The Antarctic‏

email dated 6/2/08
There is very little to say this week. My new companion Elder Oliphant is a good kid. He wakes up and wants to work hard. I can get along with any missionary who does that. We are doing alright. And we have 3 people with baptismal goals right now for June, and some other promising investigators. So the work goes well.

I don't really know that I can write a lot this week. My hands are freezing and it is slowing my typing significantly. And I can't type with gloves on. Uruguay is the most miserable place I have ever been for the cold weather. The humidity just cuts right through you and your tin roof. The roof drips and I got dripped on during the night and it kept waking me up. Our cement box house doesn't do a whole lot. This morning I discovered that it was warmer in our fridge than in our house. I would light up the fireplace but it is against the rules. I imagine that some dumb missionaries somewhere burned themselves and now we have the rule. There is a story behind every rule, they say. We can't leave our space heater on at night and it doesn't do anything anyway. We can only use it while we study. So I have taken to studying in the bed. And anybody who tries to call me disobedient can eat me. It is SO cold. And there is no escape. Thank goodness for the thermals mom sent me and the amazing thick socks for sleeping at night and the kindness of members who give us hot chocolate and cebada coffee, which is gross by the way but not against the Word of Wisdom and it is the replacement drink all the members drink down here for their coffee. So my fingers are cold and it is hard to type. I think you get the picture. It is cold. Talk to me in August or September when the weather starts warming up and I will probably have less to complain about. Wow, I can't even type. I must be going.

Life may not be fun right now, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? NOBODY back home in the states will ever be able to complain to me about crappy apartments or being cold. I have taken plenty of pictures of the place that I will send home soon so you all have real image of my refuge from the cold. Thank goodness for thermals and thick socks and sweaters and trench coats and gloves!!!!

I have nothing of merit left to say today and I am out of time. My fingers are typing too slow for me to want to write anything else. Take care. I love you all!!!!

Andy