Feb 2, 2009-- I'm sorry, I don't speak Canadian

Hello everyone! It's been another week of craziness and fun here in Sunland park. The work is progressing forward and we're seeing success!

We had an altogether new experience, we were asked to put together a funeral service. A member had passed away and her children (Who weren't members) didn't know who to call besides the missionaries. So we and the other elders from the Rio Grande ward prepared the service. It consisted of two pretty short talks, a couple of prayers, and a special musical number. It was kind of strange, (we didn't know anyone there) but all in all it was a humbling and uplifting experience.

My bite is healing up well, another week and it should be completely healed over.

The other day we were driving by the border fence and we saw a few people, stopped to talk to them, and it was CNN doing a documentary! Apparently, they're doing a series on Latinos in America. We contacted a couple members of the crew, but none of them live in El Paso. Anyways, if you happen to see that documentary series and you see some guy talking to children from Juarez through the border fence, know that I was talking to them through the fence right before that!

In other news, I visited Chaparral this past week and... THE VARELA FAMILY IS ACTIVE AGAIN! Apparently they knew some people who were killed in Juarez and that's shaken them up enough to realize that they need God back in their life. It's unfortunate that it took that, but what can ya do?

I had the opportunity to go down to El Centro as well. We almost got in a fist fight. We contacted a woman and as she was walking away her husband came out and started screaming at her at the top of his lungs (for some completely random reason). Anyways he cocked his fist back and looked like he was going to hit her for a second and Elder Larsen and I were about to come in swinging but he ended up just throwing his slurpy and walking away. Classic Machismo Culture.

Well that's about all for this week. I had some poetic musings but I left them in the appartment so you're going to have to wait till next week. I love you all and appreciate your continued support!

Love,

Elder Ben