Feliz Navidad y un prospero año nuevo!

Hola mis amigos y familia!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! For New Year's normally people make resolutions and goals to be a better person and they generally are always broken within the first month. I hope you all are making goals and plans to be able to keep them for longer than normal. I would also like to challenge you all to pick a Christ like attribute that you are going to work on this year to become more like Him. If you need Ideas you can read 2 Peter 5:7-8 for the promised blessing!

Monday, we played soccer in the morning, went shopping and then had to go to the hospital because my companion got another ingrown toenail.

Tuesday, we had to go out and work like normal and everyone was basically on vacation so it was hard to find new people. While we were knocking doors we passed by a member's house and they invited us for food the next day which was a blessing! Later that night we were also able to go to a member's house with the other elders in our ward. We played games until 9 and the food still wasn't ready, so a member called the mission president to ask if we could stay longer because the food still wasn't ready. He said yes and we ended up staying there past 10!

Wednesday we couldn't leave the house so normally a missionary would sleep in, but we have a tradition in my family, thanks to me, that we wake up early to open Christmas presents. So I woke up my companion at 6:30 and we opened presents. Later we played soccer with the district at the church and then stayed in the house for the rest of the day until dinner with the family that invited us on Tuesday.

Thursday was back to normal for us except everyone is still gone on vacation. We had district meeting and then lunch and later went to an older guy's home. He lives alone and had fallen the other day and it was super bad so he asked us to give him a blessing. That night we visited Camila and her mom and they made us the traditional Christmas dish from Venezuela.

Friday, we asked an hermano to come to some lessons with us. Some fell through, some not, and we had some backup lessons too, but in the end he ended up being with us for 3 hours! He is the best!

Saturday, we did a lot of knocking doors and were able to talk to a few cool people which is always a plus. As we were knocking a street this random guy came up to me and my companion and I didn't understand a thing he said, but basically he was offering 50 cents to me. I was very hesitant to take it, but finally I let him give it to me. He told me that I have good luck and then walked off, jaja.

Sunday, while we were welcoming people to church a drunk guy walked in with a flower and shoe in his hand saying that someone gave them to him and if he walked in and talked with us we could help him. Long story short he was really drunk and walked away mad that we had offered to visit him. Later that day we ran into another guy who was drunk who, after teaching him, cried into me and got blood on my shirt. It was really gross. My companion also got very sick and was miserable all day so that wasn't cool either, but I am looking forward to a new year! Here they have a tradition to burn things that represent the old year. Usually they are dolls of old men but they get really creative with them here! I will attach some photos. I hope you all have a great week!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Tolman

Merry Christmas

Hola mis amigos y familia,

Feliz Navidad! Before I start about my week I just want to share my testimony with you. I received a book called the Everlasting Light by David A. Bednar. In it he tells the story of the birth of Jesus using scriptures from the Book of Mormon. He says, In every season of our lives, in all of the circumstances we may encounter, and in each challenge we may face, Jesus Christ is the Light that dispels fear, provides assurance and direction, and engenders enduring peace and joy. I bear testimony of the words of Elder Bednar that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that he lived, died, and lived again so that each one of us can have a way to return to live with our Father in Heaven. As we look unto Christ in every aspect of our lives we will have no reason to doubt or fear, and we will be able to share His light with those around us. I know that He loves us so much, he provided a way that we could have a fullness of his gospel. That he prepared the Bible and also the Book of Mormon as two testaments, two guides to help us come to know more about Him. I know that these books are true, and especially that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that God works through prophets, that he called Joseph Smith to restore His gospel on the Earth, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church upon the Earth. That Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God and that he couldn't have done it in any other way. I know and bear solemn testimony that the succeeding prophets of Joseph Smith are also men called of God and that our prophet today, Russell M. Nelson also has been called of God. That he receives for all the world in how to guide us in the chaotic world we live in. I bear testimony of all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Tuesday, we were finally able to go and teach Humberto and Maria after a very long time of not seeing them. We had to help them gain desires to read the Book of Mormon. We had a member with us this time and he was a huge help. Then we went to a lesson with a new guy we found. He was super interested and we had an awesome lesson! After Patricio we went to a mall close by where members of the stake had set up a small stadium and were singing and also had church videos playing. We had a whole bunch of missionaries there contacting and inviting people to church. Then we had a noche de hogar but when we got to the house, the family canceled on us so we went to the families house we are teaching with another member. Jose didn't want to be baptized anymore and had received a bad influence from his wife and daughters saying he shouldn't be baptized.

Wednesday, we taught Humberto and Maria again. They gave us their coffee so we could throw it away which was awesome. Before we left they gave us juice and empanadas. Then we hurried to lunch and ate a lot of food. Then we had a lesson with Joan and we were also going to learn how to make Venezuelan empanadas. We ate those too and my stomach was exploding!! Then we went to a church meeting where they gave us hot chocolate and bread with cheese.

Thursday, we woke up super early because we had to be in the center of Quito at 8. We got there and took pictures and then had zone conference. Elder and Sister Held from the seventy were there and they instructed us and then we had a big, fancy lunch. After lunch they gave us presents and then told us we all had to go get vaccinated. Later we came home and Elder Mora wanted to go to the park to contact. There, the first guy we talked to was a gringo! He got deported from California and needed help, so we taught him for a bit and told him to come to the church later. When he came, we helped him out and then he was going to go to a hotel but instead he came with us to go contacting some more jaja.

Friday, This morning at 3 I woke up super sick. I blame the flu shot I got. I had my companion give me a blessing and I was able to at least sleep for 2 more hours. We had district meeting today too and later we went to the zone leaders house to practice for our ward Christmas party because they asked us to perform something. Later we gave a blessing to a less active family with the bishop, and he had just bought a new car so we got to ride in it. It felt so weird to be in a car, but I also wanted to drive it so bad! jaja. At the ward party, Elder Chaparro and I played the Ukulele and we sang some songs in English so no one understood them. Our name was the celestial choir.

Saturday, we went out contacting to give out cards to invite people to church. We have been doing it all month and today was our last day because they are to invite people to church. We also found Jonathan and he had been hanging out with the wrong people and now doesn't seem too interested in God like he was before.

Sunday, the day we had hyped up for the whole month... So when we gave people cards with the direction to the church we would tell them that we were going to have a special Christmas program and that there would be treats and all sorts of hype cool stuff. Unfortunately, nobody came, but maybe it was for the better. We had only one hour today and the talks had nothing to do with Christmas. Later the Bishop got up and macheted all the members. Yikes! Later that day we went contacting again and went to this strip where there are tons of people selling things. We thought there would be tons of people to talk too. We were right that there were tons of people, but so many walking here and there that it was difficult to talk to anyone. Later on our way back home we met this couple who is divorced, but are trying to get back together. We talked to them about how families are important and God wants them to be happy together. They were very receptive and we were able to make a return appointment with them! That was awesome because I had been praying that we could find at least one more person and there they were!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Tolman

12 days of Christmas

Hola mis amigos y familia,

Today I don't have a lot of time to write but I have more pictures so hopefully that makes up for it.

Monday we went to Mr. Joy which if you don't know what that is, it's a playground for big kids. Then we visited someone that night and got her to finally promise to come to church but turns out she couldn't because that Sunday people were going to walk in the streets with a baby Jesus so she was going to be able to sell a lot.

Tuesday, all of our lessons fell but one and we were able to teach her about the Book of Mormon which was nice. Later we went contacting and also to find people who hadn't been coming to church. We stopped by a recent convert named Marcelo who is having some doubts with the church so we tried helping him resolve them. He was very grateful for our visit because he hasn't been able to go to church and needed someone to clarify things for him. It was super hard. Recently we have had really hard lessons and I think what I have learned the most is that I need more patience and love so that is something I have been working on.

Wednesday, we did exchanges with the district leader. He came to our area with Elder Mora and I went with Elder Chapman. It was super fun and at night we stayed in the zone leaders house and talked for a long time!

Thursday, I was super tired and it was hard to work. We had lunch with a super cool family and then later we were able to teach a less active recent convert and he came to church!

Friday, we took a picture with Santa and later contacted in the streets. We were just walking in between cars while the light was red like all the vendors do. It was super fun! Later taught the less active family and taught about the plan of salvation. They had a lot of questions some of which are hard to answer because they were about where a person would go if they did something. I told them I don't know exactly what will happen but they will receive a place they deserve. I truly believe that God is a just God but also a loving father and he will do what is best for us.

Saturday, I started my 12 days of Christmas and now all of you can be in it to. I am not sure how well the volume is but if you can hear the hint pause the video and guess before you see what it is! jaja anyways we went to lunch and the hermana asked us to return in an hour to help with a service. We returned with a member and had to take a truckload of dirt to the second floor of an unfinished house so they could finish it. We used buckets and a pulley. Long story short we went home super tired and sore and about 4 hours later! 

Sunday, we went after church with a member to visit people who had not come to church. We also tried to visit Jose but he came with his wife and they said they didn't like it so we set up another lesson to see if we could try and save them. Then went contacting and were able to find a few cool people!

Today we offered to do a service in the morning to help clean so kitchen equipment. When we got there we had to move a whole bunch of dirt and garbage and also some guinea pig poop. Fun fact for those of you who don't know, in Ecuador people raise guinea pigs like chickens and then eat them. We went to a cool cave but were not in there too long because it got to some small parts and we figured it was better if we didn't try to go further. Later ate at the mall!

Got to go now!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Tolman

We almost DIED

Hola mis amigos y familia!

This week we started of the transfer which felt super hard because we feel like we have contacted everyone in our area, but I can tell you that even when you feel like you can't give more, or that heaven is closed and God doesn't pour out his blessings, I can really testify that he is always pouring out his blessings, and in my case, always helping me find more people to talk to.

Monday, said goodbye to Elder Dorsey and a bunch of other good friends. Later we went contacting to find news for the week.

Tuesday, for lunch we were lucky to take it home because the member gave us big intestine soup. Later we contacted and ran into this guy who just believes in the Bible. His name is Saulo, so we were hoping to convert him to Paulo, but he came out to teach us the truth. He read passages from the Bible that say we need to follow the commandments and prepare for his coming. We tried to say we believe the same but he would not hear a thing we had to say because we are 20 years old and he is 50, so he knows more. It was really hard and sad that he wouldn't listen to us. In the end he asked us how we recognize God, but wouldn't let us answer the question. Finally I just started speaking louder than him so he would listen to me. I explained the Book of Mormon and that it helps us know more about Jesus Christ and how we can prepare for his coming and to help us follow the commandments. He immediately told us it was false and that the book was of the devil. He wanted to give us a bible class so we accepted on the condition that he would read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. He accepted because he wanted to teach us super bad.

Wednesday, we started off with an empty calendar. We had nothing planned so we called all the contacts we have to set up a lesson. All of them said no and some asked us to never call again. Then we called Byron and Karen to see if we could visit them but they proceeded to tell us that people had tried to kill them so now they are in hiding in a different part of the city. All of this in the morning just made me want to cry so I was saying tons of prayers. Later I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants section 6 and some other scriptures that really helped me. God answers prayers! We also ate with a super cool family today named family Tigre. They are super strong converts and are the best! Another huge help to my day. We had coordination meeting and afterward we were going to eat pinchos but first we contacted. We found one guy named Willmer who is super busy so we can't visit him often, but we shared the first vision, and at first he was saying everyone has their own opinions and that's that, but when we asked if we could come back he said yes because he is super interested in our message! That was another miracle and answer to my prayer!

Thursday, we gave a blessing to an hermana so we had to leave district meeting early. Then went with hno. Tigre to a lesson that fell through and then a whole bunch more fell through. At the end of the day we only had one lesson with a less active family that are super cool. They lived in Spain for a bit and all of them live here except the dad. They love the church but are super busy so we are helping to activate them. Also the daughter is 8 years old and wants her older brother to baptize her so we are teaching her! After that there was a family moving in the rain! All their furniture was getting super wet, we decided to help them. I asked and then they said no so I responded cool, we are going to help. Also we stopped by an investigator named Jorge. He is super cool but stopped responding to us for some reason and we can never find him in the house. Turns out that his work needs him more so he isn't home as much and his ex wife is also creating problems and so his lawyer told him he can't answer phone calls. Everything isn't good, but better than we thought because he still wants to listen to us!

Friday, we were finally able to have a lesson with Jose who was on date for the 21st. He didn't come to church, and was able to find work for a bit so he didn't have time for us, but now that he doesn't have work we are teaching him again. We invited them to a stake activity and they understood us wrong so when they got there they went and sat in the chapel while the rest of the people were dancing. They left and were super disappointed. jaja.

Saturday, we again had all of our lessons fall through but that gave us time to contact. One of the people we contacted said he would come to church. Well we went on Sunday to pick him up and he got sick. Also found three guys just sitting in a bus and we began to talk to them. They are catholics, but began to ask us questions so we answered them all. One of the questions was, why are there so many churches. I asked to enter the bus and that is when they told me they were drinking, but I entered anyways. We taught them about the restoration, but afterward they were not willing to change. They agreed with what we said and many times said that what the catholic church teaches us against the commandments in the Bible, and that they shouldn't drink but rather be saints like Christ. It was super sad to see how much they knew and they knew they needed to change but to later say it is too hard and impossible. Later we taught Camila and while teaching her, her mom Betzy made us hamburgers. Super good and gave us some to eat for breakfast the next day but we just ate them when we got home. Also interesting story is the following! We were on our way to Betzys and we had to cross a busy street. We were with a member and we couldn't see the signal lights, but all the cars were stopped or there weren't any cars in the lane. We started to cross and right as we were about to get to the bus route part of the street this car started honking at us. We all stopped, looked up and saw this white car zoom by just inches in front of us. All of this happened in the matter of a second and it was super scary! I think the light must have been yellow so this car zoomed as fast as he could to make it, but seriously it appeared out of nowhere! We almost died, but I'm grateful we didn't.

Sunday. First off I want to say that during the week we invited like 20 billion people to church so we were expecting like 10 to show up. Not a single one did and it was sad. Later for lunch we were going to share a message but then the hna began to cry and talk about the difficulties in her family and how the members aren't helping and it was really sad but I had no clue what to do. We tried giving her words of comfort and in the end they were grateful that we listened to them. As we were about to leave we gave her dad a blessing. I asked his son in law to be the voice in the blessing but he asked me to do it saying I have more power. I don't like that because we have the same authority and I felt like he should be the one to bless his father in law but oh well. Later we went to teach Jose and Luz. We put Jose on date for the 4th, and they asked us about tithing so we taught them about it and then his wife began to argue with us how she can't pay it and her husband won't either. I was losing patience and really was not sure why she was so set on saying no to all of our invitations instead of letting him answer, so I raised my voice with them and said they needed to listen. I told them that they are going to read together, pray together, and go to church together. That we are going to forget tithing they just first need to do these things. It was such a frustrating lesson and my companion was just growling the whole time. In the end I apologized for being so bold and they told me it was ok. That they want to continue having our visits. I really hope we can start to see a change in them. Then we visited some less actives, one of them being Mayra and her family, the ones from Spain. I asked why they didn't come and it was because they were all sleeping because they got back from a Nicky Jam concert at 12. They showed us a video and I'll admit it was pretty cool and I am kind of jealous jaja.

Anyways, the work is a blast, and it is the work of God! I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true, and that through Joseph Smith, God restored his gospel on the earth so that we can be blessed just like he blessed those of old. Have a good week!

Les quiero mucho!

Elder Tolman

Happy Thanksgiving

Hola mis amigos y familia,

Today is the last day of the transfer. Elder Mora and I will be staying together which means that I will be finishing his training.

This week was week 6 and Elder Torres and Wilcox were going home. Because it was their last week and also because it was Thanksgiving, we were able to do a lot of fun things.

Tuesday, we all decided that because it was the last week of the transfer we would wake up every morning to go play soccer. Later we had a lesson with Humberto and Maria and everything went well. Then went to Joan and Enaisas house and they gave us bad news that it is harder for them to get married than we had thought and so that was super sad. Later we bought presents for Thanksgiving because we were going to do a white elephant. Our very last lesson was with Jose and Luz. Jose is progressing a lot more than his wife and we were able to put him on date for the 21st of December.

Wednesday, we played soccer again. We had a lesson fall through and then a referral we were looking for, but we were unable to find him too. Turns out the referral is for other elders because he doesn't live inside our boundaries. Later we had coordination meeting and then a lesson with Karen because Byron wasn't there. We taught about the Family Proclamation. She really liked it and also promised to come to church.

Thursday, we went to play soccer, but no one else showed up so I just played by myself for a little bit and then we went home. We had a lesson early with Humberto and Maria and they didn't read so we read with them. Afterward they wanted to give us a sandwich and coffee but we told them we don't drink coffee. They asked why and so we taught about the Word of Wisdom. As soon as we finished Maria said well I guess we'll have to give up coffee. That was a surprise. I feel like she is super ready all we have to talk about is them getting married! Later we had district meeting and then a few hours before we were going to have our Thanksgiving dinner as a zone. We went and called our families and then went to a member's house in Guamani. They have a really nice house and cooked really good food that you would find in a Thanksgiving dinner back at home. Later we did our gift exchange and then some games. It was super fun!!

Friday, we played soccer in the morning again which was the last of the week, but I really enjoyed it. For lunch the member gave us money so we went and ate at KFC. Then went out to contact. Later we had a dinner with a recent convert because Elder Torres is leaving so she wanted to cook one last time for him. We contacted some more and ran into some less actives and then found some guys moving a dresser so we helped them for a bit, and then shared the message of the Restoration. Then we headed to Camila's.

Saturday, we went out to contact but ran into the Elders Quorum president and he asked us to come to the church. There was supposed to be a quorum activity but only three people showed up. We played two mini games and then ate food and left. It was very sad, but we needed to contact. We spent almost all day contacting. One time we found a group of people cleaning a road for community service. We talked to them and then offered to help. They lady who was directing all of it asked me if I was gringo and then if I was single. She then began to flirt with me the rest of the time and say very weird things. She invited us to drink and dance but we told her no. It was super uncomfortable, but my companions enjoyed watching it. Later we ate pinchos with Elder Torres, Jensen and Florian because he got permission to stay the night with our zone leaders.

Sunday, we said goodbye to Torres, Florian, and Wilcox. Later we went to some lessons. One fell through and the other we were able to teach them, which was awesome. We had a lesson with Camila again and then went out to contact. This was around 8 to 8:30. As we were knocking these people told us no because they were sleeping so we knocked the next house. As we were talking to this guy, the people in the previous house came out and asked why we were knocking. I was talking to the other guy at the moment so my companion started talking to them. He told me they were mad and asked why we were contacting at midnight. He was really bugged at their attitude so he just told them to have a good night and left.

And that is the end of the transfer! I am not going to lie, it was a hard one. Full of contacting and getting no where it feels like. We are having success here and there, but I am excited for this next transfer and for all the success we are going to have. I know the Lord always blesses us and is always there for us, we just need to ask for his help! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Les quiero mucho,

Elder Tolman