Elder Bryan Ralphs in Colombia
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Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Enjoying an iguana meal... |
Well- saying goodbye
has never been easy, and I don't think it ever will be.
Yesterday we received news about the new transfers, and
regretfully I am leaving Mogambo.
Leaving the Coast of Colombia to go to a place a little bit cooler, well,
cooler as in less hot than this oven than I've been enjoying for these past 3
months.
Sincerely I'm very sad to be leaving this beautiful area
because I sincerely feel that I have come to love this people. This ward, the members, and the investigators
have all made Mogambo one of the most beautiful areas that I have ever seen.
I will be very sad to leave those with whom I have worked,
prayed and fasted for. I also know that
this sadness comes with the calling of being a servant of the Lord; and nobody
says that being a missionary is easy, because this is one of the hardest parts.
This Saturday, I found myself praying for those
investigators whom we are teaching - that they may be able to attend church the
next day. In doing so, I focused on the
love I had for them and the desire I had for them to be blessed with the
beloved gospel of our Savior. Then it
dawned upon me ever so slightly - a sudden thought, that all this love that I
have for these people, including my hopes and desires that I have for them,
will never nor ever could equal the love, the hope, and faith that our Father
has for them. I know that the work of
salvation is in those loving, caring hands of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
As I write this
letter, I find myself fighting tears, as I realize more and more that time has
come again to say goodbye to those I've come to love. I am so grateful for the blessing that I have
had to know my brothers and sisters here in Mogambo. I will continue to fight for them in faith
and humble prayer that they may receive strength to continue forward with faith in this marvelous plan of
salvation.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
This week was great - a little more exhausting than usual, but hey, what can you do?
These past weeks we've been doing a LOT of service. We hiked a toilet seat (used) across the meadows (mountains) of our area, and we were demolitioners for a bathroom (also used).
We helped build a house's foundation, and I'm still sore from that one, so fun though. In all honesty, it has been an incredible experience to serve others here in Colombia. The people we help and the service we render is an incredible opportunity and a blessing for me and for others...Very grateful.
I'm getting better with the food and the Spanish - day by day, little by little, precept by precept.
(The puppy belongs to a family we're working with - his name is Alfonse)
These past weeks we've been doing a LOT of service. We hiked a toilet seat (used) across the meadows (mountains) of our area, and we were demolitioners for a bathroom (also used).
We helped build a house's foundation, and I'm still sore from that one, so fun though. In all honesty, it has been an incredible experience to serve others here in Colombia. The people we help and the service we render is an incredible opportunity and a blessing for me and for others...Very grateful.
I'm getting better with the food and the Spanish - day by day, little by little, precept by precept.
(The puppy belongs to a family we're working with - his name is Alfonse)
This week we did a lot of intercambios (exchanges), which is where we switch companions for a day. A cool experience to work with other missionaries and to see how they teach.
This week we found another family to teach. Sadly, we also lost an investigator - he wasn't ready yet. In this life, we are given our agency, the ability and blessing to choose how we want our life's story to be written. As missionaries, and as representatives of Jesus Christ, we have to learn to respect that, no matter how much we know the gospel will help bless the lives of everyone.
The family we found is incredible! They are so in tune with the spirit already, and I can not wait to begin teaching them more. Yesterday we taught them the restoration, and the spirit was so strong. So grateful for the blessing of finding them, and to be able to get to know them.
We have so many cool families in the area. Great investigators and great everything. Honestly more grateful that anything to be here, to grow, to learn, to be alive. And what's more, with all of these hills, I feel I will be able to climb Mt. Everest after my mission.
This week we found another family to teach. Sadly, we also lost an investigator - he wasn't ready yet. In this life, we are given our agency, the ability and blessing to choose how we want our life's story to be written. As missionaries, and as representatives of Jesus Christ, we have to learn to respect that, no matter how much we know the gospel will help bless the lives of everyone.
The family we found is incredible! They are so in tune with the spirit already, and I can not wait to begin teaching them more. Yesterday we taught them the restoration, and the spirit was so strong. So grateful for the blessing of finding them, and to be able to get to know them.
We have so many cool families in the area. Great investigators and great everything. Honestly more grateful that anything to be here, to grow, to learn, to be alive. And what's more, with all of these hills, I feel I will be able to climb Mt. Everest after my mission.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Aldrian's baptism was an incredibly spiritual experience. He is a young man who has had so many difficulties and obstacles in his life. How amazing it is to see the change in his life and to see his conversion.
I am so grateful that I have been able to see him come into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- to see his life transform within the embrace of the gospel. What an amazing experience to see his life strengthened and to see his family blessed.
I know that his future is in the best of hands as he begins to know more and more about his Savior. Our Savior. He will no longer need to feel that he walks alone in this life. The gospel will be a pillar of support for him and his family forever.
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