This week everyone got all their años viejos (monigotes) finished up and ready to go. Captain America was still being worked on on the 31st, but it turned out really cool! There were also some other really big ones, like King Kong, Optimus Prime (from Transformers), Iron Man, and even Michael Jackson! I'm sending pictures of all of them. I got really lucky, because all of the really big ones are in our sector (or close to it) so I got to see almost all of them. But there's also the little (well, about human size) ones all over the place. There's one street near the stake center where the whole street is lined with them, for about 10 blocks! It's crazy, they never end! Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of them, but take my word for it, it's really cool. On Wednesday morning, I went with E. Zuñiga and E. Guerrero to go running. We went to our sector in a taxi, ran around the sector, taking pictures of the big años viejos along the way, and then we ran all the way back to the house. I just about died. But it was fun ;)
New years eve was just about 6 times crazier than I could have ever thought it would be. I was SO tired that night and I was trying to go to sleep. But everyone else was up talking (more anxious than I was because they knew what was about to happen), so I didn't sleep much, but at about 11pm we started hearing explosions. They went on for an hour until midnight. Then, once midnight hit, wow. The whole city exploded into flashing light and sound. Everyone lights their año viejo on fire, then they throw firecrackers into the fire. But these aren't like the weak firecrackers we use in the states. These things explode! (This is a rocket, Buzz! Rockets EXPLODE!) And it was absolutely crazy. Where we live is a really calm part of town, right behind the hospital. So we couldn't actually see anything. But even so, it was sooooo loud. And the whole sky was just flashing with light. I saw some videos from missionaries that live where there are more people, and it was absolutely NUTS. Anyway, that was pretty loco. After an hour or two, it all died down and we went to sleep.
The next day was interesting. There was NOBODY in the street. The roads that are usually packed with traffic were completely empty. Not a single store was open, and you could actually hear birds singing. The office building guard came back from looking for breakfast in his collared shirt and jeans, completely unshaven, and totally chuchaki (hungover). We went to eat lunch at Chifa (chinese food, where all the chinese people in Guayaquil work) because they celebrate a different new year so they were open. We did some things in the office, and headed to the sector at 6. The sector was just like around the office, only dirtier. There was garbage and ash all over the place, and black spots every five feet along the road, and of course, nobody in the street. It wasn't until about 8 when people started coming out of their houses. We didn't teach a single lesson last night, but we did do some interesting contacts, so it was fun. And that was my new years experience :D
This week Elder Zuñiga and President did all the changes for next transfer. And lucky for us, we get to the be the first ones to know. So here's what's happening. Elder Sessions (my zone leader right now, he went running with us to the lighthouse last week) is going to be the new assistant with Elder Zuñiga. They'll be working in Garay. Elder Kjar (pronounced like care), the financer, will be my new companion (another gringo), and we will be working in his sector Las Peñas. That sector includes the lighthouse, and there are a lot of members that live up there that we'll be visiting. And it's likely that he will be my companion for a long time. Possibly until I leave the office. Let's see... Elder Sawyer is finally leaving the office. He's been feeling better lately. And Elder Cambra is headed to Milagro, a city just outside of Guayaquil.
As far as money goes, I think I'm alright. I haven't used a whole lot of money from my account at home, but I think I'm just planning on working a ton when I get home. I'm gonna need it. HOWEVER, if you want to drop $15 in my account to buy a card reader, I won't complain ;)
Oh, investigators real quick (this is getting long):
Tatiana (22) and Luis (16) - Don't remember if I told you about them. This transfer, the area presidency changed the rule of having to have investigators attend church 3 times to get baptized. Now they only have to attend twice. Welllll.... we met Tatiana and Luis two weeks ago. Long story short, Tatiana is getting baptized tonight and Luis next Saturday. It's so fun finding those people that are so ready and prepared to hear the gospel. Tatiana read the Book of Mormon and prayed about it and has an unbreakable testimony. She continues reading every day. Luis has also been reading and attending activities with the young men at church and is ready to be baptized.
Freddy - is still battling with his addictions. He's been making progress, but still messes up every once in a while. We've been visiting with him very frequently, and we've even started teaching his mom too. And now we know everything. He has a terrible relationship with his dad, who won't even talk to him or even let him sit at the dinner table with him. Freddy lives in his own section of the house upstairs and spends most of his time there alone. His dad says that he's given him the chance to change and quit his addictions but he wouldn't do it. So now he's so mad that he won't even try to notice that Freddy IS changing. Freddy's mom told us that he had been looking at churches before we met him, but all of them had promised to change his life and none of them ever did anything. When he found us, he knew it was right immediately. His life is changing, and he and his mother are both VERY pleased. We're looking at setting a baptismal goal for him well ahead in the future so he has something to work toward. But we want to get rid of his addictions completely, so he feels comfortable before getting baptized. It's amazing how the commandments and the teachings of the Gospel really take peoples lives and put them on the right track. It's gotta be true, right?
Okay, I'm all worn out. I love you all tons, and don't worry Mom, I'm laughing :D
Elder Thayne
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