We have a home!

Baptism from last week: "This is Liza and two of her daughters, Analía and Anayeli. Ever Barrios, who helped us baptize, is the son of the ward mission leader."

Well, the big news is that we found a house. I don´t know If I already told you the story of how we found it. A week or two ago, when we found out we had a big deadline, I decided we needed to pray because we had tried everything and there was no way we were going to find the perfect house on our own (missionary houses have very high standards of privacy and security). As we were searching, Elder Leishman decided to go talk to someone at a house he had looked at while looking for houses for the Kellers, but had been too expensive. We went inside, I loved it, and Elder Hardy (the financial secretary of the mission) was able to negotiate the price down a little so it would be reasonable for two companionships to pay. It is right by the Casino (just two blocks from our old house), and right on the limit between the areas. I feel like we aren´t living in Paraguay anymore--it is so nice! I´ll let you know what it´s like when I find out who the three missionaries are that will come live with us.

"Pictures of our very nice new house! Which is still in the process of being cleaned and organized."

We really didn´t teach much this week--just looking for houses and moving. I am excited to get back into normal missionary work rhythm. Liza, our recent convert, is already helping clean the chapel. Delfina has been sick because of her pregnancy, but they decided to prepare to be married on the 23rd. She´s now come to church 4 weeks in a row. Yesterday was District Conference. President Agazzani came and spoke about how he loves breaking down walls--literally and figuratively, challenged all the members to meet Elder Ballard´s member-missionary challenge, and talked about hoping to grow enough that we can tear down the back wall of the chapel to put in a cultural hall. That would be good, because it was pretty packed. I also got to see the Grau family, some good friends from Amambay whose dad is now Pres. Agazzani´s 2nd counselor.

The Zone Training went great. Everyone in the mission had to read the 4th missionary, a talk that I think I´ve mentioned, so we talked a lot about that in the meeting. I attached what they sent us if you (and also Daniel) are interested in seeing what it is. We talked about being self-sufficient and creating solutions--I shared D&C 9:7-8, and Elder Leishman shared the story of the Brother of Jared--his favorite story. We talked about "lifting where you stand" using 1 Corinthians 12´s analogy of the parts of the body. And, among other things, we acted a story about a dad helping his son enjoy the journey when they had to walk home. That was our biggest objective; we need to help these missionaries enjoy what they´re doing. It is an incredible opportunity.

One thing that also helped is the new manual "Adjusting to Misisonary Life" which everyone received. It is perfect. It would have helped me so much at the beginning of my mission. It just talks about how to deal with the stresses of mission life. It is about 50-60 pages. I will definitely keep using it even after the mission.

That´s so cool that you got to be a part of Toni and Arnold´s mission. I didn´t know you could do that!! The Senior Couple is from South Carolina (she talks like Andy Offut Irwin*), and they are a lot of fun. Elder Keller has a lot of great ideas to get home teaching going, and he scored himself a calling as 2nd Counselor in the District Presidency. So that will get a lot of wheels rolling. He served in Posadas Argentina a long time ago, and was once in Asunción for a Zone Conference. He gave patriarchal blessings in Spanish, so he still remembers it.

Also, the only other thing I can think of in the Christmas package would be facewash. Like I said, I don´t think my razor will make it another 7 months (Gah!) and I need a new camera battery or something.  I think that´s it. I´ll try to see if I can find someone to going to the states to send you something this year, haha. Love you all!

-Elder Morgan the Older

*Andy Offut Irwin is a storyteller that comes to the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and tells stories about his aunt using a cute, old lady southern accent.