Another crazy week in the jungle!

Hola mis amigos y familia,

This week was another week full of hard work in the hot sun! We had a baptism on Saturday which was cool because it was the first one I witnessed being done in a river.

Santiago ready to be baptized

Family and ward family support

 

Monday, went to Puyo to play soccer with the other Elders but they were all tired after an hour so that was boring. Then we played Phase 10 and ate pizza. Later we taught Santiago and his brother Tomas to prepare them for their baptism.

Tuesday my companion couldn't get out of bed because of how sore he was from playing soccer. It was pretty funny. Later we printed handouts for English class that we are planning on doing to try and see if we can find investigators that way. After that we went contacting and had some lessons planned but they all fell through.

Wednesday started off with doing a little bit of service and cleaning a fish tank for a less active member. Then we started divisions so that our district leader could do the baptismal interview for Santiago. I went to Puyo with Elder Gomez and there we had lessons planned for the day. Our first one we went to with a member but it fell through so then we went contacting and found this person who was super interested so we taught her and set up another appointment and then went to another lesson close by. After that we went home and did some studies and then later headed back out so that we could go visit one of the people they have with a baptismal date. Super good day.

Super huge tree we saw!

Thursday we had district meeting and that is when we switched back. But before that let me tell you that the house of Elder Gomez and our district leader is super nice. It has two bathrooms and they have hot water so I finally got to shower and shave with hot water! Later had lunch and then afterward went to a lesson where a member was supposed to meet us there but he got there an hour late. We taught the Restoration and they received it super well. Then we were suppose to go to dinner but it got canceled so then we were going to go to another member's but that got canceled too, so we contacted people by phone to try and set up appointments until our phone died and then went to go make some food.

Friday we started by doing weekly planning and then going to the cyber to take out references. The second Book of Mormon video came out too. Then we went to lunch but had to eat fast so that we could go to San Antonio which is the place where the bus comes every hour. We had a lesson about the 10 commandments and had one new person we are teaching there too. They gave us juice from a fruit called tomate de arbol which is basically tomato juice and I hate it. I downed it super fast and at the end of the lesson I ran off into their farm and threw up. Super bad. Afterward we had dinner with Familia Aldas and I had them order a ukulele for me and it arrived so I was super excited. Then they showed us videos of their parents who are indigenous and live in a community outside of Tena and what they do. Super cool, and then they told us stories of anacondas and how they eat people and how some breath fire, jaja.

Saturday we had the baptism at 8 in the morning and then later we went to this super far place for a lesson. Again we had to take a bus outside of Archidona and then from there we walked up hill for 30 minutes to get to this house and the family we were going to teach wasn't there like they said they would be, so we waited another 30 minutes and then left. We missed the bus so we had to take a taxi to Archidona and then take another bus to another place outside Archidona. There we ate lunch and had to wait for an hour for the next bus to come. By that time we were super late to English class. Along the way I also lost my wallet with 1.75 so that was sad. We got to the chapel and no one was there so we were going to go to a lesson but we called and they weren't home, so we went to the house and studied and practiced some ukulele.

Sunday we watched the video with Elder Ballard about the new youth program. Also the family that lives far away where I threw up came to church for the first time since I have been here so that was super exciting! Later we helped the Branch President deposit tithing because his counselors were not there. After church our lunch fell through and we didn't have anything in the house so we bought some stuff to make lunch. Oops! After that we went with the Ward Mission Leader to visit a recent convert who says that his cousin wants to be baptized, but she wasn't there so we just taught the recent convert. There was too little kids there that Elder Florian knows and he asked them why they didn't come to church. One said that he was too busy and the other said that she had something else to do. Elder Florian asked her if God or that other thing was more important and she answered God and we all laughed because they say they are too busy to go to church but aren't even 8 years old. Then went to go eat dinner with familia Guillin.

Hope you all have a great week.

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Tolman

The slowest, hardest week yet...

Hola mis hermanos y hermanas!

This week went by slower than the last but week 2 of every transfer seems to be the longest.

Starting with Monday we had preparation day and as you probably saw from last week's email, a monkey peed on me!

Tuesday we studied in the morning and then went to a restaurant to eat lunch. The President of the branch pays for us every Tuesday. Then took a bus to the center of the city to take another bus so we could take another bus but the last bus leaves every hour. We got there just after so we had to wait forever for the bus. We took the bus and usually the bus takes a longer route so we have a little time to nap. That is what we thought and my companion slept while I drifted off every once in a while. We didn't take the long route so when we were somewhat awake and paying attention we had already passed the stop. The bus attendant came asked where we were going. We told him and he told us we had passed it, so we paid just to sleep on a bus! jaja oops. Later had a lesson with Santiago and Tomas who are going to be baptized the 28th and the 5th but I am just realizing that the 5th is General Conference so we will have to move that... but Santiago doesn't want to be baptized with his brother for some reason jaja. And then we went looking for less actives.

Wednesday we tried again to teach the family that lives super far away. We were able to teach them, but dang was it hot! We put two of the sons, Erik y Manuel for 12 of October. Later went to visit a less active but he wasn't home so we contacted and then taught Gloria and her family but they aren't reading so we read with them. Later went home but I left the keys in our house so it took 30 minutes of us trying to break in to finally ask someone for a ladder to climb up on our balcony to get in.

Thursday, got up and ready to go to Puyo but when we got to the terminal they told us that the passage to Puyo was closed. So we stayed in Tena and studied all morning. We didn't have a lunch either because it was supposed to be in Puyo so we went and ate at a Peruvian restaurant. We contacted after and found a family who was moving stepping stones so we helped them and set a time to come back to teach them. Then had dinner with a family and afterward went with the hermano to go visit less actives. We visited one because all the rest weren't home. Then our last visit was with some investigators that want to be baptized but need to get married first.

Friday we studied and did weekly planning in the morning. Also the first chapters of the Book of Mormon videos came out. After lunch we went out contacting and it rained the rest of the day so we were super wet. We went to dinner later and let our coats dry for a little bit while we ate and then we were supposed to have a lesson there but the investigators who are family of the members never came.

Saturday we woke up at six because a member invited us to his house for a lunch but lives super far away and told us the bus leaves at 6:30. We got there just as the bus was leaving and it was like a 2 hour drive to their house. We got there and they fed us breakfast while they killed some chickens for lunch. We watched them skin the chicken and everything and knocked down coconuts from their tree. They live off everything in their yard. It's cool but I prefer to buy my food from Walmart jaja. Later a whole bunch of members came and we ate lunch to celebrate the sealing of a family. We ate a soup and then Maito de Tilapia. This is fish that is cooked over a fire in leaves. They wrap these huge leaves over the fish and then tie the leaves with another plant. Never thought I would see that. We left home and on the way our bus raced another bus on this dirt road with tons of bumps. I thought I was going to die. Then later went to two lessons, one the person didn't have a lot of time and the other is Gloria and her family and they still aren't reading and didn't want to come to church so we are thinking of dropping them.

Sunday went to church and we had no investigators there. Had ward council and then ate lunch and studied. We went to a lesson but caught the family leaving to go play basketball so they told us another time. Then we contacted instead and we were super thirsty so we asked someone for water and they gave us chicha de yuca! It was super nasty, words can't explain it! Later went to dinner and again we asked for water. The member pulled out juice and then a glass of water, poured the water into the juice and then poured us a glass of juice. All I wanted was water! jaja. After dinner we had correlation.

Like I said week 2 is usually longer than the rest but this week was also super slow with how the people we are teaching are progressing. The work is hard but this is also the work of the Lord so Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God and if it so be that you should labor all your days in 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! 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 be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me! I encourage all who read this, to help those around you to be blessed by helping them in whatever way possible. You can serve, minister, or even do Temple and family history work. When you do this and help establish the kingdom of God on the earth I know that you will receive many blessings in this life and so much more in the life to come.

Hope you all have a great week!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Tolman

Welcome to the Jungle!

Hola mis queridos hermanos y hermanas,

As you might know, we had changes and I am now in Tena which is the farthest city from Quito in our mission. There is only me and my companion for this whole area and it is HUGE! I had to travel about 5 hours from Latacunga to get here, but the drive was super beautiful. It is also very hot. About the same as Florida, the only difference is that we don't have any air conditioning! There is just a branch of roughly 50 people and we don't have a chapel. Its very different here but it is all the same work!

Lunes, we decided to go to Ambato to play soccer and then said goodbye to a bunch of different people the rest of the day.

Martes, woke up at 5 so we could send off Elder Henrichsen and Elder Sarango could come to Ambato with us but we ended up not leaving till 7 or later so we could have slept in. Didn't help that I was up till 12 the night before making sure I had everything. Took a bus to Ambato then from there to Puyo and from Puyo a taxi to the terminal and there met Elder Florian so we could go to Tena.

Me and my new companion Elder Florian

Miercoles, woke up and showered. We do not have warm water so I shower and shave with freezing cold water every time. You would think that because it is hot outside that showering in cold water would feel nice but unfortunately it doesn't. We also went to visit lots of people and they all live far so we take buses everywhere we can and walk the rest. This morning Elder Florian called an investigator who is on date to ask how she is doing and how her calender of reading and prayer is. The conversation went like this:

“Como esta su calendrio?”

“todo esta destruido hermano”

“porque”

“rompi la ley de castidad” 

This caught us so off guard and after we got the whole story and ended the call, we just laughed. Turns out everything is ok jajaja.

Jueves, traveled to Puyo for district meeting and back which cost an arm and a leg. It started to rain super bad which is another thing that happens here that I forgot to mention. We came home and studied until merienda. After we finished eating I wasn't feeling good so I asked to use the bathroom. I ended up throwing up, but all is well.

Viernes, went to a cyber to get references and then went to lunch where we also helped them seal plastic bags full of a variety of things that they sell in their local. Then took a bus to an investigator and her sister from Latacunga was there who is a member so I got to say hi to them which was fun. Also had merienda with a family and the branch was going to the temple so they just left us with food and the keys to the house.

Sabado, we cleaned the church building because all the members are gone. Then ate lunch and went contacting. We then went to a lesson but he canceled on us so we went and got ice cream and started contacting again. Later in the night we went to a Colombian family and taught them about the Restoration. She told me she can't understand me so Elder Florian taught most the lesson. For some reason all the members and investigators here don't like gringos so I have to try and change that.

Domingo, had church which was weird, first of all not in a chapel and second of all with so few people. Then came home and did weekly planning and then went to lunch. From lunch we came home to study and then later went out to teach a family and afterward walked to another member's house for correlation and merienda.

This week was crazy and hard mainly because I am still adjusting to the heat but I love the work! Hope you all have a fantastic week!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Tolman

Saying Goodbye

Mis queridos amigos y familia,

Esta semana voy a escribir todo de mi correo en espanol. Deberian saber que este va a pasar porque casi todos hacen el mismo jajaja.

Lunes, nos quedamos en casa para limpiarla y despues, fuimos al mall para comprar canguil pero Cinemark estuvo cerrado. Comimos alla y despues compre zapatillos de Nike los cuales son cheveres! Luego mirabamos The Best Two Years en espanol. Por merienda comimos choripan y luego en la noche dimos una bendicion de salud.

Martes, fuimos a contactar en la manana y encontramos algunos personas que vamos a visitar durante la resta de este semana. despues fuimos a comer con familia Llango. Luego tuvimos una cita pero se caeo entoncces fuimos al local de mama Avila por una otra cita pero tambien se caeo. En la noche compramos pinchos y crepes y tambien cosas para hacer rootbeer lo que no salio bien jaja.

Miercoles, tuvimos intrevistas con presidente a la 1 entonces necesitabamos almuerzar temprano. Aunque comimos temprano y tratamos a comer rapido salimos de las casa a la 1. Por suerte Presidente Barlow iba a estar tarde tambien! Despues de intrevistas ensenamos Esteven y luego se caeo nuestra otra cita.

Jueves, fuimos a Ambato para tener reunión de distrito. Es la ultima de el cambio y en vez de los otros elderes tuvimos hermanas en nuestro capacitación. Despues de esa, almuerzamos con mama Avila y luego tuvimos una lección con Brayan. Acabamos la leccion y fuimos a la capilla para tener us intrevista bautismal. El va a ser bautizado el dia sabado.

Viernes, lavamos nuestra ropa y después fuimos a una cyber para sacar referencias. Después comimos con familia Rojas y fuimos a planear por la semana que viene. Fuimos a llenar la ficha bautismal de Brayan y luego a una lección con Jorge y Consuelo para hablar sobre la obra misional. Después tuvimos una fiesta para celebrar una graduación con familia Torres y Avila.

Sábado, comimos con una familia que no todos son miembros. Enseñamos a ellos y después fuimos a encontrar ropa bautismal y llenar la pila. Tuvimos correlación y después tuvimos el bautismo de Brayan. Paulo le bautizo en portugués. Con ellos fuimos a comer en De Angelos pizza. 

Domingo fuimos a la capilla y después de reunión tuvimos un otro por autosuficiencia. Después comimos con familia Arcos, y luego tuvimos una cita con el sobrino de hna llango. En el noche tuvimos una noche de hogar para despedirnos. 

Les quiero mucho

Elder Tolman

The Prophet came to Ecuador!

Buenas mis amigos y familia!

Last Monday we had our pday shortened because we had the awesome opportunity to travel to Quito and hear our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson speak. Elder Falabella and his wife, Elder Quentin L. Cook and his wife also spoke. I was feeling sick so had to rush out but I was able to hear Elder Cook and his wife's talks. They talked about how things don't always go the way we planned but we need to endure to the end and strive constantly to do our best so that we can receive of the blessings God has for us. After them, Sister Nelson spoke, followed by her husband. She talked about revelation and how we can better receive revelation if we ask for his guidance and act on the answers we receive. Later President Nelson spoke and instead of having someone translate he spoke in Spanish. Hearing from the members in our ward it was really cool for them. Overall it was an uplifting experience. We were also able to bring two people we are teaching with us and they enjoyed it as well. After the event we found Elder Dorsey and his companion and went to their house to sleep for the night. I was still super sick and on top of that had to sleep on the floor so didn't sleep too well.

Waiting for the Prophet

Mini Missionary Reunion

Gerardo, a member from our ward, soon to be missionary

 Tuesday, which just felt like a longer Monday. was spent in Zone Conference. I was assigned to give a spiritual thought from the Book of Mormon which I was ok with until I got up to talk and forgot all my Spanish! Later we were introduced to new senior couples that are serving in the mission. After Zone Conference we stopped at McDonalds for ice cream and fries and then went home. On the bus ride home I lost my name tag so now I don't have my magnet one and the other one only works well on shirts with pockets so I have been dealing with that, jaja.

Ambato Zone

Wednesday we ate with Bishop for lunch and then had a lesson with mama Avila so we went to her local a little early. The minute I walked in she new I was sick and told me to go buy the medicine that Hna. Barlow had told me to buy. Took those but of course it isn't going to help right away so during the lesson I could not focus at all and Elder Padilla wasn't taking charge like he usually does so the lesson started very late but at least we put them on date to be baptized so we are excited for them! Afterward we went on splits and the lesson we were going to fell through because the family forgot about it so we headed to English class early. I was not a big help though because I was in the bathroom most the time. When we got home I drank coke and some sort of tea thing because those are what every Ecuadorian recommends and then asked my companion for a priesthood blessing, which he gladly did.

Mama Avila made these for us!

Thursday I woke up not feeling too much better but finally got up to shower. When I got out my companion was still sleeping and long story short got to District Meeting a little late. I didn't eat anything because eating made my stomach worse so by lunch I was dying but of starvation instead. We left to Latacunga and met up with the guy from SLC who was going to send stuff home for me. Then we ate lunch with mama Avila and I could only eat the soup, and left the plate of rice and chicken. We were late for a lesson so had to rush there and didn't have a lot of time so didn't teach a lesson and just left a pamphlet and then rushed to another lesson with a reference from a member. He is her nephew and super cool. He seems super solid and once he can come to church and receive an answer that this Church is true he will be baptized. Today we talked a lot about conversion and how we receive our answers and how everyone needs a testimony, we are not just members by tradition. I encourage each and everyone of you to ask the Lord for an answer if this Church is His or not, if Joseph Smith was called of God to restore the Church. I testify that you will receive an answer by the power of the Holy Ghost which will testify of truth through thoughts and feelings. I encourage you to pay special attention to your thoughts and feelings and know that you will receive an answer through them that Joseph Smith was called of God, and because he was called of God, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true Church and contains the fullness of the gospel and also that the Book of Mormon is true. Whether you have already received an answer or not, I promise that as you pray with a sincere desire to know the truth it will be given unto you as a confirmation or reconfirmation of the truth.

Friday did weekly planning in the morning. Afterward we went to a cyber to take out reference and print out some records. Then we went and taught Brayan. He accepted to be baptized on the 7th of September so we are excited for that. Then later I bought a waffle for dinner but it wasn't too good so it just made me miss waffles at home jaja.

Saturday we ate out for breakfast and then ate lunch. Then we went to mama Avila's and helped her in her local until correlation meeting. In correlation meeting we talk about our investigators and how the ward can help. Right after we were supposed to have a baptism, one of an 8 yr old girl and the other of an investigator but the member family showed up an hour late. They were both baptized and then we went to the families' house and had a party but of course as missionaries we couldn't stay long.

Sunday had church like normal and testimony meeting was good. Later we came home and studied then went to lunch with familia Arcos which is always fun. Afterward we went contacting and found a less active who works as a nurse and doesn't have Sundays off so she can't go to church but she told us she wanted to. We talked to her a little bit more and gave her a Book of Mormon because she had lost hers, then headed to a noche de hogar at mama Avilas. We had invited a lot of our investigators and recent converts but none came so that was sad, but besides that it was fun. We played King and Queen where the object of the game is to be King and I was king the whole time! This transfer has gone by really fast, one more week and its over! I can't believe it, but I am so grateful for the miracles and tender mercies of the Lord that I see every day! This is the work of the Lord and I am so blessed to work along side him.

Les quiero mucho!

Elder Tolman