Monday, January 25, 2010

...really its sooooo hot here all the time...

January 25, 2010

Family!

Hey fam how are you all? Well it sound like your all doing pretty good through the letters. It’s crazy how much has already changed in these last few months that I have been gone. First of all, I had no idea that dad had hurt his knee, and I didn’t know that he was working in the East Ave Safeway. That way cool for him and at the same time that really stinks! Lol tell dad to say hi to Dr. Komas for me. It’s really crazy how things are changing while I’m gone. It’s funny because here everything feels the same or most everything. I mean there are some things that have changed, but not a lot. One of the weirdest things is to have it be so hot right now, really its sooooo hot here all the time. I did hear about the earthquake, and I have also heard the it is really cold in California right now. A few people said that it’s really cold there, and I don’t really know what they mean. Is it really cold there? But don’t worry about me here in Ecuador, really I make it sound a lot worse than it really is. But thank you so much for the prayers and for fasting. Ok so what can I tell you about that’s going on here? Ok so right now we have one person with a date for baptism. His name is Victor Alaba, and I think I already to you a little about him. He is one of the funniest guys that I have ever met. Really he doesn’t try to be funny, and I don’t even think that he knows he is sometimes. He is making a lot of progress and is doing great with all of the commitments. He really is so funny. For example the other day we gave him a paper that told him how to say the prayer. It said first you address you father in heaven… than you say thank you for…. Than you ask for something.. and than end in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.. lol well we gave him the paper and asked him to give the closing prayer… he accepted and started on the prayer.. He started out perfect by reading the first part, but then he read the next and then the next and then ended. It was funny because all he did was read the paper and didn´t put his own words into it. We explained it to him that he had to put his own words into it and then asked him to try again. When he tried again, he just read it again. It was really funny, but at the same time I didn’t want to laugh because I understand how he could get confused because a lot of other churches just have one prayer. And also because he was trying with all he could to say a good prayer. Really he is a great guy, and I think before the end of the combio we will baptize him, or I hope and pray. So if you could include him in your prayer then I would really appreciate it. We are teaching a few other people right now, and I think we will set the date this week, so I’ll let you know how that goes. que mas puedo contarles… ok I gotta tell you guys something that I saw yesterday that was really cool. Ok, so me and my comp were walking back from church when we saw a car catch on fire. The dad and son that were driving it quickly pulled over and jumped out of the car. The thing that was amazing was how fast and how many people helped them put it out. No joke- before they even pulled over, the people were waiting with buckets ready to put it out. Lol no not really, but almost. Well I would love to explain more about it, but I gotta go.. I hope all is going great with you all back at home. I love you all and miss you all very much. Love YOU all!!!!!

Con Mucho Amor, Elder Keables

Monday, January 18, 2010

I love this place, and I love this language, and I love this people...

January 18, 2010

Family!
Hey family los tiempos! Lol ok so guess what? I have more time to write today! Lol. We decided to write a little earlier in the day so that we had a little more time to write our families. Anyway so I have so much to tell you guys I really don’t know where to start. Ok so New Year’s was crazy here. During the day on New Year’s there were people in the streets everywhere. Everyone had their big new years doll things (or here they are called ano villegos) outside. When we were walking in the street there were kids running around with piggy banks asking for money to pay for the dolls that they had made. For the bigger ones that sometimes were taller then a three-story house, the people would run out in the street with a fat peace of wood and stop all the cars. The cars couldn’t pass unless they put money in the box. Anyway so we were walking in the street and there were so many kids that wanted to me to give them money. Really you couldn’t walk one block without like 20 kids running after you asking more money. And sometimes if you don’t give money the parents would get way mad. So I decided that I was going to get 50 pennies and every time they came at me I dropped a penny in. lol A lot of them were mad that it was only a penny. So ya that was pretty much what happened all day. Also a lot of the little boys would dress up as girls with balloons under their clothes to help out lol and ask for money. Lol so all day we were bugged by the little kids. At night I really can’t even explain how crazy it was. It was like the whole city was on fire. Really I got some crazy videos that I’m going to send you guys. There were fires in the streets as far as I could see up and down. People were throwing huge bombs and fireworks in them. It pretty much was impossible to sleep, so we didn’t even try. Lol but ya I can’t really explain it, so you will have to see the videos. Ok so that was my New Years, what else could I tell you about?? Ok so my comp. My companion is cool. He is a really nice guy and we get along great. He is a hard working and very obedient. The only bad thing about us being companions is we talk way too much in English. My first few days, pretty much all we did was talk in English. Mostly because it had been so long that we have both talking in it. Ok a lot longer for him, but right now we have it worked out that we talk Spanish outside of the house and we talk English inside the house. But sometimes that changes depending on the situation. Lol Que mas puedo decir? He has 19 months in the mission so time is getting close for him. He can speak Spanish way good. I can’t remember what I told you guys last week about him so sorry if I repeat. He is actually pretty tall which is nice. I think he said he was 6.1. it’s funny because so many people stare at us when we are walking down the street. It’s funny because probably at least 20 times a day someone will say, Hello my friend or mister. I found out that those are the only words that most of the population knows here in Ecuador. Actually, I found that out like my first week. Ok to answer some of your other questions. Am I happy? I am sooo happy! Really I don’t think I could be happier. Lol really I love this place and I love this language and I love this people. Everyday it gets a little bit better, and I start to love it a little bit more. Am I healthy? My comp likes to work out too, so now I’m working out a lot more regularly. My comp has a jump rope, so I have used that this last week about 3 times. I’m still working out every morning and eating really good also. Really I’m doing great with health. Oh speaking of health, I took the bomba 2 days ago. I took that pill that is supposed to kill everything in your stomach. So yes I feel healthy. Teaching is going great also. I feel like there is so much that I need to be able to learn in Spanish to be able to teach the way that I want to, but it is going great. I can share my thoughts a lot more and say what I want to, when I want to. It’s still hard to share stories and personal experiences, but I still try. Lol ok so I found something out that I thought was kinda funny. So did you guys know that my comp is the leader of the district? Ya well he is and so has all my other comps. So all my comps have been leaders and what’s also weird is that they all have the first name Erick, Erick Spendler, Erick Salcedo, Erick Daniels. Lol they all have the first name. The other day I was tryng to find out who else have the first name Erick so I could know who my next comp will be. Lol. No I don’t know. Anyway enough about that kinda stuff I want to tell you about teaching and some cool things that I learned this last week. Ok first I want to tell you something that I thought was so cool. In the front of the BoM, in the testimony of Joseph Smith, he says that when the angel Moroni was talking to him he said that God had a work for him and that his name would be known all over the world for good and bad. Well I read that and starting thing how true that really is. When we walk up and down the streets there will be people that will start yelling Joseph Smith lover or worshiper. They well start yelling thing bad about him. It’s really sad, but at he same time it’s so amazing how that prophesy is coming to past. It’s sad that someone who gave his life for the Lord and his work has to have his name shamed like that. That people would say those things when all he has done is the work of the Lord. I wish everyone could know the truth and know the Josephs Smith was a prophet of God. I wish I didn’t have to listen to them say those things, but then I realized that its part of God’s plan. Ya I just thought it was kinda cool and sad at the same time. Ok so about the baptisms. Ok so we had a date for Victor Alaba set up for this week, but we weren’t able to teach everything that we wanted to. So I think we are going to change it from this coming week to the next. But he is still going good and things are still looking positive. We are still having a hard time with Jose as of right now, but I’ll let you know if things change. Anyway I’m out of time and I gotta go. I’m sorry if I didn´t answer all your questions, just let me know in next week if you have more. I hope all is going great with you all at home. I’m doing great, just want you to know that I love you and miss you all very much. Love you all.
Con Amor, Elder Keables

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

We took way too long to shopping in the villa...

January 12, 2010
Hey Family!
Well I am way super sorry because I can’t write a lot today. I am also sorry that I didn’t write yesterday. We had zone conference so our p-day got changed to today, but it will be back to the way it was next week. I wish I had more time to write but we took way too long to shopping in the villa and we took way too long shopping for our food. I’m way sorry because I know this is the second week in a row. We didn’t have any baptism this last week, and our next with a date is on the 23rd. We found a few new people to teach and they are way nice. Anyway I’m sooooo sorry again that I have to go and that this message was so small again. I promise next week well be way big, like the biggest letter ever! I hope all is well with you all and I want you to know that I love you all very much. oh dad its rained so much here this last week I thought you would like to know. I’m going to send a fat letter with all the details through the mail, but I got to go Love you All!!!

Con Amor, Elder Keables

Monday, January 4, 2010

Pretty much the whole city was in flames...

January 4, 2010

Hey family,
ok so I have so much to tell you but right now the internet is not working very well so I’m going to send this just to let you know that I am safe and sound and doing just great. ill write something bigger and I hope that I can send it. If not, I love you all and I miss you!


Ok so how are you all? How was your new year? You have to tell me all about it! Anyway so mom to answer your question yes I did get the package with all the stuff and thank you so much! Love the CD’s, the light, and the book, and everything thanks. Ok before I get started I want to tell that I got a new companion today and his name is Elder Daniels. He is from Utah and is definitely a Gringo!! I have only known him for about 3 hours now, but he seems to be a really nice guy I think I’ll get along with him a bit better. He served in Galapagos for 7 months and now he is my comp. About 3 hours ago we picked him up at the air port. It took forever to pick him up because the plane was a bit late. So right now I don’t have a lot of time to write. But I want to write the most important stuff right now and I’ll try to fit all the other stuff in next week’s email or a letter to home. First we haven’t had any baptisms, but we have 3 with dates. Within the next few week we should get a few more. News Years was crazy! Pretty much the whole city was in flames and there were huge fireworks everywhere! I got a lot of videos that are crazy so you can see. Lol I saw someone get robbed the last week and I was glad that it wasn’t me. Oh I finished the BOM!! The first time that I have read it all the way through, and I did it and a different language. Lol I don’t now if that’s something to be proud of. Lol but ya I’m finished. Anyway mom, dad, family I really don’t have to much time to write and tell you all that happened and I wish I did. But because I don’t I’ll write a letter for home and send it next week. I promise that it well be much longer and that it will be filled with the details of this last week, especially New Years. Oh one last thing- remember I was telling you about the big dolls or statues or piƱata things. Well one of the families that we had dinner at on New Years made one of this ano viallos of me. It was a missionary with a carrying bag that said Elder Keables! Lol I got some pics with it and I’ll send those too. Really we looked a lot alike. Lol it was an honor but at the same time I knew that they were going to burn it so at the time I didn’t know what to think. Actually I still don’t, but anyway I will write a long letter this week with all these details. Well I gotta go family, but I love you and I miss you!

Con Amor, Elder Keables