"If ever there was a place where it is easy to get depressed it is in Bolivia, especially Colquiri."

Man, what a day.

If ever there was a place where it is easy to get depressed it is in Bolivia, especially Colquiri.

I finally got my suitcase today, minus my electric razor.  I hope whoever has it uses it in the bathtub and electocutes himself!

I'm surprised I still have a head attached to my body.  I have hit it on roofs, doors, and bars and almost had it severed millions of times by clotheslines.

It is time to go to bed.  Maybe I will write some more of these exciting things tomorrow.  Elder Kupu and I have been fasting for the Mamanis family, we are going to baptize them tomorrow wow!

A Terrible Time In Oruro

We left La Paz at 12:00 yesterday.  The country between La Paz and Oruro is a lot like Northern Utah.  We had a terrible time in Oruro.  Mostly cause I was sick.  I was so busy trying to hold things in on both ends that I didn't feel much like running around, which is what we were doing.  We finally got a taxi to bring us out, $25!

"If ever I was psyched out by a shot, this was the time."

Boy what a day!  We had a pretty wild and crazy time changing rooms this morning.  We were all supposed to move at 9:00 am sharp.  Some elders started moving at about 8:45 and that started the stampede!  It was raining and that added to the scene.  2,000 missionaries mean a lot of suitcases and clothes.  Poor Elder Laycock got his white shirts stepped on two times within 5 minutes.  He wasn't exactly happy about that.

To add to my problems, I got a gamma globulin injection just before.  If ever I was psyched out by a shot, this was the time.  It was the first time that I can remember receiving a shot in the rear end.  I walked in to the room and there was this huge shot just sitting there and glinting at me.  The shot actually wasn't too bad.  I did dream last night (it is now the 14th) that the nurse left the shot in and forgot to take it out.

To get back on the subject, we are now located on the fourth floor of SM.  The room seems to be smaller but I just can't complain knowing about some of the conditions that lie ahead in the next two years.

I have started writing smaller in order to conserve paper.  There is no way that this will last me two years.

I received a 1.25 rating in my FSI exam last night.  Last time I got a 1.5!  The funny thing is I felt a whole lot better talking than I did the previous time.  Elder Brown received a 2.5 which is really good.

I met my cousin's cousin yesterday.  He is right next door.  I was talking with this elder that I knew was from Denver.  I told him that I was from Colorado too.  I told him that my home was Grand Junction.  He seemed excited when I said this and asked me if I knew Bettie Jo Christensen.  I told him that she was my cousin.  He then told me that he was her cousin.  It was exciting.

5 Hours In The Provo Temple

Our P-Day got shot in one way and heightened in another.  We were planning to go to the University all after the temple to do some shopping and get haircuts.  However after we came out of the endowment session we were asked if we would do some sealings.  They lasted about two hours.  Then after those we were asked again if we would like to do some ordinations.  Well we couldn't pass this opportunity by either.  All in all we ended up spending over 5 hours there.

Elder George Lee was our speaker at the devotional last night.  He really spoke well.  We got excellent seats.

There is a lot of construction going on around here.  They are putting new water pipes in.  There are some narrow bridges over some trenches and when a whole mess of white-shirted elders are tramping across it, I am reminded rather vividly of herding sheep through a gate or leading them up a shoot.  It is quite a site and I am sure that that is what my Dad would think of if he saw them in that manner.

Speaking of Dad, I think he was honored this weekend as the guest of honor at the Colorado Woolgrowers' Convention.  He is a great leader and when he gets his priorities straightened out I'm sure the Lord could make good use of him.

My sister Jan is in Europe right now.  I hope she has been enjoying it.  She has been waiting for something like this for a long time.

Well I only have 4 more outside of class concepts to pass off.  This should put me in good shape to get all 8.

I wrote a cool down letter to Linda today.  I hope she doesn't take it the wrong way.  That wouldn't do too good.

Well it is about time to go get some grub.  6 weeks tomorrow - I just can't believe it.

Red Like An Apple

Boy, I sure had an interesting experience with Hermana Hurtado.  I had the task of passing off H-3 to her.  H-3 is the Law of Chastity.  After I had started out, I looked at her and she had her head down and was laughing.  I finally figured out what was so funny.  The subject material isn't the most easily discussed topic in the world!  By the time I got through a couple of the "you can't do this" and "you shouldn't do thats", my face was rojo como una manzana (red like an apple).  I guess we were both embarrassed and it was bad because some of the phrases didn't come out right and I would have to do them over again.  Finally she just told me that she knew that I knew the concept.  She decided to spare both of us from more agony and passed me.

We just had an incredible downpour.  The lightning was really breathtaking.  The thunder also was about as loud as I have ever heard.

I have a talk in priesthood tomorrow and it is late so I better hit the hay.

"I WISH I HAD MORE TIME!"

Yesterday was a bad day to try and catch up.  I have 20 minutes right now so I will try to write a little.

We had a great day at the temple.  It was the first time that I had seen the movie session.  After that all the new missionaries had a question and answer session with President Gunther.  I learned a great deal about the temple and what goes on inside.  At the temple I saw Brother and Sister Leany.  They were really excited to see me as I was to see them.  Brother Leany is our new counselor in the Bishopric.  They told me that Dad has been to Church twice in a row.  That really filled my heart with joy.  I just can't express the importance of my father to me.  The whole family for that matter.  I truly have been blessed.

After the temple session we ate lunch.  I got a care package from Mom and Jan.  It was great.  Then after leaving the major part of what hair I had in the Wilkinson Center Barber Shop.  That has to be the only place in Provo that doesn't have a line.  After that we did our laundry and managed to write four letters.

I WISH I HAD MORE TIME!  I just can't find the time to do everything that I want to.  If I really buckle in on my Book of Mormon then I don't memorize my scripture cards then I don't repass my charlas.  Oh well I guess that I will have to learn to be more efficient.  Well time is gone.  Next time I will have to write about Elder Laycock and my robe.

Sleepy Elder Brown & Spanish Mishaps

Well it is 6:00 in the morning.  I have been sleeping a lot better the last few nights.  The Lord has blessed us with a few cooler ones.  The temperature has been from 80 to 85 degrees in our room.  They said that they are working on the air-conditioning and trying to get it fixed soon.

Some pretty funny events have occurred in class.  Usually they happen when someone either mispronounces a word or uses a different word altogether.  Elder Nelson called himself "a burrito".  The word he was trying to say was "aburido" which means boring.  Elder Laycock called our teacher Hermana Hurtado "a bore".

This morning when I woke up, I realized that another group of missionaries would be leaving.  This week has gone by really fast.  About the only things that don't go by fast are Language Class and dinner lines.  Elder Brown and I had to wait one whole hour for breakfast yesterday.  You would think that we were standing in line for a BYU Basketball game or something.

Elder Brown sure is funny sometimes.  I can predict what happens every morning.  After we get up and shower and get dressed we have 30-45 minutes to read the scriptures.  Anyways we both start reading at our desks.  Soon after that Elder Brown moves over to the air vent by the window.  He usually read there for about 10 minutes.  Then he lies down on his bed and about 5 minutes later I can hear contented snoring.  This event occurs every day.  I don't even have to turn around to see what he is doing.  I can hear what he is doing.

Elder Brown is a really good guy though.  Maybe I'd like him so much because he is about the only person I know besides Linda that whistles worse than I do.

Elder Brown just woke up to turn a page.  I think he will be sleeping again within five minutes.  Whoops, sooner than that.  This must be a record.  Either that or he is learning how to turn pages in his sleep.  I guess I had better wake him up so that we can be ready to go to class.

All About Elder Brown & A Funny Dream

It is about 5:30 on Wednesday morning and today is P-Day.  I hope that I can budget my time wisely enough so that I can make this day profitable.

I am trying to adjust to the long hours and I must say that the Lord is sustaining me.  Monday night I think that I dreamed that an alarm clock went off because I woke up.  Elder Nelson got out of bed and walked out of the room.  I got up and got all my things ready for a shower.  When I walked in the bathroom I felt proud of the fact that I was the first one up.  I looked at my watch to see what time this memorable event was taking place at.  To my amazement it was 11:30 pm!!  That was quite a shock.  But it did feel rather good to be able to climb back into bed.

I feel as though we are in a very choice district.  There is not one bad apple in the whole bunch.  Every day I see many examples of love.  Everyone wants the district to succeed.  Last night in our room prayer the four of us elders placed our arms around each other as Elder Nelson thanked the Lord for our countless blessings.  I felt loved and I felt love for them.

Last night Elder Marion D. Hanks spoke in a devotional.  He emphasized the importance of really learning to love the scriptures.  I was truly impressed with his knowledge and ability to use the scriptures.

Elder Brown and I have decided to try and get up at 5:00 am every morning.  We will see how it works out.  While on the subject of Elder Brown, I would like to write some impressions of him.  He is pretty big.  From Cincinnati, Ohio.  He has had four years of Spanish and he really picks it up fast and speaks it well.  This ability is sometimes frustrating to me.  I feel as though we get along well as companions.  I feel that we can both give and take a little so that we compromise rather well.  It is hard for me to really describe him.  Maybe I will try again later.  I do feel that the Lord inspired this companionship!!