A Week in Azogues

"Wherever I go, she is watching!"
 (Virgen de las Nubes in background--in Azogues)

Hello Family,

We just had our transfers yesterday. Élder Nuñez and I are on for another six weeks here in Totoracocha. We have been trying to keep a low profile as the Carnival Chaos continues.  If we stick to the back roads we usually stay pretty dry.  The only problems we have run into are marauding bands of super soakers on the way back home to re-outfit.  The primary danger is people hurling water ballons from their cars from the main roads.  Luckily, soccer is Ecuador's favorite sport and not baseball.  

Carlos, the young man I told you about last week, continues to progressing rapidly. Our only concern is that he will manage to survive el feriado (the holidays).  He left town to visit his family in Loja, so we won't hear from him for a few days.  He had another good experience at church even though half the branch took off after sacrament meeting to beat the mass exodus out of Cuenca.  Everyone from the Sierra goes to the beach during Carnival and everyone from la costa comes here to visit family and to escape the Carnival mayhem.

I really enjoyed my week long exchange with Elder Badger.  Azogues is having a lot of success recently.  A member just moved there from Guayaquil because he had the impression that he needed to come and help his family accept the gospel there in Azogues.  He got all of his family together for a family home evening and invited the elders over to share a short spiritual message and, lo and behold, the Azogues missionaries found 15 interested investigators in a single night.  Elder Badger was great to work with.  He is really excited about the work and has a way of winning the confidence of everyone he talks to.  I learned a lot from his example. He played safety for Notre Dame.

Thank you for the picture of Lia.  It was exactly what I was hoping for.  When I get back, Lia, we need to have a drag race.  You can have the Pontiac Grand Prix and I'll take the Nissan Rust Bucket.

Hope to talk to you all soon,

Élder Dudlán