Yes, there was a big earthquake in Santiago, and we
definitely felt it. We were in the pench playing cards and what not because all
our lessons fell through and everything started to shake. I wasn´t really that
scared and Elder Leytton is pretty used to them. He says it was about 5.5 or 6
on the scale, but I though it was a lot lower. But everyone is fine in Mendoza.
There were a few aftershocks afterwards but it wasn´t bad. We got a text from
our zone leader saying that President Goates wanted everyone with emergency
backpacks that night, just in case a larger earthquake came. During the night I
heard banging noises above me but it was just the freakin gatos (cats) running
on the roof like they always do. So now I don´t like cats even more, I thought
it was a bigger earthquake haha.
The other day was Indepencence Day of Chile. So after a zone meeting me and Elder Leytton went to the plaza chile in Guaymallen and partied. Lol we just listened to the band and ate some empenadas from chile which was really good. So that was pretty fun.
It´s been pretty warm here in Mendoza but today it was FREEZING. Me, Elder Leytton, and some other missionaries from our zone went to Cerro Arco in the Andes. It was like a 2 hour hike and at times it was pretty tough. But when we got to the top we made some sandwiches out of the bread and ham and cheese we bought which was really good. But it was really cold at the top of the mountain. I´ll send some pictures in a little of it.
Dang, my Spanish has come a long, long way. Every day feels like a huge stride. I study A LOT, and I do my best to apply the things I learn. We teach an English class on Tuesdays with some other American missionaries and the other day we visited one of the families that comes. The mom of the family is trying to learn English, so she asked me if I could say the prayer, IN ENGLISH. (they are members). But do you know how long it´s been since I´ve said a prayer in English out loud. It was soooo weird. I was like praying for the things I normally do in Spanish, so the prayer was really simple, yet powerful. Like that´s another benefit of the gift of tongues. I thought about this for a while the other day. Simple language at times is really the best and most powerful, also very sincere. It made me think about how we should sincerely say our prayers.
But I can usually talk to natives now without a problem,
native missionaries that is, in Spanish. There is a dialect here that´s somewhat
European, so they´ll slur stuff or cut stuff off, so that´ll take some work.
The other day I was just reading the Book of Mormon and what
not and I had this crazy idea of parallelism between the Restauración del
Evangelio (restoration of the gospel) and how it´s kinda similar to Lord of the
Rings. Let me explain. We have music we listen to and the score of the lotr was
on it so it was on my brain. Like Jospeh smith is a lot like Frodo. He
needed to carry out a specific task, and because Joseph was innocent and humble
he had the ability to do it. no one else could´ve done it. Just a random
thought to share, sorry.
Yesterday we were walking along and the song Knights of
Cydonia was playing somewhere. Becca yes, it was at that one part that´s really
hard on Guitar Hero. I started jammin out and Elder Leytton didn´t know what to
do hahahah lol. It´s freakin hilarious how much American music is here. It´s
all the mainstream music, like I know every song here that´s not the latino
fiesta pop whatever music in spanish. they play a lot of english music, and no
one knows what anyone is saying and I´m like wow haha.
I tried some of the Maté this morning and it was disgusting.
Our investigators are pretty much the same, little progress.
We let go of one of ours, actually. We had taught him everything and he
wouldn´t commit to anything so we taught again and he still wouldn´t. it was
like he just enjoyed our company hahaha. His name is José Cuello. But he´s got
some boss quotes he says during our lessons. for example:
Patience is bitter, but it brings sweet fruits. and:
Soy un hombre pobre, pero no un pobre hombre. Which means
I´m a poor man but not a man that´s poor.
Haha he´s funny, little Josesito. he´s got a boss coin
collection too haha.
We will find some more investigators this week. Even thought
it´s kinda tough here, We still work hard and it´s a blast. I´ve been making a
lot of new friends in my district and zone. My nickname here, dubbed by Elder
LaFleur is Ders. Exactly how it looks. But I don´t really mind being called
Ders haha it´s a little hard for the latinos to say Anderson well, so Ders is
just fine.
Still, none of the 5 curses have happened to me, but I´ve
got a lot of time. Haha it´s all good here in Mendoza.
I think that´s it. I´m getting excited for General Conference. guys, it´s the prophets speaking. you know who speaks to them? God himself!! Like this is the first time I´ve been actually excited for it. But yeah, have a great week, the weather´s warm here, wombo combo, do something cool this week, I´m praying for you, go boca, solve a rubics cube, and eat your verduras.
Love, Elder Anderson
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