Jordan: 4/9/2012

Well, this week was interesting, to say the least. Let´s just say this, I like Easter better in the states than in paraguay. This is how paraguay works: wednesday afternoon at 2 or 3, everything starts shutting down. Thursday through sunday, EVERYTHING is dead. Literally, EVERYTHING was closed, other than the biggest grocery stores. And Friday, EVERYTHING was closed. Everyone in paraguay is catholic and catholics focus a lot on the Crucifixion of Christ, so everything on friday (the day he died) is closed down. There was NO ONE in my area, because all the people in asuncion only live here for their jobs, so when they had a 4 day weekend, they all traveled to visit family that lives in other parts of paraguay. Of my 10 or 12 investigators, only 4 didn´t travel. And all the members traveled too, so working with the members was rough. But, we did have a couple of really good experiences.

First, we found José Lopez. He´s around 50 yrs. old. And he´s GOLDEN. We taught him the 1st time on Saturday afternoon, and we invited him to church the next day, and he came. That NEVER happens. Nobody comes without talking to us for at least a week or a week and a half. So that was amazing. And in the lesson with him, we invited him to be baptized and he said, "i promise you that i´ll get baptized in your church." So, i don´t think that i´ve ever found anyone quite as willing to get baptized. He has a baptism date for May 5th. (the world´s greatest birthday present.... Honestly, i have about 4 or 5 investigators that could get baptized on May 5. So, hopefully, Best Birthday Ever.)

Second, we found Carlos Alvarez. He´s already talked with missionaries in other places. He paints the chapels of our church, so while he takes breaks from work, the missionaries talked with him. So he knows a lot. WE taught him lesson 1 and he accepted things really well. We found him on monday, but he traveled to visit family for Easter, so we haven´t taught him since then, but we´ll teach him this week.

Third, i didn´t get transfered. we had transfers this week, and i REALLY didn´t want to leave. My area has so much potential right now, and i want to see it through. My companion is the same too. So, i was really happy about that.

Mom- the viewing of Monte sounded really hard. But we´re soo blessed to know the truth. That really is the ONLY way that we´re able to cope with the pain. Because we know that the death really just is the beginning of a better life. Also, i LOVED the quote that you sent us. It was great.

Dad- too bad you have so much pain. That´s no fun. (it´s kind of how i feel every morning, after 8 or 10 hours of walking every day. But i´m 20 yrs younger, so that´s alright)

John- I´ll NEVER be trunky. I didn´t replace a trunky missionary, but he acted like one. He just really didn´t care about missionary work. He didn´t understand his purpose at all. And i made a goal to NEVER be like him. So, you won´t need to break your foot in my john brown hind parts. And thankfully, i won´t have to run a mile (have i ever mentioned, I hate running. It´s just the worst.)

Tasha- sounds like a good week. Spring break is always the best.

Shaylee- how was spring break.

Austin- Wow. Wow. Wow. Your letter was 3 times longer than mom´s. I didn´t know it was possible to write that much. But i liked it. you pretty well had the exact same experience as me on the bio trip, other than i didn´t ask to prom, and i really liked Old Town. I didn´t think it was dangerous. (if you want to see dangerous, come to paraguay. I could show you some stuff that´d make you cry if old town bothered you) But you pretty well had the same experience as me. Best week ever, other than the mission.

Well, I gotta run, but the church is true. I know that. Christ is our Savior. He died and was resurrected. I have no doubt. Easter is a special time to focus on him, but it can´t be the only time we focus on him. Every day has to be like Easter for us, as members of the True Church of Christ. We can never forget him or act in a way that would displease him.

I love you all,
Love, Elder Jordan Schouten