Week 35 Ecuador

Bird pooped on me:( We laughed, had to change my fresh new shirt, others laughed, and I stunk. At least it wasn't a California pelican;)

We made burritos for this ladies birthday, and taught her how. She's a less active...we're cool...she's coming back:) Thanks mom for teaching me how to cook a lil

My thinking cap a member gave me. Valdez aka (Valdez is coming) haha jk. It's a huge sugar company here in Milagro. It's hideous, my comp hates it, I like it:)

Day in Guayaquil.

Went bowling with a different Zone.

It was chill.

Week 34 Ecuador

   (9 Months) 

    Today I got dropped into a new zone, new District; back to leading Hermanas! that´s rough.. Well, the work changes a lot when you realize...no one is showing progress. We´re going back to the drawing board like never before. My question still remains, How do I create a desire in someone to receive the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ? I guess until I can answer that one I´ll just have to keep the Spririt close by, maybe they´ll feel something. I am taking advantage of the FamilySearch program that´s so awesome and I´m going to do a mission activity for the stake teaching about Family HIstory and how to create accounts and all. Hopefully we can draw in the interest of some less-actives and new investigators.

What´s new? well...you see something new almost every day in Ecuador. Often times you´d rather not. All the same, Here I am.

I know what I want to be ¨when I grow up,¨ in the mission at least. Remember Elder Shephard? Sitting in Buena Fe eating pizza waiting for a way home at 21:00 after interviews? Sweet. He got called as a traveling assistant of the President. (free to travel the mission doing intercambios..) We already went out working together, good deal, I bailed just in time though as the biggest rainstorm in my history in Milagro rolled in. It was cool! Bad thing: Lots of nasty flooded houses With Families!! Does no one have a pump and sand-bags here? Service time.

Word of the week: Soberness. Never fully comprehended this word entirely, my fast this week shot me a good idea though. I taught differently that day and I felt the spirit again as I did. 

Cool experience: Listen; something the people say will open a door to bear testimony of a gospel principle. A contact, busy mom washing clothes, told us ¨mormons¨ off expressing her dislike. I told her in 1 minute I could change her mind; pshhh, what did I say? Ok. I spoke of my family, asked about hers, and discovered great concerns over 1 son in prison, another in rehabilitation, and a 9 year old daughter who passed away. I made some great promises in a simple testimony. She´s interested. Thanks, Lord, for backing me up again.

Daniel got his mission call to Argentina, representing Ecuador!

Rain keeps coming down hard, too lazy to carry an umbrella most of the time;) Elder Morga left his window open too! Uh-oh, anyone have a blow dryer?

Goodbye to zone-leaders, my zone got blown-up! Back to being a district leader of Hermanas (that's rough).

Trying to bring Rome back to life in my companionship study (this is what happens on Monday-studies...little less in depth, more "hands-on")

Week 33 Ecuador

American music- voice message 5/11/15

Hey so, I just got back from a good afternoons worth of work. We were starving, so we went by a bakery and bought a little bit of bread. Now we’re sitting in our house. I’m enjoying some chocolate milk and bakery bread. Um...so I just came from a lesson too. I was sitting there, and then I heard this english song. I don’t know what it’s called, or who sings it, but it goes something like this “I’m gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier” something like that. I don’t know, it really caught my attention. I was trying to focus really hard, but it sounded cool. 

Anyways, now I’m going to head off to our weekly ward meeting, and we’ve got a new plan to throw out to the people. We’re going to strengthen this ward, and turn it around. It’s been weird this past couple weeks. We really have to fight for our lessons. It’s been hard to teach people. I don’t know what happened, and what the change was, but we’re going to start finding some quality over quantity, if you know what I mean. Anyways, I gotta run. I just wanted to throw that out there before I forgot how the song went. So, love you all. Bye

Week 32 Ecuador

Camera? forgotten. Voice Recording? Didn`t happen. Weekly update? yea, I can swing that. 

I hope I can throw out the sufficient to get your minds ticking for a conversation this coming Sunday! :D

Lessons and weekly experiences range from a fellow Brother Wilson (who doesn`t want to go to Heaven), a reactivated young family!! and some solid lessons accompanied by members - who can complain?

Without delay we`ll get to the highlight: Reactivating the Uriarte family was as priceless as any baptism I`ve been a part of. They being in their young thirties left the church with doubts, demanding studies and ambitious goals for themselves; congratulations! They made it and on their own realized it was time to go back to church where I found them. We taught the missionary lessons, they attended my Sunday class, and we made goals for the Temple!! How sweet is this? I love it when I make new friends in the mission. Tiffie, if I may say, they remind me of your family with 3 awesome little girls (though I give you the upper hand for never falling away from the church). I have enjoyed the recent opportunities to teach and bear testimony of the family and the temple. Definitely a favorite.

Guess who else came to church!? Marcelo Gordillo was a fading name in my missionary planner but slapped a smile on my face and a faith check on my concience when he walked into church Sunday with nothing more than a missed-call for an invitation. I suppose God really is in-charge of all this we`re doing and, when they`re all ready, he gives his children the shove in the right direction we need.

So... I`m sure you`re all far more aware of the past Earthquake occurance. Everyone felt it here too! Early morning screams woke me up 5 minutes before my 6:25am alarm (though I never felt the earthquake..)

Lights went out randomly one night while my companion was still preparing food (at 10:15) shoot, that`s bed time bro. I held up a flash-light for him though, while he finished cooking his refried beans to put in his burrito with eggs? ..Latinos.

Big High of the week: Found some legit butter-toffy peanuts (though I can`t say they quite match-up to Smith & Edwards).

Hope you all had a sweet Labor Day! I woke up to someone playing Speed of Sound by Coldplay. Definately a tender-mercy from the Lord. Lessons are picking up again, when my throat hurts from speaking it`s a good thing! ..or maybe I should just stop walking around singing (probably recieve more revelation that way too). I was told my a less-active member at a ward activity I`m always ¨full of happiness.¨ Wow, cool, glad I`m pulling it off ;)

I Interviewed a 13 year old Einstein who was baptized this week named Edison.

I love teaching my Principles of the Gospel class Sundays. This week we talked about the formation of the early church. I liked it because it differentiates us from all other religions: spiritual gifts, chosen leaders, revelation, priesthood and other prominent realities are what make us so special. HE is our Captain.

Funny moment: I was helping a teacher prepare the sacrament Sunday as he was the only one who showed up to prepare. It was fun, took me back. We were sweating so bad though I watched sweat coming off this kids face falling into the water cups! ha, I just chuckled and crossed my fingers I didn't pick a salty one.

Favorite studies this week:

1 Nephi 3:  aka. make a plan for your life and work for it!

Ether 2: 3; aka. the Lord gives us liberty to make our own plan, discuss it with HIm, and act! :)  I hope this doesn`t just apply to missionary work?

If you need additional studies for the week call up my aunt, Tiffanie concerning John 9. (she`s awesome, wish I could have her as a companion). 

Love to all,

Elder Wilson