My Time is Shorter

email dated 1-7-2008
All is well here. I am happy, healthy, and have realized that as an American boy, son of an elementary school teacher, now director of something at Granite School District, I am filthy wealthy. The people here are poor. But their not as povertous as I had once imagined. They do alright. But they are indeed poor. Be grateful for air conditioning, heating, and most of all for carpet. Oh I miss carpet!!!! The people here are kind and enjoy a lot of simple things in life. I have never seen such a content people to sit for hours with only their thoughts.

One thing unique about Uruguay, which I don't remember if I have shared yet, is the Siesta. Every day there is a break from everything from noon til 4. We can't proselyte. People will kill you if you interrupt their Siesta. Everybody takes naps. It is 120 degrees, so I don't really blame them. We have to go back to our apartment from noon til 3 everyday and go back out and proselyte til 9. Don't think that means We get a break though. Our study time is changed from morning to afternoons. I gotta say, I think studying in the afternoon when it is that hot and you have lunch in your stomach is one of the hardest things I have ever done. And I like to think I am a good studier, but it is hard work here. The struggle here is that people don't wake up until 10 or 11, so you have to get lucky with morning teaching appointments. We try to look for service to schedule for mornings a lot. The most successful time of day is from 6 to 9. Any earlier and you won't find a single person in the street, so unless you have an appointment, you have a frustrating few hours searching. Luckily, we usually have people that we can visit.

We have 2 baptisms next Saturday of the most elect people I have ever met in my life. A 17 year old daughter and her mother. Each have individually read from 1 Nephi to Alma. Each know independently, and have born testimony, and love coming to church, and they will tell you that they know it is true. The girl had a friend get on her case for meeting with the Mormons, and the friend tried to say all these things about why we are a bogus church. Our smart investigator, decided to read the Book of Mormon for a few hours and pray. She said she felt the spirit so strong and she knows, without a doubt, that it is true. I love them SO much. They are the light in the middle of the darkness. They give me hope every day. I love our daily visits with them, at the end of everyday. I always get to end the day on a good note. They are amazing.

All is well here. I am doing just peachy. I have got my act together, and I am focused and happy and having fun. We are going to Brazil today for a few hours this afternoon. It is our Zone activity. The Zone Leaders approved it, what started as a joke when I said we should go to Brazil, is now happening. I hope they checked with President or the APs, either way its not my fault. It is our Zone Activity today. I am excited. I have to go. I love you all so much!!! Take care. Remember to pray always.

Ciao!!
Andy