First Time in Ecuador

Before I get to Ecuador let me talk about the last week in the MTC.

On Friday, we went proselyting agian, Elder Finch and I got 13 references and gave out all of our materials: 2 Book of Mormons, 1 Liahona about 25 pamphlets and between 15 and 20 cards.  It was a successful experience.

Sunday was full of devotionals from Presidente and Hermana Duvall.

Monday was long. We had classes all day preparing us for the field.

Tuesday started really early. I had to wake up at 2 in the mornng.  My flight left Bogota at about 6 in the morning.  Flew to Panama City and then to Quito.  Arrived in Quito about 12 noon.  At the airport Presidente and Hermana Richardson and the AP's were waiting. In total there are twelve missionaries in my group.  There were three that came from Provo that had arrived the night before.

Tuesday and Wednesday were full of training and events with the AP's and Presidente Richardson.

In Quito I had the first experience of South American buses in the city.  We were packed tight just like sardines.
  
Thursday morning we had some more training and I met my trainer at about 11am.  My trainer is Elder Espinoza.  He is from Chile and is complete with his mission after this transfer.  I will have a new companion in 5ish weeks.

We are working in the Forestal Ward in Esmeraldas.  We took a seven hour bus ride to get Esmeraldas.  We are on the coast.  We arrived here Thursday night at about 8:30-9:30.  In the first hour I was here, I sweat more than the entire time I was Bogota combined.  On the coast we have to be in our house at 8pm.  We had a baptism set for this past week but he was not ready so he is now set for the 10th.

  Elder Draper and Elder Espinoza

A picture from the plane.
 He took it because you can see some mountain peaks way up above the clouds.

A granada.

I am not sure what it is exactly, I didn't get a chance to ask him before he had to get off.

Destination Ecuador

I am a little late starting a blog but here we go.

We got a surprise in my email the other day.  Hermana Richardson had sent an email with pictures.

"Dear Draper Family,

We wanted to let you know that we are delighted to have met and spent the last three days with Elder Draper.  We appreciate his musical ability and know that he will be a great addition to our mission.

We assure you that we will do everything possible to help Elder Draper grow in his personal conversion, and to thus have a positive experience here in the Ecuador Quito North Mission.  This is a wonderful mission that experiences a high number of baptisms, and success in reactivation. Our boundaries include coast, jungle, a native Indian area, as well as the highly populated city of Quito so our missionaries have a wide range of experiences. 

He will be serving in the coast with Elder Espinoza from Chile.
 

The Lord is hastening the Work of Salvation and this is an amazing time to be a missionary.  Elder Draper is needed here and we are so grateful he has chosen to serve a mission."

 Newly arrived at the Quito, Ecuador Airport.

 Hermana Richardson, Elder Draper and Presidente Richardson.

 Elder Draper and Elder Espinoza

 Waiting to get their trainers.

The new arrivals. 

 There were twelve new arrivals between Monday and Tuesday last week.

We were so excited to hear from them I have to admit I was pretty weepy reading it.