February 16, 2011

Dear Family,
Wow! What a week. That is all I have to say! Thank you everyone for sending me a letter. I'm not sure how much time I will have today, but if I do, I will try and write everyone. Well I am no longer in Manaus anymore. I moved! Tuesday afternoon I got on a plane and moved to a different state. The state is called Acre. I'm really close to Peru. But it took FOREVER to finally arrive. I'll try and give a brief explanation of what had happened. So I left Tuesday- got on a plane- arrived to a placed called Porto Velho. (me and three other elders were with me) Then we waited at an Elder's house for a couple of hours or so. Then we get dropped off by the Elders at a big bus station. We were supposed to leave the bus station from Porto Velho at six. It didn't end up arriving until 11. But the bus wasn't as bad as a plane. We were able to sleep pretty well until they woke us up at 3. We had no idea what was going on until we saw this huge boat that was coming across the Amazon River. We had to get out while they loaded the buses on the boat- that didnt take very long it was just very interesting. I had a big question mark in my head? Where the crap are they taking us? A few hours later we arived in Acre ( i think thats how you spell it) I met Elder Morris (we went to school together) and a couple of other missonaries. Another long night of traveling, but this area seems to be really nice! It's a lot more green and spread out. Right now I'm in a three- some. My companion doesnt get here until tomorrow. Well here I am in a new area. I'm thinking I will be here for awhile. I kinda had a feeling that I was going to get transferred. 
Its good to hear that everyone is doing well. I wanted to send some pictures, but I'm not sure that you can do that here. That is awesome about Drake. Man I am so excited for him. As you know I had the chance to talk to him before I left. He seemed really happy. That is great! That is really lame about the basketball game jake. IZ and mom that is soooo sweet way to go! Im glad you won! Air high five! Yeah I totally forgot that it was valentines until today. They don't celebrate it here. They are having a big party coming up though and that is called Carnival, but I heard that it isnt very popular here in this city, so that is good. I did buy some shoes they were about 15-20 bucks and that is all that I bought you should check the credit card often because people will steal the credit card number here. This email is short. I am sorry, but I love you all and I'm sorry that I couldn't write all of you. Heavenly Father loves and knows every single one of us. love ya
Elder Ontiveros
ps- Mom the people here love throwing parties, so I may hint to someone that my Birthday is coming up and Iz, yeah its very weird that I'm turning 20. I can't even believe it. Oh by the way the other Elder who was living with us who died his hair.. yeah he went to a hair stylist to see if she could fix it for him and she said why yes! of coarse...yeah that was a lie- haha. She put on the right color you know matched his hair and everything, but it went from dark pink to orange, so he had to go home with orange hair- haha. I felt bad but o the thought of it was funny. Anyway love you all. oh and I send my emails on wed, so i dont know what the prob is.