Hello family once again from sunny Guayaquil! Can you believe September is here?!?! Eight very quick months have passed by as if it were only a week! August was without a doubt the busiest month of my mission. It was a lot of building up our program, or the people we teach. Towards the end of the month we met some great people who sincerely wanted to follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ and receive a remission of their sins through baptism by immersion! Last Saturday we helped Lucia Anchunduia do just that. Lucia is such an awesome person, with an amazingly strong testimony that can touch the heart of anyone! After being confirmed yesterday, she bore her testimony in Sacrament meeting, literally just minutes after becoming a member of the Church, but seeming as if she had been a member for years! Everyone who was in Sacrament was absolutely amazed by her testimony, as was I. It is evidence that the restored Gospel does give people answers to their prayers and fulfills their desires. The baptismal service was great, and I even was able to baptize her. Next week, her son Ariel will be baptized, something he is really excited to do and follow in the footsteps of his mom, and those of Christ!
We are still working the great Rodriguez family, preparing them for baptism as well later on this month. They still have some difficulties to overcome, but, as I testified to them yesterday, praying with faith and with a desire to overcome these problems, God will answer their prayers and give them that much-needed help. Please keep them in your prayers!
We are doing good here, continually finding more and people who are taking heed to our message, wanting to learn more and make progression and changes in their lives. Our branch is doing better as well, we had a Talent Show on Friday, which brought out double the amount of people who attend Sacrament meeting! Elder Badger and I sang, well, kind of sang, a popular Spanish song titled "Yo Te Extrañaré" by a group called Tercer Cielo. It was enjoyed by all, even some members sang with us!
So yes, there is a little improving to do with regards to attendance at Church and that of a talent show, but the members are happy, always willing to help us find those "who are not of this fold" (John 10:16), so our work is made just a little bit easier!
Another busy week is ahead of us! Last week we had a Zone Conference with President Montalti, with a main focus on having a positive attitude. Smiling, President said, "doesn't cost anything." Tomorrow we have another Zone Conference, but with all the zones in Guayaquil and Milagro; it should be a very note-taking-filled conference!
That's my report for this week! Take care and have fun!
Love you all!
The pictures I sent are of the baptism on Saturday, and one with me, Elder Badger and Brother Flores at Lucia's house.
(PS: I received the DearElder package last week, thanks! The cookies and candy are great! Still waiting for the other package, might be this next week I get it.)
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Elder Garrett Cederquist
Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Sur
Garrett in front of the Guayaquil Temple
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