While the temperature isn't actually too high (no more than 100 I'd say) here, one really feels the sun. We're just constantly sweating in every moment, whether we're walking or sitting. It's only strange for the first day or two, then it just becomes life. I think i'm starting to enjoy it. There isn't too much wind (almost nothing) and the week was nice and sunny without clouds. I'm told that it should rain this week, but hopefully it doesn't last too long; I need to tan a bit more.
The people here also live pretty humble, in that the majority of the houses are just wooden panels nailed on top of each other. Also pretty common here are houses made of stacked sticks. Sometimes the people slap on cement to stick them together more, and sometimes no. However, the vast majority of people also have their personal motorcycle, a big fridge, their nice TV, and the latest touchscreen phone. Sometimes humanity amazes me.
After writing last week, we went to play some sports before going shopping and the like. I met some new people, super buenos. Since there are 6 of us living in the same house, we all got up early Tuesday morning to play some fútbol in a nearby field. We also had some service after study, where we were asked to haul bricks from one place to another. It seems like the other week the zone (of missionaries) knocked down an old, abandoned house, and the neighbors wanted those bricks. I think it was legal, but we never brought that part up. We only did what they asked. What nice people these missionaries!
After the game and the service and all the walking (since our area is very big) around from Tuesday, Wednesday we were a little tired. We also had a small missionary capacitacion (training). It was the first world-wide missionary training for more than 12ish years (I think, don't remember too well) and we received 2 hours of training from the Church Leaders. Super bueno. We then had a good rest of the day, getting to know the people better. Thursday was then used (without really wanting to) to get to know the area, and we walked from one end to the other and then back. The interesting news is that we found a guy that lived in the States for a while, and wanted us to teach in English so that he could practice. It was really weird trying to give a lesson in English after so long, and pretty funny afterwards as we talked about how it went.
Before Thursday ended, we got invited to eat some BBQ. Naturally, we couldn't turn it down. We slept happy. Friday morning we also got talked into going to play more fútbol in the morning. It's fun, but a little tiring. We spent the day visiting, and ended the day with a small English class in the chapel. It's pretty funny to see Bolivians try to speak English, and then I remember how I was for my first while in Bolivia, and then it gets even funnier. For the first time in a long while, I have a companion that also went through the same fun times so we could laugh together. I made sure to take a picture this week of E' Fusi, so ya'll can see him (Unfortunately, E'Yates didn't send the picture home). He's super funny and super friendly.
Saturday we got up early again to play fútbol. Maybe one day I'll get to sleep in again (I doubt it; we got up early today to play as well). We also went to the feria de Pompeya (an outdoor market), which is basically a super smaller version of the Kumabi in Santa Cruz. We went because E' Fusi needs new shoes, and so that I could get to know it a bit. Unfortunately we didn't find any shoes for my companion since the people here have such small feet. We did, however, talk to a friend of the missionaries to see what can be down to obtain a hammock, since those are all the rage around here. It seems like even the poorest of people here have a makeshift hammock. Why lose out on the culture here?
Life is super out here, and the people are also very receptive.
Much loves,
Elder Yates
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