Hey, how are things going in Utah? I am doing good. I am in Balzar still for another six weeks. I am pretty sure that this will be my last transfer here in Balzar because if I stay one more Elder Alcocer finishes his mission, so I will get to stay one more after that to teach another Elder this sector.
You liked the letter I sent last week? It was cool to see the power of the Priesthood in action. Rony and Ginger are doing good. They are now at the point where they are wondering if they really want to be baptised or not. Their marriage will be this week. We had trouble getting all of the papers that we need to have them get married. Here in Ecuador, it is illegal to not vote. Every person is supposed to vote. When you vote you receive a paper that says you voted. In Spanish this is la papel de votacion. Ginger didn´t vote, so she needs to appear before the tribunal to pay a fine, then she can receive her papel. Rony doesn´t have this paper, but he is only 16, so he doesn´t need this paper until he is 18, the legal age to vote. So anyways, this Wednesday we are going to Quevedo with Ginger to help her get this paper, then Thursday or Friday they will be married and Saturday baptised.
We have another marriage Friday for another investigator. His name is Kilo Sambrano (Sambrano means to plant). He will be baptised on the 7th of March. We have three families that are progressing good in Palestina now. We think that they will get baptized, too, but in two of the families they aren´t married, so we need to teach the law of chastity and then commit them to live it.
We had an inter chambio two weeks ago. I was in Balzar with Elder Verastagui and Elder Alcocer in Empalme with Elder Moran. With Elder Verastagui I taught the Macias family the law of chastity and committed them to be married, but the father doesn´t want to get married, so we have a problem, but we are working on it a little bit at a time. The other two families, we are working with them to receive an answer to their prayers and to come to church, but this is difficult. The people don´t want to come to church. It is tough, but we are working on changing this a little at a time.
Bye. I love you!
Monday, February 23, 2009
2009_02_23 Week 18 Balzar Dad
Dad wrote on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:50:13 -0700
Dear Curtis,
How is everything going? Mom mailed you two packages out this week. One has your camera and the other one has your sharpening stones. I had her send both of them.
That was an interesting experience you had last week. How is Ginger doing? Have you had any other experiences teaching? We would love to hear them.
I have got to go mail out some pigeons after 1st period in 10 minutes, so I will check back when I get back.
I Love You!
Love,
Dad
Things are going good. Thanks for sending me my things. Here are a few more things that you could send me in the next package: Root beer extract, maple syrup concentrate, Elder Alcocer wants all of the music that I have in my ipod, so I don´t know if mom can make DVDs with the music on it and send them.
I have another person that mom can contact to talk about the mission with, Randall and Tamina Ridd (Mission president before president Gamboa) 5042 Memory Ln. SLC, UT 84117 (801) 278-4046 presridd@gmail.com
Thanks. Oh tell Skyler that I mailed him a letter, but I want to hear from him next week.
Dear Curtis,
How is everything going? Mom mailed you two packages out this week. One has your camera and the other one has your sharpening stones. I had her send both of them.
That was an interesting experience you had last week. How is Ginger doing? Have you had any other experiences teaching? We would love to hear them.
I have got to go mail out some pigeons after 1st period in 10 minutes, so I will check back when I get back.
I Love You!
Love,
Dad
Things are going good. Thanks for sending me my things. Here are a few more things that you could send me in the next package: Root beer extract, maple syrup concentrate, Elder Alcocer wants all of the music that I have in my ipod, so I don´t know if mom can make DVDs with the music on it and send them.
I have another person that mom can contact to talk about the mission with, Randall and Tamina Ridd (Mission president before president Gamboa) 5042 Memory Ln. SLC, UT 84117 (801) 278-4046 presridd@gmail.com
Thanks. Oh tell Skyler that I mailed him a letter, but I want to hear from him next week.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
2009_02_16 Very Special Experience
Mom wrote on Monday, February 16th.
Here are a few more questions. Just answer them in your letter to us. Do the missionaries down there have cell phones?
We have a cell phone in the house. It is big and bulky, basically a phone for the house, but it has an antenna like a cell phone. Some missionaries have land lines, others have a phone like us. Only the assistants and the enfermeras (nurses) have their own cell phone.
How was your Zone Conference?
Zone conference was good I learned a lot about how to be a successful missionary. It was good.
Did you have an interview with the Mission President?
Yeah, I had my interview after the zone conference.
Did you get a photo of your Zone?
No, but we will take one this week in the district meeting.
Can you send it to us?
No, because I don´t have it.
When are you going to send us some more photos?
When I make more CDs but that takes time that is sacred here in the mission.
Have you gotten any more packages?
Yes, I got the Valentine’s Day package a few days before Valentine’s Day and I still haven´t had my bump day yet, so you are fine.
I have a really interesting story to tell you.
We have a pair of investigators. One is the 16 year old son, Rony, of a family that is recent converts of 6 months. The other is his 18 year old pregnant girlfriend. They both live with his family behind our house toward the river. We had taught them a few leccions (lessons) and I had invited them to be baptized, but they didn´t accept. But that is ok. The date I tried to commit them to was the 28th of February.
Well this Saturday, (February 14, 2009), we received a call from the dad, who said that the girl, her name is Ginger, was not well. They said that she was possessed by a devil. We got ready quickly and then we called President Gamboa and asked for advice on what to do. He said that we should give her a blessing.
We went to their house and when we entered the house there was a bad spirit; It wasn´t good. When we entered, Ginger was on the floor and Rony was next to her restraining her. We sat down and started like we normally do, with a hymn and a prayer. During the hymn, Ginger kept saying, “Shut up. Shut up.” After, we said the prayer and then we started reading the scriptures. We read Enos first, and then we gave Ginger a blessing. Elder Alcocer annointed and the dad gave the blessing, his first ever.
After, Elder Alcocer tried to talk to Ginger. He said, “Ginger, can you hear me?” and she responded, “I am not Ginger.” Elder Alcocer asked who she was then, but didn´t receive an answer. At this point, I was convinced that she was possessed by a devil. She kept laughing, too, whenever we read or sang. It was a little creepy.
After we read 3 Nephi 11, then sang more hymns waiting for President Ruiz, the Branch President, to come. When he showed up, he gave her another blessing, but the whole time she was laughing and the devil didn´t leave with this blessing either.
After President Ruiz took Elder Alcocer aside with me and explained that one of the Area Authorities had given them instruction on this.
President Ruiz taught Curtis and Elder Alcocer how to cast out devils. Then he asked Curtis to do this. I have omitted this part. Curtis asked me to because it is sacred.
President Ruiz said that we had done all that we could and that it was up to Ginger now to do her part. We left, but promised to visit in the evening.
We already had a lunch appointment scheduled with some members, so after our lunch, we started a fast to help Ginger, because in the scriptures it says that with devils sometimes they will only leave through fasting and prayer. When we went back in the evening, they said that Ginger had gotten better during the day, eaten a little, and said a prayer, but she couldn´t close the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. She couldn´t say his name. After, she had gotten worse again. She was lying on the floor and she kept moving around, but she didn´t open her eyes or say anything.
We taught Rony the Plan of Salvation and then the law of chastity and committed him to live the law of chastity. We then read in Alma about when the angel appeared to Alma the younger and he was in a state of torment in his mind and that he called upon the name of Christ to save him. We read this to help Ginger, to give her the answer she needed to be free of the devil that held her bound. Then we left.
Yesterday, we had a conference in Vinces and then after the conference we went to visit Rony and Ginger. Ginger was up and walking about a little, but she was very tired. We ate lunch with them in their house. (We are now eating in the houses of the members.) We then taught about baptism and confirmation, because the dad had told us in the conference that Ginger and Rony wanted to be baptised as soon as possible, for the date that I had tried to commit them to, the 28th of February. So we taught baptism and then committed them to baptism. We then taught them the law of chastity again and committed them to be married, so now we have a marriage this Friday, February 20, 2009, and two baptisms for the 28th.
Cool huh? Ask dad if he had any experiences like this during his mission, please.
Here are a few more questions. Just answer them in your letter to us. Do the missionaries down there have cell phones?
We have a cell phone in the house. It is big and bulky, basically a phone for the house, but it has an antenna like a cell phone. Some missionaries have land lines, others have a phone like us. Only the assistants and the enfermeras (nurses) have their own cell phone.
How was your Zone Conference?
Zone conference was good I learned a lot about how to be a successful missionary. It was good.
Did you have an interview with the Mission President?
Yeah, I had my interview after the zone conference.
Did you get a photo of your Zone?
No, but we will take one this week in the district meeting.
Can you send it to us?
No, because I don´t have it.
When are you going to send us some more photos?
When I make more CDs but that takes time that is sacred here in the mission.
Have you gotten any more packages?
Yes, I got the Valentine’s Day package a few days before Valentine’s Day and I still haven´t had my bump day yet, so you are fine.
I have a really interesting story to tell you.
We have a pair of investigators. One is the 16 year old son, Rony, of a family that is recent converts of 6 months. The other is his 18 year old pregnant girlfriend. They both live with his family behind our house toward the river. We had taught them a few leccions (lessons) and I had invited them to be baptized, but they didn´t accept. But that is ok. The date I tried to commit them to was the 28th of February.
Well this Saturday, (February 14, 2009), we received a call from the dad, who said that the girl, her name is Ginger, was not well. They said that she was possessed by a devil. We got ready quickly and then we called President Gamboa and asked for advice on what to do. He said that we should give her a blessing.
We went to their house and when we entered the house there was a bad spirit; It wasn´t good. When we entered, Ginger was on the floor and Rony was next to her restraining her. We sat down and started like we normally do, with a hymn and a prayer. During the hymn, Ginger kept saying, “Shut up. Shut up.” After, we said the prayer and then we started reading the scriptures. We read Enos first, and then we gave Ginger a blessing. Elder Alcocer annointed and the dad gave the blessing, his first ever.
After, Elder Alcocer tried to talk to Ginger. He said, “Ginger, can you hear me?” and she responded, “I am not Ginger.” Elder Alcocer asked who she was then, but didn´t receive an answer. At this point, I was convinced that she was possessed by a devil. She kept laughing, too, whenever we read or sang. It was a little creepy.
After we read 3 Nephi 11, then sang more hymns waiting for President Ruiz, the Branch President, to come. When he showed up, he gave her another blessing, but the whole time she was laughing and the devil didn´t leave with this blessing either.
After President Ruiz took Elder Alcocer aside with me and explained that one of the Area Authorities had given them instruction on this.
President Ruiz taught Curtis and Elder Alcocer how to cast out devils. Then he asked Curtis to do this. I have omitted this part. Curtis asked me to because it is sacred.
President Ruiz said that we had done all that we could and that it was up to Ginger now to do her part. We left, but promised to visit in the evening.
We already had a lunch appointment scheduled with some members, so after our lunch, we started a fast to help Ginger, because in the scriptures it says that with devils sometimes they will only leave through fasting and prayer. When we went back in the evening, they said that Ginger had gotten better during the day, eaten a little, and said a prayer, but she couldn´t close the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. She couldn´t say his name. After, she had gotten worse again. She was lying on the floor and she kept moving around, but she didn´t open her eyes or say anything.
We taught Rony the Plan of Salvation and then the law of chastity and committed him to live the law of chastity. We then read in Alma about when the angel appeared to Alma the younger and he was in a state of torment in his mind and that he called upon the name of Christ to save him. We read this to help Ginger, to give her the answer she needed to be free of the devil that held her bound. Then we left.
Yesterday, we had a conference in Vinces and then after the conference we went to visit Rony and Ginger. Ginger was up and walking about a little, but she was very tired. We ate lunch with them in their house. (We are now eating in the houses of the members.) We then taught about baptism and confirmation, because the dad had told us in the conference that Ginger and Rony wanted to be baptised as soon as possible, for the date that I had tried to commit them to, the 28th of February. So we taught baptism and then committed them to baptism. We then taught them the law of chastity again and committed them to be married, so now we have a marriage this Friday, February 20, 2009, and two baptisms for the 28th.
Cool huh? Ask dad if he had any experiences like this during his mission, please.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
2009_02_16 Week 17 Balzar Shara
Shara wrote on, 16 Feb 2009 11:01:30 a.m.
Curtis,
Hi how are you doing? Mom said that you are on your email right now. I hope you get this before you get off. Taylor is getting really big. She loves to be tickled and she loves to tickle others. She is getting 3 teeth right now, so she has 8 total. She is walking (running) really well. She is almost always happy.How is the mission?
Things are going good I just sent mom an interesting story ask her to share it with you.
Are you teaching anyone right now?
We are teaching several people, but we are having a hard time committing people to be baptised right now.
Do you have any baptisms lined up?
We have two for the 28th of February, but I don´t know if I will be here in Balzar for these baptisms or in a new sector because next Monday is transfers.
I hope to hear back from you, but if not. Know that we love you and are wishing you the best of luck.
Love Shara, Rob and Taylor
That is cool. Do you think that you will be transferred?
If not this transfer, it will be the next transfer, because if I stay for two more transfers in Balzar then I get to stay three, because in two more transfers my companion finishes his mission, so I would have to stay one more transfer to teach my sector to a new missionary. So I think that I will be transferred this change or the next.
I bet you are off by now. I had to feed Taylor her lunch. Well I hope that you are enjoying your mission and aren't getting into too much trouble. Just know that we love you and are thinking about you.
BYE!!!
Curtis,
Hi how are you doing? Mom said that you are on your email right now. I hope you get this before you get off. Taylor is getting really big. She loves to be tickled and she loves to tickle others. She is getting 3 teeth right now, so she has 8 total. She is walking (running) really well. She is almost always happy.How is the mission?
Things are going good I just sent mom an interesting story ask her to share it with you.
Are you teaching anyone right now?
We are teaching several people, but we are having a hard time committing people to be baptised right now.
Do you have any baptisms lined up?
We have two for the 28th of February, but I don´t know if I will be here in Balzar for these baptisms or in a new sector because next Monday is transfers.
I hope to hear back from you, but if not. Know that we love you and are wishing you the best of luck.
Love Shara, Rob and Taylor
That is cool. Do you think that you will be transferred?
If not this transfer, it will be the next transfer, because if I stay for two more transfers in Balzar then I get to stay three, because in two more transfers my companion finishes his mission, so I would have to stay one more transfer to teach my sector to a new missionary. So I think that I will be transferred this change or the next.
I bet you are off by now. I had to feed Taylor her lunch. Well I hope that you are enjoying your mission and aren't getting into too much trouble. Just know that we love you and are thinking about you.
BYE!!!
2009_02_16 Week 17 Balzar Dad
Dad wrote on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:23:23 a.m.
Hi Curtis,
Skyler is taking care of the pigeons for me while we are down in St. George. He is doing great. He is working at an insurance agency selling insurance. He had a bunch of dinner meetings in Cache Valley this week. He is working on getting a license to sell insurance. He has to dress up in a suit every day. I guess that is a good use of his missionary suits. He has a girlfriend again. She wants to get married. He wants to wait. Same old Skyler.
I need to put in for hunts this week. Not much going on that way right now.School is okay.How has your week been?
I love you lots.Dad
Wow time sure flies it is time to put in for the hunts already. Tell Skyler to write me a letter it was Christmas when I last heard from him. I will write him a letter today but it will take three or four weeks to get to him so tell him to write me. It sounds like you are having the same old fun that we usually do on trips; parts breaking and the little problems, but just remember what Elder Wirthlin talked about in conference, come what may and enjoy it. Laugh when things go wrong.
We did laugh. No tempers this time. Good humor.
Hi Curtis,
Skyler is taking care of the pigeons for me while we are down in St. George. He is doing great. He is working at an insurance agency selling insurance. He had a bunch of dinner meetings in Cache Valley this week. He is working on getting a license to sell insurance. He has to dress up in a suit every day. I guess that is a good use of his missionary suits. He has a girlfriend again. She wants to get married. He wants to wait. Same old Skyler.
I need to put in for hunts this week. Not much going on that way right now.School is okay.How has your week been?
I love you lots.Dad
Wow time sure flies it is time to put in for the hunts already. Tell Skyler to write me a letter it was Christmas when I last heard from him. I will write him a letter today but it will take three or four weeks to get to him so tell him to write me. It sounds like you are having the same old fun that we usually do on trips; parts breaking and the little problems, but just remember what Elder Wirthlin talked about in conference, come what may and enjoy it. Laugh when things go wrong.
We did laugh. No tempers this time. Good humor.
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