P-Day Hooray!

Hello! So, this week was pretty good. It seemed like it was both really ridiculously fast and slow, which is odd.

Hmm, where to start. Okay, I'll start with P-day. [Last week, not today] It was a blast. We got to go on a tour of Lima since Elder Hatch, Elder Sims, and I were the only 3 in the entire CCM. Lima is pretty cool. There are actually some ancient ruins right in the middle of the city, but they're really not that much to look at. I got one picture of them, but that's it.

Also, we got to go see the beach, and since it was the first time in my adult (I can say that cause I'm 20 now) life I'd seen the ocean, it was kinda overwhelming. Just the thought of all of that water out there, with nothing on top at all, and you can't really see anything down a ways...a whole bunch of nothingness. It was almost kinda scary. But then I got over that and took a picture of a lighthouse that was there (just for you Dad). The water was really nasty looking though. When the waves broke it looked like a sea of Coke. It was rather nasty. But I would have loved to have driven on the road right next to the beach. I mean, I rode in the car that was driving right by it, but riding is nothing like driving, and that's one thing I do kinda miss is driving.
So yeah.

OH. We got Burger King for lunch. Never before has a Whopper tasted so delicious. It was fantastic. We got to do some shopping in downtown Lima, and the shops there are arranged as so; one street only has shops selling glasses, one street has women's clothing, one street has wedding dresses, and so on and so forth. We found a street that only sold fútbol jerseys, which was perfect. They're all fake down here of course, but I found (and am currently wearing) what Elder Hatch called the best fake he's ever seen. It feels just like my BYU stuff, and it looks awesome. It's a black Real Madrid jersey with green accents, and it's actually my new favorite shirt. It was 26 soles, which works out to be $9.67. That is a steal. So yeah, that day was pretty fun. ...Have I already said any of this? I feel like I have, but...no, I haven't...I don't think.

ANYWAY. Yeah. Elder Iza is pretty cool. He talks to me a lot more than Elder Barrera did, but he slurs everything he says, so once again I hardly ever understand when he's talking to me. That's okay though. Oh, he's 24, 25 on lunes [Monday]. I thought that was pretty awesome. And he's only been a member for two years, so that's even more awesome.

Hmm, every day here is basically the same. I try to understand what people are saying (I'm doing really well now, actually. I have this weird situation when I can understand when I'm not being spoken to directly, but if someone talks directly at me I get all flustered and stuff...it's frustrating, but I just need more vocabulary or something), I learn more español, I eat food that I now like (for the most part. every now and again the meal is a real doozy, but these things happen), and...yeah. I'd say it's actually more structured than Provo was here. In Provo I had eons of free time, but here my free time has more of a purpose it seems, and it's more structured free time.

Okay, also, yesterday there was a fútbol game of Latinos vs. Norteamericanos, and that was probably the best game any of us have ever played. It was tonnes of fun. I actually scored 3 goals in that game, and the game ended with a score of 6-7 in favor of the latinos. One of my goals was the result of a lot of pain in blocking a shot that had me doubled over after scoring the goal...that's all I'll say about that, except that I gave it my all in that game. It was so fun.

Everyone here has meet Presidente Whetten I'm pretty sure. There are only about 100 people here this go round, so it's a much more intimate group. I don't get any siestas in the day. There's plenty of time on P-days for a siesta, but I don't nap. It seems like a waste of time. I try to find something productive to do, like fold clothes or shine shoes or something, but it usually just turns into puttering around.

I should be leaving for Ecuador in exactly 2 weeks. I don't know the exact date yet. I haven't learned too much about Ecaudor from Elder Iza yet, but that's because my vocabulary is less than that of a 4 year old. I'm working on that though.

I'm so glad to hear that things are going well both spiritually and otherwise for you guys. And I think it's awesome that you're starting work on food storage. I'm actually a big fan of food storage. That could just be because I absolutely love food, but still. Good for you guys!

Oh, scripture! 1 Corinthians 12:18, 22. I really like these scriptures because they say that no matter how little you are tasked with in the church, you still have a part, and the church couldn't work as well without you doing your part.

Um...yeah. I think that's about all I have. But as of today you should write to my Ecuador address. Only 2 weeks till I'm in the field! I kinda feel like that's really when my mission will start. This almost feels like another preparation stage. I can't wait to get in the field though. That will be so amazing. Also, pb&j's are amazing, and I'm appreciating the little things in life so much more now. I love you guys. I hope you all stay strong. Bye

Ecuador address will be posted separately - soon!