Paraguay y Padres!

We made it to Paraguay!! After a long day of travel starting in Salt Lake, then to Chicago, then to Miami, then to Buenos Aires Argentina, we finally made it to Ascuncion Paraguay!!

Here's a map of Paraguay.. just in case you didn't know what it looks like. We'll be in Ascuncion most the time but will be driving the mission two times while we're here. Their mission covers the whole southern half of Paraguay.

So on the way down here we were lucky enough to travel with 4 elders who were coming down to my parent's mission. I'm not going to lie.. they looked nervous, but sooo excited to be going on their missions! One got wide eyed and started looking around when we said who we were and who our parent's were... he said, "Is president here right now?!" We assured him that he was in Paraguay waiting for us all to arrive.

After our lovely day of travel.. I'd say we are looking pretty good for being on a plane that long!


After our parents picked us up we went straight to the most authentic Paraguan food they could think of....Chinese.. ya, not sure why we went there, but it was sure good!

After that we went to the Temple grounds for my parents to talk to the new missionaries. The temple was built 8 years ago on the same property that the first chapel was built in Paraguay. It was beautiful!

Well I'm not going to lie... a big part of this trip has been the food we've been eating. We've had lomitos arabe...which are kind of like greek gyros..but with cabbage and in more of a pressed wrap-type thing...haha, they are so good! The missionaries get them once a week! We've also had empanadas.. pictured below along with their regional fanta flavor.. naranja mandarina, delicioso! Other things that I've thought were interesting about their food is the boxed/bagged milk, HUGE produce (I swear it's all had steroids), powdered vanilla, and alfejore cookies they eat. wow.. enough about food! (I'm sure I'll post more later on..)

I just thought I'd write about a few other things about my stay that I've found interesting or have enjoyed!

-Everything is gated. Everything! All buisnesses and homes are closed off with gates. And most places have little security guards (well.. the security guards themselves are quite large.) who are always on duty. Kind of interesting..

-There is no draining system in the streets. It rains just a little bit and the roads turn to rivers.

-They have these above ground cemeteries we pass almost every day... they look like little cities. People will just hang out by them too. weird. Laura swears she's seen an arm in one of the windows..

-There are people selling things on the streets everyday, all the time. Things from gum to magazines to homemade bread. All the time.

-The other day we went shopping and they had whole pig heads. All I could think of was "Ba Ram You... Ba Ram You...." and little babe saying it..

-You can get anything delivered here. Because people don't have cars a lot of the time, everything can come to you. If it didn't, they'd be out of the business!

-Along with the people selling things there are always children on the streets begging for money. It's quite sad to see kids as young as some of my neice and nephews out on the streets.

-The women always give "besos" or kisses to each other when they greet.

-The buildings are freezing cold here!!! Everything is made out of tile and nothing keeps the heat in! I was freezing in sacrament meeting today!

-They are always drinking their Terere. It's like Argentina's mate.. they have this huge jug of hot water, then another cup for the herbs... then they drink. and they all share the same cup. and they are always drinking it!

Anyway, those are just a few things about Paraguay that I've found interesting! I'll make sure to keep posting! Chao chao!