders Moran, Mosqueira, Lawrence, Dean, Cartes, Longorio, S. Walker, Viza

VILLA COLOMBIA

           

Front:  Hermanas Fuentealba, Chacón, Princes, E. Waddell, Romero, Ordonez

Back:  Elders Alvarez, B. Lopez, M. Sanchez, Adams, Stevenson, Tidei, Guerrero, Torres, Malca, and Rocha

  

AGUABLANCA

Front: Elder Cordova, Princes, E. Waddell, Elder Payne

Back:  Elders Henostroza, R. Lopez, Amado, Chavez, Johnson, Galvez, Beltran

LA COSTA

Front: Elder Avalos, Princes, E. Waddell, Elder Rivadeneira

Back: Elders Musselman, Cain, Novoa, Didericksen, Joglar, Martinez

CALIMA

Front: Hermana Alarcón, Vargas, Princes, E. Waddell, Baca, and Marte

Back:  Elders Ramirez, Hansen, Gavilla, Chase, Andrew, Edwards, J. Ruiz, Delgadillo, Duque and Gallardo

THE OFFICE

Front: Princes and Elder Wadell

Back:  Elders Flores, Welling, Menendez, Henao, Perez, and Inga

Some Lunch Pictures:

The angels who made it all possible...

We love Ana and Maria!

I would try to put my plan into their heads and they would execute the plan perfectly...even if it did make them want to run and hide!!

                   

once office crew...always office crew!

The helpful hands of Elders Avalos, Rivadeneira, and Novoa!

Friday, DAY 3...Popayán and Cordillera zones
(Pasto and Ipiales participated by webcast)

On the 3rd day of missionary training, I understand that the Lord's ways are not my ways.
I really wanted the roads to be open for Pasto and Ipiales to travel to Cali.
I do NOT UNDERSTAND but I have faith that HE does.
"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Pasto and Ipiales;
for all flesh is in mine hands;
be still and know that I am God."
I understand that I have a lot to learn about accepting the Lord's will, 
and if I am faithful to the end, someday I will understand perfectly.

And for now...that is enough for me to understand!

LA CORDILLERA

Front: Hermanas Galicia y Chub, Princes, E. Wadell, Elders Guerrero y Hutchison

Back:  Elders Marquez, Morales, Vera, Armstrong, Vaca, Campos, Sican, Darley

POPAYÁN

Front:  Hermanas Blanco, Deleon, Princes, E. Waddell, Jachcollo, Medina

Middle:  Elders Jones, Alvarado, Carrasco, Llerena, Borg, Lobelcho, H. Sanchez, Rendón, and Miranda

Back:  Elders Lyle, M. Ruiz, Silva, LaBar, Jolley, Dearing, and Pancheri

Some Lunch pictures: 

I understand that the Lord loves HIS missionaries!
I understand that I have a lot to learn from each one of them!
I understand that the Lord knew we needed E. Waddell this week!
I am getting understanding with each passing day!