From: Elder Joshua Freeman
Subject: Happy Thanksgiving Week
Date: 29 November 2004 11:39:05 AM EST

ÁHola!

HowÕs everybody doing? This week was chock-full of all sorts of stuff. Which is what it sounds like everyone who was involved with New York's week was like. My new companion is Elder Lloyd. HeÕs from Farmington (Salt Lake) and he goes home next change (which is the 31st of December). Also, he was also trained by Elder Bott, but 3 changes before I was, and in Caaguazœ. How about that.

On Monday night, we had to go to Paraguar’ to do a baptismal interview. ItÕs about a 45 minute ride to the south. The girl that was getting baptized lives on an Army base, which was kinda far away, but there were a few soldiers going by in a little bus, and they gave us a ride. The base was really nice, and pretty big. The entrevista went fine, and after we were done with that, we talked to another member lady that also lives out there. Then we had to walk a ways back to the highway and Elder Marshall and I had to wait for more than an hour for a really crowded bus and stood up smashed all the way home. We finally got home around 10:30 and went right to bed. 

On Tuesday morning, we had our Zone Meeting like normal. Elder Marshall taught the district meeting lesson for me, and I had to do everything else myself. It was interesting. After the meeting we went and ate and found out the changes. The only other change in the zone is that Elder Marshall went up to District Leader and he got a local missionary, a member that just comes for 6 weeks. In the afternoon, we went to Villeta with Elders Carter and Smith to do a baptismal interview, and after that worked a little in their area, and then came home. That was it.

On Wednesday, we worked here in It‡ for the morning. We went by BlasÕ house and then went to the Flia. Mart’nez and had a good lesson with them. After that, we went and talked to another family about the Book of Mormon. Their daughter is a member. Then we came home and studied a little before going to Asunci—n to eat lunch and go to change meeting. There were a lot of big changes, with 6 new Zone Leaders and two new Asistentes. So there are 4 now, but two go home at the end of December. Anyway, after change meeting, Elder Lloyd and I came back here and he unpacked a little, and we went to the capilla for Consejo de Rama and talked with Pte. Silvero and a few other members. 

On Thursday morning, it rained really hard. Luckily, we didnÕt have to be out in it because we had Concilio. But the streets in Asunci—n were all flooded, which is what happens every time it rains hard. So we took a taxi the last few blocks to the office so that we wouldnÕt have to try and cross the street. Hey, that reminds me. Mom, you know your van ride in New York? ThatÕs how the traffic always is here. ItÕs crazy. But anyway, Concilio went pretty well. The best part was that we got to eat in the mission home, and the Hna. Gavarret (and her maid) made turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy and it was all really good. Also, I met their son Iv‡n, who just got back from his mission in Chile. Yeah. Anyway, by the time we were done, there wasnÕt a cloud in the sky. ThatÕs how it is a lot. In any case, we came home and had to get Elder LloydÕs bike adjusted a little. Then we got fallar-ed a couple of times and taught a Lesson 1 to a family that Elder Nichols and I found, the Flia. Ayala. That went pretty well. After that, we went to the Flia. TaboadaÕs house and met them, and were going to talk to Guido, but he got home late from work. So then we came home. 

On Friday morning, we had to go to GuarambarŽ to do an entrevista bautismal. That went well. After that, we came back and met a couple of members, then had lunch and came home. In the afternoon, we went and talked with Ruth, the Hno. Mor‡n, the Flia. Mart’nez, and the Flia. Vega. Those all went well, and after that, we came home to get the mail from Javier. Mom, my package still didnÕt come. So, yeah. After that, we went and talked to an old investigator, then went to the Flia. MattesichÕs again, but Guido ended up working really late. So then we came home.

On Saturday, it rained again, so we walked all day. We went and shared with the Flia. Quintana and talked about the Atonement. Then we went to the Flia. OlmedoÕs and taught them a lesson 1 again but as members this time. Then we went and had lunch with the Flia. Fern‡ndez. In the afternoon, we had Correlation meeting and choir practice, but nobody came, which was too bad because Elder Lloyd plays the piano, so we actually had accompaniment. After that, we went with Javier to his house and talked to Martina about baptism. Then we went and did a verification with the Flia. Ayala from Thursday, and they had read but not prayed. After that, we went to do a verification from a couple of weeks ago, with the Flia. Paredes. The wife wasnÕt there the first time, so we went over the 1» lesson again and it went really well, and they were pretty excited to read. So thatÕs always nice. After that, we went and talked a little with the Flia. Caballero, and then we came home.

Sunday morning was pretty normal, except I guess since it rained Saturday lots of people didnÕt come. I know, it doesnÕt make sense to me either. After the meetings, we dropped by the house and then went to the Flia. TaboadaÕs for lunch. That was pretty good. After that, we had a meeting with the District Presidency talking about new mission stuff and special activities weÕll be having in December. Then we came home and studied. Later, we went to the Flia. VegaÕs and taught a lesson to one of their friends, but he doesnÕt want to let go of the virgin Mary. ThatÕs always a shame. After that, we went and talked to Lino a little, then went and talked to the Flia. Maldonado for a little bit. After that, we went to the Flia. QuintanaÕs and talked to them about the Libro de Morm—n. Then we came home and planned and stuff.

Today, everyone came in and we played soccer in the morning. It was pretty fun. Now weÕre going to take it easy. 

And thatÕs the way it is. Things are going well here and IÕm having a lot of fun and learning a lot about life, people, etc. ItÕs great. WeÕll talk to you all next week.

I Love You All!!!!

Love,
Josh