Well Montevideo is definitely a lot different from any other place I have been. Especially Cerro. I have learned a lot this week about what to do in dangerous situations and how to react to threats and all that haha. Its fun. But I think the people freak out to much. Cerro is not that bad at all, compared to the stories I have heard from my companions from central america. The best part is there is SOOOO MUCH work to do. Its ridiculous. There have been 132 baptisms in this ward in the last 24 months. There are about 1000 total members on the ward list (the directory is 36 pages long). The sad thing is the ward doesnt even qualify as a ward. (Qualification is based on Melkezidek Priesthood-holding full-tithe payers) There are about 90 people in church each week. I have met some really awesome members and families. I love hearing conversion stories of the members here in Uruguay. The area wasnt left in the BEST condition when I got here, but we have a couple investigators. My companion is a great guy. He`s got a real big heart. 15 of the 24 missionaries in our zone are from outside of the US. (Including all 3 DLs.) We are looking for a new house because the nieghbors are stealing our electricity, theres a crazy couple behind us that fight all day long breaking plates and glasses and our closet, I mean, house is falling apart. They are WAYY over charging us just because they can and they know the church has bank. I am sharing a ward with 2 other missionaries. One of them is Elder de Hoyos!!! (I trained him in Salto) Its been really really cold this week, I think it even snowed in Colonia! My first day in the area it was so cold and windy with a light rain. My comp hadnt slept in 2 days. I was really worried that he was a lazy missionary because we were there from 2-8pm sleeping. It drove me crazy especially since he was a ZL but Im sure he was just real tired. The rest of the week we got out to work at least after lunch. We are one of the companionships in the zone with the lowest numbers which is both frustrating and embarassing. I am praying a lot to tear it apart out here and change things even though Im Junior Comp. Tuesday we are traveling to Paso de la Arena to get to know the district out there a little. Wednesday we have Concilio with all the ZLs and APs and President. That should be awesome. (mostly because Hermana Heaton is gonna cook food for us) Friday we have Interviews. My companion was only here for 6 weeks before I got here and his companion kinda did everything so it feels like we are opening an area sometimes. If you`re looking at maps and stuff my neighborhood is called Casabó.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
June 6, 2012
Whats up errybody!
This week was another awesome one! Tanias baptism was really awesome and all the family was there. We challenged them to be baptized this week and they replied "we are gonna have a family meeting, pray about it and we´ll get back to you" WOAH!!! Ive NEVER had a family tell me that. I feel like we have been so blessed and led to such awesome families here in Rivera! The baptism of their daughter was a great push for them. It was a lot more quiet and simple and calm compared to last weeks stake baptism which was nice. Tanias testimony after her baptism was so powerful! With eyes full of tears she testified of how being baptized is so much more than being immersed in water. I am really sad to leave Rivera! Its definately been my favorite place to serve, its also been really fun being district leader.
6 weeks ago I was going crazy not wanting to leave Rivera and there were rumors that President was going to move me up to Zone Leader. When the president calls on Sunday night before transfers and asks to talk to you, you already know what its for. Well last transfer when we got home Sunday night Elder Ponce played a joke on me and said that president heaton was on the phone, remember? well he did it again yesterday. He handed me the phone and I said "callate!" "shut up!" like Im not gonna fall for it. Only this time he really did call. I hope he didnt hear me say that hahaha but He asked me if I was willing to be ZL in the zone of CERRO which is in Montevideo! Yeah. Im going to Montevideo! Everyone jokes that Montevideo is the city and everywhere else in Uruguay is farmland. Its very rare that a missionary as old as me has never served in Montevideo. So everyone has been teasing me...YOUR NOT A COWBOY ANYMORE! or YOURE NOT A FARMER ANYMORE! haha.
Im excited to continue in the mission. doing my thing. but its never been so hard to leave an area. I didnt sleep at all last night. maybe an hour in the morning. But man. this time its hard.
My companion will be Elder Miranda from Panamá. He has got 4 months left in the mission. I´ve got big shoes to fill in Cerro. Almost all the APs in the last year have come from being ZL in Cerro. All the guys I always looked up to.
Cerro is a huge hill in Montevideo. It is known as the place where all the poor people, drugs, roberies, ect happen. Its said to be the most dangerous place in the country. I dont have a single fear though. I was reading in Revelations 11 this week. Check this out.
3 And I will give apower unto my two bwitnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
sick huh. I feel like I am always led to the scriptures that I need to hear for the activities or lessons I will have that day. For example, when you guys sent me the extra pair of shoes...that morning I read in D&C 84
105 And if any man shall give unto any of you a coat, or a suit, take the old and cast it unto the poor, and go on your way rejoicing.
The scriptures are the best! I gave Vega my old shoes to wear to church.
some more crazy news....Elder Kohl is gonna be with Elder Olsen. A friend of mine from BYU. We used to play together on a basketball team. Elder Xavier, from Brazil is going to CARDONA!!! hahah and i was teasing him all change that he was going to go there!! hahahahah I couldnt believe it! and it gets crazier!! ELder Kohl has a brother in this same mission who is coming from Salto to take ELder Xaviers place! so he is going to live with his brother in Rivera as a missionary! Man last night when the calls came we were all going nuts.
My shirts are kinda nasty now, kinda yellow and stained. I think I should be fine though because All winter I will be wearing a sweater.
As far as the packages, you didnt forget anything. Thanks!! My release date is November 20th. I will probably arrive in Arizona on the 21st though. I´ve already got way too many souveniers haha. Just save it for my iPhone ;) no seriously.
Im having a farewell party at the church tonight. All my converts, a bunch of members and investigators are going to come. Im not too excited to be forced to eat like 1000 pieces of cake haha. The people here are so nice. I wish I could explain how genuine they treat me. Vega and Magdalenas and Anas family all wrote me a huge letter. It was so awesome. They each wrote a letter and then glued all the pages together and made a like 10 foot scroll of letters. I will keep those forever. They are so sweet. They drew pcitures of them at the temple. Me confirming them, they bore thier testimonies. I couldnt wipe the smile of my face or the tears from my eyes. Gosh I love the mission!
I love you guys so much. Mom, Dad, thanks for raising me in the gospel. I realize every day more and more how blessed I am to be a son of noble parents like you two. Tyler, youre gonna be a great missionary. Go ask the Elders in Copper Canyon if you can go out a whole day with them. Studies and everything. Do it. Caity! YOU GOT SPRINKLED ON!! ahaahahaha
BESITOS!
May 28, 2012
Wow. Sounds like all of us together had one of the most crazy awesome successful prideful weeks of our lives! Congratulations to all of the awesome things you all did. I didnt feel like I was missing out on anything, cuz here in Rivera Uruguay things were just as exciting!
Monday night we called Magdalena and Vega and turns out they invited a bunch of people and we were to reserve all the seats on the bus. We decided to just call a less active member who owns 10 14 passenger vans and a private school bus buisness for special students. It turned out to be a lot more fun because we all jammed into a van and it was alot more private. It was fun taking a road trip with all their family, some members and some of their family. We had such a blast! The wedding was really old fashioned like Juan and Dolores` in Salto. The bald judge put on this blue and white striped thing around his waist and said a bunch of boring stuff about the law and then asked them the I do´s. Except for in Spanish its just "si" haha. We have it all on video and a bunch of pictures. Their wedding rings were CTR rings from the Copper Canyon Primary! haha they loved them and I never see them without them on! Even if Vega is cleaning up horse poop. After the wedding we threw rice all over the place and went to the little rented house they use as the chapel there and had a little celebration for them. I made a dang good chocolate oreo butter cream frosting cake (without a single recipe) ;) . It didnt look like a wedding cake but it was two levels and had the little couple on top. The members even brought a playlist for them to dance too. I loved watching them soo happy. Their kids were all so happy dancing together with their parents.
The rest of the week was just getting ready for the big day of the baptism! And preaching the gospel of course.
Saturday we did a stake baptism. There were so many people there and lots of baptisms. It was even a little hectic. It was powerful seeing so many in white but I enjoy the simpleness and strong spirit of a more personal smaller baptism. Big or small they are always so awesome! The missionaries all sang "When I am Baptized" and "I feel My Savior´s Love" A young man with his mission call to Argentina gave a good talk. They had to start setting up chairs in the overflow which was a good problem to have but kind of distracting. The little young womens room wasnt big enough for everyone to see all the baptisms but they gave priority to friends and family. The whole time I was just so happy to see all their family in white, so happy. We got 3 of the priests and the bishop involved in the baptisms and just seeing everyone smiling so much was unforgettable.
After the service we had 200 empenadas and a legit looking wedding cake and a little celebration. The kids were all crazy and attacking me, trying to take my nametag away and make sure my shirt was untucked at all times. Every kid that saw the kids having so much fun decided to join in and eventually there were so many I couldnt win. It was so fun. I love all those kids! =)
The first thing they all said on Sunday at church was ELDER KELLIS ELDER KELLIS!!! REMEMBER LAST NIGHT!!!?? hahaha
The most powerful part of the week was the confirmations in sacrament meeting. The opening hymn was I know that my redeemer lives. I had never really sung that hymn while really thinking about the words and the message. Thats an awesome hymn. The bishop called the whole family up at once and they all sat on the stand taking turns one by one. Elder Kohl was really really nervous to do his first confirmation especially in spanish. He struggles a little with the language, but it was so powerful! The spirit was so strong. I got to confirm Noelia. She has such a perfect and pure faith! I ended the confirmation full of tears. I knew that God loved her so much and I knew that God was mindful of her and her faith and that she had been waiting so patiently but so anxiously to be a member of the church with all of her family.
The whole week was awesome. I cant explain it all to you in an email.
Sunday night Tania and Ivans family brought us out to their super awesome huge house in the middle of nowhere. It made me remember my house in Salto only theirs is just a tiny bit bigger. 3 story house with a side house for bbqs and a huge pool and deck. Tania always makes us cake and really good treats. She has progressed so much this week! She read so much of the Book of Mormon and was led to Alma 32 where it talks about the seed. Then she read 3 Nephi 11-15 and received a very strong answer that she wants to get baptized. She put all of her doubts and conflictions with work and friends aside. It was so awesome to see her so happy to get baptized. She loves the gospel. She asked that I baptize her. That will be on Saturday! The rest of their family is getting closer to baptism but her Dad smokes every 2 seconds. He is loving the church as well though.
Don´t worry about the shoes. I got them on Tuesday as well as the backpack. Thanks!! Mom, when you send packages its the best day of my week. Dont put air in a package from THE US to URUGUAY though!! hahaha fill that space up with somethin good!!! They have air here. The whole 2 kilos thing doesnt matter. trust me! =) I am definately loving all the candy and goodness though! thanks!!! :D
Susana wants me to send her an umbrella like the one I got from missionary mall to her. She said she would pay for all of it. haha.
I love you guys! Congrats on everything!! dad, did you get that email with the picture in it!?
May 21, 2012
There is never a dull week in the mission! This week was pretty full of awesomeness, mostly because it started out by skyping my family, but we did end up getting a date for the marriage a lot sooner than I thought they would be able to. It will be this Tuesday May 22. Tomorrow! haha we are getting a bunch of stuff ready for them (like a dress and a cake and transportation) Its been stressful but super fun. The most important part though has been getting them ready spiritually for their baptism. They are doing so good! I feel like we found that golden family of investigators! its the best. We did a fast with them on Sunday and they are so excited for this week.
Zone Conference was really good. We talked about the atonement of Christ and why we are here. President shared a really sweet testimony about a family of converts who were sealed in the temple in Montevideo last weekend. The family lost their youngest daughter when she was really young and they were able to have the blessing of sealing her to her parents. It was cool seeing a bunch of old friends like Elder Garcia my comp in Cardona and Hermana Flake from my freshman ward in BYU.
We are teaching Ivan, one of our friends getting baptized this weekend. He is super awesome and loves the gospel. We have been teaching him at a members house but decided to bring a member to his house and teach his uncles and cousins. It went really well because they all came to church on Sunday! Tania, 25, Ivans cousin is praying about what she should do about getting baptized. Luis (Uncle) and his wife are pretty catholic but they are enjoying our discussions. We taught tania how to say a prayer and the next day at the end of our lesson he offered to say the closing prayer. We were like uh oh. he is probably gonna bust out an ave maria or a Lord`s prayer or something, but he said a really sweet humble prayer and thanked heavenly Father for sending us to his house. I love how just hearing somebody say a prayer for the first time is one of the most joyful feelings. I cant imagine seeing them in the Celestial Kingdom.
Natalias wedding got moved back another week to the 6th of June. I probably wont be here which is a huge bummer. But Im glad she is getting baptized! Thats what is important.
Our electric water heater broke this week. We had one of the ward missionaries who works as an electrician come check it out. We just needed a new part. So we went and bought it. He started taking it apart and putting the new part in. When he got the last wire placed there was a fast boom and the pipe coming out of the wall bursted open and caught the electricity and so that made a bunch of fireworks and sparks and super bright light. I thought Elder Kohl and I were pretty legit with our reflexes because I ran downstairs to turn the water off and he ran to the other room to turn off the electricity. I was yelling from downstairs IS HE OK!!!?? Dang that was scary haha. He miraculously didnt get shoked. I dont know how. I dont know why he didnt turn off the electricity in the first place.
I got a package on Tuesday...thanks mom! BUTTERFINGER!! AHHHHHH its so good.
Take LUCK!
May 14, 2012
Ok first off happy late mothers day to all those moms out there who get my emails! Moms are the best!
I dont have too much time to write today because we went on a trip to Tranqueras today with Vega to take some more steps towards getting this marriage done. It was a complete FAIL. I called on Friday and they said that the Judge would be there today...OUR P-DAY. So we decided to go anyways. We are in a hurry because changes are coming up soon and I want to be here for the baptism. Well. turns out the judge wasn't there! So we wasted 5 hours and 20 bucks on bus tickets. Oh well. Good thing Vega is patient.
Tomorrow we are traveling to Tacuarambo as a zone for zone conference. That will be cool.
The week was awesome. Ill tell you more about it next week if I remember.
the coolest news is that Viky, Vega`s sister started listening to the discussions and now she is gonna get baptized with her brother. Also, Ivan, 17, is gonna get baptized that day. We are hoping for it all to be on the 26th with Natalia`s baptism too. SEA OF WHITE! how awesome and beautiful and special!
I love you guys! It was awesome to talk on Mothers Day. I had a bunch of questions but I forgot. ok bye! Love you all!
May 7, 2012
Hey Family! Im glad you got the package! Yes, those are like the candy bars of Uruguay. Alfahors. Im not too big of a fan of them...there are some better desserts here, like ice cream, but it would be kinda hard to send that in a package. Overall, the desserts and sweets are way better in the states. Ok. Actually, everything is better in the states. Except for being a missionary!
Wednesday we made another trip to Tranqueras to take out the "edictos" (dont know what that is in English) but basically they had to go and fill out a bunch of paper work and then they gave them a piece of paper that said they were offically preparing to get married. So from there we went straight to the editor of the newspaper from the little town of 10,000 and paid for him to publish the wedding. It has to come out in 3 newspapers and then they can take out a date 8 days away from the day we deliver the publications to the judge. It was a fun trip. We played with Gabriel, their 2 year old kid, and he painted our faces with the dusty paint that they use here that comes off when you rubb your figer down it (or your nice sunday suit) it was fun though.
We are teaching a new investigator named Ivan. He is a little slow. I dont know if he has autism or if he has something but he is just a bottle of fun. We taught him prayer, who Jesus was, the VERY basics, and he really liked it. He has been coming to church for 5 weeks now, but he doesnt understand too much. I talked to president Heaton and turns out if he has the mind capacity of an 8 year old he can be baptized. Thats kind of a hard decision to make! He understands that saying bad words and stealing and smoking and drinking is all bad but he has never heard anyone call all that stuff "sin" before. So its hard for him to put that together.
We are focusing a lot on Magdalena and Vega`s family. They are progressing so much! She went and bought a new skirt and turtle neck sweater and looks so mormon! haha its awesome! Especially seeing their whole family at church! They have such meek spirits. After the last meeting at church on Sunday they kinda just stayed there for a while talking to everybody. Usually all the members run home because they are all hungry. Later that night in our lesson with them he said it was because they love the peace that they feel there. On Friday night we watched the Jospeh Smith movie with them. The kids are super awesome too! When the part where Jospeh Smith heals the sick boy in Navoou, Brian (9) turned to me and said "tonight in my prayers Im gonna ask Heavenly Father if thats real!" haha Then when Joseph Smith Sr. was on his death bed and the prophet explained to him that families could be together forever, Nohelia (11) gave her mom a huge hug with a big smile on her face. those are the best moments of the mission. Seeing the gospel make familes happy.
They are trying to quit smoking. Thats been the hardest part of their conversion to this point. We made them a special pack of cigarettes with paper rolled up with scriptures, hymns, and little drawings of them at the temple or turning down a cigarette or going to church as a family.
One of Magdalenas co workers told her all about our church, you know...how we have a bunch of women and are racist and that Jospeh smith had a billion wives. she said she was talking to her husband and he told her "I dont care if he had 1 wife or 50, if God called him as a prophet, and the book of mormon is true, I know it was for some reason." We explained to him why. Im so grateful to be in Rivera teaching this family right now! They are awesome!
This week was kinda warm and muggy. I dont know why. Last week we were freeeeeezing.
Im excited to talk to you MOM! and everybody else too =)
Caity, I wish I could have seen your dance recital! Sorry your package got there late. Tyler sounds like your all old and stuff. p.s. Can I have your iPad when you go on your mission?
Love You All!
May 30, 2012
Todo bien, gente?!
The first week of the transfer was a really busy one. With meetings
por aca y por alla and with transfers and trips to small cities to try
to get people married faster, it flew by really fast.
Elder Kohl arrived Wednesday morning, and we got right to work. He was
impressed with our investigator pool and with the less busy lifestyle
outside of Montevideo. The investigators all miss Elder Nuñez a lot.
He was always super friendly with the families we are teaching. He
loved to make the phone calls at night and make people laugh. Elder
Kohl is a quieter guy. Im not sure if he is shy, or doesnt understand
too much or if he just feels new in the area. Its a big fast change
whenever you change companions in the mission. They are always so
different from the one before.
Thursday we had our District meeting (they are usually on Tuesdays but
we had transfers and P-day on Tuesday) My district this transfer has
all new missionaries. They changed my district completely. I now have
the Hermanas, and 2 other Elder companionships. That was fun. I got
your package grandma thanks so much! I love those pens! Thursday night
we were getting ready to travel to the court house out of town and
needed to take out birth certificates. We called Magdalena to see if
we could come pick up all 6 ID cards of the whole family, but she was
working and wouldnt back until 5:45. The Intedencia closes at 6. And
we had to have them before Friday because thats the only day the judge
is in the office. Well we waited outside her house until she got
there, and ran to the hospital 3 blocks away where there are always
taxis hangin out to take people who cant walk back home. We got to the
intedencia at 5:55 and the door said that it closed at at 6:45. Oh ok
cool. The process was pretty ridiculous. There isnt a single computer
in the whole intendencia. Sounds like I had a similar experience to
Elder Warne`s in Brasil. So you give them the birthdate and the name
and they go looking through big long shelfs of hugemongous books
sorted by date and county looking page by page for the birth
certificate. When they find it, they make a fotocopy and it only lasts
for 1 month and they charge you 50 pesos each one. ($2.50 US) It was
funny cuz we were waiting while they looked for all six books and this
guy came behind us. He was watching the TV and one of the secretary
ladies came and turned off the tv because they were getting ready to
close. He immediately started yelling HEY WHAT THE ·$%&?! TURN THAT
BACK ON I WAS WATCHING!! then the lady yelled back even louder SHUT UP
YOU IGNORANT &%$@!!!! They started saying a bunch of stuff that I
didnt understand. Well eventually we got our partidas de nacimiento
and went back to Magdalenas to joke like we hadnt got there in time.
Friday we spent the whole day in Tranqueras. Its a small town of
10,000. We went with Magdalena to take out her wedding date. I brought
UNO and PHASE 10 thinking that it was gonna be a long day waiting for
the bus late in the afternoon to return to Rivera but it ended up
being a huge mess. The Judge said that since she didn't live there she
couldn't get married. but then we were like "are you sure because your
boss (boss/friend of a member) sent us here and even gave us the bus
schedule. He wouldnt budge. We went to a phone calling booth and
called back to Rivera to the members house. The member`s daughter was
on facebook chatting with the 2nd counselor in the branch presidency
in Tranqueras. He came immediately to chill with us all day. The
member also called her boss and they told us to say we were on his
errand that it was ok. So we went back to the Judge`s office and he
said he didnt care. Well Magdalena is determined that she is gonna get
married and fast and she also has family in Tranqueras. She said well
then ill just move here for a day, will you marry me then!? He said
yes if we got a "Constancia Notorial" which is a piece of paper that
you get from a scribe saying you officially live there. It only costs
500 pesos ($25 US) OK cool. So we asked everybody where a scribe
lived, walked a ways and told the scribe that the judge said we could
lie about our address to get her married. The third time we went back
to the judge with the pretty piece of paper with a bunch of seals and
stamps on it and he explained that we still couldnt take out a date
because the groom wasnt there. I kept thinking about the story of
Nephi and the last time he went to get the brass plates. hahaha oh man
this guy was a punk. Salto was so much easier to get a marriage done.
Turns out we have to announce it in the newspaper as well, just in
case someone is opposed to the marriage. So, we are going to go back
on wednesday. this wedding is getting expensive, but I know it will be
worth it. They are super poor. They dont even have a roof over their
kitchen.
Saturday was Elena`s 10th birthday (Magdalenas daughter) We got there
at about 7 and they didnt have any money to buy anything to celebrate.
She and her sister had gone to visit their grandma down the street and
so we hid in the kitchen and when they got home we popped out and sang
"que los cumpla feliz" fun memories!
I love you guys! Thanks for all your prayers and letters. The mission
is the best! How`s that one family tyler baptized?
The first week of the transfer was a really busy one. With meetings
por aca y por alla and with transfers and trips to small cities to try
to get people married faster, it flew by really fast.
Elder Kohl arrived Wednesday morning, and we got right to work. He was
impressed with our investigator pool and with the less busy lifestyle
outside of Montevideo. The investigators all miss Elder Nuñez a lot.
He was always super friendly with the families we are teaching. He
loved to make the phone calls at night and make people laugh. Elder
Kohl is a quieter guy. Im not sure if he is shy, or doesnt understand
too much or if he just feels new in the area. Its a big fast change
whenever you change companions in the mission. They are always so
different from the one before.
Thursday we had our District meeting (they are usually on Tuesdays but
we had transfers and P-day on Tuesday) My district this transfer has
all new missionaries. They changed my district completely. I now have
the Hermanas, and 2 other Elder companionships. That was fun. I got
your package grandma thanks so much! I love those pens! Thursday night
we were getting ready to travel to the court house out of town and
needed to take out birth certificates. We called Magdalena to see if
we could come pick up all 6 ID cards of the whole family, but she was
working and wouldnt back until 5:45. The Intedencia closes at 6. And
we had to have them before Friday because thats the only day the judge
is in the office. Well we waited outside her house until she got
there, and ran to the hospital 3 blocks away where there are always
taxis hangin out to take people who cant walk back home. We got to the
intedencia at 5:55 and the door said that it closed at at 6:45. Oh ok
cool. The process was pretty ridiculous. There isnt a single computer
in the whole intendencia. Sounds like I had a similar experience to
Elder Warne`s in Brasil. So you give them the birthdate and the name
and they go looking through big long shelfs of hugemongous books
sorted by date and county looking page by page for the birth
certificate. When they find it, they make a fotocopy and it only lasts
for 1 month and they charge you 50 pesos each one. ($2.50 US) It was
funny cuz we were waiting while they looked for all six books and this
guy came behind us. He was watching the TV and one of the secretary
ladies came and turned off the tv because they were getting ready to
close. He immediately started yelling HEY WHAT THE ·$%&?! TURN THAT
BACK ON I WAS WATCHING!! then the lady yelled back even louder SHUT UP
YOU IGNORANT &%$@!!!! They started saying a bunch of stuff that I
didnt understand. Well eventually we got our partidas de nacimiento
and went back to Magdalenas to joke like we hadnt got there in time.
Friday we spent the whole day in Tranqueras. Its a small town of
10,000. We went with Magdalena to take out her wedding date. I brought
UNO and PHASE 10 thinking that it was gonna be a long day waiting for
the bus late in the afternoon to return to Rivera but it ended up
being a huge mess. The Judge said that since she didn't live there she
couldn't get married. but then we were like "are you sure because your
boss (boss/friend of a member) sent us here and even gave us the bus
schedule. He wouldnt budge. We went to a phone calling booth and
called back to Rivera to the members house. The member`s daughter was
on facebook chatting with the 2nd counselor in the branch presidency
in Tranqueras. He came immediately to chill with us all day. The
member also called her boss and they told us to say we were on his
errand that it was ok. So we went back to the Judge`s office and he
said he didnt care. Well Magdalena is determined that she is gonna get
married and fast and she also has family in Tranqueras. She said well
then ill just move here for a day, will you marry me then!? He said
yes if we got a "Constancia Notorial" which is a piece of paper that
you get from a scribe saying you officially live there. It only costs
500 pesos ($25 US) OK cool. So we asked everybody where a scribe
lived, walked a ways and told the scribe that the judge said we could
lie about our address to get her married. The third time we went back
to the judge with the pretty piece of paper with a bunch of seals and
stamps on it and he explained that we still couldnt take out a date
because the groom wasnt there. I kept thinking about the story of
Nephi and the last time he went to get the brass plates. hahaha oh man
this guy was a punk. Salto was so much easier to get a marriage done.
Turns out we have to announce it in the newspaper as well, just in
case someone is opposed to the marriage. So, we are going to go back
on wednesday. this wedding is getting expensive, but I know it will be
worth it. They are super poor. They dont even have a roof over their
kitchen.
Saturday was Elena`s 10th birthday (Magdalenas daughter) We got there
at about 7 and they didnt have any money to buy anything to celebrate.
She and her sister had gone to visit their grandma down the street and
so we hid in the kitchen and when they got home we popped out and sang
"que los cumpla feliz" fun memories!
I love you guys! Thanks for all your prayers and letters. The mission
is the best! How`s that one family tyler baptized?
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