April 14, 2009

What up thug?

So, yeah, I’m still here. I got your package on Tuesday, and I am still in heaven, with straight up Skittles and Starbursts, and that’s all I need. Tell Aunt Audrey thank you very much, her package was an awesome surprise. I share with the little kiddies every once in awhile, when I’m not feeling too selfish haha. But whoever sent the chocolate, I forget in which package it was, it didn’t quite survive the trip hahaha. It was all just molded to the plastic wrapper, and I couldn’t even begin to guess in what form it was when it entered the package. But I’m glad you guys were able to make it down to the old folks in PA. But man, I gotta say, Cole is soooo white hahaha. I don’t know if its that I’ve been living among latin tanned skin for a year (tomorrow, the 15th, hehe) or what, but man, get that kid out in the sun haha.

But as for the Latin culture, they don’t have ‘Easter,’ they have the Holy Week, or the Semana Santa. They focus on the more religious side of things, in just about everything. So like, Palm Sunday is a big thing, and then on Wednesday they all stop working about mid day for the rest of the week. Thursday is the Last Supper, which is the real Passover, and then its Good Friday, or Holy Friday, when Christ died, and it’s basically impossible to find anyone. That day was deader than Christmas, not even kidding. Then Saturday is basically normal, and then Sunday is the Passover of the Resurrection, which is the only day we celebrate, as Easter. Look up Easter in the Bible Dictionary and you’ll learn why we call it Easter. So yeah, this week was dead for us, and it was a learning experience for me because before this year, I barely knew that Palm Sunday existed, and so I learned a lot more about what happened the final week of the Savior’s life.

But this week we got to go to the temple on Tuesday, and that was just awesome! It was like this personal guided tour by the mission president through some of the ordinances and answering questions, I found it most enjoyable. But the blue pants that you sent REALLY don’t fit… the waist is so small that I’d guess that they wouldn’t even fit Cole… But the grey ones fit just fine, so it’s all good. But I like Dad’s multiple corporations… it’s pretty cool. Doesn’t he have three now: One for the building, the Smiles, and now the Lake Ave? I’m impressed. I hope this new venture works out good so that you can stay ahead of this little economic problem. Down here, we’ve noticed that the dollar is starting to drop again, so… yeah, I’m trying to think of an occupation I can choose that will get me ahead of the curve as well. I might just work with Dad after all; I could make it through undergrad if I have to haha.

Oh, but no, the cleaning lady was like a 3 week stint… it didn’t quite work out and looking back, I’m not sure it would have been allowed even :D but I didn’t know better back then. So yeah, I’m still not mastering that skill, though my organization, while I’ve always had Mom’s (fetch I can’t think of the word, it’s like ADD but with like you have to do something like organize or like flip the light switch 4 times before bed, etc or you go crazy) anyways, it has improved a ton since the start of my mission. But I still have my clothes all over the place… its just organized now: lumps of dirty clothes and lumps of clean clothes and lumps of maybe needs washed but could probably be used another time or two before clothes. Organization at it’s finest, I swear.

As for the phone call though, I’m not sure why they got charged so much, but I’m pretty sure they couldn’t get their calling card to work or something. Things will probably be organized next week or the week after to get you guys planning for the call in May. Wow, to think that it’s coming up on a year since last mother’s day is just absolutely crazy! But yeah, things are going good back in Saltos, they’re both still active and Eddy is just crazy helping out the missionaries. He’s going on a mission for sure, he’s probably my strongest convert for sure, he’s such an amazing kid.

Anyways, I hope things keep going good for you back home. Love ya lots,

Elder Dennis