FAMILAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

¿Cómo están, todos?  Les extraño y les amo.  Espero que todo vaya bien en sus vidas y que están disfrutando su tiempo con Parkito.  It´s hard to believe that I have another week down here in Los Esteros.  It´s definitely a lot different trabajando aquí que en Milagro.  The roads are all paved, the houses are a little nicer, I saw a microwave in someone´s house, and we actually used forks this week!  Usually we just eat with spoons and use our fingers if we have to cut meat, but this week I used a fork and a knife.  Weird.  I love it here.  It´s hot, but it´s turning into winter...more or less.  We only have winter and summer, but everything feels like summer to me.  I didn´t sweat for a whole day this week, though.  It was incredible!

So first of all, I want to apologize for always forgetting to wish everyone happy holidays BEFORE the holiday.  I always have intentions to remember, but now I´ll have to redeem myself:  HALFY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTIAN!!!!!  I was thinking about you all day on the 4th...and a little bit about Star Wars (May the Forth be with you).  Also, I forgot Earth Day on the 22nd of Abril, happy birthday to Natalya on the 29th, happy birthday to Emily on the 30th, happy May Day on the first (rabbit rabbit), and happy Cinco de Mayo ayer.  Full holidays.  Here, the word "full" (pronounced "fool") is big.  Instead of saying "muy" or "mucho", they say "full."  Hace full calor.  Tengo full hambre....por ejemplo.

I love Ecuador, except for when people don`t come to church.  We had a Stake Conference this week, and worked wicked hard with the members to get the people excited to come to the conference.  We had 26 people commited to come, and only 5 came.  We passed by for everyone...weren`t home, were sick, their daughter was about to give birth...every excuse possible to skip out on hearing the word of God.  I felt legitimately sad on Sunday for the first time in the mission because of these people making the decision to reject this message.  I know that the gospel will bless everyone´s lives, and I´ve come to love the people here so much that it makes me sad to see them turn away from the truth.  I can´t even imagine how our Father in Heaven feels when we reject His word, or intentionally choose the wrong, or don`t want to make a sacrifice for Him.  He´s given us everything, and only asks a little of us.  I need to be better at remembering the blessings Heavenly Father has given me, being grateful for them, and showing my gratitude back.

We have 6 people with baptismal dates and they`re great.  The biggest desafío es asistencia a la Iglesia.  This is VITAL in conversion and staying strong in your testimony.  Really, by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.  Praying, reading the scriptures, and going to church are basics, but they´re vital, key, important, everything!  If we are strong in these three areas, we will be strong in our testimonies for the rest of our lives.  That´s a promise.

Extremely random thoughts from the week: Elder Duzett from my MTC district is in my zone here!  It´s like a little piece of home...almost.  I found a quarter from NH the other day and I was so happy.  I gave it to my compañera so that she can remember me.  I have 3 twins here: a previous hermana, the sister of my zone leader, and some lady on TV apparently (no idea who).  There are two guys in my ward who look like Gilligan and Brother Farnsworth. Weird fruits we have here are chirimolla and zapote.  The fauxhawk/mullet hairstyle is really popular here.  Someone played the song Rasputein from Just Dance 2 the other day.  Random!  The garbage truck here plays the song from the menu of Elf.  It drives me nuts.  I´ve picked up my old habit of kicking everything in sight...mostly rocks.

Well, I think that´s enough random thoughts for now.  I love you all!  The church is true and is directed by Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is our Savior and He loves us all.  The Book of Mormon is true and testifies of Him!  Read it!


Hermana Ayer

P.S. How´s Sunkist??

P.P.S.  Talk to you in a weeeeeeeeek!