From: Elder Joshua Freeman
Subject: A successful week
Date: 12 July 2004 11:46:33 AM EDT

ÁHola!

This past week, we got a lot done, which was really good because today we're going to Encarnaci—n again (Zone Conference) and after that, we're going to Ayolas to do divisions with them, so we won't be back here until Wednesday night, at best. That should be fun. Plus, THANKS CASS!!! for the package, I appreciate it. This week was pretty cold indeed, and I'm pretty sure a couple of times the temperature was in the low 40s (that's REALLY cold here). So that's been fun.

Last Monday night, we went out and dropped by a couple of investigators and inactives. We were going to have a Noche de Hogar with a semi-active family, but they were all sick. So then we went and visited various other members, and tried to visit other people, but they weren't home. Oh well.

On Tuesday morning, we had our District Meeting like normal. After that was over, we went and taught a charla 1, and then we went and ran some quick errands before going to lunch with the Hna. Guicela and her family. In the afternoon, we went to Basilio y Cristina's and read a little from the Liahona (the Ensign) with them. Then we went by Hna. Asunci—n's to go by her friends' again, but she was sick, so we gave her a blessing instead. And then we made some contacts before going by and getting Dany, and taking him with us to Emma's. But she wasn't there either. So we went and met some new people, and then went to Adriana's and read with her from the Libro de Morm—n, something we've started doing. Then we went and got fallar-ed a couple of times, and looked for some references. Then we went to Estela's and finished teaching ch. 2 to Victor. After that, we had to go get our clothes from the Acosta's. Then we went with the other Elders to do a baptismal interview, and that went just fine. 

On Wednesday, we went out and got fallar-ed a few times, but did go out to CŽsar's to read a little with him. And after that, we went and read with Adriana, and then went to the Acosta's for lunch. After that, we helped out their neighbor Alicia, who's also a member, with some English, and then went home and studied. In the afternoon, we went and talked with the Hna. Alejandra (Hno. Acosta's mom) and took her with us to Emma's house, where we read with her and committed her to pray again. After that, we went by Carolina's and set up a cita with her. Then we went looking for a reference that wasn't too interested. Then we went to Estela's and taught the first part of ch. 3 to Victor, which actually went pretty well. And then we went out and had a Noche de Hogar with the Flia. Morel, the ones that live pretty far away. That went pretty well, and after we were done we came home.

On Thursday morning, we tried visiting a lot of people that weren't home, and we ended up visiting the Hna. Balbina, making some contacts, and talking with Hector's dad. At lunch, the other Elders came over to practice a song for the baptism. In the afternoon, we went and taught ch. 6 to Basilio y Cristina, and that went pretty well. After that, we went and read with Adriana, then got fallar-ed a few times before talking with the dad of some members that likes the church but doesn't think he can understand enough to get baptized. And then we went by the Hna. Silva's and shared a little with them and then took a bunch of them to the church for Noche de Rama. We played volleyball and a little soccer and then they all got tired, so we took them home and went back to the church where the youth were having a birthday party for Nicolas (Pte. Berdejo's step-son) and played more volleyball. And then we came home.

On Friday, we went out to CŽsar's and started teaching him ch. 2, but he wasn't paying much attention, so we stopped. We went to Carolina's and we read with her in the Libro de Morm—n. Then we dropped by Emili's real quick before going and reading with Adriana. Then we came home for lunch. In the afternoon, we went and shared a little with Karen, and then the Hna. Asunci—n. Then we went to teach Victor, but he wasn't there, so we went and had a good talk with the Flia. Ben’tez about why it's important to come to church. Then we got fallar-ed a couple of times, and made some contacts, and taught a really good charla 1 to a guy standing in his gateway, but he didn't want to read the Libro de Morm—n. Oh well. After that, we went and talked with an inactive guy who met us on the street the other day, and had a good talk with him. After that, we went by the Hna. Guicela's, where they were having a going away party for Pablo, but we didn't stay long, because we had to come home. 

Saturday was a busy day. We first had to go and get a few things, and the mail. Then we went and finished ch. 3 with Victor, and started ch. 4 as well. Then we went and read with Adriana before going to eat with the Arces. When we got there, they were watching "The Swan Princess" in Spanish. How about that. In the afternoon, we went out to Basilio y Cristina's and read the Family proclamation with them, and that went pretty well. After that, we went and got fallar-ed by a couple of people, and then made some contacts and met a reference from the Hna. Alejandra. Then we went back to the house to make brownies, and then went and met Basilio y Cristina and went to the wedding. His mom and a couple of brothers were there, so that was good, and a couple of friends. Mostly it was the guy talking and people signing stuff. So that was good. After that, we ran by the house and got the brownies, then went to the church for the other Elders' baptism. That went really well, even though it was really cold. After it was over, the (member) family of the girlfriend of the guy that got baptized invited us to a dinner, so we went and ate and then came home. 

On Sunday morning, we went by Basilio y Cristina's and went with them all to church. It was pretty normal, and I was actually kinda surprised at how many people there were since it was so cold. After church, we came home and ate and studied. In the tarde, we had to go back out to the Flia. Arce's because Elder Webb had left his nametag there on Saturday. Then we went with the Hna. Asunci—n to Emma's, and she said she wants to get baptized, even though we haven't taught her even the 2¡ charla yet, and she hasn't been to church. That's good, and we'll see how long it takes to get them all ready. After that, we were riding along and I think I went over a nail, because my back tire went flat. Luckily, we were only like 4 blocks from our house, so we walked home and borrowed our due–o«s bike, and went out and visited the Flia. Arguello's house and set up another Noch de Hogar. Then we went and finished teaching Victor the charla 4, and taught him charla 5. Impressively enough, he paid attention for the whole time, which is quite an accomplishment for him. After that, we went to do a ch. 1 verification from last Sunday, and the kid (he's 15) had read the chapter we marked, and had also read all the way to 1 Ne. 8. So that was good. He said he hadn't gotten an answer to his prayer though, so we talked to him about that. And then we went to Basilio y Cristina's and taught Delia ch. 5. There friends were over to, so that was good. After that, we went to the Acosta's and said goodbye to Pablo and then came home. He left for Asunci—n this morning around 1:00, and he flies to Chile on Wednesday. So that's cool.

And that's the way it is. This Saturday we have Basilio y Cristina's and Delia's and Victor's baptisms, plus the other Elders have a couple of people too, so that will be neat. And we sure have a busy enough week up until then. It should be great.

So yeah, I hope you're all enjoying yourselves and accomplishing a lot. Thanks for everything.

I Love You!!!!

Love,
Josh