Elder Mitchell Olsen: Nov. 7, 2016 First Week in Oaxaca-La Joya Elder Chacon

Okay so much happened this we and I forgot my journal so I will probably forget a lot but here goes

Things are going really well. My comp keeps noticing how I don´t really have any shell shock. That´s because this place is exactly like if California street was a big city. It amazes me how comfortable I am here, even with everyone speaking Spanish. I do My best and can most time get my thoughts out but don´t understand much. Right now, I basically only share my testimony while my comp does most of the heavy lifting. It´s such a blessing he speaks English. My comp is great, he´s a real nerd loves comics video games and movies. our apartment is really small it has a 10x20 living room/ kitchen two 7x10 rooms ones our closet/ drying room the other is our bedroom. Then a toilet shower room It´s really weird but very common here. And I have a good computer today so there will be pictures. E Chacon lost all his photos last week on the computer right next to mine. There are signs when a computer is infected and this one Is good. We do have running water but we have to fill up a reservoir for a well thing. It’s not hard we just have to turn on a pump and open two valves and wait 15 mins. Haha Kitchen that’s a good joke. It´s a fridge with a sink and an electric stove on a picnic table. I´m going to try but I don´t think I´m making much here. And we are only there for breakfast. We are in a suburb it´s called pueblo Nuevo It´s about an hour away from the central. We shop at this, I believe a Walmart branch called bodega. Sunday was cool though. We had 4 investigators there and everyone bore short and sweet testimonies and of course I did as well. We walk everywhere unless its super far then we take a bus or moto. I forgot to get a pic of one but it’s like a motor tricycle with a 3 seater in the back. Ok so we have 2 people almost ready for baptism and 4 dates for baptism. two of them I was able to ask if they wanted to. He said if it´s revelation that he gets baptized January 7 then he will. That´s super specific so we are praying for him and his wife a lot. Here they need all the teachings and to go to church 5 time to qualify for baptism. My Spanish is better than most people starting out but I know I have a lot to go. The elders quorum president and now also the 1st counselor in the bishopric doesn´t like gringos (I´m guessing cause of his mission) so he picked on me a little during priesthood. I don´t shine my shoes everyday but I do wash them which usually makes them look just as good as a shining and I shine them every other or every 3 days. One day my comp, who is district leader had leader training and I went with two Latino’s. That was really interesting but we got along well. I tried contacting with them but fell short most times because of the language which is fine. I think that’s it. Oh, there’s an hermana here that is exactly like aunt shelly. But she looks and acts exactly like a brown shelly. It’s almost funny. Welp I love you all good luck with everything.

PS I want to learn the piano here so for my birthday I may buy a keyboard(about 100$) so you don´t have to worry about sending me something then. if you don´t want to.