Finished it in Spanish!...February 23, 2015

What a week!  Carnival is finally over and we got to leave and do some damage control with our investigators or see who else needed some repenting! ;)  It looked like it got pretty crazy and we definitley heard the craziness all night long and into the next day!  While we were shut indoors, our President challenged us to finish the Book of Mormon.  In 5 days I was able to finish it in Spanish.  Before I started, I made a goal to highlight every time it mentioned the Saviors name, every time a covenant was made (or a promise), obedience to a covenant, and the blessing or the consequence.. I am amazed at how many covenants are made and how many blessings are given.  It is almost as if he is just waiting to throw a blessing our way.  It made me think this week of the things I am doing to be able to receive the blessings that are waiting for me.  I am trying to be more of a consecrated missionary and it is was interesting to find out that every time someone was obedient, they made another covenant?!  I am amazed!  This week some things have happened with the people that were baptized and they have, unfortunately, chosen to do some real stupid things.  My companion and I have felt real stupid to have helped them so much and they progress so little.  I guess as a missionary you would just like to take away free agency for a little but I guess it will all work out.  My favorite part of everything we teach is Free Agency and Day of Judgment.  What are we doing to get better every day?! :)  I love you all and I am doing awesome!  It is starting to warm up here a little and we will hit the hot months here in April.  Only one more time with this heat!! Have an awesome week and  I hope your wildest dreams come true!! :P

Love, Elder Slack

Can I get a hallelujah?!?...February 16, 2015

Holy I am dead tired and drained to the max!!  This week was super weird!  We started off Monday really well but then we had to have a training for the new missionaries (my companion) on Tuesday until 6 so we only got to work 3 hours.  Then on Wednesday we had zone conference.  It was super good and the main theme was on how we can consecrate our time in the mission!  I learned tons and was able to look and see that I could definitely consecrate my time as a missionary better.  It was awesome!  After zone conference, we were able to finally baptize Deivis and Diana.  Can I get a hallelujah?!?   It was a super spiritual experience and I haven't seen smiles on their faces until now.  I am so glad but now the real work begins with the ward and helping them stay active so that they can go to the temple.  Fun fact, while in our training Tuesday, some men from Utah were there looking at the temple site and we found out in zone conference that it should be announced in General conference.  Someone who works for the church said that in three years from now it will be entirely finished!  What an amazing feeling to be working here during such an amazing time!!  The other days were pretty boring because this week has been Carnival and so we have been shut indoors!  It is so crazy and I am sick and tired of the apartment but I definitely need the rest haha!  I am so glad for the experiences I have had these last couple of transfers!  My president wrote me this week and told me that nobody learns in times of ease.  I have definitely learned these past couple of weeks!  I am doing super good and hope you are all able to read the scriptures, pray always, and go to the temple.  I would challenge all of you to have a family home evening with the missionaries in the next couple of weeks and feed them good!  I know they get hungry!  Love you all!!

Love, Elder Slack

 

Our District at Zone Conference

  

Elder Aaron Wooden and Elder Brady Slack

 

Elder Slack, Elder Cevallos, and Elder Wooden

 

 

Baptism Day February 11, 2015
Elder Brady Slack, Deivis and Diana Marquez and Elder Mora

 

Elder Slack, Deivis Marquez, Diana Marquez, Elder Mora, Elder Dos Santos, and Elder Cevallos in front

Carnival is coming up this weekend...February 9, 2015

The past week was super good!!  Our investigators (Deivis and Diana) had another interview with our mission president and will be baptized this Wednesday!!  I am so excited for them because finally they are doing what they should have done the first time the missionaries visited them!!  We have two other investigators that should be baptized the 21 of this month!  One is Juliana who is 18 years old.  In these 2 weeks she has read past Alma!!  The other is Elkyn who is 11.  His sisters are members but their mother is not.  He is super awesome and reading every day!!  I am doing good and ready to have a week long rest with Carnival coming up this weekend!!  It is a little crazy because our area is about 6 blocks from the whole shebang and so we should get some crazy people close to the house for some good pics!!

This week was super fast but I learned that I can always do more.  We got two new Zone leaders who kind of gave me the good word and made me open my eyes a little. Reminded me of the conference talk, "Better and Best".  I know I definitely could do the best in all areas. Because I am the Trainer, my decisions reflect our work and I am not working to my potential.  I am so grateful for the atonement.  I am grateful to be able to repent for even the smallest of things so that once again I can get back on the path I need to so that I can always do what our Father in Heaven has asked!  I know this church is true and that our Savior loves all of us.  I love you too and hope for the best for all of you!! 

Love, Elder Slack


**I am posting this late this week and am not sure if Deivis and Diana were baptized yesterday.  Of course Satan threw more obstacles in their way in the form of the doctor filing charges against them for some reason.  I know this is trying their faith, the faith of Brady and Elder Mora and also of our family.  Hopefully we will hear good news next week!!

Continued prayers and fasting would be greatly appreciated...February 2, 2015

What a roller coaster of a couple of weeks!!  I am doing super awesome here in Colombia!  I didn't get transferred so I am still in Barranquilla!  Carnival is starting up and so I will be looking forward to another week shut in the apartment.  My companion is awesome!  Our investigators are doing good but it has been kind of stressful trying to figure everything out.  We got a call on Friday saying Diana was in the hospital after taking some pills trying to commit suicide.  Luckily, she took so many I think her body couldn't handle it so she threw them all back up.  We will now be working with the Mission President and a psychologist to see what we can do to help her.  I have talked to Sister Searle quite a bit because she is the closest thing I have to a mother in the mission.  I wake up every day wondering what in the heck I am doing here in this situation.    Thanks to my Father in Heaven, I know He has a plan for all of us.  I feel my testimony growing stronger and stronger every day because of the trials He puts in front of me.  I just dearly hope and pray that Diana continues to progress and that all is well in the plan Heavenly Father has for them!  Your continued prayers and fasting would be greatly appreciated.
Today was an awesome experience!  A member took us to a place called Boca de Sineza where the Magdalaina River and the ocean meet and it was so cool!!  We took some serious pics and I am amazed at the creations here on earth!!  Definitely a day of relaxation that I needed!!  I know my Savior lives and I know this is the only true church on the earth.  I love my family and I love this work.  I wish you all the best and hope your wildest dreams come true!

Love, Elder Slack

Elder Cevallos (Ecuador) and Elder Slack

 

Elder Cevallos, Elder Slack, Elder Dos Santos (Brazil), Elder Mora (Ecuador)

 

Elder Slack, Elder Cevallos, Elder Mora, Elder Dos Santos

 

Elder Brady Slack

Karate Kids
Elder Dos Santos, Elder Slack, Elder Mora, Elder Cevallos

 

Still practicing his moves

A Mother's pay day...January 26, 2015

*** No letter this week.  Things are very busy for Brady and he is working so hard to help the Marquez family work towards their baptisms this weekend.  This experience has been so hard but also extremely rewarding for him.  However, he did send me this birthday wish and I just had to share.  This is one of those pay day moments that you wait for as a mother. 

Mother, I just would like to take the time to write and tell you Happy Birthday.  I know I am very far away but just know that I really do miss you.  I regret doing the things I did that you told me not to do and I am truly grateful for not only the relationship we have but the friendship we have.  You are truly my first and only girlfriend! ;)  I am so grateful I made the decision to come on a mission and have not looked back for a minute!  So many things have changed mom, and it isn't just me physically.  I know I will not come home the same but it is because of the way you have raised me. Thank you for all the things you have done for me mother.  I really look up to you and love you very much.  I hope you are crying reading this because I am too and people are giving me weird looks!! :) Thank you very much and I hope you have the best day so far this year!!  Just remember, only one more mom and I am home!!

Love you with all my might...Infinity Googles! 

Love, your son, Elder Slack

It has been a rough week...January 19, 2015

Holy it has been a rough week!!  Transfers are next week and I am dearly praying with all my little heart that I don't leave my area!  It is so much fun and there are so many people to talk to!!  We are teaching a couple (Deivis and Diana Marquez) who just lost their daughter.  We were teaching a lesson and I asked if there was anything we could do to help them feel happy. Her response word for word was, "I just want to die.  I will be happy if I die because then I can see my daughter!"  I cannot explain the impact that one phrase had on my life!  Nobody in the world should have to go through what she is going through.  Luckily her husband (they just got married to be baptized) is a solid rock and a huge help for her!  In a different lesson this week she started balling during the middle of the lesson and went to her room.  I feel terrible and as a little weenie 19 year old I have no idea what to say.  I guess that is why I am here, to learn and grow and help them however I can.  I just don't feel like it is enough.  I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of eternal families and the power of the Priesthood that is here on the earth.  I know we can be eternal families if we are sealed in the temple of the Lord! How grateful I am for that knowledge!
Other than that, it was a pretty normal week.  I had another exchange with Elder Brunis who is from Ecuador and has about 4 months left in the mission.  I am still doing super well and just kinda doing what every missionary should do.. work! :)  I hope you all are doing awesome and take the time to say your prayers, read the Book of Mormon, and go to the house of the Lord (the temple).  If not to go inside, just to be in its presence!  I love you all and wish you the best!

Love, Elder Slack

 

PS Prayers for the Marquez family would be greatly appreciated.  We meet with them again on Tuesday.

 

**I got these pictures of Brady and Carlos Pantoja who is the High Councilman for the Lucero Barrio (ward).  His niece, Sarah, is in my preschool class.  She was so excited to show me the pictures!

Elder Brady Slack and Lucero Barrio High Councilman, Carlos Pantoja

Elder Brady Slack, Thumbs up as always!

Not the greatest zoo...January 12, 2015

Holy time is flying by and I feel less and less like writing a big email!! ;)  The time kind of escaped me but I hope you are all doing well!!  It is all the same here except a couple we are teaching returned home this week from traveling.  They came to church and presented themselves to the class as future members who want to be sealed in the temple.  They are super awesome, the only thing is, their 8 year old daughter passed away a little less than 2 months ago.  I am so glad they are finally realizing the things they need to do here on earth but I am a little saddened to find out that something so tragic had to happen for them to realize it!!
We were able to go the zoo here and I have to say it isn't the greatest zoo.  Especially when you can see the apartment complex behind the elephant enclosure!  I do have to say they have quite the collection of iguanas!!  One I saw is just as big as our dog, Rigby!!!  We also watched a movie today and that was nice to just relax!!  I was also able to go on a couple of exchanges with Elder Gonzales from Bolivia, Elder Carrera from Guatemala, and Elder Kletzli from Kaysville!!  It is so interesting how different each and every one of them teach but how same the gospel is!!   As we start the new year I hope we will all realize the blessings that come from being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.   I know that I am here to help the people in Colombia.  Our Father in Heaven is just waiting for them to find it!  I know our Savior loves me and I know that this is the work of the Lord.  I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that we have a true and living prophet here on the Earth today.  I love my Savior and I know that it is through Him that we are able to live with our families forever.  I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week!! :)

Love, Elder Slack