Going to Ambato, Zone Leadering It, and a Monk

Another week of heaven out here in Ecuador. So we have changes tomorrow. I am going to Ambato and I will be a zone leader there. 

I am super excited because I already know my companion. His name is Elder Brown and he is from Utah and started at the same time as my trainer Elder Pontón so he is winding down his mission. He is blond just like me which means for the first time I will be with someone who is strikingly foreign. It is going to be awesome. 

I am going back to the mountains. Ambato is a city 2 hours from Quito. Everyone says it is really nice and clean. So I am super excited. 

I am a little nervous about being a zone leader because I have so little time in the mission but it will be a learning experience.

I also am pretty sad that I am leaving Las Islas and Santo Domingo. I love the coast. The best food and people. But I am excited to be where it is a little colder because I can go to church without sweating. Here it is so hot that I fall asleep in church because of the heat. But no more. 

I love this ward here. So many people here have taught me so much. Saying goodbye is the worst. I haven't even started packing my bags. It will be a fun night tonight. 

Zone Conference and Interviews with President were this week. I learned so much about family history. I regret not doing any family history work before the mission.

One thought. So some people say that the mission is like two years as a monk. We are apart from the world, we can't listen to music or watch the news. But unlike monks we do not brew beer (If you wanted to know). It is a pretty lit life. Donald Trump's treatment of immigrants has not crossed my mind once on the mission. I could not care less that France won the world cup. Who is Lebron James again? It is fun leaving all that. Life is simple here. I wake up, work, go to sleep. But also being a missionary is challenging. There is so much to learn. So many skills to master. It is a fulfilling life because it pushes me at exactly the right level.

I have come to know that I live for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. When I have the Holy Ghost with me I am so much happier and I can make others happier. When I do not have the Holy Ghost life is more difficult. Every decision I make depends on whether or not it invites the Holy Ghost in my life. 

I kinda miss the 4 seasons though. Here it is always the same. 

Loving Life, Pray for me this week. 

Elder Tucker

P. S. They say this computer is virusy (I made that word up, like Macheteoso) so I will not be sending photos this week. But I will send some next week.