First Week in Bolivia

This week has been incredible. I don't have words to describe it. I took tons of pictures, but sadly I don't have my camera. I thought we were going back to nuestro casa (our house) before we went and emailed. Thank you for all the emails. Words cannot describe how I have felt today. It’s my Primo (first) area and my Companion is Elder León, pretty much the coolest guy ever, but I can’t understand a word he says when he speaks Spanish. He's Colombian, but the Bolivianos I can actually understand pretty well. I want to apologize in advance ever since I started learning Spanish I'm sure my grammar and spelling has gone down hill. I left the CCM at 5:30 last Monday. Missionaries usually leave the CCM on Tuesdays so it was a surprise to us. We had hardly any time to pack. It was so hard to say goodbye to the people in my district who are not going to Bolivia. But the hardest part was saying goodbye to one of my teachers, Hermano Valera. He is such an incredible man/teacher/friend. His wife is pregnant and if it is a boy he wants to name it after me. NO JOKE hahaha. My district and my maestros were like my family away from my family. When we got to the Lima Airport our flight didn't leave until 12:30am. From Lima it was a 2 hour flight to La Paz Bolivia. The Highest capital city in the world. Now flying from Utah to La Paz would have been easy, but since I had been living at sea level for six weeks I, for the first time, got altitude sickness. I had a killer migraine. We were in La Paz from 2:30 to 7:30am. Probably the worst time of my life. Haha. I got on the flight to Cochabamba and slept the whole way, feeling perfect after. Cochabamba is a huge city. It reminds me so much of a mix between Utah and California. Its perfect - with dogs EVERYWHERE!!!! Cochabamba itself is not what the mission described. And what I have heard from otro missioneros is that its not at all like it was described in the mission packet. No mosquitoes, for now. My first area is a place called Bella Vista Cochabamba. Its like the outskirts of the city, but the prettiest. Everyone here grows flowers entonces (so) all you see is trees and flowers. From my casa you have a view of the whole city, the Cristus statue and everything. Again I apologize for no pictures.

I love my rama (branch) tons. Everyone here is so humble and kind it amazes me. All of the people in the branch have such strong testimonies and are so close to God. I wish everyone could spend time with these people and learn from them. I cannot even describe the feelings I have for them. If we could all be like the Bolivans, humble, soft-spoken, kind, loving, and most of all, having charity. I have never been with people who literally give everything to the Lord. I never want to leave. My first day we went and talked to what I thought was an inactive member family, but they were actually all investigators. Language barrier, who knew! Hahaha! La nombre de la family is Franchisca. I shared my favorite scripture and talked a ton about how we need to rely on Christ in all things. The Spirit then drew our message to the temple. The Spirit is an amazing thing. La Padre de la familia has refused to take the lessons with his family up to this point, and he was there the whole time talking about how much Christ means to him through tears. When we mentioned the temple the whole family was crying, and obviously I was crying too. Haha They all came to church Sunday and felt the spirit so strong then also. I have never seen a family so ready for the gospel. Well, I said some interesting things this week. I was trying to buy some leche (milk) and I said. Quiero leche por favor which translates to I want milk please. The lady looked and me weird and said "qué" (what)? I quickly replied lo siento puedo comprar leche (can I buy milk)? When we left I said to my companion qué en el mundo (what in the world). Soy embrisado, which translates to (I'm Pregnant) obviously meaning to say I'm embarrassed, hahaha. Funniest moment of my life. Tomorrow I am teaching an English class. I'm really excited!!!! I just felt it was a good idea to get investigators involved with members to feel more welcome. Well in closing Thanks for all the emails. They mean so much.