Hey there!
I got a ¨Gone Camping¨ note in my inbox. I guess I here for a good camping trip next week. Someone go tip the boy's tent over for me. :D
This last week had been pretty eventful for me. On Tuesday night the trainers and new missionaries went to the temple to sleep in the hotel there so the we could get up early in the morning and do a session together.
I knew that I missed hot showers, but I didn't realize how much I missed them until I showered in the temple hotel. That hotel is one of the only buildings that I know of that has hot water in the pipes. My legs almost gave out in the sweet relief of the hot water. The most relaxing thing ever. Beats showering with a bucket and a cup any day. ...freaking Duran water -_-
ANYWAYS, on Wednesday after the temple we all went to President Riggins' house for breakfast and to be instructed together. There I was paired up with Elder Salazar, my new son!
I'm training now, with is pretty easy because Elder Salazar is pretty smart and already has a desire to share the gospel;. I'm just showing him the technical things, his testimony is already amazing.
Elder Salazar is from The City of Guatemala, Guatemala. If you don't know where Guatemala is you'll be able to find it right where you thought Mexico is. Turns out that not all central America is Mexico. Guatemala, Honduras, and lots of other countries are down there on the bottom.
His grandparents are converts. He says that he's the seventh missionary of his family line.
After the last changes in the mission we're living with Elder Vargas, from Bolivia; Elder Wilson, From Eden Utah as well. Elder Wilson calls Elder Salazar "Russell" because he kinda looks like Russell from the movie UP and he's got a similar personality: He'll often poke his head into the kitchen with a smile and whisper "buenas días!" and then go iron his shirt.
Working has been a whole lot of fun with the optimism and energy of a new missionary as my companion. And I think that because of that same optimism we're going to have a whole lot of success here together. Whether it's a challenge or something good he always has the same reaction. His catch phrase is "¡que bendición!" or "What a blessing!"
We're going to have some fun here. I'd send a picture but I don't have any. My SD card broke so I can't take anymore. What a blessing...
I get some sent next week and I'll also stop being lazy about uploading to dropbox.
I'll talk to you all next week! Let my know how the camping trip was!
Love, Cameron
Monday, July 20, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
The Pope, Wedding, Party, Ward activity, Rock concert.
Hola,
So last Monday was a big pain in the butt because the Pope came to visit.
PEOPLE HERE WENT NUTS. He went to my old zone in Guayaquil in Parque Semanas and then went to Quito the next day. From there he went to Bolivia. As missionaries we were assigned to stay in our sector from the p-day. From what I saw on the TVs, el papa Francisco is a really cool guy.
It´s not a bad thing to be a part of another church. However, the authority to be saved only exists in the Church of Jesus Christ, and that authority only cames through exact obedience to his organization and commandments and by the laying on of hands by someone who has been called of God to have the same priesthood authority.
Last week was the last week of Elder Gutierrez, he´s in Guayaquil getting ready to leave as I write. Last week we sent him off with a bang.
Wedding, party, ward activity, rock concert.
On Friday we had a wedding! (The Howell Family may or may not have used $20 of my reserve to help them out with that. THANKS :D)
We helped Melisa and Adrian Huacon get married en el civil. They´re both members, we helped them reactivate and live the law of chastity. They´re a happy family of three and we foresee them being very very active in the church from now on. They´re already incredibly faithful to the Lord.
...I always forget that I´ve huge until I see pictures of me with other people...
After the Wedding we helped the ward plan a big wedding reception which turned into a party that we couldn´t see through to the end (curfew is 9:30pm.)
The following Saturday we threw on a ward mission activity planned by us, the missionaries. It was a talent show and it was EXTREMELY successful. People later came to over and said it was the best ward activity they have ever attended. And the attendance was incredible. It was a mix activity between two wards, but the bishop said it had better attendance than the stake activities.
The Talents included cultural dances, skits, singing, etc...
We ended the night with a rock band that asked to come and play.
And the night was forever remembered.
And that´s all. ¡Voy a entrenar!
I don´t have a new companion yet. Turns out that I have to wait a little while for my new companion because he isn´t in Ecuador yet. I´ll update you all next week. I´ll probably have a whole lot more to say by then. I already have a more to say but my time is short. I´ll write you all next week! let me know if you have questions.
Love you all!
-Cameron
So last Monday was a big pain in the butt because the Pope came to visit.
PEOPLE HERE WENT NUTS. He went to my old zone in Guayaquil in Parque Semanas and then went to Quito the next day. From there he went to Bolivia. As missionaries we were assigned to stay in our sector from the p-day. From what I saw on the TVs, el papa Francisco is a really cool guy.
It´s not a bad thing to be a part of another church. However, the authority to be saved only exists in the Church of Jesus Christ, and that authority only cames through exact obedience to his organization and commandments and by the laying on of hands by someone who has been called of God to have the same priesthood authority.
Last week was the last week of Elder Gutierrez, he´s in Guayaquil getting ready to leave as I write. Last week we sent him off with a bang.
Wedding, party, ward activity, rock concert.
On Friday we had a wedding! (The Howell Family may or may not have used $20 of my reserve to help them out with that. THANKS :D)
We helped Melisa and Adrian Huacon get married en el civil. They´re both members, we helped them reactivate and live the law of chastity. They´re a happy family of three and we foresee them being very very active in the church from now on. They´re already incredibly faithful to the Lord.
...I always forget that I´ve huge until I see pictures of me with other people...
After the Wedding we helped the ward plan a big wedding reception which turned into a party that we couldn´t see through to the end (curfew is 9:30pm.)
The following Saturday we threw on a ward mission activity planned by us, the missionaries. It was a talent show and it was EXTREMELY successful. People later came to over and said it was the best ward activity they have ever attended. And the attendance was incredible. It was a mix activity between two wards, but the bishop said it had better attendance than the stake activities.
The Talents included cultural dances, skits, singing, etc...
We ended the night with a rock band that asked to come and play.
And the night was forever remembered.
And that´s all. ¡Voy a entrenar!
I don´t have a new companion yet. Turns out that I have to wait a little while for my new companion because he isn´t in Ecuador yet. I´ll update you all next week. I´ll probably have a whole lot more to say by then. I already have a more to say but my time is short. I´ll write you all next week! let me know if you have questions.
Love you all!
-Cameron
Fruitless post
Hey there!
I'm still here burning in Ecuador. I'm sure it's pretty hot back home too as I recall, that 4th of July burns. As for as the two and two I've put together goes, mom is on tour and dad is back home with the girls, therefore the forth of July was probably a little different this year, right?
How was it? what did ya'll do? We, as I predicted, didn't do much more than get together and sing a three part harmony of the national anthum really really loudly and terribly. I wasn't able to make hamburgers as we were fasting that day. I'll probably make them today.
Not too much has been happening. I actually don't have too much to report. Next week I'm going to get a new companion because Elder Gutierrez is finishing his mission.
I still can't get my pictures to upload so... I'm pretty much fruitless this week. Sorry.
I'll write next week. :)
Love, Cameron
I'm still here burning in Ecuador. I'm sure it's pretty hot back home too as I recall, that 4th of July burns. As for as the two and two I've put together goes, mom is on tour and dad is back home with the girls, therefore the forth of July was probably a little different this year, right?
How was it? what did ya'll do? We, as I predicted, didn't do much more than get together and sing a three part harmony of the national anthum really really loudly and terribly. I wasn't able to make hamburgers as we were fasting that day. I'll probably make them today.
Not too much has been happening. I actually don't have too much to report. Next week I'm going to get a new companion because Elder Gutierrez is finishing his mission.
I still can't get my pictures to upload so... I'm pretty much fruitless this week. Sorry.
I'll write next week. :)
Love, Cameron
MTC training camp
I can´t seem to get computers to read my camera right now. I think it´s the cable. I´ll add that to the list of things I need to buy. :P
For now, another email without pictures.
Hello!
We have about 40+ youth here in the ward here, we thought it would be good to have a mini MTC for them so that they could know what it´s like to be a missionary for a day. We did something similar in the stake in Guayaquil a little while back.
We did the activity last Saturday. We had them study personally for an hour and as companions for an hour- they almost died. We explained to them that they had to stay with their companion at all times- that almost killed them too, and most of them failed to stay together.
All and all I think everyone enjoyed themselves in the end.
I realized that it´s naturally difficult for lots of people to have someone by their side 100% of the time. But somehow as missionaries we pull it off. Doing so we keep ourselves and each other safe.
I´ve only ever had my companion hide from me once in my mission.
Apart from all that, things have been normal. It´s been really really hot and my feet hurt a lot. That´s life. I wish I had more to write... but I´m drawing a blank. I´ll try to do better next week.
I love you all and hope you have a nice Forth of July. I wont. We don´t celebrate that here.
I might go find a really really American tie and play the national anthem really loudly. ...and maybe buy some hot dogs to cook up too... ...hm...
I changed my mind, apart from the fireworks, I´m going to have a good Forth of July. I´ll let you know how it was next week. Be sure to let me know how it was back home too.
Love you all!
For now, another email without pictures.
Hello!
We have about 40+ youth here in the ward here, we thought it would be good to have a mini MTC for them so that they could know what it´s like to be a missionary for a day. We did something similar in the stake in Guayaquil a little while back.
We did the activity last Saturday. We had them study personally for an hour and as companions for an hour- they almost died. We explained to them that they had to stay with their companion at all times- that almost killed them too, and most of them failed to stay together.
All and all I think everyone enjoyed themselves in the end.
I realized that it´s naturally difficult for lots of people to have someone by their side 100% of the time. But somehow as missionaries we pull it off. Doing so we keep ourselves and each other safe.
I´ve only ever had my companion hide from me once in my mission.
Apart from all that, things have been normal. It´s been really really hot and my feet hurt a lot. That´s life. I wish I had more to write... but I´m drawing a blank. I´ll try to do better next week.
I love you all and hope you have a nice Forth of July. I wont. We don´t celebrate that here.
I might go find a really really American tie and play the national anthem really loudly. ...and maybe buy some hot dogs to cook up too... ...hm...
I changed my mind, apart from the fireworks, I´m going to have a good Forth of July. I´ll let you know how it was next week. Be sure to let me know how it was back home too.
Love you all!
Familia
Hello!
I spent my weekend defending and learning about families. Families are number one on the advisary´s hit list. He does just about anything to take families and marriages apart.
The Lord and his church puts allot of effort in instructing us giving us ways to strengthen our families to help us be united. Sometimes I feel like I´m working in a desolate bombed-out battle field when it comes to families. It´s very common for girls to get pregnant at 13-15 years old here, people live together but don´t get married, and if they do get married the marriages usually don't last more than two or three years. Single mothers are all too common.
I was talking to a lady last Saturday, she is´t a member but her children are. She was asking us if her children were learning good values in the church; she was talking about men and how they don´t wash their dishes, make the women cook and treat their wives like animals and that she didn't want her son to be like her ex-husband. I assured her that the Church of Jesus Christ is basically designed to help youth learn respect and good habits and that families and marriages are meant to be successful-
She cut me off right there and told me that marriages are not successful.
I rebutted by pulling out a photo for my family that I like to carry in my scriptures. In the photo we see our beautiful family all united and my parents who have been together for YEARS.
She was quiet after that, and I promised her that families and marriages are meant to be eternal.
After that I got to thinking: What is the secret to successful marriage?
Well, in the seventh paragraph of The Family a Proclamation to the World we read:
¨Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.¨
www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation
BOOM! there it is, the key given to us by revelation given to President Hinkley and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I think there´s something really big that has to do with that word ¨respect.¨ Yesterday we were contacting and we met to couples sitting together in front of a house. After talking to them for a little while we discovered that both couples have been with their pair for over 50 years.
I asked them what the secret was. Both of the men responded the same; they told me that when there are dishes to wash, they wash them; when there´s cloths to be washed, they wash them; if their wives were sick or busy they cooked dinner and cleaned the house when it was needed. They told me that the secret of long marriage is helping one another and working as a team.
Respect. Bingo.
Talking to them was refreshing and it gave me hope that families can be together forever like God intends.
Things here in Ecuador are good. My health is good and we´re rolling along. However, I want to buy some pants as all of mine have holes in one place or another, I also need new shoes very very soon, and new jeans. Do I have options? If not, I can wait a little bit.
Love you all!
I spent my weekend defending and learning about families. Families are number one on the advisary´s hit list. He does just about anything to take families and marriages apart.
The Lord and his church puts allot of effort in instructing us giving us ways to strengthen our families to help us be united. Sometimes I feel like I´m working in a desolate bombed-out battle field when it comes to families. It´s very common for girls to get pregnant at 13-15 years old here, people live together but don´t get married, and if they do get married the marriages usually don't last more than two or three years. Single mothers are all too common.
I was talking to a lady last Saturday, she is´t a member but her children are. She was asking us if her children were learning good values in the church; she was talking about men and how they don´t wash their dishes, make the women cook and treat their wives like animals and that she didn't want her son to be like her ex-husband. I assured her that the Church of Jesus Christ is basically designed to help youth learn respect and good habits and that families and marriages are meant to be successful-
She cut me off right there and told me that marriages are not successful.
I rebutted by pulling out a photo for my family that I like to carry in my scriptures. In the photo we see our beautiful family all united and my parents who have been together for YEARS.
She was quiet after that, and I promised her that families and marriages are meant to be eternal.
After that I got to thinking: What is the secret to successful marriage?
Well, in the seventh paragraph of The Family a Proclamation to the World we read:
¨Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.¨
www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation
BOOM! there it is, the key given to us by revelation given to President Hinkley and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I think there´s something really big that has to do with that word ¨respect.¨ Yesterday we were contacting and we met to couples sitting together in front of a house. After talking to them for a little while we discovered that both couples have been with their pair for over 50 years.
I asked them what the secret was. Both of the men responded the same; they told me that when there are dishes to wash, they wash them; when there´s cloths to be washed, they wash them; if their wives were sick or busy they cooked dinner and cleaned the house when it was needed. They told me that the secret of long marriage is helping one another and working as a team.
Respect. Bingo.
Talking to them was refreshing and it gave me hope that families can be together forever like God intends.
Things here in Ecuador are good. My health is good and we´re rolling along. However, I want to buy some pants as all of mine have holes in one place or another, I also need new shoes very very soon, and new jeans. Do I have options? If not, I can wait a little bit.
Love you all!
PICTURE TIME
Hi!
It´s been awhile since I've sent picture emails. I´m currently TRYING to upload my pictures into drop-box but I wont get to the Duran Pictures for awhile. Therefore, PICTURES!
Love, Cameron
The change from Elder Sanchanz...
...To Elder Gutierrez
This is Duran. It´s dirty but it´s what we got.
This is one of the main streets, the rest of the roads are dirt roads.
This is a baby Bird
This is Familia Huaccon. We´re helping them reactivate in the church. Last Saturday we wen to the Temple with them and the primary to take pictures and walk around
We give the people here credit for trying to put English on the sides of their tourist buses.
Bus full of creamy Mormon kids going to the Temple.
The Primary rented the bus. The bus driver took us into the temple parking lot and waited there. He sat outside of his bus looking at the temple. When we came back he gave us his phone number and said that he wanted to learn more.
It´s been awhile since I've sent picture emails. I´m currently TRYING to upload my pictures into drop-box but I wont get to the Duran Pictures for awhile. Therefore, PICTURES!
Love, Cameron
The change from Elder Sanchanz...
...To Elder Gutierrez
This is Duran. It´s dirty but it´s what we got.
This is one of the main streets, the rest of the roads are dirt roads.
This is a baby Bird
This is Familia Huaccon. We´re helping them reactivate in the church. Last Saturday we wen to the Temple with them and the primary to take pictures and walk around
 |
| Guayaquil, Ecuador Temple |
We give the people here credit for trying to put English on the sides of their tourist buses.
Bus full of creamy Mormon kids going to the Temple.
The Primary rented the bus. The bus driver took us into the temple parking lot and waited there. He sat outside of his bus looking at the temple. When we came back he gave us his phone number and said that he wanted to learn more.
 | ||
| -Viva la Vida- | (I still love tacking pictures) |
Dirty smudge on the map, BUT DON'T WIPE IT OFF!
Hello everyone!
So, right across from the Rio Guayas there's a city called Duran. It looks like a dirty smudge on the map, BUT DON'T WIPE IT OFF, that's where I am right now, and it just looks dirty on the map because its a dirty city.
www.google.com.ec/maps
The mission had changes last Tuesday. I left my beloved Guayaquil and crossed the river to Duran. My first impressions was the sight of horses digging through the trash in the street corner and a some weeds blowing through a dust cloud. I quickly discovered that the houses here don't have running water, there's a water truck that comes by everyday and fills every one's 55gal drums with water. We luckily live in a private community that has running water...for that most part; it flows out of the pipes for five seconds every five seconds, and only from 6am-12pm and 6pm-10pm
Drugs are also a huge problem here. At night all the kids are in the park sniffing, injecting, and smoking. They don't have to hide it either, everyone does it.
I have, however, found that like in all the places Ive been, there are good people here and for the most part everyone is humble and friendly. Ill probably learn to love this town as I have Buena Fe and Guayaquil.
I'm here with Elder Gutierrez, he is a little guy from Argentina, I have a picture but... I forgot to bring my camera to the Cyber.
He is just about ready to finish his mission, he will be going home in July so Ill be getting another new companion in about a month.
Right now things are doing good. Duran isn't only dusty, its also got dirty rivers and rice swamps so there are mosquitoes, which is something I don't like because Dengue y Chikungunya are problems right now. I don't plan on getting Mosquito sicknesses anytime soon though.
I'll send some pictures next week, sorry I don't have them today.
Love you all!
So, right across from the Rio Guayas there's a city called Duran. It looks like a dirty smudge on the map, BUT DON'T WIPE IT OFF, that's where I am right now, and it just looks dirty on the map because its a dirty city.
www.google.com.ec/maps
The mission had changes last Tuesday. I left my beloved Guayaquil and crossed the river to Duran. My first impressions was the sight of horses digging through the trash in the street corner and a some weeds blowing through a dust cloud. I quickly discovered that the houses here don't have running water, there's a water truck that comes by everyday and fills every one's 55gal drums with water. We luckily live in a private community that has running water...for that most part; it flows out of the pipes for five seconds every five seconds, and only from 6am-12pm and 6pm-10pm
Drugs are also a huge problem here. At night all the kids are in the park sniffing, injecting, and smoking. They don't have to hide it either, everyone does it.
I have, however, found that like in all the places Ive been, there are good people here and for the most part everyone is humble and friendly. Ill probably learn to love this town as I have Buena Fe and Guayaquil.
I'm here with Elder Gutierrez, he is a little guy from Argentina, I have a picture but... I forgot to bring my camera to the Cyber.
He is just about ready to finish his mission, he will be going home in July so Ill be getting another new companion in about a month.
Right now things are doing good. Duran isn't only dusty, its also got dirty rivers and rice swamps so there are mosquitoes, which is something I don't like because Dengue y Chikungunya are problems right now. I don't plan on getting Mosquito sicknesses anytime soon though.
I'll send some pictures next week, sorry I don't have them today.
Love you all!
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