Los of References!

Hello, 

Sorry I didn't write yesterday. We were in Quito all day yesterday and didn't get back until 9:00 last night. We had a training meeting with an area seventy, Elder Waddell. So since yesterday we had the meeting all day today is our P-day.

First off, we got about a bazillion references this week. We got 5 new investigators this week purely through references. We didn't even have to knock one door. That's effeciency. =). So the first investigator was Ulpiano Saltos. He's the brother of the second counselor in the Branch Presidency. He went to church last week and this week as well. We taught him last tuesday about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was very receptive and everything we said made sense to him. When we invited him to be baptized he said,"Claro", which means clearly or obviously. He said that it didn't matter how soon the baptism was if it was the will of the Lord. Wow lol. A good investigator. He'll be baptized on the 24th of November.

Next reference was Fanny Guical. She had been to church once before and liked it and had recieved a priesthood blessing once. We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We asked her to pray to know if the things we said were true and to pray to know if the church was true. She said,"I already know that the church is true". We were a little confused. She said that she had already been baptized into the church....okay now we're really confused. We asked her what the name of the church that she was baptized into was called. She said it was called Jesus Christ Is Your Creator. We guessed that when she heard the name, The Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, she got it confused with the other church. We explained to her that they were different and that she wasn't baptized into the church that we were teaching her about. She said that she would go to church this week, but sadly she didn't make it for some reason. =( We'll keep working with her. 

Reference/investigator that we happened to find. We taught Adriana (the 19 year old less active) this saturday and when we got to her house she had a friend over. A perfect opportunity for a a missionary to teach someone, because they would feel like a jerk if they left because they didn't want to hear us lol. So she stayed to hear the lesson. We taught them about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration. She was pretty knowledgable. Most people here say that they believe in the Bible and they are Catholic and will stay Catholic. These people don't know anything lol. But Sarah, the friend, actually knew what she was talking about. She said that she wanted to know if the Book of Mormon was true and would pray to know. She and Adriana said that they would go to church this week with us. We told them that we would pick them up to go to church. They didn't go either =(. Adriana had something that she had to to in Quito with her mom. Lame. We'll get them next time for sure >=D. 

Next 2 references. This week was Branch Conference. It has been exactly a year since the Branch was formed. When it started there were 28 members. Now there are 80ish members and they're about to become a ward. The Stake Presidency was there and everything, so it was a big deal. Members brought family or friends that aren't members of the church to the meeting. One family, Fam Guanga (the mom is the sister of hra. Zambrano), brought a few teenage family members to church. We set up an appointment to meet with them that night. So we taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ (seems like we teach that a lot =)) and invited them to baptism. Again after we asked them and were trying to give them time to think one of their cousins started talking saying,"This is an important decision. Think, think, think! Say something!". This is really a killer when people do this. One of them was really thinking and he needed time to think and have the spirit work on him. Talking during that time doesn't help lol. The 2 of them said that they didn't really know right now, that they needed more time to think. We think that they can really progress, we just need to keep teaching them. 

So, Fam Zambrano. We taught them on thursday I think and she still hadn't done her reading assignment. She said that she was really busy at work and that when she got back home she was to tired to read. I was about to machette her and tell her that she's praying to know the will of God and what is the right path for her. I was this close to telling her that God is giving her the answer, The Book of Mormon, and she isn't listening to the answer. That she has the key to knowing what God wants her to do, the salvation of her sould in her hands and she's not reading it because she's tired..... That and other things. I was going to really hand it to her. She said that saturday was her day to read the Book of Mormon because that's when she didn't have work. So I decided to spare her soul lol. Saturday came around and we brought the Ward Mission Leader, Angel Lara, to help us out. A very long story short, she said that she still hadn't read the Book of Mormon. What is really a killer is that she reads the Bible a ton, but won't read the Book of Mormon for 5 minutes. So after she told us that she hadn't read, we asked her why she didn't read. She said it's because she hasn't really heard of the prophets in the Book of Mormon and isn't familiar with them and doesn't like reading it. We had told her a million times why she hadn't heard of them before and we told her again. I told her,"If I don't know the prophets in the Bible, should I still read the Bible?" A hesitant yes. "And if you don't know the prophets in the Book of Mormon should you still read it?" No answer. "Yes, you should read the scriptues because it is a commandment and it is the word of God, not because you know the prophets". Basically we machettied her with love. We told her that our visits to her wouldn't be productive if she wasn't doing her part. That we are her friends and we're here to help her, but we're not going to teach her anymore. She took it fine and understood. She said that she knows what church she wants to be baptized into, and it's not the Evangelic Church (the church that was helping her son learn and the church that she wanted to get baptized into earlier), but she didn't specify which church it was. We're assuming that it's this church. She also said some other things that made us think that. During the month that we were teaching her she didn't progress much. Right when we dropped her she finally seemed to progress a little. But we're both positive that she'll be baptized within 2 months =). Hopefully I'll still be here to see that happen. By the way we taught her that night for 2 hours. Long lesson lol. But if that's what it took it's fine with me. 

We also finally got a hold of an investigator that we haven't met in 2 months. It was my first time meeting her. Her name is Ismenia Flores. She is very good. She had just had a baby and since that she's been really sick. So when we went over she was in bed. She had been sick for a couple of weeks and could barely even move because of the pain. We asked if she would like a priesthood blessing and she said yes. We asked if there was anything we could do for her and she said that after not having the missionaries over for 2 months she wanted us to teach her because she wanted to be closer to God. She said that's the only thing she needed. Of course we agreed to teach her and we set up an appointment for the next day. We went back over the next day and she wasn't home....crud lol. We left and decided to come back later in the day to see if she was home. Still nothing. We were about to leave and we saw her walking up the road carrying groceries and doing just fine. The day before she could barely move and now she's walking around like she's back to normal. Priesthood Powerrrrrr!!!!! Pretty cool to see. =). Unfortunately she didn't have time for us to teach her but she said that she would be at church on sunday. She was sounded like she really wanted to go, but she didn't.....I don't know what's wrong with people that they can't ever go to church.....lol

So that was my week. Now I have some completely irrelevant things to say. Our apartment gets down to 58 degrees in the morning. Yup, it's cold. I also heard that flipping Obama won.....lame. I ate a piece of chocolate that had hazelnuts in it and nothing happened =) (I used to be allergic to them). Hunter got his call to Costa Rica!!! I guess it's kind of cool....I mean, it's not Ecuador or anything. =). And I'm glad that everyone liked my scripture list. By the end of my mission it will probably be 50% bigger. =) And also, Elder Salazar and I are making what we call a "Progressing Missionary Form". It's pretty epic. I'll try and send it in my next email =). Here's a few pictures. This is the branch now. About 15 of them are from the Stake, and the rest are members. The other 2 pictures are more pictures of Yaruquì from our house. Well....that's all I can think of to say for now. Try and have fun without me =)

Elder Black

Surprise for Hunter!

*Note:  Skylar wanted me to post this so that everyone could have access to it.  He put a lot of time into it and felt that it was important and valuable to share with everyone. 


So here's the surpise. It's a large and still in the works list of all the scriptures that I have found while in the MTC/field. I went through all the scriptures in Preach My Gospel and all the scriptures that I had highlighted in my english scriptures and pulled all the good ones out and organized them by principle in Preach my Gospel. I have a hand written list of all these scriptures on a little piece of paper in my spanish scriptures so I can use them at any time during a lesson. Very helpful. It took me a few hours to type all of them up so be grateful! Print off a bunch and give them to friends, other missionaries in your district in the MTC, etc. Mom and Dad can also use it as a reference for teaching or whatever or anyone could use it for a topic study of something. Like I said, it isn't complete but it is a pretty good list. It will be a good headstart on your mission. Have fun =)

1.  Restoration

  God Is Our Loving Heavenly Father
  Isaiah 55: 8-9-Gods ways are higher than ours
  1 Nephi 17:36- God created the earth for us
  2 Nephi 4:19-21- God is my support
  2 Nephi 25:23- Mercy of God after all that we can do
  Mosiah 4:9- God is all knowing
  D&C 18-10- worth of souls is great in the sight of God
  Moses 1:39- Behold, this is my work and my glory
  D&C 130:18-23- God has a body of flesh and bone
  Heavenly Father Reveals His Gospel In Every Dispensation
  Amos 3:7- Surely the Lord God will do nothing except...
  Jacob 4:13- The Holy Ghost witnesses/witnessed truths to prophets
  D&C 1:38- whether by me or the prophets, it is the same
  Apostasy
  1 Nephi 13:26-27- Great and abominable church, many plain and precious truths were taken
  1 Nephi 16:2- the wicked taketh the truth to be hard
  Mosiah 27:13- the Gospel will be taken away when the people are wicked
  D&C 1:15-16- How/why the Apostasy happened
  Matt 24:9-11- prophecy of Apostasy when prophets are killed
  2 Thess 2:3- shall come a falling away first
  2 Tim 4:3-4- prophecy of Apostasy
  Amos 8:11-12- A famine of the Gospel in the land
  Isaiah 24:5- changing ordinances and covenants
  Jacob 4:14- Jews killed the prophets because they turned away from Christ
  Jacob 4:15-16- prophecy that the Jews will reject Christ
  Resoration of the Gospel
  Acts 3:20-21- restitution of all things(Gospel)
  Ephesians 4:12-14- the need for a restitution of the Gospel
  2 Tim 4:3-4- restitition of the complete Gospel
  2 Nephi 27: 6,7,10,23,27-prophecy of the restoration, Joseph Smith, 3 Witnesses, and Book of Mormon
  D&C 123:12- Kept from the truth because they don't know where to find it
  2 Nephi 27- prophecy of the restoration in general
  Book of Mormon
  2 Corinthians 13:1- out of the mouth of 2 or 3 shall all things be established
  Ezekiel 37:15-19- stick of Judah/Joseph
  2 Nephi 29:3,4,7,11- Many shall hiss, "A Bible a Bible...", God reveals things in all nations
  Moroni 7:16-17- if it is good, it is of God
  Ether 4:12;Moroni 7:11-14;Alma 5:40- if it persuadeth man to do good, it is of God
  D&C 1:38- Whether by me or my prophets, it is the same
  2 Nephi 33:10-11- if you believe in Christ, you will believe in the Book of Mormon
  Jacob 7:10-11- if you believe in scriptures but not in God, you don't understand the scriptures
  Mosiah 1:3-5- scriptures contain the mysteries (the doctrine, mysteries because the world doesn't know the doctrin) of God
  Pray to Know the Truth Through the Holy Ghost
  Alma 5:45-46- the Holy Ghost will testify
  Ephesians 4:5- one Lord, one faith, one baptism
  James 1:5- if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God
  D&C 9:7-9- if it is right you will feel a burning in the bosom
  Jacob 4:8- You cannot study out the mysteries of God, they have to be revealed to you
  Mosiah1:3- not knowing the mysteries of God (the doctrine) is ignorance
  Jacob 4:10- don't counsel the Lord, recieve counsel
  Proverbs 2:10- wisdom entereth into the heart, not the mind
  

2. Plan of Salvation

2 Nephi 31- Plan of Salvation in general

Pre-Earth Life

Matt 5:48- be ye therefore perfect(complete)

Romans 8:16-18- we are children and heirs of God

Acts 17:29- we are children of God

Jeremiah 11:5 before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee

Moses 1:39- behold this is my work and my glory…..

Job 38:4-7- we shouted for joy before the world was

D&C 138:55-56- we had classes/instruction in the premortal life

Abraham 3:22-26- noble and great ones helped with the creation

            The Creation

1 Nephi 17:36- God created the Earth for us

Alma 30:44- All things denote that there is a God

Genesis 1:26-31- the Creation

Abraham 3:22-26

            Agency and the Fall

2 Nephi 2:11- must needs be an opposition in all things

2 Nephi 2- the Fall and Agency in general

Genesis 1:26-31- the creation of Adam and Eve

2 Nephi 2:25- Adam fell that men might be

Alma 12:22-34- the purpose of the Fall

Life On Earth

Matt 6:24- cannot serve 2 masters

Matt 11:28-30- my burden is easy and my yoke light

2 Nephi 9:6- death is a necessary step of life

Alma 12:24- life is a probationary state

Alma 34: 32-34- life is the time to prepare to meet God

D&C 131:6- man cannot be saved in ignorance (learn the gospel during life)

1 Corinthians 10:13- we are not tempted above that which we are able

The Atonement

2 Nephi 2:6-7- Christ sacrificed himself for us

Alma 7:11-13- What/why of the Atonement

Alma 34:8-10- Atonement is essential, we would be lost

Matthew 27:34-54- Jesus on the cross

Mosiah 14:3-6- he is despised and rejected of men

Spirit World

1 Peter 3:18-20- Gospel is preached to the dead in the Spirit World

D&C 137:7-10- what happens to those that didn’t accept the gospel on earth

Alma 34:34- Spirits are eternal, we will have another life after this

Alma 40:11-14- All people go to spirit world in 1 of 2 states

  Resurrection, Judgement, and Immortality

            1 Corinthians 15:12-14- there is resurrection

   2 Nephi 9.14-15- we will be reminded of our works and will be judged

  Alma 5:15-21- we will be judged by our works. Can you say that you lived well?

  John 3:16- we will have everlasting life

  D&C 14:7- the greatest gift is eternal life

  Moroni 7:40-41- through Christ we are resurrected

            Alma 40:20- not a hair shall be lost, all shall be restored to its proper and perfect condition

  1 John 3:2 we wil be like Christ

  Philipians 3:21- we can have a body like Christ

            Kingdoms of Glory
            1 Corintians 15:39-42; D&C 76- Degrees of Glory
    
3. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
         
            3 Nephi 27:13-22- the Gospel of Jesus Christ
            2 Nephi 31
         
            Through Christ We Can Be Cleansed

            Mosiah 3:17- we can only be saved through Christ

            Moroni 6:8- we will always be forgiven

            2 Nephi 2:6-8- redemption cometh through the Messiah

  Alma 32:21- faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things

            Faith in Jesus Christ

           1 Corinthians10:13- not tempted above that which ye are able
            D&C 82:10- when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise
           1 Nephi 7:12- God can do anything if you have faith
           Moroni 7:33- If ye have faith, you can do what God asks
           Nephi 3:7- Lord giveth no commandments that you can't keep
           2 Corinthians 5:7- walk by faith, not by sight
           Repentance 
           Matt 11:28-30- by burden is light and my yoke easy
           2 Nephi 25:33-mercy of God after all that we can do
           Mosiah 4:12- repentance brings the love of God
           Mosiah 27- if they can repent, anyone can
           Alma 19:33- repentance=no desire to do evil
           Moroni 6:8- we will always be forgiven
           3 Nephi 27:19- no unclean thing can dwell with God
           D&C 19:16-18- if ye repent not, you will suffer as God
           Romans 3:23- everyone sins
           2 Nephi 30:12- anyone that repents is chosen of God
           Mosiah 26:29-35- steps of repentance

 Alma 34:33- don't procrastinate the day of your repentance

           Baptism 
           Mark 1:10; Acts 8:38-39- baptism by immersion
           John 3:5- except a man be born of water and of spirit...
           1 Corinthians 15:29- baptisms for the dead
           2 Nephi 31:10-13- follow Christ by being baptized
           Moroni 8:10-12- infant baptism
           Moroni 8:25-26- baptism if the first fruits of repentance
           Ephesians 4:5- one Lord, one faith, one baptism
           3 Nephi 11:38- if you are not baptized you can't enter into the kingdom of God
           Mosiah 3:16- the Atonement covers children that weren't baptized during their life
           2 Nephi 9:24- if we are not baptized and endure to the end we will be damned 

 D&C 68:25- parents havethe responsibility to teach baptism to their children, baptized at 8 years
 Acts 2:47- have to be a member of Gods church to be saved
 Acts 16:32-33- a jailer was baptized that night (you don't have to be super prepared to be baptized)
 2 Nephi 31:5- how much more do we need baptism
 D&C 20:37- requirements for baptism
 Mosiah 5:7-9- we change most after baptism

Gift of the Holy Ghost

 2 Nephi 32:5- the Holy Ghost will tell you all things what you should do
 Mosiah 2:36- the Holy Ghost leaves when we sin
 Moroni 8:26- feelings that the Holy Ghost brings
 D&C 8:2- how the Holy Ghost testifies
 D&C 130:18-23- the Holy Ghost is a spirit and can dwell in us
 John 14:26- the Holy Ghost brings all things to rememberance
 Jacob 4:13- the Holy Ghost speaks things as the really are, does not lie
 Endure to the End
 2 Nephi 9:24- if we are not baptized and endure to the end we will be damned
 1 Corinthians 10:13- not tempted above what we are able
 James 2:17-18- faith without works is dead
 2 Nephi 25:23- the mercy of God, after all that we can do
 2 Nephi 31:20- if ye endure ye shall have eternal life
 Matt 7:21- not everyone that says,"Lord Lord" will be saved
 D&C 82:10- when ye do not what I say ye have no promise
 Matt 24:13-  he that endures the same shall be saved
 2 Nephi 31:14-16- better of ye had ye not known me, have to endure to be saved
 Alma 7:15-16- have to repent and be baptized to be saved
 Matt 12:30- if you're not with me, you're against me
 2 Nephi 9- endure to the end in general
 Sacrament
 D&C 27:2- doesn't matter what we use in the Sacrament
 Moroni 4,5- the Sacrament prayers

4./5.The Commandments/Laws and Ordinances

 Obedience
 Mosiah 2:22- God blesses us when we keep the commandments
 D&C 35:24- God rejoices when we keep the commandments
 John 14:15,21- if ye love me, keep my commandments
 Pray Often
 2 Nephi 32:8-9- Devil teaches you not to pray, pray always
 Alma 34:17-28- pray over everything
 Moroni 10:3-5- how we should pray
 D&C 19:28- pray vocally and in private
 Study the Scriptures
 2 Nephi 25:26- scriptures preach of Christ, know where to look for a remission of sins
 2 Nephi 31:19-20;32:3- feast upon the words of Christ
 D&C 1:37-38- search the scriptures, promises/blessings will be fulfilled
 2 Nephi 29:11-out of the books we will be judged
 John 5:39- study the scriptures, for they testify of me
 Mosiah 1:3-5- scriptures contain the mysteries of God
 Keep the Sabbath Day Holy   
 Nehemiah 13:15-21- don't buy or sell on the Sabbath
 D&C 59:9-16- day of rest
 Exodus 20:8-10- commandment of Day of Rest
 Moroni 6:4-6- we get support from the Church
 Isaiah 58:13-14- if you keep this commandment in his way, Gody will bless you
 Mosiah 18:25- they met once a week to worship
 Exodus 16:22-26- gathered more mana the day before the Sabbath so they wouldn't have to work the next day
 Follow the Prophet
 D&C 1:38- whether by me or my prophets, it is the same
 Amos 3:7- surely the Lord God will do nothing...his servants the prophets
 D&C 121:34- many are called, few are chosen
 Keep the 10 Commandments
 Mosiah 2:22- we are blessed when we keep the commandments
 D&C 35:24- God rejoices when wekeep the commandments
 Exodus 20:1-17- the 10 Commandments
 D&C 59:5- commandment to love God
 1 Nephi 3:7- Lord will provide a way to keep his commandments
 2 Nephi 1:20- if we don't keep the commandments, we will be cut off from his presence
 Law of Chastity 
 Jacob 2- chastity in general
 Romans 1:27- no gay marriage
 D&C 42:22-24- though shall not commit adultery
 D&C 63:16- lust drives out the Spirit
 Matt 5:27-28- committed adultery in his heart
 Ephesians 5:3-5- coveting, fornication, is bad...
 Romans 1:27-32- those who voilate this law knowingly will be condemned
 Jacob 3:12- fornication is bad
 Jacob 3:3- you need to have clean thoughts
 Word of Wisdom
 Proverbs 31:4-8- very clear, drinking wine is bad
 Numbers 6:3-4- no wine or beer
 Isaiah 5:11- no coffee
 Luke 1:15- no wine or strong drink
 D&C 89- Word of Wisdom
 Daniel 1- didn't drink wine and ate more healthy, he was better off than the others
 Proverbs 20:1- wine/coffee are bad, whoso is decieved is not wise
 Judges 13:2-5,13-14- should not drink wine or strong drink. Why would the angel say not to drink these things?
 Tithing
 Malachi 3:10- bring all the tithes into my storehouse
 Hebrews 7:12- Abraham payed tithing
 D&C 119- commandment to pay tithing
 Law of the Fast
 Omni 1:26- if we fast, we will be saved
 Isaiah 58:6-11- blessings of fasting
 Exodus 34:28- don't eat or drink during a fast
 Eternal Marriage
 1 Peter 3:7- together, heirs of life
 Matt 16:18-19- keys to bind of earth and heaven
 Hebrews 13:4- marriageis honorable

Common Problems of Investigators

 All Churches Are True
 Acts 2:41-47- have to be a member of Gods church to be saved
 1 Nephi 14:10,12- only 2 churches, Gods and Devils
 Mosiah 18:16-17- the name of the Church was "Christ" (before our church there wasn't historically another church that had Christs name in the title of the church)
 1 Nephi 13:26- many plain and precious truths were taken
 1 Corinthians 1:10,13- be unified, Christ is not divided
 Matt 7:21- not everone that shall say "Lord Lord" shall be saved
 Luke 6:13- Crhist called Apostles (not the Pope)
 Mark 3:24-25- a divided kingdom cannot stand
 Matt 17:14-20- not everything that is done in the same of God is vaild/works
 Ephesians 4:11-14- and to some he gave prophets, no more tossed to and fro by unsound doctrine
 Ephesians 4:5- One Lord, one faith, one baptism
 2 Nephi 28:3-5- many false churches shall rise and claim that they are of God
 2 Nephi 28- if al churches are true, does this sound right?
 Mosiah 4:14- fighting serves the devil, (churches fighting with eachother)
 Why isn't Joseph Smith in the Bible? (Joseph Smith, apostasy, restoration)
 It doesn't say "Jesus" in the Old Testament....
 Matt 24:9-11- prophecy of Apostasy when prophets die
 2 Thess 2:3- there shall come a falling away first
 2 Timothy 4:3-4- sound doctrine will not endure
 Ezekiel 37:15-19- stick of Judah/Joseph (Bible/Book of Mormon)
 Acts 3:20-22- restoration through a prophet
 2 Corinthians 13:1-out of the mouth of 2 or 3 wil all things come to pass (Bible and Book of Mormon are 2 or 3 witnesses)
 Malachi 3:1- a messenger will prepare the way for me (2nd Coming)
 Isaiah 29:11-12- a sealed book is delivered to one that is not learned
 Revelations 14:6-7- I saw an angel with the everlasting gospel (Moroni with the Book of Mormon)
 Matt 21:42-43- Gospel will be taken from the Jews and restored to the Gentiles
 Heb 9:16-17- prophecy of the death of Joseph Smith
 Priesthood Authority
 Hebrews 6:20- Jesus had Melchisedec priesthood and so do we
 Romans 10:15- need authority to preach
 Hebrews 5:4-6- must be called of God
 John 15:16- God has to choose you (can't choose yourself)
 2 Peter 1:20-21- scriptures are not for private interpretation (Rock of Peter/Christ, Christ made Peter the leader of his Church)
 Matt 10:1- power or authority to cast out unclean spirits
 Hebrews 7- priesthood in general
 Mosiah 21:33- wanted to be baptized, but nobody had the authority
 Only 144,000 people will be saved/live with God (Jehovah's Witness belive this 12,000/ each of the 12 tribes of Israel-Rev 7)
 Revelations 7:9- more will be saved than can be counted, obviously more that 144,000 people
 2 Nephi 30:2- anyone that repents is chosen of God
 2 Nephi 33:12- All can be saved
 Modern Revelation/prophets
 Mormon 9:7-10- he who denies prophets and revelation does not know God
 Amos 3:7- surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets to the prophets
 Proverbs 11:14- where there is counsel (revelation and counsel of prophets) there is safety
 Why don't we worship the Virgin Mary
 Luke 11:27- blessed are they that keep the word of the Lord, not Mary
 Deuteronomy 33:1-3-saints are members of the Church, not idols or images
 1 Timothy 2:15- chirst is the only mediator with the Father
 2 Kings 17:12- don't worship idols
 Reincarnation
 Hebrews 9:27- we die once, then we're judged
 Jacob 4:13- if it wasn't manifested to a prophet by the Holy Ghost is isn't of God, the Holy Ghost doesn't lie
 How to overcome addiction
 Mosiah 7:33- if you turn to the Lord he will deliver you from bondage(addiction)

Experiences This Week!

Hello, 

So this week was good I guess. This letter isn't going to be in order very well, it's just going to be a random string of experiences =). So the investigator that I found with my coin. We called her to set up another appointment with her and she told us that her and her husband have their own way of worshiping and nobody is going to change them.....stupid coin lol. So that was the end of that investigator. 

We are also continuously getting new references, so we don't contact much. This week we got 2 references. One is a family in Quinche (about 30 min away). They went to church in the coast a few times and really liked it and they want to go to church here too. The other is a brother of a member of our branch. He already has 1 assistance and he's interested in the church. Both sound like good references =). We also found a new less active member that we can teach. It's a 19 year old girl that was baptized in June. She's nice, has a 3 year old daughter.....She wants to go to church, but she has school on sundays sometimes and it's hard for her to go. We taught her the blessings of keeping our covenants and blessings of the gospel. A good lesson. 

We got 4 lessons set up with people that we contacted in Pifo. One of them is an atheist. He had talked to the missionaries before but they didn't teach him a full lesson and he accepted to have us come over and teach him a lesson. We'll see how that goes. One of the other contacts is a friendly old guy and his wife. They're both catholic (of course), but they agreed to have us come back after we taught them the restoration. Hopefully they'll progress.

Now for our existing investigators. Fam. Zambrano. We taught the mom last night and we found out she has almost no clue about what the Book of Mormon is or where it came from and that she can't understand it when she reads. This was frustrating because we explained it to her twice before. So we explained it again in great detail. Every time we go over and teach her she says that she wants to feel prepared and that she wants to be sure of her decision. So with explaining the Book of Mormon I hope we helped her feel more prepared to gain a testimony of the church. But she also told us that she wants to be baptized into the church that she's been attending.....crud lol. She wants to be baptized into that church basically that's what she's used to. She always says how much faith she has and that she prays all the time. But I don't think she has as much faith as she says she does. If she had a lot of faith she would be able to understand the Book of Mormon, have a desire to change churches if that's what God said etc. So if she doesn't progress after the next 2 lessons we're going to have to drop her =(. Hopefully that doesn't happen. 

Fam Oña. We didn't really have an opportunity to teach them this week. We had invited them to church but they didn't show for some reason. We'll keep working with them. I hope we don't have to drop them too.....Luckily we always have references that are usually pretty good. So even if we have to drop them we have a backup plan =)

Ecuadorians don't celebrate Halloween. They have day of the dead november 2nd. It's a day where they remember their ancestors by visiting cemetaries and making what they call Wuawuas de pan, or bread babies. They also make colada morada, which is like a thick berry juice with chunks of pineapple and other fruit. It has some other things in it too and it's served hot. Good stuff. 

Last night we had a family home evening at a members house. Before the lesson we were talking to the family and just hanging out. Then Veni (the guy who wants to marry Katarina) tried to hoola hoop. When he did it he didn't move his hips at all. Instead he spread his legs out and when he tried to get the hoola hoop he had his arms above his head and waved them around like a mad man lol. So funny to watch. We couldn't stop laughing. We tried to explain to him how to do it, but he just kept doing the same thing. Next he tried doing the hoola hoop around his neck. I can't explain exactly how he looked, but his arms were in a position that made him look mentally retarded, and his face looked like he was suffering. We couldn't stop laughing. lol Later, after the lesson, we made wuawuas. Normally they're supposed to look like people. We all made nice looking wuawuas and other things like flowers and turtles. And then there were Veni's creations.....His wuawuas looked horrible lol. I called them abominations. One looked like it had +30 birth defects lol. Again, we couldn't stop laughing. Oh Veni......=)

Another few random things. Elder Salazar and I were walking up the street (one of the most busy streets) and we saw a guy sitting on a the edge of a curb. He stood up and pulled up his pants and underneath was a fresh poop lol. He just pooped on the sidewalk......I guess he's a hobo because we saw him sleeping on the sidewalk later lol. Going along with that, some people here have no shame. If the men want to go to the bathroom that won't hesitate to go on the nearest wall or pillar in public.....some people....

So the pictures, one is of me holding a wuawua that I made at a members house and the other is the master sword that I made one day. Yup, pretty cool. 


(the following paragraph was taken from dad's letter)

Hope you are doing well?  So tell me, what have you learned since being a missionary?  More specifically, what has happened to strengthen your testimony?  Do you think your testimony is strong enough to attend the U of U? :o)  Not that you would attend that university but the question should make you think about your testimony more seriously.  Please share with me/family, in detail,  something that, if there has been something, has really affected your testimony.

Now to answer your questions dad. What has happened that has strengthened my testimony? Uh...lots of things lol. I get the opportunity to read the scriptures for an hour every morning and I have learned a lot during my studies. I have learned more about the Book of Mormon and the Bible. I also regularly find scriptures that we can use with our investigators. Very cool. I've also had moments where I've been able to express myself in spanish very well with almost no hesitation. A testament that the gift of tongues is working. Also finding really prepared investigators like Fanny. She was so prepared to recieve the gospel and it's amazing to see that people who have been the same religion their whole life can change relatively easy. Another testament that this Gospel is true and that there are people that are very prepared to recieve it. I can't really think of anything else specific to share, but my testimony has grown because all day every day we are teaching the gospel and I learn through preparing to teach them and when I teach them. I hope that answers your question. And yes. I could totally attend U of U with my testimony =)

Now there are a few things that I wanted to ask for for Christmas =). Salt and vinegar chips.....aww......Lord of the Rings soundtrack, candy, and my spiritual gifts thing that I mentioned to dad earlier. Not much but that's really all that I can think of right now lol. I'll let you know if I can think of anything else =). By the way thanks for sending the pictures and the video. It's amazing that Brielle can actually talk a little bit now. And has Hunter gotten his call yet? When he gets it let me know the day that he gets it. I can check my email but I can't reply during the week. I need to know! Also if you want you can put that list of scriptures on the blog. That way people that look at the blog can have access to it. 

That's all for now, 

Elder Black

Great Lettter

Hello, 

Sorry my last letter was so random and everything lol. I only had like 20 minutes to write. First, pictures. These 3 are what we did for companionship study one day lol. I made them out of silly putty. Pretty productive huh? I'll send a few more in a different e-mail so they hopefully all get through. But here's what they are. Me cutting open a guanabana, a very delicious fruit that they have here. My first time eating the actual fruit. And here are a few pictures of Yaruqui, the city that we live in. Small, but quiet and chill. I like it =)

So not too much happened with our investigators this week. Fam. Zambrano is doing alright. The mom is good and knows that she needs to be baptized, but hasn't accepted a baptismal date yet because she wants to feel ready. By the way that's what half of them say lol. But she's good. One problem that we're having with her is that she works on some sunday's, so it's hard for her to attend church, and she has to attend church to get baptized....so yeah. We taught her about the keeping the Sabbath Day Holy commandment and we're trying to get her to be able to go to church. We'll keep working on her. 

Fam. Oña. A mom, her husband and 3 kids. The mom is good and has desires to get baptized, go to church, read, pray and everything. But the husband likes drinking a lot and it's kind of hard for her to get "permission" to go to church and stuff. And he didn't even know about us until a few days ago and we've been teaching her for a couple of weeks and she didn't tell him anything. Maybe out of fear or something. Her and her kids are also really timid, with the fact that she didn't tell him anything and the drinking there might be something going on there....We talked with the husband for like 30 minutes yesterday and he seems fine. Blegh...we don't know what exactly we're going to do with him lol. 

Fam Anchundia, that supposedly golden family that works in Quito....they're not golden lol. We called them this week to see if we could meet with them (we never did meet them) and they said,"Oh, we're Evangelists now".....what?!.....yeah....not golden lol. 

We were contacting in Checa, the city where fam Oña lives, and Elder Salazar asked me where we should contact. So I pulled out a coin to decide which way we should go. He wanted to go one way but the coin said differently. We went with the coin lol. I told him that we should follow the coin. The coin knows all I said. He didn't believe me lol. The coin led us to this particular street and the first door we knocked we got in and taught a lesson. An older lady that has great faith in Christ  prays regularly and everything. She agreed to let us come back another day. After we left her house I looked to my companion and said, "Like I told you, the coin knows all" lol. I was right =)

And the reference from church last week. We taught him on sunday on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited him to baptism. 2 seconds after we asked him the ward mission leader started talking about how important of a decision it was and everything. I thought to myself, " Yes, it is an important decision. Why don't you give him 5 seconds to think?" lol. If any of you are sitting in with missionaries and they ask a question, don't ever ever ever ever talk before the investigator or the missionaries....ever. The investigator needs time to think and have the Spirit work on them. Time to think is a better teacher that talking sometimes. Don't do it =). And to finish off the story....he said, "Yeah, with the time and when I'm ready" Darn you! lol. Hearing that gets kind of old sometimes =). But we'll keep teaching him. 

A quick little thing on the people here, they're really nice. They give up seats in the bus for people holding babies or for older people. And when we were looking for apartments people would go all out of their way to help us. This happened twice. We asked someone on the street if they knew if there were any apartments avaiable in a certain building. They would say, "Oh I don't know, but I know the owner" then they would call the owner and ask for us, then they would walk us to the apartments and take us in and go around with us to see the owner. Very nice people. Very friendly. 

One funny thing that happened to me last week. I was on exchanges with Elder Matamoros and we were going to eat at his mamitas house. Before we were going to eat I was looking around at their house (there was nothing else to do lol) and I saw what looked like a giant, black butterfly on their wall. It wasn't moving so I assumed that it was a decoration. After we finished eating the beast flew off the wall and started terrorizing everyone in the house with its monstrosity. The mom ran into a room and peeked her head out to observe the caos. The butterfly was about 10 inches across by the way. We finally got the thing out a door. Then it flew around the house and flew back in another door. NOOOO!!!!! Lol. Then it left and everyone escaped unscathed. A close call for all of us. 

Carter, to answer your questions your birthday is November 30 (....I think) and we have not baptized any more people. We do have promising investigators though. And no....we haven't really had anything else really weird happen lol. 

And sorry if I don't answer all of your questions for everyone out there. It's hard to remember everything and have time to answer them all. I'm trying =)

Now some random things. Mom, when you send my mouthpiece, lie and put $10.00, they won't know the difference lol. You can turn left on a red, but not right....how...nonsensical. I haven't seen any big bugs here. I'm up in the mountains and it's pretty cool here. So there's not much wildlife besides chickens and dogs lol. And I write my journal in english. Jorge the weirdo didn't get baptized this week. He's too weird to qualify right now. And we did dedicate the house this week. Elder Gonzeles from Chile did the dedication. Kind of a cool experience. We told them that the dedication will work by their faith. Hopefully they have enough faith lol.