Rain, Rain and more rain

So the "winter" has now started. Here, that means a ton of rain, it has rained about every day this last week. One day (I think it was Thursday) it actually rained so hard that the streets were like rivers and it almost flooded the chapel. Yikes! But luckily it didn't. Yeah, that could have been ugly. I was very happy, I got soaked to the bone, which after a hot day, is the best thing ever.

The next day we also got a little wet helping a sister clean her reserve tank of water. It was way gross, with more plant life than water. So we drained the tank, and went to work with brushes all morning just fighting to clean the tank. It actually turned out pretty good, considering what it looked like before.

Yesterday we had zone conference with President Hacking. It was, as always a great experience. He talked a bit of the importance of obedience and of looking for people to invite to come unto Christ. I know that it is when we are obedient that God is on our side and guides us to those who are ready to come unto Him. We also learned about the import of planning and then going and doing it.

Apart from that giant list, I have been working. We have planned several new activities to find new people that we will be puting in action this coming week. We've been trying to work with the members as much as possible so that these poeple can join and grow, so that they can be firm and strong, forever. That is what I want. Lasting conversion, not just momentary triumph. That is the goal. I hope that is what happens with Victor and Hercilia. For life, and for all eternity.

Love you all,
Elder (Gabe) Rallison

Love you!

This past week we've been keeping busy running around the center of Cucuta helping get the papers together to get a couple married. You would not believe the amount of papers and line waiting that is necessary just to get a couple married. It's like....one would think it would be simple. But it's not.....but at least now it's all set for Monday. We're good.

We also had interviews with President Hacking yesterday. Nothing new.... Just same old, same old.

I'm alive. I'm healthy, and....yeah, just working the best I can to help people get a move-on in life and in the eternity.

Love you all
Elder Rallison

.......Pamplona......

First, the work has been incredibly busy. We've been working with several families and we've seen some incredible progress. Victor came to church as well as the a new family. But on the downside, several others couldn't make it. =( But ah well...that happens. But, hey, know what, worse things have happened. For example, we now have a ward mission leader, so he should be able to help us get the work moving along here. We actually have a meeting with him here in a few minutes.
Yesterday we took a chance to go to Pamplona again. To contact!!!! Yep, eight of us from Cucuta went to Pamplona to find more people for them to teach. It was pure craziness with so many of us there in the bus. And worse yet when the bus driver put on "worldly" music. I think I now realize the reason why missionaries walk in pairs.....more become way too uncontrolled. But we finally got to Pamplona and we split up and got to work. My comp and I must have walked all of Pamplona, which isn't that big, just a lot of mountains and at a really high altitude. But we did it. We even made it to a Rio-ish Christ statue on a mountain. Oh and we also found some lambs and a mother sheep.She got a little angry when Elder Farias tried to touch her kids.... We contacted and also happened to enjoy cool weather (yeah, the best thing about Colombia is the variety of climates) as well as really good homemade-style bread. Good stuff. We left Cucuta for Pamplona at seven in the morning and we got back at nine at night. It was a day well spent.

Today we were occupied cleaning the house (President comes next week to inspect....time to clean...for the first time this month....just joking Mom), buying groceries (as we are the only missionaries in the zone that actually cook....) and doing all the other tasks around the house. We also went bowling in Villa del Rosario. It was cool, bowling just five minutes from the Venezuelan border. Let it be known....that I suck at bowling....52 points......wow..that was bad.....

Well, that's it! Wish I had more to say but that's all folks!
Love you all!
-Elder Gabe Rallison

That's Life

So to start I want to send a shout out to Elder Bowers, who has recently returned to the "real" world. You rock man, go and conquer the world. Also, happy birthday to Eli, who turns 15 today!

I have passed this past week reeeeaaaaly well. For one I went to the doctor for a weird rash on my back that seems to be the result of the change of climate and the amount of sweating that I have had here in Cucuta creates a beautiful climate back there......suffice to say, it's not pretty. But now I have a cream and stuff to make it better, so all good there.

This last Sunday, I had to go to Pamplona, a small town that is about two hours from Cucuta. The funky thing is that even though they aren't that far apart they are very different in climate. I was walking around Pamplona in a suit and I was still cold. Yeah....craziness.......Went there for a baptismal interview, she passed with flying colors. I don't think I've ever seen an investigator so prepared for baptism, she just shared a powerful testimony of everything I asked her. It was awesome.

So, that is pretty much it. For now....
Love ya all,
Elder Rallison

Life, as normal.....yeah.

Everything is going well, not much to report though.

Here we've been working way hard and have been talking with just about everyone. From taxi drivers to cashiers to neighbors to construction workers. We've seen and talked with each at least once in this past week. So that's all good. Araceli is doing well and going strong, she even goes to all the activities, something that even some of the older members don't do. We've also been working with another investigator that wants to get baptized. The problem.....he was married, had been for twenty five years, but the woman he lives with is not his wife. He hadn't even seen his wife for twenty years (because she fought with him, cheated on him, etc.....you know the normal stuff). But, on the good side, he just finalized the divorce of the wife, so he can now get remarried and thus get baptized. Is it like this in the States too? Or is this just Colombia?

So yesterday my comp wanted to but a shirt of the soccer team of Cucuta, so we went and looked for it.....in three different malls. Them, we also had a zone activity...an asado (BBQ), the only problem? We couldn't get the grill lit! Yep, here we were about five gringos that had gone through Scouts (in fact all were Eagles)...and incapable of lighting a grill. That's just sad.....but in the end with the help of a bottle of medical sterilization alcohol (no we did not buy beer) and toilet paper we finally got the charcoal lit. Hurray! The meat was soon grilled and eaten, but we realized that due to delays we were gonna be late to play football! So we went running several blocks to the field to meet our "tee-off" time (well not exactly tee-off, this was soccer, not golf). When we finished we rushed home, into the shower and out to a family home evening that just so happened to be on the other side of our overly massive area. So yeah, our day of rest was just about anything but restful....ah well, there's always next week.

Not much more to say...
Except that I love you all!
-Elder Gabe Rallison

PS....I found Heinz 57 sauce! And it's cheep. I LOVE CUCUTA. =D

Yep. That's it

I've had quite a time lately.
On Saturday we had a major service project. We moved a couple tons (literally) of sand and another ton of stone about a hundred feet. It was hard, difficult, and very tiring. But, we got it done. It only took us about 6 hours of work to do it. We found cool looking lizard eggs while digging too.

Lately, we've had a bunch of transfers and all. They've opened a bunch of new areas here in the zone and know what...hey made me leader of a district that includes the zone leaders and a small town 2 hours away in bus. This is gonna be fun.... Also, Elder Holmes (who was in my district in Zipa) is now in my house. But in another district.....how does that work......

We also had zone conference this week (which is why I'm writing today) where a psychologist came and explained how we can relieve stress. Cool right? It just requires a lot of deep breathing. How's that? Feel better? After conference we ate huge hamburgers that were loaded with hamburger (no duh), chicken, bacon, grilled meat, etc...it was epic. Nuf said.

Well, I've gtg, so yah....
Love you all!
Elder (Gabe) Rallison

So....nutin'

It has been less than a week since I last wrote so I don't believe that there is much to say. Things are good here.

The reason why I'm writing now is because for transfers P-day is Monday this week. No, I'm not being transferred, I'm staying here!!! Which is good because I love Cucuta. My area is the best in the mission (look how humble I am....well that's what you get with an Argentinean comp).

We had a baptism on Saturday! And a stake talent show organized by the missionaries!
So Araceli got baptized!!!! =D The best ever, though member turnout for the baptism was poor, she was really touched by the Spirit during the ordinance. And later that night we had thew activity. The talents were really cool, and we were going to act....but there wasn't enough time. I was in the kitchen almost the whole time though. We were making Chilean empanadas.....300+ of 'em. I don't know if you realize exactly how long it takes to make all that, but I can say from experience that it takes several missionaries about a days worth of prep and four hours cooking. But they were way tasty and I am now an empanada making pro.

Apart from what I've shared there's nothing more to say. Except.....
Les quireo muchisimo.
Elder (Gabe) Rallison