Hey hey hey!

Well hellooooo everyone!

I hope that you all had a great week this past week! It was a pretty good week for us here in Sucre.

So, first thing, this was a week in Quechua for me. Two of the Elders in my district had two baptisms on Saturday, but I needed to interview them before they could go through with the baptism. Well, the wife only speaks Quechua, so I had to do the interview in Quechua. I did as much as I could on my own, but then I had a member who was there to translate for me when I needed the help. But it was a super cool experience for me because I was able to do that. I don't know if it'll ever happen again( I hope it does!!!!), but it was definately once in a lifetime.

Also, my companion and I went knocking doors as missionaries do, and on Friday morning we literally had half of the doors we knocked talk to us in Quechua. So, I ended up speaking what little Quecha that I know to try and get into the house, but unfortunately we didn't get into any of those houses. But I did speak a ton of Quechua this week.

The coolest lesson we had this entire week was yesterday. We returned to a house where we had been knocking doors and the wife had invited us to come back yesterday. So, we went back and the first good thing that happened there was that they were there(because most of the time they just say to come back and aren't there.). Next was that they let us in. But the lesson got super spiritual when the husband admitted to us that we were the first religious preachers that they've allowed into home- EVER. And they explained why. The husband of the family told us that his current wife is actually his second wife and that he had gotten a divorce. But then he read in the Bible that that was a sin, and started asking all of the preachers, priests, and whoever about it. And everyone told him that he was going to hell and was living in a horrible horrible sin. So, it was actually pretty incredible that they let us in. So, we were able to teach him about the atonement of Christ and that he wasn't condemned. It was such a good lesson that I almost cried.

Dad- That blows that they rejected your offer. There's a house out there for you! Don't give up hope. And way to go boosting your numbers!

Mom- Sounds like a good time with D'Ann! And well, I can't send pictures cuz memory readers suck. Have a great week!

Aly- Time off! Whoot! Have a great day off this week!

Emi- Way to go! Did you kill anyone? Jk, I know you did great. And now you'll wait just like the rest of us did. ;)

-- 

AEA

Elder Craig

A good busy week

Hey everyone!

I hope that you all had a good week! Mine was good until Sunday, in the which I got pretty sick, but a little more about that later.

So, this week my companion and I have been working a lot in Yacanahuyo, which is a nieghborhood about 20 minutes from our house(but its still technically Punata.). But something really funny that happened is that we went deeper and deeper into Yacanahuyo, just exploring to see how it is, and we got lost. Yup, I admit it. we got lost. But, luckily, we were able to find a back road that took us  right back to where we needed to be, and is also a faster route for us to get to Yacanahuyo. So, it seems that getting lost is not that bad  when you're opening new areas of your area. It actually really helped us a lot. 

Alright, so a funny contact that we went through this week. We were in Yacanahuyo knocking doors, and in one house a little boy answered, so we asked him to go get his mom. He did, and we did an amazing contact, testifying and everything. Well, she just looked straight at us and, in Quechua, told us that she didn't understand a word that we had said. So, that made us totally see that we need to learn Quechua fast if we really wanted to do more contacting in that area. I've been studying a bit of Quechua, but for us Elders in Punata, slowly but surely, we are seeing the great need to learn that language. The thing is, a lot of people speak the language, but the thing is that they do not read it. So, getting a Book of Mormon in Quechua to give to them is not the best idea. It would only help us so we could learn the scriptures in Quechua.

Also, we learned that everybody and their dog is family out there. That's good for us because we can use the members out there to go and teach their family members. How ever, apparently, it's been tried before, but it's been a couple of years since they last tried, so we're gearing up to try again.

Here in Punata we're planning a bunch of activities to get the ward excited in the ward mission work...all leading up to a big activity in May- "Un luau, estilo Boliviano"( A luau, Bolivian style). So, we're really excited for it. Wish us luck.

And last night I got pretty sick...along with my companion and our district leader. Diahreea(however you spell it...I suck at spelling.)...love it!

Oh, and by the way, we did find Waldo this week...and we taught him! Hhahaha....you guys are funny.

Dad- The weights are made of cement...we added water bottles to make it harder... Have a great week!

Mom- Yes, time is flying, but that's ok...it needs to. And no, Mario didn't go to church, unfortunately. I love you!

Aly- Hey, animo! It'll be fun....I think. Just enjoy it! Luv ya!

Emi- Sorry about being sick....I know what that's like. Just eat your veggies and listen to dad, and you'll be better soon.

that's all for now!

-- 

AEA

Elder Craig

Celebration

Hey everyone!

I hope everyone had a great week! My week was super cool!

The first thing awesome that happened this week was our baptism on

Tuesday!(Sorry, no pic.) It was the hermana I've told all of you about

alot who was totally into her church and everything. She didn't want

anything to do with baptism or the Book of Mormon, and now she's been

baptized and reads the Book of Mormon! Crazy how the Spirit can change

peoples' lives, huh? Well, she told us she didn't want ANYBODY at the

baptism because she said that she isn't sociable. Well, the ward

mission leader announced it in church, and so a bunch of people showed

up. So....she said she didn't want to be baptized, because all the

people showed up, and now she was angry with us. So I talked to her

for about 20 minutes, and shared scriptures with her that showed her

that the time of her baptism was then and there, and no other time.

She finally agreed, and the baptism went great. Then on Sunday we went

to her house and picked her up and took her  to church to get her

confirmed. It is absolutely amazing to me how her countenance has

changed. She seems to be radiating with the Spirit now. If you could

have seen her before, you would be amazed too.

The next cool thing was on Saturday, which was Bolivian Independence

Day. The Stake had a stake-wide activity where each ward presented

traditional food and a  dance from a department in Bolivia. My ward

had the department of Oruro, so we ate lamb with corn and potatoes. It

was really good. Then they danced "La Morenada", which is a pretty

cool dance, but my favorites are the Tinku and Los Caporales. YouTube

them, they are pretty cool.

Dad- Looks like you had a great time fishing...Tell Uncle Biz I like

his Metallica goatee. XP

Mom- About Quechua, I am trying to learn so I can teach a new

investigator. Tarija is a medium-sized city, so it's an entire stake.

About my daily life...it's about the same. We have a pension where we

eat, and it's por una hermana. And I work all day. :D

Aly- Have TONS of fun in New York. I can't wait to hear about it and

see all the pics. Eat a hot dog for me!

Emi- Well, I think you're doing well for your 5k time...Just run and

push yourself more, you'll get faster. Promise ;)

That's all for now!

Scriptures of the week:

Alma 26:12

2 Chron. 15:7

Luv you all!

--

AEA

Elder Craig

Happy Bolivian Independence week!

Why hello friends and family! ¿Imanayakashanki? (That's Quechua for "How are you?" And the correct response is "Jualejia")

 

Alright, so this week wasn't really that exciting, but some cool things did happen this week. On Wednesday we had intercambios with our district leader, so I was with Elder Bond. Since his appendix was removed, he hasn't really been able to go out and work because any time that he did go out and work, he would open his stiches a bit and start oozing nastiness all over the place, so his surgeon said that he didn't want him walking out and about so that he could heal and what not. So, I was in his apartment all day, just chilling with him. And we had a really interesting conversation about how he really got to go on the mission, but he's feeling really down because he can't work. It reminded me how true it is that as missionaries that we serve two missions- Among the people and among the missionaries. It was a super spiritual afternoon, and I learned tons about him. He's the member version of my friend Tyler, so I feel like we're good friends now.  Also on Friday, we had a District activity where we went and worked in the zone leaders' area. And I learned how much people care when things can apply to their families, because so many families are really disfunctional down here. Makes me really appreciate the family I have, and it also makes me want to work harder to help these people have the blessings that I enjoy in my life. For me that's the best part of missionary work(besides seeing people accept the Gospel in their livesa), seeing families become more unified in the Gospel. It's undescribable the joy I feel when that happens.

 

Dad- Hey, you are totally right. I am where the Lord needs me to be. Have a great week!

 

Mom-That's crazy about what that missionary did. That truly takes guts. Glad you spent lots of time with Alyssa.

 

Aly- Hey, thanks for cheering me on....it really does help!

 

Emi- Way to go on your college course! That's way cool. And summer is never long enough. And you'll get fast enough for XC!

 

Scriptures of the week:D&C 88:133, 128:22

 

Hope y'all have an amazing week!
--
AEA

Elder Craig