Week 25 Ecuador

Buenas Dias Family!

It has been a fun week and I feel a lot more like the old me (for better or worse) living with a fellow American. We`ve set some ground-rules as to prevent getting distracted talking about riding motorcycles or losing our ability to speak spanish. I do miss Latino companions a little bit, they make for a good dictionary when I run across an unkown word but we can overcome our trials in one way or another.

A birthday as well as 7 months in the mission have passed and were put on the back-burner as we kept on working busier than ever I believe teaching, interviewing, finding... It really will be a special year though as it is possibly the only year I will serve as a missionary in its entirety. How do I feel? A new year has come and it`s alright with me, I`m looking forward to all the more I can be. I`m going to go see if I still have any bowling skills left today though in Guayaquil, or if I even have the strength to throw a bowling ball, but I`m excited for that! We have some great missionaries here in the Zone, Milagro! Thank you all for the great wishes.

Wierd moments?

We drank super concentrated diabetic-killing juice to compensate for the excessively greasy food? ..Ecaudor logic?

We have free-range horses here that go around Milagro eating trash and the ownner has a trailer he hauls bamboo on with them. ..old school 3rd world stuff right there.

The work is definately paying off and I was rewarded with a big present this week as we baptized the Comboza Family Sunday morning and later confirmed them. There is always a special spirit that accompanies such events that touches all present. I consider this family very courageous being the first of a family we hope will follow their example. I taught them the story of Joseph and the Savior he was for his family as he was faithful to the Lord`s will and that they, too, can feel the Joy of being united one day with their family like the account of Joseph in (Genesis 46). My counsel to them was to be ¨an example of the believers¨ as is stated in one of my favorites (1Timothy 4:12).

..they were a little tired (in the pictures) from traveling to the beach all week, early morning ;),

Happy Birthday to me:)

One heck of a busy day...

He's a Fruit Loops kind of guy...eating his "air".

Family Morales Comboza

Mercy, Marian and Daniel

Week 24 Ecuador

Querido family and friends,

Busy days are adding up to what I look forward to being a successful week! Wednesday I will get to celebrate 19 years (sounds pretty good to me, 20.. little more scary), then Friday is 7 months in the 2nd best country in the world doing the work of the Lord, and Saturday I hope to bring to reality dreams and efforts of a family of 3 as well as a single mother as we fill up the Baptismal font once again! I have a huge respect for converts in the church; It is not an easy thing changing your life (habits, friends, thoughts, goals, etc) in order to align yourself with God`s plan. They are so awesome though and I`m blessed to learn from them!

I said goodbye to Elder Gallardo today who will be on the first flight back to Mexico in the morning. Talking with him I really gained a greater understanding (respect) of how awesome it is to complete a full time mission. With that, I welcomed my new companion to Apolo where we will be working miracles with our Gringo power! What, what? Yep, two Americans! I`ve already noticed an increase in racial tourist profiling from taxi drivers and such, but they drop it quickly when we start talkin in spanish. Elder Mezler is a stud though strait out of Arizona and I`m stoked to work with him.

Time is running short (as I already wrote this letter once and accidently deleted it.. Idiot. So I`ll close here with my favorite scripture of the week).

2 Corinthians 13:5

¨Examine yoruselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you..?¨

Elder Wilson

Me playing with a helicopter balloon thing? Pretty sweet. 

Very, very impressed with the twinkie "minionaries". They were enjoyed by everyone:)

Thanks for the love family:)

Brush em, brush em, brush em. Sometimes lunch isn't so great. Getting that out out of my mouth asap! Plus...I have a fear of cavities here.

Goodbye Gallardo...

Apparently we have really big mouths...so here we are showing them off for all of you! With Elder Parkinson (my zone leader) from Blackfoot Idaho (18 months in the mission). 

Family Castillo...these studs, our investigators, drove us out to Guayaquil in his taxi to drop off Elder Gallardo. Awesome!

Goodbye to former companion Elder Rivas as well! Also found my other brother, Elder Wilson who stepped in for a photo...good guys.

It's not easy sending a missionary home. Sheesh I'm all emotiony...I need to go back to work.

Elder Mezler...this stud is from Arizona, has 4 months in the mission, and is my new companion! Who would have guessed a Gringo!? First transfer for him...he spent the first part of his mission in Quevedo as well.

3/9/15 voice recording

Hey family, it’s Friday and I’ve been runnin’ around a lot with Elder Gallardo doing his final interview with the president, and getting things ready for him to go. We got cut short a little bit on our lessons today, but I guess all this running around with him brought the weekly thoughts of home a little quicker. I’m sitting here thinking about you guys, an gosh I miss ya a lot. 

I got your package. Thank you very much, and you already know I didn’t wait to open it. I got home and opened it that night as soon as everything was taken care of. Mom, thank you a lot for your very thoughtful card. I liked it, and it’s sitting on my desk, at least for now. I called my district over the other night. They’ve never been very close; they’re kind of distant. They’re not working to great, so I called them over and we had a little pizza. We played Uno, and I taught them how to play golf too. It was good. We were all laughing and having a good time. I really feel like it helped a lot with our relationship, so thank you for the cards, much appreciated. I still need to play Dominoes with Gallardo or something, but I can’t let it interfere with the bigger responsibilities that I have. As far as the minions, that was super funny, because me and Elder Gallardo were talking about that movie and I couldn’t remember the name of it for so long...Despicable Me. Everything’s mixed up in Spanish, the translation in Spanish is The Good Villain or something like that, but mom did you make those? That’s super creative for you. I’m impressed. Me and Gallardo each enjoyed a twinkie. He had actually never had one. I was kind of surprised, but I’m going to have to save a couple for my birthday, with the new companion that I’ll be bringing back here to Milagro. Sunday night we’re going to go to the mission office, an hour from here or so and spend the night. He’ll go off to meetings all day and fly out Tuesday in the morning, and I’m going to come back Monday afternoon with a new companion. Cross our fingers, see how it goes, but at least I know I’m not training. I feel pretty good about that. I have enough going on with my new sector right now, and being a district leader. The baseball, I like that too. It actually took over my morning workout the other day. I was not feeling motivated to get up and workout, and so I got up, grabbed my baseball, went back and laid on my bed, tossed it in the air, and just thought about things for a half hour. Kind of not very good, but you know...once in a while thing. The rocket balloons, sweet idea, but I have no idea what to do with that. Gallardo thinks he wants them, but what is he going to do, take them to his house? There’s a guy that works as a clown in the ward, I might give them to him. He’s a really cool guy. 

Anyways, I have a church talk this Sunday. I’m thinking on what I want to talk about, and I think I’m going to talk on temptation. Kind of weird right? The topic, but I was thinking what really interferes with us returning and living with God. Our disobedience, and our disobedience is a caused by temptation. So, I think I’m going to run with that one and see how it turns out. 

One of our investigators, a single mother was living with a friend, and they fought. She got kicked out, and her friend wouldn’t tell us where she’s living now, so we have to go find her. She’s getting baptized next Saturday, so hopefully this isn’t a problem. Her names Diana. Another family Mercy Familia Combosa, her and her two children are going to get baptized the same day, the 14th. Those will be the first baptisms, if we can pull them through, in over three months here in Apolo, but I’m really excited about that. Oh, the Combosa family, she’s married, but her husband works a ton. We taught him once, but we’re still trying to get a hold of him. He travels to Guayaquil and works 9 days straight and comes back for 4. We gave him a bunch of stuff, and he promised he’d study, so that’s good. His daughter we taught last night and gave her a Book of Mormon, but she goes off to college, so you know, share the gospel, and hopefully it’s something that they will pursue. Mercy and her younger kids can be an example for the family. There are also a lot of less active members here in Apolo. The problem is Elder Gallardo nor I really know them, so we’re really trying to motivate the members to help us out; go show us their houses and visit with us, that we can help them out. I’ve contacted two of them on my own. The members tell us the less actives are all “hard”; that they don’t want anything. I’ve found they are at first, but you talk to them for 10-15 minutes and they warm right up to ya. One even asked me to come back. That’s how people are here, but you just gotta help them out a little bit. 

Shoot, all I talk about is the work here huh? I hope it doesn’t bore you. That’s really all I do. I love hearing about you guys though. If there’s ever a question you have I hope I can answer it. I hope my communication is alright. I’m going to try to write a main letter this week. Hopefully these voice messages are helping out a little bit. Dad your awesome. Keep working on the bed and all of that. Mom be diligent with your schooling. I’m still so, so excited for Garrett playing baseball at Weber. I’ve told all the missionaries. Some care, some don’t, but that’s family stuff I guess. Love you all. Hope your all happy and healthy and successful. Take care. Talk to you soon. 

3/9/15 voice recording 

Hi everybody, it’s Sunday afternoon. It’s been a really great day. We just got back from church. We’re getting ready to travel to Guayaquil to dump Elder Gallardo off, so he can fly out to Mexico. I’ll be returning back here to Milagro with my new companion. That’s good news, we don’t know who my companion is, but we know that I won’t be training. That’s ok for right now. Gallardo’s been a little uptight today. He’s been full of emotions as I’m sure we can understand. He’s a little sad, super happy, a little nervous, a little tired, and a lot anxious. Anyways, we came home from church, and I decided there was only one thing I could do to help him out. So…I got out the one thing that I could think of that nobody can not laugh at. [Fart sound] hahaha…yep the whoopee cushion! Mom there was a reason why you sent it, because it’s been put to good use. He can’t even keep a straight face. We’ve done it like three times now, and he’s trying to be as serious as he can. He has to laugh…you have to laugh:) I hope you’re all laughing right now. So there you have it. Don’t overlook the classic things that have made people laugh for generations. Keep smiling. Chow

Week 23 Ecuador

Did I mention I'm back with my original companion from the MTC here in Milagro? He's in another district, so I only see him a few times a week, but it's sweet! Happy Birthday to Elder Carlisle.

Water filter action...fills that thing up in like 5 minutes! Slick...happier, healthier, wealthier Me!

3/2/15 
A life changing moment (voice recording)

Hello family, um...today was the closest I’ve certainly ever come to crapping my pants. Yup. So this morning, I made some really good burritos actually, with some meat that we bought in the store, and cheese, tortillas, eggs. It was very good, but that will be the last burrito I ever make. It just happens to be that we were working today, in the only area of our zone that doesn’t have members. So, I was contacting a house, and then we taught a lesson with this guy, and then his son was like hey, come over and teach my brother that lives over here, and at that moment I was like...I need to poop, but you can’t deny a reference (this is the work of salvation right here). So off we went, and 10 minutes later, after him not even being there, I was at a danger stage, red lights were flashing in my head, abdominal contractions, ya...you get the idea. So, I did the only thing we could, and I clinched um tight, and we started our speed walking journey, like 6 minutes or more back to the house. My companion was laughing at my red face, as I was honestly SO distressed. I was like, this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me! I was in so much pain. I truly believe that it was a tender mercy of our Lord that I came out of this experience with unmarked garment;) I don’t wish this experience on anyone, but I hope you can all understand to some degree, a crap your pants moment. At this point I’m really scared to leave the house again, ‘cause I have this diarrhea issue, but I guess here comes part 2 of this learning experience. We’re gonna put our faith in the Lord, and go back out there. Lunch was 2 hours ago, so it shouldn’t be passing through for hopefully another couple hours. So, anyho’ thanks for listening to my marvelous experience. I’m still not laughing, but maybe this is one of those life experiences that God had planned out for me, that I needed to experience. Truly, we came to earth to experience things...the good and the bad. Well, I’ve truly experienced my crap your pants moment now, and with that I’ll close. Take care everybody, and keep a toilet close;)

3/2/15 
Ola' from Ecuador (voice recording)

Okay, today I had a really funny experience. We went to an investigators house whose husband works nine days straight, and then comes home for four. He was there, and they have a big family. They also have a son who is a doctor, who wasn't there. We were invited to eat dinner with them and we were like, "Sweet! Yeah, we'll come!"
We taught them a lesson, and it was my bad, but I was seriously stressed out that day over a bunch of things, and zoned off for a minute, and the mom asked me what was wrong? I told her "sorry, sorry", that I was just stressed about some stuff, my body was worn down, and things like that. She replied, "I have just the thing you need."So she goes to the kitchen and I'm telling her, no, that I'm fine, thinking that she is going to bring me some voodo vegetable, hifoo drink, and thought, oh please no! She came back with an egg. Alright! She told me to sit down and explained that this was an ancient healing trick that sucks all the bad things out of you. I was, like, okay, whatever, go for it! I was honestly kinda interested.
So she starts rubbing and massaging my head with the egg, putting over my eyes, my face, and rubbing my whole head with it. Then she began rubbing my shoulders with the egg, my chest, my heart and stomach. I thought, "This is weird. Should I be doing this?!" But I figured she was chill. She is an older lady and her whole family was there, so I figured, yeah, whatever, we're fine. Anyway, she finished that. And actually, I did feel really relaxed after I stopped worrying about whether it was weird or not!
Anyway, so after, she told me that she was going to crack the egg into a cup, and then all of the bad energy and stress that it sucked out of my body was going to go away! And I was like, alright! Lets do it! So, she cracked it, and I just smiled, a-a-and I would have to say, it worked!
I don't know whether it was ancient magic, or whether she just made me smile and laugh, and forget about everything for awhile, but, neat people here in Milagro, and some weird Ecuador culture for you! So, just thought I'd share. Don't worry, and be happy. If you're too stressed or sick, or sore, just do the the egg trick! Take care everybody! 

3/2/15 
Weekly rambling (voice recording)

Hi everyone. It’s Sunday afternoon. I just got home from church. We had 7 investigators attend church today! That is excellent. It was fast Sunday, so that’s always kind of tough, but it’s good too. I shared my testimony in sacrament meeting. I don’t usually like to really do that, because I’m a missionary, and it’s time for the members and everything, but since I’m new in the ward I figured I’d show my face a little bit. I talked about service; that’s also what I fasted about. I’ve been thinking a lot about service lately, as that’s what I’m called to do here as a leader. There’s a lot of ways to be a leader. You can lead by example, you can lead by service council, and so on. These past 2 weeks, I’ve really been focusing in my sector, ‘cause I’m new, I need to get to know it. As a leader, my sector has to be an example for everyone else. If I’m not completing my goals, not doing what I’m supposed to, then they don’t have anything to look up to. I was talking on an intercambio with the zone leaders, and Elder Parkinson said, that because they do 3 intercambios every week, they’re almost never in their sector together, and that’s hard. I asked how are you supposed to better your sector? How are you guys supposed to be an example and serve others? He said, he’s learned something in the mission; to always put others first, and then in some way or another the Lord backs ‘em up. That they can be successful in their sector as well, while helping me and the other missionaries. Me and Elder Parkinson have gotten to know each other really good this week. By little acts of service he just showed that he cared, and naturally my trust grew a ton. He cleaned my shoes one morning, he brought me juice while we were studying...little things, but you appreciate it right? And then, for one reason or another, he shared with me a really personal story about his older sister that passed away when he was 9 in a car accident. She was 16, and they were in it together. He had a really hard time recovering from it...a lot or counseling, a lot of therapy; he had to learn to walk again. It was very spiritual, it was powerful. Anyways, I guess more than anything, I’ve just been shown this past week a way that I can improve, by gaining the trust of those I’m serving, and really focusing on them more. Putting them first before me. So, yep...back to work, but I figured I’d take a minute and share with you guys. Um...love you all back at home. Bye.

Week 22 Ecuador

Me "testing the waters"

Then I got brave enough to pick it up. Not recommended; I got some good scratches, but photos last forever right?

My companion pretending to touch the iguana...he wasn't a fan.

This is a park of iguanas and fish.

Iguanas in the trees.

etc.

My companion is going home soon, so it was his pick of what to do today. Off to Guayaquil we went, and came back with a few photos. 

Iguanas are cool:)

Catholic church in the center of Guayaquil.

2-22-15 (voice message)

Hey everybody, it’s Sunday afternoon. I’m calling some investigators, and about to go to lunch. Church doesn’t start until 2 here (in the afternoon), so that’s crazy. I’m going to have to get used to that, but...first week in Milagro. Um...it’s been good, it’s been really good. I’m trying to get to know my area, all the members, but really I feel like this area is awesome. People are just waiting to be baptized. They haven’t had a baptism in 3 months, and I feel it’s because they haven’t been prepared really well. I’ve come here, and this past week I’ve put seven baptismal dates, with 2 families and a couple individuals, so I’m really excited to keep working with them. I’ve rescued 2 people, and I’m going to get another one today I’m hoping, and then we’re working with a few other guys.

A cool experience this week was...I met 3 guys my age, they were all out in the street on the front porch studying english. They were like hey, hey gringo. So I was sitting there talking to them for a while, and I was like ok, I’ll help you guys with your english homework if you guys promise to come to church Sunday. So, we’re going to pick them up in an hour. I’m super stoked, ‘cause they have one buddy that’s a less active, and he’s like ya, I’ll come to church. They were all like ya we’ll come, and so we’re going to see how they progress. They’re pretty cool though. My companion kind of gave me the look...they’re not your normal investigators, they’re kind of like wild maybe? I don’t know, they’re cool with me, so we’ll see how it goes. 

As a district leader, I gave a lesson to my district Tuesday, my first day here. I didn’t really know anyone, but it went really good. They haven’t really had a baptism...they’ve had one in the past four months. So, there numbers are really bad, so I went and did a intercambio (companion exchange/split) on Friday with one of them... I went and worked with him for a day. He’s another gringo, with five months in the mission. They’re not working very well, and his trainer isn’t very good. He doesn’t understand the work that well I don’t feel like. He’s not very patient with the people. If he feels like their not “golden”, that their not going to progress perfect, he turns on a bad attitude towards them. Of course with that their not going to accept or warm up to us well. Anyway, I was kind of stressed about that. Come to find out they’re actually going to close that sector, because there’s a lot of missionaries going home, and we still haven’t gotten new people. In Quevedo they had shut down two sectors, and now their going to shut down part of this other one. So, I’ll see who my new district is. 

What’s cool in Milagro? I live really close to the “centro”. It’s like the center of shopping, stores out in the street. It’s not in my sector, so I haven’t really gone over there. We have a shopping here to go buy groceries; all the missions don’t really have that. My house is better than my last house. It’s pretty cool. It’s big, and it’s just me and my companion that live here. He installed this hot water heater. It runs off electricity on our shower head, so I am currently showering with hot water. That is really nice actually, but sometimes I’ll be honest, I miss the cold water. You come home from a long day of working, and your just sweating, and your like no, no I don’t want a hot shower, just give me the cold water. You know what, you just can’t ever be happy, right? 
My companion Elder Gallaro, he’s really a cool guy. He teaches well, but he’s not focused in the mission right now. He’s going home the 10th of March, so I think I’ll be spending my birthday with a brand new companion. Whether I’m training, or whatever I end up doing. But ya, we’ll just be walking around, and his mind is in Mexico. That’s where he’s from. Anyways, this is really random, but it’s a little somethin’, somethin’ for ya to keep you filled in. I felt bad I didn’t have time to write a whole lot last week with the transfers, but I’m really excited to talk to you all tomorrow, and I love you. Take care

2/23/15 (voice message)
Hello, just tuning in for a fitness report on this lovely Monday morning. It’s not good. I tried doing a plyometrics workout this morning and failed about 3/4 the way through, just cramping and crying on the floor. Probably didn’t help that we had a huge meal with the stake presidents wife last night. It was rice...always rice, fried chicken, maduro. We don’t have that in the states I don’t think, but maybe we can look for it when I get back, and you guys can try it. It’s like a sweet banana that they fry. But anyways, I’m pretty pathetic. Dad, you keep up the good work. If I was working out with you right now you’d probably be swinging kettle bells over my head as I was gasping for air on the floor. Mom, I’m excited to hear about the future triathlon training. Hopefully Garrett can run for ya. I’ll be anxious to do it when I get back, and I’ve always had a goal to run a marathon, so who knows at what stage in life that will come. Probably better sooner that later on that one. Um...I still have protein, it’s pretty good, but it’s about out. The other good news though is, it exists in Duran and Guayaquil, and that’s only like an hour from here, so I can probably just go buy some. Thanks for sending it though. Shoot, I just realized something...Darby is probably in better shape than me. After all this time, I don’t know. I’m going to come home and it will be like it used to be at the beginning years of karate when she used to beat me up a little bit. That’s a sad thought. Anyways, keep it real. Stay fit, lookin’ good, keep your beach bodies;) I should probably start studying, because it’s 8:15, and...so I’m going to get to that. I’m going to read in Ether today. It’s a pretty good book. And...my companions still sleeping, but he’ll come around. He’s going home anyway, so what the heck. You can only do so much. Anyways, deuces

Week 21 Ecuador

2/16/2015

Parker got transferred to Milagro, Ecuador today. He didn't have time for a general email, so here's a short email he sent informing us of his transfer...along with some pictures!

...it's all good. I'm excited for the change. I'm tired though, got called at midnight and packed until 1:30 am, didn't sleep well, traveling all day, but here we are! I didn't know whether to call or visit members and converts this morning before I left at 7:30 am...I took the easy way out and just left. I'll send some emails. Sometimes you have to leave a home to gain one;)

Milagro is directly South of Quevedo where he has been serving (5 hour bus ride). It's also a short distance East of Guayaquil.

USA socks. Feeling Patriotic...President's Day!

Snap-shots from the taxi.

Welcome to Milagro.

View from my new house. Did I just get dropped in the city?

This is Elder Gallaro.

This is my new companion! He's goofy, but seems like a good guy. He is going to show me the ropes here in Milagro over the next few weeks before he goes home, so I can continue on as a District Leader. Welcome to Milagro, Elder Wilson.


This is the caption to a voice recording the Parker sent:
Full big party outside...every night. Plus the past week has been what the people call Carnival. Big parties, music all night, people throw water and paint on you and silly string and shaving cream, etc... Luckily, only water on my part. Crazy stuff in Latin America.
(voice message)
LOTS of noise/music in the back ground...then he says "What's up family? This is what I deal with almost every night. We're about to say a prayer, do some spiritual planning, and...ya, we'll listen to this awesome music;) I live in the "hood" of Ecuador. That's what's up."

Prior to leaving Quevedo, Parker recorded he and three other missionaries singing I'm trying to be like Jesus. The caption with the recording said...my farewell, going-away event. Just kidding, I didn't know I was leaving, but us four missionaries in sacrament meeting-yikes. We got through it, and everyone else pretended it was good! Those primary songs are hard...I think my voice cracked like 3 times, rough.
wish it could be attached...it was pretty good:)

Yo trato de ser como Cristo

(I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus-Spanish)

Yo trato de ser como Cristo

y hacerlo que hizo Él.

Lo mismo amor que Él mostró

yo quiero mostrar también.

Me tienta a veces

el mal a obrar,

mas la voz del Espíritu

me empieza a hablar. Dice:

"Ama a otros cual Cristo te ama

Sé bondadoso y tierno y fiel.

Pues esto es lo que Jesús nos enseña."

Yo quiero seguirlo a Él.

Yo sirvo a mis amigos y

al prójimo con amor.

Espero con gozo el regreso

de Cristo mi Salvador.

Si siempre recuerdo lo que Él enseñó,

La voz de su Espíritu le habla a mi corazón:

"Ama a otros cual Cristo te ama

Sé bondadoso y tierno y fiel.

Pues esto es lo que Jesús nos enseña."

Yo quiero seguirlo a Él

Week 20 Ecuador

This will me a message of few words.

I contacted Eduardo Messias 3 weeks ago after a sacrament meeting, which he has attended for 7 years with his wife Lexi (member and president of the young women). Our first lesson revealed that we were not the first missionaries in his home, the seventh pair to be exact. Similar story as my other convert, Marionela, though I can`t say I was so confident in promising him to what has come about. As we taught Eduardo I`ve never listened to the guidance of the Spirit more. He brought a new challenge as he suprised me with some pretty difficult questions, this guy is smart! I`ve also never prayed harder for someone else to receive a testimony.

When I went back one day and asked how His prayers had gone, and reading concerning the truth of the church and the Book of Mormon, he responded "If I wanted the truth...well, it might be a big let-down but yes, I always want the truth". Pow! I can honestly say my own testimony was strengthened as I listened to the experience this man had in receiving a witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost. We confirmed what had come about and from that moment two weeks ago, Eduardo has opened up receiving us with more smiles, hugs, and questions as we progressed to his baptism last Saturday. It has been an excellent experience which we will continue next week with the Priesthood and one I look forward to capping off in the Temple next February. 

I`ve been blessed to have the past two baptisms. They are true, strong converts. They have shown me more of my purpose here and more of what it means to love one another. Though they will never be replaced I hope to have so many more like them.

My other little man is named Moises; he is a ward baptism, but I have had a great time sharing Book of Mormon stories with him and preparing him for his baptism (though we had no trouble getting him excited for it)!

Sometimes it`s easy to get lost in the numbers...numbers of investigators, less actives, meeting up with goals. Especially as a leader who has to check on everyone else, often most effectively through their numbers. Numbers represent people, always. People who are touching my life. The only numbers I`m concerned with getting out of these people are the digits that are going to keep me in touch with them for years to come! 

Moises was a baptism for the ward. He's my little buddy and has been asking me to baptize him for a month now. I didn't end up doing it, but that's ok. We've had some pretty good times reading stories in the Book of Mormon:)

Eduardo and his family.

Eduardo...he's a pretty "tough" guy...but we got a smile out of him after the baptism haha! Fun moment.

Rivas likes to stay in his clothes at night on Sunday for...respect? Ok, good for you:) I change as soon as I can!

2/7/15
Ecuador Weather (voice message)

Good afternoon, this is weather man Wilson reporting from Ecuador as it continues to rain since 5 o’clock yesterday, and it’s 12 o’clock right now. We’re filling up the font for our baptism...woo! Super stoked for that, but seriously this is crazy. Yesterday, funny story...we were with the familia Valero. We were teaching them and it was the sunniest, hottest day of my life, just like dying in the sun. Anyway, we go into their house, teach them, and come out a half hour later. I was contacting, talking to this guy that we didn’t really know and he’s like hey, I’m gonna go to my house ‘cause it’s gonna rain, so I look up at the sky and it’s super dark, and I’m like shoot, it’s gonna rain, and literally 15 seconds later it was down pouring. Where the Valero family lives there are no members, and the closest thing I can describe is dad, you talked about Oklahoma rain one time, just like huge drops, and it was going so hard. We were so drenched. We got to this members house, and he let us in. We sat there for a while talking and drying off, letting our scripture bags dry. Anyways, he was like this isn’t going to stop...are you serious? We went out and were going to catch a bus, but three buses passed us as we were standing under the balcony of this house trying to stay dry. A taxi finally took us home. We found our home with a river of water running down our stairwell. Inside our whole floor was flooded. I told you how the houses aren’t closed in here. Rain was coming through, and our bathroom...flooding everything, so I was sweeping water out of the house, and putting old t-shirts under the doors to stop the water, trying to fortify our house and get dry. I have a fever again, so that wasn’t really fun either. For the first time in Ecuador I was actually cold, trying to find warm clothes that I don’t have here. I walked around with a blanket and I made oatmeal. I found Quaker oatmeal and brown sugar and blackberries, so I’ve been enjoying that meal. Just a little fun story I thought I’d share with you guys. Take care everybody and stay dry. Love you


2/8/15
Sunday thoughts (voice message)

Hi everyone. It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m chillin’ in my house, just got back from lunch, and church, and finished making my data report (I guess you could say in English) for the ward that I’m going to present with all my work, investigators, all that. Anyway, typical Sunday afternoon, my mind is running back home a little bit, so I’m going to sit here and talk to myself for 15 minutes until I have to go to my meeting. Anyways, mom and dad I think you’ve said that you’ve seen Meet the Mormons. The church sent it to our mission president, and when he came for our last meeting, he showed it to all the missionaries in Quevedo with the idea that we had to think of someway to apply it to the work, how we could help other people understand who we are a little better. I think I did that...ya, I’m doing that, but more than anything my thoughts were going back home, watching the Navy in Annapolis play football, and skiing, and the missionary going to Africa getting his call...we’re all like what are we watching, what are we doing here? 

Moises, my little buddy, he got baptized yesterday. He’s a baptism of the ward technically, though they didn’t do anything (I guess freebie). He’s awesome. Same with Eduardo Messias he’s our baptism, and very awesome. I got an interview scheduled for him, he’s going to get the priesthood next Sunday. I did another interview today, for other missionaries, those are always really crazy experiences. You get some really neat stories out of people, but I don’t know...I don’t really think I should share specifics to much, but hey, it’s a neat opportunity to be able to do those...little interesting sometimes. Oh, hey, and I’m very, very proud to announce that I got my first consecutive 1,000 jumps with my jump rope this morning. Um...all that exercise is really paying off, I finally got my skills up to par. I don’t know what the next goal is with the jump rope, but we’ll keep going at it. What else is good? Um...oh, you know all those pictures I took of the banana farms and stuff? That‘s in my sector, but we have to take another bus, and it’s like 20 minutes from here, so we don’t really go there that often, and there’s not that many people. There’s one member, but this one member, who is less active, it’s like her and her daughter. The mom has I think...I can’t remember, like 70 something and she hasn’t been to church for like 8 months, because for the past 10 years she’s had Parkinson’s disease. The past 8 months it’s gotten so bad that she can’t really leave the house. We just found her, working up there that day. It was a really neat conversation. She was sitting there shaking with her Parkinson’s, and I felt really bad. We taught her a cool lesson. She was super touched by it, and I asked her if we could do anything for her, and she told me just bring me the sacrament. I said absolutely, and shame on me, that was 2 weeks ago. I told the bishop, and he said he would take care of it, and when I went back and talked to them, nobody had gone. That was a week ago, and so, better for me I guess. I have the privilege of personally going tonight. If anyone in the ward wants to accompany me then they are welcome, but I’m going to go do it myself. I’m really excited for the opportunity to see her again. It’s making me think about all those times when I went to visit other people in the ward, Virginia Cheney, or anyone and I would say Garrett, enjoy the opportunity when you have it. All the times you just want to go home and eat, not saying I wouldn’t still, but it’s a neat opportunity, and always cherish it, because they appreciate it so much. Ok, one more experience, I think I’ll end with this one. Today, I was sitting in church and this guy walked into the first meeting. Sacrament’s first here. I was like, who is that. I had seen his face before, but I couldn’t remember at all. After I went up and talked to him, and realized he was a guy I contacted the Wednesday before walking in the street. I saw him and talked to him for like 5 minutes. Never thought another thing of it. I don’t know, I didn’t get another lesson with him or anything like that, but just on his own will, he came to church that day. He was like throwing out answers. I don’t know where this guy came from, but Rivas was there, and he was like hey, do you want to get baptized the 28th of February, and he’s like I would like that a lot. Anyways, so he has a fecha (baptismal date). but we’re going to go see who this guy is. More than anything, if it comes out as anything, it was a confirmation that all those efforts, just talking with everybody really do mean something, and...I don’t know, could be a baptism and that. That’s the biggest goal in the mission really, but anyways, I’m going to wrap up with that one, and wishing you all a wonderful Sunday. I hope you enjoy Sunday dinner. I will be enjoying sitting in ward council, but hey, eat well alright. I love you all. Bye.

Week 19 Ecuador

I´ve succeeded in the Mission. Yesterday was the Superbowl and I forgot entirely. Congradulations to me :)

¨You can change your hair, your clothes, your address, spouse, or residence, but if you don´t change your mind then the same experience will perpetuate itself over and over again because everthing outwardly changed but nothing inwardly changed.¨ -Mindshift

As a missionary, change to bring about something greater is someting I must seek for daily in my life, meanwhile inviting others to do the same. Many nights I ask myself if anyone was truly changed, bettered by my efforts. It´s hard changing you, but there´s nothing as powerful as a changed mind. President Packer wrote, ¨true doctrine understood changes attitudes and behavior.¨ If you´re searching to bring out those greater qualities in yourself, if you´re alone, lost, at a stand-still or otherwise unsatisfied then allow the possibly only person who cares into your life; Jesus Christ was our perfect example who died for us and now lives that we may never go uncomforted, walk blindly or sit complacent without hope or room to improve. ¨And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart...¨ [Alma5:26]

Conversion is to be changed through the power of the Savior´s Atonement and the Holy Ghost. It is a process, not an event. [Mosiah 27:25-26] [2Nephi 9:39]

This past week one of my best friends, Marionela Gonzales, took a step in her life uniting herself with her children in the church and progressing in the wonderful plan our Heavenly Father has for them; she is my first baptism. As the 4th pair of missionaries to teach Marionela over the past years this experience has testified to me that we are led by God who does prepare others to receive His Gospel. I feel blessed to have been a part of Marionela´s first steps of conversion. Though maybe a little over-confident in my first encounter, assuring Marionela that we were not like other missionaries and would undoubtedly succeed where others had come short, I´m grateful the Spirit backed me up. As the Spirit allowed us to understand one another we learned, were edified, and do now rejoice. [D&C 50:22]

January 31, 2009: Earned Black Belt

January 31, 2015: First Baptism

this is turning into my Day of Success! ;)

Elder Wilson

Road construction

Truly impressive eternity of banana farms

Palm trees, and banana trees, and cocoa trees. Welcome to Las Rosas;)
(this is in my area)...

We went exploring a little and it turned into a fun day, not much teaching but hey, getting to know your area is good too;)

One of our members caught this lizard!...

Don't ask me how, I've tried, and they're super fast!

Marionela...my first baptism!

Elder Rojo (new) & Elder Hunsaker (7 months, training). Lots of work showing them their area, and lots of charity giving them all of the investigators and less actives I've found over the last three weeks;) but hey, they're off to a good start!

2/1/2015

Good morning family,

I’m talking to you. I’m gonna send you a voice message from my new recorder, courtesy of Rachel and the Munford family. Right now I’m hanging out, we’re going to head over and meet some investigators and go to church this morning. I’m fasting right now, so that’s never really fun, but we’ll get some big blessings from it. I’m going to pay my first ever fast offering today. I kind of realized that that’s actually a rule, so that I should probably follow, a little revelation there. I figure I’m not going to receive blessings unless I pay (fast offerings) for my whole mission. Five months...$5 every time, that’s like $25 I’m going to pay today. That one’s gonna “bite” a little bit, but hey, it’s a worthy sacrifice, we’re talking charity here. Anyways, Marionela Gonzalez was baptized last night. My first baptism, and it was way awesome. She was crying after, and the spirit was so strong when we were doing the ordinance. We were joking around after, but it’s my first baptism and it was really special. She’s one of my best friends here now. I was thinking before, you’re supposed to write your investigators/converts. I don’t know, I don’t really like have a relation with them, but with Marionela for sure. I’ll stay in contact with her for as long as I can. Anyways, I’m going to try to keep this short. This is kind of our test message, but I want you guys to know that I love you, and I’m having a great time out here. This is what I’m supposed to be doing, and I look forward to sending you guys little messages, talking tomorrow, and um...take care ok?