A Wedding, Baptisms, Soccer, and International Foods Day

Hey Hey HEY

Hi everybody! Como van? Bien? Bueno :) Hope you all had a good week. This week was pretty crazy actually- not gonna lie ha! Lots of things happened, but I'll just fill you guys in on a few things that went down... So Friday morning we got Carolina and Fihber married. Good stuff! Friday afternoon I went in a division with Elder Armstrong. He's from Kanab, Utah. We went to a member's house in his ward who owns a bakery, and we made a few huge trays of brownies for our activity, International Foods, we did Friday night.. It was also like the wedding party for Carolina and Fihber. We did it in the chapel. It was stressful, but turned out sweet. Elder Viza and the two sisters we share the ward with all cooked something from their countries. It turned out cool. About 150 people showed up. That's like 100 more than show up for sacrament meeting haah! Anyway, Saturday we had a baptismal service. I baptized two boys the sisters had been teaching, and then baptized Carolina. Saturday night after our baptisms, an Elder called me from my zone stressed out because his baptism fell through. We all had a commitment that if everybody in the mission baptized, that we could all go to Cali to say goodbye to President, and this Elder was the only one who hadn't baptized in our zone. We got down there and helped him out, and talked to his investigator, and he ended up getting baptized! Stressful and all, but we completed here in Pasto. We waited Sunday night for the call- the green light to travel to Cali for the farewell of President Prince, but the APs called us about 10 50 and told us that we almost completed as a mission, but fell short... NO farewell for President Prince. We were super bummed out, but oh well! What can you do. The Lord really helped us out here in Pasto though. With prayer, fasting, and hard work, we all baptized here in Pasto. The Lord is great. Although I won't be able to say goodbye to President Prince, I know the work will go forward. President Pricolli is coming in this week, and onward ever onward! Anyway, ran out of time, but thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. I'll send pics this week for sure. Hope you all have a good week. Talk to you more next Monday!

Elder Dean

 Proud Colombians

 Carolina and Fihber

 Baptism

 

 Brownies

 Dinner is served

Happy 20.

YO YO YO

Hey everybody. What's up? Sorry I'm pretty short on time this week but I'll write a quick letter... This week was pretty normal, but good. Yesterday was my birthday- nothing so special going on or anything. A few "Happy birthday Elder Dean" s from the members in church, and Carlos bought me ice cream and a book that I'll have to read after the mission. Awesome guy, Carlos. His sister, who's like 38, gave me a cupcake and kissed me for my birthday. Took me by surprise! Carlos was like, " Hey you can't kiss him! He's a missionary!" haha Funny stuff. I was probably more red than a tomato. But thanks for all your birthday wishes. I love you all. Happy 20... Weird. This week is President Prince's last full week as President, and then we are getting a change of president. Not sure how I feel about that. A little weird for sure, but you just gotta keep rolling with it I suppose. Anyway, sorry I had to cut it short this week, but thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. I hope you all have a good week, and I'll write you all more next week for sure! CHAO.

Elder Dean

Transfers and Immigration.

Hey everybody!

Hey everybody- what's new? I hope you all had a good week. My week was good... And hectic haha! So last Tuesday I had to get all of the missionaries out of Pasto for transfers early in the morning. I got together with Elder Payne (he's the zone leader in Pasto) because our companions both got transferred. It was hectic, but it all turned out well... Until about 11 o'clock. The president's secretary called me "ELDER DEAN! IMGIGRACION HAS SISTER LOPEZ AND CHUB!!!" I was like "What?!?" He told me that the police stopped the bus the missionaries were on that I sent out, and had taken Sister chub and Lopez... That's when I remembered- I had forgot to renew Sisters Chub's visa... My heart sank! I rushed down to immigration, and there they were, locked up, and ready to deport Sister Chub... I spent 5 hours running around Pasto like a chicken with my head cut off, getting the visa renewed, and 6 hours later finally got them out. WHEW. Almost had a sister missionary deported on my watch. Strike 3- you're dead Elder Dean haha. But in the end, all is well. Traveled to Cali all day Wednesday for zone leader council on Thursday. Got together with my new companion, EL GRAN ELDER VIZA. But the ride all night home was the pits... Ha. Sunday afternoon we were able to help Carlos with another activity for his foundation. Didn't turn out as well as the last one, but it was still good. Carlos is a stud- he gave a good chat. Well errrbody.... gotta get back to work. P-day has come and gone. Spent half of it in the hospital with Elder Arias.  He split his head open when we were playing soccer today. Fun stuff! Poor kid. Anyway, love you all. Hope you all have an awesome weekend. Grateful for your prayers and thoughts. The mission is an adventure. The hardest and best adventure I've ever been on. The church is true. Have a good week!

Elder Dean

 

 

Whipping up some agua panela

 

 Sunday with Carlos

2 Transfers in Pasto, Another To Go.

Hi thurrrr!

 

Hey everybody. Como van? I'm doing good here. A little chilly and a tad bit stressed, but its all goooooood. So this week was pretty normal working wise... Waiting for the transfers to come in, which they did last night. Annnnnnd like half my zone is outta here. haha I think 8 missionaries got transferred, including my companion, Elder Delgadillo. He is headed to Cali, close to the offices for his last 3 weeks in the mission field. We spent today, pday, for him to get ready to head out tomorrow morning. My new companion is Elder Viza from Peru. I know him a bit. He was in my first zone in Cali for a few months, and I have talked to him on occasions. Seems like a serious guy, but a good missionary for sure. We will get together in zone leader conference in Cali Thursday, and then travel back all night Thursday to Pasto. Everybody in the zone is headed off tomorrow, so I will have to get together with Elder Payne, the zone leader in Ipalies tomorrow to not be alone, and then him and I will travel together all day Wednesday to get to Cali for council.... Crazy week! Completed my second transfer (3 months) here in Pasto, and getting ready to start another one! It was a good 3 months here with Elder Delgadillo. Hard moments and fantastic moments... Awesome people like Carlos, Angela, and many others we were able to help. He is headed back to Guatemala in 3 weeks, finishing his 2 years here. I'm grateful to have had him as a companion, even though there were hard moments. He was and is an excellent person and missionary. I learned a lot, and I am excited and looking forward here to the future. Kinda a crummy connection today. I couldn't really communicate well with anybody- sorry! But happy birthday Sara! Love you! Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts during this week, and prayers for smooth transitions during transfers... Love you all have a great week!

Elder Dean