Itagua

Walking and Walking and Walking. Itaugua is huge! But I love it. It has been awesome to get back to teaching people all day long. While we walk, we speak in English. I am helping Elder Perez speak english so that has been fun! Today though, was not so great. We had to go to Asuncion for leadership council. Itaugua is super far from Asunciòn, and the meeting starts at 8 so we had to leave early. We left at 5 am. The busses were so crowded that I was squished between people the entire time. After finally getting to San Lorenzo at 6, we got on another bus to Asuncion.............that bus was terrible. Again, squished so much I could barely breathe. Some old guy had is huge water jog and terere and it was constantly jabbing my back haha. At 7:30 am, we finally made it....to the bus terminal! Oh my. So we got off and took a taxi. We showed up at 8:05, luckily President was late too. But wow, I will never do that again. I told me comp next time we are taking a taxi from Itaugua! haha

The first couple days here were not the easiest for me. It was hard to get accostumed to the people and such. But, I did make one great friend, "M". His family is really wealthy, and we are teaching him! He is 18 and the first time I showed up to his house, his first words to us were, "I'm sure. I am so sure!" We asked him about what and he said that he is so sure he wants to get baptized. !Que facha! His date is for April 29th! We ate lunch with him on Saturday and he came to church as well. Last week he started studying to be a pilot, and this week he starts studying english. So we are gonna help him out with the english when we go over. I hope he continues his progression! Please keep him in your prayers!

We are also working with Familia "C". They are a super humble family, but were not always this low. The dad started a business, but after a couple unfortunate business moves on his part, he has basically been kicked out and taken over by his partner. That was super sad, but I know that God works in mysterious ways. Because of the financial struggles, they recognized the need to include God more in their life. So had this not happened, we probably would not be teaching them. He might be getting a good job at a nice hotel. His friend offered him a spot or something, he should find out this week! I love going over because they have such great personalities. They are super funny and sarcastic, so its not a bland hour when we go. They have to get married, but we are planning on helping them do that on the 29th of April as well. They could also use some serious prayers! 

I am so thankful to be here in Itaugua. The ward is awesome, and there are a lot more investigators that we are teaching. I am thankful for the opportunity we have to listen to the Prophet and Apostles this weekend. Couldn't come at a better time! I hope you all have the chance to see it! 

Love you all

Elder Zaugg

PICS

1. Elder Crofts Parada and I. Elder croft's last change!!!

2. Marcelo!

3. Elder Murphy and Elder Passos. Elder passos trained elder murphy in the field, and i trained him in the office!

4. Hna Llanos! Her friend is Cutter's companion right now!!!! super cool!

pictures....saying goodbyes'

CHANGES

Well, after 1 week in Aregua, I am headed out! I was actually a little sad. I loved Aregua, and we found a bunch of new investigators! But as I have learned lately, God has a plan for me and for each and every one of us. No matter what happens, it will always work it. 

So Aregua is awesome. It is an actual functioning ward here in Paraguay, which was pretty awesome to see. So many returned missionaries! That was super cool, and they were calling me to see if they could do visits, which NEVER has happened in my mission. One of them actually came back in December from my brother Cutter's mission in Cordoba! Then, on Saturday we were eating dinner with a young couple. They just finished building their house and it reminded me so much of a wood cabin. It was so cool! She told me that her sister was serving a mission in Cordoba. I said, "No way, so is my brother!" Then she said, "Oh cool, I will ask her if she knows him! One sec, I think Ill show you a picture of her." She showed me a pic of her sister's zone and guess who was in the picture? CUTTER! HAHA That was super awesome! Lastimosamente I forgot her name....it is probably Gon..... or something. As we were leaving her house, they had just mentioned something super funny so we were laughing pretty hard, and in a hurry to get home on time. Well, in their fence/gate to their house, they had a pretty thick metal wire stringing across the top. At 9pm, I didnt see it at all and ran straight into it. It almost sent me to the ground! Now I have a cut on my nose in between my two eyes. I was so lucky that it wasnt barbed wire....

I am headed off to Itaugua this week. It will probably be my last area so Im ready to see what it brings. I loved this week because I was reminded of how much I missed being out in the field. The mission is not easy. But I noticed the joy I receive from serving the Lord. One night this week, I was thinking about the day and read my patriarchal blessing. In it I was told I would find joy in serving in the Lord's work and I thought about every lesson and every time I felt the Spirit testify to an investigator, to a member or even to me of the truth of this gospel and I felt joy. To be able to feel and recognize the spirit is joy. To have this restored gospel in my life is joy. I am so grateful for the last 3 months I have to give it all to the Lord, and I know he will bless me and always allow me to feel joy in his service. I promise all of you that as you go about serving in the Lord's work, he will help you find joy in it. Sharing this gospel is an opportunity we all have, and when we do share it, the Lord will bless us unconditionally! 

Love you all!

RATSSSS? I AM OUT

yes. We found rats in the office/church this week. Tuesday Night, Elder Murphy and I were setting up for a mission conference the next day. I walked up to the stage, and as I got up to the last step, I heard a bunch of noises that sounded like a dog trying to run on wood floor but always slipping. My first thought? "I really hope that was a cat." I looked around but didn't see anything. I started carrying down some chairs and I noticed a little pebble like thing on the chair. I realized that was rat poop...I got down and Elder Murphy turns to me and says, "I think we have rats...I was carrying this stack of chairs and I swear a rat jumped out from the middle one and ran to that corner!!!" We immediately stopped what we were doing and went to the supermarket right in front of the church and bought mouse traps and poison. We placed out 2 traps that night. Before we had left the building, we had caught 2 rats. Since then, we have caught and killed 7. These things are everywhere in this poor church....but luckily they are so dumb we put out the same sticky glue traps and poison and they fall for it every time.

It has been a good run here in the office, but it looks like this will be my last week from the financiero office! I should be headed out to my new area this next Wednesday. I am super excited to get out and finish my mission in a normal area! Hopefully I remember how to walk all day long? I should probably ask for a portable air conditioning unit...

I have seriously loved the time spent here. I have learned so much. You could definitely say my mission has been a little different than that in the mind of every 18 year old when he is about to leave. I never thought I would manage money for the entire mission! But I learned that God knows each and everyone of us personally. He has a unique plan for each of us to succeed in his grand plan for us to return and live with him. He knows how to help us learn at every moment of our life. He has blessed me so much for serving a mission, I couldn't be more grateful

Love you all!

Elder Zaugg