From: Elder Joshua Freeman
Subject: I got one!
Date: 17 May 2004 3:37:25 PM EDT

ÁHola!

Mba'e la porte? That's how you say How's it going in Guaran’. Just so you guys know. This week was mostly cloudy and rainy, but now it's pretty clear. Anyway, things are going well here. We went fishing today in the Paraguay River without poles, just lines, sinkers and hooks. We had a couple of kids from the rama help us out a little. I actually got one. It wasn't very big, but I was pretty proud of myself, seeing as how only 2 other people caught one, and they weren't any bigger. Plus I finally got my package this week. Thanks Mom! It was perfect. Yeah. But on to the week.

On Monday night, we visited a couple of our investigators, and then went and had a FHE with the Formiglis. It was pretty fun, and the Hna. made us empanadas. They were pretty good.

On Tuesday morning, we had our meetings like normal. After that we ate lunch and studied, and then went out and did a ch. 1 verification. The person had actually read, so that's always a plus. Unfortunately, we didn't have as much time as we would have liked to talk with her about it, because we had to go meet the Zone Leaders for to do divisions. I went with Elder Adcox to their side, and they had a few citas planned, but we didn't teach any of them. However, we did find a couple of families that we taught charla 1s to. So that was good. After that, we met the other Elders, and the Hna. Romero and her daughter at Nimia's house, because she wanted to make dinner for Elder Allred, since he's leaving. (He goes home this Friday).

On Wednesday morning, we went and we talked to Jorge. And after that, we talked to a few other people, and then we had lunch with the Ram’rezs. Right after that, we went and had interviews at the oficina. They actually started early, which was weird, because they're usually late. We had to stay there and wait until the end because a few people wanted to go buy shoes. We went to some mall to do it. It was weird, because it was a normal mall. But anyway, after that, we went to the church for Consejo de Rama, but no one showed up except for Presidente, so we just talked with him about our investigators. And then some police gave us a ride on the way home. I don't know why.

On Thursday morning, we did a lot of walking around and getting fallar-ed and finding new people. Not too fun. Then we had lunch at a restaurant with the other Elders and talked a little about our investigators with them. In the afternoon, we had charla 5 with Nimia, and it went well. So that was good. After that though, we got fallar-ed a lot all the way until 8:00, when we had charla 4 with AndrŽs. Pte. Borba was there as well, and everything went well. So that was nice.

Friday (the 14¡ of May), was Independence Day here. But it's not even a big holiday. It was weird. On Friday morning, we went out and met more new people. It was a hoot. And we went and visited the Hna. Irene. Then we had lunch and came home and studied. In the afternoon, we tried to talk to a whole bunch of people, but they weren't home. Then we went to Nimia's, and we planned her baptism with her. It's this Thursday. So that will be cool. After that, we went with them to Republicano to see a baptism, but there was some problem with the pipes, and it got postponed until this week. So that was not fun. After that, we went to the church for Noche de Rama, but almost nobody was there. In any case, we went and got something to eat and then went home.

On Saturday morning, we went buscaring again, and we talked a little bit to Carlos. Then we went to the Laneri's and had lunch with them. After that, we went and talked with a couple of different investigators and read a little with them. After that, we went and met the other Elders, and we went to Puerto Pabla, which is about a 15 minute bus ride away, and is a pretty big Barrio. We went there because they had a Mother's Day presentation (Mother's Day is the 15¡ here) and we sang. So that was fun. When we got back, we went to Sandra and Ediberto's and shared a little with them, and then came home.

On Sunday morning, we went to the church like normal. It was a little cold, so there were less people than normal, but it still went well. After that, we had lunch with the Sanabrias, and then we came home and studied a little. In the afternoon, we did one verification and re-commit to read and pray, and then we tried talking to a whole bunch of people that weren't home. After that, we went to Nimia y Noelia's, and her son and his girlfriend were there as well, and we taught them all the charla 6. It went really well. And after that, we went by AndrŽs' because he didn't come to church. He was sick. And then we went home and studied.

So that's it. We've got Nimia's baptism this Thursday, which will be neat. And so we're having a good time. Thanks for everything, and we'll talk to you next week.

I Love You All!!

Love,
Josh