Pictures*

 ^The first couple pictures sent

  ^Week4

^Week5

 ^Leaning on a tree... Like a boss.

 ^The beautiful canyons of bucaramanga.

^The Zone! Each district consists of 3 companerismos, or companionships.

^Feeding the birds in the "Plaza of Justice" I believe it was.
What we did was throw some food down for the pidgeons,
and then hold some in our hand, and they'd fly to it and often fight over it.

 ^I'm wearing a fedora, fashioned after the Colombian Sombreros called Vueltiaos.
It's made of palm bark and can be folded, rolled up, and stowed in a pocket or
backpack. It's pretty neat, but I really don't wear it here to avoid looking like a tourist.

^A soccer Jersey of one of the local teams here called Athletico national.

I love this jersey, it's very comfortable and you can't but it in the US. HAH!

Updates

OKAY! So I've neglected this blog for three weeks too long. How's everyone doing?? I just learned that I'm allowed to receive emails to shene.patrick@myldsmail.net making your lives THIS much easier to send me your heartfelt messages to me. Hmmm news. Well there has been a lot of spiritual experiences here that I wish I could just post in one blog message. From now on, I will try to get at least one on here. I can only type so fast to so many people with only one hour yknow? So, this week we has an investigator, Laura, and her mother showed a very strong interest after we shared the restoration of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. I was able to share the importance of prophets throughout history in the bible, as well as in today's times, in Spanish! It was so great, and I hope they receive another visit. Unfortunately, I won't be visiting them again. Fortunately, I'm going to Bogota, where it's cooler, bigger, and fiesta!! (except, missionaries have their own way of fiestando{partying}) I'm going to have an english speaking companion, who's only been here for 6 months, so we'll need to work extra hard to learn spanish, but I know the Lord will help us overcome this challenge. I'm still here and kickin after all. I'll have much more to write next week. I'm looking forward to a 9 hour bus ride starting tomorrow morning, and a shopping spree for breakfast the next day. Oh spanish for the week. Have you ever realized that breakfast is break fast? Fast as in, fasting, without food. It's the same here. Breakfast is Desayuno, or Des Ayuno which literally means breakfast or break the fast. Caio everyone! Love you all!

2 Semanas en Colombia

Well... Where do I start? Aside from the jet lag and the 9-hour Indiana Jones ride to get here, I'm adapting quite nicely. Everyone loves a gringo!! :p Waking up at 6:30am has never felt better! The work here is good. We have 3 baptisms set in stone, and I already see how the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Evangelio de Jesucristo) has already impacted their lives, and the lives of each member of their family. Even though I'm soooo bad at speaking this language, I can feel it in the air of their homes. Colombia is so cool, the people here are very kind and generous. They don't slam the door in your face. The worst I've gotten is, "Soy catolico!! Estoy no interesado." (probably didn't say that right.) But that's pretty much an old lady saying that she's too involved in her church to hear our message. Which is okay. This is only the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ after all. I'm working hard each day, and things are going great!
I also ask, please don't send me physical letters, or packages. I love them so so very much, but they only cause me stress and grief, I don't want any of the things your sending me to get stolen. Just hold onto them until after my mission, or send them to my home address for my parents to save up until my return. Until then, just email shene.patrick@myldsmail.net. I may or may not reply immediately, for my time is limited, but I will. I love you all and your dedication,
Vaya con dios:
Elder Patrick

Update

Hola all!!!!
Sooo much to talk about... Well after I got in after my flight, I was able to stay at the lovely apartment of President and sister Hacking! :D I was sooo nervous, no one here speaks any english! Sister Hacking took us to the store and taught us how to shop economically, how colombian pesos translate to USDs and such... 10,000 pesos is divided by two. So... 5 dollars=10,000 (or 10mil) pesos. Some things are more expensive than others, american made stuff (or at least american brands) Like Campbells, is 4 dollars where it would be .99 cents or less in america. But the stuff made here, is definitely cheaper. The spanish is coming faster by live here, for sure. I'm not in Bogota, but north, in Bucaramanga. Bogota didn't have any humidity at all but Bucaramanga does. It's okay though! It's not Arizona/Texas hot!! :) I had to register with migration, amongst other things the first day I was here, we also had orientation when that picture was taken, the to-dos and not to-dos of the mission. Simple stuff really.
Well, it was a 9 hour bus ride to Bucaramanga, ugh, it was rough... The area is beautiful, as seen in the photos, the other photo is of my companion and his first convert.
I love the people here already, they're so polite. Even when they don't want our message. They understand that I can't talk spanish well either. It's stressful though. I don't feel like I'm working, per say. Mainly my companion figures out what to say and do because... well I can't.
Again, I love the area, my companion, the people, and no complaints, save it be one... the language. There's not a whole lot to say when your companions only speak spanish. :P
Today, as a zone, we bowled. I never would've thought there would be a bowling alley here, but there is!! We normally do some sort of activity on Mondays as a refresher. There's a lot of exotic fruits, drinks, etc etc. I just had some churizzo dogs today. and I don't think I've had a single normal meal here, except Subway the first day. We've had fish soup to... I think they're called Latinas? They're like jello, I honestly have no idea... I'm loving it. No winter, I got my first sunburn, ahhh Viva la vida.
I know this is a splurge of info, it's hard to sum up a week into a message within an hour!!!
Also, if you send a letter, please send one with your email address, as I can't send letters because they cost about 40 usd to send.
Love you all, thanks for the support,
Your missionary,
Elder Patrick.

Hola!

Hola Everyone!!
This is my last 24 hours in the states, this time tomorrow I'll be on a plane headed for South America. To be honest, I felt like the time went slow, at the time, but here I am now! Swoosh! Fast... My time here has been priceless, it's the experience of a lifetime, and this isn't even the best part. While I've been here: I have encountered the spirit in miraculous ways, I have found more of myself and my purpose, I have grown even closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but there's still a ways to go, and I've gained a greater love for those around me, to name a few. Thank you so much, to everyone who's sent me letters, emails, and suppot. I can talk, for the most part, in spanish!! It's a miracle! Who knew I could actually learn a language! We've heard from four apostles since I've been here. I've been truly blessed with this experience. It's been fun here. If you're in the church, and my age... go on a mission. If you're in the church, and retired... go on a mission with your spouse! If you're in the church and any age, read the Book of Mormon! and if you're not in the church, get baptized, you'll be glad you did! Thanks again for all your support in my life, I am who I am today because of you.
Love you,
Elder Patrick.

Felices Nuevos Anos!

Felices Nuevos Anos!
Hello everyone! Another week come and gone, and so fast too! Thanks to the Christmas and New Years. We're really pushing to learn the language these next two weeks, I know that when I get to Colombia, they're going to be talking a million miles a minute, so I'm all the practice I can get. I can say so much, like... ? Podria ir al cafeteria? Its just... could we go to the cafeteria? Because food is Mui importante! I'm sooo close to finishing the Book of Mormon! My reading kind of slowed down from all the stuff here around the holidays, from all the investigator studies we had to do, and so on. We only have about 2 hours of personal study a day, and sometimes I use all that up just trying to prepare lessons! But I still get my half an hour reading in. The Book of Mormon is so amazing, again, if you're not all ready, READ IT. As the new year proceeds, I wish all of you a strong commitment to your resolutions, and the love you have for one another. I wish all of you the spirit hat I receive in my life, it's truly a blessing to feel so positive, and so moved to do the Lord's work. My time is running out here, I promise that I will write more words next week. Love and a good week to all!
Love,
Elder Patrick.