The Happenings of 7 Consecutive Days (Notices from the Middle World) II

Family and Friends,

 

I love the title of my new section that describes my weekly happenings... that I decided to name my letter to ya´ll in favor of this most important section. So if you will please read on...

 

The Happenings of 7 Consecutive Days (Notices from the Middle World):

 

SANTIAGO VARGAS WAS BAPTISED!!! We finally got Santiago into the waters of baptism... it was not an easy process... and Satan was against us the entire time... but we finally did it!

 

Friday Santiago was married to his wife Sara Suarez and then he had his interview with the Zone Leaders and a phone call to the President. He passed his interview and we started putting the finishing touches on his baptism. That night we stopped by his house to see how he was doing and to remind him of everything that was going to happen the next day. As we were leaving I reminded him that in the next 24 hours Satan was going to fight against him... in every way possible.

 

The next day we set everything up for the baptism, made some agendas, and then we started inviting everyone to the baptism. That night Santiago and his wife showed up a little late... Satan had done some dirty work. Santiago decided to go play some soccer before his baptism to keep his nerves down. He was returning home when he got in a wreck on his motorcycle. With a quick run to the hospital, a bumbed foot, and some stitches... he said he was well enough to be baptised. Nothing was going to stop him. As I entered the water I noticed he was wincing... but the baptism was completed. Sunday he was confirmed a member of the Church.

 

We are preparing an activity for the 23rd of October. "Día Como Misionero!" (Missionary Day!). We will start at 6:30 in the morning, have a breakfast, 4 hours of "MTC" time, and then the entire afternoon to teach and preach. All the members of ages 12+ are invited and EVERYONE that isn´t a member. When Santiago heard about the activity... he asked us... "even though I have a wife and a child... can I be a missionary for a day?" YES! His conversion is practically complete. When KM26 becomes an independent branch at the end of the year... I bet you anything he will be a Councilor or the Branch Secretary. Super powerful convert. This is why I am a missionary... to find and teach people like him. He will baptise his wife and brother (and maybe his mother) in 2 weeks... along with 5-6 other baptisms that will be taking place in the chapel.

 

We will be changing our house to KM26 next week. I am a little frustrated with how slow the process is... but that is life... paperwork.

 

I don´t have anything else to say. Ask me questions if you want to learn something more. Get ready for General Conference!

 

Here are some pictures:

 

Picture 1: My district/zone. Crazy guys but I love them to death! GO MILAGRO!!!

 

Picture 2: Who just can´t be in love with rivers and nature? BOLICHE!

 

Picture 3: My Jersey that says "PILSENER" (popular beer) but now says "Robinson"

 

Picture 4: Elder Castro (Columbia) with Santiago Vargas a week before he was baptised.

 

Picture 5: Us with Family Vaca (Cow). They feed us every Sunday and I love them to death!

Love you all,

--
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.

The Happenings of 7 Consecutive Days (Notices from the Middle World)

Family and Friends,

 

I love the title of my new section that describes my weekly happenings... that I decided to name my letter to ya´ll in favor of this most important section. So if you will please read on...

 

The Happenings of 7 Consecutive Days (Notices from the Middle World):

 

SANTIAGO VARGAS WAS BAPTISED!!! We finally got Santiago into the waters of baptism... it was not an easy process... and Satan was against us the entire time... but we finally did it!

 

Friday Santiago was married to his wife Sara Suarez and then he had his interview with the Zone Leaders and a phone call to the President. He passed his interview and we started putting the finishing touches on his baptism. That night we stopped by his house to see how he was doing and to remind him of everything that was going to happen the next day. As we were leaving I reminded him that in the next 24 hours Satan was going to fight against him... in every way possible.

 

The next day we set everything up for the baptism, made some agendas, and then we started inviting everyone to the baptism. That night Santiago and his wife showed up a little late... Satan had done some dirty work. Santiago decided to go play some soccer before his baptism to keep his nerves down. He was returning home when he got in a wreck on his motorcycle. With a quick run to the hospital, a bumbed foot, and some stitches... he said he was well enough to be baptised. Nothing was going to stop him. As I entered the water I noticed he was wincing... but the baptism was completed. Sunday he was confirmed a member of the Church.

 

We are preparing an activity for the 23rd of October. "Día Como Misionero!" (Missionary Day!). We will start at 6:30 in the morning, have a breakfast, 4 hours of "MTC" time, and then the entire afternoon to teach and preach. All the members of ages 12+ are invited and EVERYONE that isn´t a member. When Santiago heard about the activity... he asked us... "even though I have a wife and a child... can I be a missionary for a day?" YES! His conversion is practically complete. When KM26 becomes an independent branch at the end of the year... I bet you anything he will be a Councilor or the Branch Secretary. Super powerful convert. This is why I am a missionary... to find and teach people like him. He will baptise his wife and brother (and maybe his mother) in 2 weeks... along with 5-6 other baptisms that will be taking place in the chapel.

 

We will be changing our house to KM26 next week. I am a little frustrated with how slow the process is... but that is life... paperwork.

 

I don´t have anything else to say. Ask me questions if you want to learn something more. Get ready for General Conference!

 

Here are some pictures:

 

Picture 1: My district/zone. Crazy guys but I love them to death! GO MILAGRO!!!

 

Picture 2: Who just can´t be in love with rivers and nature? BOLICHE!

 

Picture 3: My Jersey that says "PILSENER" (popular beer) but now says "Robinson"

 

Picture 4: Elder Castro (Columbia) with Santiago Vargas a week before he was baptised.

 

Picture 5: Us with Family Vaca (Cow). They feed us every Sunday and I love them to death!

Love you all,

--
Elder Robinson

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Mostly Marriages & Missionaries

Family and Friends,

Special Thanks: To all of you who wrote me this week. There were a ton of you... that was really cool. The moral boost that EVERY letter brings to a missionary is something special and for the most part sacred. From the deepest portions of my heart please accept my thanks.

 

My Week: What a selfish person I am. For exactly 16 months now I have been writing letters home and have always had a section called "My Week." I think I am going to change this sadistic habit. Not that it is MY week or anything I did that made it special. It is more of The Happenings of 7 Consecutive Days or Notices from the Middle World.

 

The Happenings of 7 Consecutive Days (Notices from the Middle World):

 

Our house in 26 was aproved by the Assistants! This means that we will begin moving in... THIS WEEK! What day? I hope that the process is said and done by Saturday. I don´t want to drag this out. We actually found a better house for only $60 per month. But... it was more than slightly filthy... and with first impressions these days... We are going to stick with the $100 apartment that covers the light and water bills.

 

We had changes today. I was super nervious last night that I was going to be changed from 26. I had more nerves because I had no clue what President Montalti was going to do. He is still on the "unpredictable" side. We have so many families that are progressing... I can´t leave yet. Anyway. I am practically positive that I will be here for another 4-5ish months. !Que Bueno¡ But the changes did hit my District.

 

In my district there are 4 wards and 10 missionaries. I am the District Leader and love teaching lessons every Tuesday. Actually. I got sick of teaching lessons last Tuesday and we played a game called "Maestro Mas Persuasivo" that deals with how well you teach and know the Lessons and the Scriptures. Back to the District. Elder Lopez from Columbia, Elder Aballay from Argentina, Elder Sanchez from Columbia and Elder Lema from Ecuador were all changed out of the District. I am sad to see them go... but I am still super stoked that I get to work with Elder Mejia, Pavon, and Castro. 3 of the coolest missionaries I have ever know. District Activities are an absolute BLAST! This change we want to go to Bucay... I hear there are some amazing photos to take of Waterfalls.

 

This week we will be baptising Santiago. I think I have said this for the last 5 weeks. But this time is for sure. We have ALL of his paperwork so that he can be married and he has been going to church for the last 3 months... so he is far more ready that any invstigator I have ever had. He will baptise his wife, mother, and brother in 2-3 weeks. We are going to wait for General Conference to be finished to have the baptisms.

 

We are also working miracles in Boliche. The Ward President (The Ward does not have a Bishop... but it isn´t a Branch) assigned 6 ward missionaries to help us and they are all super excited. Our days are now full of appointments with the help of the members and I feel that something big is on the horizon...

 

Oh- more marriages. Maria Chavez I believe will be married this month. When that takes place we will go forward with her baptism. This week we are also working on the marriage for Dario. That should take place this week... or next week at the latest. Marth Tomala, the mother of Santiago Vargas also wants to be married so we made a stop by the Registro Civil to take out some of her documents. Maybe that will happen in 2 weeks. All in all... we have 2 marriages planned for the next 2 weeks and 2 other marriages that could take place in 2-3 weeks. I have participated in 4 marriages during my mission and I absolutely love it when people decide to get married and to get baptised. I will try to end the mission with 10.

 

I received a package from home this week. I have new shoes and had some great No Bake Cookies. Thanks mom. I love you and Dad so much. The mission is flying by so fast. Mom, Please make time stop. (When I was little I thought my Mom and the Primary teachers could do anything... so one day I asked them to make me younger... that is when I learned that they can´t do everything).

 

This change will bring more miracles, stories, and growth.

 

Bring it on!

--
Elder Robinson

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Twists and Turns

Family and Friends,

My Week:

This last week was an absolute blast! I had three interchanges (Elder Pavon, Elder Castro and Elder Mejia) and a ton of fun working in my sector. I am of the opinion that if someone is not enjoying their time as a missionary... they are dfinitely wasting their time. The mission is "chucky jam full" of great experiences and excitement. How can one not love the mission and its "twists and turns?"

Twists and Turns for this week:

This week starts the "Specialized Training" that we have to undergo every 3 months... or 2 months... quizas cada mes.... yo no sé! The Twist: Elder Cruz ( mi hijo) has been sent to live in Naranjito for the next 4 days. I am now companions with Elder Rivero from Bolivia (Santa Cruz). He is a great missoinary and I am looking forward to working with him over the next few days. Every morning this wekkk we will be leaving our apartment at 6? AM so that we can arrive in Guayaquil (that lovely l city) at 8 to be ontime to take a bus/taxi for the conference at 9. We will then return home every night at 6ish and work with whatever time we have in KM 26. I doubt we will have any working time this week. You got to love the twists. All Jr. Comps have to stay in their sectors. I guess they don´t need training.

Elder Lema from Otavalo left to go live in La Troncal and Elder Castro is now with Elder Catamayo from Peru. Our house now consits of 1 American! 1 Columbian! 1 Bolivian! and 1 Peruvian! I think they are some of the 4 best missionaries in all of Milagro/Truinfo. It will be a blast to live with them for the next week.

Other twists that should be covered:

My entire mission (even before my mission) I always heard stories of people that had dreams of the missionaries.... and then the next day the missionaries arrived. Or people that recognized the faces of the Missionaries even though they did not konw them before. Well... here is my story that I have to tell you:

We found Maria Chavez while I was on an interchange with Elder Mejia. She lives just short of the 24 (KM 26 is SOUTH of Milagro, you will NEVER find it on a map). We always walk past her house while we are on our way to visit Familia Vargas. I have always felt... "hmm... that is a pretty trail, maybe we should to there..." but I never ever took the trail... until the interchange. We had some extra time on our hands, so on our way back from Familia Vargas we entered a trail that lead back into the brush and some houses. The first house we stopped at we asked them if we could share a message. We did. We met Maria Chavez and she accepted our message. I didn´t really think much of the lesson. We gave out a Book of Mormon.... and left.

The day after we stopped by again and retaught lesson 1 to her sister. Maria showed up at the end of the lesson and we reminded her that she had to ask the Lord if she wanted to know if these things were true.

Finally Friday we stopped by again and she invited us back to her house (some 4 houses behind the first house we found her in, 1 room separated by sheets, house of sugar cane) and she started to talk to us about her work in the Banana Fields. She lightly touched on the fact that she fogot how to pray... and felt bad because she wanted to pray while she was aty work so that the Lord could help her have more strength. She talked about how she works with som other woman and how they usually talk about their days and families. She then mentioned the following, "I ahd a dream. Are you here to change my family?"

Me: Yeah. We help families change for the better.

Maria Chavez: I thought so. I had a dream that 2 boys came to my home to teach me and my family things that would make us happy.l I dreamed that everyone in my family accepted the message (except for my husband) and that with time my husband came to realize that we were happier than he was and he accepted what the 2 boys had to say. Are you the two boys?

Me: Stunned

Elder Cruz: Yeah!

Maria Chavez: It was a really beautiful dream. It made me feel really good to have it. And then a few days later... you showed up at my house.

Needless to say we have now taught a fraction of her family (10 people of 30ish) and all of them were uper interested in the BOok of Mormon. Sunday Maria Chavez came to church with us and absolutely LOVED the experience. She told us that next week her entire family would be present so that they could be as happy as she was during the meetings. We are on our way now to go teach her. We have a lesson at 6 with her and the Ward Missionaries.

The Lord is preparing peoplall over the world to hear the message of the Restauration. Sometimes we just have to take the "pretty trails" to find these amazing people... and if we do... when we come to the end of our journey we will find the people that the Lord has put in our way that desparately need the message. How grateful I am to be a missionary! And to think that I only have... algunos meses mas!

Family and Friends: I love you all so much. I don´t miss you. I will see you again. But until then...

That is all,

Love,

--
Elder Robinson

Mom- Did ou send out the pictures that I sent you last week? Or did you never receive them? Shucks... why do you have to be in Yellowstone!?!

Sorry. This is the 2nd time I have written this letter... Internet failed in the last place... and I don´t have time to fix all the errors that are in this letter.

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School Again...

Family and Friends,

Before I start this letter I would like everyone to know just how inept I am when it comes to computers. Last week my companion and I went for our Pday to KM 26 y Boliche to take TONS of photos... We had a blast doing it. I would have sent them in an email to you all last week but the computer in KM 26 did not recognize my camara. I decided to send them to you this week. The computer recognized my camera. I had the pictures... and then I erased all of them... How I don´t know. But that was 3 hours and 74 pictures that just went down the tube. Maybe not down the tube... but it has been confirmed that they no longer exist. I don´t even know how the computer erased them from the camera memory. Computers. Silly things.

My Week: Pictureless.

We are preparing Santiago and his wife Sara for baptism. All they have to do is get married. Santiago has gone to church for over a month now and he loves it. Sara will graduate from Collage in 2 weeks and then she will start going to church. Santiago will be baptised next week, receive the Priesthood and then 3 weeks later he will baptise his wife, mother, and brother. It will be a cool service.

We are also preparing Dario Gonzalez for baptism. He just needs to get married as well. The only problem I have with him... is that he is 35 and his wife-to-be is 15 and pregnant with his baby. O´dear. I guess I am not in the United States anymore. You just kind of go with the flow. She and her family are ok with the marriage. He wants to get baptised... but it always has to be the marriage question that gets in the way. When these two families get married they will make the 5th and 6th families I have married here on the mission (ok, I didn´t marry them, I just talked them into it).

Did I mention I just erased 74 photos and 3 hours of picture taking? I still can´t get over that.

Let me describe the photos I erased to you then...

Your imagination please:

Photo 1: The dark green landscape of Boliche looking off to the south towards purple tinted mountains. Fields and a sugar cane factory off to the left. Misted sky.

Photo 2: Elder Robinson standing under the sign that says, "Boliche" Highway that goes towards KM 26.

Photo 3: Elder Robinson sitting on a dyke as water rushes past. Behind me: a freshly plowed field and a line of trees. Misted sky with a "evening" feel to the shot.

Photo 4: Elder Robinson and Cruz standing on an old wire and metal hanging bridge. The rusted steel mixed with the majestic water below made a photo that would have taken an Oscar Award.

Photo 5. Elder Robinson sitting on a dirt road leading off into a rainforrest like setting. Arms crossed. Large palms and ferns drapping the sides of the photo.

...

...

Photo 74: Again Elder Robinson in KM 26 next to a road sign that says: Guayaquil, Milagro, and Naranjito. 3 of my 4 sectors.

Ok. Pitty party over. So is this email.

Love,

--
Elder Robinson

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I´m a Skousen!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Shout Out: Skousens! Here in Latin America everyone has four names. Your name never changes. Even when you get married. Women don´t take on the name of their husbands but the children take on both last names of the parents. Technically, if I was a citizen of Ecuador, my name would be: Jeremiah Thomas Robinson Skousen. Anyway. I got this box from mom this week. It didn´t have a ton and it never has to... just to let me know that mom loves me. But the treasure that I found inside... the Skousen Family Reunion shirt. The one that says "Skousen Camp." I was so excited to see grandma and grandpa in front of their cabin that I left the shirt on my desk so I could admire it for 2 days. Then I took a picture of the picture so that if anything happened to the shirt I would have a picture. Call me crazy. But I am a Skousen!

 

It has been really neat to read everything that takes place at home. Especially with Gale´s family and the Johnsons. It is great to hear that Clint and Mike got the Priesthood and that Mike will be married in the temple in August. Why does everything have to happen while I am gone (oh, I guess things happen while you are gone as well, Elder Robinson II)? Needless to say... coming home in a year will be a thrill... everything will be different.

 

My Week: The search for a house continues. Maybe we will have one in 2 weeks... maybe we will have one in 4. Most likely it will be an apartment. But we HAVE TO FIND A SOMETHING! I am really tired of the hour long bus rides just to go to work. How can anyone commute to work each morning? Such a boring process. And a waste of time.

 

Sunday was a thrill. We were "en route" to our usual destination: KM 26, when one of our fellow travelers started yelling at the top of her lungs. Me, asleep, didn´t take note of it at first. Usually people are yelling on the bus and I was tired. When the yelling continued I decided to stir to see if it was anything worth my interest. What I found... was quite worth my time:

 

Sundays are Party days here in Ecuador. Starting Friday at 5 until Monday at 2am... all of Ecuador is partying, blasting music, and getting high/drunk. The normal worthwhile weekend pursuits. One such poor drugged partier was part of our traveling group to KM 26 when he decided that the woman next to him... or should I say, he came to some conclusions about her. She freaked out and started yelling. She changed seats and slapped him in the face. He, disgraced and drunk, decided to punch her. This is when I awoke. Just in time to watch her take of her shoes and throw them at him... and go all "crazy style cat woman" on him. I was still waking up from my slumber and things were not processing correctly. Our bus had just arrived at a "check point" and everyone on the bus started yelling for the National Police. I love these guys. Cutting to the chase... the yelling and  fighting continued until the National Police boarded the bus and took the man and the woman away quite forcefully. Finally processing... my brain asked, "Que pasó?" my companion told me everything. The bus stood still while everyone chattered joyously at the new gossip material. The man was detained and the woman re boarded the bus to retake her seat. The journey continued...

 

(side note: I might die in my sleep Sundays in Utah if nothing ever takes place. Ecuador is such a... vivid country. Always.)

 

... And so did my day. We were politely invited by many of the members in 26 to share dinner with them. We graciously accepted 3. The first was a high-end meal, 3 courses (soup, rice, and fruit) with rice that was slightly reminiscencia of Skousen Casserole. Or should I say: it had everything in it; shrimp, lettuce, potatoes, meat, cheese, spice, nuts, tomatoes, orange, peas, beans... the list continues. I partook and was filled.

 

The second dinner followed a wonderfully taught lesson to a 13 year old girl that knows the Bible far better than I do. I was corrected that the bible does not register any other prophet talking to the Lord face to face... than just Adam and Moses and only Moses since Adam isn´t considered a prophet for many. I will do my own research on the topic. 13 year old girls who want to be baptised don´t get away that easily. I know the Book of Mormon protects my claim, parts of the New Testament, and I need to clarify my understanding of the Pearl of Great Price.

 

The third dinner was small and to the point. Mashed potatoes (so rare here!) with a carrot and pea siding. Topped by a Cola-marinated chicken breast. Cup of "Tropical" to top me off. I thought I had finished for the day.

 

My companion, fresh from the MTC, is timid to say the least. Working on social habits we practiced our door approaches. This consits of me yelling, "Ha Ver!" and then looking at my companion to start the conversations. He said something like this, "HELLO WE ARE THE MISSIONARIES FROM THE CHURCH AND HAVE A MESSAGE CAN WE COME IN!!!" The first response... NO! The 2nd house... "We are the church... the missionaries from the church. We need 10 minutes of your time..." The second response... nope! The 3rd house... "We are the missionaries from the church we have a message. Can we come in." (we are still working on what to say)... the response... "come in Elder´s! I am an inactive member!"

 

The lesson was quick and to-the-point (unlike this email). We have another appointment with them tonight. We were leaving when we were recalled to receive "Chicken-on-the-stick" and a b-b-q´d banana. Wow. I was really full. The day then came to and end. Por fin!

 

We are preparing a few people for baptism. The difficulty we have run into: Chastity. If people would just commit to one another and get married... getting baptised would be a very easy process. I constantly need to remind myself that the process to be baptised NEVER should be an easy process otherwise the end result: the baptism, will never mean anything. The more the people have to change to be baptised, the more their baptism is going to mean to them. The more the Lord is going to forgive. The greater relief they are going to feel in their new life. Maybe Satan should mix it up sometimes and target something else than the Chastity questions.

 

As such I have been studying a ton this week about Virtue. I love the topic. Trying to control your thoughts is something that I need to do. Of coarse I am a missionary... but focusing on the work, on your investigators, and on everything good 100% of the time is something that I could definitely improve. It all starts with your thoughts.

 

And currently my thoughts are all with you...

 

on that note. Time to refocus.

 

I love you all,

--
Elder Robinson Skousen

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Photo Op

Family and Friends

I haven´t sent pictures home in a long while. I thought you might enjoy.

Picture 1: The Temple of Guayaquil. ¡Que Hermosa!

2 This is probably the most beautiful spot in all of Guayaquil. There are not many vews like this inside of the city. My sector now... has a lot of views like this. I just don´t have pictures of them yet.

3 The bridge I took to leave the city of Guayaquil. I like this bridge.

4 Elder Vuinovic and I enjoying the 4h of July with a cake! GO USA! USA! USA!

Love

--
Elder Robinson

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