Week 19 October 24-30, 2016

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

First of all, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Reason #56836583639 Why I love Ecuador: They've already got Christmas trees/lights up and music starting to play. Woot woot!

Fun Facts: Diesel gas is about $1.04/gallon (makes me wish we drove cars here), as well as appearently a lot of the youth in the wards here are called to be Ward Missionaries before their actual mission. It's interesting.

I'm the first gringo (white person) of the 14 companions Elder Bailon's had, so he's really wanted to practice English...we've done part of our readings in English, and it took about 10 min to practice the "Z" sound. We were dying laughing cause it sounded like we were loopy on anesthesia or something. But I'm actually amazed at how fast he's progressing. Sometimes I wake up at 2 or so in the morning and hear him laying awake trying to practice his pronounciations.

I got assigned as the English tutor again. There wasn't much competition with me being the only gringo in the District. We also got to do a service project for an old couple to grind corn by hand...just a couple of buckets and some green onions but goodness gracious I never knew it was so tiring to do something as simple as that! We had to keep taking turns cause our arms would get tired. I don't care how wimpy it sounds, you can't judge until you've done it. Needless to say, my respect for the pioneers and 1800's people skyrocketed afterwards.

Yesterday I woke up feeling sick and spent a fair amount of time in the bathroom, but we still went to church, even though it made us a little late. And guess who was there? SURPRISE! President Christensen and his wife. He didn't mention our tardiness, thank goodness. I think he could tell I wasn't feeling too well. Then, after the church meetings, Hermana Christensen wanted to take a picture of us w/President. Yes, please take a picture of me while I'm sick and look like a train wreck. It's quite photogenic. Haha but it was fine, and good to see them again. 

After lunch with a member, we went to a part of the Sister Missionaries' sector to do a baptism interview for one of their younger investigators. The dad wants the boy to be baptized, and the mom (of other religion) is indifferent. After the interview, we were eating food that the nice mom had given us, and were talking with her and her husband, when suddenly her head dropped and she was out. Her husband lovingly layed her down in a more comfortable position on the couch, when suddenly her body started flopping like a fish.

Although for a second it was actually pretty freaky, we kept our cool, and quickly realized she was having a seizure. Between us, the dad, and the Sister Missionaries, we helped carry her to her bed and kept a bottle of strong smelling colongue under her nose Then we gave her a Priesthood Blessing. During the blessing, she was still shaking a little bit, but when it finished, she stopped and was resting there peacefully. Then she revived a few minutes later. She and her husband were very grateful for all our help. Whether or not this helped her more appreciate the Church and it's blessings, I don't know. But I do know that this was a powerful testimony-building experience for me that this is the very Priesthood, power, and authority of God, used not only to direct his true church but also to bless his children. I'm so grateful to have a loving Heavenly Father who watches over and cares for us, and allowed us to be at the right place at the right time to bless one of his daughters during a time of need.

Have an incredible week!

Love,

Elder Stolle

P.S. I included a picture of our Zone activity playing soccer today, what a Guagua looks like (the bread thing) as well as shoes being made.

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Week 18 October 17-23, 2016

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

First off, gotta include that Elder Rodriguez called me a nerd. The boy's learning. Second of all, one of our Less-Actives we've been working with apparently fell into a cow pie while drunk. How unfortunate. Once again, there's so many blessings for living the Word of Wisdom. Third of all, our Zone T-shirts finally came in. Yay! One of the missionaries did little sketches of us all on the back.

We also have been eating a lot of bread filled with jam called "guaguas" and a thick drink called Colada Morada (it's basically like drinking hot blackberry jam with chunks of fruit in it, but it's not bad) recently for a holiday called "Dia de los muertos" coming up soon. Fun fun.

This week we've also been washing laundry (my feet got sunburned) and packing suitcases to prepare for cambios. We had a "goodbye" ward activity for the Hermanas who were finishing their missions this cambio. Cambios (changes) have always been weird because I say goodbye to some of the missionary friends I just made, but am happy for them and the hard work they've put in.

Speaking of which, I'm now in Guamani! It's a tad bit colder, (higher in altitude) in a zone called Chillogallo (chee-yo-guy-yo) and my new companion is Peruvian, Elder Bailon. Although I'm excited to be in a new area, I'm really going to miss my beloved San Rafael ward. Especially Hermana Jimena and her family (the ones who own the store beneath us). This morning we went downstairs to buy stuff for breakfast, and she already had a plastic bag full of chocolate milk, bananas, and pan (bread) waiting for us. Free! Like, how nice is that?! She also gave me cookies as an early Christmas present since I wouldn't be there for the holidays. She's simply just the best.

This week I had a simple but powerful experience that, during the a lesson to new investigators, while Elder Rodriguez was reciting the First Vision, I felt the Spirit strongly. This was such a blessing, because I was able to testify that I know it's true, since the Spirit testifies of all things that are true. It is my testimony that through the prophet Joseph Smith, Heavenly Father restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ here in these latter days, because he loves us and wants us to know what we need to do to be worthy to live with him again.

Have a wonderful week! 1 week 'till Halloween!

Love,

Elder Stolle

Week 17 October 10-16, 2016

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

Last week in training! It's kinda weird but great at the same time.

This week there was a cow with it's head stuck in a tree, a LOT of rain and a LOT of walking.

Remember how Ecuador's on the equator? The center of the world, and therefore the hottest area, right? Yeah no. That's what I thought too, until we had a Winter Wonderland yesterday. Joke's on me. Haha there was so much rain and hail that we had to stop a ward mission meeting to all go help a Sister whose house had started to flood. There was literally 3-4 inches of hail covering the ground. It was actually pretty cool. Never a dull week here in Quito.

Probably the best and most rewarding moment of the entire week was putting up a picture of the Temple and a goal sheet beneath it on the wall of a home of one of our prime investigators. It's cool to baptize someone, but the true joy talked about in the scripture in D&C 18 I've felt since we found with this family and been helping them progress every step of the way. It's so neat to see their faith to accept the commandments and Gospel, and even change their work schedules and lives to try to live it. I was almost in tears, just so happy to see how happy they were, excited to get married, get baptized, and go to the temple.

We don't have a lot of investigators that have the faith to progress that far. It's pretty hard to find solid investigators, especially cause every other person seems to be devote Catholic. Seriously, if I had a nickel for every time someone said "Yo Soy Catolico" (I am Catholic), Bill Gates would have nothing on me. But helping people you learn to love to come back to our Heavenly Father, that's where the true happiness lies. I'm so grateful for this wonderful area and the people in it, and how it's helped my testimony of this incredible work to, slowly but surely, grow and flourish.

It makes me excited for the rest of the mission, to help bring others to this Joy. That's really all I can call it. There's no other feeling like it in the world, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

15) And if it so be that you should labor all your days crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the Kingdom of my Father!

16) And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the Kingdom of my Father, how great will your joy be if you should bring many souls unto me!

Have a fantastic week! Do all you can this week to be a member missionary and bring people to this Joy!

-Elder Stolle

Week 16 October 3-9, 2016

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

Well I'll start off by saying that this week one of our investigators told me she wanted to come to the English Class that we teach just so she could understand what I was trying to say. Encouraging words there, Hermana. Hahaha but I'm not worried because I know that through patience, diligence, and the Lord's timing my Spanish will eventually become understandable. :) She also thought I was 25 (probly cause of my height) and was shocked when I said I was almost 19.

After conference last week a family stopped us before we left, and asked for a Priesthood Blessing for the daughter. The girl wanted me to say the blessing, which gave me a slight panic because my Spanish is still so limited. But E. Rodriguez helped me when I struggled with certain words, and I was grateful for that opportunity.

For an originally planned conference with an Area Seventy (it got canceled but I'll still describe the prep), our Zone got assigned to do the Special musical number. They chose the EFY Medley (it's a little different rhythmically cause it's in Spanish), annnnd the Zone Leaders asked me to help direct, because "I knew what I was doing." Yeah right. That's me- Elder Stolle - Choral Director Ph.D. Never directed a choir before, yet here I am, clapping out rhythms and singing my ear poison in front of the whole zone to try to help us sound decent. Even if it's no longer happening, I'm at least grateful that, between orchestra and MCO, Heavenly Father blessed me with a music background to use to help in whatever way I can.

Today we had a neat Zone Activity- we got to go on a hike and see some cascadas (waterfalls) and appreciate the beautiful nature and world our Heavenly Father's given us.

One thing I realized yesterday is how grateful I am for the Word of Wisdom. We were going to teach a family, but had to leave because the husband was drunk, and very out of it. It was kinda funny, not gonna lie. but also made me think. It's kinda scary; It's one of Satan's biggest tools to make us lose our self-control (which is voluntarily relinquished by choosing to get drunk), and when we have no real control, we have no real agency (cause the mind is overpowered/intoxicated by the alcohol), and that's when he can take over. That's when he can cause drunk people to say/do abusive or illegal things that can lead to temporary consequences such as prison or fines, as well as more permanent things like destroying a family. I'm so grateful for the Word of Wisdom, and how, by keeping it, it is a protection against harmful substances, and we can be blessed physically and spiritually.

Well that's my two bits for this week. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Love,

Elder Stolle

Week 15 September 26-October 2, 2016

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

First of all, I don't know if I already explained, but I guess the rules changed or something in our mission, cause now I can email all of you, as long as you don't live in Ecuador. Happy Day! All is well! (I just try to limit the amount of people so my inbox isn't overwhelming each week)

This past week or so had some excitement mixed in. For example, twice we forgot the keys in the house, and our self-latching door didn't want to let us back in. So we spent a while working with the Sister below us (who owns our apartment) and playing Mission Impossible to try to unlatch some of the windows just to get back into our own house. I also tried what I think was Calamar (squid) and Chicken feet. Mom you'd be so proud.

Good news, ​​​​although I'm sure I still sound like Chubawka (or however you spell it) when I try to speak Spanish, my head doesn't hurt when I speak it anymore. I feel like it's slowly but surely starting to become more natural, even if it's still very under-developed. I guess I have my companion to thank for the improvement. We help each other learn the other language, speaking English in the house, and Spanish during lessons.

Also this week a member asked me if my mom fed me leche de Jirafa (Giraffe Milk). Hahaha why yes, of course! In the wild savannas of Texas, with our pack of giraffes, my mom practically hooked my up to an IV of the stuff, after we finished feed the tigers and riding the elephants. ;)

We also got to teach with Elder Espinoza (He's an Area seventy) for a few lessons. That was pretty neat.

I finished the Book Of Mormon this week (last time in English on the mish). I really loved the Book of Ether, especially in Ch. 6 vs. 4 when it's talking about them setting out in the barges, "commending themselves unto the Lord their God." Talk about Faith! They had no control over their situation, were in cramped conditions for 344 days, yet (v.9) "they did sing praises unto the Lord...and when night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord." Faithful and grateful. This was a great example to me of how, despite our tough times and situations in life, if we persevere in Faith and Gratitude he can bring us farther than we ever could go on our own.

And Oh My Goodness General Conference was fantastic! I was literally counting down the days until conference, and now I see why! This time it was especially powerful for me (maybe cause I'm a missionary or something...I don't know), and I felt the Spirit strongly throughout the whole thing. I'd written down specific questions before, and they were all answered in at least a few ways, as well as answers to other questions I didn't even know I had! I especially loved the Saturday Morning Session, and was almost in tears and jumping up and down at how it seemed to directly apply to me. I really feel like this Conference was a Spiritual Feast.

Have a great week! Don't forget to love and share the joy this Gospel brings!

Love,

Elder Stolle

P.S. I included a picture- Texas Chicken in Ecuador...seems legit