Aug 10 2015

Hey familia!

So to start out, the parasites probably have taken their toll. They never quit either. This right now is the cold season in Ecuador so it's actually not too bad. I don't sweat at night and I actually use my sheet! But that's because the fan is blowing all night. Anyways, to answer your other question. We were at a wedding haha. Forgot to mention that one I guess. An investigator couple in my companions last sector was getting married to be baptized and they were here in the city. They were about a half hour bus ride so we got permission to go. We actually ended up being late to the wedding because they didnt give us an address haha! That's latinos for you. They gave us the street name which is 9 de octubre (translates to october 9th) which is like saying 52nd street in New York. IT IS A STREET! We looked everywhere. We were almost an hour late for the wedding. But we were in reality probably 10 minutes late. That is the culture here.

 Sara is home? That's awesome! We actually talked to this girl a few days ago from Russia. She spoke english, and was moving to Reno. It was kind of a weird moment. But here we get that a lot. Like we talked to a guy 2 hours ago that lived in New York. He hitchhicked all over the place and had been all over Europe. Kinda weird. But thats kinda been my life. Strange things happen here to us everyday.

 As for your questions, the language is still really hard. I noticed this today more than any day but the members dont really like to talk to me unless my comp is with me cuz I don't understand very well. But as for lessons and stuff, I'm actually ok there. My vocabulary is centered in the gospel right now. People think I speak really well and many say I have a better accent than my comp, and most gringos. I picked the accent up really easy but now its just the grammar and my vocabulary really. And understanding. People here are hard to understand. For having only 10 weeks in the field though, I'd say I'm pretty good haha. I would have been a lot better if I was still with a latin for sure but I don't care too much. I like the area and I like the people and I like the food so I can't really complain.

 Other than that, it's been a pretty dull week. I did get a scripture case for my triple and I've got one coming for my Bible and I got a case for my agenda. Oh I did also have a doctors appointment last week. The wart is pretty much gone so now I'm taking a pill to kill the infection I guess.. I take 3 a day. Hopefully it'll go away after a week. So did you send any pictures in the package? And what about an english himno book? Just kinda curious. You know what would be awesome though? If you could send more pics :) I love seeing the family. Also I want to see more of the house! I have like one picture of the family room full of stuff and that's it.

 Oh yesterday we did a family night with this one family who wanted us to cook them something American. So my companion says I'll cook chili rice! It is something they eat in their family, if you ask me it's a total Utah mom dish haha. But we got there and they obviously didn't have chili, just beans. So we cook beans and imrovised. Knowing that chili was kind of a tomato based sauce I told my comp that. So they gave us salsa de tomate or better known as ketchup. So ya. We added peppers, onions, tomato, ketchup, and beans, and a little creole and some hot dogs cut up. It was weird. Then we put it with rice and ate it. It was alright. But it wasn't american. It was not american. haha Anyways, I'm gunna send some pics. Sadly the goat wasn't too involved this week.

With Love,

Elder Taylor

This is my scripure case, and my agenda case. Super nice.

This is our very nicely organized fridge

Me with nutella and me with my gucci glasses.

The goat.  Find him...

Aug 3 2015

Wow. You've had a full week. Well if it makes you feel any better, I had a full week as well. It is kinda my job though haha. Study and work, rinse and repeat. Anyways, the Mondays are feeling closer and closer so thats good. The days are still long but the weeks are flying! I'm 3.5 months in! So, now I will be eagerly awaiting my package haha!

   Ok to explain the last week a bit. Monday we did a FHE with a reference at a members house and after he was telling us he had a vision about the entire book of Revelations. My companion said they have visions more than us because they have nephite blood. But it was a good lesson. I want to talk with him again and kinda verify what he saw cuz if he was serious that would be cool. Also we taught a lady Tuesday who was also a reference. After we had introduced the Book of Mormon she was telling us about this vision she had about Jesus descending into a cloud. So we read 3 Nephi 11 a little with her and she was like, ''that's what I saw!!'' It was also a cool lesson though. We will see next time if she's a real investigator by if she reads her book. That's kinda the line we draw. They are real and want to learn if they read. This is the line because everything relies on a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Which reminds me, I know you guys just moved and life is hectic but get the BOM's out. Tell me what page you guys are on and as a family read one page per day, and I'll read with you. I had that thought last week.

 We went to a wedding Saturday as well. We were late though. It was an investigator of my companions last zone, and they were getting married here in Guayaquil. We missed the ceremony but I made it into some wedding photos! The nice thing is we didn't even have to change for it. Just kinda showed up.

 Random side thought, this is the name of ONE member... Silvia Elena Linda Elvira Maria Luiza Sebastiana Lipari de Casal. How would you like to give her a blessing?  be like ok, so whats your full name?

Silvia Elena Linda Elvira Maria Luiza Sebastiana Lipari de Casal............ Ya we will go get the Bishop.. maybe he can help you. haha

 Other than that the goat goes on. I got more pictures but not as many. As for my companion, he is all good. As for food this week, Friday we ate basically a giant avacado cut in half full of chicken and rice. Always rice. And other than that, we ate rice this week. Lots of rice haha. 

Well I love you guys,  can't think of anything else to write really. Had a weird week but I don't remember anything! Anyways, I better get off, I will send pics now.

 Love you guys!

 Élder Taylor

Here is a random pic I taped in my comps agenda. He laughed pretty hard the next day when he found it.

My foot...Every time I take the bandaid off it takes a layer of skin.

The adventures of Billy continue

Bowling, saw my buddy Elder Montenegro from el CCM

July 27 2015

Hey mama!

First off, no bug spray. We can get this really good stuff here but either way, especially right now I'm in the city and there's not many mosquitoes. I haven't got bit since my last area. Plus the people there just light egg cartons on fire and smoke their house out. 

The people here will sell ANYTHING for money though. People walk up and down streets selling shoe laces, or even bed sheets. This morning was pots. A grown man yelling, "pots for sale" carrying 5 or 6 pots. Anything.  Lots of jugo de cocoa or coconut juice. Haven't tried it yet, I don't trust the juice they bag. Another weird thing is that. They sell stuff in bags here.  Bagged milk in the markets, bagged yogurt, bagged juice. Oh which reminds me, a normal sized bottle of apple juice is like 9 bucks here!!  It is cheaper to buy the actual juice than welches juice. Confusing, no? 

But this week has been interesting. Lots of canceled appointments and lots of disappointment. That's the mission life for you. My comp has been a bit in the dumps this week as well, so it made for along days. Plus I've got this acid eating my foot alive! Don't worry, I will get a pic to you guys :)

 The food in the city is soo much better! They flavor the rice, and don't give you a mountain! I've finished every meal since I got here except my first which was fish sticks that were microwaved. Other than that though, I love this sector. I haven't been able to find UNO cards for a good price though. They are 10 dollars here! I'm a missionary! I don't got 10 to spare! haha Anyways, I am getting a really sweet scripture case for my triple and then I'll buy another for my Bible in a week or so. Then after that, the same guy sells machetes with leather cases and your name and an iguana that I want so bad! I'll buy that one in 4 weeks or so. haha Anyways, the market here is more like Walmart. I have a membership card too, so I get a discount when I shop now! It was free, don't worry.

 Ok story time. The other day, I went on splits with Elder Sink(zone leader). We were walking, and I saw a midget. I was like, hey look a midget! Then we were talking to a family at their gate and I saw another! I was like Elder, there's another! He looks, then looks at me and goes, "He is going to hug you". We had our backs to him, so I kinda moved on but moments later, this guy taps me, and HUGS ME! I was like oh crap, what the heck... Then he grabs Elder Sink and compares thumb sizes for a minute, then he grabs my arms, and puts them around him, and starts trying to get me to pick him up. After realizing that I wouldn't pick him up, he grabs my arm and tries to bite it!! Then, he turns and walks away.  Elder sink said the last time they saw him, he kept trying to eat his tie. It was pretty great though.

 So a little more about my zone, we live in the city and all the office guys are technically in our zone. We are about 5 minutes to the offices. Which by the way, is next door to the south mission office.

It's in the same building! Isn't Elder Jeffery in the south mission?! If so, I'm gunna write him a letter and drop it off next time. 

Oh ya, I got my foot medicine! I put an Acid on my foot, and then mole skin over it and change it every three days. It hurts soo bad!! It also looks nasty! Don't worry, I'll send a pic. I have trouble walking on it now but I know in a few weeks it'll be all worth it when its gone. 

One more thing, this week I took it upon myself to remove all the pictures possible from the Liahona's we have and stick them all over the house. Yep. In the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, hallway, even in the freezer! Its great. Also, while I was at the zone leaders house they had like 20 plastic animals, so I stole a goat. It is now a game.  Someone hides it and waits until the other finds it, then rinse and repeat. I'll send pics of both of them.

 Tell Emily the getting out of hand joke went over great! As well, I'm really looking forward to the Let it Go song with a cape. haha I better get off, but Ill send pictures. Love you guys so much!

 Elder Taylor

 PS If its not too late, Sour patch watermelons, and hi-chews are the best!

The magazine project

 The Goat... The one on the chair is at a member's house. After lunch, when no one was looking I put it behind my companion. It was soo funny!! The girl across suddenly goes IS THAT A GOAT?? My comp looks, and puts his head down and just laughed.

Here is a typical guy selling stuff on a bus... and my collection of banana stickers

July 20 2015

Hey Familia!

So to start out, I am so happy for you guys and your new ward. It sounds awesome. Never take those people for granted. As well, you should be trying to do missionary work. Kind of a bold start right?

haha But 80 percent of referrals are baptized. 20 percent of contacts are baptized. Now to explain this a bit more, we have something very cool in our lives. It helps us be better people and live better lives, and we are more happy. So why wouldn't we share that with our friends? It is hard to say because we don't want to be weird about it but tell them flat out. This church means a lot to me, I'd like to share it with you because we are friends. If they say no then you continue to be friends. It is a simple invitation, we invite you to listen to the missionaries if nothing more than to understand who we are.

  Anyways my area is pretty flipping amazing. The ward is awesome and I border the South mission btw! The other day we broke the rules by accident by looking for a pharmacy. We literally left the mission boundaries haha. But its cool. So about that, my appointment was Saturday.  ( For a plantar wart) She had 3 options, cut it out or 2 different kinds of acids. Only one of the acids will allow me to walk though so obviously we went with that. We will go get them tomorrow. It is pretty weird, we combine 2 acids together and then cover it. And change it every 3 days. I think it is going to hurt.

   The people here are good though. They all work, so no one is home until 6ish so it makes proselyting a little hard, and we cant sneak up on people so we don't really have many people to teach here. To explain the missionary I replaced, he is a missionary who is here to find a wife. He has already been caught making out with girls and other things. He was a terrible missionary. The people in the ward have all said, Elder P is gone? Halleluja! Welcome Elder Taylor! That was about every conversation for me. So now we are kinda opening a new area in a way. Gotta find all new people.

   So the food here is lots better as well. We have a list of people we eat with every week. Most are super rich, and some have help. Basically people who cook for them and clean and what not. So the rice is flavored! And they give us veggies!! Not as much cola in this sector, lots of juice. But the bad thing about this area is the shopping. Food is expensive again. Fruits are by the weights, so 2-3 bucks for 7 apples (an apple a day). And cereal here is pricey as well. A box is usually 5 dollars. Anything American is expensive. They have starbursts but 3 packs is 5 dollars. They also have subway in a mall close by but for less than a 6 inch its like 7 bucks. Same with nutella, 5 bucks for a small bottle. We ate dominos today, prices about the same, 8 bucks for a medium. Wasn't real dominos. One member bought us papa johns and it was as real as you can get, with garlic butter and everything. Loved it.

 My area has lots of parks and stuff too. Very nice area. Basically I wouldn't visit Vinces if my life depended on it but this area is super nice. Lots of air conditioners as well. It is a little hard for us because we both aren't good at contacting but the life style here is great. But our house is... Snug. I'll send you a pic of our bedroom, there is a 2 inch gap between our beds so it is not breaking any mission rules. There is just the two of us as well.

 Anyways, One quick thing, we contacted this guy who was sitting on the corner one night. I say whats your names, he says ''the name Jesus'' which was weird. Turns out his job is to sit on this corner all night blowing a whistle to scare jovens off which is like teenagers. He just sits there all night with his deadly broom handle and a whistle and whistles. It is great.

 As for my scripture I will send you a bracket I made for this decision. I've put a good amount of thought into it. 3 Nephi 13: 22,23.  I chose it because it explains how to be happy in this life. If our eyes see light, we will have light. But if our eyes see darkness, we will have darkness. I hope some day some kid having a bad day can read this and have it make a difference. Anyways, I love you guys, I gotta go. I'll send a few quick pics.

 Love,

Elder Taylor

PS Don't forget the holes soundtrack! And family pics! And a picture of our house so I can show people.

These are small potatos at a party,

 this is our room, 

 

and this is the scripture bracket haha.

 

The sign says No Parking.

 

July 13 2015

Hey familia!

 So first off to start I'm doing tons better. Obviously it is still a mission, so it still is hard but like you said, relax. haha That word has echoed in my head for a week now. Thank you guys for all the support.

 Anyways, yes I was transferred! So after we talked we went to the mission home and slept. We woke up, studied till 10, then went back to the offices. They kept saying President is coming in today, he'll be here. We literally sat for 4 hours and change. He showed up at 2, but they had to eat first (they fed us at 1). After, we talked for a few minutes. He gave me the option to transfer or stay and to call Saturday with what I felt. I called and said I was ok to stay there.

The next day, which was yesterday around 9:30pm we got called and I was transferred! So now I'm in the city and wow, it is soo different! We are 5 minutes to the offices and the temple and everything. We are in a ward so that should be a lot cooler. This morning Cordova and I caught a bus to Guayaquil at 8, got here and got our new companions.

My companion is Elder Vavricka, and he is from Layton. He is super col. We live across the street from here, the cyber and its just us. I already like him. But the house we live in is tiny! There is about 3 inches in between our beds and no closets. Just a dresser. Pretty sweet. 

Today, after transfers, we had to run to the doctors for him and after to the office. At the office I talked to the nurses about my feet and they are going to set up an appointment to have it checked out. It will be interesting because I don't speak very well haha but my comp does! Anyways, after that we ran back to the house to take my laundry to the laundromat which is owned by a member and then went back to the offices for my comp. He had a meeting with Pres, but President was busy so again, we sat for over 2 hours again. It was great. That's why we are writing so late.

 So anyways, while we were in the office he explained to me a few of our investigadores. He explained the last lesson. We also talked a bit about being missionaries. He was in a California mission for 6 weeks so he got to experience two ways of planning and prepping and everything. He says he wants to change a lot of things and experiment a bit which sounds freaking awesome to me!

 So anyway, the city is a lot more modern, apparently lots of the houses have AC so that's awesome. Right now is the cool season for Ecuador apparently. There have been a few days of clouds so no sun which were awesome. The rest its almost like summer at home where its just hot, but also humid which is a nice step down from the Ecuador super hot.

 Ok for the package, I dont really know. I dont really have a need for bbq sauce. Like I said I talked to the nurses so I dont necesarily need the medicine, but feel free to send it. I would like another picture of the family and the dogs to bring with me because everyone asks. Also, this is the big one, we can listen to disney music! We were in the offices and the assistants put on Disney! It makes sense, our manual says music that brings good thoughts and uplifts which is exactly what Disney does. So you have a project. Load a flash drive (FLASH DRIVE NOT MP3) full of Disney music. Have the girls help, have William help. Anything from Frozen to Snow White. Also I really want the sound track from holes. Ive been singing it for months! I dont know why but I would appreciate that as well. I'm serious about this too, have the kids help choose songs. This is one thing that has kept me going this past week is knowing I'm gunna have Disney music. Alladin, Tangled, Frozen, Tarzan, Toy Story, I want it all. haha

 So at our old house I had my hammock hung up and was soo happy and the next day transferred to a house with no space. haha Just my luck right' But this area is going to be a lot better. I can eat the empanadas that the guy sells through the fence next to the offices (he's famous). They are delicious. I will miss the tacos though. The escobar taught us how to make them, we ate them many nights. We make the guacamole, we make the salsa and we cook the meat. About as fresh as you get haha. So stuff here is like opposite. Stuff in the states that's cheap is expensive here whereas stuff here that's cheap is expensive there. Like fruit, 25 oranges for a dollar. But shampoo, a tiny bottle is 5 bucks! Or icebreakers (which they have) are 4 bucks.

Anyways probably better send pictures now. I did pull a little money out of my account, I was out because we've been traveling so much! But this Monday I should be good. One thing I would like to ask for is more packages, or letters. Don't mean to sound pushy but it is seriously better than Christmas when someone opens a package. haha Well lemme end with this, if it weren't for my parents and their examples I wouldn't be here today, let alone half the man I am.

 Love you guys, you're the best!

 Elder Taylor

OK a picture of my hammock, a picture of me on the back of Hermano Julio's trici-moto with my comp, and a kid in my old branch who had four pockets so we all put our nametags on him and took a picture.

 

 This was a random guy at the bus station. He wasn't waiting for a bus, because like 3 had already pulled up and left. He was just sitting there.

 Also these were at Elder Wursten's funeral (the kid with the sombrero).