Week 75 - Adios January

Well, I’m pretty sunbaked right now. We didn’t do much this p-day because we have a baptism at 5pm (a.k.a. we’re running out the door of the cyber right now to get there). We went early in the morning to play soccer with the office elders from the other (Quito South) mission. We won without a doubt. It was impressive J. 

The person is named Esperanza who will be baptized. What can I tell you about her? She has pinkish hair and before she was sort of evangelical. She is from Colombia – my favorite people. She prays very sincerely. She said that she prayed and knew the Church was true from the very first lesson we taught her. Ever since it’s been a race to finish all the lessons and plan her baptism. I love miracle investigators like that. I have baptized in every sector with every one of my companions and need to keep that up. 

I have really started to like my new area, La Luz. I feel like there are a lot of people to talk to here and we are never bored. I am also really happy to be with Elder Aquino! He is a great match for my humor and work ethic. We support each other through all of the weird things that can happen in the mission. There is this one dude in our ward who has this odd ire for the missionaries…for some reason he seems to think were all are vagos (lazy bums). Who knows, but Elder Aquino and I aren’t letting it get us down in the least.

I uploaded some photos today that represent well La Luz here in Quito. In other fun news (don’t freak out his mom), some street kid spray painted "Elder George" on a wall in front of a high school this week. I honestly think its so cool, haha, I want my name in spray paint.

Hello to my dad's seminary class. I'm happy that you’re able to hear a little about my mission and see some of my photos each week. If I could make a special comment to you, it would be that most people in the US are extremely, grossly unaware of how much sad things like child abuse, neglect, lack of respect for life, and poverty exist out here and how wonderful any life in the states is by comparison. Here the poor kids are thrown out into the streets to work as vendedores (sellers). The saddest part is they come up to you, really dirty, and beg that you buy whatever they have and you can’t possibly buy from everyone. And, even more sad, buying from them doesn't solve the problem, in fact it possibly hurts them more because their parents see the profit and make them work the streets even more. It kills me. Be happy. And thank your parents every day because, believe it or not, your lives are amazing. I’m always happy to receive emails if you have questions.

Happy Birthday, mom! I love you so much. You are perfect and all I have needed in my life and still very much so to this day. Know that I have nothing but the upmost respect and appreciation for you and for every Christ-like act of service you perform for all of the people around you every day. Every week, I see a little more of the millions of blessings and reasons to be happy that I have in my life. I love the mission. I love Ecuador. I love the people here. I love God. I love Jesus Christ. I love you family. Have an excellent week!

- Elder Ericksen

Week 74 - Herping in Mindo

Dearest friends and family,

I am writing this afternoon from a super cool little pueblo called Mindo! Our bus leaves at 2 to take us home to Quito, so we are writing now while we wait. What could I even say about Mindo? It is amazing. Google it. It is a little city on the way to Esmeraldas, about 2 hours from Quito. It is built in the jungle. What was that game called we used to play, Temple Run? Where the little guy runs through the jungle and grabs coins? Well it feels like I am living inside that game.

And we aren’t able to experience but 10% of its beauty. When I return with all interested in coming, we will have so much to do…tubing in the river and a zipline route that keeps you in the air for an hour, basically its a tour of the entire jungle for only 20 dollars! I hope the pictures do it justice. Seriously, Mindo. Google it. Super, super cool.

So this was a great week. Last night, we went by the house of our investigator who will be baptized next week. She is doing well and we are so happy about it! Her husband was in a car accident a while back and suffered a stroke which has left some of his functioning a little slower, but it is always interesting. Last night he got up during our lesson and left the room to "make us a dinner". He came back a little while later to share what he had cooked, and it was just noodles. Like noodles straight up boiled and nothing else. I don’t recommend eating noodles without any kind of flavor, but that is what we did. I was really flattered by his generosity. His name is Julio and he keeps it interesting – I’m never sure if he’s happy or angry with us. Like when he gave us the noodles he was frowning and just said "here – food so you can eat." He seemed so angry and yet was so nice at the same time.

I also got to explore Quito a little more throughout the week. I saw some of the more humble parts of the city, when Elder Aquino and I went on an adventure to recover a package from the DHL warehouse in a place called Comite Del Pueblo. I do love exploring. I’ve been going on lots of little runs like that with Elder Aquino to send packages and take care of the housing secretary’s business. All fun.

I love you family. Let’s all have an amazing week! And don’t worry, mom, I’ll write the essays!

- Elder Ericksen

• The wikipedia page for Mindo describes it as an ideal location for herping. When I saw Adam's photos this afternoon, it seemed to fit. #newword #consideryourselfeducated.

Week 73 - Cha...Cha...Cha...Changes

Dear family and friends,

So this computer apparently doesn’t have the ability to connect to my camera. Oh Ecuador, haha.

Well, I survived crazy week and the 4 trips to the airport! I didn’t sleep at all on Monday night. We also had a zone meeting on Friday and I got to meet some great new people. Elder Morton got transferred to the coast to be a trainer – the mission needs great trainers right now. I think we were all pretty sad about his departure and the office will be different without his constant, calm and happy presence. I am grateful for everything he taught me and will miss him. But the news wasn’t all bad because his replacement is Elder George! Remember how he basically saved me, a genuine friend and lifeline at a time in my life when I needed it most, back at the coast when I first arrived in Ecuador? Well I couldn’t be happier that he’s now in the office with us and I am really going to enjoy the next 3 months here in Quito.

As part of the changes, I transferred to a new sector called “La Luz” which is a solid 10-minute walk from my previous sector “Inaquito”. I essentially cover the east side of the one main street that runs north-south through Quito – La Luz is on the east and Inaquito on the west. Despite being close, I am in a new house; a new ward and I have a new companion, Elder Aquino, from Paraguay. He’s a little bit younger in the mission than me and anxiously awaiting his one year mark in a couple of weeks. He has great people skills, is open and warm, and we get along excellently. I now live in the “hotel house” which is where I stayed my first night in Ecuador. I like my new sector there’s more humble people, lots of refugees from Venezuela, and I’ve really grown to love Venezuelanos…so receptive and friendly. There’s also a lot more food in the streets. J My favorite is Choripan with jugo de caña. So, so good! We are also working with a family from Colombia that is really cool.

I had a really nice p-day. We spent the morning relaxing a bit in an effort to recover from crazy week. After that we went with the other office elders to an Argentine grill… super, super good food. This afternoon we plan to go play tennis in this park call Parque Carolina with some rackets borrowed from the Murphys. Parque Carolina is this really big, beautiful park. If you have the interest to google map it. Be sure to also check out the Quicentro shopping center – it’s a nice place in the city and was in my old sector.

I love you all a lot. You’re my favorite people and I can’t wait to read your letters.

- Elder Ericksen

Week 72 - Happy New Year!

Dear friends and family,

This week was a great one. We try to take one day a week off from office work week and Tuesday was that day for us this week. It was an epic day of work. We taught 3 new people that we had appointments planned for and it’s always great being in my sector. I learn to love all my sectors and this one, Inaquito, is right up there with my favorites. That evening made the upside down pineapple cake my mom had sent me the recipe for. We had been anticipating making it all week long and it was great. I’m happy and really tranquilo. I have been enjoying life here and adventuring lots while we have been helping so many people. There is a baptism tonight! Congrats Emilee!

Today (Saturday) was eventful! We got permission to go to the south of the city and see Old Town Quito. We toured the basilica and I took lots of photos. After that, we got bandeja paisa for lunch at a Colombian grill for Elder Morton's birthday. I feel tranquilo and educated. Tonight we will find out who will be Elder Castagno’s trainee as the new visa secretary! That will be a riot. I have a feeling that I will be moved to the other sector in La Luz to be the companion of Elder Aquino. The interesting news there is that is the house where I stayed the first night in the mission, and is also where I have stayed for the many events here in Quito.

Next week is week one (a.k.a. death week) and will be ridiculous in every meaning of the word. I will be making a farewell video for those missionaries going home Monday night and finish the welcome video for the new missionaries arriving on Tuesday. I’ll also be stressing about securing breakfasts and lunches for about 30 over two days, and I’ll be in trainings all week long. And we’ll pretty much overnight Monday at the airport with missionaries leaving at pretty much every hour – 12:05am, 4:00am, 6:10am, and 9:30am. The airlines advise that we are in the airport for check in 3-hours before international flights, so we’ll get there around 9:00pm and I’ll be helping check people in people and pay for bags all night long. For the record, it’s never like this!

The sister missionaries from my group (who arrived in Ecuador with me) go home next change. It will be strange dropping them off.

Do you have questions for me?

I love you all a lot,

Elder Ericksen

Other tidbits:

• The paper machete doll in one of the photos is part of the New Year’s tradition in Ecuador where (as we understand) the people make or purchase these dolls to represent the year just completed and then burn them in large piles in the street at the New Year. My fingers are crossed that little guy survived and will find a spot on the shelf in Adam’s room come August.