Sin Título

I was trying to come up with a semi-witty title in Spanish for this week´s letter to put in the subject bar like I usually do, but nothing comes to mind.  We honestly had a pretty boring week, but boring in a good way because we were so busy teaching people this week that there wasn´t any time for any crazy, interesting experiences.

We were supposed to have 2 baptisms Saturday, but they both got postponed for the next Saturday.  1 of them (Zenón a 17 kid) was postponed because the investigator needed to learn a couple more things before getting baptised.  The other (Carlos 21 yrs) because his dad, who had been somewhat opposing our efforts as well as his son´s decision to join the church,  decided a day before the baptism that he actually wanted to support his son and go to his baptism, but he wouldn´t be able to go to the baptism, so we postponed it to allow his dad to come and support him.  We are now doing everything we can to make sure that Zenón and Carlos can get baptised this Saturday along with Pablo, another 16 year old kid.

Things are a bit interesing as we are waiting for the mission to split at the end of June and they still haven´t decided whether the zone where I am will be part of the Northern or Southern mission.

All is going well with training Elder Ramos.  He is an excellent missionary, and I am sure that he will be training too very soon.

Anyway, that´s basically what´s going on with me here, in Santa Cruz, and I would like to hear a bit more about what is going on with all of you back in the States.

Cuidense, [take care of yourself]
Elder Casdorph

Micro Privado

We had a bit of a crazy week this week.  The highlight was a couple of baptisms on Saturday.  Saturday morning we found out that the baptismal clothing that we thought that ward had had somehow been lost, so we called a bunch of other missionaries to find someone with baptismal clothing.  We were able to find the needed clothing, but the other Elders couldn´t give it to us until 7:00, the same time that we had planned to start the baptism.  We had to go the houses of a couple investigators from at about 6:15 and later, go to the house of the two girls that were getting baptized at 6:30 to go to the church prepare a couple of things for the baptism at 7.  We were running late and didn´t go to the 1st house until 6:37.  We arrived at the 2nd house at 6:51, but they weren´t ready to leave until 7:09.  We then went to wait for the bus that would take us to the church, but after 7, there are very few bus drivers that are still working.  We waited unit about 7:20, and a few, buses passed by, but they weren´t working anymore, just going back home to rest.  We thought about taking a taxi, but we hat 10 adults and a couple of kids with us and there was no way that we could all fit in 1 taxi.  I said a small prayer that we would be able to find away to get to the baptism.  About 30 seconds later, another bus came.  This bus driver was headed home as well, but since we were so many people, he was willing to not only take us, but also to take us directly to the church rather than take the normal bus route because nobody else was in the bus.

We arrived at the baptism 1/2 hr late, worried that there would be a bunch of people waiting outside in the cold (it´s fairly cold here right now) because we never came to open the doors.  To our surprise, we found the church open , the invited guests waiting patiently and the needed baptismal clothing folded on a table.  The baptism went off without a hitch, and one of the newly baptized girls gave one of the most powerful testimonies that I have ever heard.

We should be having a couple more baptisms this week, and hope to have a little bit less stress before-hand, but the same basic results.

Elder Casdorph

Nigua

The higlight of my week, was proabably having nigua (a little worm that lives in the sand and enters people´s feet) in my foot. Tuesday, I discovered a painful little mark in my foot, that looked kindof like a black zit.  Thinking that it my be a spider bite, or something, I asked a member what he thought it was.

He responded that it was nigua, which is apparently a little worm that likes to enter people´s feet and then gradually grow bigger until somebody plucks it out or after a week or so, it leaves on its own.  I went to the doctor who confirmed that it was nigua, and then started picking away at my foot with a needle trying to find the little, black worm beneath the surface. After finding it, he plucked the worm,and a small chunk of flesh out with tweezers.  I was only able to see the worm for a small moment before it jumped from the tweezers and we weren´t able to find it more.  Now after having dengue and nigua, I hope that the Bolivian bugs can leave me alone for a while, but I also like the crazy experiences that Bolivia never fails to give me.

Elder Casdorph

[Note from the editor: don't Google search for a picture.  You really don't want to see it.]

Silla de Ruedas

We found an old guy in a wheelchair that wanted to listen to us.  We helped him clean and fix a few things in his house and taught him a few lessons.  He said that he wanted to go to church and we told him that we´d bring someone with a car Sunday morning to help him go to church.  Yesterday we arrived with the car (and its owner),  helped him change his clothes and get ready for church and then took him to church.  He´s a sweet, lonely old guy who is very grateful for our help and wants to get baptized May 25.

Elder Casdorph