Two Gringos In Ecuador-Isla Trinitaria Week Fifty Five

First off this week was a great week. Maybe we didnt do the coolest things ever but it was definitely a statisfying week with my new companion.

Changes

So like everyone know my last companion, Elder Kindred, arrived to his beautiful home in Washington on Thursday. My new companion is Elder Orange. He has 10 months in the mission and I am training him to be a zone leader. He is from Texas and come to the mission knowing a little bit a spanish so we are keeping things rolling with the people here in the Isla Trinitaria. My new companion was actually is this sector when he recently started the mission so he already has a good relationship with the members. Which is good. 

Blessings

This week we worked super hard in order to find new people to teach and the hard work payed off. We are working on completed the family of the first conselour so that his family can be sealed. We are working with his kid first who seems to be very receptive and has gone to church a couple times. He has a couple doubts and we are always there to answer them. Also we are teaching the daughter of a member who recently became active in the church. She is super awesome but as well has some questions that she wants to find the answers to. And lastly we are teaching a super awesome family. The mom, her 2 kids, and her niece. The all came to church on Sunday which was awesome. The ward did a great job making them fell welcome and making friends with them. We ended the day taking pictures with the family. I mean how many times are you gonna see 2 gringos walking threw the street in Ecuador. 

Fun Facts

-My trainer here in the mission recently got married. That was pretty weird to find out. 

-I will soon have 13 months in the mission. No I am not trunky

-The assistents came to the zone meeting on saturday and gave some tips to the zone and to us as well. I thought it was a great meeting and they did as well. 

-President will be accompaning us this next week as it is stake conference. It is possible he will be in the zone meeting on saturday and in the conference on Sunday. Gotta leave him with a good impression. 

This week was a good and successful week. We were able to see the fruits of our labor. Hopefully things just start to get better from here. 

Thanks for all the love and support

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

Another One Bites The Dust-Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fifty Four

Another week down here in the beautiful country of Ecuador. Things are honestly great here and I have nothing to complain about.

The Future

Based on what will happen this is about a 100% chance that I will have changes tomorrow. I will be getting a new companion. My companion, after 24 months, will now be heading to his home. Learned a lot from him in the short time we were together. Great Missionary. Excited to see who my new companion will be. From what I have heard it will be a new zone leader, but things change in the blink of an eye here in the mission so really anything could happen. I have been with 2 companions when they have ended there missions. This one was a lot different than the first. We worked until the end until the last minute possible. It was a good week and should have some fruits to show for it. The week we spent some time as weel saying bye to all the members, or should I say my companion said bye to them. I am staying. That means the members gave us a bunch of food, which was cool for me

Elder Shanklin and Elder Kindred!

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Practices and Rehearsals

First off I will say that we are not trunky (which means getting ready to go home) but that we were just having fun. This week we spent a couple morning during companionship study practicing my companions homecoming speech on Sunday. It was actually dificult for us to write a talk in english but we got it done and I think it is pretty good. Not only that but we also planned the week that he was home. Where he would eat, what he was going to buy, and many other things. The best or funniest was in church when he was praciticing his airport walk. Or how he was going to walk in the gate when his family is waiting for him. Gave him some good tips so I am ready to see the video to see what he has applied.

Isla Trinitaria Missionaries

Elder Shanklins companion is "dying" in the mission.

It was honestly a great last week. Taught a lot of people, and while doing that we found so way cool new investigadors that are open to what we have to share. I am learnin everyday and will continue to learn from each companion that I have. Hope that next week was just like this one, if not better. 

Thanks for all the love and support. 

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin 

I Would Literally Shake Every Time I Saw Him-Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fifty Three

Time is flying by here in this sector. There is always something that is happening. That and being a Zone Leader means that you are all over the place during the day. This week it happened more that normal.

Trip

This week we recieved a phone call from the mission nurses telling us we had to take medicine to a missionary in his house. That is a normal occurance so we started on our way over. Then on the way over we got another call from them and then the missionaries. We started moving a little faster. Then out of nowhere President called us and we realized it got serious and you should've seen the way we moved. It was like another level of speed. On the way to the house, President called us again and told us to go to the hospital, that everything was alright and he wanted us to be with him until he got there. President showed up and sent us back. He then called us one hour later and told us to return to the hospital and bring them clothes for the night and some food. So practically we spent the day running errands. Got to see another side of Guayaquil that I had never seen before which always was pretty cool. I didnt have my camera in this moment so sorry no pictures.

Americanized Food

There are 3 gringos living in our house, and whenever that happens that are always to things that happen. First there is a lot of english spoken. Just ask the Latino in the house and he will testify of this. Second we americanize things. This week we made some awesome empanadas. Usually they are made with cheese. This week we decided to take it a step further. We made peanut and chocolate empanadas. No before you say gross know that they were delicious. I was the head chef and led the team in our operation. In the mission we do some pretty weird things to pass the time and that was one of the things we did. So don't laugh or make fun of me.

Empanadas

Two Missionary Gringos

American Peanut Butter sent by Mom.

Meetings with President

This past week me and my companion had 2 meetings with president. Before I used to be terrified to have a meeting with President. I would literally shake. Now I actually enjoy the presence of President. There is such a spirit felt and a calm peace that is felt. In every meeting that we have with him we learn something super important so that be applied immediately. This week we had a cool experience with President and revelation. I am certain that he recieves revelation in all things.

The other missionaries that live with Elder Shanklin and his companion

Thanks for all the love and support. Hope you guys have a great week

Life is a Sport, Make it Count

Elder Shanklin

The Church Was Robbed...Isla Trinitaria Guayaquil Week Fifty Two

This week was filled with adventures and with changes. Something that hadnt been happening lately in my letters

Cambios

First things first, Wednesday my companion received a phone call at 5 in the afternoon saying that he had changes and would have to be in the office at 9 at night. Pracitcally when any missionary gets that call you know what is happening. Well there are 2 possible options. You did something really bad or you are going to Galapagos. My companion didnt do anything bad and so he went to Galapagos. That meant I had to wake up at 5 the next morning to take him to the airport and that wait for the arrival of my new companion in the office of the mission. My new companion is Elder Kindred. He has like 23 and a half months in the mission. So practically those that are going to BYUI tell him hi for me when you see him there. We will only be companions for a short time but I have to learn as much as possible from him. He was an assistant to the president here in the mission and knows how to work smart and effectively. Things are already getting better here in the zone.

Elder Kindred and Elder Shanklin

Thefts

Just to give everyone a good laugh. This week two teenagers thought it would be funny to break in the church. First they cut the electric fence. Not sure how but they did. Next the some how got the doors open. People are smart here. But this is when the smart people just messed up. Of all the things that could have taken they stole the clock off the wall and the fire extinguisher. I am not sure why you need a wall clock or a fire extinguisher but that is what they took. I hope those things help them in whatever that are doing in the lives. It is the first time this has happned, nor do I doubt it will be the last.

Looks like they are ready to find the thiefs

I would be afraid...very afraid!

Investigators.

Recently we have been working with a family and working with a couple less actives and there family members that arent members. Things seem to be improving for them and they are, from what it looks like, starting to form their own testimonies. In the next few weeks there should be photos sent in all white. Things are great here in Ecuador. It is super hot here but I can deal with the heat if it means helping others.

Thanks for all the love and support.

Life is a Sport, Make it count

Elder Shanklin

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