Monday, November 29, 2010

Fwd: Thanksgivingish

Family and Friends,

So... this week was a really great week. I forgot that it was Thanksgiving. As is the work and in Ecuador they don't celebrate the same holidays that we do.

I wish I knew what to say to you all. Deep advice. Stories. Miracles. But I really have nothing. I hope my pictures all have 1000 words or more because this email might have less than 50.

This week we worked really hard to put baptismal dates. Last night we found a family that was super interested in our message and they even asked us what they need to do to be members. We put a date for the family for the 18th of Diciembre. Way to go them!

The mission is changing dramatically but I find it is easier just to go with the changes then trying to fight them. I am also a whole lot happier for it.

Anyway. I am super thankful for all the support that I receive from each and every one of you. The mission just would not be a mission without family and friends at home. Thanks!

Oh-

So today we went to Azogaz. Its a super Catholic city that is about 30 minutes from Cuenca. We hicked to the highest mountain to see the Viren of the Clouds. She was really kindof boring. So to make our journey even more interesting my companion and I climed up the face of the mountain. Perhaps I am super dirty, scratched up, and 40 minutes behind schedule but I firmly believe that the journey is more important than the destination. And seeing as how the destination was an Idol... the journey rocked!

The Zone is doing great. We are planning some awesome baptisms for Christmas.

Love you all,

Stay in contact.

--
Elder Robinson



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Monday, November 22, 2010

"Rain, rain, go away..."


Family and Friends,

Now that I have time to sit at a computer and rethink of ALL the things that have taken place over the last seven days, I can honestly say that I have one word to describe it all: Miraculous.

We continued at full speed here in Cuenca to keep the members, our investigatores, and ourselves alive. We set some pretty impressive goals and we saw some great success. We decided that we needed more help from the members so unbashfully we started calling, visiting, and asking for help. The members came to the rescue and Sunday we had exactly 6 members help us and 2 families. We were litterally switching members every hour and we had 3 designated drivers to take us around town (the work goes by so much faster when you don´t have to walk 20 minutes between apointments). We finished off this week with 92 contacts, 11 new investigators, and 1 baptism.

The Baptism: Ximena Zhirapa was baptised. She was absolutely a golden investigator and was a complete miracle for us to find and teach. At her baptism she was crying as she told us that she has waited years and years to find answers and peace. Finally, with the Gospel in her life: she feels it. We felt it.

We were never able to heat the water so I baptised her in water that was close to -20 Degrees F. Hot water - Cold water. It all works to baptise people. You just have to convince them to enter: "Hermana... itttsss.... no...not...t.t.t....c..c.c.c.c.cold!"

Thursday: Like I said we spent the week working as hard as we possible could. Thrusday we even left the house a little early to contact people before they started making lunch. The entire day was a complete flop. We only talked to people. No one really wanted to hear our message. We set a few appointments and we just kept on working. At the end of the day (8:00) we made it to our last appointment. I thought they were going to tell us that they were busy and that we would have to come back later. While I was thinking these same thoughts I became facinated with the giant spider (triantula?) that was sitting in the middle of the street. When they finally opened the door they told us that we could come it. We spent some 10 minutes talking to get to know them and we were just about to start the lesson when I noticed that a giant rat was playing in the hallway. I was the only one in a position to see it... so I ignored it, not wanting to cause a fuss. We pulled out our hymn books and were teaching them how to use them when the rat decided to make a public apperance and ran into the room. All chaos broke loose. Needless to say we spent the next 20ish minutes looking for the rat to kill it. A good hit with a broom does the trick (see posts from Guayaquil- Independencia). We never foud the rat.

We restarted the lessson. From the very first words that began the lesson: the spirit was present. They accepted everything: Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, Prophets: The whole shabang. They told us they wanted a book. We gave them one (naturally). We left the appointment with smiles. They will be baptised. We will visit them tonight and put the date. I love the work.

I have pictures to send home... but this computer is not accepting my camra as it. Maybe later today I will be able to send some pictures off. We are leaving now for "The Valley" some members are taking us up there to eat Cuy (Guinie Pig). We will each kill our own, cook it, and then eat it. It is a very popular food here in Cuenca. I ate it twice in Naranjito and didn´t like it very much. For all the bones the animal has: it have very little meat. Not worth the time. Like crab.

Love you all,

"...come again another day!"

--
Elder Robinson


Monday, November 15, 2010

Bittersweet and Strange... Finding you can Change


Family and Friends,

Jumping into things: I was wrong about Cuenca. In my first two emails I sent out of Cuenca I played the "This is going to be Ruff" Card and the "Cuenca is Impossible" Card. But today I would like to play my "I was Wrong" Card.

This week was an amazing week here in Cuenca. Cold. Wet. and colder. It started raining this week... and it really hasn´t stopped. Rain in Guayaquil was awesome. It was warm and it cooled the super heated days... I loved working in the rain in Guayaquil. Here in Cuenca it is naturally cool. I wear a sweater. My Dad, with some personal revelation, bought me a heavy duty jacket (something I never thought I would use in Heat Swathed Ecuador) and I now use it to proselyte. But when the rains started... Now I am cold and wet. A fun combination when you want to work fast and hard.

Anyway, through the wet and cold Elder Caal and I are still at work. We tried to do EVERYTHING we could to get the message of the Restoration out to everyone. I would not be surprised if we had over 100 contacts last week. We did splits with the members, held a Family Night, went to a few ward meetings, planned  a few more activities, and ended up the week with the best results that Tomebamba has seen in months: 1 baptism, 19 lessons, 12 New Investigators, and 2 people in Sacrament Meeting! Whew... if you all only knew what it takes to get results like that. I think I went to bed each night dead tired (and cold).

My shoes finally fell completely apart. It was a sad day to throw them away. I have now gone through 2 pairs during my mission. I think the rain is what did them in. They couldn´t put up with an ice cold liquid sloshing around the inside and outside all day. So they went belly up and died. I am now using my 3rd pair and they will easily last me to the end of my mission (which surprisingly is only a few short months away (I really am not trying to think of it...)).

Daniela Flores was the girl that was baptised. The Elders before me worked to reactivate her family and I showed up just in time to get her baptised. Her dad after the baptism privately thanked us for everything we do for him and reminded us that we have to keep visiting the family. He shouldn´t worry. We are obligated to teach the Recent Converts and Less Actives: His family meets both requirements.

We are now planning the baptism for Ximena Zhirapa (Cool spelling no?). She was a blessing to find and is super excited to be baptised. The ward members are SUPER excited for 2 weeks in a row of baptisms. The Bishop even called us last night to invite us to his house to teach his friends during a Family Home Evening. We already have plans... but a split should do the trick. The members are SUPER excited for the work and super ready to help us. What a blessing it is when the members want to help out. I absolutely love it.

I wanted to write some letters home this week... but there were more changes in the mission last night (something that seems to happen ever 2 weeks- as of late) and I was put into a 3some as Elder Garcia left for Guayaquil and Elder Pavioli was left without companion. So we went to the Terminal Terrestre of Cuenca at 7:30 this morning to drop Elder Garcia off. Needless to say: I didn´t get letters off this week. So I would like to Publicly write to a few people:

Someone who just put in their Mission Papers: WOW!!! You will love the mission! Keep strong the next few months... Satan is a killer just before the mission. Let me know where you are going and the mission office address so I can write you.

Someone who is going to Michigan: Thanks for the package. I will try to write back as soon as possible... but I will have to write your parents home... I doubt you will be in your apartment by the time the letter arrives to the states.

Someone who can´t seem to get better: So sorry to hear that your health is doing poorly. I will keep you in my prayers. Maybe you should try working less. Relax. Enjoy life. I love you.

Someone who is in another continent: I got your picture. I love it. Thanks so much for thinking of me. Sorry, I wont try sending you letters while you are living so far away. I doubt they would arrive.

Someone who went to France: Thanks for the Birthday card. The 10 lines were super funny. Did you marry your missionary that got home last summer?

And to all of you other "someones" out there: Thanks for your support.

Learning I was wrong,

--
Elder Robinson



NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.




Friday, November 12, 2010

Warning

If you get an email with nothing in the subject line and only a link in the body of the e-mail - don't open the link!  This has been going around alot!  Send the email to the trash.  We have received a lot of these lately.  Sorry if you've received one from me.
Doreen