11/28/2011

To those it may concern,

Lot to write about this week. Hope I have time to fit it all in.

Sounds like thanksgiving and the whole sha bang was relaxing and fun! your right dad, being in a country that doesnt celebrate it made it easier. Doesnt mean I didnt take the day to think about all the things Im greatful for. I have a good couple pages in my journal and a good brain full of thoughts about home and the fam. I gave thanks and worked all day too. It was a good way to spend the day, although it just was another day here in esmeraldas.

Elder Cuenca was waiting for his visa to venezuela. It got here last sunday, he left on monday and my new companion got here tuesday. His name is Elder cook, he´s from oregon and he is the man. He goes home at the end of this change which will be at the beginning of this next week. So then i get another new companion. I was really nervous at first because our area is pretty big and I dont know it that well, but we have been getting by and in fact this past week we have had a lot of success!

We found a single mom with three cute little boys. great little fam. They came to church and are progressing and its looking like her and her oldest son will be getting baptized soon, on the 10th if everything goes as planned. Great story about her. The day she came to church, it was the primary program. The primary teacher recognized that she was here, came down and brought her three little boys up to the stage to sing with the rest of the primary, even though they had no idea what was going on, by the end of the program, (which was great by the way) the little kids were trying to sing, had made friends and were having so much fun. Also, Elder Cook was playing the piano and i was blessing the sacrament so Alba, the mom, was sitting by herself. Hermana Caicedo, recent, strong convert, went over and sat by her, gave her a big hug and kiss, and helped her through the meeting, answering questions, and just being there. The whole situation made me cry. I dont know why, but i have been a cryer here. I cry a lot now. But just how the ward made her feel so at home, and so at peace, was so great. She onlly had great things to say about it when we went by that night. It was fantastic!

Another story. The missionaries have been teaching this lady named Margarita for about a year now. And, after the first three weeks, she could have been baptized. Except she isnt married. the reason she isnt married is because she was missing a paper, some birth certificate form or something. THe missionaries have looked up and down, in every city, government building, home of relative, EVERYWHERE. A years worth of searching. The teaching record for her is about 4 pages long. Yeah. Nuts. But anyway, the week before cuenca left, we were teaching her about prophets, just basically reviewing stuff with her. The lesson was going great. Elder Cuenca turned to me to share somthing, and I felt SO strong to talk about fasting. Im telling you, it was like the idea came to my head, my heart burned, and i asked her what she knew about fasting. She said nothing. So we taught her about the fast. Elder cuenca was looking at me so strangly. But, we talked about the fast. I asked her if she would be willing to fast for 24 hours, with the purpose of asking for help to be able to find this paper that she needs for her marriage, in order for her to be baptized. She accepted and then we fasted. It went great, she opened and closed it with a prayer and had all her kids fast too. She felt good abou it. So then, Elder cuenca left. Elder cook showed up and we followed up on it. She told us that she had caught wind that she had found the paper. Its in concession, a town about 2 hours north of here, its where her great grandma or somthing weird like that was born that she didnt know about. Im not quite sure about all the details. Anyway, long story but, turns out that the zone leaders, the day before had asked us to go there, to check on the only member that lives there. And its tomorrow. So when we are there, we are going to take out the paper, for her marriage, come back. Tell me, after a years worth of searching and trying to do everything, we show up at her door, have a feeling to have a fast, and then all of sudden the paper is found, and it turns out we are already going there!? How cool is that? I just hope that everything works out, and that we can find the paper, that she can get married, and ultimately baptized. And then start working towards the temple! SO cool and such a rich spiritual experience. Through her faith, preserverance, and her fast. Ill keep you updated on what turns out from the trip tomorrow. I hope all goes well!

Every day we are lead by the spirit. My spanish, its getting better. There are days that are hard, but working for the golden days, or one day, looking back and seeing the hand of the lord in something is so rewarding. All is well here im still loving it! looking forward to talking on christmas. Just around the corner!

Tell Grandpa and Grandma Millet thankyou So much for the newsletter! The church is amazing and reading those articles was very interesting. Thanks for the pictures too of when i got set apart! That was nice to see. Tell them I love them and Miss them!

Les Amo Mucho. Estoy pensando en ustedes muchisimo, cada dia. Cada vez que experimento algo, quiero decirles. Como lehi y el arbol de la vida. Les quiero bastante y espero que todo esta bien!

Elder Burrito (Thats what all the little kids call me)