DURAN DURAN

Say Duran 10x fast and see what name you find.

Merry Christmas! It happened! I got transferred. Good bye Ventanas! It was a little sad leaving the homestead but I really couldn't have been happier. I'M IN DURAN NOW and “I'm hungry like the wolf”. In an area called "El Recreo”, or in English “The Recess”. This place is crazy. It's a pretty massive area and the coolest part is there is a massive train track the whole way through the area but the train hasn't come in years so you just feel like in a western movie with the blazing heat and it's quiet somehow every time you walk down it. Lots and lots of walking cause there are so many amazing places to find. They are all just separated in sectors so it takes a minute! Something interesting is the Etapas. These streets that are all closed gated. Much of our area is the Etapas. In specific, the third and fifth. Makes it a fun challenge to find people but we have our ways. 

Duran is hot! Much much much hotter than Ventanas. Wow now I understand.
I'm training another new youngin, Elder Molina! This time a gringo! He's got great Spanish for how far he is! We will conquer El Recreo. It has been a little difficult finding all of the converts because we are both new. But with a week or two, light work.

Maybe the best part about the area is the Familia Velasco. We eat lunch everyday at their house and their 17 year old son Luis leaves with the missionaries almost every day. He knows the area really well so that is very helpful. 

We were walking down a dirt road with small little houses but nobody was outside or really nobody was home. We felt the spirit to knock on a very random door. This door was a lady named Veronica who lived in Guayaquil but lost everything in a tragic story so she had to move to the outskirts of Duran. We talked and scheduled a time for a different day to talk more. We had an incredibly spirit felt lesson on the plan of salvation. I love teaching that the purpose of our life is to have joy. Life is so much easier when you can see the joy. We explained that God will not count what you have on earth in heaven. He will count what you have done to build your mansion in heaven. And isn't that what we should all be trying to do. I know that every good decision or action we make is counted. What a great work this is. Feliz Navidad and a happy new year!

In case I don't see yah, Bunas Tardes, Buenas Noches, y Buenas Noches,
Élder Sheppert


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