From: Elder Joshua Freeman
Subject: A really really long week
Date: 18 October 2004 8:26:06 AM EDT

ĮHola!

This past week took forever. When I think back on last Monday, it seems like it was a really long time ago. In the news, I got changed. Now IÕm in It‡, which is about an hour outside of Asunci—n, as a Zone Leader. So thatÕs exciting, and kind of intimidating. But yeah.

Last Monday night, Elder Saltern and I wrote email and then went and made contacts and taught a pretty good charla 1 to some people we found. That was pretty much it. And we all stayed the night in the Zone LeaderÕs house.

On Tuesday, we had Zone Meeting. That went pretty well, and after it was over, the Hna. Kleven made us some mashed potatoes and toast with gravy. It was really good. Right as we left to come home, it started raining quite a bit, and rained all the way home. When we got home, we unpacked and planned the night, then went and visited the Hna. Nelly and her family. After that, we went and talked with Francisca, and she was going home to the campo on Wednesday, but wanted to take the Libro de Morm—n with her, so we said that was fine with us. After that, we went to Emilce and MiguelÕs, and she made us „oquis. It was pretty good. And after that, we went home.  

Wednesday morning, we got fallar-ed and then went to Tom‡sÕ house and read a little with him. That went okay. Then we went and did a verification, and then went and talked a little with the Flia. Flores, and that went really well. And we had lunch with the Flia. Acosta. We were supposed to find out the changes around 1:30, but the Asistentes still hadnÕt called Elder Christensen, so he said to call at 3:30. We knew one of us was going to go anyway, so we went to Emma and CelsoÕs and said goodbye to them. Then we called Elder Christensen, and he said he still didnÕt know anything but would call us when he did. So then we went to the Hna. Asunci—nÕs, and while we were there Elder Christensen called, and we found out that I was leaving for sure, but we still didnÕt know where, because when you go up as District Leader or Zone Leader or Branch President, you have to call Pte. Gavarret to find out where youÕre going, and he was busy because it was the day that the nuevitos got here. So after that, we went and said goodbye to a lot of people all over the place, and it turned out really well. When we got home, I finished packing and then went to bed.  

On Thursday morning, we went to the terminal and said goodbye to the other Elders (Elder Gilbert and Elder Ryan both stayed, which was quite a surprise). Elder Webb came with me to Asunci—n, and Elders Christensen and Huespe got on the bus too in San Ignacio (Elder Huespe was a local missionary, and he went home again, at least for a few weeks). When we got to Asunci—n, we took a taxi to the office and dropped off our luggage, and then went and ate at McDonaldÕs. Then I had to go to the office for a Zone Leader training by Elder Adcox, and then we had change meeting. We got to see the new Restoration DVD, so that was pretty cool. I got to see Elder Workman, heÕs in Ytoror— now (on the side I wasnÕt on), and he got a nuevito, so that was neat. Anyway, my new companion is Elder Nichols, and heÕs from Orem, and he goes home next change. Ask Kam and Kory and Kali if they know a Jacob Nichols, I think they went to the same high school. In any case, we came home, and the taxi driver got lost a couple of times, but we got home alright. We visited a family where the wife and son and grandma got baptized recently, and weÕre working on the dad. Then we went and met some inactives, and some other members before we came home and I unpacked, etc.

On Friday morning, we had to go back in to Asunci—n, because there was a satellite broadcast from the Mission Department for Zone Leaders and APs about the new ŅPreach My GospelÓ materials that weÕre going to be getting hopefully this week so that we can learn everything and then teach everyone else. ItÕs going to be a little hectic while we make the transition (weÕre going to start in November). After that, we came home and ate and studied. In the afternoon, Elder Nichols had to get his bike fixed (oh yeah, our area used to be two areas, but because of a lack of missionaries, they combined them a few months ago and gave us bikes) so we went and saw the new chapel that is being built. ItÕs supposed to be done in November, but chapels here are notorious for not being done when theyÕre supposed to. Anyway, after that, we went and visited the Flia. Vega, an inactive family. Then we went and met some other members and investigators. We had a charla with a guy named Guido, who just got baptized on Wednesday. His wife and her family are members already, and we talked with him about the gift of the Holy Ghost. After that, he took us in his truck to our next cita, but we got fallar-ed, so we came home.  

On Saturday, we went and talked with the Flia. Gimˇnez (the first ones I met on Thursday). The parents are Catalina and Fidel, and their kids are Federico (whoÕs baptized), Steven, Cristian, Karen and Carolina. We gave Fidel the 3» charla, and that went without a hitch. We committed him to be baptized the 30¼ of this month, so thatÕs good. After that, we went and met the family of a member girl who recently moved here from Lambarˇ, and then went to the Flia. Fern‡ndezÕs for lunch. TheyÕre the family of GuidoÕs wife. That was pretty good, but right as we were about to leave, it started raining really hard, so we hung around until it slowed down. It‡ is pretty different from Pilar in that Pilar is totally flat, and Pilar is a lot of up-and-down hills. So all the roads turned into rivers, and we got completely wet anyway on the way home. In the afternoon, we went and visited Clides and Milciades, who recently got baptized. They have two little girls too, but I donÕt remember their names. But anyway, we had a little visit with them, and then went and had Correlation Meeting with Javier, our mission leader. ItÕs really nice having a mission leader and branch missionaries. After that, we went and did verifications with a couple other investigators, and then went to the Flia. GarridoÕs. TheyÕre members, and have 8 kids, and the dadÕs inactive. We went there because their son Leo turned 17 yesterday, and Saturday was Elder NicholsÕ birthday, so we had a little party of sorts. And then we came home. 

On Sunday morning the time changed to (or from, I donÕt know) Daylight Savings. Church was pretty normal, and the confirmation of Guido went fine, as were all the meetings. After church, we came home and ate and studied. In the afternoon, we did divisions with Javier and Leo, and I went with Javier and we taught new member charlas to Catalina and her mom and two other girls, Lila and Victoria, that also recently got baptized and a guy named Eusebio. And we also got fallar-ed a couple times. Then we met up again with the others and un-divided. We went to talk to one of the counsellors in the District Presidency, whose wife isnÕt a member and really doesnÕt want to be. It was an interesting visit. After that, we came home and planned and stuff.

So, that was it. IÕm pretty excited to be here, and so far it seems like a really neat area. Tomorrow at Zone Meeting weÕll meet the rest of the zone. That should be fun. Thanks for everything, and weÕll talk to you all next week.

I Love You All!!

Love,
Josh