Email 12-10-12

Hello all,

Sorry that I didn´t get off an email the last week. We were in the mission office and we were trying to write really fast so that we could get off to CDE fast. I forgot to tell you guys about the baptism of Pamela. It turned out to be a sweet baptism. A lot of members didn´t come because there was so much rain. That usually is a sign that really people aren´t going to come. We did have some members come though. Juan Carlos her step dad that we baptized about 2 months ago was able to baptize her. They had to do it twice because the very tippy tip of her hand didn´t go in the water. The whole family is now baptized and united. It was a super awesome experience for them and I know that the Lord is very content with their actions and desires. Now they can start preparing to go to the temple in 1 year. I was talking with Juan Carlos while he was changing his clothes. He had such a hard time talking without getting very emotional. He said that really he felt so good and felt so much loved performing that ordinance. I know that he is going to be able to lead his family now as the head of the house and prepare to receive the higher priesthood order as well. We were super super pumped and very happy for that especially because we really didn´t have to do anything to help Pamela. Plus my companion was sick so I couldn´t leave the house to go and teach her. She kept reading her BOM and kept going to church without us even having to invite her. That is faith. Knowing you should do something so you just do it without being told.

Other Crazy things that have happened this week was that we came back from Asuncion late Monday night and so we were super super tired on Tuesday and it’s just getting hotter and hotter so we really had to kick it into overdrive to just keep moving forward. Right now we are focused on teaching a family that we have been teaching for a while. They are the Britas Family. They are super super simple and have been to a lot of churches but at last they are starting to progress and understand all the stuff that we are teaching them. All of the Children are now coming to church. Really it was a huge miracle and felt awesome to walk into church. We decided that it was the time for a trial of their faith so we weren´t going to go look for them. We were going to let them come by themselves. We were sitting there in priesthood meeting and all of a sudden Gabriel walked in. Whooohooo. I love it when people come to church by themselves. So we were like ok at least Gabriel came to church. So we sat there and listened to the lesson and just were really content, we left the class and all of a sudden Clara the sister came out of the Young Women’s class. Woooohoooo.. yay! this day just keeps getting better and better. So we got into the next class we were pretty happy when a Member brought his other younger brother that isn´t a member. whoooohooooo yeah that’s what I’m talking about....... we helped them get all situated and ready in the class when all of a sudden our other investigator comes driving up on his motorcycle and was pumped to get into the class. Yeah I just love it on days like this because I feel that people are starting to let the doctrine of Christ motivate them to do and to act. I am so thankful to our Heavenly Father for helping them realize and feel the need to come to church that day. Now it’s our turn to work super hard and help them build their faith even more so that they can continue to keep their commitments until they are baptized whoooo.

This week as been super super super crazy as far as the weather goes. So we leave the house around 10 and its super super super super hot. We walk around and we sweat and we teach and all that jazz. Then around 6 these huge rain clouds come and the wind picks up and we find ourselves in a huge storm and we get soaked because we didn´t bring jackets or umbrellas. It happened to us about 3 times this week. It was fun though just getting to walk around in the rain. Everyone was looking at us like we were crazy, but I wouldn´t like to think of it in that sense because we had places to go and people to baptized. The rain doesn´t stop the work.

I had another crazy run in with the super super old ward member lady that said I was going to be an apostle. We had been helping the Primary program as they prepare for their Sunday program and we were singing with them and helping them follow the words and I was playing the piano. She came up to me again and she said ¨When you’re an apostle and a General Authority, don´t forget about poor little Sista Vasquez down here in Paraguay.¨ When she said it again, it was just a normal thing I wasn´t too shocked. I love those great sisters that just work so diligently in the primary and nursery. They really are the ones that will inherit the celestial kingdom. Because they are humble and meek, willing to help all those that they meet. Being around so many children has probably helped them have a change of heart and become as they are.

A little funny story is that with the family that we are teaching right now, really they are just super super confused about all the religions and how they started and all that jazz because they have been as it says in Ephesians that they have been tossed to and fro as waves by the wind. They think that Jews are atheist and Catholics at the same time. We tried to help them understand that it wasn´t that way, but finally it came down to where we just had to show them that there is only 1 true church. Really whenever we teach that family it is an adventure because we never really know what they are gonna say or have huge discussions about. We leave sometimes just laughing at some of the crap that people hear nowadays about religions. It makes me that much more grateful that I was blessed enough to be born in the gospel and to have had parents and teachers and leaders that taught those spiritual truths. I will always be grateful for their example and love.

I asked him a few questions and here are his responses!

1. Are there any historical places near you?

As far as historical places I would have to think that near where I am is the largest electrical dam in the world It is HUGE. We can´t go see it but I have seen some pictures and it is huge. Also there is another huge waterfall called Monday. It was in my first area of Franco. But really as far as any historical places near us I can´t really say that there are. There are tons of stories and folktales that I am going to tell you when I get home don´t worry. A lot of them are super super super weird hahaha

2. Have you heard about an increase in missionaries coming into your mission due to the announcement from Pres. Monson?

Yes President made an announcement to the Zone leaders that we don´t know how many more missionaries we will be receiving. we know that we will be receiving 60 more sister missionaries in the mission and there is a possibility within a year that they may open up another mission here in Paraguay. But ya tons of missionaries heading our way!!!!!

3. Do the wards there have Christmas parties and programs like we do here?

Usually the wards do a dinner for the end of the year. Its a fun time for the members to socialize. we are trying to get a talent show all set up for during the dinner so that way it turns out to be a little more fun. Any more ideas for a church Christmas activity?

4. Tell us about some of the members that you have come to know and love in your area.

There are a few members that I have come to really really love here in this area. One is Called Juan Manuel, Griselda, and Jose. They are converts from Elder Richards when he was here in CDE. Juan Manuel is studying to be a lawyer, and Griselda is his wife. They are both around 23 and Jose is their son. He is 4. He is a super large handful. Whenever we come over he freaks out and always wants us to play with him. Juan Manuel may be studying to be a lawyer but that doesn´t mean he acts like one. In some senses he seems like a college kid because he jokes around with us all the time. We love teasing him about his hair because its very long and curly and whenever someone comes over he has to go in and fix it to make sure that it comes out perfect. We always joke around with Griselda and Juan that they need to buy us burger king. Then Juan will say that he can´t have Burger King but we can have Grisel King. hahaha Referring to his wife. We love them and they help us a lot as far as helping our investigators feel at home while they are at the church. They have plans to get sealed in the temple next January or the following month.

5. How far do you have to walk to do your grocery shopping and computer time?

Luckily we have a huge grocery store called Gran Via. It is about a half a block away. Its super nice because I have been in an area where you have to walk about 15 minutes carrying your groceries in your hand and it’s not fun at all. It makes me all the much more grateful for a car.

6. What is your favorite thing about Christmas time in Paraguay?

My favorite thing about Christmas in Paraguay would have to be all of the barbeques that they do. They are called Asados. When they do an asado here it’s not hamburgers or hotdogs like what we do. It’s a huge side of a cow that they put over a fire and they just cook away for hours and hours. It really turns into a large project that comes out very very tasty. They only bad thing is while they are waiting for their meat they are usually drinking and so we can´t really teach them anything but they are really nice in offering us pretty much anything that they have.

7. What are some of the Paraguan traditions surrounding the celebration of Christmas?

You have to remember that it is very very hot during Christmas time so the people here instead of staying in their house and staying warm and watching it’s a wonderful life or a Christmas story they are usually outside partying and dancing and drinking. At midnight Christmas eve, everyone will set off large fireworks that sound like a huge war. I really feel like I am in WW2 while all those fireworks are going off. Its definitely a different style of celebrating Christmas, but it’s the culture. hahaha the other thing that is huge around Christmas time here is the fruit salad. EVERYONE makes it and eats it. And if you’re not careful a lot of the people here put wine in their fruit salad. It’s called clerico. Sometimes missionaries on accident eat that type of fruit salad. Whooops. hahaha

 Well hope that this letter turned out to be something enjoyable for you all. I know the mission is true and that it is the best experience that one can have. I love my Savior, I love repentance, and I love you all.

Elder Beatty