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| P day at a park |
It's been an exciting week. We had an exchange with an AP on Tuesday. His name is Elder Hodson. He speaks English but knows Spanish just as well. He was great! Our investigators learned from him and my comp and I learned how to teach from him. He also got us 3 more baptism dates! He helped us improve our daily schedule too. Super funny guy. The next day we had the "4 Weeks" meeting. I met a couple of other elders that came out at the same time I did. President Klein talked to us, and so did Hermana Klein. We ate cake and PB&J sandwiches, That was really fun!
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| Ben, Elder Hodson, and Elder Nunez |
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| Ben with his District Leader |
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| At the "4-weeks"training |
We have to be in at 9:00 pm. It tough hiking up and down hills in the dark, but I'm learning. Only fell twice, and that's because of the rain. This area has been remarkably safe. I don't think I've heard a single gun. (It's kind of hard to tell because the kids love firecrackers down here!) But It's been super safe. We are always very careful, but I haven't noticed anything that seemed dangerous I think I got lucky with this area.
The next day was the start of the Rain of Fear. For the last week it has been raining, but not like this! We could hear the rain far away, but it was getting louder. My comp yelled Umbrella! at me and started to run. I got my umbrella up as the rain hit us. The roads became rivers instantly. It was raining hard enough I thought it might rip my umbrella. It didn't, but I ended up getting soaked anyway. My comp didn't have his umbrella so we were sharing and walking through puddles 4 inches deep. The water got everywhere. That dry bag was possibly the most valuable thing I brought! It saved my scriptures and camera.
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| Outside the church after the rain |
I also got the chance to bless a baby girl that day! Her name is Chanel. The mom wanted a blessing in English, and I was totally cool with that. I'm not sure about my Spanish when it's that important to speak correctly. I realized the priesthood is a GIGANTIC blessing. I remembered a lesson from the CCM--the teacher asked us to list things possible with the priesthood, and he would take steps with every one and we had to get him across the room. We shouted out things like baptism, bless the sacrament, give blessings, and he took three tiny steps. A little confused, we gave some more answers and got some more tiny steps. We tried to think of more things, when an elder yelled Move Mountains! The teacher took a huge step. Then the teacher started listing things: move mountains, give sight to the blind, discern thoughts, call angels, raise the dead, change oceans to dry land--all super impressive stuff. Then he said, these things are possible with the power of the priesthood. It's the same power all the profets used, and is the very power of God. It was probably my favorite lesson. When I get back, I want to teach the priests a lesson and teach them that.
This is a paper with a song the primary is learning in our ward. It's funny because I read it not knowing what it was and then I thought is was a super beautiful poem or something! Then some of the phrases sounded familiar. Haha! I translated it as: I am of the church of Jesuschrist of latter day saints. I know who I am, I know the plan of God. I will follow it with faith. I believe in Jesuscrist the Savior. His name I will honor. I do the good, I will follow the light, his truth I will proclaim.
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| Bird eating a kind of banana growing in the walkway to their apartment |
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| These bananas are called Ginayllo (not sure on spelling!) They are super common. Trucks drive around with hundreds in the bed and sell them 50 for $1.50. SUPER cheap. They're always served boiled, and it is the most common and most disgusting food here. I'm learning to ignore the taste though. |
On Saturday we went to a church activity, which turned out to be the youth breakdance team, the Black Angels.
That was super fun--tell the youth in Nampa to get on that. It's an awesome idea! Breakdancing is pretty popular down here--it's awesome.
On Sunday, we ran out of water, and of course, can't buy more. I have 2 water bottles that I always keep full, but I ran out of water that Sunday.
We spent all Sunday morning walking to most of our investigators and less actives, and inviting them to church. We visited like 20 people--and two of them came. I couldn't have been more happy. That's how I know I've grown to love these people. I'm honestly rejoicing when they learn and want to learn more, and I want to cry when they reject us or don't fulfill our commitments.
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| A ravine we hiked down and up |
Today we played soccer with the other missionaries. For as much as I hate soccer, it was super fun. My strategy with soccer is, even though I'm terrible at it, if I run my bunner off, I can make up for it. It totally worked, and the harder I worked, the more I enjoyed the game. I think that's fairly life applicable, looking back on it. After that we went shopping and walked around centro (downtown.)
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| A tiny baseball mitt Ben made--wishing they played baseball instead of futbol so much! |
It's been an awesome week and it went by super fast. Next week is changes, and I'm super nervous my comp will leave. He's already been here for 3 rotations. It's possible but unlikely he will stay.
You learn things so fast on a mission--I think everyone should go on one! I've been reading the Missionary Library, and all I have left is Jesus the Christ, and I'm almost done with that too. I love learning more about the gospel, and the stuff I have to read is perfect. Almost every chance I get, I read the scriptures or Jesus the Christ. It's incredible. I want to have the exact same schedule when I get home.
I'm out of time, sorry. I'll answer other questions later. Love you mom and enjoy life in the sweet United States!
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| The new pillow I bought and the old one I was using. I have no idea how old the pillow was, I would guess 6 years or something. It definitely didn't come when I did. |
PS. I forgot to mention, today on the bus 3 dudes got on. One was holding tons of fruit and frozen soda in ziploc bags, and was selling it to everyone on the bus. The other guy was holding a weird, black felt bag thing. And the last guy was a clown. Full on, clown jumpsuit, painted face, red nose. Totally crazy! He stood at the front of the bus and started telling jokes! Super crazy weird. He was speaking so fast I couldn't understand a word, but he was also standing while the bus was moving, which is pretty difficult. (The buses here basically have the right of way in every situation Or at least they drive like they do.) The last guy turned out to be a magician. Best bus ride of my life! I wish Hannah was there to ask, Why they ackin so cray-cray?
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| P Day pictures from a park |
I totally forgot to tell you! I got 3 packages this week. I think it's everything you guys have sent. I haven't opened 2 of them yet, because they're Christmas stuff. I want to rip them open soooo bad, but I try to wait. Also, just a thought, next package you send, could you send some sunflower seeds? Just the cracked pepper flavor. It's weird the random things I miss from the United States.
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