Week 10

Time is flying. 3.5 months done as of today. Pretty typical week, at least like they have been for forever. Anyways, I think I learned one of the most important life lessons this past week, one that I knew I needed to learn but I dont think that I could have learned it any other place than here. I do not know why I was letting myslef be bothered by my comp? Why? I could teach him, show him what to do, and the likely hood is that he would move on after the short time we have together and then just do it again with the next companion. I realized that, this is the way he was taught, the way he grew up and the way he is. I dont need to change him, hes a unique person and if he wants change then he needs to do it himself not me. I also realized Im not here to be the teacher, the babysitter or the counslelor... Im here to be an example and love him. That whole time I was looking for things I could change in him, when all I had to do was change one thing in myslef. And now, Im happy, things are the same but with my attitude different, Im a lot happier then I was. 

I was studying PMG this week in the attibutes of Christ chapter and learned alot. Also thinking back to how people judge those around them. For what? Because they walk differnet? Talk different? Well, they do not know a single thing about them and they have no room to judge. Makes me sick to think how many times every single day that happens. Happens here with me. Yeah Im white, Im tall. If we were all the same, what fun would that be? I wnt everyone to remember that were not here to change or judge only to love, help and accept.

Anyways, got some cooking lessons this past week from the lady that lives below us and I make some mean salad and some killer rice now. Yeah I know, Rice isnt that hard... Yeah good rice, my rice ooooo baby, so good! Trying our for iron chef Ecuador next Pday. haha 

On wednesday my comp and the comp of another elder had a meeting with all the leaders in the mission because they are district leaders sooo I dont know who thought it was a good idea to put two new missionaries together ahha becasue this Elder, Elder Saman was in my same group that came here haha so it was interesting to have us two unexpirencened Elders together for they day, needless to say we were a bit lost! 

Tomorrow we have a big meeting with the Mish President. Hes trying to uplift and motivate us because the mission as a whole is stuggling right now. They set a high goal to hit 290 baptisms before the end of the year so the work is cut out for us. 

Agency. Our hardest thing to overcome. Not very many like to follow through with comittments or read or come to church. They dont even seem to like to give it a shot. Its hard as a missionary becasue I want them to follow through and be able to recieve the blessings that we promise, and its also hard beacause we want to have success. Persevar hasta al fin, endure to the end! They are out there.

Thanks to all who write me and applogies for my English, Im not speaking it too well either. But thanks for all the support, please keep it up, its helps so much. Love and miss you all! 

Elder Strang

Week 9 I think? 

Well, I have learned a lot this past week, and that is to never give up. We have been denied, shut down, book of mormns returned and no one wanting to follow through with commitments. The whole agency thing can be a killer for the missionary work. People dont understand that Im here for them, that I care about their eternal salvation and that rides on everything we are telling them and is testified in a book that they are holding in their hands. This week I broke down after an investigator returned a book of mormon and didnt want to talk with us anymore, I called the zone leaders and talked with them. I learned something very important. When you care so much about one person to wake up at 6:30 in the morning, walk your legs off all day in 90 degree weather with 90% humidity, all for this person. Its hard to leave people when they arent progressing because you feel so much hope and love that they can and will do it. Enduring to the end and having hope that you will find those who are prepared for you, thats the thing that I learned last week.

We put 3 baptism dates last week and the one was for last saturday but shes having a true trial of her faith and shes struggling with a lot right now. Also antoher family, we put two dates with them and hoping to put the others tonight!

So when I got here someone forgot to metion that different words have different meaning in spanish countries. For example. Bag, like a grocery bag. Normally you would say bolsa, but here you use fonda because bolsa means man parts. So ask me what it was like when I walked into a store and said I need a bolsa.... hahaha

Papa Jhons last week was manna from heaven! 2 for 1 on tuesdays so we split the cost and got two giant ones! Really good and shared with the people we live above and they seemed greatful for that. Last week was a little better with the comp but everytime it just gets broked back down but something dumb. He´ll lose patientce and there goes what we built up. Trying and gotten to the point where Ive realized I cant change him, I can only love him. 

Im not sick anymore which is good! But those pills were a trip everytime that I took them! Haha lesson were interesting and the dreams I had... Unbelievable. 

Thought Id share a little from my journal from day one here. It says: ¨Well here goes nothing, not really sure what Im doing and the questions, why am I here, where am I going and where did I come from keep playing through my mind. We got here and started with a lesson with a member which fed us dinner. Rice, beans, and chicken. It was good and I hope it doesnt destroy my stomach because we dont have any toliet paper right now..¨ haha come a long way from that ha

Well all is well. Other thing from this week, I want to be a doctor. Im very sure of it now and everytime I think of dentist it just doesnt feel right, so Ill be swiching the name tag of ¨Elder Strang¨ to ¨Doctor Strang¨ when I get back. 

Miss you all and cannot thank you enough for the support. Love you and keep sending me stuff! Love you guys!

Elder Strang

A little extra questions I asked him:

What kind of food are you eating most of the time? What do you like you are trying new?

Rice rice and more rice! every meal starts with soup and then some kind of unidentfiable meat and tons of rice! I dont really know what Im eating sometimes cause I still havent learned all the words for food yet! But there is stuff..im just not sure what it is...

What are the people like in there cultural?

Same as home just a more extreme and rampant level. 

Do they have the same sociaty problems we do? Divorce,pornography,drinking,smoking, drugs ect?

BAD! The drugs and theft are very bad and some parts of the city and super dangerous and we arent allowed in. Theres a part in my sector that we arent allowed to enter after 6 in the evening. Most people dont get married they just hook up, have kids and then live their lives. porn is terrible. they sell it on the streets and every internet cafe has it. 

What do you love about the place.

food is good and the people are amazing. The members espically. Sometimes im nervous but im learning and trying my best. 

What don't you like about it?

The sketchy parts of the city. Early mornigs and being denied..

Daddy I love you too I would love some lquid bandage and I sent the other list to mom. I love and miss you so much and look forward to talking today :)

Koko

Kolby finds a Live One on P Day

Well another different and interesting week 8 in the Ecuador! 

For starters, how do I have a sinus infection in such a humid place? So I started not feeling too hot just kidding its always hot. hah but I started feeling sick last wednesday and then it got worse till I called the mish president on saturday and I guess Im not supposed to wait that long cause he gave my comp a chastizing saying that we need to call sooner and go get it taking care of. So yesterday I was told to go to the Clinic which is the hospital to get checked and get some meds. Holy sketchy, I do no like being in there at all. So with my spanish I talked with a doctor about medical stuf.. no big deal there ha and then he gave me a precription and you dont have to paly for a thing here. Use a medical card, and then walk out. Bit different from home right?

So the meds they gave me... Before without taking anything with just the sickness I just felt that my head was detached from my body, but when I took these, wooooowwww. 625 mg of a roller coaster. 1 step I sleep. They cause my to literally knock out. 2 step, last night we were sitting in a lesson and I kid you not the walls started moving and my body lost all weight. Crazyiest out of body expirence I have ever had! Kinda fun! 

Other things. Today, I got a haircut and the lady thought I was 27 and totally wanted to go out. Ha nope. I cannot explain how many women just flirt it up, but the crazy thing is we kinda can us a little to our advantage...

This week we had the new Zone Leaders come on a trio with us, so we had one elder and the others in our sector had one. Hes from Oregon and I sweat hes my twin lost at birth. We talkand decided to use the flirting to our advantage a bit and then well be able to get more baps. hah so we tried it and got two baptism dates in that day! haha anyways right now Im a Trio again with an elder from ut. Woodscross and i call him gringo falso. Which means false American. His comp is going home beacuse he finished his mish. That was hard to see and maybe a bit homesick! You get really close with them and then they jet to another area in the mish or home. Anyways the falso gringo.. the other day we sitting at lunch and I asked him how to say bacon in spanish, he says whats bacon? Youre not American, get out. hhaha Hes okay and quite different!

We are still having a hard time trying to figure out why we dont have refernces or any baps, and I did figure it out! I cant explain much but know Im trying to help fix it and then next week pray for me to have more success! This week we went into an area in our sector that we havent been in beore, I dont like it. Not much good feelings there. We taught a lesson to a lady there and she says, your bible is not equal to mine. we show here THREE times that they have the exact same words, she says, still different, mines better and walked away. Wait what? You just looked with your eyes? 

Had fresh caught dorado fish this week and it was so gooood. Had it with a fresh made salsa too, so I felt right at home :) Dorado, 3.50 a pound. Talk about cheap! 

Everything else is going well and I thank you for all your support! Much love and I miss you all an thank you for all the emails, they help me! 

Love, 

Elder Strang

Have you felt the Earth Shake?

Yeah thats true. Welcome to one crazy place! Last week was quite different it was quite fun.

Well so to start no to worry anybody living on the fault line in SL,UT.. but earthquakes are skeychy things. We were sitting in a lesson and the ground starts moving and the house starts shaking and the wind was blowing a little so I said in english, is this house really that flimsey? No, that was the earth moving. We all just sat there and looked at each other and were like what do we do? It was only 6 or 7 seconds and then it stopped but scared the crap outta me!

Whats an automatic car? The last auto car I saw was the expedition. Everything is manual. Fords are nice cars, you have a ford, you have money. I see Mercedes all the time! The buses are all Mercedes, but manual. 

Whats carpet? Yeah the last time I saw carpet was the night before I left on my mission, since then I have not had the envigorating expirence of streching out on some carpet.. Miss it. 

This week we recieved more missionaries! More white people! Ha we are at 250 missionaries here and get more in 6 weeks. My zone got split this week and we went from 12 districts to only 6. They are prepping for the more that are coming here soon. Crazy thing is that we have 9 Americans and only 3 Latinos in our zone. 

So a little venting about my comp. How much can my patientce be tested? The problem is its not just me anymore! People in the ward are complaining to me about him! And Im like Im sorry ill talk to him but I aint here to babysit which Ive already done too much of! Aye aye aye... The other day at lunch we had the usual rice, soup, and some kind of unidentifyable piece of meat ha, you gotta know that down here with meat you never use forks or knifes, you go animal style and just rip it with your mouth, so anyways im just sitting eating my food and guess what comes flying outta his mouth onto my plate and on the table... yupp food from his mouth. THREE times! Are you kidding me dude? So I let that go and later that night I get out of shower and Im writing in my journal and eating some quality gelatin that I have master making and guess what! He sneezes all over me! I was so pissed, he just started laughing...this isnt even the half of it! Patientce and long suffering along with charitiy and love :) 5 weeks? Whos counting? 

Anyone have any ideas how to sleep? Still not sleeping and dont know why. My comp snores so loud and the ear plugs dont work its that loud! I started using this water bottle with a stream nozzle and whenever he is so loud I shoot a jet of water right at his face and thats working for now haha.

Dad remember how you taught me how to plan? Yeah thats such a big thing in life and I shoulda used that more at home when I was there. Big thing and its amazing how much you get done when you have a plan.

Food this week: Fried corn with bacon.. Oh boy sooo good and probably terrible for me but wow is it good. The secret to listerine... just kidding ha there isnt one you just gotta let it burn your mouth and then youll be good! 

So last night.... Well there is an Elder in my district that leaves this week and so the Hermana that we live with threw a party dinner for him. Way fun and went a lil late. So to start the women here are going a little crazy over me... I dont mean the cockily but its weirdddddd. Last night a member, was all trying to hug me and kiss my head and stuff. Three things wrong with this: Number 1 youre married, 2 Im a missionary, 3 youre like 40 get off me! Ha the other hermanas gave her a talking too and then she just did it agian. Younger girls around my age? Same thing. Huge flirts! Can you not see the name tag on my chest that you are always staring at? 

So the party went till like 11 because I had to cook meat for 20 people on a 15 inch grill, that took sooooo long and the same women the whole time I was cooking were like ¨Oh look how monsterous and beautiful he is¨ in English of course... Oh my, Im taking sorry. So the other Elders dont live with us and they ended sleeping at our house on the floor.. whereever you could find.. Not a good night of sleep! 

So to top it all of today.. We went to Malecon, not sure how to explain it, go Gooooooogle it! But so we are in Mac doe, Mickey dees whatever you call it for lunch and theres a white dude. He comes up and says you speak English? Yeah dude Im white. Hes from Russia.. Ohhh my gosh the things this dude said. He says yeah its crazy here I dont know much spanish hard to get by. So I ask, why you here? He says to party, get women (not that nicely), and I dropped 150 on women last night, you getting women too? What did you just say? Hi were Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints annnnnddd you need Jesus and His Gospel. Hahaha

So we are having a way hard time finding people. We are not getting refrences and as a zone we are all really struggling. People always back out on plans they dont ¨have time¨. Not sure what to do. We are knoking dorrs but that only works so far and members arent pulling through with any refrencias which means its all left onto us. Not sure what more to do than put faith in Christ and go hit some doors. Everything is possible with a seed of faith and if we put our trust in God what do we have to worry about? Not a thing. 

I love you all and miss you Mom, Dad and Daniel so much. Thanks to everyone who sends me stuff, please continue too, It helps me more than you could ever know! 

Love, 

Elder Strang

Week 7

Hola!

Como estan? Everything is good here in the city of Guayaquil! Good week! Started on Tuesday with the normal district meeting and then I had spilts with The Zone leaders... A gift sent straight from Heaven. I needed a break from the comp and to get my head cleared up a bit. It was so nice. I went to Las Orquideas which is a good 5 minute bus ride from my area. These Elders are so chill and I just get along with them. My comp is very impatience and throws a tantrum everythme somthing doesnt go his way. Pero Esta Bien! Their house is a step up from ours and is huge! Three bath, two level, brand new. I went with Elder Cuberos and we did a solid nothing because Tuesday the Ecuador team had another game vs Chile and the whole country and all our appointments canceled for the night. Ask me how frustrating that is? We ended up a members house watching the game and got thrown out close to the end becasue we were cheering for Chile to make them mad! Ha they lost the game so their werent to happy bout that. 

So how crazy is this country you ask? Well you got something you dont want? Oh okay, Burn it in the street. You have 12 cats? Oh okay. You ditch work for the game and so does everybody else? Ohh okay.You take photos of white people and marvel at their every move? Oh okay. You drive a bus like a sports car? oh okay. 

Buses: Sketchy things here. They seriously drive like a sports car. They dont obey any traffic rules and go as fast as they want. Its not like home whre you wait at a bus stop. You want on? Hail the bus like a taxi. Soon as your on, they hit the pedal with full force and go crazy! Hold on or die. Only two options. They also like to see how many people can fit on one bus. And most of they time im not down to be grinding with some dudes and chicas in the buses so I stand by the door and hang off the side. Its not dangerous, just fun! Hahaha.. 

So interesting thing this week... I was in the shower one night and the lights flicker and the just shut off.. Why? Its 10 at night and just off. So I finish the final rinse cycle and dry off and yell to my comp, Que paso? (whats up) he has no idea. We go downstairs and everyone and their 12 cats is out in the street and one dude is spraying the electrical box with a fire extinguisher.. oh okay. So we ask and they dont know what happend. TWO DAYS without electricity. Oh okay. So then the figure out that the cause was our electric shower head that dumb dumb hooked up BACKWARDS. Are you kidding me? There must be a higher power watching out casue I used that shower for a solid 4 weeks without dying. So now we are back to the shower with the water straight out of the Artic. Oh okay. 

Weathers changing... Ha just kidding. Still hot but its more clouldy for the rain season that is fast approaching. I guess ill get to swim or be able to baptize in the street cause the water goes up to your waist. 

Cockroaches. The most terrible things in the world. Useless creepy little creatures. They just stare at you and I kid you not I talk to them and ask them what they are looking at. Creepy little bodies staring like they want sum muscle.

By the way Im putting weight on (Muscle baby) Okay everyone calm down... No seriously calm down. Ive already got enough of that to deal with here with all these people! hahaha

Ordered a custom tailored suit from one of the members. Price? 80 dollars total and top notch quality suit. Finally got a bishop called. Hes 27 and all this time has spoken english. Thanks bish. Ha 

Food is on carb overload and you dont even wanna some of the stuff ive eaten.. I dont even wanna know ha but one hermana always feeds us canned green beans with tofu like chees boiled eggs and parsley and cilantro. I couldnt do it this week. I about threw up and just put it in my pocket and we left aha

Okay, now for the good part. BAPTISM! I was the baptist too! So amazing and so spirtual. She cried the whole time the spirit was so strong and all I could do was smile. I was so great. The name was a little difficult because they have 4 names here and I memorized the prayer before so that wasnt to bad. In our church with a good turn out and good talks that memebers shared before. I was honored to baptize her and Im honored to be here called of God to do his work and his glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man :) I love this church! 

Our area is proving to be difficult and people arent opening up the doors, everyone cancels appiontment and its honestly a downer a bit. I want to help people but the whole agency thing seems to get in the way a lot. We are working hard and walking a lot but its real hard right now. We talked in Ward consel and basically the stake president gave a smackdown speech in sacreament about how the members are missionaries and and they need to do thier parts and help us out with the lords work. So hopefully that will help. Went to a sister in the ward that got her mish call last night... brought back memeories to say the least.. haha 

Miss you all and love you all so much! Please keep writing it helps me so much! 

Love, 

Elder Strang

Week 6

Wait its pday again? Wheres the time going?

People of Murray and surrounding areas! Hello! Hows it going there its SL,UT? Its nice and warm here as always and not changing ever! I have a little clock in my room that has temp and it is 85 degrees when i go to bed every night! Thankful for a fan or I´d die! The sun is getting way stronger and im getting burrrrnnttt even with sunscreen! Yes mom, Im actually wearing suncreen! Im not a huge fan of cancer or cutting my life short so id thought id give it a try! 

Anyways I bought some aloe vera last week, 8 dollars for a small bottle. They like to bend over americans for american products. I bought some honey from here and it was like 2 dollars for a huge thing of it and Its THE BEST Honey ive ever had! Ill have to bring some home when I come! Its called ecuamiel, they have a website check it out. I buy bannas, tangerines and pan (bread) on the streets everynight before we go home and its 5 cents for a banna, 5cents for a tangerine and a hoagie sized loaf is only 10 cents so im getting fresh stuff for the mornings! 

Problem= Not sleeping good at all. Answer= dont have one. I wake up in the mornings dead and fall asleep during study time then sometimes during lessons! I dont know why but its not good! No need to worry ill figure it our here! 

I cannot describe how annoyed with my companion I am.No hygiene. we cleaned the apartment today and after he had stuck his hand in the toliet. Bare hand keep in mind, didnt wash it. I was like no! Dude wash yo hands! He never does! Pick nose, play with animals, touch face, shake hands, use bathroom, eat food, use phone, give me phone, want to use my stuff... NO! Like come on, thats gotta change! He has low patientce for everything and so Ive learned that I need to have it. Also Never washes dishes, all stuff that weve all done, but until you have to be the one to deal with it its not fun. SOrry mom and dad for all those times that I was lazy! And when I get back Ill be starting a babysittin service for all those interested. Ill be the best babysitter after Ive been babysitting latinos for two years. I feel that Im the trainer not him... 

This past week the ecuador national team started to play and they go H.A.M. We arent allowed to watch the games ( Another un written rule) But we did cause the whole, I mean whole country shuts down. Everything stops for the game and Everyone wheres jerserys and soccer stuff., Crazy. They won and have another game tomorrow.

Quick note: Ill be an 8th done with the mish in two weeks! Nuts right? ANyways we have my first bap this week! I wont be the one baptizing but we are the ones who found, taught and got her there so I think that counts. ITs hard to build a strong relationship with them which is nessecary for them to want you to baptize them with the little spanish that I know, but the spanish is so much better and Im feeling good about it. 

We are teaching a lot of lesson but its hard to get people to let us in. We are in a nicer area and so they arent big on talking with us. We are working really hard and walking about 7 miles a day. We have full scheduals and no one has been home because the kids here just had their spring break this week! Anyways Ive been studying in PMG In chapter 6 about Christlike attributs and have been trying to apply them in my life. Its great and Im seeing alot of changes in myself which feels s good. The church is so tru and how could it not? I thought for a while, why would people wantt to listen to young men? Its because the spirit is so stong that it testifies to these people that it is true. 

I love you all so much and Miss you mom and dad and daniel more than i can put into words love you with all my heart. 

Keep sending stuff everyone it really helps me! 

Love always, 

Elder Strang

Kolby gets in trouble with MTC

Thank you for all the support! I dont know if you guys heard yet but the MTC emailed my Mission president about us sleeping on the roof the last night we were there and they arent too happy and they may charge us for the mattress that i used because they got wet so I will pay for all of that and I take complete responsiblility for it. Im sorry.

Every tuesday but last week I had to meet with persidnt amaya because of us sleeping on the roof in the MTC and I want you to know I will pay for all of the cost they want to charge us for the mattress and that was stupid and Im really sorry. Use the money that I had earned with dan and linda. And the Pres wanted to talk about mom calling downtown. So that was interesting but they office called today and said I have a package so I dont know if thats both or just one and I dont know how many letters either but dearelders only take one week!

Love you daddy!

Week 3 In Ecuador

Hello everyone!

Hope everything is well in the fridgid Slat lake! The eternal summer is still warm aas ever and the tan is coming along quite nicely!

Anyways quite a good week and the time is flying by so fast now! I cannot beliveve that I start my 4th week here this week! Im doing a lot better and the spanish is coming along so well as long as the people dont talk super fast. Its funny because they will talk and then ask me why i dont understand, but then I just talk and english and ask them why they dont understand. Pretyy funny. 

So after last week when we were walking home from and appointment a stray dog went to bite my leg so I took the oppurtunity to give it a swift kick in the teeth ha it was nice because the dogs thinkk they are all that and we just walk around and throw rocks at them. Im okay, i didnt let it bite me, so need to worry.

We got this little water heater hooked up in our shower so we have hot water! Its so nice and most peole dont have it so whenever you get in the shower try cold water only! Its not as easy as you would thing! I connot stress to you how lucky we are to have all the things that we do. Never take anything for granted. We got more furniture so thats going good, becasue I can hang all my clothes up now ha. 

I get hit on by girls ALL THE TIME its kinda of a joke. But what I wasnt expecting last week was a guy.. He wanted just me to go teach him only me in his house so uh we had to say no to that and we could only teach him in the street ha so that was quite different. The people here are a lot smaller so it hit my head on everything ha. Im seriously a giant here and I fit in nothing. People look at me like Im not from this planet and they arent super strong people so something they struggle with I pick up with ease and they are amazed. The kids here are facinated with me so im gaining popularity there. 

We get fed everyday by a member and most of the time dont eat dinner becasue we are either working or dont have money. Living on 200 dollars a month isnt super easy but we are making it work! 

The Investigators are going okay. They are folling through with commitments and we gained another baptism for the 11th of october and moved the other two to that day because its the family and so we have one this week and hopefully the 4 on the 11th.We got referred to another family that has 3 boys and the parents are divorced so we are hoping to teach the four and set them to a baptism date. Im planning on inviting them today when we have our lesson. So hopefully 9 baps this month! Oh the houses are like something that the pioneers would build in their backyards, pretty rough. Theres a rooster outside our window that goes off every mornign about 5am and Im about ready to murder it. And to quote my MTC teacher, It serves as an alarm clock and will probably serve that purpose until its served for dinner. 

We played basketball today and the hoops down here are all euro so they are like 9ft and i can dunk with ease and they are in awe when I do. Fun day and Pdays are a needed break! I love this church and I know its true! Spread the gospel. The work is hastening, whether you are a part of that of not is your choice. But I hope you will be! Everything is possible with christ.

Everything is getting a lot better! I love hearing from everyone ar home and it really helps me so keep them emails coming! 

I love you all and hope to here from you soon!

Much love,

Elder Strang