Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Chickens, Monkeys and Poisonous grasshoppers is what this week brings...

Saturday afternoon we were pleasantly surprised to receive a couple of letters in the mail from Andrew.  Elder Ratliff who just left to go home offered to take them and send them from the states.  We were so excited to receive them and it sure brightened our day.  Bridger had us read it to him twice and wanted me to share it with everyone. :)

Dear Alex and Bridger, 

I had some extra time on my hands one night and I decided to write you guys a letter.  You both can't really email and I don't get to talk to you guys very often, so here it is. :) 

I'll tell you one of my crazy stories so far.  I was walking through a kind of jungly part of Paraguay trying to get to a main road.  It was very dark and we could barely see anything.  We were on our way home and we were scared because it was a road we really shouldn't have been on at night.  We were practically running down the road to get home when all of a sudden a Chicken popped out of the bushes with a whole bunch of baby chicks.  I screamed like a baby! I thought someone was popping out of the bushes to kill me.  It scared me to death I thought I was going to die and it was just a chicken. :) 

Paraguay is crazy, especially when it rains.  When it rains the streets all flood.  We go out no matter the weather so I am always crossing huge rivers and in the streets and jumping over puddles.  It's insane!  The thunder and lightening here though is awesome.  The lightening lights up the whole sky and the thunder is so loud that it shakes the sky.  Sometimes I just put a chair by a window and watch it because it is so cool.  

The animals here are the same but everything is bigger, oh and they have cute little monkeys here that just sit up in the trees and eat mangoes all day.  I saw my first one a couple of days ago, it was awesome.  

The bugs here are scary though.  I hate bush and you guys know that.  I have a terrible fear of grasshoppers and they have poisonous ones here.  They are everywhere and it scares me to death.  They also have moths here that can kill you.  There are the size of my hand and they try and pee poison on your head.  It's scary! All of the people here run from them.  I have killed 4 in my house so far.  Just imagine me running around with a sword hunting moths.  ;) 

That's pretty much Paraguay.  Thanks for keeping me in your prayers.  Mom and Dad tell me that you don't miss a prayer without blessing me and that means a lot.  Love your Big Brother Drew 

Elder Heugly
La Iglesia De 
Jesu Cristo
De Los Santos
De Los Ultimos Dias 

We probably should be a little frightened by this letter and all of the poisonous bugs he is encountering but it gave us quite the laugh instead.  We just kept picturing him screaming like a baby when the chicken popped out of the bushes. :)

Drew seems to be doing well and we love to hear from him each week.  We would love it even more if he would send us some pictures.  Hopefully he will follow through next week like he has promised...fingers crossed.

Hey Family, 

I received all my packages.  Thanks for everything!  I did make some of it but I don't have a microwave or anything so I can't save anything.  I just make one thing at a time.  So far I just made the stuffing and it was so good.  So Thank you so much for that.  I'm probably going to go home and eat the mashed potatoes today.  It's nice to have some extra food.  Each week we only spend about 
20 US Dollars on food so some times we run out.  Usually by the end of the week we are struggling.

I get my packages whenever I got to zone conference so I will get my Christmas package some time in December.  I will let you know when I get it.

Glad you got the letters.  I had some extra time for once so I decided to write a letter.  Hopefully that makes up for sammies email last week.  Elder Ratliff brought them home for me and sent them from the US so I took the chance when I had it.

Good old Bridger always being a maniac.  I miss him too.  He's going to be so different when I come home it is going to be crazy.

Still can't believe you don't have snow.  If it's hot there just imagine it here. I'm struggling, today it was 100 degrees in our house when we woke up this morning, it's crazy! 

Today has been an interesting day.  Today is a national holiday where they all go crazy so nothing is open.  We are way far away from the house just so we can email you guys.  I had to make some sacrifices, P day today is just going to be emails and buying food and then it will be over.  The bus I took today to get here was packed.  It was a tiny bus and it was so full that I had to hang out of the door, it was scary.

Most of my days here are the same.  We walk a lot.  This week we were in Mbaritu out in the middle of nowhere.  We have been there for most of the week just contacting all of the houses that we could.  It's funny because I think people think we aren't very smart.  We go to clap at a house and before we clap we see people sitting outside and by the time we get up to the house to clap everyone has disappeared.  We still clap and so they send a kid out to say that nobody is home and then we say all we want is water and magically people come out.  It's funny, another thing they love to say is some other day.  Every time we talk to someone we say how about Wednesday and then they say no some other day  so we say ok how about Thursday and they say no how about some other day and it just goes on and on.  ;)

Our investigators are good they are just lazy.  It's just a lazy country.  People don't want to do anything.  Our investigator that is a single mother and was looking for another job vanished again.  Not exactly what her deal is. :(  

We did get some water this week but it is contaminated so we have to clean it out.  I actually got sick from it the whole first part of the week.  I drank it without knowing.  That was rough.  

The members here are really nice.  We have lunch with them 3 days a week.  We eat a lot of pasta but they cover everything in oil so it gets nasty at times, but for the most part it is good.  They make something called milanessa.  It's kind of like a fried chicken and so far that is my favorite thing to eat here.  
The ward is good.  We attend the 3 hours of church and then go to ward council after.  We had the most people we have ever had at church this week.  There were about 50 people there.  Church is just very different here overall.  

I also pay a member to do my laundry.  I wasn't really excited to have to wash my clothes by hand so I pay a member and she does it for me.  It's really nice. :) 

I'm so glad you all have watched the video.  I have now seen it about 80 times and it still has the same effect on me each time I watch it.  

I guess that is all for today.  Just the same old same old in the life of Elder Heugly.

Love, Drew 

P.S. Pictures will come at the end if possible.  The wifi is bad in this place.  I can barely send emails but I will try.  


So the pictures never happened.  I think he needs to try a little harder next week ;) 
Love, Love, Love this cute missionary of mine. 

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

He is the Gift – Christmas Video – #ShareTheGift

Cooking down here...

Hey Everyone, 

It's cooking down here, I'm dying...it's crazy but I'm hanging in there of course.  It rained last night and the day after the rain is always nice, it's not hot at all but the next day it gets hot again so I'm probably going to die tomorrow.  At one point this week it was 100 degrees and then the humidity. The humidity here blows my mind.  Can't believe it has been in the 60's at home.  Sounds amazing about now. 

Things are good, still the ward pianist.  Put up a great performance in sacrament meeting this week.  One of my best ones yet :) . 

Being gone makes me appreciate everything more.  I have learned a lot in these 3 months.  I can't wait to see what else I am going to learn over the next 2 years.  I know it is going to help me grow and be a better man when I get home.  

This week has been good.  Not too much success.  Yaguaron is a tough area.  There aren't many baptisms. My investigators are good and I have a lot of them but none of them came to church this week.  The people are hard to get to come to church here but we are trying. The church just released a new video that we are using.  We get to take our DVD players with us so we can show it to everyone.  If you haven't seen it yet go look it up.  It's called El es la davida or He is the gift in English.  It's amazing give it a watch if you haven't already.  

Not a lot has happened this week.  We did find our investigator and she really wants to be baptized but she works on Sundays in Asunción so it is hard for her to get to church.  She lives alone with her 3 children and has to work or she won't have money to support them.  She really wants to go and is looking for a new job.  She and her children are awesome.  

A funny story this week.  I climbed a tree believe it or not and was up there cutting branches down with my machete.  The lady below was yelling at me to get down and was telling me I was way too big to be up there.  It was so funny she just kept yelling at me while I kept cutting the branches.  I almost fell out of the tree I was laughing so hard.

My favorite scripture story right now is that of Nephi when he says he will go and do what the lord has commanded.  I feel like I can really relate to him right now.  I know this is where I am supposed to be.

My Spanish is coming along.  After Christmas I will be assigned a new companion and I will continue to live with the other two Elders in my house.  They both only speak Spanish and if my next companion is Latino that will be 3 that speak no English and that will definitely help me out.  My spanish is good right now.  I understand everything but sometimes struggle to speak it but it is coming along.  

Time is flying by, before you know it it's going to be Christmas.  I'm definitely not missing putting up the decorations but I am going to miss seeing them once they are all up.  I am looking forward to seeing you all on Christmas.  I can't wait to talk to everyone.  Hopefully all goes well, it should.  

I got all of my packages and love it all.  The camera is great and everything works.  I will send pictures next week.  I didn't have time to take any this week, sorry.  

Love you all, 
Drew 

O.K. so is this kid trying to give me a heart attack? Seriously climbing trees with machetes? Saying a little prayer he is alive and well when Christmas comes around because I can't wait to see and talk to this cute missionary of mine.  Love him to pieces!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Snakes song





This is the song Andrew told us about a couple of weeks ago.  I believe it was written by an Elder who served in the Argentina Buenos Aires Norte Mission.  It gave us all a good laugh. :)

Things are going good...

Things are going good.  I'm glad you all still are thankful for me. HAHAHA 
Thanksgiving? What's that? HAHAHA   I won't be celebrating that for the next 2 years.  It's a real shame.  No worries though, I am in a very fun part of the country with lot's of crazy adventures happening. 

I miss Saturdays with the family.  Every Saturday when you guys are waking up and my day has already started I think of you guys going to Mcdonald's or Blackbear and all of the fun times that we had on Saturday.  I'm always thinking about what you guys are doing, kind of weird but it helps me through the tough times.  I just do what I have to do. :) 

No packages yet.  They give them to us in zone conferences and the next one isn't until December.  So sorry I haven't received them yet.  Maybe next week or something, I'm excited for the little surprise.  

No worries about snakes, I won't be bringing any of them home with me (referring to a funny missionary song he told us about in his last letter).  It's a great song and it really is a problem. I'm not even kidding so many people whistle at me it's scary.  I get called blonde here almost every day and I thought my hair was brown.  I guess it's not to them, who knows? 

I am still with Elder Diaz.  He's my trainer and so I am with him for 12 weeks.  After the 12 weeks he will go somewhere else and I will stay here for another 6 weeks, so about 10 more weeks in the area I am in.  The other Elders in my house went home.  It was sad because they were awesome but we have 2 new Elders living with us.  One is from Bolivia and he is a new missionary.  He has been out less time than I have been, and the other missionary is our District Leader and he is from Honduras.  They are both really nice kids but not as fun as the other Elders, but it's all good. 

We do Service now every Saturday and we do a little of everything.  We take two machetes and cut grass and tress and anything else you can think of.  It's awesome and the people love our help.  

No baptismal dates, not having much success there.  That's probably the low part but I'm trying and hopefully things will change soon.  Not a lot happened this week a lot of the same old same old.  I haven't had any running water for a full week and that has been terrible.  It's awful to shower in the morning I have to take a bucket to a neighbors house and fill it up and then take it back home and dump water on me.  It's awful! Hopefully we get water sometime soon.  It stinks really bad!! 

The family home evening we did last week went well.  They liked the cakes and are a really nice family.  They made us dinner too and it was awesome. They have 3 little girls ages 8, 6 and 4.  

Church yesterday was good.  I am the new ward pianist.  I play the piano for the whole ward.  It's one of those smart pianos that just plays the songs and all I have to do is click play verse and it plays the song for me.  They don't know this because it is in English so I get up there and play the piano and look like I really am playing.  It is hilarious. I got compliments on my piano ability, it's pretty funny. 

That is really scary to here about Chase (OMANA), I'm glad he is o.k. and that he is staying out to finish his mission.  He is almost done isn't he?

Good old Ryan (referring to his best friend).  I bet he is living off of top ramen and it's alright I live off of it too.  Tell him to spend a little more money at the grocery story and stop being so stingy!


Thanks for keeping me in mind.  I love reading all of your emails.  It helps me get through the weeks. Thanks for always being a good example to me.  I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for your examples to me.  I pray for you guys like 4 times a day.  I can't wait to see you guys soon. 

For Christmas I think I am going to make a Skype account this week and then I will tell you when I will be on.  I'll have all the information for you next week.  I hope it all works out o.k.  It would stink if I couldn't talk to you guys.  I can't wait to talk to you guys.  Only a month left and by then I will have been out for 4 months.  It's crazy, time is going by quick. 

Love you all, 
Drew


Still no packages means he hasn't received his new camera yet. UGH! I am dying to see his cute face, Christmas can't come quick enough!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cute missionary of mine
Until next week...

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Better Week...

I was beginning to wonder if I would hear from Drew this week.  We usually hear from him around 8:00 in the morning each week which is 12:00 their time.  Today we didn't hear from him until later in the afternoon.  I was pretty much glued to the computer all day hitting refresh...yes I am that Mom.  It was great to hear from him and especially since his week was so much better.  Not sure this Missionary Moms heart could have handled another letter like last week ;)

"This week has been much better for sure. Time sure flies.  I woke up today and it was P day again.  Not sure where the time goes.  Next week I will have been gone 3 months.  I miss you guys but know I shouldn't be anywhere else.

 Thanks for the packages.  They give them to us in Zone Conferences so I won't actually get them until next month.  Can't wait to see what you sent.

I wish my companion could send you some pictures but his camera broke in his first area.  I am going to have Elder Lopez send you some pictures.  He only speaks Spanish and he is heading home on Wednesday.  You will be able to see the most amazing food that we make.  He is heading back home to Guatemala so look forward to that.  It will be exciting.

This week we found a new way to talk to the people.  There is a really poor part of our area.  Most of the houses are made out of whatever they can find to make them. The big storm that was a couple of weeks ago knocked down everything and so instead of just talking to them and trying to share a gospel message with them we decided to offer Service.  We do this every Wednesday and Saturday.  This past Saturday we were able to help 8 families.  We spent the whole morning doing anything the people needed and we gained a lot of trust from a lot of people this way.  I came up with the idea after last week and we have so many new investigators because of this.  It has been AWESOME! 

We are close on some baptisms but it is very hard to get people to come to church each week.  We have 7 people with baptism dates but they aren't until next month. You have to attend church 3 times before you can be baptized and it's hard to get people to come to church because everyone works on Sundays.  We are trying so hopefully next week we will get a few of them to come.  As people get closer I will let you know but for know we are just working with quite a few people.  

Today we made a cake and that is why I am so late in writing you.  We are taking the cake to a family that pretty much lives in a piece of plastic with a tin roof.  It is so sad but they are the nicest people.  They have 3 little girls that are awesome and we will head over there after we finish emailing and our p day is over.  

Not much is new.  Just working hard.  You wouldn't believe how much weight I have lost.  My pants are don't fit at all.  I have cut my belt twice now.  When I get the new camera you will die laughing and how big my jeans look on me.  I can't believe I used to fit into them. HAHAHA

It is crazy how little we have.  I definitely have been humbled.  It's going to be so weird to come home and have so many little things that I never thought I would appreciate.  

No complaining about the cold.  It just keeps getting hotter and hotter here.  The humidity blows my mind. I got to Paraguay in the rain and it still was hot.   I would love the cold.  It's going to be so weird having a Christmas without snow during the middle of the summer here.  Dad you should hope for snow.  Then you will be lucky enough to drive Dora the Explorer, good times in that car. 

The hardest part of my mission is being away from family and adjusting to the missionary life.  Going from having to so much to having so little.  I miss just being home and being around people.  Just the US in general.  It's very different here. 
My favorite thing about my mission is the people, especially the kids.  They all love me and I love them just as much.  I love seeing all the little kids who don't have anything but are so happy kicking around bottles and chasing me around. 

The greatest lesson I have learned so far is to be humble.  I have learned to not complain about anything and take whats thrown at me and move along as if nothing has happened.  

I would love some of Moms bacon.  I won't be eating that for 2 years.  The food isn't too bad but when I get home I am going to eat a lots of meat.  We don't get much meat here because we only spend about $20 US a week on groceries. There is no way we can afford meat.  

I am so sad that Kelly (Featherstone) moved.  How could he leave.  I leave on my mission and the ward just falls apart. ;) Tell him he was my favorite leader.  I can't believe he is gone...that is crazy.

Brighton is crazy now too.  I leave and everything falls apart.  I must have been the only thing keeping things together hahaha.  That's scary though (referring to the threat made over social media). Lucky son of a gun can't believe he got to miss school.

Also you asked what my favorite songs are I like to listen to...there is a missionary song called Snakes.  It is so funny go listen to it.  The songs that keep me going are Aaron Edsons Wondering and
Carters song by Emily Babcock.  They are AMAZING!   

Thanks for keeping me in mind and praying for me. I can definitely feel all of your love pushing me along.  It means the world to me.  I pray for all of you every single day.

Love and miss you all tons
Drew

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS CUTE MISSIONARY OF MINE

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Tough Week...

I have been told that being a Missionary Mom is a lot like riding on a roller coaster...there are up weeks and there are down weeks.  I am so not a fan of roller coasters.  I am more of a merry go round kind of girl. :) 
Yesterdays email made my heart sad.  I know Drew is where he is supposed to be right now and I know that despite the ups and downs, he is loving it there and loves the people.  However after reading his email yesterday I wanted to hop on a plane and fly to Paraguay.  Not to bring him home...I just wanted to give him a hug.  Yesterday I missed him more than I have in a long time.  

Hey, 

It's been kind of a hard and frustrating week, but I am hanging in there.  I don't have a camera anymore, it was stolen.  Don't worry about how but I don't have one anymore.  If you can send me a new one that would be cool. It was on Wednesday and after it was stolen I was having a really rough day.  I went into my room and turned on some music and just sat there.  I was sulking for a bit and then I looked on my desk and I saw my patriarchal blessing.  I had the feeling I needed to read it.  I read it and this time noticed that there were 2 paragraphs talking about my mission and what great things I would do.  As I was reading it I had a very comforting feeling come over me and I knew at that moment that this is where I am supposed to be.

The weeks all seem like a blur here.  They go by really fast not sure why because the days are long but the weeks are fast.  

Things have been frustrating with my companion, they have been the whole time but I am hanging in there still. :) 

I am getting enough to eat.  I make a lot of fettuchini  
alfredo, it's easy and cheap.  I am loosing weight...we do a lot of walking and sweating but I am good.

The bugs are giant here.  There is something bigger and creepier in the house every day.  I will for sure have some crazy stories to tell when I come home.  

My investigator disappeared. There was a big storm here that knocked down a lot of houses and trees and we haven't seen her in almost 2 weeks.  We have no clue where she ended up but hope and pray she is o.k. 

The cute boy in last weeks picture is an investigator.  His whole family  wants to be baptized but they don't want to go to church.  It's a tough situation and we aren't having a lot of progress. :( 

It was awesome to go into the city last week and talk to the other missionaries from the MTC.  I was able to talk to a lot of them and see that many of them were having a hard time too and I wasn't as bad off as others.  It was however great to see all of my friends.

This week has been crazy.  We have had a lot of meetings.  We're trying to help the ward get put back together and get everyone callings...it's rough. 

Not much else really.  No pictures this week, so sorry but no worries I still look the same :) I'll let you know if anything changes. hahaha

Thanks for keeping me in your prayers.  I need them right now. Hopefully I will have some better stories for next week.

Love and miss you guys a lot

Drew

See what I mean about my heart sinking. I HATE ROLLER COASTERS! I hate to hear when he has had a bad week but am grateful he tells me.  I am also thankful that he had the prompting to read his patriarchal blessing and that he felt comfort and knew that he is where he is supposed to be.  I am beyond proud of this kid and just love and miss him to pieces!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this cute missionary of mine :) 



Monday, November 3, 2014

Day of the dead, Tortilla Paraguaya and Giant Bugs is what this weeks email brings...

With Daylight savings yesterday we are now 4 hours behind Drew time wise.  I thought that would mean that my email would show up extra early this morning but I was wrong.  I lost count on how many times I hit refresh and was beginning to worry I wouldn't hear from him.  So glad when it finally showed up in my in box.  I was waiting for an appt. and may or may not have done a little happy dance.  The people around me may or may not think I am a little crazy. ;)  He seems in good spirits and despite the heat and water situation is doing great.  

Everything is going good.  My companions a nice guy.  The other Elder in the pictures from last week is Elder Lopez.  I'll send you some pictures at the end if the internet lets me.  It always depends on the internet.

We get water in the morning but not at night.  It helps for sure being able to shower at home.  I don't think we are moving yet but who knows?? I would rather not move, it is way too much of a pain to pack everything up.

Bad news...my baptism had to be changed.  She couldn't come to church this week because her baby was sick.   She had to take her to the Dr because she had a fever and they have to come to church 3 times before they are baptized.  Not sure when it will now take place but it will eventually happen.

I will be with my companion Elder Diaz through Christmas I believe.  I think my last week with him is the week after Christmas and then I will be done training.  I get to Skype with all of you soon and that will be cool.  No worries my voice still sounds the exact same. (referring to my letter that I was beginning to forget what he sounded like ) :(  

They don't celebrate Halloween here but on November 1st they have day of the dead.  Everyone goes to the cemeteries to pray to their family that has passed.  It's a lot different and actually a little creepy.

My favorite thing to eat here so far is Tortilla Paraguaya.  It's really good.  I don't know how to describe it but it's their version of a tortilla and I really like it.

The animals here are a lot the same just everything is bigger.  Moths are the size of my hand and are poisonous as well.  They scare me to death! We had one in our house the other day and I about pooped myself.  We also had the worlds most deadly spider as well.  He got loose in our house but no worries.  We found him and killed him!!

Not too many stories right now, we talk to a lot of people but they are lazy here and don't want to leave their houses.  It's hard to get people to come to church.  

The people in my branch are very nice.  We are fed lunch 3 days a week and someone washes our garments.  My favorite family here is the Alma family.  They have been like my family while I am down here and take good care of me and keep me alive. :) 

I see my MTC companion every week at Stock.  It's the Walmart of Paraguay. Around 10-12 missionaries all go there at the same time to buy their food for the week.  It's fun to run into the other missionaries there.  Tomorrow I have to go fill out some paper work in Asunción with all the other new Elders so I will see everyone tomorrow I lived with at the MTC. That will be fun to see everyone.  

I know who she is (Referring to the sister missionary who is a niece of the Jarman family in our ward.  She is currently in the MTC and  will be in Paraguay in a few weeks) She was in my Seminary class when I was a Junior.  Her last name is Jarman I believe.  She is nice. 

It seems like I have been out for longer than 2 months.  Before you know it I will be heading home.

I can't believe you let me live here, hahaha.  I am learning so much.  There is nothing like tis in the US.  I am well adjusted now with the cold showers, giant bugs and people running around naked everywhere.  It all just seems normal to me now. 

The weather has been crazy.  It changes from one day to the next.  One day it rains and the next day it is hot as ever with crazy humidity.  It rained yesterday but it hasn't rained HARD yet so it's not bad.  It just makes everything muddy here. Today it's hot as can be.  We have our district activity after this and we have a BBQ and are playing a sport they play here called PQ Volleyball.  It's like volleyball but with your head and feet, it should be fun.  

My pants don't fit anymore and my belt is tightened to the max.  I'd rather not loose weight but I think by the end my pants are going to be falling off. ;) Oh well, what do you do?? 

Love you, 
Drew

Jake and I joke about that since I am writing this blog I could pretty much say whatever I wanted and nobody would know it wasn't him.  We have joked about adding the "You are the best parents ever" line or the "I don't know where I would be without you".  You know the stuff he most likely won't say but we know he feels...hahaha.  So today I had to giggle when he sent a quick email after his first one asking me to do him a favor.  He needed me to enter his SS# in to the church website for him.  After asking me for this favor he added...
"One more thing I forgot to tell you.  I take the pictures I have with me everywhere I go.  When  we teach about how important families are in the gospel I show everyone the pictures I have.  Every single person has said the same thing to me, which is..."que linda" which more or less means that you're pretty.  They don't talk about anyone but you.  Yesterday this 76 year old guy couldn't get over how beautiful you were haha.  You have a lot of admirers here. :) " 

This cute missionary of mine sure knew I needed a little pick me up this week.  I love him so much and look forward to Mondays.  Who would have thought I would love to hear about bugs and naked people so much?!? 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cute missionary of mine.  Until next week :) 
 This is a picture taken last week on Pday of some of their investigators.  They took Drew and his companion Elder Diaz to see the Church of Yaguaron.  It is a famous Franciscan church in his city.  It was built by Fray Alonso de Buenaventura and his followers and took 60 years to build.  It was at one time the home of Dr. Francia, one of Paraguay's most infamous dictators. 

Monday, October 27, 2014



Something about this weeks email made my day.  It definitely wasn't the fact that break ins or machetes were mentioned or even that he has had no water for 4-5 days. It isn't even that he has his first baptism scheduled (however that did make me smile).  I think it was the fact that I can tell just by reading his letters that he is happy.  His testimony is growing and he has a love for the  gospel he is sharing and the people of Paraguay.  He is changing and growing.  I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.  It also helps that this week pictures were attached...this missionary knows how to make me happy!!

" I will try to attach pictures at the end.  We will see how the internet is doing though.  
It's still hot! It's been kind of a crazy week.  A lot of exciting stuff has happened.  We haven't had water for the past 4-5 days, so that has been real fun. :)  You wouldn't believe some of the places I have showered in.  You would die. there are some scary looking bathrooms.  This morning we had water for about 30 minutes so that was nice.  We have also had someone try and break into our house, so we are in the process of moving.  It's not safe where we are living anymore.  Somehow they weren't able to get into the house so that's good.  Our house must have been being protected.  We have no clue who it was but we still have all of our stuff.  We aren't sure if they will try again but don't be worried we all sleep with machetes under our beds.  I also haven't found anyone here bigger than me so I'm good, no worries.  

I have one baptism date set.  It's a single mom who lives with her 3 children.  One which is only 29 days old.  She loves the gospel and likes us to come back often to teach her.  We are going to go visit here again today.  She has no water and no electricity.  She is so humble and I love visiting with her.  It's been a really humbling experience seeing how happy people are here even though they come from so little.  She will be baptized on November 8th.  
Other than that we don't have any other baptisms set up  yet. Hopefully we will have more set by next week.  The people here are very friendly and love to talk to you but not about the gospel. So it's hard to teach them. 

The bugs I have are mosquitos and I think bed bugs.  We don't get new mattresses, we are poor missionaries.  Don't worry, I put on the bed bug cover you gave me and haven't had problems yet so no worries, I'm fine.  Oh and I don't have a pillow, I'm roughing it.  

I live with two other Elders as well as my companion Elder Diaz.  There names are Elder Lopez and Elder Ratliff.  Elder Ratliff is from California and is kind of like my Dad.  He takes good care of me and keeps me alive and what not.  He did the surgery on my feet. :) Elder Lopez is from Guatemala and is a funny kid.  They both go him win 3 weeks.  My companion Elder Diaz is a convert and none of his family are members.  He just decided to serve a mission a year after he joined the church.  

We have been being fed lunch 3 days a week.  A lot of pasta and I like that.  I don't like the meat here at all, it's like tires.  They don't cook good meat.  Other than that everything is good.   The fruit is amazing here and so are the vegetables.  

I cook rice and pasta and just random things, hot dogs or whatever I'm feeling like that week.  I'm a better cook than I thought I was.  I'm not really missing anything yet.  

Things I could use, more music and batteries.  The batteries here stink! Also maybe some new ties that aren't striped.  All my ties are striped.  

The language is coming a long.  I haven't had to talk in church again.

A typical day for me is, wake up at 6:30 A.M. do some exercise and have breakfast.  Then I shower and study time.  Then we go out and teach and talk to the people until 9:30 P.M. and then we go home.  Not much else, the walking is good and hasn't bugged me at all now that my feet are feeling better.  

Glad everyone is still having fun at home.  It's hard not talking to you guys all the time and I miss everyone like crazy.  However if I don't think about it I'm good.  Don't worry about the bugs.  I'm good.  It's all figured out and I'll be fine.  You may have to take me to the Dr. when I get home to get rid of the worms I have in my stomach.  I drink the water here and someone said you get worms that just sit there but who knows, I'm good.  

I have had to go out with other Elders and I taught 3 lessons with a new missionary.  I was actually in another area for a day and slept up there.  They are called switches and the District leader does it with all the missionaries to make sure everyone is doing good.  It actually happens quite often.  

Not much else goes on.  Most of my days are just the same.  

Love and miss you a lot.
Love, 
Drew


 I am guessing this is Elder Lopez from Guatemala but drew didn't send any descriptions with his pictures.  
Ummmm he mentioned questionable bathrooms in his letter but this is a little more than questionable. :) YIKES!!
 He said he hasn't found anyone there that is bigger than him yet.  I think he may be a giant over there, look at the size of that door...wait is there a door on there? 
 Beautiful city of Yaguarón
Beautiful city of Yaguarón and the cutest missionary I know!!  Check out those muddy shoes!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cute missionary of mine. 

Monday, October 20, 2014

Hanging in there...

It seems like the first couple of weeks have been an adjustment for Drew.  Between being hungry and bugs and barb wire traps I was a little worried about him this week. However, I know that the experiences he is having are only going to strengthen his testimony and make him a better missionary.  This weeks letters seemed a bit more upbeat however still not my happy go lucky boy.

"Thanks for thinking about me.  I'm still alive and hanging in there.  I have used all the stuff (and by stuff he means first aid supplies) but the bug spray leaked and I had to throw it away.  I'm going to be buying more today after I'm done emailing.  I didn't break in my shoes and the blisters are bad and my toes are all bruised and stuff.  One of the other Elders in my house that goes home in 3 weeks helped me out with them and they are looking a lot better this week.  No worries I'm always drinking water even though the water is NASTY! They get there water from wells that are covered in mold.  No worries though...I'm hanging in there.  

I use the fan while I study but I haven't tried the wipes yet.  I'll have to give them a try and see if it helps out at all.  Still no rain here.  It has just been HOT and it isn't even Summer yet.  I might die...hahaha!

I like my companion.  He doesn't joke around or laugh or anything, but it's alright.  We are just getting to know each other.   I went shopping and didn't starve this week.  I eat just fine.  By the time I come home I will actually know how to cook. HA HA   I can't think of anything I really need.  They pretty much have everything here that we have at home so I'm good.  

The barbwire trap sliced my leg up real bad.  I just didn't see it and walked into it.  Kind of crazy. 

My investigators are good people.  They are lazy so it is hard to get them to do anything.  We did get two of them to come to church this week, and this week we are setting them with baptism dates so hopefully that will all go well. 

The kids here love me for some reason.  It's nice and all but all of the children here are covered in dirt and they love to jump on the "big white kid".  I get so dirty.  Yesterday I had 5 kids dragging on me at one time and they ended up ripping my pants and I had to sew them last night.  They ripped them right on the butt...dang kids these days :) HAHA

I'm still alive.  I've been doing so much walking that my pants don't fit anymore.  Glad I have a belt.  Oh and guess what...I even wear a fanny pack.  Everyone wears them and they are way easy to carry around.  I feel a bit funny but you were right Mom, everyone wears them.  

Love and Miss you
Drew" 

I was able to send another quick email since I knew he was still one begging for pictures and seeing if he had handed out any of the CTR rings I sent him in his package. I also reminded him that not everyone has a sense of humor and that's o.k.  I told him to remember love his companion and serve him and to remember how he has felt these past couple of weeks.  We are always laughing at our house and I know living with someone serious has to be a bit out of the norm for him. I reminded him that one day he will be a trainer and to remember how important it is to laugh with those he is training.

He responded with...

"Thanks Mom.  I have been giving the kids the CTR rings and they love them.  They have never had anything like them before and it is really cool to see them all wear them at church." 

I loved his email to Jake this week...

"Glad you had fun in Disneyland.  I loved seeing all the pictures even though it took me like 25 minutes to go through all of them.  Take it easy...hahaha

Glad you were able to share the gospel with someone, that's pretty cool. (Jake was referring to a couple we met in line while at Disneyland from France.  Jake struck up a conversation about Drew and they knew what missionaries were.  Jake wasn't shy at all at talking to them about the church. Crazy how having a missionary out gives you a little more courage to do so.

I can't believe you think it's been since yesterday.  It feels like I've already been gone forever and it's only been like 50 something days  or so (54 days to be exact, but who's counting) It also feels the opposite some days and the weeks are seeming to fly by.  

The heat is crazy especially wearing a suit.  The best part is it isn't even summer yet, but I'm hanging in there.  I forget about everything when I don't worry about myself and everyone at home and serve others.  It makes everything a lot easier on me and I just get lost in the work.  I already love the people here.  Even the ones that make fun of me for being from the US and having blonde hair. 
I have a lot of respect for you serving in Africa.  I'm sure it was hard.  I struggle with my house and all the bugs and what not but I am sure it was worse in Africa.  
Love and Miss you Drew"

I love that he has already found a spot in his heart for the people of Paraguay and it comes as no surprise to me that the children are drawn to him. That is just how it was at home, he has one little brother that misses him like crazy.  Until next week.
LOVE THIS CUTE MISSIONARY OF MINE


Sunday, October 19, 2014

I'm here...



"I made it.  Things are going well. IT'S HOT! I got your package and every things good. 

My first companion is Elder Diaz.  He is from Arizona and he is 22 years old.  He's a nice guy.  
The language is coming along.  I have 4 elders that live in my house with me.  2 leave in 6 weeks so they are really experienced.  It's nice, it's like having 4 trainers. I like it. 

I really don't know much about the food here.  We ate at members house once.  They don't feed us often here.  We are on our own.  I didn't buy food this week because I arrived after P day.  I've been living off of everything in the package you sent me.  I've been starving all week, it's been rough.  I do get to go buy food today, so that will be nice.  
My first experience at Church was good.  Not that many people. There were about 30 people total in the whole church.  It was fast Sunday.  I got called up to to bear my testimony and introduce myself, but luckily it went well.  I can bear my testimony in Spanish haha.

Glad the weather is nice in Utah.  It is so HOT here.  We aren't even in Summer yet and I'm already dying.  We have no air conditioning so the house is like an oven.  The fist couple of nights were rough.  It has been a rough week overall but I am hanging in there.  I think two kids in my group have already gone home.  Kind of sad but it's tough out here.  

Before I tell you all the good things that have happened here are all the rough ones...
My feet have blisters on every toe.  Every step I take feels like a knife in my foot...it's bad.  I have bug bites everywhere on my body.  I got sick and haven't been able to keep anything in me all week and yesterday I got caught in a barb wire trap.  The have those here everywhere and it sliced my leg open.  But don't worry I'm good and am hanging on. 

Now to the good parts...
We taught some lessons and have a bunch of new investigators.  This week we are going to set some baptism dates and hopefully they will accept.  I don't say too much in lessons right now because I don't know as much Spanish as I would like to.  I am trying so it's all good I know it will come along.  Each day I learn more and more.  

I'm glad everyone hasn't forgotten me yet.  I saw all of the conference talks and got copies of them at the MTC so I'm good there.  I got to watch all of them.  It wasn't live but I still saw them all.  

That's all for me this week.  I'm struggling but hanging in there.  Oh ya and my house is a junk hole but that's exactly what I was expecting. :) 
I forgot to bring my camera with me.  I will send pictures next week.  The place we come to email is 30 minutes from the house.
Love you Drew" 

In his email to Jake he told him he is serving in Yaguarón.  Of course I googled it since this cute missionary isn't one to share too many details.  I know he told Jake that many people walk around without clothing and that many have issues with drinking a little too much...YIKES! 

According to the encyclopedia Yaguarón is a city in Paraguay, located at the base of Yaguarón Hill.  The town began as a Franciscan reservation for the Guarní Indians.  It is known for it's agriculture.  

I am hoping this weeks letter is a little more informative.  I guess I need to ask specific questions and remind him that he has bug spray and mole skin in his first aid kit for his blisters.  It is so difficult to not be able to write him back right away and remind him of all of this.  I know he all of this will only make him a better missionary.  It definitely wasn't a coincidence that a friend of mine posted a quote from Joseph Fielding Smith this week. It was just what I needed to hear.  
"Life never was intended to be easy, but the Lord has promised that he will cause trials and difficulties to result in our good.  He will give us strength and ability to overcome the world and to stand firm in the faith despite all opposition.  It is a promise that we shall have peace in our hearts despite the tumults and troubles of the world. And above all, it is a promise that when this life is over, we shall qualify for eternal peace in the presence of Him whose face we have sought, whose laws we have kept, and whom we have chosen to serve. 

LOVE LOVE LOVE This cute missionary of mine. 

Thursday, October 9, 2014

No more need to stalk the Mailman...


I can officially stop stalking the Mailman.  The letter he promised us made it to our house safe and quick!  It was fun to hear from him on a day other than Pday.  It was also nice to see that he can spell correctly and knows how to use punctuation and capitals.  I was beginning to worry there a bit.  The emails he has been sending seem to be one long run on sentence most of the time.  :)  He says it is because the computer keyboards are in Spanish but I think it is because he is in such a hurry and he is a little too used to texting. :)  I sometimes have the same problem. Hitting space two times on the keyboard does not add a period! 



9/30/14

"Heugly Family, 

Hey guys. I thought I would write you guys a letter summarizing my whole MTC experience.  I got one stamp from the CCM president so I thought I might as well put it to good use.  Oh and CCM is MTC in Spanish.  I guess I will just tell you what's happened these past 6 weeks...good and bad.

When I first got here I was way nervous and had no clue what to expect.  I had just spent the last 24 hours at the airport and on a plane.  I hadn't slept well at all.  I probably had the worst seat on the plane.  It was the middle seat next to a 250 lb football player and a bigger lady who spoke no English.  She kept trying to talk to me the whole flight.  I knew NO Spanish at that point so that was fun. ;) 

I took a sleeping pill and slept for like 6 hours.  The flight was 13 hours long or so which meant I spent like 7 hours staring at the seat in front of me.  They had so many movies on the plane and I couldn't watch any of them, it was rough.  

Once I finally got to the CCM I thought I was going to get to sleep but that didn't happen.  We got right down to business.  I had an interview with the CCM President and his wife.  The President was making sure I was worthy and his wife was making sure my health was good.  No worries, I passed both.  After that they had me unpack and go meet my companion or companions in my case.  I just happened to be one of the the kids in my group that was put in a trio.  The rooms aren't bad.  It's just 6 bunk beds, 6 lockers and an ironing board.  

I think I have told you pretty much everything about my companions.  Their names are Elder Horton and Elder Hansen.  They are both from Utah

Big events at the CCM are getting teach a lesson with 4 other missionaries to a couple, who are now taking the actual discussions from the missionaries in their area.  They can actually learn from someone who can speak Spanish now. :) 

I chipped my tooth while I was sleeping somehow.  I woke up and it was gone.  I'm pretty mad about that.  It's my right front tooth. You can't tell in pictures or anything but if you get close you can tell.  I expect my dentist appt. to be set up when I get home in 2 years. hahaha  I'm just hoping that it doesn't get any worse. There is NO way I am letting anyone down here put their hands in my mouth.  

Other than that nothing else has really happened while I've been here. Wait just kidding...there has been a lot of pranking going on.  The President found out about everything because some Elder told on everyone.  One of the Elders in my district poured a bucket of water on another Latino Elder and it made him so mad he wanted to go home.  So President called all of my district into his office and said  it needed to STOP.  I had nothing to do with it but a week later he called in all the Elders and we had a meeting.  He talked to all of us and told us that we need to grow up and take things seriously, which made sense.  He was mad at everything going on again.  I was in the clear and haven't caused any trouble. 

That's about all the major events while I have been here.  Everyday is the exact same.  My schedule is...wake up at 6:20, 10 minutes before everyone else so I can have a warm shower. Breakfast at 7:20, I eat cereal every single day.  8:00 Personal study, 9:00 Tall ( a computer program we use to learn Spanish), 10:00 Grammar which is taught by a teacher. 11:00 more study until lunch at 12:15.  After lunch gospel study until 1:30 then companion study until 3:30.  At 3:30 we have physical activity then at 5:00 more grammar until dinner at 6:45.  After dinner more gospel and grammar until 9:00 when we have planning until 9:30.  After that we have an hour before bed at 10:30.  That's about it and we do this over and over again except for P-day on Thursday and Church on Sunday.  

By the time you get this I should be in Paraguay. I'm stoked for that but I don't feel ready.  Hopefully I can get the language down and all will be well.  

Love and miss you guys like crazy.
Love, 
Drew"

Love and miss the cute missionary like crazy too! 
 Horribly blurry pictures but I had to document the first letter we received.  Made my week!! :) 

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

And one of them belongs to me...




Everything is AWESOME!

He is officially in Paraguay. :) I received a text from flight tracker this morning (Yes I stalked his flight) that said he had landed.  I wasn't expecting to hear anything from him today but secretly had my fingers crossed...and my toes, that I would at least here he was there safe.  To my surprise I did!
He sounds so excited and happy and basically well...EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!

"Hey Mom and Dad,
I am officially in the best country in South America.  First impression of this place is it is HOT.  I got off the plane this morning at like 9:30 here and it was already hot as can be.  Hopefully I can get used to that.  I already love it here.  I don't meet my trainer until tomorrow morning so I'm hoping for the best.

Today and tonight we are staying at the mission home.  I got picked up by my mission president today and even though he doesn't speak any English he is AWESOME. He has a sense of humor just like you Dad.  All of the missionaries I have met here are AWESOME.  The part I'm staying in right now isn't too bad minus the driving maniacs.  I almost died like 4 or 5 times on the way here.  The missionary that was driving was probably going 50 down a neighborhood street.  It was scary.  I haven't gotten my package from these guys yet so I might have to do some looking around to find it. HAHAHA

Talk to you guys on Monday when I have a whole bunch to say.

Love and miss you guys
Your favorite son
Andrew"

My day is now officially AWESOME!  So grateful he was able to email us and let us know he is there  and safe.  He may be HOT but he is safe and seems so excited to finally be in Paraguay! I can't wait for Monday to hear all about his new companion, the area he is serving in and how he is adjusting to the heat.  Oh and let's not forget the letter that he promised me...If you need me I will be parked out by the mailbox. :)

LOVE THIS MISSIONARY OF MINE

Monday, October 6, 2014

Just in case I do die or something...



Not really the email caption you want to read first thing in the morning.  Especially since last weeks email to Laken he shared a dream he had about his plan crashing.  You have got to love his sense of humor though.  So glad he hasn't lost it! Todays email was short, which I expected.  


"Hey everyone I leave for Paraguay tomorrow at four in the morning.  Not excited for that at all.  I finally made it through the six weeks at the MTC.  I only get 5 minutes to send this email because all they want me to say is my flight information in case I die or something like that. So here it is...

715 am AR 2260

Hopefully nobody has to use that but just in case...

I don't get to email anyone this week at all which stinks.  They're robbing me of a P day.  I'll have a lot to tell everyone next week.  I will have my new companion and will have already been in Paraguay for almost a week.  I'm way excited to get there, not so much excited for the weather though.  It's hot as can be there.  Hopefully where I'm going to live for the next little bit won't be too bad. 

Mom and Dad I wrote you guys a letter from the MTC so you will have to let me know if you get it.  Hopefully it gets to the US but who knows with their weird mail system they have down here.  I summed up the whole MTC in it because it is a lot easier to do without the time limit.  
Love you all and will email everyone next week. 
Love, Andrew" 

About a few minutes later this email came through too...Seriously this kid?!?

This email was titled Love you guys...

"Oh ya and if I die, I don't want a funeral.  Just do my funeral like they did in Chasing Mavericks (a movie he loved) and spread my ashes in the ocean. That's all. 
Love, Drew" 

Ummmm...not going to happen but so glad he still can joke around.  I sure miss this cute kid! 



 I can't wait until next week.  This is going to be one very LONG week for me.  It  reminds me a lot of the week he first left for the MTC.   However this email was a little longer than 3 sentences and a letter in the mail is promised.  Guess I need to start stalking the mail man.  

I am so excited for this cute group of missionaries flying out tomorrow, especially mine.  Paraguay is going to be very blessed.  

Love this cute missionary of mine.

Tender Mercy Monday...

For some reason conference this weekend made me miss my cute missionary a little more than I have been lately.  Maybe it was the beautiful messages shared, or the film in between conference about missionaries (total tear jerker), or maybe it was that I knew that even though we were thousands of miles a part we were watching conference together.  I know he felt the same spirit that I did, probably even felt it a little more without a restless 5 year old asking for a drink every 10 minutes.  :)



I woke up this morning to this sweet video in my message box on Facebook.  Some people may call it a coincidence, or a fluke.  I call it a tender mercy.



A friend of my sisters posted this on Facebook this morning and she sent it to me.  Andrew is not in this video but it made me bawl.  Andrew will be leaving for Paraguay early tomorrow morning (3:30 am) and I am so excited for him...o.k. and a little scared...what Mother wouldn't be.  I know from his letters he is so ready to be in Paraguay and is anxious to meet his new companion and the people and place that he will call home for the next 2 years.  Love and miss my cute missionary!



Thursday, October 2, 2014

Chipped tooth and Goodbye Argentina

I am still doing a dance from last weeks surprise email.  You know the one with all the pictures?
The email that assured me that YES my missionary is still alive and is doing well.  It may be a while until I stop. :)

This weeks email didn't have any pictures attached but he seems upbeat and excited to be finally leaving the MTC.  Excited to get to Paraguay and meet his new companion and find out where he will be serving.  I think I might be almost as excited as him.  I may not sleep until I receive his email letting me know he has made it safe, especially since he wrote in his email to Laken that he had had a nightmare.  You know the typical nightmare of your plane crashing and landing in the middle of nowhere!  Seriously!?! Definitely not going to be sleeping next week. :)  If you need me I will just be reading and rereading his letters and looking at his pictures.  Did I mention how much I loved getting pictures last week? ;)

"Hi Mom. Glad you liked the pictures.  I haven't taken anymore so none this week.  I like them both (referring to Elders Greene and Tripp) they are both really nice. The Elder they are holding in the picture is Elder Brumble.  He is going to Uruguay so I don't think you would know him.  

That leak sounds a lot like the showers that I take (talking about our lovely leak we had this weekend UGH!) Haha water pressure is NO GOOD here.  Sorry the ceiling fell through, that stinks.  Just another malfunction in the Heugly household...no surprise! 

You don't know rain until you go to South America.  When it rains here it RAINS! 

I'm glad Sam is being aggressive and winning her games.  I'm super impressed.  She's making me proud.

My weeks been good. Not much has happened at all really.  Just class over and over and over again.  I leave Tuesday morning at like 3:30 am so that exciting.  Other than that not much.  

OH BAD NEWS THOUGH (just what every mother wants to read!) I chipped my tooth playing soccer.  It's my front right tooth just at the bottom and there's no way I can get it fixed here, so I'm out of luck for the next 2 years.  Not my favorite thing to deal with. Hopefully I don't look too funny." 

Is it sad that when I read this I thought of Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. This  is now how I picture him looking?  He better send pictures fast!                       
"I guess when I get home first thing I want to do is go to the dentist and get this thing fixed.  It's already driving me NUTS! I am just hoping it doesn't get any worse. 
You and Dad can definitely pick me up.
You're going to have to bring me new clothes to wear though.  I can already tell what I have is going to get destroyed these next 2 years, especially when I'm always sweating all the time. 

Not too much in Argentina.  No cool stories, didn't eat any food or anything.  My companions didn't want to.  We handed out 5 book of mormons and met some really cool people. 5 people gave us their numbers so that the missionaries can contact them, so that's cool."  (HOLD UP...I thought he said NO COOL STORIES? Ummmm...handing out 5 book of mormons sounds pretty amazing to me. ;)). 

My favorite thing about the MTC is playing soccer outside which is what I am going to do right after I'm done emailing today.  My least favorite thing is being in class the entire time.  I can only handle being in one room for so long.  

I haven't had to speak again. Which is nice since you  know how much I love talking in front of everyone...it's no good. ;)

My MTC President is President Willis.  He knows me and I know him but I don't have any issues or need a counselor like some of the Elders so I haven't gotten to know him too well.  By Counselor I mean someone who they talk to when they are homesick and what not.  His wife fixed my shirt sleeve that had a hole in it for some reason.  She's really nice. 

I know we leave early in the morning Tuesday, but a that's about all I know right now.  I think they expect our bags to weigh a lot.  They gave us a whole bunch of books when we got here. 
I'll take more pictures when I get to Paraguay.  It's hard here because not much happens and we're inside all day.  

I believe I get to email you guys on Monday next week telling you I'm leaving but that 's about it. 

Love you tons.  Thanks for sending a package.  It means a lot, I can't wait to get it!
Love Andrew

Monday is just around the corner and I can't wait! I am so proud of this cute missionary and am excited for him to finally be in Paraguay and meet the people.  I know they are going to love him as much as I do.  

One thing I loved reading in Laken's email this week was that he receives so many emails. 21 to be exact this week.  HOW AMAZING is that? Even more amazing...he responds to all of them.  I know he only has an hour and that many of the emails he sends back are just a couple of sentences, but he appreciates them. What an amazing support system he has.  He is ONE LUCKY AND LOVED MISSIONARY! 

Here are a couple of pictures from last weeks email I forgot to post.  I call this one ROOM WITH A VIEW... No wonder he's is excited to get to Paraguay.  Is it bad that this picture looks to me a bit like prison?!? However I am grateful for this gates surrounding him and keeping him safe. Especially since it was announced this week that there has been an increase in robbing and kidnapping in Argentina.  

I love this picture. It puts into perspective the size of the MTC.  No wonder they go a little stir crazy ;)  I also love the cute little car in the front of the picture. I am sure Andrew's "beater...Dora the Explorer is looking a bit plush at the moment. :)



Love Love Love My Missionary...Only 694 days left...but whose counting? 

Friday, September 26, 2014

Packages and pictures...

Disclosure:  Today's post is going to be long... I have a lot to say...Today is a good day...His package arrived in Paraguay and WE GOT PICTURES!!

I have been beginning to wonder if my cute missionary still existed.  I mean I get his weekly emails and he seems to be happy  and his regular funny self but, SERIOUSLY a mom needs more proof than that!!

Last week when I got his email I was a little ticked (just being honest here) like eat a pound of chocolate ticked...yes I am that girl! :) His email was great.  His letter said he had a good week and he even had the opportunity to teach a couple from Argentina.  I was so happy for him,  but all I could focus on was the fact that there still weren't any pictures and my pants were starting to get a little tighter... all that chocolate you know :)

I needed an intervention STAT! I needed to step away from the chocolate and FAST! So I did the next best thing...I headed to the store to buy my cute missionary chocolate! HI MY NAME IS LIZ AND I HAVE AN ADDICTION TO CHOCOLATE! Seriously though it really does make everything better :)

We hurried home and got to work.  Throwing everything in a box and mailing it on it's way just wasn't going to cut it.  We had to add a little TLC.  Of course we recruited artistic help (Laken) I am anything but artistic!




We added cute little messages to the treats, added some of his all time favorite treats and things he is missing (kitkats, jalapeño chips and a hair brush), added a bunch of Spanish ctr rings to pass out to the kids, Cd's (this boy loves his music) deodorant (we have heard its not the same in Paraguay), and a couple of soccer jerseys he had forgotten to pack, one for the US and one for Paraguay. Oh and lets not forget his  mouse ears.  Strange you think?!? Well... we are headed to Disneyland next month. Wish we could take him with us but since we can't we wanted him to feel like he was included.  

We then decorated the flaps of each side of the box.  I should say Sammie, Alex and Laken decorated it, because let's be honest...I told you I have absolutely no artistic abilities.  

Taped up this hefty little package (9pounds) and sent it on it's way.  I actually mailed it Tuesday through a missionary shipping site I found.  Cost a pretty little penny but it was worth every cent.  I received an email this morning letting me know it was delivered today. It took 3 days! Mailing through the post office can take up to 6 weeks! 

So you see this week has been pretty good so far...

Then Thursday came...
I LOVE THURSDAYS!! 


"Hey Mom...It took me 5 minutes to read your email.  I think I am already forgetting English.  I'm glad the wedding and Sammie's birthday went well.  Bridger...you better keep an eye on that kid, he's going to be in trouble.  It might already be time for the birds and bees talk. 

Glad Christian got to be a missionary this week.  Tell him when he teaches the whole thing in Spanish  to someone he just met he can come talk to me. :) 
Update on Santiago and Margerita (the couple they helped last Saturday), they weren't home when we went back on Saturday so that was unfortunate, but it's all good.  My companion is a district leader and was given a phone to use when we went out.  We text them and they are actually taking discussions from the "real missionaries" (I love when he says this...what is he then? ) It's cool to say that it all started with 5 missionaries giving them a lesson. 

Glad Ryan and Laken are doing good and are at our house all the time.  They better be leaving my stuff alone...hahaha...I expect everything to be in the same spot as when I left. ;) 

We went back to Argentina on Saturday and we go again these Saturday.  Spanish is tough out there.  These goons speak so fast its hard to understand them sometimes.  This last Saturday we had no success.  I think they put us in the hardest area possible so when we get out to the actual mission field we go in with low hopes and are surprised...
 But Whatever. 

On Saturday people were grumpy.  They would yell things at us when we were walking around and I would write down the words cause I had no clue what they meant.  When I got back to the MTC I looked them up and let's just say I won't be using any of what they said on my mission or ever hopefully! 
That's all for Saturday...

Now for your questions.  Some of the missionaries I have gotten close to are the Elders and Sisters in my district that I sit in class all day with.  They are Elder Brumble, Leavitt, Greene, Gibson, and then my companions Elder Hansen and Horton.  The Sisters are Harvey, Mcdougle and Hill.  I spend most of my time with them.

Favorite thing I have eaten so far were the empanadas in Argentina on Saturday.  I had one with chicken and it was good.  My least favorite thing I have eaten was at the MTC.  It was cornbread filled with egg and cheese and a whole bunch of tomatoes inside.  It was garbage! 

We get to go to the temple every Thursday so today will be my 4th time going.  It's all in Spanish of course.  The temple here is the coolest one I have been in.  It has a stain glass looking roof when you walk in.  It's really amazing.
Can't wait for the package
Love and miss you
Drew

Of course I loved his letter...I always look forward to Thursdays and hearing from him.  But let's be real here...I mean SERIOUSLY I just wanted to see my missionary. I want proof that he is happy and is making friends with the other missionaries and that his clothes are ironed! Don't judge...these are serious things to be concerned about. :) 
I sent him a quick email back hoping he would be able to read it before his time was up.  He responded that he of course didn't have any time but would see if he could sneak in later in the week and send some with an added...DON'T JUDGE. He is so my son :) 

Today I woke up to an inbox full of pictures...JUDGING was totally not what I did.  I may have screamed and cried and danced but judging? NOT AT ALL!!

I thought Thursdays were awesome but Friday  this week was better than awesome.  

He knows me well.  He knows I would have wondered if his room was being kept clean and if his clothes were nicely hung in his closet and not thrown all over the floor.  
PROUD MOM MOMENT RIGHT HERE!!


 Not exactly sure what this is but I am thinking it is his "DUCK FACE" Selfie.  Love it! 

Where he spends his hour a day exercising :) 
 Study Time with his companions and other Elders in his district

Outside the CCM...He had told us it was one small building that they spent all day in.  I think I just might go a little stir crazy if it were me. ;)


The CCM 

 Elders in his district.  I am guessing these are the Latino companions he got to know and love before they left.  They only have to spend 2 weeks in the CCM. Notice the ceiling tiles above their heads.  They are looking a little out of place :)  I wonder why?!? Couldn't be because they have been playing pranks on the other Elders could it? 

 Out and about in Argentina on their Saturday tracting excursions

 Temple day with Elders in his district.  I can see Elder Tripp, Elder Horton, Elder Heugly, Elder Greene and Elder Hansen.  Not quite sure who the Elder being held is :) Guess I have a new question for this weeks email. 

Cute Elders and a very strange camera angle.  Love his smile in this picture.  Elder Greene is to his left and Elder Tripp is in front of him.  Don't they all look so happy?!? :) 

My weekend is now off to a great start! LOVE THIS CUTE MISSIONARY OF MINE!!!