And I was Like, 'Emilioooooo!'

Dear Family,

There is a taxi driver here that we use a lot who's name is Emilio. One time we passed him on the street and I was like, ''Emiliooooo!'' True story.

Also, I heard a few weeks ago that Elder Tom's mom had found as was reading my posted letter/blog. So shout out to Elder Tom's mom.

Dad, when I was getting ready to go you gave me a handful of little knick knack things that were just in case and may come in handy. Well this past transfer I've been using the little inch tall can opener deal a lot because the one in our house doesn't have a knob. So, little thing came in handy.

Last week was pretty crazy. So I already told about the volcano climb, but then on wednesday we headed to Brava. Pictures attached. So that was just like an Indiana Jones adventure, proselyting aside. But their bathroom was tiny. As in their shower was built into the wall right in front of the toilet. So technically you could take care of two types of business at once. If that was your style. I also saw a really big spider in one of our lessons.

And of course we hiked through the mountains all green and wonderful. I attached a picture of a flowering tree. Trees like that were literally everywhere.

One unfortunate thing that has happened is I got a bad case of leprosy lip. Or that's how it looked. On the climb up the volcano I apparently burned my bottom lip really bad. While that was healing I got a really bad cold sore that eventually took over the left half of my bottom lip. Super gross. Right now I'm trying to attach a picture of that, but we'll see how that works with this computer. But that's healing slowly but surely.

And then on Saturday we had a baptism. It was way awesome. Her name is Joseila, but everyone calls her Luta. She's been wanting to get baptised for a while now, but we wanted to make sure she was ready. Then we had District Conference which pushed it back even more. But she'll be a strong addition to the branch. I'll get pictures up when I get a chance.

Today is the first day of a new transfer. Elder Tom was sent back to Praia and I am now with Elder Silva. I had a really great time with Elder Tom this past transfer and I was sad that I wouldn't have one more, but I suppose the Lord needs him to train one last little greeny before his time in the mission is up.

Oh, and one last thing. I recently learned that my mission president said we could email our friends as long as we make sure to write our families and him first. Priorities and such. So that should incentive some of my friends to write me.

Well, that's all. I should be getting a haircut today. We'll see.

Elder Peterson

Dear Middle Earth

Dear Inhabitants of the Shire,

You may commence the celebrations, for the Ring of Power has been destroyed. Pictures attached.

So yesterday we climbed the volcano. It was epic. However it took all of P-day which did not allow for a usage of email the other day. So that is why I am writing today.

Climbing the volcano was awesome. When we got there it was blue skies and puffy clouds. So obviously we all lathered up with sunscreen. As we climbed, it could misty and cloudy and rained lightly on and off. We also had a heavier sister with us and she required a lot of rest stops and a pep talk every stop to keep her going. So the climb ended up not being physically tiring for me and Elder Tom, but emotionally draining. She was having troubles even in the beginning and we asked if she wanted to stay with the hiace with some other missionaries that were staying down there and she wanted to climb. But she stopped so often and she walked so slow. So many times she just stopped and said she couldn´t do it and wouldn´t go on. But we couldn´t just leave her, so Elder Tom and I walked with up step by step by step the whole way. A climb that should have taken 1 to 2 hours to 4 or 5. Ugh.

Also, the rain and mist washed off my sunscreen a little so I have random, blotchy, and incredibly irritating sunburns. Pictures attached. That was an interesting and very unexpected burn because it was very cold as we climbed. We didn´t have direct sunlight ever, it was misty and windy most of the time, and there was quite a bit of rain in there as well. So I was actually the coldest I have yet been in Cape Verde. It was a nice change of pace from the hot hot hot of CV. But I was glad when I got home to clean up and get into dry clothes again. Unfortunately I wasn´t able to take a hot shower, but merely a lukewarm shower. That is about as unfullfilling after a long, wet, cold excursion as an interrupted yawn.

The best part of the trip was the descent. We climbed up a rocky part going up because it was secure and solid. We went down on the softer rocklets. It was like sand, but not as fine. Like sand but with pebbles a little smaller than marbles. And by pebbles I mean volcanic rock. We literally ran down the volcano. It was awesome. Because it was volcanic rock pebble sand, falling down wasn´t good, but I only fell down once or twice. But going down almost felt like running on the moon or something. As you ran, you´d sink into the rocks a little, but because of the downhill slope, that didn´t slow you down. You had to run leaning back or you would go faster than you could put your legs in front of you and tumble. I got some video of a few other elders running, but I didn´t attach it. But it was awesome. The hiace ride home we were all dirty, wet, and cold. But I wouldn´t mind doing it again even as soon as next week. In all likelihood we won´t go again for another 2 transfers, so I may not even still be here. We´ll see.

One fun thing one of the other elders and I did, was assign members of the Fellowship of the Ring to those of us climbing. We had a senior missionary who was Gandalf, I was Legolas, and Elder Tom was Gimli. I would list all the others, but you don´t know who any of the other missionaries are so it wouldn´t be as fun. Although I will say that we didn´t have a Boromir because Elder Jones wanted to be Smeagol. I would´ve preferred being Boromir but whatevs...

Well, time goes fast and I am out.

Thanks for your letters and stuff!

~Elder Peterson

I wish I Had Had My Freaking Camera.

Dear Family,

Today we were supposed to go to the Volcano but weather didn´t permit. And the Assistants just called and told us there was a storm headed our way. So yea.

As far as the title of todays email, this past week I did a division on the other side of Fogo to Mosteiros and it was Awesome. First of all, it was all green. Which is really nice. It made my mission seem more like a tropical island mission than a desert island mission, which is how it has seemed up to this point. The rainy season makes such a difference. Also, I saw a double rainbow. And one of the rainbows was super strong. It almost looked like someone had colored the rainbow into the sky. Man, I wish I had had my camera. Oh, and in the division we hiked up a mountain to an area that was higher up. So that made for some very scenic opportunities. It was so beautiful. Too bad I didn´t have my camera. Also, that night that side of the mountain lost power. So while we walked back to the apartment, we gazed into the night sky. It was really awesome. It was very clear, no pollution, no distracting lights, just the stars. You could clearly see the galaxy matter that was up there. I don´t think I´ve ever seen so many stars before in my life. It was quite the division.

In other news, we think Elder Tom may have had dengue over the past few weeks. The symptoms he has been having fit. But we never did go to the hospital so we don´t know for sure. But he´s good now. So that´s good.

But next week is District Conference and we have a ton of trainings as well. It will be an interesting week.

Well, my time is up. So sorry it´s not much today. Until next time.

Elder Peterson

Dear Diary, Jackpot!

Dear Family,

This week has been good in a few different ways.

Last monday was P-day, so that was awesome. Then on Tuesday Elder Tom and I flew to Praia for a Zone Leaders' Counsel that was to happen on Wednesday. So on Tuesday Elde Tom did some souvenir shopping in Sucupira since he goes home in a transfer and a half. Then we did a mini division with the Zone Leaders in Praia and the Elders that live next door. Elder Tom went with the Zone Leaders and I went with the other Elders. It was cool because one of them was Elder Brown who had been my companion in the MTC for a while. So that was cool to see him again. On wednesday we had the ZLs counsel which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. This whole leadership deal is crazy.

So we ended up coming back to Fogo on Thursday morning. Friday was whatevs, but on Saturday we had an integration night that went really well. We had several members and severa investigators show up. We shared a spiritual thought and then got to the fun stuff. Elder Tom did card tricks at one table, some of them played card games at another table, I did drawings (mostly of superheroes) for just about everyone, and we had some Tom and Jerry cartoons playing on a laptop on another table. So everyone had a fun time. And the next day, just about all the investigators that came to the integration night went to church. Woot.

Also this past week we found maple syrup in one of the little shops here. So we had pancakes with syrup. It was the most american meal I've had in a while. It was also delicious.

One thing I've been thinking about a little here is the slap job construction. I swear they eyeball everything. With all the cooky angles and uneven stairs I often feel like I'm in a funhouse. I imagine building a house here goes something like this:

"Well, lets get some walls put in or something. Was a right angle like a square or like a triangle? Oh well, the concrete's been poured. We made the one side too wide, but we can just angle the walls in a little bit. Are these stairs supposed to be crooked? At least I'm not living here. Here's what I think, if the floor was level, the water wouldn't run out. We'll make some stairs tall and others short, that way we'll be customizing for everyone!"

but seriously.

Anyways, my time is up and I have nothing else to say anyways.

Loves,

~Elder Peterson