Winter is here, Accent Good When Actually Talking, Converts vs Baptisms

1/18/2016

The weather is more rainy than anything and due to the rain both sets of my shoes got soaked. Not greatly, but it has been really wet so it is officially winter here. Today we didn't do much other than change our house to a new house that is a lot better. The new house is smaller but a lot nicer and in the center of the sector. If we can get people to come to church we should get a few baptisms as well this change which would be fun. It went well enough. However the capacitations (translation: Training) we got in district meeting were more on how to get baptisms and not converts and our big goal as a companionship is to get converts. It was slightly funny as the district leader (who isn't my companion) gave the capacitacion and at one point I looked at my companion with just a puzzled and this-is-wrong look. We looked at each other the same time and then raised our hands to point out what Preach My Gospel says. That is what happened this week.

I got to see a new missionary come in from Chile and he is just starting his mission. When people asked what time he had he said like 3 days as Latinos only spend like 3 weeks in the MTC which doesn't count towards mission time. I felt weird as now three people in our district of 8 have less time than I do and 1 person has the same time.

As for our German contact, we only taught him one time as the family he was staying with were really aggressive against the church. It was a cool lesson as he understood well, but he had opposition from the host family.

I will tell you how people react to hearing my accent. When I don't speak much and ask how much time they think I have they usually put 3 to 4 months. I say no 7 months. When I speak a lot more then ask how much time they think I have they say one year. Answer, 7 months. So I believe I have improved to the point where they understand however I have to speak or they think I am new as I don't speak much and have a young looking face (even though I am close to turning 19!)

I promise to get some more pictures (if I can) during this next week and send them to you next Monday.


This week we worked really hard, but no one except less actives went to church which was funny. The hope is we reactivate the less actives. I don't think there is too much more to say. I think I might send a few photos latter on today to you. Have fun and love you all.

Elder Throop

Christmas Zone Photo (just found)

Combining zones, moving to Zone leader's house?, working hard

1/11/2016

Well the area is going well but we haven't been having much success getting people to go to church. Still we will see.

I have an anouncement we did get changes. I am staying with Elder Paul which is great news. They combined the zones though and that was a crazy change as they had like 6 districts but then cut it down to 4 districts. My companion was going to be district leader but then got bumped down to senior comp only which was what he had wanted. So we have a big zone. Today we helped one of our zone leaders out because the other one finished his mission. I got a little mini speaker from their house as the zone leader just wants the big speaker he had which was funny to see. But we plan on moving to the zone leaders house in the coming weeks if we can as it is a nicer house. We just need the time to do that. We have found lots of people and have had great lessons and we will be working in a new part now because of the changes to the zone.

Well I believe that was everything. It was a little nerve wracking getting changes but for the next change it should be fun and I believe we will get some baptisms this next change which would be a nice break for us as we have been working hard to help people out.

Have fun!

Love Elder Throop

Sunrise

typical road

New Year's Craziness, German investigator, Earthquake

1/4/2016

Well the area is going fairly well. We have a lot of problems getting people to go to church here which was unfortunate. For New Years here it was kind of crazy. There was a party that started New Years Eve below our house at two in the afternoon and lasted until 6:30 in the morning on New Years day. We had to stay all day on New Years Eve because of the parties and the drunks.

So to explain the traditions here. They light of bunches of fireworks for New Years make mannequins of wood and newspaper and light them with fire (and load those mannequins with fireworks and light them off). Something else, I didn't see this but I have heard about it. What it is is men dress as women and go and touch people. That is the basics. Lets just say it probably was good we were stuck. We didn't get too much troubles but a lot of the days we just walked because no one was there.

One of our investigator families is going to have a kid soon but we have good news. We have someone we contacted awhile back who is German that lives here. And we will teach him tommorow. I will send you a photo as proof. Have you gotten my photos? I just want to make sure as I was uncertain if you got them.

As for food my most favorite here is called ceviche de camaron. It is a soup that is really great here. Changes come this Sunday so we will have to see what happens. I don't like the seco de pollo here if it is done poorly (just look those up.) We have had rain but I have stayed mostly dry so no problems. I believe that is it for this last week but I will send you some photos this time as well of a few things here.

Oh one thing I forgot to mention. There was an earthquake in Esmeraldes on the 1st so that was a fun way to start the year. Nothing too bad but it freaked out everyone outside.

Love you all,
Elder Throop

Pensionist Family

Pensionist Family

Pensionist Family

Fires left from New Years celebrations

Outside the apartment