ON THE ROAD: Highlights- PART 1

AUGUST: This is the most hectic month we probably have had here in Ecuador. (thus the posting delays) Not only do we have friends visiting for 3 weeks, we had the English Convention on the coast, and lots of other traveling after that with our visitors. Later, my mom will come to help us move to a different city. All the while staying busy with our Spanish studies, English service and selling of our things in order to be able to move on time. Just happens to be the end of the service year too which adds an extra weight and bit of excitement... Will I make it?....Won't I?... Yes....No...Maybe... Probably not...

We've had some good times and some bad times already with Josh and Sean. We have a ton of pictures of the past 2 week's many activities, so I'll post highlights one by one I think. Otherwise we're looking at a full, detailed blog around March of next year.
FIRST HIGHLIGHT: English Convention
Quick Stats:
1264 high attendance
0 baptized (90% of attendance are already in full time service serving where the need is great)

FAVORITE QUOTE FROM ASSEMBLY:
"Our motto is SIMPLIFY, SELL AND SAVE!"
As always, the Brothers had excellent advise on how to stay in our assignment and be happy doing it.
The program lent itself perfectly to those serving in foreign fields or contemplating some aspect of full-time service.

FAVORITE PROGRAM MOMENT:
When the brother giving a talk asked for all present who are in full time service to raise their hands. Although I am sure there were some, I didn't see anyone without their hand raised in the audience of 1,000 people. It's always cool to see.

Branch Statistics:

3rd year is the charm. It's fun to know so many more friends at the Convention this year than the two previous years. We didn't even get to talk to everyone we had hoped to!

Here are some familiar faces (and a few new ones too):

**disclaimer: some of the photos on this post were borrowed from other people. it's a group effort.

Our bus group

Our house group

Sean trying a granadilla for the first time.

Our bus group ready for the daily pile in. Up until the last minute, we had no idea how we would get to the convention site. We were all waiting in front of the house we were staying at, ready to walk in search of a taxi when a busfull of brothers pulled up and asked if we wanted a ride. How convenient...

True or False: Josh and Sean spent 30% of the program sleeping? False. It was more like 40%.

Empty gas tank at the boy's place all weekend. That meant no hot water or cooking of any kind. And yet, ingenuity prevailed when they figured out how to at least make coffee one morning using a slow cooker and french press. The whole weekend was  very go with the flow, especially since we were unable to get back to the girl's pad until around midnight each day. Nothing was planned and everything was spur of the moment. (...just the way we like it.)

It was HOT all weekend and sticky humid. Here is Alejandro from Quito Portuguese showing off his proud solution.

Everyone was encouraged to help out with the final cleaning.

After the Sunday program as usual there was a party given by a local family attended by most of the young need-greaters in the country. And as always, it was a blast and a great way to end our long weekend in Guayaquil.

Next up: Beach pics!