This final phone call was different from the others in a few ways. Usually Ivan calls from a cyber and has headphones and it is pretty private. This time he used the branch presidents computer (no headphones) in the chapel at church with several other missionaries photo bombing in the background. Usually the picture and sound quality is pretty good, but this time we had problems hearing and Ivan was quite pixeled (or fuzzball according to Kami). However, we could see the big smile on his face.
He was scheduled to call on Monday and when I got onto my computer for something else, I saw that he was online for his Skype. I tried calling him (thinking we had mixed up dates). He sent me a message back that his companion was using his account but that he could call after he was done.
He stated that Kami looks a lot different now. He asked about her first date which she said was super fun.
He heard that everyone has an iPhone in the United States and asked if that was true. We told him that was true but that we wouldn't be providing him one when he gets back.
They had a baptism today in the chapel. MA got baptized and she is 14 y/o and the granddaughter of a member. The last person they baptized was an 87 y/o.
Ivan asked a lot more questions about us this time. Previously we would pelt him with questions.
The tie he was wearing cost him $3 in Paraguay and it is one of his favorite ties.
His suitcase is still usable. The handle is the only think broken.
When a sister missionary asked him how long he had been out, he told her that in 6 days he would have 2 years in the mission. He said the sister he told that to will be confused when he doesn't go home because he still has 3 weeks left.
They live with 4 guys in their apartment and since one is from Mexico, they speak Spanish at home. The other two are from the United States (Idaho and Utah). They live in an apartment with air conditioning and a stove. They don't have a lawn. They have a black cat that wanders in and out of their apartment.
There is a family who lives really far from the chapel who they visited yesterday and invited them to Stake Conference and they came.
He was talking about the investigators who are breaking the law of chastity he says smiling. He said that marriage is cheaper ($80) than divorce (a lot more). People view themselves as stuck together when they get married (again more smiling from Ivan). Barely anyone gets married before they live together. He also stated that once they have kids together then they are stuck together (he said laughing and smiling). When asked what the average Paraguayan earns a month he whips out a calculator and proceeds to to the math during our phone call. Turns out that the average Paraguayan earns $440 per month. I don't know what it is about people breaking the law of chastity that makes him smile so much. I was imagining him talking to investigators about living together and the need to get married (probably lots of smiling for the subject).
Most people work in Asuncion. When he was in another area, it took them 2 hours to get to work and 2 hours to get home.
He has been on the bus in Paraguay when it hit another car and another time when the bus hit a dog. The collectivo tried to speed up to avoid the dog but it didn't work and then they felt a speed bump. Ivan said that on some of the buses he can't stand up all the way. It is not uncommon to hang out of the bus while it drives. He said he doesn't like it because you have to watch out for street signs.
He said that when he met Spud's cousin (Elder Chelson) he showed him a family calendar that had pictures of Spud.
This area is one of his favorites. Everything is new, everyone is new (to him) and everyone wants to learn. He also really liked Villarica (out in the country).
Dave invited Ivan to be his speaking companion for the next three months (June, July, and August).
His mission president is a jokester. He says random things about transfers and then it doesn't happen. He asks if you are ready to train or open new areas and then you don't get transferred. Ivan writes his mission president every week (it is required).
The branch president made an appearance and he looked like an American missionary. He is a blonde haired Paraguayan with white skin.
He is really happy and glad that he got the area that he is currently in. His other area was really small
His favorite companion is either Elder B (current companion) or another companion (he can't decide). What was funny about that was that Elder B was sitting right next to him as he was stating this.
They have 50 members each week. There are lots of less actives who are coming back to church. When asked if it was because of the missionaries he stated that he would like to think so...
In the chapel they use the CD's with the hymns on them to sing during Sacrament meeting. He has only been in one ward where someone knew how to play the piano.
Only 3.5 weeks until we see him in person!
Thanks for reading,
Laurie
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