Monday, April 28, 2008
April 28, 2008
Well i typed up a nice letter but lost it because of wonderful ldsmail. So you´ll get another one next week recovering it. SOrry. THings are going good, but I have to go. Lvoe you all, E. Dennis
Monday, April 21, 2008
April 21, 2008
Hola from Paraguay!
So I´ve had one week in a foreign country, and I´m still alive...
Actually its awesome here, I wouldn´t want to be anywhere else. Okay, so about the mission. The first day we just met the President, Pres Wade, and his wife, who are both just awesome, and we got our credit cards for taking out money each month, and filled out other paperwork and stuff, and then we got the chance to visit the temple, which is just gorgeous. Its only a tiny one, but it has to be the second most beautiful temple after San Diego. Then we spent the night in the mission office, where the have a tiny room stuffed with 10 beds... that was interesting. But then the next day we had a big meeting and met all the trainers and then did a little presentation ceremony to our trainers. My companion is Elder Nilsen, from Idaho. He´s awesome, and I´m learning alot. We´re opening up an area, called Salado ("Salted"). Its pretty close to Asunión, and its an awesome area. Its really hard though, because its a new area, so we didn´t have any investigators or know any of the members when we got there on Wednesday. But we´ve been working very hard, in rain and sun and lots of humidity, and we got a couple to church on Sunday, Eusevio and Hemelinda, and Sunday night we got 3 fechas, or baptismal dates; the couple and a brother of a member, Valediano, who is absolutely golden. (Let me just say that the hardest part of all of this is understanding the names... I rely on my companion for that). I´ll give you some of the numbers to show how hard we´re working: 8 Lessons with a member present, 24 other lessons, 23 references received and contacted, 22 new investigators with 10 men and 7 families, 115 lessons taught to recent converts or menos activos (inactive members), and 135 contacts, which is introducing ourselves and inviting people to church (always) or to learn more... in just 4.5 days of working. ¡Que calidad!
There are extremes in our area. Some people live in really nice houses (for Paraguay), and others live in little twig and tarp shacks... its so sad to meet these people who have spent their entire lives of 60 or 70 years in such poverty, and even more heartbreaking is seeing the cutest little kids in the entire world who will be doing that. Even the nicer houses, the majority of them just have dirt floors. The people are awesome though, I love them so much. I can actually follow the conversations now... or at least the gyst of them. Communicating is getting easier, and I´ve made so much progress in just the 5 days I´ve been out among the people. I´m getting used to clapping houses... and everyone is so friendly, they all come out and shake your hand and talk to you. When you pass someone in the street, you say Adios, and the most common greeting is ¿Que tal? I´m also learning a very little of Guaraní right now... in the poor areas they hardly understand spanish, but fortunately my companion has learned enough to communicate effectively with them.
Everything is so cheap here. For about US $2, you can eat a full meal and be stuffed when you´re done. And oh would you be proud of me if you saw what I´m eating. I actually ate a hamburger with everything on it. It wasn´t bad I must say. But so far everything I´ve had to eat is really good... except for yesterday for lunch. We went back to the house and we didn´t have any food, because we just got there, and we live with 2 other Elders, Elder Vasquez, from Chile, and Elder Moreira from Uraguay. They´re both absolutely awesome, Vasquez is trying to learn english, so we help eachother out, I love those guys. But anyways, so we were looking for food, and we ended up with spaghetti, but we didn´t have sauce, so I used peanut butter and Nilsen used hot suace... I don´t know who got the worse end there... I now know why spaghetti and peanut butter hasn´t taken off. But yeah, if somethings put in front of me, I just put it down, and most of it has been really good. And oh my word, the fruit is SPECTACULAR! So ha!
Today was awesome, we went in to Limpio, our Zone headquarters, and had our District/Zone meeting, of which Elder Bullcreek also belongs, so it was awesome to see a familiar face. And then we all played soccer, or futból, and that was just awesome. There was a little less than half of us who were american, and the South Americans are just awesome at it. I did pretty good too, but I have to get used to it again, I haven´t played since I was like 11. But that was fun. And now we´re in Luque, on the other side of our area, to do our shopping and get money for me, and send you peeps an email.
I don´t really know what else to say... oh yeah, Nicole getting married--Crazy! Oh yeah, if you ever need to send a package, put stickers of the Virgin Maria, they don´t pick through it, they´re very supersticious I hear, so yeah. It might be sacreligious, but it works. And sorry, I forgot to bring my camera with me, so I don´t have any pictures to send right now, but perhaps next week. I won´t have any pictures of my area, cause its kind of deangerous to carry around nice things here, they like to take them, but I have a few of the apartment and the temple and stuff. The buses here are awesome, they just cruise along, and you wave them down like a taxi, and then you hop on, and then when you get off, you just have to jump, cause they don´t usually come to a full stop haha. But I love it here, the gospel is true, and I love you all.
Yours,
Elder Dennis
So I´ve had one week in a foreign country, and I´m still alive...
Actually its awesome here, I wouldn´t want to be anywhere else. Okay, so about the mission. The first day we just met the President, Pres Wade, and his wife, who are both just awesome, and we got our credit cards for taking out money each month, and filled out other paperwork and stuff, and then we got the chance to visit the temple, which is just gorgeous. Its only a tiny one, but it has to be the second most beautiful temple after San Diego. Then we spent the night in the mission office, where the have a tiny room stuffed with 10 beds... that was interesting. But then the next day we had a big meeting and met all the trainers and then did a little presentation ceremony to our trainers. My companion is Elder Nilsen, from Idaho. He´s awesome, and I´m learning alot. We´re opening up an area, called Salado ("Salted"). Its pretty close to Asunión, and its an awesome area. Its really hard though, because its a new area, so we didn´t have any investigators or know any of the members when we got there on Wednesday. But we´ve been working very hard, in rain and sun and lots of humidity, and we got a couple to church on Sunday, Eusevio and Hemelinda, and Sunday night we got 3 fechas, or baptismal dates; the couple and a brother of a member, Valediano, who is absolutely golden. (Let me just say that the hardest part of all of this is understanding the names... I rely on my companion for that). I´ll give you some of the numbers to show how hard we´re working: 8 Lessons with a member present, 24 other lessons, 23 references received and contacted, 22 new investigators with 10 men and 7 families, 115 lessons taught to recent converts or menos activos (inactive members), and 135 contacts, which is introducing ourselves and inviting people to church (always) or to learn more... in just 4.5 days of working. ¡Que calidad!
There are extremes in our area. Some people live in really nice houses (for Paraguay), and others live in little twig and tarp shacks... its so sad to meet these people who have spent their entire lives of 60 or 70 years in such poverty, and even more heartbreaking is seeing the cutest little kids in the entire world who will be doing that. Even the nicer houses, the majority of them just have dirt floors. The people are awesome though, I love them so much. I can actually follow the conversations now... or at least the gyst of them. Communicating is getting easier, and I´ve made so much progress in just the 5 days I´ve been out among the people. I´m getting used to clapping houses... and everyone is so friendly, they all come out and shake your hand and talk to you. When you pass someone in the street, you say Adios, and the most common greeting is ¿Que tal? I´m also learning a very little of Guaraní right now... in the poor areas they hardly understand spanish, but fortunately my companion has learned enough to communicate effectively with them.
Everything is so cheap here. For about US $2, you can eat a full meal and be stuffed when you´re done. And oh would you be proud of me if you saw what I´m eating. I actually ate a hamburger with everything on it. It wasn´t bad I must say. But so far everything I´ve had to eat is really good... except for yesterday for lunch. We went back to the house and we didn´t have any food, because we just got there, and we live with 2 other Elders, Elder Vasquez, from Chile, and Elder Moreira from Uraguay. They´re both absolutely awesome, Vasquez is trying to learn english, so we help eachother out, I love those guys. But anyways, so we were looking for food, and we ended up with spaghetti, but we didn´t have sauce, so I used peanut butter and Nilsen used hot suace... I don´t know who got the worse end there... I now know why spaghetti and peanut butter hasn´t taken off. But yeah, if somethings put in front of me, I just put it down, and most of it has been really good. And oh my word, the fruit is SPECTACULAR! So ha!
Today was awesome, we went in to Limpio, our Zone headquarters, and had our District/Zone meeting, of which Elder Bullcreek also belongs, so it was awesome to see a familiar face. And then we all played soccer, or futból, and that was just awesome. There was a little less than half of us who were american, and the South Americans are just awesome at it. I did pretty good too, but I have to get used to it again, I haven´t played since I was like 11. But that was fun. And now we´re in Luque, on the other side of our area, to do our shopping and get money for me, and send you peeps an email.
I don´t really know what else to say... oh yeah, Nicole getting married--Crazy! Oh yeah, if you ever need to send a package, put stickers of the Virgin Maria, they don´t pick through it, they´re very supersticious I hear, so yeah. It might be sacreligious, but it works. And sorry, I forgot to bring my camera with me, so I don´t have any pictures to send right now, but perhaps next week. I won´t have any pictures of my area, cause its kind of deangerous to carry around nice things here, they like to take them, but I have a few of the apartment and the temple and stuff. The buses here are awesome, they just cruise along, and you wave them down like a taxi, and then you hop on, and then when you get off, you just have to jump, cause they don´t usually come to a full stop haha. But I love it here, the gospel is true, and I love you all.
Yours,
Elder Dennis
A Message from the Mission President - 4/15/08
Dear Parents,
President Wade and I wanted to write and let you know that your missionary arrived safely. The flight was on time and everyone's luggage arrived. We went directly to the mission home and had a nice lunch. We had a wonderful testimony meeting by the temple. Attached is a picture that was taken outside the temple. It has been a great day.
We want to express our appreciation to you for the love and support of your missionary. Thank you for your great faith.
Love,
President and Sister Wade
President Wade and I wanted to write and let you know that your missionary arrived safely. The flight was on time and everyone's luggage arrived. We went directly to the mission home and had a nice lunch. We had a wonderful testimony meeting by the temple. Attached is a picture that was taken outside the temple. It has been a great day.
We want to express our appreciation to you for the love and support of your missionary. Thank you for your great faith.
Love,
President and Sister Wade
April 15, 2008
Hey, don't have much time but they're making us write you to let you know we got in safe and sound.
Love you all,
Josh
Love you all,
Josh
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
April 8, 2008
Hola mi familia (y amigos),
Well this is my last letter from the States, so I'm truly excited right now. I made a list mom, so hopefully I cover everything...
First of all, this week I purchased a Book of Mormon and Himnario in Guaraní, and it is definitely not spanish. I wish I could attach a picture of what it looks like, its definitely an indian language. They don't have a pronunciation guide or grammar book on it or anything here, so I'm not quite sure how to say things, but I've already started recognizing words and have a basic understanding of some of the ways they work. I just really wish I just knew how to pronounce things, then it would be easy, but I don't have the luxury of searching the internet for such a thing, so I'll just have to wait til I meet some natives to figure it out.
Thanks for all the stuff about your missionaries from all those years ago, its awesome that you're trying to connect with them, I'm sure they love hearing from someone they taught. And oh my goodness, you've confused the heck out of me woman! I got your email before you letter, and I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about with the sound system... I think I've figured out that you've figured it out and don't need my help though, which is good, cause I wouldn't know where to begin from so far away. Oh, and the reason that email didn't go through last week was because you sent it to the wrong address, not my missionary one. But I can't help you there, I don't remember what my information was, but Dad as the Bishop has administrative powers to make you the webmaster, log in as him and you'll be able to do that.
Conference this past week was awesome, but the last session was the best. Second best was the Priesthood session (sorry mom, you always miss out). President Monson is just hilarious, and I loved his talks. President Uchtdorf was also very good, he spoke several times and I enjoyed each of them as well. The only bad thing about Conference was during the Sunday morning session, the MoTab just completely slaughtered one of my favorite hymns, "If You Could Hie to Kolob," with some awful rendition of it. Thats one of the hymns you just can't change up. Overall, I wasn't all that impressed with the music selections this new director has made so far. But everything else was great.
So I'm definitely ready to get down to South America... and get a new companion. The time has come and gone for me to get a new one. Thats all I'll say about that.
So on to what I know you're just dying to find out: The Flight Information. By this time next week I'll be in Paraguay. We start out be heading to the airport and taking a 2pm flight out to Atlanta, where we have a very short 1 hour layover, followed by a 10 hour overnight flight down to Buenos Aires. There we'll meet up with the Argentine half of our district (we're heading down with a group of 13 headed to Asuncion North, and they're going down a different way with a group headed to Argentina), and we're all excited to get that chance to see each other one last time in South America. We get in to Buenos Aires about 8am, and have a 3 hour layover until we take a 1 hour flight up to Asuncion, where we'll be getting in about noon local time. All in all its about 15 hours in the air, and will take about 20 hours to get there. I'm so excited, we're all ready to just go pack our bags like right now!
Well there's all the information, and you can probably expect a call from me on Monday at about 3pm your time from the Salt Lake Airport, where you get to finally hear me speak fluent (ha ha ha) spanish. I know the girls will be getting home from school about that time, but can you pretty pretty please pick up Cole from school early so he can be there too?? :-) I don't know what to say about dad... its not like he can get picked up early from work. Maybe I'll try calling when we get to Buenos Aires as well, which might be early enough to catch him before he goes in to work on Tuesday.
Thats all I really have for this week, all is steady and slow, though there's so much excitement that we're about to leave. Next time you get a letter it will be from South America, and it probably won't be for 2 weeks since we kind of miss the P-Day as we're traveling. I hope a get a native companion that forces me to speak spanish, all is going well and I have no doubt that I'll be able to continue to pick it up quickly. And maybe I'll actually have some stories to make my letters somewhat interesting then, we'll see.
Love you all,
Elder Dennis
Well this is my last letter from the States, so I'm truly excited right now. I made a list mom, so hopefully I cover everything...
First of all, this week I purchased a Book of Mormon and Himnario in Guaraní, and it is definitely not spanish. I wish I could attach a picture of what it looks like, its definitely an indian language. They don't have a pronunciation guide or grammar book on it or anything here, so I'm not quite sure how to say things, but I've already started recognizing words and have a basic understanding of some of the ways they work. I just really wish I just knew how to pronounce things, then it would be easy, but I don't have the luxury of searching the internet for such a thing, so I'll just have to wait til I meet some natives to figure it out.
Thanks for all the stuff about your missionaries from all those years ago, its awesome that you're trying to connect with them, I'm sure they love hearing from someone they taught. And oh my goodness, you've confused the heck out of me woman! I got your email before you letter, and I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about with the sound system... I think I've figured out that you've figured it out and don't need my help though, which is good, cause I wouldn't know where to begin from so far away. Oh, and the reason that email didn't go through last week was because you sent it to the wrong address, not my missionary one. But I can't help you there, I don't remember what my information was, but Dad as the Bishop has administrative powers to make you the webmaster, log in as him and you'll be able to do that.
Conference this past week was awesome, but the last session was the best. Second best was the Priesthood session (sorry mom, you always miss out). President Monson is just hilarious, and I loved his talks. President Uchtdorf was also very good, he spoke several times and I enjoyed each of them as well. The only bad thing about Conference was during the Sunday morning session, the MoTab just completely slaughtered one of my favorite hymns, "If You Could Hie to Kolob," with some awful rendition of it. Thats one of the hymns you just can't change up. Overall, I wasn't all that impressed with the music selections this new director has made so far. But everything else was great.
So I'm definitely ready to get down to South America... and get a new companion. The time has come and gone for me to get a new one. Thats all I'll say about that.
So on to what I know you're just dying to find out: The Flight Information. By this time next week I'll be in Paraguay. We start out be heading to the airport and taking a 2pm flight out to Atlanta, where we have a very short 1 hour layover, followed by a 10 hour overnight flight down to Buenos Aires. There we'll meet up with the Argentine half of our district (we're heading down with a group of 13 headed to Asuncion North, and they're going down a different way with a group headed to Argentina), and we're all excited to get that chance to see each other one last time in South America. We get in to Buenos Aires about 8am, and have a 3 hour layover until we take a 1 hour flight up to Asuncion, where we'll be getting in about noon local time. All in all its about 15 hours in the air, and will take about 20 hours to get there. I'm so excited, we're all ready to just go pack our bags like right now!
Well there's all the information, and you can probably expect a call from me on Monday at about 3pm your time from the Salt Lake Airport, where you get to finally hear me speak fluent (ha ha ha) spanish. I know the girls will be getting home from school about that time, but can you pretty pretty please pick up Cole from school early so he can be there too?? :-) I don't know what to say about dad... its not like he can get picked up early from work. Maybe I'll try calling when we get to Buenos Aires as well, which might be early enough to catch him before he goes in to work on Tuesday.
Thats all I really have for this week, all is steady and slow, though there's so much excitement that we're about to leave. Next time you get a letter it will be from South America, and it probably won't be for 2 weeks since we kind of miss the P-Day as we're traveling. I hope a get a native companion that forces me to speak spanish, all is going well and I have no doubt that I'll be able to continue to pick it up quickly. And maybe I'll actually have some stories to make my letters somewhat interesting then, we'll see.
Love you all,
Elder Dennis
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
April 1, 2008
Well hello again,
So at this point I have less than 2 weeks remaining here at the MTC! This Friday we'll be getting our flight plans, and know specifically when we'll be heading out, and what time you should be expecting a little ring-a-ling at the house. Thanks for the calling card, I think I might just copy down the information, and then send it back to you, because then you can refill it and I won't have to worry about getting another one while in Paraguay... I don't know how easy to get they are down there. That's what a couple people have suggested so far.
I'm glad you got to hear from Fiala, he's one of my regular writers, and its great to get to hear from him. Thats exciting to think that when you get to see him again, I'll have been in Paraguay for several days, speaking only spanish most likely. Spanish is coming along great, I'm having no problems picking it up, and like I say probably every week, things are getting easier to say in spanish, and alot of the more common things I feel more natural saying in spanish. Teaching is going well, I feel like I'm able to not just get through it, but actually teach it in a fluid manner.
I'm glad to hear Cole loves my letters, I love writing them. Its fun to write all simply, and I hope that I'm able to set a good example for him with what I'm doing and telling him. And Dad told me about the progress of temple work, and thats awesome! I've never paid attention to that kind of stuff, but I've been wondering how that works while I've been here and getting the chance to go to the temple everyweek. And all I needed was the first name from mom's letter a couple days ago, and Elder Bullcreek knew who it was. Haha, it is a small world in Mormonville.
I am so ready to get to Paraguay. I love my district and my teachers so much, but nothing can compare to actually being out there and being among the people. I already love them so much, and it just continues to grow each time I think about it. But apparently I'm headed to the jungle/middle of nowhere. I haven't heard anything specific from anyone of importance or any teachers who have been to Paraguay, but several of the teachers served on the Argentina side of the border, and I've gotten to hear a couple Gurani (?) phrases... its going to be interesting... its very indian haha. But I'm getting excited, it'll be a good learning experience for me, serving people who live in dirt floor huts and eating food that will give me parasites... fun times, fun times. I can't wait til I actually have stories to share.
Okay, I'll try to answer all of your questions now mommy. haha I'm sorry, but I'm very rushed in typing, and I make a list to try and cover everything, but I guess I miss stuff sometimes. Don't you worry about the map picture, I got one a long time ago, and I also got one with the Jessees, I hope you can hear from Sis Jessee soon, I know she was excited to send it to you.
I haven't heard anything about singing in Conference this Saturday, so I have a feeling we won't be, but Dad will find out in the opening few seconds of Priesthood session if we are or not. And I'm sorry to hear about you and Grandpap on opposite ends of the fluids spectrum. haha It makes me laugh to think of you complaining about having to drink so much, I can picture it so clearly.
I don't really have any stories to share, we kind of just do the same thing over and over again... and it just entails sitting in a classroom for 12 hours a day... But you'll get one more letter from me next week, and then I don't know when the next one will be, but you can be sure I'll have plenty to say :-)
I love you all, and I hope all is going well at home.
Elder Dennis
PS - You don't have to include this part in the blog post, but I was curious about the missionaries who taught you. We've been hearing a ton of the ripple effect stories while we've been here, and I love those two young... now older... men who knocked on your door over 20 years ago now whom I know nothing about. And also, could you include my Priesthood lineage next time you zip a little email to me? Muchas gracias.
So at this point I have less than 2 weeks remaining here at the MTC! This Friday we'll be getting our flight plans, and know specifically when we'll be heading out, and what time you should be expecting a little ring-a-ling at the house. Thanks for the calling card, I think I might just copy down the information, and then send it back to you, because then you can refill it and I won't have to worry about getting another one while in Paraguay... I don't know how easy to get they are down there. That's what a couple people have suggested so far.
I'm glad you got to hear from Fiala, he's one of my regular writers, and its great to get to hear from him. Thats exciting to think that when you get to see him again, I'll have been in Paraguay for several days, speaking only spanish most likely. Spanish is coming along great, I'm having no problems picking it up, and like I say probably every week, things are getting easier to say in spanish, and alot of the more common things I feel more natural saying in spanish. Teaching is going well, I feel like I'm able to not just get through it, but actually teach it in a fluid manner.
I'm glad to hear Cole loves my letters, I love writing them. Its fun to write all simply, and I hope that I'm able to set a good example for him with what I'm doing and telling him. And Dad told me about the progress of temple work, and thats awesome! I've never paid attention to that kind of stuff, but I've been wondering how that works while I've been here and getting the chance to go to the temple everyweek. And all I needed was the first name from mom's letter a couple days ago, and Elder Bullcreek knew who it was. Haha, it is a small world in Mormonville.
I am so ready to get to Paraguay. I love my district and my teachers so much, but nothing can compare to actually being out there and being among the people. I already love them so much, and it just continues to grow each time I think about it. But apparently I'm headed to the jungle/middle of nowhere. I haven't heard anything specific from anyone of importance or any teachers who have been to Paraguay, but several of the teachers served on the Argentina side of the border, and I've gotten to hear a couple Gurani (?) phrases... its going to be interesting... its very indian haha. But I'm getting excited, it'll be a good learning experience for me, serving people who live in dirt floor huts and eating food that will give me parasites... fun times, fun times. I can't wait til I actually have stories to share.
Okay, I'll try to answer all of your questions now mommy. haha I'm sorry, but I'm very rushed in typing, and I make a list to try and cover everything, but I guess I miss stuff sometimes. Don't you worry about the map picture, I got one a long time ago, and I also got one with the Jessees, I hope you can hear from Sis Jessee soon, I know she was excited to send it to you.
I haven't heard anything about singing in Conference this Saturday, so I have a feeling we won't be, but Dad will find out in the opening few seconds of Priesthood session if we are or not. And I'm sorry to hear about you and Grandpap on opposite ends of the fluids spectrum. haha It makes me laugh to think of you complaining about having to drink so much, I can picture it so clearly.
I don't really have any stories to share, we kind of just do the same thing over and over again... and it just entails sitting in a classroom for 12 hours a day... But you'll get one more letter from me next week, and then I don't know when the next one will be, but you can be sure I'll have plenty to say :-)
I love you all, and I hope all is going well at home.
Elder Dennis
PS - You don't have to include this part in the blog post, but I was curious about the missionaries who taught you. We've been hearing a ton of the ripple effect stories while we've been here, and I love those two young... now older... men who knocked on your door over 20 years ago now whom I know nothing about. And also, could you include my Priesthood lineage next time you zip a little email to me? Muchas gracias.
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