January 7, 2013

Hey Guys,

Things are going great here in Mercedes. Elder Camejo is a super hard worker and knows the area well it looks like. Our ward looks good, and Elder Camejo tells me that the Bishop works hard. This week we hoped for more people in church and with fecha but we have about 4 possibles for this months so we should be having baptisms soon. There are also a lot of people to find here with the lista de 24 meses and less active members. I love the area! We are the only missionaries in the ward for now President took out the other two about 3 changes ago but I think after this change he will put them back in. So our area is huge, really it is two areas which means we always have something to do. Mercedes to me is a city of money. The houses I have seen are huge and probably some of the nicest house I have seen besides the house in Carasco where the temple is and President lives in Deo. There are a lot of white people here, a lot of blonde's with blue and green eyes. I think they are all from Europe. If you look at the city I have half the city cutting it from west to east. The southern half towards the river. Which means all of centro. I live in an apartment a lot like Salto the truth at first I thought I was in Salto but it is much better. Mercedes as a zone is kind of weird. There are 6 elders in Mercedes, then 4 elders and 4 sisters in Frey Bentos(30 min from Mercedes) and 4 Elders in Dolores(40 Min from Mercedes). So we are all kind of spread out. But we will see what happens in a couple changes because we are going to be getting like 20 new sisters in March which will double the sisters in one change. We will be opening 30 new areas. 

Elder Camejo is super good. Since I just got here he kind of just guides me around, He is older then me in age but in time he has about 9 months. He is a born leader which is a big difference from Elder Muñoz who is more of a born follower. I kind of have to reel him in sometimes during lessons because he loves to try and answer ever doubt or objection people have but we are working things out. But things are going well. 

It was hard to leave my last ward I will miss the friends I have there and all the Elders there. I wanted to see Elder Navarro die but it is alright he is going to BYU so I will see him there. By far my biggest friend in the mission. Ah yea and my companion from the MTC is ZL now in Salto. Kind of cool.

As for food goes I eat just about everything now. Raw onions still no but cooked yea, grilled as well. Love peppers and tomato. I could probably eat a tomato like an apple if I wanted to. 

This area is pretty hot since it is so close to the river but not to bad and yes this year I am using sun screen. It is kind of weird though when I burn I don't burn red any more but brown and it doesn't peel. So I am kind of tan. Anyway that is about it for now I still don't know much about people we have had some good lessons but names I don't know that well. We should be baptizing a girl named Emilia in the next few weeks super nice. She is 20. Also Matias and Bryan both 17. The others I don't know as well.

Love You

Elder Wray