From: Elder Joshua Freeman
Subject: Gettin' in the groove
Date: 25 October 2004 1:14:59 PM EDT

ĮHola!

This past week was pretty normal, I guess. Kinda getting into the whole groove of things. 

Last Monday night, we went and visited the Flia. Vega. They werenÕt expecting us yet because they hadnÕt turned their clocks ahead, but it was still a good visit.  After that, we tried visiting a couple other people and talked to a couple other members before coming home.

On Tuesday morning, the Asistentes came and dropped off the new ŅPreach My GospelÓ manuals for everyone, so we looked at those before Zone Meeting to be able to talk to everyone about them. We also got new Agendas, which are for 6 weeks (before they were just for 1 week). TheyÕre pretty fancy. Anyway, we had Zone Meeting and that was pretty normal. The other areas are Paraguar’, Yaguar—n, Villeta and Guarambarˇ. ThereÕs only one companionship in each place, and thereÕs another couple, The Karns, that live in Asunci—n, but Elder Karn is the Branch President of Guarambarˇ, and his wife is a doctor. But they werenÕt there. WeÕre the smallest Zone in the mission. But yeah, after the meetings, we ate lunch at a restaurant across the street, and then came home and studied and planned. In the afternoon, we went to the Flia. G—mezÕ house (Lila and VictoriaÕs family, they have another brother, Enzo, whoÕs also a member) and talked to their sister Ruth. She talked to the missionaries before but never got baptized, so we talked about everything and set a baptismal date with her for the 20¼ of November. So that was good. After that, we went and talked to some investigators, Daniel y Lourdes, that have a little empanada place. Then we passed by EusebioÕs and set up an appointment with them, and then went and visited the Flia. Largosta. The dad used to be the branch president, but now theyÕre inactive. We set up a cita with them to show the Restoration DVD, because we recently got it. After that, we got fallar-ed, so we visited a couple other members and then came home. 

On Wednesday, we went to FidelÕs house and found out that he had to go on a trip for his work, and they werenÕt sure when he would be back. After that, we tried visiting a couple other people with no luck. Then we went and met the son of the Flia. Vega, heÕs inactive and has a couple of kids, but we met his ŅwifeÓ and taught her the first charla. Then on our way back, we went by Cristi‡n y Mar’aÕs. They were going to get baptized, but he got a lot of pressure from his family (except his brother Milciades (who I met last Saturday))  and didnÕt stop drinking. But weÕre still going to work with them. We had lunch with the Flia. L—pez, who are inactives. And then we came home. In the afternoon, we went out to a pretty far place and visited the Flia. Amarilla, who are members, well, the dad and a daughter. After that, we visited the Flia. Estigarribia, a part-member family, and taught the first charla to the dad and a daughter. That went pretty well. After that, we got fallar-ed a couple of times, and visited the Flia. Girrado and the Flia. Olmedo (EusebioÕs family). Then we went to some other investigators, Vidal y Editha, and read with them. Then we went by the capilla to talk to the Branch President and then came home. 

On Thursday morning, we Then we went and talked with Steven, one of the GimˇnezÕ, heÕs 17. That went pretty well, and he should get baptized with his dad. After that, we passed by a couple other people and then came home and made lunch. In the afternoon, Javier came with us to teach the ch. 2 to Ruth. That went fine. After that, we went and met an old investigator named Lino and taught him the ch. 1. Then we talked with a couple inactives, and got fallar-ed more. Also, E. NicholsÕ back wheel broke, so we walked around and made some contacts and talked with the Flia. Talboada (Miriam and her two teenage kids Tatiana and Carlos) and the Flia. Mattesich (Guido, the guy that got confirmed on Sunday, his wife and two little girls, and his wife is MiriamÕs sister). They live right next to each other. That went really well, and when we were done, Guido took us to our house and we left the bikes and went and visited the Flia. Caballero (the dad and 3 sons got baptized recently, but the mom no. And thereÕs two little girls). And then we went home.

On Friday morning, we had to go back in to Asunci—n for a capacitation about the new informes (IÕm not sure what that is in English, but the reports we have to fill out) that we are going to be using with the new program. That was interesting. When it was done, we came home. We took Elder NicholsÕ bike to get fixed and and went and met some other investigators, and dropped by the new chapel to talk with the Branch President, then went and visited the Flia. Estigarribia. We read with them from the Book of Mormon and invited them to church. After that, we got fallar-ed by a guy we met a couple days ago, and then went and talked to another old investigator. He had been drinking, so we didnÕt stay long. After that, we went to Vidal y EdithaÕs and read with him, then went by JavierÕs house to borrow the DVD player, and then went with him to the Flia. LargostaÕs to watch it. It was really good, and you could tell it refreshed their testimonies a bit, and they all came to church on Sunday except for the dad and the oldest son. That was the last thing of the night. 

On Saturday, we went and looked for a couple of references, and then went and talked to Steven y Cristian Gimˇnez. We mostly answered their questions. After that, we went to the market thatÕs here and I met the wife of a family that was about to get baptized, but the husband went to Argentina to work. HeÕs supposed to be back in December. And after that, we went and lunch with the Flia. Fern‡ndez. In the afternoon, we went by the chapel, and they were putting on the steeple, so we watched for a bit. It was neat. After that, we went to the capilla (the one weÕre using now) and had Correlation with Javier and Federico (the oldest son of the GimˇnezÕ, he was the first one in his family to get baptized) and while we were there, it started raining a lot. So we waited for it to slow down, took the bikes home, and then went with Federico to a couple of his friendsÕ houses, but they werenÕt home. So we went to LinoÕs and talked to him about the Apostasy and Restoration, but I donÕt think he quite got it yet. Then we went to the Flia. VegaÕs and watched the Restoration DVD with them, and that went well. Except the dad, whoÕs the most inactive, didnÕt watch. After that, we dropped by RuthÕs and then went and talked with the Flia. Caballero, and then we came home.  

On Sunday, we had church, and that was pretty normal. After the meetings, we came home and ate and studied. In the afternoon, Fidel was supposed to be home, but he still wasnÕt back yet, so we answered more questions that Steven and Cristian had. Then we got fallar-ed a couple times, and then went and talked to some other inactives before coming home and planning. 

So, that was it. This morning, we all went to Yaguar—n and played soccer. It was pretty fun. This week is looking to be pretty normal. Being Zone Leader is like being District Leader, with similar responsibilities, but a lot more of them. So itÕs not too different, but it is.

Hey Mom, ask Elder Grandstaff if he knows a Ryan Worthen (he was in Ayolas and now heÕs in the office). HeÕs from Kayesville. Also, in that package, could you send me another pair of those insoles? Thanks for everything. Catch you later.

I Love You Guys!!

Love,
Josh