Baptisms fell through...again...Possible Changes

So this week was not to fun, the baptisms that we had planned of, Julio and Jesus, did not happen thanks to work with Julio and bad trip planing with the mom of Jesus. but this Saturday they are both going to be baptized. sad part is tonight are changes. will i stay or will i go???  I would like to stay one more week, but i do not think that i will. this week was also very tiring. on Tuesday and Wednesday i was not even in my area i was on splits with other missionaries. i do not know why but after interchanges i am always more tired that normal and two in a row i was just exhausted. but it was a good learning experience. they are always fun because you can get to know other missionaries better and get to learn how others work so you can work more efficiently. but other than that not too much happened here this week. 

In my studies i have read more about rescuing the "lost souls" the people who have become members of the church but have fallen away, because this is really hurting the progression of the church that the number of members is rising but the assistance in church is not. we all need to take the initiative and start reactivating the inactive. there may be many people that have not wanted the gospel in the past and that is why they fell away, but there was once a reason that they joined and we just need to help them find that testimony again.

Rescuing is just as important as Baptizing.

Elder McCammon

This is Steven, Jesse's baptism from a couple of weeks ago.

Adversity

So this week could have gone a lot better.

On Tuesday we had all of our baptism interviews and almost everyone passed their interview, but Julio was having a few difficulties and we decided to wait another week, but it was great to see his testimony and that he has had a true conversion. Then we got everything ready for our three other baptisms on Saturday and we go to pick up Stiveen Arevalo and we took him to the church, then we went to go pick up Avelina and Nicole for the baptism, but they ended up telling us that there was an accident in the family and that wee nided to come back in about half an hour, did that and they were still saying to wait. I ended up dropping more than 10 dollars in taxi going back and forth from their house to the church. in the end we found out that they just felt like they were not ready to get baptized and we explained that they did not need to lie to us. So that was a great day. The good news is for this week  Julio Espinoza will have his baptism and if we can get permission form the mom of Jesus Anzules he will also have the opportunity to get baptized this week. Wish us luck and hopefully two more members will be added to the church this week. (that's just too bad Satan doesn't want people to find the truth and is working so hard against them, they had 9 baptisms planned a few weeks ago and people keep backing out...please pray for these people.)

In my studies this week I have almost finished Mormon. It is sad to see that all the people have turned their hearts from the Lord, even in their trials and hardships where before they turned to the lord now they curse him. it is sad to see how hard the hearts of some people can be and it just made me think of how happy I am to be able to teach and know such great people. I love everyone and hope they have a great St. Pattys day and an even better week.

Funny story of the week, as a zone we have 30 baptisms so we decided to get t-shirts made.  I learned that even though you have zls that you know and always do splits with you, might not know how to spell your name and you should write it down for them, because now I have a t-shirt that I will never forget that say's E' Mc.cannon.  (He left his camera locked up at the church so he doesn't have pictures, but that's funny!)
(I asked if he was happy and doing well, mothers worry about this you know!) Of course I am happy have you ever really seen me sad? 

Love
Elder McCammon

Waiting on Baptisms

Well i got stuck in my cinder block oven of a house Sunday Monday and Tuesday because carnival is supposed to be crazy and dangerous outside and it did not even seem that crazy outside, we were asked to study the entire time so that is what i did and it was ok but it was not to fun being cooped up all day. i am also in the same area with the same companion, we did not have any changes the difference is that our ward received two missionaries more so we are looking for a new house because our house is really small. sadly the baptisms we had this past week did not get baptized but two of which are planing on baptizing this week with two more for sure and a 3rd if his mom gives him permission. so we will see how that goes. this week has been really tiring we have been looking for more people with out too much success. i feel that this next week will be better though and we will be able to find a lot more people. Our mission goal is to reach 600 baptisms for a month, so far we've only reached 400.

in my studies this week i finished 4th Nephi and that really was a cool chapter. you see the opportunity the people had to see so much peace in the land and it was great to see that prosperity that we can also have if we are obedient to the commandments of the lord. it is great to be able to see the great progress that this ward is making as well it now has the opportunity for four missionaries and the church attendance is skyrocketing it has gone from 60 to almost 100 in 3 months which is a great change. we all need to make sure we are heading to the commandments of the lord and we can receive even more blessings.

love Elder McCammon

Question and Answer:

Mostly we talked about what he wants in his next package and he has been concerned about me and the politicking I get myself into here!!!  I asked if he'd been reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish?  He said it was hard at first but it has gotten easier. (is that a yes, or a not really but I try?)

These are a conversation with him and his dad.

Have you been able to see any cool things on your P-days lately?  Any hikes or sites that you have been to?  no i am in the city in the city for p day here there is not too much that you can do, but go to the mall. all the museums and stuff are far so there is not to much excitement in finding those, it is mostly sleep and study that i do here.

Well make sure you get out and do some cultural things.  Are you still collecting the banana stickers?  Work hard, but make sure you take advantage of the culture.  You may not get an opportunity to return, so make some memories.  Good ones, but memories. i am still collecting banana stickers but there are not too many that are here in Guayaquil the majority are in Machala because that is the world capital of bananas.

I liked your picture you sent of the big banana stalk that you bought for a few dollars.  That is the type of pictures that you want to take.  Make sure you are in the pictures as well as scenery.  How are the sunsets?  I thought the sunsets were cool in Japan because the smog and buildings made for some cool colors and angles. There is not to much of sunset here it goes from light to dark almost like a light switch there are some days with sunsets but not all, but i will make sure i start taking more pictures and send them since i have stopped carrying my camera every where i have almost forgotten it a little. but i have to go dad i love you lots. chao

pray for 

Avelina Alarcon (Girl, baptism 15 March, 14 years) needs to be more animated for baptism, she is not 100 percent sure yet

Nicol Alarcon (Girl, baptism 15 March,  13 Years) needs to be more animated for baptism, she is not 100 percent sure yet

Steven Arevalo (Boy, baptism 15 March,  9 Years) his grandma is member of the church and is excited that he will be able to be baptized like her

Julio Espinosa (Boy, baptism 15 March,  26 Years) he is very smart and knows a lot and is very ready for his baptism

Jesus Anzules (Boy, baptism 15 March,  14 Years) needs permision from his parents

Tamara (Girl, 19 Years) that she can have the ablility to come to church

Ariel  (Boy,  9 Years) that his parents will give him permission to keep coming to church.

Carnival

This was the extent of my letter this week.

Love you mom, no time to write because its carnival and they have only given us 20 min to write so we can get back to our houses (cinder block ovens is what he wrote Bill) fast.  Please keep praying for our Baptisms 3 on March 8...Avelina she's 14, Nicol who's 13 and Josue who is 9, and then 6 on March 15...Steven who is 9, Julio who is 26, Jennifer 14, Jesus who is 14, Tamara 19, and Ariel who is 9.

Love you lots mom, goodbye