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.
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
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