Week 82: more riots and the Zonaida family

Teaching Blanca.  She is 9 years old and excited to get baptized next Saturday.  We were at their home to do a pre baptismal interview to see if she is ready to be baptized.

This week was better than last. We did have one problem though, there are paros or riots again. These ones so far are perfectly peaceful.  All they are doing is blocking off roads and they just sit there. It is nothing like the "fuera JOH". 

This week on Wednesday we had the oportunity to do interchanges with the assistants, Elder Valdetano is recovering from a surgery (he had appendicitis and should be back to working as hard as he does in 4 weeks) so I stayed with him in the mission office where he is working, while Elder Contreras and Elder Ozoria went to work in the assistants area. It was kind of fun to be in the office and mess around a little bit with the Elder's there. 

It was the next day that the paros started. The streets were blocked and it was super hard to get back to our area. We ended up getting a ride back to Santa Fe from the mission secretaries. 

On Friday we went to do an interview in the Quezada, there were not any buses because of the paros, so we had to take a taxi. The guy charged us 200 limps- which is insane! It was the lowest he could go. We about passed out at his first offer, it normally costs us 70 limps for the distance but because of all the blocked streets and stopping that was the cost to make his living. Anyway, we got to the Quezada and conducted the interview. By Saturday everything went back to normal, there weren't any paros so we could get around like normal. 

I guess they are taking weekends off because today, Monday, they are at it again!  They are protesting this time for the cost of gas and taxes, so the buses and the taxi's are angry I think. 

Yesterday (Sunday) everything was normal as well we went and taught Blanca. She is really excited to get baptized this next Saturday! It should go well. I'll take more fotos but really this week was kind of shut down because of the interchange and being trapped for a little bit. 

But hey- one thing I did take out of this week is sharing our testimony with everybody, and I mean everybody. I had the oportunity today to share my testimony to someone sending negative emails about the mormon church. I took the time to share with him what I knew to be true, and I hope it helps him. I know how much that one testimony can do. I know when we share what we know to be true the Lord hears it and is grateful that He has disciples He can count on and who follow Him. My invitation to all is to go and to share your testimony if you can today, and find the blessings the Lord has in store.

Love, Elder Roberts

Blanca got a hold of my camera. This is me with Maria. Maria is 14.
Blanca likes to mess around. She loves to play soccer in the street and run around with her siblings

Maria is active now. We have been trying to reactivate the whole family.  Hermana Zonaida and most of the family are trying to come back to church.  Paola and Blanca are the two that go more than most and they aren't members yet. 

Here is Elder Contreras and the backsides of Hermana Zonaida and her son Kaleth(10). The Zonaida family is really fun to be around.  They are kind of crazy, but when things get to the gospel everything quiets down and they are eager listeners.