Week 29

Mother, it`s so good to know that I can still get that little soft-spot-for-my-son part of your Heart. ;_). Just kidding. But.... If we`re speaking about my birthday, let`s be honest. I`ve really been thinking about this, and if you can find a pretty comprehensive Book of Mormon quiz card set, that would be sweet. Remember a LONG time ago, when we had something like, “Who wants to be a millionaire”, but it was for the scriptures? Something like that, without the fancy box and all. Just some cards. Something that my comp and I could use for a Preparation Day, you know? I`ve fallen in love on the mission, mom. And it`s with el Libro de Mormòn. I`m reading it right now in Spanish, and marking all of Christ`s names, and all of His words he speaks directly, or when the prophet says, “... y asi dice el Señor.” I`m loving it. I`m really grateful for our mission president. He only lets us read the SUPER basic, missionary reference library. I`ve written up a list of 20 plus books that I want to read after the mission, killer church history/ doctrine books. I was really bummed when I found out that we couldn`t study anything else, but I`ve since realized just how much time I can spend LOVING studying the basics. I really want to come home KNOWING the Book of Mormon. Just doing this name and word marking activity has really brought to life the fact that that book TESTIFIES of Jesus, the Christ. He`s all over it. He fills it. He is the Life, the Center of that book. If I can become best friends with that book, I`ll become, along the way, best friends with my Brother, my Savior. People always say, growing up, “I`m know that Christ knows me personally, and loves me.” I said it. And it`s a beautiful, beautiful statement. But now it`s my turn. It`s my turn to get to know my Redeemer, personally, and learn to Love him with just a very small portion of the Love that He has for me.

Dad, tell David congrats! Man, just hearing about his farewell gets me all excited again. That wasn`t too long ago for me! Africa. I can`t even beleive it. And bearing his testimony in french even before he goes! Unbeleivable! He`s a worker. That`s going to be SUCH a blessing for him on the mission. He`s going to be a solid missionary. It`s hard to find kids his age that are as mature and responsible as he is. He`s going to be a positive impact for his area the second he gets there. Tell him good luck for me!

Alex!!!! WAY TO GO ON YOUR DUTY TO GOD!!!!!!! You`re the MAN! Keep working, will you? And could you draw a super detailed map of Paraguay for me? I`d surely appreciate it, my good fellow “Captain.

Funny story for you all. Elder Ramirez is a great guy. He keeps me smiling. He was squeezing a plastic coca cola bottle this week, and just smelling the drifts of air that would come out. It drives him nuts that he can`t drink it.

Well, times up. Love you all!

Elder Stewart

Week 28

Hello, Family!!!

I`m doing great! No, noone got transferred, we`re all four here in Ybatè still, having a blast! I think we`re actually going to borrow Monopoly, spanish version, from a member today to play! We`re having SSSOOOO much fun here, and working harder than I ever have. I`m actually really feeling at home here. The Cement houses, and the different-patterned sidewalks in front of each house, and the horse-and-cart in the middle of the busy road, and the collectivos, and the DELICIOUS empanadas, and the empadrada roads, and the sticky humidity, and the polka paraguaya blasting from every house... It`s all comfortabe now. THis is my home. I`m happy. ;_) I think It`ll be a shock to sit in a Sacrament meeting and look at the back of a bunch of white heads, rubios. I like it here.

Now, on to the important stuff.

Dad, Sloan really retired??? I honestly thought he`d die before he retired. What a bummer. We`ll see what happens though, huh? Well… I guess you and George will see what happens… and you can tell me about it. ;_).

Speaking of which, George, you`re going to get a kick out of this. I think you`ll miss me a little too. My sleep talking is back, and going strong! Haha, poor Elder Reveròn. He gets the worst of it. From what they tell me, the occurances are as follows:

1. I got up and knelt on my bed and started saying, “Fetch! Fetch! Fetch!” Really loud, like I was frustrated about something. After a few mumbled words, I said, “En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.” And I went back to sleep. ;_).

2. I grabbed Elder Reveròn`s leg in the middle of the night, really tightly, and asked him in a panicked voice, “¿Que? … ¿Que?”. Or “What? … What?” He said he just held perfectly still and pretended like he was asleep, until I let go and went back to sleep.

There are a few other ones, but you get the idea. Miss me yet, George?

Love you all!

Elder Stewart.

p.s. I asked a little member girl if she`d be my valentine, and she didn`t know what I was talking about. BUMMER!!!!! So, I`m valentineless today. Mother, if you feel any pity for me whatsoever, I would send me a large box of chocolates. Immediately. While you`re still feeling bad. ;_)

Week 27

Hey! We had changes this week, but Elder Ramirez and I are still together, holding down the fort here in Ybaté.

MOM!!! YOU´RE FAMOUS!!!!!!!!!! A book signing?! Are you serious??? WOW!!!!! I´m super proud of you!!! Think I could snag a signature or two when I get home? Haha. Mom. That´s super exciting. I would have loved to be there. I would have been right in the middle of the crowd, introducing it like it was the greatest thing since the Book of Mormon. ;_).

Ashley!!!! Sooo good to hear from you. Sounds like you´re having a good time. I´m glad. You´re the BOMB of a sister, J. Way to be. That is so great to hear that you´re still so service-oriented. The way that you love and serve the family really helps bring us all together. Good luck with Bye Bye Birdie!

Dad, Ashley says your family nights are the best. I believe it. Wanna whip me up a good chocolate-bananna milkshake when I get back?? I could make one here…. But I think it would taste better if I can just hold out. ;_). I wouldn´t deprive you of your professional job that you could do.

Alex! Way to go winning FREEZE steal the bacon! That´s great! You´re a STAR!!!!

HAHA!!! That really made me think of home, mom, when you said that everyone was gone at school except for michelle perry, who was upstairs sleeping. That´s killer. I got a kick out of that. I loved our house..

MAN, GEORGE!!! Quit ripping it up over there! You´re working like a man on a mission from God. Wow. Your letters are inspiring. I´ve got some slack to pick up, huh? Haha, just kidding. Love you man. I´m praying for you. Keep on keeping on!

RACHAEL!!!! FORGIVE ME!!!! I¨LL WRITE YOU A LETTER!!!!! PLEASE DON¨T DISOWN ME!!!!! YOU NEED ME AS A BROTHER!!!!! Haha. Seriously. Anways, great job on your college classes!

So, there´s a Brazilian lady who just moved in next door, and she doesn´t speak Spanish. We don´t speak portugese. And guess what?! We still managed to have a 10 minute conversation with her! Crazy huh? It´s not the highest quality conversation, but it´s just amazing how similar the two languages are. I think I´ll learn it someday.

Luis got baptized!!! I´m sending pictures on Monday, and I´ll give a better update. Love you!

Elder Stewart