WEEK 74: 21 AND LOVING IT!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELDER SOLARI!!

 Companions

1-9-17 LETTER

Thanks for the birthday wishes guys it means a lot. And sorry if this email looks boring its just that the exclamation point doesnt work on this keyboard hahaha. I passed the day pretty well dont worry I ate a super good lunch and even some cake at night. For lunch the mamita made us un parrillada which is like a bunch of grilled meats with rice and beans and patacones. Its probably my favorite plate here in Ecuador. I ate so much...and then we went on divisions with some of the leaders and the YSA. After that we went to visit the Rodriguez family and they invited us to dinner and made me a little cake that was super good.

And one of the members took a ton of photos that he sent me so you guys can see them all. 

Ask far as the work and the sector it has been good this last week. I am finally getting to know our sector because its honestly super huge. Theres a big populated downtown part, and then a part thats out in the country where everyone lives in houses made out of sticks and branches that all look like they are going to fall over. But I like being able to have a diversity of neighborhoods. And the majority is dirt roads and it has been raining a ton so they are all filled of water...and there are also a ton of stray dogs that like to bark at us and chase us so thats been pretty cool as well hahaha. A lot of the people are very humble and receptive to our message so it has been good. We brought 12 investigators to church yesterday so we are working with the ones that have real interests in the church. 

So my companion ELDER SALVATIERRA has 20 months in the mission. We also lived together when I was in Amazonas Centenario, and he also served in the same zone when I was in 25 de Julio so we already know eachother super well. He is from Cochabamba Bolivia. And for these next couple of weeks the APs have put us in another trio...so my other companion is Elder Gomez and he is from Peru and has 16 months in the mission. He is waiting for his companion to get here because he will be training. But I do have some experience in the trio in the MTC and in Cisne so no worries. The members here are great too...we had 152 in church yesterday so we started out the year strong here in Machala Central.

  

In other news this last week we had Mission Leadership Council and we got to take a bus to Guayaquil at 5 in the morning to get there by 9..and we were in the training all day and got back to Machala at 11 that night. But they made us a little booklet with information for the Zone Leaders and focused on how we can be Leaders just like Jesus Christ was during his ministry in Jerusalem. I enjoyed it a lot. It talked about how we need to believe in our missionaries..not just for who they are but for who they can become. Missionarys consecrated and dedicated to this work. It helped me a lot to see leadership from the Saviors aspect..it was a talk from President Spencer W. Kimball titled, Jesus, the perfect leader...I invite all of you to be able to read it and study it. And dont forget to keep going with your new years goals. I love you guys...until next week

WEEK 73: MACHALA, MACHALA, MACHALA!

1-2-17 LETTER

The last couple of days in San Cristobal were interesting....because Sunday I shared my testimony in the ward like we always do when we have changes. And then Monday-Thursday everyone was telling me it was going to be difficult to get a flight back to Guayaquil in this time. And then Thursday in the morning they call me and tell me that Friday I was going to leave. So my last two days all I ate was lobster because it was going to be the last time to eat it here in the mission. Literally all of the members offered us Lobster because in the next couple of weeks they arent going to be able to fish it anymore. 

Yeah so Friday was my flight to Guayaquil. I got in Guayaquil at about 3:30, and then we went to the bus terminal and I got on a bus with another missionary at 5pm, and we got to Machala at 9:30pm. I travelled almost all day and was tired of sitting down for so much time it made my back a little sore. So my new companion is Elder Salvatierra and he is from Bolivia and we are the ZLs here in Machala. So it is one big stake with 10 wards and 1 branch, but 2 zones. Our ward is called Machala Central and its a good sized ward. So far we have had a bunch of help from the members with references and them bringing friends to church so that has been nice. I do feel kind of weird being in a ward again and not having to worry if one of the people assigned to give a talk shows up or not hahaha. So Machala is actually a lot nicer than Guayaquil, and its not as dangerous. A lot of people here work in shrimp farms or fishing, but there are also a lot of factories and businesses. And everywhere you look there are banana plants, the whole 4 hour bus ride all I saw out the window was bananas. So Friday I didnt get to work here in the sector at all..and Saturday either. The 31st and 1st they had us in our houses at 7pm.

So Saturday was cool though. Theres a sector in the mission called Huaquillas, which is one of the best sectors in the mission that isnt Galapagos. So Saturday I got to go with one of the Elders in our zone to Huaquillas because he just had transfers and was going back to baptise one of his investigators. It is right on the border with Peru and the church is super new there as well, it has 4 years and is already a super huge branch. Literally EVERY ELDER wants to serve there so I was super pumped to be able to spend a day and work a little bit. So if I dont get to serve there later I wont be upset because Ive already been there haha. So we ended up getting back to our houses at 9pm because its another 2 hour bus ride. The 31st we didnt sleep a wink because outside everyone was blowing up their new yearsa character. Here they make like a cardboard cut out of their favorite super hero or cartoon character and they fill them with fireworks and blow them up in front of their houses at 12am. Its a super cool tradition I want to bring back to the united states. They also make a mannequin¿ of someone they know and they also blow it up as well. The person they pick to blow up means this next year they are going to have good luck, its like theyre throwing away all the bad and starting their new year clean hahaha but they put so much detail in them and paint them so they look like their family member or friend or whoever it is. 

So Machala is almost as hot as Guayaquil..and it has been raining a lot so this week ill take a bunch of pictures to send you guys. 

These last couple of days I have been reading conference talks from this last General conference. For the spiritual thought I want to invite you guys to read President Utchdorfs talks in the first session of conference. He talks a lot about how we need to appreciate what we have, not take anything for granted and the Plan of Salvation. Anyways thats all the time I have I love you guys! Happy New Year and dont forget to put your goals for this year!!

WEEK 72: SO FUN TO SKYPE!

CHRISTMAS DAY - Elder Solari was able to Skype with his family in Washington!!

 I spy _____ Iguanas!

 Blue footed boobie

 Christmas Tree

Church building

11-26-16 LETTER

As far as a letter i will not be going to Machala yet. The APs called me last night and told me they forgot to buy my ticket...and that now there arent any for another couple of days so I dont know when Ill be going back yet. So Im sure the Lord needs me here for a few more days..theres another family or two we need to find before I go. They said I might be going Thursday or I might have to wait until after new years..it just depends on when theres a seat available. Something cool that happened I forgot to tell you guys...We ran into members from Singapore the 24th and they bought us ice cream to celebrate Christmas! It was super cool because theyre both recent converts too. I love being able to meet and see members of the Church from all over the world. I love you guys a ton and dont forget to write down your goals for this coming year 2017!! 

WEEK 71: IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

12-19-16 LETTER

Well this last week was fantastic!!! Were still working with Jimmy, and he is progressing just he works in the airport and its hard for him to get a Sunday off. But he knows he wants to be baptised and has his testimony so we just have to wait until he can come to church. As of right now hes our only rock solid investigators...we have quite a few other but theyre not keeping with a lot of the committments so we are looking for new investigators! This Friday we are going to have our Group San Cristobal Christmas activity. Were going to cook arroz con pollo and have juice and toys for the little kids and bags of candy so its going to be a great experience for the church here. 

As far as the weather...is has started to heat up. January is when it is supposed to get hot..and in Guayaquil its when the rainy season starts. So since the government only lets us stay out here for 60 days...my 60 days ends January 4th so Ill only be out here for maybe 2 more weeks. It would be great to be able to stay longer so we will have to see what happens. 

In other news...I got a copy of my Priesthood line of authority to be able to share with the people here. Its honestly great being in an area where the church is so new!

As far as the skype I am going to be calling at 4pm San Cristobal time. So 2pm your time. I hope thats already so you can open presents and eat and then ill be ready to talk to you guys! But keep your skype open the whole time you guys are home so its up and ready when im on.

So these last few weeks I have been studying the New Testament and am in Hebrews chapter 5

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

I love these two verses. They talk about Christ and the importance of our obedience to Him and Heavenly Father. He is the author of our eternal salvation ONLY if we are obedient. Its honestly something so important I have learned here in the mission. Obedience to Christ and His gospel should always be first in our lives. I know the Lord blesses us as we are faithful and serve others.   

Anyways thats all the time ive got but ill talk to you guys soon!! And i couldnt send any pictures so ill try again next week! Love you all! Merry Christmas!!!🎅

WEEK 70: I WENT INTO THE OCEAN

Nancie baptism

 Charging sea lion

Huge iguana

12-12-16 LETTER

Yeah so I am sure you guys are all thinking that for my subject in the email Im a disobedient missionary and I went swimming in the ocean. So what really happened is that Nancy was baptised and she picked me to baptise her!! So we had the baptism service Saturday at 6:30am. We had to do it before all of the tourists got out there to go swimming. We do the baptisms in a beach called the Loberia. And it was full of sea lions sleeping in the sun and the ocean was super cold! But we were successful and it was a simple baptism, but the one where I have felt the spirit the strongest. We took a ton of pictures but the cyber where we usually go was closed and we are in a super slow one right now....so Ill try to see if I can get atleast a few sent today. A big sea lion almost attacked Brother Tarquino so that was pretty cool to see. It straight up charged him and then chickened out last minute. I got a photo of the mad sea lion haha.

But the baptism went great and even her family came out to support as well! And we did not get permission to change houses so we are going to be staying where we live right now. Also today we ended up not going to the Waterfalls, so we stayed down in the port and went and played Monopoly with Bro San Andres and his family instead.

OH GUESS WHAT!! Jimmy, the guy we were teaching in jail got out last week! And he is going to be getting baptised in the next couple of weeks. We had a super great lesson with him yesterday and his wife is now listening to us! Theyre the family so if you guys could pray for them that would be great. 

In other new...we did some service this last week! Painted some rooms in members houses and helped a church member make corviches and muchines to sell in her restaurant!

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible. Christ tells us what we need to do to really follow Him. I was able to give a talk yesterday in church about this scripture and what He is telling us..we have to reject the worldy things and our own will, and adopt His will. I know that as we follow Christ, he blessed us and gives us strength to overcome all trials in this life. I know that Christ lives, that He is the Redeemer of all mankind and that on the 3rd day he resurrected.

Anyways I love you guys!!! Merry almost Christmas!!

ELDER SOLARI

WEEK 69: DECEMBER

 LightTHEWorld package from mission home

The Island and Ocean

Apartment

12-5-16 LETTER

Well theres a new rule in the mission. I think some Elders were abusing their P day writing time...We can only write for 30 minutes now. So Im going to try to write the letter as fast as I can and with everything that has happened this last week!

SO we found someone who has been going to church for over a month and my last companion told me she was a member..but turns out she isnt!! So her name is Nancy and she is going to get baptised this weekend. And her parents gave us permission so everything is going to be great! Her name is Nancy Lucitena pray for her please so everything goes well with her baptism. We have also found some other families to work with this week, but none of them went to church yesterday so we are going to keep looking. Yesterday we also put the Christmas Devotional in the church with a projector and a bunch of the members came out to support and see it with us.  

Also I got to preside and conduct the fast and testimony meeting yesterday!! It was a great learning experience and I enjoyed it! Sure I was a little nervous beforehand but it went very well! Also there was a family of members from Canada that came yesterday and the father is a great great great great grandkid of Wilford Woodruff and he even had the huge beard to prove it so that was pretty cool too.

So this next week Hno. Gary told us that he is going to take us hiking to some waterfalls next P day so that should be a cool experience too. 

DYC 108.7 Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.

This is a scripture super important for us. Its something that really has stood out to me being here on an island where the church is new and the members dont know a ton because everyone is a recent convert. We need to strengthen the testimony of everyone around us and we can do it through the example we show. Every day, every hour, every minute even every second we have these chances to serve and be a light to someone else. We need to take advantage of every one of these opportunities that the Lord gives us, and if we do it, the Lord will forgive our sins continually. Mosiah 4.26 

Anyways I love you guys thats all the time ive got!!!

WEEK 68: THANKSGIVING IN GALAPAGOS = LOBSTER

 Where the ship arrives with seafood

 Two giant turtles

 Will & new companion

Making Corviche

11-28-16 LETTER

Well it was great being back in the island this week. I feel grateful to serve the Lord in such a beautiful and blessed place. I know the Lord needed me here for a reason and I am able to find out every single day as we meet and find new people to teach here on the island. It has definitely been a huge change from Guayaquil...here the pace of life is slower and more peaceful. Its also a lot more secure and the people here are friendly as well. As far as new things this last week we have been looking for a new apartment to change where we live. Theres nothing wrong with where we live but the island has been having some problems with water rationing because it hasnt rained in almost a year. So we are searching and we have found some cool apartments..just theyre all too expensive for the budget they have given us. And we are looking for one furnished because the only things the mission owns in our apartment is a table, 4 chairs and an iron and ironing board..the rest is from our landlord here. 

So something funny...I had forgotten about Thanksgiving completely this last week, until our mamita reminded us Thursday..and she had prepared Lobster for us! With rice, of course and patacones which is fried platano. Theres also a recent convert who sells corviche..which is fried platano filled with albacore fish, so yesterday we learned how to make them..which includes grating platano. But they are super good so Ill be sure to make them for you guys someday. The fish here on the island is super good, the fishermen bring it to shore every morning and my companion likes to go down to the pier and buy and look at the fish. Another cool thing here is that we live 1 minute from a park where we go play basketball every morning as our exercise time!

This last week they also sent us new pass along cards for the new Christmas video of the church.. I think its called Light the World, Ilumina el Mundo so we have been giving out tons of those everyday, and we write on the back the direction of the church and the hour so people can come find out more about our church! Its interesting here because the church only has 3 years..so a lot of people dont know anything about the church. We have been doing a lot of contacting and knocking some doors this week and it has been fun. Just last night we were knocking doors in a part of the island where the missionaries havent gone before and we were able to find a new family to teach! La familia Torres and it was a powerful lesson. They had been having some family problems in the home and we talked a lot about the Holy Ghost and why it is so important to have in the home and the family. They should be coming to church this next week so Ill keep you guys posted on them! As far as Jimmy he is still listening to us..but we meet with him in the jail..the police guys let us pass to teach him the word of God so its going well he is reading and praying. We also met another family, the Pisha family and theyre from northern Ecuador so my companion and them get along super well. and we are teaching their family they are some new investigators as well. 

3 NEFI 12.48

Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

One of my favorite scriptures...Christ is telling us what we need to strive for day to day. That we can become more like him..and through our faith and our prayers and our efforts we can do it and achieve everything. I love you guys!!

WEEK 67: BACK TO BACK ISLAND ADVENTURES

11-21-16 LETTER

Well guys I got back here to San Cristobal safe and sound! We got in Saturday at 11am. This last week was a little crazy with everything going on and the zone and leadership conferences with Elder Godoy. 

The training meetings were super great. He taught a bunch about Preach my Gospel and some of the things in which our mission needs to improve. It really opened our eyes a lot. Because the mission has changes a lot with the change from President Torres to President Moreno. Elder Godoy shared with us that the mission has a history of being the mission with the highest numbers in the area, and that the missionaries here have a tradition of being the most obedient and hard working. And his area are 25 missions from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela. But with the president change we havent been having as high numbers in the key indicators..but we have kept being obedient in our work. So we made some new changes to the mission that we are going to be putting into practice to keep baptising and finding new people to teach. He talked a lot about helping solve our investigators problems and digging to find out the root of their problem so we can help them more. It has already been helping us out so much here in San Cristobal.

So this last week I wasnt in the office...I got to work in my old zone and go on visits with all of the Elders to help them grow their sectors and their investigator pool. The APs told me to go there so I was super happy and I got to stay in my old house and they told me that Hugo and Xiomara got baptised and I got to see them so it was great!!!! 

So today we went to the high part of the island to the Galapagerua where you see the Giant turtles, and to Junco and almost to the beach at the end of the island haha. I took a ton of pictures but the internet is really slow here...so I think you might have to wait until next week to see them...its honestly not letting me attach them...anyways I gotta go but I love you guys Ill send a ton of poctures next week!

WEEK 66: ISLAND TRUMP CARD

 Ocean

 Cerviche with squid, lobster, shrimp

 El Ciebo, a big treehouse

Ran into Elder Soto

11-14-16 LETTER

Yes I heard the news about Donald Trump..this last week a bunch of the members here were complaining to me and telling me that now they are not going to be able to get visas to come to the United States because theyre latinos. Thats super sad about all the riots and protests..it really shows a lot about how the world is changing no?? I think hes going to do a great job...I mean if hes a super successful businessman, he should be able to have success as the President of the United States. 

So today my companion has changes and is flying to Guayaquil..but I am going with him because a general authority 70 is coming to visit the mission this week. El Elder Godoy is our area president so Thursday and Friday we have meetings with him. And tomorrow arrive 28 missionaries so I am going to be in the office to help the secretary (Elder Barba) get everything ready and go receive them. So Saturday in the afternoon I should be back in San Cristobal. My new companion is going to be Elder Anrango..Hes from Otalvalo and the people from there are 'pure lamanites' so its going to be cool having him as a companion here. 

We had some investigators but they disappeared this last week...We think they might have been some illegals, or people that arent residents here. So we think they had to leave the island or got kicked off. We are also teaching Jimmy who is an investigator of the Elders who is in the jail here and should be coming out really soon, but progressing we dont have any yet but really soon we will!!! 

We also went up to El Progreso this last week and took some cool photos..dont have much time because we have a flight to catch but ill talk to you guys next week!! Love you all!!

WEEK 65: ISLAND LIFE

 Colada Morada

Elder Davila & Elder Solari

 Las Tijeretas

Museum

11-7-16 LETTER

My week has been great here in San Cristobal!! I love the island and the people and the members are great. There arent a ton of members so Ive already met almost everyone this last week! My companion and I get along super well he only has a couple more weeks than me in the mission...Its funny because his last sector was Las Acacias, where I started my mission so we have been talking a ton about that area. Here we live in a cool apartment, second story. Elder Davila told me a couple of months ago we had a sweet view of the ocean but recently they started construction on the house next to ours so now there isnt a view...bummer! The weather is super nice..its always windy, and the sun usually comes out around noon. And the part of the island where people live is big..we walk a ton and its hilly which has been cool because all the parts in Guayaquil where I served have been super flat. I honestly dont know how many people live here in the island..some people we asked told us like 3000, and others have said 10000. But a lot of people that live here work on boats or in turismo. 

So here on the island there are 5 Melquisedek priesthood holders, 2 of them being us. They are the group leader, his counselor, and the YM Presidente. So I am actually the 2nd counselor here in the group and my companion is the secretary so its a cool experience being here. And none of the other brothers could go yesterday so we presided the meeting and we got to conduct it as well, and we gave the classes the 2nd hour!! Here in Group San Cristobal we only have church for 2 hours!! Its how the area wants us to do it. In this sector President Moreno told us he wants us to focus a lot more in the new converts and the less actives so we can become a branch..also there are plans to build a chapel here because we are only renting an old school hours. So we spend a lot of time visiting the less actives and converts but they do need to be strengthened a lot. We always read the Book of Mormon with them and we have activities. Another cool thing about the island here is that we can play soccer! Here they call it indoor and its on a basketball court, and we can play Fridays when we have the group sport activity. The only sector in the mission where we can play soccer!!

As far as investigators we do have a few... There names are Michael and Dayana and they live next to members. They didnt come to church yesterday but they are interested so we will see! Also Bernardo who is going to be baptised real soon so if you guys could pray for him as well! 

This last Wednesday was dia de los difuntos, day of the dead, so they make this purple drink..I dont know how to say it in English but its called Colada morada and its super good. They cook like a ton of fruit and it has an oatmeal base and this whole last week all the members were making it so I drank it like 10 times every day haha. It has pineapple, strawberries and cinnamon in it.

I read a quote in Preach My Gospel from President Hinckley that said something like: ``Great will be the day when the members of the church not only pray for the missionaries in the whole world, but for the missionaries serving in their own wards`` It left a pretty great impact on me..dont forget to pray for the missionary work happening in your wards back home! Pray for them specifically so that they can find the Lords elect...I love you guys! until next week!

WEEK 64: HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM ISLA SAN CRISTOBAL, GALAPAGOS

Flying into the new area!

10-31-16 Letter

I HAD CHANGES!! They called me Friday night and told me I was going to go serve in the Galapagos and I got here today at 12:30pm. I am so stoked to be here. So in the Galapagos the church is on two islands. Santa Cruz y San Cristobal. In Santa Cruz the church has a branch and there are 4 Elders and 2 sister missionaries, and its bigger for tourists, and the island is a little bigger as well. Here in San Cristobal its only us 2. Elder Davila and I. The WHOLE ISLAND is our sector. And it isnt even a branch..its just a little group!! He told me theres anywhere from like 30-40 people that go to church on Sundays. The island theres a little part where the airport is and people live and then the rest is the national park. We didnt have much time today but next Monday we are going to go check out the wildlife and the giant turtles and takes tons of pictures for you guys. 

So my flight left at 11:50 today and here in the islands its an hour behind normal Ecuador time..and they flew me out in first class! I think they bought the flight tickets last minute and its all there was so I ate a super good lunch in the plane and relaxed. The plane was literally full of gringo tourists. A bunch of old people it was pretty funny hearing them talk english and the way they all dressed reminded me of Dad hahaha. On the beaches here the water is super blue and clear it reminded me of that beach on Saint Marteens when we went on that cruise. I am super excited to be here!! Its the only sector in the whole mission where we get to baptise people IN THE OCEAN. So I am super motivated to get working when P day ends to find and teach those people! So the government permits people who arent residents to stay on the island for 2 or 3 months...and then they have to return to Ecuador. So hopefully Ill get to stay out here for the whole time.  

In other news Hugo and Xiomara are doing great! It was hard to have changes because theyre both so close to being baptised but keep praying for them please!! I know the Elders there will do great work with them.

No. I havent been in a zone or a district with Elder Barba or Elder Bolen..and sorry it might be kind of hard to get the soccer jerseys now but remind me in a couple of months. 

Doctrine and Covenants 133:8

8 Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews.

 2 NEPHI 10:21

 But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who  are upon the isles of the sea; wherefore as it says isles,there must needs be more than this, and they are inhabited also by our brethren.

I love you guys!!! Pray that we can find many people to teach here on this island of the sea!!

WEEK 63: ECUADOR

Zone

Isabela baptism

10-24-16 Letter

So this last week we had another baptism here in Batallon. I honestly love this ward we have so much help here from the member and the leaders of the ward. I think I know why everyone in the mission always talks about this area and that its so blessed...We have been working with a less active family these last few weeks. Its the Rivas Carpio family and the mom and her oldest kid were less actives..and they have a daughter who had not been baptised because they fell away inactive for a time. So this last week we were able to reactivate them and Isabela, the daughter, was baptised! And now the mom has a calling in Relief Society, and Jordan, the son, is going to seminary! Honestly the best way to work here in Ecuador is with part member families and reactivating and baptising at the same time. It has helped my companions and I have success here in Ecuador. I love being able to help the Ecuatorianos find the join the true church. Now that they are going to be building another temple here in Ecuador everyone is anxious to help us in the work. 

This last week we also had Mission Leadership Council and its interesting to see that there are so many new leaders in the mission, and there are a bunch of new missionaries arriving to serve here. At the end of this transfer in 3 weeks 27 or so missionaries are going to get here. In the leadership council we talked a lot about 2 talks. From Elder Bednar, how to be a missionary according to Preach my Gospel, and from Elder Oaks, our message to the missionaries, taken from the worldwide broadcast to the missionaries this last January. President and Hna. Moreno are putting a big emphasis in this two talks and how we are going to use them and study them all our time here. We also changed District Meetings, which are now Fridays, and Weekly Planning, which takes place Tuesdays now. As well as this meeting Wednesday, Friday we had our MultiZone Conference with President Moreno so almost 2 days this week we didnt get to work in our sector at all. But it was great he taught us about the Doctrine of Christ in 2 Nefi 31 and I enjoyed it a bunch..was able to see Elder Bolen and Elder Barba from my district in the CCM. Elder Bolen is a ZL here in Guayaquil and Elder Barba is Presidents Secretary! So Ive got another hook up there in the mission office hahaha.  

So it looks like this next month we are going to have a visit from Elder Godoy who is the Area President of the missions here in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. He will be here November 17th for Mission Leadership Council, and the 18th to visit all of the missionaries here in Guayaquil Sur. Its honestly going to be a great opportunity to be trained by a 70!

Yeah so here is a day in the life of a missionary here in Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission. So at 6.30 we wake up and do exercises for a half hour. Sometimes we go out and run, sometimes we go shoot hoops in the park or we lift weight because we have some dumbbells in the house. At 7 we shower, get ready for the day and eat breakfast. In the morning its usually hot bread we buy in a bakery close to our house and yogurt. At 8am we start personal study..ewhere we read the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes and and other half hour we study for our investigators and what we are going to teach in our lessons that day. At 9am we have companionship study and talked about what we learned for our investigators and do practices of what we are going to teach them. At 10am we have language study for an hour. Usually I study spanish for an hour but because I live in a house with 3 latinos I teach and help them with English, and we read the Book of Mormon in English together. At 11am we get everything ready, backpack, polished shoes, the million dollar hair part, and we leave to work. Sometimes we have appointments in the morning but if not we will go and contact, or find members that can go on visits with us later that day, or the two things. At 1pm we usually lunch and we eat a ton of rice, with some kind of hot soup and tuna or chicken or beef. Its pretty plain the food and we eat almost the same thing every day but I love it. Then from 2-9 we go teach the investigators we have with the members. Nicolas is a young men who is preparing for the mission who accompanies us a couple days a week, also Jhon and Erik go on visits with us usually, theyre also preparing for the mission. We usually have appointments, and if we dont, we will go contact referrals that we have or go teach some less actives and recent converts. Almost every day we find new people to teach whether its someone we talk to in the street or a referral from a member. So we are always weeding through the people that are truly interested and those that arent. And if we are lucky someone will invite us to have dinner with them! (rare) But usually there isnt time to eat so we just keep working until 9pm. At 9 we are back in the house and we plan for the day until 9.30. And from 9.30 until 10.30 when we go to bed we usually call some companionships in the zone and verify how theyre doing and who theyre teaching and we do everything in our power to help them and their investigators. And then we go to bed, wake up and repeat!😀

Right now we are teaching 2 people that are super solid to be baptised this coming month. Xiomara Rodrigues, cousin of a member, and Hugo Macias who works with our stake President. Theyre both progressing and coming to church and the activities so it is only a matter of time! The most important thing is that they are both reading the Book of Mormon so their conversion will come pretty quickly! If you guys could pray for them that would be great!!

Another cool thing this last week. So Ecuador like 20 or so years ago had their own currency called sucres. I was able to get a couple of the bills from some members last week theyre super cool Ill see if I can get a picture. 

WEEK 62: HE WAS BAPTIZED!!

Jonathan baptism

Baptism with Elder Paim

10-17-16 Letter

Hey everyone! I have some super great news! After being here in Batallon for almost 3 and a half months and teaching Jonathan for that whole time....He was baptised this last Saturday! I cant describe how I felt that night being able to see someone we have taught for long enter into the water to be baptised! The service was great we filled the baptism room because he already knows so many of the members of the ward. And yes almost all of the YSA went and they sang a special musical number. He asked for Elder Paim to baptise him so the APs came to the service as well. I know hes going to stay strong in the church and his MOM came to the baptism. And it opened the doors and now we are teaching her as well her name is Blanca. This last week not a whole lot happened...just getting ready for the baptism and knocking doors and finding a bunch of new people to teach. 

I honestly feel like the more time I have in the mission...the less time I have to write you guys haha we are keeping super busy right now. We have just been working a lot. We have been working a bunch with references and contacting in the street. Well I love you guys a bunch take care! Ill put a few pictures from the baptism. 

As far as some things Id like for christmas are tie clips...Like a bunch of cool ones with temples,..like the Portland Temple and whatever other ones you can find, and in different colors. Thats tough to hear about the Giants but next year we can get it! 

WEEK 61: + PICTURES

Jonathan with trio of missionaries

Apartment missionaries

10-10-16 Letter

Well this last week we have been working in a trio so it has been pretty fun! Its reminded me a little bit of our experience in the MTC in the trio with Elder Barba and Elder Sheppard..but we really have been exploding finding a bunch of new people to teach. The mission keeps changing. A couple of weeks ago we had zone meetings every Saturday but now we are going to have them once a month and theyre going to be Zone Training Meetings. So its kinda nice for us because we dont have to plan meetings every weekend but I kinda miss it getting the whole zone together every weekend. But we do still have normal district meetings every Tuesday so thats going fine. Another change that is going on is Friday Elder Erickson is flying home. We always got along so well hes such a funny guy. So Ill be here working with Elder Terrones in our sector..he has 19 months in the mission so this might be his last sector. 

We have Jonathans baptism scheduled for this Saturday! Its finally here and he is super excited for his baptism it is honestly going to be great. I have been teaching him here for over 3 months and I feel so blessed to be here for his baptism. We have been working hard to get everything ready for him and for this Saturday. We are going to have all the YSA there to support him in his baptism.

Dont worry Ill keep praying for the Giants. EVEN YEAR MAGIC. And Ive been trying to write Hannah but she hasnt written me since August so thats one thing haha. I love you guys dont forget to do your Family Home Evening. Until next week!

WEEK 60: CONFERENCIA GENERAL 186

10-3-16 Letter

I feel spiritually uplifted after being able to watch and listen to 10 hours of conference this last weekend! We didnt even leave the stake center during the day...only at night to go back and sleep and wake up and get out there again! So before with Pte. Torres we could only go to conference if we had investigators...but with Pte. Moreno it was a rule that we had to go to all of the sessions si o si!!! (mission slang) I enjoyed just about every minute of it. But one of the things most relevant to the church here in Ecuador was Jeffrey R. Hollands talk in the priesthood session about home teachers. Here we call that talk a ´´machete´´ or that he basically told everyone what they were doing wrong and how they can fix it which was a much needed talk. Its honestly one of the things different our church does...visiting every member home at least once a month to be able to help the families and so that they can have support from the ward family and everything they need. We are definitely going to be referring to this talk a lot here in our mission and in our ward. Another talk I really enjoyed was that of Elder Rasband about faith and K Brett Nattress about the Book of Mormon and families. 

This last week we also had a baptism!! Fabricio Andrade is another child of God that made the decision to be baptised and thats how it went! It was a great service...we did it after the afternoon session Saturday and a ton of members went to support and help him. The ward where we baptized him hasnt had missionaries for a little while but tomorrow they will have missionaries there because today arrived 18 new missionaries to the mision! So as of right now I am in a trio because Elder Erickson goes home next week...so my new companion is Elder Terrones! He is from Peru, and has like 20 months in the mission and has already been to The Galapagos Islands!

Yes Jonathan committed to being baptised this weekend if he receives his answer he has been praying for so keep him in your prayers please! I know he will be able to get his answer if you guys can help! Sorry I havent been able to send that many pictures Ill try to get some sent next week! Love you guys!

WEEK 59: MILAGROS

9-26-16 Letter

Well this last week was full of miracles here in our sector! So general conference is coming up this week and its the best time of the year to bring investigators to church and have them feel the spirit listening to the Prophet and the Twelve. So this last week we have focused on finding new people to bring to conference and prepare to be baptised!! So we were able to find a few...

This last week we got a reference from a RM in our ward...and it turns out its his girlfriend and they want to get married and she wants to get married in the temple so when we got to his house she was basically asking us when she could get baptised. Her name is Jennifer and if everything goes well she is going to get baptised this weekend! She came to church yesterday and met the bishop and the members and loved it. We had a super powerful experience this last week teaching her. The first lesson we taught is the restoration and we felt the spirit super powerfully. She told us that a couple of years ago she prayed and had that same exact experience and feeling as when we were teaching her and talking about The Book of Mormon. I love being able to teach and testify about the Book of Mormon because it is the keystone of our church and religion. Its also the key to a real conversion.

So another is a reference from  Hno. Najera that always goes on visits with us. So he has a niece that lives with them that we thought was a member but turns out she isnt...so this next week she is going to be baptised too because she had already been going to church for over a month before they even told us! Her name is Karla and she already has a ton of friends in church and when we invited her to be baptised she said ´´YES I have been waiting for you guys to ask me!´´ And she is going to be baptised for general conference as well. She is super excited and the ward is super excited to be able to have more members and converts in the church!

We are also going to have another baptism in La Isla Trinitaria because right now the sector is closed and there are not Elders. But my companion served there so we have been working there a little bit just to finish up the program they had. His name is Fabricio and his story is super cool. So his brother got in a super bad car wreck and he promised God that if his brother got better(and he did) that he would find Him and go to church...and thats when we found him! He is super stoked for his baptism and he gets along super well with the members...He is super convert and cant wait for his baptism!!

Also Jonathan is super super close and fasted this last weekend to see if he should be baptised for conference...and we have an appointment with him tomorrow so pray for him please!!

And tomorrow we have Mission Leadership council so that should be exciting.

Romanos 1.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 I just wanted to share with you guys a scripture that I have been thinking about a lot this week.. I have learned so much about sharing the gospel on my mission...I have grown so much. And I can honestly say that I feel this same way...we all should. I have learned not to fear sharing the gospel with anyone because its our responsibility as followers of Christ. The worst thing that can happen is that they will say no and then we can share this gospel with the next one! I challenge you guys to share the gospel with someone new this week! I love you guys a ton!

(I left my camera in the house this week)

      Elder Solari

WEEK 58: THE MISH

9-19-26 Letter

Well this last week was super good! We just focused on finding new people and doing splits to help the other Elders in the zone. It has been a pretty successful week and Elder Erickson and I work really well together! Hes from Ogden, Utah and Ill be with him for the next 3 weeks until he goes back. Its been super fun to be with another gringo for the first time in a long time. 

Our ward here is great. Its the strongest wards Ive been in, I think its the biggest in our mission. Most have had like 80-100 people going every Sunday but this last week we almost broke 200 people in church..and the chapel is relatively small so there isnt much room to put more people so I dont know how we are going to be able to do it! But we work a ton with the members. This last week in Ward council we got 6 references from members and they are taking us this week to introduce us to their friends, families and neighbors. 

As far as Andersons family, they were not able to come to church this last week because they work in events and had gotten home at 8:30am after working all night long. But dont worry they are still super excited to come to church and prepare for their baptisms for this next month!

I feel like the mission and the Elders here in the mission have changed a lot. I feel like some of the Elders here in our zone dont want to be here..they are just trying to stick it out until the end of the mission and it makes me sad. As a zone leader I have really been able to know all of the elders here and have been able to see their desires and their drive and what they want to accomplish. And we are trying to do everything we can to help them so they can keep going strong but sometimes its hard..but I know the Lord blesses us as we try to motivate and inspire the other Elders here in the zone.

Well I dont have a bunch of time but I wanted to share a couple of verses with you guys. Alma 29.1-4

 1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mineheart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump ofGod, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! 2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voiceof thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, thatthey should repent and come unto our God, that theremight not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. 3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for Iought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.4 I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decreeof a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or untolife; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.

This is one of my favorite parts in the Book of Mormon and I know what it says is true. I am so grateful to be here in the mission and fulfilling my dream..and being in the mission has really made me understand this scripture more. God does give us according to our desires. We all have our agency, and part of our mission here on earth is to use it wisely to make right decisions. And with our agency we have to do good to serve all others in every way possible. We have to take advantage of every moment we have so that the Lord can bless us and help us grow and change. I love you guys a ton!

      Elder Solari

WEEK 57: 13 Month Transfers

 Martha and Bryan baptism

 Isla Triniteria

Najera family

9-12-16 Letter

Well this week there are transfers. Elder Paim is being changed to Centenario, Centenario and is going to be the new Assistant! He is going to be working a lot in the mission office. Super exciting. I am also going to be getting a new companion, Elder Erickson, and I am going to train him to be a Zone Leader! Hes from Utah and he is going to finish his mission in about a month so in mission terms ´I´m going to kill him´ Im grateful for this chance to train and help him to finish his mission strong. Well another thing that is happening in the Zone...they are going to take out the missionaries de Isla Trinitaria so for awhile we are only going to have 10 Elders here in the zone. I think its only going to be for a few months because next month arrive 18 missionaries and in November arrive 24 missionaries so we are going to be opening a ton of new sectors. So I spent 2 days last week in Isla Trinitaria to know the area and meet the people the Elders have been teaching so we are going to be working a little bit more in this sector as well...

So Sunday after church we went so Elder Paim could say goodbye to a bunch of the families of the ward..and every house we went to gave us a ton of food to eat..like I was probably offered atleast 5 pounds of rice, and so many postrys but it was awesome haha. 

OH GUESS WHAT! Martha and Bryan were baptised and confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints yesterday! Funny story...so we had postponed their baptism for this week but Friday they called us and informed us that Elder Paim was going to have transfers..so we told them Friday so it wouldnt surprise them and the mom told us si o si that Elder Paim had to be there for the baptism so we baptised them after church! It was a great baptism service..Tons of members went, we bought a cake and cola, and even some friends of them that arent members went so we are going to start teaching them as well! Im so happy I could help this whole family be baptised..First Anthony and then his mom and brother! I love being able to serve the Lord in this capacity and I know that He makes this conversion process possible for everyone we teach. Something Hna. Martha shared in her testimony is that when we met them and started teaching them the family was destroyed, there wasnt any unity or love in their home. And she said that now the family is whole different, that the Lord has unified the family and made them whole. I love that so much because its true. This Gospel helps families, and every kind of problem they can have because the Church focuses in the family..its the most important thing that God has given us so that we can progress and learn and become better people. 

WEEK 56: HOLA!

 Andersson and parents with Elders

 Elders with Bro. Moreda

Painting a door

9-5-16 Letter

Well this last week was great! Ive already got 2 months here in Batallon and I feel like I finally know the sector and how to get around and get to the members houses. As far as progressing investigators were still teaching the Hurtados and the Vazquez family, and Jugo and we picked up teaching Jonathan again! So Martha and Bryan didnt come to church this last week so we are probably going to postpone their baptism for another week or so, they were sick and didnt want to get up early. But they are still reading and praying and going to the activities so were excited for them. Also Andersson´s family came to church this last week, both of his parents! His dad didnt have to work so he was able to come as well and they had a great experience. We visit them like every other day during the week and he is a chef so he always cooks super good food for us! This last week he did a pasta alfredo with chicken and a salad and rice.(Picture included) It was amazing. The mom introduced us to her family that lives next door so now we are teaching them as well and they are progressing! Honestly, almost all the references we get are from investigators and theyre always golden investigators so we are working with them now as well. One thing that we have been doing again to find new people to teach is that we are giving english and portguese classes and it has been working a lot as well. The people love being able to learn little things to say in other languages. Its another way we have been having success. 

Another cool thing that happened this week. Tuesday we did splits so Elder Paim could do a baptismal interview. So we get to the house of the Vazquez family for our appointment and they cooked a HUGE dinner for us, which is weird because here lunch is the big meal. So she cooked us rice and beans with fried chicken. Here its called arroz con menestra y pollo broster. And of course the ´´medicine´´ Coca Cola´´ It was funny because it was Elder Sandovals birthday so we told him we had planned it for his special day.ll send some pictures dont worry. So this plate is what they eat here almost every single day but I love it...I am defintiely going to bring it to the states with me. 

This last week we had another meeting with President Moreno and our Stake President, President Caza. We were able to talk with them about each ward and its challenges and strengths to try to help them improve. The mission is focusing a lot now on service. We are implementing plans in our zone to do bigger service projects every week for people that live here in the stake, and we are trying to get everyone involved. Its one of the things different about our church, we are so service orientated, and I know its going to help us share the gospel in positive way. Another cool thing is that President Caza told President Moreno to send us to the Galapagos because we are working super hard so look out we might be going soon! 

Yes we got the water issue fixed in the apartment so now we are living great and the apartment is clean again. I am relieved we dont have to change houses because it gets in the way of our work time!

Well thats about all the time ive got so here are some pictures for you! Love you mom!