Week 5

This week we had the opportunity to travel to Quito.  I had a meeting with Presidente Richardson, it was a meeting to verify that the new missionaries are being trained good.  We left Esmeraldas on Thursday and returned Friday night.  A total of 12 hours in a bus very fun!!  While in Quito, us new Missionaries were taken to Panecillo, a hill in Quito that Elder Spencer W. Kimball dedicated in the country of Ecuador to missionary work.  I will send pictures next week, I do not have my camera with me right now.

Today, because my companion is finishing his mission in a week, we went to Atacames, a city about 30 minutes from we are.  Atacames is a beach town where there are a lot more souvenir things to buy.  I am almost certain that I will stay in Forestal ward next change but we get directions from the president this Sunday. 

My scripture for the week was Jacob 7:25- The people Nephi fortified themselves in their God, and in their rock of their savior and became conquerors over their enemies.  We can do the same, build a foundation on Christ and in God and we will be conquerors over our enemies, whatever they may be.

He says he is understanding a lot of the Spanish in Esmeraldas, but there is also some that he doesn‘t know what they are saying.  He has been told that Esmeraldas has the dirtiest Spanish in the mission, and when he is transferred he will be surprised at how much he actually understands. 

 He forgot his camera so we didn't get any pictures :(

Week 4

Nothing much happened this week.  It was a normal week by missionary standards.  But we did have a special training from Presidente Richardson on the Doctrina de Cristo and Arrepentimiento.  It was a training on how to better apply the principles of repentance to ourselves and our investigators.  It was really good.  Elder Espinoza and I applied to an investigator that day and it was a great way to teach the principles in a better way.  

Today we went as a district to a lighthouse...it is not much, mostly a tower with a light at the top.

The scripture I ponderized this week is 2 Nephi 9:51 it says, we should not waste our time money and rescouces on things that do not last. We should feast upon the words of Christ.

I am dying of heat.  It is so hot and even hotter in my house... we have fans in the house, they keep us at least a little cool in the house.  No news about the volcano.  The only thing we have heard is that be prepared for when it does...

We don’t go into corner cafes, people just have little tiendas (stores) in the houses on the street and you walk up the window and buy what you want...candy? I have not experienced many candy’s yet.  But there is one treat that is good...they are like the sugar wafers that you buy they are called Amor made by Nestle.

People here enjoy soccer, well futbol. 

These are pictures from my sector looking out my windows.

Baptisms

This week was an ordinary week in the life of a missionary. Nothing big and important happened during the week.

Three miracles happened this week!

Saturday we had two baptisms.  Fernando and Emili.( father and daughter).  When we went to the chapel to fill the font we could not fill the font.  The door was locked and no one in town had a key to open it for us.  So we climbed into the attic part of the building and another elder jumped into the font area to open the door.  It was fun preparing for the baptism, fighting the works of Satan.  I know that this work is the work of God.  

The third miracle is that Ecuador beat Argentina in soccer in Buenos Aires.

Today we had an activity with the Zone.  We played soccer and ate hamburgers.  It was fun.

I have accepted the challenge of Elder Durrant in Conference and am `ponderizing´ a scripture through the week.  I also invite everyone else to do the same.  

The scripture that I chose for this past week is Alma 60:21-22.  It talks about how can we sit on the things the Lord has given us like everyone else in the world when there are people who need our help.  WE need to act and help.  It spoke to me because there are people in Ecuador that are being defeated by Satan and need the help of the missionaries.

The volcano eruption is eminent, it is going to blow.   (The volcano is in Quito, I can't remember it's name but it has had activity since before he left.)

 Elder Espinoza and Elder Draper

Zone Conference on the coast...

 We also got a few pictures from Hermana Richardson (mission presidents wife), that she had taken during their zone conference two weeks before.  One of the pictures shows the missionaries in the zone and he is the tallest but they're are some sitting, so I asked him if he was the tallest in the zone and he said "I am the tallest in my zone, and I think in Esmeraldes as well". I loved his answer.

 They were taught how to make guacamole and muffins.  

Clark gives it the "2 thumbs up".

 

Update

I did my research and found out what a "granadilla" is (I spelt it wrong last week and asked Elder Draper what it was, he corrected my spelling and left it at that).  So with the correct spelling I was able to find out what it is.  He doesn't say whether he liked it or not or if it was just a random picture.

"The Granadilla belongs to the family of passiflora and grows to a climber. Granadilla is native to South America and has a strong but fragile, orange skin. The fruit has the shape and size of a plum. The shell is hard and shiny. The fruit contains a yellow, jelly-like pulp with a scattering of black edible seeds. The fruit has a sweet and sour flavour."  (Nature's Pride)

Elder Draper did not send an actual email this past week, we don't know why, other than he was busy and is not a writer.  I am hoping he will maybe, put a letter in the mail (snail mail) so I have something of what it is like there.  One day maybe he will surprise me and actually have something for us to go on.

We were able to chat with him for a little while through email, so we did get some information from him (nothing much) so here I go.

This is a picture with one of the teachers from the MTC.  His name is Hermano Murillo.  I played soccer with him and some other teachers.  We became good friends through soccer. 

(This was the only picture I got this week.  He said he couldn't get the computer to upload pictures from his camera.  So we are hoping (fingers crossed) we will get some next week.  

Conference was amazing.  I enjoyed Elder Hollands and Elder Cristoffersons talks the most.  There is a volcano in Quito that the Presidente thinks there is just a matter of time before it blows its top.  (Yes, we have actually been following the volcano, since we heard about it, before he actually left.) 

We eat a  lot of rice and chicken.  Usually every lunch we have a member feed us.  We call them mamitas.  They are always full plates of food, so we don't always need something at night, but can fix us something.  Hermana Richardson wants us to focus on fruits and vegetables in the morning because we don't get very much from members...I have been trying.  There are usually little fruit shops everywhere, but there are none in our area...but we have a small area.

Forestal Ward is a small area has some strong people and some weak people but we are working strong in the area, my comp and I.  

We have a investigator with a date set for this Saturday.   My comp and I are hoping that he will get baptized so he can baptize his mother and daughter, who are also investigating but not as close to baptism.

The most spiritual experiences I have noticed are when we are teaching the first vision.  When we do it correctly and with the spirit it is super powerful and amazing. 

Spanish is not fluent but better.  Language is coming learning little by little each day as I talk with the comp.  Comp is amazing.  Other elders in my ditsrict say he is one of the best.  He goes home at the end of this transfer (roughly 3 1/2 weeks left).  He is an awesome missionary and helps me learn in the street and during studies. 

 

A common breakfast food here is encebollado, google it...

     (He is making me work again)
Encebollado (Spanish: cooked with onions) is a Fish Stew from Ecuador, regarded as a national dish.   It is served with boiled cassava and pickled red onion rings. A dressing of onion is prepared with fresh tomato and spices such as pepper or coriander leaves. It is commonly prepared with  albacore, but also tuna, billfish or bonito. It may be served with ripe avocado.  This dish, is usually served with banana chips, plantains, popcorn or bread as side dishes; it is sold by peddlers either as breakfast, a mid-morning snack, or for lunch. It may be garnished with lime juice and chili sauce. (Wikipedia)
   (At least it sounds and looks better then what the granadilla looks like)