Two Gringos In Ecuador-Isla Trinitaria Week Fifty Five

First off this week was a great week. Maybe we didnt do the coolest things ever but it was definitely a statisfying week with my new companion.

Changes

So like everyone know my last companion, Elder Kindred, arrived to his beautiful home in Washington on Thursday. My new companion is Elder Orange. He has 10 months in the mission and I am training him to be a zone leader. He is from Texas and come to the mission knowing a little bit a spanish so we are keeping things rolling with the people here in the Isla Trinitaria. My new companion was actually is this sector when he recently started the mission so he already has a good relationship with the members. Which is good. 

Blessings

This week we worked super hard in order to find new people to teach and the hard work payed off. We are working on completed the family of the first conselour so that his family can be sealed. We are working with his kid first who seems to be very receptive and has gone to church a couple times. He has a couple doubts and we are always there to answer them. Also we are teaching the daughter of a member who recently became active in the church. She is super awesome but as well has some questions that she wants to find the answers to. And lastly we are teaching a super awesome family. The mom, her 2 kids, and her niece. The all came to church on Sunday which was awesome. The ward did a great job making them fell welcome and making friends with them. We ended the day taking pictures with the family. I mean how many times are you gonna see 2 gringos walking threw the street in Ecuador. 

Fun Facts

-My trainer here in the mission recently got married. That was pretty weird to find out. 

-I will soon have 13 months in the mission. No I am not trunky

-The assistents came to the zone meeting on saturday and gave some tips to the zone and to us as well. I thought it was a great meeting and they did as well. 

-President will be accompaning us this next week as it is stake conference. It is possible he will be in the zone meeting on saturday and in the conference on Sunday. Gotta leave him with a good impression. 

This week was a good and successful week. We were able to see the fruits of our labor. Hopefully things just start to get better from here. 

Thanks for all the love and support

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Another One Bites The Dust-Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fifty Four

Another week down here in the beautiful country of Ecuador. Things are honestly great here and I have nothing to complain about.

The Future

Based on what will happen this is about a 100% chance that I will have changes tomorrow. I will be getting a new companion. My companion, after 24 months, will now be heading to his home. Learned a lot from him in the short time we were together. Great Missionary. Excited to see who my new companion will be. From what I have heard it will be a new zone leader, but things change in the blink of an eye here in the mission so really anything could happen. I have been with 2 companions when they have ended there missions. This one was a lot different than the first. We worked until the end until the last minute possible. It was a good week and should have some fruits to show for it. The week we spent some time as weel saying bye to all the members, or should I say my companion said bye to them. I am staying. That means the members gave us a bunch of food, which was cool for me

Elder Shanklin and Elder Kindred!

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Practices and Rehearsals

First off I will say that we are not trunky (which means getting ready to go home) but that we were just having fun. This week we spent a couple morning during companionship study practicing my companions homecoming speech on Sunday. It was actually dificult for us to write a talk in english but we got it done and I think it is pretty good. Not only that but we also planned the week that he was home. Where he would eat, what he was going to buy, and many other things. The best or funniest was in church when he was praciticing his airport walk. Or how he was going to walk in the gate when his family is waiting for him. Gave him some good tips so I am ready to see the video to see what he has applied.

Isla Trinitaria Missionaries

Elder Shanklins companion is "dying" in the mission.

It was honestly a great last week. Taught a lot of people, and while doing that we found so way cool new investigadors that are open to what we have to share. I am learnin everyday and will continue to learn from each companion that I have. Hope that next week was just like this one, if not better. 

Thanks for all the love and support. 

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin 

I Would Literally Shake Every Time I Saw Him-Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fifty Three

Time is flying by here in this sector. There is always something that is happening. That and being a Zone Leader means that you are all over the place during the day. This week it happened more that normal.

Trip

This week we recieved a phone call from the mission nurses telling us we had to take medicine to a missionary in his house. That is a normal occurance so we started on our way over. Then on the way over we got another call from them and then the missionaries. We started moving a little faster. Then out of nowhere President called us and we realized it got serious and you should've seen the way we moved. It was like another level of speed. On the way to the house, President called us again and told us to go to the hospital, that everything was alright and he wanted us to be with him until he got there. President showed up and sent us back. He then called us one hour later and told us to return to the hospital and bring them clothes for the night and some food. So practically we spent the day running errands. Got to see another side of Guayaquil that I had never seen before which always was pretty cool. I didnt have my camera in this moment so sorry no pictures.

Americanized Food

There are 3 gringos living in our house, and whenever that happens that are always to things that happen. First there is a lot of english spoken. Just ask the Latino in the house and he will testify of this. Second we americanize things. This week we made some awesome empanadas. Usually they are made with cheese. This week we decided to take it a step further. We made peanut and chocolate empanadas. No before you say gross know that they were delicious. I was the head chef and led the team in our operation. In the mission we do some pretty weird things to pass the time and that was one of the things we did. So don't laugh or make fun of me.

Empanadas

Two Missionary Gringos

American Peanut Butter sent by Mom.

Meetings with President

This past week me and my companion had 2 meetings with president. Before I used to be terrified to have a meeting with President. I would literally shake. Now I actually enjoy the presence of President. There is such a spirit felt and a calm peace that is felt. In every meeting that we have with him we learn something super important so that be applied immediately. This week we had a cool experience with President and revelation. I am certain that he recieves revelation in all things.

The other missionaries that live with Elder Shanklin and his companion

Thanks for all the love and support. Hope you guys have a great week

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

The Church Was Robbed...Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fifty Two

This week was filled with adventures and with changes. Something that hadnt been happening lately in my letters

Cambios

First things first, Wednesday my companion received a phone call at 5 in the afternoon saying that he had changes and would have to be in the office at 9 at night. Pracitcally when any missionary gets that call you know what is happening. Well there are 2 possible options. You did something really bad or you are going to Galapagos. My companion didnt do anything bad and so he went to Galapagos. That meant I had to wake up at 5 the next morning to take him to the airport and that wait for the arrival of my new companion in the office of the mission. My new companion is Elder Kindred. He has like 23 and a half months in the mission. So practically those that are going to BYUI tell him hi for me when you see him there. We will only be companions for a short time but I have to learn as much as possible from him. He was an assistant to the president here in the mission and knows how to work smart and effectively. Things are already getting better here in the zone.

Elder Kindred and Elder Shanklin

Thefts

Just to give everyone a good laugh. This week two teenagers thought it would be funny to break in the church. First they cut the electric fence. Not sure how but they did. Next the some how got the doors open. People are smart here. But this is when the smart people just messed up. Of all the things that could have taken they stole the clock off the wall and the fire extinguisher. I am not sure why you need a wall clock or a fire extinguisher but that is what they took. I hope those things help them in whatever that are doing in the lives. It is the first time this has happned, nor do I doubt it will be the last.

Looks like they are ready to find the thiefs

I would be afraid...very afraid!

Investigators.

Recently we have been working with a family and working with a couple less actives and there family members that arent members. Things seem to be improving for them and they are, from what it looks like, starting to form their own testimonies. In the next few weeks there should be photos sent in all white. Things are great here in Ecuador. It is super hot here but I can deal with the heat if it means helping others.

Thanks for all the love and support.

Life is a Sport, Make it count

Elder Shanklin