Spacetime in Guayaquil

Hello Family,

How are you all?  They gave us permission to go to Malecon.  It will be fun to visit.  We are bringing Elder Garcia’s camera.  I don’t know how things will turn out.  I will try to write again afterwards to see if I can send pictures of Elder Turista (Tourist).  Brian and Joao will be going with us.  The real purpose of this whole expedition is for Elder Garcia to buy his dirt cheap iPod, I will remind you.  We are hoping Brian and Joao can help us buy it at a Latino price and not a gringo missionary price.

The young lady I told you about last week is progressing well.  She told her family that she has decided to join the church.  We haven’t had too many appointments with her because she has been busy moving all her stuff to her parent’s house and getting her children enrolled in new schools.  We also learned that she may have a few problems with not working on Sunday, but that should not be too much of a problem.

We had a little issue with people letting themselves into our chapel by jumping the fence to celebrate 10 de Agosto (yet another Ecuadorian independence holiday).  ¡Viva la fiesta!

Well, I hope to hear from you soon.  Last week, I somehow got the letter from you from the same week.  They gave us mail a little later in the week.  You all seemed not so far away, only being about three days distant on the time-space continuum.

Love,

Your brother (who is already forgetting his AP Physics)

Feely:  We found a young man who the missionaries had taught over a year ago named Guillermo.  He is in a navy school.  He had gained a testimony back with his first missionaries, but his mother had not let him join the church.  His 18th birthday is in just a few days so we will see if he has the valentía (valiance?) to do what he knows is right.  His situation kind of reminds me of Miguel Antonio.  I think I wrote to you about him.  Both these young men were quite involved in church activities for a long period of time, but because their parents did not give them permission to join the church, they could never really become integrated and eventually separated from the church.  The bishop even told us that Miguel was always the first youth to arrive for sacrament meeting and was very active in seminary.

Actually, one time our zone leaders came to visit him and Miguel was able to remember a scripture before the zone leader.  I think the main reason he fell away is because of the incredibly ugly situation at home.  We quickly learned we could not teach him at his house because his mother and grandmother would not stop telling Miguel to stop lying to us and that he was a lost cause and so forth.  He spends most of his time in the streets looking for stuff so he can try and escape from his family members.  Since he fell away from the church, he has picked up a lot of bad habits from the people he is spending time with.  These are bad habits that will keep him from joining later when he turns 18.

I have been thinking about him and about what he has gone through.  How responsible will he be for what is happening in his life at the Judgement Bar at the Last Day?  I am hoping that since Guillermo is a little better founded in a military school and has his life in order, he will be able to succeed where Miguel could not.  We invited him to be baptized in September, but he said he will have to think about it.  His mom used to like the church and the missionaries a lot until she suddenly did not want anything to do with the church.  We learned this was due to Guillermo's soon-to-be father-in-law, a Testigo de Jehovah (Jehovah's Witness).  Now Guillermo's mom wants him to be a JW.  Luckily, he told us he does not care too much for them.  He told us there is some weird stuff going on in their Bible.  Je je.  I am looking forward to talking to him on Thursday.

Pretty Good Week

Dear Family,

How are you all this week?  This week has been pretty good for us.  We have started teaching the oldest daughter of a part member family.  She has recently moved back in with her parents.  When the home teachers came over to talk with her family, she asked for them to send us to talk with her.  She had never read the Book of Mormon, but has heard a lot of rumors about the church and decided the best way to find out about the church was reading the Book of Mormon.  She found by herself in Moroni 8 and said she really liked it, which is a response we don’t hear very often in a country in which 98% of the population is Catholic.  Most people have found that Mormon uses some strong language. 

Anyways, she has picked up the information really quickly.  The only problem is that she has already told us that she received a spiritual confirmation to her prayer, but is still a little unsure if she wants to join the church yet.  She has studied with several different religions, which is good because she has been able to see the crystal clarity in which the Book of Mormon lays out many of the most highly debated topics in the Christian theological world, but it is bad because she is having a little trouble renouncing old ideas.  We have our next lesson on Tuesday.

We are also working with another gentleman who has had several head injuries but has been interested in what we teach him.  If we talk about a subject that is familiar to him, he is usually able to hold a completely coherent conversation, but sometimes we have to put our lessons on hold for a moment or two because we realize he is staring blankly into our foreheads.  He is easy to get a hold of, so we have been able to work with him a lot.  He works on shipping boats, so we don’t know if he may leave soon.

Those are our two main investigators for the moment. 

We didn’t get permission to go to Malecon.  Maybe next week.  I guess you saw in the last pictures I sent that Elder Garcia’s camera has the same purple problem as mine.  We have similar Canon models.  I am afraid my camera has finally expired.  It has come back from the dead a few times, but I don’t have much hope for it this time.  I might give it to someone to see if they can do anything.

Well, I’ll talk to you soon.  I was very pleased to hear about your ninja adventures at camp mom.  I hope you were able to let all your giggles out.  I am sure glad to hear you’ve started biking to work, Dad.  Every now and then I get the ganas to get on a bike and ride around.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Squiliam G. Sledgeham, esq.

Feely:  I am having Peru problems.  I guess you know that Peruvians and Ecuadorians don't like each other at all.  I am afraid that my relationship with my companion is deteriorating lately.  I have been ignoring most of what he says because everything is either comment about how terrible our ward and Bishop are or he is making fun of the mentally handicapped young man that likes to follow us around or how things would be different if we were in Lima.   I am still looking for a good way to broach the subject and ask him if he could please be a little less discriminatory and biased.

This has actually been one of my favorite wards.  I tried asking Elder Sanchez to be a little less prideful, and it did not go over too well.  "How dare you?  What have I ever done that could possibly have been taken as prideful?"  I have realized making petitions like these are like explaining to a blind man what the color red is.  Any how, things are actually going pretty well between us.  I have found that buying food, shining shoes and cleaning up the house every once in a while is enough to make just about any companionship with a latino work as long as they don't have a pre-existing vendetta against you.

Mi Recinto

Dear Family,

Hope you had a good time in Oregon.  Sometimes I still say that is where I am from.  I tell them that is where Nike is.  Washington is where Microsoft is.  Sometimes I just say I was born in the Bronx.  People like that one the most because they know where it is.  "You're from a barrio dañado, también (damaged neighborhood, too)?"  Well sort of.  Actually, I lived with Jewish medical students.  I did have my diapers stolen, though.

For Faro, they had a cultural night that I think you would have enjoyed.  They made food and did traditional dances from each of the different providences of Ecuador.  Everyone’s favorite part was when the Relief Society President’s family represented Los Ríos and did impersonations of the main character from a TV show here called Mi Recinto .  He runs around swinging a machete, makes lots of double entendres, and talks funny like they do in Los Ríos and Manabí.

Next week, Elder Garcia and I are hoping to visit Maricón and Las Peñas, Guayaquil’s traditional neighborhood.  There are a couple of good sites there.  Elder Garcia also wants to look for a cheap iPod in Ecuador’s largest flea market, La Bahia.

This week, Joao brought a couple of his friends to church.  They were not all that impressed and tried to run off after sacrament meeting, but Joao chased them down and brought them back to the corral.  One of them tried hiding in the girl’s bathroom.  He has won a couple more karate tournaments.  His mom, Hermana Dioselina, got mad at him the other day because he was in the newspaper and did not tell anyone.  He does not like too much attention.  I also just learned today that Pablo Elizalde passed away.  I am sure glad I got opportunity to get to know him.

Elder Ludlam and President Montalti

Recently, President Montalti has been asking this question a lot.  "How do you feel about the Savior?  The plan of Salvation?  The Book of Mormon?  Elder Nash also talked about those questions when he came a few months ago.  It can actually be quite an introspective question if you don’t just quote or paraphrase a scripture.  It is what I have been thinking about and I wanted to know your thoughts on it.  President Montalti’s other favorite question recently has been "Do your key indicators reflect the doctrine of Christ?"  You don’t need to answer that one.

Bup sure looks great in that picture you sent.

Well, I’ll talk to you soon.

Nannels

Guayaquil Day & Copa America

Hello Family,

How are you all?  So glad you got the package.  It was sure fun to put together.  I hope the little ones all liked their pictures.  I have to admit, though, that some of the letters were written after Mother’s Day.  I’m glad you liked the little card.  A guy was selling those on the bus one day and I just couldn’t pass up on the humble line.  I actually got mail again today.  This is three weeks straight.  Yippee!  Actually, I only got half of your letter.  Part One must be floating around the office somewhere. 

Glad to hear Lia did well on her tests.  Cogí un berrinche cuando vi sus resultados por ACT (I threw a tantrum when I saw the ACT scores).  Practicing my new vocabulary.  As part of my AP Spanish Language test, they added a bunch of static to a sample of a Chilean newscaster broadcast to create a realistic audio scenario.  I didn’t understand a single word.  None of the other latinos in my class had any idea what it was about either.  I thought it was rather cruel.  Glad you did well.

Today is Guayaquil Day, the day they founded the city.  It marks the end of their three day Julian Holidays.  Yesterday was also the final game of Copa America.  Lots of partying.  Lots of futbol.  Lots of lost progress with the Word of Wisdom.  It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I realized that people are always sort of partying here. 

We just keep plucking along here in Amazonas 1.  Elder Garcia has decided that this isn’t the best barrio for tracting.  There are a lot of Evangelicos here… the singing kind.  We have a lot of people who are close to being baptized, they just all have little things that are holding them up.

Well, hope you had a good time a girls’ camp.  Happy Birthday Jenna Alta Ludlam!  I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Love, Gründel

I am afraid the blog may be in jeopardy.  Salt Lake has been having problems with missionaries that put too much information about investigators.  We can't include any personal information about their problems.  There isn't much we can talk about.  I am not sure how much you've bee cutting out in the letters, but they may ask me to tell you to take it down soon.  Ciao Fam Fam

A Mail Bonanza!

(Sorry for the delay this week.  Mom was at Girls' Camp 'til Friday!  We got our first actual snail mail letters from Ecuador this week!  Such a treat for all of us to receive personal messages!)

Hello Family,

I just heard about Rebecca's call.  That's fantastic.  I didn’t know she had put her papers in.  You’ll have to congratulate her for me.  She’ll do great.  Most of the sister missionaries here baptize more than the elders.  President Montalti said that the elders work on fortifying the Primary and Relief Society but the Sisters are the ones who find the sacerdocio (priesthood).

Well, my first week with Elder Garcia went well.  He is pretty tranquilo (laid back).  Although we tried hard, Elder Castro left and we didn’t have much to work with.  Elder Garcia has speakers and an mp3 device, so it has been nice to have some music in the house again.  He put the CDs you sent me on his mp3 so I have finally been able to listen to all the songs.  We are working with Hermana Dioselina´s daughter, Vaneza.  We   are trying to reactivate her friend, Monica Colobon, so she can help us out to get Vaneza a little more excited about joining the church. 

One of the benefits and downsides of bringing a new elder into an area is that they start making invitations to everyone.  Sometimes, the people I thought did not want to listen to us actually decided to hear what we have to say.  On the other hand, some people explode.  For example, the landlady.  "Every single missionary who comes through here has tried converting me, but I’m CATHOLIC."  She puts up with a lot from the missionaries.  We forgot our keys in the apartment twice this week.  She also told Elder Castro before he left that she hoped my new companion didn’t like to have late-night wrestling matches. Elder Castro, our mission leader, and I were prone to have a tussle when Elder Castro would tell him he was a flake.  (I guess that is probably another broken rule I can add, Jenna).  We had a little machismo going on.

They changed Faro to Saturday because they decided some of the activities are not quite Sabbath appropriate.  Unfortunately, attendance has dropped off, which is a shame, because it really did help our younger group of investigators to assimilate into our little Mormon community.  I don’t know why, but Elder Garcia has not been too impressed with our ward.  Maybe he’s just Peruvian.  He has been good to work with.  He’s not the most outgoing, so I guess we will both have to grow in that aspect a little bit.  He does like to contact though, which is good. 

I’m sorry you’ll be losing your bestest Bellevue buddy, Mom.  It’s sad to think I’ll get back and they won’t be there.  It sounds like you got a lot out of your last few weeks together though.  I hope you can keep in close contact even though you are far away.  They were good friends.  She has written to me a couple times.  I’ll have to write them a letter.

I was looking at some of the pictures you’ve sent.  Lucia and Ava are getting tall.  Ava is as big as you and Lia.

Well, I am looking to some big letters coming my way soon.  I don’t know what I will do with all the letters I’ve received.  My mailbox runneth o´er.  I may write back shortly.  Elder Garcia and I took a photo together on his camera and we are going to try and load it on another computer. 

Love, Nannel

Give Squiddles a good lovin´...

Did Dad use my river rafting hat for trek?  I'm glad to see the girls are back to swimming again.  Do they have good diving form in those pictures?  Would you mind sending me some of the electronic versions of some of the pictures of the family and Bellevue life?  I am trying to put together a little picture book to take around because they like to see photos, but I am afraid something will happen to the pictures you gave as hard copies.  Maybe a lacrosse picture, too.  People ask a  lot of questions about that.  Gracias.

Welcoming Elder Garcia...

Hello Lamsluds,

Well, the colombiano se fue (left).  Murió tronquíssimo (He went out trunky).  I am waiting now for my new companion to arrive from Machala.  His name is Elder Garcia.  Another one from Perú.  I am ashamed to admit we did not do much all week except good byes.  Lots of cake.  President Montalti told Elder Castro he is only allowed to be trunky after 23 months and 29 days.  What he did not realize is that Elder Castro passed his 2-year mark the 2nd of July (happy birthday, again, jeje). 

Sorry, I might write again when I get my companion.  He probably hasn’t written yet.

Ciao

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - *-

Well, here is part two.

So far Elder Garcia has been great.  He only has two transfers left but assures me he is as excited for the work as the day he stepped off the plane.  He already knows our area a little bit.  I’ve been taking him around to get to know the members and stopped to write.  Elder Castro is reported to still be wandering around the area with another Elder who also served here from his travel group.  Maybe we’ll bump into each other later today.  Elder Castro is thinking about coming back here to study some time in the near future.

Elder Garcia from Lima

Like I said, this week was full of despedidas (goodbyes).  This week, Elder Castro had his best-friend/convert come up from Pasaje to say good-bye.  He’s the branch president down there.  I’d like to be able to serve there some day.  It is a nice mix of coast and sierra.  Quite beautiful. 

Several of the ladies from the ward started a very large stuffed animal fight during one of Elder Castro’s farewells.  They couldn’t control themselves seein´ how Elder Castro’s such a stud.  This morning we got up bright and early to drop off the colombiano at the new office missionaries house.  Their new place is rather decked out.  Aniñado, as they like to say here.  They live in the city center and I was pleased to learn there are actually some rather beautiful parts to Guayaquil.  Anyway, after I dropping him off, I went to the bus terminal which is where I wrote you.

Well, I am excited for the new change.  Every one has told me I got a good companion.  Elder Castro and I had a lot of success but it became a push at the end.  The funny thing is, though, he just wanted to leave so he could come back and live here as a RM (returned missionary).  I’ll tell you if he shows up again in the next few weeks. 

Well, I love you all so much.  It looks like you had a lot of fun doing trek.  I look forward to hearing about all your adventures in a month or so.

Love Elder Ludlam

Elder Garcia is a little worried about how he’s going to pronounce my name.

PS You have to hear about Fletcher´s brilliant idea.  He has decide he will no longer sign his letters but rather stamp them with an image of his face.  He sent me an example so I asked him how he did it and he sent me this.  It is a very Fletcher-esque operation.

The way I made my face stamp is: with our handy dandy cell phones here we have a camera on it and the camera has the option to turn your picture into a pearly black and white image.  So it makes lighter areas of the photograph white and darker ones black, no in between, so in essence it makes a stamp image.  So then I took a photo of my face and changed it in to a stamp image and then I printed it out on just plain paper and then using a homemade x-acto knife from an old razor blade and a pencil and super glue I cut out only the dark areas of the picture.  Then I traced the areas that I cut out onto the back side of a spider man stamp that I bought.  And then the dark area of the stamp is on the back side so then I cut away everything that wasn't dark using my knife and there you have your face stamp.

Happy 4th!

Dear Family,

How are you all?  I almost forgot about the 4th.  We talked about it in district meeting last week, but I didn’t blow anything up to celebrate.  I did remember Mom’s birthday, though.  I’ll make a special birthday feel-y just for the occasion.

This week we found a few of Joao’s friends to start teaching.  One of them is named Miguel Antonio Perlaza.  He has known the missionaries for several years.  He has wanted to be baptized for a while but his mother does not want to let him.  We found a very dubious baptismal permission slip with his name on it, but he said that it is not his mom’s signature-- nor was he in the country on the date that it was signed.  What were those elders up to?  

Anyway, a year back he was practically an active member.  He came to church with us again for the first time in a few months and said he had forgotten how much he liked church and that it just felt right.  All the members remembered him and were very happy to see him.  I love fellowshipping members.

Speaking of our ward, they just called a few ward missionaries.  We will have to see how it turns out (there is still some of that chisme (gossip) business that is still unresolved).  It made me excited to see the bishop handing out copies of Preach My Gospel.  Does the ward back home use it a lot?  I guess I wasn’t paying attention.  The sister who teaches our New Member Gospel Doctrine class, Adriana Apolinario, is in charge of getting the new ward missionaries up to speed.  She is an ex- missionary and is very excited to be back in the obra misional (missionary work).  It looks like they will just focus on teaching the new member discussions.

Well, this will be the last week for Elder Castro.  He’ll be home next Tuesday eating breakfast at his house (he has to get to the airport at 4 am).  I really am enjoying myself. Elder Castro has been my best companion since Papa Gonzalez.  I heard Elder Gonzalez was released as Zone Leader. He is going to train for his last two transfers which means I am no longer his "unigenito" (only son) as he likes to call me.

Well, it looks like you had a fun birthday on the lake.  Dad looks very distinguished in his hat.  I love you all.  I’ll talk to you soon.

Girndle the Gruñón 

Special Birthday Feely:
Well, know that Elder Catro is leaving, I  will be left to show my companion the new sector.  This will be the first time I'll be left in a sector.  I've been thinking about who I know that could be a cool companion and I realized almost everyone I am friends with in the mission is leaving this transfer or will be leaving in one or two.  Now I am the old missionary (10 months this last Friday).  Everybody thinks that I am going to get bumped up in seniority when Elder Castro leaves.  It is kind of scary.  If they give me a junior companion, I think we are just going to knock doors all day because I won't know what else to do.  I am not sure what I am trying to say exactly, but the mission has seemed to get a little lonelier all of a sudden.  Sorry.  That wasn't a very happy birthday feely.