Querida Familia,
Hi! How's everyone doing way out there? Things out here are great, as always. I just got back from McDonalds (I had a Big Mac, fries, and chinotto [Sprite]) and found a close ATM that we can use. When we got here, they gave us Banco Mercantil ATM cards so we can get our bi-weekly money, and we found one even closer than the one we usually go to. This'll save us a good 500 Bs. every two weeks! Also earlier this morning we went with the Avlar family and a few friends to Cerro Casupo - just a hill that overlooks Valencia. It's pretty cool, took a few fotos. Speaking of which, I'll include a "what's what" for the negatives I've sent.
That's rad, about Elder Nanney eating over at the Wyler's. He was a cool guy! He knew Elder Stanger, one of my roommates in the MTC. The family picture that you gave me I still have - it's what I use right now to show everyone, but it's out of the frame and jammed in my Biblia.
Right now I'm just reading over letters from you that have been sent to me, so forgive me if it's a little random. :)
About the house thing, I think it's neat that you asked me if I've been praying for you - Mom and Dad. That's exactly what I've been doing. That you'd be able to discern the best choice for our family through prayer and guidance by the Spirit. I know everything will turn out perfectly, either in this life or the next (because I know sometimes for me I miss the blessings that I've received - from making a right decision - for long periods of time) when influenced by the Holy Ghost.
Well, I just read the letters and there's not much more for me to say there . . . I still can't get over Skyler joining the wrestling team. Ha ha! That's SO rad. I knew he would, but I couldn't really imagine it until I saw it on paper.
Well, the work here in Paraparal, Valencia is doing pretty darn well. Next week I'm pretty sure we'll have a baptism of Liliana Castillo and 2 of her kids, Betsabet and Emilio. Maybe Lisbet, too, but Ronald's not looking too interested. We added 6 new families to our list of investigators (which now numbers 19, families count as 1)this week, which is pretty amazing. We add a family everytime we teach a husband and wife together the first charla. Being comps with Elder Speirs is great - he's a hard worker, he's in the zenith of his mission (year and a little over a half), the people love him, and he cooks biscuits and gravy (I think you already know that part, though). His spanish isn't that great, so they say. Not bad, but not really good. Some people have said that I speak better, or that they think I have more time in the mission, but it's just evidence to me that your ability to speak isn't too much a factor in helping people to gain a testimony. This week, Andres has gone out with us, just asked if he could walk around with us, a bunch of times, and wants to go on a mission really bad. He's not afraid at all - an 18 year old guy with 9 days being baptized under his belt - to bear testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel.
I don't really have much else to say . . . I'll tell you what the pictures are and describe them so you know what I'm talking about.
[lengthy description and explanation of photos which will be added to the web page after I get the prints back in a few days.]
I love you all lots! If you have questions, please number or underline or highlight them or something. Chao!
Nick