Pon tu Hombro a la Lid (Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel)

Date: January 26, 2015
Week: 31 Ophelia, Ecuador
Companion: Elder Bustillo/Honduras

Going to the mall on P-day
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2015

We are still working real hard. Elder Bustillo has been a little bit more hard on me lately, but I know it's for the best. It's crazy how much the mission shows you your weaknesses. I am learning a ton and can definitly feel myself being molded. Maybe molded isn't the right word. How about refined? Yeah that sounds better. I am still old goofy Colton Kimball, but I am starting to view people, places, and things just a bit differently. I love being out here and meeting all these wonderful people. As Elder Bustillo says "No extraño mi familia porque estoy conociendo mi otra familia aquí"which means "Do not miss my family because I'm meeting my other family here." Wise words.

Well, lets take a look at the investigators:
Familia Mora:
We had a tour with them at the church this past week and what an experience. They have tons of questions. We are still deciding on whether we should answer all their questions because as the scriptures say... don't give your pearls unto the dogs or swine. They didn't attend church which is sad but we are continuing to work with them.

Teresa Rodriguez:
Teresa is from Cuba and from what she has told me, it doesn't sound like the Church is there. ¡Que raro! She did not attend church which is also sad. She isn't doing well with her haircut shop and is thinking about moving. She is afraid to close on Sundays so that's why she isn't coming to church.

Leslie:
Leslie is a new invesitgator this week. First off, she has an IPhone 6 so that makes her automatically cool. You could say she has money. The reason she is investigating the Church is because her boyfriend is a Mormon gringo. He served in Washington and he doesn't speak Spanish. So that means she speaks English!!!! Well its not perfect but I am sure her English sounds like my Spanish. She got Dr.Pepper sent in from the states so I got to have a Dr.Pepper for like the first time in 7 months or so. She is moving to Utah in March to get married to her boyfriend. Elder Bustillo and I are doing this guy a big favor by getting her baptized. I at least expect an invite to the wedding.

Gustavo and Adal Herra:
Well Adal is like 10 and wants to learn English so he came up and contacted us. We later visited his family. His dad, Gustavo, is all for the church and we got to do a tour with them also. The wife is a little skiddish right now but we will see. We went to their house one night and the wife answered and we asked if Gustavo was there. She was very timid and said he was there "but not all there". Turns out he is an alcoholic but he wants to change. He and his son went to church on Sunday so that means something.

Some crazy members from church
Ophelia, Ecuador February 2015

Just being our normal selves.
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2015

We have more investigators but these are the only ones that are more or less progressing.
So things are all good and I am having a blast. We still don't have hot water so we are still heating up water every morning and showering with a bucket. I am sure that I have showered more with a bucket than a shower head on my mission but I guess thats life for some people. Elder Bustillo is also making me wash my clothes by hand because he refuses to wash his clothes with the mamita. More or less I know how to wash my clothes now. He wants to start working out but that old part of Colton Kimball still hasn't left yet. I still eat the same breakfast everyday (egg sandwiches). I have been downloading talks on my flash to listen to. I still haven't used my debit card to see if it works. And time is flying!

Well all is well and I love being a missionary. I love learning and can definitly see how all these skills will help me in my future. I found a scripture this past week that I really liked and it cannot only be applied to me but to everyone.
 Mateo 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

First off we all know why it can be related to me, but let's see why it can be related to you.
1) Have you done your hometeaching/visiting teaching?
2) When's the last time you went out with the missionaries?
3) Did you read the chapter in Teachings of President Ezra Taft Benson before last Sundays class?
4) Have you gone to the temple this month?
5) How's your family history?

My District
Ophelia Ecuador, January 2015

People I would go on but I will not. I ain't saying I'm perfect because I left to serve the Lord for two years. There are days when I don't want to study. There are days when I don't want to leave the house. And unfortunately, there are days where I just want to quit. But I don't. There are reasons why we have all these programs, they help us and others. They helps us complete our purpose as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Leave the house at 8 and go visit some people with the missionaries. Try to do your visiting teaching at the beginning of the month and not at the end, or not at all. Prepare for the meetings we have Sundays whether that be reading Chapter 4 in The Teachings of Ezra TYaft Benson or preparing your lesson for the praimary children to the best of your ability. The Church perfects us (Efesios 4:12). Make Church apart of your life spiritually and not just socially. I love you all but these are my words for these week and I know they will come back to bite me when I am pressing an IPhone 7 up to my face.

Elder Kimball

Elder Bustillo and I at the internet cafe
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2015

Took this picture today folks.  This is what I look like right now!
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2015

Bailey: Just keep swimming.... HA
Clay: Those are my socks that your wearing in the churchball game. Don't worry bud, the tallness always comes late!
Lexi: Keep rebounding sis! And maybe layoff with the daily push ups youv'e been doing.
Leah: 3 points! Way to go! You've already scored more points than me in my entire life.
Bella: Happy Birthday Sis! I had it written in my agenda on Thursday along with a couple BYU and Spurs games.
Collins: How are ya sis? We will be almost 8 months old soon! Wahoo!
Mom, How are ya? I miss ya mother! How's being at home with a baby again? I am sure its a joy.
Dad, I know BYU stinks. How's being ward mission leader? Practically all the missionaries here say that when they return they don't want to to be ward mission leaders. Did you do the ward mission plan? If so translate it into Spanish and send it to me! JK. I love ya Dad and thanks for all your support!
Ciao to all!
Elder Kimball

The Bible Belt with Big Bibles

Date: January 19, 2015
Week: 30 Ophelia, Ecuador
Companion: Elder Bustillo/ Honduras

Some guys I knew from the CCM. Elder Neilsen and Elder Spencer and Me!
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2014

Dear Family and Friends,
Although I may not be in the Bible Belt anymore doesn't mean these people don't know their Bible. What a wonderful week it was! This week has probably been the most spiritually uplifting!  I believe it is all thanks to Elder Bustillo. He is very spiritual and he cares about everyone he sees. We had the craziest experice my first day with him and it was sweet.

It was Monday night and we were knocking doors because we didn't know who to visit. Anyways, we knocked like twenty doors or something like that and most people stopped us before we even said who we were and just said they were Catholic. (I am starting to think the Ecuadorians use that as an excuse to not talk to missionaries.) Anyways we knocked this one door to a lady and she started rambling about how she reads the Bible everyday, and she brings out this huge Bible, and she's like look I have this huge Bible that I read everyday. We walk away afterwards and were like yep she got us with the Big Bible.

Elder Neilsen is 6'10 and just the right height to take pictures over peoples heads.
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2015

The Assistants to the President
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2015

Well, we decided to say a prayer in the street asking Heavenly Father to help us find someone that  would recieve our message. We started walking and rung one doorbell and no one answered.  Then we knocked another 10 or so doors and we decided to go down the hill to see if we could have some better luck. We started going down and I hear a whistle. I turn around but I couldn't see anyone in the street and so I continued downward. I headed down the hill and heard the whistle again. I turned around and no one was there. I continued downward. For the third time I heard the whistle and I begun to laugh and think to myself "Obviously someone is trying to get my attention so why don't we head back up". We went back up the street and there was a man standing in the door. He said "Elderes, Vengan". We headed up his stairs to his house and I am just laughing inside but also really scared because I had no idea who this guy was and why was he letting us in.

To make a long story short, we found Pablo Mora this week. He is the father of two kids and also has a wife. We taught him The Restoration and then taught his whole family this week everynight or so. Although they did not come to church I still have faith that they will be baptized. This will probably be a moment that I never forget. I learned in such a short time the power of the prayer. I am going to be honest and say that I had never done a prayer in the street before as a missionary and I was surprised when Elder Bustillo suggested that we should. I get a little teary eyed everytime I recount this story and I am greatful for the power of prayer and the abilty we have as missionaries and as children of God to speak with our Father in Heaven.

I found subway but no buffalo chicken:(
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2015

A view of my sector.  Ophelia Ecuador, January 2015

I hope that Elder Bustillo and I can keep having this success and that we can be great instruments in the hands of God. I just wanted to share this experience with y'all because I thought you would enjoy it. I know that this Church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and we have a living prophet in Thomas S. Monson. I know that my Savior lives and that he paid the price for everyone. I love this Gospel and I love the opportunity I have to give this time of my life to the Lord.
Elder Bustillo and I continued working hard this week and we found four families and had thirteen new investigators. I am starting to get the hang of contacting especially with the help of Elder Bustillo.
A little more about Elder Bustillo
- The thirteenth of fifteen kids
- From the capital of Honduras
- Loves to correct my Spanish (And I thought my Spanish was fine, boy was I wrong)
- Has served in the Coast and the Jungle
- Wants to learn English
- He can do the voice of Golem and also Mickey Mouse

My zone with President and Sister Richardson (Elder Bustillo is to my Left)

He really is a great guy, and he has definitely reminded me of why I am here. His mother died about five months ago but he decided to stay out here. He has really helped me think of why I am here. He has helped me understand who I am, and he is really funny.

This past Saturday, the hermanas had thier investigator, Federico, get interviewed and he passed so the hermanas will have a baptism this week. I had the chance to talk with Federico for a little while and it was great to get to know such a spiritual giant like him. We talked yesterday at church and he asked me to baptize him. I mean I was shocked that someone I knew so little about would ask me to baptize him, but I happily agreed. He probably weighs 275 so I have been doing some workouts to prepare.

Elder Bustillo tried to sleep the first night but then he noticed the smeared boogers on the wall from Elder Macalopu and he lost it, so we cleaned the whole night and switched rooms and everything. I am difinitly learning how to clean and I feel very clean. We haven't had hot water in four or so weeks so we have been heating up water on the stove. It's not that fun but hey sometimes life is not always easy. I am excited to work here with Elder Bustillo.   I want to work with him for as long as I can.

My hair is starting to become a winters coat
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2015

I can't really think of anything more to say. I want everyone to watch this video, Pioneers. Although I could easily brag about myself and how I left everything to eat rice, and be with Latino's (well I guess I was surrounded by Latino's in San Antonio) and I won't get to meet my new baby sister for two years, there are others who are sacrificing more than I am, to partake of, and share this Gospel.

I know that I am a child a of God and that I have been called by a prophet to be here in Ecuador. I know that Jesus Christ was The Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the Messiah of the New Testament. He conquered death and because of him I can do the same. I love being a missionary and appreciate every spiritual moment that I have. I hope that I can not only represent my family here in Ecuador, but also Jesus Christ. I love everyone that has continued to read this boring blog.

Until next time,
Elder Kimball

Bailey- Way too much make up for ya. JK What do I know, I have been stranded in Ecuador for way too long.
Clay- Nice superman hat. Now what happen to your cool Spurs retro hat:(?
Lexi- You and I should start waking up a little earlier and put in some sit ups. I have been doing one daily when I lift my head off the pillow to get up:)
Leah- Way to score 4 points! I don't think I have scored in an actual game in my whole basketball career. It was a long career, maybe a little too long:)
Bella- How are ya? Can't believe how big you are! Keep reading!
Collins- 7 months for you tomorrow. I wonder why I can only remember how old you are......
Mom- Please send me the things I have asked for! I love you! Mother send me a flash with discursos in English or in Spanish that I can listen too.
Dad- I have been working on my Spanish and I hoping to improve everyday! Congrats on your fireside. Try to find people for the missionaries. Even if its the least likely people on the earth. Remember the difference between Cordero and Oveja? Remember which one you are and start helping the other. I would translate those words but my mind has completly died and fried.

CIAO!
E'Kimball

Bienvenido Elder Bustillo

Date: January 12, 2015

Week: 29 Ophelia, Ecuador

Companion: Elder Bustillo/Honduras

Colton right before his mission
Utah, June 2014

That's right people! Changes yesterday and Elder Peña went to Imbabura to continue not talking to people and I got to recieve Elder Bustillo from Honduras. My second companion from Honduras!  Elder Marshall went to the Jungle and Elder Perry is waiting with us to recieve one of my good missionary friends from Esmeraldas Elder Pinto! You could say I am stoked for the changes and to be a normal person again. Oh and the hermana's didn´t have changes. Hermana Dunne will finish her mission here.

So last week I developed a disease called "Lavanderia". Its a little mix of my stomach churning like a washing machine and diarrhea. The absolute worst! My parents probably would have called it the "Colton! Go to School!" disease, so having that in mind I kept my shoulder to the wheel. We were able to meet with Anghy Rojas and she is still progressing but doesn´t have a date for baptism. But I am sure Elder Bustillo and I will get on it! 

The best part of the week was when we had Stake conference and President Richardson came to town! We also had President Fuhriman of the Guayaquil Temple come and an Area Seventy Presidente Vallejo. So you could say I was batting in the Big Leagues on this one. President Fuhriman is from Idaho but he sort of looks Latino and his Spanish is probably perfect. His talks were funny and relatable and he even talked to me afterward but not in English. He said he had been to San Antonio and he goes ¿Como se dice "Riverwalk"? and I just laughed. 

President Richardson came to play especially when he threw a change-up and called Elder Peña and I up to the plate and asked us to state the Mission Purpose in front of the whole crowd. I think it's safe to say my knees were weak. My arms were heavy. There was vomit on my sweater already. Mom's spaghetti. I was nervous but on the surface "I looked calm and ready to drop bombs but I kept on forgetting"..... Sorry snapped into alittle bit of Eminem right there. 

On the mission, your memory extends beyond measures. Anyway's I knew the purpose but maybe my companion didn´t so it kinda looked bad cause the Gringo came out on top on this one. Elder Vallejo is Ecuatoriano so that's pretty cool. He spoke with power and authority and he didn´t offend anyone too bad.

Well I have to go so I will write more next week! I love y'all and everyone! I hope I will have great news of a great week from Elder Bustillo and I!

Ciao, Elder Kimball

P.S If you want to know what it was like for the relationship of Elder Peña and I, watch Finding Nemo in the part where Dory is showing Marlin where the boat went.

P.S.S. Sorry no pictures this week.

Ecuadorian Street Contacting....

Date: January 5, 2014
Week: 28, Ophelia, Ecuador
Companion: Elder Macalopu aka Elder Peña from Peru

Strange Ecuadorian New Years Traditions
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2015

More crazies
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2014

And more
Ophelia, Ecuador January 2014

Well... 2014 that's a wrap. Thanks for all the ups and the downs. Appreciated every moment!

Tuesday: We went to Elder Marshall's and Elder Perry's because we had to make sure they were being obedient. Ha, nah Elder Peña only had to see if they were doing okay.

Wednesday: We spent the morning with them studying and headed out into the depot in Ecuador and learned alot of why we need to be in the house at 5:00 o'clock. Literally those pics are what I witnessed Wednesday afternoon. I don't know why but the men dress up as women and then proceed to "street contact" for money. This isn't like a haunted house where they aren't allowed to touch you. This is the real thing, and Elder Peña did not like it one bit. He almost punched one dude and I don't know what I would have done if he did. I may be giant here in Ecuador but I'm pretty sure I would have cried on the spot. Celebrating the New Year's with she-men.....

Thursday: WaHoo 2k15!  The city of Quito turned into a ghost town! Literally everyone left! No one was in the city and it was nice to have peace and quiet in the streets. We had Reunion de Zona in which we reviewed our goals for the month of December and made new ones for January. Our goals for December were 3 baptisms and 4 rescued. We managed to get 1 baptism (Luciana counted has a baptism for the missionaries and Romina counted as a baptism for the ward) and 2 rescued. Hermano Raul was rescued and Hermano Gabriel Rojas (Anghy's Dad). Those all counted for the month of December and we already have Hermana Pamela and Adriana (Mother and Sister of Luciana) rescued for the month of January.
Editors Note: Rescued means fellowshipping them back to church

Friday: Again no one was home, and it was a hard day to work, but we were able to manage alot of contacts and I am hoping a few will come through.

Saturday: Luciana's cousin was baptised but she lives in the sector of the Hermana's but Elder Peña and I basically found and taught her everything. It was great to work with Familia Mediavilla and to have so much success with them. We were really able to bring a family back to Christ and it feels awesome.

Sunday: We had church all day again but they changed our mamitas for this month and that means I am back to eating rice. I really hope we can keep Stalin as our papito but we will see.

Well the week was both dead, but also eventful. I am excited for this year. This is my blackout year here in the mission and this year will either break or make my mission but I guess that just all depends on me. I have decided to make some goals for this coming year and I believe I can accomplish them. We all had to make goals and send them to President so here are a few I put in my letter to the prez:
1) Finish the Book of Mormon in Spanish
2) Read Preach my Gospel in both English and Spanish
3) Memorize the Living Christ in Spanish
4) Become more like Christ by always representing Him
5) Always be a help and a friend to my companion
6) Think of others before myself
7) Put the will of the Lord above my own
8) Leave my sector better than I found it
9) Begin and finish eachday with a personal prayer
10) Be obedient

Sometimes it can be easy to be distracted or discourged out here. Sometimes you can forget why you're here and especially who you are representing. I like this video because it reminds me of why I am here, and really why all of us should accept a call to serve. Whether it be to go on a a mission, or to be the ward primary president. Really we all have opportunities to serve and I hope that all of us can accept them as if the Lord was personally giving them to us. Love you guys and enjoy your New Year of 2015.

Bailey- Congrats on the B
Clay- Att'a boy. Keep sending your girlfriend gifts!
Lexi- Ya look prettier and prettier everyday
Leah- Practice everyday. (Futbol)
Bella- Be good in school
Collins- Those snow pictures looked pretty cute!
Mom- Got some more packages and I am excited to open them
Dad- We have cambios next week in which Elder Peña will probably go. I hope I can continue having success with my new comp. Thanks for the advice on the Spanish.

ELDER KIMBALL

Feliz Año Nuevo

Date: December 29, 2014
Week: 27, Ophelia, Ecuador
Companion: Elder Macalopu aka Elder Pena/Peru

Elder Pena, their cousin, Romina, Luciana and me!
Ophelia, Ecuador December 2014

Well Christmas has past and it was a blast!

Thursday: Christmas! Woke up at 6:30 and opened my presents! It was a great Christmas. I went to my Reunion de Distrito and Reunion de Zona which was great. I then headed to Stalin's to have lunch. We had Encebollado. They don't have a lot of Encebollado here and I missed it! I then got to call my family from Stalin's house. It was cool to talk to them and I didn't cry which was surprising. Elder Peña cried like a baby, and he will see his family in three months. But it was a good first call, it was great to see them on Skype.

My Christmas present from Stalin
Ophelia, Ecuador December 2014

Friday: We had our reunion de lideres and not very many people were home this day but we got to see Familia Mediavilla to prepare them for the baptism!

Saturday: We had the baptism of Luciana and Romina Mediavilla. They were excited for the baptism and it was sweet to get the dad to baptize them. We talked to the bishop and had him interview Hermano Raul and he was able to baptize his daughters.

 Raul, Luciana and Romina Mediavilla and Elder Pena and I
Ophelia, Ecuador December 2014

Hermano Mediavilla and his daughters
Ophelia, Ecuador December 2014

The Mediavilla family
Ophelia Ecuador, December 2014

Sunday: The usual with Church and we had dinner at Stalin's.

Monday: The Hermana's called really early in the morning asking Elder Peña if we could go to Teleferico as a district. Teleferico is like a ski lift that takes you to the top of the mountain and you can see the whole city of Quito, but its outside our mission limits. Elder Peña called the assistants thinking they would say no, but we just got a new assistant and he doesn't know much, and he gave us permission! It was really surprising. Usually we have to be in mission clothes during all of pray, but he even gave us permission to go in normal clothes. Elder Peña was like this will probably be the only time in your mission when you can wear normal clothes on Pday. We went to Teleferico and it was actually pretty fun. There were tons of Gringos there who were trying to speak Spanish and I was like... what a bunch of noobs.

Teleforico, waiting in line to board the ski lift
Ecuador, December 2014

Waiting in line for our chance to ride the lift.
Ecuador, December 2014

The view from the top!
Ecuador, December 2014

The view from the lift
Ecuador, December 2014

Inside the ski lift.
Ecuador, December 2014

Well, my Christmas week was a blast and spiritually uplifting. I was able to spend some hours with Elder Peña in the house playing Monopoly and he won.  Our mission president gave us permission since it was Christmas. I don't know the strategy for two player Monopoly. I hope everyone had a great Christmas! This is probably the best New Years video I could find and probably one of the funniest: Año Nuevo

The Elders and the Sisters
Ecuador December 2014

Me at the top!
Ecuador December 2014

Beautiful Ecuador
December 2014

People, I challenge y'all to make some goals for this coming new year. Plan to be better at the end of year and plan to accomplish things! I know we shouldn't look back at the past and if we do we will be caught in a trap. Satan wants us to remember our past transgressions. Remember to always look forward and have faith and trust in your Heavenly Father!

Love you all, Elder Kimball

My plaque!
Ecuador, December 2014