Yesterday I went into guayaquil to get my new companero, His name is elder fletcher and is from mesa arizona, so I guess president thought I was ready to get a gringo comp. They told me it was harder training a gringo than a latino, and I guess they were right, he basically dosent speak spanish, but is really good and he shows alot of promise, well have to see as the change goes on but I feel really good about training, but I still feel nervous and like I dont know what Im doing.
Love you ALL lots
Elder Match

HI, First of all, you are making it seem like im going to be all mentally scared from getting robbed, Like I told dad other than losing my stuff its not like it was a bad robery, a bad attempted robbery was when I was in guayaquil and I had to punch a ladrone( you can say its like gangster) and chase him off, I know you guys want to know all that is going on in my life, here in ecuador, but the thing is there is a time and place to tell you all the crazy stories that I have and that will be in a year when I come home. I know you want to know, so I promise if something serious serious happens I will be sure to let you know,

 Im so sorry that grandma is fighting with aunt shyrll and uncle gary, it just seems like another one of there stupid pointless situations. I hope shes having a good time though with her new husband ( yeah I know it sounds so weird) and things will pass, thats the way the world works, everything passes, the only thing that is eternal is god, so just let the life pass and worry about the future.

 

So in the mission news, Big big news, today we had changes and when everyone left the bus station  I was left with 2 other elders, why, because Im going to be training. Its super crazy, because spencer said that they are training at their 3rd transfer, here we dont train until our 6th or 7th, so were going to have to see what happens, it should be really cool, oh and remember my companion from the mtc elder halls, well hes coming to milagro to be the new zone leader, so there are some really big changes going on here in the zone, almost every companionship  had a change so it should be fun to see how it all turns out.Im not going to lie I never want to have to kill another companion other than myself every again, yeah sure it was cool with elder ortiz but the level of trunkyness with this elder was unbelievable, he also didnt like the rules, before you ask I was ready to strangle this elder befor the end of the change. but now I get a new comp, so I get to go from trunky, to homesick. were going to have to see how these changes go.

 

  other mission news is that this change for the first time since president started, I think we got highter than the goal for baptisms, the goal is 180 every change, but we newver reached it, however I think that we did it this change, in milagro alone we baptized 39 people so we are all excited to see how president reacts.

 

dad you asked me about my shoe size, I have size 11D boots, so that would be cool, about the box, just do what you guys did last time, use the international flat rate, I feel that its the safest way to get here without having to pay alot of money, yeah sure Ill have to pay like 4 bucks, but thats just becuase I am in a country that doesnt even compare to the states with these kind of things.

 

I know that sounds harsh on ecuador, but I seriously love it here, I am just also seeing how much better it could be, and how even when we think that things are bad in the states they are actually really good.thats my little ramble.

 

dad about the car, my plan is to get home spend the first 2 weeks or so getting my car in tip top shape, and finding a job, then Ill enroll in school to get on the insurance and well see where it goes from there. there are also other factors, but all that dosent make a difference, because I am here for at least 1 year more, actually its a a lttle mas than a year, its like 13 and 1/2 monthes until I come home, so Im just going to continue working here and not think about it,

 

but cool story I was reading one of your old email that you sent me, it was in my suitcase and I was looking for something else, but I saw the email and read it, it was form the week of thanks giving, you said something I liked, ¨jon it wont be over tomorrow, but pretty soon it will be christmas, then youll blink it will be april and youll be counting down¨ wow I didnt realize it but your profecy came true, that is exactly how it feels, I seriously cant belie christmas was like 4 monthes ago, I dont like to talk about time, because it is going so fast, I cant slow it down, I want to but I cant, a full change will a trunky comp, went by in the blink of an eye, and my better changes even faster, so the lessoon here is in life we need to take advantage of the here and now, because if we wait, it will go past us so fast that we dont have time to fix or do something, if you guys have someting to do, in a calling, or in the life, do it now .

 

well thats about all I got for today, you know what I would like in my box, so I wont say it, if there is anyother information you want I let you guys know later, probably on wed or thurs Ill let you guys know who is my new comp`.

 

Well I love you lots and hope your all safe, saying prayers and dilligently reading you scriptures,

Love

Elder Jonathan Match

ps LOTS of beef jerkey ( I couldnt help myself)

Hey dad I need you to as soon as possible transfer all of that money out of my card, on Monday my manual got robbed, because it was pday I had all my stuff, my recommend, my id and my 2 credit cards, We weren't in a rush  because I was under the impression that there were only like 15 dollars on my card. Ive already talked with president johns and were getting the rest of the things under control, I'm alright I'm just a little stressed out right now.

Ill talk to you guys later about what we can do, but if were going to get me a new card, the simplest way to get it here safely, is send one of those padded big yellow envelopes that the post office has, keep it under 2 pounds, buy a hallmark card and in that put the card, then put those cards in a sealed envelope, that way when you send the package it will just look like one of the cards your sending me, I am really sorry that this happened, but its part of being a missionary in a  3rd world country, I am sorry.

Love You very much

Elder Match

PS Beef Jerky

sorry fam but I wont be able to write you guys again today, Im out of time, I just hope you all have a good week and stay safe,

I love you all very much

Elder Jonathan Match

hey family Im actually goning to send two emails today because in 15 minutes I have to go to the church, me and and the other 6 elders and 2 sisters of my district we are going to go grille and have a lunch togehter.. wow so I cant believe it snowed, once again there in texas, I  am so mad, the one winter I go away from home to a super hot tropical climate, it snows and youguys get a super awesome winter, so it really is not fair.
wow it sounds like you guys had a cool busy week Im glad that you got to see aj and the family, it would be cool to see you guys but Im here doing my part, and its ok if you guys take care of your bodies and stay safe well see eachother in about a year, so its all good.

dad said it was time to send pics so that what Im doing I got a couple cool ones here, there is one from when we made tacos, and one that shows how much weight Im losing and how my  pants are. I did tell you guys that my companion is from oaxaca mexico, didnt I, well thats wree hes from. also one form how our road was 2 weeks ago after a rain storm, it was literally a river.

this week Ill try to take some pics of my sector and house so you can see what I was talking about, the sector im in right now is really humble,  you need to realize that the people here all work out on the big bananna plantations and only make about 1000 dollars a year, the people are only taking like 30 dollars a week, so its real humble, and its not like we are eating a big ole texas size steak, ( just so you know that is what I want to eat the first night I get home wink wink)

 yeah so Im heading out right now for the grille out, so Ill email you guyss a little later with whats all going on in my sector this week.

love yall lots
elder jonathan match

Hi hows it going,I'm glad to see you are all stressed out in the comforts of your own homes,
 I personally, am here in another country ( 2 oceans away might I add), speaking another language( español, para ustedes allen y sol), and eating different food( well as different as eating white rice everyday can be),and to top it all, as calm as a summers morn.

            maybe that might put a little perspective on how we think of things differently. I'm doing really good here in good ole milagro Ecuador, mom you asked a week or 2 ago if there was a battle here, the answer is no, i don't even think they grow beans here.
            My clothes are holding together pretty well, my socks are fine and there are no major holes in my clothes, the only things is that my pants and collars are starting to get a little ridiculously big.
          but seriously it sounds like your all having a fun time there in texas, seriouly, other than all the crap thats going on with the other parts of the family, how is it going for you guys, it sounds like mom is the only one doing anything fun, she got a new sewing machine and went to a convention, so the question is for you dad and lame(his words not mine) little brother steven. you guys need to get out and start doing stuff, literally or boring house life will drive you crazy, me Im fine here because we are always in the road, talking with different people and teaching different things everyday.
 the work is actually going really good here, it slowed down a little this past week but I hope to be able to get it going once again, we have a really good investigator, Arturo Mendoza, he has 65 years and is always ready and willing to accept and change his life to the things we are teaching him, but his problem is that he dosent go to church, hes assisted 1 time and we cannot baptize him until he goes a couple more times to church, but thats him,
we also have a youth with 20 years and hes good, he was an old investigador, but he started showing up to church a couple of weeks ago and so I think were going to work really hard to bring him back to the fold.

thats whats going in in the work front, mom you made a comment like there is stuff im not teling you, sorry, but your right, there is a TON of stuff that happens to us or around us that I am not telling you, because if you knew the stuff that happend here you would worry, but for me its normal, so just wait and when I come home in a year Ill tell you guys all about it.

so my relationship with elder ortiz is going really well, we have a goood companionship and even though he is super ready to go home (trunky), Im just trying to help him finish the mission the same way I would want to finnish, so well have to see.

thats really cool news about ed, I remember about a year ago when dad told me that she like ed and I was thinking that they could get hitched, but not to pry, but how is she doing with the whole word of wisdom thing? just asking because i know ed is a great guy and I dont want him to have to deal with unnesesary temptation.

Ive got some news thats pretty cool, I was able to have my interview with president this wednesday, and he told me two things 1 that I am going to be here 4 changes ( 6 monthes) and that this next change I will be moving up to senior companion, which is cool figuring that my new comp will probably be just that, new

president also figured out my new realese date and its  June 14th 2011, I know that seems like a while, but its also in the 2nd week of a new change so Ill be coming home on the 25th of may 2011 so thats just to give you guys a little look on things, im actually worried with time, not because its too slow, but becuse its too fast, but its all right I still have a little bit of it.

Hey my boots are holding up really nice the sole is still fine and if it ever gets bad, resoling here in ecuador with a good sole is cheap, but my insoles actually have holes in them, so I was wondering if also we could get some sent here or would you rather I just bought some here.

also remember those twistables you bought me in the crayon form the´re really great but what about some in the colored pencil form, oh yeah a beef jerkey, seriously I think thats all I would like from you guys ( and letters and pictures). jkjkjk

well thats what went on in my life this week
I love you all lots and hope your all staying safe and rember, relax
LOVE
Elder Jonathan Match
Ecuador Guayaquil Sur

Well once again another week has gone by here in good ole milagro ecuador , Im sorry I couldnt write you guys yesterday, me and elder ortiz had to go to cuenca, so it was fun, not, we had to leave milagro at 7am to go to guyaquil to get a bus that went to cuenca at 9 to get to cuenca at 2 pm just to take out my id, which was expired , we didnt leave cuenca until 5pm and our bus got into guayaquil at 945, but the problem is that busses dont go to milagro after 8, because its dangerous, people rob the busses, so we had to go to the house of the office elders and sleep there, then we got up at 630 and came home to milagro just to shower and leave again to our distict meeting, so its been a really long last 30 hours, and Im not going to lie, Im pretty tired,

so could you follow all of that, but it was cool, we got to go up into the mountains and envy the other elders there in cuenca ( because its all cold and rich) so well just have to see how it all turns out.

like you asked yes dad I am writing spencer and emily, Im trying to start every week so well have to see how that goes, and why would I not write them, their like the only friends I have, but on the topic of writing, could you find out if aunt beth has an email address, the mail system here in milagro is basically nonexistint

dad seriously just get the seals on the car and the doors working and when I get home Im going to do all the work myself, so dont worry about that, but also yes we should definatly go to pittsburg when I get home,

about the mission stuff, here in ecuador, its basically impossible to move up to senior companion or train until you have a year in the mission, Im doing good for my new group, because with all the other elders telling me, I should train this next change, and if that happens it wont be long until im a district leader, but dont worry about that, its just leadership, I would be happy just working as an elder, that doesnt mean I dont want leadership, but it doesent matter, you can work a heck of alot harder when you dont have to worry about the wellfare of other elders.

not alot of things went on in the work this week, I finally got to know the other 2 cites of my area, 1 is called los tubos (t(oo)bos
pronounced) and the other is called garacoa ( as is) its super cool, garacoa is an hour away from milagro in bus, and its pure bananna farms and rainforest, this next saturday I am going to take my camera and get some cool pictures to send you guys, you can even see the mountains in the distance,

well thats all I got for today, my health is fine ( tired but fine) and we are eating plenty even though I probably only weigh like 195 pounds.

I love you lots and hope your all staying safe Elder Match Mision ecuador guayaquil sur

So how has the week gone for you guys, im sitting here and just realized how fast this week has gone by, but that not the point, Life here in milagro is giong great, last saturday we go to baptize another persone into the church of christ and its was cool, we are going to be able to achieve the mission goal of 180 baptisms this change, so it should be really cool to see how we do as a mission, but I have faith that it will all go well.

a couple of things have happened these last 2 weeks, I know you told me not to build any houses, so I took your advice and helped to build a bridge instead, actually we didnt finish it so one of these days we will go back to do it, Ive got some cool pictures, becuase it required us to go into the rain forest to cut down trees and to work in water up to my waist, so its really cool,and another week Im going to email youguys the pictures,

also here in ecuador we are having a really bad winter, that means lots of heat and lots and lots of rain, there has been alot of flooding and we got to expierience it first hand the other night, it rained super hard for like 6 hours straight and our street literally turned into a river with water a foot 1/2 deep, so it was crazy, I have pics of this also and one of these ddays Ill send you a pic,

yeah we heard about the earthquake in chile and its a little scary because i have a friend from my last sector that is serving a mission in conception chile right now, so crazy I know. not alot of funny things happen here, the people are real simple and if we laugh its because of a joke,

but yesterday we were walking down the road and lo and behold 3 cows came around the corner, a heifer a calf and a bull, I like the smart one, walked across the street, and avoided them, but my companion was like oh nothing will happen, right as he got past the bull, the bull kicked his back legs,and almost hit my comp, so yeah that was a little sketchy, but thats the kind of area im in.

hey I want you guys to send me somthig when you get the money and the chance, I would like you to send me a rugby ball, we are always playing on p day and I would like a ball to be able to pass around, you can send it deflated with a cheap hand pump, so if you could that would be awesome, and if you have questions about a ball just ask garret or spencer bradford, so please, that would be really cool.

hows the life going there here its good, my shoulder is fine and Im doing 20 pushups everyday,

well I love you all very much, stay safe and keep the faith

Love

Elder Jonathan Match

hey mom wow sounds like the olympics were fun to watch, the people here in ecuador couldnt care less about the winter olympics, they dont even know what the sports are, when it is time for the summer its different because there are ecuatorians, but right now the major part of the people dont even know that there are winter olypmics, well Ill write the rest in my email to the family,

love you lots,

Elder Jonathan Match