Nov 2, 2009

Hey there,

So Halloween was spent working really hard and putting it all out on the line to get people ready to go to church. Halloween as we know it in the states doesn’t exist down here, but most people have an idea of what we do, because of movies and stuff. Here they just go out and party in masks or something like that, and its fun, but we don’t see that side of life down here, so it didn’t really effect us. I don’t know, as a missionary holidays just don’t exist. Birthdays, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving... they’re all just normal days down here. The only thing that can kind of be thought of as a holiday is Christmas, because you don’t really do anything, just visit cool members or something. But there’s no family or american food or any of standard things that denote ‘Christmas’ for us. But hardly anyone went to church by the way... things are going tough right now.

One thing I’ve really come to appreciate on my mission is family, because like they say, you don’t really know how important something is to you until its gone. Luckily I’ll be getting you guys back haha, but it’s really hit me these past couple weeks just the weight of this message we are trying to just give away to these people, and they just turn it down. We’re trying to give them an eternal family, the blessings of being sealed together for the eternities. I watched the church movie ‘Between Heaven and Earth’ by the church, and it talks about temples, and what other religious leaders and scholars have to say about it last night, and it was pretty powerful. But if you could see how these people just pass day after day and don’t even have direction in life. We pass old old old people in the streets and its just like, why don’t you just die already? What do you really have to live for? They just wake up, work, drink beer, and sleep again. That is the Paraguayan life. It’s so awesome when you can see meaning come into their lives though. Thats what makes it all worth it, that’s why we got out everyday in 100 degree weather and get rejected, ridiculed, mocked and yelled at. Cause in the end, it’s all worth it.

Sounds like the family is having fun with Grandpa Bob out there though, so that's cool. I love that guy. You people and your history sights though, I never would’ve guessed hahaha. And you’re planning your funerals already... no comment. But I enjoyed the photos of the costumes! Robyn busting out the Princess Peach, and the little Indiana Jones looked awesome, I wish I could have been there. Can you believe it was over TWO years ago that I dressed up as the scare crow in the Trunk or Treat thing at the church and scared all the little kids while they reached in to the trunk for the candy? That was the last Halloween memory I have. I don’t even have a clue as to what happened last year, I don’t remember it at all. It sucks that I won’t be home til all the holidays pass. But whatevs, I only have 15 weeks left here in Paraguay. When you put it that way it feels like nothing, fetch, I gotta get working!

But I’m proud of you guys having Paige move in.. to my room.... nah just kidding, that really is awesome. Not gonna lie mom, I don’t want to make you feel bad, but that never felt like my room. I know you tried your best, but it was never the same to me. Tell Paige I think she’s a stud for everything she’s doing to follow the truth, I respect that more than anything anyone can do in this life. She’s kind of like that ‘mystery girl’ to me too, and I’m kind of disappointed I won’t even meet her when I get home, I feel like she’s part of the family already. I haven’t even seen a picture of her or anything, I’ve just heard you talk about her, but it sounds like she fits right in to our crazy family. I love you all more than you know. And I miss my electric guitar...

Love ya,

Elder Dennis