Week 53! "THE Cockroach"

From 1/26/15

What a good week!

First of all, I got to know [two areas with beaches] because we had divisions twice this week for 24 hours each...which pretty much I got to spend the night :) jejeje The first division I went on was with Hna U [one of my former companions]...remember her? Well, she asked about every single one of you.

It was a very special experience being companions again for a day after not seeing her for about a year!! And, you know what, it was also a very tender mercy. She has changed....a lot. And for the better. When I was with her a year ago, she was fighting the urge to go home. When I was with her this week, she took initiative in every lesson and in every contact. And, in my personal opinion, she teaches way better than I do: clearly, directly, and thoroughly. I admire the change she has become. She even said that she is "secure" with the person she has become and feels the responsibility to be a leader (self-initiated). I cried - I was so happy!! The Lord really can mold and change any person to be strong in whatever area they feel weak. Being with her that day was tangible evidence of that :)

Also this week: A young lady in our ward who has cerebral palsy (I believe) always comes up to us to happily greet us. Saturday, Hna F and I were waiting for the jovencita [young lady] who was going to be baptized to arrive. We were getting concerned because it was getting late, so we went to a secluded area behind the church to say a prayer. We did. And as we wrapped up the prayer, we heard this young lady, L, come up behind us and start laughing HYSTERICALLY. I thought, "What the hay? We´re praying."

But, we finished and upon opening her eyes, Hna F´s gaze went directly to the top of my head. She moved back a few steps and shrieked a little. My brain began storming....."There´s something on my head, there´s something on my head. Okay, I don´t know what it is. If I touch it, it might just creep me out or cling harder. Is it a salamander? Is it a moth or other large bug?...I´ll just carefully bend my head forward and hope it falls off."

So, that´s what I did, and I was afraid to look at the ground to see what it actually was. But, I was brave (pat on the back). I looked.

There, on the ground, was a cockroach the size OF.....like an eraser. Okay, so it wasn´t that big. And it was on it´s back, dead. BUT....L is scared of cockroaches! Apparently, getting a kick out of our reactions was enough to overcome the fear of finding a dead cockroach and placing it neatly on my head when we were with our temporal guard down...Good move L. Good move.

Also, we went home briefly Saturday to pick up baptismal clothes for N, who got baptized that evening. We walked in....and there was a bird in our house! It smacked itself ferociously against the windows trying to escape. Then, after running to grab my camera and take a video, it attacked my legs!!!! It finally made it´s get away through the kitchen and out the window there....I feared for it´s life. It looked so desperate. But wow.....what a moment as me and Hna F tried to encourage it out the window and battled it flying at us at the same time. jajaja

Okay, best moment of the week. We stopped by Hno A´s house because they were sitting near their window as we walked by [he's the one that had known Tiffany's dad during his mission]. We walked in. I can't help but feel very happy when I´m there now. I mentioned Dad´s reaction to him. He smiled.  Our conversation was very relaxed. I just stood there even though we weren´t talking about anything in particular. He mentioned he didn´t have Facebook, email, or phone....the only way to ever find him is actually physically knowing where he lives - interesting...

Then, he looked at me, and in a reflectioning way said, "I had a dream a long time ago. In my dream, a tall, American elder came up to me and shook my hand. The next day, I was sewing in my shop, and when I looked out the window, there were two elders that were coming to our shop. It was one elder and his new companion. That companion was your Dad." Woahhh.

I stood there watching Hermana A and smiling, feeling very grateful to be here living this experience. Then, he continued. "There are many elders that I have known through my life..."

He named the ones who baptized him...then he mentioned Dad. Of all the people to remember, he remembered Dad. His wife piped in and said, "he must´ve been a very special person for my husband to remember him so well." Hermana A then asked me, "Are you like you´re dad?"

I responded that I was. And he said, "There was a big spirit that went with your dad; he was a very special person. And a very good missionary."

Hermana A´s voice was next. Referring to me she added, "She´s proud of her father. Those are tears of joy."

I am so grateful to be here. Every day is a blessing. The people here are very friendly and open. For example, this week one taxi driver, one person who sat next to me on the bus, and one taxi driver gave us transportation -- without pay. The taxi driver guy even INSISTED we let him give us a ride, even though we assured him we only had to walk two blocks to our destination!

The challenge is not getting in, the challenge is helping them to progress. But, if we look, there are many willing to progress as well.

Love you all, and I hope you have a great week!!

Hna Fernelius

The residue of my Ibarra tan line....from being there on divisions [splits] only ONE DAY.

In the most wildernessy part of my sector. Most of my sector is houses and mud, but this part is more campo-y. With our newly sustained ward mission leader and his wife.

Last Monday we went to the beach. The weather there is much cooler! And, though we´re not supposed to get onto the sand...we definitely could to enjoy the view and eat KFC lunch jeje

Us in a mototaxi!

What...? Uhhhhhhh

Baptism!

The hermanas have a really big sector!!! Every part is a little different, but it´s all pretty.

The life....

Part of the zone eating after playing soccer for P-Day :)

A mamita [cook] here...jajaja yuummmm. It's a taste of the fun nature of the people here.

A cancha [soccer field] here.

Hna Q.  I was also with her yesterday and today because our compas had to make a day´s trip to Quito and back.

[No wonder "knocking on doors" is never very successful....]

["Preaching to the dead" - in 2015.  To understand this photo, you need to see the next one from Tiffany's dad's mission!]

["Preaching to the dead" - in 1986.  Tiffany's dad (and companion) were such dedicated missionaries that they spent this particular P-day doing missionary work among the dead.  It's particularly fitting that his companion in this photo is wearing a shirt from the area Tiffany is currently serving in, even though the photo was taken in a different area.]

Week 52! "A Blast From the Past"

From 1/19/15

Okay, well. I´m afraid to send pictures because my companion just did and the computer somehow erased all 2000 pictures she had on her camera (from throughout her mission, AND this is her last cambio)...:0 So now I don´t know if I will. :p

Where do I start? ....

Ahhh yeah.

The more I think about being here, the less deserving I feel. In every sector I get changed to, I always go in asking the Lord what He would have me do. And usually He orients me to know clearly what behaviors I need to take on, how to adjust, and how to work. But, in this case, I don´t know what the Lord wants me to do. I feel adjusted to the climate (as in I don´t get tired so fast like the first few days), and the people are just so friendly, (direct), and open. But...maybe it´s because I´m put with another Hermana lider who is a good worker, has time here, and a lot of experience....I don´t feel like I´m "adjusting" to my missionary role here as I should. I feel more like I´m being led, rather than leading. But, it´s true, I need to work hard and trust the Lord to lead me.

Pretty much, this sector is like a BLAST FROM THE PAST!!! I don´t know if it´s because Dad is in my head all day, thinking of what his mission experience entailed when he was here, or because of the little reasons it appears like we´re living in the 80´s. jaja For example:

FANS. Every home (including ours) has outdated ventilating fans blowing in the living room or kitchen.

KIDS. There are many who run around almost naked or in shorts and play in water using...water hoses!!!! jeje

SHORTS. Yes, it´s true. Full grown adults still wear stylish 80´s Bermuda shorts around town....

CARS. They are old. Remember the first car our family ever owned?....yep.

I feel far from mission life civilization. Now I can see why President is always strict with the missionaries who come here. The Hermanas who have been sent here is the recent months have done a good job, but there is still a little "confidence building" to do with some of the members.

Well, I´ll have more experiences to share as I begin to know more of the people. I feel that we´ve worked really hard this week....but I realize the adversary won one day when we were trying to get to a cita [appointment].

Okay, to paint a little bit of a picture:

The streets are mostly dirt and get really soft and slippery when it´s wet. One morning, we left the house a little early to make it to a cita at 9 am (oh btw Ash, here we study 8-10a, then return home at 8pm to have the last hour of study. It´s the policy for the coast to come home early). Kay, back to the story. :p

Well, it was raining that morning and we did all that we could to step around all the mud puddles in the streets. We got to a small big fairly steep hill that we needed to climb to get to the investigator´s house. Hna F was wearing flat shoes and, as we climbed, the mud stuck to the bottom and sides. A few steps ups, she had more mud than shoe!! We struggled to get even a couple feet up the hill, because every time we took a step we would SLIIIIIIIIIDE. It was intense. I just didn´t want to end with a skirt plastered in mud, but we fought our way up that slope! ....until we decided that it was impossible for the time limit we had to do it in! We carefully baby-stepped-it back down and looked back to see slide marks about 2-3 feet long all down the side of the slope....yep. That was us. :P

Also, the church we go to is built right off the main road. The first time I stepped foot through the outside gate, there was an air of "familiarity". There is an air of familiarity in a lot of things I am seeing and doing here. It´s kind of cool. It makes me wonder....about stuff.

But anyway, it's not just about walking the steps that Dad made here not long ago, but maybe even like an ancestral environment for my mission....or maybe I´m just confusing it with the humidity. jeje Either way, it´s a good environment to be in.

I love humidity!!! I love sweating!!! I love that I have to turn the fan on level 3 at night or it´s too hot and thick to sleep! I love that we found a little white salamander in our bathroom one day, and a line of little ants eating a cockroach the next!!  I love that we have no running water in our house so we have to go downstairs to fill a pail of water from the well! I love that the people here just kinda stare at us when we´re talking with them because they are so focused on our accents jaja ("DIGA"). I love that they speak so differently and leave out a lot of letters in their pronunciation...for example "pescado" is pronounced "pecao". And say "diga" a lot which is like "tell me" [it actually translates better to "you know"]. It´s just.....paradise. It just makes me really happy to be here :) Like really.

I just hope to do what the Lord needs me to do here.

I love each and every one of you :) Take care and hopefully I won´t be scared to send pictures next week :P

Hna Fernelius

Week 51! "Promises Fulfilled..."

From 1/13/15

I laughed so hard with some comments in your emails this week :) You are all the best :)

So, ....like I said. Cambios [transfers]. I am now on the coast of Ecuador!! :)

Honestly, I was 100% sure I would be staying in my last area...for various reasons. Hna Q had 3 cambios (4.5 months) there and I was somewhat the newbie still. We got the "cambios call" Sunday night. I was in my pj´s making chocolate popcorn in the kitchen. About 9:50 pm...phone rings. I hear Hna Q's excitement from the other room.."What? What?! Come here!" I called. She came into the kitchen and put the phone on speaker...

"Hna Q has cambios to.....!!" (across the street from the current sector jaja)...then, without a pause, "And Hna Fernelius is going to la costa!"

*Dead silence*

"What?" I asked.

"Yes, Hna Fernelius is going to la costa to be with Hna F."

I, my friends, thought he was kidding...because he also told us he was called to be a secretary of the mission. Wuuuut. But he assured us it wasn´t a broma [joke], and that is the news he received from our zone leaders sooo.....

This is why I had to leave early and travel all day yesterday. I got here at about 8 pm, we bought a burger and milkshake and went home to plan for the next day.

I feel so incredulous right now...I am still trying to accept that I am actually here en la costa, where not many Hermanas serve. I am so happy even writing this, though I still need a confirmation from the Lord that this was actually an inspired move....because I did not feel ready to leave my last area. ....Because, when me and Hna Q left, our sector also got closed. And my heart stopped.

We have a recent convert of 3 days there whose brother´s baptism is also for this Saturday....and now there are no missionaries in that sector. And this is what makes me most at unease. But, we gave the area book to the other Elders of that ward with as much info as we could. And I am praying that the Lord, since this was inspired by Him, will take over the sector for now. I think the reason is that, since in the next cambio there are a ton of Hermana missionaries leaving and a ton coming, they want to leave a few sectors open for the trainers and trainees.

But I´m trying to leave that all behind and get to focusing on where I am now.

Saturday, like I mentioned, D was baptized. His mom was a reference from a less active member, their neighbor. When we contacted them, we first spoke at the door with his mother and younger brother. D was a contact we had later on, but who also accepted every aspect of the gospel so readily. He went to church 3 times, received las enseñanzas [the lessons], and was baptized. His younger brother, C, is now also preparing for baptism.

C was a little different story. He was receiving lessons from another sect, and felt confused. He liked them both. But, when he started reading the Book of Mormon and went to church for the 2nd time, he felt a change of desire within him. We visited him after that Sunday and he said, "I don´t feel confused anymore. I´ve been reading the Book of Mormon and feel that it is true. I like knowing that this is the true course."

Their mother, a less active member of 20 years, went to church for the first time this Sunday.

There is so much progress in my last area. Now I´m trying to let it go so that I can change gears :).

La costa is so different....in practically every way. The people here listen to loud music, are very flamboyant and open in their personalities, and are generally less educated. The indigenous were mostly reverent, friendly, quiet working people, though many of the older people were also less educated. I am going to have to change a lot of the way I approach people being here...so my goal this week is to be able to do that: get to know the sector and culture of the people in order to adjust the way we befriend and teach them.

It´s humid. I took a cold shower this morning, and was a little sweaty when I got out. I slept last night with a mosquito net and a fan, which filled my heart with joy jaja.

My companion is super good. She´s from California has been here 2 cambios. She will show me the ropes to things, I´m sure :p

Today, we were walking down a dirt path, coming out of our first cita [appointment] and heading to come to this cyber. Previously, we went up a road by bus and Hna F was pointing out the houses of various ward members. But, this time, as we walked down, she turned left suddenly and said, "I want to present you to Hna A."

"Okay," I responded.

We walked inside, and they very openly received me. The hermano, ex-obispo, stood ironing baptismal clothing which he had just finished sewing. "Hna Fer--ne--li oos," he pronounced, repeating it a couple times for practice. :)

Then, he continued ironing and commented, "About 20 years ago, there was an Elder Fernelius who served in my rama [branch]."

I stopped, wondering what would come next. "He looooooved basketball..." Yep, that was the first comment he made. Not even kidding.

"THAT´S MY DAD!!!!!!!!!!" I thought, not saying anything still. The only thing I did was look at my compa wide-eyed. She knows Dad served in la costa the first part of his mission.

"He was a missionary when I was presidente de la rama. He would always play basketball with the investigators in the park."

I whipped out a picture of Dad and showed him. He put on his glasses and observed the photo for a second.

"Yeah, that´s definitely him" he carefully contemplated. "But, he was tall and flaquito [skinny] then.." (...jaja sorry bud).

Then he continued, "I sewed Bermuda shorts and he would be the one who came to buy them from me."

That´s when I clapped my hands to my face and laughed, "HE STILL HAS HIS SHORTS!!!" I said jajaja.

It´s true! Mom even makes Dad those shorts and that´s what he wears when he wants to be comfortable. jajaj!!!! Aaaaahh.

I can´t believe that the VERY FIRST member people I meet here was the branch president when Dad was a missionary. And he remembers those details! Of more than 25 years ago...

I live about 15-20 minutes away from the playa [beach] (muejejeje). And about 30 minutes away (by bus) from the center of town....where Dad served 26 years ago.

I feel so blessed to be here. I need to understand what the Lord wants me to do here, because this is a heavenly privilege, and I just want to do my best with the guide of the Spirit.

I am grateful for the opportunities the Lord has placed before me...throughout my life and on the mission. I know it comes from obedience and heartfelt desire to just be here and work for the right reasons.

I know this church is true. Life is a spiritual experience, and when we remember to see people that way, we begin to see spirits who need to return home, instead of just people.

One thing we did with D before we left my last area (which I believe was also inspired), was that we taught him several times about the temple...It was also a theme of this Sunday in Gospel Principles class. I feel sure now that this was the Spirit allowing us to testify of the temple, and set his sights high. When we called him yesterday morning to say goodbye, I reminded him, "Remember to keep your sight on the temple."

And he responded, "That is what I want."

Focusing on the temple will allow him to do the small, daily preparations....reading the scriptures, praying, and going to church.

I am grateful to be here. I am so grateful to be a missionary. And I am so grateful to represent my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know His heavenly plan for us is in action, and we are all a part of it. I am grateful how keeping the eternal perspective allows each of us to have no fear of man, and work to only please and do what God wants of us.

Hna M is flying home right now, returning from her mission. It´s gets me thinking what I want for mine....I need to buckle down and do my best :)

Love you all!! Have a great week!!! :)

Hna Fernelius

P.S. Dad, write stories :) :P

Tiffany's note to her mission president this week:

"D was baptized last Saturday!!! He shared his testimony at the end saying, 'I just want to follow the straight path of truth, and now, I am.....It´s difficult to explain how I feel. My spirit feels big.'

He is not a person of many words, but that's why, when he says something, it´s with complete reverence. His mother and two little brothers were there, one, C, has his baptism also coming up for this Saturday.

Which is also why the cambios were such a surprise. We have a recent convert now and a baptism this Saturday. We have so much rolling there right now, including their mother, who came to church for the first time in 20 years Sunday. And it concerns me not having designated missionaries there right now, though, I know the cambios have heavenly design. And I´m currently praying that the Lord will take charge of the sector until more missionaries arrive there.

I also have a testimony of the carpeta de area [area organizer]. I feel that I have learned the hard way of how important it is, so Hna Q and I were pushing ourselves to be consistent in updating it. Now, I know why. And this is a big reason I feel more at peace leaving the sector to the Elders.

Today, I feel so blessed, President. In previous blessings my parents have received, and in my setting apart blessing, we were given the promise that I would come here and find ancestors and people my dad had known from his mission.

As we walked down a dirt road heading to this very cyber, Hna F stopped and said, 'Wait, I need to introduce you to this family.'

So we went. They were inside, an ex-obispo and his wife of 5 years. I introduced myself. Bishop repeated my name and commented, 'There was an Elder Fernelius who served here about 20 years ago.'

I listened, wide-eyed as he continued to describe this missionary. I quickly pulled out a picture of my dad, 'Is this him?' I asked.

Obispo put on his glasses and observed the picture. 'Yes, that´s him....He was skinnier before, though.' jaja

I am in awe! On that very street live many other members, and Hna F hadn´t introduced me to any of them yet. But, she didn´t know exactly why she took me directly to this family member´s house. And the very first members I meet here are people who knew my dad.

I feel that the blessings we have received as a family are being fulfilled, thanks to inspiration from the Lord. Though I didn't feel ready to come here quite yet, I know that the Lord will qualify me to be here and confirm to me the plan He has for me being here with Hna F, who I am also happy to be with.

My goal this week is to get to know the sector and culture of the people quickly to give it my all."

Consejo de la mision last Tuesday

My first time eating straight sugar cane :)

Baptism of D....

...and us....being super happy :D jaja

On our way to la costa! Three Hermanas including me got transferred there this cambio...

...and a taste of the view. So much wildlife on the way!!! It was a 7ish hour trip after all :p

...and a mosquito net!! wooojooooo! :)

[Apologies that some of these photos are out of sequence - we don't always receive them in order, and these got particularly mixed up this week - Tiffany's Dad]

Familia M M :) I´m glad I got pictures Sunday...I didn´t know I would also be leaving the sector!

Goodbye! Corazon de Imbabura :´) sniff sniff I hope I get to see you again one day.

Week 50! "Physical and Spiritual Therapy"

From 1/5/15

This week something super special happened. There´s an investigator family that Hna Q and I found by asking everyone for references. We contacted this family about a month ago and came to discover that the missionaries had been teaching them a few months ago.

When we met them, we were presented with the parent´s younger sister, M. She´s 19 and lives with them. M had just had head surgery a few months before and was in the process of recovery. When we first met her, she was super super skinny and walked sparingly, and with help. She was talking and conversing still but it would tire her out. The thought crossed my mind that we might be able to do therapy with her every once in awhile, with permission. We did, too, but only one time.

However, this family didn´t really have interest in progressing in the gospel, and we had other families who were progressing who we were focusing more on.

Just Saturday, we decided to follow-up with them to see how they were doing. They let us in, and we saw M laying down in bed. She looked very....different. She looked bad. My heart must´ve crumbled because I couldn´t focus on anything else except, "How can I help this person?"

I sat there just....brainstorming options as her brother-in-law began to explain how they didn´t have any way to pay for therapy and they didn´t know what to do. Sirens went off in my head when he concluded, "It would be better for her to die than to live like this." Wrong!

I asked permission to make a phone call outside.

I called the Assistants to President. I explained vaguely the situation, with specific terms: "Elder, I believe if we don´t help this girl, she will die. And, with maybe 15 - 30 minutes of therapy a day, it is completely preventable."

A story in Preach My Gospel came to mind about a couple of elders who served a man around his home for months. Though it never says if this man ever accepted the gospel or not, it changed his way of looking at life and his level of hope. Though it was months of work for these elders, surely they were representing Christ in their service, and planting seeds for the future.

Every day goes by so fast. By the time we have our morning studies, occasional meetings, lunch, and get out to work, the day is already almost gone. Time, even to the minute, is so precious on the mission.

With this in mind, It was a good surprise when the elder replied, "15 - 30 minutes? It´s okay, Hermana. Go ahead and do it."

I sighed relief, though I knew this would be a sacrifice on our part as well though. But then, he added, "Thank you for serving, Hermana."

Wow, that was the confirmation I needed to know I was in reality using the time well.

Saturday night I bought gloves to protect myself and M, and yesterday was the first day of "therapy." After church, we went straight to their house. I changed my shirt to comfy clothes and put on gloves. I began to do therapy-stuff with M...starting with a simple skin-check and range of motion in her joints. I was also concerned with how much her cognitive abilities had declined since 3 weeks ago...

I felt like I was combining the two things I love to do most....serve, using the Gospel...and using therapy. It just felt...weird. jaja But good. Then, as I was doing range of motion of her hands and seeing if she would follow any commands I gave her, I held up my hand, indicating to her to do the same. Instead of copying my movement, she reached up for my hand. I waited to see what she would do. Then, without expecting it, she gently interlaced her fingers with mine and held it there.

I acted completely natural and thanked her, but moved our hands apart to continue. But......Wow. I was touched.

In past emails I´ve mentioned how much of a spiritual antidote it is for me when I serve. But, looking into service a little more, maybe there´s more to it.

I don´t want cambios next week. I need to stay here and help M. This family felt discouraged, not just in life, but in us as members and missionaries as well. I won´t easily forget what the older sister told us the first night we saw them and did follow-up..."When we needed you most, you didn´t come."

 

We asked perdón, because we are people after all (and honestly didn´t do anything wrong), but promised that, more than anything, if they began praying and reading the Book of Mormon together as a family, the Lord will be the one to truly produce the miracles. We can´t just sit and wait for something to happen; we must exercise our faith and first act.
 

Hna Q and I continue to have crazy days. Funny things happen every day! This is the truth...

 

For example, a really goofy man (as in, his voice is like a old-man frog, if that makes sense, and he is always always smiley) came of his own volition to church yesterday. He was only a contact!! And when he said he would come....he did!! jaja. He called us up Sunday morning to ask where he and his wife could meet up with us. When we called him again outside the church, asking where he was, it was about the 5th phone call trying to figure out where each other was. He finally answered the last time and said hopelessly (and in his unique tone of voice), "...I don´t know. I´m looooost." I couldn´t help but chuckle. He sounded so helpless but he was serious at the same time. Poor guy!
 

Anyway, he got along well with everyone and accepted a date to be baptized....because well....he was the one who mentioned to the bishopric that he would like to be baptized! jaja
 

Ohhhh family. How much I love you. I´m turning into such a softy in so many ways jajaja. Can´t wait to read what ya´ll wrote me! Have a great week!
 

Miracles always about, my friends. I know the Lord is refining me so, I feel very happy about that :)

Love you all,

Ñañagu Fernelius :)

 

The "dummy" laying in the street is a representation of the "old year", and will be burned in a later photo...

She works so hard, she's an inspiration - they all work hard here.

I also did a makeshift frog eye salad [not shown] muejejeeee :)  It turned out heavy - they don't have the right ingredients here, but it was still good.

For New Year's they burned muñecos (mannequins, aka "dummies"), and we watched from the terrace jeje.