Last Week, Transfers, and Quiriza

Last week I wrote a really big letter to everyone, but the internet was terrible and it deleted itself and it didn't send. So here I go giving you a brief overview of the past 2 weeks. Last Monday the Potosi Zone came to Uyuni for completing their goals, so we spent the whole day with them at the salt flats. It was super fun!!! The first P-day in like three months that we have spent with other missionaries, that we didnt have to travel. We later had intercambios (exchanges) with the Zone Leaders. They were my favorite intercambios I've had. I would give you more details but I have lots to talk about. That same week I had the opportunity to go to Quiriza. Quiriza is where the church started in Bolivia 52 years ago, and where the first chapel was built. Here´s the story, I hope I get it all right. It's a tiny people who live 1 hour outside of Tupiza. When the church was organized, there was no road to Quiriza and it was shut off from the outside world. Really Quiriza was more like a tribe than a people. When Elder Richard G. Scott was mission president in Argentina, he met a famos singer/recent convert, who left Quiriza as a child. The famous singer went to Elder Scott over dinner to ask that the gospel be brought to Quiriza, his people. After a long time. Elder Scott went with his assistants and the singer by horse back through the red rock canyon to Quriza, and began teaching. Elder Scott, after a couple of days teaching prayed to know if it was right to open up Bolivia to the gospel, but didn't feel anything. So after a few days of pondering and fasting he went up to the mouth of the red rock canyon where a willow tree grows, and knelt down in front of a heart shaped rock and gave a humble prayer. And there it was that Elder Scott received the answer that YES Bolivia was ready and YES it needed to be brought to them through Quiriza. Elder Scott called missionaries to Quiriza, one of the first being Bolivia Cochabamba´s old mission president I didn't know, Elder Dyer. And they began teaching the people, baptizing almost all of them. Elder Dyer helped with the construction of the very first Chapel in Bolivia. As they built everything was going great. Everything besides the roof was done. They were waiting for a beam/log to be sent from another place to support the roof, but when it finally got there, the people realized that the beam was several inches too small and there was no way it could work. They couldn't just order another either, because it was not easy to get to Quirza. Elder Dyer and all the members began to pray and fast and the day after The Beam had GROWN the inches that it lacked. Quiriza was able to use it and now they have the beautiful chapel there. As a Zone we went and hiked to the tree and we all spent a moment in silence just to ponder. I attached some pictures President Hansen put on Dropbox. It is amazing the spirit that is there. I feel so blessed and honored to serve here. THE BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!! (Last week) we received our transfers. I will be staying, and will be with Elder Caceres from Puerta Rico. I am excited because maybe his family knows my Dad, as my dad went on his mission to Puerto Rico. I go today to Potosi, where I wait for my companion. I am so happy because I will have the opportunity to see all of my converts in Potosi.

(Dad edit: In addition to Nathan's above email to everyone this week, he also took a moment to respond to a couple of thoughts we had shared with him about the priesthood experience he had last week. I had shared a similar experience that I had on my mission, where giving a priesthood blessing brought about an important change for me.

We were also able to exchange a few emails. He had previously asked his mission president if it was OK to "exchange" multiple emails in a single "session". His new companion is from Caguas, Puerto Rico, the last city I served in on my mission!)

(Nathan) Hey I need you or mom to send me a picture from when you were in the mission, because I want to see if my companion's parents know you, His name is Elder Caceres. Do you recognize that last name? I am on early because we need to travel to Potosi. (Me) Wow... we weren't expecting you to email so soon. Puerto Rican companion? That's awesome! I'll see if I can find a picture to send. Ask him where in Puerto Rico he's from and let me know. (Nathan, after seeing the pictures I sent him) You literally look the same. How is it that you can look completely so OLD, but look exactly the same? haha Last week I took my pictures with me through the day to show people and do you know what everyone said? "WOW your parents look so young and perfect... How old are they? How old are you in these pictures? I assume we were around the same age, but you look way older. (Me) I'm 20. Same age as you. Nice comeback on the "old" comment by the way. :) (Nathan) denada (You're welcome)