Suits and Service

Hello!  First answers to some questions.  Yes I can listen to music, the hymns.  I really appreciate having those with me.   I'll give you Christmas Day Skype time soon.  I heard we will be at the church around 5pm to use the computer there.  We have a small washing machine but we have to wash our clothes by hand first, and yes MOM, I am using the sheets you sent me.  Here in Ibague I don't use a coat.  It's warm.  So much so I despise wearing suits on Sundays because it's a million degrees.  In Bogota sometimes it gets cold enough for a sweater.

 I'm excited for this next week.  Can I say it is pretty much going to be like a vacation for me.  Why?  Well, all the missionaries are going to Bogota tomorrow for the Christmas party.  My comp and I get hooked up with hotel rooms!!!  We are the only elders that get that blessing.  The rest of the elders have to stay in apartments with other elders.   I'm going to enjoy every minute.

This past week was tough, not for me personally, but for our investigators.  Often times I feel very inadequate to help  people because of the greatness of their challenges.  One of our investigator's husband left her to live with another woman, and she kept asking if God could make her husband return.  Another has a brain tumor and 7 kids, no husband, and lives in what I would consider a large shelter at scout camp. I just can't fathom it.  Another has a lot of guilt and hate built up because of past experiences with his family, and past mistakes he's committed that are very difficult to repent of. I don't want to go into detail on how difficult some of the things are that I have seen, but I just want to say you are blessed to live in Brigham City, but please keep praying for the people here.

The language is coming.   Trust me, I  have mastered all the simple, helpful phrases, especially no entiendo. I have complete faith in the Lord that he can help me learn this language, and as I look back I can see how much I have learned.

I have studied a lot about charity.  I've even fasted and prayed to have genuine love.  I have been blessed a few times to see others and feel for others a little as the Savior would.  Just imagine how the world would be different if everyone understood the two greatest commandments.

Funny Stories this Week:

This one lady we teach I think Wo!  I've never seen anyone talk more or faster in my life. She can talk for ten minutes and I have no idea what language she is speaking.  Chinese, French, Spanish?    When she talks she uses a lot of emotion.  I just tell my self she just needs someone to listen to her, even if I don't understand what she is saying.  That is what the Savior would do. Anyways, she brought us this drink, it was milk with corn poured in it.  It was disgusting, and I had to have divine help to get that down, but I did it.

Another family brought us some rice and chicken that was delicious, and while I was thus enjoying the rice everyone looked at me and I wasn't sure why.  I'm still not sure what they asked me, but I got nervous and then I spilled my rice all over the floor and it was really awkward and embarrassing!!

Also while we were walking down the street a kid who was crying and being dragged by his mother was passing us, and as he went to hit his mom he punched me.....where you don't want to be punched.  I survived. :)  That's a wrap from my week.

Anyways, my time is up on the internet.  

All my love,

Elder Donaldson