Hello family,
How is everyone doing? We had another really fast week. As a zone we had six baptisms whish was a good way to end the week. We are working a lot with the missionaries here so that we can have more success. With my companion we have been doing a lot of interchanges with the other sectors. It’s good to meet other people and to show the other missionaries the best way to work. It is a really good learning experience for the both of us.
This week I went to one of my old sectors and got to see a lot of the members that I had met and some of the converts. Everyone is doing well and they still remembered who I was haha. It was a pretty good day. This week we are going to do more interchanges to be able to get to know all the elders better and help them in their wards.
Yesterday we got to talk with all the bishops of the stake and the stake Presidency, t hat was a new experience. All and all things are going well here in Ecuador. It is really hot and it should start raining any day now. The country is in a drought right now so we will see how things go.
Looking forward to hearing back from all of you this week.
Aunt JoAnn, what part of Chile is Ben going to serve in? I have met lot of really great elders from Chile. They are really nice people. He will enjoy his mission a lot. Thank you for all the support that you and your family give me.
Love and miss you all a ton. Until next week. Chao.
Elder Smith
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Elder Smith 23 nov 2009
Hello family,
How is everyone doing? Well I hope. We had a pretty good week. We did a couple of interchanges with some of the elders in the zone. We went to a place about two hours from Quevedo called Balzar, long bus ride but that is part of the deal so it is ok. We sure do stay busy here in the zone. There is always something to do. Time has been going really fast these last few weeks. We have met some really awesome people. There are four people that have accepted baptism dates and a few others that are progressing a lot towards a baptism.
We are still working a lot with members trying to help them help us in finding new people to teach. I know that if we keep doing our part the Lord is obligated to do His part. We are looking forward to have lots of success in this ward. One the challenges that we have right now in the sector is the assistance at church. The Sabbath day is a hard thing to complete for many people. They are more than willing to listen to us in their homes, but it hard to go to church on Sunday. We are going to work really hard this week to help the investigators make it to church this Sunday.
Thank you to those that wrote me this week. The letters that you send me are always a great uplifting way to start the week. I love and miss you all. Looking forward to hearing back from you all next week. Read the scriptures, pray always and go to church. Invite others to learn more about the Restored Gospel.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? Well I hope. We had a pretty good week. We did a couple of interchanges with some of the elders in the zone. We went to a place about two hours from Quevedo called Balzar, long bus ride but that is part of the deal so it is ok. We sure do stay busy here in the zone. There is always something to do. Time has been going really fast these last few weeks. We have met some really awesome people. There are four people that have accepted baptism dates and a few others that are progressing a lot towards a baptism.
We are still working a lot with members trying to help them help us in finding new people to teach. I know that if we keep doing our part the Lord is obligated to do His part. We are looking forward to have lots of success in this ward. One the challenges that we have right now in the sector is the assistance at church. The Sabbath day is a hard thing to complete for many people. They are more than willing to listen to us in their homes, but it hard to go to church on Sunday. We are going to work really hard this week to help the investigators make it to church this Sunday.
Thank you to those that wrote me this week. The letters that you send me are always a great uplifting way to start the week. I love and miss you all. Looking forward to hearing back from you all next week. Read the scriptures, pray always and go to church. Invite others to learn more about the Restored Gospel.
Elder Smith
Monday, November 16, 2009
Elder Smith 16 Nov 2009
Hey family,
How is everyone doing? i dont have a whole lot of time to write this week. i had a few things that i had to do today. we had a good week, no baptisms but we did invite one person to be baptized and they accepted the invitation. we have been working alot with the other Elders in the zone helping everyone of them be better and have more success.
Sounds like everyone had a pretty good week. It sounds like a good stake presidency that has been called.
Here in Quevedo there isnt very much news. I should have more to tell everyone next week. we are working alot witht he members to be able to find new people to teach. we are focusing alot on the Book Of Mormon still.
Looking forward to hearing back from everyone this week. Thank you to those that have written me this week. i love and miss you all and will be looking forward to talking to you all next week.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? i dont have a whole lot of time to write this week. i had a few things that i had to do today. we had a good week, no baptisms but we did invite one person to be baptized and they accepted the invitation. we have been working alot with the other Elders in the zone helping everyone of them be better and have more success.
Sounds like everyone had a pretty good week. It sounds like a good stake presidency that has been called.
Here in Quevedo there isnt very much news. I should have more to tell everyone next week. we are working alot witht he members to be able to find new people to teach. we are focusing alot on the Book Of Mormon still.
Looking forward to hearing back from everyone this week. Thank you to those that have written me this week. i love and miss you all and will be looking forward to talking to you all next week.
Elder Smith
Monday, November 9, 2009
Elder Smith 9 Nov 2009
Hello Family,
How is everyone doing? I hope that all is well at home. It sounds like things are good. We had a good week here in Quevedo. We had another baptism yesterday before church. A young man was baptized. The members of his family are members of the church but inactive so in part of their reactivation their son was able to be baptized. I was able to meet most of the members this week which was good. It is important to have the confidence of the members so that we can work together in strengthening the ward.
I´m excited to be able to work in this zone again and in this sector. There are a lot of challenges in the ward but that just means that we have to work that much harder. The ward has many inactive members so we are going to have to work a lot with them and with the members and home/visiting teaching program. We have lots of good goals to accomplish here in the ward. We are working a lot with the Book of Mormon to find more references. There is a video I don’t know if you guys have seen it called, Small and Simple things, which is helping a lot to get the members excited to help us.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone next week. We are going to be working really hard because there is a lot to get done and not a lot of time to do it. Tomorrow we get to go to Guayaquil for a leadership Council so that should be really good, except for the part that we have to get up at 3:30 to travel for 4 hours to make it in time. Until next week, love and miss you all.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? I hope that all is well at home. It sounds like things are good. We had a good week here in Quevedo. We had another baptism yesterday before church. A young man was baptized. The members of his family are members of the church but inactive so in part of their reactivation their son was able to be baptized. I was able to meet most of the members this week which was good. It is important to have the confidence of the members so that we can work together in strengthening the ward.
I´m excited to be able to work in this zone again and in this sector. There are a lot of challenges in the ward but that just means that we have to work that much harder. The ward has many inactive members so we are going to have to work a lot with them and with the members and home/visiting teaching program. We have lots of good goals to accomplish here in the ward. We are working a lot with the Book of Mormon to find more references. There is a video I don’t know if you guys have seen it called, Small and Simple things, which is helping a lot to get the members excited to help us.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone next week. We are going to be working really hard because there is a lot to get done and not a lot of time to do it. Tomorrow we get to go to Guayaquil for a leadership Council so that should be really good, except for the part that we have to get up at 3:30 to travel for 4 hours to make it in time. Until next week, love and miss you all.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 2 Nov 2009
Hello Family,
How is everyone doing? Very well I hope. Today we had changes. I’m back in the same zone that I came from in Quevedo Sur, but I’m in another sector or ward so that is the good part. Ill have the opportunity to meet new people and work with other members.
In Portoviejo we finished the change with two baptisms. One was a young man named Clever, 14 years old that has been assisting the church for a while and he was getting ready for his baptism. We were teaching his mom too but she hasn’t been able to go to church because she is a nurse and has to work Sundays.
The other baptism was of a sister named Carmen that we have been teaching for a really long time. She has had about 4 different baptism dates and every time a date gets close she decides that she doesn’t want to get baptized. We were going to have to stop teaching her because she wasn’t progressing but when she kept going to church we felt the need to keep visiting her. Saturday in the afternoon we went to her house with the intentions of teaching her daughter and granddaughter but they weren’t there so we thought we would share something small with Carmen before going to our next appointment. Carmen offered the opening prayer and mentioned her thoughts about the baptism. My companion and I were kind of shocked because she was so against the baptism. So we shared a scripture about the baptism and we asked her if she had taken the decision to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be baptized in His church. She said yes, that she had been praying and that she was decided that she wanted to be baptized. Excited by her answer we told her that we could prepare a baptism service for the 14th of Nov and she said that she would much rather be baptized that same day, Saturday. That was kind of impossible to make happen but with the help of a few members, the bishop and President of the mission, Carmen was able to be baptized Sunday morning before the sacrament services.
The hard part of the weekend was saying bye to all the members and converts in the ward. I hope that some day I will be able to come back to see them again. All and all it was a good weekend. And I’m excited to be in a new sector to keep working hard to help more people come unto Christ.
Looking forward to hearing back from everyone. Miss you all a ton. Until next week. Chao.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? Very well I hope. Today we had changes. I’m back in the same zone that I came from in Quevedo Sur, but I’m in another sector or ward so that is the good part. Ill have the opportunity to meet new people and work with other members.
In Portoviejo we finished the change with two baptisms. One was a young man named Clever, 14 years old that has been assisting the church for a while and he was getting ready for his baptism. We were teaching his mom too but she hasn’t been able to go to church because she is a nurse and has to work Sundays.
The other baptism was of a sister named Carmen that we have been teaching for a really long time. She has had about 4 different baptism dates and every time a date gets close she decides that she doesn’t want to get baptized. We were going to have to stop teaching her because she wasn’t progressing but when she kept going to church we felt the need to keep visiting her. Saturday in the afternoon we went to her house with the intentions of teaching her daughter and granddaughter but they weren’t there so we thought we would share something small with Carmen before going to our next appointment. Carmen offered the opening prayer and mentioned her thoughts about the baptism. My companion and I were kind of shocked because she was so against the baptism. So we shared a scripture about the baptism and we asked her if she had taken the decision to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be baptized in His church. She said yes, that she had been praying and that she was decided that she wanted to be baptized. Excited by her answer we told her that we could prepare a baptism service for the 14th of Nov and she said that she would much rather be baptized that same day, Saturday. That was kind of impossible to make happen but with the help of a few members, the bishop and President of the mission, Carmen was able to be baptized Sunday morning before the sacrament services.
The hard part of the weekend was saying bye to all the members and converts in the ward. I hope that some day I will be able to come back to see them again. All and all it was a good weekend. And I’m excited to be in a new sector to keep working hard to help more people come unto Christ.
Looking forward to hearing back from everyone. Miss you all a ton. Until next week. Chao.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 26 Oct 2009
Hey family,
How is everyone doing. I m doing well here in Ecuador. We ended up having a really good week. Like I was talking about last week the importance of working with the members in the mission work we really focused in that this week and it paid off. We were able to teach lots of people with the help of the members and we also were able to receive some really good references of people to teach.
We are looking forward to another good week. This is that last week of the change and it looks like I might be getting transferred. I really like this sector so it will be a hard ward to leave.
Looking forward to hearing back from everyone. Love and miss you all.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing. I m doing well here in Ecuador. We ended up having a really good week. Like I was talking about last week the importance of working with the members in the mission work we really focused in that this week and it paid off. We were able to teach lots of people with the help of the members and we also were able to receive some really good references of people to teach.
We are looking forward to another good week. This is that last week of the change and it looks like I might be getting transferred. I really like this sector so it will be a hard ward to leave.
Looking forward to hearing back from everyone. Love and miss you all.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 19 Oct 2009
Hey family,
How is everyone doing? I am doing really well. We are still working really hard here in Portoviejo. We are still healthy so we haven’t had to worry about any hospital visits so that is really good. We received a few really good references this week. We met a family Monday and taught them the restoration and invited them to pray to know if what we had taught was the truth and when we returned for the next appointment they had received an answer and accepted out invitation to be baptized. We are really excited for them and it was another example of why the members are so important in this work. The success of the missionaries depends on the members of the ward. We are going to keep working diligently so that we can help these people return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Today for our preparation day we went to watch baseball!! An international baseball tournament with teams from USA, Panama, Costa Rica, Peru all of south America actually. The first time in 18 months. The latins that I live with didn’t like it that much so we only got to watch three innings but that was ok. It was good to see something else that isn’t “futbol” hhaha. Well I hope all is well at home. Looking forward to hearing back from everyone.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? I am doing really well. We are still working really hard here in Portoviejo. We are still healthy so we haven’t had to worry about any hospital visits so that is really good. We received a few really good references this week. We met a family Monday and taught them the restoration and invited them to pray to know if what we had taught was the truth and when we returned for the next appointment they had received an answer and accepted out invitation to be baptized. We are really excited for them and it was another example of why the members are so important in this work. The success of the missionaries depends on the members of the ward. We are going to keep working diligently so that we can help these people return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Today for our preparation day we went to watch baseball!! An international baseball tournament with teams from USA, Panama, Costa Rica, Peru all of south America actually. The first time in 18 months. The latins that I live with didn’t like it that much so we only got to watch three innings but that was ok. It was good to see something else that isn’t “futbol” hhaha. Well I hope all is well at home. Looking forward to hearing back from everyone.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 12 Oct 2009
How is everyone doing? I hope all is well at home. Here in Ecuador we are still working hard in the Lords work. We didn’t have the baptism that we were planning on this week. The sister that was going to get baptized wasn’t able to have her baptism interview so maybe it will have to wait for another date.
This week I got to do an interchange with the elders in Bahia de Caraques, the sector that is the furthest from Guayaquil in the mission. It was a pretty long bus ride but I got to meet lots of good people and it was for a baptism interview so that is always good.
In the stake center this week all of the missionaries from Portoviejo participated in an Open house where the public was invited to the chapel to learn more about our beliefs, activities and organizations that we have in the church. My companion and I were in charge of the Mission Work and Baptism. Lots of people came and we were able to meet lots of new people to teach.
We are trying to work a lot with the members looking for new people to teach. It can be really tuff when there are people to teach. I think a lot in the talks of the apostles when they teach us that every member is a missionary in the sense that all the members have friends and families that aren’t members of the church and that the missionaries are called to teach. The work would progress so much faster and we would see miracles if we could follow the councils of the prophets and apostles.
I hope that every one of us can be the missionary that the Lord expects us to be, that we can share our testimonies with all those that we come in contact with. We are looking forward to having a good week here in Portoviejo. Friday we have Zone conference in Manta so that will be good. Hope to hear from all of you this week.
Elder Smith
This week I got to do an interchange with the elders in Bahia de Caraques, the sector that is the furthest from Guayaquil in the mission. It was a pretty long bus ride but I got to meet lots of good people and it was for a baptism interview so that is always good.
In the stake center this week all of the missionaries from Portoviejo participated in an Open house where the public was invited to the chapel to learn more about our beliefs, activities and organizations that we have in the church. My companion and I were in charge of the Mission Work and Baptism. Lots of people came and we were able to meet lots of new people to teach.
We are trying to work a lot with the members looking for new people to teach. It can be really tuff when there are people to teach. I think a lot in the talks of the apostles when they teach us that every member is a missionary in the sense that all the members have friends and families that aren’t members of the church and that the missionaries are called to teach. The work would progress so much faster and we would see miracles if we could follow the councils of the prophets and apostles.
I hope that every one of us can be the missionary that the Lord expects us to be, that we can share our testimonies with all those that we come in contact with. We are looking forward to having a good week here in Portoviejo. Friday we have Zone conference in Manta so that will be good. Hope to hear from all of you this week.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 28 Sep 2009
Hey Family,
How is everyone doing? Hope all is well at home. Here in Ecuador we are doing really well. I’m doing a lot better with my foot and now I can walk. It was killing me to be in the house so long without doing anything but now that I can walk I’m more than ready to get back top work. I wasn’t able to finish the bible this week like I was aiming for but I did read the Gospels and learned a lot of good stuff. Reading the scriptures really does help strengthen the testimony of a person. Every that I read the scriptures I’m more sure of what I’m doing and where I am at is the truth. I’m so thankful to be here in Ecuador and to have the opportunity to share my testimony with the people that we come in contact with. Even though the people sometimes don’t want to accept what we are teaching no body can reject a sincere testimony. I hope that everyone one us can gain the breakable testimony that Our Heavenly Father desires that we have through the reading of the scriptures and fervent prayer.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone this week. It would be good to hear how you are all doing. Until next week. Chao. Oh ya, everyone has to go to conference this week and invite a friend to hear the voice of a prophet call of God. What a privilege it is for us to live in these days when we have prophets and apostles to lead and guide us with their counsels.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? Hope all is well at home. Here in Ecuador we are doing really well. I’m doing a lot better with my foot and now I can walk. It was killing me to be in the house so long without doing anything but now that I can walk I’m more than ready to get back top work. I wasn’t able to finish the bible this week like I was aiming for but I did read the Gospels and learned a lot of good stuff. Reading the scriptures really does help strengthen the testimony of a person. Every that I read the scriptures I’m more sure of what I’m doing and where I am at is the truth. I’m so thankful to be here in Ecuador and to have the opportunity to share my testimony with the people that we come in contact with. Even though the people sometimes don’t want to accept what we are teaching no body can reject a sincere testimony. I hope that everyone one us can gain the breakable testimony that Our Heavenly Father desires that we have through the reading of the scriptures and fervent prayer.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone this week. It would be good to hear how you are all doing. Until next week. Chao. Oh ya, everyone has to go to conference this week and invite a friend to hear the voice of a prophet call of God. What a privilege it is for us to live in these days when we have prophets and apostles to lead and guide us with their counsels.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 21 Sep 2009
Hey family,
How is everyone doing? Doing very well i hope. We finish a pretty exciteing week. Not very exciting in the misión work because i ended up spending the whole week in the bed and in the hospital. I got bit by some type of bug and it got infected and we had to go to Guayaquil to see what happened to me and what they had to do to help me get better. Im doing a Little better now but i still cant walk that much. My companion is going to have to leave with another person all week because i have to continue resting until im 100% good to go. Its been pretty boring not being able to work but the good part is that i have had a ton of time t oread the scriptures. Ive read the Book of Mormon and about to finish Doctrine and Covenents. I going to put the goal t oread the Bible this week and see how far i make it.
Not a whole lot to share with you guys. Looking forward to hearing from all of you this week.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? Doing very well i hope. We finish a pretty exciteing week. Not very exciting in the misión work because i ended up spending the whole week in the bed and in the hospital. I got bit by some type of bug and it got infected and we had to go to Guayaquil to see what happened to me and what they had to do to help me get better. Im doing a Little better now but i still cant walk that much. My companion is going to have to leave with another person all week because i have to continue resting until im 100% good to go. Its been pretty boring not being able to work but the good part is that i have had a ton of time t oread the scriptures. Ive read the Book of Mormon and about to finish Doctrine and Covenents. I going to put the goal t oread the Bible this week and see how far i make it.
Not a whole lot to share with you guys. Looking forward to hearing from all of you this week.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 14 Sep 2009
Hola familia,
How is everyone doing? I’m doing really well. We had a better week as far as the investigators that are progressing and that will be baptized. A few people came to church for the first time yesterday and they like it a lot. This week we have planned two baptisms. A sister named Carmen and her granddaughter named Allison. They are both excited and looking forward to their baptism. We hope that all goes well and that they will be ready for this Saturday.
We are working a lot with the members of the ward and everyone is excited for a Special Sunday that we are going to have this coming up Sunday. Bishop wants to have 50 investigators in the church so it’s going to require a lot of work. We are looking forward to having a really good turnout and lots of investigators to teach.
It sounds like everyone at home is doing well, good turnout for your youth conference, that’s cool that you were all able to do a service project based on mission work. Joseph said after all that has been said the most important job is mission work and President Hinckley said if we want to be happy then we have to forget about ourselves and loose ourselves in this great cause. In the Ensign there is an article that is called our religion is saving souls. The whole purpose of the church is to help us or better said all of the children of our Heavenly Father obey the commandments and return to live with Him. Those that are members of the true church of Jesus Christ have a very large responsibility to share the gospel and I’m glad to hear that the youth of our stake had the opportunity to participate in something so important as
mission work and service.
I hope that everyone is doing well. I love and miss everyone. Looking forward to hearing from you all to know how you are doing. Here in Ecuador I’m doing very well. Until next week. Choa.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? I’m doing really well. We had a better week as far as the investigators that are progressing and that will be baptized. A few people came to church for the first time yesterday and they like it a lot. This week we have planned two baptisms. A sister named Carmen and her granddaughter named Allison. They are both excited and looking forward to their baptism. We hope that all goes well and that they will be ready for this Saturday.
We are working a lot with the members of the ward and everyone is excited for a Special Sunday that we are going to have this coming up Sunday. Bishop wants to have 50 investigators in the church so it’s going to require a lot of work. We are looking forward to having a really good turnout and lots of investigators to teach.
It sounds like everyone at home is doing well, good turnout for your youth conference, that’s cool that you were all able to do a service project based on mission work. Joseph said after all that has been said the most important job is mission work and President Hinckley said if we want to be happy then we have to forget about ourselves and loose ourselves in this great cause. In the Ensign there is an article that is called our religion is saving souls. The whole purpose of the church is to help us or better said all of the children of our Heavenly Father obey the commandments and return to live with Him. Those that are members of the true church of Jesus Christ have a very large responsibility to share the gospel and I’m glad to hear that the youth of our stake had the opportunity to participate in something so important as
mission work and service.
I hope that everyone is doing well. I love and miss everyone. Looking forward to hearing from you all to know how you are doing. Here in Ecuador I’m doing very well. Until next week. Choa.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 7 Sep 2009
Hello family,
How is everyone doing? I hope everything going well at home. Here in Ecuador it is still pretty hot. We are teaching lots of people. There are many people that want to be baptized so we are helping all of them to be able to complete with the commandments, which sometimes can be the hardest part. This week we had a really low number of assistance at church but this week coming up will be better. We are looking forward to finding lots of new people this week to teach.
Time sure is going by fast here in the mission. I forget how long I’ve been here until the people ask me. I thought by this time I would know everything but I still have a lot to learn. There are still lots of things that I want to achieve here in the mission so I have to take the advantage of the time that I have.
We didn’t really have anything too exciting happen this week. Ill try to have something better to write next week.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone. Hope all is well.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? I hope everything going well at home. Here in Ecuador it is still pretty hot. We are teaching lots of people. There are many people that want to be baptized so we are helping all of them to be able to complete with the commandments, which sometimes can be the hardest part. This week we had a really low number of assistance at church but this week coming up will be better. We are looking forward to finding lots of new people this week to teach.
Time sure is going by fast here in the mission. I forget how long I’ve been here until the people ask me. I thought by this time I would know everything but I still have a lot to learn. There are still lots of things that I want to achieve here in the mission so I have to take the advantage of the time that I have.
We didn’t really have anything too exciting happen this week. Ill try to have something better to write next week.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone. Hope all is well.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 31 Ago 2009
Here are a few of the questions that mom had for me about ecuador with the ansewor ( i dont remeber how to spell haha es respuesta en español) haha
What is the elevation?
where im at right now is pretty much sea level
are you near the ocean, in the mountains, is it like a jungle, is it like a city? our house is about 40 minutes from the pacific ocean, other parts of ecuador have lots of jungle but there isnt any sector of our mission that has jungle, Portoviejo is a city with lots of buildings and cars and tons of people
, what kind of stores?
they have store of everything, here in portoviejo there is a mall..something different here in ecuador is that people put little stores in their houses and sell stuff like soda, chips, snacks all that small stuff that you would find in a minimarket.
, what is in style?
Ecua is the style lol i dont know. have you ever heard of Daddy Yankee the rapper? all the youth like his music and try to follow his style i guess
, do they have Famous there? Do they even know what that is?
Famous doesnt exsist here :( i did see one t-shirt of famous a while back ago but it was by luck. there are stores here that sell "American Clothes" so sometimes good clothes get donated to sell. a member this week was telling us that they went to one of those stores this week and found garments!! woops.
Are there good looking girls and guys there? Are they all dark skinned? Any blonds?
good looking dudes i dont know. good looking girls, not 8 more months :) and not everyone is dark skinned. there are alot of people that are born white, i dont know how maybe they have a Nephite background haha there are black people here too. little of everything in Quevedo and guayaquil there are lots of Chineese people..
do you eat a lot of bananas?
they eat something that is like a banana but diffent. its called Maduro and Verde. its a hard green banana that they cook. and they have like a hundred different ways to cook this "banana" the verde i like. but the Maduro is the only food i cant eat in this country. its awfull!!
Do they have beautiful flowers? here in the coast i havent seen alot of flowers, but maybe in others parts like Quito the capital. everyone says that the "sierra" is the best part of Ecuador
What is the elevation?
where im at right now is pretty much sea level
are you near the ocean, in the mountains, is it like a jungle, is it like a city? our house is about 40 minutes from the pacific ocean, other parts of ecuador have lots of jungle but there isnt any sector of our mission that has jungle, Portoviejo is a city with lots of buildings and cars and tons of people
, what kind of stores?
they have store of everything, here in portoviejo there is a mall..something different here in ecuador is that people put little stores in their houses and sell stuff like soda, chips, snacks all that small stuff that you would find in a minimarket.
, what is in style?
Ecua is the style lol i dont know. have you ever heard of Daddy Yankee the rapper? all the youth like his music and try to follow his style i guess
, do they have Famous there? Do they even know what that is?
Famous doesnt exsist here :( i did see one t-shirt of famous a while back ago but it was by luck. there are stores here that sell "American Clothes" so sometimes good clothes get donated to sell. a member this week was telling us that they went to one of those stores this week and found garments!! woops.
Are there good looking girls and guys there? Are they all dark skinned? Any blonds?
good looking dudes i dont know. good looking girls, not 8 more months :) and not everyone is dark skinned. there are alot of people that are born white, i dont know how maybe they have a Nephite background haha there are black people here too. little of everything in Quevedo and guayaquil there are lots of Chineese people..
do you eat a lot of bananas?
they eat something that is like a banana but diffent. its called Maduro and Verde. its a hard green banana that they cook. and they have like a hundred different ways to cook this "banana" the verde i like. but the Maduro is the only food i cant eat in this country. its awfull!!
Do they have beautiful flowers? here in the coast i havent seen alot of flowers, but maybe in others parts like Quito the capital. everyone says that the "sierra" is the best part of Ecuador
Elder Smith 24 Ago 2009
Hola Familia,
How is everyone doing? Another week gone by here in the mission, time is going by faster than I would like. We had a good week. No baptisms but we have people that are getting ready for their baptisms and other people that we have planned this week to put baptism dates with.
What is new at home? I haven’t heard a whole lot about Reno in a while. Ecuador is about the same. The Alava Macias family is doing really well. They are really excited about the church and looking forward to being able to go to the temple in a year to be sealed together. They are talking with all of their neighbors about the gospel and trying to help as many people as they can go to church too. We have found a lot of people through their references. This week should be a really good week. We are going to invite everyone that we teach to be baptized.
Looking forward to hearing back from all of you.
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? Another week gone by here in the mission, time is going by faster than I would like. We had a good week. No baptisms but we have people that are getting ready for their baptisms and other people that we have planned this week to put baptism dates with.
What is new at home? I haven’t heard a whole lot about Reno in a while. Ecuador is about the same. The Alava Macias family is doing really well. They are really excited about the church and looking forward to being able to go to the temple in a year to be sealed together. They are talking with all of their neighbors about the gospel and trying to help as many people as they can go to church too. We have found a lot of people through their references. This week should be a really good week. We are going to invite everyone that we teach to be baptized.
Looking forward to hearing back from all of you.
Elder Smith
Elder Smith 17 Ago 2009
Hey family.
How is everyone doing? Really well I hope. Here in Ecuador I am doing great. We are teaching lots of really awesome people and helping to harvest the Lords vineyard. We didn’t have any baptisms this week but we do have a few people that are preparing for their baptisms.
This week we are going to go to a sector that doesn’t have the church yet. We received a reference from a member of the church that lives in Quito and said that all of her family is waiting to learn more about the gospel. We are excited to go and are hoping to have lots of success and to find many people that are prepared to receive the blessings of the Restored Gospel in their lives.
As far as the mission goes, everything is going really well. Im speaking spanish and teaching everyday using all the time that I have left to help the people come unto Christ.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone this week. Hope all is well at home.
Chao
Elder Smith
How is everyone doing? Really well I hope. Here in Ecuador I am doing great. We are teaching lots of really awesome people and helping to harvest the Lords vineyard. We didn’t have any baptisms this week but we do have a few people that are preparing for their baptisms.
This week we are going to go to a sector that doesn’t have the church yet. We received a reference from a member of the church that lives in Quito and said that all of her family is waiting to learn more about the gospel. We are excited to go and are hoping to have lots of success and to find many people that are prepared to receive the blessings of the Restored Gospel in their lives.
As far as the mission goes, everything is going really well. Im speaking spanish and teaching everyday using all the time that I have left to help the people come unto Christ.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone this week. Hope all is well at home.
Chao
Elder Smith
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