HELLO MIS QUERIDOS AMIGOS AND FAMILIARES
First things first, BAÑOS IS THE PRETTIEST PLACE I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT IS AMAZING. I took so many pictures, so prepare yourself. They don't really do it justice though, so all of you should come out here as a tourist.
Okay, let me back up a bit. Last Monday was my last day in La Concordia, and it was a good one. It was also Elder Muentes' birthday, so we had a little birthday/farewell party with some members. It was super awesome. They gifted Elder Muentes and I both an entire cake, and this Hermana makes the best cake that anyone could find in Ecuador, so we were pretty excited about that.
Tuesday morning, we woke up and I caught a bus to a city called Ambato. My old pal from my home stake, Elder Ludlow, also got transferred to Ambato, so we spent the whole 5 hour bus ride talking and reminiscing about Texas, it was a great time. However, the good times didn't last. Instead of getting dropped off at the terminal where the other missionaries were waiting, the bus dropped us off at the top of a hill, like 15 minutes from the terminal. I also had the cake that the Hermana had given me in my hands, along with my 3 suitcases. Elder Ludlow and I had no phone and no idea where we were or where to go. We were just laughing though, it was fun. A taxi pulled up, so we were able to get a ride to the terminal, and found the other missionaries there waiting for us.
Okay back to Baños. I already love this area and my zone. There are three missionaries from Texas and only one from Utah in my zone, I'm pretty sure that this is the first time that this has happened in the history of the entire world.
Some other great things about Baños;
If I wake up in the middle of the night, I'm cold. I missed that feeling so much. I also finally have a hot shower, I forgot how good that felt.
There are also tons and tons of tourists here, lots of Americans, Russians, Swedes, and just other random European countries. It's fun to see other white people because not all the Ecuadorians don't look at me super weird anymore.
Whenever I tell people I'm from Texas, they ask me if I was a part of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre or if I was a cowboy. Some members have difficulty saying my name, so they just call me cowboy, I love it.
We taught a homeless man that has lived on the streets for 25 years, it took me right back to my Portland days.
My companion is Elder Santiago and he's from Peru. He's 25 and played semi-professional soccer before the mission. He has one transfer less than I do. He's a good dude, I think we'll be good this transfer.
In my Book of Mormon studies I have recently been focusing on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and his nature, and so far it's been super awesome. I came across a scripture the other day in 2 Nephi 6, a great chapter about Jesus Christ. Verse 41 says, "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name." I really like this scripture because it makes it really clear that Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation, and only through him can we receive eternal happiness. I would invite all of you to make Christ more of a focus in your lives, and to rely on him. He is the only way.
Well, that's all for this week! Love and miss you all!
I'm going to send the pictures in a different email, just fyi.
Elder Spangler
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