Welcome Elder Velasquez!

Dear Fam Fam,

Elder Velasquez

How are you all?  I am doing great.  We had cambios (transfers).  I am still here in Solana.  Elder Coy got sent back to Loja.  He was quite upset about that.  My new companion’s name is Elder Velasquez.  He is a gringo-latino from Cincinatti, OH.  His dad is from Guatemala.  We just met a few hours ago.  Me parece un tipo bastante bueno. (He seems like a really good guy)

We had a really good week this past week.  We got a lady named Jocelyn to come to church.  She is the partner of a less-active member, Marcelo, we found contacting.  When we first talked with her, she said that she was Catholic and could never change because of her mom, but then we shared the message of the Restoration and she really caught on and wants to be baptized. 

The only problem is that the less-active partner is not all that excited about coming back to church.  He actually got baptized and was really active in another ward called Los Esteros (one of my earlier wards), but something happened so he changed job locations to change wards.  We were able to visit with the sister yesterday with the bishop.  The bishop lived before in Los Esteros and was there when Marcelo got baptized.  He had heard that Marcelo had moved to this ward but had never been able to find him.  He talked with Jocelyn about setting an example for her husband so that he could decide to come back to church and marry Jocelyn.  I thought it was pretty cool.  It has been hard to visit our investigators with the bishop.

Elder Carnese is still here but Elder Johnson left.  He was only here for two weeks.  The new elder’s name is Elder Silva from Chile.  I just wanted to ask you for our new address, phone numbers, and the names, the unit numbers of our new ward and stake, and the name of the airport in NJ.  I got my trunky papers (flight itinerary) the other week, but it came in blank because they are missing information.  I need to send them los datos nuevos (new information).  I was also wondering if you could send my mission call in the next package.  President said that we should read over it frequently.  I would like another camera, but I don’t know how much time I would have to use it.  I am old.

Well, here's my promised pysch-feely:
These last few weeks I've been working with a senior missionary named Elder Packard due to some of my companionship issues.  I think he works with the whole area because he's based in Lima.  So far we've only been able to have to or three full conversations due to phone problems and a trip to Bolivia that he had to take.  Mostly we've talked about not being passive and learning to talk to people to get both our needs met so I don't get frustrated and then explode.  We've also been working on replacing bad thoughts of ineptitude (which lead me to try to blame or tear down my companion) with edifying, uplifting thoughts from Christ.  So far I've really enjoyed our sessions together even though I haven't been able to talk to him for a week or two.  I just decided last week that I wanted to share with you some of what´s been going on.

Does this mean I can’t open your emails since you’ve been hacked?

Well, I look forward to writing to you all next week and as always I will be in District Meeting waiting for a mountain of DearElders.

Love, Nannie-Pooh

Dear Grandma Natalie,

How are you?  I am sorry we have not been able to talk in so long.  As you know, I've been in Ecuador these past 18 months as a missionary.  Even though I have had to put my studies on hold for a while, I know this is the best decision I have ever made.  It is hard, but the gospel I share is able to bring such hope and solace to the humble people of Ecuador.  The message I share gives them a new foundation for faith in Jesus Christ.  The reason for this new hope comes from our belief that God still talks with man on earth like we read about in the Bible.

Even though many people believe that now miracles don't exist anymore and that God is far away in Heaven and does not take much concern in our daily lives, the people I teach can find hope and new confidence in God by believing that he called the boy Joseph Smith to be a prophet in the spring of 1820.  The convincing evidence of this is the Book of Mormon.  I am not sure how much Dad has been able to talk to you about all this.  Have you ever been able to read the Book of Mormon?  I know that anyone who with sincerity will read the Book of Mormon and pray to God with faith to ask if it is true will come to know of its divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost.
 
I am sorry if I am getting a little preachy, but this is what I have been talking about every day with everyone for the past year and a half.  I am so glad that we will be moving so much closer to you when we come to New Jersey.  Mom tells me we will just be a few hours from New York City.  I am not sure how much time it takes to travel to Maryland.  It will be so much easier to visit when I get back in October.  Well, I just wanted to send you a little note.  We only write to our families by email every Monday.  I would love to hear back from you someday.  Talk to you soon.

Love, your grandson, Grant

Photos at Last!

Dear Family,

I'm a Man Now: Elder Ludlam forgets to shave
OR Elder Ludlam gets a messy haircut!

Sounds like an exciting week for you all!  That is so wonderful about selling the house in one day.  Have you ever thought about going into Real Estate, Mom?  You’re building a pretty good track record.  2/2

Well, things have been going well in Solana.  We’ve been working hard to find new people.  Yesterday, we had a great lesson.  Elder Coy’s favorite mamita here (featured in the FHE picture in the purple shirt) finally got her husband to listen to the missionaries.  All her kids are members, and now they are just waiting for the dad.  Anyway, she’s been praying for years that her husband would start investigating the church so they could get sealed in the temple.  Slowly but surely she has been making progress, from playing the hymns in their house, to having him in the room during family prayer, to reading out loud to him from the Book of Mormon before they go to bed; she’s been melting down his corazón endurecido (hard heart).  Last night we got him to accept a baptism date for the week after General Conference.  We are all pretty excited.

Family Home Evening

Elder Ludlam's Hungry Hippo Shoes

Well, we have transfers coming up next week.  We decided to use our possibly last p-day together to make some homemade cerveza de raíz (root beer) with Elder Carnese and Elder Johnson.  It’s almost been 18 months since I drank root beer.  My last night in the Provo MTC, I think I drank about 5 glasses of root beer to make it count.  

Well, I am sorry.  Elder Coy wants to stick to the 45 minute letter rule and this is straining my 45 wpm typing skills to the maximum.  Sometimes I burn out and have to stare blankly out into space to cool down before I can start typing again. 

Love,

Sir Squilliam Sledgeham, esq.

Solana is a nice little ward

Dearest Family,

How are you all this fine Monday afternoon?

Are these photos of the first loads out to the east?  I just realized the other day I won’t be able to defend any of my stuff.  I don’t know if I can trust anyone in my family to know what’s really important in my room. 

Well, guess what, Elder Johnson just moved in to live with us.  He is Elder Carnese’s new companion.  The other guy, Elder Child, got called to be Assistant.  I thought it was pretty cool.  The old Assistant, Elder Pavon, came to live with us for half a day.  He was so laid back.  Everything he said and did seem to say, "FREE!"  I think he was happy to get out of there.

Andres' baptism with now Eyner Barboza

Well, Solana is a nice little ward.  It is in the same zone as all of the downtown Guayaquil wards.  It’s really flat and has lots of two-story buildings.  We’ve been working with a young man named Andrés.  He’s a super-escogido (super chosen or elect).  This month the stake is having a big missionary focus and part of their plan is to have all the members read the book of Mormon this month.  Andrés said that he wants to read the Book of Mormon with the members.  His mom and sister both came with him to church this past week, so we are looking forward to working with them.

Things are working better with my companion.  There was a lot of belly-aching, but nothing a few service opportunities couldn’t fix.  I have been thinking a lot about companions lately and I’ve realized that when we are out there in the cold, mean world, he’s the only one out there that’s on my team.  It made me want to be a better friend.  He really is a good guy.  He hasn’t had the best companions.  Anyway, I’ve been trying to change my teaching styles in a way that I never really have before--to try and really support him when we are teaching.  It has turned out really well.
 
We are having problems finding a cyber with the right kind of memory port.  I think Elder Carnese has an adapter he can lend us.  No quiso prestárnoslo hoy (He didn’t want to lend it to us today for the camera).  That’s really great about Elder Clayton (Grant’s college roommate was called to serve his mission in Oregon!).  You’ll have to look up his address so I can try and write him.  I’ve been thinking of writing Taffin, too.  I imagine Elder Kurt already got back from Chile.

Well, I’m sorry, my companion is kicking me off.  I’ll have to talk to you all soon.

Ciao,

Mr Girndle

This week I´d like to write a little message to Granny.

Dear Granny Marjorie,

How are you?  My family has been writing me about all the times they have been able to visit you for holidays and birthdays.  I always wish I could be with them and see you, too.  It is so wonderful here in Ecuador.  The people are so kind and generous.  Uncle Paul would love the sea food.  I've spent a large part of my mission up in the Andes in a city called Cuenca.  It is Ecuador's wealthiest city.  It has a very nice climate.  I am sure you would like it here.  Do you like foreign food?

Well, I am guessing you have heard my family will be moving out to the East Coast.  We will have to have a big Oregon trip when I get back so I can see you, and Grandma Cheryle and Grandpa Bob and the rest of the family.  I just wanted to say how much I love you and think about you.  Love, Elder Ludlam

I'm a Man Now: Elder Ludlam Forgets to Shave

Dear Family,

How are you all?  I got a huge stack of letters last week.  I didn’t have anything from 2012.  I read about all the stuff you had to do to get that house, mom and dad.  Thank you for all that you do to for my sisters and I.  I love you mucho.

Well, we had an exciting week.  We hardly had anyone in our programs so we hit the streets.  We decided to go for the members and look for references and it turned out really well.  We found some great people.  So far the most promising is Diego.  He is a very interesting person.  His parents are members and he has been going to church on and off since he was about five.  He travels for his work so he’s lived all over the world.  He said he has been going to church in the Hong Kong foreigner’s branch for a while because he found a Mormon girlfriend that took him.  He came back to Ecuador recently and asked a sister in our ward who lives down the street from him to send us to see him.  So far the only problem is his new non-member girlfriend.  She needs to go.

I know I promised pictures today but they are on Elder Coy’s camera memory and we can’t find a computer with that kind of port.  Maybe I will be able to send them later on today.  My favorite picture I have to send you I have entitled I´m a Man Now: Elder Ludlam Forgets to Shave.

Well, I am not sure I much more to say.  I could just bore you with more companion problems.   Oh, did I tell you, I am living with the Elder Carnese.  He was secretary for a while, you know.  Elder Child is the fourth missionary living with us.

Well, I love you so.  Maybe I’ll get to write a little more later on.

Love,

Your Elde

Dear Sophie,

How are you?  I got your letter a few weeks ago.  I decided this that if I write to you this way, it is probably a better since my letter will get to you before spring term ends.  I am guessing you have heard that my family is moving to New Jersey in the next few months.  I guess I won't notice that much since I will be heading back off to school soon after I return.  I am just a little sad because I had all these ideas in my head of all the people I was going to look up in our class to convert as soon as I got home.  Oh well.

I was thinking of how old a missionary I am.  My time soon will come to an end.  I've got to make good use of every moment I've got left.  I am glad to hear that you are still want to leave on a mission.  It really is the best thing I've ever done.  Do you think you'll get to go foreign?  You have to tell me more about your trip to Ghana.

Well, I'm sorry I don't have much time.  I think my emailing we will be able to get mail back and forth more quickly, at least.

Talk to you later, Love Grant

A Day Late and a Camera Short

¡Familia!  Sigo vivo (I’m still alive).

Flooding in Guayaquil

Sorry, this last week has been Carneval and they haven’t let us leave the house due to the general mayhem.  (He didn't write on his usual Monday) It’s actually not really that bad.  They are giving us a little bit of time to write today.  I am sorry to keep you hanging like that.

More news.  I am back in my first ward, Solana.  I got transferred out of Cuenca.  It was close, but my previous record of only staying in a ward 14 weeks still stands.  My new companion’s name is Elder Coy from Guatemala.  He is a very smiley fellow.  

Narcissa and Gisella Villon and family

It is really weird because they have pulled the missionaries out of Solana a couple of times so not much has happened in the aspecto misional (missionary work) since I left.  I got to the new sector and opened up the area book and there were all my converts from a year ago right on top.  It is kind of like things were frozen in time.  I was only there two weeks so everything seems like a foggy memory.  Almost all the members a have said, "You seem familiar, have you been here before?"  I remind them I was with Elder Gonzalez and they say, "Oh, you were that quiet Elder."

Mall del Sur

Well, I want to wish Luci a very happy birthday today.  

Love, Mr. G

About the camera, I have some bad news.  I think someone took it out of my bag on the bus.  I got to the house and I didn’t have it anymore. Please don’t be too angry.  I do have some pretty good pictures to send that I took on my companion’s camera for next week.

Just a quick note

Dear Familia,

How are you?  It looks like you had some fun with the dance party for Ava.  I am back to using my big "tractor" shoes.  I had lent them to Elder Castro to use for a little while.  He likes to call them "mis tanques".  I need to look for a good place to find new shoes.

Well, we are running kind of late today.  The zone leaders wanted to come over to inspect our house and took forever to show up.  I am sorry I don’t have much time.  Elder Castro and I need to come up with some good ideas because we can’t get anyone to come to church.  We have been trying to work with the members. 

Well, I’ve got to go. 

Hope to talk to you soon.

Elder Grant

Staying in Cuenca!

Dear Family,

How is every one?  The new house doesn’t look any smaller or less Xanadu than the last one.

Well, today was transfers and it looks like I’ll be staying in Cuenca.  Everyone is staying here in our house except for Elder Warner.  He’s going to Monay.  We had a trip down to Machala to have a meeting with Presidente Montalti.  I guess the mission got pretty lazy this past month.  We all dropped in numbers.  I am rather proud of myself because this week we did really good working with members.  Elder Castro and I beat our record for number of lessons with a member present in a week for this area and we even were gone two whole days.  

We’ve been trying to help this family who knows the Book of Mormon is true but doesn’t want to pray to God about it.  We got the members excited about the family and they have all been trying to help, but I am afraid the family doesn’t want to progress.  The dad said that he really likes everything we have taught him from the Book of Mormon and even wants to go teach his friends using the Book of Mormon but said that he made the decision long ago to never join another church.  I think he’s talked with and investigated a lot of churches.  He said all the churches lead to Christ.  Apparently prophetic revelation, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and a remission of sins is not all that important to him.  I told him if he wants to walk away with the Book of Mormon but not join the church, its basically the same thing as stealing a bunch of cable channels from his neighbor.  I am not sure how he took it.

One of the big things I took home from the Machala conference is we need to always have a prayer in our heart.  Everything we do should be in a spirit of prayer.  If we do that, it will be a lot easier to stay focused on what is really important and we can know what we need to do.  We are still teaching the girl from Machala that I told you about last week.  There are two sets of senior missionaries here in Cuenca called the LaMarcas. They have been teaching English classes and our investigator has been going there with her friend, Yuliana.  The LaMarcas called and asked if they can come and teach her with us.  They are really good.  They still need me to translate, but they add a level of maturity to the lessons that Elder Castro and I are not quite capable of.

Hopefully, tomorrow I’ll get to learn what you’ve been up to.  How long did it take you to find the house?

Love,

Elder Ludlam