I will be praying for Dad, for comfort. You´ve had a very hard life Dad. You deserve to be rewarded for all that you challenged in life. I´m really glad that your enjoying life. It sounds like everyone is progressing and that you enjoyed my card.
Sorry my letter was so short last week. I didn´t have much time because I was in the bus station in Asuncion, waiting for our bus (5 1/2 hour bus ride). I left at 5 pm and I we arrived at our apartment at 11 pm. And this tuesday night we go again for a special seminar for new missionaries. I´m excited to be in the semiar but not travel. It throws us off, but oh well.
I said last time that you should only sent small packages, I mean that not to sent huge packages(it takes 1 month to recieve it here). The things to sent would be food, candy, summer sasage(if it would last for a month of traveling), chocolate, and stuff like that oh and spices would be really good here for when I cook. And anything you think would be good. -Every thing is cheap here. I just got a haircut for 2 dollars (10 guarani). And that is not what I need. I already get stared at all the time. I always here "Rubio" (blonde) and they talk about my blue eyes. But now, with a fresh to death haircut, I´ll have to have a walking stick to keep them away. But, I give no heed to them. Some of them, well actually most of them freak me out because they are missing teeth *yesh*. Back... you... creature of the night!
I´m picking up Spanish pretty quick. It´s still hard to understand people down here sometimes but I don´t worry about it too much. I know I´ll get it soon enough. I always remember the words of President Baer "...You will be more able to comunicate in you mission language then your native language" <-- that is why I do not worry so much. I still just do the best I can and not worry, because that is when the Holy Ghost takes over and gives power to my words and I need not worry.
Well, It´s actually cold right now. It´s about 40 degrees in the shade. But at least it´s not raining right now. It was about this cold yesterday and the Paraguayos use that as an excuse to not attend Church. !Que amor! Well we can´t force them they do have their albedrio.
After this email, we are going to go buy food. A weeks worth of food is about 30 US dollars. And we can get a lot of food with that. and ten I´m not sure what is next. Maybe almuerzo, the biggest meal of the day. I miss having dinners (cena) as the main meal.
There is so much to tell you but not very much time. I´ll just have to tell you when I return. But I do have a story right now. There a man a bike and he had his kid with him on the bike. This guy looked freaky. He had smeagol teeth. Anyways he had us follow him to his shack, I mean home. And the lesson went pretty good, except for he was a little drunk and he was very hard to understand. We finished with the lesson and he started talking jibberish like."The elephant is part of this plan", as he gestured to the Pamphlet. And that was the end of the lesson. And after we shook his hand he had a weird look in his eyes and he said with clenched teeth, "If your lying about this, I´m going to put a bullet though your heart" -The thing is I didn´t know what was going on at the time. I´m not worrying about it though. I´m not invincible but I am protected. It was pretty cool.
Thanks for your prayers. I am loving it here and I feel more grown up spritually. Love all of you.

Wow, it is so cool here. Theres alot motorcycles and buses and cars. There are no rules om the roads pretty much. I see people with a nice phone and nice car, but their house is a shack. I'm in Hernandarias, east of the Asuncion mission. I can see brazil outside my Apartment balcony. There is Spanish, Portugese and gurarani spoken in my area. It`s pretty crazy. And the food here, you would be amazed at what I ate. I`m no longer picky about my food, except for tomatoes, I still don`t like. I now eat onions, peppers, etc. I have no choice now. The food here is pretty good though (so far). Oh and I had ramon noodles yesterday, excellente.
My Spanish is taking off, and my english is fading. The first day I was here I was contacting others. But I still need alot of work to learn more. I really like the people here and my companion Elder Butcher. We are an awsome companionship. And the members here are great but they need to be strenghtened. (We can do that)

The reason I didn`t write yesterday was because I went to the Temple today. It`s a beautiful Temple, we get to go every months.
You can sent dear elders here to the mission home.
Well, my bus is going to leave soon (5 hour bus ride back), so know that I`m doing great and that I am working hard.

ps I don`t think I`ll be able to sent pictures, it´s kind of impossible and when you sent packages, just have them as small packages. Love you all (:

I recieved my Travel Plans! Only one week left here! I leave here June 13 @ 8:00 am and my first flight is at 12:45 toward Dallas, Texas (4 hours). I'll call by during that time. After that I fly to Sao Paulo, Brazil (12 hours). Than it's an hour flight to Paraguay. And than in a month I fly down to Argentina (3 hour flight) to pick up my vista. Well, it's kind of weird that my previous companion is gone, but Elder DiPiero is a really good companion. Everything is really great here... I am really excited to get out of here.
I was thinking of how different everything will be when I'm finished here. And how I'll always be reflecting back on my mission. And how I'll someday look back in my journals and relive the memories. I have 7 journals. #1&2:for everyday writing, #3:for elders that I have met, #4:"Missionary Memories" journal, #5: Talks and firesides, #6:Scripture Journal, #7: Language, Doctrine, study. I want to make sure that I have all I need to remember my mission as best as I can.
Saturday, we have another P-day before we go. I'm not sure if I can write another email, but I will write a letter.
When I am in Paraguay and when you sent a package, you should put a sticker or picture of Christ on it or else it will get stolen. Remember this is a very poor place and it is the black market capital of South America. Also letters take quite a long time.
I'll be sending a package home with my debit card, pictures and something else. You'll most likely recieve it next week. I haven't recieved your dear elder yet because they arrive in the afternoon. So I'll write my letter later. I'll talk to you later. Most likely in Paraguay. I love you all. Goodbye!

Hola familia, tengo felicidad por opportunidad a servo misión. Yo doy gracías por ustedes, mi familía. Graicías por ayudarlos todo me vida. Yo no estar aquí si ustedes no ayudarlos. Well, on another note... my campanion, Elder Phelps, is gone. We wasn´t ready to serve. He is preparing to regresar (return) when is ready. It´s really weird without him here. I know that he left here with the right additude. I will most likely see him in Paraguay, maybe in a conference? I don´t know, but I do know that he wants to do his best to do what is right. That´s why he knew that he wasn´t ready. But that is what is so wonderful about this gospel, we can always find our way back to the path of righteousness. When we have a broken heart and a contrite espíritu. I have seen a difference spirit in Connor Phelps. He is striving to do what he can to use the Atonement and become stronger in faith in Jesus Christ. I hope he stays strong.
I now have a new companion, Elder DePiero. He´s from Alaska and he has been here for 12 weeks(because he had to have surgery on his knee). He is really cool and I have no problem with him. He´ll be here for two more weeks. The same with me... I leave in 2 weeks! And Wednesday I get to user new missionaries and I recieve my travel plans! I am getting so excited.
As for my district, another Elder hurt his knee. He was playing basketball. I think every injury is related with Basketball, the root of all evil, jk. And as for my I am invincible aparently. I was jum,ping of the top bunkbed and my right foot got caught from behind and I landed on my knee. that´s about a 5´6¨drop maybe? Two Elders saw me hit the floor. I was about to panic but there was no pain, no pain at all, even still. I know that since I am doing what is right and being obedient, my knee was spared. I have no Idea how I didn't shatter my knee. (The floorsare concrete with carpet 2 cenimeter thick). Itwas a milagro no pregunta! The promise that was given to me was that I would be protected, now I have seen it.
Before my companion left, my district gave Elder Phelps a blessing of comfort and counsel. I gave the blessing. I underestimated my potential of listening to the spirit. But not anymore, I can see that being here it is easier to give heed to the spirit. Well, I need to go and get some lunch. Oh and I wasn't able to go to the temple today :(. It's closed today.

Goodbye for now!

p.s. Jackie please except friend requests on facebook for me, unless they are not likely to know me. Thanks lil' Sis.
p.p.s. I really need a pair a jeans(for p-days) and a pair of Shorts. Thank you so much. I love you all, Siempre y todos siempre! (Always and forever)

I can't believe that I'll be in paraguay in 3 weeks. I'll be getting my travel plans this friday or monday. I'll write the travel plan so you know what is going on with my traveling.
That's good that everything is great at home. And that everyone is safe. So I guess that everything is under control without me. - Awsome sister o' mine, I'm glad your both enjoying exercise, I know I love it here. And Jackie, congrats on passing your driving exam. You should be a really good driver when I get back (hopefully).
I don't know if I told you or not but, my district is now the oldest in our zone, my zone is prone to ankle/feet injuries (5 in my zone) and my nickname is Frodo. We get a new district in our zone, Wednesday. (seis Elderes y cuarto Hermanas). There is something about Hermanas... they are weird, especially here. I will never understand Hermanas, there is no use trying. j/k. Una por de Elderes was Elder Lamb, but he'll be fine,(just a sprain). And as for my nickname, Elder Draper noticed that I bounce when I walk, just like Frodo in the Lord of the Rings. He would say that I need to go and destroy the ring of power and save Middle Earth. He left early this morning.
So, you sent a package, eh? That's cool. I always enjoy a package or letter from anyone. I don't worry if I don't get a letter eachday, unlike others in my district, lol.
Thank you so much for writing me, I always like reading. Write to you later.

Hey Mom, I was so happy when I was able to give you a message through the phone, Sister Worthington was very kind to do that for our Zone. I'm glad that you enjoyed your message. Oh and thank you for telling me that my ring is coming soon, that was very good news.
This week has been crazy awesome. I was taught ways that I can better study-Gospel and Spanish. We went through workshops to learn better ways to use personal study. It wil help alot. I am excited for this coming week. We will be teaching "Investigators" in in a scenerio. We are actually a week ahead, we doing it in Spanish, for 20 mins! My Spanish is coming along pretty well. I am understanding more of El Libro de Mormón. I was told that reading from the Spanish Book of Mormon, I will pick up Spanish faster.
Every Sunday we are able to watch a Church movie and this week we saw the Joseph Smith Movie. It had to be the most powerful movie that the church has made so far (for me). I was brought into remembrance of the truthfulness that Joseph Smith did indeed see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. And after we when back to our dorm my companion asked for a blessing for his foot (He broke it, hairline fracture; not a big deal). I was able to give him a blessing. It was a experince that I will never forget. The most powerful part was when I sealed the Anointing. I felt the power of God. I physically felt power the of the Priesthood, that I have never felt before. I know that I do have the restored priesthood of Jesus Christ. Everything around testifies of God. I love this work more and more. It is so amazing that I am here and helping to fulfill God's perfect Plan.
Another thing that was amazing during this week was that I was able to teach a lesson to my district. It was about the Holy Ghost. My district is not very good with the language they used. I told them, at the end of the lesson on how to invite the spirit . I told them (while the first counselor was there) that we needed to watch what we say. I told them, "What if an investigator heard you?" "How would you feel if your Mom heard you?" I told them to watch what they say and what they do. I also told them that we need the Spirit with us, if we don't we cannot and should not teach. But the last thiong I told them was that when we do what we are supposed to do, we will have the Spirit with us and God will be pleased with us.

I'll tell you more in my letter. :)

How's everybody? I wote a letter Saturday, You'll probably get it today or tomorrow. My spanish seems to be mixing with my english. I think it's pretty funny, I sound hispanic sometimes. I still love it here. I have nothing to complain about. I get along with my whole district, but they do sometimes disapoint me. They don't always act like Elders and they waste time talking about sports. Of all the subjects, Sports, blah.
Well we got a new Zone leader, our old ones leave to Fresno, California this Wednesday. Our district will only be 16 elders. And we don't get any in our zone this week. They are all pretty cool.
Yesterday, being Fast Sunday, we were able to bare testimony, but only in Spanish. I was the first to bare my testimony in my district. Because I want to have the reputaion of being fearless. It went pretty well, except for the grammer and using the wrong word. I said "Mi amor nosotros" (I love us) instead of "mi amor ellas todos". (I love you all). Not a big deal though, I didn't worry about it. And that is the same attitude That I need. I have learned alot of Spanish too. In reading the Book of Mormon everyday in spanish, I can see what is goning on in the scriptures. And the thing is, is that it's fun. I am grateful that I am picking up the language and more of the gospel than ever before. I feel as if I am a new person. I do not fear talking with others or teaching others as like before. If only you could see the difference already. It is awsome to be submerged in the gospel, I continually learn more of my purpose and what I need to do.
p.s. Sorry, but I won't be able to call for Mothers Day. It's some sort of a rule to not call in the MTC. I do not know why. Sorry Mom, I was looking forward to talking with all of you. But I think that I can call at the airport before I leave SLC Airport.
p.p.s. How did the fair do? I would really like to know.