Happy St. Patricks Day!!!

I must say it is pretty cool that I really can technically say the phrase “kiss me, I’m Irish!” On my mom’s side, my Grandma Barringer has Irish blood from the McCormick’s. And so, even though it is kind of a large stretch, I can say... “KISS ME, IM IRISH!” (haha) however once again I feel as if I am celebrating one of my favorite holidays…solo…but I suppose Ecuador just doesn’t have very many Irish immigrants. …But I wish all of you a very very Happy St. Patty’s Day!
Speaking of holidays. I was talking to my host family this weekend about Easter, and I was interested to find out the small amount of commercialism that Easter has here. And more than anything I could not believe that the Ester Bunny doesn’t know where Ecuador is! My Easter will be colored egg-less, Cadbury chocolate egg-less, Easter basket-less and let’s just say…very different!

However I am very interested to observe how they do this here…we have the entire week off before Easter. Being in a country with a catholic majority I have learned to appreciate all these fantastic holidays. On “viernes santo” there is a huge parade in the old town, where Christ’s procession will come in, with palm leaves and everything! Saturday is an observed holiday where the entire city shuts down to prepare for “Domingo de Gloria” (Sunday of Glory) I am very excited to observe all of this, and also to spend Easter closer to my Savior.
I have always just spent Easter as just one day…but here there isn’t even a word for “Easter” it is all “Semana Santa” (Holy Week). And as much as I love that dear ol Easter bunny it will be good for me to focus on the true meaning of the Easter Season.

But holy cow I can’t believe I can say this... "Happy Spring!"

(however here in Ecuador, it is more like an eternal never ending spring, I am excited at home you guys can finally start to enjoy warm weather, and maybe you won’t be so grumpy…haha jk)
Now let’s see….what’s been going on in my Ecuador life…I was talking to Hermana Ward yesterday and we were discussing how weird it is that all of the sudden after learning your comfort zone, Ecuador (or where ever you may be) becomes your comfort zone. And all those “weird quirks” just become part of your everyday life.
On Sunday afternoon, Elder Padilla and Elder Rivera finally made it to my house to teach the first discussion to my family. However this is truly a full story in its self…let me explain.
Here in Ecuador directions are kind of given like in Weston, by land marks…but that gets a lot more confusing in a hustling and bustling city of like a trillion people…anyway so to give a direction here you say the two main cross streets, and then you add in any more landmarks you might need in order to reassure safe arrival, with as little confusion as possible. So for example, my address is:
Emily Zilles
6 de Diciembre y Ramon Borja
A la primer calle a la izquierda
Siga recto, hasta Brasilla 2
Conjuto entrente Brasilla 2
Primer Edificio a la izquierda
Departamento #202
Now in English this means, corner of the streets 6 de Diciembre, and Ramon Borja. At the first street turn left, go straight for a while until the town houses “Brasilla 2”. But no into Brasilla 2. Enter the gated community in front of Brasilla 2, first building on the left, apartment “202.

Now imagine putting that on an envelope, it would be impossible right…(hence the awful mail system we have here in the wonderful country of Ecuador!) I honestly don’t even know my exact address it’s not needed. Every time I have to give my address-that’s what I give. (Pizza, Chinese delivery, taxi drivers, and…unfortunately…the Elders.)
So when I talked to Elder Padilla on the phone earlier that day he said, “oh yeah! I know where you are talking about.” I should have known, I mean this was coming from the person who gave me directions to the church house like this….
“Get off the bus at Banco Pichincha, look around until you see the street, “Rivera” go up one or two blocks, (I don’t remember exactly how many) and then you will see a brown building turn left, (don’t remember what street) and the church is in the middle of the block….” (right, I’ll be able to find that!)
Anyway about ten minutes before our scheduled time I get a text from Elder Padilla…”um….Hermana….We are lost….” So I called and they had ended up in Brasilla 1. (honest mistake) and could not figure out where to go from there. Well Brasilla 1 is just around the corner, so I told them to stay put and I would come find them….
Well by the time I made it to Brasilla 1 we had made circles around each other and they were now back at Brasilla 2. But instead of staying outside of the gates they entered and got even more lost looking for an apartment building amongst a whole gated community of town houses! When I finally found them they were sitting at a park scratching their heads, and I was really winded.
But all that was worth it to finally have the Elders teaching my family. The lesson went great. And my entire family was there. Heis offered the closing prayer as we all knelt as a family. It was so so so cool . my family agreed to talk to the Elders next week! And even gave them the names of my two aunts as referrals! It was fantastic! Can you imagine if they accept the Gospel?! My friend Lorena is also very interested in the Gospel, and agreed to take the discussions with her mom, and go to church with me! Today I gave away my 11th BOM since I came here…my New Years Resolution was 20, do you think I can make it?!

And So the life continues to roll on here in Quito! For those of you who have not looked over on to the right margin of my blog, and noticed my count down, we are officially down to under four months!!!!!! AHHHH!!! time is flying!!! I love you guys all SO SO SO much! Thank you for your love, support and prayers! Until Next Time...
HaStA LuEgO
Emmy Ann