September 4, 2017- Headed to zone conference

This week was awesome.

I want to start off by sharing things I love about Ecuador

1. The drinks: All the drinks here are amazing. The fruit is super fresh so the juices are amazing and tasty, they drink their yogurt and I love it so much. It is like a tastier version of milk, the Pepsi and coke are different here. In the US I like Pepsi more but here I like Coke more.

2. The food: I miss sandwiches but I am getting really used to the food. You can eat rice with anything and it is good. The chicken here is really tasty and fresh. I am getting used to the cilantro. But the Bread is amazing. It is so delicious and cheap. You can get bread here for 15 cents. In the states nothing is 15 cents. Also on every corner there is a shop with Ice Cream. I can eat a bar of IceCream for only 25cents. It is amazing.

3. The people: The members of the ward here are so awesome and so excited to help with the work. Lessons with them is the best because they all have powerful testimonys. I am getting better at understanding them which rocks. They are so loving.

4. The weather: It feels amazing here. The sun is pretty rough here but I am getting a dope tan. I just hope I do not turn red like some of the other Gringos here. The best is when it rains because it feels amazing and all the perros (dogs) go inside. 

5. The rocks: There are a ton of rocks here which rocks because they are the kryptonite of dogs. My companion has thrown 5 rocks at dogs (3 at one). I feel like I am playing Pokemon every time we get in a fight with a dog because the rocks are super-effective. It is the best seeing dogs later that are super scared of you because earlier you threw a rock at them. I do not have any charity for the dogs here. But they do not freak me out as much. The zone leaders gave me a tip. If you really want to mess with the dogs sometimes if you just flex your muscles at them they run away. I need to try that one out. It kinda blows my mind how scared all the dogs are of rocks but it is the best.

Funny stuff about Ecuador

Cars: I am so grateful that the missionaries here do not have cars because the drivers here are insane. Here cars have the right of way not pedestrians which I need to get down because I will just cross the street without looking but luckily my companion is watching out for me. Also Red lights are merely a suggestion. People here will make left turns on red whenever. Even at night. That is like the cardinal sin of driving. Also whenever a car is going slow cars will just pass it by going in the middle of the street. It is insane.

Something else kinda funny: The mothers here are awesome like mothers everywhere. One thing they do differently is they breastfeed all the time. It is kinda awkward teaching someone who is breastfeeding. And no one here even bats an eye at it. I guess I just need to get used to it.

It is super Catholic here. I know that is not like new information but it is different being in a place where there is so much Catholic stuff. All the buses have something and it is just interesting.

Teaching investigators is the best. We got our first baptismal date which rocks. I love teaching lessons because the spirit is always present. Days that are full of appointments are the best and fly by. I love studying the scriptures because I get so much out of them. I love reading the talks that you send me because they are so thought provoking which is something I miss. Mission Sleep is the best sleep. I never have a problem going to bed here and I have the most vivid dreams here. My Spanish has really begun to improve and I am having an easier time understanding the people. Connecting with people is the best and it has gotten easier to have conversations with the people. Elder Pontón is the best. I learn a lot from him and he is very hard working and obedient. He is also nasty at soccer.

Today I finally got to play soccer in Ecuador. It was dope. We played with the other Elders in the zone so it was 4 on 4 in what is basically a basketball court with soccer goals. The style is pretty different and the people from South America are good. I got nutmeged like 10 times. But I was able to hold my own and have fun.

 

Also after I finish emailing we are leaving and staying the night at the house of the secretaries or the hotel. I am super pumped because it is always a party at their house and I will be able to hang out with the other new guys. This week we have verification and zone conference so we will be very busy but I am pumped. I am going to try to sneak into the Ecuador Peru game tomorrow :) My body is pretty good right now which is a blessing. I know it is part of the mission to get sick but is has not been a huge problem yet. Also Sundays are the best.

I do have one question for y'all that I am wondering if y'all have a talk or something to help me to answer it. 

In the New Testament it talks about the yoke of Christ which you can use to bear your burdens. But also I have heard you talk about how experiencing pain without numbing it can make you grow. Does that mean do not use the yoke of Christ because that would mean I would grow less from trials?

Just a question I have. I got a Colombian haircut today. It was funny because they were playing music at the barbershop and half of it was in English and it was super vulgar and afterwards I asked Elder Pontón if the songs in Spanish were also vulgar and he was like Yes.

It is funny to hear about Dana's birthday party. Some things never change. That is awesome that seminary is going so well. Waking up at 6:30 is much easier. I miss the people in the ward but the people here are awesome also. It is nice to hear that the ward is going strong.  I love the Bradfords and Waltsons and hope that Gavin has people like them to look to as an example like they were to me.

Verification is where all the new elders and trainers meet with the president and assistants. It is an elders apartment but there are like 10 beds so they call it the hotel. I am so pumped for tonight because when you have a ton of elders together it is a party. I really hope Elder Smith is there but I am super pumped. This week is going to be awesome. 

 

Thanks so much for what you write me. It is super uplifting and helps make being here easier. I will have to send the photo next week I am sorry. Also sorry for all the spelling errors. It is difficult with these Spanish Computers Thanks so much for everything. I have so much love for y'all and everything that you send me is a big help. I gotta go pack for tonight but I am super pumped. This week is going to be lit!!