Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission

Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Norte

Guayaquil North Mission LDS logo
(Get this design on a T-shirt!)

Free resources about the Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission:

Aquí están algunos recursos gratuitos sobre la Misión Ecuador Guayaquil Norte:

*Other Mission Pages: Ecuador LDS Missions.



Guayaquil North Mission Address

Here’s a recent address for the Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission. We try to keep this info up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.

Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission
Casilla de Correo 09-04-566
Guayaquil
Ecuador

Phone Number: 593-4-228-4323
Mission President: President Ángel H. Alarcón

Guayaquil North Mission Map

Here’s a link to the mission map for the Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Guayaquil North Mission:

  1. Log into your LDS account here.
  2. Click here.

Videos with Guayaquil North RMs

Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Guayaquil North Mission.  We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.

mission interview  mission interview

LDS-Friendly Videos about Ecuador

Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Ecuador. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Ecuador, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.

LDS Church  history  food  nature  mission calls  time lapses

Guayaquil North Missionary Blogs

Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.

*Send your missionary a gift (mission-specific shirts, ties, Christmas stockings/ornaments, pillowcases, etc.)

Elder Hunter Wilhelm hunterwilhelm.com 2017
Elder Oyler elderoyler.blogspot.com 2017
Sister Megan Warburton hermanameganwarburton.blogspot.com 2016
Elder Jonathan Hales elderjonathanhales.blogspot.com 2016
Elder Caleb Blackhurst eldercalebanthonyblackhurst.blogspot.com 2016
Elder Garrett Taylor garrettdeantaylor.blogspot.com 2016
Sister Melissa Dominguez melissaenecuadordominguez.blogspot.com 2016
Elder Conner Parke elderconnerparke.blogspot.com 2016
Elder Kolby Nelson elderkrnelson.wordpress.com 2016
Elder Jessi Noll twoyearsinecuador.blogspot.com 2016
Elder Dillon Rawson elderdillon.blogspot.com 2016
Elder Jared Palmer mymission.com/elderjaredpalmer 2015
Sister Jessica Bartholomew jessicajobartholomew.blogspot.com 2015
Elder Stephen Crisp elderstephencrisp.blogspot.com 2015
Elder Tanner Roberts eldertannerroberts.blogspot.com 2015
Elder Kolby Strang elderkolbystrang.blogspot.com 2015
Sister Natalie Rust hermananatalierust.blogspot.com 2015
Sister Jennifer Hunt jenniferhuntmission.blogspot.com 2015
Sister Isabella DiBenedetto missionsite.net/sisterisabelladibenedetto 2015
Elder Garrett Farley elderfarleyslifeinecuador.blogspot.com 2015
Mission Alumni mission.net/ecuador/guayaquil/north 2014
Sister Delia Perez mymission.com/sisterdeliaperez 2014
Sister LaShae Dodge servingecuador.weebly.com 2014
Sister Lauren Scott lachesco-notes.blogspot.com 2014
Sister Angelee McKee hermanaangiemckee.blogspot.com 2014
Elder Dean Evans missionsite.net/elderdeanevans 2014
Elder Jared Brady missionsite.net/elderjaredbrady 2014
Elder Brad Jacobsen elderbradjacobsen.blogspot.com 2014
Elder Jacoby Remington elderjacobyremington.blogspot.com 2014
Elder McKay Randall missionsite.net/eldermckayrandall 2013
Sister Stephanie Parry missionsite.net/sisterstephanieparry 2013
Sister Jessica Welch jessicawelchblog.blogspot.com 2013
Elder Griffin McGinn eldergriffinmcginn.blogspot.com 2012
Elder Tanner Laub missionsite.net/eldertannerlaub 2012
Elder Justin Van Wagoner missionsite.net/eldervanwagoner 2012
Elder Brandon Messer elderbmesser.blogspot.com 2011
Elder Patrick Beck elderpatrickbeck.blogspot.com 2011
Elder Curtis Goode eldercurtisgoode.blogspot.com 2010
President & Sister Ridd guayaquilnorth.blogspot.com 2009
Elder Jarom Brand jarombrandecuadorguayaquil..blogspot.com 2005

Guayaquil North Mission Groups

Here are Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Guayaquil North Mission.

  1. Mision Ecuador Guayaquil Norte Facebook Group (1,105 members)
  2. Mision Ecuador Guayaquil Norte Facebook Group (176 members)
  3. Guayaquil North Mission Pres Maldonado 96-99 Group (85 members)
  4. Mision Guayaquil Norte Facebook Group (79 members)
  5. Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission Facebook Group (5 members)
  6. Guayaquil North Mission Picture Sharing Group (4 members)

Guayaquil North Mission T-Shirts

Here are T-shirts for the Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission!

Shirt designs include Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL.  The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.

*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Ecuador Guayaquil North missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.

*Click here to browse Guayaquil North Mission gifts



Guayaquil North Mission Presidents

Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Guayaquil North LDS Mission.

  1. 2017-2020, Ángel H. Alarcón
  2. 2014-2017, William James Riggins
  3. 2011-2013, Lizardo Amaya Hernandez
  4. 2008-2011, Jose Wilson gamboa Galvez
  5. 2005-2008, Randall L. Ridd
  6. 2002-2005, Roger P. Smock
  7. 1999-2002, W. David Terry
  8. 1996-1999, B. Renato Maldonado E.
  9. 1994-1995, Ramon Antonio Alvarez
  10. 1991-1994, Daniel L. Johnson

Ecuador LDS Statistics (2015)

  • Church Membership: 229,294
  • Missions: 5
  • Temples: 1
  • Congregations: 308
  • Family History Centers: 45

Helpful Articles about Ecuador

Coming soon..

Guayaquil North Missionary Survey

Here are survey responses from Ecuador Guayaquil North RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.

*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.

When did you serve?

  • 1990-1992 (Angela)
  • 1998-2000 (Wilford)
  • 1996-1998 (Josh)
  • 1997-1999 (Keith)
  • 2000-2002 (Micah)
  • 2002-2004 (Luis)
  • 2005-2007 (Tyler)
  • 2006-2008 (Mike)
  • 2009-2011 (Teran)
  • 2007-2009 (Alcocer)
  • 2000 (Enrique)
  • 1999-2002 (Juan)
  • 1996-1998 (Emily)

What areas did you serve in?

  • Salinas, Manta, Duran, and Guayaquil (Angela)
  • Duran, Daule, Jipijapa, Playas, Guayaquil, Babahoyo, Quevedo. (Wilford)
  • Duran, Quevedo, Guayaquil, Babahoyo, Santa Elena, Manta. (Josh)
  • Guayaquil, Duran, La Libertad, Portoviejo, Manta, Quevedo. (Micah)
  • Son muchas. (Luis)
  • Guayaquil- Pascuales (Los Geranios). (Tyler)
  • Balzar, Duran, Ancon, Babahoyo, Portoviejo, Guayaquil City area. (Mike)
  • Quevedo, Babahoyo, Guayaquil, Salinas, Quevedo. (Teran)
  • Duran, Portoviejo, Babahoyo, Guayaquil Guayacanes, Mapasingue, Balzar. (Alcocer)
  • Guayaquil-Pascuales (Union Civica, Alegria), Prosperina (Mapasingue), Temp in office, Substituted Duran South (Panorama). (Enrique)
  • Duran, Babahoyo, Peninsula, Manta, Guayaquil. (Juan)
  • I was in the city of Guayaquil most of my mission—Sauces and Alborada, and a few months in Chone and Porto Viejo. (Emily)

What were some favorite foods?

  • Patacones, empanadas, juice, star fruit, lentils and rice, sweet bread with caramel. (Angela)
  • Ceviche y encebollado. Ups.!! JAJA (Wilford)
  • Arroz con menestra y carne asada. Arroz con pollo. (Josh)
  • Arroz con Menestra, Encebollado, Patacones, Chifles. (Keith)
  • Ceviche and Encebollado. (Micah)
  • En Guayaquil!! El encebollado, pues todos saben. (Luis)
  • Encebollado, arroz con menestra, chifles, patacones. (Tyler)
  • llapingachos – ceviche – patacones (fries smashed plantains) – cheese empanadas – every corner bread store! – tres leche – sopa de bolo – encebillado soup – Pony Malta drink – bananas – morocho. (Mike)
  • Patacones, anything with shrimp. (Teran)
  • Encebollado lo máximo. Ceviche de camaron. (Alcocer)
  • Fried plantains (patacones, chifle, maduro). (Enrique)
  • Encebollado, ceviche, patacones, fiora vanti. (Juan)
  • Ceviche, Menestra, Seco de Pollo, Encebollado, fresh squeezed fruit juices, all their cream soups, carne asada, all their fresh fruit picked right off the tree—even bananas taste SO much better than the bananas we buy in the U.S. (Emily)

What was a funny experience?

  • My companion and I were reading in the evening when we heard a funny sound in the bathroom. We went to investigate and found a little bat flopping around in the shower area! We didn’t know if it was safe, so I covered my hand with a plastic bag and gently picked it up and put it outside. (Angela)
  • One of the cane bridges (walkways) to each house in Babohoyo broke with my companion and I walking up to the house. We fell into the water and had to swim to the street. Then we had to ride the bus completely soaked to our apartment to change. (Josh)
  • Going to the bathroom in a cane shack outhouse in the backyard while the bishop’s daughter is right next to you giving a bath to the family pig. (Keith)
  • Perder de mi compañero durante 45 minutos. (Luis)
  • Went out with my trainer the first day out. We meet a lady on her balcony and greet her. My trainer says we’d like to talk and share a message. The lady says, “no, no thanks I’m Catholic”. To which my trainer replies, ” Oh that’s OK. Nobody is perfect!”. The lady looked surprised then laughed as she noticed he was smiling and said he was just joking. Then we got to speak to her for a bit outside her front door. (Mike)
  • Hiding liver or Yucca in my socks to avoid offending a member since I couldn’t stomach their food. (Teran)
  • En porto viejo cuando una mujer evangélica dijo que imponía las manos a sus electrodomésticos para curarlas jaja. (Alcocer)
  • Elder Barth was eating his donut he bought from the nearby bakery only to discover there was a cockroach inside! He made this discovery after biting off half the roach. (Enrique)
  • Taking the bus with speed, getting wet after a rainstorm. (Juan)
  • Walking down flooded streets up to our thighs, learning to wash clothes by hand, learning to love cilantro, being caught in downpours like I had never seen before almost every day, loud music on the busses and in the streets & loving to see how much all the people loved to dance, showing my companion that I know how to ride a bike because she thought only boys were able to ride bikes. (Emily)

What was a crazy experience?

  • We were standing outside a member’s house in the evening waiting for them to come open the lower door, when a man came up behind me and grabbed my bag. I had hold of the strap and started screaming “No!” at him and pulling. He was behind me and smaller than me so I banged him up against the building and elbowed him until the strap broke. He ran off with me yelling at him in English and telling him to read the Book of Mormon because only my scriptures were inside. (Angela)
  • Washing shirts when it was raining. (Wilford)
  • Anytime we walked on a sidewalk in the bigger cities! Crazy drivers. Almost getting mugged by a guy with a machete on a city bus…then the guy just turned and walked away for some reason. Tanks rolling down the street during a government coup was interesting! (Josh)
  • Getting rocks thrown at us by people in the neighborhood. (Keith)
  • After lunch one day, my companion and I were walking to the main road in Manta when a group of about 5 thugs hit is from behind and surrounded us to rob us. One pretended to have a gun in his pocket. We told them we didn’t have anything. As we were holding them off a car full of armed security guards pulled over and chased the thugs away while they fired their guns into the air. They got away with my $5 Walmart watch. (Micah)
  • Me apunto con un rifle, escopeta o arma en mi cabeza. (Luis)
  • Being robbed. Seeing drunks fight with machetes. Riding the bus, especially during carnival. (Tyler)
  • Had two guys on two different occasions yell at us very angry and take out machetes and hit them against their wood posts or wooden walls very loudly screaming at us to leave or they’d hurt us. Also has a gun pulled on us because my companion told a guy he was being very rude. We ran away as he yelled and pointed it at us. (Mike)
  • Having an Family Home Evening with a family on a Sunday night and then Monday morning watching the husband die by getting hit by a bus. Blood was everywhere because the bus dragged him, I was traumatized. (Teran)
  • También en porto viejo cuando nos apuntaron con un arma ami y mi compi. (Alcocer)
  • When using the bus, they’ll stop completely for women and the elderly, so if you’re a man, you gotta get on/off while the bus does a California roll. (Enrique)
  • Getting robbed. (Juan)
  • Hearing someone get shot down the street where we were walking and seeing all the people surrounding the victim. It’s so important to follow mission rules and stay where you’re supposed to stay. And always say your prayers. Protective angels are a real thing. There were many stories of our missionaries being protected in scary situations. (Emily)

What was a spiritual experience?

  • Pres. Hinkley came and called us all for a special zone conference. He had an interpreter that translated. As he told us the story of a man’s conversion, the interpreter began to weep because it was his story. It was the most powerful testimony I have ever heard. (Angela)
  • When a chosen person asked to be baptized immediately. (Wilford)
  • Seeing families completely change their lives due to their willingness to follow commitments and to see them baptized and enter the temple are some of the greatest experiences in my life. President Hinckley came and spoke to a soccer stadium full of people in Guayaquil. He attempted to joke in Spanish at the beginning of his talk and it was very broken. About 3/4 of the way through his talk he excused his interpreter and finished his talk in perfect Spanish. You could have heard a pin drop with 60,000 people in the stadium. Amazing. (Josh)
  • Baptizing a whole complete family of 7 people. (Keith)
  • Que pude sentir por que estaba en la mision, y que declaraba la verda del evangelio de Jesu Cristo, hubtuve mi propio testimonio. (Luis)
  • Tons of great experiences. My most memorable was teaching a man named Oswaldo. His wife was a less active member and his brothers were members so he already had a Book of Mormon and began reading it before we knocked on his door. We helped him learn how to receive answers to his prayers and to gain his own testimony of the Book of Mormon. He read it all and ultimately decided to get baptized and later was sealed to his wife and children. (Tyler)
  • We had an investigator who had been listening to the missionaries for five years. He said he didn’t want to be baptized yet. We started teaching him. He asked me many questions about why I believe the church is true, and my companion. One day out of nowhere, he tells us he wants to be baptized. He was my final baptism before I went home. He let me baptize him. He thanked me and told me that I was the one who finally helped him know the Church was true. That he knew I was the missionary he was waiting for to teach him and touch his heart. We hugged in the font and both cried. (Mike)
  • This question should come before the last question… Going into an Family Home Evening with a family, whose mother was losing the battle to cancer, and knowing that I was going to give her a blessing that would heal her cancer. I knew it was a crazy thought so I silently asked God to give me a sign that it was really going to happen. Sure enough, I got my sign and we gave her a blessing. I’ve never felt the power of God coursing through me so strongly as I have in that moment. The phrase from the prayer that I will always remember is this, “te digo, sé sano … es por medio de tu fe y que obtendrás tu salud, sigue leyendo las escrituras cada dia.” God told her to keep reading the scriptures and to keep sending her family to church on Sundays. It was a very special night for my companion and I because we both knew without a doubt that she would get better if she read the scriptures and her family kept going to church. Unfortunately, her family stopped going to church and she passed away a month later. I was crushed. How could God let that happen after such a miraculous blessing? I knew with every fiber of my being that she was healed, the power of God was undeniable that evening. I was starting to get frustrated until I remembered that her blessing was conditional upon her faith, which she failed to exercise. I then learned another great lesson, no matter how great the blessing is that we are given, it will be taken away if we don’t meet the conditions that God sets for us. (Teran)
  • Cuando conocimos a un converso que estuvo esperando Los misioneros por dos años Hno rendon en ese time solo el se bautizo ahora toda su family es miembro y su hija vive en utha. (Alcocer)
  • In the Alegria Ward, we had a recently baptized family. The father received the priesthood. My district leader and I were late ending our exchange as we aided him in bringing a blessing of health to his wife and son, who were feeling ill. (Enrique)
  • The baptism and the power of a health blessing. (Juan)
  • Feeling the Spirit help me speak the words someone needed to hear, and feeling the words flow from my mouth beyond my natural ability when bearing testimony of Jesus Christ and truth. (Emily)

What are some interesting facts about the Guayaquil North Mission?

  • Equadorians believe air conditioning will make them sick. The poor areas are the funnest to work in. Try not to watch the bus drivers without power steering…scary. Humble people are such happy people! Made me appreciate that all the stuff we have doesn’t doesn’t make us happy. (Angela)
  • The Guayaquil north mission had many different areas. Mountain, beach, agricultural and big city. A lot of variety. (Josh)
  • We worked hard and had fun. Some of the mission goals were to teach 30 first discussions per week. This was to get us to meet as many new people and keep our teaching pool fresh with new investigators. Our Mission President’s wife would invite any companionship to their house for a nice meal if you got 10 baptisms in one 6-week period. (Micah)
  • Lots of different fruit. (Tyler)
  • Town called Chone that is known for having lots of blond and blue eyed people with pale skin. – Used to have the Galapagos islands. Still does I think? – The main commerce city Guayaquil is in our mission. (Mike)
  • Fe y paciencia. (Alcocer)
  • The country is named after the Equator. It’s about 2° S. If you’ve been to Mexico, you’ll get total deja vu. (Enrique)

What was the weather like?

  • Monsoon, 6 months no rain at all, 6 months nonstop rain. You are never dry anyway because of the humidity. To get cooler, you have to rise in elevation. (Angela)
  • Very hot. (Wilford)
  • Hot and wet. Rained almost every day and then the sun would come out and the humidity would get very high. (Josh)
  • Wet and humid. (Keith)
  • Hot and humid. There were a few times I got cold but most of the time it was hot. (Micah)
  • Ful calor, yo me pregunto como soporte dos años en ese calor a los 38 grados. (Luis)
  • Very hot and wet. (Tyler)
  • Half the year is hot and humid at about 80+ percent. The other half of the year is hot, humid and rainy. The weather is different closer to the ocean. And more inland near Guayaquil, you get more wind during monsoon season and can experience some cold actually. (Mike)
  • Summers were extremely hot but mostly cloudy. And winters were even hotter and completely humid, still mostly cloudy. (Teran)
  • Guiting. (Alcocer)
  • Humid and sunny. When it rains, it pours! (Enrique)
  • Crazy. (Juan)
  • SOOOO hot and humid and rainy. I was basically soaking wet for 16 months straight. On the plus side, it’s very good for your skin. 😉 (Emily)

Any things you really like about the area/people?

  • Everyone was humble and kind. Rarely were we treated badly by anyone, even if they didn’t want to listen. They were always glad to have a pianist, but sang loudly without one, even out of tune. The countryside is gorgeous and the iguanas plentiful. (Angela)
  • Their smiles. (Wilford)
  • The most humble and accepting people I have ever been around. (Josh)
  • The people are humble and full of love. (Keith)
  • The people were humble and happy. The members love the missionaries and I learned to get to know the members really well because that is how you get great referrals. (Micah)
  • La gente fue muy amable dependiendo del sector, como por ejemplo, chone , portoviejo salinas, tube muchos sectores pero , eseo tres. (Luis)
  • I loved the people’s personalities. I loved the craziness of the cities, and the little quirks of foreign culture. (Tyler)
  • Most are very humble and kind hearted. – Most are Catholic and already have a faith rooted in Jesus and the Scriptures. – Lists of beautiful tropical areas -the most amazing fresh fruits everywhere and either free or super cheap -In general, people in Ecuador love to talk and make conversation – they are generally kind to us from the USA. They say they like America – They think every white guy or gal is from New York. Ha-ha They love to celebrate everything and do it big – Ecuadorians are not too worried about looks and body shaping. They accept everyone for how they are. (Mike)
  • I didn’t like the country or the food very much and I felt guilty that I was so excited to finally leave the country when my mission ended. That is, until someone in Sacrament Meeting said the same thing, only they pointed out that they were called to serve a people not a country. My guilt vanished as I realized that I was there for the people. I don’t like the country but I absolutely love the people. And thank goodness for Facebook so that I can stay in contact with everyone I met. (Teran)
  • Que sean felices y que tengan el evangelio en en su vida. (Alcocer)
  • Once President Terry lifted the ban on accepting food from people (the ban was to mitigate food born illness from the prior El Nino year), we were often offered food and drink. Even fried eggs hit the spot! (Enrique)
  • The kindness and all the love. (Juan)
  • Love. So much love. Ecuador is full of the most believing, accepting, grateful and loving people. (Emily)

Any packing/clothing advice?

  • Cotton garments for airflow. Sandals that can be resolved by great shoemakers in the market. Sunscreen for when you can’t find shade. Full skirts for easy walking in steep roads or climbing on buses. Straight skirts can be restricting. (Angela)
  • Good shoes and light rain gear. The biggest problem is when it rained it was also very humid. Most rain gear you put on makes you sweat so much it’s almost not worth wearing. (Josh)
  • Bring at least 4 pairs of high quality comfortable shoes. Bring more white shirts and pants than asked for on the list. (Keith)
  • Shoes were my biggest issue. We walked everywhere. I brought three pairs of shoes that I was going to rotate but quickly found that I favored the more comfortable shoes. If I were to do it again I would have gotten 3 of the same really comfortable/durable walking shoes. (Micah)
  • Don’t worry about rain gear. It rains a lot and nothing can withstand it. Just deal with being wet. Bring more shoes than recommended. (Tyler)
  • YES!! I highly recommend taking those microfiber towels, not regular towels. They are too large and don’t wash or dry well in Ecuador weather. Take a small mp3 player with good spiritual music you like – take a digital camera that is mid range and cost and a very large SD storage card – I don’t recommend cotton garments. I really liked dry lux. -padded socks will help your feet. You walk all day about 8-10 hours. – sunscreen – I really liked slip on style shoes vs laces -I used an electric razor a lot and shaved with a regular razor a few times a week. Get a nice brand electric razor and one replacement head. They last 12 months each. (Mike)
  • Buy expensive and comfortable shoes, and take multiple pairs. Take a light but durable backpack that won’t hurt your back because you will wear it 24/7. (Teran)
  • Lightweight, loose clothing and good walking shoes. My pencil skirt was useless when we had to quickly jump on and off busses that often didn’t even come to a full stop. Also, consider what clothing would work if it was soaking wet (i.e. no thin, white tops). (Emily)

What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?

  • I appreciate all the blessings in our country and am less wasteful. I understand how to be happy with less, and love all people no matter their circumstances. I know the gospel is true but that you must be ready to hear it. No one can force a testimony. People believe and live how they must to get by, the Lord knows their heart. We must love all and not judge them according to how we live the gospel in our own lives. (Angela)
  • A very nice family. (Wilford)
  • Countless! Leadership skills, study habits, better gospel knowledge. I believe I am still receiving blessings due to my service many years ago. I teach my kids and remember techniques used to teach the gospel effectively and find myself using those same techniques now. (Josh)
  • Too many to mention. (Keith)
  • Tengo una linda esposa y un hijo adorable travieso. (Luis)
  • A TON!!!! And I still do every day of my life. Blessings come while you are out serving for you and your family at home and when you return home. Too many to get specific. The Lord blesses you immensely!! (Mike)
  • The most evident blessing that I received from serving a mission is that I learned how to learn. A blessing that I see every day of my life. (Teran)
  • Muchas hasta ahora ,cuando puedo voy a ecuador ya son 4 veces. (Alcocer)
  • Having begun my now 16 year long (so far) battle with depression, I learned what it was like to be served. I don’t think I would really feel that again until 2008 when my roommate Travis Alexander was brutally murdered. Sometimes depression can warp reality and perception, but I look back at it now and know the people and missionaries served me and that they helped me make through the time that I was there. (Enrique)
  • Many of them…like having an eternal family. (Juan)
  • There is not enough space for this. So much love, so much of the Spirit, and very close friendships that have lasted 20+ years so far. And as a bonus, I met my husband there. ❤️ (Emily)

What are some skills you gained?

  • Teaching with love and understanding, never demeaning another’s opinions. Making due with what you have. Showing love and respect to everyone. (Angela)
  • Hard work ethic. (Wilford)
  • Language, hard work, learning to listen to the Spirit. (Josh)
  • Of course Spanish. (Keith)
  • I can talk with just about anyone. (Tyler)
  • El orden y la diligencia en los llamamientos. (Luis)
  • Spanish fluency – learning how to get out of your comfort zone. Helping others in need – leadership and teach skills. Communication skills big time – how to be more resourceful and live with less.-Scripture study and prayer skills – skills to compromise with the one you live with and work together – just good people skills. (Mike)
  • Being able to talk to people and make friends quickly. (Teran)
  • Coping skills? (Enrique)

What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?

  • Simple people, simple needs. I took clothes I never wore. Tee like shirts and full skirts were best. Be brave and cautious about food. Find something good about every companion and be willing to compromise. (Angela)
  • Some of my mission companions would become some of my closest friends even years later. I wish I took the time to get to know many of the older missionaries when I was very new. The whole country was such a shock. Everything was so different. I wish the adjustment time was shorter. (Josh)
  • I wish I was more humble. (Tyler)
  • Ir a otro pais, pero al final, solo era , a donde me mandes ire. (Luis)
  • Bought a digital camera. I had a film camera, bad choice! – I wish I knew a bit more about getting sick down there and how to treat better and deal with those illnesses – maybe a bit more about the culture. Women breastfeeding in public everywhere. Men drink heavily in the evenings and are on the streets drunk often. Just being more mentally prepared to face that – knowing more about their climate. The humidity was a surprise to me. I’d never experienced it and only ever have since in Louisiana and Florida. (Mike)
  • Bad question, I regret nothing. (Teran)
  • The right clothing to bring. Besides that, I’d recommend just embracing all the changes and differences and surprises. My mission president always said, “¡Disfruta cada momento!” Or “Enjoy every moment.” Look for the good in every situation. Have fun being caught in the rain, look for something positive to do when someone doesn’t show up for their appointment that might end up being even better, have fun and laugh with your companion during the day and especially when things are hard. (Emily)

Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Guayaquil North?

  • Love everyone whether they listen or not. Be polite and respectful, especially to your companion. Smile and sing a lot. Strive to love the country you’re in for what the people there love about it. Be patient with your own testimony, it grows and changes a lot during your mission. Never give up on the spirit, it will always come. (Angela)
  • The Book of Mormon is true. (Wilford)
  • Be bold! Enjoy every moment. It goes by so fast. (Josh)
  • Let the spirit guide in all things. (Keith)
  • Make sure you are having fun. (Tyler)
  • No piece mucho, es el mejor tiempo de la juventud, puede esperar todo , la novia o el trabajo, la universidad, etc, pero este momento de la mision no se puede perder , todos los jovenes, lo digo con mucha experiencia , es muy bonito. (Luis)
  • You’re doing the right thing and will be taken care of. Listen and follow your Mission President. Have fun and work. You can do both Talk talk take to everyone. The only way you’ll learn Spanish is to talk. Anxiety and fear hits us all at times. It’s not a reason to quit. We all get anxiety. But you get through it and have an amazing time 😉 (Mike)
  • Don’t ever trust your companion. And the sooner you get the idea that missionaries are perfect out of your head the better. (Teran)
  • Si el de mi hermano. (Alcocer)
  • Remember that if you’re struggling, people will help, if you let them. Start with your companion. And don’t forget that there is no shame if you are unable to continue. The answer I got was to return home, but that didn’t end my opportunities to serve as I was called to be a ward missionary. Know your calling has its place in the church, even if it’s not as a full time or ward missionary. Even cooking for that 3rd Sunday in my 20s in the YSA ward brought people together. (Enrique)

What was a funny language mistake?

  • Some missionary thought “embarrasada” meant, embarrassed, but it means pregnant. Haha! (Angela)
  • Probably shouldn’t repeat it. (Tyler)
  • Mo mismo, me enseñaro a cantar en ingles, pero era la musica del mundo, que empece a cantar pero no me fije la presencia del Presidente, casi me emvia a la casa, yo cante sin saber que significaba en español, ya sabe, papa roach. (Luis)
  • Lots! Orrar- to pray Orinar – to go pee Me da pena – I feel your pain Me da pene – (is a bad thing to say. I’ll leave it at that). (Mike)
  • I said I like maricones instead of camarones. Maricon is a bad word for gay, camaron is shrimp. (Teran)
  • El de los tonganos. (Alcocer)
  • Coming from a Hispanic background and speaking Spanish at 2 other points in my life, I was ahead of the gri go gaijin. (Enrique)