April 6, 2015 Sorry!

Sorry!

Time to apologize! Sorry I didn't write last week, and sorry I don't have time to write much today. I am doing great here in Las Villas; we had emergency transfers! They took out the other two missionaries; I am staying here with Elder I, and Elder V and Elder O are taking off.

I especially wanted to share about the general conference, it was absolutely fantastic to me; I loved every minute. I had all of my questions answered time and time again, and it has strengthened even more the testimony that I have of our living Prophet, Thomas S Monson, and of the other prophets, seers, and revelators that gave us the messages that we need to continue in this life. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be an extension of the Apostles of our Savior, bringing His word to the people here in Colombia. I wish you all a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Toombs

March 23, 2015 Transfers!

March 23, 2015

Transfers!

Sooo... I am staying in Las Villas with Elder V! It looks like he will be finishing his mission this transfer, so I could be here a while; I am excited for the chance that I will have to see a few of the baptisms that are coming up. When I got here, the area was really bad off. However, with lots of trial and error and work and work, we have really made a lot of progress.

C and V are a lot better this week: C got his job, and has been a lot happier when we pass by. We had a great talk this week; we talked a lot about the conversion, and how members will probably offend them in the future, about how they are going to have lots of trials and difficulties, but that they will need to hold on to their testimonies and have sufficient conversion to get by them. They said that they don't care what the members say, or what their family says; they want to be converted to the Lord.

On Tuesday, we had a multi-zone conference with the President, and we talked a lot about how we can help the Ward Council and also about the Book of Mormon. I learned a lot, and remembered a lot, and I saw a few more things that I can change in the way that I teach and the way that I serve. I know that we have inspired leaders that strive to listen to the Spirit to help us to be more successful missionaries.

On Wednesday, Brother P had his birthday, so as a present, we 4 missionaries all put in money so he could make some Peruvian food (he is Peruvian). So he made some ceviche, which is pretty much spicy raw fish, it was fantastic! It is one of the best families that I have come to know here in the mission, and I will miss them when I go.

On Sunday, we went to church with a group of 6 investigators (The Walton Rodriguez family, Marly and Leidy, and Christian Rodriguez, a young man that has been going to church recently), and 4 others were there waiting when we arrived, along with 2 of the less actives that we have visited. It was fantastic to see them all there. In the Priesthood class, we were talking about how some members end up growing with "tares" in their conversion, and that is when they start to drift from the church. Cristhian raised his hand and asked the Elder´s quorum president how he could help his less-active uncle that stopped going because of his work. Cristhian saw money as one of the tares that enters in our fields, and expressed his disposition to never let his new job get between him and the Lord. It has been great to see how much they have progressed.

Elder Wageman, one of the missionaries from the district, is going home this week! Today, we woke up early to say goodbye and drop him off with the zone leaders. It was great to have him here in Las Villas, and we had a great time together.

After he left, Elder Vega, Elder Otsuka and I went to the church building to start a ward activity! We had planned it without help from the church leaders (they don't do much), and it is one of the perks of always having the building keys. We played micro soccer, volleyball, and then micro again, from 10am to 2pm. I didn't put sunscreen on my arms, so I am pretty burned haha. The Walton Rodriguez family came, and it was super cool to be able to share with them.

It was a great week, and I know that this week will be a great one too. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and while reading it I have felt the Spirit time and time again. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Toombs

March 16, 2015 My First Temblor!

March 16, 2015

My First Temblor!

Hey everyone! This week has been a pretty exciting one.

We found out that A, one of the sons from the W R family, had to get his appendix taken out, and that they were going to be in the hospital all week. He is ok, and we are planning on passing by to visit their family today.

We are still waiting for C and V's papers! We have been waiting forever for the papers, and they are getting anxious/discouraged about their marriage and baptism, and they haven't been having success in finding work. We are going to need to work hard this week to cheer them up and get them excited again.

On Tuesday, after the district meetings, I went to La Mesa in an intercambio with Elder M. So we got there, and in the first lesson that we were teaching, we were sitting outside, and I saw the floor start to wiggle. I thought that I was getting dizzy or something, but then the lady we were teaching got up and yelled "Temblor! Los niños!" and ran inside when I realized there was a tremor, it was a super weird feeling, and I looked back and the telephone poles were all going crazy. It was my first time! and it was really mild there, further north in Colombia there was a big earthquake. After the earthquake, we passed by a few investigators (all of which I knew in my time there!) and then passed by an ex-less active that was getting ready to get the Melchizedek priesthood. When we were teaching, the brother's home teachers showed up, and we had an awesome lesson.

On Friday we had intercambios with Las Villas 2, and I stayed over there with Elder O. It was pretty good to get to know him better, and he had a good time. They have had lots of challenges in their area, especially that the past couple best progressing investigators have gone to live in other areas. However, Elder O always surprises me with how cheerful he is, and we were able to make a bit of progress.

Saturday the Stake Conference started! President and Sister Lozano went, and a Seventy too. We had a great session in the evening, then we got up early to go to the Priesthood session in the morning. We sang a special musical number, and then the Seventy went up to talk. He started his talk asking the congregation about how they had felt during the number, and based a lot of his talk about how we need to find ways to feel the spirit in our homes as much as he had when we had sang. In the morning, I had prayed specifically so that our song would let them feel the Spirit, and it was an answer to my prayers. I loved the stake conference, and especially the talks that the Seventy gave; I felt like he was talking right to me. The La Mesa branch came too, and I was soooo happy to see all of the members that came. 5 members, including Agustín (my convert) received the Melchizedek Priesthood; it was fantastic to see the progress that the branch is making.

I know that this is the only true church of Jesus Christ, and that salvation comes by no other name or way, only through the faith in our Lord and Savior. I love this opportunity that I have to be His servant these 2 years, and will do everything to represent Him as best I can for the 8 remaining months.

Con amor,

Elder Toombs

March 9, 2015 La Conversion para Salvacion

La Conversion para Salvacion

(Conversion to Salvation)

Hey everybody!

I liked a lot what our zone leaders talked about in the last conference about the conversion, and how our level of conversion determines what we will achieve after this life. I know that there are a few things that I can do to become more converted, and I have been placing goals to become a better missionary and representative of Jesus Christ.

Last week we weren't able to teach C and V a lot; they sell cool things on holidays, and this weekend was Women's Day, so they were working pretty hard all week. On Thursday we helped them to wrap a bunch of the gifts, and I learned to make handcrafts haha. But they are still super excited for their marriage and baptism; as soon as the missionaries from the offices get us a couple papers, they can get married!

Last week we moved P-day to Wednesday so we could go to... Mundo Adventura! It is a park that is more like a fair, but it was pretty fun. We started out the day playing an hour and a half of micro, then took off to Bogotá and had a blast. The park was almost empty, and the only ride that had a wait was the log ride (because all of the little kids were there waiting).

The Missionaries from La Mesa stayed the night with us (and we made a really crappy pasta for dinner) and then Thursday we had a super-great zone conference. Elder P and Elder A presented "Plan X", a plan to help us get our investigators, converts, and less-actives to be people that we can pull to the church, instead of pushing. It helps them to have the desire to read, go to church, and become converted, without our constant need to push them along. We will see how it works here in Las Villas 1!

On Saturday, we went to the temple with the W family and with a recent convert V! It was a great time, and the Temple President and his wife shared a few words to teach a little about the importance of the temple. I am so grateful to have a temple so close, and for the many opportunities I have had in the mission to go there. Then afterwards, I bought them all Subway because they had never eaten it before!

I know that I am a missionary of Jesus Christ, and that I have been called by His authority to preach His gospel. I hope that you all have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Toombs

March 2, 2015 Firmes e Inmutables in la Fe

March 2, 2015

Firmes e Inmutables en la Fe

(Firm and Steadfast in the Faith)

It has been another great week in the missionary service. Although the challenges keep coming, we know that we will have exactly the success that we deserve if we keep working hard and giving everything we have.

In the past couple weeks, the highlight has been C and V; they are really preparing themselves to live the gospel and be baptized. This week they will be doing everything to get married, and if they are able to put their marriage date this week, they will get baptized as well! It has been a fantastic experience to help them in this journey.

The W R family has been progressing, little by little. On Thursday we did a family home evening in the Relief Society president's house, and they were able to come, with the dad too! It was a great time playing games, and we watched a cool video about the moments that matter most.

On Saturday, we woke up early to go to the temple! We went with a family from the ward, the P family, and C, V, and their cousin, A, came too. We stayed outside with them to show them around, share about family history, and take pictures; it was a great day!

C, an ex-less active, is now completely active again. On Sunday, he even went up front to share his testimony! He is a super shy guy, so it really surprised me. It has been fantastic to help him to come back to church again.

I know that I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and of His church. I know that we are living as a part of a plan that our loving Heavenly Father has prepared for us, and that if we live the Gospel of his Son, we can return to live with him again. Have an awesome week!!!

Love,

Elder Toombs

February 16, 2015 Oh esta, todo bien

February 16, 2015

Oh esta, todo bien (Oh this, so good)

It has been another great week in Misión Colombia Bogotá Sur! I am truly grateful for all of the blessings that I have received in my area and in my life this week.

Last Monday, before Elder C left, we went to watch The Testaments with a few investigator families; it was great, until the movie stopped with 10 minutes left and wouldn't let us see it! Looks like we will have to try again haha.

My new companion, Elder V, is a great guy, and only has 2 transfers left in his mission. He is always super cheerful, and I am looking forward to the time we will have together. And he is from.... Perú! My 5th Peruvian companion haha.

Tuesday we met with one of our investigators, C R. He is a 16 year old that has been going to church with us the past month and a half, we found him by knocking his door. His family isn't too interested, but he is starting to really appreciate the Book of Mormon, and loves the things he has been able to learn about the gospel. We will see how this goes! Then we have a family home evening with C and V, we saw "Just a Stonecutter" and they are completely committed to go to the temple!!!!

On Saturday we started the day by running around the area to get to know it a little better, and a dog almost ate my companion haha (There are many stray dogs and packs in Soacha). Then we went to San Mateo go help a member to move! We got there at like 9, and didn't finish until 1. We were pretty tired! Then at 4 I taught English, and at 5 mutual normally starts, but the leaders didn't show up! So we ended up being the leaders, and played micro soccer for like 45 minutes haha. So we were ridiculously sore.

Sunday C, V, and the other C all went to church and all had a fantastic time! And even though all of our appointments fell through, we ended the week happy that we have more progressing investigators. I gave a talk in church about the importance of being an example, and also how we are a family and how we need to treat all of the members like family; the ward doesn't have a lot of unity, so we will be working with that a lot!

And today we played micro! I am super tired, but it gives me the recharge that I need to keep on serving the Lord. I know that we have the fulness of the Gospel, and that there is no other way to return to live with God and our families but by abiding its precepts. Have an incredible week!

Love, Elder Toombs