Pictures from Paraguay

First pictures from Paraguay

 

Elder Aguilar and I in front of the Asuncion, Paraguay temple.  Elder Aguilar is from Peru.  He was my traveling companion from the MTC in Buenos Aires to Asuncion, Paraguay.

 

This is where I live in Pedro Juan Caballero.  Five star accomodations it is not.  From the picture you can see that it has been raining.  And this is the dry season!

 

This is my bedroom.  My bed is the one on the left. 

 

This is my shower.  Scary!  At least it makes the water warm.

 

This is my companion, Elder Anderson.  He is from St. George, UT. 

Week 7 Blog

So ya, I don’t know what all to say since the last week in Buenos Aires has kind or been a blur.  The last week of the MTC was rather pointless.  We didn’t do a whole lot studying wise or language wise.  But we did have a lot fun!  

 All I’m gonna say is that Elder Diotaiuti and I left our mark on the MTC.  Ha ha.  They will definitely not miss the two of us.

 Let me see what else.  The MTC seriously feels like a lifetime ago. It’s crazy. The last day was especially pointless as we sat in a room going over field orientation - only in Spanish.  I definitely slept for a good majority of that.   I said my goodbye to my American friends at like 3 in the morning.  When I left the MTC, I was the only white guy out of the 23 missionaries in my group.

 The airport was crazy as I couldn’t really speak to anyone.   But, I got to fly first class - which was awesome!  Way comfier seats, more leg room, headsets for music and yes I did use those -  it wasn’t bad.  Haha.  I had a nice breakfast, definitely enjoyed it.

My traveling buddy was Elder Alguilar (see picture post) from Peru, which was sweet.  He is way funny and we talked about music and stuff.  It was sweet!  We even got all of first class singing and dancing to some Flo Rida at one point it was hilarious.

 Then we got to Asuncion, and holy crap it is hot.   I sweated through my shirt -  just from walking through the airport, taking one picture and getting onto the bus. 

 Then, I did a bunch of orientation at the mission home.  I listened to the mission mom about health and stuff.  Then I ate some good food.  I watched a talk by Elder Holland and then called it a day.

 I stayed with some of the office elders which was way sweet.  They were chill.  (Note:  one of office elders was in the MTC in Provo with Anthony).   I slept on a mattress on the floor with 6 other elders.  It was nuts.  But, they had a nice house so something to look forward to if I ever get called to the office.

 I woke up the next day went and took pictures at the temple.  We had a testimony meeting.  Then it was back to the office to get assigned our trainers.

 They had all the trainers line up on side and the newbys on the other.  Then they would show one picture at a time on the projector.  And that’s how you found out who is your comp.  Mine is Elder Anderson from St. George.  He is legit. He is absolutely awesome and definitely the kind of missionary I wanna be, caring more about the people and teaching the gospel than solely about following the rules and numbers.   He also helps me a lot with my Spanish which is nice.

Although in my area, Pedro Juan Caballero, the people speak Spanish, Portugeuse and Guarani.  So, I’m pretty lost when they switch into jopara - or a mix of the languages.

Everybody in the office was jealous of my area though.  Apparently it’s the best in the mission. It’s right on the border with Brazil so it has a lot of Brazilian influences.  Also it is always overcast and kind of windy, so it never gets hot.  But, it was rained everyday I’ve been here.

When I was in the office, we had to wait around to get my fingerprints.  So, we missed our first bus, which meant that we had to wait til 10 pm for the next one.  So, we just hung out in the bus terminal for hours.  I got a hamburger.  Then about 8 hours later we arrive in Pedro Juan Caballero. Then, we went to our house and slept for a couple hours.  Then we got up and went and met some people.   

Oh ya, Elder Anderson when he was describing the mission, said we have a lot of progressing investigators.  And, maybe 15 baptisms and 3 weddings in the next 6 weeks.  We have to work out some marriage issues for some of the others. Sweet, right!

Oh… there is a serial killer that escaped prison in Brazil that has crossed the border into Paraguay.  He is running around somewhere carving crosses into peoples chests. Haha.  Crazy, right!

Anyway, I met a lady named Mercedes that was just baptized.  She’s awesome!  Then I met the Familia Aguello, which is all investigators and progressing. So, we could end up baptizing the whole family.

I met some more people the next couple days.  Mostly, I got used to Paraguay and the weirdness of seeing monkeys in the streets as well as being woken up by 100s of roosters in the morning.

I eat good here though, so that’s nice. I haven’t gotten sick yet, but I’m sure it will come.  I saw a kid with dengue, which looks as bad as it sounds.  So hopefully I don’t get that.  Apparently that is also a way to get sent home. I ate empanadas today, which was sweet!  Also I had Chipa and Mate Dulce this morning, which isn’t bad (Note:  Mate Dulce is VERY popular in Paraguay.  Mate is served with a metal straw from a hollow calabash gourd.  "Maté"  literally means "I killed" in Spanish). We eat a lot of chipa, I guess (Chipa is a cheese bun.  In Paraguay it is usually round with a hole in it – like a donut.  It is really popular around Easter).  I also eat lots of rice and meat things.

 

 

We also have some ghetto concrete weights that I can use so I won’t be super skinny when I get back. Since today is p-day, I played some soccer.

Sunday I had to give a testimony in Spanish and I did alright, but it was tough though.  My priesthood lesson was all in Guarani so I got none of that.

But overall, I love my area - minus the rain.  The people are amazing, and I’m happy to be here on a mission. 

I’m sure I’m forgetting something to write, but oh well.  If there was anything I remember I’ll put it in the next one.

I love you guys.

If I don’t write on a Monday, it means the rain knocked out the power.  So you’ll get one a different day and will know I didn’t die.   Remember to use the new mailing address.  You guys are awesome.

Adios

Elder Anthony Frost

 

 

 

Week 6

I have to keep this letter short and sweet.

Basically, I made it Paraguay yesterday morning. Also, I flew first class from Argentina to Paraguay.  It was sweet.

I spent the afternoon doing orientation.  I ate at a restaurant with the mission president (President Madriaga) for dinner.  I spent the night with the office elders.   I woke up and went to the temple.

President and Sister Madariaga

Then, I got my trainer and my first area.  My trainer is Elder Anderson from St. George, UT.  My companion seems chill as well.   My first area is Pedro Juan Caballero.  It’s right on the border with Brazil.  So I guess I will learn a lot of Portuguese.  Everyone says that it is an awesome area and that it will be a lot of fun.

 

I have to get on a bus at 11 tonight for an 8-hour trip. Fun. 

Well, I gotta go.  I get to e-mail on p-day, which is Monday.  I’ll write a real nice and long letter then. That letter will encompass my last week in the MTC and my first, basically, in Paraguay.

One last picture from the MTC in Buenos Aires.

 

Love you guys.

Anthony

Just a reminder - please send all future cards, letters, and packages to:

Elder Anthony Frost
Paraguay Asunción North Mission
Avenida Santísima Trinidad N. 1280 C/ Julio Correa
Casilla de Correo 1871
Asunción, Paraguay

Internation mail rates apply - $1.00 per ounce.

OR

Elder Anthony Frost
Paraguay Asunción North Mission
P.O. Box 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

This is a "pouch" address.

You can use U.S. First Class Postage

NOTE: Only postcards or letters that are a single sheet, folded into three panels, and taped at the top only (no envelopes) may be sent through the pouch.

In Paraguay...Finally!

Anthony left Argentina this morning at 5:00 am (local time).  While we do not have any confirmation, since there were no airplane crashes today, we assume he made it safe.

P-days in Paraguay are on Mondays.  So this blog will be updated Monday night.

He appreciates your letters.  Just a reminder - please send all future cards, letters, and packages to:

Elder Anthony Frost
Paraguay Asunción North Mission
Avenida Santísima Trinidad N. 1280 C/ Julio Correa
Casilla de Correo 1871
Asunción, Paraguay

Internation mail rates apply - $1.00 per ounce.

OR

Elder Anthony Frost
Paraguay Asunción North Mission
P.O. Box 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

This is a "pouch" address.

You can use U.S. First Class Postage

NOTE: Only postcards or letters that are a single sheet, folded into three panels, and taped at the top only (no envelopes) may be sent through the pouch.

It will be interesting to find out where in Paraguay Anthony's first area will be.  What makes it more interesting is that with 58 new missions created, 2 areas currently in the Asuncion North mission will be transfered to the Asuncion mission. The Asuncion Mission is losing 4 areas to the Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia mission.

Week 5

So this last week has been crazy for all sorts of reasons.

First of all, last p-day after returning from the temple we found out that Elder Moffat was transferred to a Latino district because his Spanish is better but he didn’t know that had happened.  Subsequently our trio was broken up as Elder Sorensen left to become Elder Running’s companion, leaving me and Elder Diotaiuti as companions. It has definitely been nice to only have 1 companion it is a lot easier to plan and teach and just work when you only have to cooperate with 1 other person.

Next, we got a huge group of new missionaries as we got a new Latino group and new North Americans. These Latinos are a lot better than the last group.  They are a lot more fun and more like the first group. Although, the second group was definitely the best soccer playing group. There are a bunch of Latinos from Peru and Colombia in this group.  There is also like 20 something Latinos going with me to Paraguay on Tuesday.

 Some of my favorite Latinos are Elders Fernandez and Elder Santa Maria. They are just really funny.  They are always giving me nicknames too.  So far I’ve been called Wolverine, Harvey Dent, Tom Cruise, Landon Donovan, and a bunch others. It’s just a good time. We also had Elder Durand rap the other day and it was highly entertaining and surprisingly good.

The new North Americans are cool but you can tell they are nervous about the mission.  But that’s expected, it’s a strange thing.

We had a testimony meeting for fast Sunday and for the first time in a very long time I got up and bore mine.  Basically I just talked about atonement and my story and God has a plan and that I don’t really believe in coincidences anymore and I told them that there are days that are going to suck in the CCM and in the mission but that the mission is the right thing to do and the right place to be.

On Saturday we did proselyting again (eventually I’ll spell that word right). Ha ha. Anyway, we went back to the same area and so we went and taught I guy for the second time.  We gave him our first Book of Mormon.  It was awesome.

One crazy story from Saturday though.  So, we were street contacting when we approached a guy and he offered us his beer.  Very funny.  Anyway, then his friend comes over and tries to trade the shirt he is wearing for my tie.  The shirt he is wearing is a blue cutoff Boca jersey that is full of holes.  Obviously, I say no.  He then tried trading it for my white shirt, again no.  We keep talking and he tells us he is evangelical and doesn’t want to talk religion because of our other bible and other doctrine.  But, we can go to his house if we want.  We say sure and so we go into his house.  He shows us pictures of his family and his bible and gives us coke to drink.  Then he says he just wants to be nice, hoping that if he was in the U.S. someone would do the same for him.  Anyway, we teach him about the Book of Mormon.  But, he is still not interested. 

Eventually he gets back to trying to trade his shirt.  We say no, but he says he has another one.  So we ask to see it.  He takes us to another house like the first one and pulls out a nice white Boca jersey.  He tries to sell it for 300 pesos.  We say no, but for 100 I would buy it.  He says no, 100 for the blue one, which I say no.  Anyway, then he takes the blue one off puts the white on.  Then he hands me the blue one and says give me 100 pesos.  We say no and are laughing and joking.  The next thing I know, he pulls the shirt over my head and pulls my arms through the sleeves.  Then takes his hat and puts it on my head.  Weird, right?  Remember, this is the shirt and hat that were just on him.   He tells me it looks good one me and that I need to buy it because he needs the money to buy milk and bread for his son.   Liar.   

 

Anyway, we finally get back to the street with some help from his wife.  But once there we decide to give him a Book of Mormon.  I also gave him 20 pesos for his kid.  20 pesos is like 4 bucks American.  Oh well.  Anyway, he says he might read it.  Then takes his hat and gives it to me as a "gift from his heart".  Ha ha.   It was insane.  Anyway, that was proselyting.

We are all excited to get out of the CCM and into our mission fields. I leave Tuesday, so the next post you will get will be from Paraguay. I don’t know when that will be yet.  But p-day is Monday in the field, so it will be on a Monday.  So, please write me there and not here from now on.

The mailing address is posted below and should be on Facebook and Twitter, so you can find it.  Lastly, I just wanna say, don’t you forget about me.  And if I could, I would do a huge "Pitch Perfect" musical number.  But I can’t, so just write me. Ha ha.

 

Anyway I love you guys and hope that you enjoy these messages.

Love

 

Elder Frost

 

Address Change

Anthony will be leaving the Argentina MTC on March 12.

As a result, please do not send any letters to Argentina.  From now on, please send any letters to:

Elder Anthony Frost
Paraguay Asunción North Mission
Avenida Santísima Trinidad N. 1280 C/ Julio Correa
Casilla de Correo 1871
Asunción, Paraguay

Internation mail rates apply - $1.00 per ounce.

OR

Elder Anthony Frost
Paraguay Asunción North Mission
P.O. Box 30150
Salt Lake City, UT  84130-0150

This is a "pouch" address. 

You can use U.S. First Class Postage

NOTE: Only postcards or letters that are a single sheet, folded into three panels, and taped at the top only (no envelopes) may be sent through the pouch. 

More Pictures from Argentina

Elder Jiatz Coj and myself

Elder Jiatz was by far my favorite Latino elder in this group. He is from Guatemala and is actually the cousin of Elder Hom one of my favorite Latinos from the last group.  He was very funny and also sat us down the night before he left and called us his brothers and said he loved us and much more.  It was one of the most touching things I've ever been apart of. he was just an amazing person.  I am thinking of making a trip to Guatemala sometime just to see him he was that awesome.  He also is considering going to BYU, so that would be sweet.  He is only 18, the first 18 year old elder I've met.

Elder Frost and Elder Bernales

 

Elder Bernales was a great guy as well.  I didn't talk to him much, except when we played soccer together. He was my defensive partner and we basically shut everyone down. It was airtight defense. He and I were a huge part of Los Gringos dominance in soccer from this group. He was a lot of fun to play with and would always make jokes.  He was just a cool guy.

 

Elder Frost and Elder Ochoa

 

Elder Ochoa is not Latino. Haha.   He is actually from Arizona and was in the North American district before us.  He always kept things light hearted and was always joking around.  He was a good guy to have around here, and just a very good person.  He actually cared about people and you could tell in the way he talked and the way he acted.

 

Elder Hansen, Elder Frost and Elder Hernandez

 

Elder Hansen is from Utah. If you couldnt tell from the fact that he is whiter and nerdier than me by far.  But, he had 5 or 6 years of Spanish under his belt, so he came in a Latino group.  He and elder Hernandez were our new roommates  in this group.  Elder Hernandez was from Chile and spoke no English, so we didnt talk much.  But, he seemed a to be a good guy. Elder Hansen had a sense of humor that kept night times all fun.  It was good.  He was also able to translate whenever we needed.

 

(L to R) Elders, Moffat, Diotaiuti, me, Sorensen Jiatz Coj and Moran at the temple in Buenos Aires