Sept 28, 2009

Well well well.

That’s awesome that Cole is enjoying soccer, I love it down here. I’m so excited because I’ll be home in time to watch the World Cup in June! Paraguay already made it into the tournament, and so did the United States, so it’ll be cool to have two teams to root for. But why you gotta always go and ruin my little surprises that I have all planned up? Haha, I was already planning to pick him up some sweet little jerseys and was even going to ask his size in this email. So at least I don’t have to do that now I guess. We’ve begun playing soccer as a zone every week, er, for the past three weeks. Without having District Meeting on Monday, that morning time is all open now to play. So we go to this sweet turf field, and we each pitch in $1.50 to play for an hour and a half. Today it was cold and had the constant mist drizzle, but it was still a ton of fun, but man, I’m turning into Dad when it comes to sport injuries. A couple months ago, like right after my birthday, I twisted my ankle pretty bad… it’s still pretty weak, but today I totally busted up my toe. I hit a post while trying to kick the ball and I think the nail lifted up from the skin. All I know was that when we got home it was all bloody, but I took a shower and was looking at it, and besides being sore, it really isn’t that bad.

The temple was amazing, I got to do confirmations and a session and then some sealings and ended with initiatories. But the best was just getting to sit in the Celestial Room. I was praying a lot to know about where I need to go and what I need to do after the mission, just asking specific questions and listening to my feelings. I was like- BYU?... U of U?... … Utah?.... Arizona? … .. ….. … alright, I’ll say it, Idaho? ….. Nope, nothing. But I just got the impression that I just had to pick up the Book of Mormon that was on the table, and just open it up because it’d have the answer. Now I was kind of skeptical, because I’d never had the luck with that, but after a few moments I was like, alright. So I picked it up and flipped it open and I swear, my eyes just popped to the first verse that I saw and I read it, and it was the PERFECT scripture for me right now. It was incredible. But it was also in Spanish, and later I looked it up in English, and the feeling the scripture gives is way different, and totally wouldn’t have worked for me if I were to have read it in English. Anyways, that was very powerful for me. It had nothing to do with after the mission though.. so I’m still at a loss as to what to do when February rolls around. I’m glad you were able to get Paige to visit the temple so soon, that’s something that President Wade and the Temple President are pushing right now, that recent converts visit the temple right after baptism to just strengthen their testimony that much more. I’m so glad my family was able to feel the joy as well of helping a friend find the truth and joy of the restored gospel.

Alright, well, I guess I’ll answer some of your questions now. First off, the Eccos survived the operation, if barely, and are now usable again, but they look a little funny now, not gonna lie. But whatever, I just need them to trek around in the dirt and the cobble stone streets that they have here, I’m not trying to impress anyone. The baptisms also went very well this past Thursday, Enrique and Paloma were both baptized in freezing cold water hahaha. I feel so bad for the converts here, the water is never warm. But as a missionary, I just have to hop right on in and act like its warm and look up at them with a smile and offer a hand so that they come on down haha. But yesterday they both were confirmed and Enrique was ordained as a Priest. But the kids here have a very relaxed school system that is just a disaster, they don’t learn anything. All schools have morning, afternoon, and night classes, but none are the normal 9-3 that we’re used to in the states. Seminary is only held on Saturdays, for like an hour and a half to two hours, but I guess in places where the church is more established, like in Chile where my companion is from, they have it in the morning like at home.

Anyways, Love you a lot, and I love empanadas a lot too,

Elder Dennis

PS. Have you found a lomito arabe place?