¡Feliz Día Bolivia!

Yesterday, August 6, was Independence Day here in Bolivia, and it was NOTHING like home. All the kids in Bolivia go march around the main square in the morning (this year it was on Saturday) and the people put up flags in their houses or businesses if they want to. Other than that, there are just a bunch of parties and drunk people and NOBODY is in their house. So it just made missionary work a little harder.

Ok this week I learned So MUCH I can't write it all down. But to sum things up, there are A LOT of people that God has prepared in different ways, and I am finally finding them! I just want to stay here forever and see the progress of everyone! Something that rarely happens here is that people let us in their homes the first time we knock. They normally say, "I was just about to leave" even though they are still in their pajamas. Or they say, "Oh I am busy right now" even though they are probably just watching their favorite Spanish soap opera. haha! But we found a girl named Mariana who DID let us in!

This is how the conversation went (more or less):

*Knock knock*

"Hello we are missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As missionaries we share a message about the restored church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. We know that the bible says that there is one faith, one God, one Baptism, right?"

"Right"

"Hermana, what kind of relationship do you have with God?"

"Well ever since I was little I knew He existed, but recently my uncle died. He was like a brother to me, and he had some mental issues, but I have hope that he is safe with God, even though I don't really know what happens after we die."

"Would you like to know more about what happens after death?"

"Of course!"

"Do you have some time right now?"

"Of course! Come on in!"

Of course there was a lot more chatting in between because people don't just tell you things like that unless they trust you at least a little. But the main thing is that we saw her specific needs, she let us in, and we taught her all about the plan of salvation. She told us that she had just been thinking about what happened to her uncle, and then we knocked on her door. She really felt something and accepted to be baptized if she finds out this is all true.

This is just one of the amazing miracles I saw this week in my mission, and I know the lord is blessing me and guiding me to those people who really are ready.  I know He has His hand in everything and I trust Him to help me be the best I can be.

Fun Facts:

- There is a milk truck that goes around... selling milk. And to let you know that it is coming, it moos.

- During the winter here, everyone puts clothes on their dogs to keep them warm. So there are a bunch of shops that sell dog-outfits!

- Here in Sucre there is a big black statue of Christ up on a hill. The climb basically kills you, but they say if you make it all the way up that all your sins are forgiven you!  We went as a district, but didn't go to the very top because there was a huge group of people having a catholic mass and a baptism there....

-- Don't count the days, make the days count!

~Hermana Madsen