(From Google Earth in the area from the map we received)
Everything seems to be looking up. Good news. It's conference next week. We have 2 solid investigators with a baptismal date. One of them was supposed to be baptized next week but with conference I don't think its going to happen, and the other is for the 17th, so he's a ways away, which is good cause he has word of wisdom issues we need to work out, so we´ll take care of him in good time. But the other is an amazing investigator. He is already through first Nephi in reading and is reading conference talks and is excited for conference next week. I'm excited for him. He is progressing very well. He will be a great member of our Branch, and I'm excited to see what he will be able to accomplish. Other than that its just been a normal week.

That's really all I've got to share for this week. Sorry I'm not able to send pictures. The cyber with the good computers is occupied again and this one is to cotton pickin slow to send anything, but I'll do my best to send them next week. But know that I love you and look forward to your emails every week and am excited to hear what all is going on at home.

Love, Elder Brown

1.Tell us about the trip to Asuncion last week. Did you ride the bus? Do you do anything fun there?
We woke up at 3 to hop on a bus and drive to Asuncion to sign two papers and came back.

2. What do you usually do on P-day. Are there fun things to do where you're at?
Usually just hang out. we do email and shop and then chill. there is nothing fun to do.

3. We got a letter, a map, and pics from your mission pres. this week. There were 2 stars on the map. We looked at those on google earth. Are those apartments? Which one is yours? what street do you live on?
We don't really have street names in my area, so i have no idea where your talking about. but we live in a house not an apartment building.

This Just In....

Greenies and their Trainers
(Tyler is on the back row, just right of center)

The New Elders with President and Sister Callan

(Tyler is in front of the picture on the wall. Click to enlarge)
I'm hoping I get to send these pictures. the computer today is as slow as cold tar but lets hope for the best. This week was... a week. It's all good, but none of our investigators are progressing. None of our baptisms held, but thats okay. Satan has a strong hold on this people. We just need to fight harder to break it. We teach a lot of lessons, close to 40 a week, but most of them are useless. The people are never there for the second appointment. It's sad to see satan's hold on these people. Every Saturday and Sunday most people just go get drunk. It's sad, we are working hard but not seeing the success we would like. I think it's just a testing period from God, we will just have to fight through it and do our best.

I lost most of my p-day this week because we had to go to Asuncion (a 4 hour drive) to sign papers and then come back (another 4 hour drive) so I have an hour left of my p day and we still need to get groceries, but know that I love you and I miss you and look forward to hearing from you every week.

Love, Elder Brown

Questions for this week:

1. Do you have a blanket for your bed? All I see is your sheets?
I have a blanket, but seeing as we are now entering summer it's kind of excessive to use them.

2. How do you feel about the language at this point?
The language is coming, I'm starting to understand more and more which is a good thing.

3.. How are the members? Do they treat you well?
Yeah the members are great.

4. Do you have any responsibilities in your ward/branch?
Not really. everything is pretty well covered. we usually run around during the first two blocks trying to gather our investigators.

5.. Do you know any Guarani words yet? or are you just learning Spanish?
I know a few. I know ya poo which means to lie, dai kwaii, which means I don't know, and a couple of greetings but thats it. I figure I'll get Spanish first.

Sorry the computer didn't cooperate for pictures, hopefully next week.

As promised I included a few pictures of where I live. I don't actually live in my area. I live in central about 15 minutes walking away from my area, but its good. Funny thing is I do carry my camera around in my backpack. I just don't think to take pictures. I will try harder next week.

Everything is good here. We spoke in church Sunday which was not fun because I'm not that good at talking in English let alone Spanish, but it was alright. It was a pretty good week. A problem we see alot here is that everyone is so deeply entrenched in their religion that they refuse to change. We asked a couple that if God told them their religion was wrong would they be baptized, and the guy said we have always been catholic and we will never change. It's really sad to think that people are so deeply entrenched that they wouldnt even change if God told them to. It's really too bad.

I'm already starting to melt. and summer hasn't even started. I'm not excited for that. (Editor's note: Paraguay is in the Southern Hemisphere so it is spring there). but thats all i want and need.

As far as who we are teaching we have some problems. We have one investigator with a fetcha (date) for next week, one investigator who isn't doing his reading and is having trouble believing Joseph Smith was a prophet (probably cause he´s not reading) and another two who we were supposed to have married last Saturday and baptized yesterday who have just had problem after problem and we are working with. Other than that we just teach a lot of lessons, but thats okay. The worst it could be is a good encounter with members.

So that's pretty much all here, but know that I love you and miss you. I'll take more pictures this week. I love you.

Love Elder Brown

Questions & Answers:
1. Describe what your area looks like. Are there lots of trees, dirt roads/paved roads, are there wild animals around? Is there lots of open area or is it densely populated?
Well, it's all dirt roads, we have a few trees, a lot of dogs but nothing else. It's pretty densely populated for the most part.

2. Do you tract most of the day? When you go to a house do you knock on the door or call out?
We don't actually tract at all, but when we go to a house we clap. In fact we haven't tracted yet.

3. Are there restaurants? Stores? markets? road side stands? any type of businesses in your area?
There are a few restaurants, markets and lots of roadside stands in central but none in my area. and there are a lot of motorcycle stores. (in central.)

4. What is your church like? Is it a rented warehouse, open building, church built chapel?
It's a church built chapel, but the meeting is all in Guaranii so I can't really tell you what's going on.

Tyler from "I Hope they call me on a Mission" days

Everything is great here. Unfortunately only one of our investigators was able to keep her baptism date for next week, but that's okay, we will just have to reschedule the others and remind them of the importance of coming to church. Everything should be great.

I wasn´t able to take pictures, we have too much going on and we are always in a hurry, but I´ll take pictures of our house tonight and send those next week. But yeah, things are great here. Our area doesn´t really have any farms. It's all houses that I've seen but they are all little shacks shoved close together. But it's a great place and the people are generally happy.

Sorry not much time this week. We had zone meeting. Cuts down p day from 11 til 6 to 4 till 6 and we still have to shop. But I will write more next week I promise. But know that I love you and I miss you and look forward to hearing from you every Monday.

Love you
Elder Brown

Questions of the week:
1. Do you eat with members? How often? What do you eat? Is it good?
Yes, every day but Sunday and Monday, and as far as good it depends on the meal but generally yes.

2. Dad wants to know if you're singing?
Well, not really. I want to but all I´ve got to work with is hymns, I will sing random songs occasionaly however.

3. What is your house like? Air conditioning? Hot water? Washing machine? Bugs?
Well it's a house, it has a roof ; ) we do have air conditioning and heating (it's been surprisingly cold lately) but we don´t use either. We´re supposed to have hot water but it's not working now, a member washes our clothes, and lots of bugs.

4. Do you walk everywhere? Do you ride busses? Chaupas?
we walk everywhere, but when we go to zone meeting we ride the bus, but thats only for large distances.

5. How's the language coming? Does your companion speak Guarani?
It's coming, not nearly as fast as I'd like it to but it's coming. No he doesnt. He only has 6 months in Paraguay.