March 21, 2011 No hot water in Bolivia!!

He has worn out one pair of shoes already and had no hot water and has to wash his clothes by hand....ok is anyone else having a hard time believing that this is our Corban... !! Corban's email: "Hey everyone how is it going. It is going well here in Guapilo. Yeah that is the area that I am in right now. My companions name is Elder Gerber and he has been out in the mission field only three months more than I have, and he is my trainer. It is all good. I think he is doing a wonderful job, even if we are only two gringos in a place full of Latinos. It is nice to have a companion who knows English also. So far I love it here. The work is hard and the weather is hot, but it is fairly nice as of right now. The time seems to be passing by pretty quickly. I can still remember when I left the airport like it was yesterday. But I'm lovin it. Had to sit out two days this week because I had a total of 13 blisters on the bottom of my feet. Yeah it was pretty painful, but I'm all better now and ready to work my tail off like I did the last couple of days next week. I'm getting pumped for April. Get to listen to those prophets and apostles talk in general conference. It is awesome to have the opportunity to listen to them every 6 months. Seems like just yesterday we were in the house listening to them speak in October. Weird to think that 6 months have past. Just thought I would let you all know that I miss you all and that my mailing address in Bolivia should be the return address on my letters that I sent from the ccm in Peru. If you don't have it I will try and get a hold of it and send it next week. I can only send mail once a month here. Which is weird, but I have no post office in my area, which is why I can only send once a month. So just expect to get emails from me for a while. My next cambio should be some time late in April and Mothers day is coming up in late may I think. I'm not sure the exact date. Let me know that. But everything else is chill right now. So let me know everything and like I said I have p-day on Mondays now so write me letters before now so I can read them all. I love you all and know that I miss you.
Elder Schafer"


Corban sent me an extra email that told more about his shoes and that he has worn out one pair so far and is in need of another already. He also told of no hot water and washing all clothes by hand and loving it...."where is my son and what have they done to him"...a mother can only laugh. I hope that everyone is well, so until next time take care!!


Sandy

March 14, 2011 1st week in Bolivia

So far so good, Corban has been in Santa Cruz Bolivia for one week. He sounds happy to finally be in his new area. Corban speaks of hearing of the death of my father from the week prior to the email. Corban's email: "hola all, I hope that you are all doing well. I have made it through my first week in Bolivia. I have been here for 6 days and so far I'm becoming adjusted. Sorry if my English is getting worse as time goes by but all I'm talking is Spanish. So my first week has gone well. I'm talking and working with my new companion Elder Gerber. He is my first North American companion since Provo. It is nice to have a North American companion, but he wont speak English with me unless he absolutely has to. Which is better for me in the long run. I didn't hear about grandpa until Sunday. I was a little upset but I'm glad that I figured out before today. Yea it was really unexpected, but I know that is was for the best. I hope that you all are doing well, and I'm glad to have heard from you all. Oh btw. the return address on the cards that you guys got is my address here. Just thought I would let you know. oh by the way I attached a picture of my house. It is pretty nice compared to some of the other houses I have seen. So I am really grateful to have the blessing. The weather here is funny. The first day that I got here it was hot and then when I got to my area it was hot. The first day that I got to proselyte was bad, but it got better. Today it is roughly 70 degrees, and I am freezing. But I think that I will be fine. The food here is good. Saltiñas are the bomb. I'm sure that Casey will know what they are. All is going well. Monday is my p-day from now on. I hope that everything is going well there. Hopefully this picture will send. If not I'm sorry. I have roughly 1000 more pics left on my card, so I wont send it anytime soon. But maybe I will send it sooner or later. Oh I get to hand wash my clothes for 2 years. Isn't that awesome! Yeah I'm looking forward to it too. I'm humbled at the chance to be able to be here and glad that I can speak with you guys. I will find out what I need and report back to you guys next week. Love Elder Schafer "

So until next time everyone take care!!

Sandy

His last few days in Lima.....March 2, 2011

This weeks email provides another look into Lima with pics as well as insight on Corban's last few days in Lima before moving on to the Santa Cruz Bolivia Mission next week.

Corban's email: " Here are some more picks from my tour around Peru, which happened almost two weeks ago, but it is all good. I'm gonna send another email with some more pics so I will make this brief. Yeah that is a second story McDonald and if you look close you can see the wrappers in Spanish. The other two are of down town Peru. one is in the capital square and the other is a pic of a street that I was walking on. well. Send a second one in a bit."

Corban's second email: "Okay, so these are all my districts that I have been in thus far. One from Provo with all the gringos and the others are my last Latino district, and my last gringo district in the Peru MTC. Well, I have about 6 days before I leave for Bolivia. I'm getting really excited to know where my first area is. I hope I get stationed I the jungle first. I have heard some stories about all the things you get to see and do. So I am pumped needless to say. I really want to see an anaconda, which my teacher said that he saw a bunch of. So if I see one I'll try and shoot a pic. I'm looking forward to everything that I get to do, and serve the people. I'm not sure how good the mail is yet there, so I'll let you know later when I get there. I'm not sure what I need to expect from this place but the first day I spend with my mission pres so I'm sure that he will let me know what I need to do. Well, just know that I love you all and that I am anxious to get to Bolivia and do the work of the Lord. I love you all and I will talk to you later. "

So that's all for this week! He's doing great and soon he will finally be in Santa Cruz. I will provide updated mailing info as soon as it becomes available. Til next time take care!

Sandy