January 11, 2011 - Letter Home

Another Bend in the River


Yello! We're in the middle of January already! It's another P-day! We have a baptism coming up! The transfer's nearing the end already! I'm eating alot of peanut butter! We are teaching new cool people! I had a division in another city! I heard somebody get shot in the apartment I was sleeping in! My companion is awesome! Chimarrao is still awesome! Tereré is getting to be even MORE awesome! So many things are happening!

Alright, so let's get to business. Andrielle is coming along great, we got to meet her family, we will visit them tonight. They are an obviously elect family. The mom maybe needs a little more work but I'm convinced her two siblings, Rochelle and Roger will take the road to being baptized. This just shows that we are not alone in the work. Me and Cazeau can suffer it out and have a bunch of difficulties finding and teaching people, but suddenly these elect people just show up. It means that we just have to focus on doing our best and the work WILL go forward. What a comforting concept!

This has also proved true again as we found Luciani at a store selling Gaucho clothing. Apparently she's known the missionaries for forever because all the missionaries want to buy Gaucho clothing and she has invited them to come over but nobody every did. So we did! And we taught the first two discussions and she listened intently! She also welled up with tears and told us that she knew it was true! Her husband may not be ready, but we are excited to teach her and her daughter Barbara.

I went to Gaujuviras on a division this week with Elder Gibby, who's from my district in the CTM. It was great to hang out with him! He is my LZ. He (tried) to teach me how to do magic, bought me icecream, we played UNO, and then in the middle of the night BAM BAM BAM - seven gunshots from the apartment down the hall! We sat silent for what seemed forever, trying to hear if anything else would happen. After like 10 minutes (seemed like forever) this woman next door starts just absolutely wailing. Man, I don't want to hear that noise ever again. I can still hear it a bit. Eearg... 
But when she started crying, the apartment just wakes up and we hear everybody coming outside of their apartments, people running around, doors opening and closing. Me and Elder Gibby wisely stayed inside, just listening. We heard the police show up and an ambulance come screaming down the road and we couldn't sleep until like 2 hours later when everything somewhat slowed down. Yep, someone went down. Probably drug-related. Very sad. But I had a sigh of releif when I came back here in Esteio. It's more surburban-y here. But that was interesting!

I'm loving the package and unlike last Christmas, am savoring it contents peice by peice. My favorite thing so far is the peanut butter! It's a delicacy! Wow! I love it so much. Reeses are also great. I especially liked Kaitlin's Japanese candy! And I wear my elf hat throughout all my study time! I find the lack of circulation to my head caused by the hat makes me have strange visions. :P

I left my camera in a members house and will go get it later today. 
Downside? No photos... :(

My companion is awesome. He's a champ. It's good to have somebody that wants to learn how to teach and wants to help you to learn too. Honestly, it's been a little humbling because I think he's got alot of talents that I don't yet, even though I'm senior, but I'm learning to swallow that and just take advantage of his excitedness. It's good.

Anyway, I love you guys so much and wish I had more news and photos and stuff. I find that, maybe a little too much, my thoughts are drifting to the city and all the great things waiting for me there. I've gotta watch the day-dreaming. But it's pretty cool to imagine drifting on the streets and exploring the city with each one of you guys individually. And together as a family. It's fun to think about working and studying there. I'm pretty excited for the high-energy environment. Mom, what about community college?

The work is going forward. I'm learning new things every day. The time is going fast and I'm scared of that. I can remember companions that I had that had the same time in the mission that I have now, and I can remember them going home. Strange? Yes.

Is Nick setting off for his journey yet? I'm so excited! I can't wait to hear his stories and experiences too. I got their family letter. I loved their letters (but Zach's was especially cool, thanks Zach!) I liked hearing about Jeff too! One more new cousin to get to meet later on! I love you all so much! Have a good week! Be happy and keep going! Everything will turn out right if we merely do what we're supposed to.

Love love love,

Elder Con