More MAYO on that, Please...

Date: May 25, 2015
Week: 48 Lago Agrio, Ecuador
Companion: Elder Lares/Peru
Colton's Address: Quito Ecuador North Mission
Francisco Robles E-4 151 Av Amazonas
Edificio Iglesia de Jesucristo
Quito, Ecuador
Email Address: ronald.kimball@myldsmail.net

At my favorite restaurant....KFC!
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

 I love May! What a great month it has been! I'm here in the middle of Ecuador and loving it! Couldn't ask for more! Elder Lares and I are still planning on having a baptism this week for Imelda Cuenca. She had her interview yesterday and she passed and everything, she just has to quit selling alcohol before this Saturday. She has been investigating for a year and never was baptized because she sells alcohol, or in her words she sells beer not alcohol. So many missionaries have taught her so I feel as though many missionaries will be happy to see her baptism.  However,  we just got word that President has decided to come out here this Saturday for an ultimate reunion and interview session for all the misfit toys, I mean missionaries out here in the Orient. We have to go on a bus to Coca by 8 am and we will be there all day, so I don't know how we will do the baptism of Imelda. But I am hoping for the best!

As you know Elder Lares is now district leader out here and he is doing a great job. We recieved one of the new missionaries in the district last week and his name is Elder Aliaga. He trained Elder Lares so that's pretty cool. Elder Lares and I are surrounded by Elders that are close to finishing their missions. Elder Castillo and Elder Ramirez finish at the end of this change and Elder Aliaga the change after. Elder Rubisch the change after that. (Editors Note: A change is every six weeks.) So they always make fun of us since we have less time in the mission. Elder Lares and I will have a year left this Sunday so that's crazy.... Time really flies! Elder Lares wants to burn one of his white shirts. I feel that would be against the rules... HAHA (Editors Note: Colton was told his release date would be May 31, 2016 so that is why this Sunday will be his date of having one year left in the mission.)

So tired sometimes....
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

Hmmm... what else? Elder Valentine was secretary in the branch but since he left Elder Castillo had to call a new secretary. He called both my companion and I to do it so that's kinda a cool. I finally hooked up the cd player to the speaker system in the church so we can use the hymns during the sacrament. What an upgrade! We went from mumbling hymns to being able to keep a beat.

 I sort of do all the technology stuff in the church. It's not like I know anything, I just rememebering hooking up the projector with Coach McDaniels before high school football games so I know how to work the projector in the church. I was able to download all the photos that I took of the members and upload them into the church system to put a name with a face. I just got to get a hang of the microphone system with the sacrament prayers and speakers. I love serving out here in the branch. A great spirit is felt here with some new members joing the church.

Well other than being branch secretary and going to have a baptism this week or next I am unsure what else I can put! I love you all and hope all is well in the states. Happy Memorial Day!
ELDER KIMBALL

BAILEY- Hows school? Coming to a close?
CLAY- BYU father/son looked like a blast. I loved that camp and have only been once.
LEXI- Soccer is closing up! Keep practicing! You should start throwing the frisbee around
LEAH- Good job in your relay! Finish up school right!
BELLA- You are the second prettiest in the family behind Collins of course!
COLLINS! What up homie? I totally forgot to put you on here last week. OOPS!
Mom. Thanks for getting my packages out. Any more summer plans!?
Dad- BYU looked awesome. I was thinking that I'll get to go with you once I get back from the mission but then I remembered I would be an grown-up:(
Colton

Together Again

Date: May 18, 2015
Week: 47 Lago Agrio
Companion: Elder Lares/Peru

Hermano Richard and I coming out of the waters of baptism.
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

Snuck in a hug with Richard
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

My friend, my companion Elder Lares & I
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

Okay not much time this week but I will rush through it. Of course last night was the night of changes and nothing happened. Only Elder Valentine left to Ibarra and Elder Lares is now our District Leader! Whahoo! I am excited to have another change with Elder Lares and I hope we can keep having success. Speaking of success, Richard got baptized this past week! The water current was a little stonger this time but we were able to complete with it and had a great day. Elder Valentine also got to baptize Jackson.

Not as many came to the baptism this time but we still had a good turn out for a branch in the jungle!
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

Richard, Elder Lares and I
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

A cool experience this week would be when I had divisions with Elder Rubisch. We were talking for a little bit and turns out it was his birthday was the day before and no one knew! I got pretty mad at him for not telling anyone. Well he did tell his companions but they didn't celebrate it, cause well... just cause. So I secretly planned something with Elder Lares and we ended up buying a cake two days later and celebrating it at a members house. He was pretty happy that we got to celebrate it. He may have teared up just a little bit. I sometimes tear up when I think about my birthday that I had with his same companions. They may or may not have done the same thing. It turned out to be a great birthday for Elder Rubisch and I'm proud to say he will now always remember his 22nd birthday.

I am sorry about the short letter this week. I'll try and write more next week just know Elder Kimball is doing fine out here in the Jungle and should be here for another 3 to 6 weeks or, if his lucky. longer! I love you all!

Elder Kimball

Bailey- Love You
Clay- I heard you look like Tiger Woods out there. What a natural!
Lexi- I am happy to hear you are doing well!
Leah! How you doing sis?
Bella- Love ya beautiful!
Mom. How have you been? I'm happy to hear the babies are doing well!
Trent! Love ya Dad, and sometimes more than ya know!
Colton

Our work out equipment here in the jungle.  ;)
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

Hey at least I'm working out!
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

¡Feliz Dia de la Madre!

Date: May 11, 2015
Week: 46, Lago Agrio
Companion: Elder Lares/ Peru

Elder Lares, Elder Rubisch and I¡Lago Agrio! Ecuador May 2015

Happy Mothers day to all those mothers out there. What a great time it is to be a mom! As some of you know, I had the opportunity to speak with my mother and the rest of my family yesterday. In which of course I said "Feliz Dia de la Madre" and of course she thought I said Feliz Navidad which means Merry Christmas. I hope all moms out there had a great mothers day!

I spoke with my family and they are all doing well. I was very calm for the call and I have yet to cry in one of the phone calls. I have just been holding it in! My family says I haven't changed that much physically but they say I have changed a good amount spiritually. My Dad would like me to say that I am not near the Amazon rivers. These are just little tibituataries that are near the Amazons.

As for my week, it went well. We will be having another baptism this Saturday for Richard. His name is actually John Ricardo Mendoza Quinteros. But they all call him Richard. Richard has 20 years and he dates one of the young women in our ward. At first we thought he just wanted to be baptized to please his girlfriend but has told us many times that he is not doing this for his girlfriend. Just last week he recieved his answer that the church is true. He got it in a dream. He said he saw his future family and that he would serve a mission. It was so cool! I hope that he can go on a mission one day! 

Richard passed his interview for baptism yesterday and will be getting baptized this Saturday. We are all very proud of him. Elder Valentine will also be having a baptism with us. Our goal for the Zone is to have 18 baptisms and 15 reactivated members in the month of May. Elder Lares and I have put goals of 2 baptisms and 3 reactivations for the month of May. We will have Richard as a baptism and we have another investigator with the date of the 31st of May and we are reactivating the Garcia Gordon Family(3). We are going to try and get past our goals.

My Mother's Day rose for my Mom
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

My full body shot
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

A cool experience I had yesterday was during church when Elder Lares started feeling queezy. He didn't eat lunch and he called the mission nurse and she said to drink gatorade or water and take a pill. I then gave him a pill that I had bought for him at the beginning of this transfer. He refused to take it. We went to the house and he layed down for twenty minutes and I woke him up to go to branch council. He got really mad at me saying he need to sleep all day. I said let's just go to branch council and you can return to the house with another Elder to sleep. He then got super mad at me and of course and as we were walking to the church it started to rain super hard. Of course his umbrella snaps and he turns around and basically says.."Is this what you want?" Wow... okay...

So we got to the church completly soaked. Like no lie, we were soaked! We go into branch council and in the middle of it he gets up and leaves. I then have to go find where he went since he is my companion. Of course he is in the primary room laying on a table trying to sleep. I try to talk to him saying, "Hey let's go back to the house if you are sick." He says to get out or he'll punch me. I couldn't believe some of the stuff he was saying cause I had been so nice to him the entire change. I had to go get Elder Rubisch to talk to him because he did not want to talk to me. 

Elder Rubisch talked with me for a little bit before and said that everything was going to be alright because he could tell I was a little stressed and worked up about it. He told me that we were going to have a prayer and then go in there and talk to my companion. We had a prayer and then my whole attitude to the situation changed. I was reminded who I was again, and who I represented. It made me see how small and dumb the situation was and if my companion felt like being a primary child today I would just have to go in there and show him more attention. 

My companion ended up being fine. He apologized to me and told what a great companion I was and all that jazz. But it really doesn't matter. The point that I am trying to get at is that sometimes we are so focused in that we are only seeing the smallest, littlest part. We sometimes have to zoom out of the situation that we are in, and see how easy it can be to get out. I have to credit Elder Rubisch with the idea of saying the prayer. What a good guy.

Well that's basically my week in a nutshell. I love being out here in the jungle. We have transfers this Sunday so I could go or stay, it all depends on what God says. I will try and update you guys next week if something happens. 

Until then love you all,

Elder Kimball

Bailey- Thanks for talking to me yesterday. You are awsome! Siga adelante!

Clay- What up bro? I appreciate the instagram post. You are good bro. Its looks like it's just me and you to look after all these girls.

Lexi- You look more prettier than ever. Your French has improved!

Leah- Thank you for talking to me. Although you almost cried, you fought through it! I am also proud of your three goals in soccer you got on Saturday!

Bella- I love your hair. You look so pretty like that! Thank you for talking to me and thank you for showing me your ipad. I loved seeing it.

Collins- Now that I have seen a little bit of video of you crying, maybe your aren't all what your cracked up to be! Ha!

Kash & Cougar- Welcome to the Kimball Fam! Editors Note: Colton found out on Sunday that we are indeed pregnant with twin girls.  However, since he chose the name Kash and Cougar for twin boys years ago he has decided to call them that no matter what!

Mother- Again Happy Mothers Day! I love you and appreciate everything you have done for me. Keep being a great mom! Looks like you just signed a contract extension for the next 18 years....

Dad- Thanks for your advise yesterday. I can see that you and the fam are doing well and y'all don't miss me that much. I hope I can keep making you proud out here!

Love you all!

Elder Kimball

Hotter than Hades

Date: May 4, 2015
Week: 45, Lago Agrio
Companion: Elder Lares/ Peru

Elder Valentine and I with one big family I found my first week here. I have been teaching them a while but they don't want to get married.
Lago Agrio, May 2015

It's hot....I feel like the sun took a break for like two weeks and then just came out full force this past week. Before it would rain and sort of cool stuff down but there was no rain this week and I miss it. I guess these are the problems you have when you live in a rain forest.

I got my hair cut today. I feel as though before the mission I would just walk into the hair cut place and my mom and dad would just tell the person how to cut my hair. Too bad that doesn't happen here. It's not the fact that I am telling them in Spanish it's the fact that I don't even know what the words are in English to tell them how to cut my hair. Probably a valuble piece of information I should have paid attention too. They just cut it like a Latino... buzzed on the sides and long on top. Whatever, it's not like I need to be looking good for anyone.

This week went well. We are teaching this young man named Richard. He has a girlfriend that's in our branch. He is real cool. At first we thought he was just listening to get brownie points with his girlfriend, but turns out he really has the desire. He accepted a baptismal date for the 16th of May, which means Elder Lares and I could finish this change with two baptisms which would be crazy especially after opening a sector.  I feel the Lord blessing us so much.

Elder Lares is a great guy and he is my first companion that has ever recieved a package from home. He got a bunch of chocolates from Peru. I gave him my beef jerky. (Mom and Dad probably think I like jerky but in all reality I don't). I think Elder Lares doesn't understand the fact that the jerky is dried meat because he covered it with mayonaise because he said it was too hard to eat.

My ties are starting to wither away. If I don't use some for a while they will get like a fungus on them and some of them I ruined when I was a greenie and I was wiping my sweaty face on the tie so some got brown. If you're trying to think of something to send me this is a good idea.

I hate to be writing this right now but I think I love rice. I can't go through a meal now with out having the white stuff on my plate. I now mix all of my plate into one big pile of mush and eat. In the beginning of the mission it would take me like an hour to finish an entire plate of rice but now I can down it in under 5 minutes. I don't know what's wrong with me. I am assuming its some sort of adaptation. I don't eat dinner anymore. It's just too expensive. I don't have that kind of money! Eating breakfast is sort of a bore now because its just egg sandwiches. I sometimes will just eat lunch so the good news is that fasting is really easy! I wish I had a scale to weigh myself just to see how much weight I have lost.

Another pic like the first
Lago Agrio, Ecuador May 2015

We are heading into the last two weeks of the change. Its a great possibility that Elder Lares and I could stay right where we are which is what I would like, but I think the little guy wants to go.  If he goes, he goes, but if he stays, he stays. He is a great companion so it would be sad to see him go. I don't want to leave. I can't think of anything else that has been going on. I guess it's time for a spiritual message.

Enemy Territory
I really like this video because it has alot of promises, if we do one thing; listen to the Spirit. The Spirit is so important in our lives. It is a gift of God that we recieve after we are baptized and it is so vital for us to always make sure we are doing the right so that we can have it in our lives to help us continue making rightous choices. I testify of the Spirit alot out here in the mission, but without the Spirit I wouldn't be able to teach. We really do live in enemy territory so we can't go out into the world unarmed. If we make rightous choices the Spirit will be something we will have guiding us in our lives.

Elder Kimball

Bay- Why you ain't writing me no more? (English skills aren't real good right now:)
Clay- What up bro? How's golf going? Golf is sweet! Always wish I would of played but Dad was never much of a golfer. I'm sure he golfs with ya all the time now.
Lexi- I saw a pic of you and you were doing a pretty funny face and I laughed! I'll talk to you on Sunday!
Leah- That e-mail you sent me was hilarious. You've grown up so much its crazy.
Bella- Remember you know have the Holy Ghost in your life. Always listen to it!
Collins- Can't believe how big you are. You're one lucky kiddo since you haven't been teased by Elder Kimball yet!
Mom- Thanks for everything! Especially teaching me how to get my own haircut! I'll call after your Sunday nap so that you are well rested to cry your eyes out!
Dad- How have you been? Stinks the Spurs lost. I hope Tim doesn't retire so I can get home just in time to see one of his last games. Keep being a great Dad for the kiddos and I guess me also. See you Sunday!
Elder Kimball