Homecoming

 HE'S HOME!!!

August update !!!!!

So ……

On Monday Byu track called and asked if Jaden could come home a few weeks early for the semester.  Sooooo he is now coming home on the 17th of August and then leaving for school on labor day weekend!!!!

I can’t believe how everything is falling into place for him. A college apartment fell into our laps that was previously full, flights, registration etc.  all working out.  Even his car !  The Lords hand is with him in everything he needs.  

Chase is also flying home so that means for my birthday ALL of my children will be home !!!

BEST momma BDAY PRESENT EVER!!  

July 31 service

This was a service project for some investigadors. We had to take down the wall. Super fun. Im with my companion and the other Elders I live with

Slide burns

These last 2 weeks we've really been making an extra effort to find more people to teach. The members have introduced us to some of their friends and neighbors. We had a friend come to church yesterday. We went to Mr Joy last pday which is like a huge place and there was a sketchy slide that lots of Elders got burnt on it. We have been going to a part of our area that's super far because we have someone we are teaching out there. 

We have to go out to do an hour of service but it is so hard to get people to let you help them here. They always say no it's OK I'm just finishing up or they want to pay us for it. Elder McFarlane left this week so now I live with 3 Latinos so lots more Spanish. 

Elder Mclean finished his mission. 

We have talked to so many people in the street this week. We have lots of names written down and we don't remember who they are. 

Cookies !!!

Ever since Jaden was a tiny guy he was obsessed with the family chocolate chip cookies and even just the dough.  He sucks at letters because we talk every week now but he was excited to send us picts of their attempt to make cookies.  He wrote to get the recipe and matched it as close as he could in Ecuador.   

He said they were not quite the same but still yummy.  It’s so much fun to hear how excited he still gets about the same cookies.  

He is still in Duran.  He said it is a tough area.  They have to be in their apartment 30 min earlier than every other area. (Sometimes even by noon that day-gang violence). And for now they’re keeping the sisters out of the area because of the gang violence. The elders they’ve sent have mostly been APs and Zone leaders and are now just regular missionaries trying to really help this area extra.  Lots of crime (his comp was already robbed) and drugs and many people just leave because they easily get offended by someone or something stupid in the community.  They’re working on building and strengthening relationships with the people there as they came into an are that not much as been done for a long time.  Spreading the love of  Christ and His gospel to all they can.   

He was excited to find a small family that needed service in their yard and house.  They plan on going back this next week to see if they need help again. He said it felt so good to be able to help. So many are scared there because it’s such a violent area.    

  Isn’t it awesome though in the middle of such violence one can still find hope and the Love of Christ

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Duran

Im in my 4th week here in Duran. 

We have found some good people to teach. We had 4 friends at church this last sunday. We’ve been walking like crazy this week and had like 3 days of just talking to people in the street the whole day. But this next week we have some more lessons planned. Had 3 exchanges this week so this week kind of flew by.

 2 weeks left in this transfer so I’ll see if they keep me here for my last 2 transfers. (I think they will) 

 We fasted 2 times this week and it strengthend my testimony of fasting. I drank way too much coca cola this week. But I don’t regret it.   I also had the regular crepe and ice cream for Pday I always have.  I love it with the vanilla ice cream.  

The district I'm in is full of 5 companionships of Elders so we sing lots of hymns in a small room and it’s dope.

 We spent 3 and a half hours one morning trying to figure out how to pay the light bill. 

Elder Anderson is coming to our mission this week! 

Quinto de Junio

 Well, I'm here in a new area!  It's called Quinto de Junio.  It's known as Duran (like Shoreline in Seattle still in Quinto but known as Duran)  I went from being a zone leader to a district leader (I skipped that and so I got the chance to go back to a new area and learn that skill too) It involves more training and talking weekly (totally out of my comfort zone) but I am learning how.  

Seems pretty cool. Lots of garbage and dust and drugs but it looks like the work could be really good.  I found out it's one of the most violent areas in Ecuador.  There are no sisters in the district I'm in just 5 companionships of elders because it's a dangerous area. I think it's getting more humid and hot every day. I think this area has crapes with Nutella and ice cream so it should be a pretty good transfer. My old campion Elder Sapian is my zone leader so I'll get to see him more often. We've been playing basketball every morning with the other elders in the house on like 8.5-foot hoops.  Also, my area has to get in 30 min before everyone else (curfew) because it's so sketchy. 

My companion is Elder Duran  (yes same name as where we're at) from Mexico He's a great guy.  I Have one more companion group in my apartment with us.  One Latino and one Gringo like me. Since I live with 4 elders again things are a little more exciting haha.

President gave us all extra money this week and a list of food staples to buy we don't usually buy. The food was a list of a lot of food that will last for a bit. Like noodles, rice, beans, and canned fruit.  Hoping he doesn't know something we don't know. 

 A miracle we saw this week was we contacted a lady and the next day she and her 2 nieces went to an activity in the church. That was great! 

I had to say goodbye to lots of people in my other area since I was there for 4 transfers. I told them all to follow me on Instagram. 

Bye. Hope you are all doing good. 

Our phone is broken and can't upload pictures.  We've let tech know and they said they could possibly switch it out on Wednesday for one that works. So sorry no pictures yet Mom. 

The picture is of Jaden talking to us on Mother's day as we watched the sunset on Kayak Point with the missionaries here in Washington away from their moms.