August 8, 2016

Hey Dad, 

That must be crazy, haha, juggling work, church, home and everyone's activities. That takes some patience and some skill!! You're a good Dad!! 

My companion and I are getting along really well, his girlfriend of 3 years sent him a dear john last week, it was pretty rough for him. I know it still shadows his mind. Maybe you might have some good advice for me as his companion and for him?

We found 5 really cool kids this past week that we are teaching and they are all super smart! We are praying they progress! One of them has to either separate from his girl or get married to her and the others just have to learn that church is more important than Sunday soccer, lol. Everyone here plays soccer on Sundays because they work the other 6 days of the week. Everyone here really struggles to make a living. 

Our ward leaders have been super focused on Family history work and tithing in preparation for the future Quito temple. It's pretty exciting!! I know it probably won't be built during my time here, but it's cool to see the excitement!!

I hope all is well at home and with you, I keep you guys in my prayers every day!! 

Love you Dad
Elder Gonzalez

Mom,

Tell Grandma I said I love her and I hope she gets better!! That's really good of you and Mari to go out and visit her. How is Mari doing?

Being back in the mission has been weird. I'm still trying to get into my rhythm of things but my companion has made all the difference! He's really awesome!! We are working really well together.

Latacunga is awesome too. The weather can be a little weird, but it's still really cool!! I've gotten bitten by bed bugs a few times but nothing crazy. I just have to wash my bedding again, lol. Elder Welch got bit once too so I guess we will both have to do laundry again. We have a member that does it, but she hasn't been through the temple so we have to wash our garments by hand. It's not too bad but it changes your perspective of dirty lol. Each week we have to travel 1 hour and a half to our zone meetings in Ambato and then another hour and a half back. It chews up a big chunk of time but it's cool to travel on the bus each week. The pizza here in Latacunga is amazing lol and there is a burger place we go to Mondays that's really awesome too!!!

Ok so now in the mission we dont pay a member to feed us, but we eat lunch with a different family each day so breakfast and dinner are left up to us. I am looking for breakfast and dinner ideas that are good, full of protein, and relatively cheap. So if you have any ideas or recipes, it would be awesome. We are working out hard core so we can get buff!!! So we need food that will help us get super tuco!!!!

We are working with a 16 year old kid named Alex who is super awesome!!! He knows in his heart the church is true. He's going to seminary and church and he has some friends in the ward but his parents won't let him get baptized so we are gonna talk with the parents to see what we can do to get permission because he's so awesome and prepared. Say some prayers so everything works out. The obra missional is sparking back up here in Latacunga and I'm excited to see what's in store.

I love and miss everyone especially you mom!! and I hope everyone has a great week!!!!

Elder Gonzalez

Cotopaxi, the volcano that towers over Latacunga