Hey there folks,
So another week down, and from today I have exactly 6 months left in the mission, because changes will be Wednesday, the 17th of February 2010. So yeah, that's exciting. Things are going... we had two baptisms this week, so that was awesome, but only one was a convert baptism, the other was an 8 year old child of a member, but they like the missionaries to do the baptisms down here, so we put it together for them. So yeah, Laura finally got baptized after a thousand and one problems and obstacles, she's only 9, her parents got baptized a little while back, but she's cool, and then we had Walter, a little itty bitty eight year old. But we continue to see poor church attendance here, though we got this awesome 15 year old to church, named Emanuel, and he's a stud. And the youth at church are just amazing, we were walking by his house a little later on in the day, just passing by, and two of the youth his age are there hanging out with him, and they'd just met him at church. But one of the kids was all like 'Elder, I love your tie, give it to me!' (the sweet blue paisley one from my birthday), and Emanuel was like, 'I have some ties,' and runs into his house and comes out with 5 and he's all like, 'I have these but I don't know how to tie them, you guys gotta teach me!' haha, so yeah, he loved church and is already making friends. So that's exciting, he's an awesome kid.
But tell Robyn to keep it up in inviting her friend, that's so awesome she's sharing with other people, she's doing better than I was at her age, I wouldn't say a word to anyone about the gospel. But it's good to know from James Fiala that life still exists after the mission, you don't actually die... just to the people still in the mission. And I can't believe I miss your 25th wedding anniversary, that's so weird. How long have you been a member? When did you get baptized? I know you two were still newly weds, but I don't know much more than that. But I wish I could go swimming, the past couple of days were beautifully hot, but today came a super downpour that was awesome, and now its kind of chilly outside. But I love tubing, and I'm glad Cole is becoming the normal Dennis athletic boy with all of his different sport camps... but I noticed one is missing! What happened to hockey! hahaha.
But yeah, thanks for the recipes, we have a family home evening planned for tonight, and they're looking forward to some good french toast, but yeah, I don't think they'll have maple extract here, so I hope that other stuff turns out alright. Other than that, things just keep plugging along... yeah, my comp and I aren't getting along all that well, but I'm just trying to work hard and effective and I just feel like he's holding me back and has no clue what's going on. I'm trying, but right now I just don't feel like I'm having any success. There's progression in the area, but no one makes it to church. But you're right, things don't snap back in a moment, it takes time and effort. We have interviews with Pte Wade this week though, so I'm getting excited for a boost from that, a boost I'm in desperate need of right now.
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Aug 10, 2009
Yup...
Well I’m glad the family is doing good at working on the financial burdens, and that Dad’s new practice is really doing well. Last week was a tough week for me. We were doing great, and I felt really good about our work, but first off the baptisms didn’t go down because one got sick and so it got pushed back, and the other person we can’t find and don’t know what happened. Then we had a decent, not great, amount of people getting ready for church with a baptismal date and everything, and some of them are super awesome, but Sunday morning came and it was drizzling off and on and we just couldn’t get these people to go to church. Three of them, we show up and they flat out say that they just don’t want to go. So yeah, that just sucked. And then the zone is just really in dire need of an overhaul or something, because we did super awful at our church attendance. I feel stressed and tired and trapped, and I have no idea what it is that I have to do differently to pick up the pieces and help these investigators and missionaries under my supervision to progress.
However, being on the mission, and all of the examples you showed me growing up has helped me become a pretty good budgeter. Well I don’t budget, I just don’t spend money I don’t have, and people here ask me how I'm never short money, well, almost never, and I can’t explain it to them. I just remember ever since I started to make money I saved half, and the other half I would save up for the things in life that I really needed, like guitars and computers and cars. But yeah, I really don’t want to ever end up in debt, no matter what it is that I need.
My area here is pretty nice, the people are pretty well off, it’s a suburb in between two of the bigger towns down here. The members are really awesome, some of the people I’ve been able to meet I just admire so much, like these youth that go out and knock doors and invite their friends to go to church, it’s totally the opposite of anything I did while I was at home.
Eddy I hear is still just a stud, he even quit his old job a while back because they made him work a Sunday every once in a while, a job he’d worked for like 5 years. So yeah, I find out about him every once in awhile, and I’ve talked to him once or twice since I left Saltos. But hey now, that Honda is MY Honda!, and it is definitely not named Howie, his name is Fred! I really hope that thing is in the very same condition I left it in when I took off…
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
PS. I need the recipe of how to make French toast, I know its like you dip the bread in the mix of egg, milk, cinnamon, and stuff, and then fry it, but an exactish recipe would be nice, I promised to make them next Monday for a family home evening. And maybe if you can find out how to make maple syrup ish stuff from scratch, that would be awesome. I know it can be done, cause I’ve seen it done in the mission, but I don’t how exactly. :)
Well I’m glad the family is doing good at working on the financial burdens, and that Dad’s new practice is really doing well. Last week was a tough week for me. We were doing great, and I felt really good about our work, but first off the baptisms didn’t go down because one got sick and so it got pushed back, and the other person we can’t find and don’t know what happened. Then we had a decent, not great, amount of people getting ready for church with a baptismal date and everything, and some of them are super awesome, but Sunday morning came and it was drizzling off and on and we just couldn’t get these people to go to church. Three of them, we show up and they flat out say that they just don’t want to go. So yeah, that just sucked. And then the zone is just really in dire need of an overhaul or something, because we did super awful at our church attendance. I feel stressed and tired and trapped, and I have no idea what it is that I have to do differently to pick up the pieces and help these investigators and missionaries under my supervision to progress.
However, being on the mission, and all of the examples you showed me growing up has helped me become a pretty good budgeter. Well I don’t budget, I just don’t spend money I don’t have, and people here ask me how I'm never short money, well, almost never, and I can’t explain it to them. I just remember ever since I started to make money I saved half, and the other half I would save up for the things in life that I really needed, like guitars and computers and cars. But yeah, I really don’t want to ever end up in debt, no matter what it is that I need.
My area here is pretty nice, the people are pretty well off, it’s a suburb in between two of the bigger towns down here. The members are really awesome, some of the people I’ve been able to meet I just admire so much, like these youth that go out and knock doors and invite their friends to go to church, it’s totally the opposite of anything I did while I was at home.
Eddy I hear is still just a stud, he even quit his old job a while back because they made him work a Sunday every once in a while, a job he’d worked for like 5 years. So yeah, I find out about him every once in awhile, and I’ve talked to him once or twice since I left Saltos. But hey now, that Honda is MY Honda!, and it is definitely not named Howie, his name is Fred! I really hope that thing is in the very same condition I left it in when I took off…
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
PS. I need the recipe of how to make French toast, I know its like you dip the bread in the mix of egg, milk, cinnamon, and stuff, and then fry it, but an exactish recipe would be nice, I promised to make them next Monday for a family home evening. And maybe if you can find out how to make maple syrup ish stuff from scratch, that would be awesome. I know it can be done, cause I’ve seen it done in the mission, but I don’t how exactly. :)
Monday, August 3, 2009
Aug 3, 2009
Hey there munchkins!
I miss those rousing family board game nights that we would have. I still have no clue what Rummikub is though, I think that came out after I left but you mentioned it once before. Anyways, I’m really out of the loop down here. Seeing the new Harry Potter and Transformers 2 movie advertisements is really not making this whole mission thing easy on me, but what can ya do? Hahaha. Plus all the members just love to rub it in your face that we can’t watch them and how good they are, and then the new members don’t know the rules and ask if you want to watch it with them and man, it’s so tough to stay on the straight and narrow. I got a letter from Elder Nilsen today, my trainer, and he’s getting married in three weeks, so right around when you two got married 25 years ago… and wow it’s weird to hear about all these missionaries that I knew here that are getting married already. It makes me want to just follow the crowd hahaha.
But as for school, isn’t there usually like an alumni scholarship that I would get for going to the same school that my dad did? I know OSU had that, and that it was a decent amount off. But if I have to go to a community college out there or in Arizona that’s cheap to get the GPA up, I’m down. Idaho is definitely not on the preferred list though, it’s just to far out there in the middle of nowhere for me to feel comfortable. And all my buddies will be in either Utah or Arizona. Anyways, there’s just so much to think about, I’m so lost when I try to think about where to go and what to do after the mission.
But yeah, I got a nice pair of shoes of a brand called Guantes, and I’m wearing them right now actually. And I’m doing alright, but my area and zone just need to be drop kicked into shape, I’m telling you. Things are not going good right now, but I have the first 2 baptisms that this area has seen in over a change lined up for this Thursday, so all of the members are really excited for that. The members here are truly amazing, and love working as missionaries, but they were really frustrated with the Elders who were here that just killed the area, and they are not fans of my companion, so it’s funny, they all pat me on the back and wink at me when they talk about the upcoming baptisms and seeing investigators in church. But yeah, I like my area, I just have to deal with my comp who just doesn’t know how to really work and also deal with all the problems that he causes while we’re teaching.
But I hope you’re all excited to go out and eat with me in 6 months, because Olive Garden is sitting on the top of the list for when I get back. And tell … James… that he’s invited. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
I miss those rousing family board game nights that we would have. I still have no clue what Rummikub is though, I think that came out after I left but you mentioned it once before. Anyways, I’m really out of the loop down here. Seeing the new Harry Potter and Transformers 2 movie advertisements is really not making this whole mission thing easy on me, but what can ya do? Hahaha. Plus all the members just love to rub it in your face that we can’t watch them and how good they are, and then the new members don’t know the rules and ask if you want to watch it with them and man, it’s so tough to stay on the straight and narrow. I got a letter from Elder Nilsen today, my trainer, and he’s getting married in three weeks, so right around when you two got married 25 years ago… and wow it’s weird to hear about all these missionaries that I knew here that are getting married already. It makes me want to just follow the crowd hahaha.
But as for school, isn’t there usually like an alumni scholarship that I would get for going to the same school that my dad did? I know OSU had that, and that it was a decent amount off. But if I have to go to a community college out there or in Arizona that’s cheap to get the GPA up, I’m down. Idaho is definitely not on the preferred list though, it’s just to far out there in the middle of nowhere for me to feel comfortable. And all my buddies will be in either Utah or Arizona. Anyways, there’s just so much to think about, I’m so lost when I try to think about where to go and what to do after the mission.
But yeah, I got a nice pair of shoes of a brand called Guantes, and I’m wearing them right now actually. And I’m doing alright, but my area and zone just need to be drop kicked into shape, I’m telling you. Things are not going good right now, but I have the first 2 baptisms that this area has seen in over a change lined up for this Thursday, so all of the members are really excited for that. The members here are truly amazing, and love working as missionaries, but they were really frustrated with the Elders who were here that just killed the area, and they are not fans of my companion, so it’s funny, they all pat me on the back and wink at me when they talk about the upcoming baptisms and seeing investigators in church. But yeah, I like my area, I just have to deal with my comp who just doesn’t know how to really work and also deal with all the problems that he causes while we’re teaching.
But I hope you’re all excited to go out and eat with me in 6 months, because Olive Garden is sitting on the top of the list for when I get back. And tell … James… that he’s invited. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
July 28, 2009
How’s it going?
So okay, a little bit more about Ybera. Sorry, I guess I spelled it wrong the first time, but I see it spelled both ways, because in Spanish the v and the b sound the exact same, and the people always have problems coming up with which letter is really used. But in the church records I think it has a b, so yeah. Well, yup, I’m still a ZL, and I was sent here to boost this zone back up to stuff, because I’m not gonna lie, it’s doing REALLY bad right now. So I've got a lot of work ahead of me. But my area itself seems pretty cool, it’s just been in the hands of two kids that didn’t know what they were doing or how to lead a zone. So I’m coming in to fix that up a little bit. But yeah, my companion is Elder Contreras, and he’s not a bad guy, his personality just isn’t ideal. He’s not a bad guy though, we’re getting along alright so far. But I definitely don’t like the way he tries to work, so it’s a good thing I’m senior comp hahaha.
Anyways, I loved the photos, and wow is Cole getting big. But what is he doing with long hair like that?! Hahaha whatever happened to dad giving buzz cuts at the house? But I’m glad you all had fun in PA, and Robyn is just getting too old. I feel old. And out of the loop. I swear I’m just in this time warp, time just stopped back there when I left on my mission and everything is just going to be the way it was when I left. It’s crazy to think that a year and a half has gone by. I’m now able to say that I remember doing stuff over a year ago here in Paraguay when I tell stories and stuff, and it just kind of hit me that wow, I’m old in the mission now. Thank goodness I’m not the oldest in the zone anymore though, I have an Elder Guest who goes home in November, and then Elder Bullcreek is one of my District Leaders and another Elder, Elder Hermosilla, will be going home with us. So yeah, things are going alright, and I just keep plugging along.
Love ya'll lots,
Elder Dennis
So okay, a little bit more about Ybera. Sorry, I guess I spelled it wrong the first time, but I see it spelled both ways, because in Spanish the v and the b sound the exact same, and the people always have problems coming up with which letter is really used. But in the church records I think it has a b, so yeah. Well, yup, I’m still a ZL, and I was sent here to boost this zone back up to stuff, because I’m not gonna lie, it’s doing REALLY bad right now. So I've got a lot of work ahead of me. But my area itself seems pretty cool, it’s just been in the hands of two kids that didn’t know what they were doing or how to lead a zone. So I’m coming in to fix that up a little bit. But yeah, my companion is Elder Contreras, and he’s not a bad guy, his personality just isn’t ideal. He’s not a bad guy though, we’re getting along alright so far. But I definitely don’t like the way he tries to work, so it’s a good thing I’m senior comp hahaha.
Anyways, I loved the photos, and wow is Cole getting big. But what is he doing with long hair like that?! Hahaha whatever happened to dad giving buzz cuts at the house? But I’m glad you all had fun in PA, and Robyn is just getting too old. I feel old. And out of the loop. I swear I’m just in this time warp, time just stopped back there when I left on my mission and everything is just going to be the way it was when I left. It’s crazy to think that a year and a half has gone by. I’m now able to say that I remember doing stuff over a year ago here in Paraguay when I tell stories and stuff, and it just kind of hit me that wow, I’m old in the mission now. Thank goodness I’m not the oldest in the zone anymore though, I have an Elder Guest who goes home in November, and then Elder Bullcreek is one of my District Leaders and another Elder, Elder Hermosilla, will be going home with us. So yeah, things are going alright, and I just keep plugging along.
Love ya'll lots,
Elder Dennis
Sunday, July 26, 2009
July 20, 2009
Hey there mommio,
Paraguay is doing alright, and on Wednesday I’ll get to see a little bit more of it, because I’m going to a new area. I’ll be with a latin, Elder Contreras, from Chile. I’ll be heading to an area called Yvera (U-bear-a) in the zona Luque Sur. But I’m really excited to get out of Asuncion Norte, where I’ve been for the last four changes. I got a letter from Elder Fiala today though, and man, it’s making me trunky. I just want to get hooked up with all the music I’m missing out on right now with an amazing iPhone. I’m starting to get really annoyed by the music in Paragauy... it’s not very good and they just blare it all day long on crappy speakers and get drunk... so yeah, it’s fun. It’s been pretty tough lately, I’m getting a little geared up to get home already, which isn’t good, but this change I’ll probably get back into the grind again with the new area to energize me to get out there and get to blowing it up. I’ve been doing pretty good so far in my mission, and I got a nice letter from President Wade congratulating me on the success I’ve had so far, so that was nice to know that I’m appreciated.
I ate a lot of pizza today too... but definitely not the kind I would have liked. We went to Pizza Hut today, and man it’s just not the same! But I’m getting used to it so it doesn’t bother me all that much anymore. But as far as school goes, I don’t know what’ll really happen, but I don’t know if I want to head to BYU...and I’m pretty sure UVU is not a place I’d like to go. I guess I could go to Idaho, but not preferably. I’m leaning for Uof U right now... but I dunno. I’m not sure what’s gonna happen when I get home. I want to go easy on the budget though to make up for Otterbein, so that’ll definitely play a role in the decision making process. I dunno, I guess it’s just wherever you want to send me. But there has to be many beautiful available women there. That is the number one priority. Just laying that out there. Mountains and snow would probably be number two.
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
P.S. Tell Grma and Grpa ‘hey’ for me.
Paraguay is doing alright, and on Wednesday I’ll get to see a little bit more of it, because I’m going to a new area. I’ll be with a latin, Elder Contreras, from Chile. I’ll be heading to an area called Yvera (U-bear-a) in the zona Luque Sur. But I’m really excited to get out of Asuncion Norte, where I’ve been for the last four changes. I got a letter from Elder Fiala today though, and man, it’s making me trunky. I just want to get hooked up with all the music I’m missing out on right now with an amazing iPhone. I’m starting to get really annoyed by the music in Paragauy... it’s not very good and they just blare it all day long on crappy speakers and get drunk... so yeah, it’s fun. It’s been pretty tough lately, I’m getting a little geared up to get home already, which isn’t good, but this change I’ll probably get back into the grind again with the new area to energize me to get out there and get to blowing it up. I’ve been doing pretty good so far in my mission, and I got a nice letter from President Wade congratulating me on the success I’ve had so far, so that was nice to know that I’m appreciated.
I ate a lot of pizza today too... but definitely not the kind I would have liked. We went to Pizza Hut today, and man it’s just not the same! But I’m getting used to it so it doesn’t bother me all that much anymore. But as far as school goes, I don’t know what’ll really happen, but I don’t know if I want to head to BYU...and I’m pretty sure UVU is not a place I’d like to go. I guess I could go to Idaho, but not preferably. I’m leaning for Uof U right now... but I dunno. I’m not sure what’s gonna happen when I get home. I want to go easy on the budget though to make up for Otterbein, so that’ll definitely play a role in the decision making process. I dunno, I guess it’s just wherever you want to send me. But there has to be many beautiful available women there. That is the number one priority. Just laying that out there. Mountains and snow would probably be number two.
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
P.S. Tell Grma and Grpa ‘hey’ for me.
Monday, July 13, 2009
July 13, 2009
Hey there peeps,
So yeah, things are going good. I’m stoked you guys were able to find an empanadas place in the city, but I really hope they’re good, because there are a ton of different types of empanadas here, and only a select few are just amazing. But that’s great that Tara enjoyed going to church while she was visiting. And stop making me trunky by telling me about people who are getting married. It’s not too far away for me, but its still not gonna be any time soon. It’s so weird, Elder Wagner keeps hearing from his buddies too that they’re all getting married and stuff, I can’t believe we’re actually moving along in life. I mean, 21? That’s just old. I mean, when I get to August, that will put me at exactly how old dad was when you two got married. That’s just crazy!
Oh wow, I wish I had a mission mom I could text and ask for delicious foods! I mean, I wish I could just text people... the mission ran into too many problems with the ability to text on the phones ... so yeah, since I’ve been here there hasn’t been texting on the phones. We still run into problems like when we show up for a lunch appointment and the Sister is like hey, I sent you a text message telling you that I couldn’t feed you today and we’re all like but we still don’t get text messages, like we told you last week... so yeah, that’s fun. I’m not gonna lie though, I have some sweet sisters that are like my mission mom. I don’t get any crazy good sweets, but they’ll hook us up with cocido or fresh juice when we show up, and its all good. Anyways, I was just trying to say that Elder Fiala is lucky man. One, he has you guys, and two, he goes home in one week... Totally not fair. I only have 7 months left though, because today, I officially hit 17 months in the mission. Yup, one more and I’ll be 3/4 s of the way through this mission thing.
We made some sweet hoodies as a zone last week, and we passed those out today at district meeting. They didn’t turn out half bad, considering we only payed $12 for each one. Yes... I love being American in Paraguay. But is the flu thing that’s going around that bad back home? Because its like shutting down Paraguay... starting this Sunday, we’re only going to have the Sacrament meetings at church, and they’re not even having church in Argentina. And that’s just the church, it’s affecting everything here that involves people forming groups. It’s hitting hard at our investigators, and at us too. I have a pretty bad cough, and my comp is like dying, but we’re making the best of it. It helps that I got a free brownie with ice cream today at TGI Fridays... cause I just happen to be the waitress’s ‘boy of my dreams.’ So yeah, that was cool. It was very awkward, but I got free desert, so I’m not complaining.
But yeah, don’t worry about the shoes, I’ll just pick some up here. There’s some decent quality ones that you can find, and like you said, they only have to last half the time my Eccos did.
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
PS Tell Haley I love her but I ran out of time to write her this week. :D
So yeah, things are going good. I’m stoked you guys were able to find an empanadas place in the city, but I really hope they’re good, because there are a ton of different types of empanadas here, and only a select few are just amazing. But that’s great that Tara enjoyed going to church while she was visiting. And stop making me trunky by telling me about people who are getting married. It’s not too far away for me, but its still not gonna be any time soon. It’s so weird, Elder Wagner keeps hearing from his buddies too that they’re all getting married and stuff, I can’t believe we’re actually moving along in life. I mean, 21? That’s just old. I mean, when I get to August, that will put me at exactly how old dad was when you two got married. That’s just crazy!
Oh wow, I wish I had a mission mom I could text and ask for delicious foods! I mean, I wish I could just text people... the mission ran into too many problems with the ability to text on the phones ... so yeah, since I’ve been here there hasn’t been texting on the phones. We still run into problems like when we show up for a lunch appointment and the Sister is like hey, I sent you a text message telling you that I couldn’t feed you today and we’re all like but we still don’t get text messages, like we told you last week... so yeah, that’s fun. I’m not gonna lie though, I have some sweet sisters that are like my mission mom. I don’t get any crazy good sweets, but they’ll hook us up with cocido or fresh juice when we show up, and its all good. Anyways, I was just trying to say that Elder Fiala is lucky man. One, he has you guys, and two, he goes home in one week... Totally not fair. I only have 7 months left though, because today, I officially hit 17 months in the mission. Yup, one more and I’ll be 3/4 s of the way through this mission thing.
We made some sweet hoodies as a zone last week, and we passed those out today at district meeting. They didn’t turn out half bad, considering we only payed $12 for each one. Yes... I love being American in Paraguay. But is the flu thing that’s going around that bad back home? Because its like shutting down Paraguay... starting this Sunday, we’re only going to have the Sacrament meetings at church, and they’re not even having church in Argentina. And that’s just the church, it’s affecting everything here that involves people forming groups. It’s hitting hard at our investigators, and at us too. I have a pretty bad cough, and my comp is like dying, but we’re making the best of it. It helps that I got a free brownie with ice cream today at TGI Fridays... cause I just happen to be the waitress’s ‘boy of my dreams.’ So yeah, that was cool. It was very awkward, but I got free desert, so I’m not complaining.
But yeah, don’t worry about the shoes, I’ll just pick some up here. There’s some decent quality ones that you can find, and like you said, they only have to last half the time my Eccos did.
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
PS Tell Haley I love her but I ran out of time to write her this week. :D
Monday, July 6, 2009
July 6, 2009
Hey there yet again. Here I have to write all yins I guess...
Happy Birthday to You!
Que los Cumplas Feliz!
Happy birthday Dear Mommy,
Que los cumplas feliz!
SO yeah, this week was pretty good I guess. We had a bunch of meetings and didn’t get a whole lot of time to work in our area and I twisted my ankle playing basketball and it’s black and blue but I ain’t stopping, because there’s no stopping on the Lord’s time… So yeah. It’s not that bad, I just pop a couple Ibuprofen and its all good.
But I’m glad you guys are having fun with the grandparents, I hope Cole keeps having a good time with Tara. And I’m glad you survived Girls Camp… I hope your girls liked those little boat hats you got for them. So yeah, anyways, today was the Expo here in Paraguay, or at least, today was the day my zone got to go. So I dropped a couple hundred mil on some sweet Paraguayan stuff. Don’t worry, I picked up a decent amount for people other than myself. So yeah, it was pretty cool. But I’ve decided that I need to not be a missionary for very much longer because girls are starting to look pretty fine. So yeah, and I officially hit 5 months in this area on Saturday. Oh and I totally forgot it was the 4th of July, so yeah, I didn’t even do anything special. We found a bottle rocket in the house but we were too tired to launch it off… that or we forgot, I don’t even remember. So I’m pretty much exhausted, more and more everyday. I thought Elder Fiala was just exaggerating when he was telling me about that way back when, but it is totally true.
But on to some other news. I need black shoes. Cause mine are dying. I already lost the toe on the right shoe. So there are two options. 1. You all send me some Eccos in the next package. Downside: it takes a while to get here and there is a higher possibility of them being stolen in the mail. 2. I buy some decent shoes down here in Paraguay because I already have a bunch of money. Downside: They’re not Eccos. So you decide and let me know next week. I could also use some more saline solution for my contacts. Other than that I’m good to go.
The favorite part of my day is totally reading the scriptures. I like reading better in Spanish than in English. I also discovered this past week that it is SO much easier to read out loud in Spanish. I tried to read a verse out loud in English in zone conference cause Pte. Wade asked me to and wow, I barely got through it. Like seriously. So yeah, I guess I’m latin. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Happy Birthday to You!
Que los Cumplas Feliz!
Happy birthday Dear Mommy,
Que los cumplas feliz!
SO yeah, this week was pretty good I guess. We had a bunch of meetings and didn’t get a whole lot of time to work in our area and I twisted my ankle playing basketball and it’s black and blue but I ain’t stopping, because there’s no stopping on the Lord’s time… So yeah. It’s not that bad, I just pop a couple Ibuprofen and its all good.
But I’m glad you guys are having fun with the grandparents, I hope Cole keeps having a good time with Tara. And I’m glad you survived Girls Camp… I hope your girls liked those little boat hats you got for them. So yeah, anyways, today was the Expo here in Paraguay, or at least, today was the day my zone got to go. So I dropped a couple hundred mil on some sweet Paraguayan stuff. Don’t worry, I picked up a decent amount for people other than myself. So yeah, it was pretty cool. But I’ve decided that I need to not be a missionary for very much longer because girls are starting to look pretty fine. So yeah, and I officially hit 5 months in this area on Saturday. Oh and I totally forgot it was the 4th of July, so yeah, I didn’t even do anything special. We found a bottle rocket in the house but we were too tired to launch it off… that or we forgot, I don’t even remember. So I’m pretty much exhausted, more and more everyday. I thought Elder Fiala was just exaggerating when he was telling me about that way back when, but it is totally true.
But on to some other news. I need black shoes. Cause mine are dying. I already lost the toe on the right shoe. So there are two options. 1. You all send me some Eccos in the next package. Downside: it takes a while to get here and there is a higher possibility of them being stolen in the mail. 2. I buy some decent shoes down here in Paraguay because I already have a bunch of money. Downside: They’re not Eccos. So you decide and let me know next week. I could also use some more saline solution for my contacts. Other than that I’m good to go.
The favorite part of my day is totally reading the scriptures. I like reading better in Spanish than in English. I also discovered this past week that it is SO much easier to read out loud in Spanish. I tried to read a verse out loud in English in zone conference cause Pte. Wade asked me to and wow, I barely got through it. Like seriously. So yeah, I guess I’m latin. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Friday, July 3, 2009
June 30, 2009
Hey there a todos!
Alright, so this last week was a pretty good week. Everything went great, I even made it to my birthday to open everything but the throw and the cake (I had to check out if I’d need to buy anything to make it... and good thing I did, because I needed to buy butter)! So yeah, I know, I feel good about my self control right now. But yeah, my birthday was awesome. I awoke to 10 Elders (from the office... its nice to have friends in cars) flipping on the light and jumping on me and singing happy birthday and taking us to play some basketball at 6, and then we went out and worked hard... and it was all going good until about 5.30... we show up at a poorer converts house, who we’re working with to baptize two more of the daughters, and anyways, we’re playing soccer with the kids, and the next thing I know they bring out this plate, and from afar its not looking too bad, I thought it was some tortillas fried up recently and some mandioca... but no. We get up close and its milenesa (way yummy), but you can tell that it was probably cooked up 6 hours before for lunch... and mind you, this is Paraguay... there was no fridge involved in this process. Okay, so we bite in, I’m like it can’t be that bad, thinking it would be of beef, but no. No, this was made of mondongo. That would be the stomach of a cow... or pig... or dog... we’re never quite sure which. And its all chewy and cold and absolutely nasty. Like we KNEW that we were going to get sick as we were downing this, and finally they walk away for a moment, and we shoved like half of it in our pockets. And yeah, we told them it was good and then we Sprinted. And I’m not talking none of that half-a joggin crap. We ran. To the nearest despensa, little store thing, and we downed a liter and a half of Coke to try and kill all the bad stuff we had recently consumed...
Long story short, my comp got sick and I was fine. He still has chivivi a little bit. But yeah, we went home and we made cheese cake... way good... that my comp had (also a non bake product). Then on Sunday we had a decent attendance in church, followed by throwing some of that marinera sauce that you sent me on some pre made pizza crusts and some cheese and ham on that... turned out pretty good for lunch, and I also cooked up my, and I must say, I made it pretty darn perfect, Reese’s thing. WoW. Yeah, that was just a little taste of Heaven. So yeah, that was my birthday. I also love my new sandals, those are amazing, now I don’t have to use my pink ones... don’t ask. And the ties are also spectacular, and yeah, it was all gold.
Well, I hope your little camp trip went well, and you kept control of those crazy teenage girls. And remind me about Adamson when he gets a little close to getting here. Is November when he starts, or when he’ll actually be showing up in Paraguay? Well tell him he is coming to literally the best mission in the world, as far as the people, the culture, the areas, and the numbers, so he is a lucky guy! Is Haley enjoying being at home again? Why doesn’t she write me anymore? Yeah, all of my siblings are kind of slacking in that regard. You should do something about it. But yeah, you guys don’t really exist, I’m pretty sure I’ve been in the mission all of my life... but like next week I only have 7 months left in the mission...........
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Alright, so this last week was a pretty good week. Everything went great, I even made it to my birthday to open everything but the throw and the cake (I had to check out if I’d need to buy anything to make it... and good thing I did, because I needed to buy butter)! So yeah, I know, I feel good about my self control right now. But yeah, my birthday was awesome. I awoke to 10 Elders (from the office... its nice to have friends in cars) flipping on the light and jumping on me and singing happy birthday and taking us to play some basketball at 6, and then we went out and worked hard... and it was all going good until about 5.30... we show up at a poorer converts house, who we’re working with to baptize two more of the daughters, and anyways, we’re playing soccer with the kids, and the next thing I know they bring out this plate, and from afar its not looking too bad, I thought it was some tortillas fried up recently and some mandioca... but no. We get up close and its milenesa (way yummy), but you can tell that it was probably cooked up 6 hours before for lunch... and mind you, this is Paraguay... there was no fridge involved in this process. Okay, so we bite in, I’m like it can’t be that bad, thinking it would be of beef, but no. No, this was made of mondongo. That would be the stomach of a cow... or pig... or dog... we’re never quite sure which. And its all chewy and cold and absolutely nasty. Like we KNEW that we were going to get sick as we were downing this, and finally they walk away for a moment, and we shoved like half of it in our pockets. And yeah, we told them it was good and then we Sprinted. And I’m not talking none of that half-a joggin crap. We ran. To the nearest despensa, little store thing, and we downed a liter and a half of Coke to try and kill all the bad stuff we had recently consumed...
Long story short, my comp got sick and I was fine. He still has chivivi a little bit. But yeah, we went home and we made cheese cake... way good... that my comp had (also a non bake product). Then on Sunday we had a decent attendance in church, followed by throwing some of that marinera sauce that you sent me on some pre made pizza crusts and some cheese and ham on that... turned out pretty good for lunch, and I also cooked up my, and I must say, I made it pretty darn perfect, Reese’s thing. WoW. Yeah, that was just a little taste of Heaven. So yeah, that was my birthday. I also love my new sandals, those are amazing, now I don’t have to use my pink ones... don’t ask. And the ties are also spectacular, and yeah, it was all gold.
Well, I hope your little camp trip went well, and you kept control of those crazy teenage girls. And remind me about Adamson when he gets a little close to getting here. Is November when he starts, or when he’ll actually be showing up in Paraguay? Well tell him he is coming to literally the best mission in the world, as far as the people, the culture, the areas, and the numbers, so he is a lucky guy! Is Haley enjoying being at home again? Why doesn’t she write me anymore? Yeah, all of my siblings are kind of slacking in that regard. You should do something about it. But yeah, you guys don’t really exist, I’m pretty sure I’ve been in the mission all of my life... but like next week I only have 7 months left in the mission...........
Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Monday, June 22, 2009
June 22, 2009
Wow, so yeah, I’m still here. And I’m fetching exhausted because we are just working like crazy. But man, it’s taking its toll on me! Especially because after working hard all week long, Sunday really fell through for us. All of the members we had lined up to take their friends to church just didn’t even go to church, after all week of prepping them to go. So we only got who we went and looked for in the morning. But yeah, so now my energy is zapped, but we’ll get back out there and keep working hard. We’re seeing a lot of success, and like, the people we had at church last week and the people we had this week are completely different, so it just shows we have a ton of people that we’re teaching, we just can’t get them all there at once hahaha.
But E’ Wagner is a stud, we really are tearing it up together, so it’s good to just have a good solid companion that I can rely on. E’ Ramirez went out to Luque to end his mission. It’s weird to think that Elder Fiala will be on his way home though, the mission really does just fly by. But yeah, I got my packages last Tuesday, so those sweaters are coming in handy... so is the awesome OSU fleece blanket that I will be opening on Saturday and haven’t used yet... But I promise I haven’t opened anything else, even though I know what it all is hahaha. So yeah, I should be able to hold out til Saturday. I really don’t want to be getting older though, it just means I have to actually be responsible or something like that. But yeah, it’s all good, means I’m competely passed the halfway point of the mission... I have 2/2 of the birthdays, ¾ of the general conferences, ¾ of the phone calls, and I don’t know what else.
But thanks so much for hooking me up with the dinero... in like a week the Expo starts, which is like the state fair, so I’m planning on spending very wisely my money on sweet souveneirs for me... and you, of course. Anyways, I hope you’re honing those chicken picata skills for the day I get home. But I’m glad you’ve got the little rescue society going full operation, it’s always good to know that a turtle is getting its proper basking light. I love you guys so much, tell the little man to feel better and the old man to keep chugging along in the ward, the Lord needs good, faithful workers to keep the kingdom moving. Focus on the missionary work, its the most important of it all. Tell Robyn to get her little big butt in church and Haley... well, study hard this time haha. And Mum, you just keep taking care of all of us munchkins like you do. And good luck finding a cool gift for the Bubba Gump house. A sweet bucket of shrimp should do.
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
But E’ Wagner is a stud, we really are tearing it up together, so it’s good to just have a good solid companion that I can rely on. E’ Ramirez went out to Luque to end his mission. It’s weird to think that Elder Fiala will be on his way home though, the mission really does just fly by. But yeah, I got my packages last Tuesday, so those sweaters are coming in handy... so is the awesome OSU fleece blanket that I will be opening on Saturday and haven’t used yet... But I promise I haven’t opened anything else, even though I know what it all is hahaha. So yeah, I should be able to hold out til Saturday. I really don’t want to be getting older though, it just means I have to actually be responsible or something like that. But yeah, it’s all good, means I’m competely passed the halfway point of the mission... I have 2/2 of the birthdays, ¾ of the general conferences, ¾ of the phone calls, and I don’t know what else.
But thanks so much for hooking me up with the dinero... in like a week the Expo starts, which is like the state fair, so I’m planning on spending very wisely my money on sweet souveneirs for me... and you, of course. Anyways, I hope you’re honing those chicken picata skills for the day I get home. But I’m glad you’ve got the little rescue society going full operation, it’s always good to know that a turtle is getting its proper basking light. I love you guys so much, tell the little man to feel better and the old man to keep chugging along in the ward, the Lord needs good, faithful workers to keep the kingdom moving. Focus on the missionary work, its the most important of it all. Tell Robyn to get her little big butt in church and Haley... well, study hard this time haha. And Mum, you just keep taking care of all of us munchkins like you do. And good luck finding a cool gift for the Bubba Gump house. A sweet bucket of shrimp should do.
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Monday, June 15, 2009
June 15, 2009
First of all....
‘Que los cumplas feliz,
Que los cumplas feliz,
En tu día dichoso,
¡Que los cumplas feliz!’
Happy Birthday Daddio! Fetch, that means I’m like 10 days to turning 21... that is wayyyyy too old. But I hope you have a good birthday, thanks for being such a great example to me, you’re my hero. Love ya lots. Oh, and I think next Sunday is Father’s Day... so if it is, Happy that too. Oh, and that really awesome gift you’re gonna open, you know, the one that’s gonna be your favorite, Mom might lie to you, but I swear it’s from me.
Alright, so I’m still in Zeballos Cue... but thank goodness I am no longer with Elder Ramirez... I love the guy but we just did not rub the right way. So, I let you guess the name of my new companion. Yup, you guessed it, Elder Wagner! So I’ll let Mom freak out about that haha. But he doesn’t know any Wagners from St George, he’s from Ogden. Anyways, he is a stud, I’m so stoked to be with him. After three changes with latins, it feels SO good to really just WORK again. Nothing against them, but the latins aren’t known for being the most diligent missionaries. But Elder Wagner, who has one change less than me, is excited and this is his first change as a zone leader, and I can just feel that we’re just gonna blow this area to pieces! If you could feel how good it feels to go out and work and just see how we’re just powering through this area in just the first couple days, oh man, I’m so excited right now. Unfortunately, only like 2 full days of work didn’t quite give us enough prep time to get people in church, we only got 7 people there this week. It rained a ton a couple of weeks back on Sunday, and since then the amount of people in church has dropped a ton, down to about 10. But we’re just getting used to preparing people for getting to church in the cold and stuff, but we’re gonna explode this place again.
It’s so awesome to hear that Jake is on his mission now, that is so sweet, I’m stoked for him, and Kris and Allie, totally never saw that one, but that is way awesome too. Taylor should be getting home from his mission soon though, shouldn’t he? Let me in on that one, would ya? That’s weird to hear that people’s lives are moving on, time just kind of stands still while you’re in the mission as to things of the world. Like all these new kids are showing up and they talk about a new movie and I’m like, hey did you see this one, it came out like 6 months ago, oh wait, that’d be like 2 years now... fetch I’ve been a missionary too long. So yeah, this change I’m the oldest Elder in the zone! Yeah... That is one of the weirdest feelings in the world, I still feel like I just got here.
Anyways, have fun getting ready for girls camp and the grandparents... it should be lots of fun! Love ya,
Elder Dennis
‘Que los cumplas feliz,
Que los cumplas feliz,
En tu día dichoso,
¡Que los cumplas feliz!’
Happy Birthday Daddio! Fetch, that means I’m like 10 days to turning 21... that is wayyyyy too old. But I hope you have a good birthday, thanks for being such a great example to me, you’re my hero. Love ya lots. Oh, and I think next Sunday is Father’s Day... so if it is, Happy that too. Oh, and that really awesome gift you’re gonna open, you know, the one that’s gonna be your favorite, Mom might lie to you, but I swear it’s from me.
Alright, so I’m still in Zeballos Cue... but thank goodness I am no longer with Elder Ramirez... I love the guy but we just did not rub the right way. So, I let you guess the name of my new companion. Yup, you guessed it, Elder Wagner! So I’ll let Mom freak out about that haha. But he doesn’t know any Wagners from St George, he’s from Ogden. Anyways, he is a stud, I’m so stoked to be with him. After three changes with latins, it feels SO good to really just WORK again. Nothing against them, but the latins aren’t known for being the most diligent missionaries. But Elder Wagner, who has one change less than me, is excited and this is his first change as a zone leader, and I can just feel that we’re just gonna blow this area to pieces! If you could feel how good it feels to go out and work and just see how we’re just powering through this area in just the first couple days, oh man, I’m so excited right now. Unfortunately, only like 2 full days of work didn’t quite give us enough prep time to get people in church, we only got 7 people there this week. It rained a ton a couple of weeks back on Sunday, and since then the amount of people in church has dropped a ton, down to about 10. But we’re just getting used to preparing people for getting to church in the cold and stuff, but we’re gonna explode this place again.
It’s so awesome to hear that Jake is on his mission now, that is so sweet, I’m stoked for him, and Kris and Allie, totally never saw that one, but that is way awesome too. Taylor should be getting home from his mission soon though, shouldn’t he? Let me in on that one, would ya? That’s weird to hear that people’s lives are moving on, time just kind of stands still while you’re in the mission as to things of the world. Like all these new kids are showing up and they talk about a new movie and I’m like, hey did you see this one, it came out like 6 months ago, oh wait, that’d be like 2 years now... fetch I’ve been a missionary too long. So yeah, this change I’m the oldest Elder in the zone! Yeah... That is one of the weirdest feelings in the world, I still feel like I just got here.
Anyways, have fun getting ready for girls camp and the grandparents... it should be lots of fun! Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Monday, June 8, 2009
June 8, 2009
¿Ha upei che familia kuéra?
So yeah, we don’t have the changes yet… so yeah, it’s super exciting, I know. But I’m really praying I get changed. My area is way too small to stick around here again. That and my comp is really kind of annoying, I could use a good American again. Not to be racist or anything, but the efforts of the latins vs the gringos is just so much different. And I’m still junior companion, so my comp has all these ideas of what he wants to do and doesn’t like to listen to my suggestions, but he doesn’t know how to maintain an area that has the kind of success that this area can have. So it’s been a little frustrating this change, you can just look at the numbers and see the difference since he showed up and I was still kind of in charge and now that he has sort of taken control. But yeah, so I just want out hahaha. But the Lord knows best, so maybe I need learn patience or something like that. So whatever comes along...
But sounds like fun that Grandma and Grandpa Dennis are coming out to visit, it’s crazy to think that you guys have been living in NY for three years now, I only spent like 6 months with you guys before I left on my mission up there. I hope you still like it up there and everything. But tell Haley the apartment is totally off limits, that is definitely my pad when I get married hahaha. Okay, probably not, but still, I get my bed back that’s ‘stored’ up there! Anyways, I was reading the new Liahona, with the conference addresses, and in the back it has little bios on the new general authorities, and I liked reading up about what they studied and did for a living before they got called to serve. It was impressive to see how many were lawyers (but that’s definitely not for me). But it helped me start thinking a little more and becoming more open and I’m just like whatever comes my way, I’m good. Mostly I’m just worried about what school to go to, cause now I’m starting to think like, where is She gonna be? Hahaha. 10 bucks says Haley beats me to tying the knot though.
As for Fast and Testimony meetings, sometimes I just wish investigators or new members weren’t there to witness some of the things that are said hahaha. First off, almost all of the people say exactly the same thing, really fast: Joseph Smith, the Church, and the Canon books of the church, and the Temple. Then they sit down, eating up none of the very generous amounts of time that they could have to make things go better. And then people that haven’t been to church since I’ve been here get up and they’re all like pity me, my horse and buggy were stolen and I have nothing, but God is going to help me coughbishopsstorehousepleasecough. SO yeah, that’s painful to swallow. I try to just not listen and think about other things that have to get done that day, like who we’re gonna eat with and things like that. You know, the important things.
Anyways, hopefully you’ll know what’s going on, and you’ll be finding out that I’m in a different area next Monday. 16 months in 3 areas... I could use a new one here pretty soon. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
So yeah, we don’t have the changes yet… so yeah, it’s super exciting, I know. But I’m really praying I get changed. My area is way too small to stick around here again. That and my comp is really kind of annoying, I could use a good American again. Not to be racist or anything, but the efforts of the latins vs the gringos is just so much different. And I’m still junior companion, so my comp has all these ideas of what he wants to do and doesn’t like to listen to my suggestions, but he doesn’t know how to maintain an area that has the kind of success that this area can have. So it’s been a little frustrating this change, you can just look at the numbers and see the difference since he showed up and I was still kind of in charge and now that he has sort of taken control. But yeah, so I just want out hahaha. But the Lord knows best, so maybe I need learn patience or something like that. So whatever comes along...
But sounds like fun that Grandma and Grandpa Dennis are coming out to visit, it’s crazy to think that you guys have been living in NY for three years now, I only spent like 6 months with you guys before I left on my mission up there. I hope you still like it up there and everything. But tell Haley the apartment is totally off limits, that is definitely my pad when I get married hahaha. Okay, probably not, but still, I get my bed back that’s ‘stored’ up there! Anyways, I was reading the new Liahona, with the conference addresses, and in the back it has little bios on the new general authorities, and I liked reading up about what they studied and did for a living before they got called to serve. It was impressive to see how many were lawyers (but that’s definitely not for me). But it helped me start thinking a little more and becoming more open and I’m just like whatever comes my way, I’m good. Mostly I’m just worried about what school to go to, cause now I’m starting to think like, where is She gonna be? Hahaha. 10 bucks says Haley beats me to tying the knot though.
As for Fast and Testimony meetings, sometimes I just wish investigators or new members weren’t there to witness some of the things that are said hahaha. First off, almost all of the people say exactly the same thing, really fast: Joseph Smith, the Church, and the Canon books of the church, and the Temple. Then they sit down, eating up none of the very generous amounts of time that they could have to make things go better. And then people that haven’t been to church since I’ve been here get up and they’re all like pity me, my horse and buggy were stolen and I have nothing, but God is going to help me coughbishopsstorehousepleasecough. SO yeah, that’s painful to swallow. I try to just not listen and think about other things that have to get done that day, like who we’re gonna eat with and things like that. You know, the important things.
Anyways, hopefully you’ll know what’s going on, and you’ll be finding out that I’m in a different area next Monday. 16 months in 3 areas... I could use a new one here pretty soon. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
Monday, June 1, 2009
June 1, 2009
Bueno, les amo mucho. Y espero que puedan entenderlo. Anyways, it feels kind of weird to have to speak in English, because it’s been 4 months that I’ve lived almost 24/7 with a latino companion, who doesn’t speak almost a lick of English... mostly just the bad words they picked up from who knows where hahaha. So you have to correct them sometimes, but it’s all good. But this week went alright, we had the visit from Elder Aidukaitas, who is a really young guy in his 40’s from Brazil, so luckily I was already accustomed to the accent, or I think it might have been kind of tough to understand him at times. But he was like, I love you, you’re doing great, the best in the area, but Bam, you guys need to do better. So yeah, he dropped some major cane. To ‘Drop the cane’ is to like, reprimand or correct, I don’t really know how to explain it, but I remember that I didn’t know what it meant when I first showed up in Paraguay.
Anyways, we had 3 baptisms this week of Angelica, and her two children, Carlos and Yeni... (like Jenny)... so that was pretty cool. It’s amazing to see the way that each person shows it a little differently, but they’re all touched and changed by the restored gospel. You can really see a persons relationship with the Lord when they pray. Some people it’s just like a little kid, like what I remember our prayers to be at night as a family when we were younger, kind of husselled to get it over with, but when you get to listen to the prayer of someone who didn’t really know how to pray less than a month ago really converse with the Lord, it’s enlightening in a way I can’t describe. Angelica was never a person where it’s be like Wow, she’s golden. But this past weekend I got to listen to her prayer as we were leaving, and I was just like wow, she is solid. It’s amazing how people come out of nowhere like that as you teach them.
Well, this is the last week of the change, it’s crazy how fast time is flying... like I already have 16 months in the mission basically, and this month I turn 21! That’s fetching OLD! There is no way that I ever imagined I’d spend my 21st birthday in the South American country of Paraguay when I was growing up. My birthday will also mark a year and a half since I first went through the temple... almost time to get a new recommend, and it feels like just yesterday we went to Boston.
Alright, another food recommendation: You guys MUST look for a ‘Lomito Arbabe’ place the next time you’re in NYC. Look it up on the internet too, because if I can’t find a lomitos place in the states after the mission, I think I might just loose the meaning to life, it’s that good. The last time we were eating lomitos, it kind of hit me that I’m the 3rd oldest missionary in the zone (that’s just freaking, let me tell you) and I started thinking about my consumption of the delicious lomito arabe after the mission. So if you could get a head start looking for me and let me know of your results, it would be of great appreciation.
Love,
Elder Dennis
Anyways, we had 3 baptisms this week of Angelica, and her two children, Carlos and Yeni... (like Jenny)... so that was pretty cool. It’s amazing to see the way that each person shows it a little differently, but they’re all touched and changed by the restored gospel. You can really see a persons relationship with the Lord when they pray. Some people it’s just like a little kid, like what I remember our prayers to be at night as a family when we were younger, kind of husselled to get it over with, but when you get to listen to the prayer of someone who didn’t really know how to pray less than a month ago really converse with the Lord, it’s enlightening in a way I can’t describe. Angelica was never a person where it’s be like Wow, she’s golden. But this past weekend I got to listen to her prayer as we were leaving, and I was just like wow, she is solid. It’s amazing how people come out of nowhere like that as you teach them.
Well, this is the last week of the change, it’s crazy how fast time is flying... like I already have 16 months in the mission basically, and this month I turn 21! That’s fetching OLD! There is no way that I ever imagined I’d spend my 21st birthday in the South American country of Paraguay when I was growing up. My birthday will also mark a year and a half since I first went through the temple... almost time to get a new recommend, and it feels like just yesterday we went to Boston.
Alright, another food recommendation: You guys MUST look for a ‘Lomito Arbabe’ place the next time you’re in NYC. Look it up on the internet too, because if I can’t find a lomitos place in the states after the mission, I think I might just loose the meaning to life, it’s that good. The last time we were eating lomitos, it kind of hit me that I’m the 3rd oldest missionary in the zone (that’s just freaking, let me tell you) and I started thinking about my consumption of the delicious lomito arabe after the mission. So if you could get a head start looking for me and let me know of your results, it would be of great appreciation.
Love,
Elder Dennis
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
May 25, 2009
What’s up people?
So, another week down, and another week to go. First off, Happy Birthday to the birthday girl. I hope she enjoys the completion of yet another year of her life. It’s exciting stuff. But I already wish I was going back in time, I’m getting old people. I mean, I have to come of full legal age in a month’s time! That’s just scary!
But I had pique again last week, so that was exciting. My comp had to get it out, because it was in a place on my big toe that I couldn’t see very well to do the operation myself. But yeah, it’s basically just a big, living zit. It’s pretty fun to take out. But there’s not going to be very much pique anymore, because the rainy season is starting up… and speaking of the rainy season, did I mention I hate rain? It fetching poured this Saturday and Sunday, I was soaked from just above my knees down, cause my jacket doesn’t quite cover all of me. But the stupid torrents of rain kept all but one of our investigators getting to church, so this week was just horrible because of that. But last week we had 5 more baptisms, with 2 families that are amazing, and a little old grandma too. But yeah, we’re in charge of all the new convert lessons and everything… anything that has to do with church, we the missionaries are in charge around here…
But yeah, Elder Aidukaitus of the Seventy is coming this week to take a ‘tour’ of the mission to see how we’re all doing, so that’ll be exciting. The ZLs have a council meeting with him tomorrow, so that’ll be a cool like 1-on-1 session with him. But yeah, that’s all that’s really going on this week.
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
So, another week down, and another week to go. First off, Happy Birthday to the birthday girl. I hope she enjoys the completion of yet another year of her life. It’s exciting stuff. But I already wish I was going back in time, I’m getting old people. I mean, I have to come of full legal age in a month’s time! That’s just scary!
But I had pique again last week, so that was exciting. My comp had to get it out, because it was in a place on my big toe that I couldn’t see very well to do the operation myself. But yeah, it’s basically just a big, living zit. It’s pretty fun to take out. But there’s not going to be very much pique anymore, because the rainy season is starting up… and speaking of the rainy season, did I mention I hate rain? It fetching poured this Saturday and Sunday, I was soaked from just above my knees down, cause my jacket doesn’t quite cover all of me. But the stupid torrents of rain kept all but one of our investigators getting to church, so this week was just horrible because of that. But last week we had 5 more baptisms, with 2 families that are amazing, and a little old grandma too. But yeah, we’re in charge of all the new convert lessons and everything… anything that has to do with church, we the missionaries are in charge around here…
But yeah, Elder Aidukaitus of the Seventy is coming this week to take a ‘tour’ of the mission to see how we’re all doing, so that’ll be exciting. The ZLs have a council meeting with him tomorrow, so that’ll be a cool like 1-on-1 session with him. But yeah, that’s all that’s really going on this week.
Love ya,
Elder Dennis
Monday, May 18, 2009
May 18, 2009
Hey there,
Sorry about last week, we didn’t get a chance to use internet cause we had a really busy P-Day... First off, we had council meeting with Pte Wade as ZLs on Monday so our P-Day got bumped to Tuesday, and then on Tuesday we went to San Lorenzo to play soccer with all of the other ZLs, because we didn’t want to be alone and everyone else had a normal P-Day, and had to spend like a total of 2.5 hours on the buses to get there and back, and that just ate up all of our day. So we figured we’d just talked to you the day before, so we figured it wasn’t a big deal to not get to write y’all. Anyways, this week went pretty good, we had 8 baptisms, with the wedding of Elvio and Eulalia, so that was exciting. And then this week we have 2 more families that are just awesome who are tying the knot and taking a bath haha. So yeah, we’re still working hard.
But this past week was the first week of cold, and wow, I forgot how cold Paraguay can get! It got down to about 50 F and I thought I was going to freeze to death on Friday night. And I’m being serious! I’m literally just going to shrivel up and die in a little frozen ball when I show up in NY in the middle of the winter next year... So I had to bust out all of the sweaters I accumulated last year: the two v-necks that you sent me and one that I bought here before I got the package of the v-necks haha... things I haven’t seen in a loooooong time. It was such a good feeling! Mentioning that, if you want to include in my birthday package another sweater or two that you can find in my room, I know I have like 2 or 3 good ones... a brown, a grey, and an orange one, that are all kind of turtle neck, those would work great down here.
But you can tell Aunt Audrey thanks for thinking about me, but I’m sure that book of 500 colleges is just way to big and expensive to send all the way down here... because it’d be cool to look at one, but I wouldn’t want to have to haul that thing around between areas and stuff like that.
In answer to your question: It’s not too bad trying to shrug off the ‘trunky’ feelings that come from talking with the family, but it was a little tougher this time because my comp E. Ramirez goes home in July, so he’s getting all ready already. But I’m thinking that the next call is going to be a little tough... I’ll only have like 6 weeks til I get home... so yeah, that’ll be pretty trunky. Anyways, talking about getting home. I was thinking about it, and if you guys want to come down to pick me up, that’s fine. Like yeah, it’ll lose kind of the umph of getting home and seeing the family, but like you said, I think it’ll probably be a lot easier to just stay in Paraguay than to try and come back a little later on, financially and mentally. Plus you guys could just bring down like extra empty suitcases to help me make it home with all of the junk that I’m acquiring right now and not have to leave it all behind hahaha. So it’s up to you guys with what you want to do. I’ll just go along with whatever plans you come up with.
But yeah, those broadcast conferences from Salt Lake are pretty cool. I got to see one last year, and they had people who were associated with this area of the world as well. So it’s interesting to hear that they’re doing that for state-side stakes as well.
But as a missionary, my relationship with Christ... umm... I’d say it’s grown in the fact that I’m not working and worrying about myself. I’m working with his brothers and sisters, and helping them find the joy of taking advantage of his sacrifice that he made for us, and by doing so, I’ve been able to feel the true joy of Christ by feeling what he must feel when he sees each and every one of us come closer to him, and the sadness that comes when he sees us reject him. So I think mostly I’ve just come closer to really know and understand our Savior and what the purpose this life holds for us.
The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost (it feels so weird to say ghost and not spirit) is a must in this line of work. I’ve really come to know that the ‘constant companionship’ that is always talked about isn’t like a constant feel good vibe that I remember getting when I was at EFY or whatever, but more like an enhanced conscionce (I really don’t know how to spell that, I hope you get what I’m saying) of thoughts that I have or decisions I make of what streets to take or what I need to say or things like that. I think it might be different as a missionary, because we grow so used to the compansionship that we usually don’t even know that it’s there, but yeah.
I think when I get home, I’ll just have to keep doing just the ‘basics’ of the gospel that you always hear in Primary, with slight variation: Study my scriptures daily, pray with real intent, and participate in church and church activities every week. Usually you hear: read, pray, and go to church. That’s good and all, but there is SUCH a big difference between going through the motions and actually doing. Not just reading, but STUDYING. Not just praying, but CONVERSING with the Lord. Not just going to church, but PARTICIPATING. It’s stuff so basic that we just ignore it, but it really is the foundation to everything.
Love you lots,
Elder Dennis
Sorry about last week, we didn’t get a chance to use internet cause we had a really busy P-Day... First off, we had council meeting with Pte Wade as ZLs on Monday so our P-Day got bumped to Tuesday, and then on Tuesday we went to San Lorenzo to play soccer with all of the other ZLs, because we didn’t want to be alone and everyone else had a normal P-Day, and had to spend like a total of 2.5 hours on the buses to get there and back, and that just ate up all of our day. So we figured we’d just talked to you the day before, so we figured it wasn’t a big deal to not get to write y’all. Anyways, this week went pretty good, we had 8 baptisms, with the wedding of Elvio and Eulalia, so that was exciting. And then this week we have 2 more families that are just awesome who are tying the knot and taking a bath haha. So yeah, we’re still working hard.
But this past week was the first week of cold, and wow, I forgot how cold Paraguay can get! It got down to about 50 F and I thought I was going to freeze to death on Friday night. And I’m being serious! I’m literally just going to shrivel up and die in a little frozen ball when I show up in NY in the middle of the winter next year... So I had to bust out all of the sweaters I accumulated last year: the two v-necks that you sent me and one that I bought here before I got the package of the v-necks haha... things I haven’t seen in a loooooong time. It was such a good feeling! Mentioning that, if you want to include in my birthday package another sweater or two that you can find in my room, I know I have like 2 or 3 good ones... a brown, a grey, and an orange one, that are all kind of turtle neck, those would work great down here.
But you can tell Aunt Audrey thanks for thinking about me, but I’m sure that book of 500 colleges is just way to big and expensive to send all the way down here... because it’d be cool to look at one, but I wouldn’t want to have to haul that thing around between areas and stuff like that.
In answer to your question: It’s not too bad trying to shrug off the ‘trunky’ feelings that come from talking with the family, but it was a little tougher this time because my comp E. Ramirez goes home in July, so he’s getting all ready already. But I’m thinking that the next call is going to be a little tough... I’ll only have like 6 weeks til I get home... so yeah, that’ll be pretty trunky. Anyways, talking about getting home. I was thinking about it, and if you guys want to come down to pick me up, that’s fine. Like yeah, it’ll lose kind of the umph of getting home and seeing the family, but like you said, I think it’ll probably be a lot easier to just stay in Paraguay than to try and come back a little later on, financially and mentally. Plus you guys could just bring down like extra empty suitcases to help me make it home with all of the junk that I’m acquiring right now and not have to leave it all behind hahaha. So it’s up to you guys with what you want to do. I’ll just go along with whatever plans you come up with.
But yeah, those broadcast conferences from Salt Lake are pretty cool. I got to see one last year, and they had people who were associated with this area of the world as well. So it’s interesting to hear that they’re doing that for state-side stakes as well.
But as a missionary, my relationship with Christ... umm... I’d say it’s grown in the fact that I’m not working and worrying about myself. I’m working with his brothers and sisters, and helping them find the joy of taking advantage of his sacrifice that he made for us, and by doing so, I’ve been able to feel the true joy of Christ by feeling what he must feel when he sees each and every one of us come closer to him, and the sadness that comes when he sees us reject him. So I think mostly I’ve just come closer to really know and understand our Savior and what the purpose this life holds for us.
The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost (it feels so weird to say ghost and not spirit) is a must in this line of work. I’ve really come to know that the ‘constant companionship’ that is always talked about isn’t like a constant feel good vibe that I remember getting when I was at EFY or whatever, but more like an enhanced conscionce (I really don’t know how to spell that, I hope you get what I’m saying) of thoughts that I have or decisions I make of what streets to take or what I need to say or things like that. I think it might be different as a missionary, because we grow so used to the compansionship that we usually don’t even know that it’s there, but yeah.
I think when I get home, I’ll just have to keep doing just the ‘basics’ of the gospel that you always hear in Primary, with slight variation: Study my scriptures daily, pray with real intent, and participate in church and church activities every week. Usually you hear: read, pray, and go to church. That’s good and all, but there is SUCH a big difference between going through the motions and actually doing. Not just reading, but STUDYING. Not just praying, but CONVERSING with the Lord. Not just going to church, but PARTICIPATING. It’s stuff so basic that we just ignore it, but it really is the foundation to everything.
Love you lots,
Elder Dennis
Monday, May 4, 2009
May 4, 2009
What up?
So yeah, Elder Perez is now in his house in Colombia, which is absolutely crazy, because when I showed up in Viñas Cue he still had 2 changes to go. And now he’s gone. So I guess even though it feels like the mission is my life and that it will never end, it indeed comes to an end. Which is a really weird feeling actually. But anyways, because I sent Perez home, I’m still here in Zeballos Cue, and my new comp is Elder Ramirez, from Nicaragua. There were 6 ZLs that went home, so a lot of new ZLs went up, but my comp was a zone leader before as well, and he’s prepping to go home this July. He only has this and the next changes left. But I’m praying that I’m out of here at the end of this change, because while my area is really tiny, it has a lot of success, but if I stay here next change, I’ll be killing Elder Ramirez as well, which means I’ll be here until September... and that’s a really long fetching time. But E’ Ramirez is a stud, we’re working hard and keeping up the success that E’ Perez and I were having.
I’m glad you got my mother’s day card, but goodness gracious, don’t you have enough respect for your son that you actually follow the directions he writes on it to not open it til Mother’s Day? I mean, it was only one week you had to wait. But yeah, so I guess I have to talk to you losers this Sunday, so I guess you can call xxxxxxxxx at 7 o’clock at night if you want to. I may or may not be there hahaha. I might be working too hard to put aside some time for you guys.
But it’s crazy to think that Elder Fiala is actually gearing up to go home. Taylor Cluff is probably on the downward 2 months as well. I’m just flying through the mission as well though, cause like, this is already my 10th change, out of 16. Which means that I only have 6 changes left after this. That’s like nothing, I’m should be getting ready to leave already or something haha. But everyone is doing good out here, we have 4 whole families with a baptismal date for not this week but the 2 weeks following, and they’re all pretty solid. There’s a lot of stuff to overcome, but I know that it’ll all get worked out just fine. But yeah, the help of the members is incredible here in this area, the new converts expecially, they all just keep inviting more and more friends, and then those people invite more friends, and it’s just this huge ripple effect like you said. But yeah, the wards and branches are just being re organized all the time, and I think that’s the main problem they have down here. It’s kind of hard to call home teachers when every week your have to revise it because more and more people are getting baptized, and just things like that. But at the moment, there’s no senior couples in the mission, but the senior couple that was here will be coming back: The Frutos family. He’s Paraguayan, and Pte Wade really needs his help with controlling all of the districts (like stakes but not big enough, all of which are controlled by the mission presidents of the area... there’s like 10 in Paraguay Norte) and translating Guaraní. So supposedly they’ll be back in like June, but they went back to the states to visit family and take a short break.
But yeah, things are going pretty good, you know, the same old places, just different faces. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
So yeah, Elder Perez is now in his house in Colombia, which is absolutely crazy, because when I showed up in Viñas Cue he still had 2 changes to go. And now he’s gone. So I guess even though it feels like the mission is my life and that it will never end, it indeed comes to an end. Which is a really weird feeling actually. But anyways, because I sent Perez home, I’m still here in Zeballos Cue, and my new comp is Elder Ramirez, from Nicaragua. There were 6 ZLs that went home, so a lot of new ZLs went up, but my comp was a zone leader before as well, and he’s prepping to go home this July. He only has this and the next changes left. But I’m praying that I’m out of here at the end of this change, because while my area is really tiny, it has a lot of success, but if I stay here next change, I’ll be killing Elder Ramirez as well, which means I’ll be here until September... and that’s a really long fetching time. But E’ Ramirez is a stud, we’re working hard and keeping up the success that E’ Perez and I were having.
I’m glad you got my mother’s day card, but goodness gracious, don’t you have enough respect for your son that you actually follow the directions he writes on it to not open it til Mother’s Day? I mean, it was only one week you had to wait. But yeah, so I guess I have to talk to you losers this Sunday, so I guess you can call xxxxxxxxx at 7 o’clock at night if you want to. I may or may not be there hahaha. I might be working too hard to put aside some time for you guys.
But it’s crazy to think that Elder Fiala is actually gearing up to go home. Taylor Cluff is probably on the downward 2 months as well. I’m just flying through the mission as well though, cause like, this is already my 10th change, out of 16. Which means that I only have 6 changes left after this. That’s like nothing, I’m should be getting ready to leave already or something haha. But everyone is doing good out here, we have 4 whole families with a baptismal date for not this week but the 2 weeks following, and they’re all pretty solid. There’s a lot of stuff to overcome, but I know that it’ll all get worked out just fine. But yeah, the help of the members is incredible here in this area, the new converts expecially, they all just keep inviting more and more friends, and then those people invite more friends, and it’s just this huge ripple effect like you said. But yeah, the wards and branches are just being re organized all the time, and I think that’s the main problem they have down here. It’s kind of hard to call home teachers when every week your have to revise it because more and more people are getting baptized, and just things like that. But at the moment, there’s no senior couples in the mission, but the senior couple that was here will be coming back: The Frutos family. He’s Paraguayan, and Pte Wade really needs his help with controlling all of the districts (like stakes but not big enough, all of which are controlled by the mission presidents of the area... there’s like 10 in Paraguay Norte) and translating Guaraní. So supposedly they’ll be back in like June, but they went back to the states to visit family and take a short break.
But yeah, things are going pretty good, you know, the same old places, just different faces. Love ya lots,
Elder Dennis
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