Letter Dated January 14, 2013

Dear Mom and Dad;

Well thanks for the email.  Seems like all is going well over there.  So its kinda weird, this might very well be the last email you get from me.  I'm not sure if we get email time next week.  I'll guess you'll see, ha ha.  If I do, I'll probably write you something.

So anyway we had a pretty decent week here in Terrada.  We did have the baptism of Rafael.  That went pretty well.  But apparently there is some confusion as to which ward he belongs to.  He might belong to a different ward.  Cause what they did here is one side of the street is from one ward and the other a different ward.  I thought the whole street was ours.  So apparently he lives on the wrong side of the street, ha ha.  But nobody told us anything until he got baptized.  Even the members who went with us to visit him, and the Missionaries from the other ward when we did divisions . So I guess we will see what happens.  It's not a big deal, since he got baptized, ha ha. 

Lets see.  We had 4 investigators go to church this week.  That was pretty good.  All 4 should get baptized in January.  We hope to have 2 this week and two more the week after I'm gone.  So we are pretty happy.  We have had lots of baptisms here.

Other good news.  My companion had to get glasses.  With all the dirt streets and wind and such he was having problems with his eyes.  So that was interesting.

Oh yea, I did get the package from the achievement day girls and the cubs, ha ha.  I got it last Tuesday.  It was a surprise, I didn't think I would get anything else, ha ha.  But it was a nice surprise.  It had Reeses.  I like Reeses.

So Silvia and Thomas should get baptized this weekend.  It's not 100% sure, but almost.  We are working lots to get them there.

Solanj and Martin are the others that are close to baptism.  They just need a little bit more.  But they are pretty excited about the church and learning and such.  I think it will happen.  They have already gone to church two times.

Then we have a few other good investigators, but most of them just lack the desire to go to church and such.  But we will see if we can get them there.  Sometimes it takes lots of time.

We did divisions this week, with Elder Watson (Sherlock Holmes eh? from Spanish Fork Utah) and Elder Malgarejo (from Peru).  I was with Elder Watson in my area.  It was kinda fun.  We did lots of contacts those two days we were together. 

Anyway we are going to have a good week this week.  Gotta finish good.  I can't believe it's the last week.  I try not to think about it too much.  But its hard not to.  That and my companion likes to tease me about it, ha ha  ;)

So I'm not bringing home all the stuff I left with.  I hope that's not a surprise.  But I'm giving lots away to members and other missionaries and what not. I'll probably come home with like 2 or 3 white shirts, my suits, some ties and my shoes.  Which are falling apart a bit, ha ha.  Uh, I guess cause my companion from Ecuador, Elder Gonzalez doesn't have coat for winter, I'm giving him mine.

I'm planning on leaving my poor little sleeping bag...whew.  I used that thing for two years, ha ha.  Actually it's in pretty good condition seeing as its been used so much.  Other then that I don't think there's really anything big I'll leave.

And as to food I would like, well, I would like to cook and eat brownies and ice cream when I get home.  That and I would love to eat some Orange chicken.  That doesn't exist here.  :(.

And I forgot to tell you what happened Friday.  The Family Maldarama ,that we helped to baptized the two kids Giovanni and Valentino, invited us over for a family night.  And we went of course.  We taught a lesson, played a little game, and then they asked us to help them move some stuff outside.  So we sent out to do it.  While I was leaving the door, they attacked me with raw eggs and flour, ha ha.  You can imagine how fun that was huh? Ha ha.  Nah it was good.  I laughed.  I was quite surprised.  And pretty much a mess.  I have a few pictures that they took and my companion . Sometime I'm sure you ll see them.

 That's all the experiences this week.  Anyway, have a good week.

See ya soon.

Love ya

Elder Obray

Letter Dated January 7, 2013

Dear Mom and Dad;

Happy New year! its 2013!

Sounds like you guys had a good time visiting the family. That's good news.

Yea, I almost got the leather scripture cover, but they are in Mar Del Plata... That was my first area...ha ha.  And I didn't really think to much about buying them at the time, ha ha.  O well.

I bought some gifts today.  I got all the Soccer jerseys.  And a few other things.  I think I'm pretty much good.

So we had a really good week this week.  We had 8 investigators go to church.  Went super well.

Rafael, went and he is going to get baptized this Saturday.  So that should be good.  We are pretty happy about that one.  He is an older guy of like 53.  He lives alone and just loves to go to church, ha ha.

Then Silvia, Thomas, and Ruben,  they all went to church.  So Siliva and Thomas are getting ready to get baptized the 19.  They are doing pretty good.  Silvia just has to quit smoking.  Thomas is ready, ha ha.

Then a couple we found, Solanj and Martin.  They got married three months ago.  Really good people and they loved the church.  They are planning on getting baptized the 26th of January.  So that's pretty good.  We should have baptisms every week.  Even after I'm gone, ha ha.

Then we had the granddaughter of a member. She is bringing all her grandchildren to church so they can grow up well,  ha ha.

Then the husband of a member went fro the first time.  That was good as well.

So we are pretty happy with the things that are going on.

So we had interviews with the Mission President.  That was really good.  Then on Friday we had a really good zone conference.  He talked about the change of a leader.  Anyway it was pretty good.  I enjoyed it.

My district is doing pretty good as well.  We had 21 investigators go to church in our district of 4 companionships.  That's what a Zone gets, ha ha.  So I'm pretty happy.

Honestly I can't think of much more that happened.  The Pages sent me a letter asking when I would get home, ha ha.  I figure you guys can answer that one better then I can, ha ha.

Anyway, have a good week.  Hey, while I was writing this, a guy just robbed the cyber where we were at.  But don't worry, he didn't do anything other then take money from the lady.  He didn't even look at us in shirts and ties, ha ha, weird.  Anyway I felt bad for the lady at the register...

Anyway, have good week.  I'll talk to you next week.

Love ya,

Elder Obray