When September Ends

family.

It's hard to write a week's-worth of news when it feels like only a day or two has gone by.

We're still working with Paolo and Talula. Talula's other son was killed a few months ago. We left Paolo a Book of Mormon and he said he'd read it. Everybody says they'll read it, but extremely few people actually do it. We came back a couple of days later and he said he was on page 54 and that it's really interesting. So that's pretty much two thumbs way up. Rarely have I seen an investigator who is so interested in the Book of Mormon.

A common sight in the dusty streets is a group of kids playing marbles; my companion likes to play with them sometimes. This week he played with a couple of chibolos in La Pradera and lost every marble he has. So I don't think he'll be playing anymore.

I can't believe I've never said this before, but Sister Riojas, our pensionista, makes really good lasagna. Don't worry, Dad, it's no competition to yours, but it's pretty delicious. She's also made us pizza and alfredo noodles. And pancakes. I'm guessing I'm not going to have another area in which the pensionista knows how to cook so many different types of food. She's great and looks out for us a lot. Her grandson is named Moroni.

The people who were renting the room next to ours moved out and Hermana Lourdes decided to make a built-in bathroom. We're helping out a little and I think we're going to move into the other room in a few days when it's all finished up. One thing I love about the Peruvians is their ingenuity and practicality (is that a word?). They're good at building things with what they have.

The combis (vans) here are crazy. It's the main form of transportation and I think it's now a normal thing for me to be in a van smaller than our Suburban with like 25 people in it. Sometimes they have to take detours and start driving on the side of the road... It can get pretty bumpy sometimes. The other day we were in the combi with a bunch of kids going to school. The road was closed so the guy just goes off the side of the road and it's so bumpy and there's kids flying around everywhere. Luckily the windows were closed or we might've lost someone.

President Chipman showed me a scripture in John 17:21 (I think that's where it's at) where Jesus pleads to the Father that He and His followers can be unified. Why? So people will recognize them for who they are and believe their message. That's why it's so important that I be unified with my companion. Maybe that's also why it's so hard to accomplish that unity sometimes-- because Satan knows that all he has to do to get us to fail is to take away our unity.

I love you guys a ton. Thanks for the awesome pictures. You're all growing up! My love for each one of you has grown since I've realized how great you really are.

elder bassett.