May 19, 2008

Dear familia y amigos,

Well I’ve passed my one month point here in Paraguay, which is just absolutely crazy. It definitely still feels like I just got here yesterday, despite the fact that I’m getting used to the wierd surroundings and culture. Things are going pretty good, and the work is moving along quite well, the Lord blessed us tremendously this week. But first I have a problem that needs solved quickly…

My card doesn’t work. We tried 3 different ATMs today. The first one, the nicest, told me I had no money in my account, and then the other two just said that they didn’t take it there. The reason for that is probably because its mastercard, I guess there’s big problems with that down here, Visa is apparently the way to go. But another thing that some of the Elders who are more experienced with this say that they don’t think the card is activated. I know you said you went in there and activated it with the Branch Manager, so I don’t know what the deal is. There’s a HSBC close to the temple in Asunción though, and this Thursday we have a Zone Conference down there, so we’re going to go and see if they can’t help me out or something. But if you could try and find out what’s going on with that as well, it would help a bunch if I could get to my money.

On to happier things: We had a sweet Family Home Evening with one of the members, Amada, and we made impanadas and tortillas, and they were just amazing. I love impanadas, they’re so good. And then tortillas are like the funnel cake dough without the sugar topped on it, also way good. I got plenty of pictures, and I was going to try and send them home but once again we’re using the place that doesn’t have USB drives, so no luck this week. We kind of just walk along the street and the first internet place we come to that has open computers is where we go.

In my personal study, I finished the Gospels in the New Testiment on Saturday, so that was exciting. We get an hour of personal study everyday, and so this is what I do. I start out with a chapter from the Book of Mormon, where I go into semi in depth study and take notes and stuff, because I’ve already read through it once on my mission so far, and now I’m going through again much more slowly. Right now I’m at the very end of 2 Nephi. Alter I do that, right now we’re reading through Preach My Gospel to finish it by this Thursday—the reason we’re going down to Asunción is for the visit of a 70 Area Authority, and we have to have it completely read by then. So I have my little timeline of what I need to read each day and I just follow that. Then I use the rest of the time, usually about half an hour or so, and just read from the New Testiment. I’m just reading through pretty fast right now, just to get through it. After the NT, I’ll probable move to the Old Testament, and so on with the other books of scripture. And then after I get it all done, I plan to do it all again in Spanish. I try to read a chapter a day from the Book of Mormon in Spanish, but mostly just to practice pronunciation. Thanks for the scripture sugestión, its an awesome one, they love to use it in district meetings and zone conferences alot. 

Ok. Now let me just say that Guarani just kicks our trash. It is such a HUGE barrier when it comes to teaching people. Most people are pretty good with being able to understand and communicate at least in Spanish, but 2 of the families we’re teaching right now don’t understand or speak hardly any spanish whatsoever… and wow is it tough. We’re doing really good right now working with the members, and its so much better when members become involved. We’re seeing so much more success this week because of it. Also let me just say right now that if any words are in spanish or just funny, its because this stupid program is trying to correct everything I say. I’m catching most of it, but if I miss anything, just letting you know.

Haley, ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! I hope you have fun, and how does it feel to be old? You’re officially an adult, and how I wish I were just a little kid again haha. Oh well, at least you’re not entering the 20s yet, thats just weird. In another month I won’t start my age with a 1 anymore. Haha And mom, as for her computer, the 1 or 2 gigs is for the RAM, not the hard drive, and I wouldn’t think its really worth it to put in an extra gig, the one will be just fine, thats what I have.

Its hot down here, and really humid. Its probably going to rain tomorrow, but it hasn’t rained in almost 2 weeks now, so I guess its alright. Also I need one last favor from Haley. Haley, I need Katelyn’s Idaho address. So go onto Facebook today and tell her to email me her address here so that I can write her, cause it won’t be until mid June that my letter would get there and I’m pretty sure she won’t still be at school. And tell her pronto. Thanks a bunch hermana!

Alright, thats about all I got folks. I’m really tan…on my foresarms and face to halfway down my neck…so thats exciting. Oh and I’m beefing up my physique, with my daily excersizes… it feels good to be getting muscules back. I also got my scripture cases ordered today, so I’m stoked for those. I got one for my BofM and one for my Bible. The Bof M has the Picture of the vision of the Tree of Life on the front, and the one of Christ descending into the Americas on the back. The Bible has a Picture of Christ as a sheperd by Simon Dewey (don’t know how else to describe it) on the front, and then the Picture, also by Dewey, of Christ at the well with the Samaritan woman on the back. So those are going to be awesome. I’ll take pictures.

Yeah. Um. I love you all. And I can’t think of anything else.

Elder Dennis