August 21, 2017-First week in Ecuador

 I just want to start out my letter with a thank you. Thank you both for everything that you have done. It means so much to me how blessed I am because of you two. The food that you sent me Mom has been super clutch. I am having a really hard time with the food here but I am improving. I have been snacking on the food you gave me a lot. My first visit with a family I threw up. I think it was from the Subway that we had with the other new missionary's and trainers at lunch. They serve everything with cilantro which is difficult. I have gotten better at finishing the food that is given to me. My favorite food here is the yogurt. It is served as a drink and a more runny and very delicious.

The letter that you sent me Dad was an answer to my prayer and exactly what I needed to hear. The culture shock has been real. But your letter let me know that what I am experiencing is normal and good and that I will grow from it. Every day I see something crazy that I would never see in the States. I saw a fight on the bus between two women which was crazy. My favorite contact we have made was with this guy who I am pretty sure was a socialist. I do not know exactly what he was saying but the US and imperialism were brought up which was really funny. 

There are so many dogs here. I think I am getting somewhat used to it. We were leaving the house of a less active family and this pack of dogs was walking towards us and all I thought was this is the end, this is where I die. But we fake threw a rock like we are supposed to and they scattered which was a tender mercy because we have heard stories of dog bites.

My companion is Elder Pontón and he is amazing. He is from Columbia and awesome. He speaks very little English which is fun because it helps me learn Spanish a little faster. He is showing me how to work hard which is good and he is very knowledgeable about the gospel for someone who was baptized 2 years ago. 

The ward I am in is very strong. There was a baptism this Saturday from the Hermanas which was super cool. The members are very organized and passionate about missionary work and very loving. I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting which was scary but cool. We had 4 investigators attend church which was awesome. The work seems to go very well here.

There is a family in the ward whose house we use to do laundry. The husband is from Ecuador but served in the Raleigh mission and the wife is from Arkansas. They are the rich family in the ward which is interesting because in the states there house would be regular but they teach an English class and it is nice to talk to someone who speaks the same language as me. I miss you guys. My companion was looking at my camera and watched a video of when Ashley-Jane reunited with you at the temple and I started to tear up. I love y'all so much. My mission president is awesome. He came to the Baptism and it was comforting talking to him. 

Love,

Elder Tucker

 Here is the address

Misión Ecuador Quito

La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días

Calles Robles E4-151 y Av. Amazonas

Quito, Ecuador

 I am in Quito and serving in the Guamin ward.. The American family in our ward has so many essential oils it is funny. Also I always chuckle whenever I see the women here wearing a fedora because it feels so stereotypical.

I know that things will get better soon but this difficulty is a blessing. Trying to understand the Spanish is very consuming. It is hard to focus on the words and paying attention in meetings is difficult. But I love the spirit here and know that I will get better. It is difficult to put off the natural man but I am working on it. I do have one favor to ask. Could each of you email me a favorite talk every week for me to read because I love reading the stuff y'all send me. Also, sorry for the bad writing because the computers here are in Spanish so they say that almost every word I write is incorrect.

The flight was very nice. We got to see the whole city at night. It was legit the nicest airport I have seen. The first 24 hours were awesome. I loved seeing the city and the missionaries were so nice. But then we got to our area and there were a ton of dogs.  I know that God is and will protect me which is good. They all run when they see you with a rock so it is good. As long as they do not sneak up on you you are good. I am always looking for the dogs so I think I might be okay. I love the thunderstorms because all the dogs are inside and scared so they do not mess with me
 I love you both so much and know that this week will be better than the last.