Friday, February 19, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Feb 15, 2010
Dear Family,
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” See you on Friday.
Love,
Elder Dennis
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” See you on Friday.
Love,
Elder Dennis
Monday, February 8, 2010
Feb 8, 2010
Hello family,
This week went pretty well, but I’m frustrated at the work, it’s not going so hot here in Pedro Juan. We’re working hard, and I’m trying to do my very best, but we’re just not seeing the results right now. This week though, I bought a little pocket balance to weigh my suitcases and get them all ready for the flight home, and after some preliminaries, I can tell I’m going to have a kind of a tough time getting things all squared away, because I eliminated the main things, but I still have about 4 or 5 pounds to deal with of things I want to take home. I’ll figure it out this week though, I’m not too concerned, I might have to leave just a little bit more than I would like here in Paraguay. I’m leaving all of my church clothes... I’m probably going to give all of it to Eddy for his mission... he already has his papers in.
Okay, here’s the low down for next week. Monday night, I’ll travel in from Pedro Juan to Asunción, so that on Tuesday, I’ll go through the temple with Eddy! I still have some details to work out, but I plan on calling Eddy tonight to find those out, like what time the session will be and everything. I have Pte Wade’s full support, and so Elder Spencer will also be there, and Elder Peterson, who I found Eddy with, is an AP right now, so he’s got my back and will be there too. So it’s definitely going down, that’s for sure! I’m so excited, its the perfect way to end these past two years.
I’m feeling better, I just have this little cough that's lingering a little bit. But whatever it takes to get released, Pres. Standage is a great guy to be willing to do that for me. What time at night are we talking about at night though? Not that it really matters, I just really really really want to go snowboarding first thing Saturday. Tell Haley thanks for getting everything set up for me, I really wish I didn’t have to make you gals do stuff like that, I feel like I’m just being a burden haha. Anyways, ask Sis. Brooks to prepare a little bit, my favorite is Num. 48 in the Spanish Hymnal, “Divina Luz.” I’ll probably just sing, cause I haven’t been practicing lately hahaha. I’m such a slacker, sorry mom. But as far as going to the temple, I’m game for whatever you guys wanna do... I’ll probably have to buy garments soon though... because looking at weight and the things I wanna bring home, I’m probably not going to bring that much home. But don’t you go ordering stuff now, I want to re-look at everything they have when I get home.
Anyways, I love you all lots,
Elder Dennis
This week went pretty well, but I’m frustrated at the work, it’s not going so hot here in Pedro Juan. We’re working hard, and I’m trying to do my very best, but we’re just not seeing the results right now. This week though, I bought a little pocket balance to weigh my suitcases and get them all ready for the flight home, and after some preliminaries, I can tell I’m going to have a kind of a tough time getting things all squared away, because I eliminated the main things, but I still have about 4 or 5 pounds to deal with of things I want to take home. I’ll figure it out this week though, I’m not too concerned, I might have to leave just a little bit more than I would like here in Paraguay. I’m leaving all of my church clothes... I’m probably going to give all of it to Eddy for his mission... he already has his papers in.
Okay, here’s the low down for next week. Monday night, I’ll travel in from Pedro Juan to Asunción, so that on Tuesday, I’ll go through the temple with Eddy! I still have some details to work out, but I plan on calling Eddy tonight to find those out, like what time the session will be and everything. I have Pte Wade’s full support, and so Elder Spencer will also be there, and Elder Peterson, who I found Eddy with, is an AP right now, so he’s got my back and will be there too. So it’s definitely going down, that’s for sure! I’m so excited, its the perfect way to end these past two years.
I’m feeling better, I just have this little cough that's lingering a little bit. But whatever it takes to get released, Pres. Standage is a great guy to be willing to do that for me. What time at night are we talking about at night though? Not that it really matters, I just really really really want to go snowboarding first thing Saturday. Tell Haley thanks for getting everything set up for me, I really wish I didn’t have to make you gals do stuff like that, I feel like I’m just being a burden haha. Anyways, ask Sis. Brooks to prepare a little bit, my favorite is Num. 48 in the Spanish Hymnal, “Divina Luz.” I’ll probably just sing, cause I haven’t been practicing lately hahaha. I’m such a slacker, sorry mom. But as far as going to the temple, I’m game for whatever you guys wanna do... I’ll probably have to buy garments soon though... because looking at weight and the things I wanna bring home, I’m probably not going to bring that much home. But don’t you go ordering stuff now, I want to re-look at everything they have when I get home.
Anyways, I love you all lots,
Elder Dennis
Monday, February 1, 2010
Feb 1, 2010
Hey there family,
So, I come home this month! Wow, I can’t believe the time is actually ending, I only have 2 more Sundays here in Paraguay, and then I’ll be giving my homecoming talk. But don’t you worry mom, I’ll be home on the 19th, and not before hahaha. But I’m afraid even like ten thousand miles doesn’t stop the germs from spreading in the family. Right now I have a sore throat thats affecting my voice and this wheezing cough in my chest and a constant headache... its not fun. But that’s okay, I’m going home soon.
Yesterday I had to teach the Sunday School class about the creation, and that was fun. I also ended the Old Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants this past week, which I was pushing to finish by the end of the mission, and it feels so good to have met with that goal. Now I just have to finish the Book of Mormon in Spanish, and I’m in Helaman right now, so I’m on a pretty good track to be finishing it up right at the end. Now I’m debating trying to read through the New Testament as well to say I read the Bible cover to cover without stopping on the mission. We’ll see what the week brings.
Well, I don’t know how much of a morning child I’ll be... but my goal is to wake up at like 8 after the mission. Not extremely early, but not late either. I hate waking up at 6.30, and it sucks because Elder Adamson is a morning person, but he’s learned that he can’t talk to me until 9 when personal studies are over... he was shocked when he heard how I wouldn’t let Haley talk to me on the car rides to seminary in high school. He and his siblings were chatter boxes according to him. It’s amazing how the mission changes one and makes them adapt to live with people who are completely different than oneself. Like now I can’t wait to get home to talk to Haley and Mom... and talking was the thing I hated more than anything before the mission. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no talker, but just a pleasant conversation from time to time would be nice.
I’m super excited to go snowboarding right when I get back though, I can’t wait to race Cole down the mountain. After two years, I can almost guarantee that he’ll beat me! But tell him to keep practicing, because I’ll still give him a run for his money (well, more than mom anyways hahaha). Remember how Robyn would just plant her feet and go?! No one could beat that girl... it was so funny to watch her go down the mountain.
Anyways, talk to ya later alligator.
Elder Dennis
PS. Any news on getting released?... its extremely important!
So, I come home this month! Wow, I can’t believe the time is actually ending, I only have 2 more Sundays here in Paraguay, and then I’ll be giving my homecoming talk. But don’t you worry mom, I’ll be home on the 19th, and not before hahaha. But I’m afraid even like ten thousand miles doesn’t stop the germs from spreading in the family. Right now I have a sore throat thats affecting my voice and this wheezing cough in my chest and a constant headache... its not fun. But that’s okay, I’m going home soon.
Yesterday I had to teach the Sunday School class about the creation, and that was fun. I also ended the Old Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants this past week, which I was pushing to finish by the end of the mission, and it feels so good to have met with that goal. Now I just have to finish the Book of Mormon in Spanish, and I’m in Helaman right now, so I’m on a pretty good track to be finishing it up right at the end. Now I’m debating trying to read through the New Testament as well to say I read the Bible cover to cover without stopping on the mission. We’ll see what the week brings.
Well, I don’t know how much of a morning child I’ll be... but my goal is to wake up at like 8 after the mission. Not extremely early, but not late either. I hate waking up at 6.30, and it sucks because Elder Adamson is a morning person, but he’s learned that he can’t talk to me until 9 when personal studies are over... he was shocked when he heard how I wouldn’t let Haley talk to me on the car rides to seminary in high school. He and his siblings were chatter boxes according to him. It’s amazing how the mission changes one and makes them adapt to live with people who are completely different than oneself. Like now I can’t wait to get home to talk to Haley and Mom... and talking was the thing I hated more than anything before the mission. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no talker, but just a pleasant conversation from time to time would be nice.
I’m super excited to go snowboarding right when I get back though, I can’t wait to race Cole down the mountain. After two years, I can almost guarantee that he’ll beat me! But tell him to keep practicing, because I’ll still give him a run for his money (well, more than mom anyways hahaha). Remember how Robyn would just plant her feet and go?! No one could beat that girl... it was so funny to watch her go down the mountain.
Anyways, talk to ya later alligator.
Elder Dennis
PS. Any news on getting released?... its extremely important!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Jan 25, 2010
Well it sounds like the cruise stunk like old fish. Not a pleasing odor.
Anyways, I’m here in a tropical death trap. Actually, its not too bad lately, it actually got really cold here last week as a storm passed through with a chilly cold front, so yesterday it started to get just the humid, stiffling heat again. It was just about perfect for 2 or 3 days, nice and hot during the day in the sun, but nice and cool in the shade and at night. Suffice it to say, I am not looking forward to cold weather here in three weeks. But I’m still working extremely hard down here, trying to live to the max the little time I have left. Two years is a short time compared to the great missionaries of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, but it is definitely plenty, because its just long enough to be like okay, this was fun, but short enough to say I hope it doesn’t go by too fast when you first start out (as my kid says almost everyday). I’ll just quote my trainer Elder Nilsen: “It goes by fast, but two years is a looooong time.” It does go by incredibly fast though, I can hardly believe that its already been almost two full years since I’ve seen everyone back home.
Alright, first weekend home. Have you worked in time there on Friday for me to get released yet? That's definitely priority level number one. I’m thinking after getting me we should go out to Bob Evans for breakfast, or iHop or something of the like. Then we can start the drive home, stop at Olive Garden for lunch, and then we can just hang out at the house and order pizza for dinner. Then we can go snowboarding in the morning, and get a Panera soup bread bowl on the way home. And then the baptism at night. And somewhere in there we should go swimming at the indoor pool hahaha. Those are just some suggestions...
Anyway, Pedro Juan is good, me and Elder Reid are getting pretty trunky with only three weeks left... I bet you can’t tell from my letter, can ya? But its okay, its P-Day. The new apartment is awesome though, I like it alot, I almost wish I got to stay there for more than just three weeks. Almost is the key word. But that's saying a lot for a Parguayan place. In relation to the church, its south west. Like there’s a main road that comes out from the Shopping China intersection and goes west. Its like two blocks north of that, like three blocks south and five blocks west of the church, on the corner of the street. Anyways, I’m working hard, and trying to help out everyone and just focus on the people. Anyways, tell dad I sorta started working on my talk for when I get home. Oh, and I don’t know about playing the guitar for Cole’s baptism... I’m not a very good singer while playing the guitar. Maybe it’d be different with the melody accompaniment on the piano though. I could probably just sing if Haley plays the piano. The two main songs I’m thinking of are “Lead Kindly Light” and “Abide With Me.” So yeah, let me know what we should do.
Love ya lots,
Elder (for three weeks more) Dennis
Anyways, I’m here in a tropical death trap. Actually, its not too bad lately, it actually got really cold here last week as a storm passed through with a chilly cold front, so yesterday it started to get just the humid, stiffling heat again. It was just about perfect for 2 or 3 days, nice and hot during the day in the sun, but nice and cool in the shade and at night. Suffice it to say, I am not looking forward to cold weather here in three weeks. But I’m still working extremely hard down here, trying to live to the max the little time I have left. Two years is a short time compared to the great missionaries of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, but it is definitely plenty, because its just long enough to be like okay, this was fun, but short enough to say I hope it doesn’t go by too fast when you first start out (as my kid says almost everyday). I’ll just quote my trainer Elder Nilsen: “It goes by fast, but two years is a looooong time.” It does go by incredibly fast though, I can hardly believe that its already been almost two full years since I’ve seen everyone back home.
Alright, first weekend home. Have you worked in time there on Friday for me to get released yet? That's definitely priority level number one. I’m thinking after getting me we should go out to Bob Evans for breakfast, or iHop or something of the like. Then we can start the drive home, stop at Olive Garden for lunch, and then we can just hang out at the house and order pizza for dinner. Then we can go snowboarding in the morning, and get a Panera soup bread bowl on the way home. And then the baptism at night. And somewhere in there we should go swimming at the indoor pool hahaha. Those are just some suggestions...
Anyway, Pedro Juan is good, me and Elder Reid are getting pretty trunky with only three weeks left... I bet you can’t tell from my letter, can ya? But its okay, its P-Day. The new apartment is awesome though, I like it alot, I almost wish I got to stay there for more than just three weeks. Almost is the key word. But that's saying a lot for a Parguayan place. In relation to the church, its south west. Like there’s a main road that comes out from the Shopping China intersection and goes west. Its like two blocks north of that, like three blocks south and five blocks west of the church, on the corner of the street. Anyways, I’m working hard, and trying to help out everyone and just focus on the people. Anyways, tell dad I sorta started working on my talk for when I get home. Oh, and I don’t know about playing the guitar for Cole’s baptism... I’m not a very good singer while playing the guitar. Maybe it’d be different with the melody accompaniment on the piano though. I could probably just sing if Haley plays the piano. The two main songs I’m thinking of are “Lead Kindly Light” and “Abide With Me.” So yeah, let me know what we should do.
Love ya lots,
Elder (for three weeks more) Dennis
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Jan 18, 2010
Well now I feel gypped again hahaha. The family went on a cruise right after I went into the MTC, and now Mom goes on a cruise like right before I get home! But whatever, I’m living here in paradise... hot hot heat and rain and sweat everyday, who could ask for more? But Mom telling of her trip reminded me of airplanes, which reminded me that today in exactly one month I will also be on an airplane... and you'll have to pick me up at 6am hehehe. I’m pretty much tired and ready to go home, but I can’t just yet, so I’m going to try my best to bump this little branch up and try and get things running before I get home. This week we had a grand total of fourteen people in Sacrament Meeting, so we’ve seen some progress among the inactives, but we have no progressing investigators right now, which is quite upsetting. Pres. Wade put some goals with me though to have achieved by the time I go home, so I’m doing my best to do that. He wants us to have a Sacrament attendance of forty people, with a Elders Quorum president, and a ward mission leader called and set apart... basically I’m praying my heart out because its not looking good right now.
I can’t believe I forgot to mention that I got your package last week, I got it on Thursday like 10 days ago. It was awesome, I absolutely loved to tie and the Clint Eastwood shirt! Not to mention the little paper in the nice red box... but I don’t know why you sent me sandals... those won’t be coming home, I already gave them to Elder Adamson, he needed sandals anyway. So when will we be heading out to Utah then? And when do classes actually start? But I got some things I want you to get set up for me when I get home. Number one, Dad, I need my teeth cleaned... can I say two years? Number two, my eyes need to be checked out, my eyes are pretty different from when I started the mission. Number three, did ya’ll buy a BluRay? Cause I need The Dark Knight in hi def and surround sound all set up and ready to go... Haha I’m kidding about the last one, but the first two I’m serious. But tell Grandma Karen that I love her and grandpa, and that I’m planning on taking a trip down to visit them when I get home. Anyways, love you all!
So close and yet so far,
Elder Dennis
I can’t believe I forgot to mention that I got your package last week, I got it on Thursday like 10 days ago. It was awesome, I absolutely loved to tie and the Clint Eastwood shirt! Not to mention the little paper in the nice red box... but I don’t know why you sent me sandals... those won’t be coming home, I already gave them to Elder Adamson, he needed sandals anyway. So when will we be heading out to Utah then? And when do classes actually start? But I got some things I want you to get set up for me when I get home. Number one, Dad, I need my teeth cleaned... can I say two years? Number two, my eyes need to be checked out, my eyes are pretty different from when I started the mission. Number three, did ya’ll buy a BluRay? Cause I need The Dark Knight in hi def and surround sound all set up and ready to go... Haha I’m kidding about the last one, but the first two I’m serious. But tell Grandma Karen that I love her and grandpa, and that I’m planning on taking a trip down to visit them when I get home. Anyways, love you all!
So close and yet so far,
Elder Dennis
Monday, January 11, 2010
Jan 11, 2010
The Family,
Well I guess I’ll just start with the biggest bit of news... changes! Okay, so I didn’t have changes haha. Elder Adamson is going to be seeing me off this February, and the end of my mission has been finalized. Two years, five areas (six with the MTC), and twelve companions. Its been a good time, and I’m excited to be ending my mission out here in Pedro Juan. Everyone keeps asking me about it, but it definitely hasn’t hit me that I only have five more Sundays in Paraguay. It’s probably better that way, it’ll keep me working hard. Actually I’d probably work even harder if it did hit me... so I’m not sure which is better haha. Safe to say, I am working hard, so don’t worry. Elder Adamson sees to that.
Yesterday I also gave a talk in Sacrament meeting... another one of the countless times I’ve been called upon by a bishop or branch president to give a “discourse,” as they say in Spanish, with about five minutes notice. Safe to say I think I’ve become a pretty good improv speaker with topics of the gospel in Spanish. I spoke of the purpose that we have in this life to better ourselves everyday through the help of Christ’s Atonement and prepare ourselves to live with God again. It actually came out way better than I thought it would and I kept the attention of the eight members who were in attendance. But that reminds me: Dad, what’s my topic for my homecoming talk? You gotta give me something... If you don’t, maybe I’ll just talk about that same thing, it has some good potential for sharing mission stories. How much time will I have to take up? Please don’t tell me I’m the only one who will be talking. But whatever, even if I am I guess I could do it. I guess just let me know a little bit more about what’s going to be happening and its all good...
Alright, as for the flight plans, I pretty bummed because I’m pretty sure I’ll be going the WHOLE trip home all alone... so much for having a companion. Because I’ve talked to a couple people in my group, and they’re all flying through Buenos Aires, but maybe they’ll all be rerouted through Sao Paulo because of the tax or whatever. But still, I strongly doubt that they’d fly through JFK, they usually go through Dallas or Atlanta... I’ve never seen another first destination in the states on flight plans home, so I was impressed to be on a direct flight to NYC. I will, however, definitely be the first one to see my family before anyone else! 6:15 am is pretty darn early... So that’s pretty cool. You guys have to plan a little bit of fun in NYC while we’re there since I get there so early... the only weird part is that I’ll still be in a shirt and tie. And will have only left Paraguay 12 hours earlier... half the travel time as before! But Korean sounds really good right now...
As far as schooling goes though, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I really don’t want to put any more strain on the wallet than I have to, and I was looking at all that stuff that you’ve sent me in the last couple months. I think I want to just apply to BYU as a transfer student for the fall semester, and to LDSBC as a backup plan if I don’t get in there. I would love to go to the U of U, and I’ll always be a Ute at heart, but you just can’t beat BYU’s prices. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to do, and I really feel that even LDSBC would just be a good start to get me where I want to go and find what it is that I really want to do. I have an idea and feeling, but its just so hard to put into words let alone on paper. So if you want to get those application papers started for me I would love you bunches haha. And you can just go ahead and turn down U of U for now... maybe that’ll be for me a little bit more into the future. Oh, and just tell Parkin that I’m in! I loved Parkin, and that would be way better than being with people in a sort of blind date situation.
Anyways, this week we’ll be moving into our new apartment that's actually in our area. Last week we moved in Elder Brazier and Elder Gumiel, who are in Rama 4, because it’s right on the border of our areas and they were getting kicked out of their other house. So it will be the four of us in their, and it's a way awesome place that is brand new! They just finished painting it on Wednesday. They had the sign up that said for rent for only like 5 hours before we jumped on it. We just had to wait for money to get to us from the office to buy furniture, like beds and desks and all that jazz... and today we went to the place and actually threw down the money, so that’ll get delivered on Thursday. Then we'll live there too. Tonight I go in with the ZLs to Asuncion for a special Leadership Council with Pte Wade that he invited DLs to, and Wednesday we have my last Zone Conference... that’s just wigging me out, you have no idea...
I love you all so much, and tell Cole to keep practicing his snowboarding and to get the snow covered trampoline all ready for my return hahaha!
Love,
Elder Dennis
Well I guess I’ll just start with the biggest bit of news... changes! Okay, so I didn’t have changes haha. Elder Adamson is going to be seeing me off this February, and the end of my mission has been finalized. Two years, five areas (six with the MTC), and twelve companions. Its been a good time, and I’m excited to be ending my mission out here in Pedro Juan. Everyone keeps asking me about it, but it definitely hasn’t hit me that I only have five more Sundays in Paraguay. It’s probably better that way, it’ll keep me working hard. Actually I’d probably work even harder if it did hit me... so I’m not sure which is better haha. Safe to say, I am working hard, so don’t worry. Elder Adamson sees to that.
Yesterday I also gave a talk in Sacrament meeting... another one of the countless times I’ve been called upon by a bishop or branch president to give a “discourse,” as they say in Spanish, with about five minutes notice. Safe to say I think I’ve become a pretty good improv speaker with topics of the gospel in Spanish. I spoke of the purpose that we have in this life to better ourselves everyday through the help of Christ’s Atonement and prepare ourselves to live with God again. It actually came out way better than I thought it would and I kept the attention of the eight members who were in attendance. But that reminds me: Dad, what’s my topic for my homecoming talk? You gotta give me something... If you don’t, maybe I’ll just talk about that same thing, it has some good potential for sharing mission stories. How much time will I have to take up? Please don’t tell me I’m the only one who will be talking. But whatever, even if I am I guess I could do it. I guess just let me know a little bit more about what’s going to be happening and its all good...
Alright, as for the flight plans, I pretty bummed because I’m pretty sure I’ll be going the WHOLE trip home all alone... so much for having a companion. Because I’ve talked to a couple people in my group, and they’re all flying through Buenos Aires, but maybe they’ll all be rerouted through Sao Paulo because of the tax or whatever. But still, I strongly doubt that they’d fly through JFK, they usually go through Dallas or Atlanta... I’ve never seen another first destination in the states on flight plans home, so I was impressed to be on a direct flight to NYC. I will, however, definitely be the first one to see my family before anyone else! 6:15 am is pretty darn early... So that’s pretty cool. You guys have to plan a little bit of fun in NYC while we’re there since I get there so early... the only weird part is that I’ll still be in a shirt and tie. And will have only left Paraguay 12 hours earlier... half the travel time as before! But Korean sounds really good right now...
As far as schooling goes though, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I really don’t want to put any more strain on the wallet than I have to, and I was looking at all that stuff that you’ve sent me in the last couple months. I think I want to just apply to BYU as a transfer student for the fall semester, and to LDSBC as a backup plan if I don’t get in there. I would love to go to the U of U, and I’ll always be a Ute at heart, but you just can’t beat BYU’s prices. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to do, and I really feel that even LDSBC would just be a good start to get me where I want to go and find what it is that I really want to do. I have an idea and feeling, but its just so hard to put into words let alone on paper. So if you want to get those application papers started for me I would love you bunches haha. And you can just go ahead and turn down U of U for now... maybe that’ll be for me a little bit more into the future. Oh, and just tell Parkin that I’m in! I loved Parkin, and that would be way better than being with people in a sort of blind date situation.
Anyways, this week we’ll be moving into our new apartment that's actually in our area. Last week we moved in Elder Brazier and Elder Gumiel, who are in Rama 4, because it’s right on the border of our areas and they were getting kicked out of their other house. So it will be the four of us in their, and it's a way awesome place that is brand new! They just finished painting it on Wednesday. They had the sign up that said for rent for only like 5 hours before we jumped on it. We just had to wait for money to get to us from the office to buy furniture, like beds and desks and all that jazz... and today we went to the place and actually threw down the money, so that’ll get delivered on Thursday. Then we'll live there too. Tonight I go in with the ZLs to Asuncion for a special Leadership Council with Pte Wade that he invited DLs to, and Wednesday we have my last Zone Conference... that’s just wigging me out, you have no idea...
I love you all so much, and tell Cole to keep practicing his snowboarding and to get the snow covered trampoline all ready for my return hahaha!
Love,
Elder Dennis
Monday, January 4, 2010
Jan 4, 2010
Hey there family,
Yet another week ticked off the list… which leaves only 6 more til I show up there in the states. It doesn’t really feel like the mission is coming to a close yet, but living with Elder Reid is awesome, we both realized this past week that its now crunch time to pick up souvenirs from Paraguay before heading home. I have a good amount because I’ve been picking things up here and there through out the mission, but he has to buy everything all in one go. But I have a question, did something happen to my card to get it blocked or something, because I know that I didn’t spend all that money, but whenever I try to take out more it says that funds are not available, so somethings up. So let me know what happened to that.
But the package still isn’t here... so here’s fingers crossed to that it shows up this Saturday. But changes will be a little different this time around, because for whatever reason the new greenies won’t be showing up until Thursday, so changes will be a day late. But no news yet as to how I’ll be dying, but I’m 100% positive that I’ll stay here in the area, I’m just not sure if I’ll be with Elder Adamson until the end or not. We worked really hard this past week, and it felt really good. We’re just trying to boost the whole ward to be excited to go to church, and when we’re not doing that we’re just out in the streets talking to people to try and find the people who are ready to accept the restored gospel.
New years was pretty awesome, we set off a bunch of fireworks and climbed up on the church roof to watch them at midnight. I took some pictures, but the computers here suck and won’t read any cameras or anything, so I’m not gonna be able to send any home. I can’t believe that its 2010 already! I remember when 2000 rolled around and everyone was freaking out for the whole y2k bug. Crazy to think that that was ten years ago! That and it means that the end of my mission is coming, which is something that I never though would come...
I’m glad that your first class went well in primary with the boys and girls, I’m sure you’ll do great with them. As far as a gift for a 12 year old, I would suggest one of those books about the prophets when they were young or something like that, I really liked those books when I was that age.
You found my area, the picture of the yellow building, the ADUANA, is cady-corner to a gas station to the south west. And next to the gas station is my church building! Thats the best I can do though, but yeah, all those pictures from Google Earth that you sent me are from my area.
Thanks for your constant support and love, I love all of you so much. Two years is a long time to be away from family, but its not too much longer til we’ll see each other again. So I’ll keep working hard... that's the best way to make time go faster hahaha!
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Yet another week ticked off the list… which leaves only 6 more til I show up there in the states. It doesn’t really feel like the mission is coming to a close yet, but living with Elder Reid is awesome, we both realized this past week that its now crunch time to pick up souvenirs from Paraguay before heading home. I have a good amount because I’ve been picking things up here and there through out the mission, but he has to buy everything all in one go. But I have a question, did something happen to my card to get it blocked or something, because I know that I didn’t spend all that money, but whenever I try to take out more it says that funds are not available, so somethings up. So let me know what happened to that.
But the package still isn’t here... so here’s fingers crossed to that it shows up this Saturday. But changes will be a little different this time around, because for whatever reason the new greenies won’t be showing up until Thursday, so changes will be a day late. But no news yet as to how I’ll be dying, but I’m 100% positive that I’ll stay here in the area, I’m just not sure if I’ll be with Elder Adamson until the end or not. We worked really hard this past week, and it felt really good. We’re just trying to boost the whole ward to be excited to go to church, and when we’re not doing that we’re just out in the streets talking to people to try and find the people who are ready to accept the restored gospel.
New years was pretty awesome, we set off a bunch of fireworks and climbed up on the church roof to watch them at midnight. I took some pictures, but the computers here suck and won’t read any cameras or anything, so I’m not gonna be able to send any home. I can’t believe that its 2010 already! I remember when 2000 rolled around and everyone was freaking out for the whole y2k bug. Crazy to think that that was ten years ago! That and it means that the end of my mission is coming, which is something that I never though would come...
I’m glad that your first class went well in primary with the boys and girls, I’m sure you’ll do great with them. As far as a gift for a 12 year old, I would suggest one of those books about the prophets when they were young or something like that, I really liked those books when I was that age.
You found my area, the picture of the yellow building, the ADUANA, is cady-corner to a gas station to the south west. And next to the gas station is my church building! Thats the best I can do though, but yeah, all those pictures from Google Earth that you sent me are from my area.
Thanks for your constant support and love, I love all of you so much. Two years is a long time to be away from family, but its not too much longer til we’ll see each other again. So I’ll keep working hard... that's the best way to make time go faster hahaha!
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Monday, December 28, 2009
Dec 28, 2009
Hey there peeps,
It was great to hear from you on Christmas. I realized today while I was thinking about it, I’ve been blessed to talk to the whole family every time that I’ve gotten to call home. There’s a lot of missionaries who only get to talk to a part of their family because the others are in college or have already moved out of the house. But now that you guys have made me officially trunky, I still gotta go out and work hard this last couple weeks. To me its just incredible that my time as a missionary is coming to an end, I still feel like I just got started, but truth is my group is the oldest in the mission right now, because those going home at the end of this change are getting sent home a week early to make it home for school.
But some more good news, I’ll be getting my New Years package this week, and I’m excited to see what my “gift” is... dad mentioned that I’ll be getting a cool little photo in the package. But I got a call from Elder Curtis, who is one of my buddies, who’s the assistant right now, and told me how a got a tiny little package from one James Fiala that includes just one can of Mountain Dew... So I’m super stoked for that little taste of heaven as well. Being deprived of good foods you know and love is definitely the worst part about being on the mission... that and family, of course...
But I’m glad to hear that the family was able to come to a conclusion as to what’s going down this March and April, and I’m perfectly fine with just chilling during March, and getting ready to head out come April. Plus I think it’d be nice to have you come out with us to Utah, I mean, I’m all grown up and everything, and I’ve been living on my own for two years, but let’s face it: I’ve been doing that all in spanish! There’s no way I could do that in english anymore! So Mom can ride with me if Dad’s not gonna go too.
But enough trunky talk, we’re working pretty hard in our area, but it was kind of tough with Christmas this past week, plus it rained on Sunday, which made for a poor church attendance, with only 5 people who made it to church other than us. But we got two investigators there, so that was cool, but then I just felt bad for them the whole time. I’ve heard that a lot of missionaries get home, and they find themselves searching for their investigators in the crowd at church, or feeling that protectiveness over making sure that the new people there feel comfortable, just to find out that they don’t have anyone there and that they don’t do that anymore. I’m not sure if I’ll feel that or not, but one things for sure, I will probably always listen to the things that members say and just cringe at the things that come out of their mouths as if an investigator who doesn’t understand completely the lingo or the doctrine enough to not take something offensive or downright weird. Like how I’ve heard a couple times in testimony meeting in Paraguay... “Joseph Smith died so that we can be here today.” Now I know that those people mean well, and that they’re refering to how he died for his testimony and how if it weren’t for his efforts we wouldn’t have the restored gospel today, but just think about what an investigator would think about us if they heard that statement without any background information! No wonder so many people think we worship Joseph Smith.
I love this work though, I’ve learned so much on my mission, I’m a completely different person since when I left... but don’t you worry, you’ll still be hearing my saweet guitar riffs and playing video games with me when I get home... I’m pretty sure those things are going to be in Heaven.... So Cole, you just get ready to bust out the Zelda games when I get home! And I call first dibbs on the Medal of Honor!!!
Love ya all,
Elder Dennis
It was great to hear from you on Christmas. I realized today while I was thinking about it, I’ve been blessed to talk to the whole family every time that I’ve gotten to call home. There’s a lot of missionaries who only get to talk to a part of their family because the others are in college or have already moved out of the house. But now that you guys have made me officially trunky, I still gotta go out and work hard this last couple weeks. To me its just incredible that my time as a missionary is coming to an end, I still feel like I just got started, but truth is my group is the oldest in the mission right now, because those going home at the end of this change are getting sent home a week early to make it home for school.
But some more good news, I’ll be getting my New Years package this week, and I’m excited to see what my “gift” is... dad mentioned that I’ll be getting a cool little photo in the package. But I got a call from Elder Curtis, who is one of my buddies, who’s the assistant right now, and told me how a got a tiny little package from one James Fiala that includes just one can of Mountain Dew... So I’m super stoked for that little taste of heaven as well. Being deprived of good foods you know and love is definitely the worst part about being on the mission... that and family, of course...
But I’m glad to hear that the family was able to come to a conclusion as to what’s going down this March and April, and I’m perfectly fine with just chilling during March, and getting ready to head out come April. Plus I think it’d be nice to have you come out with us to Utah, I mean, I’m all grown up and everything, and I’ve been living on my own for two years, but let’s face it: I’ve been doing that all in spanish! There’s no way I could do that in english anymore! So Mom can ride with me if Dad’s not gonna go too.
But enough trunky talk, we’re working pretty hard in our area, but it was kind of tough with Christmas this past week, plus it rained on Sunday, which made for a poor church attendance, with only 5 people who made it to church other than us. But we got two investigators there, so that was cool, but then I just felt bad for them the whole time. I’ve heard that a lot of missionaries get home, and they find themselves searching for their investigators in the crowd at church, or feeling that protectiveness over making sure that the new people there feel comfortable, just to find out that they don’t have anyone there and that they don’t do that anymore. I’m not sure if I’ll feel that or not, but one things for sure, I will probably always listen to the things that members say and just cringe at the things that come out of their mouths as if an investigator who doesn’t understand completely the lingo or the doctrine enough to not take something offensive or downright weird. Like how I’ve heard a couple times in testimony meeting in Paraguay... “Joseph Smith died so that we can be here today.” Now I know that those people mean well, and that they’re refering to how he died for his testimony and how if it weren’t for his efforts we wouldn’t have the restored gospel today, but just think about what an investigator would think about us if they heard that statement without any background information! No wonder so many people think we worship Joseph Smith.
I love this work though, I’ve learned so much on my mission, I’m a completely different person since when I left... but don’t you worry, you’ll still be hearing my saweet guitar riffs and playing video games with me when I get home... I’m pretty sure those things are going to be in Heaven.... So Cole, you just get ready to bust out the Zelda games when I get home! And I call first dibbs on the Medal of Honor!!!
Love ya all,
Elder Dennis
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dec 21, 2009
Merry Christmas!!!
Santa Claus is rolling in a little late to Pedro Juan this year for Elder Dennis hahaha, no packages made it here on time. But I got a card from Grandma and Grandpa Dennis this past week. But to me it doesn’t really matter, I didn’t want anything anyway, because I’ll be getting home in less than two months now. You should have the flight itinerary already and everything. Elder Reid’s mom was nice enough coughcough to forward him the information already, but he goes out west, so once we land in the states I don’t know how long it will take for me to get home. The only thing I’m looking forward to is the last phone call. Its so hard to believe its actually coming this week, because I’ve always thought of that as the start to the end. But while we’re talking about the phone call, I’ll finalize the details with you...
So Elder Adamson’s family wants to do it a little later, because more of his family will be there, so if you guys could call at 3.30 pm my time, that way he’ll talk to his parents starting at 5.00 our time, leaving that little space for the common errors and bugs and whatnot that always happens. We’ll probably be there like 10-15 mins early too, so if you get scared its not gonna work you can start trying just a little early. So be there, or be square.
We’re planning a Christmas dinner for the branch for tomorrow, and right now we have to go finalize on a house in our area... well, not really a house, just a little one room apartment like in Saltos, because it is soooo expensive here. Well not really to us Americans, but for the Paraguayans, its like trying to live in downtown Manhattan. But the mission didn’t get us money on time to buy stuff to move in there with, so we’ll still live with the ZL’s in Rama 1 for another week or so until that gets to us.
It doesn’t feel like Christmas, but we’re doing our best here to set the mood, listening to Christmas music and always singing one of like the 6 holiday hymns that are in Spanish when we visit people. We usually start off singing a hymn to invite the spirit when we teach. The work is really tough right now mom, it’s really pushing me, but I'm trying to find new people that are excited about what we have to offer. Elder Adamson is great though, he really wants to do his best, and is really excited to be here. But we don’t have like any progressing investigators, and we only had 11 people in the church on Sunday, including an investigator and two little girls younger than 8. It is so sad here, and we’re trying so hard to fix all the petty little problems that the less active members have about “so and so” or “what’s his name” and solve their little excuses for why they don’t go to church. I love this work, I love this season to remember our Savior, and I’m trying to give him it all this last little bit that I still have. I’m almost done with the Book of Mormon again, we started October 1st as a mission, with the goal to finish on Christmas. I’m passing through Ether right now, and I absolutely love that book. I know it is the word of God, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Thanks for your love and support always, I can’t wait to talk to yins on Friday.
Love,
Elder Dennis
Santa Claus is rolling in a little late to Pedro Juan this year for Elder Dennis hahaha, no packages made it here on time. But I got a card from Grandma and Grandpa Dennis this past week. But to me it doesn’t really matter, I didn’t want anything anyway, because I’ll be getting home in less than two months now. You should have the flight itinerary already and everything. Elder Reid’s mom was nice enough coughcough to forward him the information already, but he goes out west, so once we land in the states I don’t know how long it will take for me to get home. The only thing I’m looking forward to is the last phone call. Its so hard to believe its actually coming this week, because I’ve always thought of that as the start to the end. But while we’re talking about the phone call, I’ll finalize the details with you...
So Elder Adamson’s family wants to do it a little later, because more of his family will be there, so if you guys could call at 3.30 pm my time, that way he’ll talk to his parents starting at 5.00 our time, leaving that little space for the common errors and bugs and whatnot that always happens. We’ll probably be there like 10-15 mins early too, so if you get scared its not gonna work you can start trying just a little early. So be there, or be square.
We’re planning a Christmas dinner for the branch for tomorrow, and right now we have to go finalize on a house in our area... well, not really a house, just a little one room apartment like in Saltos, because it is soooo expensive here. Well not really to us Americans, but for the Paraguayans, its like trying to live in downtown Manhattan. But the mission didn’t get us money on time to buy stuff to move in there with, so we’ll still live with the ZL’s in Rama 1 for another week or so until that gets to us.
It doesn’t feel like Christmas, but we’re doing our best here to set the mood, listening to Christmas music and always singing one of like the 6 holiday hymns that are in Spanish when we visit people. We usually start off singing a hymn to invite the spirit when we teach. The work is really tough right now mom, it’s really pushing me, but I'm trying to find new people that are excited about what we have to offer. Elder Adamson is great though, he really wants to do his best, and is really excited to be here. But we don’t have like any progressing investigators, and we only had 11 people in the church on Sunday, including an investigator and two little girls younger than 8. It is so sad here, and we’re trying so hard to fix all the petty little problems that the less active members have about “so and so” or “what’s his name” and solve their little excuses for why they don’t go to church. I love this work, I love this season to remember our Savior, and I’m trying to give him it all this last little bit that I still have. I’m almost done with the Book of Mormon again, we started October 1st as a mission, with the goal to finish on Christmas. I’m passing through Ether right now, and I absolutely love that book. I know it is the word of God, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Thanks for your love and support always, I can’t wait to talk to yins on Friday.
Love,
Elder Dennis
Monday, December 14, 2009
Dec 14, 2009
One more week til Christmas!
It's just absolutely crazy how fast the time flies. I remember trying to think of what it would be like to be at my last Christmas of the mission, and it always seemed so far away! But next week we'll be talking, and then a month and a half later I'll get to walk bare foot on carpet! I'm getting excited... It's not too hot here in Pedro Juan, so that's pretty lucky, but right now the work is pretty tough. We had these awesome girls, five sisters, who we were teaching, but this past week they really fell in excitement for what we teach. I think the main thing was that this past week in Paraguay it was the "Virgin's" birthday, so everyone is hardcore into their idols and images, saints and virgins right now. That and I think that they are getting a lot of flak from their family, who are pretty hard core Catholic.
That's basically the story with everyone right now. Our area is pretty Catholic, and we're having a lot of trouble trying to find good investigators right now, and even less success trying to find a house to live in. The walk to our area isn't bothering me that much anymore, I'm getting used to it, and we usually just eat with the members during the week. If we don't have a lunch appointment, we usually just stay in the house to eat, and don't go out in the morning, because we're supposed to leave at 11.00 in the morning, and so that would mean we'd get about 20-30 mins to work before lunch, and its not even worth it, so we just eat a little earlier and then head out to get to the area the time we would normally start anyway. I'm in Branch 2, which is literally one block from Brazil, and its like 4 blocks north of Shopping China, this HUGE shopping store place that´s really big and fancy. It's also right next to this place called the Aduana. Good luck trying to find it. But no, we don't go into Brazil this time, there's missionaries over there, we met them today at Shopping China, even though its on our side, but whatevs.
It sounds like the ward is having a bunch of success in baptizing youth, they really are amazing, aren't they? Their testimonies are just so strong and simple. Our branch is definitely NOT functional, I don't know where you came up with that idea. There's only one priesthood holder that goes to church, the branch president, and there's a relief society class that usually has four sisters in it, and this week we had 13 people at church in total. There's no primary, no young mens or young womens or elders quorom or anything. There's no activities during the week, and I'm embarrassed to invite people to church. We don't hold leadership positions, but I think I might talk to president Wade about that, because we're the only other priesthood holders, and there are some areas here where the missionaries are counselors or whatever.
Pedro Juan is a decently sized place, but right now it doesn't need the 5 branches, but back in the day it was pretty successful, so we run in to a TON of inactive members while we´re going around contacting the people. I got the envelope and Cole's pictures of his Bionicles and stuff. Way cool little man! When is Cole's baptism going to be? Have you guys planned it at all yet? Any word on my BYU admission? Well it doesn't feel like Christmas at all, but I hope my package gets here on Saturday (thats when we get mail) or I'll have a presentless Christmas haha.
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
It's just absolutely crazy how fast the time flies. I remember trying to think of what it would be like to be at my last Christmas of the mission, and it always seemed so far away! But next week we'll be talking, and then a month and a half later I'll get to walk bare foot on carpet! I'm getting excited... It's not too hot here in Pedro Juan, so that's pretty lucky, but right now the work is pretty tough. We had these awesome girls, five sisters, who we were teaching, but this past week they really fell in excitement for what we teach. I think the main thing was that this past week in Paraguay it was the "Virgin's" birthday, so everyone is hardcore into their idols and images, saints and virgins right now. That and I think that they are getting a lot of flak from their family, who are pretty hard core Catholic.
That's basically the story with everyone right now. Our area is pretty Catholic, and we're having a lot of trouble trying to find good investigators right now, and even less success trying to find a house to live in. The walk to our area isn't bothering me that much anymore, I'm getting used to it, and we usually just eat with the members during the week. If we don't have a lunch appointment, we usually just stay in the house to eat, and don't go out in the morning, because we're supposed to leave at 11.00 in the morning, and so that would mean we'd get about 20-30 mins to work before lunch, and its not even worth it, so we just eat a little earlier and then head out to get to the area the time we would normally start anyway. I'm in Branch 2, which is literally one block from Brazil, and its like 4 blocks north of Shopping China, this HUGE shopping store place that´s really big and fancy. It's also right next to this place called the Aduana. Good luck trying to find it. But no, we don't go into Brazil this time, there's missionaries over there, we met them today at Shopping China, even though its on our side, but whatevs.
It sounds like the ward is having a bunch of success in baptizing youth, they really are amazing, aren't they? Their testimonies are just so strong and simple. Our branch is definitely NOT functional, I don't know where you came up with that idea. There's only one priesthood holder that goes to church, the branch president, and there's a relief society class that usually has four sisters in it, and this week we had 13 people at church in total. There's no primary, no young mens or young womens or elders quorom or anything. There's no activities during the week, and I'm embarrassed to invite people to church. We don't hold leadership positions, but I think I might talk to president Wade about that, because we're the only other priesthood holders, and there are some areas here where the missionaries are counselors or whatever.
Pedro Juan is a decently sized place, but right now it doesn't need the 5 branches, but back in the day it was pretty successful, so we run in to a TON of inactive members while we´re going around contacting the people. I got the envelope and Cole's pictures of his Bionicles and stuff. Way cool little man! When is Cole's baptism going to be? Have you guys planned it at all yet? Any word on my BYU admission? Well it doesn't feel like Christmas at all, but I hope my package gets here on Saturday (thats when we get mail) or I'll have a presentless Christmas haha.
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Monday, December 7, 2009
Dec 7, 2009
Hey there again,
How are preparations for the Christmas season coming? It does not feel like Christmas here in Paraguay, but people are putting up lights and all the stores have Santa Clauses and posters of snow and stuff... it´s kind of weird, not gonna lie. But yeah, Elder Adamson is a good kid, his spanish is way awesome, and he really wants to work hard. Who would've thunk that the two New Yorkers would be together. It makes it easy though, because everyone asks us where we´re from, and we just have to say New York.
Pedro Juan is a pretty cool place, but there´s a lot of Portuguese, as you can imagine, since like you said, there is absolutely no border control whatsoever. The city is literally divided in half, the Brazilian side is called Ponta Porã. As far as describing where my area is though, it´s right up on the border of Brazil, the church building is literally 2 blocks from the border. The only difference is the visible difference, because Brazil is so much nicer than Paraguay. On one side there is the cobble stone streets of Paraguay, and on the other it´s nice pavement, and its just a whole lot more organized. Anyway, my area, I have no clue how to describe where to find it. Does it have names of building on google earth? Or you could just hop on the church website and look for Pedro Juan Caballero 2, that´s the branch I'm in. I think it should have maps.
Our area is a good 40 minute walk everyday, there and back, from Branch 1, where the ZLs are, and so we're looking hard for a place, but it is so expensive out here that nothing we can find is in our price range, which is up to about 800 mil guaranies, or like $150 a month. I mean, it´s so cheap, but out here that price, if you're in a normal area, can get you premium living. Most places in Asuncion are only 400-500 mil a month, and they're nice big houses. But no luck so far out here.
But we're working hard, we're getting soaked quite a bit in the rain too, because it likes to rain out here, and its a long 40 minute walk home and we usually aren't prepared because in the morning its all nice a clear, and then we get to walk home in the rain. Last week we were fording the flash flooding rivers of streets that were caused by all the rain, and that was awesome. Don´t worry, the lighting hasn't hit us yet :)
We had a baptism and wedding on Saturday, so that was awesome. We´re working hard, and having a good time. I'm doing my best to stay focused, but it's super hard on P-Day hahaha. I love this work though, it really is the most important work on the face of the earth. I love you all,
Elder Dennis
How are preparations for the Christmas season coming? It does not feel like Christmas here in Paraguay, but people are putting up lights and all the stores have Santa Clauses and posters of snow and stuff... it´s kind of weird, not gonna lie. But yeah, Elder Adamson is a good kid, his spanish is way awesome, and he really wants to work hard. Who would've thunk that the two New Yorkers would be together. It makes it easy though, because everyone asks us where we´re from, and we just have to say New York.
Pedro Juan is a pretty cool place, but there´s a lot of Portuguese, as you can imagine, since like you said, there is absolutely no border control whatsoever. The city is literally divided in half, the Brazilian side is called Ponta Porã. As far as describing where my area is though, it´s right up on the border of Brazil, the church building is literally 2 blocks from the border. The only difference is the visible difference, because Brazil is so much nicer than Paraguay. On one side there is the cobble stone streets of Paraguay, and on the other it´s nice pavement, and its just a whole lot more organized. Anyway, my area, I have no clue how to describe where to find it. Does it have names of building on google earth? Or you could just hop on the church website and look for Pedro Juan Caballero 2, that´s the branch I'm in. I think it should have maps.
Our area is a good 40 minute walk everyday, there and back, from Branch 1, where the ZLs are, and so we're looking hard for a place, but it is so expensive out here that nothing we can find is in our price range, which is up to about 800 mil guaranies, or like $150 a month. I mean, it´s so cheap, but out here that price, if you're in a normal area, can get you premium living. Most places in Asuncion are only 400-500 mil a month, and they're nice big houses. But no luck so far out here.
But we're working hard, we're getting soaked quite a bit in the rain too, because it likes to rain out here, and its a long 40 minute walk home and we usually aren't prepared because in the morning its all nice a clear, and then we get to walk home in the rain. Last week we were fording the flash flooding rivers of streets that were caused by all the rain, and that was awesome. Don´t worry, the lighting hasn't hit us yet :)
We had a baptism and wedding on Saturday, so that was awesome. We´re working hard, and having a good time. I'm doing my best to stay focused, but it's super hard on P-Day hahaha. I love this work though, it really is the most important work on the face of the earth. I love you all,
Elder Dennis
Monday, November 30, 2009
Nov 30, 2009
Opa, ¿Cómo vai vocé?
Well, changes. So I´m no longer in Yverá, and I´m not a zone leader anymore either! Instead, I´m training!! That was awesome, I´m super excited for that, I was a ZL for forever. But yeah, it was good that I was training, because I probably wouldn´t have met E. Adamson, cause he went wayyyyy out Lejos to Pedro Juan Caballero, a city out on the border of Brazil. Luckily I was training though, so now I get to go out and work with him everyday. That´s right baby, I´m opening an area in Pedro Juan, a little branch called Rama 2 (´Branch 2´), and I´m training the other New Yorker! I couldn´t believe it when I heard, the other Elders back in my old house, E. Gage and E. Hill, both knew of E. Adamson by some way or another, and they were teasing me that I was so old as a ZL that I was just gonna drop down and train him, and it totally came true. It´s amazing how small this world is, let me tell you! So now I´m just a District Leader, but we´re living with the ZLs out here while we look for a house to live in, one of whom is E. Reid, from the MTC, so that is awesome, I love that guy.
It´s funny how I have some weird traditions in the mission though. Both times, I trained the day before a major holiday and spent the whole day on a bus to get out to my area in the zona Lejos, and so my childrens´ first day in the field was a major holiday, Christmas the first time and Thanksgiving this time. And I´ll have spent both my Christmases in the mission while training. We´re right on the border of Brazil, so I´m dealing a lot with Portuguese again, luckily I had plenty of training in Saltos, and this time around I understand just about everything and am speaking a lot more. I really love the language, I want to be able to speak it fairly fluently by the time I get home.
The branch is in ruins, but don´t you worry, E. Adamson and I are going to get things back in shape in no time. On Sunday there was a total of 15 people in the building, including the 3 investigators and the 3 kids under 8 that came... so basically just like Saltos when I showed up out there. There are a couple amazing members though (they´d have to be to keep going in situations like that) who are helping us out quite a bit, and we have some awesome investigators right now that we´re working with who are super excited for everything. I´m really excited for the change up of the routine, and E. Adamson is a stud, he already basically speaks Spanish, he just runs into a lot of trouble with the Portuguese and the Guaraní, which we have to deal with quite a bit out here too. It´s such a melting pot here, the people just mix those three languages together, and it's amazing but I understand it all. I´ve really fallen in love with foreign languages, I´d love to keep learning more after the mission.
Well, I don´t have much time today, but it sounds like everyone is doing awesome, and I love you all a ton. Sis. Wade said she´d find out what happened to that paper, and I´ll see her on Wednesday so I´ll check up on it again. I don´t have a phone yet out here so I can´t call her easily and remind her. Thanks for all the support.
Love,
Elder Dennis
Tracie here - just a fun fact: the new missionary that Josh is training grew up in the Albany NY Stake. He and Haley went on a few dates when they were seniors in high school. We knew he got called to the same mission as Josh and were thinking that it would be pretty neat if Josh got to train him - pretty cool that it actually happened :)
Well, changes. So I´m no longer in Yverá, and I´m not a zone leader anymore either! Instead, I´m training!! That was awesome, I´m super excited for that, I was a ZL for forever. But yeah, it was good that I was training, because I probably wouldn´t have met E. Adamson, cause he went wayyyyy out Lejos to Pedro Juan Caballero, a city out on the border of Brazil. Luckily I was training though, so now I get to go out and work with him everyday. That´s right baby, I´m opening an area in Pedro Juan, a little branch called Rama 2 (´Branch 2´), and I´m training the other New Yorker! I couldn´t believe it when I heard, the other Elders back in my old house, E. Gage and E. Hill, both knew of E. Adamson by some way or another, and they were teasing me that I was so old as a ZL that I was just gonna drop down and train him, and it totally came true. It´s amazing how small this world is, let me tell you! So now I´m just a District Leader, but we´re living with the ZLs out here while we look for a house to live in, one of whom is E. Reid, from the MTC, so that is awesome, I love that guy.
It´s funny how I have some weird traditions in the mission though. Both times, I trained the day before a major holiday and spent the whole day on a bus to get out to my area in the zona Lejos, and so my childrens´ first day in the field was a major holiday, Christmas the first time and Thanksgiving this time. And I´ll have spent both my Christmases in the mission while training. We´re right on the border of Brazil, so I´m dealing a lot with Portuguese again, luckily I had plenty of training in Saltos, and this time around I understand just about everything and am speaking a lot more. I really love the language, I want to be able to speak it fairly fluently by the time I get home.
The branch is in ruins, but don´t you worry, E. Adamson and I are going to get things back in shape in no time. On Sunday there was a total of 15 people in the building, including the 3 investigators and the 3 kids under 8 that came... so basically just like Saltos when I showed up out there. There are a couple amazing members though (they´d have to be to keep going in situations like that) who are helping us out quite a bit, and we have some awesome investigators right now that we´re working with who are super excited for everything. I´m really excited for the change up of the routine, and E. Adamson is a stud, he already basically speaks Spanish, he just runs into a lot of trouble with the Portuguese and the Guaraní, which we have to deal with quite a bit out here too. It´s such a melting pot here, the people just mix those three languages together, and it's amazing but I understand it all. I´ve really fallen in love with foreign languages, I´d love to keep learning more after the mission.
Well, I don´t have much time today, but it sounds like everyone is doing awesome, and I love you all a ton. Sis. Wade said she´d find out what happened to that paper, and I´ll see her on Wednesday so I´ll check up on it again. I don´t have a phone yet out here so I can´t call her easily and remind her. Thanks for all the support.
Love,
Elder Dennis
Tracie here - just a fun fact: the new missionary that Josh is training grew up in the Albany NY Stake. He and Haley went on a few dates when they were seniors in high school. We knew he got called to the same mission as Josh and were thinking that it would be pretty neat if Josh got to train him - pretty cool that it actually happened :)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Nov 23, 2009
Well, once again, I have to write everyone without the bit of information that everyone wants. We still haven’t heard as far as changes go, so we’re all still pretty anxious here in the mission. But it was weird, because the kids going home this change headed into the office this morning to do the whole good bye stuff with Pres. Wade, and they’ll be taking off tomorrow to be home in time for Thanksgiving. I hope the family is all happy and excited to be at Grandma’s house, I got a happy Thanksgiving card from her today, and all I can say is that I’m missing her amazing meals that she is famous for. I totally took that food for granted before, but let me tell you, the next Thanksgiving, we’re totally going to Grandma’s house again, because I’m not gonna miss out after two years of nothing haha. The people here don’t even know what Thanksgiving is… it’s so weird.
Last night, it was Elder Guest’s last night, because he went into the office this morning, so as a zone we got together and had a sleep over and monopoly party to send him off haha, it was pretty fun, plus I got to sleep in air conditioning, because we went over to their fancy house. His companion, Elder Rosales, from Ecuador, is with me and my companion until Wednesday, when the real changes will take place. So it’ll be weird being in a trio for a day. Changes should be coming later tonight, and I’m not gonna lie, I kind of want to leave. Actually I really want to leave my area. I love the members, and we’re starting to bring a couple inactive families back to church, but the work is so slow and we just don’t have any investigators who are really progressing. We busted our butts this change, but we haven’t seen much fruits for our labors. This area has just kind of killed my energy for the work, which I feel bad saying, because I love getting out and sharing this great message with the people, but it’s just like throwing pearls before swine, because everyone takes it for granted.
I hear that there’s lots of snow this year, is that just out west, or does Upstate have quite a bit as well? We are dying of heat down here, it hits the 100’s just about every day, like 38 C. It’s impressive, because it’s just like the heat at home, nice and humid! It sucks to have to wear a shirt and tie out to work every day, and the house is just an oven, I have to sleep with the fan right up against my bed, without any sheets to even be able to relax. Two seconds without a fan blowing on you and your whole body just begins to sweat profusely.
I’m so jealous I’m not around to be checking out all these cars and helping Dad make a decision, but that TSX is a pretty sweet car, I remember that from all the way back when I was home. And my poor Honda! That thing has been through so much, and yet it always seems like the Mercury takes a lot too, but I’ve never heard of us fixing that body up hahaha. That thing is a tank though, I bet the little Honda didn’t do hardly anything to it.
But this Adamson kid is pretty popular! He dated my sister, is the neighbor of Elder Hill’s uncle, and the friend of Elder Gage’s non-member girlfriend who is going to school in Boston… so basically the whole house knows the kid some way or another. I’m pretty interested in meeting him. Right now he’s traveling on his way down here. That poor kid, if only he knew what he was getting himself into hahaha. Just kidding, I love it down here.
I’ll call up Sister Wade right after this to make sure that little paper gets sent, sorry to keep ya’ll waiting. I get to talk to you guys in a month. Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Last night, it was Elder Guest’s last night, because he went into the office this morning, so as a zone we got together and had a sleep over and monopoly party to send him off haha, it was pretty fun, plus I got to sleep in air conditioning, because we went over to their fancy house. His companion, Elder Rosales, from Ecuador, is with me and my companion until Wednesday, when the real changes will take place. So it’ll be weird being in a trio for a day. Changes should be coming later tonight, and I’m not gonna lie, I kind of want to leave. Actually I really want to leave my area. I love the members, and we’re starting to bring a couple inactive families back to church, but the work is so slow and we just don’t have any investigators who are really progressing. We busted our butts this change, but we haven’t seen much fruits for our labors. This area has just kind of killed my energy for the work, which I feel bad saying, because I love getting out and sharing this great message with the people, but it’s just like throwing pearls before swine, because everyone takes it for granted.
I hear that there’s lots of snow this year, is that just out west, or does Upstate have quite a bit as well? We are dying of heat down here, it hits the 100’s just about every day, like 38 C. It’s impressive, because it’s just like the heat at home, nice and humid! It sucks to have to wear a shirt and tie out to work every day, and the house is just an oven, I have to sleep with the fan right up against my bed, without any sheets to even be able to relax. Two seconds without a fan blowing on you and your whole body just begins to sweat profusely.
I’m so jealous I’m not around to be checking out all these cars and helping Dad make a decision, but that TSX is a pretty sweet car, I remember that from all the way back when I was home. And my poor Honda! That thing has been through so much, and yet it always seems like the Mercury takes a lot too, but I’ve never heard of us fixing that body up hahaha. That thing is a tank though, I bet the little Honda didn’t do hardly anything to it.
But this Adamson kid is pretty popular! He dated my sister, is the neighbor of Elder Hill’s uncle, and the friend of Elder Gage’s non-member girlfriend who is going to school in Boston… so basically the whole house knows the kid some way or another. I’m pretty interested in meeting him. Right now he’s traveling on his way down here. That poor kid, if only he knew what he was getting himself into hahaha. Just kidding, I love it down here.
I’ll call up Sister Wade right after this to make sure that little paper gets sent, sorry to keep ya’ll waiting. I get to talk to you guys in a month. Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Monday, November 16, 2009
Nov 16, 2009
Hey family,
Alright Haley, I can’t help it if I live half-way around the world and Mom loves me enough to send me Christmas goodies hahaha. So stop your whining. In normal circumstances, I would totally agree with you, but this is an emergency, okay! But you wanna know what’s driving me out of my mind? Here in Paraguay, they don’t have the Thanksgiving Day, let alone in November, so they just pull out all of the Christmas stuff after Halloween! It’s so annoying! But I have never heard anything about customs fees here in Paraguay, so I’m pretty sure it doesn’t exist, and some missionaries get like 10 packages a day. Not even exaggerating... So I’m sure the mission would have mentioned something if the mission had to pay anything to get them out of customs. I would hate to be in Argentina if that's the case.
I talked to Sister Wade, and she was going to take care of everything and I signed my part of the paper, and she was going to have Pres. Wade sign it and then fax it in, so I’ll give her a call after this to ask what’s up with that. Everything should be good to go, I probably just have to remind her to get that sent off. Elder Hill’s mom mentioned that you sent that photo to her, so once again the mothers have creeped out the missionaries. Technology is not a good thing in parents’ hands. Changes are tough to call, especially a week in advance. Sometimes you wake up with the feeling of what’s going to happen the day of, that’s what usually happens to me. There’s a good possibility that I stay with Elder Comte this change as well, but I could also easily see myself going to a different zone. Anyway I look at it, I can’t see myself ‘dying’ here in Yvera, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be staying a zone leader this change. As for the last one, eight changes as a zone leader is a long time, so that last one I might drop down just to train, but that’s too far out to call right now. It all depends on how the leadership of the mission is when that change comes around.
I could totally see you as the seminary teacher mom, you always got up early. That’s still the one thing that bothers me more than anything, you early birds. I can’t stand peppiness the first thing in the morning. But this week was pretty awesome, it was pretty eventful, let me tell you. Pres. Wade went out with us to work for about 3 hours on Tuesday, and that was awesome. We just did a bunch of contacts and taught some lessons, it was great to learn from him. He doesn’t change out in the street with the people from when he’s talking to us, and he’s such a great guy, he brought little candies for all the little kids and people we taught and gave away a tie to less active member who we’re trying to get out to church again. Then on Thursday, Pres. and Sister Wade came to inspect the houses of the zone and to have the interviews with President that we get once a change, so they were mixing things up on us, normally we just get together at the Stake Center and have interviews their. So we spent all of Wednesday night and Thursday morning cleaning our house like crazy, so it’s a lot nicer now hahaha. I went out with Pres. and Sister Wade Thursday to show them where all the houses of the zone were, and my comp did a split with a youth in the ward. It was awesome to have some more one on one time with the two of them, they are such great people!
But then Thursday night, the power went out for like twenty minutes, and we found out later that it was ALL of Paraguay and half of Brazil! But wow, it was scary, it cut off at like 9.10, and we were walking home, and then all the lights go out. And let me tell you, Paraguay is not a safe place to have the lights go out. At first it was alright because the full moon was out, but after like 4 minutes, it was as if the lights went out again! But it was just the moon going behind the clouds. THEN it was scary, we had to go by the light of the cell phone, and everyone on the streets was scared, because they know how dangerous Paraguay is, and they were always staying away from other cell phone lights. We got to the house just fine, and Elder Gage and Elder Hill showed up about the same time, and we called everyone in the zone to make sure they were okay, and luckily nothing happened, and the lights came on like 10 minutes later. Whew, that was fun.
But yeah, that was the exciting week. Hopefully we have a wedding and a baptism this week, so pray for us. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Alright Haley, I can’t help it if I live half-way around the world and Mom loves me enough to send me Christmas goodies hahaha. So stop your whining. In normal circumstances, I would totally agree with you, but this is an emergency, okay! But you wanna know what’s driving me out of my mind? Here in Paraguay, they don’t have the Thanksgiving Day, let alone in November, so they just pull out all of the Christmas stuff after Halloween! It’s so annoying! But I have never heard anything about customs fees here in Paraguay, so I’m pretty sure it doesn’t exist, and some missionaries get like 10 packages a day. Not even exaggerating... So I’m sure the mission would have mentioned something if the mission had to pay anything to get them out of customs. I would hate to be in Argentina if that's the case.
I talked to Sister Wade, and she was going to take care of everything and I signed my part of the paper, and she was going to have Pres. Wade sign it and then fax it in, so I’ll give her a call after this to ask what’s up with that. Everything should be good to go, I probably just have to remind her to get that sent off. Elder Hill’s mom mentioned that you sent that photo to her, so once again the mothers have creeped out the missionaries. Technology is not a good thing in parents’ hands. Changes are tough to call, especially a week in advance. Sometimes you wake up with the feeling of what’s going to happen the day of, that’s what usually happens to me. There’s a good possibility that I stay with Elder Comte this change as well, but I could also easily see myself going to a different zone. Anyway I look at it, I can’t see myself ‘dying’ here in Yvera, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be staying a zone leader this change. As for the last one, eight changes as a zone leader is a long time, so that last one I might drop down just to train, but that’s too far out to call right now. It all depends on how the leadership of the mission is when that change comes around.
I could totally see you as the seminary teacher mom, you always got up early. That’s still the one thing that bothers me more than anything, you early birds. I can’t stand peppiness the first thing in the morning. But this week was pretty awesome, it was pretty eventful, let me tell you. Pres. Wade went out with us to work for about 3 hours on Tuesday, and that was awesome. We just did a bunch of contacts and taught some lessons, it was great to learn from him. He doesn’t change out in the street with the people from when he’s talking to us, and he’s such a great guy, he brought little candies for all the little kids and people we taught and gave away a tie to less active member who we’re trying to get out to church again. Then on Thursday, Pres. and Sister Wade came to inspect the houses of the zone and to have the interviews with President that we get once a change, so they were mixing things up on us, normally we just get together at the Stake Center and have interviews their. So we spent all of Wednesday night and Thursday morning cleaning our house like crazy, so it’s a lot nicer now hahaha. I went out with Pres. and Sister Wade Thursday to show them where all the houses of the zone were, and my comp did a split with a youth in the ward. It was awesome to have some more one on one time with the two of them, they are such great people!
But then Thursday night, the power went out for like twenty minutes, and we found out later that it was ALL of Paraguay and half of Brazil! But wow, it was scary, it cut off at like 9.10, and we were walking home, and then all the lights go out. And let me tell you, Paraguay is not a safe place to have the lights go out. At first it was alright because the full moon was out, but after like 4 minutes, it was as if the lights went out again! But it was just the moon going behind the clouds. THEN it was scary, we had to go by the light of the cell phone, and everyone on the streets was scared, because they know how dangerous Paraguay is, and they were always staying away from other cell phone lights. We got to the house just fine, and Elder Gage and Elder Hill showed up about the same time, and we called everyone in the zone to make sure they were okay, and luckily nothing happened, and the lights came on like 10 minutes later. Whew, that was fun.
But yeah, that was the exciting week. Hopefully we have a wedding and a baptism this week, so pray for us. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
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