Dry cold -> hot humid -> wet cold = common cold.

Hola todos!

We had another great week this week. 

The bus trips out to the jungle were really long.
5 hours traveling...

We met the husband of Marlene (William) who, in the beginning was really skeptical saying and not really interested in following what we said. But at the end of the lesson, we talked really directly to him, and when we were heading out the door, he said "If I get a chance I´ll come to church on Sunday." Sunday came, and he and Marlene were there with their five year old daughter. Wow! It really helped me realize how important the spirit is in the work.

We also traveled out to the jungle this week and had a really good time with the missionaries out there. But the only problem is that leaving the cold climate here, to go to the hot climate there, and returning to the cold climate here where it was raining, is not so good for the immune system. I caught a cold and this weekend was sick. I´m feeling a little better now, maybe restoration 70% (kingdom hearts reference.) But am excited to get to work.

This weekend we also had a baptism!

Carlos asked me to baptize him. It was soo wonderful.

Carlos Masabanda was a Jehovah´s Witness, but after hearing the missionaries, he loved everything we teach and wanted to be baptized. He is 78, and has trouble walking, but is willing to follow all of God´s commandments and loves the gospel. I´m soo happy for him!

Well I believe that´s all for today! If you have questions I´d love to answer them!

Chao!

Elder Cloward

The spirit fell like a lightning strike

Hola todos!

Wow! What a week we had. 

Tuesday we went to the leader`s council and were inspired and edified by all of the missionaries. I could feel the spiritual power in every single leader there.

Then when we got back, we had the most powerful lesson I`ve ever had in my whole mission. Last week we met someone named Marlene. She was interested in our message but seemed hesitant.  But she came to church last week, still seeming skeptical. This week when we met with her and taught about the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. When we got to talking about the first vision of Joseph Smith, I could tell that something big was going to happen. But Marlene still seemed skeptical. When we talked about the Book of Mormon, my companion was prompted to tell her to open the book and read the first thing she saw. She was really nervous to start reading, but when she started reading, it felt like the Spirit fell like a lightning rod hitting all of us in the room. I felt like I was going to explode because the answer God was giving to Marlene was soo powerful.

Afterwards, she said, I didn`t understand what the book said, (the scripture wasn`t really relevant) but God told me that my search for the truth has finished. I have found the truth. It was the most powerful moment in my mission.

Also General Conference was the best!!! 10 people we are teaching attended the sessions. I felt like God was talking to me through his prophets and apostles. I challenge you all to follow their council.

I know I said last week that we would travel out to the jungle this week but we had to postpone it. This week we will be going and I will take lots of pictures.

Well I believe that`s all folks. Here`s a picture of me and my old friend Elder Burga after the leader`s council.

Elder Cloward

Lot´s of traveling coming soon

Hola Todos!

Things are really great here in Ambato. First of all our sector is a lot bigger here and there is a lot more farmland. Ambato is known for it´s fruits and bread. However it is rather dry here in Ambato and I find myself getting really tired if I don´t drink a lot of water. The weather reminds me of Texas, just a little less hot. =P

The ward here is really big, with more than 250 members attending every Sunday. I think it will take a while to meet all of them, but they already have given us a lot of references, so I am really excited for that.

The first thing they gave us to eat on Tuesday was Guinea pig with potatoes and peanut sauce. Soooooo good.

Also this week we did a service for a member by cleaning out her water tank. Behind her house she had a big tank that fills with water, and we cleaned all the muck spider´s and slug´s out of it. At the end we put bleach and vinegar to clean the rest out and the smell was soo strong that my companion felt like he was intoxicated.

We have a few really great people we are teaching. 

Carlos is an older man who was a Jehovah´s witness but he likes our church better. We have to pick him up to go to church because he can´t walk really well, but is really excited to learn more.

Yesterday we were getting ready to go to lunch and the Ortiz family called us. Well they are a reference from another family and are having a lot of problems in their family. They are really looking for ways to make their family better. 

This week we have a leader's meeting in Quito so we have to leave really soon. Also we are planning on traveling to the jungle part of the zone to do divisions with the district leader there. I am going to bring my machete. =P

I´ll have more news soon! 

Elder Cloward

Here´s a few fotos of me leaving Quito

It was probably the hardest to leave Mauricio. He´s such a good guy. I´ve known him for 4 months and we´ve learned a lot of great things together. 

Changes, leaving a great sector, new assignment

Hola mis amigos!

This week was just wonderful. Even though the weather was really silly. In the morning there is a really strong sun that burns, and in the afternoon it rains really hard, kind of silly if you try to dry clothes and forget to take them down in the afternoon.

really bad sunburn after a day full of sports.

Also this week we met a really really great family of four. The dad is Octavio, the mom, Ines, and their children, Angelo an d Abril. They had a dream about us after the first visit, and we helped them realize that God wanted them to follow our message. They accepted to prepare to be baptized on April 20th. They are amazing , although I won´t be the one to see what happens with them, because...

We had changes, and I am going to Ambato. Which is a small beautiful city further south in the mission. I´m going to be a zone leader, which is really exciting to me. 

Elder Meza finished his training, he is a really good missionary, and will be really successful in his mission. I´m sure I will see him further along in his mission.

Zona la Colón

Well That´s all folks!

Elder Cloward