A New Companion-Santa Cruz Guayaquil Week Eighty Five

Sounds like everyone was spiritually enriched in Springfield this past weekend. Wish I could have been there. But on the other hand, you all wish you could be here in Galapagos. 

New Companion

This week Elder Donayre left on Thursday. However, my new companion came on Wednesday so we spent the day in a trio. That was the first time ever in my mission. My new companion is Elder Manning. He is from Salt Lake City, Utah. We were actually in the MTC at the same time so we got to know each other like 18 months ago. He is super awesome and we get along super well. We are working super hard. The cool part about picking up your new companion is that you get to go to a different island and you go in boat. It gives you the chance to see many new animals that are only here from Galapagos. For example for the first time ever we saw the blue-footed booby and we also saw a shark. I will send some pictures so you believe me. It has been an incredible privledge to be here in Galapagos. To get to know more of Gods wildlife and get to know his children his in the islands. They are extremely blessed and it talks about them many times in the scriptures. The promises are great for those that are found in the islands of the sea. It has been a privledge to see those promises in real life.

Blue Footed Booby

Can you see that Shark fin

More of the blue footed Booby

The Work

I would be lying if I told all of you that I am the best missionary in the world and that we are going to baptize a million people here in this island. Lately, based on many factors, the work has been really slow and it has difficult for us. Throughout my entire mission it never has been super difficult for me to find, teach. and baptize. However, recently I have been experiencing things that I have never had to experience before. I am learning and growing at the same time. It has been hard and it IS hard but I feel myself becoming a better missionary and better person. In this week we have big plans to pick up the work here in Galapagos. Pray for us as we start over practically.

Thanks for all the love and support

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Baptisms on the Beach-Santa Cruz Guayaquil Week Eighty Four

How lucky I am to be here in Galapagos and to see Gods beauty here on this Island.

Baptisms in the Beach

The beaches here in Galapagos are some of the most beautiful in the world. The crystal clear water as the suns rays reflect off of it is a sight that few people get to see. Saturday we had the opportunity to head to La Estacion, a beach the is like 5 minutes from our house. It was awesome to get to see another beach and even better was to baptize there. Joubeth got baptized and it was great to see her finally do it. She is the aunt of some converts and we had always tried to teach her but she was always busy. Until one Sunday she decided to go to Sunday and after 2 weeks she decided to get baptized. At first the mom said no, but after we talked to the mom she agreed to let her get baptized and then the mom even came to the baptism! The only bad part about the baptism is we have to walk up at 430 to get ready and go pass by the house of the baptism and then go to the beach. But it is all worth it!

So beautiful!!

Same picture...No filter.

Look how clear the water is!!

Elder Shanklin

Elder Shanklin and his companion

Joubeth and the Elders

La Estacion

Rancho Fortiz

Here in Galapagos there are members that have a restaurant in the high part of the island. Today they invited us to go up and eat. It is practically like a little day resort. Those are some of the pictures I sent too. The food was great and the service was even better. We stayed for a couple hours just relaxing in the hammocks and enjoying the view. There are so many things to do here in Pday that you run out of time before the day even starts.

The closest he is getting to a pool!

Just chillin!

A little rest for the day!

Learning Moment

This week I had a major learning moment as a was reading Alma. Where it says that the Lords tests his servants faith and patience by giving them trials. I learned to, instead of complain for the trials that I have right now, to rejoice and be happy for this time that my God has given me to learn more and gain more faith. I love the Lord and this work. 

Thanks for all the love and support

Life is a Sport, Make it Count 

Elder Shanklin

The Enchanted Island-Santa Cruz Galapagos Week Eighty Three

This week, despite everything that happened during the week ended on a super high note. I think you will all agree with me when you see the pictures and read a little bit more. 

Baptisms

In the last 2 years the missionaries have only recieved permision to go to Tortuga Bay 2 times. This week we made it 3. In order to go to Tortuga Bay you have to talk directly with President and then he will decide if we can go or not. The thing is is that he told us that this would be the last time that the missionaries would go to Tortuga Bay with him as President. How lucky we were to be able to be the last to step on that sand. Patricia with her daughter, Britney were baptized and then Johan also got baptized. We walk up at 430 in the morning Saturday to be able to get everything ready and get to the beach at 630. Like 40 members went with us to the beach and we all had a great time. The walk to get there is about 30 minutes and then it is like walking into heaven. I took like 200 pictures but I will only be able to send like 10, at the most. But you will just have to wait and see until I get back.

This is a beautiful picture

Elder Shanklin baptizing a new member

Elder Shanklin in Tortuga Bay

Another view of Elder Shanklin on Tortuga Bay

The sand says it all

Puntudo

Today we went to the highest point here on the Island. I kid you not that Galapagos is just full of different adventures and you are never bored here. It is like a 1 hour walk to get to the point but when you get there and see the beauty is makes everything worth it. Again, I will send pictures and hopefully you will enjoy the beauty. The pictures dont do it just. You just need to sit on that rock and gaze upon Gods creations to be able to realize and grasp the reality of God and his existence. It was another confirming moment for me. We went up there with a couple of the young men and had a great time. But we all look likes lobsters because we got burned. I probably should have put on sunscreen but the tube here is like 12 bucks. There wasnt money for it.

Miracles. 

Although there are rough times in the mission the Lord never stops working miracles in our lives. We were able to to find a couple people this week and hopefully this week we will be going to the beach again to have another baptism. Pray for the work here and for us as well. This week my companion will be having changes and I will be recieving a new companion here in Galapagos. Pray for us that we will be able to get things going here and work hard to help this island and brach progress. 

Thanks for all the love and support!!

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Best Of Both Worlds-Santa Cruz Galapagos Week Eighty Two

This week, like Hannah Montana sings, we got the best of Best Worlds. Or in other words Satan and God were both working super hard this week. 

Blessings and Miracles

You always have to start with the good news. This weeks we literally witnessed a miracle and a huge blessing here in Galapagos. We had been teaching Martin Flores for about 3 weeks and just recently he disapeared off the face of the earth. However this Friday we recieved an unexpected phone call from him telling us that he wanted to be baptized that very day. When someone calls you and tells you that they want to be baptized you dont ask any questions and you just do what they say. We quickly prepared everything for his baptism. There was no power in the church but after a prayer the power quickly returned and we were able to fill the baptismal font. Many blessings. Always this weeks a couple of members brought there friends to church and so we are going to start to teach them. They are super cool people and hopefully we can get them on the road to baptism.

Elder Shanklin Shanklin, Martin Flores and Elder Donayre

Martin and his family

DownFall

After being here in the mission I have seen how Satan attacks and how much it stinks. This week after having worked super hard with a certain family so that they could be baptized we say how Satan quickly worked in them and in their hearts by there family members and friends. I watched and the desire in their eyes left and as doubt arouse. IT was one of the worst feelings I have ever had. I felt lost and helpless and didnt even know what to do. We are just going to let the spirit guide us this week and in the following weeks to find out what is what we need to do in order to help them return back to the right path. Many prayers will be needed on their behalf so that they can take this step. It is the Rivas family.

Magic Swing

Pdays here in the Islands are awesome. Today we went to the magic swing playground. It is a swing that has a huge dropoff and you can see the whole island as you go off it. It was so awesome. Hopefully you enjoy the pictures of us.

Elder Shanklin and Elder Donayre

I hope those ropes don't brake!

This is the face we love to see

These Elders are having a great time.

Thanks for all the love and support. Pray for me and my companion this week.

Life is a Sport, Make it Count