I had an amazing birthday yesterday and sang Un Pobre Forastero (A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief) with the ward choir and Elder Garcia for the ward conference we had yesterday. The first verse solo in Spanish, the 5th verse in English with Elder Garcia, and all the other verses except verse 6 with a choir of about 15 ppl in front of 201 people at ward conference.... I've found my talent for singing has only increased as I have prayed for it to touch the hearts of others. I've also sung at 2 baptisms just on the spot with no practice in full Spanish.
I had 4 different types of pizza, brownies, way to much coca cola, cake, and cinnamon rolls yesterday on top of receiving some foreign money, a sweet sweater, and a little Bolivian key chain as gifts and a beautiful picture of the Payson, UT temple that Elder Garcia wrote on the back of for me.... so I guess you could say the members are pretty amazing here in our ward. :)
I started reading a chapter of the Book of Mormon and El Libro de Mormón each morning during personal study and I'm already in 2 Nefi 13 now. :) Way cool way to learn the stories, doctrine, and Spanish.
We found a guy that is from Indiana in our area, speaks Spanish too, professional CrossFit trainer that has opened Bolivia's only 5 CrossFit gyms, but shattered his knee cap recently, his name is Mark Hooley, we're hoping to get a teaching appointment with him soon.
Everything is going great.... still don't ever have enough time to say everything I want to.... but I'm adjusting nicely to everything. The real heat is kicking in down here as we move into summer.... I invite you to check the weather and humidity sometime for this area when you get the chance or possibly just step into the nearest sauna in full missionary attire and then try to teaching a gospel lesson in a language you don't know haha.
Transfers will be in the first week of November, I should be staying here.... hopefully training. Elder Garcia leaves me November 1st or 2nd, and goes home on the 6th. SUPER sad and started bawling in our last zone conference this week when he gave his final testimony.... he's been an absolute answer to prayers.... I hope you all get to meet him and he can tell you more about our adventures (lives in Mapleton, UT).
Love you all.
Love,
Elder Van Horne
It rained pretty hard a few weeks back. Got surprisingly cold.... good thing we were prepared.
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