2009_01_05 Week 11 Balzar Mom

Carol wrote to Curtis Monday, January 5, 2009
Curtis replied that same day.

Hi Curtis,

Please tell us more about your baptisms. Did you have another one this week? Who was it? Tell us more about the people you have baptized recently.

The last people we baptized was the Ricardo and Maria and their son Carlos. They are an awesome family. Now we are preparing Ricardo to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. We meet with them usually in the evening, our last appointment and every time even though we tell them not to they feed us. Usually cola and crackers with fresh cheese or sandwiches. It is good, but not necessary. They are the last family that we baptized. We also are preparing them to enter the temple, but that won´t be for a year, so they have time.

Have you performed the baptisms or confirmations?

I personally have performed 4 of the 6 baptisms so far in my mission; Antonia, Allison, Ricardo, and Carlos. Elder Bejar baptized Maria and a member, the husband of Hermana Alvarado, our mamita de comida for Wednesdays, baptized Carlos de Barco.

Do you have any more new investigators? Tell us about them.

Right now we are struggling to find new investigators but we are working on it.

How are the people you met last week in Relicario coming along?

They didn´t come to church this week and Thursday when we went to Relicario to visit they weren’t there, but the family that is members that we were going to meet in their home wasn´t there either, so it is ok. Sunday everybody came to Balzar for church, so it is ok that this new family didn´t come. We are going to visit in Relicario 2 days this week, Tuesday and Thursday so we will meet with them this week hopefully.

What is the best experience you have had these past few weeks?

Baptizing a family so they can be together forever, that is the best experience so far.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you?

(no reply)

Tell us anything else you think we would like to know.

(no reply)

Tell us more about your companion.

He is interesting. The food he prepares is different; tomatoes and radishes with avocado with a little oil. Mix it together and put it on top of a pile of rice. He likes to joke and have fun with other people.

How big does the branch have to get before they will get a meeting house?

The thing that has to happen first is they need to have I think 6 or 8 people that hold the Melchizedek Priesthood and are active before they can form their own branch. Right now they are part of the Balzar Branch, but they meet separately because it is much closer for them this way.

When will they get a Branch President called who is not a missionary?

When they have enough priesthood holders to form their own branch.

What do you do with the tithes and offerings that are gathered in Relicario?

We collect them and take them to Balzar with us and they are taken care of the following Sunday, because before we leave for lunch after church Sunday we help President Ruiz to count the tithing and enter it in the computer and then transmit it to Quito to a regional headquarters then President Ruiz takes the money to the bank Monday morning.

Do you have to enter it into the computer in Balzar or do you take it to Balzar for the other branch to take care of it?

We take it to Balzar and enter it in the same with the other branch.

You said you live above the City Offices in Balzar. Do you live on the main street of Balzar then?

We live next to the city offices in Balzar. Our street is not the main street that is the one that runs through town and on to Empalme and Quevedo, but our street is the popular one for the people to party on at night during the weekend cars with loud music and people drinking everywhere, ya that is our street!

Why are there so many buildings that are half finished?

The people here work from paycheck to paycheck but it depends on what they do. Some get paid daily, others weekly or every other week, so when they have money they buy material and work on the building. When they don´t, they don´t work on the building, but I don´t know why the people start building and don´t finish. There are lots of houses that are only part way built all over Balzar.

Did you meet any new missionaries at the temple or zone conference? I have been emailing with mothers of some of the missionaries in your mission. There are nine that have kids in your mission. Have you met any of them?

Elder Blake Bartolomei - in Manta He was my companion in the MTC
Elder Michael Crismon No
Hermana Desiree' Draeger - She will arrive there this month
Elder Nate Elwood - in Babahoyo. Ya, I talked with him on the bus on the way back from the temple. He lives in Logan near the hospital. He was in my Chemistry class the first semester I had at Utah State. He likes to hunt and fish too.
Hermana Rachel Foote - just got home from her mission No
Elder Darren Haymond - No
Elder Dan Mitton - in Babahoyo No but if he is in Babahoyo he was on the bus with us to the temple.
Elder Robert Ogden - he has red hair No
Elder Tyler Walke - in Babahoyo, he flew to Ecuador with you. He was on the bus with us to the temple too.

I love you lots.
Mom

Hi Curtis,

Thanks for the answers. It is busy today, so it took me a bit to get to your email. What else has been happening there? Did you get to see the DVD we sent you?

Ya, I watched the DVD. It was cool to see photos of everybody in the ward.

So things in Balzar are good, no problems. This is probably the last week I will have with Elder Bejar, because next Monday is transfers, so I will probably get on the computer later in the day because we will have to get up at 5 and take a bus to Guayaquil and then take a bus back to Balzar with my new companion, so it may be later. I don´t know for sure I guess we will see.

Oh, Elder Bryan finishes his mission this transfer so you can talk to him about his mission. I don´t have his information but I am pretty sure that you have his moms email address.

I will try to contact that other elder you told me about and Elder Bryan after the wedding. Are you fairly sure that Elder Bejar will get transferred and you will stay in Balzar?

It was pretty cool when we were at the church watching the DVD. All of us had tears in our eyes. Did you like our family piece?

Hey my time is up. I gotta go. I love you all very much. Tell everybody Hi for me.

Elder Goode

I love you too. Sorry, we didn't get to chat much today. First day back after a holiday!
Love you lots. Have a great week.

Mom