Losing Track Of Time-Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fifty One

I just bet every week you are hoping and praying for some great and amazing story in the life of Elder Shanklin in this beautiful country. Well...looks like you well have to wait another week for that story because this week it didnt happen. But I will still give some highlights of the week. 

Meeting with President

Every 3 or 4 months President travels the mission so that he can talk with all the missionaries and give a little meeting. On tuesday President came to Guayaquil. The 5 zones here in Guayaquil met together and enjoyed the meeting. It was super spiritually uplifting and I learned a lot in how I can better myself as a missionary and as a person. A lot of time was focused in obedience. That it is the first law of the heavens. After that we have interviews with President. Always great meeting with him and feeling of his support for you in the work of the Lord. I left with more knowledge and more desire to work and find.

Elder Shanklin peaking in through the back row.

Work, Work, Work

This week we hit the pavement and worked all week. One thing that I have learned in the mission is that there is little day. Not only in the mission but in the days and weeks. Days and weeks are passing super fast and I lose track. However, this week the Lord blessed us and we were able to work hard and diligently this week without many distractions or bumps in the road. 

Two awesome missionaries and a photo bomber!

Half way there

Just so everyone knows. The next week I will be completing 1 YEAR in the mission, 12 months, 365 days, 52 weeks, not sure how many minutes or seconds but you get the point. So everyone get ready because there is going to be a huge party here in Ecuador. I am sure it will make national news, so just be on the lookout for a missionary who completes one year in the mission. 

Thanks for all the prayers and support. It means a lot

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Swimming In The Baptismal Font-Isla Trinitaria Week Fifty

This week has flown by and I cant believe it is already monday again.

Baptism

This week we had a baptism here in the beautiful island of trinitaria. His mom and dad were just recently baptized a couple of years ago and he also decided to get baptized. Super cool experience she a family come closer. However, like always the day of the baptism there are always dilemas that the missionaries have to solve. For example, the first clothes that we gave to Samuel were dirty. We were not informed that new clothes were wanted until 2 hours before the baptized. We have to make phone calls to other zone to find bright white clothes. Then we have to refill the fount because it had emptied itself somehow. However, everything went smoothly after that and it was a super cool experience. Just a quick funny story. After the baptism, my companion starts to walk out of the fount and then samuel starts swimming in the font like it is a swimming pool for like 10 seconds till my companion figures it out and then has to carry him out of the fount. 

A little missionary swag

Family picture

Elder Shanklin and Samuel

Elder Montoya and Elder Shanklin with Samuel

Rescue

So here in the mission we someone returns to church after being inactive for a long time it is called a rescue. This week we had a super cool experience with that. Last Monday we got a phone call asking us to come visit a person.  They took us to the house of a less active. She has been less active for 19 years and she got a hold of a member and asked that we go and visit her. We went to her house, gave her a blessing, and just talked with her family. She has been humbled a lot recently and was looking to get right with God. It was a spiritual experience for me and what made it even cooler was that on sunday she was at church were her kids. The members did a great job and welcoming here which also was great. Like the Prophet Joseph Smith said. " Sometime the lord has to take us lower before he can take us higher" How true is that.

That work moves forward here in the part of the Lords vineyard. He are working diligentely everyday and are having success while doing it. Hope that everything is have a great time wherever it is that you are.

Life is a Sport, Make is Count

The Pope Is In Town-Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fourty None

Things are pretty crazy here in Guayaquil and I will explain why

Reason Number 1

The first and most important reason in because Elder Shanklin and Elder Narro had a baptism on Saturday. His name is Josue. His dad is a less active that we find and has been recently coming back to church. He wanted his son to get baptized and this saturday it happened. Super cool experience because other missionaries had baptisms and so we all joined together. He had lots of members there and there was a great support system. Everything went smooth Sunday for his confirmation also. 

Multiple baptisms for the missionaries

Josue and Elder Shanklin

Josue and the missionaries

Reason Number 2

Reason Number 2 is because we had many suprise visitors this week here in the ward. First the assistants dropped by on Saturday night to see the baptisms and see how we are doing and how the zone is. The assistants are super awesome and there is always something to learn when they come and meet with us. On Sunday President showed up to our ward. That was the first time it happened in my whole mission. He gave a super powerful message and after talked with our investigators and with us as well. It is always great seeing President. 

Reason Number 3

So I think I have failed to mention this recently but today the Pope is here in Guayaquil. I think his name is Pope Fransisco. He is here in Guayaquil and the city and everyone are super excited. The are doing like a walk and then the pope will address the congregation. Pretty exciting and neat experience. The last time the pope visited here was a long time ago. As much as I would like to see or hear what he was to say, I will be working the night away. 

Elder Shanklin and The Pope

Happy 4th of July from Elder Shanklin and the Pope

Guayaquil is crazy right now. Everything is closed and it was hard to find a place to write. There are fews buses and lots of streets are closed. 

Thanks for all the support. The work moves along. 

Life is a sport, make it count

Elder Shanklin

Dude I Am Broke-Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fourty Eight

Well I am sure everyone is thrilled that Brady is home and so I doubt anyone will be reading this. Therefore I will keep it short and sweet.

Broke

I had always heard from the missionaries that as a zone leader you are always broke. I didnt believe it till I lived it, or am currently living it. There last week we have survived off of bread and water. Plus the members are super awesome here and give us dinner to take to the house. So thanks to them we are still alive. Here in this sector everyone always asks for 25 cents. Normally we just tell them we dont have anything and keep walking. Me, being gringo, am the main target. This week as we were walking someone asked me for me. I told them I didnt have anything and was broke. He asked me again. Dude I am broke, I replied. He didnt believe me so I took out my money holder and opened it and shook it up and down. In that moment he believed me and finally left me alone.

The missionaries in Elder Shanklins Zone 

Investigators

This week we have been working really hard and we have seen some results. This week is everything goes good we will be having 1 possibly 2 baptisms. Also we meet a super awesome family, who are married. The came to church and sunday and we are working super hard with them so that they progress more. It is awesome to teach families. The have 4 kids and the kids are pretty awesome as well. They are the family Contreras Santos. Hopefully there are good things to come. 

Farewell

Today are changes. Here in this mission nobody is safe. Doesnt matter if you have 6 months in a sector or 1 hour. There are possibilities of you having changes. I could be here in this sector tomorrow or not. I hope that I get to stay here a little bit longer to work with the missionaries here and help the zone out. Time is flying by. It goes by even faster as a zone leader. 

Thanks for all the prayers and support!

Life is a sport, make it count

Elder Shanklin

Experience Requires Effort-Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fourty Seven

Sure this are a lot of mixed emotions as Brady is coming home this week. Wish I could be there, but the Lord has called me to be here and to that call I will be faithful. 

Capacitacion

Once a month the leaders from all the zones have a meeting with president. This week was it. Early of tuesday morning we were in the chapel listening to President Torres give us counsel and guidance in how we can better lead our zones. The truth is being new I learned a ton of things. How I can better myself and those missionaries around me as well. I dont have much time in the mission, but something that president said was "Experience doesnt come with time, it comes with effort." That helped me to realize that although I am not the missionary with the most time, I still have input at the table. The President Godoy from the 70 came and spoke to us. Was a very spiritual uplifting meeting. He directed most of his thoughts towards solving problems that stop us from progressing.  Good start to the week.

Elder Shanklin and Elder Narro at Zone Leader Training

Visits

The assistants came this week and spent a couple hours with us. It is always good to see and talk with them. They always have good things to say and help us improve and find solutions to the problems we encounter. 

Patience

One of the things that I have learned since being called as zone leader is patience. People always are calling you needing this and that and whatever thing. We have to run errands for the office and do a variety of different things. Really I just want to put work in my sector, but the time is sparing. I have learned patience and how to balance my time. This week we will be having 1 baptisms. It is the son of a less active that we recently have activated again. It has been cool to see them progress together. 

Scripture Case made from Iguana

Homecoming

I am sure everyone is anxious for the homecoming of Elder Shanklin in Norway. I can only imagine my mom right now. Crazy to think that 2 years already passed by and that wednesday he will be in the house. Make sure to say hi to him for me because you will see him before I will. Hopefully everything goes smooth, that there isnt any layovers, or any of that junk. The mission doesnt end after 2 years so I am certain he will keep working.

Elder Shanklins Iphone 7.   This made him feel better about his
brother being home and getting a new phone!

Thanks for all the love and support!

Life is a sport, make it count 

Elder Shanklin

Changes And Surprises-Guayaquil Week Fourty Six

First off HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my older brother, Brady. You guys will be seeing him in 10 days so make sure and tell him happy birthday for me. 

Well this week was definitely filled with changes and surprises...

Changes

So last week I think I said that my companion was for sure going to have changes. Monday night I was joking with him as he was packing when the phone rang. I handed it to my companion knowing it was for him. Unexpectedly he passed the phone to me and said "Its for you". I answered and was told that I had changes. Then I proceeded to pack and my companion began to make fun of me. The roles practically switched. My new companion is Elder Narro. He is 27 years old, and has 21 months in the mission and is from Peru. We are the zone leaders here in Guayaquil. Pretty crazy and unexpected change. Like I wasn't expecting it at all. Everything is good though. It is a new experience and I am learning a ton everyday. I know I will need the help of the Lord to be able to fulfill this responsibility that the President has given me.

I love the soccer jerseys.....I am pretty sure his entire suitcase will be full of these.

Baptism

There was already a baptism programmed for this week here in my sector so that was nice. Her name is Ana. She is super cool and has actually been in the church for like 4 months just not baptized. She gets super nervous and sometimes backs out of the commitment. This time we made sure that she stayed committed and she ended up getting baptized Friday. Super awesome. She asked me to baptize her when her friend didn't show up, but then he showed up like right before i was about to baptize her so he changed and then baptized her. That is where there are photos of me in white and regular clothes.

Elder Shanklin, Elder Narro, Ana and other missionaries

Elder Shanklin, Ana, Ana's friend, Elder Narro

Visits

On Saturdays we always have a Zone meeting. It is something normal. Saturday was my first one and just by chance the assistants showed up. Everything went good and we talked with them after. 

This week was filled with lots of changes and surprises. Most for the better. Thanks for all the love and support.

Life is a sport, make it count

Elder Shanklin 

It Was An Awesome Four Weeks-Bananeros Guayaquil Week Fourty Five

 This week has been a great week. It was me and my companions last week together and we made it count.

Changes

First of all, it is a yes or yes situation that I will being having changes this week. Or my companion will be having them. I will just recieve a new companion here in my sector. My companion has to go for just a short 2 week period to do some paper work and take some interviews so that his family can move and get there residencia. It is unknown whether he will return to this mission or stay in Peru as a missionary. It was an awesome 4 weeks with him. Probably the best 4 weeks of my mission. We pushed each other to our limits to have the success that we had. Thanks to the Lord and his blessings we were able to find, teach, and baptize many in just a short time period. Although he is leaving the work is go forth is this sector. Big things are coming from this sector. Just you wait and see.

Elder Shanklin and Elder Montoya

Elder Shanklin with his district

Baptisms

This week we had another baptism. Her name is Gladys and she is 82 years old. I dont know what it is but for some reason the elderly ladies are attracting to me and my companion. We took some awesome pictures. I am only able to send a few because my memory has a virus and this computer is not helping that what so ever. Hopefully the next week i can send some of the pictures we took. Hopefully we keep the streak alive and have another baptisms this week. If not we will focus on the next week so we can move the Lords work along. It is a privilege to be here in this sector at this time.

Elder Shanklin, Gladys and Elder Montoya

Elder Shanklin, Gladys and Elder Montoya

Fun Facts

Thought I would throw some random facts in for those of you back home

=I think this week me and my companion took more than 200 photos. Must be because he is going home or something

=I learned something new this week. Just because someone has a barbershop in Ecuador does not mean that they know who to cut hair. That was a lesson that was tough to learn. 

=A young man recieved his mission call in the ward this week. He is going to Chile East MIssion and leaves on July 29.

Soccer Jerseys for the Elders

=I completed 10 months in the mission the other week. That means my 1 year mark is coming up.

Yes i do accept packages.

Thanks for all the love and support. Ecuador is great,hot, but great.

Life is a sport, make it count

Elder Shanklin