Bon o bons and throw a rock, but walk clear around.

3-19-2013   Tuesday

Hey Tr---, Dodgeball champions!  Figures “we” won. “We” are the best even though you played without me. 

Congratulations to Dad on that 36 inch fish!  Had to put it back…Que lastima. [Too bad] 

Mom you spelled R--a like the black pop music celebrity. Ahaha and !!!! YES! Ecuador! More Spanish!  And Randy got his call!? Yes! What parts does Mission Anaheim cover?  He'll probably still find loads of people who speak English and Spanish or pretend only to speak Spanish.

Thieves of opportunity.  If there's something able to be stolen without a fight, they'll do it without hesitation.  A month ago a guy stole a bunch of stuff from Elder S--s in Cerro Alegre... IN THE CHURCH.   Haha. They don't know if he was a member or just some random guy.

We shop at a place called Lider. It's basically the Wal-Mart of Chile. It's super rad and always full of people.  I try to always get Bon o Bons every P-day. [Oh, today we have Pday because yesterday was a mission conference so we didn’t email on Monday.] Bon o bons are these cookies that I had on my first day in Chile, and they are delicious.

We have whatever money in our account for the month, but I spend about 7 "mil" [7000] every week, which is equal to about 14 American Dollars.  It's surprising how little that is.

It takes about 45 minutes for us to walk from one end of our area to the other.  Esperanza is just like Chile's shape of country.  Skinny stretch of land, and it's super frustrating at times because you can typically throw a rock to the next place you want to go, but there's a giant mountain in between, so you go alllll the way around.  I laugh every time.

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http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTURf8S462bmdkkeYEfu2ksQPsT1k8Jjs60rxxQru7iyxeGQgqK      That's not what I get or buy, but it's the only picture I could find and still be obedient.

Se dice así: [It reads:] President "Ken-Line."  It’s spelled Kahnlein. 

Why are you asking about the office address? Now I'm worried there has been a change.  I haven't gotten anything yet, except from Chad and Lynnette.  I hope everything's ok with the mail.  Espero que no haya problemas...[ I hope there are no problems….] (I'm impressed with myself for using subjunctive Spanish...)

The Work! Translated horribly.

"This Week. Wow. What a great one!

We found a family during team ups. I was with Elder Gatica, looking for a future investigator that said they want to hear and go to church. The he didn't say what number, but the location, but nevertheless, we knocked where I thought he lives. No one answered. Then, we shouted 'Ha-lo!' To the house on the left. A 30 year old lady came to the door and mouthed to us that she cannot hear and speak because she is is mute. We 'shrugged shoulders and mouthed back "that's fine, we want to talk". . .We played a game of charades to tell her who we were. She 'said' "I know" She invited us into the house - they take care of this house - but there was not a guy, so we sat in chairs outside the house. We invited her to baptism, but she said no. From school came his son. He can talk with hands. We also invited him and he begged his mom to let him, and then asked, 'Who will be the Godfather?'  Haha.

He has a date for March 31. . . but he belongs to the other sector because they live in that area. We took him to church with a member, and now the elders of the other sector are teaching him. He attended sacrament meeting, and after, the baptism of 2 people.

This experience was something that opened my eyes and gave me more understanding of 'Little things can bring great things.' And I will not forget it."

I wish I could explain in words more about this family. There is just a spirit about them that is so humble, and yes they are struggling, but they are content, possibly even happy.  They have several obstacles in life, but regardless, they work hard. She can't speak or hear, her mom can't speak or hear. And yet they keep on working hard. It's inspirational.  I feel that some of this happiness from the mom comes from being part of a family all with the same purpose.

When they aren't caring for the house in Esperanza, they live in a place called "Las Tomas". Basically that means, "The Takens", because they are pieces of land that people "Took" and started building houses.  They have little money, and yet she takes care of her 3 children, the oldest having 10 years, then 5, then the baby with 2. Martin, Jose, and little girl. Pia.  So awesome. She's one of the rare things in this world that I would call cute and still feel like a guy.  That is, aside from all my awesome nieces and nephews. Love ya'll.

Ok. Not much time left.    Gotta put up pictures on email now. 

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9:59 AM     3-19-13           

About the photos:   Chilean Stuff.

1. Pulgas. [Fleas] photos 1 & 2.     3. They have a lot of Modismos, [Idioms] or Slang, or whatever it is in English. Things that only Chileans say.   One of those is "Po"--which is a place holder--like “What's up, po?” or “Si, Po.” Or “I'm right here, po, what do you need?”

Sometimes you get PO'd twice in the same sentence.  It's hilarious.  I guess the English equivalent is "Dude", but it more means in Spanish "Person" or "Man".