Hey there family!
Hey, so why didn't you let Aunt Audrey talk to me, it would have been fun to here from her too. But I´m glad you enjoyed talking to me. Only 5 months to go until the next time. But wow, it is really really hot right now, and we went out to check out a waterfall today as a district. So the two new guys in our district were excited to see a little bit of the country side, because we have to drive way out to the middle of nowhere to get there. This one was different from the last one, so I hope you like some of the pictures that I sent you.
Anyways, my new comp is pretty cool, he has a ton of enthusiasm and wants to work hard, so we're doing it the best we can. Edison and Sambrina are doing awesome, so in a couple weeks hopefully you'll be seeing their baptismal photos, if everything goes according to plan. My comp is still going through the major culture shock, and I totally am coming to appreciate just how great of a missionary and trainer Elder Nilsen was, because I just find myself thinking "Okay, what would Elder Nilsen be doing right now? How would he explain to me what's going on?" It’s a lot harder than it might seem to get a kid to understand what the people are saying to him and adjust to a new culture on top of getting him used to doing the missionary kinds of things. I find myself forgetting to do a lot of things just because of how much I'm trying so hard to make sure I'm covering all of the bases haha. But it hasn't even been a week yet, I'm sure things will settle down here pretty soon. As for favorite families here, there's always favorite families/people wherever you go.
But now its time to reprimand haha. What's with all this talk of me being married?! Its just all like out of the blue. But no, I didn't know Jeremy Arnold. I think he was the guy who gave his homecoming talk when I gave my farewell, but I don't know anything about him really. I did know Maddie though. Haha that’s weird to think they're getting married. Don't you worry, I'll be taking things nice and slow when I get home. For starters, I'll be in NY for forever when I get home and I KNOW there ain't nobody there. And there's some things I wanna do before I have to settle down, just take some time and enjoy single life for awhile, like start up a band or study abroad in Austria or Spain or something fun like that. Don't think that me going and living in a foreign country for 2 years has satisfied my appetite, if anything its just made me want to travel more. Haha.
Anyways, I hope all of your travel plans go good for this week, and that you guys really enjoy the game. You'll have to send pictures and tell me all about it. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Dec 22, 2008
¡Feliz navidad!
Alright peeps, are yas ready to talk to yours truly? Well... I kinda forgot to get the information... HA! Gotcha! Alright, so here’s whats ya needs to do: First, go out and buy a phone card, and make sure Paraguay is included on it. Then, at exactly 4:00 on Thursday, Christmas day, Eastern standard time, call the number xx-xxx-xxx-xxx. It’ll be six o’clock here in Paraguay. If the number doesn’t go through you might have to put a 0 in front of it, but you should be just fine. You’ll be calling a member’s house, the branch president’s, and we’ll be getting there a little early to be there in plenty of time. Its funny to think its been like, 7 months since I’ve talked to any of you people.
Okay, now I gotta say, I just love my funny little branch. Its so hard to not just bust out laughing at most of our functions, its deserving of a mormon reality tv series almost. You can check out the photos of the christmas party. Its was cool, we actually got a really great turnout, we were kind of surprised as missionaries. We spent all week inviting people, and it actually turned out decent. Also, I got your package of gifts, so no worries there. Although, I’m sorry to say that all your effort to put Elder Peterson’s names on the gifts was a wasted of time, cause now I have to scratch them off. But I’ll be giving a couple to him on his way out, cause I love that kid. Oh, but you’ll be happy to know that I only opened the seat cushion (which is splendid, by the way). Oh, and the magnets, those I couldn’t figure out, and they’re really fun to play with. And the AAA batteries. Which will be coming in handy because I bought a guitar tuner today that uses em. Before today I thought is was the most pointless gift ever, but then again, I haven’t opened anything else, so I wouldn’t know... but I’m pretty sure that unless the book is just like a cover up for something than you didn’t send anything that could use them. I’m really excited to find out what the book is by the way, and I’m stoked for all the cds. But I’m not gonna lie, the things I’m most geared up to open is the ties... haha.
So I guess that brings me to changes: I get to have my first kid this change! I’ll be training some kid, but we don’t find out who until we get there cause its this huge big surprise and everything, so it’ll be exciting. I do know he’s american though, because there’s no latins coming this change haha. So you’ll be able to find out all about him this Thursday when we’re chatting. But I’ve decided to share something with you that I’ve come to realize the last couple weeks... The things I took for granted the most before my mission was, by far, shade. DO you know how much cooler it is when you’re under shade?! It’s like stepping into a freezer! I am never going to take shade for granted when I get back to the states... the first thing I will ever think about when I’m looking at houses to buy later on is where the shade is in the yard because man, it can literally save your life to have just a itty bitty piece of shade to be get out of the oven.
Okay, one last thing. I want to ask you to pray for Ever. He’s an awesome guy that isn’t feeling well. He’s helped us find 2 of our best investigators that we have right now, and he really wants to go on a mission, but he has lupus, and he’s going through a tough spot right now. So just keep him in your prayers. Him and Sambrina and Edison, the two investigators. I sent a photo of Ever and Sambrina with the elders. Anyways, I love you all, can’t wait to talk to ya. Chao.
Elder Dennis
Alright peeps, are yas ready to talk to yours truly? Well... I kinda forgot to get the information... HA! Gotcha! Alright, so here’s whats ya needs to do: First, go out and buy a phone card, and make sure Paraguay is included on it. Then, at exactly 4:00 on Thursday, Christmas day, Eastern standard time, call the number xx-xxx-xxx-xxx. It’ll be six o’clock here in Paraguay. If the number doesn’t go through you might have to put a 0 in front of it, but you should be just fine. You’ll be calling a member’s house, the branch president’s, and we’ll be getting there a little early to be there in plenty of time. Its funny to think its been like, 7 months since I’ve talked to any of you people.
Okay, now I gotta say, I just love my funny little branch. Its so hard to not just bust out laughing at most of our functions, its deserving of a mormon reality tv series almost. You can check out the photos of the christmas party. Its was cool, we actually got a really great turnout, we were kind of surprised as missionaries. We spent all week inviting people, and it actually turned out decent. Also, I got your package of gifts, so no worries there. Although, I’m sorry to say that all your effort to put Elder Peterson’s names on the gifts was a wasted of time, cause now I have to scratch them off. But I’ll be giving a couple to him on his way out, cause I love that kid. Oh, but you’ll be happy to know that I only opened the seat cushion (which is splendid, by the way). Oh, and the magnets, those I couldn’t figure out, and they’re really fun to play with. And the AAA batteries. Which will be coming in handy because I bought a guitar tuner today that uses em. Before today I thought is was the most pointless gift ever, but then again, I haven’t opened anything else, so I wouldn’t know... but I’m pretty sure that unless the book is just like a cover up for something than you didn’t send anything that could use them. I’m really excited to find out what the book is by the way, and I’m stoked for all the cds. But I’m not gonna lie, the things I’m most geared up to open is the ties... haha.
So I guess that brings me to changes: I get to have my first kid this change! I’ll be training some kid, but we don’t find out who until we get there cause its this huge big surprise and everything, so it’ll be exciting. I do know he’s american though, because there’s no latins coming this change haha. So you’ll be able to find out all about him this Thursday when we’re chatting. But I’ve decided to share something with you that I’ve come to realize the last couple weeks... The things I took for granted the most before my mission was, by far, shade. DO you know how much cooler it is when you’re under shade?! It’s like stepping into a freezer! I am never going to take shade for granted when I get back to the states... the first thing I will ever think about when I’m looking at houses to buy later on is where the shade is in the yard because man, it can literally save your life to have just a itty bitty piece of shade to be get out of the oven.
Okay, one last thing. I want to ask you to pray for Ever. He’s an awesome guy that isn’t feeling well. He’s helped us find 2 of our best investigators that we have right now, and he really wants to go on a mission, but he has lupus, and he’s going through a tough spot right now. So just keep him in your prayers. Him and Sambrina and Edison, the two investigators. I sent a photo of Ever and Sambrina with the elders. Anyways, I love you all, can’t wait to talk to ya. Chao.
Elder Dennis
Monday, December 15, 2008
Dec 15, 2008
¿Qué tal?
Well, first things first… I forgot to collect the phone information hahaha... so yeah, you have to wait another week. But next time I’ll have it, I promise. And I haven’t gotten your other package yet, so don’t worry... Well, now you’ll probably be worrying about why I haven’t gotten it yet, so I’m sure I’ll be getting it this week, don’t worry. Also, I’m currently sending you some photos taken with my new camera, hope ya like em. I also added explanations to that email so you should know what’s going on. It sounded like Haley had fun with her little trip though, I’m glad she got lucky enough to have some great people go pick her up. Man, I really hope I don’t have any problems getting home in like a year... I really really really miss my music...
Anyways, I guess I’ll answer your questions about the branch. Just about everyone is converts of at the VERY most 15 years, cause thats when the church started out here. Most are within the 2-5 year mark. Only one family is a transplant, but its a pretty strong family. They’ve been members the longest, since the early 80s, and have lived in several different places. The members do various things, like construction and selling things and working at the bus terminal, things like that. There is poverty in the area, but its a little bit different, because its not as widespread, because here, most people have jobs. So while the houses are just as small, they’re usually a lot nicer, with chuchi, er, nice, things inside, but still well below the poverty level for the states. Its hard to describe, you just have to be here and see it. Its like they’re living in the same conditions, they just take better care of themselves and their stuff. As for Brazil, I’ve crossed the border and wow, is it a heck of a lot nicer over there... like paved streets and nice cars, its like a whole other world. That and they all speak portuguese which is supposed to be close to spanish but its like impossible to understand. We have some members over there because for whatever reason there’s no missionaries or church over there, but they don’t come very often. As for food, we mostly cook for ourselves... we eat a lot of pasta, its quite easy to make... We eat usually twice a week with members. The main problem is that most of them are working during the day so they’re not home during lunch time. Just in case you didn’t remember (I’m pretty sure I’ve explained this before) we eat the big meal of lunch here, and just lightly at night... which is how it should be. No packing in calories just to store them away during the night. And we’ve stopped looking for a house becasue we got tired of looking at very tiny places for a lot more than what we’re paying at our current house... which isn’t all that bad, not really. If I can live there, you know it can’t be that bad haha.
Anyways, I’m looking forward to talking to everyone next week, hopefully I’ll get you the information hahaha. Love yas,
Elder Dennis
PS Tell Haley I’m sorry but I didn’t have time to write her today.
Well, first things first… I forgot to collect the phone information hahaha... so yeah, you have to wait another week. But next time I’ll have it, I promise. And I haven’t gotten your other package yet, so don’t worry... Well, now you’ll probably be worrying about why I haven’t gotten it yet, so I’m sure I’ll be getting it this week, don’t worry. Also, I’m currently sending you some photos taken with my new camera, hope ya like em. I also added explanations to that email so you should know what’s going on. It sounded like Haley had fun with her little trip though, I’m glad she got lucky enough to have some great people go pick her up. Man, I really hope I don’t have any problems getting home in like a year... I really really really miss my music...
Anyways, I guess I’ll answer your questions about the branch. Just about everyone is converts of at the VERY most 15 years, cause thats when the church started out here. Most are within the 2-5 year mark. Only one family is a transplant, but its a pretty strong family. They’ve been members the longest, since the early 80s, and have lived in several different places. The members do various things, like construction and selling things and working at the bus terminal, things like that. There is poverty in the area, but its a little bit different, because its not as widespread, because here, most people have jobs. So while the houses are just as small, they’re usually a lot nicer, with chuchi, er, nice, things inside, but still well below the poverty level for the states. Its hard to describe, you just have to be here and see it. Its like they’re living in the same conditions, they just take better care of themselves and their stuff. As for Brazil, I’ve crossed the border and wow, is it a heck of a lot nicer over there... like paved streets and nice cars, its like a whole other world. That and they all speak portuguese which is supposed to be close to spanish but its like impossible to understand. We have some members over there because for whatever reason there’s no missionaries or church over there, but they don’t come very often. As for food, we mostly cook for ourselves... we eat a lot of pasta, its quite easy to make... We eat usually twice a week with members. The main problem is that most of them are working during the day so they’re not home during lunch time. Just in case you didn’t remember (I’m pretty sure I’ve explained this before) we eat the big meal of lunch here, and just lightly at night... which is how it should be. No packing in calories just to store them away during the night. And we’ve stopped looking for a house becasue we got tired of looking at very tiny places for a lot more than what we’re paying at our current house... which isn’t all that bad, not really. If I can live there, you know it can’t be that bad haha.
Anyways, I’m looking forward to talking to everyone next week, hopefully I’ll get you the information hahaha. Love yas,
Elder Dennis
PS Tell Haley I’m sorry but I didn’t have time to write her today.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Dec 10, 2008
Howdy,
So as you guessed it, I already picked up a camera. Its really sweet! I got the Sony dsc-W150, and I got it for super cheap, for 850 mil guaranies, or like, $170 dollars. It takes sweet photos and is everything you could ever need in a camera. And don't worry, I had already thought about saving my camera and seeing if we can´t repair it when I get home. Oh, and sorry its taken me so long to write to you guys this week. Yesterday we had to go into Asuncion for our little Christmas lunch in a fancy restaurant with the Pres and 2 other zones, so Monday was a working day for us. But yesterday we didn't get the chance to do internet, so here we are today. By the way, I just spent two nights in a row on a bus… we left Monday night at 10pm from Saltos, and got in to Asuncion at like 6am on Tuesday, then we played a game of soccer as a zone because we never see each other and then did interviews with the pres because we never see him either. Then we ate lunch and then hung out at the office til 9pm, when they took us back to the terminal, where we had to wait until midnight to catch a bus back to Saltos, arriving here in the morning at about 7am…. I hate being the area the farthest away you can get from the office…
As far as changes and calling home, we´re still doing changes on Christmas eve… I think… but its almost for sure that I´ll be staying here in Saltos. I´ll probably be training too, because 22 new missionaries will be showing up this change! That’s a TON! I´m pretty sure just about every person in the mission is going to receive a change this time around though, there hasn´t been too many for a change or two now, and with all these new kids coming, its going to be an interesting Christmas. We got the information on calling home a week or two ago, but I don´t have it with me yet, because we still need to verify some stuff. We´re planning on doing it at a members house again. We have a cell phone (wehhehehe power!) but the connection isn´t that reliable for something like this. So I´ll be getting you the information here this next week I think. Just let me know like, what time is better for you guys. Are you going to be going anywhere for Christmas, or staying at home? Because on Christmas eve day, if we get changed up and plans have to change about when or where we have to talk, we have permission to call home for like 3 minutes to confirm things, so if something happens i'm going to need to know where to call. Also, Paraguay is 2 hours ahead of you guys right now, so we´ll have to plan for that as well.
Well, I love you guys a lot, hope all is well, and talk to ya laters,
Elder Dennis
P.s. I don´t really care about Disney World, you should know I´m just joking about things like that. Now snowboarding in Switzerland or surfing in Australia… then I would be jealous. haha.
P.s.s. Dad, you´re going to love your Christmas present from Mom! hehe
So as you guessed it, I already picked up a camera. Its really sweet! I got the Sony dsc-W150, and I got it for super cheap, for 850 mil guaranies, or like, $170 dollars. It takes sweet photos and is everything you could ever need in a camera. And don't worry, I had already thought about saving my camera and seeing if we can´t repair it when I get home. Oh, and sorry its taken me so long to write to you guys this week. Yesterday we had to go into Asuncion for our little Christmas lunch in a fancy restaurant with the Pres and 2 other zones, so Monday was a working day for us. But yesterday we didn't get the chance to do internet, so here we are today. By the way, I just spent two nights in a row on a bus… we left Monday night at 10pm from Saltos, and got in to Asuncion at like 6am on Tuesday, then we played a game of soccer as a zone because we never see each other and then did interviews with the pres because we never see him either. Then we ate lunch and then hung out at the office til 9pm, when they took us back to the terminal, where we had to wait until midnight to catch a bus back to Saltos, arriving here in the morning at about 7am…. I hate being the area the farthest away you can get from the office…
As far as changes and calling home, we´re still doing changes on Christmas eve… I think… but its almost for sure that I´ll be staying here in Saltos. I´ll probably be training too, because 22 new missionaries will be showing up this change! That’s a TON! I´m pretty sure just about every person in the mission is going to receive a change this time around though, there hasn´t been too many for a change or two now, and with all these new kids coming, its going to be an interesting Christmas. We got the information on calling home a week or two ago, but I don´t have it with me yet, because we still need to verify some stuff. We´re planning on doing it at a members house again. We have a cell phone (wehhehehe power!) but the connection isn´t that reliable for something like this. So I´ll be getting you the information here this next week I think. Just let me know like, what time is better for you guys. Are you going to be going anywhere for Christmas, or staying at home? Because on Christmas eve day, if we get changed up and plans have to change about when or where we have to talk, we have permission to call home for like 3 minutes to confirm things, so if something happens i'm going to need to know where to call. Also, Paraguay is 2 hours ahead of you guys right now, so we´ll have to plan for that as well.
Well, I love you guys a lot, hope all is well, and talk to ya laters,
Elder Dennis
P.s. I don´t really care about Disney World, you should know I´m just joking about things like that. Now snowboarding in Switzerland or surfing in Australia… then I would be jealous. haha.
P.s.s. Dad, you´re going to love your Christmas present from Mom! hehe
Friday, December 5, 2008
Dec 1, 2008
Wow, its December already! Who da thunk? Anyways, I hope your vacation is going well, and you’re enjoying the parks. Right now its really really really fetching hot, and we sang Christmas songs in church yesterday... that felt very very wierd! But things are plugging along down here. We’re not having very much success right now though, so spirits are kind of low, but what can ya do?
But, I have run into a tiny problem... my camera is starting to freak on me. I think it might be the dirt getting into it or something... but whenever I try and focus it, the lens motors just start grinding like its trying to focus but it just makes it so that everything comes in blurry. It started a while ago, but wasn’t that bad, but its just gotten progressively worse as time has gone on, and now I can barely get a good picture out of it. So I’ve started looking at some cameras, and most are in the 200-250 range. Of course I’m sticking with Sony, and the main ones I’m looking at are the W150, W170 and T77, with prices or 220, 240, and 260, respectively. Thats the starting prices, but around here you can usually talk them down about 20 bucks (or 100 mil). So I just wanted to consult with you to see if these were good prices and if its okay that I get one before I do anything. I don’t know, these are like the main cameras out right now with some of the better specs but staying in what seems like a decent price range from what I can tell in my very shelter bubble of a missionary. :-)
Anyways, thats basically all thats really going on down here... its just really hot and I REALLY want to play in the snow. On a snowbaord.
Love,
Elder Dennis
(Wow, my letters suck when I don’t have any questions to answer...)
Tracie here - he didn't get an email from us because there was no free internet service @ Disney World - he obviously missed my incessant barrage of questions! :)
But, I have run into a tiny problem... my camera is starting to freak on me. I think it might be the dirt getting into it or something... but whenever I try and focus it, the lens motors just start grinding like its trying to focus but it just makes it so that everything comes in blurry. It started a while ago, but wasn’t that bad, but its just gotten progressively worse as time has gone on, and now I can barely get a good picture out of it. So I’ve started looking at some cameras, and most are in the 200-250 range. Of course I’m sticking with Sony, and the main ones I’m looking at are the W150, W170 and T77, with prices or 220, 240, and 260, respectively. Thats the starting prices, but around here you can usually talk them down about 20 bucks (or 100 mil). So I just wanted to consult with you to see if these were good prices and if its okay that I get one before I do anything. I don’t know, these are like the main cameras out right now with some of the better specs but staying in what seems like a decent price range from what I can tell in my very shelter bubble of a missionary. :-)
Anyways, thats basically all thats really going on down here... its just really hot and I REALLY want to play in the snow. On a snowbaord.
Love,
Elder Dennis
(Wow, my letters suck when I don’t have any questions to answer...)
Tracie here - he didn't get an email from us because there was no free internet service @ Disney World - he obviously missed my incessant barrage of questions! :)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Nov 24, 2008
Wait a second… you guys are going to Disney World, withOUT me?! First a cruise and now this… you pigs disgust me. Haha just kidding. About the cruise anyway. But whatevs, I’ll keep walking the dusty dirt roads everyday in extreme heat. That's a lot funner than Disney World anyways. Well another week... still no dollar. Which is rising by the way. Just in case you wanted to know.
Well, this week kind of stunk as far as the numbers went... everything is very carefully marked and organized and the numbers very well kept around here. We have to talk to our district leader 4 times a week now, so that the mission can keep tabs on all of us little twenty somethings, and make sure we’re actually working. But we lost a lot of time by going in to Asuncion for 2 whole days, so yeah, whatever. But while we were in Asuncion, we totally went out to eat at this really really nice, expensive restaurant, and we were all like this is soooo expensive... until we realized how much we were paying in dollars. Because here, the food is about the same ratio as it is in the states. Like, 1 dollar will buy the same amount of food as like 1 mil guarani here. So while it was a 50 mil dinner, it was only like, 10 bucks. So yeah, take that Paraguay!
Well, we had another baptism fall, so our animo is a little low, but were just wiping the slate new and starting again basically from scratch with our investigator pool. Its a little difficult, but no one was progressing, and they were just wasting our time that could have been spent with someone else. But yeah, we don’t have thanksgiving around these parts, so the Christmas decorations totally went up like two weeks ago around here... that was a little weird, not gonna lie. Oh yeah, I got the Christmas gift package by the way... I like the cute little note to the APs... who don’t see the package anyways. That was a little embarrassing... :-p But I still love ya.
Well that's about it for now... I can’t think of anything else to ramble on about. Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Well, this week kind of stunk as far as the numbers went... everything is very carefully marked and organized and the numbers very well kept around here. We have to talk to our district leader 4 times a week now, so that the mission can keep tabs on all of us little twenty somethings, and make sure we’re actually working. But we lost a lot of time by going in to Asuncion for 2 whole days, so yeah, whatever. But while we were in Asuncion, we totally went out to eat at this really really nice, expensive restaurant, and we were all like this is soooo expensive... until we realized how much we were paying in dollars. Because here, the food is about the same ratio as it is in the states. Like, 1 dollar will buy the same amount of food as like 1 mil guarani here. So while it was a 50 mil dinner, it was only like, 10 bucks. So yeah, take that Paraguay!
Well, we had another baptism fall, so our animo is a little low, but were just wiping the slate new and starting again basically from scratch with our investigator pool. Its a little difficult, but no one was progressing, and they were just wasting our time that could have been spent with someone else. But yeah, we don’t have thanksgiving around these parts, so the Christmas decorations totally went up like two weeks ago around here... that was a little weird, not gonna lie. Oh yeah, I got the Christmas gift package by the way... I like the cute little note to the APs... who don’t see the package anyways. That was a little embarrassing... :-p But I still love ya.
Well that's about it for now... I can’t think of anything else to ramble on about. Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Nov 18, 2008
Hola, so right now I’m in Asuncion because my comp had to sign in to the country today, and then tomorrow we have our zone conference. Anyways, the bus in sucked, because we took the bus that left from Saltos at 10pm last night and got in to Asuncion at 5.30 this morning, where we took a taxi to the office where we crashed until my comp had to go to sign in at like 9. Then I just hung out at the office until about 12, when we took off and ate at Shangra-la, which is really good Chinese buffet. And now we’re just taking care of the internet use for the week. So yeah, it was like impossible to sleep on the bus but whatevs, I’m not about to fall asleep while writing this, I swear.
Well it sounds like yall are having a good time at home with all of the activities. I hope things keep going well for you all, and that you’re having a good time shopping today for Robyn’s birthday. And tell Cole he better keep that Spanish up!
Well let’s see if I can’t explain a little bit more about Saltos. It’s a tiny little branch that gets about 20 people to the Sacrament meetings on Sundays… the classes only pull in like 5-10 on a good day. But we’re working our best to try and activate the numerous inactive members that live here, and strengthen the ward with some strong new members. However, this past week we were lined up to have a baptism of this really awesome lady named Rosi. Anyways, we go over the baptismal interview questions with here on Thursday and we tell her we’ll be coming back tomorrow with our district leader to do the interview, but overnight she got cold feet and ‘’got out of Dodge’’ for the weekend… so yeah, we finally find her on Sunday night, and she had went to Brazil for the weekend, but we ask her if she still wanted to be baptized and she’s like I don’t know so we didn’t have a lot of time at the moment cause we were running late and we had to get home to rendir, so we told her we were coming back tomorrow to talk about it and she like skipped town on us again… so yeah, we’re a little down about that right now, but whatevs. We got a sweet lady lined up for next week, but what we really need is just a solid family to find.
Anyways, the town is very popular because its on the frontera of Brazil. So all the Brazilians come over because they get the stuff cheaper over here, especially electronics… (I don’t know what it is back home, but a 4GB Kingston memory chip is only 12 US dollars… its unreal!) Anyways, because of that there’s a ton of shops and that means a ton of jobs, so that brings a ton of people from both sides of the border, and its just growing like crazy. Well, I hope that that answers some questions that you’ve had. Its an awesome area, it just needs a kick start in the heart to get this place thumping… Its sooo close!
Well, I’m out. Loves ya,
Elder Dennis
Well it sounds like yall are having a good time at home with all of the activities. I hope things keep going well for you all, and that you’re having a good time shopping today for Robyn’s birthday. And tell Cole he better keep that Spanish up!
Well let’s see if I can’t explain a little bit more about Saltos. It’s a tiny little branch that gets about 20 people to the Sacrament meetings on Sundays… the classes only pull in like 5-10 on a good day. But we’re working our best to try and activate the numerous inactive members that live here, and strengthen the ward with some strong new members. However, this past week we were lined up to have a baptism of this really awesome lady named Rosi. Anyways, we go over the baptismal interview questions with here on Thursday and we tell her we’ll be coming back tomorrow with our district leader to do the interview, but overnight she got cold feet and ‘’got out of Dodge’’ for the weekend… so yeah, we finally find her on Sunday night, and she had went to Brazil for the weekend, but we ask her if she still wanted to be baptized and she’s like I don’t know so we didn’t have a lot of time at the moment cause we were running late and we had to get home to rendir, so we told her we were coming back tomorrow to talk about it and she like skipped town on us again… so yeah, we’re a little down about that right now, but whatevs. We got a sweet lady lined up for next week, but what we really need is just a solid family to find.
Anyways, the town is very popular because its on the frontera of Brazil. So all the Brazilians come over because they get the stuff cheaper over here, especially electronics… (I don’t know what it is back home, but a 4GB Kingston memory chip is only 12 US dollars… its unreal!) Anyways, because of that there’s a ton of shops and that means a ton of jobs, so that brings a ton of people from both sides of the border, and its just growing like crazy. Well, I hope that that answers some questions that you’ve had. Its an awesome area, it just needs a kick start in the heart to get this place thumping… Its sooo close!
Well, I’m out. Loves ya,
Elder Dennis
Monday, November 10, 2008
Nov 10, 2008
Well we actually found out our changes on time this week. And it turns out that all of us out here lejos will be staying together. Surprise surprise. But that's okay with me, I like my comp a lot, he’s a good kid. Today we went as a district to check out this water fall and lake thing just a little ways off the main road in Puente Kyjha, the last area on the road out here. So we just took a ton of photos and actually had a pretty good time. I was a little bored after like 5 minutes, but whatevs, I keep the people happy. So you should be getting a decent amount of those sometime in the next 50 hours.
So I heard about the elections... Barak Obama, eh? I’m glad I still have a little while to go here in Paraguay, I’ll just say that.
Oh, and I totally just got your other package this week... so I currently have more candy in my possession than the entire United States eats in a year... but hey, Elder Peterson and I aren’t complaining. But to make up for that Dad, don’t worry, I brush after every meal and before I go to bed. But... I’m sorry to inform you that I do not, I repeat, do not have floss in my possession. But oh man am I scared of coming home with bad teeth, the way peoples’ teeth look here! But I totally forgot to mention the saweet Counting Crows shirt I got in the package last week! That thing is awesome. But after receiving the pictures in this new package, I feel quite left out without an OSU shirt out here. By the way, Cole is getting HUGE! Tell him to stop growning because I still want to play with my little guy when I get home!
So I was going to mention the lack of college football reports, but Dad came through for me this week, so I won’t... But his mention of demonstrating a certain photo on his PHONE doesn’t make me jealous... okay, TOO jealous... if that's what he was going for. So hah! At least I don’t have to drive a car to work with my tunes playing and relax all day while my assistants do all the work in chilly fall air and eat delicious american food like ya’ll. Viva la Paraguay, baby!
But yeah, last Monday night, we hit up a store and picked up some Raid, and we killed all those suckers! It actually sucked that night, because we just doused our house in it and cleaned it up quite a bit, but then we left for the night and came back in and there were this little gnat things that look like ants but have wings, anyways, there were these little harmless things just flying around all drunk like because they were dying from the spray, but we had no clue where all of them were coming from so we were just killing them as they fell to the floor. Anyways, I finally spot that they’re congregating around this hole in the wall and so I jump up and I’m like ‘There they are!’ and I jump up on Peterson’s bed cause its right above it and I pick up the spray can on the way and I just unleash on this hole and then like thousands of them start falling out and dying and we’re screaming like little girls and spraying everything in sight. Anyways, we had to run out to the store because we ran out of this huge bottle of stuff so we got another one, and we also bought this towel things and we hose that down with this spray and shove it up into the hole. But by that time everything was dead, so we just cleaned them up and long story short, we haven’t really had any problems since, we just spray that stuff every morning before we leave the house. We did make ourselves sick the next day though, because our house wasn’t very well ventilated but we’re doing good now so don’t worry.
It has also come to my attention that certain children who shall remain nameless are taking away from the very precious ‘Write Josh’ time available to the parents. So in order to make up for it, each child is hereby commanded to write Josh an email for next week, and at least once every month proceeding hereafter. Also, mom, you better not be embarrassing me by posting way too many photos of yours truly on the bulletin board at church... because that is wayyy not humble girl. You are only allowed to put up as many as the other mothers have put up. Capish? Totally don’t know how to spell that...
Anyways, things are going good, I’m exhausted and want to sleep but the Lord doesn’t feel like letting me so I just keep on going. Loves ya,
Elder Dennis
So I heard about the elections... Barak Obama, eh? I’m glad I still have a little while to go here in Paraguay, I’ll just say that.
Oh, and I totally just got your other package this week... so I currently have more candy in my possession than the entire United States eats in a year... but hey, Elder Peterson and I aren’t complaining. But to make up for that Dad, don’t worry, I brush after every meal and before I go to bed. But... I’m sorry to inform you that I do not, I repeat, do not have floss in my possession. But oh man am I scared of coming home with bad teeth, the way peoples’ teeth look here! But I totally forgot to mention the saweet Counting Crows shirt I got in the package last week! That thing is awesome. But after receiving the pictures in this new package, I feel quite left out without an OSU shirt out here. By the way, Cole is getting HUGE! Tell him to stop growning because I still want to play with my little guy when I get home!
So I was going to mention the lack of college football reports, but Dad came through for me this week, so I won’t... But his mention of demonstrating a certain photo on his PHONE doesn’t make me jealous... okay, TOO jealous... if that's what he was going for. So hah! At least I don’t have to drive a car to work with my tunes playing and relax all day while my assistants do all the work in chilly fall air and eat delicious american food like ya’ll. Viva la Paraguay, baby!
But yeah, last Monday night, we hit up a store and picked up some Raid, and we killed all those suckers! It actually sucked that night, because we just doused our house in it and cleaned it up quite a bit, but then we left for the night and came back in and there were this little gnat things that look like ants but have wings, anyways, there were these little harmless things just flying around all drunk like because they were dying from the spray, but we had no clue where all of them were coming from so we were just killing them as they fell to the floor. Anyways, I finally spot that they’re congregating around this hole in the wall and so I jump up and I’m like ‘There they are!’ and I jump up on Peterson’s bed cause its right above it and I pick up the spray can on the way and I just unleash on this hole and then like thousands of them start falling out and dying and we’re screaming like little girls and spraying everything in sight. Anyways, we had to run out to the store because we ran out of this huge bottle of stuff so we got another one, and we also bought this towel things and we hose that down with this spray and shove it up into the hole. But by that time everything was dead, so we just cleaned them up and long story short, we haven’t really had any problems since, we just spray that stuff every morning before we leave the house. We did make ourselves sick the next day though, because our house wasn’t very well ventilated but we’re doing good now so don’t worry.
It has also come to my attention that certain children who shall remain nameless are taking away from the very precious ‘Write Josh’ time available to the parents. So in order to make up for it, each child is hereby commanded to write Josh an email for next week, and at least once every month proceeding hereafter. Also, mom, you better not be embarrassing me by posting way too many photos of yours truly on the bulletin board at church... because that is wayyy not humble girl. You are only allowed to put up as many as the other mothers have put up. Capish? Totally don’t know how to spell that...
Anyways, things are going good, I’m exhausted and want to sleep but the Lord doesn’t feel like letting me so I just keep on going. Loves ya,
Elder Dennis
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Bug
The bug that is literally from h.e.double hockey sticks that I had to kill last night while we were both screaming and whining like little school girls. We bought Raid today...
Nov 3, 2008
Tracie here - I have no idea why it took over 48 hours for this email to come through - he sent it @ 1:48 EST on Monday and I got it today @ 2:44 -
Hola,
Well, don’t you worry mom, the Pres was here a week before I came out, and he knows exactly what we’re living in. But don’t you worry, we’re already in full out exploring mode for finding a new house. The only problem is that this is a very touristy town, much like Saratoga, and prices are ridiculous... so we’re having some problems. Most places are at like 1.5 million, and we only have up to 600 thousand guaranies monthly to spend on a place... and all the reasonable places are already full. And its not that bad, really. The Salado house was one of the best you’ll find out in the mission... (may I remind you, we’re not in the states anymore Toto). But things are going pretty good, we’re still tearing things up. I hate rain. So the rainy season is starting I think, or something, because we’ve gotten dumped on just about every day this week.
Oh, and a little bit of good news now. The new cartero... or umm... mail guy... in the office is a lot better at his job, and he actually shipped my package out to me, so I got that on Friday (we pick up the folder the office sends out here to our little sector of the mission at the bus terminal usually around Friday). So I gotta say, cookie dough pop tarts are absolutely amazing!
So... I don’t really have anything else to really say. I don’t have any sweet hero stories like last week. I’m just settling in, and doing what I do best... putting a really confused look on my face as people try to speak to me in languages that I don’t know and then somehow convincing them that they need to go to church... I love it!
Loves ya,
Elder Dennis
Hola,
Well, don’t you worry mom, the Pres was here a week before I came out, and he knows exactly what we’re living in. But don’t you worry, we’re already in full out exploring mode for finding a new house. The only problem is that this is a very touristy town, much like Saratoga, and prices are ridiculous... so we’re having some problems. Most places are at like 1.5 million, and we only have up to 600 thousand guaranies monthly to spend on a place... and all the reasonable places are already full. And its not that bad, really. The Salado house was one of the best you’ll find out in the mission... (may I remind you, we’re not in the states anymore Toto). But things are going pretty good, we’re still tearing things up. I hate rain. So the rainy season is starting I think, or something, because we’ve gotten dumped on just about every day this week.
Oh, and a little bit of good news now. The new cartero... or umm... mail guy... in the office is a lot better at his job, and he actually shipped my package out to me, so I got that on Friday (we pick up the folder the office sends out here to our little sector of the mission at the bus terminal usually around Friday). So I gotta say, cookie dough pop tarts are absolutely amazing!
So... I don’t really have anything else to really say. I don’t have any sweet hero stories like last week. I’m just settling in, and doing what I do best... putting a really confused look on my face as people try to speak to me in languages that I don’t know and then somehow convincing them that they need to go to church... I love it!
Loves ya,
Elder Dennis
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Nov 3, 2008
Editor's note: I don't know why, but we did not get an email from Josh this week. Haley was so kind as to share hers for posting:
Hey girly girl,
So yeah, I'm picking up the portuguese a little bit, but man it is a language on drugs, not gonna lie! And don't you worry, your big bro is doing all he can to make you proud of him, and he's doing a pretty good job, if I do say so myself. Okay, as for the remedy: its like this tea thing that you cook up, and what it does is sort of like what happened to me with chocolate... it fills them up so much with nicotine and tobacco that they puke or get really sick, and then the next time they go to smoke or even just think about smoking it just makes them go into the gag reflex. It works really really good, I was surprised that I'd never heard of it before and more people don't use it.
Dude...ette, I totally got a letter from my boy Fiala the other day too, did he send you the photo of the mountain dew salt lake temple? That's the one I got, its totally legit. I can't wait to get back and hit that kid up. Anyways, remember to keep your head in the game, but have fun out there. Have you, do you, see anyone out there that I know? If so, that's awesome, say hi for me. Well, I don't have any cool stories really this week...
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Hey girly girl,
So yeah, I'm picking up the portuguese a little bit, but man it is a language on drugs, not gonna lie! And don't you worry, your big bro is doing all he can to make you proud of him, and he's doing a pretty good job, if I do say so myself. Okay, as for the remedy: its like this tea thing that you cook up, and what it does is sort of like what happened to me with chocolate... it fills them up so much with nicotine and tobacco that they puke or get really sick, and then the next time they go to smoke or even just think about smoking it just makes them go into the gag reflex. It works really really good, I was surprised that I'd never heard of it before and more people don't use it.
Dude...ette, I totally got a letter from my boy Fiala the other day too, did he send you the photo of the mountain dew salt lake temple? That's the one I got, its totally legit. I can't wait to get back and hit that kid up. Anyways, remember to keep your head in the game, but have fun out there. Have you, do you, see anyone out there that I know? If so, that's awesome, say hi for me. Well, I don't have any cool stories really this week...
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Monday, October 27, 2008
Oct 27, 2008
Well, they never told me I’d have to learn THREE languages on my mission. I’ll give you a hint as to what the third one is: looking out of the window of this cyber, I can see Brazil... and they don’t speak spanish over there. I guess I’ll explain. Last Monday, literally 2 seconds after coming up the stairs from doing internet, we get a phone call from our Zone Leaders, and I answer it, and E’ Love is like, ‘Dude, I’m gonna miss you.’ And after that, I had to RUN to say goodbye to some people, because at 9.30 on Tuesday morning I had to be in the office for a special change to Salto de Guairá. So I had to pack my bags and all that jazz, and then like all of the elders from the zone came over in the night and a couple the next morning to say goodbye when they found out. And then I was in the office and found out that I would be going on the 9 hour bus ride with E’ Reid, so I was stoked for that!
So now I’m working in a really tiny branch, with a new elder, E’ Peterson, who is in his second change. He’s awesome though, he’s from Canada. But anyways, my area is absolutely gorgeous. And as far as the eye can see, and farther, is all my area. Its HUGE! There are only 3 areas out here, running down the same road that cuts into Paraguay from my town, each about 45 mins apart by bus, and then after that, its 6 or 7 hours to the next nearest area. So that's just awesome. Yeah, and part of my branch’s boundaries go into Brazil, so that's pretty sweet too. OH yeah, so like I started out, there's just a ton of people who just speak portuguese out here, and it sounds like german with a french accent... its definitely weird. Umm... so yeah, this area was in pieces when I got here. The last elder was just a slacker and hadn’t done anything, but we went to town this week and got this place kicking again. We still have a lot of work ahead of us though.
Oh, and we show up at the church today in La Paloma, the next nearest area, to have our district meeting, and two 16 year old girls who were cleaning the chapel come running out and they're like, ‘¡Está quemando! It’s burning!’ So we rush in there and I grabbed the fire putter outer thing (I totally forget what its called in english) and I put out the fire. It was just like the light exploded when it got turned on and then the roof kind of picked up the spark. But still, I stopped the chapel from burning down, so that was cool.
Okay, I suppose I’ll explain the cigarettes. Its a remedy to make people stop smoking, that has like a 95% rate of working. You just mix like 2 packets into about a liter of water, and then boil it and strain it, and then give it to the person. So that's what we did. It worked, he hasn’t smoked since... Oh, and I don’t know how long it’ll take to get my package now, because while they send our letters to us every week, they don’t normally send us out our packages, so I probably won’t get it until we go into Asunción for the next Zone conference, which probably won’t be until the end of next month...
Anyways, I think I covered everything. My new house sucks, I love you all, and its really, really fetching hot!
Elder Dennis
So now I’m working in a really tiny branch, with a new elder, E’ Peterson, who is in his second change. He’s awesome though, he’s from Canada. But anyways, my area is absolutely gorgeous. And as far as the eye can see, and farther, is all my area. Its HUGE! There are only 3 areas out here, running down the same road that cuts into Paraguay from my town, each about 45 mins apart by bus, and then after that, its 6 or 7 hours to the next nearest area. So that's just awesome. Yeah, and part of my branch’s boundaries go into Brazil, so that's pretty sweet too. OH yeah, so like I started out, there's just a ton of people who just speak portuguese out here, and it sounds like german with a french accent... its definitely weird. Umm... so yeah, this area was in pieces when I got here. The last elder was just a slacker and hadn’t done anything, but we went to town this week and got this place kicking again. We still have a lot of work ahead of us though.
Oh, and we show up at the church today in La Paloma, the next nearest area, to have our district meeting, and two 16 year old girls who were cleaning the chapel come running out and they're like, ‘¡Está quemando! It’s burning!’ So we rush in there and I grabbed the fire putter outer thing (I totally forget what its called in english) and I put out the fire. It was just like the light exploded when it got turned on and then the roof kind of picked up the spark. But still, I stopped the chapel from burning down, so that was cool.
Okay, I suppose I’ll explain the cigarettes. Its a remedy to make people stop smoking, that has like a 95% rate of working. You just mix like 2 packets into about a liter of water, and then boil it and strain it, and then give it to the person. So that's what we did. It worked, he hasn’t smoked since... Oh, and I don’t know how long it’ll take to get my package now, because while they send our letters to us every week, they don’t normally send us out our packages, so I probably won’t get it until we go into Asunción for the next Zone conference, which probably won’t be until the end of next month...
Anyways, I think I covered everything. My new house sucks, I love you all, and its really, really fetching hot!
Elder Dennis
Monday, October 20, 2008
Oct 20, 2008
Hey druggie, how’s it going?
So ya’ll never told me why mom had to get surgery... I feel very out of the loop here. And secondly, I’ve never been eaten by so many fetching mosquitos in all my life as I have this week! But that’s okay, I’m starting to get used to it, and after one day of it I started using my bug sprays, and that helps a little bit, but not as much as you’d think. Plus that and it got rainy and cold during the middle of the week, so I think now that its getting hot again we might be in for some more. Oh and I’m now 2 hours ahead of you, because we moved the clock forward and yins moved it back. So yeah. That sucked by the way, losing an hour of sleep. We don’t get many of those as missionaries...
Hey, and what’s this trying to send me link to a comic strip... I don’t think I can just cruise there on the internet mom. Do you want me to be macanero? Haha So if you want to send it you gotta send an actual photo of that. You can capture of picture of it on the mac, but you have to go into the Help thing and look it up. Its like command + 3 and then click, or something like that.
Oh, and I got a bit of news for Robyn: she’ll be pleased to hear that down here, I’m actually eating quite a bit of carne de soja, or soy meat. Thats cause its cheaper than real meat down here, and the people are really poor. I’m still not a big fan, it has a wierd taste. OK, the other bit of food news. You’ll never guess what I had to eat this week... something that here they call churra, or in english, Cow Intestine. Yummy. I think if I had my choice I wouldn’t eat it again. So the next time you see a cow you can think about me eating the intestine and putting a smile on my face a saying that its “riquisimo.”
So we had a sweet Stake Conference down here though this past weekend. We showed up and I had no clue what it was going to be like, but it was being broadcast from Salt Lake for all of Paraguay and Uruguay, and we got to listen to W: Craig Zwick of the 70 and the 1st counselor of the Relief Society and then Richard G Scott and Steven B. Eyring. Only Pres Eyring didn’t know spanish and had to use a translator, but it was legit. We learned a lot of cool stuff. So yeah. Anyways, the work moves on. Nothing really all that interesting to comment on this week. So I hope you’re all doing good and that you like the video and recover alright. Remember to tell me what of. Oh and who sent me the yo-yo, I still want to know!
Love yas,
Elder Dennis
So ya’ll never told me why mom had to get surgery... I feel very out of the loop here. And secondly, I’ve never been eaten by so many fetching mosquitos in all my life as I have this week! But that’s okay, I’m starting to get used to it, and after one day of it I started using my bug sprays, and that helps a little bit, but not as much as you’d think. Plus that and it got rainy and cold during the middle of the week, so I think now that its getting hot again we might be in for some more. Oh and I’m now 2 hours ahead of you, because we moved the clock forward and yins moved it back. So yeah. That sucked by the way, losing an hour of sleep. We don’t get many of those as missionaries...
Hey, and what’s this trying to send me link to a comic strip... I don’t think I can just cruise there on the internet mom. Do you want me to be macanero? Haha So if you want to send it you gotta send an actual photo of that. You can capture of picture of it on the mac, but you have to go into the Help thing and look it up. Its like command + 3 and then click, or something like that.
Oh, and I got a bit of news for Robyn: she’ll be pleased to hear that down here, I’m actually eating quite a bit of carne de soja, or soy meat. Thats cause its cheaper than real meat down here, and the people are really poor. I’m still not a big fan, it has a wierd taste. OK, the other bit of food news. You’ll never guess what I had to eat this week... something that here they call churra, or in english, Cow Intestine. Yummy. I think if I had my choice I wouldn’t eat it again. So the next time you see a cow you can think about me eating the intestine and putting a smile on my face a saying that its “riquisimo.”
So we had a sweet Stake Conference down here though this past weekend. We showed up and I had no clue what it was going to be like, but it was being broadcast from Salt Lake for all of Paraguay and Uruguay, and we got to listen to W: Craig Zwick of the 70 and the 1st counselor of the Relief Society and then Richard G Scott and Steven B. Eyring. Only Pres Eyring didn’t know spanish and had to use a translator, but it was legit. We learned a lot of cool stuff. So yeah. Anyways, the work moves on. Nothing really all that interesting to comment on this week. So I hope you’re all doing good and that you like the video and recover alright. Remember to tell me what of. Oh and who sent me the yo-yo, I still want to know!
Love yas,
Elder Dennis
Monday, October 13, 2008
Oct 13, 2008
Hey there,
I’m still kickin’ it. It was a pretty difficult week to get through, but I came out on top. One of the main problems is my comp is getting the whole “I’ve been here 6 months longer than you, I speak spanish, what the heck am I still doing underneath you” syndrome... I had a feeling that would be coming. But I’m just shrugging it off, because there’s no way that he won’t be senior comp come next change. I was really really surprised when he didn’t go up last change. Anyways, that, and wow, all but 1 of our investigators that went to church this week, we found this past week (there was 9 of them in total). It was just a huge line change in terms of investigators this week. But they’re showing us that these are the ones that want to progress, so I’m running with it.
Anyways, I sent you 2 cds of all of my photos (sorry, no videos, there wasn’t enough space or time...) so you should be getting those in a few weeks. I also got Cole’s chain letter today, and I’ll be getting that off here probably tomorrow, because tomorrow we’re going to Asunción for Zone Conference with the President, so I’ll be seeing the zone leaders before they turn in the letters to send this week. Haley stuck a nice little letter in there with it, so I was a little confused at what was going on at first haha.
Ok, its getting HOT... I don’t think I like it. One of the plus sides though is that like a month ago our shower head exploded (because they’re cheap little water zappers that heats up the water as it goes through the head). Anyways, it had exploded once before while I was in there, but it kept working, so I was like, whatever. But this time it exploded on E. Bischoff, and it didn’t keep working. So we’ve had cold showers ever since. And now that its getting hot, its not so bad. But its a very thick, humid heat, like back home but like, thicker. I don’t like it. Dry heat, which we’ve had here before, I didn’t mind all that much, but I don’t know if I can take a whole summer like this.
Oh yeah, the whole summer and you guys winter reminds me, next week, I’ll be tripping and “falling forward” while you guys get to “fall back” in time, so I’ll be two hours ahead of you guys. And tell dad to stop rubbing it in with the sleeping in til 10, just in time to watch the football games... Oh, and you should forward E. Fiala’s emails to me, so I can feel in on the loop too... oh, and tell him I already tried the ball and stick game here, but by far the funnest is shooting birds with a sling shot, where you just use your fingers and hand as the stick... because down here thy haven’t quite progressed to the using sticks part of it all. They’re actually pretty legit sling shots though, you can get them for like 30 cents in any of these little stores that are everywhere. I might send a picture next time, but no promises cause I’ll probably forget. Oh and sorry, but I didn’t take any photos this week, soooo, no photos this time around.
But now, I got some food advice. First off, the next time you go to NYC, you totally got to look up a food joint that has Lomito Arabe... you won’t be disappointed. Unless they make it bad. That I can’t offer any garauntees (I have no clue how you actually spell that word, me english chupa). Also, as of Saturday night, I can officially say, that I have eaten, the blood of a cow... Notice how I said “eaten,” not “drank.” That’s cause they make it into a sausage like thing... I’m not sure if I’d recommend trying it or not . . . I probably wouldn’t eat it again. Apparently its like super expensive and a delicousy here though. Go figure.
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
I’m still kickin’ it. It was a pretty difficult week to get through, but I came out on top. One of the main problems is my comp is getting the whole “I’ve been here 6 months longer than you, I speak spanish, what the heck am I still doing underneath you” syndrome... I had a feeling that would be coming. But I’m just shrugging it off, because there’s no way that he won’t be senior comp come next change. I was really really surprised when he didn’t go up last change. Anyways, that, and wow, all but 1 of our investigators that went to church this week, we found this past week (there was 9 of them in total). It was just a huge line change in terms of investigators this week. But they’re showing us that these are the ones that want to progress, so I’m running with it.
Anyways, I sent you 2 cds of all of my photos (sorry, no videos, there wasn’t enough space or time...) so you should be getting those in a few weeks. I also got Cole’s chain letter today, and I’ll be getting that off here probably tomorrow, because tomorrow we’re going to Asunción for Zone Conference with the President, so I’ll be seeing the zone leaders before they turn in the letters to send this week. Haley stuck a nice little letter in there with it, so I was a little confused at what was going on at first haha.
Ok, its getting HOT... I don’t think I like it. One of the plus sides though is that like a month ago our shower head exploded (because they’re cheap little water zappers that heats up the water as it goes through the head). Anyways, it had exploded once before while I was in there, but it kept working, so I was like, whatever. But this time it exploded on E. Bischoff, and it didn’t keep working. So we’ve had cold showers ever since. And now that its getting hot, its not so bad. But its a very thick, humid heat, like back home but like, thicker. I don’t like it. Dry heat, which we’ve had here before, I didn’t mind all that much, but I don’t know if I can take a whole summer like this.
Oh yeah, the whole summer and you guys winter reminds me, next week, I’ll be tripping and “falling forward” while you guys get to “fall back” in time, so I’ll be two hours ahead of you guys. And tell dad to stop rubbing it in with the sleeping in til 10, just in time to watch the football games... Oh, and you should forward E. Fiala’s emails to me, so I can feel in on the loop too... oh, and tell him I already tried the ball and stick game here, but by far the funnest is shooting birds with a sling shot, where you just use your fingers and hand as the stick... because down here thy haven’t quite progressed to the using sticks part of it all. They’re actually pretty legit sling shots though, you can get them for like 30 cents in any of these little stores that are everywhere. I might send a picture next time, but no promises cause I’ll probably forget. Oh and sorry, but I didn’t take any photos this week, soooo, no photos this time around.
But now, I got some food advice. First off, the next time you go to NYC, you totally got to look up a food joint that has Lomito Arabe... you won’t be disappointed. Unless they make it bad. That I can’t offer any garauntees (I have no clue how you actually spell that word, me english chupa). Also, as of Saturday night, I can officially say, that I have eaten, the blood of a cow... Notice how I said “eaten,” not “drank.” That’s cause they make it into a sausage like thing... I’m not sure if I’d recommend trying it or not . . . I probably wouldn’t eat it again. Apparently its like super expensive and a delicousy here though. Go figure.
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Monday, October 6, 2008
Oct 6, 2008
Hey again,
Well conference was just awesome, but it made things a little different in working this week. But other than that, everything is pretty normal around here. Umm… I don’t really know what else to say. Nothing all that interesting happened this week. Oh wait, I forgot, you guys still don’t know some things.
Well, for starters, the President didn’t show up to that thing, but it went alright, I got some shaky photos that I had a buddy take, so I’ll be sending those to yins. We look way Beatles, I’m just warning ya.
And then for cambios… yeah, I’m still in Salado… it’s REALLY exciting. And I’m still with E’ Betancourt, but that’s okay, because he’s pretty cool. Other than that, we’re working hard, even though it was really hard to go out and get to work again. Hearing that we were just staying just sucked all of our umm.. in spanish the work is animo, I can’t think of it in English… just right out of us, but we got it back by just forcing ourselves to work. There’s a great quote in Preach My Gospel that I love that talks about Work, and how it’s the best kept secret in missionary work. I gotta say, its true.
A question: Am I really a missionary? I don’t think I am, I’m just on a vacation working my butt off in Paraguay… I don’t see any connection yet. I still can’t believe I’m on the trip of a lifetime, the one that I’d been prepared for since before I was born. Every once in awhile that feeling comes, but slightly, and only for a moment. But to think I’ll get to tell you guys all these stories though and to my kids one day is a sweet thought. Hopefully my journal will be interesting enough to read to help me remember in the future. On the 22nd of this month it will have been a year straight since I’ve missed but 2 or 3 days.
Anyways, I got a video and some photos for you guys again, so I’m going to try and send those. Oh and you can tell Santa to just hold all gifts until February 2010. I won’t have any need of anything really until then.
Love yas all,
Elder Dennis
Well conference was just awesome, but it made things a little different in working this week. But other than that, everything is pretty normal around here. Umm… I don’t really know what else to say. Nothing all that interesting happened this week. Oh wait, I forgot, you guys still don’t know some things.
Well, for starters, the President didn’t show up to that thing, but it went alright, I got some shaky photos that I had a buddy take, so I’ll be sending those to yins. We look way Beatles, I’m just warning ya.
And then for cambios… yeah, I’m still in Salado… it’s REALLY exciting. And I’m still with E’ Betancourt, but that’s okay, because he’s pretty cool. Other than that, we’re working hard, even though it was really hard to go out and get to work again. Hearing that we were just staying just sucked all of our umm.. in spanish the work is animo, I can’t think of it in English… just right out of us, but we got it back by just forcing ourselves to work. There’s a great quote in Preach My Gospel that I love that talks about Work, and how it’s the best kept secret in missionary work. I gotta say, its true.
A question: Am I really a missionary? I don’t think I am, I’m just on a vacation working my butt off in Paraguay… I don’t see any connection yet. I still can’t believe I’m on the trip of a lifetime, the one that I’d been prepared for since before I was born. Every once in awhile that feeling comes, but slightly, and only for a moment. But to think I’ll get to tell you guys all these stories though and to my kids one day is a sweet thought. Hopefully my journal will be interesting enough to read to help me remember in the future. On the 22nd of this month it will have been a year straight since I’ve missed but 2 or 3 days.
Anyways, I got a video and some photos for you guys again, so I’m going to try and send those. Oh and you can tell Santa to just hold all gifts until February 2010. I won’t have any need of anything really until then.
Love yas all,
Elder Dennis
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