well there are actually good points and bad points to the week, its a very confusing one for the heart strings.

so on Wednesday President Johns goes back home to Texas, and president Montalti comes in from Venezuela. on sunday he came to our stake conference here in milagro and when it was time to leave, he just gave us all a hug goodbye and we took a picture, but I will get to see him again tomorrow, when I go to the trainers meeting,

oh yeah, Elder Fletcher got changed and I am training, again... no its really cool, but the sad thing with this my second son, is that i will probably only be with him for these 6 weeks and then I will getting out of dodge ( milagro in this case), I have no Idea if it will be a latino or if Im going to get a gringo again... thats how it is with training , you get to feel the uncomfortableness of not knowing whats going to happen twice in a change, once at the change, and then again when he gets here tomorrow.  Im putting in a couple of pictures for your viewing enjoyment,

the story with the suits is kinda funny, when I went to go pick up my suit we accidentaly grabbed the wrong pants, so when I get  home to try it on, I didnt have pants that fit, but we realized that my gym shorts are about the same color, so I just poped those on and we took the pics, me and elder fletcher have custom made suits, and they look good, also I wore the whole thing to stake conference and it looks really good with the pants and everything.

 

mom about souvenirs, 1 I have alot of time left to be thinking about that, and 2 I already have alot of really cool stuff that I want to get you guys here, Lots of handmade crafts, and dad if you want a wood instrument, here is the right place to do it, they are everywhere, what were you thinking.

 

wow steven that is really cool that you were able to have an expierence like that, it honestly could be like once in a lifetime, It must have been really cool to have gotten to see all the different people from all around, how were you guys dressed, in t shirts or in scrubs, becuase that is super cool, keep up the good work, you only have 1 more year of high school, dont be like me and be lazy with off periods, if you can take some fun interesting classes, and work really hard, it will pay off in the end, and how is work going, are you still at dominoes, or have you quit yet, honestly if you can steven keep the job there it is so worth it, because you have the ability to earn alot of money there. oh yeah and stay out of the freaking sun, I know how it is to be walking around in the sun all day, i do it every day here, steven skin cancer is not worth it, just keep covered up,

 

so speaking about the sun, actually we are going into winter here, and I never would have thougt it but it is actually getting alot cooler, to the point that the nights are really cold, its really cool, still warm enough to wear short sleeves but cool enough that the warm is almost starting to feel good, so its weird, I would like to go to the mountains in a little bit because there it actually gets cold and it would be fun to have to wear a sweater all day

 

hey tell michaelanne that I say hi,.

 

wow its a bummer that you guys sold the bmw. that was a good bike, dad you are right I do need to learn on a smaller bike but living here, I totally see the need for a big bike and the difference that it makes, so Ill probably get home, earn some money, get a smaller bike, sell that and then get a bigger bike, Mabye a bmw like the one we had.

 

all is well here in milagro, our program is down in the dumps, but thats the mission, I just have to keep working, obeying ALL of the comandments and pray, and eventually the success will come, so dont worry about that it will all turn out well in the end.

 

well thats about all that I got for the week, as soon as the investigadores start coming thats when I will be able to tell you guys about all the wonderfull spiritual expieriences that im having.here in milagro.

 

well love you lots and hope all is well there

 

Elder Jonathan Match

Mision Ecuador Guayaquil Sur

Hey,
Like I said I know its a little crazy, but yet again another week has gone by, I just realized as I was typing this that this is the last june 21 I will have in the mission, I know Im not trying to be trunky, thats just a natural part of the mission coming to the realization that you are getting old in the mission, that pretty soon here all the elders that you really know are starting to go home or will be going home really soon, Its like elder halls, he only has 4 changes left in the mission, and its super crazy to think like that, its the reason that I dont talk like that, it brings way to many problems.

so like I forgot to start, happy fathers day, I know you could here all the enthusiasm in my voice, Im not trying to be mean, the thing is that here fathers day means, just a lot of drinking hard, and domestic disputes, but thank goodness its over, and for the fact that we live in a country that if you are going to do your drinking you are going to generally do it behind closed doors and not put your giant speakers facing outwards to the road, but seriously dad thanks for all that youve done for me, I really truly appreciate it.

on the car front, because as you all know I really do need to talk about my car at least 1 time a week while I am writing so that I dont go stir crazy only doing missionary work here in ecuador. if you want to buy the carpet kit and the seat kit now because you think you can get a better deal I say do it, but I want for sure to do those two things, not you, all of the inside work on the car i want to do, speaking of a new dash cover, that might be good figuring that the last one we put on is all warped and was only a half cover, so if you buy a new cover, a full cover will funcion and look better that the little half ones. also with the electricity I will need your help, the main thing is that the dome light dosent light and the clock doesnt work and it sometimes shuts off and its like there is not battery so I guess I will just have to trace wires until I find whats draining it. you say that it will take monthes to finish my car, Father I expect the only thing that will hold me back from working on my car will either be, class or Im simply waiting for the part to get in, I think you are really underestimating how much I am going to be working on that blue goddess of mine.

mom I came to like the 2nd best mission in the world for seafood, next to like an asian mission. we eat alot of seafood here, like honestly 2 days ago I was eating crab, granted its not going to compare in the amount of meat that you guys have on the crab there but I got to get the taste of it, but crab here is also rare, its everywhere and really cheap, the people are just lazy and rarely cook it.

dad get into shape thats all im going to say, Im not worrried about you having a heart attack while i am on the mission thats less than a year, but when steven is, you are seriously starting the falling apart of your body years dad and its seriously not worth it to excercise, I no you dont want to and it sucks but at least you need to go walking EVERY night, and honestly go get a physical with dr burchard and get you heart checked, its like I tell all of the people here, the life isnt easy, it shouldnt be easy, if it was easy it  wouldnt be the life, things suck but, we grow when we break old habits and make new ones. we are way way better people when we can learn from the past, correct all of our past mistakes and keep going on in the life.

Now about the boat, dad Im not going to lie I have been jonesin for some water sking, but honestly its your decision, I like the boat, you know that when I wasnt being lazy, Im the one that likes boating, but its up to you, Im also not going to lie a jet ski would be really cool, because I could take my friends and we could just do a really easy quick launch and go tubing behind a jet ski. but like I said, your decision

Im going to pick up the whole suit today, but I have already tried on the jacket and the pants and it looks really good, it goes really well with my sun bleached hair, and it looks good, the pics will come next week. and the boot insoles are working really well, the leather on my boots is super soft and they just mold to my feet.

the work started picking up a little more this week, me and elder fletcher just picked up our records and went and visited every single family that was in the book and now we have couple of appointments, actually tonight is actually going to be really really busy, tonight we have the oppurtunity to get our entire goal of 10 news, its really cool, we are packed starting at 6 and its work all night, but its good, because working is way better than just sitting around. trying to look for news, the thing is you think that people are cold in the states, they dont even compare to the people here, the level of religous fanaticism that exists here is redic, like in the states, we love religion, they do too here, the only difference is that here they think that is has to be a war or a fight and that literally the ¨mormons¨ are of the devil, so after every contact that was a dud, me and elder fletcher, just got into the habit of saying , your cold blooded, or your as cold as ice, ( its a chapells show reference, ask steven) (p.s rick james)

but the work is starting to get better here and I know that it will start off one of these days. for the better,
well stay safe family, have a good, week and keep the faith,
Love
Elder Match
Mision Ecuader Guayaquil Sur.

well dad- family, I thought that I was hurting as a missionary here in ecuador but? it turns outt your doing just as bad there in the states.,

?

First off about the suit, its already paid for and done, I went to the fabric store and picked out my fabrick, and then we went over to bro valensuelas house and gavie it to him with the money, really its ok, elder fletcher has already done his, I know that in the states, 100 dollars wouldnt get you a good suit if yoiu wanted it to, you probably coulndnt have even got the jacket for 100, but here, its really cool, hes our friend so he was just like, go buy the fabric and another 55 for work costs, did I mention that its going to be a freaking 3 piece suit, I bought an extra yard of fabric for that and its going to be really really cool, this thing is custom fitted to my body and hes also leaving extra fabric so that if I do get a little bit fatter it can be let out and still fit me. dont worry if its even close to the quality that elder fletchers suit is, it will be really good, he should have it done by this week and Ill send pics to you next week, its ok, Im also totally fine on the money front.

?

on the z car front, I know that you have things to do and I do expect fully to spend like me first 3 weeks home, not leaving the garage or driveway just? working on that ole car of mine, but we worked pretty hard on that paint job and I would like that its not getting damaged, if you say taht dust isnt good for it I would like if you? could at least get the dust off of it, also , I know that just a little just isnt going to kill the car, but I am to the next part of the project which is? doing the interior, and getting it sealed off from the enviorment and air and huumidity would probably be pretty good for the car, yes I do understand that in the garage isnt exactly 创exposed to the elements创 but? I would kinda like to seal her up, just to that when Im doing the electrical work I wont have to clean the dust out of the components,燽ut I kid you not the biggest things im looking forward to doing when I get home is making my baby the coolest car ever and? going on dates, I know jon match dates, who knew.

?

no so about the box thing, if you send me a little package, like say under 2 pounds, its like 17 bucks or something and I dont even have to go and get it , it just gets mailed straight to me wherever I am, so like If I asked for a thing of cookies or candy or somthing or somehting small I dont have to go get it out of hawk, and if you want to send me a bigger package, and you dont want me to pay the 创taxes创 ( what they call them here) you have to keep it under 4 kilos, thats about 8 pounds but you have to be sure.

?

營m glad that you are trying to go walk the dog, it will help you and the dog, Im serious, I know that its hard, you come home from work tired, your legs hurt and you would just rather rest, but you should really be working out everynight, your to the point in your life that if you dontget working out and keeeping you heart in control that it could turn out bad and its possible to have problems with the heart.

?

Also Ive totally seen how unprepared the people are here for any tytpe of disaster whatsoeve. I have also been stuydying about the new jeruselem and that stuff pretty hard, and the thing is dad that ffoood storage is a very really good thing to have, I just know that for all the life we were never super good with food strotage and I just feel like it would be really really good to get real food storage going, the thing is its worth the pain that comes trying to do it in that point? seriouly, it would just be way better for you guys to start really doing it, I just keep thinking of alma 34 just how we cant procrastinate tht day of our repentance and just how that should also work with all the things of our life,

?

did yiou know ( of course not you there in the states) that here in ecuador the people are super duper lazy, but now in the ward we are trying to get a gardening program going, the thing is that here the people live day to day, you get paid, you send your wife to go to the corner store and buy your rice and whatever that you are going to eat, so we as a ward are trying to get the people to start planting their own crops so that they can kinda bread the yoke of bondage that they have with their laziness.

?

so not to tell you guys how much the work has fallen here, but I am no to the point here in milagro that we literally have NO program, so in the course of like 2 days I kid you not we lost all of our baptisms and dates for baptisms and investigatores, all we have left are 2 investigators that arent really progressing, so its? kinda depressing, we have this girl MIA she is the sister of jonathan alava, my convert, she is actually golden she had such great social conversion, the only lproblem is that the members here in ecuador are not the best examples of how a well organized perfect church is supposed to be run, so the problem is that she is super duper smart, shes 24, and she is totally seeing the two facedness of the members here, its like they say, yes I am a member of the true church of jesus christ, but then dont act like members of the true church of christ. so it is pretty depressing, when all her friends found out that she wasnt going to get baptised this week they were all in shock and didnt want to believe it. but its ok, she will get baptized she just need to get going more with her spiritual conversion.

?

so the box turned out all right, I have been able to manage my beef jerkey and I still have some, I know its amazing, Im just forcing myself not to just rip into the bag, the cookies were good, the snickerdoodles were really good they are just hard as rocks. you take a bite off and just let it softenup-disolve in your mouth. the ricecrispie treat was really cool, I dont know if its a good or bad thing but I took that treat down in one sitting. its ok though because I left the house afterward and walked 20k, I know that sounds like an exageration but I kid you not as missionaries and witht the sector that I have here in milagro we walk about 20k everyday and its doing wonders, my legs are rock hard there is no fat on them whatsoever, and my gut has gone down supriseingly alot, and my face has changed , I dont know why燽ut all the pics I take my face always looks different, its just weird. Ive still got my hair, and in sufficient abundance that I dont look bald, but I still think Im coming home and just going to shave my head, just because I can do it.

?

well Ive got nothing else, I hope that next week my news about the sector will be better, we are in week 6 of this 7 week change, so Ive still got 2 weeks minimum here in milagro.

?

Love you all lots

Elder Jonathan Match

?

?

Well another week has gone by, it was pretty cool, the only problem is that not a heck of alot is going on, just grindstone missionary work, oh yeah and the fact that I have had a splitting hadache sinve yesterday in the afternoon, I only slept about 3 hours list night and at 3 am I had to get up and just take drugs it was so bad, so Im definatly lot looking to fowrward, to starting the whole migrane thing but they are starting to come more frequently, Im hooping its just for the stress of all the missionary work that Im doing, because if not its not going to be all that fun to have to start having these, Im mean I dont like to complain at all Im just sitting going almost on 24 hours straight headache,

 

this last saturday thougha we did an open house in the chaple, it went really well, we did it with the youth and what happened was there were 6 rooms and each of the rooms had a presentation,different, we helped the youth a little and they all made their own station, there was one on profets, one on history of the church, andothers on word of wisdom and the book of mormon, it went really well , all in all we got a good 37 contacts out of it and we are gong to get to see how they work out as we go through this week. so I am excited to see if we canget any quality investigators our of it.

 

so last night I ded get spit on though tahat was a fun expierience, i was walking in the road and a truck came past and I guess the people in the back of the truck dont like mormons so they pulled past me and one in hte back just spit on me, I had to go to where there are members to wash out my hair, so that I could get it out, but its ok I didnt feel mad or anything, I just rest in the knowledge dont worry, hell get his.

 

wow steven it sounds like you have a super lots of things to do, but seriously you should be so gratefull that you have the oppurtunidad to be able the be part of a church organization that is just so much better than it its here, are you kidding you couldnt get the youth heree to come out early to go to a meeting if your likfe depended on it, I ked you not we really do work alot harder in the states, but the people here are great, them here just still need to grow up a little in the church.

 

so im sending you some pics of our station in the open house, and the milk pile that me and elder fletcher built up, because the milk here comes in boxes and is super processed. so enjoy

 

well thats about it for the week tell mom I missed her and hope that she has a good time in san antonio, and to stay safe,

 

well love you lots,

Elder Match

right now Im just sitting here in the grocery store cyber, Im going to go shop then go home drop of the food and then, we are going to go write, so dont worrry I will write you guys today, Ill be coming back to write in like an hour, so if youive got some good news for me you can let me know, that would be cool.

Love Jonathan.

hey dad i got my box today in the morning, man talk about hassle, waiting in lines for an hour just to have to pay 50 freaking bucks in total, but I have it, so asap (jk but seriously) it would be cool if you could activate it, also fyi, going on 9+ months of not eating anything even remotly spicy, that beef jerkey really makes me sweat,
Love you lots

Jonathan