PARAGUAY!!

The beginning of August, right before school started we went to Paraguay-where Jesse served his mission. Jesse's mission friend Dallas Larsen and his wife Brittany asked if we wanted to go a few months ago and we decided it would be a good time for us to go and visit before we have children and more responsibilities in life. It was a way neat experience to be able to go out of the country again (for my 2nd time now) and see how these people live outside of the U.S.-very humbling.

Here are a few highlights of a trip:

Waiting in the Salt Lake Airport, excited for our long airplane rides ahead of us. 

Flew from SL to Denver to Houston to San Paulo, Brazil to Ciudad Del Este, Paraguay. 

It was suppose to take around 26 hours of traveling to get to Paraguay but to add to a long traveling adventure our flight from Denver to Houston left late so we missed our flight from Houston to Brazil which only leaves once a day at 9pm. We enjoyed this bus that drove by as we were waiting for ours to take us to our hotel in Houston.

So we decided to make the best of it and find something to do in Houston since we were going to be there all day waiting for the next flight to leave. We heard about this amazing mexican restaurant and now I wish there was one in Utah. So GOOD! If your ever in Texas and there is one around make sure you hit it up! :)

We also went to an Aquarium because I always enjoy them!

The white tiger was pretty neat. And of course Jesse's shark face! :)

And then we finally get to Paraguay! Wow was it a shock for me though. No one speaks English, I can't understand a single thing. Jesse just fits right in speaking fluently-it didn't even seem like it was my husband at first. From the airport we cram into a taxi and I think that was the scariest ride. In Paraguay they don't have many road rules or if they do no one follows them. Any speed you want, no lanes, and when there is a roundabout you don't slow down you just pray you don't hit another car or they don't hit you. But I got used to it the more we were there.

This is what most Paraguay roads looks like.

The 2nd day we were there we crossed over the border to Brazil and went to Iguazui Waterfalls. Wow they were amazing. Sorry pictures just don't do justice. BEAUTIFUL!

The next day before we headed out for our 4 hour drive down to Asuncion, we went to Itaipu Dam, which is one of the 7 modern wonders of the world. It is the largest electrical powered dam. Pretty amazing.

One day we happened to get a flat tire in a rental car. Good thing Jesse is such a handy man and knows how to fix them and we happened to be right in front of an LDS church with the Bishop and his family there to help as well.

Cero Lambare-One of the only hills in Asuncion. Jesse was able to show me basically everywhere he served. The picture to the left Jesse calls this the Nephi Statue. ( He has the exact same picture taken on his mission)

We had the opportunity to go to the Paraguay temple and do baptism.

My cousin Cory is serving in the same mission as Jesse did right now and Jesse knew what area he was in so on Sunday we went to the church he was at and I was thinking it was going to be hard to find him because he would be in class or something. But we walked in and turned the corner and there he was. He knew about us coming to paraguay but had no idea if he was going to be able to see us and for sure didn't think while he was at church! He was fun to see and talk with him for a few minutes. He is such a good missionary, sharing the gospel to the Paraguay people! So proud of him!

A lot of our time in Paraguay we visited the families Jesse got close to. Below is the Arevalos-Acosta family Jesse converted-who are strong members of there little branch.

Below: The Mora family, the Dad is the Bishop, was Jesse's 2nd family in Paraguay. They loved him..and still do. We went over for Sunday dinner and she made of some excellent paraguayan food. The 2 dogs in this picture were their pets but another thing about Paraguay is they have so many stray dogs roaming everywhere, some were cute some were disgusting but Jesse says they are full of diseases and we aren't allowed to touch any dog.

Christian and Juan Carlos were fun to visit with. Christian was able to speak a little English so of course it was a little better for me. They both shared the conversion stories, they were neat to hear. They both have such strong testimonies and are planning on serving missions within the next year.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to go paraguay and that Jesse took me! The members are strong and very humble. They are willing to give anything to you when they have basically nothing. I was glad that I was able to experience a little taste of where Jesse lived for 2 years. I am so happy he served a mission and shared the gospel with the Paraguay people!