Loving My New Area And Companion

In a letter to our family dated May 31, 2009, Justin wrote, "Hey Family- Well changes were last Wednesday. I love my new area and companion. I'm still in Cochabamba, in the stake Jaihuayco, ward Villa Mexico as district leader. I'm actually really happy that I not zone leader. It'll be good doing the district leader thing for a while. My companion is way cool. His name is Elder Viloria and is from Colombia. He was actually in Lima Sur for 2 months as well right when we got there. He was in the CCM right before we left Bolivia, so they kept him in Peru for a little to see how things were going to go in Bolivia. We think we met each other once there before. He looked really familiar. He really liked it in Peru and actually didn't want to leave at all. Sounds like President Fierro really liked him. He invited him over to his house to eat (I never went in their house) and even told him he would've wanted him to marry his daughter if he wasn't a missionary (not that I'd want him for a father in law or marry his daughter). He's probably one of my favorite companions so far. We just get along really well. I'm happy about it all.

Other good news. I got all 3 packages that you sent. (FINALLY!!) Looks like the first one took a month or so, but the last two got here to me in 16 days. Not too bad. But thanks so much for all the stuff! The two (big) cookies were great, and I'm enjoying the oatmeal one (Justin's favorite cookie flavor) right now. It was nice to get the pictures too. And I've already eaten one of the bags of Sour Patch Kids (another favorite of Justin's!). Those packages always get you going again.

We had a baptism yesterday. Gabriela Parra Aira, she is 11. Her whole family is members, but her dad, Freddy was inactive. He came and participated in her baptism though and also came to church for all 3 hours today. That was good to see. And now we have got to start searching for more people to baptize this week. I guess Elder Viloria and his last companion here didn't get along very well and so they didn't have many people to teach. We spent most of this week getting to know the members and so this coming week we'll concentrate more on finding new people. The ward that we are in is great too. The bishop just got called about a month ago and is really young. Today in the combined 3rd hour, we talked about the importance of member involvement in mission work. What I like doing in every ward I'm in is pass around sheets where every member can write their phone number and when during the week they can go out with us so that we can always have a lesson with members. We are also doing a training for the members today on how to teach the missionary lessons and be a member missionary.

On Tuesday, we are going to the temple which I am excited for because I still haven't gone since we've been back. Then we have interviews with President Tenorio afterwards. Should be a good day.

My companion woke up sick today with the flu. He ended up going back to the house during sacrament with a youth and I stayed with another member. The bishop is coming to pick me up now to go to that training for the members and Elder Viloria is going to stay home.

Our chapel is only 3 or 4 blocks from the house. It's actually one of the first ones in Cochabamaba. Our house is nice too. We live on top of a tienda (or little corner store like what Sonia had) again which is really convenient. It's a 5 story apartment building that they have. We have the second floor with two other missionaries, the zone leaders. It's a pretty nice apartment. Spacious. Kitchen, bathroom, 3 bedrooms, living space. Good deal. It's blue inside, the tile and all the walls. Got to go send this. Love you, Justin"

Love it when he is happy and doing well! He is doing great work as well.