Family,
This week was... Long, frustrating, boring, but... was well worth it. We had four baptisms this Saturday. This is the second time now the mission president switched me to a ward that had four baptisms the same week I arrived. I think he wishes I would have more baptisms. Interestingly enough, I had an interview with President on Tuesday. My companion called for an interview. The first thing president said to me when he saw me in the mission office was that this is a church of inspiration and it was obviously guided by the Lord. I had no idea what he was talking about. There were about 12 missionaries in the office all waiting for interviews. President told me that I would be going 2nd to last and that my companion would be going last. When I finally went in, he asked me a ton of questions about Cuenca. He wanted to know how the missionaries were and what I saw as Cuenca´s potential. After all that, he told me that I was in Guayaquil for a specific purpose. With the help of the zone leaders, we were able to find our way around La Chala and we got the four baptized and confirmed this week. Today I have to be back in the mission office at 4 in order to pick up my new companion. I feel like this is going to be a very long change.
A few days ago, I was walking with another pair of missionaries and talked to a man named Maximo Banguerra. He is the Goalie for Ecuador and for the team here in Guayaquil, Barcelona. Everyone knows him. His mom lives in the sector next to mine. He was visiting her. When we told that story to our investigators, they all freaked out. But, it get´s better. The next morning, we were going to drop off our clothes to get cleaned and as we were walking, a big black hummer drove up behind us. Maximo rolled down his window and gave us a thumbs up. So yeah, I know Maximo Banguerra, and he knows me and all of La Chala now knows it.
The change back to Guayaquil has been very different. I feel like I got changed to a different country. Everyone is so open for one. Everyone says hi in the streets when you pass them. That is way different than Cuenca. Everyone just keeps to themselves there. Church was way different. It was like a huge family reunion with everyone hugging everyone and talking and laughing and joking. That is also way different than Cuenca. I feel super awkward. Because in Cuenca, I was the most open person of everyone there and now everyone is always asking me if I am angry. It is way hotter than Cuenca, and I know it is only going to get hotter. In November, December, January, and February it is terrible.
So yeah, I kind of feel like I am starting my mission all over again. But I can take advantage of things better now with the knowledge I gained as zone leader. And who knows, by next change I might be back there again and I won’t have the opportunity to do a lot of the things you can do as a normal missionary. I have a lot of studying goals, and also proselyting goals. I just hope my next companion shapes up a little bit so we can work together.
All is well in La Chala.
Love,
Elder McRae
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