Missionary Update

I finally got all the pictures organized from the last 5 months or so of Nathan's mission.  Here's the update:

In July and August, Nathan was serving in Quito as a finder missionary, specifically finding people for other missionaries to teach.  He served with Elder Ramirez and Elder Hill in Quito.  A few notable experiences were knocking on the door of a drug house, hearing gun shots a block away, and feeling an earthquake.  His companion was sick enough to have to be in the hospital for a little bit.  Despite the hard times, he continued to have good experiences and enjoyed his service there.  He got to give a priesthood blessing to a woman who was sick.  

In September, Nathan was transferred to the jungle area of Lago Agrio (Nueva Loja) in Oriente, where he is still currently serving.  It's very hot and humid there, often in the 90's.  He served with Elder Rivera from Peru until he finished his mission.  He has also served with Elder Bayles and Orellana Vera (not sure where they were from) and Elder Borbor, from Ecuador.  In this area, they serve in a branch (smaller than a ward), and 7 other missionaries cover that area.  They often travel 1.5 to 2 hours away to teach people.  They helped open a new area in Cascales and had 2 baptisms of people there, the pioneers for that area (they were baptized in a river).  The people are very willing to learn, and they have had 20 people attending church to learn more.  

Nathan served as district leader and currently serving as zone leader, so he's had more leadership responsibilities in this area.  Some memorable experiences are riding a motorcycle on the way to a teaching appointment, riding the bus long distances, eating live grub worms (gusanos), teaching an English class of over 20 kids, and a service project helping to install pipes for a bathroom (in the rain).  They met a 79-year old member of church, who 4 months prior had been baptized.  During the pandemic, his other church wouldn't allow him to attend because of his age and Covid risk.  He left and later saw missionaries from our church and called them over.  He started learning about the church and was recently baptized.  

Nathan really enjoys serving, teaching, and meeting the people there.  He has seen changes in himself and continues to grow and build his own testimony.  He said, "Tomorrow I hit a year of being on the mission!  It's so crazy that time has flew by so fast.  So far it has been an amazing experience and I have learned so much.  As a missionary you truly grow as a person and come to have a greater testimony of the truth.  I love this gospel and this opportunity to be able to participate in this great work and participate in the Gathering of Israel...

Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." 

...This year as a missionary I have come to learn that this scripture is true.  We are all given weaknesses, but as we humbly accept them and work on them, we receive strength.  We also receive direction in our life and become the person that God wants us to be.  Personally, I know that this process is hard.  Honestly, it has been really hard for me, but each day I am working on my weaknesses and I am slowly seeing power and truth of the atonement of Jesus Christ.  It brings more joy and understanding to the gospel.  And so my invitation is to humbly kneel down and ask God how you need to change.  Don't be afraid to start the journey!  I promise you that you will be a different person for the rest of your life and have greater power and control in your life.  Being a missionary has been the greatest opportunity to experiment with this promise."  

Nathan traveled back to Quito for a Christmas party with his zone and the mission president.  They got to stay there a few days since the bus ride to get there was about 8 hours.  In Quito, they got to go bowling, out to eat, and to the Quito Temple.  We get to chat with Nathan every Monday, which was Christmas day, but we also got to chat a little on Christmas Eve.  It was heart-wrenching to chat on Christmas Eve, finding out that they didn't have anything for dinner that day.  Their gas was out on their stove, so they couldn't make anything, and they didn't really have anything to eat in their apartment.  They were waiting for a member meal, but it didn't come until the next day at lunch time.  Meanwhile, back here in the states, we were with family about to enjoy a large Christmas feast, so it was hard to hear he didn't have anything to eat. 

I sent Nathan a Christmas and birthday package, which he received when he traveled to Quito.  I didn't send much this year, as he said he didn't really need anything except sunscreen.  I still sent some money, our Christmas letter, candy, apple pie treat, and a pair of socks.  One notable thing is that I decided at the last moment that I should get socks to send.  I ran out the evening before I was sending the package to get socks.  When I got to the store, I felt that I needed to also buy socks for his companion.  I was already including candy and such for his companion, but I had the thought to include socks for both of them as well.  Nathan said that sending the socks was inspired, because his companion didn't have socks and had been borrowing Nathan's socks.  I'm glad the Lord prompted me to help with their needs.  

With Elder Hill

With Elder Hill and Elder Ramirez

Bad haircut

With Elder Rivera

Eating live grub worms

Helping install a bathroom

Helping teach in Lumbaqui (2 hours away)

With Elder Borbor

Light the World celebration

Early Christmas present

Savannah bought a trampoline... but Alex bought himself a Lego set.  He apparently had some points which significantly reduced the price, and so he couldn't resist buying it. 

Well-earned trampoline

Our trampoline had been broken for a while, and Savannah had been wanting a new one.  We didn't really want to buy another one, but Alex said if Savannah earned $200, we could get another one.  He didn't think she'd do that, but she worked hard and earned the money.  She made cookies and sold them to her friends, along with little gift bags of some of her toys and things.  She also made smoothies and snacks for us, only asking for tips if we wanted to give something.  She also read books and earned money by doing book reports, which has been a money-making source for our kids for a little while now.  Her long-awaited trampoline arrived in December, almost like an early birthday present except that she earned the money for it. She tried to get the boys to donate some money, and she got just a little bit from Owen.  I told her she should charge her brothers $1/hour to jump on the trampoline until she earns the money back... she's too kind-hearted to make them pay, but she's enjoying her new trampoline. 

Thanksgiving

The Sunday before Thanksgiving, our good friend Nathan spoke in church for his mission send-off to Bogota, Columbia.  We went to a farewell for him the next evening and then woke up at 4:30am to send him off at the airport on Tuesday morning.  

We had Thanksgiving meal with this same family, along with another family of 7, the 2 missionaries serving in our ward, and 4 other friends.  So we hosted 22 people at our home for Thanksgiving.  The meal prep is a little easier though with everyone contributing food. 

Owen and his friend Jack had a key lime pie contest, for which our friend Donald was the judge.  Jack's pie was a little better tasting and a little better presentation, but we enjoyed both pies, along with all the other ones.  We had a lot of fun, and the food was great.

 

Family Pics and Christmas Stuff

 We took our own family photo again this year, which took a little while to get the camera propped up just right.  At least the kids are really good at standing still and cooperating now!  We just had to get one that everyone was satisfied with, so it took more than a few tries.  I added a picture of Nathan on our photo and sent them out with our Christmas letter.  I took a few more photos with Jared, Owen, and the dog.  Kai just likes to lick you if you sit too close, so that was pretty funny trying to get her to sit with Jared and Owen.  

I put together little bags of chocolate for the church leaders and teachers.  I made a ton of cookies again this year to deliver to friends and neighbors.  I did run out of time to make cookies for everyone I planned on delivering to, so some of those families had to settle for a card in the mail. 

We decorated our tree and put up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving this year.  Since we would be traveling for Christmas, we wanted a little more time to enjoy our Christmas decor.  The kids were pretty obnoxious when it came time to decorate the tree though.  Weston wanted to play his trombone, and Owen and Savannah were fighting over decorating the top of the tree.  It wasn't a magical experience... 

November Camping

Alex took the boys on a backpacking trip over Veterans Day weekend, in which they did 10.5 miles through the Ventana Wilderness.  He also went with Jared, Weston, and a few other guys on a camping trip for a couple days before Thanksgiving, out in the desert. Savannah and I enjoyed our girls night during that first trip, but I didn't take any pictures.  We did some shopping, went out to eat, and watched a movie.  Owen had a basketball game during the 2nd camping trip, so he missed that trip.  The boys love these outdoor excursions together.