Scott lands at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19th. He arrives home on Delta flight 1926.
We would love to have friends there to say welcome home!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Coming Home!
Dear Family and Friends,
The mom speaking here. We received some sad news yesterday. It seems Scott has not wanted to worry his parents with health issues and he is really struggling with one. He has been having severe headaches which have gotten to the point where he is unable to work without becoming very ill. The good news is he had a CAT Scan which came back clear. The bad news is the headaches continue to become worse. The area medical adviser has met with the doctors, Scott, and President Watkins and they have made the decision that Scott should return home for treatment on a medical release. I spoke to President Watkins today and he told me what a great missionary Scott is. Scott is currently serving as a zone leader and was asked by the president to obtain his driver's license in Spain. I know he is highly thought of. President Watkins said that Scott is sad to be coming home but is in such pain he knows that he needs to receive treatment. We do not have his flight plans yet but have been told he should arrive on the 18th or 19th. He will be honorably released at that time. Please remember him in your prayers. Here is his latest letter.
Dear Family
I am going to start with Dad's letter. Currently I am in the city of Oviedo, which is in the province of Asturias. Little known fact, Asturias is Brad Pitt's favorite part of Europe, in case anyone was wondering. And yeah, we had to go to another city to watch conference, and it is a place along the beach, so we got to see the ocean and sand. I am a little bit sad for BYU, but then again I am not going to be going there after the mission, so I guess I'm not too sad. I am also happy to hear the Kirilenko might leave the Jazz. I am just hoping for a new championship team next year. So whatever is necessary for that to happen sounds good to me. And missing sking is definitely going to be harder here seeing as there is a pretty good mountain like 30 minutes away. But it will be even better next time I go I guess. I was talking with a kid who loves to board, and I told him he should learn to ski. He said he would like to and now I am glad I can tell him that I can let him borrow a pair of skis because my Dad just keeps buying new equipment.
Anyway, the weather is a lot wetter here. I kind of like it. Maybe I will move to Washington after the mission. We have had it rain on us during our soccer activity two Saturdays in a row and it is always way more fun that way. And wow, Craig is going to Mexico. What part? Does he know that I speak Spanish? Actually supposedly from what Spaniards tell me, Mexican Spanish from Spanish here is the most different from any other Spanish, so I would probably struggle in Mexico. And so neither Craig nor Dennis have proposed yet? Ha, ha. I keep thinking I am going to go home to married siblings but maybe not. And yes, you can finish applying to the U whenever you want. About transfers, there is one the 16 or 17 of October, whatever Monday that is, but I think my companion and I are both staying. I still have no idea what I am doing and he just barely figured it out, so if we both don't stay, I will just be a little lost puppy. Speaking of lost puppy, I got beso-ed again. This time by a 17 year old Ecuadorian, all of a sudden I felt the warm smooth cheek of a woman against mine. I don't even know if I feel bad, because it was the tenderest mercy of the Lord at that time. Ha, ha. It's funny though because if one companion takes it, the other has to as well, or you just make the person super embarrassed and defensive. So next time we will have to tell her we don't beso. And actually there is a ton of work here. In our branch of 40 people, like 15 of them are recent converts from one year, and 15 others are recent converts from 2 years. Then a couple other families and junk come that have been members for a while.
Well the only other thing of interest was conference. But I feel like missionaries also just talk a ton about it, so I will be short. It's real good. Oh, another funny story was from Monday, when we were shopping for food, we were thinking about buying a leg of ham. Like a leg, from a pig, cured, and sold. And while we were debating this in English, some 21 year old blond blue eyed New Yorker said, oh wow English. Where are you from? We then told her a little bit about what we did and who we were, then she told us a little bit about pig legs, and how black hoofed pig legs are always way better than white hoofed legs. So, we decided not to buy the leg, because it had a white hoof. We actually ended up talking to her for like an hour, which was way weird considering we were right by the refrigerated section and I was freezing cold, and it was pretty funny because my companion did this backwards contact. He asked, have you ever asked your students about religion? They always are either Catholics or atoes because a lot of people don't like how every Catholic has to be baptized. They always like having the choice and feel like people should be baptized when they want to and when they know things. Coincidentally, that is what we are sharing. A message about baptism. Ha, ha. I was like half laughing because it was pretty sly and pretty direct. I don't even think she knows she got contacted. We are actually going to try and teach her soon. Other than that, the work continues. Stay pretty. E. D.
The mom speaking here. We received some sad news yesterday. It seems Scott has not wanted to worry his parents with health issues and he is really struggling with one. He has been having severe headaches which have gotten to the point where he is unable to work without becoming very ill. The good news is he had a CAT Scan which came back clear. The bad news is the headaches continue to become worse. The area medical adviser has met with the doctors, Scott, and President Watkins and they have made the decision that Scott should return home for treatment on a medical release. I spoke to President Watkins today and he told me what a great missionary Scott is. Scott is currently serving as a zone leader and was asked by the president to obtain his driver's license in Spain. I know he is highly thought of. President Watkins said that Scott is sad to be coming home but is in such pain he knows that he needs to receive treatment. We do not have his flight plans yet but have been told he should arrive on the 18th or 19th. He will be honorably released at that time. Please remember him in your prayers. Here is his latest letter.
Dear Family
I am going to start with Dad's letter. Currently I am in the city of Oviedo, which is in the province of Asturias. Little known fact, Asturias is Brad Pitt's favorite part of Europe, in case anyone was wondering. And yeah, we had to go to another city to watch conference, and it is a place along the beach, so we got to see the ocean and sand. I am a little bit sad for BYU, but then again I am not going to be going there after the mission, so I guess I'm not too sad. I am also happy to hear the Kirilenko might leave the Jazz. I am just hoping for a new championship team next year. So whatever is necessary for that to happen sounds good to me. And missing sking is definitely going to be harder here seeing as there is a pretty good mountain like 30 minutes away. But it will be even better next time I go I guess. I was talking with a kid who loves to board, and I told him he should learn to ski. He said he would like to and now I am glad I can tell him that I can let him borrow a pair of skis because my Dad just keeps buying new equipment.
Anyway, the weather is a lot wetter here. I kind of like it. Maybe I will move to Washington after the mission. We have had it rain on us during our soccer activity two Saturdays in a row and it is always way more fun that way. And wow, Craig is going to Mexico. What part? Does he know that I speak Spanish? Actually supposedly from what Spaniards tell me, Mexican Spanish from Spanish here is the most different from any other Spanish, so I would probably struggle in Mexico. And so neither Craig nor Dennis have proposed yet? Ha, ha. I keep thinking I am going to go home to married siblings but maybe not. And yes, you can finish applying to the U whenever you want. About transfers, there is one the 16 or 17 of October, whatever Monday that is, but I think my companion and I are both staying. I still have no idea what I am doing and he just barely figured it out, so if we both don't stay, I will just be a little lost puppy. Speaking of lost puppy, I got beso-ed again. This time by a 17 year old Ecuadorian, all of a sudden I felt the warm smooth cheek of a woman against mine. I don't even know if I feel bad, because it was the tenderest mercy of the Lord at that time. Ha, ha. It's funny though because if one companion takes it, the other has to as well, or you just make the person super embarrassed and defensive. So next time we will have to tell her we don't beso. And actually there is a ton of work here. In our branch of 40 people, like 15 of them are recent converts from one year, and 15 others are recent converts from 2 years. Then a couple other families and junk come that have been members for a while.
Well the only other thing of interest was conference. But I feel like missionaries also just talk a ton about it, so I will be short. It's real good. Oh, another funny story was from Monday, when we were shopping for food, we were thinking about buying a leg of ham. Like a leg, from a pig, cured, and sold. And while we were debating this in English, some 21 year old blond blue eyed New Yorker said, oh wow English. Where are you from? We then told her a little bit about what we did and who we were, then she told us a little bit about pig legs, and how black hoofed pig legs are always way better than white hoofed legs. So, we decided not to buy the leg, because it had a white hoof. We actually ended up talking to her for like an hour, which was way weird considering we were right by the refrigerated section and I was freezing cold, and it was pretty funny because my companion did this backwards contact. He asked, have you ever asked your students about religion? They always are either Catholics or atoes because a lot of people don't like how every Catholic has to be baptized. They always like having the choice and feel like people should be baptized when they want to and when they know things. Coincidentally, that is what we are sharing. A message about baptism. Ha, ha. I was like half laughing because it was pretty sly and pretty direct. I don't even think she knows she got contacted. We are actually going to try and teach her soon. Other than that, the work continues. Stay pretty. E. D.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sweet 20 and just got "Beso-ed"
My whole letter is going to come from what happened to me Saturday. So, we had our two baptisms planned at 5 and 6:30, weird yeah, so in the morning we were just contacting, making the baptismal program, and filling up the font and junk. We were talking to this large Spanish family for like 10 minutes, and all of a sudden someone like shoved me. I was standing near a crosswalk so I figured someone just brushed by me on accident. I turn around and see this old guy, with a cane, laughing and mumbling to himself still with the hand used to push me in the air. So, then the Spanish family and my companion burst out laughing and it took me a second to realize what happened. Then we all laughed. But be careful of those old Spaniards, they are still kind of strong.
Then, my companion started talking to some other person, and I didn't realize so I kept walking and talked to some older Spanish lady, and we told her that we were going to have a baptismal service later that day and that she was invited. Well I really didn't think twice about it but, she showed up. We will address that later. So, we went to the capilla to finish filling up the font, and my companion decided, hey, lets go contact while we leave it filling up, I was like no dude, not a good idea, we are going to forget. He assured me we wouldn't forget. I told him if we did it was all his fault. Well after 3 really super good long contacts, we realized we needed to go home and make the cookies and brownies. So we went home, and started making the cookies and brownies. After about an hour, my companion screamed, "We forgot the water in the church!"
So we went running to the church with the cookies and junk as fast as we could, only to find that someone got there like an hour early and had turned off the water and cleaned up the little that spilled. So, then we were like, phew, only to realize that we didn't turn off the oven. So, like 10 minutes before the baptism was about to start, we ran back and turned off the oven, then ran back to the church to try and get there on time. We were only 15 minutes late so it was okay. The baptism went fine, and I went to say goodbye to this sweet old Spanish lady who came, and she just kind of went for the beso, or cheek kiss. So, after almost 15 months of being clean, I got my first beso, and liked it. No, but it was a funny story. Even funnier is if one companion gets kissed, the other one has to as well so as my companion was laughing at me, I just turned and gave him the, "Your turn buddy" look. It was pretty funny.
Stay Pretty
E.D.
Then, my companion started talking to some other person, and I didn't realize so I kept walking and talked to some older Spanish lady, and we told her that we were going to have a baptismal service later that day and that she was invited. Well I really didn't think twice about it but, she showed up. We will address that later. So, we went to the capilla to finish filling up the font, and my companion decided, hey, lets go contact while we leave it filling up, I was like no dude, not a good idea, we are going to forget. He assured me we wouldn't forget. I told him if we did it was all his fault. Well after 3 really super good long contacts, we realized we needed to go home and make the cookies and brownies. So we went home, and started making the cookies and brownies. After about an hour, my companion screamed, "We forgot the water in the church!"
So we went running to the church with the cookies and junk as fast as we could, only to find that someone got there like an hour early and had turned off the water and cleaned up the little that spilled. So, then we were like, phew, only to realize that we didn't turn off the oven. So, like 10 minutes before the baptism was about to start, we ran back and turned off the oven, then ran back to the church to try and get there on time. We were only 15 minutes late so it was okay. The baptism went fine, and I went to say goodbye to this sweet old Spanish lady who came, and she just kind of went for the beso, or cheek kiss. So, after almost 15 months of being clean, I got my first beso, and liked it. No, but it was a funny story. Even funnier is if one companion gets kissed, the other one has to as well so as my companion was laughing at me, I just turned and gave him the, "Your turn buddy" look. It was pretty funny.
Stay Pretty
E.D.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I Chose To Be A Missionary
Dear Parents,
You have tags now? That's way cool. Dad and I can exchange name tags without problems. Sweet. (The parents are also serving as Hispanic Initiative missionaries and have new name tags in Spanish)
Since you always talk about the dogs, I will talk about how I talk about dogs. I don't know why, but here in my new area, there are a ton of Miniature Schnauzers. So, I decided to start talking to everyone who had one, and just show them my pictures. It's funny because the people love talking about their dogs, just like you, so it's been a pretty effective way of contacting Spaniards. And it's always funny because people that have Schnauzers tend to have the same personality. Don't have the slightest idea why.
And yes, I kind of accepted living at home. (Scott is thinking about transferring to the Uof U) But I also figure if I live at home, you will buy me more things, so I think it will be okay. Plus I might actually study. Maybe. And yes, the health issues have been resolved. Modern medicine eh?
I am racking my brain with other interesting things from last week. Yesterday I did exchanges with a fairly new missionary. I definitely am super grateful for my ability with the language. I don't miss not knowing what is going on. Actually right now a huge problem in our zone is the lack of missionaries speaking Spanish and the lack of contacting that happens. We have no idea what we can even do more than remind people that they chose to come here. I guess something that caught my attention a lot from this week is that seeing miracles is an act of agency. We choose to see them. I don't think a lot of missionaries realize that, so it's really hard to help people who don't believe. My companion and I, who is my soul mate, sometimes just hug at night for long periods of time because we both want to work and like it. He has had some pretty difficult companions his mission.
Okay, yeah I got a story. So, we live on the 4th floor, and right across the street from us, on the 4th floor, there is another piso. So, after working, we were in the kitchen preparing mate, and we noticed like 8 girls in this piso. So, we just start like flexing, doing push-ups, just being as dumb as possible. Then, we had an American flag hanging up on the wall, so we decided to put it out the kitchen window. We did it while speaking English really loud. The girls just started laughing hysterically and said in English, do you speak Spanish? We say a little, in Spanish. They said, party, here, tonight. We said, in Spanish, it's just we can't jump that far. They laughed and tried to talk but we decided to leave the room or something. Well, we sort of talked to them, maybe awkward smiles, across the street, and laughs at them the rest of the night. Anyway, later that night, when we were sleeping, someone rang the doorbell. This woke me up, and my companion, but he didn't remember because he was drugged up on sleeping pills, and then I just proceeded to hear a lot of footsteps and girls' voices. I was a little worried for my well being, but my laziness and tiredness kept me in my bed, don't even worry. But yeah, so there is the danger of having an incredibly good looking companion and a sexy American accent.
Okay, stay pretty. Elder Dunn
You have tags now? That's way cool. Dad and I can exchange name tags without problems. Sweet. (The parents are also serving as Hispanic Initiative missionaries and have new name tags in Spanish)
Since you always talk about the dogs, I will talk about how I talk about dogs. I don't know why, but here in my new area, there are a ton of Miniature Schnauzers. So, I decided to start talking to everyone who had one, and just show them my pictures. It's funny because the people love talking about their dogs, just like you, so it's been a pretty effective way of contacting Spaniards. And it's always funny because people that have Schnauzers tend to have the same personality. Don't have the slightest idea why.
And yes, I kind of accepted living at home. (Scott is thinking about transferring to the Uof U) But I also figure if I live at home, you will buy me more things, so I think it will be okay. Plus I might actually study. Maybe. And yes, the health issues have been resolved. Modern medicine eh?
I am racking my brain with other interesting things from last week. Yesterday I did exchanges with a fairly new missionary. I definitely am super grateful for my ability with the language. I don't miss not knowing what is going on. Actually right now a huge problem in our zone is the lack of missionaries speaking Spanish and the lack of contacting that happens. We have no idea what we can even do more than remind people that they chose to come here. I guess something that caught my attention a lot from this week is that seeing miracles is an act of agency. We choose to see them. I don't think a lot of missionaries realize that, so it's really hard to help people who don't believe. My companion and I, who is my soul mate, sometimes just hug at night for long periods of time because we both want to work and like it. He has had some pretty difficult companions his mission.
Okay, yeah I got a story. So, we live on the 4th floor, and right across the street from us, on the 4th floor, there is another piso. So, after working, we were in the kitchen preparing mate, and we noticed like 8 girls in this piso. So, we just start like flexing, doing push-ups, just being as dumb as possible. Then, we had an American flag hanging up on the wall, so we decided to put it out the kitchen window. We did it while speaking English really loud. The girls just started laughing hysterically and said in English, do you speak Spanish? We say a little, in Spanish. They said, party, here, tonight. We said, in Spanish, it's just we can't jump that far. They laughed and tried to talk but we decided to leave the room or something. Well, we sort of talked to them, maybe awkward smiles, across the street, and laughs at them the rest of the night. Anyway, later that night, when we were sleeping, someone rang the doorbell. This woke me up, and my companion, but he didn't remember because he was drugged up on sleeping pills, and then I just proceeded to hear a lot of footsteps and girls' voices. I was a little worried for my well being, but my laziness and tiredness kept me in my bed, don't even worry. But yeah, so there is the danger of having an incredibly good looking companion and a sexy American accent.
Okay, stay pretty. Elder Dunn
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Heading Up North!
I figure you were getting bored with boring letters, so I started doing something every night to increase the level of awesomeness. I just write one thing about the day that I can include in a letter home. Actually a lot has happened, so I will just go in order. And by order I mean from the most interesting, not chronologically.
I am going to Oviedo on Monday. It's way up north. I am pretty super stoked because it's a great area with a lot of people and I will have a great companion. I am also going to be a zone leader, which means, I will actually have to shape up now. We found out today, way early, so we have time to make travel arrangements and junk. I am kind of sad because this little town has the town festival the week after I go. Two members and an investigator are having birthday parties, there is a special zone conference for only the Madrid missionaries, with a general authority, and we have a baptismal date. But it just means the new Elder here will love it. Actually it's my companion from the CCM here in Spain, and like my best friend in the mission, so that's cool. I also knew my new companion in the CCM, so we will have fun catching up. So that is that.
So I have this brilliant idea. Because I don't really believe that missionaries in South America contact like we contact here. If Spain missionaries and South American missionaries just switched halfway through their missions, I think it would stir things up quite a bit. We went to pass by a Peruvian guy's one night, and he hadn't returned from work, but his brother answered the door. We just decided to talk to him till he let us in, and after 10 minutes of talking at the door, we were inside drinking juice and eating pastries. It's just like a gold mine. I will definitely miss South Americans, but I will be working the Spaniards up north!
So, I have definitely learned the danger and the beauty in talking to young people. Three people have told us they want to get baptized in our church, (they have no idea what that includes but they said it), so there is gold in the youth. But we have this group of 13-16 year olds that we talked to and every time they see us, they come running up to us and hug us. They love practicing their English on us. The problem is they only know like 5 words, and 4 of them I would never repeat. But it usually turns into us teaching them the Law of Chastity, or Word of Wisdom, or some commandment. It actually turned out to be a sweet experience, because I was talking to one of them more seriously while my companion handled the rest of the group ( brave man.) The boy was like, you guys are missing out on the pleasures of life. I just asked him, if they really are the pleasures of life, why do you think we don't do them? He just kind of thought, I don't know... maybe because you are all weird? Then I asked, why do you think millions of people wouldn't do these things voluntarily, and he was all like, I don't know. Then I asked him if God told you that you could have a happier life by not doing these things, would you stop, and he said, well I guess. Then we almost got to the subject of prayer but the group got bored with my companion and started harassing me. But, two of the girls, 13 year olds and not virgins in case you were wondering, asked us if girls can be missionaries too because they want to talk to people about God. So in between f-words and crude jokes, we are slowing making progress with them.
Alright last story of the week. On Monday, we just had nothing going our way. Three set lessons already bailed, so we were running by some back up plans and contacting a bit. Well we left to go to our next supposed set lesson, and while we were walking on a rode of chalets (chalets are like nice condos, where wealthier Spaniards usually live), my companion in the middle of the road said, lets knock here. I was like, OK Mr. loving to waste time. Yeah, so he found a South American family of 4 that wants to learn more. Ha, ha. I just kind of realized, my companion is boss. It was a pretty sweet little experience. Other than that, we continue with Romanians that don't believe in God but can quote the whole Bible, and a couple of golden people that need to get married. Stay pretty.
I am going to Oviedo on Monday. It's way up north. I am pretty super stoked because it's a great area with a lot of people and I will have a great companion. I am also going to be a zone leader, which means, I will actually have to shape up now. We found out today, way early, so we have time to make travel arrangements and junk. I am kind of sad because this little town has the town festival the week after I go. Two members and an investigator are having birthday parties, there is a special zone conference for only the Madrid missionaries, with a general authority, and we have a baptismal date. But it just means the new Elder here will love it. Actually it's my companion from the CCM here in Spain, and like my best friend in the mission, so that's cool. I also knew my new companion in the CCM, so we will have fun catching up. So that is that.
So I have this brilliant idea. Because I don't really believe that missionaries in South America contact like we contact here. If Spain missionaries and South American missionaries just switched halfway through their missions, I think it would stir things up quite a bit. We went to pass by a Peruvian guy's one night, and he hadn't returned from work, but his brother answered the door. We just decided to talk to him till he let us in, and after 10 minutes of talking at the door, we were inside drinking juice and eating pastries. It's just like a gold mine. I will definitely miss South Americans, but I will be working the Spaniards up north!
So, I have definitely learned the danger and the beauty in talking to young people. Three people have told us they want to get baptized in our church, (they have no idea what that includes but they said it), so there is gold in the youth. But we have this group of 13-16 year olds that we talked to and every time they see us, they come running up to us and hug us. They love practicing their English on us. The problem is they only know like 5 words, and 4 of them I would never repeat. But it usually turns into us teaching them the Law of Chastity, or Word of Wisdom, or some commandment. It actually turned out to be a sweet experience, because I was talking to one of them more seriously while my companion handled the rest of the group ( brave man.) The boy was like, you guys are missing out on the pleasures of life. I just asked him, if they really are the pleasures of life, why do you think we don't do them? He just kind of thought, I don't know... maybe because you are all weird? Then I asked, why do you think millions of people wouldn't do these things voluntarily, and he was all like, I don't know. Then I asked him if God told you that you could have a happier life by not doing these things, would you stop, and he said, well I guess. Then we almost got to the subject of prayer but the group got bored with my companion and started harassing me. But, two of the girls, 13 year olds and not virgins in case you were wondering, asked us if girls can be missionaries too because they want to talk to people about God. So in between f-words and crude jokes, we are slowing making progress with them.
Alright last story of the week. On Monday, we just had nothing going our way. Three set lessons already bailed, so we were running by some back up plans and contacting a bit. Well we left to go to our next supposed set lesson, and while we were walking on a rode of chalets (chalets are like nice condos, where wealthier Spaniards usually live), my companion in the middle of the road said, lets knock here. I was like, OK Mr. loving to waste time. Yeah, so he found a South American family of 4 that wants to learn more. Ha, ha. I just kind of realized, my companion is boss. It was a pretty sweet little experience. Other than that, we continue with Romanians that don't believe in God but can quote the whole Bible, and a couple of golden people that need to get married. Stay pretty.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The Same - Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Alright, well don't even worry about the package. (Scott requested a package which I sent. He forgot to tell me that the address had changed and now I have the package back here. $$$$) I will make do with what I have, which is what I am doing right now. I don't know how I always run out of money before the end of the month, but I always do, so now it is just pasta/rice/or potatoes for 2 meals a day. I also still have a little bit of bread but it's going fast. It's great though, because when people ask us what we eat, or if we live well, we can honestly say, nope not really. Ha, ha.
Yes, the driving permit arrived, first one out of all the people to get it. Now I just have to learn how to drive a stick! Well, the only other question you really had was what else we do P-days besides email. Really it depends. Today we went to the temple and then played soccer and now we are emailing. I think I am just going to take a nap and maybe write a letter, but I have been going like 3 months without writing one so I don't really want to break the trend. Last week we went to El Escorial, which was really just a giant palace, I think one of the biggest in Spain. It's pretty cool I guess, if you like old historic palaces. See one of them and you see them all. Unless you are Dad.
I haven't really done a whole lot else. I have an appointment with the doctor this Friday, because I have been having some serious headaches and urination issues. I think one day I went like 30 times. None of them were longer than like 15 seconds, but every time I thought I was going to explode. Still have no idea why I have so many headaches, but I figure it is good practice for work. Even though I don't want to work, you just have to make yourself. And I didn't even get a reaction from you about the whole marriage rush excitement. What's up?
I really just don't know what you expect to hear from me. I am the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Thousands of things happen, but they all just seem so normal. We have some good experiences with youth every day. Most of them want to practice English, and none of them can even say "Hello, how are you?" properly. So we just talk to them with their bad accents, and they think they are pretty good. Anyway, probably the best story this week was we were playing basketball with these two kids we are teaching, and it started to rain, but we just kind of kept playing, before you know it, we are all just completely wet and dirty and having the time of our lives. Those two love us ha, ha. Every time we see them, they just ask us, when are we going to hang out again? We just gotta get them to church. Anyway, stay pretty.
Elder Dunn
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Hoping For A Transfer
Did you put a door from the dining room to your room? Or do I just not remember the house at all? Sounds like the house work is coming along really well. I am real glad I won't be there for any of it.
Well I actually have no idea why I am getting a license. I am kind of scared because only 2 others are getting it, and the APs are required to have them. Luckily I am pretty sure my sarcastic nature will never allow me to be a leader. There is an area in the mission that is huge that has no Elders in it because the ward leaders don't give support. But supposedly, if there is someone that wants to learn more, or if there is a good reference, we are still suppose to send elders. So I might be that guy, who just drives and teaches. That would be sweet I would just gain like 50 lbs I am sure.
I am definitely hoping I go at the end of this transfer, which is like the 6th or 7th of September. When half the city is on vacation, and there are only like 50,000 people max in our city, and we only ever do contacts in half the city, it just feels like we talk to the same people every day. The good part about it is we know a ton of people and have a lot of friends. We also waste of lot of time because the majority of these people want nothing to do with the gospel but love talking to us. We have to say, "We are in a hurry, gotta go" like 5 times, then eventually just walk away because they won't stop talking sometimes. It's pretty funny. But yeah, I hope I go.
Yeah, I love my companion right now. We get along great. He has tough skin so we just make fun of each other all day and it's great. Plus, he likes basketball, so we get along great. We talked to some kids just carrying around a basketball one day, and told them to call us if they ever needed more people to play. We ended up playing with them one night, and they were terrible at basketball, but they are both super intrigued by what we do so we are going to teach them tomorrow. A 20 year old and a 15 year old, aka two more people that could serve a mission. And I think I am learning to study... what I like to study. In my free time, I usually just read something. The beautiful part of Mormonism is there is always something new to read. Go modern revelation. So there is always something new to learn.
Well, exciting news from this week, not a whole lot. Lots of contacting, actually I am convinced that we contact more than any other mission in the world. I would say we attempt to talk to 300-400 people a week. And we only successfully contact about 130 of those. Lots of rejection. Bring it on ladies. No I am joking. And FYI, you might just hate me mom. After being on a mission, and talking with other elders, talking with people about always progressing, having eternal families, and other junk, the whole marriage idea is pretty intriguing. Having kids is a different story, but I can see myself getting married fast now. Ha, ha. Anyway, on that note, stay pretty!
P.S. This is only the second area Scott has been in for his whole mission.
PP.S. From the MOM - I told Scott he couldn't get married until they had health insurance! A job with and income would also be a great benefit I think, but then I am just the momster!
Well I actually have no idea why I am getting a license. I am kind of scared because only 2 others are getting it, and the APs are required to have them. Luckily I am pretty sure my sarcastic nature will never allow me to be a leader. There is an area in the mission that is huge that has no Elders in it because the ward leaders don't give support. But supposedly, if there is someone that wants to learn more, or if there is a good reference, we are still suppose to send elders. So I might be that guy, who just drives and teaches. That would be sweet I would just gain like 50 lbs I am sure.
I am definitely hoping I go at the end of this transfer, which is like the 6th or 7th of September. When half the city is on vacation, and there are only like 50,000 people max in our city, and we only ever do contacts in half the city, it just feels like we talk to the same people every day. The good part about it is we know a ton of people and have a lot of friends. We also waste of lot of time because the majority of these people want nothing to do with the gospel but love talking to us. We have to say, "We are in a hurry, gotta go" like 5 times, then eventually just walk away because they won't stop talking sometimes. It's pretty funny. But yeah, I hope I go.
Yeah, I love my companion right now. We get along great. He has tough skin so we just make fun of each other all day and it's great. Plus, he likes basketball, so we get along great. We talked to some kids just carrying around a basketball one day, and told them to call us if they ever needed more people to play. We ended up playing with them one night, and they were terrible at basketball, but they are both super intrigued by what we do so we are going to teach them tomorrow. A 20 year old and a 15 year old, aka two more people that could serve a mission. And I think I am learning to study... what I like to study. In my free time, I usually just read something. The beautiful part of Mormonism is there is always something new to read. Go modern revelation. So there is always something new to learn.
Well, exciting news from this week, not a whole lot. Lots of contacting, actually I am convinced that we contact more than any other mission in the world. I would say we attempt to talk to 300-400 people a week. And we only successfully contact about 130 of those. Lots of rejection. Bring it on ladies. No I am joking. And FYI, you might just hate me mom. After being on a mission, and talking with other elders, talking with people about always progressing, having eternal families, and other junk, the whole marriage idea is pretty intriguing. Having kids is a different story, but I can see myself getting married fast now. Ha, ha. Anyway, on that note, stay pretty!
P.S. This is only the second area Scott has been in for his whole mission.
PP.S. From the MOM - I told Scott he couldn't get married until they had health insurance! A job with and income would also be a great benefit I think, but then I am just the momster!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
OOPS, I forgot to post last week's.
Ha, ha. You try teaching Romanians, then you will have an even greater appreciation of your knowledge of the gospel and agency. No, really Romanians are great. I'm not really required to love them though right? Because they are from Spain? No I am just kidding, actually I really am just getting super fond of them. There are just three kinds of them. Super religious way nice ones, super religious way closed ones, and non religious couldn't care less. Lately we are teaching this one guy, who is super great. But whenever we go over, he always tells us that we need to read the bible more so that we can teach the true gospel better. (Little fun fact, I am more than halfway through the Old Testament, and I will finish even if it kills me.) But it's super frustrating that not only will these people not even listen to us, they won't even pray about it. I am learning a lot about how to teach people, without teaching people. Aka, they ask me a question, and I respond, can I answer that with a question? Then you just go from there. I think it will really come in handy with girlfriends after the mission. Especially when I do something stupid. Actually, probably will with you too Mom. ha, ha.
Anyway.
This week we were knocking some chalets, or for us like condos, and we were almost done. On the last one, we talked to some guy who was leaving on vacation that moment. We walked up, started talking, and immediately he was like... "I have some extra juice in the fridge that I want to get rid of while I am on vacation, do you guys want it?" Then he gave us a bunch of juice, which was nice because it was a million flippin' degrees. Then we talked to him a little bit more and he wants us to come by later. Nicest Spaniard I have ever contacted I think.
I really don't know what else to say this week. Really, inside jokes make missionary work awesome. I am a big fan of dodgeball, which we played today, and I am also a big fan of people from Andalucia, in English I think. They really just have the best accent. Imagine the biggest lisp ever, double it, and then give it to the whole state of Utah. Now you understand. So sweet. Anyway, stay pretty.
Anyway.
This week we were knocking some chalets, or for us like condos, and we were almost done. On the last one, we talked to some guy who was leaving on vacation that moment. We walked up, started talking, and immediately he was like... "I have some extra juice in the fridge that I want to get rid of while I am on vacation, do you guys want it?" Then he gave us a bunch of juice, which was nice because it was a million flippin' degrees. Then we talked to him a little bit more and he wants us to come by later. Nicest Spaniard I have ever contacted I think.
I really don't know what else to say this week. Really, inside jokes make missionary work awesome. I am a big fan of dodgeball, which we played today, and I am also a big fan of people from Andalucia, in English I think. They really just have the best accent. Imagine the biggest lisp ever, double it, and then give it to the whole state of Utah. Now you understand. So sweet. Anyway, stay pretty.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Don't forget Scott's address changed.
Elder Dunn
Calle Fuerteventura 4 2, Oficina 8-B
28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes
Madrid Spain
Alright, well your questions answered.
There are always a million interesting teaching and contacting stories. Just the amount of space and time is limited to write. I will tell you a super sweet one then a super funny one. So some Spanish lady answered a door when we were knocking, I think she was just being nice to us and not slamming the door, but it turned out to be a super good contact. My companion and I both just ended up bearing testimony about having a purpose in life and it looked liked she was impacted a little bit. Then she said she is going on vacation, like any good Spaniard, but that we should call her in 2 weeks. Then, the next day, as we were walking through the park here, a bunch of youth starting saying stuff. Whenever they talk first, it automatically means they are going to listen to us. So we go over and start talking to them, and it was going pretty well. But one of the kids, trying to be funny, just kept hitting on my companion. They invited us to come play cards with them sometime, and we agreed as long as the kid isn't there or isn't making gay jokes the whole time. It was actually super funny cause my companion didn't know what he was saying really, and was responding to him. When we don't understand a question, we usually just say ¨si¨. So my companion actually agreed to a back rub, without knowing it. Then I told him that we had to go. Ha, ha. Good times.
I should be sending home the driver's license junk today. And yes, I can make paella. It's really not too hard, you just need the pan. I will probably buy a big one when I come home. You can feed like 20 people with it. AND it is definitely not cooling off. My garments now just carry a yellow tint permanently. I am also thinking about buying others, but I want to use my resources the best I can, aka on more European pants. So we will see what happens. I loved the piso in Toledo, but because it was super old and a piece of junk. The one here is super big and super nice and we have a patio, so I don't complain, but I still sometimes miss living in a super old piso. My ward is like the 2nd biggest ward in the mission. One hundred and eighty to 200 people, which is why our bishop and the stake want to divide it, we just need a building. I never speak in this ward, but this Sunday I am teaching gospel doctrine class. No, not really, I will be using their class time but to do a, 'How to be member missionary without scaring people away class.' Should be good. I will probably be teaching most of it seeing as it's a pretty complex vocabulary for a greenie. I haven't really been anywhere new but next week we want to go to Valle de los Caidos, valley of the fallen, and do a little hike, take a picture of the giant cross thing, and go to church there or something. We will see.
Well that was a mess of a paragraph. I think I will throw in something that after being a member of the church for 20 years, I never learned until now. We are the only church that I know of, that is not based in any book, nor in the best interpretations of those books. We are based on the current and actual word of God. We use the Bible, we use the Book of Mormon, we use D&C and the Pearl of Great Price, but they only have their set value. Today, we listen to a true prophet of God. Not any other church has that. I learned this from a lesson, and by a lesson I mean every lesson with a Romanian, they say, I will read your book to see if it is in line with the Bible. I ask, will you ask God if its true. They say, it's true if it's in accordance with the Bible. I say, well what if there is something here that isn't in the bible, then what? They say it's not true. I say, and what if God says it is!?! They say, God won't say it because it's against the Bible. So many churches limit their potential by limiting God. God is not a book. God is not several books. We cannot limit God, but in the attempt we will limit us and our knowledge. I show Romanians every day scriptures in the bible that talk about a prophet, twelve apostles, and the seventy. I ask, will you pray to see if these men are men called of God? They say, give me their words and I will read them and see if it is in accordance with the Bible. I just don't understand how people say they believe in God, but really don't believe in anything but a book. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask the Bible? or God? So I was thinking about this, and in the Liahona, Ensign here, there was a super cool talk about this. First, Abraham knew that killing was not OK. Then, he received a new commandment to kill his son, one that went in contrary to another previous commandment. Then he received another commandment, that was directly contradicting the one the Lord previously gave 5 minutes ago. And if he would have obeyed the first, and not the second, he would have committed a sin, and been found guilty. But, by obeying the living word of a living God, he was guided and was able to obey. We are not based in books, nor in the interpretations of man, but we are based in the current and actual word of God. Pretty sweet huh? I am sure a lot of people have realized this, but I never really thought about it until recently.
On a lighter note, we were in church and this member, that we know a little bit but not that well, and doesn't speak hardly any English, walks past us, looks at me, and says, "You are so fat." I said, "Wow, I didn't know we were that close of friends." Then I made fun of him for having the silliest European mullet haircut thing. So it worked out.
Stay pretty.
Elder Dunn
Elder Dunn
Calle Fuerteventura 4 2, Oficina 8-B
28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes
Madrid Spain
Alright, well your questions answered.
There are always a million interesting teaching and contacting stories. Just the amount of space and time is limited to write. I will tell you a super sweet one then a super funny one. So some Spanish lady answered a door when we were knocking, I think she was just being nice to us and not slamming the door, but it turned out to be a super good contact. My companion and I both just ended up bearing testimony about having a purpose in life and it looked liked she was impacted a little bit. Then she said she is going on vacation, like any good Spaniard, but that we should call her in 2 weeks. Then, the next day, as we were walking through the park here, a bunch of youth starting saying stuff. Whenever they talk first, it automatically means they are going to listen to us. So we go over and start talking to them, and it was going pretty well. But one of the kids, trying to be funny, just kept hitting on my companion. They invited us to come play cards with them sometime, and we agreed as long as the kid isn't there or isn't making gay jokes the whole time. It was actually super funny cause my companion didn't know what he was saying really, and was responding to him. When we don't understand a question, we usually just say ¨si¨. So my companion actually agreed to a back rub, without knowing it. Then I told him that we had to go. Ha, ha. Good times.
I should be sending home the driver's license junk today. And yes, I can make paella. It's really not too hard, you just need the pan. I will probably buy a big one when I come home. You can feed like 20 people with it. AND it is definitely not cooling off. My garments now just carry a yellow tint permanently. I am also thinking about buying others, but I want to use my resources the best I can, aka on more European pants. So we will see what happens. I loved the piso in Toledo, but because it was super old and a piece of junk. The one here is super big and super nice and we have a patio, so I don't complain, but I still sometimes miss living in a super old piso. My ward is like the 2nd biggest ward in the mission. One hundred and eighty to 200 people, which is why our bishop and the stake want to divide it, we just need a building. I never speak in this ward, but this Sunday I am teaching gospel doctrine class. No, not really, I will be using their class time but to do a, 'How to be member missionary without scaring people away class.' Should be good. I will probably be teaching most of it seeing as it's a pretty complex vocabulary for a greenie. I haven't really been anywhere new but next week we want to go to Valle de los Caidos, valley of the fallen, and do a little hike, take a picture of the giant cross thing, and go to church there or something. We will see.
Well that was a mess of a paragraph. I think I will throw in something that after being a member of the church for 20 years, I never learned until now. We are the only church that I know of, that is not based in any book, nor in the best interpretations of those books. We are based on the current and actual word of God. We use the Bible, we use the Book of Mormon, we use D&C and the Pearl of Great Price, but they only have their set value. Today, we listen to a true prophet of God. Not any other church has that. I learned this from a lesson, and by a lesson I mean every lesson with a Romanian, they say, I will read your book to see if it is in line with the Bible. I ask, will you ask God if its true. They say, it's true if it's in accordance with the Bible. I say, well what if there is something here that isn't in the bible, then what? They say it's not true. I say, and what if God says it is!?! They say, God won't say it because it's against the Bible. So many churches limit their potential by limiting God. God is not a book. God is not several books. We cannot limit God, but in the attempt we will limit us and our knowledge. I show Romanians every day scriptures in the bible that talk about a prophet, twelve apostles, and the seventy. I ask, will you pray to see if these men are men called of God? They say, give me their words and I will read them and see if it is in accordance with the Bible. I just don't understand how people say they believe in God, but really don't believe in anything but a book. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask the Bible? or God? So I was thinking about this, and in the Liahona, Ensign here, there was a super cool talk about this. First, Abraham knew that killing was not OK. Then, he received a new commandment to kill his son, one that went in contrary to another previous commandment. Then he received another commandment, that was directly contradicting the one the Lord previously gave 5 minutes ago. And if he would have obeyed the first, and not the second, he would have committed a sin, and been found guilty. But, by obeying the living word of a living God, he was guided and was able to obey. We are not based in books, nor in the interpretations of man, but we are based in the current and actual word of God. Pretty sweet huh? I am sure a lot of people have realized this, but I never really thought about it until recently.
On a lighter note, we were in church and this member, that we know a little bit but not that well, and doesn't speak hardly any English, walks past us, looks at me, and says, "You are so fat." I said, "Wow, I didn't know we were that close of friends." Then I made fun of him for having the silliest European mullet haircut thing. So it worked out.
Stay pretty.
Elder Dunn
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
News Flash! Roads in Spain To Be Less Safe Soon!
Oh yea, Christian is leaving soon. That is pretty cool. I hope he goes Spanish speaking! And yeah, 4 months in advance is way better. It makes planning your life around your mission, like we need to do, a little bit easier.
I really think Schnauzers have the most interesting personalities ever. I ALWAYS talk to people who have them here, and then I show them pictures of ours. It makes for a pretty good contact.
Anyway, this is week one of another transfer. President always keeps the trainers with there trainees for at least two transfers. So, I have another 6 weeks here in "Romania." I am getting pretty ready to go. Romanians are great, just as a people, they don't seem to be ready to accept that there is anything but the Bible. I can't even tell you how many times people have said God is the Bible. It makes me want to cry a little inside, then karate chop them. No, but it does make me a little sad.
I did not buy a jersey yet, because they aren't going to arrive for another month. But, I did buy a two pant suit, and two other pairs of pants. All for 70 euros. I just like the European style way too much.
And about school, I am about settled on U of U, though if I keep hearing about BYU I may have to transfer. I doubt I will go back to Utah State. So yeah, go crazy with all the counselors you need to in order to get me all transferred and junk.
Other than that, cool story is that the Red Cross boss guy invited us over Sunday night. So we went over and he gave us a tour of his house, and we talked a little bit, then he fed us. It's way cool, because he is a 55 year old super intelligent guy who lives with his dad and just reads and travels in his spare time. If I never have a family, I am just going to do what he does. He invited us to eat with him again Saturday. We are in charge of bringing the brownies, alright.
Apart from that, a large group of friends just left this last transfer, and so now I am having to make younger friends in the mission. Ha, ha. It's just like high school. And then the other day, I got some weird bug bite, that made my eye just swell up like a plum. I really think it looked like a plum. It is still big right now, but it is a lot better. Having to sleep with windows open all the time can be problematic. Anyway, I will try and attach pictures at the end of internet. Stay pretty. (No pictures came.)
FYI, President asked me to take out a drivers license. So I will be sending you stuff soon with the information, OK?
Elder Dunn
I really think Schnauzers have the most interesting personalities ever. I ALWAYS talk to people who have them here, and then I show them pictures of ours. It makes for a pretty good contact.
Anyway, this is week one of another transfer. President always keeps the trainers with there trainees for at least two transfers. So, I have another 6 weeks here in "Romania." I am getting pretty ready to go. Romanians are great, just as a people, they don't seem to be ready to accept that there is anything but the Bible. I can't even tell you how many times people have said God is the Bible. It makes me want to cry a little inside, then karate chop them. No, but it does make me a little sad.
I did not buy a jersey yet, because they aren't going to arrive for another month. But, I did buy a two pant suit, and two other pairs of pants. All for 70 euros. I just like the European style way too much.
And about school, I am about settled on U of U, though if I keep hearing about BYU I may have to transfer. I doubt I will go back to Utah State. So yeah, go crazy with all the counselors you need to in order to get me all transferred and junk.
Other than that, cool story is that the Red Cross boss guy invited us over Sunday night. So we went over and he gave us a tour of his house, and we talked a little bit, then he fed us. It's way cool, because he is a 55 year old super intelligent guy who lives with his dad and just reads and travels in his spare time. If I never have a family, I am just going to do what he does. He invited us to eat with him again Saturday. We are in charge of bringing the brownies, alright.
Apart from that, a large group of friends just left this last transfer, and so now I am having to make younger friends in the mission. Ha, ha. It's just like high school. And then the other day, I got some weird bug bite, that made my eye just swell up like a plum. I really think it looked like a plum. It is still big right now, but it is a lot better. Having to sleep with windows open all the time can be problematic. Anyway, I will try and attach pictures at the end of internet. Stay pretty. (No pictures came.)
FYI, President asked me to take out a drivers license. So I will be sending you stuff soon with the information, OK?
Elder Dunn
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Heat is ON!
Alright, well I am glad to hear that Pepper and Penny haven't changed at all. I am also glad to hear that the remodeling is going well especially when I am not there. I told Michael, Elder Karren, to treat you guys like investigators. They really aren't that busy, they just forget. So call them, set the appointment, then the day before call and remind them of the appointment. I hope you can meet with him. He is pretty legit. Anyway, on to my week.
I think I will just go with my happy thoughts again. Last Wednesday, in Sol, downtown Madrid, I bought some nice pants. Aka, super tight skinny pants. Alright Europe style. I will have to send you a picture. I never used to like skinny pants, but that is practically all they have here. And I bought the pair for 10 euros, pretty decent. I am going to wait to buy the Spain jersey until the 28th. The ones that carry the star that is only put if you win a world cup, arrive the 26th, so then on P-day, I will be blowing 70 euros. Sorry, but it's so worth it.
Then we were teaching our baptismal date in the park the other day, and she saw two friends, and told them to come here because they needed to hear the word of God. Then like 10 minutes later someone else came, so what started as a nice little lesson, turned out to be us preaching a sermon to like 4 other people. It was pretty cool. She is way sweet about sharing the gospel with everyone she knows. We also visited this little pueblo, and the pueblo started out as just a church on a hill, then they built a town around it and junk. It was probably the coolest little pueblo. We didn't have our cameras but I will try and take some pictures next time.
After zone conference last week, I set a goal to not drink soda, to run every morning, and to not eat at night. And I was going strong for 7 days, but then yesterday, an investigator just brought us out soda, so I had to drink it. But, it's okay. I didn't even like it. It's amazing the things we do for investigators.
Well other than that, not a whole lot has happened. I am about 99% sure I am going to stay here another transfer or more, so yeah. Oh, and I never want to here about it being hot there again. Last night, it only got down to about 85 degrees. We have one fan and windows for our air conditioning. During the night, I got up, turned on the showered, got wet, including my garments, then got back in bed. It was so hot. I have never been so miserable while sleeping before. Anyway, be grateful for AC. And stay pretty.
P.S. Remember Scott has a new address. It can be found on earlier July posts.
I think I will just go with my happy thoughts again. Last Wednesday, in Sol, downtown Madrid, I bought some nice pants. Aka, super tight skinny pants. Alright Europe style. I will have to send you a picture. I never used to like skinny pants, but that is practically all they have here. And I bought the pair for 10 euros, pretty decent. I am going to wait to buy the Spain jersey until the 28th. The ones that carry the star that is only put if you win a world cup, arrive the 26th, so then on P-day, I will be blowing 70 euros. Sorry, but it's so worth it.
Then we were teaching our baptismal date in the park the other day, and she saw two friends, and told them to come here because they needed to hear the word of God. Then like 10 minutes later someone else came, so what started as a nice little lesson, turned out to be us preaching a sermon to like 4 other people. It was pretty cool. She is way sweet about sharing the gospel with everyone she knows. We also visited this little pueblo, and the pueblo started out as just a church on a hill, then they built a town around it and junk. It was probably the coolest little pueblo. We didn't have our cameras but I will try and take some pictures next time.
After zone conference last week, I set a goal to not drink soda, to run every morning, and to not eat at night. And I was going strong for 7 days, but then yesterday, an investigator just brought us out soda, so I had to drink it. But, it's okay. I didn't even like it. It's amazing the things we do for investigators.
Well other than that, not a whole lot has happened. I am about 99% sure I am going to stay here another transfer or more, so yeah. Oh, and I never want to here about it being hot there again. Last night, it only got down to about 85 degrees. We have one fan and windows for our air conditioning. During the night, I got up, turned on the showered, got wet, including my garments, then got back in bed. It was so hot. I have never been so miserable while sleeping before. Anyway, be grateful for AC. And stay pretty.
P.S. Remember Scott has a new address. It can be found on earlier July posts.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Inventions in Time of Need
Calle Fuerteventura 4 2, Oficina 8-B
28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes
Madrid, Spain
I think that is what it is. If it isn't, I can't tell you what it would be. Alright well, good week this last week. I will start with Thursday. I forgot my camera again, so this story won't have a picture, but just imagine. So our power went out at like 12:30. We didn't know why so we called the landlord and junk. Anyway, long story short someone was going to come like 8 hours later to fix whatever the problem was. So for lunch, we didn't have electricity, but we are privileged to have a BBQ in our back patio thing. So, since we didn't want to open the fridge for fear the food would go bad, we just bought like 10 pieces of meat to BBQ. Well, the best part about it was that in the middle of our BBQ, it started to pour rain. So we assembled a device out of a old ironing board, a place where you dry clothes, and the other half of the BBQ so that the rain wouldn't put out the coals. It was the most I have ever had to work to be able to eat.
Saturday night, we were sitting on a bench talking to an investigator, and this old drunk guy came up to us. In order to show our support for Spain and to get youth to talk to us, we were carrying around little Spain flags. He came up and tried to steal it from us but missed the flag because he was so drunk. Then he tried to convince us for 5 minutes to give him our flags because we aren't from Spain and because we are rich and because we don't speak Spanish well. It was quite the experience. The best part about it was about 3 minutes before we had been talking with our investigator how a lot of people in the world are just not good people. Then this happened. Ha, ha.
World Cup. Yeah. Pretty sweet huh? I may be buying a 70 euro jersey today. Sorry mom. It's worth it. Worst proselyting day of my life Sunday, but one of the better days of my life. Ha, ha. It's funny because I have friends in Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and other places where they were thinking had a possibility of winning. But nope. Go Spain.
We finally got a baptismal date with this Romanian woman that we have been teaching since my 2nd day in this area. We had dropped her twice, but then finally, by some freak chain of events, she is going to get baptized. It's super good too because she speaks Romanian and Spanish almost perfectly, and English pretty well. So we are just going to get her called as a ward missionary after and just take her teaching with us every night. The hardest part of this area is the language barrier, so I can't wait to see the success that is lying ahead.
Anyway, good riddance to Carlos Boozer. And Lebron going to Miami. Wow. They might have a good team now. I am pretty excited to go home to a new home. I don't understand why you just don't move. You are practically redoing the whole house. (We are painting and carpeting) And yeah, I think every two weeks or so I hear about someone else getting engaged. I think it's great. My 2nd companion just wrote me today about the struggles of dating and inviting a girl to a church activity, her saying no, then her showing up 5 minutes after him with another guy. If I don't know any girls after, I won't have to put up with that. Ha, ha. Anyway, stay pretty. Watch my bank account after today.
Elder Dunn
28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes
Madrid, Spain
I think that is what it is. If it isn't, I can't tell you what it would be. Alright well, good week this last week. I will start with Thursday. I forgot my camera again, so this story won't have a picture, but just imagine. So our power went out at like 12:30. We didn't know why so we called the landlord and junk. Anyway, long story short someone was going to come like 8 hours later to fix whatever the problem was. So for lunch, we didn't have electricity, but we are privileged to have a BBQ in our back patio thing. So, since we didn't want to open the fridge for fear the food would go bad, we just bought like 10 pieces of meat to BBQ. Well, the best part about it was that in the middle of our BBQ, it started to pour rain. So we assembled a device out of a old ironing board, a place where you dry clothes, and the other half of the BBQ so that the rain wouldn't put out the coals. It was the most I have ever had to work to be able to eat.
Saturday night, we were sitting on a bench talking to an investigator, and this old drunk guy came up to us. In order to show our support for Spain and to get youth to talk to us, we were carrying around little Spain flags. He came up and tried to steal it from us but missed the flag because he was so drunk. Then he tried to convince us for 5 minutes to give him our flags because we aren't from Spain and because we are rich and because we don't speak Spanish well. It was quite the experience. The best part about it was about 3 minutes before we had been talking with our investigator how a lot of people in the world are just not good people. Then this happened. Ha, ha.
World Cup. Yeah. Pretty sweet huh? I may be buying a 70 euro jersey today. Sorry mom. It's worth it. Worst proselyting day of my life Sunday, but one of the better days of my life. Ha, ha. It's funny because I have friends in Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and other places where they were thinking had a possibility of winning. But nope. Go Spain.
We finally got a baptismal date with this Romanian woman that we have been teaching since my 2nd day in this area. We had dropped her twice, but then finally, by some freak chain of events, she is going to get baptized. It's super good too because she speaks Romanian and Spanish almost perfectly, and English pretty well. So we are just going to get her called as a ward missionary after and just take her teaching with us every night. The hardest part of this area is the language barrier, so I can't wait to see the success that is lying ahead.
Anyway, good riddance to Carlos Boozer. And Lebron going to Miami. Wow. They might have a good team now. I am pretty excited to go home to a new home. I don't understand why you just don't move. You are practically redoing the whole house. (We are painting and carpeting) And yeah, I think every two weeks or so I hear about someone else getting engaged. I think it's great. My 2nd companion just wrote me today about the struggles of dating and inviting a girl to a church activity, her saying no, then her showing up 5 minutes after him with another guy. If I don't know any girls after, I won't have to put up with that. Ha, ha. Anyway, stay pretty. Watch my bank account after today.
Elder Dunn
Thursday, July 8, 2010
New Address
Elder Dunn
Calle Fuerteventura 4 2, Oficina 8-B
28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes
Madrid Spain
Please post on my blog! Send all mail to this new address. If not, it will get returned!
Well, the world cup is pretty legit. All the Latinos here are super sad. Spain could very well lose tonight, and this whole country could just be like it was in the Great Depression. Well if Spain lost most of the Latinos would be pretty happy. So who knows. But yeah, if Spain goes to the finals, we are going to buy jerseys and face makeup and a Spain flag. Ha, ha.
News on the metro strike, it is still at 50%. So there are trains, just if you miss it, you have to wait a long time. But at least the people are a little happier.
The greatest story about Romanians. We have this golden investigator, who lives in a little pueblo far away, and there are only like 1000 people there. So, when she ended up falling through, we were just knocking doors in the little pueblo and some guy answers the door and says, I don't understand Spanish, in Spanish, but with a Romanian accent. So, I just was all like, prefect! How are you doing? Everything going good? My name is Elder Dunn. What's yours? He said a swear word in Spanish and then slammed the door. Ha, ha. So I can have a very basic conversation in Romanian. It's a super hard language. It isn't pronounced like it is spelled, so it's hard to learn.
Some good stories of this week. We are about to go in our house for the night, but there were these two old people on a bench outside, so we decided to contact them. It was super funny because as soon as we started talking to them, I swear out of nowhere appeared 5 of their friends. And they just had a million questions for us. Two of them said they want to take a tour of the temple and we were able to teach like the entire plan of salvation. Anyway, we got home late but it was a super sweet contact.
One more story and I am going to play Frisbee, first time in more than a year, wahoo! Anyway, one day we were walking down the street and this like 17-18 year old Spanish girl walks by us super fast then does a double take and starts giggling. You also have to understand my companion is 6 foot 5 and just calls attention a lot. So, we started talking to her as we walked down the street, and she ended up being super interested. It's definitely weird who you would think has interest and who ends up having interest. But we are going to try and starting teaching her too. But yeah, the work is progressing. Mission is great. The first kid in my grade arrived home sometime ago. That is a little weird to think about. Jon will be home in like 4 months. Weird stuff. Anyway, stay pretty
Calle Fuerteventura 4 2, Oficina 8-B
28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes
Madrid Spain
Please post on my blog! Send all mail to this new address. If not, it will get returned!
Well, the world cup is pretty legit. All the Latinos here are super sad. Spain could very well lose tonight, and this whole country could just be like it was in the Great Depression. Well if Spain lost most of the Latinos would be pretty happy. So who knows. But yeah, if Spain goes to the finals, we are going to buy jerseys and face makeup and a Spain flag. Ha, ha.
News on the metro strike, it is still at 50%. So there are trains, just if you miss it, you have to wait a long time. But at least the people are a little happier.
The greatest story about Romanians. We have this golden investigator, who lives in a little pueblo far away, and there are only like 1000 people there. So, when she ended up falling through, we were just knocking doors in the little pueblo and some guy answers the door and says, I don't understand Spanish, in Spanish, but with a Romanian accent. So, I just was all like, prefect! How are you doing? Everything going good? My name is Elder Dunn. What's yours? He said a swear word in Spanish and then slammed the door. Ha, ha. So I can have a very basic conversation in Romanian. It's a super hard language. It isn't pronounced like it is spelled, so it's hard to learn.
Some good stories of this week. We are about to go in our house for the night, but there were these two old people on a bench outside, so we decided to contact them. It was super funny because as soon as we started talking to them, I swear out of nowhere appeared 5 of their friends. And they just had a million questions for us. Two of them said they want to take a tour of the temple and we were able to teach like the entire plan of salvation. Anyway, we got home late but it was a super sweet contact.
One more story and I am going to play Frisbee, first time in more than a year, wahoo! Anyway, one day we were walking down the street and this like 17-18 year old Spanish girl walks by us super fast then does a double take and starts giggling. You also have to understand my companion is 6 foot 5 and just calls attention a lot. So, we started talking to her as we walked down the street, and she ended up being super interested. It's definitely weird who you would think has interest and who ends up having interest. But we are going to try and starting teaching her too. But yeah, the work is progressing. Mission is great. The first kid in my grade arrived home sometime ago. That is a little weird to think about. Jon will be home in like 4 months. Weird stuff. Anyway, stay pretty
Thursday, July 1, 2010
A Different Mission Now
Alright, so I don't forget, I will answer your questions first.
I hope you gave me enough info about the package, if not I gave the office your email address so they can talk to you if needed. The new companion is sweet. Six feet five inches. We have fun playing basketball here. He also plays ping pong and tennis and can play all sports, so we get along.
Well, ever since we pretty much stopped going by members, now we just mostly eat at home or with 2 or 3 other families. All I eat is Argentine food and Spanish food, and it is amazing. Empenadas are great, and I love paella. I will have to cook for you guys when I get back a little.
New rules? No, president has been busy with the mission switch. Now, I am in a different mission than when I started. Legit huh? Actually there are no noticeable differences except now I can go to either Galicia, super pretty, or the Canary Islands, super awesome. So, the future is bright.
I am not allowed to miss my family. It's pretty much the biggest missionary sin there is. Haha. One of the Elders here decided to not go home a transfer early to study but to stay and do the full 2 years, and his mom was sad. Ha, ha. Then he was thinking about extending, but he said his mom would kill him. I was thinking about that. I would have a transfer more where I could extend. I dunno what I will do. Depends on the job situation I guess. Anyway, there is that. Now what is important, my thoughts on life.
Metro strike. Yeah. When the government slashes wages 5%, the whole metro went on strike Monday, 50%, then Tuesday and Wednesday 100%, then today 50%. Tomorrow is still not decided. Aka, millions of angry people in Madrid pushing and shoving on and off buses. It's pretty legit and makes for millions of awkward situations as missionaries. The best is that we went to the mission home yesterday for a zone activity, and the bus was so packed, that one of our zone leaders looked like he was spooning with some girl. Well, it was pretty common actually, but the difference was that he was with like a 20 year old super cute girl. It's pretty funny. And also, 100 degrees and no breathing room makes for a sweaty miserable bus ride. Oh man, it's been super hot here. Good times. I have about a million funny stories, but I cannot even explain them all. In short, the mission is just awesome in a million different ways.
Apart from that, the work continues. Lots of contacting, lots of rejection, lots of Romanians, lots of heat. I can now have a basic conversation in Romanian. Pretty sweet. Anyway, stay pretty.
I hope you gave me enough info about the package, if not I gave the office your email address so they can talk to you if needed. The new companion is sweet. Six feet five inches. We have fun playing basketball here. He also plays ping pong and tennis and can play all sports, so we get along.
Well, ever since we pretty much stopped going by members, now we just mostly eat at home or with 2 or 3 other families. All I eat is Argentine food and Spanish food, and it is amazing. Empenadas are great, and I love paella. I will have to cook for you guys when I get back a little.
New rules? No, president has been busy with the mission switch. Now, I am in a different mission than when I started. Legit huh? Actually there are no noticeable differences except now I can go to either Galicia, super pretty, or the Canary Islands, super awesome. So, the future is bright.
I am not allowed to miss my family. It's pretty much the biggest missionary sin there is. Haha. One of the Elders here decided to not go home a transfer early to study but to stay and do the full 2 years, and his mom was sad. Ha, ha. Then he was thinking about extending, but he said his mom would kill him. I was thinking about that. I would have a transfer more where I could extend. I dunno what I will do. Depends on the job situation I guess. Anyway, there is that. Now what is important, my thoughts on life.
Metro strike. Yeah. When the government slashes wages 5%, the whole metro went on strike Monday, 50%, then Tuesday and Wednesday 100%, then today 50%. Tomorrow is still not decided. Aka, millions of angry people in Madrid pushing and shoving on and off buses. It's pretty legit and makes for millions of awkward situations as missionaries. The best is that we went to the mission home yesterday for a zone activity, and the bus was so packed, that one of our zone leaders looked like he was spooning with some girl. Well, it was pretty common actually, but the difference was that he was with like a 20 year old super cute girl. It's pretty funny. And also, 100 degrees and no breathing room makes for a sweaty miserable bus ride. Oh man, it's been super hot here. Good times. I have about a million funny stories, but I cannot even explain them all. In short, the mission is just awesome in a million different ways.
Apart from that, the work continues. Lots of contacting, lots of rejection, lots of Romanians, lots of heat. I can now have a basic conversation in Romanian. Pretty sweet. Anyway, stay pretty.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Pictures This Letter
I really have nothing to say this week. Training requires super obedience and as a direct result, not as much happens. We did have 6 investigators come to church and we have 3 investigators with baptismal dates. That was pretty cool. And I learned that you cannot baptize Pentacostals. One came to church and loved it, all of it, but then said if the name Joseph Smith isn't written in the Bible it can't be true. So after a good 30 minute discussion about the power of prayer, I learned that they don't actually believe in God, or in prayer, or in anything but the Bible. It was pretty frustrating but the church keeps being true! Anyway, I am going to go eat a bunch of meat. Hope the pictures worked. Stay pretty.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
World Cup - To Win or Not to Win - Who?
What up in Murray?
Well, here we are just rockin' it. Nah, but it's pretty great. World Cup is pretty legit. I think I am required to write about it because I am in Spain, so I will. I honestly don't know who I want to win. I definitely prefer the US, but that isn't very likely. If Argentina wins, I will cry. Argentines are just the proudest people about soccer. And the members here could definitely use a little humbling. If Spain wins, that would be cool, but Spaniards are also way to prideful. I have way to many friends in Brazil, so that is out of the question. So, I think I am rooting for some other team in Europe. I haven't seen a whole game, just bits and pieces. It's way funny, because if you ask people if we can come by during the world cup, they always say yes, but then they just want you to watch the game with them. World Cup, or Satan? Think about it.
So, we have a date with a sweet Spaniard and her son. My companion, who left Sunday, wanted to say goodbye to our golden investigator, and to see why she didn't come to church, after assuring us she would, but while doing it, he said that he would go to her baptism probably. Then she asked when it would be. He said, will if you prepare yourself well, you can be baptized the 10 of July, so will you prepare yourself for this day? She said yes. So we set the date over the phone. Then when we passed by the next time, we talked with her son. Pretty legit.
So I am training. He is from Logan, like 6´5". People just give us the sweetest looks. One lady passed us in the street walking insanely fast, then did a double take, I said hey what's up half laughing, and she was all like, you guys really call attention huh? It was pretty funny. Other than that, not too much is new.
I rock the Rubix Cube. Minute 28 is my record. Pretty sure I can beat Couper in the 3 by 3. I actually have to study Spanish now to continue learning. Kind of a disappointment but maybe I will finally learn how to study.
I don't think our numbers go up at all, we just get more areas and missionaries. The shift happens here soon, and I am pretty excited for it. I gotta go up North! I am excited to see how your dance turned out. Little known fact, everyone thinks missionaries are not allowed to dance, but there is no rule against it. I looked. Hey, I forget, but next package send me your mate cup thing and straw. Bombilla. Pronounced, Bombisha. Yeah Argentina. Alright, stay pretty.
Well, here we are just rockin' it. Nah, but it's pretty great. World Cup is pretty legit. I think I am required to write about it because I am in Spain, so I will. I honestly don't know who I want to win. I definitely prefer the US, but that isn't very likely. If Argentina wins, I will cry. Argentines are just the proudest people about soccer. And the members here could definitely use a little humbling. If Spain wins, that would be cool, but Spaniards are also way to prideful. I have way to many friends in Brazil, so that is out of the question. So, I think I am rooting for some other team in Europe. I haven't seen a whole game, just bits and pieces. It's way funny, because if you ask people if we can come by during the world cup, they always say yes, but then they just want you to watch the game with them. World Cup, or Satan? Think about it.
So, we have a date with a sweet Spaniard and her son. My companion, who left Sunday, wanted to say goodbye to our golden investigator, and to see why she didn't come to church, after assuring us she would, but while doing it, he said that he would go to her baptism probably. Then she asked when it would be. He said, will if you prepare yourself well, you can be baptized the 10 of July, so will you prepare yourself for this day? She said yes. So we set the date over the phone. Then when we passed by the next time, we talked with her son. Pretty legit.
So I am training. He is from Logan, like 6´5". People just give us the sweetest looks. One lady passed us in the street walking insanely fast, then did a double take, I said hey what's up half laughing, and she was all like, you guys really call attention huh? It was pretty funny. Other than that, not too much is new.
I rock the Rubix Cube. Minute 28 is my record. Pretty sure I can beat Couper in the 3 by 3. I actually have to study Spanish now to continue learning. Kind of a disappointment but maybe I will finally learn how to study.
I don't think our numbers go up at all, we just get more areas and missionaries. The shift happens here soon, and I am pretty excited for it. I gotta go up North! I am excited to see how your dance turned out. Little known fact, everyone thinks missionaries are not allowed to dance, but there is no rule against it. I looked. Hey, I forget, but next package send me your mate cup thing and straw. Bombilla. Pronounced, Bombisha. Yeah Argentina. Alright, stay pretty.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Crazy Day - Baptisms
Wow,
Well, you get an email today because yesterday was crazy. We left super early to go to Toledo. We wanted to catch the 8 o'clock bus, but got there like 3 minutes late, thank you metro, then the next bus didn't leave till 9. Usually it leaves every 30 minutes but yesterday was special for some reason. So that was the internet time we lost. But, the news is the baptism was great! He is the most giant Bolivian ever, so to baptize him, he decided to get on his knees. It was actually way easy that way. I gave them the sweetest present ever. Well, not really, but it was an invitation to their sealing in the temple in one year. (Well a year form his confirmation.) So between the 14 and 27 of June 2011. Come, and attend with Elder Dunn! Yeah, it was pretty legit. I don't know if I told you how he decided to be baptized. We went to visit Toledo last transfer, and I gave him Jesus the Christ with the same promise as the Book of Mormon. If this book is true, this church is true. So like half way through the book he decided he needed to be baptized. Ha, ha. But yeah, so that's that. Using Jesus the Christ to convert.
On a funny note, when we were coming back from Toledo, like 30 minutes late, we ran into an Elder who served here 2 years ago. We started talking and we mentioned it was P-day. Then he looked at his watch, then up at us, then at his watch again and said, "Oh." We then had to explain that we had a baptism and blah blah and that we aren't horrible missionaries. It was pretty funny. Other funny news, someone in Toledo stole the pump to drain the baptismal font, so 5 of us drained it using buckets. Only took like 20 minutes actually. Pretty legit.
Another note, President has actually gone crazy. It all started with all the new rules, then today I got a call from the assistants. They informed me that starting Tuesday, I am going to train. I told them I don't know where that revelation came from but that you might want to reconsider that. But really. It's going to be interesting. I guess I am pretty excited. But really, I still know nothing about what I am doing.
On another note, we finally have a baptismal date in our area. Some sweet lady, Spanish, who we met at a BBQ of some investigators. She is just golden. Well I guess it's two baptismal dates, cause she has an 11 year old son too. It's pretty sweet. He is way cool too.
Other news, I can't remember if I told you but the investigator of the sister missionaries in this ward had a baptism, and the lady asked me to baptize her. Apparently I was strong and excitable and she liked that. Ha, ha. She is way awesome. So I was part of 2 baptisms last week and neither in my area! That's how I roll.
And mom, it's not a question of guilt to get me to send you pictures, it's about if I remember my camera or not. And yesterday I did remember it, today no. So I am sorry but remember I am your favorite youngest son. And you love me most days. Anyway, stay pretty in M Town.
Well, you get an email today because yesterday was crazy. We left super early to go to Toledo. We wanted to catch the 8 o'clock bus, but got there like 3 minutes late, thank you metro, then the next bus didn't leave till 9. Usually it leaves every 30 minutes but yesterday was special for some reason. So that was the internet time we lost. But, the news is the baptism was great! He is the most giant Bolivian ever, so to baptize him, he decided to get on his knees. It was actually way easy that way. I gave them the sweetest present ever. Well, not really, but it was an invitation to their sealing in the temple in one year. (Well a year form his confirmation.) So between the 14 and 27 of June 2011. Come, and attend with Elder Dunn! Yeah, it was pretty legit. I don't know if I told you how he decided to be baptized. We went to visit Toledo last transfer, and I gave him Jesus the Christ with the same promise as the Book of Mormon. If this book is true, this church is true. So like half way through the book he decided he needed to be baptized. Ha, ha. But yeah, so that's that. Using Jesus the Christ to convert.
On a funny note, when we were coming back from Toledo, like 30 minutes late, we ran into an Elder who served here 2 years ago. We started talking and we mentioned it was P-day. Then he looked at his watch, then up at us, then at his watch again and said, "Oh." We then had to explain that we had a baptism and blah blah and that we aren't horrible missionaries. It was pretty funny. Other funny news, someone in Toledo stole the pump to drain the baptismal font, so 5 of us drained it using buckets. Only took like 20 minutes actually. Pretty legit.
Another note, President has actually gone crazy. It all started with all the new rules, then today I got a call from the assistants. They informed me that starting Tuesday, I am going to train. I told them I don't know where that revelation came from but that you might want to reconsider that. But really. It's going to be interesting. I guess I am pretty excited. But really, I still know nothing about what I am doing.
On another note, we finally have a baptismal date in our area. Some sweet lady, Spanish, who we met at a BBQ of some investigators. She is just golden. Well I guess it's two baptismal dates, cause she has an 11 year old son too. It's pretty sweet. He is way cool too.
Other news, I can't remember if I told you but the investigator of the sister missionaries in this ward had a baptism, and the lady asked me to baptize her. Apparently I was strong and excitable and she liked that. Ha, ha. She is way awesome. So I was part of 2 baptisms last week and neither in my area! That's how I roll.
And mom, it's not a question of guilt to get me to send you pictures, it's about if I remember my camera or not. And yesterday I did remember it, today no. So I am sorry but remember I am your favorite youngest son. And you love me most days. Anyway, stay pretty in M Town.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
A New Word That Says It All
Alright, well that was a pretty good letter mom. I have to give you props. Grats breh. The only thing that really stood out to me is that your Elders had 6 set appointments in one day. Utah is such an easy mission! Actually, our mission just got a little harder. President is trying to make us the most effective machines we can be it seems like to me. We now are only supposed to do power contacts, which are great... sometimes. I don't know about all the time. Pretty much we just go up say, "Hello I'm Elder Dunn and I know this book is true and that it can help you in your life because it has helped me in my life." Or something like that. And it's not just like a "Hey, try this sometime." It's, "Hey, we have to do this now." We also can't visit active members unless we bring an investigator. And now our first lesson is now The Overview Lesson.
1. Prayer by an Elder
2. We ask questions to see how interested they are.
3. We give an overview of everything we teach.
4. We ask them what questions they have and promise them that in 4 weeks, of visiting them 3 times a week, they won't have any more questions.
5. Invite them to be baptized.
6. Leave them with something to do.
7. Ask them for referrals.
8. Have the head of house pray.
That is the first lesson. No If's, And's, or But's about it! I think it will help a lot, with some people, but I also don't think it's very appropriate for every area. I can only ask one of the million of Romanians, "So why did you agree to let us come to your house? What are you expecting out of this lesson?" And then they will say either, "I don't understand, or I thought you guys wanted to come?" But oh well. We will see. I will keep you updated on the news.
Other funny things. Guy in the temple next to me pretty much fell asleep at every part possible. I was fighting to not laugh the whole time. I just can't picture dad having an easy time staying awake. How does he do? (He does fine!)
We were talking as missionaries today, and we decided English needs the word "ganas." We realized that whenever we are speaking in English, we just say, no I don't really want to do that, I don't have the "ganas." We just use the Spanish word the same. But the good thing about English is any word can be a verb. Well, for young people that is.
Other news, we got invited to some BBQ, so we went, ate, got a sweet contact of a Spanish lady that was there, who really wishes she was Argentine, and while at the BBQ, the drunk guy from Venezuela beat me in chess. I definitely humbled myself a little bit ha,ha.
Other than that, everyone loves no bake cookies, and a special shout out to Elders Meek and Butterfield. And yes mom, you have to post their names in my blog. Thanks for the package.
Stay pretty,
Scott
1. Prayer by an Elder
2. We ask questions to see how interested they are.
3. We give an overview of everything we teach.
4. We ask them what questions they have and promise them that in 4 weeks, of visiting them 3 times a week, they won't have any more questions.
5. Invite them to be baptized.
6. Leave them with something to do.
7. Ask them for referrals.
8. Have the head of house pray.
That is the first lesson. No If's, And's, or But's about it! I think it will help a lot, with some people, but I also don't think it's very appropriate for every area. I can only ask one of the million of Romanians, "So why did you agree to let us come to your house? What are you expecting out of this lesson?" And then they will say either, "I don't understand, or I thought you guys wanted to come?" But oh well. We will see. I will keep you updated on the news.
Other funny things. Guy in the temple next to me pretty much fell asleep at every part possible. I was fighting to not laugh the whole time. I just can't picture dad having an easy time staying awake. How does he do? (He does fine!)
We were talking as missionaries today, and we decided English needs the word "ganas." We realized that whenever we are speaking in English, we just say, no I don't really want to do that, I don't have the "ganas." We just use the Spanish word the same. But the good thing about English is any word can be a verb. Well, for young people that is.
Other news, we got invited to some BBQ, so we went, ate, got a sweet contact of a Spanish lady that was there, who really wishes she was Argentine, and while at the BBQ, the drunk guy from Venezuela beat me in chess. I definitely humbled myself a little bit ha,ha.
Other than that, everyone loves no bake cookies, and a special shout out to Elders Meek and Butterfield. And yes mom, you have to post their names in my blog. Thanks for the package.
Stay pretty,
Scott
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Work Goes On
Alright, before I forget again, I need a package. Well, I need razor heads. They are insanely expensive here, and I could use some socks as well. Also there are institute study books that accompany the scriptures. They have them here, I just prefer them in English. Could you possibly search for them? At least the New Testament and Book of Mormon ones, but if you can grab them all, I won't complain.
I don't really know if my week has been much more exciting than yours. We had a ward activity on Saturday and one of our investigators came and brought a friend. He is from Senegal, or however it's spelled, and speaks 4 languages, is super smart and humble, and Muslim. We showed him the temple and he wanted to enter so we explained about that and that he has to be baptized first. He said okay, how do I get baptized? So we explained and supposedly he is going to start coming to church. He has been to other Evangelical Churches so he is familiar with Christianity. We are hoping all will go well with him. We are going to give him a Book of Mormon on Friday.
On Monday, I received a call from the husband/father of the two that were baptized in Toledo. He told me that now he is ready and wants to be baptized. Then I called the Zone Leaders in his area and that night they interviewed him and he passed. Then president informed me that unless they come to the stake center, I can't go to his baptism. There aren't Elders in Toledo right now, I taught him for 7 months, and baptized his daughter and wife. I would like to see him baptized but I can't leave my area for like 4 hours to do it. So, right now I am in the process of finding rides in cars from members in Toledo to bring him here. I am still pretty excited about it cause one day he is going to be a bishop or something.
Other than that, I had exchanges for a day with my zone leader, an ex assistant, and he is like super obedient. So we were going to the metro and I forgot he doesn't have a monthly pass, so I just walked in and started down the escalator. When I looked backed to talk to him he was buying his ticket. In order to not be out of his sight, I started running up the down escalator. Well, I decided to try and just jump the last 3 stairs or something and when I went to jump, I tripped. Yeah, typical fat kid joke. I just started laughing. It wouldn't have been so bad, but a train had just arrived, so about 100 people saw what I did when they were going up the other escalator. It was pretty legit. I pretended that someone called me on my phone so I didn't have to make eye contact with anyone.
But anyway, that is about it. Just rocking a giant bruise on my leg and a couple cuts on my arm because I am awesome. Stay pretty.
I don't really know if my week has been much more exciting than yours. We had a ward activity on Saturday and one of our investigators came and brought a friend. He is from Senegal, or however it's spelled, and speaks 4 languages, is super smart and humble, and Muslim. We showed him the temple and he wanted to enter so we explained about that and that he has to be baptized first. He said okay, how do I get baptized? So we explained and supposedly he is going to start coming to church. He has been to other Evangelical Churches so he is familiar with Christianity. We are hoping all will go well with him. We are going to give him a Book of Mormon on Friday.
On Monday, I received a call from the husband/father of the two that were baptized in Toledo. He told me that now he is ready and wants to be baptized. Then I called the Zone Leaders in his area and that night they interviewed him and he passed. Then president informed me that unless they come to the stake center, I can't go to his baptism. There aren't Elders in Toledo right now, I taught him for 7 months, and baptized his daughter and wife. I would like to see him baptized but I can't leave my area for like 4 hours to do it. So, right now I am in the process of finding rides in cars from members in Toledo to bring him here. I am still pretty excited about it cause one day he is going to be a bishop or something.
Other than that, I had exchanges for a day with my zone leader, an ex assistant, and he is like super obedient. So we were going to the metro and I forgot he doesn't have a monthly pass, so I just walked in and started down the escalator. When I looked backed to talk to him he was buying his ticket. In order to not be out of his sight, I started running up the down escalator. Well, I decided to try and just jump the last 3 stairs or something and when I went to jump, I tripped. Yeah, typical fat kid joke. I just started laughing. It wouldn't have been so bad, but a train had just arrived, so about 100 people saw what I did when they were going up the other escalator. It was pretty legit. I pretended that someone called me on my phone so I didn't have to make eye contact with anyone.
But anyway, that is about it. Just rocking a giant bruise on my leg and a couple cuts on my arm because I am awesome. Stay pretty.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Feeling Better at Last
Hey Family,
Wow, the bathroom is like exactly the same, just newer. Why didn't you like change the order of it or something? (It is a very small bathroom and not able to be changed.) Like change at least the mirror or something. (We did change the mirror and vanity and shower!) You guys are so old! It's Okay, I am too. Almost 11 months. People keep telling me that in between 11 months and 14 months it is depressing. I, kind of like Richard, am getting my second wind. I forgot how fun it is to work, but after being sick and not being able to leave, I definitely work more now. I also have started to talk to everyone again, including the group of 15 old men playing cards in the park. That was a pretty sweet contact. Of course no one wants anything to do with us, but they all know now that we aren't Jehovah's Witnesses and that we are actually cool. So that was pretty cool.
Today we saw 3 palaces. One was this giant palace in the middle of the country side. The mission president's wife drove us and bought us lunch so it was free and pretty sweet. She is also way sweet. Plus I can practice all my stupid lines on her like "Hermana Watkins, if I had a dollar for every time I fell in love with you, I would have one dollar, because I have never stopped loving you." It's pretty great. She said she is a sucker for a good compliment so after that she drove us to our area. Pretty legit. Ha, ha.
We got some new people we are teaching. So that work goes. I also took a lot of crap because the Spaniard, on the Laker's, beat the Jazz. Then I just bring up soccer and they forget about basketball. World cup is getting close. Pretty excited for that. Other than that, not a whole lot is new. Well, nothing is ever really new. We contact, we teach, we baptize... sometimes. I read a pretty sweet talk by Brother Skousen on the Atonement. I realized that our church has about quadruple the doctrine as any other church. It's pretty great. Anyway, short on time, as usual, so stay pretty.
Wow, the bathroom is like exactly the same, just newer. Why didn't you like change the order of it or something? (It is a very small bathroom and not able to be changed.) Like change at least the mirror or something. (We did change the mirror and vanity and shower!) You guys are so old! It's Okay, I am too. Almost 11 months. People keep telling me that in between 11 months and 14 months it is depressing. I, kind of like Richard, am getting my second wind. I forgot how fun it is to work, but after being sick and not being able to leave, I definitely work more now. I also have started to talk to everyone again, including the group of 15 old men playing cards in the park. That was a pretty sweet contact. Of course no one wants anything to do with us, but they all know now that we aren't Jehovah's Witnesses and that we are actually cool. So that was pretty cool.
Today we saw 3 palaces. One was this giant palace in the middle of the country side. The mission president's wife drove us and bought us lunch so it was free and pretty sweet. She is also way sweet. Plus I can practice all my stupid lines on her like "Hermana Watkins, if I had a dollar for every time I fell in love with you, I would have one dollar, because I have never stopped loving you." It's pretty great. She said she is a sucker for a good compliment so after that she drove us to our area. Pretty legit. Ha, ha.
We got some new people we are teaching. So that work goes. I also took a lot of crap because the Spaniard, on the Laker's, beat the Jazz. Then I just bring up soccer and they forget about basketball. World cup is getting close. Pretty excited for that. Other than that, not a whole lot is new. Well, nothing is ever really new. We contact, we teach, we baptize... sometimes. I read a pretty sweet talk by Brother Skousen on the Atonement. I realized that our church has about quadruple the doctrine as any other church. It's pretty great. Anyway, short on time, as usual, so stay pretty.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Scott is still Scott!
Well, I am happy the bathroom is done. (We have remodeled our master bathroom.) When you can, hook me up with some pictures. What is going to be the next project on the house? New kitchen? Yeah! Another Elder told me how one time, someone put a plastic bowl on a hot burner then went to the bathroom. When he came back, there was like a mini fire going on. He quickly put it out but apparently fires by plastic are the worst because the smell of burnt plastic stays in paint. Anyway, long story short, the insurance paid for a new kitchen. Just an option. (This option is not up for consideration by his parents!)
So today, we are in Toledo visiting old members and recent converts. We have 5 lessons planned, which is more than we currently have this week. I am starting to feel better. The drugs here are definitely a little more effective than those in the US. I bought some cough syrup and it has codeine in it. Ha,ha. Over the counter cough syrup with codeine ... works wonders because I sleep so good at night. Today will be a marathon day between teaching and taking buses. I talked with two Californians on the bus to Toledo. They are taking a 3 week tour of Europe. And they speak French, Spanish, and Portuguese between the two of them.
My old companion wrote me something funny. He said, don't promise people you are going to write them after the mission because it sucks to have to write everyone. He said he thought life would be super boring after the mission but, he is actually really busy and doesn't have time to write nor doesn't want to. Ha, ha. He promised about every Elder he knew, every member in Toledo, and every member in his last area that he was going to write them. I told him he was making a mistake. This just goes to show that more time doesn't mean more wisdom and sometimes greenies know more than veterans.
Alright, well I don't really have a lot to say. President continues to make rules. Now companions cannot take their naps at the same time, if they choose to take naps. Supposedly it is so the one companion wakes the other one up after 20 minutes. The way I see it, if I put myself to study and I am tired, I sleep. So I think it is going to end up companions taking 40 minute naps, just 20 minutes of it in the bed.
Alright, well stay pretty.
Elder D
So today, we are in Toledo visiting old members and recent converts. We have 5 lessons planned, which is more than we currently have this week. I am starting to feel better. The drugs here are definitely a little more effective than those in the US. I bought some cough syrup and it has codeine in it. Ha,ha. Over the counter cough syrup with codeine ... works wonders because I sleep so good at night. Today will be a marathon day between teaching and taking buses. I talked with two Californians on the bus to Toledo. They are taking a 3 week tour of Europe. And they speak French, Spanish, and Portuguese between the two of them.
My old companion wrote me something funny. He said, don't promise people you are going to write them after the mission because it sucks to have to write everyone. He said he thought life would be super boring after the mission but, he is actually really busy and doesn't have time to write nor doesn't want to. Ha, ha. He promised about every Elder he knew, every member in Toledo, and every member in his last area that he was going to write them. I told him he was making a mistake. This just goes to show that more time doesn't mean more wisdom and sometimes greenies know more than veterans.
Alright, well I don't really have a lot to say. President continues to make rules. Now companions cannot take their naps at the same time, if they choose to take naps. Supposedly it is so the one companion wakes the other one up after 20 minutes. The way I see it, if I put myself to study and I am tired, I sleep. So I think it is going to end up companions taking 40 minute naps, just 20 minutes of it in the bed.
Alright, well stay pretty.
Elder D
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Short and Sweet
This will probably be short. Yesterday, I started feeling flu-ish during mediodia. I took a nap, woke up feeling worse. Then we had Ward Council at night and after that there was a game of basketball going on. Now I hadn't played basketball for awhile, so I hopped in and played for a bit. Then realized that was probably the worst idea I have had so far. So today, I am like the walking dead and knowing that I am going to talk to you kills my desire to write a long email.
News... I am now a district leader. There are only 66 missionaries left in our mission and we have baptized more than double from last year at this point. Nothing really exciting happened this week. Our president pretty much told us to stop visiting anyone who isn't progressing. But you can only contact for about 2 hours straight before you lose all desire to contact. But yeah... The work progresses. We are in the process of either dropping 3 people or baptizing three people, we will know after tonight.
The number to dial is ____________. Area code for Spain is like 0034 or 034 or 34, I have no idea. And you will be calling a member's home phone, which is supposedly cheaper than using a cell phone. If I don't answer, just ask for me and no problems. We will be in their house from around 8 until whenever you call me.
I am going to sleep now, but you stay pretty.
Elder Dunn
News... I am now a district leader. There are only 66 missionaries left in our mission and we have baptized more than double from last year at this point. Nothing really exciting happened this week. Our president pretty much told us to stop visiting anyone who isn't progressing. But you can only contact for about 2 hours straight before you lose all desire to contact. But yeah... The work progresses. We are in the process of either dropping 3 people or baptizing three people, we will know after tonight.
The number to dial is ____________. Area code for Spain is like 0034 or 034 or 34, I have no idea. And you will be calling a member's home phone, which is supposedly cheaper than using a cell phone. If I don't answer, just ask for me and no problems. We will be in their house from around 8 until whenever you call me.
I am going to sleep now, but you stay pretty.
Elder Dunn
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
"Esta bien...?"
Momster 417,
Whats kickin'? I was thinking about slang the other day, well, every P day, because Spencer always uses slang in his email and I realize I don't even say boss, sick, dope, bro, or anything cool anymore. Now you can be assured that I have changed and you need not expect more!
Yeah, go Jazz. I don't know if I would be more happy if the Jazz won the playoffs or if someone in Honduras beat Spain in the World Cup. The are both equally unlikely but hey, we can hope.
And as for Spanish getting better, I don't know. Ha, ha. I do help my companion speak proper Spanish. It's hilarious because two Zone Conferences ago another native gave 10 common errors that gringos make. One of them is when they say, "Esta bien con usted?" which in English word for word is, "is it okay with you?" Well, you don't say that in Spanish. Then last Zone Conference we had another reminder that we don't say "Esta bien con usted?" Yet after that conference, which was Tuesday until the next Sunday, he said it 8 times. So I help him remember how to speak his native language. I also sometimes have to help him remember how to conjugate some verbs. I just laugh. But yeah, I can understand pretty much everything that is ever said. But, for example, yesterday we had an in depth conversation about food. And heck, I don't even know all the seasonings in English, let alone Spanish. So I just sat there looking pretty for about 10 minutes. But that's life.
No new encounters with gypsies. We have to go into one of their neighborhoods, but we go fairly early in the day so nothing ever happens. Pentecostals we run into every day and they continue to be Pentecostal. Tonight supposedly, we are going to teach some investigators and they have invited their pastor. We decided to teach the word of wisdom, which is mostly common ground. Except that it comes from a prophet.
The weather is hot, and only getting hotter. I sleep with nothing on me and wake up in a sweat. Be grateful for air conditioning. Or a fan. I would kill for one of those. Anywho, today we are going to a Barbecue. Some Argentines are going to fry up something tasty. Also, you need to drink more mate'. It is quite tasty. I am going to buy me a mate cup and spoon thingy today. Yeah. Drinking hot mate in the sun. Woohoo. And I don't have my camera today, so next week there homies.
Alright, well stay pretty,
P.S. Kacey I would love to have copies of pictures he has sent. Kris
Scott
Whats kickin'? I was thinking about slang the other day, well, every P day, because Spencer always uses slang in his email and I realize I don't even say boss, sick, dope, bro, or anything cool anymore. Now you can be assured that I have changed and you need not expect more!
Yeah, go Jazz. I don't know if I would be more happy if the Jazz won the playoffs or if someone in Honduras beat Spain in the World Cup. The are both equally unlikely but hey, we can hope.
And as for Spanish getting better, I don't know. Ha, ha. I do help my companion speak proper Spanish. It's hilarious because two Zone Conferences ago another native gave 10 common errors that gringos make. One of them is when they say, "Esta bien con usted?" which in English word for word is, "is it okay with you?" Well, you don't say that in Spanish. Then last Zone Conference we had another reminder that we don't say "Esta bien con usted?" Yet after that conference, which was Tuesday until the next Sunday, he said it 8 times. So I help him remember how to speak his native language. I also sometimes have to help him remember how to conjugate some verbs. I just laugh. But yeah, I can understand pretty much everything that is ever said. But, for example, yesterday we had an in depth conversation about food. And heck, I don't even know all the seasonings in English, let alone Spanish. So I just sat there looking pretty for about 10 minutes. But that's life.
No new encounters with gypsies. We have to go into one of their neighborhoods, but we go fairly early in the day so nothing ever happens. Pentecostals we run into every day and they continue to be Pentecostal. Tonight supposedly, we are going to teach some investigators and they have invited their pastor. We decided to teach the word of wisdom, which is mostly common ground. Except that it comes from a prophet.
The weather is hot, and only getting hotter. I sleep with nothing on me and wake up in a sweat. Be grateful for air conditioning. Or a fan. I would kill for one of those. Anywho, today we are going to a Barbecue. Some Argentines are going to fry up something tasty. Also, you need to drink more mate'. It is quite tasty. I am going to buy me a mate cup and spoon thingy today. Yeah. Drinking hot mate in the sun. Woohoo. And I don't have my camera today, so next week there homies.
Alright, well stay pretty,
P.S. Kacey I would love to have copies of pictures he has sent. Kris
Scott
Friday, April 23, 2010
Life of a Missionary
So it's fine to spend my money? We are suppose to use our own money to travel, I think, so that would be a help since you also want me to see cool places. And yeah, I can check my balance here, in euros, but I can.
Answers to Questions
Service is kind of difficult here. We don't have a room to do classes of English, and Spain just isn't very serviceable anyway, but we are working with the Red Cross doing a variety of things. Pass out food, move stuff, actually that's it so far, but I will keep you posted.
The ward that I am in now is one of the biggest in Madrid. I think it is the 2nd or 3rd largest, so we have like 150-180 people. I spoke the first week here, which was a little funny because I spoke the week before just in a different ward. Usually the Elders don't speak.
My companion lived in the Canary Islands before coming here, so when they got passed to our mission, he had to change missions. I don't know if it will be at the end of this transfer, or the one that comes. And I have no idea if Junior companions get transferred more. I would probably bet we are the oldest mission in the world right now. I think 9 out of like 46 Elders have at least 13 months. There are only 5 Elders with less time in the mission than me. Also it's funny that I am with the youngest Elder in the mission. Apparently president trusts me or something, but why I don't know.
Anyway, last week was a little rough. I love it, because when everything just falls through, I get really "laughy" and then it's all good. For example, 6 lessons on Saturday fell through, so then we spent the day passing by other people, and either no one was home or was eating. The best part of the day, well one of them, is we went to pass by some members, as was already planned at 5, and they live right next it an investigator who told us he was in another pueblo. The members ended up not being able to meet and as we turn around we see our investigator walking to his piso with like 10 huge bottles of cervesa, aka beer. He didn't see us so we elected to not talk to him and call him later to make sure everything was alright. When we called he assured us that his niece's birthday party in the far away pueblo was really good but he couldn't talk because they were really busy. So yeah, the life of a missionary.
Other cool note is that since the President of the area of Europe came, we have been trying to use everything he taught us. One of those things is walking with our investigators by the hand to their baptism. So, I of course, love holding hands so I was down. Not...but really it's great. We made a reading, praying calender thing with our 16 year old Spanish investigator and now we send her daily texts reminding her to read. We also send a text to the 4 Romanians that live near, with a reading assignment, and the 4 always have different assignments. We always send a text with a scripture that we like within the assignment. It has made a noticeable difference. And it helps us to care more about them as people. But we are still learning and trying new ideas with this theme.
Anyway, Sunday... Went to the Pentecostal Church. Oh yeah. So good. More of a concert or performance, but it was cool. It was all in Romanian, so someone had to translate for us. But it was great, the Pastor said, "And we are going to pray now, together." And all of a sudden 600 Romanians start yelling at the same time. For like 6 minutes. And this happens like 4 times every service. It was quite interesting. Mostly performances and praying until the last 30 minutes, of 2 hours, and then some guy got up and preached. He actually gave a pretty good message from what I could hear through the constant "Amening" and him practically yelling. He talked about how we spend 2 to 3 hours in front of the TV every day and 4 to 5 hours on Facebook, but if we are asked to pray for 30 minutes, it is impossible. It's true. I don't think I had ever prayed for 30 minutes before coming on the mission. And it did seem impossible even though I am sure I spent a 5th of my day on the internet or TV or something like that. Anyway, going to send photos. No idea what order, but the baptism of Walter, the baptismal font, Pammy aka the cure for loneliness, the sign that got me, the family that now mostly has the gospel, and I think a cathedral or something.
Stay pretty.
(The photos wouldn't open so I don't have those to post.) : (
Answers to Questions
Service is kind of difficult here. We don't have a room to do classes of English, and Spain just isn't very serviceable anyway, but we are working with the Red Cross doing a variety of things. Pass out food, move stuff, actually that's it so far, but I will keep you posted.
The ward that I am in now is one of the biggest in Madrid. I think it is the 2nd or 3rd largest, so we have like 150-180 people. I spoke the first week here, which was a little funny because I spoke the week before just in a different ward. Usually the Elders don't speak.
My companion lived in the Canary Islands before coming here, so when they got passed to our mission, he had to change missions. I don't know if it will be at the end of this transfer, or the one that comes. And I have no idea if Junior companions get transferred more. I would probably bet we are the oldest mission in the world right now. I think 9 out of like 46 Elders have at least 13 months. There are only 5 Elders with less time in the mission than me. Also it's funny that I am with the youngest Elder in the mission. Apparently president trusts me or something, but why I don't know.
Anyway, last week was a little rough. I love it, because when everything just falls through, I get really "laughy" and then it's all good. For example, 6 lessons on Saturday fell through, so then we spent the day passing by other people, and either no one was home or was eating. The best part of the day, well one of them, is we went to pass by some members, as was already planned at 5, and they live right next it an investigator who told us he was in another pueblo. The members ended up not being able to meet and as we turn around we see our investigator walking to his piso with like 10 huge bottles of cervesa, aka beer. He didn't see us so we elected to not talk to him and call him later to make sure everything was alright. When we called he assured us that his niece's birthday party in the far away pueblo was really good but he couldn't talk because they were really busy. So yeah, the life of a missionary.
Other cool note is that since the President of the area of Europe came, we have been trying to use everything he taught us. One of those things is walking with our investigators by the hand to their baptism. So, I of course, love holding hands so I was down. Not...but really it's great. We made a reading, praying calender thing with our 16 year old Spanish investigator and now we send her daily texts reminding her to read. We also send a text to the 4 Romanians that live near, with a reading assignment, and the 4 always have different assignments. We always send a text with a scripture that we like within the assignment. It has made a noticeable difference. And it helps us to care more about them as people. But we are still learning and trying new ideas with this theme.
Anyway, Sunday... Went to the Pentecostal Church. Oh yeah. So good. More of a concert or performance, but it was cool. It was all in Romanian, so someone had to translate for us. But it was great, the Pastor said, "And we are going to pray now, together." And all of a sudden 600 Romanians start yelling at the same time. For like 6 minutes. And this happens like 4 times every service. It was quite interesting. Mostly performances and praying until the last 30 minutes, of 2 hours, and then some guy got up and preached. He actually gave a pretty good message from what I could hear through the constant "Amening" and him practically yelling. He talked about how we spend 2 to 3 hours in front of the TV every day and 4 to 5 hours on Facebook, but if we are asked to pray for 30 minutes, it is impossible. It's true. I don't think I had ever prayed for 30 minutes before coming on the mission. And it did seem impossible even though I am sure I spent a 5th of my day on the internet or TV or something like that. Anyway, going to send photos. No idea what order, but the baptism of Walter, the baptismal font, Pammy aka the cure for loneliness, the sign that got me, the family that now mostly has the gospel, and I think a cathedral or something.
Stay pretty.
(The photos wouldn't open so I don't have those to post.) : (
Friday, April 16, 2010
Learning New Things...Not All Good.
Mom,
I will answer your question with a question. What are duds? Clothes? Last week we went to Segovia and explored a castle and some caves, hence shirt and tie not necessary. And again I forgot my camera cord, but this time I have a better excuse. I remembered when we left to do internet, but realized that it's in my piso in Arganda, and we were doing exchanges so, yeah.
And yeah, transfers are every 6 weeks and I will definitely stay. President likes to keep senior companions in their areas for 6-8 months. So really, I will probably serve in 3 areas, and a maximum of 4. The old president transferred way more often. But, oh well. I won't complain because we have some sick members here. And I will be teaching Romanians until I leave this area. I think this pueblo is about 35% Romanians, 10% South Americans, 35% Spaniards, and 20% gypsies. We don't teach gypsies because they are probably the ugliest group of people on the earth. I am aware of the missionary attitude that I should have but wow, I wish I could send pictures. They have neighborhoods of just gypsies and it works kind of like the mafia. There is like the Godfather and then leaders. And you don't go into gypsy neighborhoods during the night without permission from the Godfather or you get mugged real good. All these people do to live is steal mug and deal drugs. We attempted to contact two of them and during the contact 2 of their kids came up and spit on us. Like kids with 10 years old. And the parents just laughed. I can only imagine what you would do to me if I spit on anyone, let alone missionaries. But yeah, then we have one area in our zone that we aren't allowed to go into. The police don't even enter. My companion says it's probably just like his hometown ha, ha... but we still avoid it. Some missionaries have entered and they described it as the 7th level of hell. People shooting up, bonfires in the large barrels, drunk people laughing and shouting and nothing and nobody, and other stuff that need not be described. So yeah, more than anything I have learned about gypsies this past week. I really want to watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame to see how accurate that movie is.
Anyway, work goes well, Spanish is great, church is true. We are teaching a 16 year old girl who is dating a 38 year old member who is a returned missionary. Ha, ha. They are both way awesome but really, only in Spain... But, she is a Spaniard and said she wants to be baptized so sweet. Giddy-up. FYI... going to Sol today, which is like downtown, and I may buy some clothes.
Thanks, love you! Stay pretty.
I will answer your question with a question. What are duds? Clothes? Last week we went to Segovia and explored a castle and some caves, hence shirt and tie not necessary. And again I forgot my camera cord, but this time I have a better excuse. I remembered when we left to do internet, but realized that it's in my piso in Arganda, and we were doing exchanges so, yeah.
And yeah, transfers are every 6 weeks and I will definitely stay. President likes to keep senior companions in their areas for 6-8 months. So really, I will probably serve in 3 areas, and a maximum of 4. The old president transferred way more often. But, oh well. I won't complain because we have some sick members here. And I will be teaching Romanians until I leave this area. I think this pueblo is about 35% Romanians, 10% South Americans, 35% Spaniards, and 20% gypsies. We don't teach gypsies because they are probably the ugliest group of people on the earth. I am aware of the missionary attitude that I should have but wow, I wish I could send pictures. They have neighborhoods of just gypsies and it works kind of like the mafia. There is like the Godfather and then leaders. And you don't go into gypsy neighborhoods during the night without permission from the Godfather or you get mugged real good. All these people do to live is steal mug and deal drugs. We attempted to contact two of them and during the contact 2 of their kids came up and spit on us. Like kids with 10 years old. And the parents just laughed. I can only imagine what you would do to me if I spit on anyone, let alone missionaries. But yeah, then we have one area in our zone that we aren't allowed to go into. The police don't even enter. My companion says it's probably just like his hometown ha, ha... but we still avoid it. Some missionaries have entered and they described it as the 7th level of hell. People shooting up, bonfires in the large barrels, drunk people laughing and shouting and nothing and nobody, and other stuff that need not be described. So yeah, more than anything I have learned about gypsies this past week. I really want to watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame to see how accurate that movie is.
Anyway, work goes well, Spanish is great, church is true. We are teaching a 16 year old girl who is dating a 38 year old member who is a returned missionary. Ha, ha. They are both way awesome but really, only in Spain... But, she is a Spaniard and said she wants to be baptized so sweet. Giddy-up. FYI... going to Sol today, which is like downtown, and I may buy some clothes.
Thanks, love you! Stay pretty.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tired is an attitude that can be changed!
Alright, well hey, how is it going?
So, I could really summarize this last week where being tired is an attitude and can be changed. But... we will get to that. Today we are in a little place called Segovia and for the first time on my mission, besides while exercising, I am not in proselyting clothes. It's like freedom! Weird, but yeah, I don't have my planner so I don't really remember what has happened. Although I did meet perhaps the most perfect, interesting woman in the world.
It was weird, because I have been sick, and on Friday, we finished an appointment at 8 and were going to go in early so I could sleep. We changed our clothes and got a call saying a blessing was needed. There was a Melquisedec priesthood holder there (and yes, that is Spanish because I don't want to attempt it in English.) Anyway, he said he didn't have oil and needed us, so we changed and went to wait for the bus. Since it was a holiday, like every other day here in Spain, the buses weren't running. After 45minutes of waiting we called him and asked what type of blessing was needed. He said comfort and counsel. We said, alright you don't need oil. Then he said he couldn't give it. So we walked the 20 minute walk and I was grumpy, but yeah... We walked in and start getting to know this girl that needed the blessing. Alright... born in Iraq, grew up in Spain, studies in United Kingdom, knows 6 languages, and she is a convert from Muslim.Her parents are like way chill with it. She has probably the most interesting life I know. So I gave this blessing in like Spanish/English and it was pretty legit. But yeah, it was cool.
Conference was great. I won't give my summary, but I liked it. Conference is just the best day. Then we had exchanges on Monday and I was in a piso with 3 other Elders. I don't know how, but we stayed up till 5 talking. We still woke up on time though, don't worry. And last night I thought I would be more tired but then I still stayed up till 1 talking. And today I feel pretty good. Really, it's all attitude, that being tired. I may die soon but I will be happy when I go. Anyway, another day of not having my camera chord so maybe one day I will finally send you more pictures.
Finally, it's looking like I will have a Spanish baptism soon. So I will keep you updated.
Anyway, stay pretty.
Elder Dunn
So, I could really summarize this last week where being tired is an attitude and can be changed. But... we will get to that. Today we are in a little place called Segovia and for the first time on my mission, besides while exercising, I am not in proselyting clothes. It's like freedom! Weird, but yeah, I don't have my planner so I don't really remember what has happened. Although I did meet perhaps the most perfect, interesting woman in the world.
It was weird, because I have been sick, and on Friday, we finished an appointment at 8 and were going to go in early so I could sleep. We changed our clothes and got a call saying a blessing was needed. There was a Melquisedec priesthood holder there (and yes, that is Spanish because I don't want to attempt it in English.) Anyway, he said he didn't have oil and needed us, so we changed and went to wait for the bus. Since it was a holiday, like every other day here in Spain, the buses weren't running. After 45minutes of waiting we called him and asked what type of blessing was needed. He said comfort and counsel. We said, alright you don't need oil. Then he said he couldn't give it. So we walked the 20 minute walk and I was grumpy, but yeah... We walked in and start getting to know this girl that needed the blessing. Alright... born in Iraq, grew up in Spain, studies in United Kingdom, knows 6 languages, and she is a convert from Muslim.Her parents are like way chill with it. She has probably the most interesting life I know. So I gave this blessing in like Spanish/English and it was pretty legit. But yeah, it was cool.
Conference was great. I won't give my summary, but I liked it. Conference is just the best day. Then we had exchanges on Monday and I was in a piso with 3 other Elders. I don't know how, but we stayed up till 5 talking. We still woke up on time though, don't worry. And last night I thought I would be more tired but then I still stayed up till 1 talking. And today I feel pretty good. Really, it's all attitude, that being tired. I may die soon but I will be happy when I go. Anyway, another day of not having my camera chord so maybe one day I will finally send you more pictures.
Finally, it's looking like I will have a Spanish baptism soon. So I will keep you updated.
Anyway, stay pretty.
Elder Dunn
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The "L" on My Forehead in NOT for Loser!
Anyway, to start with my happy thoughts, I will start with Friday. We were just walking and this lady got off the bus who knew my companion. Turns out she is from England and is about the sweetest old lady I have ever met. She said when she was 20 she came for vacations and when she got here, she thought Spain was the greatest place ever so she stayed. Didn't even go back from vacations. Then she got married to the first Spaniard who asked and now she teaches English as a volunteer. She has a vocabulary in English that is even bigger than Leah's. My companion asked me what she was saying and I said I have no idea. Ha ha. She then told me that after 45 years of marriage she and her husband can't stand each other so they alternate schedules of when they are home so they don't have to see each other. The way she told the story and with her accent and vocabulary was just hilarious.
Saturday we taught this guy that has been taught by missionaries for like 6 months. He always comes to church and is reading the Book of Mormon so we can't really drop him but the problem is... apparently after every couple lessons he says "Yeah, I am going to finish the Book of Mormon, get baptized, then move back to Ecuador and start up my own church." I don't really know him, only taught him once, but he is quite special. He says after he finishes the Book of Mormon he is definitely going to be baptized in our church. But then he wants to start his own. Yup. Love the mission!
Then on Sunday, when we were walking home at night, we saw 3 members come out of a chino, a little store that sells like candy drinks and chips. They were pretty embarrassed that they had been caught. It was pretty hilarious cause they felt bad but then we ate some of their chips so I guess we all just sinned or something. Church in Spain might be a little less true ha, ha.
Monday I taught a super Evangelical Nigerian. In his prayers, he starts yelling and cursing those who do evil. Then when I prayed, he said amen and hallelujah throughout the prayer. I taught him in English, and it was pretty hard. I, like Elder Jolley, can no longer say thine, thy, thou, thinest, thoust, or whatever other stupid words we have. I hope I don't have to pray in public when I get home because I honestly will sound like a 6 year old.
Today we went to a little pueblo and were walking down a long street in the shade when I turned the corner where it was really bright. I was thinking, "Wow, it's really bright and I can't really see." During this thought process I walked into a sign. And I mean WALKED into a sign. So I am rocking a pretty sweet cut on my forehead in the shape of an "L" with a giant bruise. Our group laughed for about 10 minutes after that. And 2 people saw it. Pretty rich, especially because we have interviews and general conference this weekend. We also put 6 Elders in a 4 man elevator this morning and when it reached the bottom it went about a foot farther than it should have. At first we were stuck for about 5 minutes, but then we figured out how to open it. Ha! Really missions are a lot of fun. Anyway, stay pretty.
Saturday we taught this guy that has been taught by missionaries for like 6 months. He always comes to church and is reading the Book of Mormon so we can't really drop him but the problem is... apparently after every couple lessons he says "Yeah, I am going to finish the Book of Mormon, get baptized, then move back to Ecuador and start up my own church." I don't really know him, only taught him once, but he is quite special. He says after he finishes the Book of Mormon he is definitely going to be baptized in our church. But then he wants to start his own. Yup. Love the mission!
Then on Sunday, when we were walking home at night, we saw 3 members come out of a chino, a little store that sells like candy drinks and chips. They were pretty embarrassed that they had been caught. It was pretty hilarious cause they felt bad but then we ate some of their chips so I guess we all just sinned or something. Church in Spain might be a little less true ha, ha.
Monday I taught a super Evangelical Nigerian. In his prayers, he starts yelling and cursing those who do evil. Then when I prayed, he said amen and hallelujah throughout the prayer. I taught him in English, and it was pretty hard. I, like Elder Jolley, can no longer say thine, thy, thou, thinest, thoust, or whatever other stupid words we have. I hope I don't have to pray in public when I get home because I honestly will sound like a 6 year old.
Today we went to a little pueblo and were walking down a long street in the shade when I turned the corner where it was really bright. I was thinking, "Wow, it's really bright and I can't really see." During this thought process I walked into a sign. And I mean WALKED into a sign. So I am rocking a pretty sweet cut on my forehead in the shape of an "L" with a giant bruise. Our group laughed for about 10 minutes after that. And 2 people saw it. Pretty rich, especially because we have interviews and general conference this weekend. We also put 6 Elders in a 4 man elevator this morning and when it reached the bottom it went about a foot farther than it should have. At first we were stuck for about 5 minutes, but then we figured out how to open it. Ha! Really missions are a lot of fun. Anyway, stay pretty.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
A New City at Last!
Actually I feel terrible. I had 4 pictures I planned to send you, but I forgot to bring my camera.
I ended my area with a baptism. Walter went under, then came back out, it was pretty legit. He asked me to baptize him, so I also got wet. It's pretty fabulous actually, because the water in the baptismal font, also known as the blue whale, it super warm. Like a nice little bath. I took a picture of the baptismal font because you really just have to see it to believe it. So that was Sunday.
Saturday we played soccer in a little pueblo again with a bunch of less actives and some non-members. A group of about 7 kids between 6-12 were also there. They live in the pueblo and they demanded to play. Spaniards don't have the rep of being pushed around, even if they are only 9, but they really demanded it. So their team came on and it's way funny, because they all just rampantly yell the F word every time something goes slightly wrong. Some of the other things they also say are just so ugly. Gotta love Spaniards! Ha. Anyway, one of their players ended up getting hurt, so I decided to Sub on their team and played goalie for them. We won which was pretty hilarious. Little piece of humble pie. Friday we pretty much cleaned all day because it was Father's Day. Did you know? We didn't either till we went to the bus station and found out that the buses weren't going because it was a holiday. Ha, ha. They celebrate Father's Day the day of the birthday of the Cardinal here. Little different.
I don't have my planner from last week because it's a different transfer and now I am in Romania. No, not really, but might as well be. It's a little place, sort of in the city but not, that is half Romanians and Bulgarians and the other half a mixture of everything. So I am now learning Romanian and Bulgarian a little. The recent convert here was Bulgarian and he speaks ok Spanish. What we have to do is bring fliers and Books of Mormon in their language and then we just do a lot of reading I guess. The recent convert has a son who hasn't learned any Spanish yet but is reading the BoM in Bulgarian and wants to be baptized. So the father translates into Bulgarian. Quite the situation.
The biggest difference from Toledo to Arganda del Rey, where I am now, definitely has to be the regresos. A regreso is when we get the information of a contact so we can go by another day. Well, in Toledo, an amazing week was 10. Well the record, we have in two days, is 16 here. Pretty legit. So my companion, who I got to know too well, is now my Zone Leader. Ha, ha. And we are in the same district. So yesterday in district meeting, we ended up laughing like 5 times from inside jokes and nobody knew why. It was hilarious. My district leader is like my 2nd best friend in the mission, so really I am loving it here.
If Kacey reads, Elder Karren is now my district leader, and yes he knows you Kacey. Ha. But yeah, also we have hermanas now, which is weird. Anyway... the new news, native companion! He lived in the Canaries before coming on the mission, but grew up in Argentina. So I might end up speaking a little like those Argentines. He always wants to talk and is just this big happy Argentine. He is pretty great. So yeah, I am definitely going to up the Spanish during the next little while. Also I am the Senior Companion, not as bad (as much responsibility) as Richard, but still, I am too young! Anyway, I think you have enough information and I am hungry. Wait... more information, we have bikes. It is the only area in the mission with bikes. I will have to take a picture of the ridiculous outfit we have to wear to bike. Ha. Oh man...the mission! Stay pretty.
E Dunn
I ended my area with a baptism. Walter went under, then came back out, it was pretty legit. He asked me to baptize him, so I also got wet. It's pretty fabulous actually, because the water in the baptismal font, also known as the blue whale, it super warm. Like a nice little bath. I took a picture of the baptismal font because you really just have to see it to believe it. So that was Sunday.
Saturday we played soccer in a little pueblo again with a bunch of less actives and some non-members. A group of about 7 kids between 6-12 were also there. They live in the pueblo and they demanded to play. Spaniards don't have the rep of being pushed around, even if they are only 9, but they really demanded it. So their team came on and it's way funny, because they all just rampantly yell the F word every time something goes slightly wrong. Some of the other things they also say are just so ugly. Gotta love Spaniards! Ha. Anyway, one of their players ended up getting hurt, so I decided to Sub on their team and played goalie for them. We won which was pretty hilarious. Little piece of humble pie. Friday we pretty much cleaned all day because it was Father's Day. Did you know? We didn't either till we went to the bus station and found out that the buses weren't going because it was a holiday. Ha, ha. They celebrate Father's Day the day of the birthday of the Cardinal here. Little different.
I don't have my planner from last week because it's a different transfer and now I am in Romania. No, not really, but might as well be. It's a little place, sort of in the city but not, that is half Romanians and Bulgarians and the other half a mixture of everything. So I am now learning Romanian and Bulgarian a little. The recent convert here was Bulgarian and he speaks ok Spanish. What we have to do is bring fliers and Books of Mormon in their language and then we just do a lot of reading I guess. The recent convert has a son who hasn't learned any Spanish yet but is reading the BoM in Bulgarian and wants to be baptized. So the father translates into Bulgarian. Quite the situation.
The biggest difference from Toledo to Arganda del Rey, where I am now, definitely has to be the regresos. A regreso is when we get the information of a contact so we can go by another day. Well, in Toledo, an amazing week was 10. Well the record, we have in two days, is 16 here. Pretty legit. So my companion, who I got to know too well, is now my Zone Leader. Ha, ha. And we are in the same district. So yesterday in district meeting, we ended up laughing like 5 times from inside jokes and nobody knew why. It was hilarious. My district leader is like my 2nd best friend in the mission, so really I am loving it here.
If Kacey reads, Elder Karren is now my district leader, and yes he knows you Kacey. Ha. But yeah, also we have hermanas now, which is weird. Anyway... the new news, native companion! He lived in the Canaries before coming on the mission, but grew up in Argentina. So I might end up speaking a little like those Argentines. He always wants to talk and is just this big happy Argentine. He is pretty great. So yeah, I am definitely going to up the Spanish during the next little while. Also I am the Senior Companion, not as bad (as much responsibility) as Richard, but still, I am too young! Anyway, I think you have enough information and I am hungry. Wait... more information, we have bikes. It is the only area in the mission with bikes. I will have to take a picture of the ridiculous outfit we have to wear to bike. Ha. Oh man...the mission! Stay pretty.
E Dunn
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Photo Op.
Alright, well we can now add pictures. I will only send one today so that you can all appreciate it a lot. (This were Scott's baptisms that happened on his birthday. He thought it was the best gift.)
So to start with the happy thoughts, when we were in Madrid, my companion was almost pick-pocketed. I turned around just in time to see the guy pull his hands out of his backpack. We we on a down escalator and the guy was behind him. It was pretty exciting. My companion only had a triple, a bible, and his camera in his backpack. I thought it would have been funny if he would have just had scriptures. Then we could have said, "No, you don't have to steal, in fact we would like to come by and give you one of these, and maybe some other things too." But luckily the guy didn't have time to grab the camera. Quite exciting. The night before zone conference we were staying with other Elders in Madrid and 4 guys in a room late at night always equals trouble. We stayed up till 3 talking and then got up at 6:45 to go to zone conference. It actually wasn't that hard to stay awake for the 7 hour conference, but the temple trip after hurt a little bit. Ha, ha.
On Thursday, we were in a little town and the two appointments we had fell through. We had 3 hours till the bus came so we went to the super market and saw really cheap energy drinks and decided to each buy 2. We then had a chugging contest and I "pwned" him. It was way funny though.
Friday, we started cleaning our piso, and we started with the shower. We decided to start with the drain since it was hardly draining and yeah, it was pretty disgusting. But now our shower is super clean! Saturday was good, I learned how to do a Rubix Cube. And now, the student is faster than then teacher! Ha, ha.
Walter, the guy who is going to be baptized this Sunday, was like super awesome. People from Peru are just way humble. He loves learning about commandments. It's good, just weird. Sunday we went to some members house to eat with them and hang out. In this town there are about 10 South Americans, and the rest are true Spaniards. Needless to say, when we tried to contact, we got nothing more than door slams and no even bothers. Pretty legit missionary work. On Monday, I was walking down the stairs of our piso, there are members that live right below us and we are way good friends, so I jumped down the last stair and yelled "RAWR" kind of as a joke. Anyway, it wasn't one of the members, but a 10 year old kid who takes piano lessons. I was like, "Oh, you aren't Josue. Huh? I thought you were Josue." I tried to make it not awkward but nonetheless, that kid will always think we are freaks. So yeah, the work continues!
But yeah, baptism this Sunday. Then on Monday we go to Madrid to be transferred! Pretty legit. I about laughed my head off when I heard Richard is branch president and district leader. Great thing about the number of missionaries going down here is that our mission in general is a lot older so president wants to give all the leadership positions to old missionaries. Silly Resistencia missionaries. Anyway, going to go do the whole Toledo Tourist walk and take a bunch of pictures. Love the new camera, and the glasses. Thanks mom. Stay pretty.
E Dunn
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
It's Legit???
Helloooooo,
Well I am glad to hear "my" bathroom is almost finished! (We are remodeling our master bathroom.) Well, not really, but I am glad that you like it. I will receive my package tomorrow before zone conference so I will be able to actually see the speaker this time. I am pretty stoked. Thanks for that.
News from Toledo... we are still closing the 22nd. The 21st we are baptizing the most humble man I have ever met. His name is Walter, and he is from Peru. He is so legit. And it only took two and a half months of teaching him. Maybe eventually I will have one of those miracle stories like in south America where they find someone, teach them, and 3 weeks later they are baptized. He had the hardest time quitting work Sundays because he has to support his family in Peru, but with tithing, he was like, yeah, I read about it in the bible and I want to pay it. We thought he was going to have the hardest time with it so my companion and I both spent about 2 hours studying up on it. But he accepted it without problems.
Other than that today was spent playing soccer and eating Peruvian food. So spicy but soooo good. I also learned that natives all play soccer way too well. There is no hope for me.
Happy thoughts for this week... Friday we spent 6 hours walking, in the rain, contacting - that was a pretty legit missionary day. Thursday, we found out this super inactive woman with 4 kids has cancer, so we gave her a sick blessing. She has her operation this Friday so we are praying for the best. Saturday, I hung out with the most sarcastic Chilean ever. I think he is my new best friend. Made me feel like I was with my friends ha,ha. Also learned that Chileans talk faster than any other country but a lot clearer than some. (Dad, you didn't have it that hard.) Sunday, we had 6 investigators in the capilla. They would all start coming as we started leaving. Actually, I learned a valuable lesson. We have really stressed coming to the capilla with investigators lately, and really... it works. They come, and then they like it, so they want to learn more. Better way to use our resources. Last night after quite a long discussion with the husband of the woman who was baptized, we figured out his doubt. He also said one day he will be baptized, just not now. He also doesn't believe in one church, just in Jesus. However, he thinks we teach the best about Jesus or something like that.
So the President of the area of Europe will be here tomorrow. I am pretty excited. We should learn a little more about some of the changes that are going to pass. We are really getting the best deal in our mission. Losing some of the harder areas, then gaining some way legit ones.
Speaking of the word legit, is there any new slang out that I should be aware of? I never realized how much I use slang until I try to talk to native Spanish speakers in easy English so they can practice. I spend more time explaining slang than talking. Ha. Anyway, I should know more about this mission next Wednesday. And next P day we are going to do the whole Toledo Tourist thing and just take like 100 photos. Should be sweet. Well, that is my life. IF you have any questions, don't doubt in asking.
Stay pretty,
E. Dunn
Well I am glad to hear "my" bathroom is almost finished! (We are remodeling our master bathroom.) Well, not really, but I am glad that you like it. I will receive my package tomorrow before zone conference so I will be able to actually see the speaker this time. I am pretty stoked. Thanks for that.
News from Toledo... we are still closing the 22nd. The 21st we are baptizing the most humble man I have ever met. His name is Walter, and he is from Peru. He is so legit. And it only took two and a half months of teaching him. Maybe eventually I will have one of those miracle stories like in south America where they find someone, teach them, and 3 weeks later they are baptized. He had the hardest time quitting work Sundays because he has to support his family in Peru, but with tithing, he was like, yeah, I read about it in the bible and I want to pay it. We thought he was going to have the hardest time with it so my companion and I both spent about 2 hours studying up on it. But he accepted it without problems.
Other than that today was spent playing soccer and eating Peruvian food. So spicy but soooo good. I also learned that natives all play soccer way too well. There is no hope for me.
Happy thoughts for this week... Friday we spent 6 hours walking, in the rain, contacting - that was a pretty legit missionary day. Thursday, we found out this super inactive woman with 4 kids has cancer, so we gave her a sick blessing. She has her operation this Friday so we are praying for the best. Saturday, I hung out with the most sarcastic Chilean ever. I think he is my new best friend. Made me feel like I was with my friends ha,ha. Also learned that Chileans talk faster than any other country but a lot clearer than some. (Dad, you didn't have it that hard.) Sunday, we had 6 investigators in the capilla. They would all start coming as we started leaving. Actually, I learned a valuable lesson. We have really stressed coming to the capilla with investigators lately, and really... it works. They come, and then they like it, so they want to learn more. Better way to use our resources. Last night after quite a long discussion with the husband of the woman who was baptized, we figured out his doubt. He also said one day he will be baptized, just not now. He also doesn't believe in one church, just in Jesus. However, he thinks we teach the best about Jesus or something like that.
So the President of the area of Europe will be here tomorrow. I am pretty excited. We should learn a little more about some of the changes that are going to pass. We are really getting the best deal in our mission. Losing some of the harder areas, then gaining some way legit ones.
Speaking of the word legit, is there any new slang out that I should be aware of? I never realized how much I use slang until I try to talk to native Spanish speakers in easy English so they can practice. I spend more time explaining slang than talking. Ha. Anyway, I should know more about this mission next Wednesday. And next P day we are going to do the whole Toledo Tourist thing and just take like 100 photos. Should be sweet. Well, that is my life. IF you have any questions, don't doubt in asking.
Stay pretty,
E. Dunn
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