Sick Again

Hey mom!  Well I'm pretty sick right now.  I've thown up a few times already.  So I'm in pretty bad shape right now.  Sorry if the email is a bit shorter than normal.  

A contact that we had a few weeks ago who we invited to church, actually came to church this sunday.  His name is Carlos Panchana.  He's a bit of an older guy and separated from his wife.  We visited him after church and he told us how he would like to stay in this church for good and get baptised.  He's pretty much a golden investigator!  Well that and the skype call were the two best things that happend this week.  I hope you guys have a good new years!

Elder Eastman

Hey dad.  It was definitely super awesome to be able to talk to you guys too.  I wish we had a bit more time to talk.  40 minutes goes by super fast.  Well right now I'm feeling pretty sick.  I've already thrown up 2 times.  I probably ate some thing bad.  So I wont be able to write a whole lot this time.  But I'm really glad to be here too.  This work is a wonderful work and I'm happy to be able to help in it.  

I love you too!

Elder Eastman

Christmas Day 2015

Elder Eastman is a happy elder!  He is staying positive, and he's working hard.  We could hear a bit of a spanish accent as he talked to us.  Josh skyped from the home of one of the ladies who cooks for the elders.  We got to meet her and thank her for feeding our son.  She said (in spanish) that she does it with much love and that we have a good son.  We also were able to say hello to Josh's companion, Elder Hall from Provo.  Skyping with Josh was our favorite Christmas gift!

Luis' Baptism

Hello Mother!  Luis' baptism did happen.  It was a really good baptismal service.  He looked really happy before and after.  He asked me to baptise him so I got to do that.  Like I have said before, it has been really cool to be able to see the changes that have gone on in him.  After the baptism he asked me what he has to do to go on a mission.  He said he would like to go on one.  So that would be the coolest thing ever if he goes on a mission in a year or so.  On Sunday Luis and Joselyn got confirmed.  

We also have another investigator named Christian Velasco that could get baptised this Saturday.  Christian is 22 years old.  Lately it has been really hard to teach because he has never had much time because of work and school.   But if everything goes well he could get baptised this Saturday.  He has already been coming to church for a while now.  The challenge with him is that pretty much his whole life he has been studying with a different church that has a very different doctrine.  So now he's been a bit confused with the different doctrines.  But he really wants to learn and get baptised.  We just have to clear up a few things for him.  

So yeah we are going to Quito pretty soon.  The dinner with president is tomorrow so we'll be staying over night there until tomorrow.  

So around 5:30 our time (3:30 your time) is when I'll be calling.  Hopefully the computer that I'll have will work just fine.  

Well I cant wait to talk to you guys!  See you on friday!

Elder Eastman

Hey Dad!  I'm doing really good.  I feel good too. Yeah, I'm pretty much used to the heat now.  The baptism of Luis did happen.  It was a really nice baptismal service.  I got the opportunity to do the baptising.  After the baptism he said that he would like to go on a mission.  He asked me what he has to do to do that.  It would be super awesome if he goes on a mission in a year or so.  

Well sorry this email is short too.  We have to go to Quito soon.  I'm super excited to talk to you guys on friday!  So see you then!

I love you too!

Elder Eastman

Joselyn's Baptism

Hey dad, Im doing really good.  That's a super cool pic.  I still kinda miss the snow.  I'm pretty much used to being in the incredible heat now, but I still like the cold more.  Wow that sure is crazy that Chelsea's getting married!  But that's cool.  

Well I still feel really good about the progress of the work here in La Concordia.  On Saturday we had a baptism and this Saturday we have one more planned, and so do the other missionaries that are here.  The girl got baptised on saturday is named Joselyn.  Her mom is also an investigator and was going to get baptised but cant right now because of a medical issue.  The guy who is getting baptised this next saturday is named Luis Bravo.  It's been really cool to be able to see the change that has gone in him these past few weeks.  Earlier in his life he hardly believed in God and didnt always make the best decisions in his life.  But now he believes alot more in God and has a testimony of the restored gosple.  And now it seems like he thinks more about the consequences of his decisions.  So it's been really awesome to be a missonary here at this time.  

I love you too!

Elder Eastman

Hey mom, I'm doing great.  The ant problem has gone away.  There's not very many ants that ever come into our house anymore.  So that's really good.  

Thanks a bunch for the pics.  Sounds like you guys have been having some pretty good times lately.  Well that definitely is a pretty big surprise about Chelsea getting married! But that's pretty cool I guess, I'm sure Spencer is a nice guy.  

Well the work is moving forward pretty well here.  On saturday we had the baptism of Joselyn.  Which was kind of a crazy story.  Right before the baptism we found out that she now didnt want to get baptised.  But we had to wait to talk to her about it just an hour before the baptism was planned when she got out of school.  My companion told me that we just need to have faith that it'll all turn out alright.  We finaly got to talk to her and she was set on not doing it.  We just shared a few scriptures, explained some stuff and told her that there are members waiting for in the chaple ready to support her.  Then she said she would do it.  So miracles work with a bit of faith!  Her mom was going to get baptised too but she isnt able to right now because of her medical issue.  This comming saturday we have the baptism of Luis Bravo scheduled.  Luis was the guy in the FHE.  He's doing super good still.  We had another FHE last night with him.  It seems like he is making some good new friends in the church now and fitting in well.  It's has been really cool to be able to see the change that has gone on in him.  He has a good tesitimony and is alot more social and out going now. 

I still havnt gotten any package.  But I know that a package of mine is in the offices of the mission in Quito.  So I should get it soon.  

Next monday we will be going to Quito for the christmas dinner with president.  So next monday I will be writing early, like around 12 or 1pm.  So make sure you all write your emails before that.  

I love you mom!!!

Elder Eastman

"It Works Wonderfully" and So Does Ant Spray

Hey Dad!  I'm doing really good.  I'm truely happy to be here and be able to work here as a missionary.  Elder Hall and I have been working hard.  I have really been able to see this week that I am happier when I know that I have been trying my best.  

I'm glad that you were able to have a good experience in church yesterday despite of all those challenges.  Here in La Concordia I also find myself getting a bit frustrated because the members arent always reverent during Sacrament Meeting.  Somtimes I feel like standing up and shouting at everyone to tell them to be quite.  But that probably wouldnt be the best thing to do.  I really really like the very first talk in this past general conference by President Uchtdorf called "It Works Wonderfully".  He asked us if the gospel is working for us and he told us the things we can do to simplify our discipleship.  When we focus on the basics of the gospel we will more easily be able to see the true beauty of the gospel and it will work better in our lives.  The two most important commandments that we have is to love God and to love the people around us.  Trying to just love everyone really helps us to be happier and enjoy every moment of our lives.  

Well during this time that I have been here on the mission I have really grown to love this Church.  It really is the work of the Lord and it is wonderfull.  Keep going strong dad! I love you!

Elder Eastman

Hello mother!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!!!

Life has been pretty wonderful in La Concordia.  Still super duper hot and also a ton of rain, but I'm still enjoying it here.  Elder Hall is super great.  He already speaks really good spanish and he is an overall great missionary.  He's really fun to be with too.  On tuesday night we came into our house after a good day of rain and found a bit of a surprise inside.  There were literally thousands of giant ants on our walls and ceilings.  We werent going to allow those ants to crawl around us all night so we rushed over to the store and bought a few cans of ant killing spray.  Then we got back to the house, opened up the windows and doors and sprayed up all of those ants.  After the masacre was over we had a few big piles of dead ants around the house.  It was quite gross but now there are alot less ants coming into our house. 

We also had a coulple of good spiritual experiences this week.  Last night we had an f.h.e. with a recent convert family and our investigator Luis Bravo.  We watched the video about the story of John Taylor.  After a good conversation about the video and the gospel, Luis told us that he is really starting to feel that the things we are teaching him are true and that God really does exist.  It's really cool to see the change that goes on in people who open there hearts and let the Spirit come in.  

My shoes are in pretty rough condition.  The insoles of my J&M's are getting destroyed, the heel of my black ecco's are super worn down and are now letting water in, and the brown ecco's are still in really good condition.  So I might need to buy some new ones or just try and fix the sole and insole of those two pairs of shoes.  

I'll let you know what time we'll skype on Christmas day next monday. 

Well I gotta go now.  I love you mom and happy birthday again!

Elder Eastman