Well...the most exciting thing that happened that happened last week was that I didn't go to Quito. The bad part is that I'm in Quito right now for another meeting lol. The members in Coca are telling me to buy a house in Quito because I'm always here anyways =). 

This week was great! We found lots of new investigators and some even came to church. One new investigator was a contact named Fani Calpo. We contacted her and taught the Restoration right there. As we were about to offer the opening prayer she asked, "You pray sitting down?". Uhh....yeah? She wanted to pray kneeling down. Nice! So we knelt down and we explained how to pray and she said that she wanted to offer the first prayer. Yeah why not. Then she raised her hands up in the air and started praying the Lord's Prayer and then said "Amen". Uhh.....thanks for the prayer? lol. It was kind of awkward because we were teaching her in the open on her front porch....But she seemed really interested though =). Then another family we taught was a reference from some recent converts. In total there's 5 of them. They're pretty awesome and even came to a branch activity and church this week. They'll also be doing a FHE in the members house who's reference they were. 

Other random successes are these. We've been working on a less active family (Familia Villón) for a really long time. They have been long time inactive members; but the good part is that we've got them to church 2 weeks in a row and one of their sons that's now 9 has a baptismal date for May 17th. Also, an investigator couple of 2 years finally got all their marriage papers fixed and are all good to get married and baptized! Yeah! 

Overall things are going good here in Coca. It's been a bit difficult because we haven't had any baptisms in almost 3 months, but we've found people that aren't just good, but are keeping commitments. We're excited for all the work to be done! Hopefully they don't change me this change....

That's all for now!

P.S. Yes Mom, she actually really liked the cookies =)

Elder Black

Making Peanut Butter Cookies!

Well, we went to Quito again! For the 3rd week in a row....This time it was for a Zone Conference; we have to go to Quito because President and the assistants don't want to travel all the out to the jungle to do it, so we have to go there. That took up most of the week and then the rest of the week was Semana Santa. Semana Santa is the latin america version of Easter. All they do is watch Bible videos and party; so it's a very sacred time of the year for them. Semana Santa made things hard because nobody was home....We couldn't really meet with any of our investigators, but we did find a family of 6 this sunday that accepted a baptismal date....Nice....That was pretty much the only interesting thing that happened. Oh, there was one other thing. Here in Ecuador we had a Stake Conference that was broadcasted from Salt Lake. Elder Holland and Elder Scott talked to us, just Ecuador =). Pretty cool to hear them talk about Ecuador. Elder Holland started his talk out in spanish, but with a very strong accent. He pretty much said said sorry because his spanish is horrible, terrible etc...Pretty funny =). It was a good conference though.

Funny thing of the week: We were teaching a lesson to about 10 people (some investigators, some converts) and we had just finished. Then one of the converts (Jazmin Santos, 25 years old) asked if she could say something; I said "sure". Then she asked if we remembered her friend that we taught last week, "yes"... Well she said that she really likes Elder Poma. Bwahahahaha!!! We all busted up laughing and Elder Poma just looked down and had an embarassed/shocked look on his face and didn't say anything. So hilarious =)

Pic: Making peanut butter cookies for a mamita's birthday! Thanks for sending the stuff mom =). Yes they turned out well.

Elder Black

Well, going to Quito again....meh....yet another meeting and a 7 hour bus ride. I think we've set a record for going 3 weeks in a row =). How great is that?! Anyways. Again not much happened last week because of the trip to Quito. We can't ever really make progress because of the trips, just maintain what we already have. 

We are excited though because an investigator couple of 2 years went on a trip with a member to try and get some marriage papers fixed up so that they can get married! It'll be so awesome if they can finally get married after waiting to long. The mom of the family was attending every week for an entire year! Yup, they're ready to get baptized. 

To answer a few questions, I have not been able to meet with the family of 7 that my companion found. We had an appointment with them but it fell through =(. We weren't able to make the cookies this week but will be doing it this week maybe. We're going to make them for an awesome mamita that had her birthday recently. And my companion is doing well. He's pretty tough and he's taking it well. He doesn't really get down =). 

Bus leaves in 15 minutes....

Hasta luegito, 

Elder Black

So yeah...I went to Quito last week for a Leaders Council for Zone Leaders and was there from monday untilthursday....Blegh. Then we had General Conference on friday and saturday. Very little work in the sector this last week, but we did have some success. Elder Poma did divisions with some members and worked by himself. He did pretty good and even found a new family of 7! They don't have a baptismal date but cool beans. We also had a pretty good investigator and less active turnout at General Conference. I'm loving it here in Coca and it feels like my home =). So that was basically it...By the way, thanks for the packages. They're perfect =). Ill try and make the cookies next monday. 

The missionary with the most boring letters in the world, 

Elder Black <---yup...that's me



Just so you know yesterday President Richardson called me and told me that Elder Poma and I had to go to Quito asap. I knew it was for bad news....We got to President Richardsons house (we re still here), and he broke some bad news to him. I guess his mom unexpectedly passed away in her sleep. He only has a sister and his dad that doesnt live with them. Hes doing pretty good. Obviously its something hard, but hes handling it pretty well. If you could pray for him and put his name on the prayer roll that would be great.

Well...this week I didn't go to Quito, but my companion did! But I still wasn't really in our sector because I had to stay with other missionaries. So....once again...didn't really do much. I feel like I always say that lol. Really not much to report though. The only cool thing is that a less active hermano and his family went to church this sunday. The dad is a member and isn't married to his "wife" and we had been teaching them awhile back; the Familia Mera if you can remember that far back. That was about it though. Nobody else came to church...Yup. This letter is super boring lol. By the way mom yes I got my packages, although I still have yet to open them. To not bore you any longer I'm just going to end lol

Elder Black