Monday, November 25, 2013

I'm Melting!

Well, I'm here in Puerto Maldonado AKA Hell. I mean that in a literal sense, we live on a road called Infierno, which means, Hell. So. Hahaha. But no, it's so stinking hot here it's ridonkulous. Why people choose to live here is beyond me, but that people that do choose to live here are super cool. I seriously love it here! But, I'm gonna let ya'll know about my week. 

So, Tuesday morning, we took off! Loaded up in a tiny combi, with all of our gear, for the ride to Cusco. This was the first time taking it in the day, so I learned what it consists of. 1 hour of driving along the riverbanks, 2 hours of switchbacks climbing mountains, 1 hour of riding along mountain valleys, 1 of riding through Sacred Valley, and then another of riding along valleys. So, it was a sweet ride, got some cool pictures. Got to Cusco, dropped off our stuff, then went and did some touristy stuff because we (Elder Haffie and I) had nothing to do. So, we went to the Plaza de Armas again, and had McDonalds and walked around. Basically, all the gringo missionaries that had changes that day convened in McDonalds, so that was kinda cool. But, it was a cool day. Stayed that night at a missionaries apartment.

Wednesday got in our bus at 10 for our 12 hour drive to Puerto. Not alot to report about that one. Long, but actually not that bad. Stepped off the bus in Puerto and heard "Daniel?!" Hahaha. So, met up with Sister Shanlee Hansen. She's actually with me in the same internet right now. Kinda funny. But, we haven't really had a chance to talk. I gave her a hard time for calling me Daniel though. 

Thursday, it was raining all day, so we had to wear boots everywhere. It was wet haha. Puerto is flat! It's weird not having mountains. But, Thursday was good. Got to know a couple of the people around here. The weather wasn't too bad at least. 

Friday and Saturday, more of the same.. the weather started getting progressively more hot... but, BLAM! Sunday. It was so stinking hot. And to top it all off, we didn't have water. I bathed myself out of a bucket, yesterday and today. We are hoping we have water tonight in the night. But yeah. Yesterday was way hot. I was like, pouring sweat all day. Today is stinking hot too, but it looks like it's gonna rain, so that'd be sweet.

Basically I can't tell you much about my investigators or members, because there is a billion, and I don't remember their names and stuff in these moments, so next week I'll elaborate a bit more on them. But, we're teaching a couple families right now that are progressing well, and we have a ton of investigators and less actives we are working with. I'm very excited for the work here, and I think in December we're gonna see a couple of baptisms.  

So, my sector is called La Joya. It is real big. It consists of a part called La Joya, La Joyita, y Upis. Upis is like, clear the heck in the middle of no where, it's like 30 minutes of walking in blistering heat to go there, but we have lots of investigators there. La Joya is pretty normal, but La Joyita is basically a community of houses made out of tarps. It's pretty poor. All the streets here are dirt. But seriously, the people here are so cool. I'm so stoked, you guys don't understand.  

Um.. oh! We have a branch here, and it ROCKS. Our Branch President is from Spain, so the first time I saw him I thought he was American haha. But he is so cool. He has only been a member for 2 years, but he is so fired up for the work. He helps us out so much, and he's getting the members so involved with the work, so that's why it's progressing pretty well here. I'm really excited to work with the ward. Yesterday I gave a talk about testimonies (20 minute talk, that I prepped at 9 at night the night before I gave it... I'm just that good). The memmbers really liked it. But, yesterday night we had a area conference/training for the members of the ward council and missionaries, so we all went to that, and it was about the members and the missionaries working hand in hand, so that was cool. 

Aguaje. Something interesting from here. It's a fruit that grows here, but it was a ton of female hormones. So. The 13 year old girls here look like.. 17 or 18. It is super creepy. There's also a handful of guys that really enjoy eating it, that literally have started to take on female qualities, like, physically. Super weird.

Anyways, I think that's all. My new sector rocks. It's smack dab in the jungle, and I'm excited to explore it a bit. I'm excited for the people we're teaching, and I think we are gonna see some cool things happen here. I'm stoked about my comp, he actually reminds me a lot of my buddies, so I think we're gonna have a good time. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving this week, and I love and miss you all! Until next week!!

(Pictures! Got some of saying bye in Quillabamba, eating in McDonalds.. yum... some of the drive, and then some of my new zone. One of the less active members we have been teaching has a parrot, so that's what that is. And the big building is our room. Our room is like, legitly one of the best in the mission, it is so sweet haha.)

-Elder Richman

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