Week 68 - Quito - El Espíritu Puede

We have been trying to set up a baptismal date for a while and what helped us out a lot was the Spirit. I was with Elder Nielson during this time, for the conference with Elder Gavarret. We had a quick planning session getting right down to what we needed to do. We showed up and as we started our How to Begin Teaching, we realized that she needed more direction in her life. Thanks to the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we had planned on sharing Mosiah 18:9-10. Once she started to read the scripture, she started to cry. We explained to her that if she gets baptized, then she can have that guidance just as her kids, who are already members, have received. She looked at us, listen to the Spirit, and said "Okay. Let's do it." Elder Nielson and I were very grateful for the guidance we received from the Holy Ghost both during our companionship study and during the lesson. I love the Gospel!  

We also had our conference with Elder Gavarret, part of the first quorum of the 70. I'll tell you what, he was awesome. He very wisely went about correcting us, showing us what we are doing well, and where we can improve. It was great! He also showed us a little bit of football :) . He told us about celebrating too early with all the awesome people we have with a baptismal date. That's when we watched the very sad part of the Utah vs. Oregon game where the guy dropped the football before entering the end zone. It was a very good lesson. He said that even though we couldn't have turkey, we could continue the traditions in another way. It was super funny.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Day! Love you all! 

Thanksgiving dinner...on Sunday.

Thanksgiving lunch...on Friday

I had to spoil myself, just a bit.

Week 67 - Quito - Trabajando con Cemento

This week was another week I got to do something that I don't think I'll ever get the opportunity to do again: remodelying with cement. All of the houses here are made of cement (because it is cheaper). That means inside the house it gets really hot when it is hot outside or really cold when it is cold outside. We were invited to help out with a service activity, and I happly agreed (I wasn't with my companion at that moment; companion exchanges). What they didn't tell me is that we would have to help them remodel the door frame with cement. Really, neither I nor my companion knew how to do it, but my companion had seen his dad work on it so he new the justs of it. I was just his apprentice. When we ended, we actually did a great job and were able to fix the problem. Something I don't think I'll ever have to do.

With Thanksgiving coming up this week, I hope that we all remember the many blessings God has given us. I know I am greatful for this Gospel, for where I am and what I am doing, and all of you for giving me support, motivation, and humor in some moments. Most of all, I'm so very greatful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the example and sacrifice he gave so that we too may become like Him. Thank you all so much!

Not sure if any of you heard but it snowed in near the center of Quito this week. Some say we may get a white christmas (something that never happens). My companion and I are praying the snow will come to us! 

Week 66 - Quito - #ÉxitoEnElEsfuerzo

So I found out more cool things about Quito, specifically our ward. We have an ex-member of the quorum of the seventy (Hermano Araya), the web designer for the church for Ecuador, and possibly the new Temple President for the Quito temple. Pretty cool, right? With the Quito temple, the man that is leaving this week to be trained to be the Quito temple president informed us that the property is bought. I'm fairly certain it is outside of our sector, but I'm not 100%. I'm just happy we are hearing more and more things that are happening.

I also learned a lesson this week about effort versus results. I have been struggling quite a bit to not focus on numbers and not base my success on such. I just sat, at one point during my personal studies, and just meditated about the importance of effort. I realized that as a society, we focus a lot on results: if someone doesn't get a good test score than they failed, or if the stocks of one company dramastically decreases, the company faces the reality of going out of business. However, what I did realize is that those that have been, and are, successful have never given up. We see many examples of this in the Book of Mormon (Ammon, Alma the younger, Nephi, just to name a few). At first, they didn't have the result wanted. But they understood the importance of a consistent effort, giving their all. And so, I learned that lesson the most this last week and have focused more on such. Because of that, I feel better at night, knowing that I gave the best effort I could. Thank you President for your help!  

Hope you all had a great Veteran's Day and have a great week. Love you all!

Alpargates

Who's excited for two hours???

The ward I left in Ibarra

Four elders one house

Just doing what we do

New companion

Normal Quito

Week 65 - Quito - La Vida de la Ciudad

Quito is much more different than anyother part of my mission that I've served. I will say though, I'm loving the City Life. Not just because I ate at my first McDonald's for the first time in 15 months or because it is easy (because it is harder), but because there are so many people and so many different things to do. I've enjoyed this a lot this week. I still love the quiet out-of-city life I've had, but it is fun having so many things going on. However, it is way more difficult here than I've every experienced. I'll have to change a lot that I have done so that we can have more people to teach and have them progress.

I hope everyone is getting ready to #LightTheWorld this year. We are still a ways out, but we, as missionaries, are already planning on the things we will be doing this upcoming Christmas. I'm super excited about the ideas the church has given us and for the resources they are giving us as missionaries. 

For more information about my companion. He's going to be going home at the same time as me which is awesome! He is a very quiet guy, which is good, and has a lot of experience about being a great leader. I'm super excited to see what more this change has to bring us. 

Love you all. Hope you all had a great Halloween and Day of the Dead (there were a lot of parties and drinking here). Hasta luego!