Tucan Sam!

Well another week has come and gone! Time is flying by like crazy! This past week we were on the road the whole time while my dad was doing interviews. We started off by going to Encarnation. We couldn't help but sing the Nacho Libre song... We stayed there for one night, for a day and a half of interviews. One of the days we were able to go to lunch with an investigator named Juan. He spoke English really well so it was fun being able to understand what was being said. We had a really good time talking to Juan and he really opened up to us. My parents were both able to bear their testimonies and talk with him about some aspects of the gospel for a while. It was so neat to be in that experience and I felt the spirit so strong! It helped me see exactly what the mission is all about and to see how happy the gospel can make you! Juan has set a date to be baptized next week while we are doing zone conferences in the area. He asked my dad to baptize him! So exciting!

Waiting while my dad was interviewing.. found a cool tree!

After Encarnation we kept driving to Cuidad del Este. It was a great opportunity to see the country side and all that it had to offer. I was surprised to see so much farm land and livestock. One town we drove through had this tunnel of trees! So pretty!

In between Encarnation and Cuidad del Este we were able to stop in Santa Rita, a brand new area just opened a couple weeks ago! The second Sunday they already had 20 people at sacrament meeting! And last week they had their first baptism!

A pretty sunset on the way to Cuidad del Este.

Driving into Cuidad del Este was quite the adventure. Actually, driving anywhere in Paraguay is an adventure. Anyway, Cuidad was especially crazy... It was dark when we got there and a lot of cars and motos don't use lights at night. crazy. Also, people are usually standing by the side of the road waiting for buses. Even the busy highway, freeway type roads. But with my dad's safe driving we were alright!

One night in our hotel room in Cuidad I was falling asleep when I saw something dark move across the wall.. I turned on the lights and found this little guy. Naturally I caught him.
After interviews were done in Cuidad Del Este we were able to do a few more fun things. We went to Itaipu dam one night to see it all lit up. This hydroelectric dam is on the Parana River in between Paraguay and Brazil. It's the largest in terms of annual generated energy.



We were also able to go to the Salto Del Monday falls in Cuidad del este. They were beautiful!


If you look in the distance you can see a small shack town with an amazing view of the falls.

The shack town has amazingly poor conditions. We see towns like this everywhere. We also see a lot of towns that are literally made of garbage bags and sticks. It's really shown me how much we truly have! I will never complain about bad student housing again.

A family washing their clothes in the stream.

After Cuidad del Este we were able to drive over the bridge and go into Foz Brazil for a few days. It's amazing that a ten minute drive can change things so much! The language was different, buildings were better kept, and even the streets looked cleaner and well kept.

The first day we were able to go to Iguazu Falls!

On the bus to the falls.

So beautiful! The falls just kept going!

Some years there is so much water that it is right under the walk way you can see in the picture above.

That's called Devil's throat.

This platform gave us such a great view but it was kind of high up... and kind of scary to look down through..

After Iguazu Falls we went to a bird zoo with local birds. It was probably one of the best kept zoos I've ever been too! There were so many neat birds!

We were able to go into some of the enclosures with the birds. These Tucans would come right up to us!

We thought they looked almost fake the colors were so bright. Maybe it's a crow with a false beak?

There was a pond with some Cayman.. this one had a turtle friend riding on his back.

This cage had an enter at your own risk sign outside.. It was full of HUGE, loud parrots that would honestly dive bomb people that went into the cage.... Dad was the only one brave enough.

But I was brave enough to hold one on my arm.

We had a lot of fun in Brazil! It was nice to be able to see another country down here in South America! But we'd been gone for a week living out of a suitcase so it was nice to get back to Asuncion.

A couple days after we got back Jenny got into town! It's so fun to have her down here! The day after she got here we started right into Zone Conferences. It was such a cool opportunity to see a zone conference! After zone conference we went by the temple for Jenny to see it.

Random thing.. Everyone tells us that I look like mom and Laura looks like dad. Then they tell Jenny she doesn't look like anyone. haha

Today we did some more shopping and went down to Asuncion center again so Jenny could see some things.

The first marathon to ever be held in Paraguay was today so there were more people around than usual. There were some cool tribal bands set up playing music.

Cool old guys playing Chess

Just a random picture on the street.. It's interesting they only use glass bottles at street vendors here. They also collect the bottles after you drink it so you have to finish it right there.

Anyway.. another great week in Paraguay! Tuesday we head off for another tour of the mission for zone conferences! Should be fun!

hammocks, jewelry and chipa

Well another week came and went! We are still having a great time here in Paraguay! This past week we were still here in Asuncion. This week there were leadership meetings Monday through Thursday. Dad would head off in the morning and Mom, Laura and I would meet up with him at the church by lunch and stay for the meetings after. Although I couldn't understand much of what was said it was good to experience what training meetings are like. It was also fun to get to know all the missionaries that my parents are so close with. On Friday, the wife of one of my dad's counselor's took us around Asuncion to shop and do whatever. It was really fun to have a native show us things. My mom did a lot of translating but surprisingly I'm understanding more and more everyday!

This is how they gather garbage.

Downtown Asuncion

Panteon de los Heros. This is a monument for war heros of Paraguay.

I love looking at all the old buildings of Paraguay! Everything looks older here too because of the mildew that is everywhere!

I've noticed that a lot streets will be full of all the same shops. Either jewelry, electronics, or in this case opticas. Also, certain towns are usually known for one thing they make whether it's soccer balls, hammocks, or whatever else.

Inside the Panteon.

Centro, in Asuncion. This is where they sell a lot of little touristy jewelry, cloths or whatever. It was a lot of fun to walk around. But we are definitely the only North American's around!

A gecco we found in the back yard. They come every night.

Yesterday we got up at 5 to drive out to an area my dad had to interview. It was definitely early but it was fun to see Paraguay's sunrise!

I didn't take a picture.. but we also stopped and got some chipa bread. It's everywhere here.. it's like a cheesey bagel, but hard on the outside and soft in the middle. They sell them on the side of the road all over.

It was super foggy but when the sun came out and made the palms silhouetted, it was beautiful!

We thought this looked like up-state New York! The landscape here is so random. There will be palm trees right next to pine trees. Weird.

While Dad was interviewing we went outside and found these flowers! They were

made of up little flowers that were red, orange and yellow. So pretty!

Then we found a wall...so we took some artsy pictures.

My parents took us to an ice cream place on the way back home. They had real American soft served ice cream!!

Along the roads there are always fruit stands or other stands that sell things.

We also stopped by this lake town called San Bernadino. It was beautiful and since it's winter there it was like a ghost town. We heard that the lake isn't perfectly clean these days so people don't really swim in it anymore. Too bad, it was pretty out there!

Chickens are all over! This one was huge!

Artisan shops like these are everywhere as well. It's like they all figure out how to make the same thing.. and sell it everywhere. There's some pretty stuff tho!

This stand used to be a Hamburguesa and empanada stand... guess they didn't do too well!

Tomorrow morning we're heading out bright and early and starting a tour of the mission for Dad to finish interviews. We'll end up in Brazil to see the falls and everything so it should be a lot of fun! Until then, adios!

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!