From: Elder Joshua Freeman
Subject: So basically, the Army guy just came and picked us up
Date: 6 November 2003 9:46:36 AM EST

ÁHola!

It's been some wild times since last Monday. For reasons I will explain later, we didn't get our P-Day on Monday, so we're taking it today. And it's a good thing.

So last week, we asked our Elders Quorum President if he would take us out to Mbocayaty for the Zone Activity. So we got there pretty late, and asked around if anyone had seen missionaries around, and no one had. So we called the Zone Leaders and they kindly informed us that they weren't coming. I'm not sure if they figured we would just innately know that or what. But we went anyway, just us four, and it was way fun.  There was a lot more water this time, due to the recent rain. But yeah, it was fun.

On Tuesday, we missed the bus to Zone Meeting, so we were a little late. But we didn't miss too much. When we came back, we went to find some references. After that, we went to teach a family a first charla, and it went awesome! That was nice for a change; they seemed really excited. So then we went and visited a member, then Vicente, then on the way home, we saw a couple of the other Elderes' recent converts at a birthday party of their uncle and they made us sit down and have cake and sing. So we got home pretty late. Sometimes things just turn out that way.

On Wednesday morning, we went trying to teach first discussions to people we met last week, but they weren't any of them home. So we visited a couple members before coming home to have lunch with Alcides and Irle. We thought the other Elderes were coming, but they didn't realize they were invited due to some faulty communication skills on the part of all. After studying and stuff, we went to try and teach more first charlas, but once again, people weren't home. Then we went and played volleyball with a member and a reference family she has for us. That was fun. After that, we went and visited a couple more people before coming home. 

On Thursday morning, we left early to Oviedo for Zone Conference. It was really good. The power went out a couple times in the middle, which didn't surprise anyone that's ever had a meeting there. I got a jar of dulce de leche (it's kind of like caramel. I've heard you can make it by putting a can of condensed milk in water and boiling it for like 3 hours. But the point is that it tastes good) for my birthday, and our District got 2¡ place again in the Jeopardy game. The Gavarrets spoke a couple times, and the Zone Leaders and APs spoke to. It was really good, I learned a lot. After Conference, President Gavarret took us (the Villarrican Elders) aside and asked us a favor. He said that there were some doctors coming from Salt Lake to do a medical thing with the Paraguayan Army out in smaller towns out in the country, and that they needed our help translating from the 3¡ to the 12¡. He told us that our numbers (teaching numbers) would be terrible, and good luck with the Guaran’. And we said sure. Then we had to run home (not literally) to do the graduation for English Class. But first, Elder Adcox and I had to go home and get some brownies we made, then go get the certificates, then sign them. But it went well, some students brought other treats to eat and drink, and we played a couple of games antes. Before. So, that was fun times. Then we were going to show a video to the family from Tuesday, but no one was home and I think their Grandma hates us, because she's always very emphatic about telling us to leave when we go by and the family's not there. So, we went to Vicente's house instead and talked with him about the Priesthood. That was nice.

On Friday morning, we went out and visited members. One of the old lady members of the ward has been asking us to pray for her son to grow closer to the church (he's about 20 and inactive a few years), and lo and behold, we went to their house and he told us he was coming to Noche de Rama and church on Sunday. So that was neat. In the afternoon, we had some charlas fall through, and it started raining, so we went and visited the closest inactives for a little bit until it stopped. Then we visited a couple more people before going to Noche de Rama. It had stopped raining, so we wiped off the court and played volleyball and soccer. It was fun. Too bad the mail didn't come.

But not TOO bad, because it came on Saturday. But we didn't get it until Sunday. But there were no letters, I guess the Pouch didn't come again. But I did get your package Mom. And I already opened it. So thanks a whole lot. But you said you sent 2 packages of notebook paper, and there was only one. I bet the office Elders took one. You never know about them office Elders. But anyway, back to Saturday. We had a charla with Roque, and we talked about praying because he never wants to do it for us because he says it doesn't salir bien. Ummm... I'm having a tough time remembering what the English would be, I guess that it doesn't turn out right. But anyway, we were talking about it, and it was like a light-bulb went off in his head, and he all of a sudden wanted to do it. So that was neat.

Awww man... This email place is going to close in a few minutes for the siesta (almost the whole town shuts down for like 2 hours in the afternoon to take a nap. Every day.) so we'll have to come back later.

So I'll just send this right now, and we'll probably be back later, and I'll send you the sequel. Should be later today, but if not, then next week.

So yeah, thanks again Mom for the package. Thanks for the email pictures, that's pretty funny stuff. How did Grant get so incredibly large all of a sudden? Anyways, I guess I'll talk to you later.

I Love You All!!!

Love,
Your brother/son,
Josh