From where I left off....two weeks ago

Sorry, I didn´t have much computer time last week as we were in Bucaramanga for an activity of zone and were running late. So from the week before last week, the main events were as follows

-Baptism of Sebastian, who happens to be one of the coolest and smartest ten year olds I know. So cool. I love baptisms. Me hace sentir feliz.

-Killing cockroaches in our house. The other day I called my comp and said,"Look! I found a family! Quick, start teaching about the restoration before they scatter!!!!" Then we disposed of the family of six cockroaches that found their way into our house.

And from the last Monday, we were in Bucaramanga. We played football (all you people out there probably know it better as soccer) in a field with synthetic grass (that is the high class way to play). After that, we ate lunch with some converts of my companion there in Bucaramanga. All in all, a well spent day.

This past week was busy. My companion said that for practice, I get to be the senior companion that week. What that means is that I´m responsible for managing the area and the companionship. The calls, reports, scheduling, practices, etc. Was a great learning experience. I got to see, for my own experience, what works and what doesn´t. And really, there are several things that just don´t work. Like waiting for someone to stop talking in an appointment that has already gone overtime. They won´t stop talking. Ever. Well, in three hours. But okay, by the end I was a little more assertive on that front.

The rest of the week went great. We are working with one couple, Robison y Heeni, but they still have a long way to go. You see, they are both married, but not to each other. So, we either need both of them to divorce and then marry or separate. We taught them the law of chastity, and now, the ball is in their court. We´ll see what goes down with that. I´m praying.....like always.......

With another couple, well...they´re having troubles with their marriage. She thinks he doesn´t appreciate all she does. He thinks that she doesn´t realize how important he is to her. He has said that he wants to leave her. She says she wouldn´t miss him. ¡Que vaina! Why can´t people just get along? Worse, they are not investigators, but members. So we taught a little about the Proclamation for the Family. That was a powerful lesson. Any of you married people out there have any advice in this? This is one thing in which these poor missionaries have little to give. But, if you are experiencing problems with your children or spouse, before you do anything more, read the Proclamation to the World.

And today. So today we cleaned the house. Ala delux (Umm...if you don´t know what that means ask my Mom. she´s the one who always says it.) Normally we sweep the floors, clean the counter tops, etc. daily, but today we went all out. We swept, mopped, polished, disinfected (it was necessary), killed (cockroaches that is), folded, and more. The house never looked better. And then, my favorite part, I made....tortillas. So, I´ve been having an obsession for some good Mexican food, problem is, there aren´t any tortillas here. So, I made some. They actually turned out really good. Just need a lot of flour and a little water. Ate them alone, because we didn´t have any beans or meat. But still, it´s a tortilla. The last time I ate a tortilla was when I arrived here in Colombia, in a Mexican restauraunt behind the mission office.

And now, I leave you all until next week.
As a short preview as for what´s to come.....zone conference....until next week,

Les quireo. Sean felices. Sean fuertes. Sed de buen animo.

Chao.

A Night in a Colombian Hospital

So that title is a little interesting. For all who are wondering otherwise, right now I am perfectly fine. I was not feeling so good earlier this week. So this last Tuesday we had interviews with Presidente Hacking, so we of Barranca had to take a three hour bus ride to Bucaramanga for the interviews. Those went off great, and after we went and ate out. Was tasty, but afterward it left me feeling terrible. I had been feeling nasty all weekend but this topped it all off. We called up the secretary of salud (the missionary who manages all the health issues in the mission) and he sent me to the clinica (hospital). The doctor visited with me, drew some blood (which sucks, I wouldn't recommend it), and in the end reached the conclusion that I had a really bad case of dengue fever and needed to spend the night under observation. So I got a nice hospital bed for the night (which was about a foot to short for me) as well as a bag of serum and a stint in my arm. The next day they ran another blood test and told me that I was good to go but had to "take it easy" and that I was "not allowed to leave the city". Yeah, I was stuck in bed in the house of the zone leaders in Bucaramanga until the doctors thought I was ready to go. That time came the next day and another blood test later. So I finally got back to my area Saturaday night, after spending a week in Bucaramanga having a lot of fun.

I want to say thanks to everyone who is out there praying for me. I really can feel the effects of these prayers. The strength I receive from the Spirit each day is a testament to me that this is true. Thank you all for the lessons that you have taught me and for the examples you have shown. I am eternally grateful for the effect that you have had in my life.

-Elder (Gabe) Rallison

Introducing.....Elder Leon

With cambios and all, the last week was kind of hectic. I was with my district leader on Tuesday and Wednesday while we were waiting for the new missionaries. I had a great time working in the area of Parnaso, which is the northern part of Barranca. Was in Parnaso until my companion arrived on Wednesday. His last area was in Bogota, so he´d had a nice twelve hour bus ride to get here.
My companion right now is Elder Leon. He´s from Guayaquil Ecuador and has about nine months in the mission. But for such a short amount of time, he is one of the best missionaries I have ever met. He is about half my height but double the power. We are so going to rock this area. We haven´t really had the chance to do much more than take him around and introduce him to all the members and investigators here.
Part of our lack of work here is my fault. I´ve been a little sick with a stomach bug the past few days. I´m feeling a little better now.
Love you all,
Elder Rallison