From: Elder Joshua Freeman
Subject: Lots of baptismal invitations
Date: 30 May 2005 3:25:21 PM EDT

ĮHola!

We actually got to work in our own area all week this week, so that was nice. Plus, it didnÕt rain or anything, so we had a really good week.

On Monday night, we went and talked with Ysidro and Isabel about the Priesthood. Then we visited a couple of less-active members, and went and talked with Ada about the Atonement. And then we came home. 

On Tuesday morning, we had our first Zone Meeting. Our zone is pretty big, 8 areas. ThereÕs us and the Hermanas in Rama 1, Elders Ferreira and Smith in Rama 2, Elders Sohn and Clark in Rama 3, Elders Richardson and Israelsen in Rama 4, Elders Luna and Sanchez in Santan’, And Elders Webb, Wells, Whetten and Angle in Villarrica. The meetings went really well. We are the District Leaders of Districts 1 and 2, which is interesting. Anyway, after the meetings, an hermana made us lunch and we all ate together. Then we had a meeting with Elder Webb, whoÕs the DL in Villarrica, then came home and filled out a lot of informes. Then we had to go send the mail off, then finally got to go to work. We dropped by the AguileraÕs house to ask Pte. Aguilera a question, then went to talk with Osvaldo and Eva, the family we found last week. We read a little with them, and invited them to be baptized on the 18th, and they said yes. So that was really good. After that, we went to do a verification with a lady named Toribia and her kids that we taught on Sunday night. And we read with them. After that, we went by a few other peoplesÕ houses that werenÕt home, and then went to visit an inactive lady, the Hna. Cubas, and her grandkids Rebeca (12) and Antonio (6). And then we came home.

On Wednesday, we had our Correlation Meeting and English class, then came home and ate. In the afternoon, we went to talk with the non-member dad/husband of Elisa and Betty and Roque. Then we did a verification with a lady named Balbina that we met last week. It wasnÕt too promising, but weÕll see what happens. After that, we went and started teaching the Lesson 2 to Carlos Nu–ez. That went pretty well. After that, we went and did the same thing with Carmen, and also talked with a friend of hers that was there. Then we went to AdaÕs and met her brother, Nelson, who talked with the missionaries before, but then went somewhere to work, and is now back. So we talked to them both. And then we went and talked with Ysidro and Isabel. Then we went and talked with IsabelsÕ sister, Elsi, and her husband (except their not married) Pedro. And they have a son named Jordan whoÕs like 6 months old. They came to Ysidro and IsabelÕs baptism. We taught them the 1st lesson, and it went really well. Then we went looking for someone that we talked with earlier in a friendÕs house, but he was just leaving. So then we went and visited Elisa and her family, then came home.

On Thursday morning, we talked with Enrique about prayer. He hasnÕt really been progressing, but it was a good lesson. Then we went and talked with a young couple we talked to in the street yesterday, Nelson and Nancy, and taught them the 1st lesson. It went really well. Then we went and had lunch at the Hna. CubasÕ house. In the afternoon, we got fallar-ed a whole lot. But we did talk to one investigator guy named Nelson in the Flia SoleyÕs house. And I met a couple of lessŠactive families, one of which lives really far away, in the middle of nowhere. We had Noche de Rama at night, and that was normal. And then we came home. 

On Friday, we visited a couple of inactive families, the Flia Gonz‡lez and the Flia Fern‡ndez. Also, Julio (our mission leader) happened to be in the area, so he accompanied us. Then we had lunch with the Flia Delgado. In the afternoon, we dropped by Ysidro and IsabelÕs to invite them to go with us tonight to talk to Pedro and Elsi. Then we went and finished teaching the lesson 2 to Carlos Nu–ez, and invited him to be baptized, and he said yes. So that was good. After that, we got fallar-ed a couple of times, then visited a guy named Santiago that we talked with one of my first nights here. I think it was the first night. Anyway, his friend Justo was there, so we taught him a lesson 1. That is, Elder Oliveira taught him in Guaran’. After that, we talked with an inactive lady, then went to Pedro and ElsiÕs. We read a little with them, and invited them to be baptized on the 11th of June, and they said yes. So that was good. After that, we went and finished teaching the lesson 2 to Ada. Then we went and visited Elisa and her family, then went and talked with Carlos Romero and his brother Blas (16). We talked about praying sincerely and not repetitively. Then we came home.

On Saturday morning, we went and got our mail from the terminal, then went and talked with Toribia and her kids. Then we talked with the Flia Candia and read a little with them. Then we got fallar-ed on a verification with Nelson and Nancy, because she had her baby (she was already 9 months pregnant). So we went and visited a less-active family, the Flia Aranda. That went well, and they came to church on Sunday. So that was good. After that, we went and had lunch with the Hna. Gracielaand her sons Lu’s (17 or 18), and Fernando (11 or 12). It was really good. In the afternoon, we had a District Priesthood Conference. I got to see a few people from Villarrica, including Pte G—mez (whoÕs now the 1st counselor in the District Presidency) and the Hno Mercado (whoÕs now the Branch President). So that was neat. After the conference, we went and talked with Carmen, and read a little with her, and invited her to be baptized on the 25th, and she said yes. So that was good. After that, we went by OsvaldoÕs, and he said they couldnÕt talk then because they were leaving, and that they werenÕt going to be able to come to church. And he said that his mother-in-law is visiting and ŅsheÕs from another churchÓ, so they wonÕt be able to listen to us until she goes back home in 2 weeks. But weÕre pretty sure that was just an excuse, because sheÕs from out in the country, and has probably never even heard of our church, and we talked with her and sang her a song and she was really nice to us. So weÕll have to figure out whatÕs really going on there. In any case, we then went and read a little with Elsi and Pedro again. Then we went and visited the Hno. Amancio for a little bit. After that, we went and talked with Ada, and also her sister and neighbor, Delia and Rubˇn, who we had talked to a couple of Saturdays ago. And then we came home.

On Sunday, a member, the Hno. Ugarte, offered to help us bring people to church. His son Gustavo (who just got ordained an Elder on Saturday) took us to get Pedro and Elsi, and Carmen. They were all ready and waiting for us, so that was nice. Also, we went and got Ysidro and Isabel. Church was normal. After church, we went to eat with the Flia Ugarte. They moved here just a few weeks ago from Ciudad del Este (which is on the border with Brazil, and pertains to the North mission) where the dad was a counselor in the Stake Presidency, and has a business. They have 4 sons and a daughter between the ages of 20 (more or less) and 12. TheyÕre a really cool family. After eating, we came home and planned. Then in the afternoon, we helped the Elders Quorum visit people. The Hno Fern‡ndez, whoÕs been a member for a little over a year and is from the HnaÕs side, went with us to visit the same families we visited on Friday morning. That went pretty well. Then we went to CarmenÕs and finished teaching her the second lesson. Then we went and taught the lesson 3 to Pedro and Elsi, with Ysidro. That went well. After that, we visited Carlos and Blas, and taught the lesson 1 to Blas, who wasnÕt there the first time. And then we came home.

This morning, it started raining again, so we didnÕt get to play any sports, so we played a few card games, and that was it. 

So that was the week. We have Elsi and PedroÕs wedding planned for this weekend, and their baptism for next weekend, so things are looking good there. 

Mom, I talked with Pte. Gavarret again, and he wanted to know if you can not leave for Utah until the 19th, because there are 2 other missionaries going home the 18th, and he canÕt send me home by myself. And in that case, I would leave the 18th and get home the 19th. Because if not, (since it would be pretty hassle-y for me to get home and get released and we leave the same day) it would probably be better for me to just go home to Arizona while you are all in Utah. But Pte said that heÕll look into it, and if thereÕs anything different, I can write and tell you tomorrow. So, yeah. ThatÕs it.

I Love You All!!!

Love,
Josh