Elder Jayson Bingham : Adios ingles

Well, I made it. It's been a while, pday. Haven't had one since before my birthday. But yeah, we're in a little internet place really close to our apartment typing away now. It's good to be back.

Well dang where do I start? Its been so long. We left the CCM on Monday or whenever it was, our flight was at 12:45am, and arrived in Bolivia at about 4am Bolivian time. And then stood in immigrations line for about an hour. It sucked. But there's 3 hermanas that came here with elder Prince and I, plus 3 elders from the provo CCM, including Elder Samuels! (Cody Samuels, from high school). It was cool to see him. Anyway, the next day we had orientation and lunch at stuff at president's house, which was all in spanish. But luckily Elder Hale, the secretary, was nice enough to translate most of it for us gringos. The next day we had to go to interpol and get visas verified or something, and then we went and met our new comps, and then went off to our separate areas. I'll miss Elder Prince. Hopefully we can meet up a few times later in the mission. My new comp is Elder Urrutia. He's a really big Chilean who speaks pretty good english (haleleuia) (halleleuigah?) I have no freaking clue how to spell that word. Oh well. But Eder Urrutia is pretty great. He knows the scriptures better than I ever will in my life and he's a really good teacher.

Our area is Campa Rosa, in the Campa Rosa ward in the Bajio stake in Santa Cruz. We live in this really old and kind of gross 2 story house thing with two other elders from Peru, Elder Martinez and Elder Llanos. (oh, Kyla, elder Martinez says you're really tall). But there's a basketball/futbol court right outside that kids and teenagers always play on. Every road around here is dirt. You'll find these little shops on every single street called ventas where you can buy food and things. Lots of humble houses and people, lots of trees, lots of dirt, and lots of mosquitos. I'm covered in bites since I never remember to use bug spray. Or I'm too lazy. It's a really cool area, I love it. The chapel is like the nicest thing in the whole town. But I actually haven't taken pictures of anything, sorry. I'm bad at remembering that. It's not too hot right now, luckily. It will get hotter in a while. But I'm not dying yet.

As far as teaching goes, most of the time i feel about as useless as a fishing pole in our area. Which is pretty useless. I think there's like one canal. Probs no fish. Sometimes I understand a little bit of what people are saying, but for the most part it all goes over my head. So I don't say much either, since I don't know what they're saying and how to respond to it. Sometimes I can share a scripture or teach a principle, but thats about it. Elder Urrutia always has to come in and give more details, or teach something better in his flawless Spanish. Jealous. But, I'm learning. Slowly. We don't really have time to study the language, which sucks. So I just try to listen hard and contribute where I can. We had a few investigators when I arrived. The best one we have is this 17 year old names Jose Matias. I always think he looks like a Bolivian Yoda, but less wrinkly. don't tell him I said that though, it might offend him. He has a baptismal date for the 13th of may. My first day in the area we taught him the law of Chastity, of course. I barely practiced that in the CCM, and then It's my first lesson in the field. But he's progressing pretty well. We can just never seem to find him when we have an appointment, which is a problem. He's always with his novia or something. But we've really only taught a few lessons. Most of our time has been contacting, which kind of sucks. The people are really nice here, but after we set up an appointment for a visit, they never seem to be home when they said they would be. Which is really rude. But we've taught a few solid lessons and have got a few good investigators. So thats going pretty well.

Oh easter happened huh? Turns out they don't do anything for easter around here. I actually forgot it was a thing until i read emails. I heard a couple people say something about santa semana, (holy week) but that was about it. Sunday was just a normal Sunday. We have a pretty awesome ward. About 100 people in sacrament meeting. And like 3 investigators showed up! Hooray!

But I'm here. I'm doing well. Ish. The language barrier is really tough. But I was reading in Moroni 7, and in verse 30 it says something like "And christ said, through faith in me, you can do all things expedient in me." I probably butchered it. The last time I read it was in Spanish, I can't remember how it goes. But I just need to have faith I can learn the language. And love and charity, as it explains later in the chapter. Read Moroni 7 everyone. Its a pretty good one.

Thats about all for me. Ill send what pics I have. But I love you all, pray for me over here, I could use it.

Elder Bingham