Week #60 month 14 !!!! 10 months to go !!!!!

Hello!  ¡Hola! ¡Ali Punja! Komosao! (That`s Korean, right?)

Well!  Here I am, thriving and bursting with vigor!  It`s good to her that all in the world of Happy Valley is going well, a conference from Elder Oaks and then a temple dedication next week?  Sounds rather marvelous, quite indeed.  But, congrats on your anniversary Mom and Dad, and also a MEGA congrats to KT! Wow! Peers getting married is such a new concept!  

  Alright, so this has been a busy week indeed.  The best part about it though was that we found plenty of new people!  Yes, as of the moment we have a grand total of SEVEN people with baptismal dates!  YES!  The first three are named Allison, Sharon, and Billy Mori, who are to be baptized this Saturday!  They are all 15 and under, and are very ready to enter in the fold of the Good Shepherd.  And, we are currently making plans to convert the whole family, but are momentarily hindered because her and her husband are living together without being married, (which is a problem because they are breaking the law of Chastity, and must comply with all the commandments to show to the Lord they are willing to continue keeping them after baptism, check out Moroni 6:2-3,  

 

2 Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a ^abroken ^bheart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.

 3 And none were received unto baptism save they ^atook upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.

 I always share it during every baptismal interview I conduct.)

Then, for the 29th, we have an 8 year old and her old grandmother/relative (they`re related somehow, ;) ) who are to be baptized!  Both are great, and it`s rather funny, because they both have the same understanding rate when we teach! But we love them both.  And finally, we have one sister named Hermana Vi, who is wife to a less-active member, and who just had a baby, who we just found.  She`s already attended church a few times (actually, more than her husband!) and we have planned to baptize her later in October, but she also needs to get married, so keep them all in your prayers!

  And for other news... Hm.  We did find a lot of people, and I`m still in camera withdrawals :(   What did happen?  Well, if anything, I`d say we had a lot more refocusing on using the Book of Mormon in missionary work, to a point where we are trying to use it in every lesson, and if possible, every contact.  I even began to do a practice where I won`t leave home unless i have a Book of Mormon in my hand, ready to be used.  Just like a soldier, whose rifle would be rather useless if he left it in his backpack all day, and not in hand, prepared for anything. So, that`s what we have done, and it`s been working wonderfully!  Our investigators and members really can find an answer to any question in that book!  For those who do not yet have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, don`t delay!  Keep your Bible in one hand, and the Book of Mormon in the other!   Only using one without the other is as pointless as a man with only one stilt!

  But, I am also a little worried, because do you all remember back in April when I wasn`t getting along with my companion? 4 rancid weeks of disdain?  Well, that exact same situation is starting to emerge here!  NO!  How did it happen again!  So... I guess I`ll just have to see what I can do, I really don`t want to be in that situation again.    But, If I have seen one truth from my 11 companions which I have had in my mission, that the only time someone didn`t get along with me, is when they weren`t exactly obedient.  (I don`t mean to say they`re wicked and don`t deserve to be here, but when they don`t take into consideration the difference of being a conformist and exactly obedient.)         

  But, I`m doing well, and it seems you all are too, so, until next week!

-Elder Sanders

PS: For the camera, pretty much technology here is a year or so back and everything electronic is essentially double the price that it is in the United States, so I think it would be best if you sent me a new camera from home.  You could probably send another small cheap Nikon like the one I had, it was only $90.00 .    And perhaps, throw in some  and root-beer extract.  (yes, with carbonated water and that, I can make homemade root beer! Yum!)   Alright, so that`d be good, thanks for all your willingness to help out!

Week #59 hard week for Elder Sanders

Hello dearest friends and family members alike!

  This has been a rather... interesting week.  Mostly because it was so full of ups and downs!

But first:

Thanks to the Paulovich Family for your awesome email, and also to Barbara for your marvelous letter!  How wonderful to receive mail!

And, the canyon looked like fun, I`ll be waiting for the package (thanks parents!), congratulations for success in the preschool, and good to hear that the family is whole and well!

And now!  The part we`ve all been waiting for:

Tuesday- We found a new family!  YES! and then, later on in the day, we received an eventful phone call: ¨Hey Elder Sanders, you need to go alone to Quito to renew your VISA, and then you get to go BY PLANE to Coca (a city by our sector) for a special training meeting)¨    Wonderful! That sounded like it was going to be a great trip!  I was going to get to go on an airplane even before I finished my mission! Sweet!

Wednesday- Left Lago Agrio at noon by bus, arrived in Quito at 9pm

Thursday- Arose at 5:30am, renewed my visa, spoke on how I should backup the photos on my camera, spend the afternoon with the mission secretaries, and left to the airport at 4. BUT! I couldn`t get in because apparently they just came out with a new law that I needed to have my passport with me or an `authorized` censo (it`s like an ID), and although I was `authorized`, the attended got really defensive and wouldn`t let me in. And although I passed by the airport offices and received permission from the director of that division, she still denied me!  And so I missed my flight! All because she was stubborn! Which meant that I had to spend another night in Quito, which also meant that I also missed that special training meeting.  *sigh*

Friday- Arose at 5;30 am again, saw some old companions, and left on the bus in the morning.  Within an hour on the bus (you guys are probably going to be more sad than I was) I took a nap, and the sneaky fingers of a shifty thief found their way into my backpack and stole my camera!  NOO!!! Which not only means the loss of photo taking abilities, but the also the loss of all the photos I`ve ever had on my mission! From the MTC to Otavalo to the Jungle! CURSES!    Well, I guess that means I`m going to need a new camera... *sigh* x2   (well, at least a large portion of those photos lost are magically saved in the archives of all the emails i`ve send home)

Saturday- Mini-zone-conference.  Much bus travel, much spirituality acquired.  And, I also got to do another baptismal interview, which went well. 

Sunday- Our investigator attended church!  And has a baptismal date for September 22!  Hallelujah! She was the Colombian that attended last week, and has been living in Ecuador for less than a month. We`re so happy for her!        And then!  A second eventful phone call came!  It went something like this: 

¨Elder Sanders! We have an emergency!¨  ¨What`s wrong? What happened?¨  ¨Emergency Changes!¨   NOO!!!    So, not only did my companion change, and one of the other missionaries in our house change, but half our district is gone!  Or to explain, many missionaries are finishing their missions, and there is a lack of missionaries, so they took our 2 missionaries from the four which existed and shipped them off to other sectors, leaving only Elder Plùa and I to fend for ourselves in the sector!    So, I was only with Elder Oropeza for 2 weeks, and he is now off to a distant land.

SO!  That was my week! Exciting, eh?  

I guess it helps me see how i feel about my testimony, because although I was very angry at the lady in the airport and the bus-thief, the only thing that makes me  more upset and it hurts is when a person says the Book of Mormon is not true.   yup.

Well... hm.  I believe that is all for the moment.   I wish you all well! and everyone have a great week....

much love,

-Elder Sanders

week # 58 In the jungle

Dear Friends and Family!  

How art thou?  I`m doing spiffin by the way...

Well! It`s been a swell week, and the only reason I have that title is because I have to psych myself out each morning to get into the shower, because it`s always COLD! Fresh from an underground glacier!

And well, things at home are always crazy!  From marriage to lasik to who knows what else!  What fun!

Well, as for this week, it`s been interesting and busy!

First off, our branch had 2 baptisms!  Sweet!  (Well, not our Sector, as in us, but our branch)  So I`ll be sure to attach photos of our other missionary`s successes.  And as for us, all our investigators are falling through or no longer interested in the gospel!  We need a new batch of people to work with!  But, we do have a few new references, so I`ll tell you how those go.

And you know what`s odd?  Depositing tithing money every Monday.  Yeah, during Sundays I`m one of the guys that gets to open those little tithing envelopes and help count the money, it`s pretty fun to see what really happens in the `behind the scenes` of the church.  

And, I also had to do a couple baptismal interviews for some investigators in our zone leaders` sector, and when I went over there, what we had planned as a one day division turned into a 48 hour division! I was stuck for 2 days trying to find the people to interview them!  It was rather exciting...

And thanks for the letter from Elder Galloway, I`ll have to tell him you said hi.

Hm... what else! I am wringing my brain to know... WELL!  Today we spend our P-Day in the JUNGLE! Yes in a place called Perla Parque, we got to walk junglish paths, handle a monkey in the tourist office, and swinging on real jungle vines, just like in the movies!  (it really works!)  So I`ll attach the appropriate photos.

Well, it`s been a decent week, I bore my testimony of God`s mercy this Sunday after hearing how Chantel is, and we found a member here that wants to take us all paint balling next week!  NEAT!

Alright, keep studying those scriptures, be worthy of the sacrament, and never be depressed! Why?  QUOTE:

´When you put yourself down, you offend God.` 

      -Elder Captain Eden Colonel Sanders

Have a nice week!

Week # 57 Elder Holland

My oh my!  What a week!

First off, things are crazy at home!  Is Chantel alright? I just about dropped in the street when I read that!  Well, I`ll be sure to keep her locked in my prayers!  

And alright, where to start?  Hm...  Well, I can`t say I have too many news on investigators, but all I can say is that our MISSION CONFERENCE ROCKED!  Rocked like a mountainous boulder!  Elder Holland gave us all the greatest time of our lives!  Well, the conference began with a testimony of Elder Uceda of the 70  (he is rather splendid!) and another talk from Elder Maynes from the 70 also, who described how the first vision was a model of missionary work.  Joseph Smith praying with a question to know the truth is what all of our investigators should do, and he said that God and Christ were liked to a missionary companionship teaching the gospel.  Neat, right?  We should always take that mind set whenever we are teaching, for we are literally following God/Christ`s footsteps.

And then, Elder Holland.  Whew! He knows the perfect balance of comedy and spirituality! He truly knows how to get to the hearts of us teenagers, and we loved it.  He spoke a lot about how all the prophesying since the world began was leading up to this dispensation, (even Christ`s ministry was preparatory to it) and how Christ can`t return until we do our missionary work now, and prepare the world for his coming!   He really wanted us to see the importance of us being missionaries, and how only us, 19, 20 year olds can do this!  

 He also spoke a lot about the time when Preach My Gospel (the mega-mighty-how-to-be-a-missionary manual)  was first established, in an age when missionary lessons were memorized and recited.  He described that we should not just go and teach lessons, but truly learn and know the doctrines for ourselves, and use that to help others to be converted.  He said Preach My Gospel was designed not to convert investigators, but to convert us, the missionaries.  He said that we should also use the Book of Mormon in a like manner.  That we should use it to help people overcome their needs and trials, and just be familiar with the doctrine of Christ.  It went very, very well.  

And on top of that, all the missionaries were privileged to shake all their hands! It was wonderful. So, I`ll say, if you every want one of the most piercing looks you`ve ever conceived, make eye contact with Elder Holland from less than a foot away, and then you`ll know!  

        So, overall that was the highlight of the week.

And, another surprising news flash:  EMERGENCY CHANGES!!! Yes, only 2 hours before we left for the conference, I received the dramatic phone call.  Elder Rosales was changed to the coast, and I received a new companion!  Presenting.... Elder Oropeza!  A swell Peruvian that has the same time in the mission as I!  We are just jolly!  (Hm.. I`ll have to get a photo of him for you all....)

But, All in all, he`s my lucky companion number TEN!  (not including those in the MTC, that would make 14!)  

So, I`m pleased to hear all is well now, congrats to Mom for her new calling (we`re both 1st counselors!),  and super congratulations to Allison for her conversion, and to Justine for her mighty marriage!

And, I still only have 30 minutes to write you and President Ghent, but I CAN print out your letters to read them so I do not lose that time!  Good luck to Madison in Junior High, and Ashlyne and Meikayla in High School!  WOOT!

Until later,  UNTIL LATER!!! I Love ya!

Elder Sanders

Photos:  My missionary roommates making homemade `Jugo de Coco` with coconuts from our very own backyard,  ¡RICO!  and the birthday party of one of our investigators, Yomaera, keep her in your prays too, essentially she is over 100% ready for baptism but only lacks permission from her parents because she is under adult age!  

Fare thee well!

(PS: Plus, could you put some more money on my personal card, I am rather poor...  Thanks! I love you all!)

Week #56 In Lago Agrio

Dear Friends and Family!  It has been a rather swell week!  

So, first off, let`s find out where I live!  I thought that when I would be arriving here, I would be living in the deep jungle, using a machete to find investigators, battling crocodiles and learning a new native tongue.  But alas, tis not so!  I live in a very industrialized city-like area, full of shops, stores, buildings, and very little forestry.  The nearest full-jungle area is about 15 minutes away on bus, but I will say, it does exist!  So never fear, I don`t think I`ll be out wrestling pythons anytime soon, but we`ll see :) .

And as for the branch!  So, turns out that the first missionaries here began about a year or so ago, and right now we have about 40 or so active members, although there are many less actives here.  And the missionaries are very involved in everything the branch does, since there is very little priesthood to work with.  In fact, one missionary is the branch secretary, and another is the branch`s first counselor. Yup... but who could that be?   Ah yes....    ME!!!  

It`s true!  Only a day here and I was promoted to 1st counselor to the branch!  All I can say, is I`m very humbled to have received a calling such as that, and now I just need to use my surging desire to help this branch grow and put myself to good use!  Plenty of responsibility indeed.

And what else?  Well, there`s more to come!  We have 6 missionaries in our zone, our zone leaders live 3 hours away in another sector called `Coca`  (yes, like coca-cola)  And the other 4 live here in lago agrio. In fact, all 4 of us live in the same house!  So it`s always a party!  OUr missionaries are:  Elder Tapia from Chile, Elder Plùa from Ecuador, and my companion, Elder Rosales from Guatemala.  And we are just peachy to all be working together in our little branch!  It`s just swell.

And lastly, it is ridiculously hot down here, it`s like being in a giant steam cooker!  You always feel hot and sticky, and it`s common to shower twice a day.  And ESPECIALLY since my last sector required many blankets and sweaters, this place is just the crucible of Ecuador!  But then again, it`s nice to see that you have bananas and coconuts growing in your backyard, and that many juice venders sell on every corner.  So i`ll just say, Jugo de Coco (this magical coconut juice) is truly nectar of the gods!  

Well, that`s all for the moment, I`ll be sure to write you next week.

With a sweaty hug, 

 Elder Sanders

PHOTOS: Our backyard and Elder Rosales, I`ll be sure to take more when I actually remember to bring my camera with me!