First Baptism, Shopping, Under the Weather, and Hello, Is Anyone Out There?

8/10/2015

We had our first convert baptism and I stood in on the circle for the confirmation which was neat. He is a kid named Anderson Cedeño. I think that will make some people excited to hear about my first baptism as a companionship. My companion was chosen to baptize Anderson as Anderson knew my companion better.

So today is a little weird with writing home. We were hoping to get my hair cut then write home but there are a lot of people in the two haircut places that are open and a third that is nearby is closed. So I get to write some more now.

Today we got to visit a nearby Catholic cathedral which was really neat. We had to ask permission to exit our zone from the zone leaders as it was actually out of our zone. It was a nicely sized place although it took them I think 100 years to build and it is smaller and less magnificent than the Salt Lake Temple. It has a lot of graffiti everywhere and some areas have patchwork and also they have done a lot of renovation. Still it was very neat. We climbed a bunch of steps to get to the top and I will send some pictures of the place so you get an idea of what it looked like. We got a nice view of the city from it. It was about 350 feet high. That was what me and my companion did this week. We then went on a bus to come back here ate some food and did some shopping. We then cleaned our house a little and just sat a bit as we had about 30 minutes to ourselves.

A lot of the stores here on the street are smaller, sometimes not more than a hole in the wall. But, shopping is easy as we have a shopping center near where we live where we do our shopping. The items are usually cheaper than American products and we get like 120 dollars per 2 weeks to spend on food and transport and items we need for cleaning and things like that. Some things are more expensive though. I saw a jar of Nutella that was priced at 11 dollars and it is like the normal sized ones in America so some things cost more.

My scripture study is coming along. I normally read out loud a chapter in the Book of Mormon in Spanish and I can generally understand what is going on. When I read to myself I have to really focus or I get nothing.  My language skills are progressing and apparently I started a lot further along than most missionaries according to my trainer. He is neat and he is a good trainer.

We also did a service project on Wednesday. We helped a family move out of their home. They were out of our sector but it was nice helping them out.

I have been a little under the weather here and got diarrhea for the last couple of days but the plan is for me to go on a 24 hour liquid diet and it should go away. I don't know how well I will handle no food for 24 hours but I should get better. I unfortunately also soiled my pants just because of how bad it was but I got to a cleaner to clean them. That was no fun, but I've heard that many missionaries have had these same issues, so I guess I'm not alone.

Thanks for praying for me and I do enjoy it here even if there are trials.

Love,

Èlder Throop


Here's the picture of Anderson standing between my companion and I. His mother and sister are to the left of my companion.

Me and My Companion at the top of the Cathedral

Me, pretending to fall

A view of the city from the Cathedral looking on a hill that really doesn't belong there as the city is in a valley

A view of the cathedral from the ground

One of the towers of the cathedral.  It has 4 towers total, 1 tall, 2 double towers and one shorter one

This is the shorter tower

Here are the double towers

* Mom's note:  I gather from some of Tyler's comments in his emails that he is only getting letters from me.  He was asking about his grandparents emailing him and his brothers, who didn't get a chance to email him this week because my laptop is having issues.  I guess he was sitting at the computer in the store for a long time, not really doing anything, feeling a little silly because he only had one letter to read from me and he had already written back to me.  So, if you have the chance, please send him a quick note.  I'm sure he would really appreciate it.  

tyler.throop@myldsmail.net

Life in Argelia-Baring Testimony, Investigators, Steep Hills, No colon on the keyboard

8/3/2015

First of all, thanks to the ward for the package they sent at the end of June!  I got that in the MTC which was a nice surprise and kind of shocking as I didn't think you could get packages in the MTC. It might seem like a small thing for you guys but it makes a world of difference out here and it is nice to eat some things from home like Beef Jerky or Nutella. For packages now, use the mission home address.  

Here's the official mailing address for packages and instructions.  The district or zone leaders get a packet each week to take to the missionaries which includes anything you send.

Packages sent from the U.S. to Ecuador may not exceed 8 pounds and must carry a green sticker, even if the post office workers suggest you use a white one. It must have this customs declaration on the package, or it will not be accepted in this country. 

The packages must be addressed as follows: 

Elder Tyler Nelson Throop
Misión Ecuador Quito 
Calle Robles E4-151 y Avenida Amazonas 
Casilla: 17-03-078 
Quito, Pichincha 
Ecuador 


Do not send packages by Priority mail or FedEx or UPS. These will automatically go to “mail jail”, requiring a special trip to the post office and payment of a large fee. All of which, will cause a long delay for your missionary to receive their packages. Also if packages are over the limit the country starts charging for overweight and what the package contains(incoming taxes charge) which means you have to pay to send it and then to receive it (generally $30-$80 to take it out of ¨mail jail¨). The church does not cover this cost. The time and money the church spends on postage is enormous in order for the missionaries to receive their mission mail and personal mail, your cooperation in this issue is highly valued, thank you for your help.

President and Sister Christensen were nice and very good people and President Christensen was fun to be around and they will be the mission presidents for the entire mission. So I look forward to that. I started working in the field really on Thursday. I didn't get my companion until Wednesday evening as we had training and were learning for awhile. We did some things on Wednesday but Thursday was the first real day which was interesting.

My trainer is named Elder Goodfellow and he is a good trainer. He put me to work on the day he got me just a bit and I have been working ever since and he is definitely good. The time zone is the same as Colombia which was nice. I think it is odd that I am now slightly south of the equator. This is probably the farthest south I will go in my life for awhile unless I get an area more south from here. I am working in the city of Quito right now. Argelia is the name of the ward that I currently serve in, which is in Turubamba North Zone

It is different here and the schedule has changed but I enjoy it more because I actually get to do work and help people out.  It is neat here in the mission and my area specifically is Argelia.  I did bear my testimony in Spanish on the fast Sunday here but they invited me up as I am a new missionary. I am not sure how frequently we bear testimony just because even in a ward with just about 98 people attending (that was how many attended last week) there still isn't really much of a break in the bearing of testimonies. I am not sure how much Spanish I have learned in relation learning it in school as most of the Spanish we learned at the MTC was focused on teaching the gospel although I can do fairly well in conversations.  It's just that they often use words I don't know. The people I am teaching here are neat. One is an investigator struggling with drug problems and he wants to change so hopefully he will do well. Another person is a guy who spent some time in America and actually prefers speaking English with us which is interesting and when we taught him my companion had a hard time apparently and he has been out just under a year. I think he hits his one year mark in 5 days. I don't know if I will have the same problem as I am fairly good at switching between English and a foreign language and remembering both. I think some people have problems because they don't have that experience of changing languages back and forth with ease. Still it depends on how much English I use. We have a family where the children are all to be members soon as the last son has his baptism August 16 at 700 in the morning so I get to get up early that day so we can prepare for the baptism. They are good kids it's just the mother doesn't want to hear the message. We have some less actives as well that we try to teach and one very promising investigator who needs help finding a new job so he can attend church. It is really nice teaching real people although it is a little hard as I don't always understand and it can be tricky to focus. My trainer usually takes the lead with lessons but I can still teach. Sometimes I can be really quiet just because I can`t understand what is going on.  

There are a lot of hills and a lot of really steep hills. I don`t think I have done this much hiking in my life! But it is good. The weather stays very consistent and we haven`t had much rain yet. They really don`t have seasons but I think technically it`s winter right now being south of the Equador (barely) still the weather stays at about 70 during the day and can get to about 60 at night. I haven't had it rain yet so it has been great. Is it strange having me gone yet as this is now the longest time I have been gone from home for any duration of time as Camp Raymond was only 6 weeks and now I am close to 7 weeks. It has been good and should be very interesting for the next 12 weeks with my training as missionaries get specific training for the first 12 weeks in the mission. After that studies are important but can be replaced by service to others and doing missionary work. So far it has been teaching for me and talking with people and no service as I think service can be harder to do here or find.

P days are always on Mondays here in the mission field and I believe for at least the next 6 weeks I will be able to email between 400 and 600 in the evening. I of course have to email the President I believe but I am a fast typer.  The first P day here was interesting and we started with studies and the day officially started at 1000 and ends at 600. (I can`t find a colon on this keyboard as I am in this little shop with some computers typing on a keyboard where all the letters have faded away and they had to tape letters on to the keys).  Once my P day ends I get to teach more until the end of the day which will be interesting. One of the harder things is just hearing about the times you can go without food and you are not fasting. That is just hard for someone as skinny as my. I think Sister Christensen was concerned for my well being as I was so tall but also skinny. 

I was looking through some of my forms that the tentative date for my release is May 30th 2017.   I feel like this was the best time to leave for me and I feel everything is nicely spaced out for me as Conference is just after 3 months on the mission.  Christmas is at 6 months which I heard is when you really gain mastery of the language (I really hope they aren't lying to me.) The April session of conference is at 10 months so nothing too big but then Mothers Day is right near the one year mark so I like the setup. Then you just add a year to each of those numbers when you consider the second time it happens. 

Love, 

Èlder Throop


(Mom's note -Here's the map of the Quito Mission and then a close up of the area where Tyler is serving now in the Argelia Ward.)

Note from Mission President's Wife

7/30/2015

(Mom's note) I was so happy to get an email from Sister Christensen, President Christensen's wife, with an update on Tyler on his mission.

Here's her email and several pictures she sent.

Dear Sister Throop,

We are so pleased that Elder Throop is serving in the Ecuador Quito Mission.  We welcome him with all our hearts and know that the special gifts he has been given from our Father in Heaven  and talents he has developed will bless the lives of those with and for whom he serves in a unique way only he can offer.  His dedicated service will further increase his abilities and character in remarkable ways.

There are currently 229 missionaries in our mission, serving in 14 zones.    Elder Throop has been assigned to serve in Quito in the Turubamba North Zone with Elder Goodfellow as his companion and trainer.  Elder Goodfellow is known by the other missionaries as being hardworking, diligent, obedient missionary.

Attached are several photos that show Elder Throop with his companion;  the group of missionaries with whom he arrived; and the group with their new trainers.  I have also invited you to a Facebook site for families of missionaries currently serving in our mission.  I encourage you to add pictures as he sends them to you.

We know and understand that there is sacrifice on your part both emotionally and financially to support him during this period of full time missionary service and we express our gratitude for your offering to further the work of inviting others to come unto Christ and to receive the blessings of the Gospel in their lives.

With our love and gratitude,

President and Sister Christensen

Misión Ecuador Quito

Tyler and his new companion/trainer Elder Goodfellow

Tyler and President and Sister Christensen

The new group with Pres and Sister Christensen

Another pic of the new group of "greenies"

The new group paired with their new companions

Quick note from Quito

7/28/2015

They let me have a quick moment at the mission President´s home today (7/28) which is really nice. I guess that is one of the perks of his calling huh? The flight went well and was pretty quick. It took about an hour and something odd minutes. I got up 3:30 in the morning but I haven't felt tired yet. The first day is training and some orientation, as well as the start of tomorrow. I get my trainer tomorrow in the afternoon. We are having dinner at the mission President´s house which should be nice. It is weird having traveled to Colombia then Ecuador but cool.

Love

Élder Throop

No cheating, Still can't roll "r's", but Ready for Quito!! (Already?!)

7/23/2015

I am very excited to be leaving next week as I have been here for so long in my mind.  I don't know when I will write next though as I leave on Tuesday next week and I think the Pdays in the mission are on Mondays so it could be sometime.

I am glad I am here in Colombia as the culture is different but you have to practice the language and get used to dialects food and culture in general which is helpful. I am surprised how well I like the culture but once you play a game of futbol with people who really can play it well you start to appreciate it. My new Latino companion is Élder Herrera, which is impossible for me to say as I have yet to figure out how to roll my r´s like the Latinos. Having a Latino companion is definitely an immersion and I do enjoy it.   My Spanish is coming along very well and with Élder Herrera I can't cheat because he doesn't know any English except a few words that I taught him. Still once you start learning you got to keep going in diligence until even the Latinos say that "Usted es un bueno Latino ahora. Muy bueno."

I don't know if they will let me go out of my mission to go to the temple which will be sad, but when I get back I will want to go to the temple. Plus it will be nice to do a complete session in English as the start of our English sessions still involve Spanish but then the main endowment is in English when we do the English sessions which is nice.

I can't wait to see the actual real field and start to teach real investigators. Tomorrow should be nice as we have a proselyting activity for 3 hours. Saturday might be the only rough day left at the CCM as Sunday is devotionals all day as well as Monday and we leave early Tuesday.

I am attaching a good photo of this group. We got a lot of people but I know the next group will have even more.  My companion Élder Herrera is in the back row that is not in the top, fifth from the left starting on the left.  I got another companion as well (a trio) named Élder Flores because his companion got sick and was sent home because he was so sick. He is sitting in the front fourth Elder going from the right the Elder in front of President and Sister Duvall. (Can you find me?  LOL!)  It is hard with a trio and Elder Flores is a Venezuelan and he speaks so fast and I don't think he knows how to slow down so that I can understand as I have been here for only 5 weeks and that is all the Spanish that I have done in my life. Elder Herrera is a lot easier to understand.

Well I am glad to have written to you guys and I look forward to the mission field.

Élder Throop

P.S. I have memorized the Baptismal invitation, missionary purpose, D&C 4 and the First Vision in Spanish. It wasn't easy but worth it.

No Stir Fry Please, City Tour and Feeling the Spirit

7/14/2015

Well the food is not too bad here and some of it is more than palatable. So far the worse meal I had wasn't actually Spanish but Chinese stir fry.  I just do not like stir fry at all, so that meal I detested. We get some American food a lot so it is nice.  Every Pday here at the MTC I get to go to the temple which is awesome, although I will miss the temple when I go to Quito.

I believe I will continue to send emails in English unless I want a quick tidbit in Spanish.  Mainly to help you guys out with not having to translate. 

As for my experiences here it has been great.  I got a Colombian soccer FIFA World Cup jersey today which is worth about $14.  It is definitely a good souvenir to get from Colombia and most likely the only souvenir from here that I will get.

We went on a tour today were we went to the top of this mountain and saw the city and it was just massive. It was very chaotic and spread out everywhere and didn't seem to have much organization to it. But you could see very clearly the edge of the city as it changed from city to forest so quickly.  The forest just went on in the mountains and was so much green. The city is different from Phoenix as it is so much concrete and they have the forest right next to them so they have no green in the city. Seriously it was grey and brown. But it was nice to see the forest which stands in such sharp contrast to the city.

The experience here is definitely great and even though we are teaching faux investigators it is still spiritual. One investigator we taught was named Camilla and this was a 16 year old girl whose father was the bishop and her mother was the Relief Society President so you would expect it to be a strong family, right? Well this 16 year old girl was living with her novio (boyfriend) who had gotten her pregnant and her father had kicked her out and church members mocked her. She was inactive and in just the toughest scenario ever. Well, we managed to get her to live with her family, read the scriptures, pray to God, and start the repentance process. She prayed and knew she should be with her family and her novio should just help care of the baby when it was born.  It was just awesome the fact that we got that situation. We were led by the spirit most definitely and that was just great as I felt the spirit so much and I got to help this estranged girl go back to the arms of Jesus. I am so ecstatic for my mission. We also had a three-hour proselyting activity which was nice. We placed one Book of Mormon and got 2 contacts, got rained on but I just loved it as I just felt trapped in the classrooms. I have learned a lot and will learn a lot more as I get a Latino companion next so the last two weeks will be neat.

Love you all,

Élder Throop

More Frenchlish, Music, and Ready to preach the gospel

7/9/2015

It is strange having been here 3 weeks.  My Spanish is definitely coming along although I still can struggle with my pronunciation as my mind will occasionally think of how to pronounce the word in a French way because it looks similar to French words and that was how I learned to say the words but of course that is completely wrong. Also, typing with the keyboards here is not the easiest as the spacing is strange and they have different features than the keyboards in America.

I got a new companion who is called Elder Rhees, but next week we will all get new Latino companions. Next preparation day should be fun as we are going on a tour of the area of the city.  

I am learning how to do soccer a lot better and I rather enjoy the sport. When I am in Ecuador I plan on buying a soccer jersey for Ecuador for Pdays and any other opportunity and it would be a neat souvenir.  

One thing I look forward to on my mission is listening to music like MOTAB or The Piano guys (I think they got approved for missionaries) as music is not to be played in the MTC through music players which makes sense as if everyone played music it would be loud. 

I am glad I chose to go on my mission right after high school as I feel I would be wasting my time now if I was at home. Still I really want to be actually preaching as right now we do classes all day long which is basically prison for me.  It doesn't help that we are fenced in the MTC as well. I know the classes are meant to be for our investigators but we don't have real investigators right now and it is hard to not think of yourself when all the classes are meant for your benefit.  Still it is necessary even if it is hard.  I am looking forward to tomorrow as we have a proselyting activity for some time which will be great practice.   I was sad to hear that President Packer died.  Well I look forward to hearing back from home next Tuesday and the PDay after the next one you should be hearing about my Latino companion.

Love

Élder Throop

PS I jüst figüred oüt how to do the ümlaüts on all of the ü's.  I hope yoü
get them.

Here's a few pics of Tyler's new companion Elder Rhees, his district, and some crazy Elders at the Bogotá Temple