The standard of truth has been erected...

"...the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly,

and independent, 'til it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country,

and sounded in every ear..."

The gospel has arrived in Buenaventura, Colombia!

Today, Sunday, 9 September

the Colombia Buenaventura Branch of the Colombia Cali Mission

was officially organized. `

The New Buenaventura Branch Presidency

Branch Presidency with Pres. Prince and the new Quorum President

The letter of approval from the First Presidency

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

arrived on Thursday, with instructions from the Area Presidency

to proceed with the formation of this branch.

In June 2012 we sent the first 2 missionaries, Elders Patino and Rivera, into Buenaventura.

They lived in a hotel while searching for an apartment.

They met with a couple of members in the members home for church on Sunday.

The interest in the gospel was overwhelming.

In July 2012 we sent another companionship, Elders Belnap and Welling.

By this time we had an apartment for 4 Elders.

They began the process of finding a casa capilla (house chapel), as the attendance had grown to over 60 people attending sunday services.

The missionaries have had amazing experiences of people flagging them down on the street and saying that they are members of the church.

(the Quintana family was one of these families!)

After moving to Buenaventura and finding there was no branch or place to attend church, they had slowly fallen into inactivity.  They are SO excited to hear that the church has arrived in Buenaventura and that their families can now enjoy all the blessings of the gospel.

Practicing to be mission president one day!!

Today there were 98 people in attendance at the Sunday meetings.

31 of those were investigators who stayed for all the meetings.

The gospel is changing their lives.

The truth of God is going forth boldly in Buenaventura.

What a miracle to witness the growing of the Lord's kingdom.

The trip to Buenaventura is a 2 1/2 hour windy road across the mountain range
and headed to the coast.

a few of the sights on the ride there

We had lunch with the Rodriguez family (he is the new Branch President)

 with Elders Belnap and Welling

Hermana Rodriguez loves HER Gringos...she is taking good care of them!

The ride home took about an hour longer than the trip there.

Everyone from Cali leaves on Friday to go to their "Fincas" and then

on Sunday night they all head back to the city.

It was bumper to bumper traffic on the same mountain road.

Sometimes the trips on these Colombian roads qualify for

going forth BOLDLY, NOBLY, and surviving.

This was a long day for us, but a wonderful day for the Saints of Colombia.

The Church is growing in this corner of the Lord's vineyard!