Five stars

As President Evans has been doing interviews this change, I have been doing clean checks in the houses.  After 6 children in our own house I have come to expect  a lot in the level of cleaning.  These companionships are 5 stars in their cleaning!  This is a real accomplishment! Bien hecho!!

Elders Albornoz and Aguilar 

Elder Rocha and Elder Apolo

Hermana Pardo and Hermana Brunelle

We are not through the whole mission yet, just two zones so I hope to add more to the list :)

Fishing....

President has been planning with Travis for quite a while now for the big day of fishing in the Paraguay River.  Today was a half day of school for Travis and pday for the office.  This has now turned into sharing the day with all the office Elders, the assistants, and our Hermana companionship that helps me with health.  It was a fun, very hot day.  Nothing was caught in the way of fish, which was fine with me.  We hear that it is filled with Piranha.  I don't think it is a good idea to eat fish that eat you!  Elder Cardenas did catch a cute little crab though.  We enjoyed a real break from the regular and saw a little part of Paraguay you wouldn't normally see.

            First some chicken liver for bait... thanks Travis!

Poles are a long bamboo stick with a line, hook and bobber.

First time for a pair of Levi's in Paraguay!

Catch of the day!

In the end it was a great day in the sun!

Not the best place to change a tire

We left very late after PFJ and found rain again in the Chaco.  This is never a good thing with the dirt there.  After sliding over the roads for about an hour we lost a tire.  It is pretty thought to change a tire in mud and complete dark.  Thank goodness for cell phone lights and a little flashlight the job got done.  I am not sure that everyone's clothes will ever be completely clean again but happy spirits are always around when you are with missionaries.

PFJ... EFY for the Nivacle

PFY is the equivalent of EFY or a big youth conference here in Paraguay.  A great family the Coleman's who live in Abundancia with the Nivacle thought that it would be a wonderful thing for the youth of the Nivacle to have this experience.  Missionaries were asked to help and they really did all activities and planning.....overnight!  They pulled off a great experience for youth who have never had this opportunity before.  Even with a short handcart pull ending with a beautiful setting on the river with stirring rendition of Come, Come Ye Saints.  Great job missionaries!!

Goodbyes are hard!

We love getting new missionaries but hate it when we loose them!  This change we recieved 16 new missionaries but lost 5 wonderful missionaries that we can never replace.

Elder Solís 

Elder Silvera

Elder Castro

Elder Payne

Hermana Scott

We are sure that each of you will continue to help build the kingdom of God here on the earth.

Thank you for all you have done here in Paraguay!  

Old and New Working Together

As we recieved our new missionaries they had the opportunity to work side by side with those leaving in a service project.  We thought the project was to put some wheelchairs together but got there and the project was sanding and painting a fence.  We were definitely not dressed for this but all missionaries jumped and worked hard for the hour and a half we had planned.  Side by side they worked and shared the accomplishments of a great work in Paraguay.

We need you! Thanks for coming!!

Wow are we so happy to see this new set of missionaries!  We recieved 16 in one group and Hermana Flores came in as soon as her Visa came through.  We are so happy to have you!  You are a great group with an awesome spirit and come ready to work.

Allcoming from the CCM in Aregentina on one flight!!

A few more early good byes

Hermana Granados thank you for serving even in the midst of your health problems!

Elder Polo work hard in school!

No Seniors.....:(

With the sad loss of our missionary couple the Gutierrez's leaving from the Santa Ani area we are down to no senior missionanary couples serving in our mission right now.  Words can not describe the gratitude we feel for these senior couples.  They are really an extension of the president and are incredible for building up branches and helping the members understand the programs of the church as well as support the young missionaries.  We would love to have more.  Please send anyone you know our way! Good bye Gutierrez family!  We will miss you!!  Safe travels home to Brazil!

Waiting.......

Hermana Training leaders Rolim and Santos find a creative way to spending waiting.  Catch the Avocado pit in the hole.  

Or green grapefruit toss!

Now this is thinking.....throw a deck of Uno cards in just in case you have to wait, trade hands as in go in and out.

At least this time there is food involved in waiting!

Our Purpose

For this round of zone conferences our assistants have been drilling the missionaries on the memorization of the purpose of why we are here.  Great fun for a important reminder of why we are all here in Paraguay.

PJC Zone

Capiata A Zone

Zone of Luque B

Sometimes it gets a little long waiting for an interview with President.  Thank you Elder Smith for a good excuse to have fun!

This was such a great object lesson taught by the Zone leaders on listening for what the person needs.  

Luque Sur

We have such creative missionaries  who teach in great ways to reach the missionaries in their zone.  

Zone leaders in the Concepcion district teach with the super President Evans drink.

Zone of  Concepcion

Zone of Asuncion Norte