Week 94 - Quinindé - Yeah...this is my mission

Stories for the pictures

1) We were teaching a lesson when this half-drunk half-high guy comes over to us and says he has something to show us. He kept telling us the name of this thing by neither my companion nor I knew what he was talking about. He then told us it is commonly known as a crocodile. So, we went behind the back of this shed and he pulls out what I'm holding in the first picture. He also pulled out this turtle shell, saw there was nothing in it, and tossed it. We figure the croc ate it.

2) We were looking for this guy that was a referral and couldn't find it. We asked if there was anybody in this path that goes off to nowhere. They said the family might live there. Well, we just walked into the jungle and see if we could find anything. He did not live there, but we got a cool pic.

3) This is one type of insects that exists here. It's bigger than half the size of a Book of Mormon.

Week 92 - Quinindé

President and Sister Murphy are preparing to

conclude their mission as well:

Week 89 - Quinindé

Verification in Quito:

Week 88 - Quinindé - Zone Conference

Zone Conference

Week 87 - Quinindé - Tristezas y Lluvia

We have had some crazy rainstorms this week. There was not a single night that we did not come home absolutely soaked. But we had fun playing in the rain! I know it was nice two days ago to come home dry, but then it rained yesterday so we couldn't enjoy it that much.

This week we had plans to go to a place that is called Guayacana. It is another ward that we are in charge of that we haven't gone to visit my entire time here. We had everything packed up ready to go, when the member that we coordinate our work there told us that there aren't people to baptize there and due to the rainstorms buses couldn't make it to the city. We decided it was best then not to go. We were both really sad about that, but I'm hoping to go there again sometime. 

Love you guys! I hope everyone has such a great week this week!

(we took the picture in the street right when a huge lightning bolt hit. That's why it looks like it is daytime)

Week 86 - Quinindé - Bautismos!

This week we had three baptisms. They were three kids: Jon Jairo, Isaac, and Steven. They were super

excited about it!  Their dad also attended so we are hoping that he will start to listen to us so that all the

family can be members.  Other than that these last two weeks have been pretty bland. Hence, why I

haven't written much. But I love you all and hope everyone is doing spectacular!

p.s. The pictures didn't want to upload. I'll get that to you next week.

Week 85 - Quinindé

District Leadership Training Pictures:

Week 84 - Quinindé - Correo Diferente

This week not much has happened, so I've decided to share with you a hymn I was able to write during my mission. It is my hymn to send for the new hymnbook.

Thanks, O Lord, My God

For all that I've received

Thanks, O Lord, My God

For helping ev'ry need

Thanks, O Lord, My God

For all I have to give

I will sing, I will praise

Thanks, O Lord, My God!

Thanks, O Lord, My God,

For fam'ly I hold dear

Thanks, O Lord, My God,

Their willingness to hear

Thanks, O Lord, My God,

For those that give me life

I will sing, I will praise

Thanks, O Lord, My God!

Thanks, O Lord, My God!

For ev'ry challenge brought

Thanks, O Lord, My God!

My sufferings are wrought

Thanks, O Lord, My God!

For trials that I have fought

I will sing, I will praise

Thanks, O Lord, My God!

Thanks, O Lord, My God!

For gifts that I can bring

Thanks, O Lord, My God!

A disciple I will be!

Thanks, O Lord, My God,

The service I can rend!

I will sing, I will praise

Thanks, O Lord, My God!

Opcional:

Thanks, O Lord, My God,

For prophets dear and true

Thanks, O Lord, My God,

They guide us what to do

Thanks, O Lord, My God,

They're kind and sweet and dear

I will sing, I will praise

Love you all!

Cool picture with companion

The selba/finca

Me teaching english (in song form of course)

Our little district with one of our zone leaders

Breakfast burritos

A cockroach

 

Week 83 - Quinindé - Nuevo y Nada Nuevo

Just like the majority of missionaries now, I've gotten lazy about writing a weekly letter. But, repentance always exists, right?

Nothing really happened the week I didn't write. The only cool thing is that we got to see a part of the coast that is just a huge garden. It is called a finca in Spanish. Almost everyone has one and goes there a lot. They can get fresh fruits and enjoy being in the "wilderness" and away from the things of the city. That's nice, that's for sure.

This week we had a surprise and I now am training a new missionary! His name is Elder Guerrero and is from Guayaquil, the biggest city in Ecuador. He was previously assigned and served a little bit in the Brazil Victoria Mission and is happy to teach me some Portuguese. Due to medical reasons, he came back home, recovered, and now has joined the best mission in the world. He is super excited about the missionary work and I am stoked to be able to work with him probably these last three months.

I hope everyone felt inspired during General Conference. I know I certainly did. Many talks were just so well knit together. I certainly love our fifteen prophets, seers, and revelators. I know that all of them are called of God. We have a lot to prepare for. As Elder Christopherson reminded us, there is much to prepare for before the Second Coming of the Lord. So, let us all thrust within our sickle and reap with our might so that Jesus Christ might have a great Second Coming in this beautiful world. Love you all! 

Week 82 - Quinindé - La semana ocupada

This week we had such a busy week. This week were local elections and for some odd reason their elections are on Sundays, so the attendance went down in church. And there weren't many people that attended of the people we are teaching.

We had an activity in the church about the kingdoms of glory which was awesome. Some people we are teaching attended and have a greater desire to enter into the celestial kingdom. It was awesome.

Due to elections, many people have to travel to other providences to vote. A member from Quito came here to Quinindé and we were able to talk about the news there in Quito. It was so great to see him. We couldn't take a picture because he left pretty quickly after the sacrament meeting. 

Love you all and take care this week!

 A member and his cousin that we are teaching 

Our cool picture we took in a cave today

These are two pictures of the same river, one after a rain storm and another normal.  That is just how much it rains here.

Week 82 - Quinindé - Tres semanas después...

So I haven't done one of these for awhile, and there is a reason for that. There hasn't been any time for anything is seems like these Mondays. So the great brief review of everything since the beginning of March (even though it seems we are closer to the end).

First, changes. I got transferred to the coast, again! I'm now in Quinindé, a completely different part of the coast. It has been great and the people and members are so awesome here. They've been able to help us out a lot. Due to some dangerous circumstances, we had to be changed a different day then normal. This is due to the activity called, Carnaval. We were gladly safe and sound in the house, however it still isn't that fun. For three days we were stuck in our house. It was so nice to leave once again and enjoy the sunshine, but not the heat.

I hope many heard about the groundbreaking of the Quito Ecuador Temple that is scheduled for the 11th of May. We missionaries are super excited for it and are hoping that it will hasten the work here.

Other than that, we have had two baptisms which were awesome. This last weekend we had a family of four get baptized. The dad is a less-active that is now active to help his family. They got married and then baptized. They now have plans to go to the temple to get sealed. We are so excited for them! 

Love you all. Sorry for not writing for so long, I'll be better. Take care this week!

Our days closed in

Week 81 - Quininde

Hi everyone.  This is Shane.  I'm sure that most of you are aware of the changes that took place in February regarding missionaries communicating home with their families.  We have enjoyed hearing from Stanley each week through a family google hangout chat group.  As a result of that, we no longer are receiving an email from him that contains general information.  I understand that he is still writing to individuals who have been writing him, but alas, no general email to post.  I will ask him about this next Monday. 

This past Monday I am sitting at my desk around 4:00 and my phone begins to ring.  When I look at the number it said Ecuador.  I admit that heart dropped just for a second hoping that it was Stan and not President Murphy.  When I heard his voice I may have shed a tear of relief.  (I know that comes as a total shocker to everyone that knows me and my propensity to crying)  Anyway, we had a wonderful conversation and following our talk he called his mother at our house.     

I wanted to provide an update for everyone based upon the conversations that we have had to let you know that he is doing very well and loving his new area.  His companion is from Peru.  He has had 10 total companions and 6 of them have been from Peru.  I asked if he was learning any good Peruvian food to share with us when he gets back and he laughed.  I guess the myth of Peruvian food is that they eat a lot of cats.  Although, none of his companions have ever eaten cat and they think that it is funny that people think that.  (I can relate to that as I didn't find many Germans who ate Sauerkraut a whole lot either.) He did say that he is learning how to make plantains and fish soup.  We laughed that he might not be able to find fresh seafood here in Wyoming like he can in Ecuador. 

He is currently working with a couple of part member families.  In both instances, the children have not yet been baptized, but are wanting to.  They want to make sure that the family is truly recommitted to living the gospel and so they are taking it slow and ensuring that there is a firm foundation established in both families.

He mentioned that he loves being back on the coast (even though he is two hours away from the ocean).  It sounds like any of the areas West of the mountains is considered the coast.  He commented that he hates the heat and thinks that his body prefers the cold.  I laughed because the cold he is now used to is not Wyoming cold.  We will see how he feels next winter. 

As a family, we had the challenge to pray for individuals by name.  This came about as we read from Jesus's sermon on the mount.  So for the past several weeks, we have tried to remember to do so.  With Stan's permission, I offer this challenge to each of you as well with some of the families that he is working with. 

Marzano family:  They have been waiting for some type of papers to come through that would allow the parents to get married.  They need to do this before they can be baptized. 

Pingroate family:  The three children have not yet been baptized and as a family, they are working towards coming back to church.

The Cacera family:  With two children, they are also looking to return to activity and have the children baptized. 

To close, I wish to share with you the blessings of modern revelation and to testify that there is a prophet here on the earth who provides guidance and counsel to us from our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.  As news of the changes to communication was announced, Amber and I talked about how great it would be if we got to communicate more with Stan than our weekly emails.  At the same time, we honored that this communication needed to be initiated by the missionary and that it would most likely not be a video or phone call very often.  However, as a result of this change, as a family, we feel much more connected to the people that Stanley is working with.  We talk through google chat about them by name, we share impressions that we have had during the week regarding the individuals and we see the miracles of mission work.  I have a developed an added increase to my testimony that God listens to our every prayer.  He knows us, each one of us. 

Stan has zone conference today I think so I may get some pictures of him from the mission's Facebook page that I will post later. 

Shane

Week 80 - Quinindé

I got transferred to Quinindé which is in the coast. I'm super excited and always hot. I have a great companion called Elder Puma. I won't be able to write much because I have to be home by midday.

Meeting Elder Víctor R. Calderón of the Seventy

Week 79 - Quito - Sigamos con Oposición

I'm sure all of you know now the new changes with communication with the family. It does just apply to family, even though I'd love to talk to all of you!

This week we've continued with some struggles. I enjoyed a companion exchange in another sector, a finding activity for valentines day, and a bunch a traveling for interviews. The good news is, there will be a lot of people baptized this month in the zone/stake. Sadly, our person with a baptismal date fell, but we are hoping he and others will get baptized this next month.

To follow the thought on opposition from the last email. This recent study that I am doing with the Book of Mormon is focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is amazing how many times it mentions faith and repentance. Those are so key. However with this study I'm also marking the things contrary to the gospel (sin, unbelieving, and not follow faithful to the end). As I've done this study, I've seen that there literally is an opposition in all things. However, the good always comes out on top. Doubts will always be defeated by faith. Love will always destroy hate. And we, as sinners, can always be saved thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. So, we must choose the good. Why? It will ALWAYS win. Always. Let us put our faith in Christ. Let us depend on Him. Let us follow Him.

I love you all and hope that you enjoy the end of the month...almost!!!

Eating a pizza (in his Christmas Jammies)

Valentines Day. This is with our recent convert

My companion and I

Week 78 - Quito - Un Poco Difícil

This week has been a little rough for me and for our sector. But, we've got a new week to help out more people.

This week I had our mission president tell me that it was time for me to get a haircut...I had wanted to before, but we just didn't have the time last week. Just so you know, I got it cut today.

I was thinking about oppostion this week and I had an interesting thought.  We know the scripture from 2 Nephi 2, "For it must needs be, that there is an oppostion in all thing..." We mainly look at this scripture in, what I think, is a negative perspective: "Because I am good or doing something good, this bad thing is happening". However, I saw it through a different light this week. We know there are two forces, one for good and one for evil. Both exist. There cannot be the one without the other. With that in mind we can look at situations we have and say, "Because of this opposition, there is something good I am doing/ could do/ or am." When we look at it in this light, we see our potential and understand who we are. For example, there are many people that suffer with self-esteem. There really isn't a reason why, they just do. But, because this opposition is there, I believe it is because they have some knowledge or lesson they need to learn, possibly understanding who they are. We could apply this to all situations. So, look for the positive! Undestand that when there is an opposition for something we don't know, it may be directly related to something good you should know or do. And then do it! 

I hope you all have a great week and can find the positive in what life throws at us. 

Eating Sushi

Week 77- Quito - Semana de Conferencias

This week we had many conferences and meetings, which made for a lot of sitting down and listening. But, I feel like I have learned a lot and have felt the influence of the Spirit more frequently.

We had our Mission Council and our Zone Conference on Tuesday and Thursday. We had a great discussion of the progress of our mission, how we can do so much better, and how we can show love to our fellow man. It was great! It is always fun having a Mission Council because I get to see many missionaries and catch up on the things that happened the past month. 

We are using this idea called a Noche de Ministración (Night of Ministering). It is awesome and we are seeing many amazing results from such. Basically what it is, is that the ward plans families we are going to visit and the members that will come and help out. Then, we bring many missionaries over to split off with the members and minister. We all come back and report that things we saw and heard to the presiding member (usually the bishop). We've seen more people attending church and coming back into activity. It would be a great thing to do in your wards. Maybe it'll be without missionaries, but it would be great to go out one night as a ward and minister to those that are looking for our help. Let me know how it goes if your able to do it!

Love you all and hope it'll be a great week!

Our P-Day today (ski lift)

Service

Pictures of P-Day

Zone Conference: