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