December

Today we got up early and went to a coastal town called Punta del Este. There is a huge hand that is right on the beach, it looks like it’s coming up from below the sand reaching up to the sky. We just went to have fun, take pictures and see the ocean and beach. It is a really beautiful town with a lot of rich homes and buildings and I felt like I was back in Hawaii, only the water was not so beautifully blue... it was kind of brown.

I’m so focused on finding people, when I have a day to just spend as a tourist, it feels weird that people don´t look at me weird, or act extra nice because they think I’m a religious freak!

This is a walking path with trees in Minas. Uruguay is a beautiful place.


And... This is downtown Minas, Uruguay.







There are people in this area than in Durazno - and more members - and another set of missionaries.

December 15th, 2009: GUESS WHAAT!!! I got transferred! Can you believe it... they took us both out of our area in Carmen and are putting elders! I´m in a new city with a new companion named Hermana Medina! She is from Paraguay. We are in a town called MINAS! It´s a lot larger than Carmen, there is another set of missionaries here as well. It´s more city and more people, no cows... no horses... and i feel like I’m living RICH! Ants don’t fall from our ceilings and I get to get my clothes washed 2 times a month! In Carmen I would wash my own clothes in the shower and try to get it clean. And guess what! I’m senior companion. It´s good that Hermana Medina has been here for a while and knows the area.

New Companion

My companion is really nice. She’s from Cordoba, Argentina. My comp goes home in 2 changes... so chances are she will stay here with me. I’m glad, she’s really nice.
We eat most days with a member. Each member has a day of the week. Our branch is small and we meet in a house converted into a chapel. It’s fairly large and looks like a church inside. We have a recent convert who is midget… and in a wheelchair… He’s really funny.
The people here always say... I’m not of this religion when we contact them... I always want to say... we know... that’s why we are talking to you. it’s sad how closed some people are, but we keep trying. My comp was telling me that recently this area was closed because it wasn’t having success... so who knows how long it will be open.

New Area: Carmen, Durazno, Uruguay

Carmen is in the middle of nowhere... the bus dropped us off with all my luggage and we were standing in front of a huge feild... its beautiful but small. We live on the edge of the town so our house looks out to the country...i love it. i can hear the birds and the wind. in melo there were a lot of loud motos and autos but here its almost a rarity. they ride horses more than cars i think... my comp showed me pictures of some cool animals they have here... big snakes, and crocodiles... the crocks were dead when she came across them so they had their heads all smashed in. yummy. we find random carcasses too... it's fun. The people here are very country. they all work in compaña and they all have a very specific way of dress... with bombachos or pants that kinda look like hammer pants... remember those - all small at the bottoms... well it's so they can put their pants in their tall boots. also they have banchos if its cold, and vests and hats that they wear off to one side.

Bathing a Dog

The other is a pic of us bathing the dog of our grandpa...he´s 94 years old and he always takes care of us. Some nights he´d be waiting in his door way for us to pass by and beckon us over to give us muffins or chorizzo or something! i´m really going to miss him. the other day we had fun sticking spoons on our noses and laughing for a while! This morning he helped us go to the bus stop and watch our bags... it started to rain really hard and we just laughed and waited. haha who knows how many years he has left but i´´m glad to have known him. He was recently baptized about a year ago, and has been alone without his wife for about 12. So we always visit, he´s our neighbor and so we pass him about 6 times aday!

A lot of the people in the church haven't been coming recently... i think it's because of the elections here. our whole town is crazy during voting season... it's so strange, they have like carpools with parties driving honking horns and waving... and the whole road is blocked off right... and we needed to get to an apointment so we joined one...haha and one guy said he saw us ride by on TV haha who knows if he was just joking.

The other day my comp said she wanted to get on the bus, so i was like... ok thinking she had someplace she wanted to go, but she didn't so we just started making contacts on the bus... i think we talked to about six people and went a complete route on the bus and basically returned to the same place we got on! it was kinda funny, but i guess what better way to rest your feet and still talk to people! the busses here are so funny and ugly... the door is open and you basically get on and he drives off while you try to find a seat as you bounce around... we are constantly helping older peolple from falling! haha