Week 79 Ecuador

Hello my beautiful family! 😘

HAPPY EASTER yesterday 🐇

Elder Estupinan is flying out at 10:00 tonight. I dropped him off in the office this morning, early, and I am sure I won´t cross his mind again until sometime tomorrow night in TX when he lays down all ALONE in bed and half falls asleep before jumping awake and asking Wilson!!?! Ha, back to the bachelor life.

Irina and Kevin sadly, and maybe a little ironically, had a grandfather pass away the night before their baptism and had to travel Saturday to go to the viewing. To their credit they did wake up very early to make the 4 hour trip back in time to attend church, although I assured them there was a church in Quevedo also. They will be baptized along with whoever else I can round up on the 9th of April. It was interesting how Grandma Matthews also passed away this past week; I pulled out the picture of her from my album with grandpa and showed it to Irina and her family and told them: I know that Jesus Christ was resurrected on that sunday morning and that every one of us with have that priceless gift of life given to each of us. The Gospel is knowledge that empowers, motivates, comforts and guides. 

     I have pondered since, often this week, and I know that the Atonement of our Savior wasn´t realized in 3 short days, rather, it began at the time he was fore-ordained as the Savior of mankind. His love is infinite and our love for Him is what makes us who we are and do what we do. I love to study about his life and the spirit shows me how I can more become like him: a better teacher, friend, son...

Ok well, Good news is Maria Jose did get baptized and she is so filled with the spirit she put everyone else´s testimonies to shaaame in sacrament meeting on Sunday. I baptized her and confirmed her. Tough to describe the feelings those moments bring. We have the goal to go to the Temple with the converts next month.

My mission leader is not able to complete with his calling right now after an interview with the Bishop but he is taking classes with a Psychologist and I know the universal Atonement can help him through a very difficult addiction. I´ve talked to him, and i don´t try to pretend like i know what he is going through, but I reassure him that Christ does.

Easter, and Estupinan´s passing, I had about 3 plates of food for dinner and everyone was calling us over. Yea, we felt loved. Now we´re back to the grind. We have the goal of bringing like 27 investigators to General Conference this weekend! 26 is the missoin record set last fall. I believe 🙋

Time is short.  I feel like President just threw a bomb in my zone and told me ¨Organize That!¨ I am training a new Zone Leader here from Ecuador. 1 new Elder and 4 new sisters. 😓  😬 

Love you all. Keep the good vibes alive! 

Elder PK Wilson

Week 78 Ecuador

Happy Easter wishes to everyone!!

I may be putting on a couple pounds this coming week with the #nutella mom sent and all of the dinners families are offering us here for Elder Estupinans departure to the USA; We have a goal to run to the top of the neighboring Hill to compensate. He is out of his mind right now, literally, as he goes home in exactly 1 week. woah, cant blame him though. Im simply grateful we have some baptisms this week to keep him engaged in a good cause! Thanks to your prayers and furthured efforts a fathers heart has been softened and Irina will be baptized Saturday (along with a couple other tentative baptisms)!

..It seems Elder Estupinan isnt the only thing dying this coming week. Soon a beloved family is moving to New York for study and work possibilites, another is going on a lengthy vacation, and our Mission leader may have to be released as he fell back into a Cocaine addiction (we went to go give him a blessing yesterday with the Bishop but he asked us to come back today. I cant imagine how bad he feels, nor how difficult it must be to overcome an addiction after more than 25 years).. Hoping to help him in all we can. I actually studied a lot about the churchs addiction recovery program and I am blown away once again! Shout-out to #LDS.

Not all is on the downhill, however, many of the things we began putting in practice 2 to 3 months ago are happening: we are re-organizing the missionaries in the Zone the end of this month as we sat down and talked it out with Pres. Riggins, we got a new High Priest in-charge of the Mission Work to help things progress and we are calling ward missionaries for the first time in years .. guess who gets to train them!?  (:

Sometimes we look for immediate results in all we do but some of the biggest changes take time and unselfish service. 

Lemonade has been my saving grace in facing the fiery rays the sun is pumping out. It is delicious. pray it doesnt run out.

With that, we are studying like never before the history of this week so many years ago when Jesus of Bethlehem became the Christ and Saviour of the world; I intend to help as many people know as possible exactly what he did, and why. I know that each one of us can find a new life in Jesus Christ, trust Him.

#Halelujiah

Weekly wisdom of President Riggins

Humility and lack of confidence are two different things and sometimes I think that we buy into the idea that humility is bowing down to evil so as to not offend. I say, offend the devil all day long and win the confidence of the Lord.

I could write a book of daily motivational quotes from this man. Love learning from him.

Week 77 Ecuador

Baptism of Eilyn

Birthday Jazz

3/14/16 voice recording

Good morning, and Happy Monday my beloved family. It’s been a big week, some big events, so we’ll start with the big news. Everyone knows Rachel Munford right? Of course. Well, she if you haven’t heard is engaged to Derek Jennings, and yes they are getting married on June 9th. Wow. Well, I suppose this is all making up for a good story to tell someday, and one less mystery to solve when I get home. Enough said, back to life.

We had fun this week. We’re getting some basketball tournaments going with the youth here in the ward, well we’re trying. It’s going to start this next week, but we did play some basketball with them. I’m always down for a round of 21 too. Elder Estupinan’s teaching me the ropes a little bit. I’m not really great, but I’m not terrible either, so that’s where we’re at there. 

Baptisms, baptisms, super important stuff, so we did have the baptism Saturday of Eilyn. Awesome, really fun baptism. Crazy downside is that Iriina and Kevin still haven’t entered into the waters of baptism, due to some complications. Coming from an extremely Catholic family, all the family actually likes us, their pretty receptive, except for the dad. He won’t even talk to us, and the day of the baptism he threatened to throw Irina, yes she’s 26 years old, but he threatened to throw her out of the house if she got baptized, so that put some nerves into play, and well, we’re working on it still, but she’s going to get baptized. Also, Maria Jose, incredible testimony that made me cry. She’s an investigator, she’s not even baptized, like doesn’t have the gift of the Holy Ghost yet, but me and E. Estupinan were talking and we believe God knows who he wants in his church, and they want to be there. It’s really super easy, our job, when people have the desire to better their lives, they want to come to Christ, so it’s fun seeing miracles happen. They really do!

So, aside from baptisms and the work we had a meeting with President Riggins and the stake president again that we do every month. They’re interesting, you learn a lot. Actually E. Estupinan came up with incredible spirit guided consejo that now we’re going to change the whole organization of the stake missionaries, but not ’til the end of March, so that will wait. I think he’s trying to screw us over, cause he’s going home, idk ha. We’ll see how it works out. 

As for March 11th though, we woke up to a partly cloudy and the usual 73% chance of rain in Ecuador, with 85 degrees. If she were permitted, I know grandma and all of you would have called me and sang me Happy Birthday like every year, but I’m happy to say that President and Hermana Riggins beat you to it, and yes they sang me Happy Birthday over the telephone. Although it was a pretty busy weekend with…I didn’t know I shared by birthday with the anniversary of the relief society, but it was a busy weekend in the church. The bishops daughter had her birthday on the 10th, so they sang to me there. Ummm, we were going to do an exchange with the other missionaries to work with them, but they got sick luckily…I didn’t want to do it on my birthday anyway. I had a lot of fun, so we have officially waved goodbye to the “teen” years, and hello to new adventures and discoveries. 20 years old, as they say in Ecuador…it’s not an age, it’s an attitude. The birthday cake did come through last night though. A sister in the ward, I’ll send you guys some pictures, she decided she was going to make us a chocolate cake, and we also bought ourselves some neopolitan and oreo ice cream, and we’ve been treating ourselves well, not to worry about us. 

So the biggest adventure of the week I guess would be curiosity grabbed us, and we  went to a 50 foot metal wall looking for an ocean radar ship. It’ pretty big, but when we went there the security guard showed up too, and he was drunk. He let us in, he was like “Hey, you want to go in? Go in.” Me and E. Estupinan both took like a spirit check to see if we were getting any tingly sensations, but we didn’t get anything so we went in. This whole place was abandoned 8 years ago. It was an old military base, and it was super crazy. There was some houses, some huge abandoned boats, and then there’s this one big ship. We went back there, and this lady came out, and she was kind of freaking out. She was like hey why are you in here, how did you get in? We were like hey the security guard let us in. Then she went and got the security guard, and then we had this big discussion because they all thought that we were spies, that we were infiltrating everything. We were like no, we just want to take a picture. They were like no you can’t take pictures because they thought that we were secret security, CSI stuff. So, we walked around, and unfortunately I didn't get a picture but we did get to see a lot of really cool stuff, and then we were escorted out…bummer. Pretty cool to see though. 

Alright, to wrap this thing up, speaking of being wise and 20 years old. I came across the definition of wisdom this week listening to a church talk. Wisdom means applied knowledge. So I asked myself after 20 years of life, and almost 20 months in the mission if I am applying and really putting to use all that I know, or in other words how high am I setting my bar? What do I expect of myself? I learned a lot so far about the importance of surrounding ourselves with good people. It’s said that we are the average of the 5 closest people to us, so pick good friends right? So you can be a better person. I don’t know, foremost I think we have to be that person, or strive to be the person we want to be. As far as putting off our imperfections, we have to stop trying to put off our imperfections. We have to succeed in doing that which is necessary. I get really tired of missionaries “I tried, I’m trying, I tried.” Bueno, we must succeed in doing that which is necessary. Get it done. Do it. I like that. I’m learning a lot to be less judging, and more accepting, to inherit the best of those who surround you. There’s a lot of good to be found. However, don’t judge their faults because we all have them, and we all have different gifts that we can take from one another and perfect ourselves. I think my biggest trophy thus far, well this morning I was putting on my shoe. One of my dress shoes, and it has a big tear down the side, so a pair of my shoes officially tore. That’s pretty crazy, so we’ll see how many pairs of shoes I come home with. 

Anyways, if you get this and listen to it, you guys can send me a quick message. Any questions? How’s life for you guys? I’m sure you all wrote me, you’re awesome, and I love you, and I’ll be writing you all later, just not right now. Mom I hope you got into the nurse practitioner program. That would be awesome. We’re going to have a lot of highly educated members of our family here coming up. Garrett, I hope baseball is going awesome. Hope you’re hitting a lot of doubles, maybe a triple, home run coming up. Don’t forget to read your scriptures. Dad, keep tearing it up with the family history, and carpentry, or you still can’t go motorcycle riding. Maybe you can go on the turkey hunt, maybe get some turkey tags. I’m throwing a shout out to Maddie, Aeva, and Gracie. All three of you are tearing it up in soccer, and it’s cool. I know you’re like angels in church, and awesome friends. You always have the best friends. If you’re a good friend, you get food friends, so congratulations. Darby I hope your getting a nice pancito, that’s how they call a little stomach here, a little tummy for your baby, and I’m excited to find out if it’s a boy or girl, so don’t pull the whole secret thing. Oh, we’re going to see when it comes out, cause I want to know if I have a nephew of niece. Bryan, be a man dude. Be a man. I know that I’m not there to do man challenges, but you’ve got to keep challenging yourself to succeed, to be the best, and then I’ll come back and we’ll be each others wing man, and everything will work out good. Ok, love you all. Da-da-da that’s all folks.

Week 76 Ecuador

Baptisms were post-poned until the 12th. Hoping to have Irina, Kevin, and Eillen Camba all Present :)

I feel that I will probably stay here a little longer after Elder Estupinan goes, to train a new Zone Leader and teach him the zone_sector. Not sure though, nor how long. I probably only have this zone and one more left in the mission, wierd reality.

Thank you for the birthday package. We will try doing something different on Friday (fill up the baptismal font for Saturday or something ha).

20...woah. 

Can you believe it?

Week 75 Ecuador

Dear Family,

I love all of your beautiful faces. It makes me super happy when you`re all happy and doing well. Funny how that connection works, huh? 

Well, it`s raining here in Duran but spirits are high!

Aside from what I said in my Voice Rec. we are anxiously looking forward to two Baptisms this week (some hard-set Catholics converted by the Book of Mormon!!) Irina and Kevin. 

Following that we have like 12 possible candidates for baptism this month of March, we`ll march forth with Faith and do all in our power. As a Zone we`re looking to complete a goal of 17 Baptisms and 19 Rescues this month. Rarely do Zones complete their goals and it would be a huge Testimony builder to see this Zone that has fallen short of its potential for so long come up and grab hold of it by helping so many genuine people come closer to God.

So, play on, laugh on, work on! Keep looking forward.

We have leadership Conference tomorrow, always a thrill. Other big news... An apostle is coming to our mission June 11th. Yes! Elder Estupinan dies 29th of March  :(  ..and, General Conference is like 1 month away. What more could you ask for?

2/29/16 Voice Recording

Happy Monday family. We worked a lot, and we learned a lot this week. It was very successful… a lot of feelings running around. This morning, although I’ve never been one to watch much sports or basketball, or much of one to play it, Elder Estupinan is a good basketball player, and with March Madness starting up in the United States we took it as a finding opportunity. We’re putting together a basketball tournament bracket here in the ward. The youth, adults, whoever, can form their own teams, and then submit into the bracket. We’re going to get a little ward trophy, and over these next three weekends we’re going to run a little tournament. Hopefully helping the recent converts, the less actives come, getting some new investigators. It’s a fun idea. We’re really hoping it works out good. Don’t be afraid to change things up to get new results. 

Well, continuing onward I’m going to give this week to you jumping around like an emotional roller coaster, cause that’s how it is in reality. I had an eye opening lesson learned the other day as we gave our recent convert, and current mission leader a blessing. For ten days now he’s been in a drug relapse. He was a cocaine addict for 27 years, and gave it up cold turkey six months ago to get baptized. Although he has the mental toughness not to consume, his body has developed a dependence on the drugs, and after not consuming in so long he crashed. Now he had to undergo detoxification treatments, and the biggest thing is the family doesn’t have money, so it’s kind of sad. We gave him a blessing, and I know some of the members are helping him out, but we were talking with him for a minute, and he’s realizing the consequences of his decisions for so many years. It’s a big lesson for me too. I’ve never seen personally a drug abuser and the affects, so it was kind of an eye opener for me. I just remember the old DARE program…Don’t do drugs. We’re praying that he can recover, that he’ll pull out of it. 

The following day I wasn’t in the sector because we had an exchange with the district leaders. I was with Elder Johnson. He’s from Utah too. He’s got a scholarship to go play football after. I can’t remember, I think he’s going to UVU at first, then he might go down to Snow College or something. He’s a good guy. He has like six weeks more than me in the mission. He’s just a solid dude. I was giving him a hard time though, he’s really uncertain about his decisions. He’s a district leader, but I’ve talked with President Riggins, and the only reason he’s not a zone leader is because he can’t be firm in his decisions. So I was talking to him…I say whether you’re going to succeed or mess up, do it 100 percent, and back yourself up. If you have logic behind your decisions, then nobody’s breathing down our necks if we mess up. It’s like a football play, when you’re in the huddle and they call the play, you line up, maybe the defense changes formation, but the play is called, you’re going…just go with your decisions! I think it helped him out. Sad moment though, when they called us last night and told us that he was being transferred to an area that’s having a lot of problems right now in the mission. There’s a lot of disobedient missionaries there. I think that’s a result of the type of families that really do influence a lot the missionaries that make bad decisions. I think there was an emergency change in that sector. They pulled an elder out. In other words, he’s walking into a fallen sector where an elder has done something bad. He’s going to have a tough situation…has to pull it back up, and gain the trust of the members. I feel really bad for him, but God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.

Alright, back up to a high point with a quick shout out to Darby! Happy 22nd birthday, although I wrote you a little note. I dedicated to day to you, and we went out and found three new investigators. Yes, I love you. That’s how we make things happen. 

Well, yesterday we had nine investigators in church. That might be a personal record for me, I can’t really remember, but it definitely gives us a lot of candidates for baptism. I’m really praying for a family, or at least a future elder that can be baptized, but we’re really excited. March could be the most successful month that I’ve had so far in the mission, and it should be. We’ve been working the past two months really good. Elder Estupinan is going home at the end of the month. He’s dedicated to work it out, so we’re really excited. We’re looking to complete the goal in the zone, and that does not happen very often. We still need to help the other missionaries keep pushing to put baptismal dates and goals with the people, so it can become a reality. Missionaries occasionally ask still how do we have success, how do we baptize, how do we do all these things. All I can tell them is all you can do is the best you know how, and then I believe that God truly blesses our efforts, and according to our sacrifice, diligence, and prayers of faith, God pours out his Spirit upon the people that they accept us. 

I’ve been reading a lot lately the Book of Mormon. I decided to read it again here in the mission, and I am inspired by the faithful missionary work of Alma and the sons of Helaman. I feel that desire, the urgency to find people, to teach them, and baptize them. I’m going for Alma chapter 38 right now, where Alma’s talking to his son Shiblon. I’ve been reading for five or six weeks now I think. It’s a blessing that you have time to study in the mission. After this I will have read all of the scriptures in the mission except for Doctrine and Covenants. I’m going to finish out the mission with Doctrine and Covenants I think. I don’t know, or wherever I land. There’s always good applications and studies wherever you look. 

 Well, I love each and everyone of you. You’re in my heart. Your in my prayers. You’re often in my testimony that I share with the entire world, so keep doing great things. Choose the right, and we’ll keep going forward. Take care. Have another wonderful week. 

Week 74 Ecuador

Leadership conference a couple weeks ago.

I sent these last week, but maybe they didn't make it through.

2/22/16 voice recording

Hi family. Well, I’m tuning in with the voice recorder this week to let you know how the mission life is going. We’re doing really good. As far as basketball goes, we’ve got another round coming today, but last week we had our first loss. We had eaten an entire pizza before going and playing basketball, like right after, and that was a poor decision. We came out 2 points down. But, we’re actually going to turn it into a finding thing. A bunch of the youth in the ward want to learn how to play basketball, so we’re going to find some time to go and teach them and tell them to bring investigators and stuff. Always thinking of new ways to find people to teach. 

Talking about the zone first, I guess we’re doing alright. We’re having our ups and downs getting ready for this month of March. As a zone we’re pulling through with some baptisms, and staying right there with the rest of the mission, so we definitely lifted the zone a little bit from where it was. We had the assistants come to our house this morning, and they studied with me and E. Estupinan a little bit on how we can help them out, new ideas for our sector. Always helping us out, it’s good. 

A little something out of the ordinary was the mission got together to listen to an Australian psychiatrist who specialized in serial killer investigations…pretty crazy. Well, it sounds cool right? He is now called as a full time missionary, specializing on the mental health of the missionaries in Northern South America. His presentation was alright. It was more of a hassle of time and money for me getting around, but he’s still working on his spanish, that didn’t help the presentation. Still trying to get that down, I remember how that was. He did remind us of a great concept, that we do not have control over many of the circumstances that we’re in, or things that happen, only how we choose to react to those things. That makes up half of the result right there. That we really can control a lot of the outcomes. We can choose to be happy, and a lot of other things, be optimistic, and keep working. I truly, truly am a strong believer that you get what you give. If you’re willing to pray and receive inspiration, and go to work, then you’re going to have success. I really believe that. I think God is a very fair person. I’ve seen it in other zones, and now I’m seeing it in this one as well. We’re not where we want to be yet, but we’re climbing. We’re getting there. 

More specifically in our sector we have three baptismal dates for the 12th of March. We have some other investigators that we want to also put baptismal dates with in March. For the end of March, we’re preparing 4 future elders to receive the Melkezedik priesthood. We’re actually working with a couple families too, that they can get sealed. Man, that would be so, so awesome if I could go to a family sealing in the mission. I’ve always wanted to do that, but everyone here is afraid of the temple, they’re afraid of making promises with God, or their spouse, or anyone. They don’t want to tie themselves down. You have to help them understand, and we’re trying to help them do that more and more. A lot of people don’t ever get sealed here, but something we’ve got to help them understand and see, and go make it happen. 

Although me and E. Estupinan are usually very successful, we ran around and had our minds in different places this week hopefully trying to help out the zone and ourselves, but we didn’t end up having any new investigators this week. That kind of hit us hard. It’s a pretty big part of the work finding new people to always be teaching. We’re supposed to get like 10 in a week, and we didn’t have a single new investigator this week, but we’re working with ideas, we have some new plans, and we’re going to keep working. We’re actually kind of taking on a big task to do the things that none else could finish here. Things that will definitely leave a lasting mark on this ward. There’s like 600 members in this area, but a lot of them have moved, and nobody sends their information, so we’re actualizing everything, everything, everything. It’s not exactly fun, but somebody’s got to do it, and we’re taking charge of that. That’s a lot of work too. We’re going to get all that stuff updated. Out with the old information, and in with the new. The new elders, the new sealings, the new temple work, and lots and lots of new converts. Whoo!

Ok, two kind of funny stories. One night before the district meeting when me and E. Estupinan were going to be teaching, we started going off on motivational speeches, like what we wanted to say. We were here at the house at 10:00 at night. I started pulling out motivational speech videos, like Rocky Balboa. We were pretty loud, we didn’t even realize. Then the second counselor to the bishop, living a block from us, was walking back to his house at that time. He gets to his house and calls us. The phone rings and I answer hello. He’s like Elder Wilson this is Pepe. He can speak english, but he has an accent. He’s like are you two fighting? Are you fighting with your companion? I was like no, no, no. We’re not fighting, we’re just getting pumped up for our meeting tomorrow. He’s like oh, ok, ok. It was super funny that he thought we were fighting, but no we don’t really fight. We get along really well. We were just relieving our stress…vocally!

The other funny story is, well this isn’t funny. We were teaching two of our investigators, and they have a little baby, and while we were teaching they kind of lost track of her, and she broke a glass door. She fell in the glass, and cut herself pretty good behind her ear. She was bleeding all over, and the mom grabbed the baby and put pressure on it, and ran for the clinic. We’re like oh shoot, so we started sweeping up the glass, and everything else, and then we just left. We went by later that night, and the baby had gotten some stitches, but every things good now. They’re still believing in God, and wanting to get baptized, so we’re good. 

Well, those are the biggest things. We’re keeping the missionaries in line, doing surprise visits, dropping into their house in the morning to make sure they’re dressed and studying. We’re helping them out with their planning and work. Always seeing how everyones working. I read a really good talk about knowing the Godhead, I think in english by Elder Holland. I think it was in the Liahona in January of this year. If you didn’t get a chance to read that, it would be super good. 

My personal health and happiness… I’m eating a lot of strawberry banana smoothies. I think I’ve got it down to a science, how I like to make them. I’m enjoying that. I do honestly enjoy the frequent rain that we have. It’s kind if nice except for when it really, really comes down. Then it makes it kind of hard to work, when the streets fill up with water, but that doesn’t happen to much. So, physically I think I’m doing pretty good. Those P90X videos are going to get work this week. Goodness gracious, kind of scares me. I just need a little more time, there’s not enough time to do a full workout, but I can definitely wear myself out in a half hour, so no worries there. Spiritually I gave myself a kick in the butt yesterday, Sunday. I was angry I guess you could say as I passed by the Familia Comba for church, and no one answered to door. Both E. Estupinan and I were hardened until we got to church and found them there waiting for us. I have to trust more, be more believing of the people. I’ve honestly been struggling to pray lately, or at least with real intent. It’s like when I go and do interchanges with other missionaries I pray. I pray that I can help, and we have success, but then I come back and I don’t have the faith to make it happen in my own sector, or I let my guard down a little bit. When your not praying, or feel it’s a routine, or can’t focus your mind to have a sincere conversation. Even as a missionary when we’re reading, studying, serving the people it can all be a bit routine, and unfulfilling unless we consult with God, or the Lord and make him the center of all of it, and then he’ll bless our actions, he’ll guide us more directly. So my goals this week is to pray more sincerely, and not do it because it’s the routine thing. 

I know it’s all true though. We’re doing good. I hope all of you are doing very well. Excited to talk to you guys later. Ok, well love you

Week 73 Ecuador

Buenos Dias!

Glad many of you are joining me in the warm weather and Sunshine, feels great to get out in some shorts and flip-flops! Way to play your hearts out. Good luck on the Championship Bracket! Elder Estupinan and I are a little famous now in the community, all of the local basketball players know that we meet up at the park to play basketball at 4:00 every monday and they come to challenge us. Yes, I said Basketball; not my greatest sport but we`re still undefeated! 

All of the youth are on their ¨summer vacation¨ until the end of April. Keep studying hard and yours will be coming up. 

This week we did work, literally. Two exchanges with the District Leaders turned out for a lot of new Baptismal Dates! Only trouble is that many of the new people we are finding in the Zone just don`t want to go to church _ different culture down here. Many people work on Sunday or that is their only day to rest and do what they want to! No wonder my most used scripture is (Isaiah 58:13-14). Hard working people. Makes it tough though when they have to go to church at least three times to be baptized though.

I tried out one of those Segway things that has the two wheels you ride around on by leaning, I was pretty good at it and I want one! ha, no I don`t know how practical they are but it was fun. Elder Estupinan doesn`t have such a great center of balance and was off the Segway and on his back as quick as he got on! Whooop, ok, time to put that away haha.

Our Baptisms went very well and i can truly say I haven`t laughed so much as I have helping these two 16 year olds prepare for such an incredible moment. The youth here are powerful, I know they are in UT also. Elder Holland came to Quito this weekend and rumor has it our mission will be visited by an Asostle in June. Let`s hope they have time! Anyways, I didn`t do the baptisms but I did give a talk and SANG ¨If the Savior stood beside me¨ with a young women from the ward who has a beautiful voice and really saved us.

.. Next baptisms: Potentials for the 27th of this month and a solid family on the 5th of March_this family is a miracle I`ll save for a future story.

Touching on the biggest points, we went fishing today in a nearby river with a member who has some fishing poles. Only thing is these poles are for the Ocean, deep-sea style (as he has won several competitions in that department) so I opted to fish with line by had with a hook, weight, and shrimp tied on the end. Result: only catch of the day -- he`s a lot bigger in real life  ;)   ok, so maybe not mom`s 18¨ trout but the whole ¨Nino¨ with high dirty currents didn`t help either.

So, keep living it up and I`ll continue striving to live up to my special calling! I`m full of gratitude to have reached 18 months this week and 30 Baptisms!! 

Love you all