The last email

This is a picture Eric sent last week, taken on Sunday after the confirmations

Hey everyone, how are you all!!!

I won't be able to send you any pictures this week, because last week after I sent you those photos, my camera card picked up a virus from the computer I was using, and this virus made it impossible for me to take or see my photos. I took it to some camera genius guy, who determined that he could fix it and was willing to get to work. But since I was an American, he would charge me 50 pesos. So I decided not to do it that way. It all worked out in the end, and I was able to save my photos and my camera card, but it was quite a process! But now I don't want to risk getting another virus, and I've seen that this computer has lots of bad stuff and other viruses in it. So I figure, why risk it now.

I'll let you know a little about the week. We had a great week. It's very fun here and we have great people here. As I think I mentioned, Elder Birch has been sick and has gotten everyone else sick, although it's not too bad. We've all felt a little weak but good enough to work. Finally on Sunday, I just got slammed by the sickness, I felt soooooo sick and everything in my body hurt and I was sooooooo tired. We went to church, of course, and I felt soooooo bad the whole day, and the hardest part was that there were tons of less actives and two investigators that wanted to talk to us the whole time and I had to act happy and excited. On top of it, the kids all demanded that I throw them in the air, something they all love and I can't resist, so it was a very very tiring Sunday, but good.

We had a pench asado that night although I couldn't taste a whole lot, but I could taste it a little. It was a really good asado! Elder Santa Ana and I bought all the stuff and it came to almost 300 pesos! We ate costilla, the typical asado meat which I forgot what it's called (something like marucha) and chicken. It was really good, my favorite is probably the costilla which is rib, so we bought lots of that. Anyway, so it was fun even though I was a little sick.

Despite that, during the week we worked really hard and we were super blessed. We had an assistance of 55 people in church (supposedly the average was 25 according to Santa Ana and the members) so we were happy. On top of it, EVERY SINGLE less active person we visited came to church, a total of about 20 people, and two investigators came who we had programmed during the week. Among the 20 people less active that we visited, one family we couldn't even teach, we just passed by a lot during the week and invited them, although they didn't want to let us in. But they surprised us and showed up in church! So it's a cool last Sunday to have in the mission, although I guess in reality I'll still have one last Sunday here in Argentina, specifically in Ramallo.

Today for Pday we played soccer as a zone, and I just played two games so I wouldn't get sick again (I definitely don't want to be sick when I see you guys!!) by too much effort and stress. It was super fun though, and I played really good and feel good about the way I played. After that we ordered pizza and burgers and then came to ciber.

We seem to order food a lot, although we also cook a lot as a pench. I learned to cook a few things here and since no one else in the pench knows how to do much cooking yet, they all ask me to cook and they enjoy the few Argentine meals I prepare. I'll have to make some for you!!

It's crazy to think that I will be seeing you guys this week. I truly cannot comprehend this. I can explain it with words, but I really just can't grasp the concept that my mission will be ending!! I think everyone else is more anxious than me, I just feel super relaxed about it all for that exact reason, that I just can't comprehend it. It's crazy!!! Oh well, I'm just excited to have a few more days working here in a truly golden area, which has soo much potential, and some really great members!!!!!

I guess I will be seeing you soon then, as they say here "nos vemos" (but it sounds more like "no vemos" cause they drop their s's but you guys will hear that soon enough!) I love you guys very much. Thanks for offering to come down here and for always supporting me. I've really appreciated it all! Also, thanks to everyone for reading, commenting and supporting me through letters, prayers, whatever it may be. I've felt great help, thanks to all. Love you all.

Love,
Eric
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