From: Elder Joshua Freeman
Subject: Whoa, what just happened?!?!
Date: 24 May 2004 10:36:54 AM EDT

ÁHola!

A lot of things happened this week, big things. However, instead of telling you all right now, you'll just have to read on and find out as I go along. It'll be funner that way.

To start out, on Monday, we had a charla with one of our investigators about the Libro de Morm—n. Then we went to Nimia y Noelia's and started a review of all the charlas. They both remembered practically everything, so there were no problems there, which was good.

On Tuesday morning, we had Elder Allred's lsat Zone Meeting, so we took a few pictures, but other than that it was normal. After that, we went and ate lunch, then came home and studied. In the afternoon, we did divisions with Elders Allred and Adcox, and Elder Allred came with me. We got fallar-ed a couple of times, and we visited the Hna. Romero. Then we went to Nimia's and did her baptismal interview. That went fine, without any problems. After that, we went to meet the other Elders, and then Elder Workman and I came back and we taught ch. 5 to AndrŽs and his family. That went well as well. And then we came home.

On Wednesday morning, we went with the other Elders and cleaned the baptismal font, since it hasn't been used since October. It's and outside one like in Ytoror—. That took a while as it was pretty dirty. After that, we went home and changed and then went and had lunch with the Flia. Ram’rez. That was pretty fun. After that, we went to Nimia and Noelia's and finished up the review of the charla, and she had no problems. After that, we went out and talked to various people and invited them to the baptism. On Wednesday night, the rama did a "surprise" despedida (going away party) for Elder Allred, but it wasn't a surprise because several people mentioned it to him on Sunday. But anyway, it was fun, and we had a little talent show and refreshments and stuff. And then we came home.

On Thursday morning, we went out and visited a little with Jorge, and then went to the church to turn on a little heater that Pte. Borba has for the water (since it's fall and outside). Then we went and got fallar-ed a little, and then went and had a good talk with Carlos about the importance of finding out that the Libro de Morm—n is true. Then we came home and ate and studied. In the afternoon, we went out inviting more people to the baptism. Then we needed some stuff from a room in the capilla that we don't have the key for, so we had to contact the Zone Leaders and do divisions to be able to get everything to work out. So I went with Elder Adcox to their side, and we had a charla with a really cool family that they found a couple of weeks ago, and that will be getting baptized in a couple of weeks. And after that, we went with them to the capilla. The baptism went really well-even though there weren't too many people there. But it was really a good service. Plus, without us knowing, the Relief Society president made a big nice cake, and also gave Nimia a hymnbook, a triple combination, and a bible. So that was cool and unexpected. After everything was done, we went out to eat a Lomito Arabe, which is like a fajita. And that's where things got crazy. Okay, going back a few months, remember how I think I mentioned that Elder Bybee was in the army before? Well if I didn't, he was. And when he came on his mission he got a special release thing to be able to come. But they called him back. So Pte. Gavarret called to tell us that he would be going home with Elder Allred. And to tell us that I would be going to take his place (he was District Leader in Pilar (which is in the south, and is in Zona 6)). On Saturday. So that was a bit of a shock, let me tell you. So we went home and I didn't sleep too much.

But I was pretty much over it by Friday morning, and it was pretty much just like it was a normal change. Anyway, on Friday morning, we to the other Elders' house to say goodbye to Elder Allred, and then we came home and I started packing. We were going to do divisions with Elder Saxton and Elder Fern‡ndez today, but when they came over, we told them what happened. After a while, we left, and I went and told Nimia and Noelia, and the Hna. Romero and her grandkids. Then we went and picked up a few things from the supermercado, and came home and I mostly finished packing. Then in the afternoon, we went out and I said goodbye to some other members, and investigators. Then we went to the church for Noche de Rama. There weren't a lot of people there, which was too bad, but we had a little song and spiritual thought and stuff, and then we just hung out. After that, we went by and said goodbye to AndrŽs and his family, and went back and said goodbye to Elder Adcox and his new companion (a local missionary). 

On Saturday morning, I finished packing up and everything, and we went by Nimia's one more time, because she made me some lunch to take with me. Then we went home and waited until the APs came. They brought Elder Workman's new companion (a local), and my new companion, Elder Borja. He was in Oviedo the whole time I was in Villarrica, and he finishes his mission in August, or somewhere around there. And he's from Luque (which is a little north of Asunci—n, in the north mission). Anyway, the APs took us to the bus terminal, and we left. To get to Pilar from Asunci—n takes about 5 and a half hours. It's one of the farther areas of the mission. We got here around 2:00, and I unpacked, and then we went and met people. We have a couple of baptisms coming up the 5¼ of June, so that's nice. After meeting various people, we came home. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, our area is really big, so we andamos por bici. Which is to say, we have bikes. So I'm accustoming myself to that (less in the legs than in the seat). But yeah.

Sunday, we had District Conference. There are 2 ramas here in Pilar, and there are also ramas in San Ignacio, which is a couple hours closer to Asunci—n, and Ayolas, which is another 2 hours from that (but not towards Asunci—n). The other Elders here are Tippets and Garaguso (he's from Argentina), and then in Ayolas, the other Elder Payne (that didn't come with me) and Elder Worthen, and in San Ignacio, Elder Bell, and Elder Kennington (who is the Pte. de Rama there). So they all came in for the conference, as did Pte. and Hna. Gavarret. The conference was pretty good, and afterwards we talked a little with the other missionaries. We (our district) usually only go to District and Zone Meeting once a change (as opposed to once a week), and when someone has a baptism interview to do, I get to go do it. So I think I'll be spending a lot of time on the bus while I'm here. Anyway, after the conference, we came home and ate and studied. Then we went out and visited a part-member family that lives pretty far away. And we taught a charla 1 to a guy whose son they talked to before. And we visited with Cristina, who lives with a recent convert and is getting baptized the 5¼, along with the convert lady's daughter. And we went and visited another recent convert, Nelli, and her daughter Sonia. Elder Workman baptized Nelli (he started his mission here). We have a guy in the Rama who's going to Chile on his mission in June, and he went with us to both citas. His name's Pablo. Anyway, after that, we came home and studied, etc.

So, that's the way it is. Pilar is in the southeast, next to the river again, on the border with Argentina. I've more or less settled in now, and Elder Borja is a pretty cool guy, so we should be able to do a lot. As’ es. That's it from here.

Talk to you all next week. Thanks for everything!!

I Love you Guys!!!

Love,
Josh