10.15.12 Guayaquil, Ecuador

Family,

Okay, so it sounds like everyone is super busy besides me.  I just got changed about 3 minutes up the road to the ward Solana.  My new companion is Elder Saenz.  He is from Nicaragua and has been on the mission for two months.  He looks excited to work which is good because not every companion wants to work.  When I get paired up with a companion who is not excited to work, I do feel like I am helpful.  I actually take the time to sit down and listen.  I also do what I can to serve him and help him not to look bad in front of our leaders.  A lot of missionaries get frustrated and yell at their underachieving companions and highlight everything he is doing wrong and then tell the zone leaders or something. My last companion was a good guy, just a little lazy and didn´t take the rules seriously.  I learned a lot from him though.  Anyways, I am glad to have a fresh new start and I am excited to get back to work.  I hear that this is a good ward.  I also have Sister Missionaries in my district.  That will be something way different for me.  I have never even seen a sister missionary yet in the mission so I have no idea what being their leader will be like.  I just hope I don´t make anyone cry...  Since there have been changes, there really is nothing to report.  Next week I should have more to say.

To Cameron... Hmm... the only advice I would have is don´t do anything stupid.  That´s about it.  There isn´t much you can do to prepare for what you’re about to get yourself into.  You could maybe work with the missionaries more.  Go on visits and tract with them.  Also read and study the doctrine of obedience and the doctrine of Christ.  Study what your calling is as a missionary.  That will help the most I think.

Love, 

Elder McRae

P.S. In my last sector I was really close to LA COLMENA. My old sector.  So i passed by to see some of the members and stuff.  Brother Merchan made me a pair of pants last time I was there and he offered to make me another pair. He showed me a couple of the left over materials that he had.  The red wine fabric was my instant favorite.  I can´t actually use them to proselyte in but they will be sweet when I get home. :)