May 23, 2016 Week 31 Solanda

HEY MOM, Love you guys btw, 

I had a good birthday, the people here are awesome and during our Consejo, counsel thing between the missionaries and the ward, they threw me a party. They bought cake and some cola and what not... Anyways so they gave me an oreo cake, I love oreos. So they got me this cake and all this stuff and we had a good party. They have a tradition where they smash your face in the cake...I don't like it too much but whatever....Anyways so basically we found some new people to teach and they are pretty awesome. We found this one old guy Named Jorge and he can't walk very well and he is also really blind. He is awesome though. We have shared a 

couple lessons with him and his family.  They are super excited. I think I explained everything in my voice recordings. Those are so much easier hahahaha. Love you guys

What is your advice on trying to be more patient? I am still a teenager, I need advice mom

I guess I'll tell you a little about the week, as you know Monday we climbed that huge mountain, and it almost killed me.  Huge mountain really.  Tuesday I felt a little sick, but we prepared our investigator for baptism. Wednesday we had a mini conference with the President and it was a really good one.

It took all day. Then we went by some of our people and actually met two new investigators. Had a zone meeting and learned some stuff.  Friday nothing much happened.  We will be having a baptism this weekend and I will be confirming our new member, I am a little nervous. 

Friday planning a zone activity, and some other planning. I've been really busy this week, and I am super tired.

This is Sister Godoy.  The most exciting thing that happened this week was the baptism.

Oh and there was another earthquake, I think me and my companion were the only ones in Ecuador who slept through it.  And all the phone calls after too.
Oh and thanks for the punchy balloons mom, they lasted about 30 seconds, so we really enjoyed that.
It's hard to believe I have been in Ecuador for half of my 18th year.
Gotta go Love Elder Rogers

May 16, 2016 Week 30 Solanda

This week was pretty good,  After Skype we went and dropped off Elder Barton.  Bye Big Guy.

Then I went back with Elder Memmett, we slept at his house that night, which was kind of bad, because I thought we were going back to my house, so I had no clothes to sleep in.  Then on Monday morning we went and picked up my new companion Elder Kern.  On Tuesday we visited this family that we have been working with to see if they wanted a lesson.  One of them decided to get baptized
on the 21 of May, which as you know is one day before my bday.  I did not plan that. You can try to send me a cake if you want.
We got a little lost on Tuesday, but that's what happens when I don't know where I'm going.  It's fine...
We have a little problem with one of our families, and I'm all out of ideas about it, I'm just 18 I don't know what I'm doing with my life.
Wednesday was pretty normal, nothing much there.
Thursday had some really good lessons.  There was an activity, with some spiritual stuff and a dance. We left for the dance part, because we don't dance..... They had really good sandwiches there.
Friday we walked around ALOT  we found a few more people to teach in the streets here and there.
Saturday we had 4 lessons which was great, and saw a lot of our contacts.  It's just great to see everyone.

Today we spent all day riding up this mountain.  It's called a teleferico.  It took forever, and I thought I was gonna die.  I got some good pictures though.  We were like 13,600 feet above sea level.  So I don't feel too great right now.  Yeah we hiked for way too long.... I thought I was gonna die, man I thought the mountains in Wyoming were steep but this thing about killed me....

I love this stuff called ponymalta  and it tastes just likes sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving.  Like when granny makes it for us.  I bought three liters of it and drank it all!!  It might not be too good for me, but I did it anyway.  I hated it when I first got here and it's so good now.
Well Love you guys
Elder Rogers

May 9, 2016 Week 29 Solanda

Hey mom!

Well we tried to make some maple syrup, it was not that good. Maybe I should get a recipe.  Well I've never done 

it before.  It was about a 4 on the ten scale, a little runny.  I also tried some more cheese, didn't work again. I don't

know what's going on there. I'm almost done trying.  Also I made chicken nuggets today, another fail.... they just

wouldn't cook right.

I learned some new words today. Not to be repeated.  The people here speak a little different

like they have better vocabulary or something.

Today we had potatoes with rice... rice... rice... more rice.

You'd be surprised at how much rice you can eat in 6 months, it's gonna kill me.  We met this new guy. He's from 

the coast.  We knocked on his door and he let us in.  We talked for a while, he's pretty cool.   

Well...I think I told you guys about my week already....yesterday but here it goes again I guess. I will start with today 

because you already know everything else hahahahaha.  We had a mini zone conference, it was pretty good.  We had

a little party for Elder Barton, and had some cake.  I still get lost here in Ecuador, I applaud the Ecuadorian people

for being able to construct houses that look just alike, and park entrances that look just alike... I'm always lost.

Well I picked up Elder Kern, He is from Florida. 

We are still here in Solanda and I am going to buy a rubix cube for my birthday, did you guys put some money in 

my account? Maybe I should buy something useful but who cares....Well then we came here and now we are writing. 

The price of Cola products went up today...that kind of sucks. Well It sounds like you guys are doing great, I don't

have too many voice recordings or anything because we kind of talked yesterday....How are you guys doin? What's 

new since yeserday? It was awesome to see Gramps and Granny, and everybody else too. Gramps was like 

"Why are you smiling" Well I was just so happy to see you guys, anyways hahahaha

Love Elder Rogers

May 2, 2016 Week 28 Solanda

Hey Mom,
Here's the view from our apartment.

Sounds like you guys are having a really fun time, We had a pretty good week as well. We are just trying to find people to baptize. Also we have been helping a few people with services and what not. I got a little sick again so I don't remember too much but I think we did well. I have just had a cold or whatever it is here. They call it gripe but also something like gripe has been going around that has killed like 7 people or something...gotta be careful hahahaha. I accidentally fell asleep a couple times in the middle of the day.

I still haven't gotten any packages...sorry I don't know what is up with the mail system. I guess it has to go a long ways hahahaha.  Elder Barton is leaving soon so I haven't been able to think about too much more than my family. I am doing good though. We are just trying to focus as much as we can.

Also I wanted to say that I am not chastising you guys mom, I am simply saying that we gotta try harder as a whole. Myself included sheesh. I don't know if you guys understand that all we do every single day is worry about the salvation of others. We rarely every think about other things. We always are trying to progress people towards God. After worrying about other families all the time I thought it was time for me to worry about my own family. This earthquake thing could kill us at any time and I just want to return to God with every single member of my family. That is all. Love you guys

Oh and btw in Ecuador, and probably in Latin America, they use Machete instead of chastising. So they are always like, hey don't machete us. It's kinda weird but I would never machete my parents sheesh mom hahahaha. Love you guys

We are skyping with Hno Chavez who lives in the same apartment building as us. He actually owns it. I can't talk to la familia Gomez because they are in Riobamba and we can't email members...just family....

Well Monday, we had a zone activity, it was real fun.  We played a lot of football "soccer" I was the goalie and I tried real hard that first game it almost killed me.  I mean the latinos are really good their feet are fast, even the ones that are bad are better than me. I did good though. Then we played some volleyball as well. Lots of running I'm super tired.  Then we went and ate some steaks. I mean they aren't steaks but more like really really flat hamburgers... and rice more rice....  I need to make some Horchata I need the recipe.  

We are going to make sheepherder potatoes like gramps does camping, potatoes are super cheap here, but they are super small, not like Idaho potatoes for sure!  I miss Idaho potatoes... 

We found some new families this week, lessons are going pretty good.  No earthquakes this week, I have been here more than a month and it only feels like one week.  This change with Elder Barton has really flown by.  We had a lot of people at church Sunday, it was great.  I totally forgot about Skype these last few weeks, I have been focusing really hard here, you know me.  Anyway I can't wait to talk to you guys Sunday!!

Hasta Luego

Elder Rogers

April 25, 2016 Week 27 Solanda

HEY MOM,

Well this week was pretty good and I enjoyed it.  On Monday we visited the people in the offices and that is always fun.  Then the familia Palasio fed us some hamburgers they were pretty good.  Elder Barton is teaching me piano, I'm pretty good, but I don't know who will teach me when he leaves.  

So here in Solanda we have two wards in our church but we are only specified to Solanda. The others are called Argelia but they have to come to our chapel and what not. So we just help our members and the other missionaries help their members. We had a few investigators that were ready to get baptized but everything fell through....so that kind of sucks.....so we dont have anything now but we are still looking.....Ya mismo...we will get there. Apparently...how do you spell that? Some of our investigators had to go help their families on the coast, that were hit by the earthquake. 

Anyways there was another big quake right in Guyaquil.....a lot of the missionaries were over there because they thought it would be safer but then they got hit by a really big quake...So I don't know if they are ok but we felt a little of that one..... We are all fine but people are still freaking out. If we had an earthquake here in Quito there would be alot of people hurt....I hope we don't get hit by an earthquake! Also the teenage girls and their family is a little hard to teach because they don't listen half the time, we are hoping to baptize that whole family sometime soon.  We will see how that goes.

We also helped the Hermanas change houses, we had to move all their stuff up and down these small spiral stairs with a rope and pully system, lucky we only dropped one suitcase, but the fridge made it up the rope hahahaha. The roof is a little small I can barely fit, but they are small hermanas so they fit fine.  You'd be surprised how much you can get done in 4 hours with 5 Elders.  

I did want to share some stuff that I learned this week. I have been very worried about this whole Earthquake thing and what not so me and my comp were studying the plan of salvation.  We need to do a few certain things here on this earth. So I guess I will start with Baptism. So baptism is the first step, the first covenant you can make with God. This is a very important step along with the others. As missionaries we always testify of Baptism. We make these promises to live these rules. And in return we will receive eternal life. We follow these commandments not just because they are a good idea but because we promised God, our maker, that we would always live them. I just wanted you guys to read Alma 11, and Alma 34, Those explain really good about the plan of salvation. I just wanted you guys to know how important this life is and that we only have one chance to live it. We could die at any time and if we aren't abiding by the rules or the commandments then we will not have a second chance at eternal life. At salvation. I just wanted to tell you guys that I know these things are true, and I am definitely going to try my hardest to achieve eternal life.  I hope you guys think about how important this life is and maybe try to find some people who need help understanding as well. I know it isn't super easy, I mean Jesus had to go through Gethsemane so it shouldn't be easy. People are going to ridicule you but that's what they did to Lehi in his dream. All the people in the buildings were pointing fingers and laughing. They are going to do that to you as well, but if we are embarrassed to follow Jesus then he is going to be embarrassed to help us after this life, and he isn't going to help us. I love you guys and hope you think about this stuff, and I know that none of us are perfect but I was just studying a lot lately. 

I wish more people here were more open to what we have to say.

I miss camping alot and wish I could go there. I love camping. Well I will send my voice recordings here in a minute but I will send some pictures first. Love you guys. 

April 18, 2016 Week 26 Solanda

HEY MOM,

You'll never believed what happened to us today!!  We got up and ate breakfast, and went to our appointments as usual.  Then we went with some youth from the church.  We were walking down the street at night time.  Then the whole ground started to shake! It was kind of bad I almost fell over, anyway all the houses were moving and all the people were screaming and running into the street.  Then all the electricity went out, and we heard a huge explosion, but we didn't see where it was coming from.   Well we almost died......no we are ok just a lil earthquake....terremoto is what it's called. But we didn't even get hurt at all, but a bunch of people died on the coast so they are in bad shape over there. I think all of Ecuador felt it.

We had a good week, before that happened. We went on divisions as a trio, with the zone leader.  They just make sure the missionaries are doing what they are supposed too.   

We also tried to make cheese, it was a disgusting fail.  Looked like cheese paste, real gross. I forgot how to do it.  I need help! The shower is terrible here, it doesn't work right.  We don't know how to fix it. If you shower for more than 30 seconds it shuts the power out to the whole apartment.  

I'm super tired.  Bananas are super cheap here like 5 cents a piece, so I just made a banana smoothie with milk and vanilla out of 5 bananas and then I just ate 5 more.... I might die. 

I couldn't open any of my emails from my other missionary friends, so I didn't get to write any of them back, I am pressed for time on the computer.  The internet may not be working too good this week. 

Sounds like everyone is having tons of fun at home without me.  

Well we need to find a bunch of new people to teach, that is our goal this week, and baptize our investigators we have now.  Strengthen the members.  We spent a lot of time walking around this week and knocking on doors, and waiting for people.  It's been raining a lot this week.    

Earthquakes aren't as exciting as you think... well they kind of are but.... I think I slept through all of the after shocks, and we have our bags ready.  I'm super tired. We are safe and sound.

My new scripture cases

 Love you guys. 

April 11, 2016 Week 25 Solanda

Hey mom,

This week has been great, I am with Elder Barton now and Elder Bradshaw is home. 

Elder Barton is from Provo Utah and we are still in Solanda, so he just moved to my house, apartment thing.

This church is a lot bigger than the last one. It's nice, we only have to walk 20 seconds to this church. There were a

ton of people at church here, it almost reminds me of the states. Its awesome. We are just trying to strength all the

families here, so the temple can be built in a timely manner.   

So it has been pretty crazy. 

We are still trying to find out what we are doing. Luckily Elder Barton has a lot of experience in the mission, although 

he will only tell you that he has a little over a year, yeah he's only got a few weeks in the mission left... Don't tell him I 

told you. Anyways so we have been finding a bunch of investigators and also members. I get lost a lot here. I am 

trying to figure out the voice recorder right now. I have a big file to send you but I don't know if it will work cause it is 

big. I am having a lot of trouble trying to make these things work. And the worst part is that I can't google stuff to fix it. I hate it hahahaha.

Well we have been walking all up and down Solanda, it is great but it makes me tired. We have walked the sector 

many times, and I'm pretty tired. This computer is a little slow. 

 

So we have been exploring this new sector I have a few picts to send and what not. So we have found some people. 

We have been getting a lot of help from the members here. It's great. We have been getting some really good lessons

in. One funny story was about last night, we were trying to find a guy who has a baptism date. So we go to his 

apartment and start knocking on his door. Well we just waited around because we started talking about guns or 

something. Then we see this drunk guy start stumbling towards us, so I say "Buenas Noches" and he just looks at 

us so the first thing I said to his was " Como se llama usted?" and he tells us he is Edison, the guy we have been 

looking for forever, so that was funny and now we just gotta see if he is still alive cause he kind of just got in a taxi 

and left. So we got some detective work to do. That was funny, I am doing pretty great. Love you guys

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