12 July 2000

After getting punted (missionary slang for stood up) a lot yesterday, and having other plans fall through, we went to the park across from the Catholic church in the evening and sat down.  A bunch of homeless children started talking to us.  One of them had a make-shift bandage on his wrist.  He jumped off a low fence and banged the injured arm on the ground.  He started screaming and crying.  He sat down cradling his hand and crying for over half an hour.  He wouldn't move or speak or let us examine it.  It looked like it might've been broken, but after an hour, he started playing again.  He probably sprained it a few days ago, and just aggravated it last night.  We wanted to help him, but there's nothing we could've done.  His parents are gone, he has no house, no money.  We couldn't take him to the hospital because that would cost a lot more money than we have.

Speaking of money, I went to the bank on Monday to withdraw the rest of my support, which was well over 2000 pesos.  The ATM said: "I'm sorry, the account you selected does not exist."  I called up the mission office, and they informed me that PCI Bank has gone bankrupt, and Equitable Bank has bought them out.  In the meantime, all of the missionaries' ATM cards are useless.  We'll be receiving money tomorrow at zone conference, and soon will receive new cards.  For the past few days, Elder Prince has been supporting the two of us on what little money he has left.  It's a pretty annoying situation.

The church got broken into the other week.  Not much was stolen, but ever since then, some of the priesthood of the branch have been sleeping there at night and staying there to watch the place.  "That's an outright violation of church policy," I thought to myself.  When I expressed my concerns, I was told, "exception to the rule."  And, kono (so they say), the district president told them to.  That's out of my area of concern, so I'll just smile and watch the church turn into someone's second home.

Elder Prince and I are getting along well.  He's a cool kid and a hard worker.  He misses Dolores (his last area) and Elder Appalonie, but he's doing okay.  He was pretty bugoy (rebellious) before his mission.  His main hobbies are BMX biking, rollerblading, and skiing.  He had an eyebrow ring.  He never did anything bad, he just like to have fun.