Bed Bugs and Ferris Wheels

Dear Family

This week has been challenging as far as missionary work goes.  We've spent a lot of time dealing with the bugs in our apartment including throwing every clothe material in our apartment into scolding hot water and then washing them. This took wayyy too much time. We also got to go to the Gardens as a district which was very fun. It's like a little amusement park. While we were there we decided to take the other two elders on the Ferris Wheel. Holy Cow these Indians are terrified of heights. Each kart sat four so we all jumped in.  There is a vertical pole right in the middle and one of the elders just hugged it so tightly with his head pressed against it, his eyes closed, and yelling "Slowwwww PLEAASSEE!!" He was so horrified what a crazy experience! We also got to teach a few lessons this week. The main thing in India is helping others overcome word of wisdom problem... everyone chews here its very bad. 

A Hindu Wedding and BEEF!

Yo Family it looks like you all had a pretty good week!

This week I got to attend a new thing, A Hindu Wedding. Wow, just wow. Hindus are crazy and honestly I'm not a fan of the culture at the wedding. It was just a loud guy from the Bramen Caste chanting Telagu things I couldn't understand. Also the wedding served some good Roti and Buttered Chicken so that was a highlight. When you go take a picture with Bride and Groom you have to throw rice on the top of their heads to show respect... super weird. 

I also got to attend the zoo this week which was awesome. I saw a white tiger which is one of the most rare animals in the world it was great. 

This week not much new has happned this week. I got to go on exchanges and I found one place that serves beef. Beef biriyani in fact! They are not allowed to publicly call it beef though so it says this on the menu" Mutton Biriyani (beef)" 

This week we found some new people to teach because many of our previous investigators just are not keeping commitments or coming to church. It's unfortunate and sad to drop people but we need to use the Lords time effectively.  This week we actually had a funny thing happen. So we were waiting on the bus to go to our area when I noticed we had just passed our stop... so I will quickly ran to the open door/hole on the bus and jumped out in time, unfortunately the bus began to speed up rapidly and my companion was unable to jump out. When this happens whoever jumped out is supposed to stay put. So I waited at the bus stop for 15 minutes just passing out our new Christmas " invite to learn" cards. Elder Sundas eventually got back to me and everything worked out. 

Well thats about my week love you all. sorry for no individual emails

Love,

Elder Erasmus

Economy Crash in India

Hi

So there has been so much happening I will try to fit some good stuff in this email! I am approaching my 6 month mark on the mission so for those of you who like fractions that means I am 1/4 complete. Time is flying by but I am enjoying it so much, just seems like yesterday I was burning alive in the summer sun of Arizona now I'm Burning alive in the humidity of India (: But really I have already had so many good things happen in the mission.

This last two weeks have been awesome with Elder Sundas and some Economically challenging things have occurred too! So in India the currency is "Rupees" 1 USD is equal to about 60 rupees. Just like America the most valuable bill is the $100 bill, well in India the two highest bills they have are 1000 Rupees and 500 Rupees which equals about 15 and 9 US dollars.

Well this week the Prime Minister of India basically said the 1000 and 500 bill are no longer acceptable currency so at Midnight we got a call to go out and try to exchange our moneys. Well we searched all night with no luck but eventually we found out Subway Sandwiches is the only place that takes these bills. I went to Subway 5 times this week... Imagine if the new beloved president Donald Trump declared the 10 and 20 USD dollar bills are now no longer worth anything. Well that's basically what happened here. Banks had riots outside of them and everywhere people were carrying their biggest bills just trying to find people to exchange!

On a unexpected spiritual note..

One day me and Elder Sundas were cruising along the dirt roads of our area kicking a soda bottle around pretending to be Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when some guy shouted at us in a different accent "hey come here" we approached the guy and he said "are you guys missionaries? Shockingly enough we found the one person in India that already knew about Mormon missionaries and Joseph Smith but had never been taught.  His parents were Evangelists and we were able to answer some of his questions about our church. Mid conversation I pulled out a Book of Mormon to give him and he began to inquire on how he could contact us again. I asked him if he had ever read the Book of Mormon, he said he had never seen it before... I was able to provide this guy who knew everything about Joseph Smith and Mormons his first Book of Mormon. He was so interested with the Book and now we are meeting with him to discuss its origin and help him learn. God undeniably put us in the right place to meet this guy.  

One fun adventure we had is we were able to visit a a birthday party. This party was for a baby girl who was turning 1 year old.  People go all out for birthdays here especially with young children. There was a huge venue, a stage, and so many people. 

I am really pleased with the Indian people we have been teaching and I know there is no coincidences because of Gods plan. I love hearing from you all. 

Love,

Elder Erasmus 

November 6, 2016

Op kaisa Ho? Mai tik Hun, Mera naam Erasmus Hai. Op ka naam KHA hai?

Hello ERASMUS family! 

This week we did lots of fireworks and lots of fun. I got to teach my new comp the area and showed him how to jump on and off moving buses like a pro. We finally got AC fixed in my apartment so that was pretty cool.  I am going to the gym a ton usually once or twice everyday it's great. Funny thing this week, we are teaching a young girl and man about prayer.  Her problem is she uses vain repetition badly.  Like every other word of her prayer she says Jesus name.  So we had her say the opening prayer and My companion really wanted to say Sister that prayer was terrible let us teach you how hahaha but we didn't. Also we had two lessons back to back and we wanted to share the story about how Peter walks on water to Jesus but in both lessons Elder Sundas was unable to find the verses ha I basically was stalling for him in both lessons and eventually told the story without using the scriptures it was pretty funny. I am going to Tank Bund Buddha statue so pictures next week!  Here is a video of my apartment!

Love you all!

No Halloween in India

October 31, 2016

HAPPY DIWALI!, 

No not Halloween, Indians celebrate a holiday on OCT 30th called Diwali,a Hindu Holiday, where they celebrate the triumphant return of a Hero that killed a Sri Lankan king...idk, its basically just like the Fourth of July. There is plenty of Fireworks, Parades, and the whole city is caked with orange and yellow flowers. I enjoyed the festivities and all the embracing hugs from drunk people on the streets. 

I am still in the city Hyderabad but I received a new companion from North India, Elder Sundas. He is teaching me (well trying to teach) the complex language of HINDI. 

The last few weeks have been so full of crazy experiences.. I visited a place called Golconda Fort which is an ancient Muslim fort on top of a mountain, I rode some pretty decorative Camels, and was chased by a wild Great Dane (dog). India still is giving me new experiences everyday.  I've developed a motto for every situation... "No Problem".  Here in India it is very illegal to kiss or show affection to women in public, in fact even the bus is segregated women in front men in the back. BUT it is completely fine to use the restroom wherever you please.  So just the opposite of America "you can piss but you can't kiss". Also another funny thing that I had to get used to is when Indians go out with friends or walking down the street with their buds they will almost always be holding hands.  So many guys holding hands together it was funny to get used to hahaha!

Lastly, this week I had some interesting nights.  But the best was spending Diwali festival at a members home. We got there and their two girls immediately began to plead for us to play UNO with them. I don't know why they are obsessed with playing but we did. After, we had an awesome Dinner called "Chicken Biriyani" then got to blow some stuff up with the member and his firecrackers.  It was pretty cool and super loud... my ears are still ringing. The work here is really good so many peoples lives are being blessed and I'm so happy I've been able to find the ones God has prepared me to meet. Love hearing from all you, thanks for the support.

Love,

Elder Erasmus