Lots of good stuff happened this week and I won't lie, it's good to be back with you fine people this dia calor en Paraguarí. This week I can feel the anxiety my mom has for my inability to answer her questions as well as others, so this week I wrote down a few of the questions I fail to answer every week, and after a brief summary of my happenings this week I´ll answer them.
Got to go on splits (where they team up with a different missionary than their assigned companion for the day) with Elder G this week to the other half of Paraguari and it was dope--some mountains way up high and with deep jungles and vines and trees. We met a member there who showed us the offspring of a hen they own, and a local nearby duck. I call them clucks. But, we also had a really cool lesson off a referral that looked like was going to go off the rails, and if it hadn't been for the Spirit it would have. But it seems like God really can soften all hearts. I learned a lot that day.
The biggest thing I've been learning isn't the language or culture (there has been a lot of that), but what I feel like I've learned a lot lately is how to teach people and share my thoughts, and do it with a companion. I've learned the simpler my sentences, the more scriptures we read, and the more they talk, the strong feelings of the Spirit can testify to them. Putete. (meaning "cool" like "that's cool" in Guarani)
I GOT TO SEE MY BOYS THIS WEEK. We got called at 10:20 last Tuesday night and were told I had to be in Asuncion (3 hour bus ride) at the mission home by 10 am for fingerprints for immigration. While there I got to reconnect with all the guys from the MTC that are in Paraguay. We all have crazy stories and it was super crazy good to see them again.
We had our first zone meeting last week and so it was cool seeing and meeting everyone in Zone 8. 5 sets of Elders 2 sets of Hermanas. Putete.
It's funny because I'm understanding things a lot better now, but not always exactly what's being said. In a lesson the father was telling us about how the Americans had armed the rebels in Bolivia and one day they came to Paraguay and started taking a bunch of stuff. Paraguay retaliated and ended up taking all the weapons. This was way back when, but I didn't know that. I thought all this stuff happened like this last week. So I was freaking out because I thought I was in a country going to war with an American backed Bolivia, and it was going to get ugly! But really, no need to fear.
QUESTIONS:
In fact, apparently my name is somewhat difficult for the people of Paraguay to say, or at least appears difficult to them. Whenever they see my name they look really confused. When I tell them to give it a try they say "Jocoom" Close enough, right? It really doesn't sound that far off just it really throws them off when they see it. It's funny because in Guarani there is a word that sounds super similar to that and it translates to "linda" or in English "pretty/handsome" so basically, I'm elder handsome.
My trainer really is great, but as always there's times where I just have to laugh stuff off. Granted, he does know way more than me, but that's considering I know nothing. I have loved learning from him though because he knows how to give really powerful, simple lessons and always has some of the highest numbers in the zone. Definitely a dude to learn from.
The branch (the local congregation where he goes to church) is good. The people who are strong are strong. The less actives are stronger than some of the active members, but have a hard time going to church because everyone has beef with the Branch President. It's a tough job/situation. We are just trying to develop a sense of unity.
Much love my people.
Elder Jocoom
P.S.- Upon further debate with my companion, I withdraw my statement that I ate dog last week. It does not mean I am totally convinced or unconvinced, only that there was not enough proof for me to declare that it was dog. lo siento.
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