Paraguay Asuncion North Mission : Week 23

So as most missionaries we get our money at the beginning of the month and eat ridiculously well for the first week or so and then we’re broke. Well, we decided to go hard and eat some pizza. So Rama 5 (me, Elder Anderson, Elder Anderl, and Elder Plasencia) decided to go to one of the local pizza places last p-day. First of all, it was really good. Secondly, I got some chili cheese fries and, although not from the States, they were way good as well. It was a good night. It reminded me of all the good times with friends back in the States.

Pizza Party

So then Tuesday we had to go to a meeting with the new president on Wednesday. Our bus left at 11:00 pm, so we first had to escort the Hermanas to the bus, as it’s dark and fairly sketchy. We had to avoid a drunk that was pretty bad. Anyway, as we are waiting for the bus, tons of fireworks go off, horns honk, people run around with flags and scream and the place just goes crazy. Apparently, Olimpia (the local soccer team) won something and that’s all. Gotta love soccer crazy countries.

So after a 4-hour ride, we got to San Estanislao for the meeting. But, its 3:00 am, so I got to sleep on a church bench. Weirdly, they are much more comfy and easier to sleep in when church is actually going on.

Anyway, after about a million alarms went off at 6:30 am, I got up and went exploring the city with Elder Plasencia to find some breakfast. I ended up buying a loaf of orange bread. It was pretty good. I hung out with Elder Plasencia and Elder Morante in the back, learning Peruvian slang which was highly entertaining.

Then everybody started running around putting on suit jackets. So obviously the new president had arrived. First impressions, I’m very glad he’s gonna be my president for most of my mission. He just seems very laid back and chill. He joked about himself and his family and just seems like a good guy. He was very nervous, but who wouldn’t be? I really liked getting to know him and his family. I’m excited to see how he runs the mission and to do an interview with him.

After that, it was back on the bus. I got to listen to Skyfall as our bus was playing it, but there was no TV on the bottom. Weirdly, I knew exactly what part of the movie it was at, just based on sounds of gunshots or whatever.

So the next day was the 4^th of July, and nothing big to report during the day. But at night after we had all returned to the house, we had a BBQ for the 4th. We made homemade hamburgers, ate chips and candy, drank some soda, and just kinda chilled. For the second time this week I had memories of my friends and made me trunky, but hey they can write me. Yes, that’s a hint -- write me. Haha.

Happy 4th of July

4th of July burger and drink

Anyway, after that we had some good work the rest of the week -- did some really good visits with menos activo familias (less active families) and Griselda and Juan. Griselda came to church and has a date set for the 15^th. So, Elder Anderson and I can, for sure, baptize her. Juan is a great guy, but he can’t come to church due to health difficulties, but we visit him once a week and just share with him. He also has a nephew that wants to be baptized, but the boy’s mom is inactive and doesn’t want to come back. So, we didn’t know what to do. So what a shock on Sunday when Juan was there with his nephew. Come to find out, some members picked them up. It was way exciting. Also most of the menos activos we visited came, including most of the Familia Ojeda, which was really exciting.

Oh ya, I forgot -- during the week we had a visit at night and the lady offered us some cake. It was really good. I had 1 bite left on my second piece when I noticed some bugs on my hand. So I wipe them off. That’s when I notice they got on my hands… from inside the cake! Yup, bug cake. But at this point, I’m committed. So, I throw it in my mouth and eat it anyway. Still tasted good, but I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then.

Today was another great day for the week. So there is a place called Chakurrai. It is private land owned by some American, which isn’t that special except it has awesome waterfalls. So we set up a trip to go. We invited everybody, but for one reason or another, people didn’t wanna go. So only Rama 5 and the Hermanas went. But it was really fun. We checked out some crazy waterfalls, climbed around, hiked a bit, checked out a sweet overlook of the area. It was just cool. It’s amazing how pretty and amazing Paraguay can be.