Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Hey, 

Sorry I wanted to get a bunch of pictures through this time. I don't have much to say. This week has been mostly the same as last week except we said goodbye to our latino elders and are getting new latinos today. It was sad to see them leave but I'm glad I met each one of them. They have some crazy stories. President Duval says some of them have been members their whole lives but have never seen a functional ward or branch and some of them were even attending Catholic churches not too long before coming on a mission. President said, "we have a couple of Catholics amongst us". All of the latinos are great guys, the assistants to the president are awesome. Elder Egues and Elder Caruci are awesome guys. The language seems hard at times but then other times it just comes. Those moments where it just comes are so nice and very helpful for keeping my spirits up. We are always busy, we never have time for home sickness or anything like that, just work work work. 

I was reading in the Bible this morning about King Solomon and I learned so much from his example. I was specifically reading the story of when the two women approached him with a baby, each claiming it to be their own. That chapter has so much to learn about, I found a huge scripture chain on the words "understanding" and the "Spirit of God". It was just neat to learn from a king that lived so long ago. The scriptures hold so much knowledge. 

We sat in a devotional with President Duval who asked everyone to close their scriptures, and then stick their finger in and open to a random page and point to a random scripture without looking, every single scripture that was randomly picked was able to relate to us as individuals and as missionaries. We went through at least 20 different verses, each from a different person and each one taught us something different. That was really cool. 

Also quick note, my companions again are Elder Cox and Elder Kayser, Elder Cox is from Utah and Elder Kayser is from California. Elder Cox is the one with dark hair and Elder Kayser is the one with blonde hair. Both Elder Cox and I are serving in Quito. Elder Kayser will be serving in Cali, Columbia. They are both awesome guys. Elder Cox is one of the hardest workers I've ever met.  He never stops studying and is a great example to me. Elder Cox will be a great missionary. I know it! The language is hard for him, but with the amount of work he puts into learning it he will be a pro in a couple of months. Elder Kayser is a great guy as well, he is a few months older than me and worked for his former bishop as well before coming on the mission. He's got a great sense of humor and an amazing testimony. He reminds me a lot of Elder Anderson, and we get along the same way Elder Anderson and I did. He's become a great friend of mine.

The mission is pretty awesome or i should say the CCM is pretty awesome. I miss home and everyone there and I send my love. I'm working hard and doing great. 

                                                                                                                  -Elder Gonzalez

Also, how is daniel doing?? Is he better?? I'll be able to email next Thursday, just a heads up.

Bogota, Colombia

Bogota, Colombia

 Tiny Colombian car with loco motorcyclist passing between car and bus on highway.

My District at the CCM in Bogota, Colombia

future missionaries at the Bogota, Colombia Temple with Elder Gonzalez

Elder Cox, Elder Kayser and Elder Gonzalez, Bogota, Columbia

Elder Kayser, Elder Gonzalez, and Elder Cox in Bogota, Colombia

Elder Kayser, Elder Cox and Elder Gonzalez at the Bogota, Colombia CCM

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Hey Mom, 

This week has been amazing! I've grown so much. I've taught 4 lessons in spanish here at the CCM all anywhere from 20 to 45 min. I can understand most spanish but can hardly speak anything. 

I am in a trio companionship, Elder Cox, and Elder Kayser are my companions. I was called and set apart as district leader on Saturday, which is a ton of responsibility on top of having a 16 hour day each day. 

Today we went to the Bogota temple and it was beautiful. I have some pictures I'll send and some videos from my gopro since i took the sd card out of my gopro. My companions are awesome! The language is super hard, but I'm trying to do my best. 

Bogota is an interesting place and so very different than home. It's massive and has a huge population. The mountains are so pretty, with this foggy mist hanging over and on them all day. The weather is always the same, and hasn't changed yet. There is always a light rain during the day and low 70´s, I think, throughout the day. The CCM is pretty cool too, they never close any doors or windows. Some of the windows don't even close. There are no bugs here. I've seen a moth and beetle and that's it. My spelling is terrible so before sending this please check and correct it.

The food here puts your digestive system through a few phases. My companion, I won't say which one, wasn't able to go to the bathroom for 4 days until we went and asked the President's wife, Hermana Duval, for a pill. He's been good since.

Sorry I'm kinda all over the place. I have a lot to say and not a lot of time to say it so I'm trying to think of everything. Bogota is sorta like san antonio, tons of big buildings and highways and streets but it's kinda like post apocalyptic. The city is just dirty and old, lots of concrete. There isn't a single standing object that does not have graffiti on it, but some of the graffiti is pretty cool and almost professionally done. The cars here are so small, like a bunch of smart cars that can fit 5 people in them. And I don't think there are any driving laws.  I mean on the bus from the airport to the CCM we sped passed and cut off a police truck that had its lights on. Also no one stops at intersections you just kind of hope you don't get hit even if you are turning.  It's like a free for all and the motorcycles and mopeds are just so daring they squeeze through any space they can, We were going down the highway and passing another bus and a mopped came flying past in between and its like a shoulder width distance apart. 

Anyway, I love the mission so far. I miss you guys and hope all is well. I send Daniel my best wishes and hope Dad and Elias get home safe. 

Love Elder Gonzalez

Elder Cox

(Sam was having trouble sending pictures and didn't have any more time to send any of him.  Maybe next week!)                                                                                         

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

June 17, 2015

I arrived here in Bogota last night about 10:30 with a combination of 17 other Elders and Sisters. I received my nametags about 10 minutes ago so I am officially official. The 8 elders that arrived with me and myself are the only north american missionaries here. My companion is Elder Cox. Columbia is beautiful, the weather is perfect, sunny cool and fresh. The cars are tiny and the street is loud during the day, at night it is dead silent. the next time i will be able to write is the 25th of this month, i believe that is next thursday. Cool thing about Colombia is they don't have daylight savings time. The sun comes up at 5:30 a.m. and goes down 5:30 p.m. I dont have a lot of time but I want you all to know I love you very much and am very grateful for all your prayers.

                                             -Elder Gonzalez 

Leaving Soon!

Sam (Elder Gonzalez) is getting ready to leave for Bogata, Columbia for about 5 weeks of training at the Missionary Training Center.  He will later fly to Quito, Ecuador and be assigned to another missionary as they teach the gospel, serve others and study together.  We are excited to hear of his many adventures, growth, and successes as he serves and devotes his life to teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ for two whole years.  If you want to receive emails of his adventures as well, please subscribe by pressing the "Follow By Email" button on the right. Mom will be updating the blog weekly as weekly emails arrive and hopefully pictures will be included!