Week 31 - February 26, 2018

SEVEN MONTHS!

HELLO, FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!  First of all, shout-out to TMC (Elder Macpherson)  He just got to Nicaragua.  The dude is going to kill it there!

Monday: after P-day, we were able to go over to the house of Fam Trujillo and talk to them for the first time in forever, which was awesome!  They love everything from America, especially football haha.  They're like the only family here in Ecuador that like real football, but other than that, just knocked some doors.

Tuesday:   We have been teaching this new investigator who is a Pastor in another church.  We taught him about the Restoration and how we have a Prophet living today.  After all this, he told us our church is the true church but that he doesn't want to get baptized or come to church, so that was pretty interesting.  After doing some other things, we went to have family night with one of the families that we are teaching, along with some members, and it was unreal.  Both of the families are amazing, and the Spirit was so strong.  I'm hoping this will be able to help them be baptized.

Wednesday:   Today we were able to teach another Pastor, and he just went off about everything, about prophets and all of this stuff.  It was honestly so funny.  He had no idea what he was talking about.  But we just sat there and tried to make him feel good about himself.  Afterwards, we were able to teach a family that we haven't taught in forever.  They are doing awesome and want to be baptized.  They just don't want to come to church.   It's so frustrating that they want these things but just won't do them.  But, I'm hoping with time, they will start coming to church!

Thursday:  Today I was able to give my first District Meeting as the District Leader.  Honestly, I was so nervous to do it, but I planned forever just so that I could know what to say and the Lord blessed me.  The Zone Leaders were there and telling me they were really impressed.  It was such a good feeling to get that out of the way.  After that, one of the Elders, Elder Campbell, came with Elder Ton and me to Cayambe because his comp had to go to Quito for the day.  It was honestly so good to be with him.  He is such an awesome guy.  But today, we had to drop an investigator that we have been teaching for a really long time because he just doesn't want to come to church.  He believes in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, but just doesn't want to come to church.   It was honestly so sad to see him not be able to enjoy these blessings that the church can bring.  After that, we went to teach Hermana Mischell and get her ready for her baptism, which was awesome to see how much she has progressed.  I hope her example can help with her brothers so that they can, also, be baptized. 

 Friday:  Today we got up early and just contacted for awhile because we haven't been able to find a lot of new investigators this week, and we were able to find some, which was so cool.  But other than that, we had the baptism of Hna. Mischell, which was amazing!  I was able to do the baptism, which was an unreal experience!  Afterwards, she bore her testimony and started crying.  I almost did, too!  Oh, my, it was unbelievable!

Elder Copeland and his friend, Martin

Saturday:  Today we were able to talk with one of the references we received from a member, and she was so cool.  Her name is Vivianna.  She has honestly had a hard life, and she started to cry when we told her there is a prophet and she can receive help from him today.  She, also, cried when we told her everything can be put in the past when she gets baptized.  Honestly, it was so cool!  She told us that she wants to be baptized, and I mean, that's okay with me!  Haha!  After, we had some solid lessons with some investigators.

Sunday:  Today was the confirmation of Mischell, and it was so strong again.   She's honestly so cool!  We, also, had Vivianna come to church, which was awesome.  Afterwards, we only had one lesson and looked for others that weren't there.  That was fun (haha).  Just a whole bunch of walking.

Monday:  Today we were able to go to Quilotoa Lake, and it was so cool.  (Pictures below)  Love, Elder Copeland

      

     

Week 30 - February 19, 2018

Another Cambio! WHATTT??

Wow!  I can't believe another Cambio has passed by.  Time is starting to fly by so fast... I need to take advantage of every second.  I'm loving the mission so much now.  Who knows if I'll ever come back...;)

Monday and Tuesday.  LIke I explained, here in Ecuador it's Carnival and basically what it is, is everyone just throwing water, mud, paint, and everything.  It's crazy.  But we couldn't play, and we just watched from our house, so yeahhhh.

Wednesday.  After sitting in the house for two days, you get so excited to leave and contact, it's weird honestly.  But today we got so much done.  We've been teaching this one guy that's a missionary from another church, and he's actually so cool.  He's really interested in our church now. He was shocked when he heard that there was a prophet living.  It was so cool to talk to him.  He actually teaches us so much. After we had a couple other lessons, but we finished with Mishell.  We were getting everything ready for her baptism that's going to be this Friday.  Sooo, I'm so excited for her.

Thursday.  Today was kind of a weird day, to be honest. Somebody told us that he believes in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, but... not our church.  I don't know how that works, but it was really interesting ahha.  After we had honestly everything fall through, so we just contacted a lot and we found some awesome people.  I'm excited to go back and teach them.

Friday.  TOday was another great day.. (everyday is great when you're a missionary!)  But, yeah, like other days, things fell through and we contacted.  Haha.  But we also got to teach a family that is a little un-active.  I had this feeling to go and visit them, and they were so happy to see the missionaries again.  They are so amazing and have been going through a really hard time.  I hope so badly they can come back.

Saturday.  Today we had the interview of Mishell, and she passed, so she can be baptized yayyyyy!  After we had a lesson with one of our investigators and he was so drunk--it was so sad.  He had been drinking for 14 hours straight.  He didn't even sleep.  But he does want to change and did come to church, so that was awesome.  After, we've been teaching a young couple, and they are so cool.  He has so many questions and only wants to be a better dad.

Sunday.  Today we had 8 people come to church.  It was so cool.  I haven't had that many come in two months.  But the Lord is blessing Cayambe so much.  We, also, had a cool lesson today with a family.  He's a doctor and a member but his wife is not, so were teaching her.  And it's like the first house I've been in that was nice.  But she's really interested and knew nothing about the church.  Now all she wants to do is read in the Book of Mormon, sooo it's all good with me.  But to end the day, we got our changes and Elder Ton and I are staying another change together here in Cayambe.  The only thing that changed is that I'M going to be District Leader, so this is going to be very interesting.  I barley know anything, and now I've got to lead the sector haha.  But at the same time, I'm so excited.  Love, Elder Copeland

 Our Zone

Elders of our Zone

Our District

Elder Chistama, my best friend

Week 29 - February 12, 2018

Hello!

Wow!  Already another week here in Ecuador!  Time is flying by--I can't believe it.  I love it so much, and I'm so grateful for the chance I can serve the Lord here!!

Tuesday.  Today, honestly, was kind of a weird day.  We had a lesson with a guy that we found about a week ago, and he was so interesting.  But we taught him about Joseph Smith and he loved it.  So many people don't know that there is a prophet living in the world today that can bless them so much.  Also, so many people need to know about them. After that, we had so many appointments fall through, but it's all good because it helped find another person.

Wednesday. Today we were able to find the coolest new young couple.  They were so amazing.  He was asking us 100 questions that he has, and we didn't have time to answer all of them, but he is really interested now after hearing the answers to his questions.  We were, also, able to get Fam Cabascongo, another family we're teaching, one step closer to baptism.  I'm so excited for them!  They're amazing!

Thursday.  Today I was able to go on an Interchange with ELder Flores and it was so fun.  It was one of the funniest days of the mission so far.  We were able to teach one of their investigators, and he was telling us some of his experiences.  It was the funniest thing I've ever heard in my life.  After that we went contacting and knocked on 9 houses and were able to teach 8!!  It was so crazy!  I've never been able to have a day like that in the mission.  It was so cool. One of the guys was this old guy.  He's honestly the cutest guy ever.  

 "Our new friend, Luis.  He's the best!"

Friday.  HOneslty, today not too much happened.  We were able to teach some investigators, which was awesome.  Yeah WooH!

Saturday.  We had the baptism of Alexis Trujillo, and honestly, it was unbelievable.  He shared his testimony at the end on how amazing his experience was and how he was able to be baptized by his dad.  Not going to lie, I was tearing up.  This family has changed my life, and it was amazing that I was able to be part of their conversion.  They are now all baptized and the next step is the Temple!!:))))

Sunday.  We went to church, but we had to stay inside because there is a holiday called Carnival and everyone is just partying in the streets.  So, we just read the whole day hahah.  The party ends on Wednesday, so we can't be doing too much this next coming week.  Love, Elder Copeland

"My Christmas present finally came!" Elder Copeland said.

Week 28 - February 5, 2018

Super Bowl Week!

FLY EAGLES FLY!!!!  What???   Eagles win the Super Bowl when I leave?   Wow, so freaking excited for that!!  Just waiting on the Jazz now, hahah.  But really, not much happened this week here haha.  Not too Super, but I'm still loving it here so much.  Everyday gets better and better.  I'm starting to get the hang of Spanish, so that's such a blessing, honestly.

 Cayambe in the morning.

 Elder Copeland in the snow from a couple of weeks ago.

Tuesday.  We have been teaching this family that are members, except the dad, and the couple are always arguing about who sleeps more haha.  But we taught them an awesome lesson on Alma 32, and it was honestly one of my favorite lessons so far.  The Spirit was so strong, and that chapter is incredible. 

Wednesday.  We had another lesson with one of the families that have a lot of potential today--Fam Cabascongo.  We taught them about Moroni 10:32 about how we just need to come to Christ and be perfected in him.  We, also, put a baptismal date for them this week.  They're so amazing.  Some of my best friends.

Thursday.  Today was a day that was interesting.  We contacted basically the whole day.  We ran into some lady that told us that Joseph Smith was Jesus Christ Reincarnated hahahaha.  We just started laughing.  It was so funny.  AND like all of the the other days, we went and taught Alexis Trujillo.  We've had to teach him every single lesson in a week so that he can be confirmed on his birthday (SUNDAYYYY:))) But he's doing so awesome and understands everything so well.  HE's literally my best friend. Every Sunday, we always talk about everything and he loves Football real Football, too haha!

Friday. Today we went to Quito so that my comp could do his verifications on his lessons.  It was fun being able to see some of the missionaries down there.

Saturday.  We taught two lessons today with some investigators that we have.  ANd everytime we teach them, they just talk and talk about the most random stuff.  Like one of them told us that Jesus came to her in a dream and that she is better than us because she saw Jesus in a dream. Also, Alexis passed his Baptismal Interview, so we´ll have the baptism this Saturday :))))))

Sunday.  Today in Ecuador, they had a voting for their Government and literally no one came to Church.  It was so weird.  We spent basically the rest of the day contacting.  But overall, another great week here in Cayambe.  Hope everyone is doing well.  Love you all so much

Elder Copeland 

Elder Copeland wrote:  A street named Kennedy and made me miss my "Best Friend Kennedy."

Kade and his best friend, Kennedy--his little cousin who absolutely thinks he's the best!