The Prophet Speaks

Hey Family and friends! This week was sooo exhausting with the prophet and meetings, but we are making progress!!

Sunday: So after church, btw church is so different here… its funny to hear the hymns in Spanish with no organ haha!. And after our studies, I think we taught 1/2 lessons then we had to pack and go to the zonee leader’s house that night because there is no bus that is in San Pablo that early.. I really don’t like having to be in a bed with no sheets, but I brought my own pillow… Anyway I wrote in my journal then went to bed early because Sundays are crazy exhausting in the mission…

Monday: We woke up at 4:00 am which was just fantastic. After that though, we headed with all of our stuff for the next few days to the bus station in Otovalo. after three hours in the bus we made it to the bus station in Quito. It took probably half an hour to get onto a bus to where we are going because there are soo many people in Quito that use the buses. Anyway all us white guys pushed through the crowds of shorties and made it on the bus. All the old ladies hands go right to my butt because they are sooo short and everyone is stacked on top of each other in the buses haha… A while later we pushed our way out and made the long walk to the big church building in Quito. I got to see my old companion and some friends from the MTC. Anyway for the majority of that day we were in a big conference with the entire mission… Our mission is a little over 170 missionaries, and never have I gotten so many greenie jokes or told that yes I still have two years to go… Later in the afternoon we left on a long bus ride to see the Prophet!!!! We got to the arena, which was actually really small, IDK why they didn’t do it in like a really huge soccer stadium that they have. But the line was crazy long… We finally made it into the building and there was sooo many people wall to wall in the hallways just trying to make it into the entrances to actually get into the seating. all in all it was about 45 minutes of crowds and crowds til we got to our seats! We waited another hour and a half or so then the prophet finally arrived! We got to hear from someone from Ecuador and his wife, not sure who they were, but their talks were really good. After them we heard from Elder Cook and his wife! I think Elder Cook’s was my favorite! After them we heard from Sister Nelson, then the Prophet. Hearing the prophet in Spanish was pretty funny because his accent is about as gringo as it gets, but its very impressive considering he knows like 7 languages. I loved every moment! it all ended then the other missionaries and I decided it would be better to wait for everyone to leave for a bit than to go through a billion people to get out. Once we finally got out it was amazing how so many missionaries had people they had baptized earlier in their missions there. The people treated the missionaries like royalty and really had a love for us ! It was amazing to know that there’s kinda a light at the end of the tunnel haha! After it took foreveer to find our bus out of the hundreds that were there. We got dropped off at the church then 170 missionaries had to find taxies to take us to our houses for the night. We got back around a little past midnight and there was 12/14 of us in one apartment. We got to sleep on pads that night.

Tuesday: We got up at 6:30 bought some bread for breakfast then headed back to the church. We had more of the conference until 5 oclock pm. At the end we took a big picture with everyone in the mission. (I’d like to have that, it should be on the facebook for our mission at some point). After the conference we ate at this really good burger place in Quito then made our way home. We got to Otovalo so late that there were no more buses, and we had almost no money to use a taxi. So we had to spend one more night at the zone leader’s house. Some others had money for dinner but I had nothing haha so we went and ate (besides me). Then we finally made it to bed.

Wednesday: Wednesday we got up I thnk AT 7:30 because we had permission to from President Chacon and made our way back to San Pablo. When we got to our house I finally got to take a shower since I hadn’t since Sunday morning, and I never felt better. Then we did our studies and had district council. Somewhere i there we had lunch with a mamita then got to work. We taught a few lessons, so the day ended well. That night I got to sleep in my own bed, and I was so thankful haha.

Thursday: We got up and did our normal routine… After studies we headed on a bus to Angla, which is in our sector but its kinda far. We got there and were greated with soup with chunks of fat, the largest glass of tomato juice you’ve ever seen, and a plate of chicken intestines, and chicken anus (yes I’m not joking haha). We left and tried our best not to throw up when we were being shaken around on the bus on the crazy dirt roads… Later that day we taught Veronica Cusin, her two daughters and her son! They have been taught all of the lessons and have the strongest desire to change their lives and be baptized. Their story is really sad howver. The father had left some time ago, but the parents never got separated legally. Long story short it takes almost a full year of work to get legally divorced here. Anyway, as part of church policy, we need the permission from the father to allow them to get baptized! They have been trying to get the permission for a while… They told us this week that he’d be coming back for a bit and that they would try to talk then… We are praying so hard for that family! They are such good people and have done all the work necesasry to be baptized! Later we had some lessons, found a few new investigators then got back in and went to bed.

Friday: Friday was a really good day! after studies and lunch, I think we taught 4 lessons that day!! One of them was with Josa and Rosa! They have a baptism date for the 14th of September! We taught them the law of chastity and the word of wisdom. Haha lets say with their old age the law of chastity isn’t a problem, and they are so poor the can’t afford shoes so they definately don’t even have the means to break the word of wisdom! They are the most humble people you have ever met. They are golden for their baptism date! Seeing such poverty in this country really changes your perspective on a lot of things! I know that through this decision they have made to be baptized, their lives are going to completely change! They are already so happy when we come and when they attend church every week!

Saturday: ThIs day was pretty crazy, after lunch we headed on a bus to the other side of our sector to meet one of our investigators. Satiago lives in the same house as Marco, who has a baptism date and is awesome, but he wasn’t there. Anyway we got to talk with Marco’s family, who are all members and they are doing awesome! Later than night we had a lesson with some recent converts that have a son who hasn’t been baptized yet, named Jimmy. The parents had some concerns, and this was actually the first time I led a lesson because my comp was feeling sick! It went amazing! The spirit was so strong!!!! I loved that lesson and I love that family! And Jimmy came to church!

Sunday: For our fast, I fasted at least for Veronica Cusin and her family, and that her husband’s heart can be softened so they can be baptized and eventually enter the temple one day! I’m not gonna sugar coat it, Sunday was rough! We had planned to have I think 8/9 investigators come to church, but only three had showed! Anyway at the end of sacrament, this brother showed us to this new family of four who had been invited to church!!!!! They came and loved it sooo much! They are golden and we have a cita with them later this week! After the other meetings, ward council, meeting with the zl’s, and getting back, and getting lunch, we had a lot of lessons planned. not one lesson worked out that day… We also visited every lead pretty much that we had. And after contacting for a while with no success we headed back at about 8:30! We did a lot of walking that day haha!

It was a long week and we had a lot of ups and downs, and it was all worth it.. Anyway I restarted the BOM in Spanish and am still in 1 Nephi because it is really tough to read it in Spanish! Anyway I wanna share one scripture…

1 Nephi 9:6: But behold the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fullfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.

Sometimes we are called to do hard things. Sometimes very hard. Even impossible to do alone. But I know there is a way do fulfill all of our callings, challenges, or anything we need help with in our lives. That way is the Savior. He is the way. There is no other way. I gain more and more strength the more I try to rely on Him. On His Atonetment. I encourage all of you to try every day to rely on Him. I love my Savior and am so grateful for His sacrifice, for His help in my life.

I love all of you thank you for all the support and for evreything you do!

Love

Elder Curtis