Week 22 (5/17/10) Email to Family

Mom and Dad and Sam!
I'm feeling a lot better this week! This past week I worked harder than I have the whole mission, but that is not something I am not willing to do. My new companion has just over a year in the mission and this is his first transfer as senior companion. His Spanish is pretty much at the same level as mine is so I am basically senior comp this transfer. It's more responsibility, but I like it. He's kind of having a hard time since he has been here so long and the language is still a struggle for him and guys below him are training and all that stuff. Its really good though. I have a LOT more responsibility and I love it. I am able to do a lot more work and I am growing a lot more. I have felt myself grow a lot this week with the language and maturity-wise in the mission. I feel like I have been here a lot longer than two transfers. There are only 4 out of the 20 missionaries in my zone that have been in the zone longer than me and 5 of those 20 have less than or the same amount of time as me. I don't feel like the new guy at all anymore.
One of the Silva kids, Ronel - 9 years old, had a fecha bautismal con el Elder Sobré pero la fecha pasó y Ronel nos dijo que no mas quería bautizarse. Esta semana él me dijo que quiere que me se bautice. Sacamos otro fecha y su hermana mayor, Miriam - 23ish, nos dijo que Ronel no quería que el Elder Sobré le bautice. Haha. El tenía vergüenza también cuando le enseñamos con todos sus hermanos. Entonces vamos a enseñarle sólo. I have always felt a different kind of love for him like a little brother so it will be good to teach him and get him baptized. I didn't like how Elder Sobré treated the situation so business-like. It didn't really seem like he cared, he just wanted the stats. So that's two baptisms that should be happening for sure this transfer. Also we met Gabriel at church this week and he is a really good guy. I think he'll get baptized this traslada también. His friend gave him a Libro de Mormón 3 years ago and this past week he was going through his stuff and when he found the book he really felt like he needed to go to our church. The book had the bishop's phone number in it so he called the bishop and told him he wants to receive the charlas. The bishop told him to just come to church and meet us and we'll go from there. He's a way nice guy and seems very interested in finding out more. He seemed really humble and happy to be there. I gave him a folleto de la Restauración and he wanted a Principios del Evangelio to read before we meet with him on Wednesday at Hermano Cardozo's house. It will be great getting to know him and to see his progression. This transfer is looking like it is going to be a good one. I'm excited! Oh and today I went to the United States! YEAH! USA! I had to go to the capital to do a Declaración Jurada because my Passport says Matthew Paul WOODSIDE and my FBI Clearance form only said Matt Paul WOODSIDE. It was kind of a bummer because it took up most of P-Day but it wasn't too bad.
It was funny this week we were painting a school and it is the school my bishop's daughter goes to so he was there painting too. At one point we were painting side by side and he turns to me and says, 'Lastima de Elder Sobré eh?' Which basically means 'Shame about Elder Sobré huh?' We looked at each other for like a second and then we both just busted up laughing haha it was pretty funny. I like my bishop, he's a good guy. Its good to know that he knows how it was for me and that he cares how I'm doing. I am feeling a lot more comfortable here and I'm happy to get to work now. It was great talking with you guys last week. Oh and I made chili finally this week and it was AMAZING. The best chili I have ever eaten! We felt it the next day though haha. Especially since our stomaches aren't used to American food. It was great. Todo bien here. Statistically our week was pretty unsuccessful, but we met some good people with good potential and we are laying the groundwork for the coming weeks. It's gonna be good. Better look out! I gotta go but I love you guys all very much. Mom, make a tape to send me so I can hear your voices again:). Gotta go. Chao!
Love, Elder Woodside