Things have slowed down a considerable amount this week and at the same time got tougher. The capital is a different place to be and it's a little strange. My area, for the most part, is green, quiet and has lots of grafetti, but not the kind you would expect. I have seen walls covered in MS (gang) with the devil's horns and right next to it words saying somthing like, "Jesus" all colorful and artsy. It's kind of a mixed message, "Hey, we are a gang of death and Satan, but we hope that Jesus is going to protect us." ha ha ha. I don't think so!
My cook in my new area is really good and we have a ward instead of a branch here...another plus. I decided last Monday to apply what Gordan B. Hinckly's dad said to him and "just forget yourself and go to work!" so thats what I did. Yesterday I was able to get one investigator to church. Only 1, but hey, one is better then none and he is a father of a family of 3. The guy we brought to church is called Leopuldo, so we will find out how things go with him. He seems pretty on board with us.
My companion is a pretty cool guy. He is a guanaco or El Salvadoranian from the other mission. His name is Elder Albeño. He is teaching me a lot about the culture here in El Salvador and I have had another new food that I can´t pronouce. I think they are called chila kilas. They are good and they're like two pieces of squash sandwiched with cheese in the center, then covered in egg then fried. It's good when its warm but horrible when its cool, so eat fast. I have really opened up my pallet here in El Salvador. I also tried a new food called pepeto. It's a fruit that comes in a bean pod that when you open it it's like a bean covered in cotton, but you can eat the cotton. The cotton or fuzz has a really sweet flavor to it. I have eaten iguanna and its really good actually. I had it in a lime-flavored soup.
Our house is really clean and we like to keep it that way so the Spirit is there much easier. It's a little more quiet with only 2 missionaries in the house. Before it was 4 missionaries ever since I was in the MTC. Things are changing. It has rained cats, dogs, horses, small elaphants and everything else here. There could be not be a single cloud in the sky and within 30 minutes you could be at the bottom of the ocean. So, it rains like crazy here. The last missionary that was here before me was leaving the mission and didn´t pay for anything before he left. He just pocketed the change and now I am struggling because I paid for my last area and came with nothing. It will all work out, though. Anyway, my companion is teaching me how to use the resources the best we can. We have no dishes for breakfast, so what we are doing is there is a fruit called jicaro and it has a really strong, durable outside like a coconut, but on the inside is a soft meat that is used to make horchata. You scoop that out and let the shell dry and you have what is called a wacall...or a bowl cup. I would like to send a few that I have made to you guys, but I am trying to find a post office.
Oh, one last note... the bishop here is really good at magic and I have learned a few tricks that I use on kids and other people. People here love it when you pull money out of their ears or when you can make something dissapear in front of their eyes.
Keep trecking back home. I pray for each one of you specifically and have faith of only the best blessings for each of you.
It should be known there is a big difference in faith and hope. Faith is a certainty that something will happen when hope can be more of a wish. I always try to get my investigators to have faith and a testimony, not hope and a wish.
Love
el gringo latino, Elder Proksch
P.S. Congrats Ian on your mission call! If this is going to be your best two years, you have to give it your best. The mission isn´t easy, but the Lord can help you in your areas to make weak things strong. Study the scriptures and you'll knock it out of the park. See ya in two years buddy.
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