I thought I liked the food here ….

My apartment 

Wednesday 

We had a pretty busy Pday but it was good. I needed some stuff like bed sheets so we spent most of the day doing that. I took like 3 hours to wash all my clothes because we have to wash by hand. I poured my heart out to Elder Faraoni but turns out he only heard a little bit because he was asleep.

Thursday

We have lots of lessons and I would talk about them more but I don't really know what's being said so sorry. We met with the family who has a big rice farm and it's super cool and all three of their names are Hugo.

Friday

I enjoy reading "the questions of the soul" in the BOM you should look them up if you haven't. We had a super good lesson with Lola and it was super cool and felt the spirit. Lola's Old Pastor told her that her son died of cancer and is not in heaven because she wasn't going to church and wasn't keeping the commandments which obviously isn't true and is super hard and sad. She also told us how she had a couple dreams one week where she was talking to her son and he was telling here that he was okay and it wasn't her fault. And basically we were like oh well we know exactly where he is and we taught her the plan of salvation. 

Saturday

Parties are crazy here. I got to open my presents with my family over a video chat. 

Sunday

Antonio is this old guy who lives alone and makes a living by fixing and sewing clothes we've been teaching and we dropped of a Christmas present for him and he almost started crying and he also came to church.

Monday

I saw a super cool colored parrot

Tuesday 

District council was good I felt like I was able to speak really good Spanish so that felt nice. I ate the most disgusting food. It was pig intestines soup and I tried to take a bite and swallow it but I couldn't and I puked in my mouth a little. I felt so bad for not eating it. I thought the smell was the pigs outside but it was the soup. The best way to describe it is the canned dog food but with chewy tubes of fat in it. 

Shirley this girl we are teaching said she didn't want to get baptized for a few months but then this morning she said that she actually does want to get baptized tomorrow. So it’s scheduled for tomorrow morning.  

Hope you guys are all doing well. Remember to read your scriptures. 

1st days in Ecuador

My shower tube 

I was going to cover each individual day but that would take forever. I'm in Ecuador now! And normally my prep days are Thursday for emails. Me and my comp are in the farthest away part of the mission - out in the boonies. It is so so fun!

It all started Monday and Tuesday of last week with Elder Allred and I living with the APs (assistant to the president) for 2 days waiting for our flight. We literally would spend 6hours in the mission office doing nothing and then the APs would drop us of in there area which has soooo many homeless people and then we would just find for them while they did AP stuff. They definitely used us a little bit haha. Wednesday we both woke up at 2:30am and went to the airport and flew to Atlanta and waited there for a few hours and met up with a bunch of missionaries and flew to Quito with them. Then our flight to Guayaquil  left early so we had to get a voucher and everything for an hotel and we got our own hotel rooms which was super weird and just not aloud haha. Then I went to bed at 1 and woke up st 3am to take the shuttle at 4 to catch our flight. Then the we finally met our mission prez and he picked all 8 of us up and we went to the Mission office and waited there for like 6 hours doing Interviews and paper work and waiting for the rest of the missionaries. Then I went out with Elder Espinosa for like 4 hours who speaks a little little English and we tried to find people. Then that night we all stayed at a mission house and I finally got to sleep. 

Then I got my companion trainer. My Trainer is Elder Faraoni and he's super super cool. It's going to be a fun hardworking next couple transfers. I'll send some pictures but it's crazy here. Not really any houses at all but lots of huts. We wash our clothes by hand and for shower there's just a tube in the bathroom wall that shoots out cold water but it's OK I love it. All ive eaten is beans, rice, chicken and fish. And lots of juice. I loveeeee the people here. It’s so fun talking to them or trying to talk them at least. My companion and I are both gringos so it's not hard to find people to teach or talk too. They all want to talk to us especially the girls haha. And my companion has blue eyes and that's not normal here so they all talk to us and they talk about how handsome we are in Spanish but they don't know my comp speaks Spanish haha. Oh and it's very normal to breast feed in public here and basically just wear like no clothes because it's so hot and everyone lives in huts. Not everyone but lots. Oh also I haven't stopped sweating since I got here three days ago haha. Dogs everywhere cats everywhere. I loveeeee talking to the little kids they're so cute and I love practicing my Spanish with them. Andddd oh we walk a lottttt but also take the bus. Our area is the biggest in the mission. We could take a 40 bus ride and still be in our area and we are the only missionaries here. Being here is so different and it's hard but it doesn't feel hard because I've never ever been happier. I mean that. I've never learned so much in one week and I'm gaining so much confidence and am better at talking to people. 

One thing I wanted to talk about is how God has known exactly what I needed and how to help me. He knew that I needed to go to Vegas for a transfer and have these companions and that missions president and he knew I needed to come to Ecuador and have this companion. There are truly so many miracles every day it's crazy. God knows who we need to talk to and when and where. Literally everyday he puts us in these positions. I also want to talk about how important prayer is. Pray before you do ANYTHING and pray about EVERYTHING. if you so this consistently you will realize God absolutely answers prayers and you'll also notice all your blessings. And our prayers so not have to be good Literally just say everything that you think about. Just have a normal conversation. This last whole week has been hard and without prayer and reading my BOM everyday I couldn't have done it. Yesterday morning I was having a hard time and half wah through the day I realized that I didn't read the BOM because we had ditrict council so we didn't have personal study.

I I could go on and on and I'm sorry for typing so much and I miss you guys and you are always in my prayers. I'll try to write a better email next week hopefully.  are always in my prayers. I'll try to write a better email next week hopefully. 

Last week in USA

 

Monday

I was really looking forward to pday but it ended up not being relaxing at all. We played chair soccer again but missed the ball and I kicked my chair superrrrr hard. It was sister Wilson's birthday so we went to Chipotle and the got Bahama bucks again like. My card WOULD NOT WORK at Ross but luckily I had cash to get the stuff I needed. We then had to go to the library because Elder Ong needed to do FAFSA paper work and Elder Onton needed to download ukulele music haha. Later that night we gave Luis a blessing and he kept saying "tene fe" over and over again haha which just means have faith. 

Tuesday 

We got to teach English class for a couple hours tonight and it was super fun. Even tho I don't know Spanish at all. 

Wednesday 

We helped this family move for like 2 hours and they bought us pizza. Later that night we talked to Rosalba and even tho I didn't know what was being said I could still feel so much love for her and genuinely cared about her which was cool to experience. 

Thursday 

Thursday was a super good day. We visited brother Calmey and he's been struggling with his testimony and his relationship with the savior and just figuring out who he is as a person which is cool because thats stuff that I struggle with but I'm a little farther ahead of him if that makes sense and I felt like I was able to help him. Some members gave us five guys gift cards so we got five guys before the service project and it was sooooo good. The service project was a bunch of gravel in wheel barrels and it felt super nice to lift heavy stuff. Not just calethenics. Later that night we met with Edith and John who have started to be more interested in the church. They are super amazing people and have recognized so many blessings in their life when they try to make and effort to live the gospel. Even tho they are tight on money and she just lost her job they are such happy people and they just told us about all their blessings and how as they try to keep the sabbath day holy they are blessed like how right after she lost her job he got a raise at work and her mom was able to let her take her job for a little because the mom had to stop working for some reason. I felt so good talking to them and they definitely had the light of christ around them and in their home. 

Friday 

Elder Onton and I gave the training on how to invite people to church and help them have a desire to go to church. I've gotten so much better at talking to people and in front of people. I've gotten so much better at spring my testimony and I've gotten a little better at putting my thoughts into words. I'm not good at it at all yet but I'm getting better. 

Saturday 

I've grown such a huge love for personal study. I wish personal study was for 3 hours. We taught this guy named Jason about the book of Mormon. He thinks that no matter what you go to hell if you don't believe in christ even if you never even had the chance to hear about christ then you still go to hell. Even if you were a super good person your whole life you still go to hell for not believing in christ. 

Which is stupid

But he was a very nice guy it was just said that people believe that and I wanted to help him and it was frustrating because I have these feelings of what to share with him but my knowledge is lacking and I couldn't say anything. But we shared our testimonies and it was very powerful and he's going to read the book of Mormon and we fasted for him. 

Oh we got to clean the church and for some reason cleaning the church as a missionary is super fun. Especially when you are In a trio. 

Sunday

I love going to the Spanish ward they are so nice and hilarious. 

I have also loved taking the sacrament. I really encourage you to ponder about the things you can do better while taking the sacrament and truly ponder what your testimony is. 

We helped these people clean their restaurant and the spray they use to get grease off of everything is super strong and it accidentally got on my arm and it totally burnt my arm. 

I don't say like a single thing when we talk to them because they only speak Spanish and after a few times of meeting with them and not saying almost anything he just turned to me and told me to shut up lol. It was pretty funny. Next time he talks to me in English I'm going to say" no hablo ingles."

Anyway super good week. Bye. 

 

Starting to realize why my brothers emails sucked during their missions

***Picture of woman Jaden baptized last week.  He said it took 3 of them in the font because of a broken arm.  They all had to help lower her down into the water.  This is the same woman he mentioned giving a blessing to a couple weeks ago.  

 

Monday 

I was having a rough day but my trainer forced me to talk to someone anyway after I wiped the tears away and trying to help someone else definitely helps you feel better. Also we have another meeting with the guy I ended up talking too. 

Tuesday 

We had exchanged with the zone leaders and they are both super cool. Elder tuipolotu played football at BYU before the Mish and is going to after too. I was with Elder Winfield most of the day and learnt a lot from him. He's super good at just starting a conversation with anyone and talking to everyone he sees. 

Wednesday 

We went to Sister Oliver's house to give her a blessing and I've never seen so many Christmas decorations in my life. It had to take days to set up. It made me homesick a little I have to be honest. We had a lesson with Mayra but I don't speak Spanish yet so I just sat there but I'm starting to pick up more and more. Cool lesson with Tim. He's from Liberia and he wants to get baptized. 

Thursday 

We had zone conference and it was soo good. Everytime President Rodarte speaks I feel the spirit so strongly. He makes me so motivated to find people that need the gospel in their life. 

Friday 

Because we are in a Trio right now and have three wards to cover we have to go to 2 district council's but having 2 guys for companions is so fun. I cry laughing multiple times a day. I finished the Book of Mormon a couple weeks ago so I've been able to start over and have a notebook that is for only analyzing each chapter and I'm loving it so much so far. So many things to learn if you read it slower and aren't trying to finish it for seminary haha. Something that also helps is praying before and after personal study. And if you just pray before literally everything you do. 

Saturday 

I went to a baptism today and even though it was all in Spanish I could still feel the spirit which is pretty cool. I really didn't think I would have a problem leaving and going to Ecuador but I'm kinda sad about it. The people here are so good and I'm learning and growing so much. 

Sunday. 

Uhhh not much to say but it was a good day and we found lots of people today and just this week in general. And we made ginger bread houses as a ward.

Ecuador!

Nov 29   11/22 was jaden's 19th bday! 

was

 Monday  11/22

Okay so kind of a crazy week. Sunday night my district dropped me off at the assistant presidents apartments with like 2 other missionaries that are going to Ecuador because we needed to fly to the phoenix Ecuadorian consulate in person. Which i literally only signed 3 papers and left but it's okay it was an adventure and pretty fun. Anyway, we slept on the ground with a mattress and no blanket haha. Then we woke up at 3:30 and Elder Scott picked us up, handed us a bunch of papers and took us to the airport. The plane ride was super short. I was just looking out the window the whole time and then all of a sudden we were landing. Oh and I got to see uncle Mark at the consulate which was cool but weird. And not to mention probably not aloud. I talked to this middle eastern guy for like and hour about islam and other religions. Anyway then we did all the paperwork and then we made our flight 15 minutes before it left. I got back and then we had like 2 lessons that night. 

Tuesday 

Tuesdays we had transfers which is where you switch companions for the day and that was cool because I didn't have my trainer there to do everything for me so I actually had to talk to people and lead lessons. Also my district is into Dungeon and dragons so that's all they ever talk about. Not actually haha they're good missionaries. 

Wednesday 

We switched to bikes today because one of the other elders has health problems but it's okay it only for a couple days and it's kinda fun. Except my back wheel totally bent and rubbed against the bike and it wouldn't move and I constantly have to hold down the left gear changer or it doesn't work. But it builds Character haha. 

Thursday

No one wants to listen to us on Thanksgiving so we had a pday. They all played dungeons dragons while read The Saints V1 which is super good. Elder Rosboroughs bike chain snapped in half so we walked super far to a members house. 

Friday

Elder cox had to go home for health problems so we got Elder onton and we are in a trio. We are over three areas now one of them being a Spanish ward so we've had a few Spanish lessons and I have no idea what they are saying. But I'm learning… kind of. We Invited Arthur and his three family members to be baptized and they are going to all be baptized the 18th. I met brother Ferguson and he talked about when he came to our church he never felt judged or anything and when he used to go to his old church they wouldn't talk to  him if he wasn't wearing the same nice clothes as everyone else. He says he enjoys coming to church now because everyone is so nice to him and normally he hates everyone but at church he said he can't bring himself to not like anyone. 

Saturday 

We've been teaching Trinidad and Velinda in Spanish and they own this super good Mexican restaurant so we buy food and the teach. We had a super good lesson and although I didn't know what my 2 companions were saying I could still feel the spirit which was really cool. 

Sunday

We went to three services sunday and taught a lot of lessons and ate a lot of food with members.

Sorry I wrote this really quickly we have a lot to do this pday(Food and playing card games and dunking and playing volleyball). All around I'm doing pretty good. I still don't really know how to teach a lesson very well and I don't know the scriptures or doctrine very well but I'm trying to learn. Oh and I'm going to Ecuador on December 13. 

 but weird. And not to mention probably not aloud. I talked to this middle eastern guy for like and hour about islam and other religions. Anyway then we did all the paperwork and then we made our flight 15 minutes before it left. I got back and then we had like 2 lessons that night. 

Tuesday 

Tuesdays we had transfers which is where you switch companions for the day and that was cool because I didn't have my trainer there to do everything for me so I actually had to talk to people and lead lessons. Also my district is into Dungeon and dragons so that's all they ever talk about. Not actually haha they're good missionaries. 

Wednesday 

We switched to bikes today because one of the other elders has health problems but it's okay it only for a couple days and it's kinda fun. Except my back wheel totally bent and rubbed against the bike and it wouldn't move and I constantly have to hold down the left gear changer or it doesn't work. But it builds Character haha. 

Thursday

No one wants to listen to us on Thanksgiving so we had a pday. They all played dungeons dragons while read The Saints V1 which is super good. Elder Rosboroughs bike chain snapped in half so we walked super far to a members house. 

Friday

Elder cox had to go home for health problems so we got Elder onton and we are in a trio. We are over three areas now one of them being a Spanish ward so we've had a few Spanish lessons and I have no idea what they are saying. But I'm learning… kind of. We Invited Arthur and his three family members to be baptized and they are going to all be baptized the 18th. I met brother Ferguson and he talked about when he came to our church he never felt judged or anything and when he used to go to his old church they wouldn't talk to  him if he wasn't wearing the same nice clothes as everyone else. He says he enjoys coming to church now because everyone is so nice to him and normally he hates everyone but at church he said he can't bring himself to not like anyone. 

Saturday 

We've been teaching Trinidad and Velinda in Spanish and they own this super good Mexican restaurant so we buy food and the teach. We had a super good lesson and although I didn't know what my 2 companions were saying I could still feel the spirit which was really cool. 

Sunday

We went to three services sunday and taught a lot of lessons and ate a lot of food with members.

Sorry I wrote this really quickly we have a lot to do this pday(Food and playing card games and dunking and playing volleyball). All around I'm doing pretty good. I still don't really know how to teach a lesson very well and I don't know the scriptures or doctrine very well but I'm trying to learn. Oh and I'm going to Ecuador on December 13. 

 that are going to Ecuador because we needed to fly to the phoenix Ecuadorian consulate in person. Which i literally only signed 3 papers and left but it's okay it was an adventure and pretty fun. Anyway, we slept on the ground with a mattress and no blanket haha. Then we woke up at 3:30 and Edler Scott picked us up, handed us a bunch of papers and took us to the airport. The plane ride was super short. I was just looking out the window the whole time and then all of a sudden we were landing. Oh and I got to see uncle Mark at the consulate which was cool but weird. And not to mention probably not aloud. I talked to this middle eastern guy for like and hour about islam and other religions. Anyway then we did all the paperwork and then we made our flight 15 minutes before it left. I got back and then we had like 2 lessons that night. 

Tuesday 

Tuesdays we had transfers which is where you switch companions for the day and that was cool because I didn't have my trainer there to do everything for me so I actually had to talk to people and lead lessons. Also my district is into Dungeon and dragons so that's all they ever talk about. Not actually haha they're good missionaries. 

Wednesday 

We switched to bikes today because one of the other elders has health problems but it's okay it only for a couple days and it's kinda fun. Except my back wheel totally bent and rubbed against the bike and it wouldn't move and I constantly have to hold down the left gear changer or it doesn't work. But it builds Character haha. 

Thursday

No one wants to listen to us on Thanksgiving so we had a pday. They all played dungeons dragons while read The Saints V1 which is super good. Elder Rosboroughs bike chain snapped in half so we walked super far to a members house. 

Friday

Elder cox had to go home for health problems so we got Elder onton and we are in a trio. We are over three areas now one of them being a Spanish ward so we've had a few Spanish lessons and I have no idea what they are saying. But I'm learning… kind of. We Invited Arthur and his three family members to be baptized and they are going to all be baptized the 18th. I met brother Ferguson and he talked about when he came to our church he never felt judged or anything and when he used to go to his old church they wouldn't talk to  him if he wasn't wearing the same nice clothes as everyone else. He says he enjoys coming to church now because everyone is so nice to him and normally he hates everyone but at church he said he can't bring himself to not like anyone. 

Saturday 

We've been teaching Trinidad and Velinda in Spanish and they own this super good Mexican restaurant so we buy food and the teach. We had a super good lesson and although I didn't know what my 2 companions were saying I could still feel the spirit which was really cool. 

Sunday

We went to three services sunday and taught a lot of lessons and ate a lot of food with members.

Sorry I wrote this really quickly we have a lot to do this pday(Food and playing card games and dunking and playing volleyball). All around I'm doing pretty good. I still don't really know how to teach a lesson very well and I don't know the scriptures or doctrine very well but I'm trying to learn. Oh and I'm going to Ecuador on December 13.