God answers prayers!

Que mas mis amigos y familia!

Martes we left the house super late because we forgot to change the alarm from pday when woke up at 5 so the alarm went off early, we turned it off and went back to bed. I woke up at 7:30 and quickly got ready for the day but my companion was slower. We had an appointment at 11 that never happened because we needed to find her house and she never answered. So we contacted for a bit until mama Avila called to have us teach Diana in her local. We never taught her because mama Avila's ex husband came as well as the other Elders so we invited her to the prophet and the Temple. She accepted both but needed to ask her father which she was scared to do so we taught her how to pray and had her pray to have the confidence to ask and that she would be able to. After that we bought a chompa for my companion and then we didn't know what to do after when a thought came to my head to go find a referral we had received from Paulo. When we arrived the member said she had just been asking Heavenly Father that we would come by because it had been about a month since we had visited her. THE LORD ANSWERS PRAYERS! And he knows what we are going to ask for and when we are going to ask so he always prepares a way to answer them! It was so awesome to recognize that we were an answer to her prayers. This member also has a local and told us basically anything we want and whenever is GRATIS! That made me even happier. Afterward we talked to Willians and answered some of his questions and later went to the capilla and there met up with mama Avila, Joan, Ruben, Gerardo, and Neva and we ate papipollo. Super rico and went home full.

Me & Elder Padilla

Miercoles we were supposed to have divisions so I packed my bags to drop off at mama Avilas local which is close to the terminal so we could go contacting while we waited for our zone leaders to get here. She wasn't home and turns out I forgot stuff in the house so we went back and on our way back tat we waited in her local for the ZL to come but ended up getting a call from them and Elder Miller had gotten sick on the bus and had to take an emergency stop. We decided to go with a member who is really old and crazy named Faucito. He had a referral for us so we went but they rejected us. Afterward the ZL got to our house and we did divisions so that Elder Amaguana and Padilla could go to interview Jorge for his baptism and Elder Miller and I just chilled at the house until English class.

Jueves we had district meeting in Ambato and it went pretty well. Probably my favorite one of this change. After district meeting ended we went to Hno. Palacios to have him make some suits for us and then he told us there was a good restaurant all you can eat for cheap. We couldn't find it so we went to the next closest and it was good food but we had to wait forever for it and there wasn't a lot when we got it. I left the restaurant starving. Later we had a lesson with Diana and Silvia but during the lesson like a bajillion people came and interrupted. It was one of the most frustrating lessons. On top of that they also said they might not be able to go to the Prophet because the dad said no, so we pleaded for them to ask again. Then we ate at mama Avila's house for merienda.

Viernes started a fast for Diana and Silvia along with a thousand prayers all day. Did our studies and weekly planning and then went to go eat crepes. We went to the cyber to take out references and then taught Brayan, he is the husband of the part member family with the local where everything is free for us.

Sabado I showered in cold water. (Friday after I finished my shower Elder Padilla asked if it was cold because on Thursday his shower had started to get cold. I told him no and he showered. Come to find out after my shower on Saturday that his shower was cold and so to get back at me or something he didn't tell me!) Later went to members' houses to try and find baptismal clothes and then to lunch. On our way to lunch we saw a little concert going on and they played all day and night long. We ate lunch with the other Elders and watched Cokeville Miracle while we ate. Then went to fill the font, had the baptism in semi warm water. Consuelo and Jorge were so emotional. Also Silvia came to the baptism and told me that her and her daughter can go to the prophet!! Prayers answered again! After that we ate merienda with the other Elders and started RM because that is the only church movie Elder Padilla likes.

Consuelo and Jorge's Baptisms

Night Concert

Domingo only one of our investigators showed up. In Elders Quorum there was someone from SLC so I talked to him and later as he was leaving he overheard that we had to pay 6 dollars to go to the Prophet so he asked me to ask a member of the Bishopric who needed money and he would pay. So kind of him! After church we made tostada with mama Avila and then went to lunch with Familia Arcos. When we are done eating we usually just leave but we talked to them for a bit longer and Elder Padilla volunteered me to wash the dishes which I am totally fine with but this family doesn't like to let us help serve the food or clean up afterward. I pushed my way to the sink and started cleaning against their complaints and when we finished in 30 minutes they were super grateful because usually it takes them an hour or two. We were able to talk to the nephew of the parents while we were there too which was awesome because with Elder Dorsey we had tried to visit him but he never could. They also gave us cake! After lunch made our way back to mama Avilas because my companion left the phone there. And then we just stayed there and talked about their temple trip and then watched The Other Side of Heaven for our noche de hogar.

Les quiero mucho!

Elder Tolman

Brother Jackson from SLC(the man that paid for our bus fares to see President Nelson)

Feliz Cumpleaños a mi

Hola mis amigos y Familia!

Como han estado? This week was another crazy week with lots of stuff that happened! Starting off with Monday. We went to Baños and did some crazy swings, but traveling there and back takes up most of pday so we didn't do a lot.

Tuesday we spent the whole morning in the house until lunch and then after we bought glasses for my companion and then we went out contacting. One lady we contacted because Elder Padilla had to go to the bathroom and while he was in the bathroom she asked where we ate dinner the night before. Turns out she saw us eating and remembered me. She his super cool and we talked for a while until we had a lesson with Jorge and Consuelo. We taught all the commandments, it was a long lesson.

Latacunga

Ecuador's version of Fun Dip

Ecuador's version of Pop Rocks

Wednesday we had District Meeting instead of on Thursday because our Zone Leaders were on divisions with the Assistants. While we were there, the zone celebrated my birthday with a cake and coke thanks to the Hermanas. Then we had lunch with the Bishop and then we started divisions and I went with Elder Henrichsen. We taught Hugo about temples and priesthood but he already knew everything because his girlfriend teaches him it all. Then we taught Dario and Patricia and then went to English class. All of this happened while the other two were doing baptismal interviews. After English class some members took us to eat PapiPollo!

Thursday I almost couldn't get out of bed it was so cold. But we left the house early to go find a member who had called and asked for a visit. We took a bus at the terminal and realized that it was going to be a long bus ride, 1 hr later we got off at this spot called La Casa Quemada, which is a very small community. We had no service so couldn't call the member and when we asked around nobody knew who he was, so we realized we got off too early. We started walking down to the next community which was pretty far away and it was super windy. I was trying to hitch a ride but nobody would. When I gave up some random family stopped by and told us to get in the back of their truck and they would take us to the next stop. Turns out it was a 10 minute drive and super windy and it sucked! We got to the next stop which was a giant rock painted like a cow with some name on it I don't remember. Anyways, we had to walk another 2 miles to get to the community but because we were suppose to go back to our house to eat lunch we just waited for a bus. WASTE OF TIME but we had fun! Later we switched back and ate lunch with familia Avila and watched the Mountain of the Lord and then went out contacting. Right as we finished we got a call from Mama Avila to hurry and go to her local. We got there and taught a mom and her daughter who were having some struggles. We gave them a blessing and invited them to church. That whole lesson was a stress but I am glad we have new people to teach! Then ate merienda with familia Avila and now apparently I am famous on Facebook! 

Lost in Zumbahua

Friday morning we went to Mama Avilas and ate breakfast and she made me a little cake. Then we went out to buy stuff for the noche de hogar we were going to have and I spent 20 dollars!! Then went to lunch with familia Rojas and they bought a cake so I had another one. It was so much food I felt like I was going to throw up! We went to buy snow cones afterward because President Barlow called me to wish me happy birthday and told me to eat ice cream, but the snow cones ended up being super bad. Then we had Jorge and Consuelos interviews but only one passed so the other has to have another one on the 21st. Later that night we had our noche de hogar and watched Joseph Smith the Prophet of the Restoration movie and then we were going to have food. What the members didn't tell me is that there was also going to be a cake and piñata so that was a surprise. It was a good night!

Saturday we did all of our studies in the morning and then went to Paulo's for lunch. After that had correlation meeting and then we were going to go contacting but stopped by mama Avilas to drop off some stuff for her and ended up teaching someone in her local. Later we went to the baptismal service and everyone baptized except me. Then to celebrate we ate Mexican food.

Sunday we went to take someone to church but they weren't home so that was sad but then when we showed up to church, 4 of our other people we are teaching were there so that made up for it. Afterward was crazy because people kept saying Elder this or Elder that! We were there like an hour after it ended. We walked home with Mama Avila but then realized we had to go back to the church because our lunch was close to it and we had to meet with the other Elders to show them the house. Time flew by so fast! We ate with Familia Arcos and then went to the church to do weekly planning, then to a noche de hogar with Jorge and Consuelo where we made Arepas! I have missed Florida for that reason. Then we went to our second noche de hogar with Familia Llango and Avila, but earlier I wasn't feeling good and the feeling had gone away for a bit but then came back super strong so I was in the bathroom the majority of the time because I felt like I was going to throwup.

Monday we went to Quilatoa and took pictures real quick and then left and went to the mall to eat. It was a boring Pday.

Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes! I love and miss you all, talk to you next week!

Les quiero mucho,
Elder Tolman

Baños

Que mas!

Last Monday we went to Ambato to play soccer and after we ate this fish soup called Ensaboyado. It was ok but tasted too much like fish. Then later in the night we went to Erika’s house to have a noche de hogar.

Baños

Tuesday we had two lunches. We had a lesson in the morning that we were late to so that made us late for everything else. Our first lunch was huge and when we went to the second we could not eat all of it. Then we went to another lesson and were able to put them on date so it was super cool. After that lesson we had merienda with Familia Molina and they talked to us and then took us to the mall to eat pizza. Then back to their house. We were with them for like 3 hours and then afterward they wanted Elder Padilla and I to contact in their little neighborhood.

Tree House

Wednesday we had two lessons in the morning and then lunch with Obispo and his wife which was super fun. Then later contacted for a bit and talked to mama Avila and went to English Connect which is always a blast. Afterward, one of the members took us to eat papipollo so that was awesome!

Yo y Elder Amaguaña

Thursday we had district meeting in Ambato and it was good. Then we ate lunch with Joan, the son of mama Avila, and then went to the cyber so Elder Padilla could talk to his brother on his birthday and then had a lesson with Jorge and his mom. We confirmed their date for baptism. I love teaching them because the spirit is so strong there! Then because the lesson went so late Jorge brought us home.

Yo y Elder Miller

Friday I did an Ironman exercise. I had printed off workouts for super heroes on Thursday and this is the first one. Then did weekly planning which is never too fun. Then went to a lesson but had to wait outside for them to bath themselves. This is the second time that has happened to us! Because we had to wait an hour for them once again we were an hour behind. We got to lunch late and then helped the family put together school supplies. Then went to the cyber to get some references from the system and after that talked to mama Avila. When we got home we decided to grab ramen but it isn't real ramen. It was kind of gross and I think gave me bicicleta.

Tree House

Saturday I think was a holiday or something so nobody was open and when we went to eat we had very few options. After breakfast we studied and then went to lunch with Paulo. It was super good like always, probably one of the better meals we get is from them. Elder Padilla had to do a baptismal interview so we hurried to the chapel afterward. We decided to go contacting in this part of our area I had never been before with Elder Dorsey. We started contacting and it is in the richest part of Latacunga. This means no knocking doors but ringing bells and talking to people through an intercom. We got a lot of rejections. We also visited Dario and Patricia and while we were there we saw the first part of the new Lion King!

Montañas

Sunday we went to Stake Conference so we had to take a bus from Latacunga at 9 and then go there and it was packed. President and Hermana Barlow spoke and Elder Ardila from the Seventy. We had two investigators who are on date who came with us and they loved it! Afterward we ate lunch with familia Avila y Llango and later we had a noche de hogar with them, Ruben and his family.

Les quiero mucho!
Elder Tolman

Compeñero Nuevo

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

Cambios came and I have my new companion. His name is Elder Padilla. He is from Peru and has about a year and a half in the mission. He came from Santo Domingo which is the coast and so he is trying to get used to how cold it is in the sierra.

Elder Dorsey, Gutierrez and Coloma saying goodbye to Latacunga

Mama Avila makes each Elder a pillow before they leave

Tuesday I waited in Ambato for him from 10am to 1 or 2ish and we came back to Latacunga. We went to lunch and then of course the next person he had to meet was Mama Avila so we hung out with her for the rest of the day and she fed us. I am the only one who stayed in this area out of the four Elders who were here so it is all up to me to help the new elders get around and not get lost!

Wednesday we taught Jorge and it was a super good lesson. Next lesson we want to put him on date. Then we ate at mama Avila's and after we had Hugo's interview for his baptism. After his interview we waited at the terminal for the other elders. When they came we had to get two taxis and have them follow our taxi to their house. We took them to their recent convert's house, mama Avila's and then to the church. At the church we stayed to have English class and the other elders went back home.

Thursday we had district meeting and got to know all the new missionaries in the zone. Hermana Garcia is still in my zone and Hermana Johnson came here to train. Then on the way home we dropped the other elders off at their lunch and we went to eat with mama Avila. Later we contacted.

Friday we did weekly contacting and had correlation meeting and did more contacting and then stopped by mama Avila’s. Saturday we stopped by an old investigator's house and talked to them. We are going to try and start teaching them again. Then went to lunch with a member and then after we went to start to fill the font for the baptism. We started it and left to go teach Jorge and Consuelo with the member who gave us lunch. His name is Carlos and he returned from his mission in Venezuela in 2016 but he still can teach really well and it seemed like he had been starving to teach haha. After that we went to the baptism and took pictures and had the baptismal service. When I got in the water it was FREEZING cold. I felt so bad. Somehow the heaters stop working and so while we were gone it just filled with cold water! Afterward we did service and helped someone move.

Hugo!

Sunday we had Jorge and Consuelo show up to church. We had Hugo's confirmation and then afterward we ate with mama Avila. Later we went contacting in this area I have never been before and the first door we knocked the guy let us in. We had a super good lesson but afterward had to walk home which was super far. On our way back Elder Padilla wanted to contact more. After contacting for like 5 minutes we got a call from mama Avila that we are having a noche de hogar at her house so we hurried there and played some games and shared a message and had good food!

Les quiero mucho!

Elder Tolman

SPIDER in my room!

Pday fun