19 March 2012 Transferred Again!

Hello family from what is right now a rainy Guayaquil, it's been that way for most of the day! And before I begin this weekly update, I must inform you that I was transferred yet again this morning from Puerto Nuevo to Amazonas 2 (Amazonas 2nd Ward), still here in Guayaquil, but more closer to the center of the city. My new companion (I think that's my phrase for the mission) is Elder Doyle, from Long Beach, California. He has about 2 months more than I do here in the mission, and is now my 14th companion here in Ecuador. You might think that's crazy, but another Elder here in the mission today received his 20th companion, so I'm still a little behind, but headed for the same number. It was a bummer to leave Puerto Nuevo, because this past week was absolutely fantastic! We were able to put 6 baptismal dates with multiple investigators, all for the beginning and middle of April. And it was a bummer to leave Elder Herrera, who always kept me laughing, telling me many of his hilarious life stories. It was a little tough at first there in Puerto Nuevo, but I really believe it was our good attitudes that allowed us to have the success that we did. Oh, and that letter.... Haha! I had to take advantage of that opportunity of the sister going to the States, it saved a lot of time and money for me! I'm glad you enjoyed the surprise! I was going to write a few other letters, but I ran out of time, but maybe here soon I'll be able to send some letters out.

Well, as is every first week of being in a new sector, there is a lot to be learned, and in a short amount of time too! One of the things I've already learned is that church in this ward starts at 4 PM!!!! AHHHHHHH! That would be 3 PM in Utah, with the time change now in effect. But imagine that, 4-7 PM, and those are the best hours for teaching on a Sunday! There's a lot of adjusting to be done! Should be rather interesting, but I've heard that the attendance in the ward is really good.

Other than what I've written above, not much else has happened this week, it was a rather quiet, but productive week, and I'm hoping for the same this week and the weeks to come. I'll have more next Monday! Enjoy your week! Love you all!

--
Elder Garrett Cederquist
Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Sur

12 March 2012

¡Hola familia! Well, this week was one of those weeks, where just about everything fell through! It was rather bizarre, seeing as all the plans we had made were good to start off with, but as the hours and days went on, things just fell flat on their face, but luckily we didn't! We stayed on our feet, trying to do what ever we could to get lessons in. Usually when that happens, I most times get a little frustrated, but not this time, I just kept a smile on my face and laughed it off. Sometimes the week I had happens, but we're going to have a better week working at our best capacity to finish off the last week of this transfer. I'm hoping not to get transferred, but we'll see how that all plays out. Elder Herrera and I are having a good time, the members are helping us out more and more, so there's not much to complain about, maybe just the heat and the rain storms, which seem to be passing only one or two times a week, as opposed to the weeks past, where it was every day. About April is when it'll be just full sunshine for just about the rest of the year, awesome! I'll have a very nice missionary tan to bring back home! Speaking of things to bring back home, is there anything special that you'd like me to look for to bring back as gifts? I'm kind of looking for some things as well to be able to remember Ecuador.

Can you believe almost six months have passed by since the last General Conference, a little over two weeks and we're at that time of year once again! I'm pretty excited to hear what the Prophet and other Church leaders have to say, it will be a great note-taker!

Well, really not too much else to report on this week, as I mentioned things were kind of slow, but should be picking up this week! So I'll make sure to get you a nice report in for next week! Enjoy the weather, the months of March and April are my favorite time for weather in Utah, not too hot, not too cold!

Until next week, chao!

Love you all!

--
Elder Garrett Cederquist
Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Sur

5 March 2012 Still Raining!

¡Hola familia! Yes Dad, as you mentioned, it's raining basically all the time here. I've gotten pretty good in guessing when it'll rain and how hard too! But I'm keeping dry, that's unless the roads here are completely flooded, and that has happened many times, with water coming up to my ankle! But other than that, all is well here in Puerto Nuevo, I'm having a good time here, and that good time got even better this Saturday, as we had our two baptisms that I mentioned last week! The baptismal service was good, it could have been better in terms of members who attended, but the most important thing is that Jamile and Gia were able to enter into to this very special covenant with God. That's what brought me the most happiness!

Boy howdy, time is sure flying by! 14 months today, and I have hit the one year mark here in Ecuador! I have definitely made so many memories in that time, I hope to be able to remember them all! I'm glad to hear that the members still ask about me! Tell them all hi for me! 

We had quite a great experience yesterday at church. We didn't have much time to go and bring our investigators to the chapel as we were more preoccupied in getting Jamile and Gia there for their confirmations. But during the testimony meeting, a family of four which we are teaching arrived with another family who are members! It was such a relief to see them come in, I was so thankful to Heavenly Father for answering our prayers and making it possible for them to come. I was also thankful to the members who waited patiently for them, they basically saved us this week! This next week we'll make sure to have enough time to get our investigators to church! March is off to a good start, and we're very determined to keep going higher and higher in the sector. 

With regards to your question Dad, I'm good, I don't need anything as of right now. Everything is holding up well, clothes, bedding and all.

Well, gotta go, time is a little short today, but thanks for all the photos you've sent me! I quite enjoy Dad's (Mom, Ky send me some more! :)

I love you all, have a fantastic first full week of March!

--
Elder Garrett Cederquist
Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Sur