Friday, February 26, 2016

The Island Of Fire-Santa Cruz Galapagos Week Eighty One

I seriously never get tired of waking up in Paradise. Every morning it is great to wake up here in The Galapagos Islands.

Islands of Fire

 This week as we talked with everyone in the street I learned a lot about these islands. The story is pretty incredible and I am pretty sure that most already have heard about it. If not, look it up on the internet. I don't have enough time to explain it. However, these islands are known for the diversity of wildlife that is found here. For example, the giant turtles(I don't remember what they are called in English). They are absolutely incredible and breathtaking to see in person. You aren't allowed to touch them, and if you do you have to pay $25,000 and go to jail for 5 years. Yep, you read that right. If you touch one you go to jail. It is crazy but it keeps things under control here. Hope you all enjoy the pictures!
Which one of these things is not like the others?

How close can I get before I touch it?

Natural habitat

Hiding in the trees

So HUGE

AMAZING

Investigadors

This island of Santa Cruz is a very blessed island. Not only in the animals or the views but also in the missionary work. The members are always helping us and we have been able to see many miracles as we continue to work hard and be obedient. We are still working we Mallerly and Jomyra and they are more excited than ever for their baptism. It will be the 5th of March. Tonight we are going to make hamburgers in there house with the whole family. It should be a good bonding time and a fun time as well. We also this week started working with a young adult named Lescuri. We came to church on Sunday and is always working his way towards a baptism. What interests him is the Book of Mormon. He has been reading it with us and by himself in order to gain his own testimony of the truthfulness of this book. Pray for them that they will stay in this path and make the changes necesarry to turn there lives around. We feel and know that the Lord is working by ourside and that we are not alone. 

Thanks for all the love and support! Have a great week. 

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin
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Friday, February 19, 2016

Are You A Missionary Or What?-Santa Cruz Galapagos Week Eighty

So I apologize for last week....I got a little too excited and skipped some important information.

New Companion

Many of you probably saw the pictures and thought, "Whats his name?" or "Where is he from?" Let me answer those questions for you. My new companion is Elder Donayre. He is from Lima, Peru and has 11 months is the mission. He is a super great missionary and we get along super well. We work and more important teach well together. The best part is that we path make the misison work fun. There is no need for it to be boring or stressful or anything like that. If someone slams the door in your face. Laugh. That is what keeps us going. 
The beauty of the Galapagos

Testimony Builder

When I got here to Galapagos there was not much program. We weren't teaching many people and baptisms had been low. For those have been missionaries you can share that feeling of dissapointment as you arrive to your new sector thinking that you will be baptizing a lot but to find that there was nothing left for you. With my companion this past weekend we basically opened this sector. Which is practically the story of my mission. But never a sector has had such a big importance as this one. This week I spent lots of time of my knees trying to figure out the right way to find new people to teach. Asking our Heavenly Father to guide us to the right houses and right people. That is exactly what he did. Wednesday as we were leaving lunch we walked up a street looking for a member house that we didnt know. He called into the house of something and two girls came out of the house. We asked them if they knew the member and they told us no. As we were about to say thanks and keep walking something told me,"Are you a missionary or what?...TALK TO HER." So that is what we did. Come to find out that the Lord had been preparing there hearts for a long time. Althoug the parents are married they support there kids. In fact the have a family member that was a missionary as well. It is amazing to see how the Lord works. That after so many years that have accepted the opportunity to listen to this amazing Gospel. Sunday they where in the church, bright and early, with a huge smile on there face. They loved the church and said next week they would defintely be back. The Lord is working miracles here and he deserves all the credit. We really havent done anything. Just be the instruments necessary. My testimony was strengthened this week as I learned to trust and depend completely on the Lord.
Animals of the Galapagos

Pictures

I will try and send as many pictures as possible. The wildlife and animals are absolutely incredible here. You have to be here to see it and experiment it. IT IS AMAZING. Galapagos is the best island in the world. 

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin
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Monday, February 8, 2016

Dreams Do Come True-Galapagos Week Seventy Nine

Let me just start off by saying dreams do come true.
Elder Shanklin and his companion on the Galapagos Islands

Changes

On Tuesday we had a multi-zone capacitación with our President. President put up a picture of the beach in Galápagos and told everyone what a privledge it was to be there. In that moment the assistents sent me a message telling me that I would never see that beach and that only after my mission would I be able to go and see it. I was kinda sad when they told me that. However, after they came up and told me, "Elder Shanklin, you might not get to see the beach in San Cristóbal but you will see the beach in Santa Cruz. You have changes and tomorrow you fly out to Galápagos." I think I stood there in shock for a good 2 minutes before I was able to talk and tell them that I was okay with that and I would go home and pack. That night I really couldnt sleep. BUT LET ME TELL YOU. You can look at pictures of these islands, watch videos and documentaries but nothing comes close to being here in person. It is a thousand times better than i was expecting. The members here are absolutely amazing and just love to help the missionaries. The work has been slow here lately but in a few weeks we will be baptizing. I will make sure to send pictures baptizing in the biggest baptismal Font in the world, or in other words the ocean. I am so thrilled for this privledge and blessing that was given to me. It is super hot here, but nothing beats walking up everyday in Galápagos. Plus the air conditioning helps too:) I think I have already taken like 200 pictures and I wont be able to send all but I will send a couple.
On his flight to the Galapagos

A view from the plane

Just chillin

Welcome to Santa Cruz-Galapagos Islands

Life is pretty rough!

Carnaval

Today and tomorrow is an anual party called Carnaval. The people just play in the wáter and throw wáter at each other. It really isnt that bad but us as missionaries cant leave the house. We were given time to write our families today and that is about it. So the next week I will try more to take cooler pictures.

I cant even describe how happy I am to be in Galápagos, for the trust President has in me. There are only 6 missionaries in the entire world that are here in Galápagos and I am one. What an honor.

Thanks for all the love and support.

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin
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Thursday, February 4, 2016

Music To A Mothers Ears-Francisco Segura Guayaquil- Week Seventy Eight

As I sit here and type I am still tired for the events that have taken place these last couple days. 

Baptism

I dont think I have ever had a more stressful baptism. We passed by this week to prepare everything and segure everything for Saturday. Jessica Cortez was going to get baptized. She is 9 years old and her Grandpa and her older sister are also active members of the church. On Saturday at 5 we passed by to go to the baptism and the mom was sick and didnt want to do it that day. Then like 30 minutes later she changed her mind and said that we could do it. We hurried to the church and advised the members that the baptism was back on. As soon as we got to the church the rain started. It didnt just rain, it poured. A straight downpour. We figured with the rain the members wouldnt come so we would just start the baptism when the mission leader showed up. He didnt show up for an hour. If it wasnt for the rain I am pretty sure everyone would have left. They all stayed and instead of starting at 630 we started at 8. It was raining around our whole sector with my companion looking for people and trying to get everything ready. It was a pretty satisfying feeling being that tired at the end of the day. I sent pictures so that you can see. 

The look of exhaustion on the Elders faces

The look of joy on Jessica's face

Elder Shanklin must have needed glasses to see what was going on.
Piano

So one of the missionaries so I live with plays the piano really well and my mom would be pleased to know that I have recently picked up that old talent. I wouldnt even say talent because I was never good. Slowly I am getting back to being able to play a couple himns and a couple of other songs. Hopefully at one point i will be good. 

Baptism, Next Week

This next week we have plans to have a couple of baptisms. Pray for Anthony, Roberto, and Matthew. Maybe not all will get baptized but in the next couple of weeks they should all enter in the waters of baptism. The Lord has blessed us to be able to find new people to teach, help them get to church, and then baptize then. Helpfully the Lord leaves me here a little bit longer to see the reap the blessings of the service. 

Thanks for all the love and support

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin
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