Monday, December 31, 2012
Quito Week 8
Hey fam!!
I'm glad everything is going well! And that you all really enjoyed Christmas and I hope everyone enjoys New Years Eve!! And it was sooo awesome to Skype you all!!! Whoo!!
But things are going really well here! I don't have a ton of time to write because we have to be in the house at 4 today, but know I'm doing well. Things are pretty crazy here in Ecuador right now though haha. Everyone goes a little loco for the holidays. All the people are drinking and you have to watchout for drunk people everywhere haha. Oh and for New Years Eve they do some weird things here. First, they all make these puppets or giant toy things that they are going to burn at midnight. They're really weird. And then, the weirder part is that the dudes all dress up and chicks and then try and dance with you and stuff and you have to pay them. It's really strange and disturbing at times. But that's Ecuador! haha!
Oh one thing I forgot to tell you all is that we had this activity in our ward before Christmas and the guy who was going to be Santa ended up not being able to. So who did they ask to be Santa? The gringo in the ward haha. So I was Santa for the ward activity. I'm going to send some pictures so I hope you enjoy haha. It was actually a lot of fun.
As for other things, I think I already told you that I have now eaten kidney and cow intestines. The kidney was kind of gross but I actually kind of enjoyed the cow intestines haha.
Ummm as for other things, I can't think of a lot else. Oh we're going to have 2 baptisms this weekend!! Whoohoo!!! Finally!! It's been a while since I've had a baptism so I'm way excited! Oh and to answer your question mom, I have seen gringos every now and then, but I think most of them live in the north of Quito where it's a little nicer.
Well that's about all I have time for. I love you all sooo much and it was soo awesome to skype with you all! I really love being here on the mission and it's soo freaking awesome to be a missionary! I'll write more next week! Have a great New Years Eve!!
Love,
Elder Joshua Lee
I'm glad everything is going well! And that you all really enjoyed Christmas and I hope everyone enjoys New Years Eve!! And it was sooo awesome to Skype you all!!! Whoo!!
But things are going really well here! I don't have a ton of time to write because we have to be in the house at 4 today, but know I'm doing well. Things are pretty crazy here in Ecuador right now though haha. Everyone goes a little loco for the holidays. All the people are drinking and you have to watchout for drunk people everywhere haha. Oh and for New Years Eve they do some weird things here. First, they all make these puppets or giant toy things that they are going to burn at midnight. They're really weird. And then, the weirder part is that the dudes all dress up and chicks and then try and dance with you and stuff and you have to pay them. It's really strange and disturbing at times. But that's Ecuador! haha!
Oh one thing I forgot to tell you all is that we had this activity in our ward before Christmas and the guy who was going to be Santa ended up not being able to. So who did they ask to be Santa? The gringo in the ward haha. So I was Santa for the ward activity. I'm going to send some pictures so I hope you enjoy haha. It was actually a lot of fun.
As for other things, I think I already told you that I have now eaten kidney and cow intestines. The kidney was kind of gross but I actually kind of enjoyed the cow intestines haha.
Ummm as for other things, I can't think of a lot else. Oh we're going to have 2 baptisms this weekend!! Whoohoo!!! Finally!! It's been a while since I've had a baptism so I'm way excited! Oh and to answer your question mom, I have seen gringos every now and then, but I think most of them live in the north of Quito where it's a little nicer.
Well that's about all I have time for. I love you all sooo much and it was soo awesome to skype with you all! I really love being here on the mission and it's soo freaking awesome to be a missionary! I'll write more next week! Have a great New Years Eve!!
Love,
Elder Joshua Lee
Quito Week 7
Tomorrow's Christmas!!!! Whoohoo!!! Honestly it doesn't really feel like Christmas here. We've done some things to make it more Christmasy, but it still doesn't really feel like it. But I'm okay with that! I'm still having a ton of fun and am wayyyy excited to skype with all of you tomorrow!! Whoohoo!! So I'm planning on like 4 o'clock here with should be like 2ish there. But maybe a little before or a little after.
And I got more packages today!! Whoo!! Thanks soo much! I got one from Anna and Stu and another one from the Farnsworths. It is awesome! I love all the goodies and expecially the watch from Anna and Stu and the Christmas music from Sister Farnsworth! It made it a really good day.
So I really wanted to send some more pictures, but this computer doesn't have a place for me to plug my camera in so you're going to have to wait until next week. Sorry for not writing very much, but we have to be in the house by 4 today. But just know that I am having a great time and love you all soo much! Have an awesome Christmas and can't wait to talk to you all tomorrow!!! Love you!!!
Love,
Elder Joshua Lee
And I got more packages today!! Whoo!! Thanks soo much! I got one from Anna and Stu and another one from the Farnsworths. It is awesome! I love all the goodies and expecially the watch from Anna and Stu and the Christmas music from Sister Farnsworth! It made it a really good day.
So I really wanted to send some more pictures, but this computer doesn't have a place for me to plug my camera in so you're going to have to wait until next week. Sorry for not writing very much, but we have to be in the house by 4 today. But just know that I am having a great time and love you all soo much! Have an awesome Christmas and can't wait to talk to you all tomorrow!!! Love you!!!
Love,
Elder Joshua Lee
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Quito Week 6
Dear Family and Friends,
Nate got his mission call!!!! Whoohooo!!!! My bro's going to Chile!!! That's soo awesome! I'm soo stoked for him. I hope he's just as pumped as I am haha. He's gonna be a stud missionary. I feel like Santiago is like an old place with cool buildings and all that stuff. I'd love to hear more about it!
Well I don't have a ton of time this week, but today we had transfers! And they closed our sector so my companion and I both are leaving and going to new sectors. I didn't go far though. I just got transfered to the other district in our zone, but I'm way excited to go there! Things were pretty tough with missionary work in our sector, so it's nice to go to a new sector. And I finally got out of the cold showers!! Whoo!! It'll be nice to bath with hot water again. And my new sector doesn't have any hills which will be nice.
My companion is Elder Zuloeta, another latino. But I already got to know him from being in the zone and he's way cool. I'm looking forward to working with him and learning a lot from him. It's gonna be a good change!
Oh and I got the package today! I lied about getting it a week ago. Sorry haha. But I got it this week and thanks soo much for everything!! It's soo awesome! And I got to send some letters off today so hopefully they get there soon. As for skyping, which is better, Christmas eve or Christmas day? I'm planning on Christmas day, but if you send me an email really quick saying Christmas eve is better I can then. But I'm planning on 3 or 4 ecuador time Christmas day. It'd be awesome if the Hills coould be there and Anna and Stu if they want to!. Sorry I don't really have time for more but I'm soooo excited to talk to you all in a week!!! Whoo!!!! Sorry for not sending pictures. Next week! Love you all and talk to you in a week!!!
Love,
Elder Lee
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Quito Week 5
Dear Fam and Friends,
Glad to hear everything is going well with the fam! And mom I'm glad you're feeling better! The flu is no fun. I had one day this last week where I was feeling pretty terrible in the stomach, but it was only a one day thing. It's a lot better than this other Elder in my zone. Elder Russell from Utah had been to the hospital 2 different times and threw up like 4 times today and he has less time than me here in Ecuador. But he's a trooper and a great Elder and he'll make it through this.
As for me, all is still well here in Ecuador. This week started off a little tough as well. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who's had a bit of a hard time getting along with a latino companion. It has been tough with him, but we talked about it a little this last week and things are going a little better. It also was a little tough Sunday morning because again, no one came to church. We went by everyone of our investigators houses before church to bring them, but they either weren't home or couldn't come for some reason or other. I'm still trying to figure out how to help the people here see the importance of coming to church. But I'm going to figure it out soon!
As for the rest of the week, it was great! Sunday night was awesome. As a zone, we got permission from President Ghent to go out caroling 2 times a week to contact people, and it was a ton of fun! We went out with the 12 of us missionaries and knocked on doors and sang Christmas hymns to contact people. It was a soo much fun being together with all the other missionaries in our zone and singing of Christmas, and we got some really good contacts out of it. I like it a lot better than just knocking on doors to contact people because they seem a lot more willing to listen to us and a lot more friendly when we contacted them that way. We'll see what happens with these people! And I'm going to try and send some pictures of this.
Then today, as a zone we went to el mitad del mundo, or the center of the world! Latitud 00.00.00. It was a ton of fun too! It actually felt a lot like Arizona there which was really weird. The houses in that area were a little nicer and it was hot and everything looked really deserty, like with cacti and all that. But it was a ton of fun. I took some pictures so I'm going to try and send those home too, but the pictures aren't loading right now so I'll try and make it work.
At the center of the world, we took this tour thing where they told us all this stuff. We saw this 250 year old shrunken head (I'm sending a picture of that) and learned how the indigenous people made shrunken heads. We also balanced an egg on the head of a nail. Something about the forces there let you do that, and I got a certificate for it! And then, one of the coolest parts was when we made water go down a drain. On the north side of the equator it went one way, and on the south it went the other way! And then right on the equator, the water didn't swirl around like in a whirlpool, but just went straight down the drain. Kind of cool!
But that's what's going on with me. We've had a tough time having people come to church, but I'm working hard and I know the Lord is going to bless us. We found this awesome person yesterday too that I have a lot of hope for progressing. She's a solomom with 6 kids and we're starting to teach her and I feel like she's really gonna progress!
Well thanks soo much for everything! I got the package mom. It's in the offices and some other Elders in our district picked it up for me so I'm not going to get it until thursday, but I'm pumped to see what's inside! Oh and I also was able to write some letters back to David and Kenneth, Rebecca, Heidi and Eden today, but I didn't have time to send them off, so I'll send them next week! I'm glad everything is going well at home and I miss you all a ton! But I'm also so happy to be a missionary and I really know I've been soo blessed for being out here in Ecuador! Talk to you next week!
Love,
Elder Lee
Glad to hear everything is going well with the fam! And mom I'm glad you're feeling better! The flu is no fun. I had one day this last week where I was feeling pretty terrible in the stomach, but it was only a one day thing. It's a lot better than this other Elder in my zone. Elder Russell from Utah had been to the hospital 2 different times and threw up like 4 times today and he has less time than me here in Ecuador. But he's a trooper and a great Elder and he'll make it through this.
As for me, all is still well here in Ecuador. This week started off a little tough as well. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who's had a bit of a hard time getting along with a latino companion. It has been tough with him, but we talked about it a little this last week and things are going a little better. It also was a little tough Sunday morning because again, no one came to church. We went by everyone of our investigators houses before church to bring them, but they either weren't home or couldn't come for some reason or other. I'm still trying to figure out how to help the people here see the importance of coming to church. But I'm going to figure it out soon!
As for the rest of the week, it was great! Sunday night was awesome. As a zone, we got permission from President Ghent to go out caroling 2 times a week to contact people, and it was a ton of fun! We went out with the 12 of us missionaries and knocked on doors and sang Christmas hymns to contact people. It was a soo much fun being together with all the other missionaries in our zone and singing of Christmas, and we got some really good contacts out of it. I like it a lot better than just knocking on doors to contact people because they seem a lot more willing to listen to us and a lot more friendly when we contacted them that way. We'll see what happens with these people! And I'm going to try and send some pictures of this.
Then today, as a zone we went to el mitad del mundo, or the center of the world! Latitud 00.00.00. It was a ton of fun too! It actually felt a lot like Arizona there which was really weird. The houses in that area were a little nicer and it was hot and everything looked really deserty, like with cacti and all that. But it was a ton of fun. I took some pictures so I'm going to try and send those home too, but the pictures aren't loading right now so I'll try and make it work.
At the center of the world, we took this tour thing where they told us all this stuff. We saw this 250 year old shrunken head (I'm sending a picture of that) and learned how the indigenous people made shrunken heads. We also balanced an egg on the head of a nail. Something about the forces there let you do that, and I got a certificate for it! And then, one of the coolest parts was when we made water go down a drain. On the north side of the equator it went one way, and on the south it went the other way! And then right on the equator, the water didn't swirl around like in a whirlpool, but just went straight down the drain. Kind of cool!
But that's what's going on with me. We've had a tough time having people come to church, but I'm working hard and I know the Lord is going to bless us. We found this awesome person yesterday too that I have a lot of hope for progressing. She's a solomom with 6 kids and we're starting to teach her and I feel like she's really gonna progress!
Well thanks soo much for everything! I got the package mom. It's in the offices and some other Elders in our district picked it up for me so I'm not going to get it until thursday, but I'm pumped to see what's inside! Oh and I also was able to write some letters back to David and Kenneth, Rebecca, Heidi and Eden today, but I didn't have time to send them off, so I'll send them next week! I'm glad everything is going well at home and I miss you all a ton! But I'm also so happy to be a missionary and I really know I've been soo blessed for being out here in Ecuador! Talk to you next week!
Love,
Elder Lee
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Quito Week 4
Hey Fam!
Hey thanks soo much for the music and the guitar stuff! It's exactly what I wanted so thank you sooo much!
It's great to hear that the rest of the family is doing well. And Nate got his mission papers in! Whoohoo!!!! I'm soo pumped to see where he goes! You'll have to let me know as soon as you find out. Where does he think he's going? And where are the rest of the guesses?
Hey let Sister Farnsworth know that I'm sooo grateful for her emails! It's great to hear how Alli and Sage are doing on their missions and how the whole Farnsworth fam is. And Sage going to Alabama! Dang! I'm sure he'll enjoy that haha.
Well as for me, it was another pretty tough week here. It started off a lot better than the last week, but then it didn't end so well. We didn't have a single investigator come to church this week. I thought we did just about everything we could to help them come to church. We passed by all of their houses that morning, but they either weren't home or couldn't come for some reason or other. It's been a little discouraging the work here in Quito because no one wants to progress. And most of the people here don't want to listen. They find out we are missionaries and they just walk away or say that they are like never home or are really busy or something. It's been really tough here. We found some awesome people this last week that I thought would progress, but they all seemed to change their minds by the end of the week. I know the Lord just wants me to learn something from this experience though, and we are still working hard and I know he will bless us. Even with all of these challenges of being on a mission and how things can be a little discouraging at times, I still know this is where I am supposed to be and that there is at least one person here in this sector that I am meant to find.
One of these lessons I've learned from being in this sector (and am still learning) is patience. It's definitely true that you will have some companions that you will absolutely love on the mission, and others that will be a little tougher. This companion I have now has been a little difficult. He's not a very talkitive guy and is very brisk and it feels a bit unfriendly at times. It's been a bit of a challenge working with him, but I really have learned soo much from him and from being in this companionship.
On a bit of a lighter note, enjoy the pictures! And yes McDonald's is in the whole dang world haha. I have yet to eat there here (I heard it was a lot different) but I did get a picture with good old Ronald McDonald haha. And that other thing is some fruit they have here. I forgot what it was called, but it was delicious!! Really weird too haha.
Oh and about the Christmas thing, I get to skype you all!!! Whoo!!! I'm not sure the timing and everything yet, so I'll let you know, but it's either Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. But if you all stay in AZ for Christmas, invite the Hills over because it'd be cool to talk to them too! Especially my boy D-Hill.
But all in all, I am still doing great out here in Ecuador. It really is soo beautiful here and it is sooo awesome being a misionary here! I know that we are just having some of these trials to try our faith and that the Lord has prepared people for us, and we're gonna find them! Thanks soo much for all your prayers and letters! Until next week!
Con amor,
Elder Joshua Lee
Hey thanks soo much for the music and the guitar stuff! It's exactly what I wanted so thank you sooo much!
It's great to hear that the rest of the family is doing well. And Nate got his mission papers in! Whoohoo!!!! I'm soo pumped to see where he goes! You'll have to let me know as soon as you find out. Where does he think he's going? And where are the rest of the guesses?
Hey let Sister Farnsworth know that I'm sooo grateful for her emails! It's great to hear how Alli and Sage are doing on their missions and how the whole Farnsworth fam is. And Sage going to Alabama! Dang! I'm sure he'll enjoy that haha.
Well as for me, it was another pretty tough week here. It started off a lot better than the last week, but then it didn't end so well. We didn't have a single investigator come to church this week. I thought we did just about everything we could to help them come to church. We passed by all of their houses that morning, but they either weren't home or couldn't come for some reason or other. It's been a little discouraging the work here in Quito because no one wants to progress. And most of the people here don't want to listen. They find out we are missionaries and they just walk away or say that they are like never home or are really busy or something. It's been really tough here. We found some awesome people this last week that I thought would progress, but they all seemed to change their minds by the end of the week. I know the Lord just wants me to learn something from this experience though, and we are still working hard and I know he will bless us. Even with all of these challenges of being on a mission and how things can be a little discouraging at times, I still know this is where I am supposed to be and that there is at least one person here in this sector that I am meant to find.
One of these lessons I've learned from being in this sector (and am still learning) is patience. It's definitely true that you will have some companions that you will absolutely love on the mission, and others that will be a little tougher. This companion I have now has been a little difficult. He's not a very talkitive guy and is very brisk and it feels a bit unfriendly at times. It's been a bit of a challenge working with him, but I really have learned soo much from him and from being in this companionship.
On a bit of a lighter note, enjoy the pictures! And yes McDonald's is in the whole dang world haha. I have yet to eat there here (I heard it was a lot different) but I did get a picture with good old Ronald McDonald haha. And that other thing is some fruit they have here. I forgot what it was called, but it was delicious!! Really weird too haha.
Oh and about the Christmas thing, I get to skype you all!!! Whoo!!! I'm not sure the timing and everything yet, so I'll let you know, but it's either Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. But if you all stay in AZ for Christmas, invite the Hills over because it'd be cool to talk to them too! Especially my boy D-Hill.
But all in all, I am still doing great out here in Ecuador. It really is soo beautiful here and it is sooo awesome being a misionary here! I know that we are just having some of these trials to try our faith and that the Lord has prepared people for us, and we're gonna find them! Thanks soo much for all your prayers and letters! Until next week!
Con amor,
Elder Joshua Lee
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