October 31st, 2011

To Mom:

"We had 6 baptisms on Saturday! We had planned 7, but one girl didn't feel ready and said No at the last minute...at the baptism. It was a family of 5 and 2 others. Maria Fernanda is from the Yupa family. All her family is so great. Moíses, 10, is really sweet and a great artist. He drew me a picture of Ammón after I taught the story to him and gave him my poster of Ammon. The mom sells food and things, snack stuff, in the streets, but is going to take classes from the church- they offer just about everything here. Everytime I am at their house, I try to buy some of their snacks. Last week the mom only sold $2.50 worth of stuff and was stressing about things, but said she feels much better after her baptism. I've bought about $2 worth in the last few days to support them and also because I love her candied peanuts! They remind me of baseball games, for some reason. 

I attached some pictures and I hope they work.

I am also going to send recordings to Candice. 

TELL THOM TO WRITE ME. 

I'm glad you liked the recordings from last time...no i havent changed in some aspects....hahah.

Everything is good here. A new month; came so quick. We have some more investigators that we are really struggling to get to church so that they can get baptized. They have the desire, but they are also just going along with things in a way.

love you,

Elder Blackwelder"

To Candice:

"Haha! I'm glad you are counting down the months to our Christmas phone call! Glad you liked the recordings. I'm sending some more from my activities from today (Soccer, walk to internet cafe). Mom said the same thing, that I sound like dad and take a long time to tell stories....well these recording are no different :)

That doesnt sound like a bad idea, going to Utah State. It would be better than BYU for something like Natural Resources. I miss Utah a lot, surprisingly. 

Oh, it was so funny, we had a stake talent show for the young men and women. Then at the end, Brother Moya who was in charge of the technology aspect of it all (he's the one with the mac computers and stuff I told you about before) played some music, but it was the most random collection of renditions of English songs. Things like Simon and Garfunkel, Hotel California, Queen,... classics. So funny. 

I bought 2 liters of that polaca cake batter drink today - so good. And humitas two days ago, bombin'. 

Oh, so in the photos I sent mom, there is a picture of me pointing at someone, that is President Correa, the president of Ecuador!

He came out and spoke to the folks today in the Plaza Grande and had all his guards and such doin' all sorts of goofy looking marches, but I think they were supposed to be really serious. I was laughing pretty hard, but no one else was...oops.

Do you have any more simple questions like the ones last week? Those were easy to respond to. 

So scary about Giovanny when he got drugged, huh? 

I hope you have a good week with work and everything, and in your relationships. But don't pick a boyfriend just by what he wears or looks like! 

Love,

your brother"