Letters from Peru CCM

Here is a compilations of letters from Ian's 6 weeks in the Peru CCM (MTC):

August 4th, 2011

"Hey Everyone!

Things are great here in Peru. Flights went well, but were rather long. I felt really bad because I got to my dorm room and my companion was already asleep and it was like 2:30 in the morning. He is from Argentina, Elder Sandoval. Today has been really hectic but kinda fun because we are all trying to learn and understand as much as we can. My companion looks a lot like Michael Radchuk from Ukraine. He is really nice, but speaks with a strong accent that is sorta hard to understand. But he is patient with my questions. One of the coolest parts about this place is the small size of the MTC (CCM in Spanish). There are 150 of us, about 75 natives and 75 whities. I think the procedure is that you are with a Latino companion for 3 weeks before they leave, then depending on your Spanish you will get paired with another native, or with other North Americans. I loved seeing those pictures of Elliott; what an aware individual. The picture of Adam giving him a sponge bath is really funny. Oh! there is a astroturf soccer field too that we get to use for gym. It´s gonna be great. Don´t send any packages, they say it is hard to get a hold of them and they´re expensive. I´m missing my district from Provo though, especially Elder Garret who reminds me so much of a mix between PJ Howland and Kyle Moffet. OH! this morning, we got up at 6:30 after our little nap of a night sleep, and once we were showered and dressed, they took our passports and cut our hair! SO short. Everyone except the girls. Anyway, all is well. I will write again on my p-day, which is Wednesdays. Have a good week!

Elder Blackwelder"

August 10th, 2011

"This week has been awesome! I love the Peru CCM (MTC in spanish), but it has been tough. I'll start with the tough things: Very small, 150 people. It's hard to get a lot of meat out of the classes for two reasons:  

a. it's all in Spanish   

b. some members of our class hardly know anything about Spanish so the teacher talks soooo slow. 

Good things: everything else! The food is really good. Every day there is a funky juice, and most of the North Americans don't like them, but I think they're really good. There is a purple one that is made from some sort of corn and has kinda a bland bark taste. Others are just straight watermelon watery juice, beet juice, and all sorts of others. My teacher brought in a passion fruit for us to try in class, a maracuya, it is so good! It smells incredible and there are two varieties, one is tangy, the other is like bubble gum. Most of the meals are a potato side dish, soup, plate with rice and some sort of chicken or beef and a dessert. So far I've like just about all of them. The high amount of rice, though, makes for slow going through your digestive tract....I hadn't gone #2 for like 4 days....

Today is the first day we get to go out! Every North American has a Latino companion who we bunk with, and they are our companions when we go out in the city. Today we take the bus to a store and buy whatever we want and come back after a few hours. But on Saturday, we go out with them and hit the streets for real and knock on some doors, or visit less active members. My companion's name is Elder Sandoval, he is from Argentina and I always think about Damai whenever he talks about Argentina. We have an hour a day to have gym time, and we always play soccer on the awesome artificial field...so beautiful. I always love to play defense because I have 0 footwork. It's so funny to hear the Latinos say things in English because it's always a reallly random quote from some movie or song that they know...classic. I've run out of time, but I love you all, I think about everyone! 

Love Elder Blackwelder"

August 24th, 2011

"So I'm so sorry about not sending a good email last week. i ran out of time because I was talking to an Elder I recognized from BYU, Elder Johnson. He lives in Tujunga and is from the Frame's stake. He and I were talking about working together after the mission on community designing. Everything is still going great. Food is getting old, but that's what happens no matter where you are I suppose. We've been out proselyting twice now, the first time was so difficult for me. It was me and my companion with a youth from the ward, an older member, and a teacher from the MTC. We got bussed to a ward building in a part of Peru, and then broke off and went to our assigned areas. Ours was way up on this hill, the most poor. Everything here is just brown gray, the nastiest color from all the pollution that gets deposited with rain. Even the plants are brown on the older leaves. We walked all over this shanty town trying to meet up with some inactive members, but to minimal success. Only one lady let us in (the daughter of the older member we were with) and there was no floor, hardly a roof over half the house and walls made of scraps of wood and corrugated metal. 

The next week was better though, this last Wednesday, we were in a different area and the goal we were focusing on was getting to teach inside the homes and not just at the door. We found one tiny little lady, a midget, sitting on the sidewalk knitting. We went up to talk with her and we could tell she wasn't really interested even though she was talking with us. I felt that she felt so insignificant because we were standing and she was sitting so far down, so I sat down in the dirt next to her. My companion did the same, and immediately she began to express interest. She put her needles down and asked questions and listened well. It was great. My favorite part was we were teaching her in her home, her living room essentially, because she was homeless. Quite an incredible experience. 

We got to go on a tour today because there were only about 25 of us here now because all the Latinos left after their 3 weeks along with the advanced North Americans. On the tour, we got to go to the beach! So cool. There were people surfing and everything! We got some pics and we also got to go to the center of Lima. It was cool, we ate some pizza and ice cream and churros. 

Elder Oaks is coming today! He is speaking in an hour or so. It's been so great here, but there is NO sun. Its winter, so it's always foggy/cloudy.

Talk to you next week,

Love Elder Blackwelder     

PS. if you send any mail now, send it to my mission home in Quito:   

Elder Blackwelder

Mision Ecuador Quito 

Calle Robles 640 y Amazonas 

Quito

ECUADOR

September 7th, 2011

"So, I have only one week left! I'm so excited. Elder Anderson and I went out on Saturday and got to talk with some less active members. I think that is the toughest: trying to get some grouchy old people without any teeth to believe in something they once did, but are just a bit to callused to care now. And it's almost impossible to understand their Spanish. 

Speaking of Spanish, it is coming along great. Other than elderly folks, I can understand most types of accents now. Every day Elder Anderson and I try to sit with a different Latino missionary at breakfast, lunch and dinner so we can hear as many people speaking as we can. I think that is definitely the hardest part now, just getting the listening down. I can't wait to see Quito, Here in Lima, it is always cloudy, cold, really polluted and there are only hills without any vegetation to look at. I think all the vegetation has died from the pollution, it's awful. The past 4 days actually have been sunny. I'll try to send some pictures over today, I don't think it worked last week.

Love you all and will talk with you in another week from Ecuador!

Elder Blackwelder"

September 13th, 2011

"So, I made it to Quito and have a few minutes to write to say I'm here and safe! The view is incredible and the air is definitely thin! I'll write you more on Monday (P-day)!

Love you all!"

Letters from the Provo MTC

Here is a compilation of letters from Ian's 3 weeks at the Provo MTC (Missionary Training Center):

July 16th, 2011

"So today, Saturday, is our first "P" day (Personal Day). It isn't our official p-day, Thursday will be, but new missionaries all have Aaturday as their first p-day. Things have been great. Right out of the car, an Elder walks you to the main building and sends you inside to get your name tags, take ID picture, as well as get your id card. Then he walks you to your room where you drop your stuff off and then off to your first class. Right off the bat we were in class and our teachers only spoke Spanish to us. Apparently we're in some pilot program where they teach only in Spanish rather than teach about Spanish in English. I met my companions there: Elder Tempest from Draper, Utah and Elder Sanders from Lehi, Utah. The trio is fine, but can get annoying when you have to keep track of two people instead of just one. Our class consists of our trio plus two other companionships along with a set Sisters. This is our whole district. Us elders live on the same floor next door to each other, and our whole branch is pretty much the whole floor. Elder tempest is great, he reminds me of James Ali and I 'm glad I have him in the companionship.

Our teachers are Elder Urquhart and Hermana Alvarez. They are really nice and great teachers, but it is still so nerve racking to speak in Spanish. Especially when they had us teach Elder Urquhart in Espanol the second day as a mock investigator! Our district is really fun, and we all eat together. The cafeteria is SO much better than the cannon center. Portions are larger and quality over all is great. I got those dearelders, which was excellent. Kelly Anderson sent me a pack of cinnamon rolls, que bueno! We don't get much time to ourselves, but what time we do, we are supposed to be writing a talk which we may or may not be called on to give in Spanish tomorrow!

It is kinda fun to get moved around from class to class with Elders you don't really know. The closest thing to the MTC to me is scout camp. I feel like that prepared me more than mini MTC activities or anything else, at least for the flow or culture of things.

We had gym time yesterday and went over to the fields by the Provo Temple. We had gym time with a bunch of other Spanish speaking missionaries and it was fun to play futbol with them all. MEDIO! MEDIO! AQUI AQUI!! haha they all think they're hispanic.

So sad to hear about the hamster, but inevitable too ): My floor has the advanced Spanish learners, along with intermediate Spanish learners, so I think Henry will be on my floor!!!! I've been able to see so many friends from the dorms! Ben and I have the same lunch time, so we chat a bit everyday!!! I've seen Isaac Stevens, Weston Cummings, tons of acquaintances from Helaman Halls, and Brad Otto! He lives in my building, apparently!

Well, thanks for those dearelders, don't be afraid to send more!

Love you all,

Elder Blackwelder

July 21st, 2011

"A full week! Went very quickly and very slow at the same time. Kinda the same old routine now, about 6 hours of Spanish class every day, broken into two 3-hour segments. Sometimes before lunch, after lunch, after dinner....anything really. 3 hours of personal study time or so, and then an hour or so of personal language study. About an hour of gym time daily where we usually just play soccer because it's funny hear to hear a bunch of white guys speak futbol Spanish. We have to get up by 6:30, but me and my companions try to get up around 6:00 and do some work outs. There's a pull up bar outside our door which is fun. I'm starting to miss the beach a little bit, but for the most part it's been ok, I haven't missed anything too much. Of course I miss my friends and everyone I know, but friendships are growing here in the MTC which makes the transistion much easier. HENRY ARRIVED!! that was exciting, he lives on the floor above me and has class near mine. It's so pleasant to see friends you know. I usually get to eat lunch with Elder Thomas and sometimes dinner, but it all depends on the day of the week when our schedules match up. I've seen Elder Cummings a few times, Elder Olson, and I got to see Elder Messick before he left for Korea!! I'm trying to figure out a way to send some pictures, so maybe by next week they'll be there. It's so hard to be out on the field at gym time and you look up at the spectacular mountains that are so close you can almost spit on them, but as one of my friends in my district says, "you know how far away that mountain is over there, the one with the snow still on it? Two years...two years away." I get so sad every time ): I'm so excited to hear about Tess' baby! So much anxiety to find out the new addition to my family. Don't be afraid to make an account on Dearelder.com and send me a letter! Or even a real letter. Anyway, I hope all is well for everyone! I love you all!

Elder Blackwelder

P.S. Glenn: everyone does call me Elder BlackwELDER, emphasis on the elder. Kind of annoying (:

Second Week in Ecuador

We are happy to have received Ian's letter from his second week in Ecuador:

"Another grand week here in the middle of the World. Today was fun, we went to the church/mission offices a little bit North and bought books and DVDs for our portable DVD players that we are testing out for South America or something. Then after the offices we went to this open air market selling handcrafts....incredible. Just the other day I was thinking, I would really like one of those hats that the old folks here are always wearing. Sure enough, they had them there! And only like $20 too, but I didn't have cash with me, so next week or something. The Otovalos they’re called, the tribe/culture that makes all those cool crafts and weaves. They make great music too. The guys that drive around and pick up trash play otovaleño music really loud so people know to bring out their trash. It's kind of creepy in a way, playing music that is. Oh, and while we were at the office, another missionary told us that some of his family works with NASA and there is supposedly a huge earthquake expected soon here. I can't wait. We went to the store and bought all our 72 hour kit supplies. My companion is super freaked out about it, he was telling me that the tectonic plates join right here in the center of the world and currently they're on top of each other, but have to move apart then slide. He was telling me Quito is going to be a big hole…I pulled out my map and showed him where the plates are and that they don't cross Quito, but are indeed close. It was funny to see him think this all through.

So, this week has been another of great learning. We taught a few more lessons and such and lots of walking. It was quite a Bri week for me, sounds like it was for all of you as well, and it really is crazy that it has almost been half a year...I think about it everyday and try to find time to write down my story. I told my companion about it on the 23rd. It was interesting because I had talked about the family before, but hadn't shown pictures. And after personal study he asked me to show him pictures of you all. So i did, and told him, these are my 3 older sisters...parents...little brother...then he went back through and was looking at them himself and then said "Which sister is this? How old is she? There is something in the way she smiles, something in her eye, somthing that makes here different than the other two." I then told him, well, she's actually passed away, and I live to tell the tale. I told him the whole thing as best I could in spanish, and said that she probably seems familiar to you because she's been hangin out with us the whole time we've been companions, well, with me for my whole mission rather. haha I'm just happy to be alive. :)

Then, last night, we were with our whole zone going out to investigators houses that have baptismal dates set, and sing them songs and give them a good cheerup. Elder Barrera and I left with Elder Diaz and Elder Putnam early because Elder Diaz, who worked in my sector for a bit and has all the phone numbers of the members, got a call from Hermana Blanca who feeds the missionaries on Tuesdays in her restaurant. She was crying and said she needed a blessing. He told us she was pregnant, so I figured yeah, she's just got some wacky hormones. We got to her house and she invited us in. The father is not around anymore...but she began to tell us the story: she just found out on Friday that her baby has died, and that there is a tumor there as well. The doctors told her that in reality they aren't sure if the baby is dead, but the tumor will soon kill it if it hasn't already. She told us that earlier in her life she had cancer of the uterus and was expected to only live 3 more years. Then things worsened and the doctors predicted 3 months, worsened still and they gave her three days. She received a blessing from someone in the ward in her last 72  hours of expected life, and somehow, the cancer just left. She recovered 100% without ever having to do chemo or any radiation. She said she was so thankful for this and how incredible it has been for her to have that experience. I couldn't believe it, a miracle sitting in front of me with yet another life threatening trial before her. Elder Diaz was born missing a full right hand; he's got a thumb and some lumps with fingernails. I'm sure he's had some hard times in his life with it, and so he proceeded to talk about her baby and that if it turns out to be alive still, and if at all comes out disfigured, to love it with all her heart, more than any other mother could. We were all just about in tears at this point and I was thinking in my head, how does it work, can Briana help Blanca out? Can she Be with this single mother and comfort her through this incredible time of loneliness and absolute fear? And then I felt her, Briana was just everwhere. So much Love and everything, and so after the blessing, I asked if we could sing a hymn. I don't know the title in English (Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide), but the chorus is "Savior stay this night with me, behold, tis eventide". I love this hymn  because it always reminds me of those times in the hospital when my memory wasn't all there, the nurses wouldn't tell me what had happened, I was scared, alone, and so confused. I conveyed to her my story about this hymn and told her I imagined that’s how she felt right now. I couldn't even sing I was crying so much. haha! I haven't cried about the accident for a long time now. Right now, writing this, I am just sobbin it up in the internet cafe. There is a dog sleeping under my chair and a little girl sitting next to me is pretty confused why I'm typing and crying, and why I am so white and tall and why I'm in her country. I don't wonder those things anymore, I know why I'm here."
-Elder Blackwelder

I loved hearing from Ian this week. He is right that we have all been thinking about Briana, our sister who died in a car accident with Ian 5 months ago.
I also enjoyed hearing about the Otavaleno people with their beautiful music, weavings, and other handicrafts.  It inspired me to learn more about them; here are some links to more information.
-Tess (Ian's sister)

Virtual tour of the town:

Otavaleno history
Lyrics to a popular song
Here are photos I found from the Otavalo Market:

Otavaleno music street style:

 (click here)

music and scenic photos

Ian's First Week In Ecuador

Our first letter from Ian now that he has arrived in Quito. After spending three weeks at the Provo MTC and six weeks in the Lima Peru MTC, he is now in his first area. He included some great photos of what it looks like there: "Wow, Ecuador, my new home. So, the President's house is amazing, and Quito in general is, too. My Companion is Elder Barrera from Nicaragua. He is 15 months or so out already and we got put into a new area that hasn't had missionaries for about 6 months, I think. It has been tough getting our bearings. Our entire sector, San Juan, is all on the side of the mountains in Quito. The best part is that our view from our third story apartment is the same - or even better - than the President's. We have a cool spot on the roof, too, where we can eat breakfast. Lots of rain and lots of sun, too. I love it. I've been using my dry bag to keep my stuff dry (obviously) which has been helpful. Lots of meeting and things like that, so we haven't done a ton of work yet, but at church, we taught a class for investigators. There were about 5 or 6, and then after church went around to their houses and 3 of them are going to be baptized - one this Saturday! Sweet! There is so much good stuff here! Everything is so new and different. I never knew how much of a difference smog checks in the US make! The roads are just dense with exhaust, which makes it all the easier (haha) to scramble the streets at 9,000 feet up! From my room you can see up the mountain a ways and there is a tram off in the distance that looks really cool. I saw Elder Lamprecht today! It was so sweet and so random, just passed right by him on the way to the grocery store. I gave him a big hug from his parents and another from Cooper Nessor. We're going to have a meeting with his zone on wednesday or something...I can't wait to see what this week brings me...  Love you all and love getting letters from everyone! Elder Blackwelder Here is a part of Elder Lamprecht's letter to his parents that mentions seeing Ian: "Oh Yeah, I also saw Ian today!! I talked to him on the phone last week but just by chance we ran into each other today! He's in a zone like 30 minutes from me and we've got a conference with him on Wednesday so it's gonna be sweet to spend some more time with him! He's definitely got the "oh crap, what am I doing here?" look on his face, haha, but he looks great and I'm sure he's gonna do an awesome job!"