Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Date: November 24, 2014
Week: 22 Ofelia, Ecuador
Companion: Elder Macalopu

One of the hermana's investigators was baptized and she asked Elder Macalopu to baptize her.
 I conducted the baptism.
Ofelia Ecuador, November 2014

I´ve been dreaming of a white christmas. NOT
Wow, time has flown by. This is the last week of the transfer. Seems like I just started here. I highly doubt President will move me again, but there is a good chance Elder Macalopu could go. It would be very sad if he went. I have actually grown to love him. He treats me like a normal person now and I think our difficulties have made it so easy to teach together. Honestly, this last week was full of success.

I thought this passage in my Spanish study guide was funny
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014
English Translation: The chicken rice is a dish best served in almost every country in the Hispanic world. Varies from one country to another or from one region to another in terms of the other ingredients and seasonings.

Tuesday: So a couple weeks back a couple of women (girls) contacted Elder Macalopu and I asking for an interview with us about our church. I didn´t think anything about it because they were women and its hard for us to be able to teach them. Well they called Elder Macalopu and set up an appointment for today. We met in the church and brought Stalyn with us so it would be more comfortable. Turns out their whole class (12 people) showed up and just asked us questions. Most of them live in other sectors so I highly doubt any of them will progress, but we got to send a ton of referrals to the offices.

Stalyn loved the whole thing cause they would always ask why missionaries couldn't do certain things and Stalyn would have to explain and it made him look good. By the way, he changed his name to Jonathan for the lesson. Why? I do not know but he just did.

Wednesday:This day was odd. We have a member in our ward that called us and asked us to come and bless his neighbors house so we said sure. We showed up and he wasn´t there. We called him and he showed up. We went to the house which was really just a shop for some sort of work. Odd. We blessed the house, and then the family of three asked us to bless them so we were like okay. And then we went to his other neighbors house which again was some sort of business office. He asked us to bless that. And then some of the workers wanted blessings and it was just odd, the whole thing.

Thursday: Had a reunion in the morning with the ZLs. And then headed over to Victor's. He really is doing great. He has actually started reading the Book of Mormon which is great.

Friday: Divisions! Elder Macalopu went with Elder Perry to the hospital because he was sick. Elder Marshall and I worked in my sector. The day was awesome. We had the opportunity to contact a man named Javier. We invited him to come to church and he said sure. We got to teach Victor again. Elder Marshall was able to help him to understand more about the Book of Mormon. The Hermanas had a refrence for my sector so we went with them and a member to teach Ana Lucia. We put her on date for baptism on the 13th of December but she didn't come to church so that already fell through. But she really understood everything and I could definitly see the Lord had prepared her. We have a cita with her tonight. (Fingers Crossed).

Met up with Elder Macalopu and Elder Perry at night. Elder Perry had a stomach infection and turns out his has lost 30lbs in just 5 weeks of being out here. Wow!

Saturday: We had the baptism of Hermana Patricia. I had the opportunity of conducting it, and Elder Macalapu got to baptize her. It was amazing. Even though she wasn't our conversion we had taught her enough times with the Hermanas to know her well. At night we had the opportunity to visit Vanessa (Converso Reciente/recent convert). She just got her wisdom teeth out so she couldn't say much but she told us she was having some hard times with members and I was going to read Matthew 5:44 but Elder Macalopu took over and basically told her sometimes we have problems with members, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ is absolutely perfect even though the members are not. He then told her how he and I had had problems and how he realized it was his fault because he thought he was better than me, and he was sad because it took him four weeks to realize how "alegre" I was. Boy did I need to hear that! It was a miracle. It really was. I couldn't believe what he was saying and the amount of change I had seen in our realtionship that week. He really trusts me now and the mission is just a Blast! My challenges with Elder Macalopu really helped me understand what Hermana Vanessa was feeling. Elder Macalopu and I now teach so well together is just awesome!

Sunday: Okay... was this week not jam packed or what?! Well the fun is not over people! Elder Macalopu got called like 5 minutes before church to give a talk. HA! And than the most amazing thing happened! Guess who walked through the door! Javier! Remember I contacted him on Friday? I went to sit with him in the back. During the second hour we left him in Gospel Principles and taught Angie for the first time.

Okay quickly, Angie is the girl I found using the "Jack Goodwin Bautismo". She doesn't live in our sector but we have permission to teach her because she has certain issues in which she has to attend our ward. Well, its hard to find her during the week because she lives so far away but now we know for sure where she lives. We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ and asked her to be baptized, she said yes as long as she recieves an answer. We asked her to prepare for the 13th of December and she said yes. So now we have someone with a fecha!(date).

I then found Hermano Javier and he seemed to really be enjoying himself. He ended up staying for all three hours. So we had two investigators attend church (Angie y Javier). We have appointments with both of them tomorrow. I am excited for the coming week.

Wow, didn't know that much happened. Oh, and one of those days there was a parade and it was cool so that's why I have pics of that.

The cool parade that happened just outside of our apartment
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

More parade pics
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Parade
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Not too impressive but still fun to watch
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

The miracle I had the opportunity of witnessing this week was the 360 degree change in the relationship of Elder Macalopu and I. I really feel as though our challenges have helped us understand the problems of the people we teach, and that's why I really feel the Lord put those challenges in our way. Really I felt as though I was in the refiners fire for a couple of weeks. This is a cool video about the refiners fire.  http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3897359657001

I know that the Lord refines us. I now have a certain testimony of that. I know that my Father in Heaven knows me and loves me. With my experiences in my mission he has refined me into the missionary I need to be. I used to be afraid of the Area book because I was afraid I would mess it up, but now I know it like the back of my hand. I know how to communicate with a person I thought I would never have the opportunity of knowing so well. I never thought I could speak Spanish and study it everyday but now instead of dreading every step in my mission I have come to love every step because I know He is with me every step of the way. I feel blessed to be out here in Quito and working with such an amazing ward and companion. I really hope I don't get transferred.  I highly doubt I will, but I will be really sad if Elder Macalopu goes.

Having fun with Elder Macalopu at Hermana Patricia's baptism
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Bailey! Thanks for writing! I hope you are enjoying Florida! Hows Reagan football? How's schoool and driving around?

Clay! That video you sent was pretty funny! Hahahaha I am still laughing from it! How's basketball going! Go Go team!

Lexi! How's the beach in Florida!? How are you feeling being 15! You are growing up so fast!

Leah! How's the bicycle kick coming! How's school? You miss seeing me in PALS? If you see a PAL tell them Colton Kimball says hi.

Bella! Why you so cute?! You keep getting cuter and cuter! And why does it seem like our whole family now wears glasses?

Collins! You are getting bigger. Ha. Teased you for the first time. You are one blessed child because you haven't been teased by the Oldest. I guess I can tease ya when you're two.

Mother! Thanks for all the packages really! I am thinking about buying a little ten dollar christmas tree and putting my presents under them. Keep sending me stuff! The latest package I recieved was sent 10th of November so that's pretty fast. Like 2 weeks fast! How's traveling the world with the hubby? You and Dad have been alot of places these past two weeks. And thanks for the obedience talk. Didn't really need to hear it but I'll keep it in mind (Insert rolling eyes face, and than a laughing winky face with tongue out and then a kissy face with a little heart emoticons).

Father! Remember a couple years back and we were driving to Lake Powell after Philmont and it was Sunday so you only let us listen to BYU Radio? Remember the story we heard and we both looked at eachother and were crying. Not the first time we were crying over the samething but it will be a moment I will cherish forever. If you don't remember it I am pretty sure this video was it. I love you Dad and hope the Cougars pull through tonight against our old foe SDSU. It should be a good match up! I call it BYU:83 SDSU:78 Love you dad at have fun in Florida!

Ciao Folks!
Elder Kimball

Middle Mundo

Date: November 17, 2014
Week: 21 Ofelia, Ecuador
Companion: Elder Macalopu

I've found  the equator.  I always knew it was marked with a yellow line all the way around!
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Well things are great! really great!

Tuesday-  I sat down and talked with Elder Macalopu about the way he acts towards me. He really is a cool guy, he just has these mood swings that I have to get used to.

Wednesday- We visited Letty and she wants to make us a Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving is on the day of Elder Maclopus Cumplemes (Day we complete another month in the mish) so we are going to be having Turkey! By the way Letty keeps singing "I'll be home for Christmas" to bother me. She likes to rub it in that she actually will be home for Christmas.

Thursday- We actually served someone! People here usually don't need service because they are so well off but Victor helped us out. Victor bought some old fridge and we cleaned it out for him and then a member walked by the gated community and Victor waved him over. Victor decided to give him the fridge. So we then moved a fridge four blocks up hill by hand. Lets just say my back does not appreciate me right now but hey it was for Victor!

Friday- Eduardo was like hey guys I am going back to the coast today so this is our last lesson. It was pretty sad but then he ended up not leaving so we were just mad at him for lying.

Saturday- Helped Victor clean out a room in his house. Victor is progressing. He really likes hanging out with us and he loves showing all his friends his Gringo friend. Ha!

Sunday- Studies in the morning. Ward council at 11. Lunch at 12:30.  Church at 2. Only went to 4 today. Victor showed up at four. It doesn't count as an attendance but it was nice of him to show up. Transmition with Area Presidency for all ward councils. Basically got machetted for 2 and half hours. Ended at 7:30. Finally left the church and went to eat with Hermana Letty and some other Elders, She fed us Corn bread! I brought along Elder Mott because he is from Texas and I wanted him to meet Letty.

Elder Macalopu and I at the Middle of Mundo (the world)
Ofelia Ecuador, November 2014

Llama time!
Ofelia Ecuador, November 2014

Me with the llama
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

That's my week in a nutshell.  Things are going well with Elder Macalopu! Nothing to really worry about. Just keep my mouth shut when he is mad, and when he wants to talk we talk. He is starting to open up alot more so its fun. Today we went to Mitad del Mundo. That was a blast. We were joking around with the mannequins and stuff and it was cool to go to a tourist attraction. It was full of gringos there! Tons of English. I didn't like that there were a bunch of gringos because the tour guides thought I only spoke English. Fetch peeps I am Bilingual! I didn't get a chance to go to the offices today so I have to wait till next week to see if I have a package. I wouldn't mind some peanut butter. They don't have that here!

Mitad del Mundo
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

That's me with my feet on each side of the equator!
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Me and the statue there
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Up on top
Ofelia Ecuador November 2014

Well Elder Macalopu found some peeps to teach besides Victor! We found this family that is really intrested in the church. We haven't officially met with them but have a cita tomorrow. The daughter came up to us at church and was like "I want to be baptized". I call it the "Jack Goodwin Bautismo". Her Dad is somewhat a member. He might have to be rebaptized because his papers are bad. All I really know is that they have the desire so I am excited. Elder Perry and Elder Marshall baptized a family on Saturday so that was awesome, and the Hermanas have a baptism this weekend, The lady asked Elder Macalopu to baptize her so that's sweet. I am going to try and get Victor to come. Victor loves to talk about how I have zero baptisms. But I think he is secretly wants to be my first baptism.

Me trying to preach the Gospel
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Me still trying with a Restoration pamphlet
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Me in my Otavalan suit
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Fooling around…
Ofelia Ecuador November 2014

Having a little fun with the mannequins
Ofelia Ecuador, November 2014

Bout time someone listens
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Well thats the whole investigator situation. I am hopinhg for big things. My faith is on high right now.
The first few weeks were hard people. I wondered why the Lord told the mission president to send me here? I wondered why I had to leave Esmeraldas and come to the cold city where it would be even harder to help people? I wondered why my companion would refuse to talk to me and would give me zero slack? However, in all honesty now I have answers. Really I feel as though this is the perfect place for me and Elder Macalopu is the perfect companion for me. I feel so much stronger and so much more spiritually sound. I know I have said it a million times but the Lord makes us work to recieve our blessings. We first are tested and then we really recieve our Faith. My Dad has always loved trails. Literally I thought he was an idiot at first. Why in the world would anyone in the world be excited for difficult times? But now I realize why. It's the only why we can grow! It's the only way we can really feel what the Savior felt. Be excited to be here people! You need to know that you have a Savior and Father in Heaven that love you, and the only way that can happen is if you really feel the power of the Atonement. Know that there are people in this world that don't even know what the Atonement is because they have never gotten the chance to know. Ask yourself do you know what the Atonement is?  People, life is hard but like a stone cut out of a mountain (Daniel 2:44) our falling will shape and refine us!
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid853948122001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAwY-wg3E~,CCjDZJW7GXDxqyDe7k_mBp1YVeadu2DM&bctid=2816179048001

Love you guys!

Collins- What up! You sort of look like Bella, with the blonde hair and all.

Bella- Nice American girl doll. How's school? Hope you are keeping the boys away!

Leah! Happy Birthday again! Heard soccer ended! Soccer never ends here. I feel like its year round!

Lexi! Why do you look 13? You are so tall! Maybe thats why you are so stinking good at goalie!

Clay! Hoped you liked NYC! I like the little mini person you have of me! Why are you such a fool!?Give me a blue byu tie next week for church!

Bailey! I appreciated your letter this week! Bout time you write me! Keep working on Physics. Memorize the Formulas and its easy. Also how was babysitiing the girls?

Mother! The peanut butter comment was directed toward you. I need it! I got the Ecuadorian shirt a couple weeks back. I should have a package in the office next week! You should also be expecting a package from me:)

Father! That video is hilarious. I'll tell Stalyn about it and I am sure he will love it! Of course you are going viral while I am out and about! BYU basketball still scares me. I don't have my hopes up. 95- 90 win over Long Beach State does not make me listo for this season. Ooo and Letty is moving from NJ to SA and I told her to move as close to the temple as possible. Love you Dad!

Peace out Peeps!
Elder Kimball

P.S 5 months has flown by...….

Me and this scary mask
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Making my own armored car video
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

I'm in two places at once! North and South of the Equator
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Don't QUITo Now!

Date: November 10, 2014
Week: 20 Ofelia, Ecuador
Companion: Elder Macalopu

Clayton using Colton's Fat Head on Sunday to help us keep from missing him.
November 2014 San Antonio, Texas 

Everyone,
Felt like reusing that phrase (Don't QUITo Now!) cause its describes me so well.

Monday night: I just want to say that we dedicated a house because apparently its haunted. Turns out you don't need the priesthood to dedicate a house. Interesting.

Tuesday: We actually taught alot of people this day it was awesome. Nothing better than talking with an actual person!

Wednesday: Nada

Thursday: Got to go out to eat with some members. We had COW intestines. I couldn't finish it:(

Tripa de Vaca. Cow intestines
Ofelia Ecuador November 2014

Friday: We have meetings in the mornings on Thursdays and Fridays.

Saturday: We found a new investigator and I asked him to be baptized. He accepted. His name is Manuel.

Sunday: The whole day got sucked up with our new 2:00 church. Manuel didn't come to church.

Monday: Played games as a zone.

My zone (Got me a haircut)
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Well things are bien here in Quito. I got my rain jacket back so now I am not soaked all the time. I have been studying my Spanish hard this week. I believe I am improving but I just don't know. Some exciting news people. I found a scale!!! My member friend Stalyn was asking me what kind of food I like. And I basically straight up said "Anything but rice". HA! He laughed. He asked me if it was hard for me to eat here and I showed him the waist of my pants. He quickly ran and got his wife's scale. I figured out how to switch it from kilos to pounds. Let me remind people that I weighed 192 lbs in the MTC. I now weigh 175 lbs. Wow! Just wow! Now if only someone could convince me to start doing sit ups. NOT.

Elder Macalopu winning an award.
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Things are mas o menos with Elder Macalopu. President basically just told me to help him out more. So last week I started helping with the Area book and tried to improve my teaching abilities. I still feel like he is mad at me all the time. The Zone leaders visited us and set goals that we would talk more as a companionship and serve eachother more often. Not really sure how I can serve this guy. If I touch his stuff he gets mad at me. I am hoping that things will get better. He just doesn't speak. I am running out of stuff to say.

My district without Elder Macalopu
Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

This week we were teaching a recent convert. Her name is Vanessa and she has a 1-year-old son named Josue. She is very strong in the Church and little Josue has learned how to say Amen at the end of every prayer. Well, Vanessa opened up to us and just began to cry. She is just lonely. Her 18 year old brother lives with her and he isn't making the best of choices right now. Seeing she was down, and I was down, and Elder Macalopu seems to always be down, we decided to share a video with her. I feel like I need this video, and my family needs this video, and YOU need this video. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid853948122001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAwY-wg3E~,CCjDZJW7GXDxqyDe7k_mBp1YVeadu2DM&bctid=2781179225001

After watching this, I wiped a few tears out of my eyes and basically bore my testimony to Vanessa. She was crying, Elder Macalopu was frowning. It was a spiritual moment I won't ever forget.
People, we all have our Fridays. We all do. We all have challenges and tests in this life. Everyone does. Everyone has all of these things. Some may be different than others but in the end we all experience this oppostition. Some might be a lonely Elder in Ecuador, or some might be having trouble at work, or some might be struggling with their family relationships. These things happen and everyone experiences these one way or another. But in the words of Elder Wirthlin "Sunday will come". I testify that eventhough all of us have our Fridays, we all have our Savior, Jesus Christ. Take time to realize that he suffered for you. For a few moments on that dreadful Friday he thought of you and on that wonderful Sunday he rose for you. I know times can be tough people. I know. But with the atoning sacrifice and glorious resurrection of our Savior and Lord, we can over come our trials and challenges and have that Sunday. I encourage all to continue pressing forward and if you need another inspirational video you can find it here. http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911029449001
Well thats all folks.

Our attempt to take a family photo with all 9 of us!
San Antonio, TX November 2014

Collins- I love you and appreciate your weekly videos. You are my only sibling that sends me something every week.

Bella- How's not being the baby anymore? Did you enjoy the trip with mom and dad?

Leah- Hows school? I know how sports can sometimes make us overlook our studies! "No cake, No ice cream, Happy Birthday!"

Lexi- How tall are you? O and Happy Birthday!!! What is it? Your 11th?

Clay- GO Team! Get in good with the coaches and they will pick you to play every time!

Bailey! Thanks for not writing me for the 7th week in a row. Hows Physics?

People that read this-Has anyone noticed that I ask questions to my siblings and they never respond?....

Mother! Keep being generous and sending me packages. I wouldn't mind a BYU sweatshirt in one of those packages. Preferbably new.  P.s I love you and miss you and pray for you every day!

Trent- How was Africa? Being in a foreign country is a blast isn't it? My Spanish is progressing. People think I have been here longer than usual because of my Spanish. Stalyn wants to send you his car cause he wants you to bulletproof it. He looked up some videos of you and apparently there is one of you speaking Spanish so he said he could understand what was going on. Letty also says I look like you. HA!

I love you guys.
Elder Kimball!

Spirit Stronger Than Ever

Date: November 3, 2014
Week: 19 Ofelia, Ecuador
Companion: Elder Macalopu, Peru

Me and my zone.  Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Well another week down! Time seems to be flying now.
Okay so we have this investigator named Victor. He has gone through like ten different sets of missionaries. He totally knows everything about the church. He won't read the Book of Mormon because its confuses him but he loves the Principios del Evangelio book (Gospel Principals Book). He just knows a lot. We want to get him to start progressing but he mainly jokes around with us.

He calls all the missionaries by where they are from. So he calls Elder Macalopu, Peru and me, Texas. He has asked me to ask my parents to send him an NBA hat. He is handicap but he doesn't have a wheel chair so he literally hops around with one leg. He is a gardener for a gated community. He will let us in and I'll do some service while Elder Macalopu talks to him. This guy knows everyone! Literally everyone. We will hang out with him and teach like 3 lessons to each of his three friends. We found one of our investigators this way. Victor will be like "Hey Texas aren't you going to give my friend one your pamphlets?" So then we will start teaching his friend. It's pretty cool. Victor has a lot of potential in the church. He says the reason why he isn't baptized is because he doesn't have faith.

In this new area people live in houses. I know that sounds like, well duh everyone in the world lives in a house, but these houses are pretty nice. We actually ring doorbells which is weird. The only thing I wonder is why we don't have cars? I actually feel more in danger here that I did in Esmeraldas. This past week, we were walking down a hill and I saw some guy come sprinting around a corner with a bag.  And of course stupid Elder Kimball is thinking about contacting the guy. I thought he was a jogger. Then a few seconds later a police man comes sprinting around the corner with his gun in hand. I pointed to where the guy went finally realizing that I had just been witness to a robbery getaway. After that I felt like I just let Uncle Ben die. (The Amazing Spiderman)

Then this morning we saw some dude punch a woman in the face and sprint off. The woman had a huge black eye. We helped the woman up but that's about it. We can't really get involved in that sort of stuff.

Honestly, people here are educated. They actually know who President Spencer W. Kimball is. They want to know the exact name of the relationship I have with him. I just say in my broken Spanish "El esta en mi arbol" HA. Letty, the lady that served her mission in San Antonio is leaving at the end of the month. Apparently she has a house in New Jersey and she said one day she is going to visit her old mission and find Elder Kimball. She reminds me a lot of home, which is nice sometimes. I'll miss her.

Things that are different here from the U.S.?  Hmmm. Well seeing that our Church has a parking lot with cars in it is so cool. In Esmeraldas there sure was none of that. You know there aren't a lot of differences. I mean the roads aren't perfect and the food isn't McDonalds or anything, but hey I'll take Quito and everything its got. I am trying to be a really diligent spender. I have only eaten lunch the past two weeks because I don't have any money. That was hard but it made eating all of the mamitas food a lot easier. The mamitas won't serve you rice every time which is really nice of them. They serve us this hot jam drink which is pretty good but four times a day is sometimes over doing it.

Hermana Hancey's birthday was today, Ofelia Ecuador November 2014

What have I learned about Elder Macalopu? He might have to serve a mission longer than two years. Just the way the changes work out he might serve 25 months. He has served in every zone in the mission except Otavalo. He might go there this December. He likes to talk to everybody but me. I just try to follow him and be nice. Sometimes I get frustrated inside but then I think of why I am frustrated and realize its not worth it. He has a girlfriend at home, but he tells people he doesn't cause he doesn't want people to bother him. He says he is a convert but he was baptized when he was eight. His oldest brother died at the age of one and the missionaries found his family and now they are all members. He had a brother serve in Bolivia and has a younger brother serving in Brazil speaking Portugese. His trainer is getting married in January. Well that's literally everything I know.


This past Saturday I conducted a baptismal service for Jorge Gangua. He has a hearing disability and his family is inactive, but he wanted to be baptized. I conducted the whole thing which was an honor.  I never taught him because he was in the sector of the hermanas, but I grew to love him in just one night. It really was touching to see so many people at the baptism for this little boy. The next day was Fast and Testimony meeting. Jorge received the confirmation in which it said he would serve a full time mission. A tear came to my eye during that prayer because I could feel how much love the Lord has for Jorge. I then bore my testimony on what a great example Jorge was to me, and how blessed I am to be serving this ward. It was a great Sunday, but then the first Counselor stood up at the end and said church would be at 2pm from now on instead of 9am. Only two wards meet in that building but the first ward is at 9am and now we are at 2pm which makes no sense.

Halloween Reunion with President and the Ofelia North zone, Ofelia Ecuador, November 2014

Last Friday (Halloween), we had a reunion with President. It was a great meeting and it was cool to meet other missionaries.

Last but not least I finished the Book of Mormon this week. I don't know if you remember how the whole mission was challenged to read it in 90 days well I finished it a little early. This is my 3rd time reading the Book of Mormon, and probably my favorite time. I had so many miracles by reading the Book Of Mormon and my testimony has been strengthened by reading it. I challenge everyone to keep reading or start reading today. It has power and I know that because I have seen it. Even though I have not officially brought someone into the waters of baptism, I have seen people change because of this book. They know its true but Satan has such a strong grip on them sometimes that they choose not to follow its teachings. The Church is exactly the same here in Ecuador which helps me know that this Church is true because it is universal. I love to be apart of this church and I love to see every miracle of being a missionary for this Church.

The boys are back in town!  Like our matching ties? My zone Ofelia, Ecuador November 2014

Bailey, You are actually growing up! Hows driving? Please don't crash.

Clay, Keep your head up man! Basketball is here!

Lexi, Why are you so tall? I bet that that height is helping you out in being a Goalie!

Leah, I know you are the most athletic in the family but watch out for little baby Collins. She could be more talented than you!

Bella, You're definitely are growing! You look so big in the pictures mom sends. Keep being cute!

Collins, You definitely looked scary in your Halloween costume. How old are you now ¿Casi 5 meses?

By the way all of the people mentioned above are weirdos. Ya'lls video were strange. You all basically said the same thing. By the way Clay it is sat.  (inside joke)

Mother, I love you and hope you are enjoying your little baby Collins. You still going to go to cooking classes or was that just a phase? I always wonder where Clay got the phase thing? (Hence Gilligan)

Dad. That video looked pretty cool.  They shot you like 8 times? People here love to tell people what my dad does for a living.  Letty always makes some joke about you armoring cars and having a bunch of children. I am sure it is inappropriate cause I don't understand it, and she won't tell me in English. I hope you are staying awesome dad.

Love you guys, Elder Kimball

My Zone again, Ofelia Ecuador November 2014

Christmas List (In case anyone wants to send something to a lonely missionary)
1) Some LDS books in English to read at night. I have read every English book I have.
2) Some American food I could possibly heat up in the microwave?
3) Some sweatpants I can wear since its super cold!
4) A sewing kit
5) Reeses peanut butter cups (my favorites!)
6) Nesquik chocolate milk mix
7)Chick-fil-a sauce
8) A mini Book of Mormon in English that I can carry around
9)Maybe some ties
10) Just send me cool stuff. I really do want some good LDS books. Maybe like History of the church or something. Something I can just dive into and read at night.