Fufu

Hello Family! How are you all doing?

Thank you all soo soo much for all the birthday wishes!

We had quite the adventurous week. My goodness. I loved every second.

1. We got a call from one of our dear friends that we´ve been teaching, and he related to us that he wanted to be baptized. WHAT! HAHA This is the call every missionary dreams of, but the catch, he informed us that he was also going to have to head back to his country next week and thus needed to be baptized this Saturday. We received the call on Tuesday. Hmm...

We still had to teach almost all the lessons, and we were not quite sure what to do. So we blitz taught him the plan of salvation and commandments, as well of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was trying really hard to see if his intentions were true, and in all honesty they were. I still didn't feel good about rushing the baptism when he if he really was committed could continue his investigation their in the promised land of Colombia. Especially with the fact that there are three chapels right next to his house... wow... what a dream.

We prayed about it, and although I never want to be one to keep someone from getting closer to Christ, he will be baptized this next week in Colombia. Wahoooo!

2. We did exchanges this last week as well, and that was super interesting.

Elder Patey came with me, and it was just one of those days where you look at one another, and it's just... how did we get into this situation?

We went to the home of "M" to meet and possibly eat some african food, and teach the gospel. They made us the most massive, batch of fufu, and this very "exotic" soup of spinach and fish....

Elder Patey almost ate nothing, and I struggled as well. It doesn't help that with Fufu you must swallow without chewing, and that just makes the gag reflex so happy:]

We took the remainder with us in a tupperware, and bag.

We then made our way to our next visit, and google told us it would be only a short 18 min walk along the highway. What google failed to mention is that there was massive construction and a immense wall thrown up on either side of the railroad tracks. We then embarked fufu in hand to hike up and over this wall. Two fences, and some very dirty shoes later, we arrived on safe ground and out of the way of oncoming traffic. Haha gotta love it!

3. We headed down to los Alcazares to visit the zone leaders for a day, and woweee, what a blast. We went with their ward to go do some contacting, it was incredible to see some of the youth from the ward really enjoying and getting excited about something we see and do everyday. I want to still feel that excitement everyday that I leave piso.

4. This last sunday the two wards did their sacrement service together in order to explain the new schedule changes with the coming year. I sat back and the thought came to me as we were singing; all those voices, all these souls, people, they are here, happy together because of the missionary efforts of people just like me over the last 45 years. Every person at one point came to know the church through the faith of another. I don´t know why but this really made me quite pumped, excited, and determined to find. I love this work. It truly what I want to do for the rest of my life.

So, other news, I got to play a banjo... wahooo! dream accomplished! We contacted an Irish band... long story short, I said, you play the banjo!? he said yes you want to try? jajaaja yess!!

I love you! Stay strong and please read the Book of Mormon.

Elder Gardner