Bob Esponja!

MAMASITA!

Oh man... crazy.... I have SO MUCH to say, but I honestly cannot remember what has happened in the last 10 days. I have a Bolivian companion! Her name is Hma LLanos, and she is from Cochabama! I love her. She is the cutest thing ever. She is very quiet, but an awesome missionary. I had a hard time connecting with her for the first couple days, because I can only talk about so much in spanish, but we are really close now.

I GET TO SKYPE YOU GUYS AT 4:30 ON SATURDAY! That's 4:30. 4:30 Colombian time... For 30 minutes... Dont you dare forget. Hahaha...like mom would forget....

Hm.... we went proselyting today! It was my second time. It was awesome, but hard. We went to a more difficult area, and lots of people were rushing to work, so they didnt want to talk. I loved having a companion who spoke spanish, because I still have trouble understanding people on the street. They speak so fast and so quiet, and I am so much taller than them. Ugh. But it's all good. We had a lot of success. One old lady came up to me, telling me how beautiful I was. She was the cutest thing. She was talking for like 15 minutes about all her problems. My heart broke for her. I felt prompted to give her a LDM, and she said of course she would read it. I really hope she does!

Hm... Oh! I have some spanish words for you guys that I learned:

Muertos Caminandos

Bob Esponja Pantalones Cuadrados

Patricio

Calamardo

Al infinito a mas alla!

Look them up! My roommates taught me them bahahaha

OH! I have a cool experience to share with you guys. Hma Webb and I actually got to leave this week and teach the lady that we met on the street! Presidente said that normally people dont do that, but he let us! We drove about 40 minutes away in the CRAZY Bogota traffic to her house. Her name is Maria Luz Espinosa. We got to see some crazy parts of Bogota. It was cool. She is the sweetest lady, and she talked with us for like an hour. We honestly couldnt understand very much of what she was saying, but luckily one of the teachers came with us. It was awesome. We taught her about the LDM and invited her to be baptized. She said that we wanted to, but needed more time and more lessons. So no baptismal date, but she was still interested! I said the prayer, and felt the spirit in the room so strongly. And Hma Webb told her a story, and we all started tearing up. We did the swap with the elders in the area. They came when we were leaving and taught her more. She was so sad to say goodbye, and told us she would email us. I hope she gets baptized! She was so concerned with all the problems in the world. Cool cool experience.

So did I mention that I only have about 4 days left in the CCM? Uh....oh buddy. It is very bitter sweet. I am definitely excited to get to go out and do what I’ve been practicing, but I am also very very nervous. I need more espanol! And also I am going to miss all my friends here SO MUCH. They are my family. I have never had more fun in my life. It is going to be hard to say goodbye.

Hm... So I am in a district now with all latinos. I was very frustrating at first, because none of them would speak slow! But I understand more and more every day. And they all help. It’s great. And I am teaching them english as well. It is hilarious when they try to speak English. They are all cool.

At the beginning of this week, I felt like my brain was going to explode with all the Spanish. There was a day when I literally thought over and over in my head... I DONT WANT TO DO THIS.... But its all good now. It was just one of those bad days. But I love it again. I am learning to remain positive. Positivity is something that everyone needs more of in this world. And it has helped me so much when I have wanted to give up.

I'm going to send this one off, and read some of your letters. GET ONLINE!

LOVE YOUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!

Did I mention how excited I am for Saturday? Mom....no crying. I don’t want to cry in front of all my missionary friends here. Hahahahaha Mama... I'm sorry to do this to you, but I need some things.... Send them to Bolivia if you can. I need more of those little sockey things. Tan preferably. I also need those little flags that I put in my scriptures! I am lost without them! And colored sharpie pens. POR FAVOR! Let's see... Have I told you guys about gym time? It is my favorite. I get to run! I only run every other day, because my ankles start to ache. Yesterday I taught like 6 other missionaries P90X abs. it was so fun. Hahaha

Food. The usual. Lots and lots of rice and meat. But now I have a hma that takes the majority of my meat so I dont have to eat it. Booyah. We had hawaiian pizza the other day. Oh my lanta. The greatest thing ever. Seriously. They have dang good bbq sauce here, too. So that was pretty much the greatest day ever. BBQ pineapple pizza. Yes.

OH! When you put this on my blog, tell my friend Emily Blackhurst that I saw our friend Greg on an old devotional the other day! It was hilarious. Its always cool to see a familiar face.

Mama... you need to make a list of all the things we are going to talk about! Have questions! Are you guys going to put it on Keiths big tv? Bahahahaha

Kayla!  How are you? I am so excited to see you on Saturday. Is it summer there yet?? I am losing track of the days.... Its a time warp here...

Kyle! Good luck with your track meet! You will be a boss like always. When is it? Tomorrow?

DAD! I love you! How are you? Are you excited for Kyles track meet?

KEITH! Whats up? I think about you a lot. You kind of know how it is in a foreign CCM. Its crazy.

RHIANNON! I miss your food. I want apple dippers.

EMI! I hope mom is doing the ultimate tuck for you!

Love you all so so so much! I cannot wait to see you all on Saturday. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MAMA! Remember. 4:30 Bogota Time. You better have some good stories for me!

Hma Routsong