First Week in Ecuador!

I'm sorry I do not have pictures yet, it is not as safe to take pictures because of robbers...it is definitely different here! My companion's name is Hermana Ayer, she is super cool and she has a year in the mission field! She is fluent in Spanish and she is super focused! She is from New Hampshire and she is 22 years old. She will be returning in June. It has been nice to have a companion who both speaks English and Spanish, I am able to ask her for help whenever I need it and I know that she can relate because we are from the same country.

Hermana Arnold with the group of
missionaries that entered the field with her.

Let me just say that in the coast, it is super hot and humid, but it has its own beauty! There are lots of beautiful tropical flowers and huge trees!! I am in the city of Guayaquil, but our ward is called Centenario. There is more poverty here, and lots of stray dogs and cats. It is definitely different than back at home...I did not realize how lucky we have it in America. The people in Ecuador are super serviceable and giving, even though they do not have a lot, they still always want to give everything they have, it truly is amazing how loving these people are.

People don't speak as clearly here, so it is not only difficult to understand the language, but it is difficult to understand the way they are saying things. I am not going to lie, it has been a challenge for me, and sometimes very discouraging because I want to run before I can crawl. It has honestly been hard to even walk the streets and stay awake because it is so emotionally and physically exerting. I know it will take time and I know that if I am obedient with exactness, I will able to have the gift of tongues and see miracles.

The customs in Ecuador is when you leave or say hello to people you know, you kiss thier cheek, that was very different for me! Also, there are no rules on the road, so people drive on both sides of the streets in both directions, it is kind of funny but also dangerous! We were in a taxi once last week and our driver drove on the left side of the street, and I immediately thought of Jerry Seinfeld, ¨ I would never do that in my car!¨ haha It made me laugh...to kind get through things emotionally, I have had to just laugh about things. These kinds of things happen everyday, and I know that I will soon become more accustom to it!

The ward is kind of small, but they are strong members...with lots of youth! It makes me so happy to see so many young kids, coming to the knowledge of their savior and doing there own missionary work! The people in my ward are wonderful missionaries, they know themselves what ¨ the work of Salvation¨ is. There are lots of young youth that want to serve missions, and they have only been baptized for 2-6 months...that is so cool!

One scriptures that really helped me was a scripture that my friend from the CCM, told me to look up: it is D&C 78:17-18: "Verily, verily I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; and ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The Kingdom is yours, and riches of eternity are yours. This scripture gave me so much comfort because I know I cant see my success now, but if I wait and I am dilligent, I will be able to love every minute of my mission, and I wont want to return. I know things will get better, and even if I have doubts, I should not doubt my testimony, because I have one, and I know my Savior lives. That is about all I have been able to communicate to people, and I know at times, that is the most important for conversion: it is simply knowing that our Savior died for us and that He lives. I love Him and wish that I could see him, and I know that day will come...I just have to wait

Until next week,

Hermana Arnold