1 January 2001

Dear Family,

Well, here I am! I got changed on the 27th or 28th of Dic., and now I'm in Maracay, ward Las Delicias. I've finally left the State of Carabobo, and now I'm in Aragua. My comp, Elder Jacob Alvey, goes home in about 5 weeks - I'm going to kill him, too! He's a really cool guy from Payson, UT. He plays basketball and likes to ride bikes and mountain climb. We've got a nice apartment, but floor 6, apt. 66! We have a TV and VCR in our room, lent out from the Stake so we can watch church movies for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, when we had to be in by 6:00 p.m.. Right now we're watching the Birthday of Pres. Hinkley, and Gladys Knight just got done singing being accompanied by the daughter of Elder Oaks on violin.

Last night was practically impossible to sleep - everyone was setting off different types of firecrackers and fireworks. It sounded once again like a war outside of the house. At midnight some people took their luggage and with it walked around the block. I was sleeping but Elder Sirna whoke me up (thanks) to watch the fireworks. Elder Sirna's funny. He's like a Venezuelan Douglas Arnell, exactly!

Maracay is cool. It's a huge city that is very metropolitan. It's going to be the home of the largest mall in Latin America, and it's in my area. It's called Las Americas. It's not as hot at all as Puerto Cabello.

Gotta go! Lots of Love. Nick