2013-10-14 Well really, mostly I talked.

Hey Everyone,

This has been one of the best weeks in the mission.  Nothing too spectacular has happened but I’ve felt the Spirit strongly all week and been very motivated about and enjoyed working.  It’s also been stormy all week. We’ve entered the rainy season.

It looks like I won’t be able to give you any pictures this week.  The computers in this internet don’t recognize anyone’s cameras.

One of the best parts of the week was that a lady surprised us by telling us that she wanted to get baptized now. Before, she had pretty much told us she believed it was all true and she figured she would get baptized but not for a long time.  She said she thought after she retired would be better since she works on Sundays.  When we went to visit this week she’d had a complete change of heart. She told us she was excited to get baptized now and she would just come to church and rely on the Lord to help her.  Her baptismal date is the 22nd of this month.

In a regular ward baptism the primary kids sang “I like to look for rainbows,” which reminded me of our family´s baptisms.  I also gave the talk for that baptism and it actually went really well--much more fluent than the last time I spoke in Spanish.

My companion has been doing visa stuff this week so I’ve been in downtown quite a bit with him this week.  I’ve already finished mine, I don’t remember if I told you but I got my Bolivian ID about 3 weeks ago.  

I bought some really good orange juice from a cart in the street.  Cholitas have juice carts where they slice the orange in half and then have a metal press that they use to make the juice.

Marco and Angie came to pick up my clothes yesterday.  I always enjoy being able to see them, I’m not sure if we’ll have time to visit them today or not.  They invited me over for hawiian pizza.  Kinda good news. Angie is going to church now but it’s because she kind of got demoted or something in her job.  She doesn’t work Sundays anymore but it also cut her pay in half.  I sure hope I can go when they get sealed, I’ll be sad if not.

We only visited Jeam Pierre once this week.  We talked for an hour.  Well really, mostly I talked.  I said about 10,000 words and he only said about 10 words.  His sister thinks if we can just pass more time with him, he’ll warm up to us.  He likes hamburgers so were going to pick some hamburgers up and go visit him this week and see if we can get him to open up a little. 

I started reading the Gospels this week and I’ve really enjoyed it.  I don’t think I’ve read the New Testament for about a year.

Cambios are this Sunday.  I figure I will stay and there is about a 50% chance that my companion stays and 50% that he goes.  I don’t really know if I want him to stay or go.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Love,

Elder Howlett

P.S. Alma 46:10-16

P.P.S.  I got a dearelder letter from Lauren McMullin this week.  The mail is terrible here, it’s slow and only sometimes makes it.