Week 10 August 23-29, 2016

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

This week was exhausting, but there were also some pretty uplifting moments as well.

I had a low step in my life today and went to eat at McDonalds...I know, I know, it's sacrifices like these that show that the pioneer's don't got anything on me. Hahaha no but it was nice to eat something familiar from home.

We had to get up around 5-5:30am some days just to travel to meetings in Quito with President. But Hermana Christensen makes it worth it by giving us delicious homemade food, and for lunch one day they treated us with Papa John's Pizza.

Ecuadoreans are quite interesting. It's kinda funny how when it's a little cool outside, I'm in short sleeves and loving it, but all the Ecuadoreans who are only used to the perfect weather are all bundled up. Also, lots of Ecuadoreans (and the Peruvian missionaries, so most South Americans in general) are pretty tone deaf...I only say that because I cringe just about every time we sing hymns hahaha. AND (go figure) THEY'RE ALL SHORT! I'm sure it's quite the hoot that I have to stand in the emergency hatch area on buses where it pops up a few extra inches, just to be able to stand up straight. Tall probs.

I also bought new, pretty crazy Ecuadorean scripture cases :) And there is in fact a real life Pizza Planet (see pics below)

We did a Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) with a less-active family, the bishop's family, and a few others. It was so much fun, we played a game with our ties, and they fed us dinner.

On Friday we got to give a sick Sister Missionary a Priesthood Blessing. It's always so neat to think about, that through the proper use of our Priesthood Authority as Elders, we're standing in place for Christ. And it's never used to help ourselves, only to bless the lives of others. 

Also on Sunday night after we came back home, we went downstairs to give the sister (who owns the store) and her son (experiencing unusual chest pains) Priesthood blessings of comfort and healing...the son was up till 3am this morning cause he was so scared he would die in his sleep. It was pretty eye-opening to see them in tears, and to realize how blessed we are as Latter Day Saints to consistently have the power of the Priesthood nearby, and then there being recently-converted families like that who have a single mom and haven't really had the Priesthood to bless their lives until now.

Saturday we did a service project with the ward cleaning the church...guess who got assigned to clean the baptismal font mirror? Yup you're right...nobody else has arms/legs long enough to reach hahaha but I was cool with it. 

Afterwards we came back and did a much needed companionship inventory. It was nice for both of us to blow off some steam, and give suggestions on how each other could improve. In the end, we were both humbler and committing on ways to be better, and therefore we were able to get along easier.

This morning I was finally blessed to recieve something I'd been praying and fasting for since before the mission- a stronger testimony of the things we as missionaries preach. I won't go into too much detail because it's sacred, but during Personal Study I was reading in 3 Nephi 18 and came across this verse:

"And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall recieve, behold it shall be given unto you."

I realized this promise, and kinda had to do a self-check, ask myself "Do I really believe I'll recieve an answer?" After I pondered, thought it through, and realized I did believe, I also realized I believed in the things I'd been questioning or doubting. Once I saw all the things I believed, especially with the Atonement,​​​​​​ I saw how important my calling was as a missionary and the hope I could bring to so many lives.

I realized today that, in most things, I wouldn't really know for sure, but all I needed to do was strongly believe.

"Faith is not to have a perfect knowlege of things" (Alma 32:21)

It is my testimony that we don't need to know truths -I believe that comes through time and demonstrating perfect faith- we only need to believe with all our heart and humbly be willing to do whatever our Heavenly Father's will is, and as we faithfully and diligently persevere, then our weak things can become strong, and testimonies can be strengthened.

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Stolle

Week 9 August 16-22, 2016

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

First of all, for those of you who didn't get the reference, the subject line is referring to Finding Nemo, just cause of our Zone Activity today, in which we went fishing and played capture the flag while the owners cooked the fish for our lunch. We all took turns kissing our fishes, and I gotta lotta fun poked my way that it was my "first kiss." Hahaha but it was good and we had a spiritual thought after, so it was a fun and uplifting morning.

Not too many different other things happened this week, so fun fact- the Ecuador Quito Mission is bilingual- not just Spanish speakers. So not only do us English speakers have to learn Spanish, but the Spanish speakers have to learn English. It's funny to see American missionaries forget words in English and returned Ecuadorean missionaries struggle to remember Spanish.

On Saturday before we taught the English class, Ojanny (O-ha-nee) (see pics below) taught me how to conjugate a few words in Spanish even though he's only 7.

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Also I tried drinking my first coconut (also see pic below), as well as blackberry juice and soda.

And for those who don't know, I'll quickly explain the new basic schedule of Mission Life. Basically you wake up at 6:30am, exercise, shower, eat breakfast, then do studies (Personal, as a Companionship, Language Learning, etc.) till 11am. Then, besides an hour for lunch and dinner each, you teach lessons and contact in the streets until 9, and be in bed by 10:30pm. Then wake up and repeat.

I have to comment on how it's always nice of Sister Jimeña, who is a member and the owner of both the store downstairs and our apartment above, to generously give us bread, vegetables, etc. She tells us she stresses out because she barely settles financially, and I feel guilty accepting things she gives us, but she is very generous and blessed for forcing us to take food. :) I'm super grateful (and humbled) by her example.

This week was a little rougher teaching-wise, cause several of our appointments canceled on us last minute. But we try to keep a good attitude. Although I forgot my camera again, Saturday was great. It started off bright and early with a service project in the Hermana's sector. We helped a family to mix sand, water, and concrete to make cement to wheelbarrow over to make a new floor in their house. All the shoveling and carrying heavy buckets of rocks and cement totally reminded me of my HEFY trip to Belize, when we built the foundation for a small school. Although dirty, sweaty, tired, and covered in splattered cement, I was right at home working hard with the other missionaries in our district to serve.

Later, we had a few great lessons, which the investigators were really receptive and we felt the Spirit when teaching. One of the people we taught was a mechanic with a sneer on his face which seemed to be directed at us missionaries. I literally thought he was gonna give us trouble, but as we gave our message, he went from playing on his phone and basically ignoring us to being the person that, attentively and interested, asked us the most questions. Like I said last week, I never fail to be amazed at how recpetive even the toughest looking thugs are, and I believe this receptiveness comes when we help them feel the Spirit and really give it our 100% as missionaries and representatives of the Lord.

Have a great first week of school for all you kiddos going back!

Love,

Elder Stolle

Week 8 August 9-15, 2016

¡Hola Familia y Amigos! 

Just a warning, this is a pretty long email, but there were a ton of "firsts" this week.

Well I have to start off by saying that just hours after I emailed last week I experienced my first-ever TERREMOTO!!! (In English that means earthquake) It hit around 11:25pm, and I was half-asleep and confused because I thought my companion was shaking my bed, then realized the reality. It was small, just a 4.7, and luckily it didn't do any visible damage, but was just enough that we felt it. The epicenter was in Quito, so pretty exciting.

I also tried Polaca, which I'm starting to become addicted to (it's a sweet drink made from oatmeal, sweetened condensed milk, etc. and is very thick and very unhealthybut very good). 

On Tuesday, after several late night check-ins with leaders after the earthquake, we had a quick breakfast of bread and bagged milk (my first time trying bagged milk) and went bright and early to help a family with a service project. (I forgot my camera so sorry-no pictures) It was actually so cool- we helped them cut most of their small barley field using sickles (skythes, whatever you wanna call them). I accidently cut my hand, but I just cut off a piece of my shirt and tied a makeshift bandage before going back to work. I love this kind of hard work with other people, and I kept thinking how cool it was that we were doing D&C 4, both literally and metaphorically.

I forgot to mention that they also fed us breakfast before (our second one), which was really humbling seeing how little they have, and yet still give. It's really interesting how you can walk a few miles and go from a very nice neighborhood to a poverty stricken family. Also, since the water shuts off in our apartment for most of the day, by the time we got back I had my first shower without running water, just a bottle I poured over my head. But seeing how blessed we live compared to others, I was fine with it.

A few random things from this week:

-We went on "Divisiones" (Exchanges) and contacted people knocking door to door. I never fail to be amazed at how receptive even the toughest looking thugs are down here.

-They put popcorn and banana chips in their soup here

-I forgot to say in last week's email that the top of my suitcase ripped the first day (so now I don't have a handle to pull with...fun fun)

-We helped kill a rat at a Sister's house and launched it over the fence

Now for a quick rundown on some cool things about Ecuador. It's pretty dang cool to look out the window and see a volcano every day! Cotopaxi (the volcano) is the popular one that people associate with Quito, but there's several in the mission. Also, most people don't know this but ¡Suprise! there is snow even here on the Equator, in the mountain peaks. (see picture below) Also, when hugging, people (usually women or fellow church members) give each other a kiss on the cheek. Another thing is that it's typical to feed guests a small snack and drink, so we've eaten several bread and cheese sandwiches as well as hot chocolate.

¡Congradulations! You made it to the last portion of this very long email. We'll end on a spiritual note.

We had a really neat first lesson with an older couple we'd just met though contacting. Although they'd never hear the Gospel message before, when we invited them to pray about the church, they said they would, but already could feel it was true. As we were talking, I could feel the Spirit so strongly when I thought about them dressed in white and being baptized, and, sure enough, they committed to come to church and be baptized.

Something else that was powerful and happened during the lesson was when Elder Memmott told me to recite some lines and scriptures we'd worked on memorizing earlier during the our studies. I was actually inwardly panicking because I'd forgotten the words. I said a quick, pretty desperate prayer to Heavenly Father for help, but still couldn't remember the words. As I began speaking, I suddenly remembered the words and was able to recite the First Vision with power and testimony. 

5) Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people, speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men.

6) For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

I'll admit, although the words from these scriptures in D&C 100​​ sounded neat, it'd never happened to me before, and I'd always been a little bit skeptical about it's truthfulness. Being in that lesson, the Spirit was strongly testified to me that there are people being prepared to hear the Gospel, and it is my testimony that when we strive to be worthy of the Spirit's help, the words will fall from our mouths in the exact moment we need them.

Love you all and have a great week!

-Elder Stolle

Week 7 August 3-8, 2016

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

So appearently, I can email all you wonderful people as long as you don't live in Ecuador. Whether the rules have recently changed or whatnot, I don't know, but I'm not complaining.

Pday here for all zones is on Monday, annnnnd...

Oh my gosh Ecuador's so cool! (as was expected) After about 7 hours of flying, I was pretty darn happy to be here. Almost right after we got to our gate at the Mexico City airport, about all 10 or so of us were asked why we were all dressed up and stuff, and basically split into 2 groups and started teaching people at like 1am in the morning. I'm sure they were thrilled to have enthusiastic, crazy, adrenaline driven missionaries start talking their ears off when they were sitting there, half-conscious and in PJs. But it was all good. After our first flight we had a layover in Bogota, Columbia, and met some missionaries on their way to Venezuela, before finally meeting the Mission President (President Christensen) at the Quito airport. Then we pretty much crashed all day (we only had like 2-3 hrs of sleep) until dinner at his house that night.

On Wednesday we had classes all morning preparing us for what to expect in the field. Apparently, we're not allowed to go into basically the 1/4 part of the mission to the right, where the deep jungle is (Google "head hunters" and you'll see why). After the classes we got our new trainers. My companion's name is Elder Memmott, and he's hilarious, but also kind and easy to get along with. He's pretty cool, and I'm grateful to be assigned with him for the next 5 weeks as I figure out the mission life. I'm in an area of Quito (kinda like a suburb) called Los Chillos, and the Barrio (kinda like a suburb of a suburb) where we are assigned is called San Rafael.

Thursday and Friday were my first legitimate days as a missionary, in the field and all. One of the mornings I woke up and showered, and the water was just below 95328146 degrees Kelvin (yes I know that's impossible, but it was pretty darn frigid). But the rest of the day was pretty great. I accidently (unknowingly) said a bad word to the lady who gave us lunch (oops) (new language probs), had to make an Indiana Jones style leap when the bus started moving before I had the chance to get on *cue the theme song* and we contacted 19 people! (contacting is finding random people in the streets and introducing them to the Gospel) Apparently, that's just above the average daily goal of 15, but I felt proud of it.

Also, since there's tons of stray dogs and we thought we´d be attacked, we'd pick up rocks to throw (just in case) on our way to appointments. I found a stick larger than me, so basically I looked like a Mormon Gandalf, and was prepared to go all master Yoda on any dog who dared come near us. Or drunk guys. We came across a drunk guy (my first encounter with one ever) singing and crying and stumbling around. It was a little freaky, and we were nervous he'd try to tackle us or something, but we just ended up helping him pour out the alcohol he was holding and sent him home.

On Saturday we also taught a basic English class to the Ward members and investigators, and yesterday we (mainly Elder Memmott) taught a lesson in Priesthood about Family Home Evening. Right after church we had a baptism, and it was really awesome with a great turnout...I counted just over 60 people.

It´s kinda weird cause we went from the Texas summer w/ about 14 hours of sunlight, but since we're here on the Equator, we always have 12 hours of sunlight, so the sun rises at 6:30 am and goes down about 6:30pm. There´s also a lotta little things I'm adjusting to, such as how most of the Latin American countries have glass shards on fences rather than barbed wie, and you put your toilet paper in the trash, hand washing all my clothes, etc.

I thought I had Spanish down by the end of the CCM...Holy Cow it's not even funny how absolutely wrong that was. But since I've been here I've gone from understanding occasional words people say to being able to understand almost all if I focus hard, and usually give a basic reply. Much thanks is due to my awesome companion/trainer, but I also believe in the Gift of Tongues and that Heavenly Father blesses us when we strive to be diligent.

Love you guys! Have an awesome last few weeks of Summer!

Love,

Elder Stolle

August 6th Letter from Sister Christensen (Mission President's Wife)

Dear Brother and Sister Stolle,

President Christensen and I are so pleased that Elder Stolle is serving in the Ecuador Quito Mission.  We welcome him with all our hearts and know that the gifts he has been given from our Father in Heaven and the talents he has developed will bless the lives of those with and for whom he serves in a unique way only he can offer.   He has impressed us as an outstanding young man.  His dedicated service will further increase his abilities and character in remarkable ways.

There are currently 158 missionaries in our mission, serving in 8 zones.  Elder Stolle has been assigned to serve in Quito in the Los Chillos zone with Elder Memmott as his companion and trainer.  Elder Memmott is known by the other missionaries as being hardworking and positive.

Attached are photos that show Elder Stolle with his companion, the group of missionaries with whom he arrived, this group with their trainers, and with us.  

Monday is Preparation day when he has internet time to read emails you send as well as write to you.  If you would like to send letters or packages, these are mailing instructions:

All mail should be sent to the mission office.  Any letters or packages are then sent by pouch to the zone leader where each missionary is serving. 

Full Missionary Name
Ecuador Quito Mission
Calles Robles E4-151 y Av. Amazonas
Casilla: 17-03-078
Quito, Pichincha
Ecuador

The mail system here is very frustrating.  It seems very random that some packages make it through and others don’t. The green customs sticker must be filled out and packages must be under 8 lbs. or they end up in what we affectionately call “Mail Jail” and are either returned or are subject to heavy fees and the officials go through and take out what they deem unacceptable. I understand that food items are not to be sent and are often confiscated but missionaries get food (candy, peanut butter, jerky etc.) all the time, so it appears that it just depends on who is the attendant that day.   The closer we get to Christmas, the longer packages take to get here and the more likely they are to be held in customs.

We know and understand that there is sacrifice on your part both emotionally and financially to support him during this period of full time missionary service and we express our gratitude for your offering which furthers the work of inviting others to come unto Christ and to receive the blessings of the Gospel in their lives.

With our love and gratitude,

Sister Christine Christensen

Wife of Mission President​

Ecuador Quito Mission

(Note from Mom: He looks really tired in these pictures living on only a few hours of sleep!)