25 June 2012

Guten tag familia! Wow, sounds like another great week has passed by for all of you, and it was a pretty swell week for us as well! The baptisms I mentioned we were going to have this week happened last week, after a clarification of some things with our leaders. It's always nice to be able to have everyone on the same page! The only bad part is that we don't have many people to teach, but that's not a problem that lasts too long, as we'll be finding some new people in this week. It's been quite a good little run over the last few weeks with having a few baptisms, meaning there's been lots of blessings as well. So we hope to be keeping all the success up in the upcoming weeks!

Wow, a lot of wildfires lately, huh? It is that time of year again, hope everything isn't going too crazy there! Sounds like it's pretty hot there, too, near 100 degrees! Wow! I'll take the weather here in Ecuador for the moment! Thanks for the update on Nana and Papa, I'll definitely keep them in my prayers this week, and you all as well that your trip will go just fine! Please send me a lot of pictures! :) I've even attached one so you can show everyone I'm doing just fine! Yes, I'm a little jealous, just so you know! :)

Last week we weren't able to hear from a General Authority, the chance we'll be able to is some time in July, so stay tuned for news on that! And can you believe next week is July! AAAAAAAH! That means I'll hit the 18 month mark! Wow, another month is down (almost)! Lots to do in a little time!

Well, I love you all, have a fantastic week! Talk to you all this time next Monday!

--
Elder Garrett Cederquist
Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Sur

18 June 2012

¡Hola familia! Wow, sounds like this past seven days were quite fun! Looks like the weather is awesome back home! Thanks for all the photos! The yard looks totally different! And a bronze medal to go with it! Wow, good stuff! Oh, and a late Happy Father's Day to you Dad!

Yet another week has zipped by (I'm running out of adjectives to describe how fast time is going by :)), and it was a pretty good one as well! It was a rather good week to teach our recent converts some more, as now we have quite a few! We also found some new investigators who feel can progress quickly, so we will see how that goes in this next week. One of those investigators was definitely a Spirit-inspired contact, so there's got to be something good coming from that! We're still working with a couple of investigators and their family, helping them all get active in the church once again so the investigators can get baptized, for the end of this month is the goal for them. Our focus now is finding people to teach so that July can be just as great of a month as June has been. Another thing that's been nice about June, it's been a lot cooler outside! For example today, it can't be more than 75ºF outside, it's been cloudy all day too, so that is a welcome change! It'll be like this for a little while longer as the "cold" is here, ha ha!

Well, that's about all from here in Guayaquil! We are to be having a General Authority come and visit us this week, but we don't know who it will be! Oh, the mysteries of the mission! Next week, a report on that and more!

Take care family, I love you all! Have an excellent week! ¡Chao!

--
Elder Garrett Cederquist
Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Sur

11 June 2012

Hello family from a sunny, but not terribly hot Guayaquil! Wow, it's been a fantastic week working here in the sector, and it all culminated on Saturday night with THREE BAPTISMS! There were also two ward baptisms Saturday night, which made for a fantastic experience for everyone who attended! Also a fantastic experience for two Elders in our ward who leave this Wednesday for their missions, and tonight they'll be having a ward-wide Family Home Evening as their Farewell. Exciting times here in the Amazonas 2nd Ward!!! We're still pressing on, ready to find, teach, and baptize more people here! Wow, is it really almost the middle of June, I don't believe it! Today was actually a transfer day, but Elder Burger and I are the lucky ones, staying here in the sector! Good thing, as we're both enjoying our time together! I'm still trying to learn a little of German, I remember some phrases I've learned being around the German students in high school, but they're very few and far between! It's better indeed to just ask the German himself!

Well, not too much more to report on this week, but it really was a good week, hoping for a lot of the same this week and in this new transfer! 

Attached are some photos of the baptisms, and Elder Burger's fix for his broken chair. As always, I'll be trying to get some photos for this next week!

Love you all, have an excellent week! 

--
Elder Garrett Cederquist
Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Sur

The Fix!

4 June 2012

¡Buenas tardes familia! ¿Como están? Yo estoy bien y muy feliz!

Well, it's been an interesting, but fun week here in Amazonas 2 with Elder
Burger. I'm learning a little bit of German, but just a little, it's a very
difficult language to learn. Right now we're only albe to work only 2 or 3
hours a day because of a health problem he has, but that's not getting us
down or anything, because we actually had a rather productive week in
putting some baptismal dates and preparing for what will now be three
baptisms this coming Saturday. It was only to be one, but we've been able
to get permission to baptize two other investigators who actually don't
live in our ward boudaries, but are attending our ward every week. So it
has been pretty exciting getting that news, and now all the preparation
that goes into getting everything ready should make for an exciting week!
The Spanish term for having many baptisms in one night is "Noche Blanca"
(White Night- for all the white clothing you will see for those who are
getting baptized), but I'd call this one a Mini Noche Blanca, but soon
enough there will be a full on Noche Blanca! It's going to be a great start
to the month of June, the 17th month of my missionary service. I'm not sure
where exactly all that time has gone, but it sure has went by fast, and
continues to do so!

The photos this week, well they're of the funny sort: Elder Burger was
comfortably sitting in his chair Saturday during our studies when all of a
sudden, a rather odd noise sounded, and when I looked up, he was on the
floor! His chair, which was kind of old as it is, broke right in the
middle! I don't have a picture of the repair, but he tied rope around the
chair to hold it in place, so all is not lost in this case, although a new
chair will likely be on its way.

Well, not much else to report on this week, apart from that it will be a
great and busy week, that's what makes a mission great, always keeping busy!

Love you all, tell everyone I say hi yet again and that all is well!

Until next Monday, ¡CHAO!
--
Elder Garrett Cederquist
Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Sur

Elder Burger