September 19, 2011

Dias de fesitvas... ¡Vamos a tener una fiesta!

Dear Everyone that I love including my Dearest worrying mother,

It has been awhile since I´ve gotten the chance to write an actual LEGIT email, and as much as I don´t really like starting out emails and letters with apologies, that`s what I have to do right now.  I came to Mexico thinking that I would have almost the entire p-day to write emails.  Little did I know that that was VERY wrong.  We´re limited to about 1 hour of emails here, which is more than in the mtc, but I can´t save time by printing off the emails here. Also, I THOUGHT that I would be able to write Friday, but everything was closed on that day September 16, because too many people were tired/hungover from partying the whole Mexican Independence day (the day before).  Also, my companion only spends like 30 minutes on the computer, but he´ll have to be patient, that´s all haha.

Anyway, I´m sure everyone is dying to know what the heck this place is like that I´m in (if you haven´t already given up on my letters that is haha).  Well, here in this town of Tenancingo, they have some things that are modernized (like cars, the computers at the public internet places, and electricity everywhere).  However, at the same time, there are some things that are just like..... "what?  are we Amish here?"  (no washers or dryers or dishwasher except your hands, supermarkets under tents, fabulous buckets used as showers).  Also, have you ever thought of inventing a certain breed or mix of Dog before?  Too late, because it´s already been made here.  I see hundreds of dogs roaming the streets that, and I promise I thought I saw a Chiuaua/German Shepherd mix... yikes!  And apparently these roaming animals mostly belong to people, but they just kind of let them go wherever.  Yep!  This is not America folks!

I´ve told you how much I love the people here, and I truly do.  I have never met so many humble, friendly strangers in my life.  It is a really different culture here in that aspect:  the fact that contacting a random stranger and having a good conversation with him isn´t so weird around here.  I love it.  It also really helps with the work.  Now to master the language... grrr haha.

The group of members here is called a branch (smaller than a word), and well... I´m not gonna lie it needs some work.  In Mexican culture (contrary to what that one Mexico City girl told me in the MTC) you are on time if you are approximately 15 minutes late.  Thus, I am now one of the most punctual people in the country.  Especially since my companion and I show up REALLY on time to church meetings and mission meetings.  The Branch President usually doesn´t get to church until about 30 minutes after it´s supposed to start, and most of the congregation just a little before that.  I think my companion and I will be telling them very soon how the culture of GOD is (aka, we´re gonna try to make sure everyone shows up on time so that the investigators that we bring to church with us aren´t bored out of their minds waiting for church to start).

Anyway, enough about that.  I haven´t told you about some of our investigators!  Well, I just had my first baptism yesterday.  It was a man named Aldofo who lives about half-way up the mountain that overlooks the city.  Satan tried tempting us to quit when we were looking for him up there by reminding us how DEAD TIRED we were, but we just threw it right back in his face.  BAM!  It was the first time that I had actually baptized someone, and well, that was an interesting service.  I had to redo the prayer like 4 times because it was in Spanish, and when we sang the hymns, the congregation was SO OUT OF TUNE (and I kid you not) that they accidentally harmonized sometimes without even trying.  But despite all of that, it was still a baptism. A sacred ordinance.  And I felt the joy of Aldofo as the spirit was present that meeting.  Aldofo will be confirmed next week.

Ok, I´ve got to go shortly, but I have a few things I need.  First of all, WHERE ARE MY SPORTS UPDATES???  Jeffrey Chatman, or Tanner, or Zander, or somebody PLEASE HELP.  I get quick ones from Grandma that I love at least!  LOVE YOU GRANDMA!  I´m gonna try to write more hand letters but there are two things.  First, I need American stamps sent to me.  Second, I don´t know how well it´s gonna work.  Why?  Well, I just received an AWESOME post card from Claire from Spain this week.  Problem?  For those of you who don´t know, Claire left Spain over a month ago... Yikes mail system!

I´ll do my best though!!  Love you all!  Especially you Mom!

Elder Hutchinson