Week 77

Gustito Extremo (AKA- Giant Hot Dog)

So this week I still don´t really know much about what has happened again. Life here is flying by. I feel like this week really hasn´t been very eventful. We definitely did feel the earthquake haha. It was at like 5:17 in the morning. For some reason I was already awake and everything just started shaking. It lasted for quite a while, but it wasn´t super bad so I didn´t get out of bed haha. However, we looked out the window and a bunch of people were outside in the park. Then it happened again a bit later but it didn´t last nearly as long. It didn´t do much damage at all. It cracked a part of our ceiling, but nothing else. I will try to remember to take a picture to send. This week is carnaval. President Moreno hasn´t said anything about it yet, but I assume that we will be indoors all day Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. So if I don´t write home on Monday that is why. It is very probable that I won´t be able to write home until Wednesday, but I assume I will be able to let you know for sure. This week was zone conference. It was great. We talked a lot about being perfect in the things that we can. Also, Sister Gluch and Sister Peterson from my MTC group gave their final testimonies. It was pretty weird, because we all came here together, and now all of the sisters are leaving. Sister Peterson had a hard time giving her last testimony. It was a great zone conference.

Anyways, this week we found a girl named Tamara Jimenez. She is the girlfriend of a recent convert named Mateo Cordova. She accepted a baptismal date for the 30th of March, and came to church on Sunday. She is pretty excited. I won´t be here when she is baptized, but I´m sure that she will be baptized. This Saturday we planned to have Daniel Araujo´s baptism. He was super excited and then we started doing the baptismal interview questions, and come to find out when he was 14 years old he shot and killed his cousin because his cousin attacked his dad with a knife. Well in cases like this we have to get permission from the first presidency in order for him to be baptized. So we are waiting for that, but president Moreno said that it is likely that he will have to attend church for like 6 months before he can get baptized. Kinda sad. He is super ready. However, when we told him he was still full of faith. As we told him my heart was truly broken. It was super hard. However, he accepted it very well. He told us be a month or be a year I will still attend church and be baptized. It was incredible to see this man´s faith. What a spiritual experience. Fernando Morocho is going through a lot of problems. He said that he hasn´t felt the fruits of the Spirit which broke my heart. However, we invited him to a baptismal service and he accepted and said that it was amazing and that he put himself in the other man´s shoes and he felt great. I sure hope he gets baptized soon. He always comes to church. Roberto and Alexandra still don´t want to get married. We might have to drop them for a bit. This week we had 5 people in church that we are teaching. We also are teaching Fernando´s brother, Juan Pablo, and he came to church.

Anyways, nothing too exciting for this week other than the fact that today Elder Loveland, Elder Jimenez, Elder Solorzano, and I all ordered Gusito Extremo. It is a 35 cm long hot dog. Then they have a salsa bar where you can load it with whatever you want. It was incredible. I sent a pic. It cost $2.50 and it came with a cup of coconut juice. It was super delicious. Then we went to the stake center which is only a block away and played the piano for a bit and then we went home and rested. It has been a good week, but not a lot of action.

My thought for the week is on part of next weeks Sunday school lesson. We are commanded not to judge unrighteously, but we are commanded to judge righteously. It is very interesting. In Matthew 7 we learn about that, but I love a scripture in Moroni 7. I share Moroni 7 a lot with those we are teaching.

Moroni 7:13-19

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.

16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.

19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

We are told that we must judge between good and evil. That which inviteth to do good is something that we must grab at first chance, and that which drags us down we must recognize and get it out of our lives. We must learn not to judge others for their weaknesses and their sins because they might sin differently than we do, but at the same time we must learn to judge or in other words evaluate or discern, between friends and other influences that will help us do what is right or who will drag us down into the grips of the adversary. They Lord expects us to judge our friends. Is he or she a person who will help me live the gospel? Is it a person who will help me reach my righteous goals? Or is it a person who will drag me down? It is a person who doesn´t share my standards? We are told to judge in this righteous way so that we have good friends so that we date people who hold our same standards. We are taught to spend time with only those who share our standards because they will inspire us instead of dragging us down, and the only way to know is to ¨judge, so that ye know good from evil.¨ It is also interesting the part that says that we will be judged with the same judgement with which we judge. If I choose bad friends and they drag me down I will be judged for my judgement because it was wrong. Or if I choose good friends I will be judged in a good way because of that good judgement that allowed me to grow through those people. We must judge to grow. I had to choose a long time ago my friends. In middle school I had the chance to choose between 2 different groups of people. I chose the group that didn´t use filthy language. I chose the group that chose to live the commandments. And oh have I been blessed for judging righteously. Almost all of those friends are now serving missions and have inspired and elevated my life. I fear that my life would be very different had I ¨judged¨ the other group to be good. Very, very few of them are serving missions. Some of them are inactive. Righteous judgement changes lives, as well as does unrighteous judgement. Judge between good and evil. Choose good influences and burn away the bad influences that they don´t drag you down. We are looking at eternal impacts. Don´t judge people because of weaknesses or sins, but at the same time, don´t choose to follow those who don´t invite & entice us to do good and follow the Savior.

Love you all tons. Sorry I don´t have time to write anybody else. :(  I will next week.

Love, Élder Black

photos

My shoes that I fixed haha

Today for p-day we ordered the Gustito Extremo. It is a 35 cm hotdog. It was amazing but very large haha.

Earthquake

Dear Families of Missionaries serving in Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission,

Today we had an earthquake.

All the missionaries are ok, there was no harm. The Lord protects His disciples. You don't have anything to worry about, your missionaries are well.

God bless you.

Thanks for your prayers.

Pablo Cesar Moreno Hortua Presidente Mision Ecuador Guayaquil

Week 76

(E-mail sent from Carver's Mission President)

New Options of Communication

Guayaquil, February 18, 2019

Dear Parents of missionaries in the Ecuador, Guayaquil South Mission,

My wife and I would like to thank you for sending your children to serve in the mission field. They are blessing the lives of many people here in Ecuador and we know that their work is blessing your lives as well. We thank you for your prayers and your support.

You have undoubtedly heard of the church’s announcement that missionaries now have more options to communicate with their families. We would like you to know how you can best incorporate this change into your son or daughter’s mission.Please know that we view this as an opportunity for you to be more aware and appreciative of the service your son or daughter is providing. We are confident that you understand that we and the Lord expects missionaries to be consecrated in every way. A consecrated missionary puts God first and foremost in his life. He has covenanted to give everything to the Lord: his talents, his time, his resources. In addition, the missionaries have promised to serve not only with all their heart, might and strength, but with all their Mind.A consecrated missionary must keep his mind on the mission, not in his home. If he expects to receive personal revelation about his area and the people, he is teaching he must be pondering his area and the people he is teaching. If his mind is in his home, he will be seriously distracted and unable to receive guidance from the Spirit regarding his calling.Our missionaries often have a difficult first transfer because they are still thinking about their homes. When they “forget themselves” and “go to work” as President Hinckley’s father so wisely advised, they begin to enjoy their mission and develop Christlike attributes. They will not enjoy their mission if they are constantly thinking about home. When missionaries can accomplish this level of consecration, they can become who God wants them to be.Please note that this new announcement from the church asks that calls be initiated by the missionary rather than the family. Please allow your missionary to call when he or she feels it is necessary, rather than requesting a call.Also note that the purpose of the change is to “allow the family to be more involved in the missionary’s efforts and experiences.” Clearly the conversations should not be about what is happening at home, but about what is happening in the mission. We hope you will see this as an opportunity to take a greater interest in the work here in the mission, to get to know the people your missionary is teaching, to rejoice in their progress, and celebrate when they are baptized, confirmed and progress in the church.We expect these changes to have a positive effect in our missionaries. The missionaries have 60 minutes to use computers on their P-day. During this time, they must read a letter from the mission president, write a letter to the mission president, post their key indicators and write and respond to all other emails. Please do not feel neglected if they choose to spend their time fulfilling their calling.If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to email us. Thank you very much for your support and helping us accomplishing this vision that we have received from our dear Prophet.

Sincerely, President and Sister Moreno

Carver’s E-mail

Just so you know it won´t change a lot here because of the little access we have to computers. However, I will be able to call every once in a while. I don´t know if it will be a video call or just a phone call because we don´t have access to computers with cameras. They are rare I will keep emailing.

Many Crazy Changes

Hola! So this week has also been super crazy. Today an elder had to go to the USA to get surgery and so we had emergency transfers. We had to be running around in the bus station all day, and I don´t have much time to write so forgive me for the short email. Funny story for the day... We were walking down the street today and there were a few teenagers in the 3rd story. Carnaval is getting close and so the people are starting to get crazy. They had water balloons and started throwing them at us. It was super awesome because they didn´t hit us. I was walking and right as I walked behind a light post a water balloon smacked the light post and I didn´t even get a drop of water on me. It was like we were protected haha. It was awesome. So this week we did exchanges. I was with Elder Hernández for a couple of days. Fernando Morocho just left his wife. It is hard on him. However, we also saw a miracle and he accepted a baptismal date. I hope with all of my heart that he gets baptized. He has a lot of doubts. Roberto and Alexandra are doing well. However, we found out that Roberto smokes. Also, they finally decided that they want to stay together and get married, we just don´t know when. Also, Daniel Araujo is doing well. He came to church and is on track to get baptized on March 2nd. This week we also found a Venezuelan family. They are awesome. There was a 14-year-old girl who knows the bible super well and asked a ton of questions about the Book of Mormon and tithing and other things. Last week we didn´t have zone conference. I think that it will be this week.

I can´t remember what else happened this week. I have been really enjoying my studies in the Book of Mormon. I have been reading in the one-chapter books like enos and omni and the others. I was really edified as I studied. As I studied Enos I also studied the talk that you sent me last week again, and I also read about revelation from Pres. Nelson a while back in conference. I was very inspired. I learned that I really need to prepare myself before I pray, and that I can pray in a more efficient way. The heavens were opened and I made a plan.

Anyways, my thought for the week is from Enos 1:2-4. If you read it you can tell that Enos didn´t just speak words. The prayer came from his heart. He had faith and his prayer reached heaven. I know with all of my heart that prayer is real. God lives and answers prayers. He is our loving father. Pray with faith. He is there. He will answer. Love you all tons!

Love, Elder Black

photos

La Catedral de Cuenca

 Plaza San Francisco

The huge stair case we had to climb to go to lunch

And yes I have a new email address, my old one will still work too

carver.black@missionary.org

Week 75

I Forgot Everything...

¡Hola a todos! This week has been ok. The truth is that this week has flown by and I have no idea what happened this week. It is all just a blur. So forgive me if I repeat something from my other emails. But anyways....

So this week on Tuesday we got a call from president. Monday sister Neff had emergency transfers because she was sent to Guayaquil to take a plane to serve in the Galapagos Islands. On Tuesday we had to go to the terminal to pick up the new sister that came. It was sister Peterson, from my group. She is the sister that Uncle Lyle knows, and is somehow related to us very distantly. The sisters from my group go home in 3 weeks. Crazy how time flies! Seems just like yesterday that we were all in the MTC together. This week we have only found 3 new people to teach. Roberto and Alexandra aren´t doing too hot. We had super spiritual lessons and they were going to get married, but they have been fighting and are thinking about separating. They did come to church on Sunday, but they are having struggles with their relationship, and Roberto went one day and drank 5 bottles of liquor all night until 6am. He was going to drink on Saturday after they had a big fight, but the store was closed which was a blessing. Jesus and Jenifer Guzman are doing well. She already knows that the Book of Mormon is true. We just have to get them married uggg haha. Daniel Araujo is doing well and wants to get baptized on March 2nd. He is disabled, and the members helped take him to church on Sunday. Also, Fernando Morocho is coming to church every Sunday, and reads the Book of Mormon, but won´t accept a baptismal date still. We are just praying that he gets an answer that he will be able to recognize. We are teaching his brother now as well. This week we found another Venezuelan to teach. He is really interested in the Book of Mormon and is struggling because he is here alone, and all of his family and children are in Venezuela.

I truly can´t think of anything else to say, because I forgot everything that happened this week. I am still getting along well with my companion. This week we will have zone conference so that should be good.

So my thought for the week is from Jacob 4:10 . I read it today.

10 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.  

Many times it is easy to ask why something is happening, or think that we know best. Many times we may ask for things in prayer that we know is not the will of God. This is something that the Lord is reminding me as I have been here in Cuenca for such a long time. Our thoughts are not the Lords thoughts, and our ways are not His ways. I know that He knows best, and He works in great wisdom among us. He will never do anything that is not for our own good and that doesn´t help Him in bringing about His work and His glory. I know that God lives. He is a loving Father that always works for our good. I love you all tons!!!

Love, Elder Black

Week 74

Baptism- Already February

This week has been pretty good. We did indeed have a baptism. My new companion is great. We get along super well. Today p-day has been crazy. We got called for emergency transfers AGAIN. We had to send a sister to Guayaquil, and we will have to receive her companion tomorrow or Wednesday. Life here is crazy busy and time is flying. We have to do a lot of ¨chores¨ here, because we are 4 hours away from president and the assistants. I´ve been running around doing crazy things for 6 or 7 months here in Cuenca, but in 4 weeks that should change.

So this week we did have a baptism. It was really a miracle. It is a part member family. It was a 12-year-old girl who had been coming to church. We thought she was a member, but she wasn´t, so we taught her last week and this week and baptized her. Her uncle is our ward mission leader, Santiago Segarra. He baptized her. So that was good. However, we had to go to the church at 10:30 to fill the baptismal font. We cleaned it for a half an hour until it was sparkling. We started filling it with hot water, and we left to go play the piano while we waited. Well when we returned 30 minutes later, the water was brown. There was song construction here, and they were changing the water lines, and the water came out super filthy. When we drained the water the floor was covered in dirt, however, it takes 4 hours to fill and so we had no option but to baptize her in the dirty water haha. What an experience. Also, we can´t leave the chapel while the fount is filling, and so we called KFC and had them deliver us some food to the chapel haha. Here there are a lot of motorcycle delivery men.

Anyways, this week was good. Roberto and Alexandra are progressing. They came to church. She is scared to get married, but they accepted to get married. They have to fill out some papers with a lawyer first though. Also, we had a super spiritual experience with them. They haven´t wanted to get married, and they had told us that they haven´t been 100% honest with us. We asked them what is was and they said it wasn´t the right time for them to tell us. Well long story short, through revelation I found out that Roberto has 2 other children. We planned a lesson to get him to tell us, but if he didn´t tell us we were going to tell him that we knew. Well we got to the lesson and the Spirit guided everything we said. We shared scriptures as the Spirit indicated, and the spirit was tangible. They started to tell us their story and many difficulties that they have had in their lives. They told us how Roberto has 2 other children. We smiled and told him that we already knew about his children, and we helped them with a few difficulties. The Spirit was sooo strong. They also have stopped working on Sunday´s. Fernando Morocho also came to church again with his 2 kids. He is great and is getting answers but he isn´t recognizing them and he won´t accept a baptismal date. We fasted for him and to know what to do. This Sunday was super powerful. I am sure that he felt the Spirit. There were some really great testimonies. One Ecuadorian lady even shared a testimony in english.

This week we also found a young family from Venezuela. Finding them was also pure revelation of the Spirit. We taught them the restoration and she asked us if we sold copies of the book of mormon. We told her no because we gave them out for free. She was sooo happy. I am sure that they will progress. They have 2 babies, and their names are Jesus and Jennifer Guzman. They have 6 months here in Ecuador, and they are legal which is a surprise. However, they aren´t married. We found many other people this week who can progress. Daniel Araujo, the disabled man that can´t walk is progressing very well. I have a lot of hope for the people we are teaching. This week my testimony has grown sooo much. I have seen so many spiritual experiences in the last 2 weeks. I know that this is God´s church.

Not much else to share, so my thought for the week is from Alma 34. The last 2 verses.

40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

41 But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

I love these verses. This week there were a lot of spiritual experiences and a lot of rejection. As we speak with 20 people or more every day we are seeing the Lord work among us, but we also see people with hard hearts. There are many struggles and afflictions in life, but I know that if we have patience in our struggles, that one day we will enter into the rest of the Lord. We will be able to enter into His kingdom where joy radiates and afflictions are absent. I know that this is God´s work. I love Him. This is His church. What a blessing it is to serve.

I love you all tons and hope that you have a great week!!!!

Love, Elder Black

us in a super heavy rain storm

 Baptism of Samaris Paulette Torres Sanchez

The dirty water that she was baptized in haha