In an email dated June 22, 2009, Justin wrote that Aliana Pimiento ended up not getting baptized on Saturday. They aren't sure what happened. They can't get a hold of her. "I guess she wants to get baptized but is scared of what her family is going to say, even though they live in La Paz, Bolivia. She just lives with her little grandma who speaks quechuwa. I think she thinks we are mad at her or something, but we just want to help. We always try to help the people understand that we aren't going to obligate them to do anything, that all depends upon them. We are only going to invite, and they make the decisions." They do have another couple getting baptized this Saturday. The Jurado family. They are the couple that is 18 years old and she is 9 months pregnant. He wrote that his 20 year old sister, Susana, came to church again on Sunday. "Last week we brought them extra beds we have laying around the house because they had been sleeping on the floor in their little one room house. They always cook us dinner when we visit, it makes me feel bad because I know it's a big sacrifice on their part to give us that food. Luckily I've been able to get it all down. (And hopefully not get sick!) They now have 5 people with baptismal dates for July 4th, for when his grandpa come into town. "In total we have 12 people with baptismal dates, but there is a lot of work to do to get them ready."
This next part we found funny..... "Last Monday we went to go play beach volleyball in my old area La Chimba in this amusement park place. There were no nets of course, so we have to imagine the net. Kind of lame. "But they are all excited to play more volleyball now." Justin is converting the elders from soccer to volleyball. His sport of choice.
Today for their pday, a member is taking Justin and his companion to eat lunch at a "good" restaurant and then they are going to visit the big statue of Jesus Christ. We are so grateful to those that are so kind to "our missionary."
Last week they went to the mission home where Hermana Tenorio served lunch to all those that had their birthdays in May and June, plus their companions. The Tenorio's are very kind and loving to these missionaries. Justin said she served a good chicken casserole.
I was asking Justin to tell me more about his companion and he finally did. Elder Viloria has 2 older brothers that have both served missions. One in Chile and the other in Argentina. "The one in Argentina just got back a month ago. His companion "played soccer professionally before his mission and loves to talk about it. That doesn't get old. And he did military service. And he loves to talk about that too. He wants to be an orthodontist."
For those of you that have been curious as to what a chollita is, Justin explains. "A brief explanation on what is a chollita, that I always refer to. It's the little old typical Bolivian ladies that wear top hats, big old skirts, speak quechuwa, chew on coca, carry everything around on their backs, including their small children, in these cloth sacks they make. The rural or mountain, or farm people. That's a chollita. They also poop on the street corners. Squat and wipe with their skirts. (That last part is just lovely!)
Our shower has been acting up a lot lately. It sometimes doesn't want to heat the water up, so I have been remembering all the cold showers I took in Peru. It's worse here when you have to shower when it's 30 degrees outside in the morning or night. (Just like camping, I guess) Love you. Justin"
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