This is from April 11

Hey family,

How is everyone doing this week? I hope all is well and that everyone is healthy and happy.

This week was really interesting. We helped members with service painting houses, cleaning out their storage (which reminded me of home a little bit with how much they had) haha and moving beds and dressers. It was really nice serving. I felt relaxed working and doing something different.

This week we did exchanges with the district leader. I went with his companion who was in fresno with me. I was not happy about this exchange. I did get along very well with him but I knew that I had to grin and bear it. It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. We found a few new people and worked alright together. I thought that I was lacking in my Spanish skills but when I went with him I realized that I am not the only one who struggles with the language.

Later that day we started knocking doors because we didn’t have anything else to do. We found a man who said his name was jose luis. We started asking questions when he told he was baptized in the church. Ok that’s normal that we find less active members. Then he started to tell us about his life story. He told us he was schizophrenic. He seemed normal. Then he started to tell us that he was really 77 and German, a German prince actually. He told us that when he was 33 his body changed to a baby again and that he was taken here to Durango. He gave us a book he said he wrote about his life story. I have never laughed so hard in my life. I have been reading bits and pieces of the book and laugh. I now know what a how schizophrenic people are. Haha

Lots of members have confidence in us. They are starting to share their problems with us in marriage, or in work. I feel really uncomfortable but I don’t know how to tell them I don’t want to hear their problems. I keep telling them that they should talk with the bishop because really he is the one that can help them.

Slowly but surely we are finding people to teach. One man we found his name is Oswaldo. He has accepted everything and said yes to his baptismal date. Sadly come Sunday he couldn’t come to church. A member asked him to go to “groupo” or Alcoholics Anonymous during church. Boy was I mad. This member is one of the people having troubles in the family and goes to groupo to relax. Oswaldo said he would be in church next Sunday.

Sunday after church we found Francisca. We taught her everything in the restoration and she said yes to baptism. We invited her to church and she told us that she went to a funeral in the church one day and felt peace. She said it is better than the Catholic Church haha. She said she would be in church the next week and that we could come by today to teach a little bit more.

My companion is getting a little tired. I think that he has forgotten how to work. It seems to be a disease for missionaries. When they reach 22 months 23 months they forget that they still have to work. I am trying to push him but I can tell he is living in his home in a sense. People always talk about him going home soon and that he is going to see his family and after talking about them he doesn’t really want to work very hard.

Anyway, that is my situation here things are getting better slowly but surely. I love you all. You are in my prayers.

Jonny I hope that you had a happy birthday. You are getting older and wiser, and hopefully taller. Haha. I love you lots little bro.

Take care everyone. Love

Elder Paskett