Sept 7, 2009

Hey there everybody,

All right, first things first: Google Earth! So you basically found where my area is. It’s not that main road that you’re talking about, but it’s along there. It’s split down the middle by a street known as Calle’i, but its real name is Gabriel Pellón. But that power plant that you saw is on the opposite side of the big Luque-San Lorenzo road, but the big power lines that go out from it cross over my area, to the east. So yeah, that main street is one border, and it swings down and hooks up with the east side border, which is a tiny little stream. To the north, its tough to describe the border, but the church, if you find it (a little northeast of the powerlines) is out of my area by like 3 blocks. So yeah, have fun with that. Oh and interesting fact, the other side of the main street Luque-San Lorenzo is the south mission.

The mission suffered very little change this time around. I’m still with Elder Contreras, who besides being annoying, really isn’t that bad of a kid. I am impressed, because like a good many of the latin missionaries, he’s the only member in his family. They totally support him, but still, its impressive that he made it here on his own testimony and desires. Elder Whiteford went out to Pedro Juan Caballero, but I’m still living with Elder Shumway and Elder Larsen, so I still got buddies nearby. Today we made a title of liberty in district meeting, with all of the reasons we’re on the mission written on it, to try and animate the zone a little bit. I don’t know why, but we’re having a tough time rising up. The first Sunday of the change IS usually the worst for whatever reason, but still, its no fun to be fighting the mediocrity. Then we went to a little Luque Expo, or like city fair thing, where I bought just a couple little trinkets... 4 dollars worth, to be exact. And you’d be surprised at what 4 dollars can get you in Paraguay haha.

Anyways, I got your package last Tuesday, so no worries there, it was a nice surprise. It was just full of goodies and a pizza kit and some deserts, which I haven’t made up yet, but this week hopefully I have some more energy to do that. You may laugh at the fact that I lack energy to stir some water into some packets of powder that even come with a bowl, but you never served a mission hahaha. Are the Jesses home?! Its been a year and a half since I left, but I don't know how long their mission is for.

I don’t know what I’m going to do when I get home, because I want to work and save up some money to go out west, but what could I do in February that pays good money? Do you think the track would use translators that early in the season? Its right after the holiday season, so no one in retail will be hiring. Too bad I can’t just go and work at the Chiller haha. As far a a family trip goes... anything that involves activity, like snowboarding or surfing or wakeboarding or motocrossing... I still don’t like doing nothing. Maybe going down to Mexico or Spain or wherever I can use Spanish just for fun... or Alaska would be cool too... probably still too cold up there in March though. Or we could come visit Paraguay... but there really is nothing to do here but talk to people I know, and only I talk in Spanish. I’m really down for whatever. Oh, and through the grape vine I’ve heard that Matisyahu came out with a new cd... if you’re still listening to reggae you should check it out and let me know how it is.

Well, keep me informed on my teams, OSU and UofU, and I'll keep fighting the good fight.

Love,

Elder Dennis