Misión Colombia Barranquilla
Here are free resources about the Colombia Barranquilla Mission:
Aquí están algunos recursos gratuitos sobre la Misión Colombia Barranquilla:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
*Other Mission Pages: Colombia LDS Missions.
Barranquilla Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Colombia Barranquilla Mission. We try to keep this info up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
Colombia Barranquilla Mission
Calle 82 # 55-20, Apto 201
Edificio Mattisse
Barranquilla, Atlantico
Colombia
Phone Number: 57-5-358-2818
Mission President: President John J. Gallego Infante
Colombia Barranquilla Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Colombia Barranquilla Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Barranquilla Mission:
Barranquilla Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Colombia Barranquilla Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
Barranquilla Mission Groups
Here are Colombia Barranquilla Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Barranquilla Mission.
- Mision Colombia Barranquilla Facebook Group (800 members)
- Retornados Mision Barranquilla en Chile Group (222 members)
- Mision Colombia Barranquilla Facebook Group (66 members)
- Mision Barranquilla 1992 a 1993 Presidente Rogers Group (51 members)
- Colombia Barranquilla Mission Facebook Group (30 members)
- Barranquilla Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group (2 members)
Barranquilla Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Colombia Barranquilla Mission!
Shirt designs include Colombia Barranquilla Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Colombia Barranquilla missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Barranquilla Mission gifts
Barranquilla Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Barranquilla LDS Mission.
- 2016-2019, John J. Gallego Infante
- 2013-2016, Kent R. Searle
- 2010-2013, Carlos A. Gaviria
- 2007-2010, Robin O. Roundy
- 2004-2007, Julio Ramon Davila Duran
- 2001-2004, Cesar Augusto Davila
- 1998-2001, Héctor Hernández Malaver
- 1995-1998, Thomas E. Cavanaugh
- 1992-1995, Alan D. Rogers
- 1989-1992, Daniel Pedro Alvarez
- 1989-1989, Soper
- 1988-1989, Frank Berrett
Colombia LDS Statistics (2016)
- Church Membership: 193,350
- Missions: 5
- Temples: 1
- Congregations: 264
- Family History Centers: 51
Helpful Articles about Colombia
Barranquilla Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Colombia Barranquilla RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.
When did you serve?
- 2014-2016 (Clark)
- 2014 (Doris)
- 1996-1998 (Daniel)
- 1996-1998 (Tom)
What areas did you serve in?
- Alto Bisque, Cartagena Centro, Baranoa, and Recreo. (Doris)
- Cartagena, Sincelejo, Barranquilla, Valledupar and Santa Marta. (Daniel)
- Cartagena (Lemaitre, Blas de Lezo III), Sincelejo (Majagual, 20 de Julio, North Side), Barranquilla, and Malambo/Bella Vista. (Tom)
What were some favorite foods?
- Patacones (fried plantains), Mojarra Roja Frita (Fried Red Perch Fish), Coconut Rice, Papa Chorreada (Boiled Potata with Salsa and Cheese), Empanada de Trigo (Flour-based pork-filled empanadas), Salchipapa (5 kinds of meat, cheese, 4 types of sauce, lettuce, french fries). (Clark)
- Arepas. (Doris)
- Anything “Mami Pabón” cooked. She can turn the most disgusting dish into a delicacy. Any of her “motes” are great. Pizza Hut was also good, but not as good as her cooking. (Daniel)
- Patacones, jugo de mango, guanabana, tomate de arbol, mote de queso, and yuca frita con suero… (Tom)
What was a funny experience?
- As a zone leader I took a missionary on an exchange on my area, with the goal in mind to look for opportunities to serve those around us as a way to find investigators. We saw an old, tired man in a tienda and we asked if we could help him to which he responded “Si, CLARO!” he told us that he was unloading some crates from his truck that was parked on the other side of the tienda. We walked back there and realized that the truck was filled with crates of beer, and we couldn’t back down from a service opportunity we had JUST asked for…so one of us unloaded the truck while the other handed out word of wisdom pamphlets to curious onlookers. (Clark)
- People world say that they could respect all religions but mine was a fake one so I would say that the person wouldn’t respect all of them. The person would stop for a while and my companion and I would laugh. So we would leave the place gently. (Doris)
- A new missionary trying to preach to a drunk man telling us he was going to kill us and swinging a screwdriver. (Tom)
What was a crazy experience?
- There was a drug seizure the first night that I was training a new missionary. We had just gotten out of a lesson in a very poor part of town and we saw a Police/Colombian SWAT team set up snipers all around the hill that surrounded this ghetto we were in. One of the police motioned for us to quickly and quietly get up the hill. We did, and as soon as they sent us on our way down the hill, we heard the team leader whisper “Uno, Dos, Tres” and they started shooting all the windows, walls (and people) in the house next to where we had just been teaching. It was a great way to “ease” my new companion into mission life! (Clark)
- When a crazy man held and kissed my hand and started yelling my nationality. That was scary. (Doris)
- My companion and I were teaching this really great family who were getting ready to be baptized. One day, he and I saw two shadows in our room who were looking at us with quite some hate. The next day we visited this family, one of the daughters tried to kill her siblings during the night. We were pretty scared at this and wrote President Cavanaugh about it, asking him what to do in such a case. Unfortunately, I got transferred out before I got an answer, and never knew what became of this family. I was young and dumb I guess. (Daniel)
- Got pulled over and held by the guerrilla in a taxi between Sincelejo and Cartagena on a rural back road when my mom came to pick me up. (Tom)
What was a spiritual experience?
- My companion and I usually took a three-wheeled motorcycle to church every Sunday because of how far away the chapel was. One Sunday, our driver was particularly interested in our message, so we invited him to stay for church with us. And he did! He was an older, tattooed man living with a woman that was not his wife at the time. After having taught him for a week, he had read half of the Book of Mormon and decided to leave the woman he was living with to comply with the Law of Chastity. I’ve never seen such a faithful man in my life! He left his job, woman, house, friends, and life for the past 25 years and showed up at his wife’s house the next day with only his clothes and a few pesos. He was baptized and, in turn, baptized his sweet wife and their children. They are now sealed for time and all eternity. (Clark)
- One time my companion and I were riding the bus back from our city from the capital and it was kind of late. We were sat right in the back of the bus and a guy pulled out a gun. He stole from every person in the bus but us missionaries. I could feel like angels were protecting me and my companion in a bubble, and not allowing the man to see us. (Doris)
- The first discussion with the family above was a pretty spiritual occasion. Another one was, one day while packing my 2 Books of Mormon, I felt impressed to pack more, so I packed another 2. I felt that I still needed more. The feeling didn’t stop until I had packed 10 books. A little while after that, while tracting, we met this guy who introduced us to a whole bunch of his friends, and oh surprise, we had exactly the 10 books that we needed to give each and every one of them. I have a long friendship with one of those people, who married in the temple and currently lives in Utah. (Daniel)
- Seeing people change their lives to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Tom)
What are some interesting facts about the Barranquilla Mission?
- A temple is being constructed in the main city of Barranquilla. This mission has been rumored to have been named “The Strictest Mission in South America” by Elder Christofferson of the Quorum of the 12 and by Elder Juan Uceda of the 70. Also the birth place of Shakira, Carlos Vives, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Home to the second oldest city in South America (Santa Marta). Parque Tayrona is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (a part of where the film “Pirates of the Caribbean” was filmed). Barranquilla is home to the 2nd largest Carnaval festival on earth. (Clark)
- The miracles I was able to see and be part of, the place, that rules, the people. Everything. (Doris)
- The mission was baptizing a whole lot of people until President Cavanaugh got to be president, then the baptisms plummeted. Turns out, some missionaries were luring kids and baptizing them, getting names from cemeteries and practices like that, so when President Cavanaugh heard of that, he changed a bunch of rules and then missionaries were only allowed to baptize future priesthood or whole families. Area presidency got a hold of the plummeting in baptisms and had a talk with President Cavanaugh, who had to explain what was going on. They then approved President Cavanaugh’s policies. (Daniel)
What was the weather like?
- Very hot. The farther inland you go, the more humid it gets. I served in the hottest part of the mission (Arjona) where it would get up 110 degrees during the hotter months. (Clark)
- Super hot. (Doris)
- Hot and humid all the time. All the time. (Daniel)
- Very hot! (Tom)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- I admired the love that the people have for God. Traditionally, they are BIG party-er’s and drinkers, but I have also met some people who craved repentance in their lives and truly had a thirst for righteousness. The people are very cordial and accepting (I don’t think I had a single door shut in my face). The Caribbean coast of Colombia is beautiful, and the culture is a unique blend of the ancestors of escaped Haitian slaves, Venezuelans, Turkish Immigrants, Spanish, and native Indian people (The Wayuu or Guajiran Indians). (Clark)
- People are nice to strangers and they appreciate a nice talk. The landscape there is awesome. (Doris)
- Really open and friendly people. (Daniel)
- Wonderful people with warm, humble hearts. Beautiful terrain. (Tom)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Wear light clothing. Suits are no longer required. Pack durable shoes (most areas will require walking upwards of 10 miles per day, 15 in the rural pueblos). Get a good rain jacket, because when monsoon season hits, it will mean rain up to your waist. (Clark)
- Light clothes. Make sure to always have a peace of cloth in your bag to dry the sweat from your face. (Doris)
- Don’t pack a suit. They will keep suits at the mission office for the duration of your mission. (Daniel)
- Wear cotton clothes, cotton/poly garments work well. Expect a lot of mud! (Tom)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- I received answers to questions in my life such as “what career/educational goals should I pursue afterwards?”, I utilized a large portion of my study time to getting to know the Book of Mormon (I got to read it 11 times!), and I came to love it and use it frequently in my teaching. The mission is the root of almost every blessing I have received since returning home! (Clark)
- My dad started paying tithing, parents got sealed in the temple, and we started having family home evenings. My family got closer to God. (Doris)
- A greater testimony, the ability to talk to people and be more extroverted than before my mission. (Daniel)
- Innumerable. (Tom)
What are some skills you gained?
- I became fluent in Spanish (Colombia is widely recognized as one of the purest and most beautiful of all Castilian dialects). I learned to be obedient with exactitude and be tolerant of those who are still learning to do so. I became more bold in uncomfortable situations. I learned to work with Ward Councils with very little leadership experience. (Clark)
- I learn how to love people, how to cook, and be helpful. (Doris)
- Very strong Spanish skills. Colombian Spanish is highly regarded among Spanish speakers. (Tom)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- That numbers do not equate to success. Our mission would post the top numbers from every week via the mission email, and it became a competition very quickly. Our mission broke the record for most lessons taught in a week in South America: 113, but lagged behind in baptisms. I wish I had understood earlier that neither lessons or baptisms are a number game, and that both are natural results of loving God, having the spirit with you, and having a good work ethic. (Clark)
- Don’t follow lessons, follow the Spirit. Try to understand investigators before anything. Be a good friends with the investigators even if the person doesn’t get baptized, you can help this person someday after your mission. (Doris)
- The suit thing for one. Also, that two years really do fly by. (Daniel)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Barranquilla?
- Your right power to cry repentance as a mouthpiece for The Only True and Living God is limited! Use it (righteously) to the max! Stand up on the bus and preach the gospel, go to the DJ on open-mic night and preach over the microphone, talk to everyone you see on the streets, ask for referrals from everyone! Live up to your potential! (Clark)
- Be yourself. Don’t let any rule or person make you feel like a robot. God needs your personality so you and only you can invite people to follow Jesus Christ, in a way only you and your personality can.
- Don’t take the kids and their “mojones” thing too seriously. You’ll see what I mean. (Daniel)
- Prepare to teach by the Spirit. (Tom)
What was a funny language mistake?
- I’m a native Spanish speaker, but during my first month in Cartagena, my companion had to translate mostly everything to me. Kind of frustrating. (Daniel)