Everybody-
Ecuafact: They don´t have sprinklers in Ecuador. The city waters the grass with a water truck than has a fire hose. It´s pretty entertaining to watch!
Well, this was one of those weeks that wasn´t the greatest but makes for some interesting Homecoming talk stories.
First of all, I thought that you would all be interested to know that one of our Mamita´s (member families who feed us lunch) has a restaurant and we have lunch with them every Tuesday. Anyway, as I was eating imagine my horror when a cockroach crawled accross my spoon. Yeah, really. Get this, I didn´t even scream, just kept eating. How desensitized am I? YIIIIKKKKEEESSS!!!
Also here in Ecuador, I really don´t have much chances to Bible bash because most people don´t know the bible. The evangelists seemed to come out of the woodwork this week! While making a street contact we presented the Book of Mormon, I started to doubt my spanish skills because he was suddenly unintelligible. Turns out it was just the "gift of tongues". Ummmhmmm. Yeah, we got out of there.
Doesn´t end there though, later we were invited to study the bible with another street contact. Turns out it was really a chance to save some poor mormon girls from being damned. The first scripture read was Galatians 1:6-8 which reads:
"6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed."
They pretty much damned us. My companion took it pretty hard and cried off and on the rest of the day. I thought it was pretty cool. She wanted to continue to bash, but I got us out of there as soon as I could.
Marina will not be getting baptized, her husband retracted his permission! I´m pretty upset about it. I don´t think any one person should be able to excercise that kind of control over another, but what can I do?
We have a nice pool of new investigators though, especially Monica Freire. She came with us to the Relief Society broadcast and she really liked it. Anyway, we are hoping she will be ready for baptism soon. Keep us in your prayers!
Love from Ecuador,
Hermana Whitney Tanner
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Week 41
Can you see the teeth? EWWWWWWWWWW.
Poor little Hector, that is my ginea pig!
Why, yes that is head of ginea pig. This is what pretty much all food looks like.
A slightly better picture of my companion and I!
You know you love me, and miss me lots, and are going to send me letters and or packages!Everybody-
Ecua-fact: They don´t have public food heath laws. I´m going to come home a lot less concerned with sanitation when I come home!!!
Marina is getting baptized!!! I asked President Sloan for some advice and he told me to read Moroni 7:19. He told me to call him out and ask him why he didn´t want a better spouse and mother for his children; because he´s a bully and bullies don´t like confrontation but they will usually back off afterwards. Totally did it and it totally worked! I have his permission in writing! I was surprised and how well it worked. I read something the other day that said: "Overbearence is Boldness without love." I´m so excited because Marina has wanted to get baptized for so long now. We have her date for this Saturday, but I´m not convinced that she is ready. So we might be moving her baptismal date to conference weekend! It´s even more special though because Marina Heréz is one of my contacts! I´ve yet to have a contact get baptized!
It was a long awaited answer to prayer to be able to talk to Luis, and I´m so grateful that we had the opportunity.
Looks like I will be staying in Ambato this next change! Which is great news for me, I´m ready to stay in a sector a little longer than a month and a half! I really love it here and there are so many good people ready to hear the gospel. We are still desperately looking for new investigators and have been stood up more than usual this past week. Yesterday alone only one of our appointments was home when they said they would be; we had 7 appointments lined up!
So yeah, I ate ginea pig, or Cuy (cu-wee). Although I definitely did not enjoy the texture or taste, it wasn´t as bad as I had imagined. It´s like really fatty dark meat. The worst part is that they leave the head with teeth and everything; also the claws. I would have to say that I prefer it to chicken foot though. I don´t know, it´s a toss up.
Love from Ecuador,
Hermana Whitney Tanner
Monday, September 14, 2009
Week 40
Doménica Garcia y Marisela Solís
On the way back from Zone Conference. What a good looking group.
Elder Cedeño is our new assitant! I thought his jacket lining was pretty cool.Everybody-
Another really great week. Marisela del Rosio Solís Molina and Doménica Monserreth Garcia Solís got baptized. In other good news I think I´m finally used to them having a million names too! The water was freezing again, which was too bad, especially because we didn´t know and therefore Marisela and Doménica had quite the shock going in. We met with them yesterday and unfortunately they aren´t doing well. Marisela can´t pay her rent, somebody broke in and stole their rent money. Her family is also giving her a hard time about her baptism. They kept telling her that she and Doménica were baptized in Rio Ambato which is famous for being filthy. Anyway, they were a little dis-heartened, but I have faith that they will pull through. She even brought some friends to see her get baptized and we have some new investigators because of it. I love that our new members and investigators have more enthusiasm for the work then the members sometimes.
Javier is still doing well and looks like he will be here for a bit longer than we had planned on! I´m excited, it looks like I will also be here for my next transfer, but really you never know with me...seriously.
We also had our Zone Conference this past week. We had to wake up at 4:30 in the morning to get to Riobamba on time. So we were pretty wiped out but as always we left feeling more excited to work!
We have a new Bishop in Recreo (my ward), Ulipano Fernandin Ruiz, it´s a mouthful. Unfortunately he didn´t quite recieve a warm welcome. He was only sustained by about 25 people. We have a lot of work to do with the members...reunite. It´s not the most fun situation but I´m sure I´m supposed to learn something from it.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Week 39
I know it´s blurry, but this is probably the most important picture I have. I snapped the picture just as he came out of the water and he was praying. I can´t even tell you how great Javier is.
Javier Jojoa (Ho-ho-a), Johana Pineda, and Kenny Reyes (husband and member).
Seriously, one of my best days ever!
We just happened to be in Riobamba for P-day. Veronica Quilismal was baptized! Vinicio was baptized 2 weeks before so he preformed the baptism.
My companion, Hermana Ovalle, and I. Yeah, I know you love it.
Everybody-
Ecuafact- They eat potatoe chips with ketchup and mayonaise. It´s pretty decent.
The mission is AWESOME! Probably my best week ever...at least in the mission. Mostly because Javier Jojoa was baptized. All of the baptisms that I have been a part of have been special, but never like this one. I´ve never had a convert who is so converted. We usually have newly baptized members share their testimony after. Javier thanked us first, then Kenny and Johana. He started crying, he just kept saying: "I don´t know what to say." Then he would put his hand over his heart. I really can´t explain it. He´s amazing! Too bad he will be moving to Guayaquil in just a month. I´m so lucky I got to know him and be a small part of his conversion.
Johana Pineda was also baptized this week with Javier. We owe a lot to her husband, Kenny, who helped us get her prepared and ready for baptism. She´s also moving this next week to Guayaquil. Can´t really blame her though, she and Javier have a great opportunity to open their own practice there. They are both specialists, he operates on the skull and Johana operates on knee´s, ankle´s, and hips. It´s sad to see them go, but at least we know them, right? She was so great, especially because she had to be baptized 4 times in freezing cold water. Her dress kept inflating...poor thing.
Javier will be recieving the Priesthood next week and also will be blessing the Sacrament next week as well for the very first time. So I´ve decided the law of Sacrifice really does pay off in the long run.
We are also ready for Marisela Solís and Doménica Garcia to be baptized next week. Hopefully the water heater will be ready and fixed by next week. The water really is so cold here, sometimes it surprised me that people actually go in!
Since we are losing so many investigators to the waters of baptism we will be furiously searching some new people to teach this week! Keep us in your prayers!
Sister Tanner
Monday, August 31, 2009
Week 38
Everybody-
I know I always say this: I had an interesting week, athough I think this week it has more merit than any other week I´ve used this phrase.
The best news first! Javier Jojoa (Ho-ho-a) and Johana Pineda will be getting baptized this week, on Saturday to be exact. They are both doing so well, and really capture everything we teach. Javier seems to have grasped tithing and even had the tithing forms in his hymnal. The bad news is that they are both moving to Guayaquil September 15th for work. I´m so glad they will be getting baptized before they go. I´m going to miss them both so much though, they are some of my favorite people. Johana´s husband Kenny is on the road to reactivation in the church, which is great because he really does help us so much in all of our lessons.
Marisela is also doing really well, she´s has just about killed her smoking habit. I think she might have depression though because she is always so sad. She always says we are a relief. Hopefully we can help her with the gospel because that´s about all that we can do. Domenica is totally ready for Baptism. She loves everything about the Church. I think Octavio Borja will be coming up to do the baptims, after all Marisela is a reference from them.
Speaking of the Familia Borja...They totally surprised us yesterday by coming to visit my companion and I here in Ambato. Huge shock, the best kind. They had just been to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. Talk about your golden family! I can´t believe how lucky I am. I totally cried when it was time to say goodbye.
We had another big shock yesterday. Elder Calderón of the Area Seventy visited out Ward yesterday. Just a normal day. We have a few problems in our Ward, I won´t bore you with the details, but it was basically a shape-up or ship-out talk. Just kidding, it was great, he really said some things we needed to hear.
We have a new investigator that I really just don´t know how to teach. Her name is Lorena and she is a Hare Krishna. Pretty hard-core too, she was a missionary for 5 years and everything, lived in the temple. They have a lot of the same beliefs that we do. Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, and such. Some of it is pretty different. Her Spiritual teacher is coming this week to Ecuador (which is a big deal- It´s like an Apostle) so I´m not sure we´ll be seeing too much of her. I think she is looking for something more though, otherwise she wouldn´t be talking to us. We are invited to have vegitarian cake with her on Wednesday for her Birthday. She made my companion and I a Yoga book because she says it will give us peace.
Everybody keeps writing me about their diets. So I thought I would tell you about mine. I call it the: "Take ye no thought for your nourishment" diet. I found it in the Bible and the Book of Mormon and since they are the word of God, I decided to try it out. So far in 11 months I have lost 40 pounds. Haha, take that you crazy people using injections. Although, I don´t think it works for everybody, my companion has gained 30 pounds in the 4 months she has been out in the field...
Love ya,
Your Favorite Missionary
I know I always say this: I had an interesting week, athough I think this week it has more merit than any other week I´ve used this phrase.
The best news first! Javier Jojoa (Ho-ho-a) and Johana Pineda will be getting baptized this week, on Saturday to be exact. They are both doing so well, and really capture everything we teach. Javier seems to have grasped tithing and even had the tithing forms in his hymnal. The bad news is that they are both moving to Guayaquil September 15th for work. I´m so glad they will be getting baptized before they go. I´m going to miss them both so much though, they are some of my favorite people. Johana´s husband Kenny is on the road to reactivation in the church, which is great because he really does help us so much in all of our lessons.
Marisela is also doing really well, she´s has just about killed her smoking habit. I think she might have depression though because she is always so sad. She always says we are a relief. Hopefully we can help her with the gospel because that´s about all that we can do. Domenica is totally ready for Baptism. She loves everything about the Church. I think Octavio Borja will be coming up to do the baptims, after all Marisela is a reference from them.
Speaking of the Familia Borja...They totally surprised us yesterday by coming to visit my companion and I here in Ambato. Huge shock, the best kind. They had just been to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. Talk about your golden family! I can´t believe how lucky I am. I totally cried when it was time to say goodbye.
We had another big shock yesterday. Elder Calderón of the Area Seventy visited out Ward yesterday. Just a normal day. We have a few problems in our Ward, I won´t bore you with the details, but it was basically a shape-up or ship-out talk. Just kidding, it was great, he really said some things we needed to hear.
We have a new investigator that I really just don´t know how to teach. Her name is Lorena and she is a Hare Krishna. Pretty hard-core too, she was a missionary for 5 years and everything, lived in the temple. They have a lot of the same beliefs that we do. Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, and such. Some of it is pretty different. Her Spiritual teacher is coming this week to Ecuador (which is a big deal- It´s like an Apostle) so I´m not sure we´ll be seeing too much of her. I think she is looking for something more though, otherwise she wouldn´t be talking to us. We are invited to have vegitarian cake with her on Wednesday for her Birthday. She made my companion and I a Yoga book because she says it will give us peace.
Everybody keeps writing me about their diets. So I thought I would tell you about mine. I call it the: "Take ye no thought for your nourishment" diet. I found it in the Bible and the Book of Mormon and since they are the word of God, I decided to try it out. So far in 11 months I have lost 40 pounds. Haha, take that you crazy people using injections. Although, I don´t think it works for everybody, my companion has gained 30 pounds in the 4 months she has been out in the field...
Love ya,
Your Favorite Missionary
Monday, August 24, 2009
Week 37
Hey Everybody-
Ecua-fact: Legally a woman has to have permission from her spouse before she can do anything. ANYTHING.
Well, Hermana Ovalle (O-vay-yea) and I are doing really well here in Ambato. We have 4 investigators who are really progressing and have baptismal dates!
Johana Pineda came back from Colombia this week and without drinking. So she will be getting baptized September 5th. Her husband Kenny is a member and returned missionary so we have to get him active. Unfortunately he won´t be able to baptize her, but he is a big help to us. Johana is a doctor, they don´t have any children... although they have 2 dogs, Mencha and Luna, who might as well be.
Javier Jojoa (Ho-ho-a) is also set for the 5th of September, he lives with Johana and Kenny and is also a doctor. He is still doubting the blessings of tithing and fasting, but I´m confident he´ll come around. He´s in Colombia this week so we are a little worried about his resolve with alcohol...hopefully he will stay strong and refrain.
Marisela and Domenica, my reference from the Borja family, also has a baptismal date for the 12 of September. They didn´t come to church last week so we had to move it back a week. They are doing really well. After we taught the Law of Chastity, Marisela broke off her relationship with her long-time boyfriend. She didn´t even tell us about him, she just ended it the same night! I have to admit that it was pretty cool. She is still struggling with smoking, but doing really well. I think Octavio is going to come up with his family so he can baptize her.
Marina isn´t doing too well. After she asked her husband permission to be baptized, and he said no, he pretty much won´t let her out of his sight. So she hasn´t been able to come to church. She also can´t close her Tienda on Sundays. It´s pretty sad, but I´m sure Heavenly Father understands that she can´t be baptized right now...It´s so hard when people can´t do what is right because of other people.
Veronica Santana also has a baptismal date for the 12th of September but she has to get married first...harder than it sounds. Her boyfriend doesn´t want to and he´s a member! Inactive, but still. Sergio is 50 years old and Veronica is only 20, but they have a little girl and everything. We are working really hard with him! Any ideas?
My new companion is doing well, although I think she really struggles. The mission is really hard on her. She cries a whole lot, in her sleep, everywhere. I´m liking her though.
On the weird side of things...President Sloan told me I can´t smile as much. I´ve been getting a lot of unwanted attention mostly from the drunk population. I thought it was pretty strange.
Hermana Tanner
Ecua-fact: Legally a woman has to have permission from her spouse before she can do anything. ANYTHING.
Well, Hermana Ovalle (O-vay-yea) and I are doing really well here in Ambato. We have 4 investigators who are really progressing and have baptismal dates!
Johana Pineda came back from Colombia this week and without drinking. So she will be getting baptized September 5th. Her husband Kenny is a member and returned missionary so we have to get him active. Unfortunately he won´t be able to baptize her, but he is a big help to us. Johana is a doctor, they don´t have any children... although they have 2 dogs, Mencha and Luna, who might as well be.
Javier Jojoa (Ho-ho-a) is also set for the 5th of September, he lives with Johana and Kenny and is also a doctor. He is still doubting the blessings of tithing and fasting, but I´m confident he´ll come around. He´s in Colombia this week so we are a little worried about his resolve with alcohol...hopefully he will stay strong and refrain.
Marisela and Domenica, my reference from the Borja family, also has a baptismal date for the 12 of September. They didn´t come to church last week so we had to move it back a week. They are doing really well. After we taught the Law of Chastity, Marisela broke off her relationship with her long-time boyfriend. She didn´t even tell us about him, she just ended it the same night! I have to admit that it was pretty cool. She is still struggling with smoking, but doing really well. I think Octavio is going to come up with his family so he can baptize her.
Marina isn´t doing too well. After she asked her husband permission to be baptized, and he said no, he pretty much won´t let her out of his sight. So she hasn´t been able to come to church. She also can´t close her Tienda on Sundays. It´s pretty sad, but I´m sure Heavenly Father understands that she can´t be baptized right now...It´s so hard when people can´t do what is right because of other people.
Veronica Santana also has a baptismal date for the 12th of September but she has to get married first...harder than it sounds. Her boyfriend doesn´t want to and he´s a member! Inactive, but still. Sergio is 50 years old and Veronica is only 20, but they have a little girl and everything. We are working really hard with him! Any ideas?
My new companion is doing well, although I think she really struggles. The mission is really hard on her. She cries a whole lot, in her sleep, everywhere. I´m liking her though.
On the weird side of things...President Sloan told me I can´t smile as much. I´ve been getting a lot of unwanted attention mostly from the drunk population. I thought it was pretty strange.
Hermana Tanner
Monday, August 17, 2009
Week 36
Everybody-
Ecua-fact: They iron everything. My current companion even irons her interior clothing. Sheets, towels, and everything.
Anyway, here I am back in Ambato. It´s kinda tripping me out! In just 5 weeks everything is so different. We aren´t currently teaching many of my old investigators. Marina in Picaihua (Pick-i-gua). She has a baptismal date and everything. We are a bit worried about it though because she has to ask her husband permission to get baptized. She doesn´t seem very sure that he´s going to give it.
Rosa and Oscar got baptized while I was in Riobamba. It´s kinda tough because I´m the very person who knocked on their door but I missed the most important part. Now they are members and I can´t believe how strong. Sunday Oscar went with us to almost all of our appointments. The difference before and after really is astounding.
We are teaching somebody that I met in Riobamba and is a reference from the Borja family. Marisela and her daughter, Dominica. They are doing really well and really want to get baptized. They have a date for the 5th of September, although they didn´t come to church yesterday. So we will have to see with them. Marisela also has to quit smoking. She only smokes about 2 a day, so it should´t be too difficult.
We are also currently teaching Javier, he also has a baptismal date for the 5th of September. We are going to have to work pretty hard with him to convince him of the law of tithing. He´s a doctor and told us that he likes to donate his money to medical causes. I thought it was a great opportunity to teach him about fast offerings and the Church´s world renown Humanitarian aide projects. He said he is going to do as Malachi said and test the Lord in the law of tithing. What more could I ask?
My new companion is Hermana Ovalle, she is a lot different than any other that I have had. She is a bit backwoods, she comes from a family of 10 children and they are poorer than poor. A few years back they lost everything in a flood in Guatemala. Everything. She is really sweet and really humble. I think I´m going to enjoy her. She needs a little pushing, which doesn´t seem to be my strongest suit (at least in the mission...) but I´ll do what I can. Yes, there are a lot of Guatemaltechos.
I totally forgot to mention that I totally got headbutted by a mountain ram...yeah. My mission is definitely unique, but I suppose they all are. Don´t worry, nothing broken.
Blogging from Ecuador
Hermana Tanner
Ecua-fact: They iron everything. My current companion even irons her interior clothing. Sheets, towels, and everything.
Anyway, here I am back in Ambato. It´s kinda tripping me out! In just 5 weeks everything is so different. We aren´t currently teaching many of my old investigators. Marina in Picaihua (Pick-i-gua). She has a baptismal date and everything. We are a bit worried about it though because she has to ask her husband permission to get baptized. She doesn´t seem very sure that he´s going to give it.
Rosa and Oscar got baptized while I was in Riobamba. It´s kinda tough because I´m the very person who knocked on their door but I missed the most important part. Now they are members and I can´t believe how strong. Sunday Oscar went with us to almost all of our appointments. The difference before and after really is astounding.
We are teaching somebody that I met in Riobamba and is a reference from the Borja family. Marisela and her daughter, Dominica. They are doing really well and really want to get baptized. They have a date for the 5th of September, although they didn´t come to church yesterday. So we will have to see with them. Marisela also has to quit smoking. She only smokes about 2 a day, so it should´t be too difficult.
We are also currently teaching Javier, he also has a baptismal date for the 5th of September. We are going to have to work pretty hard with him to convince him of the law of tithing. He´s a doctor and told us that he likes to donate his money to medical causes. I thought it was a great opportunity to teach him about fast offerings and the Church´s world renown Humanitarian aide projects. He said he is going to do as Malachi said and test the Lord in the law of tithing. What more could I ask?
My new companion is Hermana Ovalle, she is a lot different than any other that I have had. She is a bit backwoods, she comes from a family of 10 children and they are poorer than poor. A few years back they lost everything in a flood in Guatemala. Everything. She is really sweet and really humble. I think I´m going to enjoy her. She needs a little pushing, which doesn´t seem to be my strongest suit (at least in the mission...) but I´ll do what I can. Yes, there are a lot of Guatemaltechos.
I totally forgot to mention that I totally got headbutted by a mountain ram...yeah. My mission is definitely unique, but I suppose they all are. Don´t worry, nothing broken.
Blogging from Ecuador
Hermana Tanner
Monday, August 10, 2009
Week 35
Everybody-
Ecuafact: When cutting the cake the cut a cirle out of the middle and then cut slices. I´ve no idea why.
Mission fact: We have a rule that we cannot brush the dirt from our knee´s after we pray in the homes of our investigators or members.
I´m doing really well, although it has been a week of challenges! To say the very least. One of our Investigators, Ivan Augilla who was progressing so well, didn´t come to church yesterday. Which isn´t super surprising in and of itself but we went before church and he said that he would be coming. So we stopped by after church, and he was drunk. He´s got some major problems and just doesn´t know how to cope. Later it turns out he beat his wife, Gloria, a new convert. It is just so sad what alcohol does to people. They don´t have alcohol laws here so he´d been drinking the pure “moon-shine”. It´s so sad because he was just doing so well.
Rosio Pilco and Pilar were also tough this week, the family of Rosio is catholic and won´t let her talk with us anymore, she´s 27 but she lives at home. Pilar was also hard, her husband won´t give her permission to talk to us either. It´s sad to leave behind people who want to learn about the gospel but can´t for their circumstances.
On the up-side, Edison Cando is doing really well, he has a baptismal date for the 29th of August. I don´t know what happened to change his mind because a few weeks ago he said: "Sisters, I wasn´t looking for a religion." Now he is excited. almost all of his family are members (recent converts). It´s been really fun to see how the gospel really can change lives.
Vinicio and Veronica are also doing really well and planning on getting married next week and they also have a baptismal date for the 29th of August. They are still so great and always come to church without any help from us.
This week we had a service project to clean up the church grounds. It was one of the best moments in my entire mission. Only 10 people (of the 157 active members)showed up, but 4 of them were recent converts. It was such a blessing to me to see my converts really really "join the church". I can´t even describe the feeling.
Unfortunately I won´t be here to see him get baptized. I´ve been changed again to Ambato. Yes, my former sector. So I´m torn, I love Riobamba but it will be nice to have more time in my old sector. I still am moving every transfer. I´m going to be senior companion to Hermana Ovalle, also from Guatemala. I´ve been able to learn so much from Hermana Castillo and I´m grateful for the experience.
The good news is that all of the family of Octavio Borja lives in Ambato so I´m going there to convert them all!
Love,
Whitney
Ecuafact: When cutting the cake the cut a cirle out of the middle and then cut slices. I´ve no idea why.
Mission fact: We have a rule that we cannot brush the dirt from our knee´s after we pray in the homes of our investigators or members.
I´m doing really well, although it has been a week of challenges! To say the very least. One of our Investigators, Ivan Augilla who was progressing so well, didn´t come to church yesterday. Which isn´t super surprising in and of itself but we went before church and he said that he would be coming. So we stopped by after church, and he was drunk. He´s got some major problems and just doesn´t know how to cope. Later it turns out he beat his wife, Gloria, a new convert. It is just so sad what alcohol does to people. They don´t have alcohol laws here so he´d been drinking the pure “moon-shine”. It´s so sad because he was just doing so well.
Rosio Pilco and Pilar were also tough this week, the family of Rosio is catholic and won´t let her talk with us anymore, she´s 27 but she lives at home. Pilar was also hard, her husband won´t give her permission to talk to us either. It´s sad to leave behind people who want to learn about the gospel but can´t for their circumstances.
On the up-side, Edison Cando is doing really well, he has a baptismal date for the 29th of August. I don´t know what happened to change his mind because a few weeks ago he said: "Sisters, I wasn´t looking for a religion." Now he is excited. almost all of his family are members (recent converts). It´s been really fun to see how the gospel really can change lives.
Vinicio and Veronica are also doing really well and planning on getting married next week and they also have a baptismal date for the 29th of August. They are still so great and always come to church without any help from us.
This week we had a service project to clean up the church grounds. It was one of the best moments in my entire mission. Only 10 people (of the 157 active members)showed up, but 4 of them were recent converts. It was such a blessing to me to see my converts really really "join the church". I can´t even describe the feeling.
Unfortunately I won´t be here to see him get baptized. I´ve been changed again to Ambato. Yes, my former sector. So I´m torn, I love Riobamba but it will be nice to have more time in my old sector. I still am moving every transfer. I´m going to be senior companion to Hermana Ovalle, also from Guatemala. I´ve been able to learn so much from Hermana Castillo and I´m grateful for the experience.
The good news is that all of the family of Octavio Borja lives in Ambato so I´m going there to convert them all!
Love,
Whitney
Monday, August 3, 2009
Week 34
Everybody-
Ecuafact: They have some of the scariest natural medicine techniques. Pretty sure the members are trying to kill me. I had a nasty case of parasites this week and everybody kept trying to give me aguitas made with weeds. I´m fairly certain one of them had a drop of gasoline. It tasted horrible and it isn´t the first time. Supposed to clean you out...ew. I don´t think my organs are going suffer though. I´m safe for now.
Another good week gone, the mission really is going by fast! I hit my 10th month mark and I can hardly believe it. I still feel like a greenie, but really I´m over the hill. The winter is coming on fast!
Veronica and Vinicio are doing really well, they´ve finally decided to get married and are still coming to church without any coaxing from us! They still seem to have insurmountable problems though, although we did convince them to close their bakery Sunday. We also found out that Veronica is not a member of the church which is good because she really wants to be baptized and really didn´t grow up as a member of the church. We are hoping they will be baptized in about 2 weeks!
Fabian and Alexandra are also progressing really well. They came to church yesterday and were fasting! Some members don´t even fast! They can´t get married yet though because Alexandra is only 16 and doesn´t have permission from her parents. I think she´ll get it soon though! That was the purpose for their fast.
The family Borja is doing well still, they really seem like members for years! Octavio doesn´t have a job still and money is super tight. I think their trials are a bit longer than they planned on...we are trying to keep them excited. They are still really firm in their testimonies though, no worries there!
I love Riobamba, the people here are so great and really want to learn. I´m still really glad to have Hermana Castillo for my companion as well. I´m learning a lot!
Love you all,
Whitney
Happy Birthday to my boys!
Garrett- Happy 17th Birthday!
Jared- Happy 12th Birthday!
Ecuafact: They have some of the scariest natural medicine techniques. Pretty sure the members are trying to kill me. I had a nasty case of parasites this week and everybody kept trying to give me aguitas made with weeds. I´m fairly certain one of them had a drop of gasoline. It tasted horrible and it isn´t the first time. Supposed to clean you out...ew. I don´t think my organs are going suffer though. I´m safe for now.
Another good week gone, the mission really is going by fast! I hit my 10th month mark and I can hardly believe it. I still feel like a greenie, but really I´m over the hill. The winter is coming on fast!
Veronica and Vinicio are doing really well, they´ve finally decided to get married and are still coming to church without any coaxing from us! They still seem to have insurmountable problems though, although we did convince them to close their bakery Sunday. We also found out that Veronica is not a member of the church which is good because she really wants to be baptized and really didn´t grow up as a member of the church. We are hoping they will be baptized in about 2 weeks!
Fabian and Alexandra are also progressing really well. They came to church yesterday and were fasting! Some members don´t even fast! They can´t get married yet though because Alexandra is only 16 and doesn´t have permission from her parents. I think she´ll get it soon though! That was the purpose for their fast.
The family Borja is doing well still, they really seem like members for years! Octavio doesn´t have a job still and money is super tight. I think their trials are a bit longer than they planned on...we are trying to keep them excited. They are still really firm in their testimonies though, no worries there!
I love Riobamba, the people here are so great and really want to learn. I´m still really glad to have Hermana Castillo for my companion as well. I´m learning a lot!
Love you all,
Whitney
Happy Birthday to my boys!
Garrett- Happy 17th Birthday!
Jared- Happy 12th Birthday!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Week 33
Ecua-fact: Many houses still are made out of adobe which is unusual because of the Earthquakes and volcanos. Almost all have a tile cross affixed on the pitch.
The best news this week is that the Family Borja was baptized:
Octavio Rigoberto Borja Chavez
Trinidad Veronica Martinez Zapata
Alisson Lisbeth Borja Martinez
& Nicole Melani Borja Martinez
I really just wanted to put all of their names!
The bad news is that I can´t post pictures because Alisson broke my camera...I´ve no idea how she did it. My camera cards are all okay I think so I´m going to try to get the pictures copied this week to a cd and post them next week. It was a bit stressful but when Octavio was baptized I realized that it didn´t matter that my camera was broken or that President Villena´s kids were running around screaming. It was peaceful, and I was so grateful to be a part of it. They really are such a special family and already have such strong testimonies. Veronica even did splits with me yesterday!
Other bad news is that Walter and Paul didn´t get baptized, I´m not really sure what happened but still holding out hope that they will get baptized in August.
I´m still loving Riobamba, it´s beautiful and has warmed up a bit! So I´m not dying of the cold anymore. Hermana Castillo is still great and I´m learning a lot. She has so much love for each one of our investigators, it really is admirable, I´m working on it though. Sometimes people are just hard though!!!
We also had zone conference this past week. As always, it was so much fun to hear from President Sloan, he´s is such a good teacher and genuinely loves each one of us. I learned a whole lot about the Book of Mormon, and how it really was written for us in this time period. Maybe I´ll send my notes home, it really was a great conference.
Hermana Mérida bore her testimony because she is going home this transfer, she apoligized to all of her companions (3 of us that were there) for being mean. I thought it was pretty funny!
Love,
Hermana Whitney Tanner
The best news this week is that the Family Borja was baptized:
Octavio Rigoberto Borja Chavez
Trinidad Veronica Martinez Zapata
Alisson Lisbeth Borja Martinez
& Nicole Melani Borja Martinez
I really just wanted to put all of their names!
The bad news is that I can´t post pictures because Alisson broke my camera...I´ve no idea how she did it. My camera cards are all okay I think so I´m going to try to get the pictures copied this week to a cd and post them next week. It was a bit stressful but when Octavio was baptized I realized that it didn´t matter that my camera was broken or that President Villena´s kids were running around screaming. It was peaceful, and I was so grateful to be a part of it. They really are such a special family and already have such strong testimonies. Veronica even did splits with me yesterday!
Other bad news is that Walter and Paul didn´t get baptized, I´m not really sure what happened but still holding out hope that they will get baptized in August.
I´m still loving Riobamba, it´s beautiful and has warmed up a bit! So I´m not dying of the cold anymore. Hermana Castillo is still great and I´m learning a lot. She has so much love for each one of our investigators, it really is admirable, I´m working on it though. Sometimes people are just hard though!!!
We also had zone conference this past week. As always, it was so much fun to hear from President Sloan, he´s is such a good teacher and genuinely loves each one of us. I learned a whole lot about the Book of Mormon, and how it really was written for us in this time period. Maybe I´ll send my notes home, it really was a great conference.
Hermana Mérida bore her testimony because she is going home this transfer, she apoligized to all of her companions (3 of us that were there) for being mean. I thought it was pretty funny!
Love,
Hermana Whitney Tanner
Monday, July 20, 2009
Week 32
My companion, Hermana Castillo, and I!
View of Chimborazo from my apartment!
Everybody,
Looks like we will only be having six baptisms this week, but that is still pretty exciting!
I´m loving my new companion, Hermana Castillo, she works hard and she works fast! I´m really grateful that I get the chance to learn from her. She really loves our investigators, and takes sincere interest in every one of them. She´s basically the best missionary in the Mission. She gives a talk every zone conference, and President Sloan has a lot of faith in her. I really have learned so much from her in the short time we have been together! I´m really lucky. She´s from Guatemala and also has a brother in the Mission. He´s in Ecuador also but in the Guayaquil mission!
The Family Borja (Voar-ha) is still doing great! I can´t believe how lucky I am to be a part of their lives. Sounds cheesy I know but I really, really am so lucky. They are great! Octavio has quite smoking and drinking. We gave him a carton of candy cigarrillos this week and everytime he wants to smoke he has to read a scripture! We had a fast with him last week and he said he can really feel the difference, he said he knows he has had help quitting! His family is also doing great. Nicol his 8 year old daughter asked me to baptize her! I was flattered of course, but explained that only Priesthood holders could baptize. She´s a doll though, I can hardly wait until Saturday!
Walter is also scheduled for this Saturday but he didn´t show up to his baptismal interview so I´m not 100% that his baptism is going to happen. Cristian Calderón also came to church this Sunday, I´m still holding out hope that his dad will give him permission to be baptized!
Sorry I´m short again, but I never seem to have much time to write!
Love you all,
Whitney
Monday, July 13, 2009
Week 31
EVERYBODY!
Ecuafact: The University San Fransisco is the only University whose credits transfer to the United States.
Hola! I´m in Sunny Riobamba, oh wait, not sunny freezing! That´s why it has the nickname Friobamba, I´ve been wearing basketball shorts underneath my skirts and up to 5 layers everyday! Today there is sun, it´s a glorious feeling!
I really am liking Riobamba though! It´s pretty and I have an amazing view of Chimborazo from my apartment. Chimborazo is a massive snow topped volcano. It hasn´t been active in about 500 years but don´t worry there is another one just East that is stilling blowing and spewing!
Riobamba is pretty interesting. The Catholic grip of death isn´t so strong here and we find more Evangelistas, Cristianas, and Testigos de Jéhova. Jehova´s Witnesses come out every Saturday here. We always have to explain that we are not Jehova´s Witnesses, it´s actually pretty funny. Occasionally when we go to contact and give pamphlets we end up with Awake! or Watchtower, which are Magazines from the Jehovah´s Witnesses. It´s a refreshing change, but The JW´s are harder than then the Catholics, mostly because they are all active. I´m very glad I didn´t go with any floral print anything because on Saturdays you can´t escape it.
We have 7 baptisms scheduled for this month. The Borja (Vor-ha) family of 4 is this Saturday or the next. They are great, we just finished a fast for Octavio, who is having some trouble quitting smoking. They are great and are already preparing to go to the Temple one year from their baptisms. Octavio also fasted with us and he made it all the way through 24 hours on his first try. It was pretty amazing, he really does have a testimony.
We also have Cristian and Marco, they are the kids of members but aren´t active in the church. I really love Cristian, and he pretty much loves me! He hugs me the entire way through our lessons and what´s shocking is that I let him. His dad is witholding permission for his baptism though, it´s unusual becuase usually even the inactive members want their children to be baptized too!
We had a family home evening yesterday with a Gringo family who lives here and attends our ward. It was really weird to hear words like mom and dad, kind of tripped me out. Of course we would be fasting when somebody offers us real american chocolate chip cookies! It was fun though.
I´m really liking Hermana Castillo, she´s pretty famous in the mission because she baptizes double what the other missionaries do in a month. Always. I can see why, she always shows real love for our investigators and teaches really clearly. I´m really enjoying being her companion. Although...she´s really, really touchy feely and I think we all know I´m not. I´m getting used to it though...sorta.
Chao!
Ecuafact: The University San Fransisco is the only University whose credits transfer to the United States.
Hola! I´m in Sunny Riobamba, oh wait, not sunny freezing! That´s why it has the nickname Friobamba, I´ve been wearing basketball shorts underneath my skirts and up to 5 layers everyday! Today there is sun, it´s a glorious feeling!
I really am liking Riobamba though! It´s pretty and I have an amazing view of Chimborazo from my apartment. Chimborazo is a massive snow topped volcano. It hasn´t been active in about 500 years but don´t worry there is another one just East that is stilling blowing and spewing!
Riobamba is pretty interesting. The Catholic grip of death isn´t so strong here and we find more Evangelistas, Cristianas, and Testigos de Jéhova. Jehova´s Witnesses come out every Saturday here. We always have to explain that we are not Jehova´s Witnesses, it´s actually pretty funny. Occasionally when we go to contact and give pamphlets we end up with Awake! or Watchtower, which are Magazines from the Jehovah´s Witnesses. It´s a refreshing change, but The JW´s are harder than then the Catholics, mostly because they are all active. I´m very glad I didn´t go with any floral print anything because on Saturdays you can´t escape it.
We have 7 baptisms scheduled for this month. The Borja (Vor-ha) family of 4 is this Saturday or the next. They are great, we just finished a fast for Octavio, who is having some trouble quitting smoking. They are great and are already preparing to go to the Temple one year from their baptisms. Octavio also fasted with us and he made it all the way through 24 hours on his first try. It was pretty amazing, he really does have a testimony.
We also have Cristian and Marco, they are the kids of members but aren´t active in the church. I really love Cristian, and he pretty much loves me! He hugs me the entire way through our lessons and what´s shocking is that I let him. His dad is witholding permission for his baptism though, it´s unusual becuase usually even the inactive members want their children to be baptized too!
We had a family home evening yesterday with a Gringo family who lives here and attends our ward. It was really weird to hear words like mom and dad, kind of tripped me out. Of course we would be fasting when somebody offers us real american chocolate chip cookies! It was fun though.
I´m really liking Hermana Castillo, she´s pretty famous in the mission because she baptizes double what the other missionaries do in a month. Always. I can see why, she always shows real love for our investigators and teaches really clearly. I´m really enjoying being her companion. Although...she´s really, really touchy feely and I think we all know I´m not. I´m getting used to it though...sorta.
Chao!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Week 31
Everybody-
Ecua-fact: There aren´t any building codes. Which means that almost every set of stairs is a huge danger. They are almost always really uneven. The floors aren´t even either, I have to be vigilant with every step.
Well, I never cease to be surprised, I´ve been transferred. I´m off to Riobamba and my new companion is Hermana Castillo also from Guatemala. I really am tired of being changed but I´m excited to be companions with Hermana Castillo, her nickname is "the machine". She leads the mission in numbers and baptisms every month. So I´m going to learn all I can from her. I´m excited. I feel like my baptismal number is a bit low. Although I have found some really great people and have been able to be a part of their baptisms. Wish me luck!
To my great surprise I´m going to miss Hermana Mérida. I know, right? It really is amazing what the mission does to you! She has taught me a lot and I am truly grateful for that. I also thought I would be "killing her". A little mission slang, don´t worry, it means I would be her last companion.
Ahh, Ambato, we had a really great week. A best for both of us! We were able to find some really great new investigators, who both came to church! Husbands and children in tow. It was an amazing feeling to have 2 complete families at church! They also do all the reading and have questions. It´s going to be hard because we just found them.
Maria Llango still isn´t married because she had to have a document made up by a lawyer and she couldn´t afford the cost. The cost: $20 Maria is currently working construction to pay the bills. I can´t even begin to tell you how heartbreaking it is to see a woman working in hard labor, brick-laying. I think it´s one of the most humbling things I´ve ever seen. My companion and I put up the money for her to get her document ready. I wish I was going to be here to see her get married and baptized! I just really couldn´t believe it. A mere 20 dollars. I have such admiration for all the women here, they do so much. A comfortable life just doesn´t exist here. I´m even more aware of how completely spoiled I am.
By the way! Thank you all for telling me that Michael Jackson died. I kinda figured though, I haven´t had to listen to much latin music lately. It´s been a nice change to hear Thriller and I´m bad everywhere I go. Still going strong, there are pirated Michael Jackson cd´s and dvd´s everywhere!
Ecua-fact: There aren´t any building codes. Which means that almost every set of stairs is a huge danger. They are almost always really uneven. The floors aren´t even either, I have to be vigilant with every step.
Well, I never cease to be surprised, I´ve been transferred. I´m off to Riobamba and my new companion is Hermana Castillo also from Guatemala. I really am tired of being changed but I´m excited to be companions with Hermana Castillo, her nickname is "the machine". She leads the mission in numbers and baptisms every month. So I´m going to learn all I can from her. I´m excited. I feel like my baptismal number is a bit low. Although I have found some really great people and have been able to be a part of their baptisms. Wish me luck!
To my great surprise I´m going to miss Hermana Mérida. I know, right? It really is amazing what the mission does to you! She has taught me a lot and I am truly grateful for that. I also thought I would be "killing her". A little mission slang, don´t worry, it means I would be her last companion.
Ahh, Ambato, we had a really great week. A best for both of us! We were able to find some really great new investigators, who both came to church! Husbands and children in tow. It was an amazing feeling to have 2 complete families at church! They also do all the reading and have questions. It´s going to be hard because we just found them.
Maria Llango still isn´t married because she had to have a document made up by a lawyer and she couldn´t afford the cost. The cost: $20 Maria is currently working construction to pay the bills. I can´t even begin to tell you how heartbreaking it is to see a woman working in hard labor, brick-laying. I think it´s one of the most humbling things I´ve ever seen. My companion and I put up the money for her to get her document ready. I wish I was going to be here to see her get married and baptized! I just really couldn´t believe it. A mere 20 dollars. I have such admiration for all the women here, they do so much. A comfortable life just doesn´t exist here. I´m even more aware of how completely spoiled I am.
By the way! Thank you all for telling me that Michael Jackson died. I kinda figured though, I haven´t had to listen to much latin music lately. It´s been a nice change to hear Thriller and I´m bad everywhere I go. Still going strong, there are pirated Michael Jackson cd´s and dvd´s everywhere!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Week 30
Pedro and Tamara from my Ward in Latacunga. They were finally able to adopt a baby! They named her Kaylee after my trainer, Hermana Sorensen.
Isn´t it pretty here?
I love you Dad!
Everybody-
Ecuafact: People have no problem answering their cell phones in the middle of sacrament meeting, IN THE CHAPEL. Not just church either, in meetings, or other important occasions. It´s the weirdest thing.
Well, I feel as though I´m losing my sense of humor and nobody is commenting on my blog, sad. So I thought I would spice it up a bit!
Things I never dreamed I´d learn on my mission:
1. I can smell beer from pretty far away and know when to cross the street.
2. Prostitutes do not look like Julia Roberts.
Have you seen...
1. A volcano exploding, in person, live? ´Cause I have.
2. A 12 year old working construction? ´Cause, unfortuantely, I have.
Now before I worry my mother, the volcano was no Mt. Helena, just a trifle. It was still pretty cool to see an erupting volcano. Ecuador is full of active volcano´s.
Another good week for Team Tanner and Mérida. We have a whole bunch of new investigators! All in places we don´t know so we´ll be searching out a lot of them this week. I miss people having solid addresses like they do in the States. It´s a lot harder to find people down here. I often find myself looking for a "Casa celeste con una puerta blanco" (light blue house with a white door). You´d be surprised at just how many of those there are.
We were finally able to get ahold of Carlos and Miriam again. They just had their baby, Charli David (Dah-vid). They still can´t come to church because of the baby and Carlos is having a hard time getting work off to come! We´re working on it though.
Maria still can´t get baptized because her divorce papers haven´t arrived yet. She needs those to get married. Ironic no? Anyway we are hoping for 2 weeks from now.
Angelita and Jennifer are making some progress, they didn´t come to church yesterday, but when we met with them they really enjoyed it. So we are hoping for next week. We taught the law of Chastity to Jennifer (yeah I know) and she told us that was exactly what the Catholics teach. Still pretty catholic! I don´t know why the Catholics are so determined to stay Catholic? Almost all of the ones I have met don´t even go to church! It´s crazy. It´s always a fun challenge though.
We had Stake conference this Sunday, it wasn´t too great. It was via satellite but they had a horrible translator for President Packer so nobody ended up understanding his talk. As you can imagine it was the most important. The others were pretty good though. It was definitely different having Stake conference directly from Salt Lake City. Only a handful of people showed up. We filled the chapel, I guess that Stake conference means vacation here too...
Monday, June 22, 2009
Pictures Please
Sonia´s Baptism!
I told you my sector was huge! This is me and my mountain, and all that is below it also...all mine! Welcome to Ambato.
My companion, Hna. Mérida, and I.
My companion and I with President Sloan.
I told you my sector was huge! This is me and my mountain, and all that is below it also...all mine! Welcome to Ambato.
My companion, Hna. Mérida, and I.
My companion and I with President Sloan.
Week 29
Zona Sur!
Everybody-
Ecua-fact: Everybody has plastic lawn furniture, but nobody has a lawn. They use it as regular furniture. It´s a very common sight in homes and restaurants.
I´m doing great! I realized this week that I really love my sector! I haven´t felt like I really loved a place since Ibarra! It´s a great place, some area´s even resemble the United States! It´s so clean in Ambato (mind you I´m still in a 3rd world country). I even drank the tap water! Yeah, I know, I won´t do it again. It´s hard to be afraid of vechos (parasites) when you´ve yet to have them though. I´ve been here a whole 7 months without incident. I´m sure it will come.
We had Zone conference this week which means low numbers but high spirits. I love to hear and talk to President Sloan, he is such an amazing teacher. I learn so much from him. He talked a lot about Gratitude and how we missionaries need to show more of it. He works so hard for us and I really appreciate all that he does for the missionaries in this mission!
We were also challenged to make more baptismal challenges! Later that day my companion and I challenged somebody we contacted that day to baptism and she accepted! I guess they know what they are talking about. Angelica is going to be baptized July 5th, and probably 3 of her children also, Joselin, Cyntia, and David. She has another little girl but she´s only 5!
Our new investigators Carlos and Miriam stood us up this week! Turns out they had good reason- they are the proud parents of a brand new baby boy! I think they are the first couple I´ve taught that is married...but I´m not one hundred percent on that. We won´t be able to visit them for a couple of weeks but hopefully soon because they are great!
Elder Katzenbach is going home! My first assistant and the first missionary I saw in Ecuador!
Tradition!
Love,
Hermana Tanner
Everybody-
Ecua-fact: Everybody has plastic lawn furniture, but nobody has a lawn. They use it as regular furniture. It´s a very common sight in homes and restaurants.
I´m doing great! I realized this week that I really love my sector! I haven´t felt like I really loved a place since Ibarra! It´s a great place, some area´s even resemble the United States! It´s so clean in Ambato (mind you I´m still in a 3rd world country). I even drank the tap water! Yeah, I know, I won´t do it again. It´s hard to be afraid of vechos (parasites) when you´ve yet to have them though. I´ve been here a whole 7 months without incident. I´m sure it will come.
We had Zone conference this week which means low numbers but high spirits. I love to hear and talk to President Sloan, he is such an amazing teacher. I learn so much from him. He talked a lot about Gratitude and how we missionaries need to show more of it. He works so hard for us and I really appreciate all that he does for the missionaries in this mission!
We were also challenged to make more baptismal challenges! Later that day my companion and I challenged somebody we contacted that day to baptism and she accepted! I guess they know what they are talking about. Angelica is going to be baptized July 5th, and probably 3 of her children also, Joselin, Cyntia, and David. She has another little girl but she´s only 5!
Our new investigators Carlos and Miriam stood us up this week! Turns out they had good reason- they are the proud parents of a brand new baby boy! I think they are the first couple I´ve taught that is married...but I´m not one hundred percent on that. We won´t be able to visit them for a couple of weeks but hopefully soon because they are great!
Elder Katzenbach is going home! My first assistant and the first missionary I saw in Ecuador!
Tradition!
Love,
Hermana Tanner
Monday, June 15, 2009
Week 28
Ecua fact- The firemen, or Bombero´s wear camo, but it´s pink and purple!
Another really bad week for the food department. Pig skin again, this time I didn´t even try to eat it. I just really couldn´t stomach it one more time. Shrimp, I know lots of you like it but I´m just not a fan, hate the texture and the flavor. I also was served the famous Cebollado of Ecuador. It´s a tomatoe based soup with onions, fish, and yuca (a type of potatoe). Heavy on the onions and heavy on the fish. You also eat it with popcorn and chifles ( like potatoe chips but made with a type of banana, not sweet, they are good though). Not my favorite, but what freaked me out more was that I didn´t hate the onion fish soup...
Sonia was baptized! After about 25 years as a dry member (mission slang: somebody who assists with out being baptized!), although the baptism was basically a nightmare (but still great!). Sonia is terrified of water- petrified, horrified, you name it and she´s it. The worst part was the the water heater didn´t work and the water was freezing. We also don´t have Baptismal clothing either so we really had to search to find a dress- which didn´t zip up all the way! She then said she didn´t think she wanted to get baptized. We said a prayer with her and it calmed her nerves. Nobody from the ward showed up either- the Relief society President with the cake, the member with the assigned talk, nobody. We were lucky enough to have Elder Gutierrez and Elder Rivas there to give talks and act as the witnesses to the baptism, and also to run out quickly and buy some cookies in place of a cake! Maybe it´s all the more rewarding that it was really difficult...?
Maria didn´t end up getting married this week so no baptism on her end. Shooting for next week, but it´s a bit tricky because we have Zone Conference this week. We´re going to try anyway!
We have some really great new investigators because of our contacting activity last week! Most of them really far away. In particular though we have Jorge Tintin, he lives in Quisapincha (Kis-a-peencha). Which is really far also, but worth the trip because it´s beautiful. He lives in an adobe house, which is pretty unusual because Ambato was flattened in the 50´s because of an earthquake and adobe isn´t very sturdy. He´s pretty poor but he´s one of my favorites to visit. He always peppers us with questions and is always willing to meet with us, never too busy. We just need him to come to church now, but he´s reading the Book of Mormon! He´s 21 and pretty much takes care of his mom by himself, he has a sister who lives in Cuba but she is coming home soon. Keep him (and Maria) in your prayers for me, please! He really is special.
Picture´s next week! Sorry!
Another really bad week for the food department. Pig skin again, this time I didn´t even try to eat it. I just really couldn´t stomach it one more time. Shrimp, I know lots of you like it but I´m just not a fan, hate the texture and the flavor. I also was served the famous Cebollado of Ecuador. It´s a tomatoe based soup with onions, fish, and yuca (a type of potatoe). Heavy on the onions and heavy on the fish. You also eat it with popcorn and chifles ( like potatoe chips but made with a type of banana, not sweet, they are good though). Not my favorite, but what freaked me out more was that I didn´t hate the onion fish soup...
Sonia was baptized! After about 25 years as a dry member (mission slang: somebody who assists with out being baptized!), although the baptism was basically a nightmare (but still great!). Sonia is terrified of water- petrified, horrified, you name it and she´s it. The worst part was the the water heater didn´t work and the water was freezing. We also don´t have Baptismal clothing either so we really had to search to find a dress- which didn´t zip up all the way! She then said she didn´t think she wanted to get baptized. We said a prayer with her and it calmed her nerves. Nobody from the ward showed up either- the Relief society President with the cake, the member with the assigned talk, nobody. We were lucky enough to have Elder Gutierrez and Elder Rivas there to give talks and act as the witnesses to the baptism, and also to run out quickly and buy some cookies in place of a cake! Maybe it´s all the more rewarding that it was really difficult...?
Maria didn´t end up getting married this week so no baptism on her end. Shooting for next week, but it´s a bit tricky because we have Zone Conference this week. We´re going to try anyway!
We have some really great new investigators because of our contacting activity last week! Most of them really far away. In particular though we have Jorge Tintin, he lives in Quisapincha (Kis-a-peencha). Which is really far also, but worth the trip because it´s beautiful. He lives in an adobe house, which is pretty unusual because Ambato was flattened in the 50´s because of an earthquake and adobe isn´t very sturdy. He´s pretty poor but he´s one of my favorites to visit. He always peppers us with questions and is always willing to meet with us, never too busy. We just need him to come to church now, but he´s reading the Book of Mormon! He´s 21 and pretty much takes care of his mom by himself, he has a sister who lives in Cuba but she is coming home soon. Keep him (and Maria) in your prayers for me, please! He really is special.
Picture´s next week! Sorry!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Week 27
Hey guys,
I know I´ve been totally lame for the past two weeks so hopefully today will make up for it!
Ecua-fact: Spanish has 200,000 more words than English.
This week was definitely great! With the minor exception of the food this week...I had to eat piel de chancho otra vez, or Pig skin again, it was horrible and chewy. I also got stuck eating Hígado de res or Liver of cow. It was pretty gross, but I´ve gotten used to masking spitting into a napkin. Although I have to say that my dad majorly exaggerated just how bad it was. True I didn´t finish, but it was swallowable. No more rice.
José Vasquez recieved the Priesthood yesterday, we were going to have him baptize his wife, Sonnia, but she doesn´t really want him to. He is really tall and she is scared of the water! But she´s getting baptized on Saturday. We are really excited about it! The Recreo (my sector-ward) in Ambato is really amazing we have so much help from the members, which is such a nice change!
This is Sonnia with her daughters, Alexandra in the middle and Sonnia on the other side.
This is José and Sonnia at José´s baptism!
Speaking of baptisms! Maria Llango (Yango) is also getting baptized this week, Friday is the date! She´s been investigating the church for 2 years now and she is one of my favorites. She is also getting married this week. She is in our sector in Latacunga so we will be doing a lot of traveling this week! Our sector is huge regardless, so I´ve become pretty accustomed to the travel!
We also had the opportunity to hear from Elder Rafael Pino this week, he´s a Seventy. We don´t get that opportunity very often so we were all really excited. I understood it all in spanish, so I was super excited! Only some of you can imagine how nice it is to understand all that people say! Of course, I still have my moments!
We also had a pretty fun district activity this week. We set up tables in the park and contacted for a couple of hours. It was pretty fun and we have a bunch of new people to visit this coming week. I really like contacting, I think it´s good life experience getting used to the word no, although it usually appears as "Yo soy catolica" or "I´m Catholic". Jehova´s Witnesses are harder though...they don´t celebrate birthdays, or Christmas- Why would you want that?
I know I´ve been totally lame for the past two weeks so hopefully today will make up for it!
Ecua-fact: Spanish has 200,000 more words than English.
This week was definitely great! With the minor exception of the food this week...I had to eat piel de chancho otra vez, or Pig skin again, it was horrible and chewy. I also got stuck eating Hígado de res or Liver of cow. It was pretty gross, but I´ve gotten used to masking spitting into a napkin. Although I have to say that my dad majorly exaggerated just how bad it was. True I didn´t finish, but it was swallowable. No more rice.
José Vasquez recieved the Priesthood yesterday, we were going to have him baptize his wife, Sonnia, but she doesn´t really want him to. He is really tall and she is scared of the water! But she´s getting baptized on Saturday. We are really excited about it! The Recreo (my sector-ward) in Ambato is really amazing we have so much help from the members, which is such a nice change!
This is Sonnia with her daughters, Alexandra in the middle and Sonnia on the other side.
This is José and Sonnia at José´s baptism!
Speaking of baptisms! Maria Llango (Yango) is also getting baptized this week, Friday is the date! She´s been investigating the church for 2 years now and she is one of my favorites. She is also getting married this week. She is in our sector in Latacunga so we will be doing a lot of traveling this week! Our sector is huge regardless, so I´ve become pretty accustomed to the travel!
We also had the opportunity to hear from Elder Rafael Pino this week, he´s a Seventy. We don´t get that opportunity very often so we were all really excited. I understood it all in spanish, so I was super excited! Only some of you can imagine how nice it is to understand all that people say! Of course, I still have my moments!
We also had a pretty fun district activity this week. We set up tables in the park and contacted for a couple of hours. It was pretty fun and we have a bunch of new people to visit this coming week. I really like contacting, I think it´s good life experience getting used to the word no, although it usually appears as "Yo soy catolica" or "I´m Catholic". Jehova´s Witnesses are harder though...they don´t celebrate birthdays, or Christmas- Why would you want that?
Monday, June 1, 2009
Week 26
Hey Everybody-
We had a baptism this Friday! It was a good one too, José Vasquez! His wife (they also had to get married this week too) confessed that she isn´t actually a member and she wants to be baptized as well! She´s been telling people she´s a member for about 25 years now! We are planning her Baptism for this weekend, hopefully José will have the Priesthood by then and he will be able to be the one to Baptize her. I don´t know if he´s quite ready this week, but probably the next. I´ll have to post some pictures of them next week. Internet is sketchy here.
He has a great testimony. He ended up bearing his testimony in Sacrament meeting (the Bishop told him he could pasar or pass after he was confirmed, the Bishop meant with his family but he passed the microphone instead. It was actually a pretty great mix-up.
I didn´t get to much this week because of my ankle, but I did go out and work. I still have to meet quite a few of our investigators. I also have to go to Quito this week to meet with the mission doctor! Should be fun, but I´m not too worried.
Sorry, I didn´t have much time this week to write you all. I love you all so much and think of you often.
We had a baptism this Friday! It was a good one too, José Vasquez! His wife (they also had to get married this week too) confessed that she isn´t actually a member and she wants to be baptized as well! She´s been telling people she´s a member for about 25 years now! We are planning her Baptism for this weekend, hopefully José will have the Priesthood by then and he will be able to be the one to Baptize her. I don´t know if he´s quite ready this week, but probably the next. I´ll have to post some pictures of them next week. Internet is sketchy here.
He has a great testimony. He ended up bearing his testimony in Sacrament meeting (the Bishop told him he could pasar or pass after he was confirmed, the Bishop meant with his family but he passed the microphone instead. It was actually a pretty great mix-up.
I didn´t get to much this week because of my ankle, but I did go out and work. I still have to meet quite a few of our investigators. I also have to go to Quito this week to meet with the mission doctor! Should be fun, but I´m not too worried.
Sorry, I didn´t have much time this week to write you all. I love you all so much and think of you often.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Week 25
Ecua-fact: Most of the men grow out one finger nail, usually the pinky. I can only imagine why. (Shudder)
For those of you who didn´t here I was yet again transferred! I´m the one transfer missionary! It was a really strange Change, I am still with Hermana Mérida from Latacunga but we are one hour south opening the Recreo sector of Ambato. Opening is hard work but we have a really great ward and they help us out a lot. It´s been fairly easy to find our investigators, including the one who lives at the top of the mountain. Literally, mountain. The pictures of my sector were taken from his house... Crazy.
We should have a baptism this weekend though. Hno. José Vasquez. He just needs to get married this Wednesday. I don´t know why nobody here is married. I know that a lot of the people of the world don´t get married anymore, but not all of them.
My new sector is absolutely huge, we not only have a massive chunk of Ambato but quite a few cities outside. El Pisque, Cuchibamba, ect. We spend a lot of time in buses and walking. With all the rice though the walking is a good thing.
It´s nice to be in a ward that is so helpful and gives us references, it´s a really big difference from Latacunga. Although I still miss my investigators there. The good news is that Maria Llango (pictured below) will be getting married this week so she will also be able to be baptized. As aforementioned, my companion and I already have permission to go back for her baptism. She is probably one of my favorite investigators, I don´t think I´ve ever met anybody so kind in all of Ecuador. She is really thoughful and attends church every week even though we aren´t there to make sure she does.
And now...the bad news. I fell, yet again, it´s not as serious this time but still included a trip to the E.R. in a third world country. I´m unable to work for 8 days, which is not good, we are super busy and our sector is huge and full of mountains! They should really work on the roads here. Don´t worry about me though, I´ll be fine in no time!
Your favorite Missionary,
Hna. Whitney Tanner
Ambato-Recreo.
My sector.
This is my new sector...It´s absolutely enormous.
Waterfall count: 4 Pialon del Diablo
For those of you who didn´t here I was yet again transferred! I´m the one transfer missionary! It was a really strange Change, I am still with Hermana Mérida from Latacunga but we are one hour south opening the Recreo sector of Ambato. Opening is hard work but we have a really great ward and they help us out a lot. It´s been fairly easy to find our investigators, including the one who lives at the top of the mountain. Literally, mountain. The pictures of my sector were taken from his house... Crazy.
We should have a baptism this weekend though. Hno. José Vasquez. He just needs to get married this Wednesday. I don´t know why nobody here is married. I know that a lot of the people of the world don´t get married anymore, but not all of them.
My new sector is absolutely huge, we not only have a massive chunk of Ambato but quite a few cities outside. El Pisque, Cuchibamba, ect. We spend a lot of time in buses and walking. With all the rice though the walking is a good thing.
It´s nice to be in a ward that is so helpful and gives us references, it´s a really big difference from Latacunga. Although I still miss my investigators there. The good news is that Maria Llango (pictured below) will be getting married this week so she will also be able to be baptized. As aforementioned, my companion and I already have permission to go back for her baptism. She is probably one of my favorite investigators, I don´t think I´ve ever met anybody so kind in all of Ecuador. She is really thoughful and attends church every week even though we aren´t there to make sure she does.
And now...the bad news. I fell, yet again, it´s not as serious this time but still included a trip to the E.R. in a third world country. I´m unable to work for 8 days, which is not good, we are super busy and our sector is huge and full of mountains! They should really work on the roads here. Don´t worry about me though, I´ll be fine in no time!
Your favorite Missionary,
Hna. Whitney Tanner
Ambato-Recreo.
My sector.
This is my new sector...It´s absolutely enormous.
Waterfall count: 4 Pialon del Diablo
Chao Latacunga
I feel like I say goodbye a whole lot...
These are the twins, Paco and Estefania, with their mother Maria Luz.
This is Maria and Ana Llango (Yango), Maria is in pink. My companion and I have permission to come back for her baptism in a couple of weeks!
These are the twins, Paco and Estefania, with their mother Maria Luz.
This is Maria and Ana Llango (Yango), Maria is in pink. My companion and I have permission to come back for her baptism in a couple of weeks!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Week 23
Hey Everybody-
Ecuafact- I can buy 3 pineapples for a dollar!
Zone Conference was this past week and this is the picture of my zone!
This is Jhon Carlo, no not spelled wrong, The Lord seems to know that I need a little brother with Downs in every sector! I´m pretty lucky! We are teaching his mother Jeaneth. She´s not super interested but we´re working on it! She and her husband own some Cabina´s (they are like payphones, but not!).
This is Santiago, he´s too young to be an investigator but we are teaching his older brother and sister Paco and Estefanía! I wrote about them last week. They are still doing well, but didn´t come to church this week so we´re a bit worried. They still accept our committments though! They haven´t been drinking or smoking either, which is especially good because they are only 15! I haven´t been able to get pictures of everybody yet, but soon.
One of our members has a pet monkey, purchased for the amount of 20 dollars, named Skipper!
We are teaching a really great family right now, Valerie, Lorenzo, and they have a little boy Esteven. They are Catholic but don´t really believe in anything the Catholic church teaches, very unusual, especially infant baptism or worshipping Saints(idols- Hey Tim!) So they are really receptive and always have a whole lot of questions about the church. Now if we could just get them to come to church. They are a bit confused sometimes so we take it slow!
Mother´s day is the greatest isn´t it? I got to talk to my family! Take it from me, you never know what you´ve got ´till it´s gone! Ask any missionary! Sorry I´m so brief today, I don´t know what to talk about since I already talked to my family yesterday!
Ecuafact- I can buy 3 pineapples for a dollar!
Zone Conference was this past week and this is the picture of my zone!
This is Jhon Carlo, no not spelled wrong, The Lord seems to know that I need a little brother with Downs in every sector! I´m pretty lucky! We are teaching his mother Jeaneth. She´s not super interested but we´re working on it! She and her husband own some Cabina´s (they are like payphones, but not!).
This is Santiago, he´s too young to be an investigator but we are teaching his older brother and sister Paco and Estefanía! I wrote about them last week. They are still doing well, but didn´t come to church this week so we´re a bit worried. They still accept our committments though! They haven´t been drinking or smoking either, which is especially good because they are only 15! I haven´t been able to get pictures of everybody yet, but soon.
One of our members has a pet monkey, purchased for the amount of 20 dollars, named Skipper!
We are teaching a really great family right now, Valerie, Lorenzo, and they have a little boy Esteven. They are Catholic but don´t really believe in anything the Catholic church teaches, very unusual, especially infant baptism or worshipping Saints(idols- Hey Tim!) So they are really receptive and always have a whole lot of questions about the church. Now if we could just get them to come to church. They are a bit confused sometimes so we take it slow!
Mother´s day is the greatest isn´t it? I got to talk to my family! Take it from me, you never know what you´ve got ´till it´s gone! Ask any missionary! Sorry I´m so brief today, I don´t know what to talk about since I already talked to my family yesterday!
Latacunga
My apartment (for those who care) and Latacunga! It´s really nice, but still lacks a lot of the things we Statesman are used to.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Week 22
Hey Everybody-
Ana is doing okay, but she didn´t come to church this week! We are still working with her husband, but he hasn´t been able to quit drinking and smoking yet! I´m hoping he will soon because you never know how long your going to be in an area, and I´d like to see him get baptized!
We had a ward activity this week, probably one of the most stressful things ever. We watched the Joseph Smith movie. Which isn´t available to you spoiled people in the United States, but in Ecuador pirated copies are legal...interesting no? More members came then attended Sacrament meeting. We have an activity planned for every week in May and are hoping it will motivate the ward.
We had Zone Conference this past week which meant traveling to Ambato 4 times, 8 dollars wasted in buses, smelly, people crammed buses. It´s always worth it though, President Sloan really is a great man and I always come away with so much afterwards. He told me I will be changed again, so I don´t have much time in Latacunga left! He said I´ll be heading to Otavalo or Ibarra again! He has been known to change his mind though! Let you know in a couple of weeks.
Hna. Whitney Tanner
Ecua-fact: It usually costs 10 cents to go to the bathroom in a public place. When the toilet paper is free, it´s a pretty happy experience. They are some of the shadiest bathrooms I´ve ever seen.
Things are going really well with Paco (M. thought you would appreciate that name) and Estefania. They have already been to church twice now, which is the minimum requirement for a Baptism, they even came and stayed for all three hours. Which is more than the majority of our members come for. Their mother Maria Luz is so glad that they´ve stopped drinking and smoking that she wants us to come by every day at about 8:00pm. A bit hard, but it´s always nice to go somewhere we are wanted. Sometimes even rare! They really are doing great. Paco is always asking questions and Estefania has decided to wait for Matthew to come home from his mission ( I told her she would have to be a member first). The gospel really does do wonders for the family. Everyday I become more and more convinced that I´m the luckiest person in the world to have been born into the Gospel. I can´t believe how blessed I am, I really had no idea!
Ana is doing okay, but she didn´t come to church this week! We are still working with her husband, but he hasn´t been able to quit drinking and smoking yet! I´m hoping he will soon because you never know how long your going to be in an area, and I´d like to see him get baptized!
We had a ward activity this week, probably one of the most stressful things ever. We watched the Joseph Smith movie. Which isn´t available to you spoiled people in the United States, but in Ecuador pirated copies are legal...interesting no? More members came then attended Sacrament meeting. We have an activity planned for every week in May and are hoping it will motivate the ward.
We had Zone Conference this past week which meant traveling to Ambato 4 times, 8 dollars wasted in buses, smelly, people crammed buses. It´s always worth it though, President Sloan really is a great man and I always come away with so much afterwards. He told me I will be changed again, so I don´t have much time in Latacunga left! He said I´ll be heading to Otavalo or Ibarra again! He has been known to change his mind though! Let you know in a couple of weeks.
Hna. Whitney Tanner
Monday, April 27, 2009
Yes, A P-day Post
Seriously beautiful, no?
This is my fish, that I caught, and that I ate, and that I touched when it was alive. I had to include it or some people might not believe me.
See, you didn´t believe me did you?
I thought you would all like to see the most beautiful place in the world: Baños. We had to cross the canyon in a basked that ran on a motor! Seriously cool. Get this Utahns: The waterfalls name is Vela de Novia or Bridal Veil Falls. Crazy.
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