The Haunting of a Mormon Missionary in Ecuador [The OTHER World Series]

In 2001 I was serving a Mormon mission in Guayaquil, Ecuador. As you might know, missionaries are paired up in twos and are called companionships. My particular companion at this time was a young guy from Chile. We lived in a little two level home made of cinder blocks and cement just on the outskirts of a small town near Guayaquil. We lived on the lower level. My companion had lived in this home for a couple of months before I moved in, and at this time, I had moved in 2 months prior. As you may know, missionaries have a very strict schedule and our schedule consisted of a “companionship study” every morning from 7:00 am to 8:00 am. During this time, we studied the lessons we taught, and I, being from North America, studied Spanish with him.

One morning as we were studying, we heard what sounded like footsteps running across the floor of the second level, right above our heads. We looked at each other and instantly dismissed the idea of mice or rats because the footsteps were so loud and hard, they could not have possible been from a small rodent or animal. The footsteps ran from one end of the floor to the other. Because he had lived there longer than I had, I asked him if he knew what was on the second level. He told me that he had never even been up there and as far as he knew, we were the only ones in the house. It was an eerie experience to hear the footsteps, but we didn’t trouble ourselves anymore on the issue, and we went about our regular missionary schedule.

Roughly a month later, as we were again studying, we heard the same thing above our heads. This got us really interested in finding out what was on the second level, so we decided to investigate. We found that there were only two ways to get up to that level. One way was through our room. There was a door that sat right next to the front of my bed; however, this door had 8 or 9 locks that ran up and down the door as if someone bolted that door shut with the intention that it would never be opened again. I didn’t think much about the door until we heard the footsteps, but I remember thinking it was a bit spooky. The other way to the second level was through the kitchen. There was a large black steel door that opened up to a spiral-type staircase and led right up to the second level. It seemed as if this door had not been opened in years; we had to pry it open using our strength and a couple of tough kitchen utensils. We were able to get the black door open and ended up ascending the staircase. The only light source we had were candles, so we had a couple of lit candles to give us the necessary light. When we got to the second level, and to our astonishment, there were a lot of pictures of little children. These pictures, some actual and some drawings, were positioned in a circle around what seemed to be burnt candles. There were no drawings on the floor, just burnt candles and melted wax everywhere. We thought it was a little creepy and we had that feeling that encouraged us to leave it alone and not worry about it, so we left after looking around a little and again went back to our regular schedule.

About a week later we were just getting back from a day of service and we both decided to hit the hay a little earlier than normal. As I mentioned before, there was a wooden door next to the head of my bed with 8 or 9 locks on it. As I was laying there on the bed just relaxing and staring out my window, I heard three VERY loud and distinguishing knocks that came from the other side of the door. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Instinct kicked in and I threw the sheets over my head, scared out of my mind because I knew that there was only one other way to get to the staircase that led upstairs and that was in the kitchen. I yelled at my companion, who was in his bed at the other end of the room, but he was asleep and would not wake up. I was freaking out because of the knocks, so I just kept my head under the covers the rest of the night.

I dozed off to sleep because next thing, I remember waking up at exactly 3:00 am. I pulled my head out of the covers to look around and see if anything was unusual, but there was just a storm outside and a lot of lightning.

The next morning, we got up for companionship study, and I relayed the story of what happened to me that night. I told him about the knocks and waking up at 3. As I was in the middle of telling him, he looked at me strangely and asked, “What is that on your face?” I felt around my face but could not notice anything out of the ordinary. I darted to the bathroom mirror and to my horror, I had three very long scratches on the right side of my face that ran from the top of my forehead to the bottom of my chin. They were very red long distinguishable scratches. I sat there staring at them, thinking of any possible explanation as to why they were there and why three. I kept thinking about the three knocks and waking up at 3:00 am and now three scratches.

Needless to say, that was the last night we spent in that house. We got a new apartment and nothing happened after that.

I had never heard of paranormal scratches until a couple of years later when I got home from Ecuador. I was browsing online and came across a few sites that specialize in that particular phenomenon. I was in awe as I read it, and to this day, I still wonder what those three scratches were and what they represented. Any suggestions as to what happened would be great.

. I yelled at my companion, who was in his bed at the other end of the room, but he was asleep and would not wake up.

SUREly this has to be against at least ONE of the rules!!

The Rules

Learn and obey all missionary rules.
Keep your thoughts, words, and actions in harmony with the gospel message.
Read only books, magazines, and other material authorized by the Church.
Don't debate or argue.
Center your mind on your mission.
Dress conservatively. Elders: white shirts, conservative ties, and business suits. Sisters: conservative colors and skirts that cover your knees. No floor-length skirts or dresses.
Cut your hair regularly.
Keep your hair clean and neatly combed at all times in the approved style.
Be neat and clean.
Bathe frequently.
Use deodorant.
Polish your shoes.
Iron your shirt and business suit.
Arise at 6:30 A.M.
Study for 2 hours every morning.
Proselytize for 10 hours between 9:30 A.M. and 9:30 P.M.
Turn off your lights at 10:30 P.M.
Exercise regularly.
Write in your journal regularly.
Follow the "Missionary Gospel Study Program" (31157) for your personal study.
Regularly study the Missionary Guide and the Discussions.
Attend Sunday priesthood or Relief Society meetings, Sunday School, and sacrament meeting.
Attend the general session of Stake Conference.
Attend general conference broadcasts if available.
Avoid all other church meetings unless you have a special assignment or are brining an investigator.
Proselytize as much as possible on weekends and holidays because this is when you'll find people home.
End your preparation day at 6:00 P.M. and proselytize from 6:00 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.
Wear your missionary uniform in public on preparation day while not engaged in recreational activities.
Arise at 6:30 on preparation day and study for 2 hours from the approved books.
Take care of your physical preparation for the week on preparation day: wash your clothes, clean your apartment, wash your car, get your haircut, and shop for groceries.
Write to your parents every week on preparation day.
Write less frequently to your siblings, friends, and acquaintances.
Don't communicate with any friends or acquaintances that are within or close to your mission boundaries, except as a part of official mission business.
Plan safe, wholesome, and uplifting activities for preparation day.
Stay with your companion during all activities.
Do not go on road trips.
Do not leave your assigned area without permission
Do not watch television.
Do not view unauthorized videocassettes.
Do not listen to the radio.
Do not listen to unauthorized audiocassettes or CD’s.
Do not participate in musical groups.
Do not participate in athletic teams.
Do not sponsor athletic teams.
Do not engage in contact sports.
Do not engage in water sports.
Do not engage in winter sports.
Do not engage in motorcycling.
Do not engage in horseback riding.
Do not engage in mountain climbing.
Do not embark on a private boat.
Do not embark in a private airplane.
Do not handle firearms.
Do not handle explosives.
Do not swim.
Do not play full court basketball.
Do not play basketball in leagues.
Do not play basketball in tournaments.
You may play half-court basketball.
Never be alone.
Seek advice from your mission president if your companion is "having difficulties".
Be loyal to your companion.
Ask your mission president for help if your companion doesn’t obey the rules.
Pray with your companion every day.
Study with your companion every day.
Plan your work with your companion every day.
Take time at least once a week for companionship inventory.
Seek to be one in spirit and purpose and help each other succeed.
Always address your companion as Elder or Sister.
Sleep in the same bedroom as your companion.
Do not sleep in the same bed as your companion.
Do not arise before your companion.
Do not retire after your companion. (apparently, being together is more important than getting the correct amount of sleep that your unique body requires.)
Frequently study with your companion the Missionary Guide section on companions.
Never be alone with anyone of the opposite sex.
Never associate inappropriately with anyone of the opposite sex (conversely, they don't mention whether or not it is against the rules to associate inappropriately with anyone of the same sex).
Do not flirt.
Do not date.
Do not communicate via phone or letter with anyone of the opposite sex living within or near mission boundaries.
Do not visit a single or divorced person of the opposite sex unless accompanied by a couple or another adult member of your sex.
Try to teach single investigators in a member’s home or have missionaries of the same sex teach them.
Always follow the above rules, even if the situation seems harmless.
Use the commitment pattern to get referrals from members.
Keep your dinner visits with member briefs and during the customary dinner hour in the area.
Remember to say thank you to those who feed you.
Visit members and nonmembers only at appropriate times.
Do not counsel or give medical treatment.
Do not stay in the homes of people when they are on vacation.
Only write letters to family members and friends at home.
Do not telephone parents
Do not telephone relatives.
Do not telephone friends.
Do not telephone girlfriends.
Contact your mission president in case of an emergency.
Take problems and questions to your mission president.
Do not write to the President of the Church or to other General Authorities. Letters from missionaries to General Authorities are referred back to the mission president
Respect the customs, traditions, and property of the people who you are trying to convert.
Obey all mission rules.
Obey the laws of the land.
Do not get involved in politics.
Do not get involved in commercial activities.
Do not give any information about the area.
Respect the customs and cultures of those who you are trying to convert to your own customs and culture.
Respect the beliefs, practices, and sites of other religions.
Do not say or write anything bad about the political and cultural circumstances where you serve.
Do not become involved in adoption proceedings.
Do not suggest or encourage emigration. (This rule is a bit ironic, given the now-defunct doctrine of gathering the believers to Zion)
Be courteous.
Provide community service.
Do not provide community service that isn’t approved by your mission president.
Do not provide more than 4 hours a week of community service.
Do not provide community service during the evening, weekend or holidays—those are peek proselytizing times.
Your mission president must approve your housing.
Keep your housing unit clean.
Do not live with single or divorced people of the opposite sex.
Do not live where the spouse is frequently absent.
Your living unit must have a private bath and entrance.
You may occasionally fast for a special reason, but generally the monthly fast is sufficient.
Do not fast longer than 24 hours at a time.
Do not ask friends, relatives, and members to join in special fasts for investigators.
Maintain your health.
Eat a healthy diet.
Sleep from 10:30 to 6:30.
Follow the approved exercise program.
Keep your body, clothes, dishes, linens, towels and housing unit clean.
Dispose of your garbage properly and promptly.
Follow the safety rules for all of your stuff.
Seek medical care if you are in an accident or become sick.
Be immunized.
Spend your money only on things relating to your mission.
Budget your money carefully.
Keep a record of what you spend.
Do not spend more than your companion.
Do not loan money.
Do not borrow money.
Keep a reserve fund of $50 to $100 at all times for transfers.
Pay your bills before leaving an area.
Pay cash for all resale literature and supplies ordered from the mission office.
Do not waste money on souvenirs.
Do not waste money on unnecessary items.
Be a frugal photographer.
Do not accumulate excess baggage.
Obey custom laws and regulations.
Pay fast offerings each fast Sunday to the bishop or branch president where you serve.
Pay tithing on outside sources of income (i.e. interest) to your home bishop or branch president.
Evaluate your funds a few months before the end of your mission. If you have more than you need, ask that less be sent so that you can return home without excess money.
Do not drive without a license.
Drive only Church-owned vehicles.
Do not drive members’ cars.
Do not drive nonmembers’ cars.
Do not give rides to members or investigators in Church-owned cars.
Use cars only on approved mission business.
Use cars only within the assigned geographical area.
Be conscious of safety at all times.
Drive defensively.
Wear your seat belt.
Pray for the Lord’s protection while driving.
If your companion is driving, assist him or her.
Do not tamper with the vehicle’s odometer.
Know bicycle safety rules.
Use extreme caution on your bicycle.
Do not ride your bicycle after dark.
Do not ride your bicycle in heavy traffic.
Do not ride your bicycle in adverse weather conditions.
Go directly to your new area when transferred.
Find your new companion without delay when transferred.
Have a maximum of two suitcases and a briefcase.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.