I´m now beginning my 3rd week in mexico, and I gotta say, its been LOCO!!!!(crazy)
I´m always sleepy, not quite used to the hammocks here yet, but I did get my other bag FINALLY!!!!! I am learning more and more every day. My vocabulary is increasing but where I´ve been improving the most is in understanding. I´m understanding more and more of the language when people speak every day. But it all depends on the person. Some people speak very slurred so its hard to speak to them. But then theres people that are more annunciated in their dialogue that I can understand everything they are saying. Like my stake president. I ate at his house on....I think thursday. But I could understand everything he was saying! It was awesome!!!!!!
It´s so interesting to see what people consider cheap and expensive here. The exchange rate here is about 11 pesos to 1 dollar. So most things here are really cheap, except for electronics, those are a rip off.Oh, I never realized that microwaves are a completely american thing! NOBODY owns a microwave!(Except the Stake President, but his house actually felt like it was american. I half expected a sign to be outside of their house saying "This is the American Embassy") But it was interesting to see what is considered expensive. For example, we were taking a taxi for a few miles, and the taxi charged us 35 pesos, so more or less 3.50, which my comp told me that was expensive, but I thought is was really cheap. And things that are considered neccesities in the states are luxuries here. For example, I´ve seen a computer in a home twice. Most go to internet cafes such as the one I´m at right now and....well, I miss our computer at home. It´s gonna be hard to send pics, but I cant at the cafe I´m at right now, so hopefully next week.
So now to tell you about the work. Well, we did have 3 baptisms last week, and I did one of the ordinances! Unfortunately my baptismal clothes were in my lost bag which didnt come until later that week, so I had to borrow some. So hopefully, we´ll have another baptism this saturday. So, interesting experience, we got contacted pretty much. There was a guy we passed and he asked us "¿Venden Libros de Mormón?" (Do you sell books of Mormon) So we told him we could give him one when we come and visit him, and he´s pretty much the perfect investigator, he said that he didn´t think Jesus would just visit the people in Jerusalem, that he wonders why no churches speak through prophets, like in the bible. He doesnt drink or smoke, and he is trying to save up enough money to marry his girfriend (even when people aren´t married, which is about 90% of the time, they still call each other husband and wife) but yeah, perfect investigator. The only wierd thing about this guy, is that he is 42 and his girlfriend is 19. But I´m told that that is actually fairly common here.
But it´s a dang rollercoaster of emotions here. Some days I feel awesome, and others, I feel useless and pathetic. It´s really hard at times. The food isn´t that bad, although tortillas are served at EVERY meal, because they are SUPER cheap. Oh, the meal schedule is super wierd too. Theres Breakfast at the normal time, but lunch isnt served until 2, and thats the only meal we are served, and then dinner is around 9. Yeah, super wierd.
But, the good times are worth it, or how it is said in spanish, Vale la pena. I sweat soooooo much every day. I don´t like soccer, I really wanna play basketball right now.
Oh, weird fact about Mexicans, THEY DONT SMILE FOR PICTURES!!!! I dont know what is up with that, but they just don´t
I´ve gotten several wierd looks from people for being a gringo lol.
BUT, I gotta go, oh, don´t take this as a depression letter lol, overall things are good.
Oh, about security of postal service, well, theres 2 ways to ensure your package will get here, 1 writing "Ropa para la muerte" clothing for the dead, and the other, puting virgin mary stickers all over the box.
Love you all!!!!
Love,
Elder Kevin Ammon Wilde
