That's All-Cuenca Week One Hundred

Chapter 2 in the Life of Elder Shanklin has come to a close.

Guess we will have to wait a year to see Chapter 3 opened and know where Elder Carter Shanklin will continue

 the journey and the legacy.

Thanks to everyone.

I am not only a Cui killer I am also a rat killer!

So proud!!

A soccer ball from a family

Saying Goodbye

A forever reminder of Cui

See you all soon.

For the last time...

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

ELDER Justin Shanklin

A special goodbye dessert

Guinea Pigs For Days-Cuenca Week Ninety Nine

So first off Happy Aniversary to my Parents. If it wasn't for this day I wouldn't exist so thanks to them and again Happy Aniversary!

Guinea Pigs for Days

So this week was filled with lots of fun things because all the members now that I will shortly be returning home. The most famous thing from Cuenca is that lots eat Guinea Pig. I am a big fan of it and the members know that which means I am eating it like 2 times atleast each week. This week we got invited on Sunday to eat Guinea with the exception that I kill it. For me that was no problem because I had already done it before. However on Sunday I learned a new way to do it and I want to explain it to everyone....

Step 1- Grab the animal by its neck so that it can only move its feet. 

Step 2- Ask for forgiveness because you are about to kill an innocent but delicious animal. 

Step 3- Place your palm on the nose of the animal, preparing to crush its skull and neck. 

Step 4- With all your strength push down on the animal nose until to hear a crack. (Shouldnt be longer than 5 seconds)

Step 5- Take the eyeball out and then let the blood drain

Step 6- Let the mamita do the rest because she is the professional. 

I hope you all enjoy the pictures and the video (if you really want to see the video you can email mom) if  you get to see it.  It was and always is a great experience passing time with the members and them showing that they are grateful for your presence here in the ward. 

Looking like a pro

Waiting for the blood to drain from the eye

Getting ready to cook them

Nos Vemos Muy Pronto

It is an undeniable fact that the time is running out. With my companion this week we worked like dogs to keep me focused on the right path. We are going to keep working hard until the end. The Lord has given my 2 years to do his work and I want to make sure to live up to it and complete with the calling that I have been given. Thanks for all the love and support. It has really kept me going here in the mission. See you all soon. 

Elder Shanklin and friends

The missionaries in Cuenca

Morning studies

Beautiful City of Cuenca

Rainbow over the city

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Guinea Pigs For Days-Cuenca Week Ninety Ninety Nine

So first off Happy Aniversary to my Parents. If it wasn't for this day I wouldn't exist so thanks to them and again Happy Aniversary!

Guinea Pigs for Days

So this week was filled with lots of fun things because all the members now that I will shortly be returning home. The most famous thing from Cuenca is that lots eat Guinea Pig. I am a big fan of it and the members know that which means I am eating it like 2 times atleast each week. This week we got invited on Sunday to eat Guinea with the exception that I kill it. For me that was no problem because I had already done it before. However on Sunday I learned a new way to do it and I want to explain it to everyone....

Step 1- Grab the animal by its neck so that it can only move its feet. 

Step 2- Ask for forgiveness because you are about to kill an innocent but delicious animal. 

Step 3- Place your palm on the nose of the animal, preparing to crush its skull and neck. 

Step 4- With all your strength push down on the animal nose until to hear a crack. (Shouldnt be longer than 5 seconds)

Step 5- Take the eyeball out and then let the blood drain

Step 6- Let the mamita do the rest because she is the professional. 

I hope you all enjoy the pictures and the video (if you really want to see the video you can email mom) if  you get to see it.  It was and always is a great experience passing time with the members and them showing that they are grateful for your presence here in the ward. 

Poor little guys

Looking like a pro

Waiting for the blood to drain from the eye

Getting ready to cook them

Nos Vemos Muy Pronto

It is an undeniable fact that the time is running out. With my companion this week we worked like dogs to keep me focused on the right path. We are going to keep working hard until the end. The Lord has given my 2 years to do his work and I want to make sure to live up to it and complete with the calling that I have been given. Thanks for all the love and support. It has really kept me going here in the mission. See you all soon. 

Elder Shanklin and friends

The missionaries in Cuenca

Morning studies

Beautiful City of Cuenca

Rainbow over the city

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

What is Cui You Ask? Cuneca Week Ninety Eight

So first off Happy Late Birthday to my brother Brady. It happened to slip my mind this last week but still shout out to him. Also Happy Fathers Day to my Dad.my example and mentor in all things. 

Fathers Day

So this week we celebrated Fathers Day. The party was thrown in our mamitas house. I am currently a Father so the party was actually like a little joke on me. But I am not gonna lie it was a delicious joke. We made Cui (Guinea Pig). This time I didnt get to kill it or do anything like that but I did get to cook it, dressed like a Cuencano. I want say much more but I know that you will enjoy the pictures. It was a way good time and we enjoyed the food even more. I will be preparing it for my family when I return so those that want to try it you are welcome to come to my house to try it. It is sooooo good.

Elder Shanklin and his companion

Elder Shanklin roasting Guinea Pig

Some things don't change

Doesn't look too bad

Wow!!

Training Update

So things are going really good as we embark on week 4 of the 12 weeks of training. My son is learning a lot and we are having a good time working. We worked our tails of this week and I could tell at times my companion wanted just to take a break but we kept going. It has been a great privledge to end the mission training. Sometimes I think that it hasnt gone the way I have hoped but I have learned a ton in these last couple weeks and I know this is the Lords plan. 

Elder Shanklin and friends.  I think his head is touching the ceiling

Wonderful family!

Time

I am not clueless about the fact that my time is running out here in the mission. These 2 years have changed my life and I am forever grateful for these moments that I have had. I will keep working til the last moment of the last day. Thanks for all the support and love that you have given me while I have been here in the mission. I really appreaciate it. 

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Party Bus-Cuenca Week Ninety Seven

Well this week has been filled with many interesting things and I am sure you will enjoy hearing about a couple.

Zone Party Bus

This week we all had to travel to Guayaquil for a very special meeting. There are 24 missionaries here in Cuenca so
 we practically were by ourselves in the bus there and on the way back. We took advantage of it by just laughing
and having a good time. Sharing stories from the mission and just reflecting on how fast the time goes by. We also
 watched a couple movies like Meet the Mormons, The Restauration, and Mormon Messages to keep things
interesting. There were only like 5 people on the bus that werent missionaries and I am pretty sure there opinion of
Mormon Missionaries might have changed a little bit. Whoops. 

Having a little fun

Elder Shanklin and the other Elders he lives with

Elder Shanklin and his Greenie

Elder Rasband

The special meeting I was talking about was a meeting with Elder Rasband from the 12 apostles. It was such an
 incredible experience. The moment he walked into the room it was if there was no air in the room. His presence
was just so powerful. Then we each got to shake his hand and say hi to him. (I haven't washed my hand since then).
 Elder Montoya was always there to. So Saturday we got to hear from 2 special witnesses of Jesus Christ. My
 testimony was strengthened and I can say that I learned so much in that short time. He congratulated us and told
us to keep up the good work. That by how our eyes shined he could tell we were all worthy to carry the light and
 gospel of Jesus Christ. What an incredible experience. Hopefully it wont be the last time I get to meet an apostle
but still I will never forget it. I felt like the Nephites when Christ told them that he needed to return to his father. No
 one wanted him to leave and we all wanted Elder Rasband to stay a little longer with us. His time was short and so
 he left. After we all went to another stake building and it was Presidents Farewell. We all got the chance to say bye
to him and give him a big hug. It was super sad. I really am going to miss him a lot. He has been like a father for all
us here in the mission. 

Happy Note

On a more happy note. Today in Pizza Hut there was an all you can eat buffet. Lets just say me and my companions
lost count after 50 pieces of pizza, together. I think I probably ate like 12. There others ate like pigs and were just
 throwing down the pizza. Enjoy the pictures. IT was a blast.

Pizza Hut Buffet

Love those faces!!

Pray for us. Pray for me and my companion. We need it. 

Thanks for all the love and support. 

Life is a sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

I Have A Son-Cuenca Week Ninety Six

So as many as you already know this week was an interesting week filled with lots of adventures and lots of good

 times.

Training

On Monday I headed to Guayaquil to receive "my son." Whenever you train someone in the mission he is considered

 your son and then would make me his father. We got to Guayaquil at like 10 at night and headed to the temple to

 stay the night. We awoke in the morning and went to the temple to do a session. There were 14 of us that were

 training and it was great to see some old companions and friends that I hadn't seen in a good time. After that the

 new bees showed up and we took a picture and together headed to the chapel to receive instrucciones for the 

assistants and president. It was a great time. I learned a lot and we received lots of good instruccion on Presidents

 behalf. It is the last time that we will recieve a group of new bees. Then we recieve our companions. President had

 to hurry off and wasnt able to do the interviews so we were able to work in Guayaquil for the night. I went and saw

a couple of converts in my previous sector. To my suprise I found them in the family history center preparing to go

 to the temple next week. What an awesome surprise. Wednesday in the morning we had enterviews and then we

 headed to Cuenca. We got to Cuenca around 7, made a couple visits and then headed home. Thursday, Friday and

 Saturday we worked our tails off and had a good time at it.

Elder Shanklin with some of his recent converts in the Family History Center

Elder Shanklin, His son (new companion), and a recent convert

Elder Shanklin with two of his converts

Investigators

I didn't have much time last week so I failed to mention the Punin Family. It was a family that we found a couple

 weeks ago and last Sunday and this Sunday they were at church. The dad is a member from a long time ago and

 we are teaching his wife and his kids. They seemed to enjoy the church and we always have a great time when we 

go over to there house. They are learning alot. They, like every other family, have problems and doubts but we are

 helping them understanding the importance of the restored gospel. Pray for them and make sure to include them

 in your prayers.

Elder Shanklin and his brand new companion

Elder Shanklin and Greg Vaggalis

Visit from an Apostle

So this weekend Elder Rasband from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be in Guayaquil and he is going to

 train us a little and teach us a lot. We all will be heading to Guayaquil this weekend to see him and hear from him.

 Should be great. 

Thanks for all the love and support, We are going to just keep working til the end. 

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Why Do You Speak Such Bad English?-Cuenca Week Ninety Four

This week wont be too long. But thanks to all those who wished me a Happy Birthday. It is great and I enjoyed my

 last birthday in this lovely country.

Lost Sheep

My companion is fairly new here in this sector and I recently have a week here. I know I was here before but I forgot

 a lot in 16 months. This week we made a goal to be able to get to know our sector. Feel comfortable there. We 

achieved our goal but we learned the hard way a couple times. On Tuesday in the afternoon we talked with a

 nice family and we made a return appointment for the next day in the night. We felt comfortable that we could 

return to the place were we previously had been. Sadly we were ran. We made  turn after turn after turn and before 

we knew it we were completely lost and we had no signal. We asked the people around us how we could return to 

the main road. After about an hour of walking we finally arrived at the main road and than quickly we just decided

 to catch a taxi and head to our appointment. We only showed up like 2 hours late. Not that bad. That is just one of

 the many experiences that we have had this week. We talked with some "gringos" this week and I have been

 practicing my English with them so that we I get back you guys don't make fun of me. Every one them has asked

 me "Why do you speak such bad English?" I think that could be a problem. 

Elder Shanklin and his zone

Birthday

So this week was my birthday and just to celebrate it we did a little barbeque with a family from the ward. They are

 great and did it as a surprise. I hadn't told anyone that is was my birthday but I think my companion spilled the 

beans and told them. The food was great and we had a good time sharing mission experiences with them. I sure 

will miss this people a lot we the time comes to an end. Even though the Cuencanos are super closed and hard, I 

still love them and know they are great people!

Elder Shanklins birthday celebration

I am sure he loved that food!

Not much has happened this week. With my companion we have been working super hard and had been learning a 

lot together. Hopefully things continue to improve this week and I have a lot more to share the next week. I know

 this  was super short and boring but thats about all that has happened. I will be better next week in remembering

 things to share that are cool and noteworthy. 

Thanks for all the love and support. See you guys soon!;)

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

My Return To Cuenca-Cuenca Week Ninety Three

So this week has had a suprising twist to it. Nothing to important or cool but it was something that I wasnt expecting at all. 

Changes

Friday night I recieved a friendly phone call from Elder Donayre, my zone leader and an ex-companion of mine. We chatted for a little and I really didnt understand the point of the call. We then tells me, "Thanks for all the work that you have done here in the zone. You destroyed it. But you have changes." I was a little flustered and mad at the same time. The first thing that came to my mind was I need to tell bye to my converts. The gave me just enough time to be able to pack my things and say goodbye to everyone in my old sector. I really had no idea where I was going to go but in the back of my mind rose the thought that is was possible a return to Cuenca. And boom. Here I am in Cuenca after 15 months. I am in the very same sector that I was in before. It was great to see most of my converts active and going to church. I need to help one of them submit his mission papers before I leave here. 

New Companion

My new companion is Elder Sican from Jalapa, Guatemala. We actually have the same time in the mission which is super rare. He is a way good missionary and in no time we should explode this sector. President sent us here because before and up till now the missionaries hadnt been working super hard and we have the privledge to practically open up the sector again. We are on the hunt of great families. We are just going to hit the pavement. Finding, teaching, and baptizing. Pray for us. It wont be anything easy. We will need all the help we can get. I know the time is short but there is still so much time to invite other to come unto Christ. That is what I will do until the moment I finish. 

Hope everyone has a great week. Enjoy the vacations and the summer time. It is pretty cold right now in Cuenca and it is raining alot. So enjoy it. Thanks for all the love and support. 

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

This Is The Church Of Jesus Christ-Maracaibo Guayaquil Week Ninety Two

So I know we talked yesterday but still there are a few things that I forgot to share with the family in regards to this 

past week.

Training with President

These next couple of weeks President will be traveling the entire mission doing his last training session with the Elderes

 of this mission. This event started here in Guayaquil on Thursday and we had the privledge and the blessing to hear 

from a special witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many of you know that my mission president was called to be a 70.

Since then, as missionaries, we have seen a change in him. His power as he testifies has increased and his boldness has

 gone way up. It is incredible to see his progress and then to hear him speak. This week we talked about many

 important things but basically he talked about 2 things. Miracle and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. They go hand in

 hand. The atonement of Jesus Christ is a huge topic here in the mission. There is not a day that goes by that we dont

 hear or preach about it. We love to talk about it and I love to learn about. President shared many personal experiences

 and many deep thoughts. He touched points that I had never thought about. For example. the most important part of

 the mission of Jesus Christ took place in the last 2 weeks of his life. In that time he instituted the sacrament, fulfilled 

the atonement, and dead for all of us. Imagine if he would have stopped working in those last days. If he did feel the

 need or desire to keep working until the last moment. Where would we be? It helped me to understand that although 

the end is near there is no need to stop working or to become lazy or think the my job is over. I need to work until the

 last moment that I have in the mission. That is what is driving me right now. My energy is low, and my time is little but

 what helps me to work hard everyday is the knowledge that I have. That this is the church of Jesus Christ and I want

 everyone to know that. 

Convert Update

We have been working really hard with those that have been baptized recently so that they stay active in the church.

 They are all super incredible people and I cant even think how much it would hurt to see them less active or fall 

away from the church. Diana and Javier are great. Javier got the priesthood of Sunday and they had enterviews with

 the Bishop in which they expressed there desires to be sealed as a family for time and all eternity. Jordan continues

 his preparations to serve a mission. He comes and does visits with us, he received the priesthood on Sunday and

 blessed the sacrament with me. His sister, Marjorie, started her personal progress. Those 2 were thrilled to met my

 mom and dad on Sunday as we skyped from there house. Armando had his enterview on Sunday and will receive

 the priesthood this next Sunday. We gifted him a white shirt and tie so that he comes to church looking good. We 

was super excited and thrilled about the gift. It truly has been a blessing to be in this sector and to have been able

 to met all these wonderful people. Everyday I thank the Lord for that blessing. Hopefully he keeps blesses us and

 provided us the strength need to keep fighting. 

Thanks for all the love and support.

LIfe is a Sport, Make it Count

Breaking Records And Making History-Marcaibo Guayaquil Week Ninety One

First off...HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to the greatest Mom in the world. Event though we will talk Sunday I feel she is worthy of the shoutout.

Baptisms

This weekend we had more baptisms. A week is not complete unless you have had a baptism. This past week we had the blessing and the privilege to have 2 more baptisms. Not just baptisms but great converts to the church. Marjorie Heredia is a young women and the sister of Jordan, who recently got baptized. She is super great and has a strong testimony of the church. Not only that but she has already overcome many obstacles in her life to get to this point. For example, just recently one of her friends told her that the "mormons" are crazy because they believe that a lizard came and talked to some dude and that is why the church exist today. We quickly resolved that doubt. She has been able to make many new friends in the church and she asked me to baptize her. So I had the opportunity to baptize her on Saturday night. It was a great experience for me. Armando was the other person that got baptized. He was supposed to get baptized the night of the earthquake but because of that he didnt get baptized. 2 weeks later he decided that it was time to get baptized and he as well enter into the waters of baptisms. We were a little worried about it because he was back and knee problems but everything went smoothly and was able to lean back without any problems. On Sunday they both were are church super early and got confirmed and have made plans to go to the temple very soon. 

Marjorie at her baptism with the missionaries

  

Armando on his baptism day

Records Broken

This month in the zone Centenario in Guayaquil we broke record for most baptisms in a month here. The old record was 24 baptisms in the month. Marjorie was baptism 25 and Armando was number 26 so we broke record this month and have left our names in the record broke. Here in Maracaibo we had 7 baptisms this month and we hope to keep working super hard to keep baptizing the world. That is why we took a picture of all the missionaries with Marjorie because she was the record breaking baptism. Even though we had many problems this month and it wasnt super easy we were able to overcome everything and break record. It has me to know that the Lord is working hard than us and is making sure that we know that.  To celebrate we went and bought some Pizza today and that was about it. Maybe we will make some tshirts or like do something with President but who knows. We just have to wait and see.

Enjoying a pizza celebration

Marjorie the record breaking baptism

Thanks for all the love and support. Things are great here. Have a great week. 

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin