Everything Will Be Alright, Alright‏

Hello family.  Well welcome back to Colorado Blake, hope you enjoy life.  Wow Chad is older than I thought!  That´s crazy.  He has the priesthood now.  That´s a bummer that Cambria almost died.  But awesome that she´s gotten better ya!  Ah man she´s gonna get her patriarchal blessing?  I don´t blame her for not wanting to wait.  But I do wanna hear it.  Oh well.  It´s a personal blessing!  Cambria just don´t expect it to tell you every little detail about your future.  After I heard mine I thought....that´s it?  What promise did I get??  And I thought that for a few years.  Only here in the mission have I thought....woooow.  It´s pretty sweet.

BURN THEM LOVE HANDLES BOOOY!!!  

Hey tell Taylor I said Happy Birthday.  I was thinking of sending her an Ecuadorian spoon but I didn´t find one.  But does anyone else see the danger of putting Mrs. Manning on a truck?  I think that´s breaking the 10 commandments.  What´s that about not lusting after the things of your neighbor?? And lusting after Payton Manning is pretty much breaking the law of chastity.  Repent ye repent ye and save yourself from a fiery eternity of woe and shame!!!  But all of this could have been avoided if we kicked Payton Manning off of the Broncos like I had suggested :)

Anywho this week was alright.  Kinda hard.  The zone is dying.  The half of the zone that´s getting ready to end their mission has received their flight plans and instructions on how to end their mission.  They´re trunky.  REALLY trunky.  So it´s kinda hard in that regard.  So I realized I have to stand up and be a man and try to fix things the best I can.  Or at least go down in a fiery blaze of glory.  HOOORAH!  

I also have eaten things that would make little girls scream in horror.  I don´t know why they give us so much pig stomach here.  And this....manly soup called Caldo de Manguera.  It´s......just terrible.  But the second time I had to eat it wasn´t half bad so yeah it´s okay.  I´ll get used to it. And might as well enjoy it because when am I ever going to get to eat pig stomach in the states?!  My point exactly.

Um...  yeah I´m going to have to get focused and down to work.  It´s strange how on the mission you can get so distracted.  You start doing things that really don´t help anything.  Or just wasting your time.  So I´m determined to start this next year full steam.  Start out strong.  I´m gonna have to get up, shout, lick a battery, and take a cold bath because it´s time to start rocking the mission again.  I just sometimes get weighed down with the problems of the mission when I should really be getting lifted up by the gospel.  So I´m excited for that.  So this week is gonna be different than the rest.

And yeah, nothin really new to tell ya here.  Hope you have a good week!  See ya later!  I love you all!  Keep on rocking my friends!

We're Halfway There ooooOH Livin on a Prayer‏

Well yeah that bank stuff was a doozy.  I'm still lost.  But all I know is that I could eat some and get fat again.  Happy happy joy joy.

So not a whole lot happened this week since I was in Quito.  AGAIN.  I just wanna work in my sector sometimes and help some people out here.  Well those that are left anyway.  In Coca everyone leaves to where they came from, Esmereldas, Guayaquil, other strange small places from the oriente and coast.  So we had about 60 people in church this Sunday, and the first councilor made me conduct the meeting.  Chuuusooo that was just awkward.  And nothing was planned!!  Sooo we will now sing.....a hymn..... (looking through the hymn book)..... I am a child of God..... and then we'll pray.....and the Santa Cena.... and we'll ask Elder Reber to talk.  Cough.  That is all....Thanks for coming.

But it was alright de todos modos.  But slap me with a napkin and call me Mr Higgins but I have a year in the mission this week!  Woooo!!  que loco.  What were we doing a year ago??  Walking in the sand dunes.  An ill fated trip.  Walking for hours through sand, we were lost, the sisters crying, dad far off ahead with his GPS, I just wanted to eat something and get some shade.  Sounds like the mission. We'll get some elders who will start dying and crying on the trip back home, or the year mark, others will keep blazing ahead with the guide of the Spirit like the GPS.  I just hope I don't walk around looking for food and mumbling to myself.  But really it's been an awesome experience so far.  Shoot, I might as well make a list of the things I've learned on a year in the mission.

1. God exists
2. The Church is true.
3. Families are way important.
4. It is not a universal law that woman must shave their arm pits (heeey that lady looks pretty nice today.... HOLY SHERWOOD FOREST!!  enough hair to make a Bagwell blush)
5. It is RICE not bread that is the staff of life (sorry Mr. Coombs)
6. The mission makes skinny people fat and fat people skinny.
7. The Atonement is real (and not just some word in the scriptures)
8. I'm slow AND a little stupid
9. I can tell the difference between a Colombian, Ecuadorian, Argentinean, Brazilian, Mexican, Chileno, and Peruvian
10. The gospel changes lives
11. Americans have very little to complain about
12. You don't love unless you show it (don't take it for granted!)
13. Lots of other stuff that I haven't thought clearly through and besides I don't have time

Well here's cheers to another year, we'll see how it goes!  I'm excited!  Somebody kick me in the butt and hit me with a cattle rod because it's sink or swim now!  But I love you all, I'm very grateful for what you've done for me, and I'm prayin for you.  Adios!

Re: Living The Impossible Dream...or an Excuse‏

I´ve tried in two different banks.  One says it doesn't exist.   The other said it was blocked.  But now that I'm here in Quito for three days I¨LL try here.
They give us 90 dollars every 15 days but with being a leader I also have to pay for cell phone calls and $20 trips to Quito.  But they reimburse the trips.  Things are just more expensive here Coca I dunno!  But don't worry mom I'll survive.  You've seen the pictures.  I'm not starving to death :)  
 You can just send me money for Western Union by here in Ecuador in my name.  I can go buy the place Friday to pick it up.  But if you don't want to do that mom it's okay.  We can wait if it's too much a hassle.  Okay?  Love you thanks for everything bye!

Living The Impossible Dream...or an Excuse‏

Hello!  So I'll write fast because I'm lost and confused and it just comes out like a bag of jelly beans fighting with skittles at a rainbow parade yeah. 

So Rex is the one who died.  That stinks.  He was a cool dog.  But okay I now understand the whole kitten situation now.  And I hope the fire problem doesn't get worse.  It was on the news here supposedly.  So it must be big because the only American thing on the news I've ever seen is Justin Beiber and Selena Gomez.

So Blake is still looking for work in Atlanta??  Would he mind working in Ecuador?  Mi pana Jose could maybe hook him up with something.  Stuff with oil companies or malls or somethin.  I dunno.  But yeah just better that I pray for him instead.

So there were changes here in the Oriente and we're going to have 3 new elders, 2 of which will end their missions in this change.  And my companion is going to be ending is mission this change too.  So this change we'll have 4 missionaries ending their mission this change.  Gadzooks.  That's half the zone.  So hopefully they bring a lot of experience but want to keep working or we're goin down down in an earlier round....

This week was good.  We had absolutely no money and we were pretty much fasting everyday except for lunch.  THANK YOU MAMITAS!!  And I carried a bag of yuca and it broke my watch.  CURSE YOU YUUUUCAAAAA!!!!  Stupid stuff.  And I weigh 200 pounds.  WOooohoooo tubby tubby. 

But that's all I have time for!  I'll see you guys later.  Love you all!  Hope you're great!  I'll be praying for you down here in the land of yuca and rice.  Choaa

Over The Rainbow‏

Heeeeey how's it goin?  I didn't know Cambria had kittens.  Did Smokey die or what?  Where did they come from?  You're telling me that Smokey died aren't ya?  Ooohoooohooo just slip that information in there eh?  Try to let me down slowly eh?  Buuut you can't let the impact of a comet any softer with just a few pillows!  Just like you can't eat several crackers without milk.  No but really.  Did he die or what?

Well that's crazy that the world is burning down.  Hope it doesn't affect you guys.  Pretty sure it's just another sign that the second coming is drawing near.  Because things are just goin mad right?

Awesome that Channing enjoyed herself.  I love that picture with the bear.  He's just chillin behind her.  I put the picture up and had the look of a few Latino men so I quickly closed it.  BACK YOU RAGING BADGERS!!!

Hey I hope Blake gets a job.  I also hope he gets married.  Seriously, I've already printed off photos of him and have handed them out to the Ecuadorian women so he has a good fan base here in the jungle.  Just give me the word and I'll start shippin this fine ladies off.

Oh yeah and Mom, don't get discouraged with the people that just say yes to get you off your back.  It's rough, especially when you're just tryin to help them, but the the people with true desires will show up.  And sometimes those people who say no just need a little push to get goin.  You're doin great!  Keep on callin them!

Hey can someone get me the address of the Brazil MTC??  I've been wanting to send Chase this letter forever but I've procrastinated too long.  So probably will just send it to Brazil.  

Okay well this week was good.  We went to Quito....again.... 3 days over there.  So we didn't do too much this week here in Coca.  Which is a bummer.  But we had zone conference on my birthday so we ate papa john's and they sang to me.  Which is super awkward.  Because they sang to me in every restaurant that we went to, and the bus, and the house, and the trolley.  They like singing.  And the branch president and his wife bought me a cake when we got back.  And a member called me while we were in Quito.  And Elder Andrade, my trainer, gave me a few recuerdos from our first months together.  And Elder Recalde wrote me a letter.  So it was really cool.  I've never been too big on birthdays like you guys know.  So it was really weird having so much attention.  But these people show that they care about me so it actually meant a lot.  Shows that I can improve on doing little things for other people because you really do feel it.  So I'll try doing better on that as well.

We also met the son of the rich guy who owns the church house and a mall here in Coca so that was cool.  We watched how to Train Your Dragon in his theater and got to eat pizza, yogurt, and bread.  And he told me that he has some friends that could help me find a good 200 dollar camera.  So that's awesome.  He talks a lot of ingles and is getting ready to go on a mission.

Well nothin much to say this week!  Thanks for everything.  Tell everyone thanks for the happy birthdays and I love ya guys!  See ya later.

When The World's Burnin Down Might As Well Roast a Marshmallow‏

Well hello!!

Okay I'm sorry I didn't get to say Happy Birthday to Channing and Happy Father's Day to Dad last week.  I was trying to write like a mad man in 10 minutes.  But anyway, FELIZ DIA!!  I hope Channing is loving Atlanta and that Dad will at least be happy with seeing sick faces all day.

But thanks for the packages, yes I did get both.  The peanut butter and jelly and the pictures and M&Ms.  All of it was awesome.  I was super happy.  Made me think of where I came from and what the heck I'm doin here.  So thanks very much for that.

Um yeah I have a problem with my personal card.  I tried to take out some money but it says that it's blocked?  I didn't know what that meant.  So if you could figure that out it'd be great.  Cuz I'm gonna go to Quito AGAIN this Tuesday so I could find a new camera or a new battery.  But Elder Sanchez has offered to buy the camera anyway so if you could help me out with that as soon as possible.

Well okay this week this week.

Well we had baptisms!!  10.  And it was awesome!  I had to go to Lago Agrio to do some interviews for the missionaries there but when I got back I was told I was gonna have to do 2 more in the sector of the other missionaries.  And it wasn't too bad.  But holy cow I heard the saddest story of my life.  One of the girls I interviewed, who only has 20 years, had gone through complete and utter hell.  I'm not sure how much I can tell you but out of respect for her I'll just say that a year ago I could not be able to handle hearing that.  I got stressed out listening to high school dating problems and now I'm helping someone repent of the worst sins.  It's crazy how much a year can change things.  But the coolest part was that the next day we continued the interview and there was a new light, a new hope the eyes of this girl.  She talked about repentance and it was a miracle.  A week ago she didn't even want to listen to the missionaries.  But her time is short here in this life so that put a lot of perspective on things.  We read Alma 36 together and that's exactly how she felt.  And that was just awesome.  I love it the Atonement.  I love missionary work.  So we went to the water fall and had the baptisms but afterwards some kid of 18 years fell and broke open his head.  Some little girl came screaming to me and Elder Hassell saying that he was dying.  So we ran over there to find tons of people around him as was laying on the ground.  He needed pressure on the wounds, had to make sure he didn't have neck injuries, and yeah he got my Peruvian tie wrapped around his head with a couple of rags.  Then a group of men carried him up the hill.  Then we gave him a priesthood blessing.  Then we carried him on a plank of wood through the jungle.  Then we went in the back of a truck at 100 miles per hour (my cheeks were flapping) (and I mean my face) to go 20 minutes to the nearest hospital.  And the kid was a boxer.  And I had to keep his arm elevated.  But he didn't want to.  So I arm wrestled a boxer in the back of a speeding truck in the jungle for 20 minutes.  Life is great my friends!!!

I don't know about Chase but I do wanna know!  What's his address in Brazil??  He leaves 4th of July!  Tell me!!!

Well I love you all and I'm super happy to be alive.  Hope you are too.  Love life and keep on rollin my brothers and sisters.  I'm gonna go eat some chicken now

If You Want A Helping Hand...‏

Look at the end of your arm!! buuuuhhh

Hello from Quito!!  Now you may ask yourself what is this man doing in Quito again and I have the answer!  Leaders meeting.  I guess we have them every month where we get to eat, play football (soccer), and get chewed out by the President if we've been bad.  I think it's gonna be fun!  But wheeeew that bus ride is long.  But I got to read the Book of Mormon and watch Taken so now I have a thirst to punch a wicked man in the throat.  I think there's a reason we shouldn't watch those movies....

But how can you say summer is half over?!  From the sound of your letters summer never started!  Loco.  And mom we always knew you were crazy with the flowers but at least recognizing it is the first step to recovery.  Si se puede!! Buuuuh.

Bummer for New Mexico.  Must be really dry.  And hurrah for arrowhead hunting.  And is it just me, or are the missionaries actually baptizing in our ward??  Did they used to do that?  I never knew what the missionaries did except invite me to play basketball and eat our food.  Rock on!!!  Keep em goin!  And now Channing can go teach them Lesson 5 of Preach my Gospel.  All of the lessons while shes at it!  Keep em comin to church.  But that's really awesome.

Okay so this week was good.  We had a baptism!  And we don't have a good baptismal font so where do we do baptisms??  In a waterfall of course!  So we all got together to go to the water fall but as we were going (me in the back of a truck because they said I weigh too much for the car...) we see the police stopping all the cars asking for papers.  So the car with the other 3 missionaries and the member stop.  It turns out he doesn't have a license to drive!  So we hide the car in some motel and we aaalll pile up in the back of the other members truck.  Then we go by the police and they tell us that's illegal and they saw us stop and now they're gonna fine us. Then they took pictures.  (Cheeseburger griiiin)  $43 bucks and we continue on our way.  And we have to drive deeep into the jungle (where the tigers live and the indians get drunk) and we did the baptism there.  It was pretty cool.  And really beautiful. A pity my camera battery doesn't work.  Always somethin!!!

But other than that, we had lessons with fire flying out of our mouths and angels singing on high in testimony of our words.  We had a rocking one yesterday testifying to a guy of the Restoration.  But he's a hard coconut.  But anyway we'll just keep on trying to teach these people.  It's pooodooorrooooossoooo!  And I also went to the other part of our zone 3 hours away where there live the 3 chilenos and the guy from Uruguay.  They're awesome guys.

But hey that's all I'll talk to yall next week!  I love ya guys and hope you're happy!