(This email is from Feb. 13th.  We didn't get it last week, so Jonathan resent it today.)

Mi Querida Familia! 

What a great week it sounds like everyone has been having! First of all I want to say that I´m so happy that Joseph has been having a great birthday. =) Joseph you are such a fun kid and always full of energy! I hope you have a fantastic birthday.

Also Mom, it sounds like you´ve been working hard on the organ. It must be so fun to play in such a big music hall! I don´t know how you do it all, but I´m so proud to have such a diligent and dedicated mother. =)

Carnaval this last week was a lot more peaceful this year than last year to say the least. I was worried it might be a lot bigger being in the big city, but Guayaquil is close to several beaches (Salinas, Quenca, Manabi and some others as well). So the city was actually a bit of a ghost town. After getting totally soaked last year in Babahoyo I´m not complaining.  

It was a little difficult receiving the new missionaries though, because the airport was PACKED with people who were traveling for the holiday. After a little longer than usual however we managed to get the three missionaries (and all their luggage thank goodness!) to our Mission President´s house. All three of them are from Lima, Perú, and the running joke in the mission is that there are more missionaries from Perú than from Utah right now. I don´t know if that´s true or not, but there sure are quite a few from Perú that have been assigned to the mission.

This last week there were a lot of transfers in the mission. The most notable is that our friend Elder Call (the personal secretary of President) got his replacement. The new missionary is Elder Oyler from Ogden, and he played the trumpet with Nik Clark in the all-state jazz band! I thought that was so fun! He´s a great addition to the office staff and has a great spirit. Plus on P-days now I have someone to do jazz solos with on the piano in our house haha =)

The other big news this week is that we´ve been trying to get ready for Stake Conference which is today and tomorrow. Elder Calderon (the area 70 that spoke in Babahoyo and that also visited our mission) will be speaking and presiding. It should be really great! All week we´ve been handing out flyers and inviting people to come, so it should be great!

To answer your question, Mom, there has been quite a bit of talk about Zika among other nasty things from mosquitos, but we´re putting on repellent before we leave the office and when we go to sleep. Plus we have the extra protection from the Lord. =) 

I love you all so much, and I´m so glad that you´re all able to enjoy Joseph´s birthday together, Remember that I´m praying for you! Stay safe! 

Lots of love,

Elder Hales =)