The Atonement Of Jesus Christ Is Real-Cuenca Week Thirty One

First off Happy Birthday to my little brother who turns 9. Nothing  extraordinary happened this week so sorry if I bore anyone with this letter...

Baptism

This two past weeks has been pretty great because we have had baptisms the past 2 saturday. This saturday Andrea got baptized and it was super awesome, including matching outfits with our ward mission leader. As much as we want to say that we planned it, we didn't. That just made the baptism even better. Honestly here in Cuenca are the only times that a baptism has gone smoothly. The funny part was, if you think it is funny, is that more people from the other ward showed up than people from our ward. It is because her sister goes to the other ward and so all of her friends came to the baptism. Andrea has been through a lot in her life and is a testimony to me that the atonement of Jesus Christ is real, and that it really does change the lives of people. The changes I have seen in people is incredible. The sister of Andrea always was there in the baptism and she is getting baptized the 14th. 

Elder Shanklin, Andrea, Elder Hunt

Elder Shanklin, Andrea, Elder Hunt, Brother unknown, Ward Mission Leader

Elder Shanklin, Ward Mission Leader, Elder Hunt
In their matching ties

Missionary for a Day

So the stake here in Cuenca they did a activity called "Missionary for a day". Basically all the kids that are missionary age or like 16-17 went out and spent the day as a missionary. I was with some kid named Israel. Pretty chill dude, and super funny. He has already put in his mission papers, or else I think he wouldnt have gone. Just kidding. We had a good time. We got a lot of work done and had a chill time as well. Lets just say he was exhausted by the time the day ended, and was ready to sleep, and eat. It was a good learning experience for me and him as well. At least I hope so. 

Elder Shanklin

What a beautiful world we live in!

That is a nice view

Visits from the Assistants

So we recieved a suprise visit from the assistants on friday. By suprise I mean they just showed up at my house. I have always said any opportunity I have to recieve guidance or help from leaders I am willing to except it. We talked about obedience, dilligence, and working hard with the members. They then gave us a promise that if our numbers in march go up to a certain number that he will come personally to cuenca and do something sweet with the zone. More to come on that.

Like I said this week nothing extraordinary happened, just a baptism. I promise I will try to have  something more awesome happen this week but for know just enjoys some pictures. 

Thanks for everything

Life is a sport, make it count

Elder Shanklin

Nothin Beats Baptisms-Cuenca Week Thirty

Not gonna lie this week was a great week for the us here in Cuenca. We are seeing the fruits of our hard week every week.

Carnaval Days

While everyone in Cuenca, or like Ecuador was out in the street having parties we where in our house. On Monday and Tuesday we were told that we had to be in our houses all day as a safety precaution. So basically we watched church videos and slept the rest of the day. Quite boring but it was nice to get a quick rest in. However it was a little difficult to get back in the swing of things after those two days but it was good. 

Visits from the Assistants

We really don't ever know when the assistants are coming or what they are even going to do. We got a call like Thursday telling us the assistants were here and wanted to do a quick interchange with us to visit some of our investigadors. We went the 4 of us to a couple and then they bounced. Altogether it lasted like maybe 1 hour but I did learn a lot. Anytime I have the opportunity to learn something from the leaders of the mission I take the opportunity. Always good to get a visit from them.

Elder Shanklin and Elder Thomas (his MTC companion and Elder Calanche

Baptismsss

Nothing beats a baptism in the mission. Literally makes everything that we do worth it. On saturday night Robert, who is 20, got baptized and asked that I baptize him. He wants to serve a mission and that was one of the main reasons he wanted to get baptized. He wants to go to the USA to serve so we had been helping him out with his english. We even gave him some books in english to help him out with his studies. Also when we got to the church we found out the church has a heating system to make the water hot. We had no idea about that so the water was freezing. It would have been alright with me and Robert but also a member of the ward asked me to baptize her daughter that same night. She was like spazzing out in the water because how cold it was. I felt actually kinda bad for that. Something really awesome that happened was after the baptism Robert was so excited that he went up to the bishop to ask for a calling. That might be the first and last time that that happens in the mission.  If everything continues the way it is we should be having another baptism this saturday. Her name is andrea and she literally is so awesome. She has been threw so much in her life. Things that dont happen to just everybody. She wants to change her life around and get it in order. Her sister is also going to church with her and should be getting baptized in march. 

Elder Hunt, Robert and Elder Shanklin

Elder Shanklin and his sweet little baptism

Elder Shanklin and his little baptisms family.

It has been awesome to see the blessings that the lord has poured out. Everyday it is something new. Thanks for the continued support and prayers!

Life is a sport, make it count

Elder Shanklin

Carnival and A Ten Foot Belly Flop- Cuenca Week Twenty Nine

So Im just gonna jump right it...

Carnival

This week started  carnival. Not officially because it doesn't start until today,but it began like last Wednesday. I know you all probably think that Cuenca turns into sin city and that we are all hiding in closets during this time. Practically carnival here is people just throw water and silly string. It isn't even that fun, because people literally throw like 5 year old girls. Well some people are pretty good- the ones that hit us. Most of the time we can just walk through the streets without danger but occasionally people drive by in trucks and everyone in the back has water guns or water balloons. Then we run. For safety reasons we are in the house today and tomorrow. So basically we will be really bored for the next couple days. Lots of eating and sleeping.

Fall of a lifetime

Before I share this story. Everyone know that I am alive and fine. Nothing came of this. On Saturday we were climbing a mountain to get to the top to visit one of our investigadors. As we approached the house we saw like 20 kids in the street playing with water. The first time that they came after us we just ran back down the hill. The second time I ran up and my companion ran down. First mistake. All the kids followed me. I ran into a lot of grass like 5 feet high and they still followed me. So I ran. By the way they are chasing me with water. I am hauling. I think if Nick Saban was there he would have recruited me for my 40 time. However, the little kids out smarted me and I was then running and saw I cliff. I looked back at them and they continued to chase. The drop was a good 8-10 feet. I felt like superman so i decided I would jump.The rock in front of my right foot had other ideas and lets just saw I feel. As I am falling I swear I can hear my companion go "oh crap"and a chorus of angel singing " I believe I can fly." Lets just say I belly flopped a good ten foot fall. Then I bounced right back up and continued running. Not until I stopped running did I see the damage. My hands were pretty banged up as well as my shirt. I am grateful that was it. It could have been like 10 times worse. The first thing I said after was, "Dude I have to take a picture, my mom and dad will love this." So there are pictures attached. And the kids still managed to get me wet. I learned it is just better to get wet from the balloons.

The result of the fall

He looks pretty happy for the fall he took!

Investigadors

Things are going great. Our two awesome investigadors were in the church Sunday and one is getting baptized this week and the other the next week. Things are really looking up here as we start putting our trust in the lord and working as he wants. Time is short so we have to go all in during our time.

Thanks for all the support and prayers.

Life is a sport, make it count

Elder Shanklin

Blessings Like Raindrops-Cuenca Week Twenty Eight

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM AND CARTER THIS WEEK. Shout out to them and some president who i think shares a birthday with them. 

Goldens

As a companionship we were working really hard but just weren't not seeing the fruits we were hoping for. We were teaching a lot of people and they were all coming to church. The only problem is they couldn't progress. The aren't married which is a huge downside here. Lots of people in Ecuador and in South America just live united without the legal marriage. It is a struggle to find married, like literal married, people. After some time to think we decided we would continue to do our part and leave the rest in the hands of the Lord. After a couple days still nothing. Then this past Wednesday we got a call that there was a young man who attended missionary prep class, and wants to be a missionary but isn't a member. That wasn't the end of it either. We ended up receiving another from our zone leaders saying that a member of there ward has a sister that wants to meet with us. It a matter of hours we received calls that finally put us in chartered waters and we would end the day pretty happy and with 2 baptisms in the making.

Elder Shanklin and Elder Fa Asa

Sketchy Market

So for some of you this isn't really a blessing but for me it was. Today we went shopping to buy a ton of souvenirs because we are in Cuenca and so there a tons of stores that sell awesome things. Today we walk into a store with a couple other missionaries and one of the missionaries tells me to follow him . He goes and talks to a lady and then we all enter a fitting room. Then there is  another door in the fitting room and she opens it and it opens up into a huge room with tons of cool things that are reasonably cheap. It was kinda sketchy at first but then it was awesome. We then went to a door in that rooom and entered into a small passageway big enough for one person, then climb 3 floors of stairs and entered into another awesome room. Lets just say I bought some pretty cool things today.

Elder Shanklins Zone in Cuenca

Investigators

We are teaching some families but like I said they aren't married but we are working with them so they can hopefully get married. The family Zumba and San Martin Campoverde are the families that we are teaching and are at church every Sunday. We then are teaching a couple people like Robert who wants to serve a mission, Andrea who has a extreme desire to change her life around for her kids and herself, and Fabian who has a killer testimony of the Book of Mormon and its truthfulness. Hopefully there are lots of good things to come as we work hard with what we had and then look for others.

Overlooking Cuenca

Elder Shanklin taking in the view

Not that much stuff that is super interesting happened this week. We did have another funeral as a couple missionaries are headed home this week!

Thanks for all the support

Life is a sport, make it count

Elder Shanklin

Party Week-Cuenca Week Twenty Seven

So first off I would like to give a shout out to my boy Tom Brady and his amazing victory over the Seahawks. As miserable as I was knowing it was going on as a walked the street I recieved score updates from some members that I made friends with.

Moving Party

This past couple weeks we have had the opportunity to move some of the sisters. Not exactly sure for what reason but all I know is that we had the opportunity to use normal clothes so I was all in. Basically we moved everything as the sisters "helped".  By that I mean they watched us carry up other the furniture four flights of a spiraling staircase. Lets just say the walls were a little dinged up. It was fun tho after all was said and done. After we had a little lunch together with some sandwiches and soda. Then we got to work.

Taking a little break while moving

A job well done.

Nice packing job Elders

Elders and Sisters showing off their packing job.

Baby Party

It just so happened that when I showed up to this ward there were like 3 women that looked like they were going to pop. The reason I share this is because they all had there babies and one (the awesome gringo from last week) wanted us and the sisters to be the babies first visitors. We got permission and headed over. I dont want to brag but us missioneries brought them a gift and we actually made the baby book with the card (picture attached). They were extremely appreciative of everything.

Baby Card

House Party

Yours truly completed 6 months in the mission so yours truly threw a little party in the house. By that I mean we had pizza and soda. In the life of a missionary that is a party. There are pictures attached. But other than that time is passing super quick and everything is going great.

Do you think he ate it all himself??

Celebrating 6 months in the mission.

Rats...and it wasn't a party

So I have like the worst of luck with rats. Before the ate some of my food in the house. Now they ate some food before it even got to me. Thanks to taylor for the cosmic brownies and the shirt but the rats got to the brownies first and like 3 of them were eaten. I ate the other ones that didnt have holes in them. I don't know why but rats just seem to hate me a lot.

Attack of the Nunchucks

So this wasn't a party either but it was interesting. We were walking in the street and an older man stop us and began to bash us and the united states in general. I just began to tell him that we needed to go and we began to leave. As we were leaving he stepped up on the ledge and whipped out a pair of nunchucks and just started swinging them around. I am pretty sure that he was drink but it made for a pretty legit story.

Cuenca

District in Cuenca

The work is moving along here in cuenca and in Ecuador. It is a privledge to serve the lord for two years and to also see the fruits of my labors. The experiences I am having are unforgettable and will make great stories some day. Thanks for all the support!

Life is a sport, make it count

Help Him Clean The House-Cuenca Week Twenty Six

Well lets just say this week was pretty great with lots of faith building experiences...

Miracles

So on Tuesday we received a call from a recent convert that told us he was done. That his wife told him that he needed to leave the house and take all his stuff. He immediately called us and told us to come over fast. We arrived in lightning speed. He told us he was going to renounce the church and move away. He sat there listening attentively the whole time as he told us the stories and what was going on. We didnt say one word for almost 10 minutes because he was talking. Finally after a few seconds of waiting an idea popped into my head. As I looked around the whole house was dirty, and it was a complete mess. The thought come to my head clearly. Help him clean the house. I shrugged it off thinking that has nothing to do with the problem. Then the thought came again this time with the thought that whenver my house was clean my mom was happy. This time I offered our assistance. He kinda was hesitant at first but then accepted. We would spend about 2 hours cleaning his house, doing laundry, about everything we could think of. We left him with a goal that he would clean the house everyday, even if it is for a couple minutes. We went by the other day, and lets just day things are going way better for them.

I have no words for this picture!
Can you see the pure JOY in his face??

Gringos Everywhere

So Cuenca is a hot place for retirement for people from the United States. At first it was weird to see white people but know I think I am getting used to it. The coolest part is that there are a couple of gringos in my ward. One which is super awesome. He invites us over like once a week to eat american food. This past week we had a crab feast. It was awesome. Reminded my of the times in New Orleans.  It was boiled crabs, with bread and olive oil, and potatoes with guacamole. It was pretty fantastic. 

Ready to meet their fate!

Not the first time he has done this

Potatoes and guacamole

What is left of dinner

The Awesome family that feeds them

Rain, Rain Go Away

We have officially entered the rain season here in Ecuador, which means that it rains about every single day here in Ecuador. And when the people you have to teach live on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere it isnt the funnest thing to climb a mountain. At first I thought that it was just a couple day storm so after a couple days I stopped bringing my jacket. Well that was a mistake when it starting down pouring on us in the middle of walking up a hill. Anyway it rains a lot here and it is way colder than the other places I have been. 

Three Weeks And You Are Out-Cuenca Week Twenty Five

Transfers

I think I have said this before but transfers here happen anyday at anytime. Monday night I was practically asleep when we heard the phone ring. My companion answered it and then hands the phone to me. On the other end I here "Elder Shanklin you have transfers". I didnt know what to say. I had only been in that sector like 3 weeks and didnt even have a chance to really meet the members and everyone. However, I was informed the next morning that I would be going to Cuenca. After the little party I threw in my head me and my new companion headed to Cuenca. For those who don't know Cuenca it is a city that is in the mountains. Almost a little bit like Utah. It is really hard to explain it because of how awesome and breathtaking it is here. Look it up on the computer or something and that will help. The climate change is also very nice. It went from being like 37 degrees celsious to about 14-18 degrees celsious here. I am no mathmatician but that seems like a lot to me. 

New Companion

So I finally have a gringo companion. I am not thrilled about it but life is life. (Mom note: He loves his companion but he just doesn't like how much English they speak) His name is Elder Hunt and is from Utah. He has been in the mission for almost 18 meses. He works hard and we are getting a lot of things done her. Here in Cuenca the zones are a little different than the others. Here the only elders are the ZL, DL, and the companions of them. The rest are the hermanas. So for once in my mission there are more hermanas than elders in my zone. It is different here in Cuenca but it is also a nice change that I am enjoying. 

Exchanges

One thing that always has seemed to happen in the mission is that I always get the opportunity to do exchanges with the zone leaders. I was only in this zone for 3 days when the zone leaders asked to do exchanges with us. It was an awesome experience as always. I went with one of zone leaders to their sector. He was fairly new to his sector and so most of the day we found ourselves lost, without a sense a direction. The lessons we did teach were awesome. Any opportunity I have to learn from someone who has more experience than me I will openly accept. 

Travel time

Another difference between Cuenca and the other cities is that in Cuenca you are always traveling. The sectors are literally huge. I can be in a bus for 3 hours and still be in my sector. We climb mountains to visit members and pass threw forest to get to investigadors. Because everyone lives so far away from each other we have to take so many taxis and buses. Although the perk is that I get to see some beautiful sights and views. I didnt carry my camera with me a lot and I apologize but next week I will have more pictures. 

It was a great week this week and hoping for another great week to come! Thanks for all the support!

Life is a sport, make it count

Elder Shanklin