Week 62! "More Good News"

From 3/30/15

Lots of good emails this week (as always). I`m learning to be less obsessive about reading my emails especially this cambio [transfer] because my companion`s family doesn`t write her. At first, I still read and wrote as usual. But I know it affects her a little. But she has good, dedicated friends who write to her, and I think that is her strength. I don`t know, her family has gone through a lot.

 

Hna R is 24 years old and is fearless...she was in the Armed Forces in her country for 3 years, after all. She has always been the one to carry the weight in her family for years now. But, because of her influence, her little sister was also baptized as well as a couple brothers. Her mother is still not a member but....one day! Hna R is a member of 6 years but it took one solid year before she was baptized, and against her mother`s liking. Wow...she is such an example. There is so much depth to her story. One part about coming on a mission that is irreplaceable are the companions and people (missionaries and not) that you come to meet.

 

I look at our family and feel like there is not one challenge we have gone through that we couldn`t face and overcome as a family. That is one of the most special blessings known to man. Sometimes it makes it hard for me to truly connect with those who really do have burdens in their lives. And when I think about it, I wonder, "How is it that I can still feel so concerned about what they feel when I may never be able to understand completely?"

 

My companion wondered the same thing. But, something that one sister said in the Women`s General Broadcast is that...though every family goes through different challenges, the one connection we have is through our Savior Jesus Christ. As soon as we go down on our knees in humble, earnest prayer, we then feel a little piece of understanding. And that little piece of the Atonement is what connects us all.

 

Hna R and I have had to sacrifice many things this cambio [transfer]. But in all honesty, they seem like hardly a sacrifice when putting into perspective what SACRIFICE actually means. It was a cambio of identifying ourselves even more and purifying our hearts. I know my Heavenly Father loves me because the work and opportunities He gives me is made to refine me. And that is the greatest love a person can get in this life.

 

I know this life is a time of learning. From a young age I would cling to the scripture in D&C 130: 18-19....Whatever intelligence we obtain in this life...will rise up with us and give us the advantage in the next. Maybe that`s why the learning experience is so important for me. Something Hna R helped me to realize...which I will forever be grateful for...is that a great indicator of our progress on earth is the Holy Spirit. If we feel the Spirit in our lives, it`s because we have the approval  of God in the way we are living and growing. If - even for a brief moment - we lose track of that feeling of peace, love, joy, tranquility, and hope..., it`s because it`s time to ask again, "Lord, Is it I?" (Pres Uchtdorf`s talk from last general conference).

 

I AM SO HAPPY FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE!!

 

I know it will be goooood. I have confidence in our living prophets and apostles and the revelation they receive. They are inspired men called of God!

 

...there was a boy walking down the street of our house the other day. As he held his mom`s hand with one, he pointed with the other into the sky at a little yellow bird they have here. (wildlife is beautiful here by the way). As he did, he yelled in the loudest voice he possibly could, "PÀRAJO!!!! PÀRAJO!!!!" Several times. His mom said looked down and tried correcting him, it`s "PÀJARO" not Pàrajo. The boy had to`ve only been 2 years old. But, as his mom tried correcting him, he yelled with even more conviction, PÀRAJO. jajaja It was so innocent and so cute.

 

Also!! Limes are magic here. Have a headache? Here`s a lime! Put it on your forehead. Stomach ache? Lime tea will work juuuust great. Bug bites on your legs? Have a lime!! (but seriously, it works...)

 

Also. Sister A WAS BAPTIZEDDDD. WUT WUUUT. Her story is miraculous. I don`t even feel like we had to do any work at all. She came to us. Las misercordias del Señor. It shouldn`t have been so easy; we`ve hardly had any chance to dedicate ourselves very well to either one of the sectors. Yet, somehow, there are missionaries and members giving us references of people who desire to be part of the church and are very receptive and prepared by the Lord. Equally miraculous is that the majority of the references we`ve received have COME TO US and have been given to us from people in Quito, or references to people in Area 2 from people who live in Area 1, or to people in Area 1 from someone in Area 2....who just happens to live in our sector from both sides. It`s incredible, my friends. Truly incredible.

 

When the Lord needs work to be done, it doesn`t matter how much time we do or do not have, or how qualified we may or may not be....He gets the work done.

 

And this is the truth.

 

I know this Gospel is true. Every one of you prove it in your weekly emails. I skimmed through them because once again we are in Quito and didn`t have the chance to read beforehand. But the pieces I did read are ongoing evidences that there is a Father in Heaven, and that He loves us.

 

I love you all!!! Have a great week and enjoy conferennnnnnce!!!!

 

:) Hna Fernelius

 

"Sister A was baptized Saturday! It was great to see her in a white angelic dress that she sewed for her baptism. Her father came from Quito to baptize her. When they stepped into the water, he had the look of a loving father realizing the long-awaited day of his 35 y/o daughter`s baptism. There was a long, reverent pause while the room waited for him to compose himself. Then, he lifted up his head and said the ordinance with power in his words. He kissed his daughter quietly on the cheek after she came up out of the water and led her out of the font. It was a special day that the Lord allowed us to be a part of from beginning to end. It started as a reference, and ended in the conversion and confirmation of a new member of our Area 2 branch. :)

 

Area 2:

The branch is growing! So many people went to church 2 Sundays ago that many had to stand in the back of the casa capilla (chapel). Yesterday President P announced that the opening of the church building is scheduled for 2017! The members are the most friendly and loving I have met in mission. Consejo de rama (ward council) is efficient and they have little papers to report their visits of the week. Every member in the consejo makes visits throughout the week and they help each other out when help is required. The leadership and fellowshipping there is a great reason for the success they are currently having. There is a lot of potential in Area 2!

 

Area 1:

Attendance is declining. Maybe partly for vacation and partly because there are many who need strengthening (including members). The ward is good and the bishop is a good leader, but there is a lack of participation and sense of unity in general. We plan to visit the members and strengthen them, and branch out and work dedicatedly! There are a lot of investigators with potential in Area 1.

 

This cambio [transfer] has been one of the best I have ever had. Being able to work in two places with a really strong companion has blessed my personal progress as a person and missionary. I feel so blessed! Though I`m not perfect, I feel like this time was essential to help me become more qualified, humble, and integrous. I feel...more pure of heart than I did before, which is so good!"

 

Sister A's baptism and the group from Area 2 :-)

My little friend.

Our mission leader of Area 1 and his wife.

A noche de hogar ("family home evening") on the terrace of G, investigator (the smiley one in pink).

Outside the Area 2 "casa capilla" [Chapel House].

 

Week 61! "Every Day is a Good Day"

From 3/23/15

God has a sense of humor. Did you know that? I´m sure you did, because He shows every one of His children a piece of it at one point or another:

This week we felt a little stressed trying to get to people from both sectors that haven´t been seen as often as they should be. But, Friday we decided we would just do the best we could and enjoy whatever work we would be able to get done. We had a meeting in one, then went to the other to work. We planned to have divisions [splits] with 2 members (my companion would go with one and me with the other) to cover more ground that afternoon. But, after waiting a long time, one of the members never showed up. Something came up. We were concerned because usually she´s punctual but this time she didn´t arrive. So, we went to work with the little time of day we had left. We visited one person. It turned out well...it was our amazing investigator :)

Then it was already time to go back to Area 1 for a noche de hermanamiento [night of fellowshipping] in our ward. We felt a little stressed for only having ONE visit the entire day...because even our lunch appointment fell through :o. But, this entire time being here Hna R has only TOLD me about a large version of a mototaxi called a ranchera. The size is between a bus and moto-taxi, and it has open sides (no doors or windows). The ride to Area 1 is about 25 minutes and there´s a lot of nature. So, it ended up being a very airy, fun ride back. I stuck my head carefully out the sides just to take in the sunset and beautiful view of the nature as the ranchera drove on.

When we got to the chapel, we arrived in a hurry with our hair all over the place! And saw that.....no one had arrived. Only the bishop and ward mission leader were there. Fail. But, the Lord has helped us to feel really calm and in good spirits despite it. Hna R and I decided we would have a noche de hermanamiento anyway with the few who were there (including the other missionaries of the ward). We all fit into the bishop´s office and Hna R and I shared a little message there. We then went outside and played a game. Then went home.

ONE LESSON the entire day. Hm.

The next day! Several members from the branch in Area 2 carpooled together to come to Area 1 for a baptism. We also went to the baptism to support the elders there. It turned out so spiritual and special. There is always a special spirit in the baptismal services :)

The Area 2 branch consists of some of my favorite people. After the baptism (in Area 1) we had to hurry back to have one more appointment (in Area 2). Everyone huddled in the back of the branch president´s little yellow truck. Me and Hna R were privileged and got to ride inside. We were SO MUCH in a hurry to make it back that the elders encouraged us to ride with them and they would look for another means of transportation. Aww Thanks elders. But!!! The Lord KNEW we were in a hurry. He did everything possible to slow down the way:

The radiator of the truck was acting up...we had to stop and fill it with water. The gas ran down...we had to stop at a gas station to fill it. A couple members needed to get home fast...we had to turn off the road to drop them off. And the driver had to stop at the pharmacy before me and Hna R finally made it home. At that point, me and Hna R just kept looking at each other and thinking, "I don´t think we´re making it to the appointment." A typical 25 minute ride ended up taking over an hour! jajaja We felt that the only thing God wanted us to do was to "chill out" and just laugh.

Our Heavenly Father makes every day a good day. Every experience is so wonderful here in the mission. This has been one of my favorite cambios [transfers] of the mission with Hna R teaching me so many things. She has a lot of virtue and refuses to be anything but sincere. She works hard and loves to have fun. Her way of telling stories makes ANY story into a GOOD story. And we crack ourselves up at some of the crazy things and good things that happen every day we are here :)

One member who owns a big restaurant in Area 2 closed her restaurant for the first time in 15 YEARS to go to church this Sunday.Another lady who initially declined to listen to us changed completely to singing praises and glorifying the Lord (uh, not kidding) when me and Hna R simply decided to stop talking and serve with her in cleaning the patio at her side in the rain. She was happy because no one else had done that for her and she recognized us as servants of Christ. She even wants to present us to all of her friends. She´s not shy at all. :) Good.

In a lesson when my companion and I split up to go with the members to separate visits, I initially didn´t know where to go with the lesson nor what the Lord wanted me to say. It began a little uncomfortably, but after saying a prayer in my heart and clearing my head, ideas began to flow to me and the less active member we were teaching opened her eyes wide and said that the words that came out of my mouth were an answer to her prayer that she kneeled down to say that early morning.

The Lord is so good to us. I often I wish I could just absorb every experience of every day in slow motion because they are all so unique and valuable. The Lord´s truths are not changeable...once a truth, always a truth. And every day I am trying to learn more what the words faith, diligence, humility, obedience, knowledge, virtue, hope, and charity actually mean. [Preach My Gospel, chapter 6 :)]

Love you all! Have a great week! Things aren´t always perfect for us, but for those with sincere hearts, God will make it as perfect as it needs to be. (deeeep) :p

Chao!

Hna Fernelius :)

"A is AMAZING!!! The elders have been very serviceable and visited her once to help with the enseñanzas [lessons]...because her baptism is coming up! When we visited her later, we noticed that she has been making extra preparations for her baptism. She bought white material to make her own baptismal dress for this Saturday :). She is very creative and artsy; she is also sewing her own scripture case by hand.

The ward has fellowshipped her so well. They invited her to a Relief Society activity without us even knowing and she feels so befriended in our little branch. She even painted the Relief Society logo on canvas and gave it to the branch as a gift, where one member then offered to put it in a frame with glass.

Spiritually, we can see how she is progressing and receiving spiritual confirmations of the beauty of the restored church of God. She reads the scriptures regularly without waiting for someone to remind her...and even writes summaries of the chapters she reads. She is a miracle of March.

 

I am studying a lot the character and nature of Christ in the New Testament. With every chapter, I also pick and study an attribute of Christ in Preach My Gospel with it. I am making connections and learning and feeling things that I never have before."

 

"Consejo de Marzo"

It's muddy here!

On splits with one of the members.

The summaries Investigator "A" writes after reading the Book of Mormon.

Me and Hna R...corbiche-eating on the ranchera!!! :D

Sisters of one of the branches.

Baptism Saturday for the Elders :)

The adventurous truck ride home :)

MY HAIR!!!! It got it cut (I have layers now).

More splits with members...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENJAMIN!!!!

 

This family cooks AMAZING...But....AMAZING! We ate the most delicious lasagna ever!!

 

Week 60! "The Beach!"

From 3/16/15

[NOTE from Tiffany's Dad (keeper of this blog):

Tiffany was concerned that the image of missionaries on the beach may not be suitable for some, and cautioned against sharing too many of them on this blog.  As keeper of the blog, I decided to share most of the photos she sent anyway.  This is what she had to say about it in her own words:

"HEY HEY HEY....now listen here. We did not once step foot on the playa (beach). These pictures could be misinterpreted. Just so everyone knows....missionaries stepping foot on the beach is a no-no.

So, we didn`t. But we did still find creative ways to take a few pictures."

I hope you all enjoy this week's entry, ESPECIALLY the photos!]:

This week was...almost like a dream. We`ve been on the go travel-wise since last Tuesday. We`ve gotten to go to [an area 2 hours from our primary assigned area] twice last week. You know, the Hermanas there are so dedicated. I learn a lot from them and their faith and diligence. One of them is a brand new missionary. One of them is a missionary ending her mission. And the other is training the new missionary. They are in a trio.

Anywayyyys...let me write something that interests my people from the states :p Has the mission really become such a part of my life?... Wow, I guess you could say that it has.

Something cool that happened.....WE CONTACTED A BUS. And it wasn`t the first time.

We knew we would be spending quite some time in the bus those days, so I gave Hna R a little nudge in the arm.

"Let`s contact the bus!" I said.

Hna R reminds me (her voice and spunk) of the little boy in the Indiana Jones movies. She agreed without a second thought. This is one reason why I love my companion. She is so adventurous like I like to be!

As we were preparing to get off the bus after 2 hours traveling, she stood up and faced the bus crowd:

"Before we get off, we couldn`t suppress the need to at least present [introduce] ourselves," she began...

I was still scrambling to the front of the bus, half asleep after the early morning ride. She proceeded to testify of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. After speaking a minute, she turned to me. BUT. I was distracted....busy counting how many people we were contacting on the bus. jaja. I was caught off guard, not knowing exactly what I should say to all these little eyes that were now fixed on me. But, what came out was actually not too much nor too little: "I know that what my companion said is true, and that it will bless your lives." And I turned to look once again and "hand-off" the conversation to Hna R. jaja Smooth.

Something neat we both realized from this is that, though it started off as more of a "challenge" to contact the bus, it ended up being a short, but impactful spiritual lesson. That testifying even in simple, small portions, the truths of the gospel can and will capture the attention of the hearers. For example, at first, there were several groggy people and others sleeping still when we stood up. Some listening, some not. But as soon as my companion mentioned eternal families....eyes on us. I didn`t have to say much else after that. All that came to mind for ME to do was to add a brief second witness that this is true.

And there you go. Bus contacted. :p

Hna R is so strong. There are several members here speculating that she has a type of dengue called "chikungunya" which may even be more severe. You know how Hna R responded? We were taking a picture (which I will send you all) yesterday with an Hermano of our ward. Instead of saying "smile!" for the picture, she told us to say, "Chikungunyaaaa!" She has a great attitude and is very diligent.

We have so many good adventures and experiences every day. I am trying to take more accountability for writing them down in my journal, because, like Dad has told me before....it is often the minute, special experiences and tender mercies that leave the biggest impact...but also the ones that are often forgotten and most overlooked. So, I will try to write them down and not depend so much on Monday emails home :P.

Let me tell you a little more about my life right now with Hna R.

We alternate which days we work in one of our areas, and which days we work in the other. One sector is like an oven, especially after it rains. The streets get SO MUDDY and at times we run the risk of stepping in mud thick and deep enough to try and pry our shoes off our own feet! It is big enough to never be able to know the entire sector in the short time I will be able to serve there. The members are some of the friendliest and funniest. Though we are here not many days of the week, we feel such camaraderie from the members, who often treat us as their own family.

The other sector is absolutely beeauuuutiful. and BIG. I mean....really big. On the map of Ecuador, the entire top third of the northwest coast is our sector.....It has a nice, constant breeze here and we constantly have to pass by a river or the beach to get from one house to another. This is a place of pure adventure. The branch is small, but run by really loving leaders and members as well. I feel so new here at times, but still, just yesterday one Hermana (16 years old and very beautiful) gave me such an tight, warming hug and said to me genuinely, "I love you so much Hna Fernelius!"

Another person who hardly even knows my name yet drew and wrote me a friendship card! jaja My heart melts for these people. It makes me feel more and more that this really is my life here.

What is going on in the rest of the misòn Ecuador Quito Norte ? --- I hardly even know. jaja. But I can`t decide yet how I would feel if we needed to have cambios [transfers] to somewhere else again....Though I will go wherever the Lord needs me, obviously :)

Another thing. Yesterday we were eating lunch with one of the RS presidents. Her husband, after knowing me for more than a cambio (6 weeks), commented after eating, "There was an Elder Fernelius who served here in my day."

I looked at him thinking, "Is he really saying this right now..? Could it be HE also knew my dad?"

This Hermano said that he served in the mission Quito in 1988.

"HA!" I shouted. I knew where this conversation would lead.

I ended up pulling out a picture of my family; one of Dad, mission age, and one of him now.

"That`s him, alright!" said this brother.

He said that, maybe Dad doesn't remember him, but Hno. M remembers serving with Elder Fernelius in Santo Domingo back in the day. Dad, do you remember an Elder M? If you do, he`s probably going to add you on Facebook. And, I can attest that he is a really good guy!

Anyways, I need to get going now if I want to send pictures.

One thing I can attest of with complete assuredness is that -- miracles exist today. Maybe today at an even more growing pace than ever.

And. The world is small. So don`t forget to leave your legacy. And leave a good one. :)

I love you all! Have a great week!! :)

Hna Fernelius

"Buenas tardes Presidente!

 'A' is progressing so so well! :) She accepts the commandments and understands so well the doctrine. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and even writing out SUMMARIES of each chapter. jeje Her faith just amazes me. We were attending a baptism with her and she turned to me and asked, 'Do we have to wear white when we are baptized?'

I said that we did because it represents cleanliness and purity. She responded with a smile on her face, 'That gives me an idea! Is it okay if I make my own white dress?'

She is so excited in the preparations she is making to be baptized! Especially because her Dad is coming from Quito to baptize her :)

This week was good. We´ve been spending quite some time traveling this week with the other Hermanas. But honestly, President, I absolutely love it here. I learn so much with my companion and though it´s challenging trying to constantly see enough important people in both sectors, I feel that the Lord is blessing our efforts. While we are in one sector, I feel that the Spirit is tirelessly working in the other, preparing the hearts of the people and influencing the members to take initiative."

Inside our house.

...also INSIDE our house!

This is the Hermano that remembers Elder Fernelius from 1988. He excitedly went to pull out some pictures from his mission...hoping to find one of Dad in there, though we didn`t find it :p

Us today enjoying some stress relief at the beach. One part of it at least!!

Uhhh....yeah

Those conchas (seashells) sure were salty!

 A really cool hut thing of sticks on the beach.