From: Elder Joshua Freeman
Subject: I just want to work in my area
Date: 23 May 2005 3:14:13 PM EDT

ĮHola!

This past week was insane. We didnÕt have very much time to actually work in our own area, so when we did, we really had to take advantage of it. We had the baptism of Ysidro and Isabel on Saturday, and that went really well. We also did a lot of baptismal interviews, which was a big part of the reason that we didnÕt have any time to work. Plus, this weekend, it got really cold, so it looks like winter is actually going to start, even though there wasnÕt really any fall. And the hot air on our air conditioner doesnÕt work. But weÕve got enough blankets. But yeah.

On Monday night, they took us to the Portal del Sol hotel, which is where we stayed my first night in the country. But this time, we stayed in a lot nicer room, and it was just Elders Oliveira, Edwards, and me. It was pretty nice, with hot water heaters and everything. So, yeah. We went to bed.

On Tuesday morning, we got up and ate the continental breakfast in the hotel. It was pretty good. Then the oficinistas came and got us and we just studied in the office in the morning. Then we went and ate lunch at McDonaldÕs, and by then, the rest of our Zones got there. So then we all went back to the capilla and waited for the conference to start. The Gavarrets talked to us, and the Sister Christofferson talked about increasing our faith. Then Elder Christofferson talked to us and answered some questions. It was really good. Right after the conference ended, all of us (it was Zones 7-10) had to round up our stuff and go to the bus terminal. We ate a little, then came home. It was a pretty uneventful trip, except as we were going through San Lorenzo, Elder Oliveira saw some of his friends. It was at a stoplight. That would be weird. But in any case, we came home and went to bed.

On Wednesday, we had our Correlation Meeting with Julio (our mission leader) and the Hermanas Curtis and G—mez. That was normal. Afterwards, we, the Americans, taught our companions English with the new program that all of the Latin missionaries now have. Then a couple from Rama 3 came to get their baptismal interviews. Their names are Ever and Daisy, and theyÕre really cool. TheyÕre some of the most changed people and the most excited for their baptism that IÕve ever seen. So that was good. After that, we came home and ate and studied a little. After that, we had to go to the capilla in Rama 3, which is a rented house, to do another interview for a lady named Feliciana. But Elder Oliveira did that one. After that, we came home and tried talking to of a couple of investigators and inviting people to Daisy and EverÕs baptism, which was going to be Saturday but got changed to Wednesday because of some people that were traveling and stuff like that. Usually thereÕs much more time between the interviews and the baptism. But we went and it went pretty well. TheyÕre awesome people. After that, we went with Pte. Delgado and his family and visited the Flia Fern‡ndez, and Pte gave the Hna Elisa a packet of books and stuff that all of the new members get now. Then we shared a little with them and came home.

On Thursday morning, Elder Webb (heÕs in Villarrica, heÕs the District Leader there) and his nuevito Elder Wells came to do Isabel and YsidroÕs baptismal interviews. Those went just fine. That took up all morning, so after that, they went home and we came home and had lunch and studied. In the afternoon, we Went and talked with an investigator named Carlos Nu–ez, and we read the introduction of the Libro de Morm—n with him. After that, we did a verification with a girl named Carmen that we taught a lesson 1 to last week. She had read and prayed and felt good, so that was good. She said she would come to the baptism, but didnÕt. But anyway, we then talked to her neighbor Enrique, and we reviewed MoroniÕs promise with him. After that, we got fallar-ed, and we were going to go to another investigatorÕs house, but then Elder Oliveira stopped and decided to go visit an investigator that lives in the opposite direction. And on the way there, a guy on a bike came up and talked to us, and said he always wanted us to come to his house and talk with him. So of course, we did. His nameÕs Osvaldo, and he and his wife Elba have 3 boys, ages 15, 13 and 9. So we taught them a lesson 1, and it went really well. But he had to travel over the weekend, so they didnÕt come to church. So then, we went and visited a less-active family, the Flia Soley. They have 6 kids, ages 12 to a few months. We shared a little with them, and then visited their neighbor, Reinaldo. HeÕs Brazilian, and doesnÕt speak Spanish very well. But we talked a little with him, then went to the church for Noche de Rama. That went pretty well. Right as we were about to leave, though, it started to rain really hard, but it was already late, so we just came home anyway (itÕs about 6 or 7 blocks). So we got completely soaked. Oh well. 

On Friday, we had to go to a radio station to announce the fireside of Josˇ Smith on Sunday and invite the community. Then we had to go back to the capilla to give some baptismal clothes to Elders Sohn and Clark for FelicianaÕs baptism. And then we got fallar-ed after that, so we came home and ate with the Flia Delgado. In the afternoon, we had to go to Santan’ to do a couple of baptismal interviews. ItÕs a 2 hour bus ride from here, and itÕs the farthest north part of our mission. The Elders there are Elder Luna and Elder Sanchez. HeÕs from Texas, and he came with Elder OÕBrien. Elder Oliveira did the interviews because the lady and her daughter only speak Guaran’. That went fine. After that, we had just missed a bus back to Oviedo, so we had to wait an hour and a half for the next bus to come. So we got something to eat and taught a lesson 1 to the people that ran the little food stand. And then we came home, and it rained more. But we got home fine.

On Saturday morning, we tried visiting a lot of people that werenÕt home. But we did find a new person, and taught her a lesson 1. Then we went and talked with Carlos Nu–ez a little. Then we went to lunch with the Flia Gossen. They actually live on the HnaÕs side. They have a lot of kids, and their son Ale (our Elders Quorum President) just got back from his mission about 8 months ago. The Hna cooks really well. After lunch, we came home and studied. In the afternoon, we went and shared a little with the Hna. D‡valos, and inactive lady, and then went to Carlos R.Õs house, and he had a couple of friends over, so we taught them a lesson 1. Then we did divisions with Victor, whoÕs the District Secretary, and Alejandro, whoÕs the secretary of the branch. We went and got Ysidro and Isabel, and went by a few investigatorsÕ houses, but they didnÕt come. But we went to the capilla and had the baptism. And Elder Young and Elder Brandt came. The baptism went really well, and there was a lot of cake. We cleaned everything up, then went back to Ysidro and IsabelÕs to talk to them about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Then we came home. 

On Sunday, we went and got Ysidro and Isabel and went to the church, and they got confirmed. Church was pretty normal. It was really cold in the morning, but not quite as cold in the afternoon, then really cold at night again. In any case, we ate with the Delgados, then planned, then went to the church for the Joseph Smith fireside. Pte. Roig, the 1¼ counselor of the mission, came, and talked. And all of us missionaries were the choir. It went pretty well. After it was over, we went and visited some investigators, and the people we wanted to talk to werenÕt home, but the ones that were told us to visit their neighbors. So we did, and taught them a lesson 1. It went pretty well. After that, we visited a couple other investigators and read with them, then went and shared a little with the Flia Fern‡ndez, then came home.

This morning, we played soccer, and basketball in the capilla, and it was fun. Then we went our separate ways. ThatÕs it. A pretty busy week. This week, I donÕt think we have to go anywhere for anything, so we should actually get to stay in our area and work. ItÕll be nice.

Mom, I talked with Pte. Gavarret about getting released, and he said that m y home Stake President should do it, but we didnÕt have a lot of time to talk about it, so IÕll have to talk with him again. Also, it takes about 2 or 3 weeks for your letters to get here, so you should probably stop sending them in a couple of weeks. Also, with the whole password thing, I think IÕll just wait until I get home, because it seems like the other way would take quite some time anyway. So, yeah. I guess thatÕs it.

I Love You Guys!!!

Love,
Josh