Monday, April 27, 2015

Week 66! "It's Good News..."

From 4/27/15

Hi family.
 
It`s my fault! We had an activity with our district today and got out a little late...
 
I haven`t read the emails, but I am looking forward to :)
 
This time in my mission is really marking my life. We are running into some people who really need our help. They are real people with real doubts. It is a blessing to end my mission this way....putting all of the experience to the test. Yesterday we spent an hour and a half with one recent convert of about 2 months. His name is Hermano C and he is 19 years old. He feels so confused and doesn`t know what to think anymore. His "friends" all think he`s a coward because he no longer robs or drinks or fights back. Hermano C felt ready to just...give up. But, Hna B shared her personal conversion story and how hard it was and still sometimes is. Hna B is a convert of 2 years now....And we both testified of - well, basically everything that the eternal perspective consists of. It made me ponder what it really feels like to be a convert of the Church of Jesus Christ. His family suffers a lot. They almost all feel like there`s no hope left.
 
But there is hope. For every single person. And after this crucial conversation we were able to have...Hermano C was smiling again. It`s not going to be an easy process....But I know God lives. I`ve said it many times before, but now I also feel it. Christ is our Redeemer. He paved the way and saved us.
 
Seeing Hermano C smile was what every missionary hopes to be able to do. Because it was the hope and truth understood behind the smile that makes it so special. I AM SO HAPPY WE HAVE THE GOSPEL. It is "good news" indeed.
 
Have a great week!
 
Hna Fernelius
 
"It`s incredible to be here. My experiences this week in divisions [splits] was amazing. The hermanas are inspiring to me and cause me to constantly want to do better.
 
We have been really blessed in our sector though I need to be more diligent. I put the goal to work more with the members. They are good and very willing, and some seem to not have much confidence with the missionaries. So we want to work with them to uplift them and also allow them to grow their personal testimonies of la obra [the work] and of the missionaries.
 
We have a lady right now named Hermana M. She is a personal miracle. Her husband is less active of 20 years but has a great understanding and testimony of the gospel. Hermana M is Evangelista but has great interest in knowing if this church is true. She is the most genuine investigator and a true analyzer as well. It`s intimidating and energizing to me at the same time. She is intelligent and has been attending church with her husband on their own for 2 weeks now. Her biggest doubt is of Joseph Smith...and she doesn`t even want to touch the Book of Mormon yet. But I have great faith that she will progress, and that we were sent here for her.
 
I love this work. I love the power of the fast and of faith, and am searching to increase mine. I know that God lives as well as Jesus Christ...but I am only just beginning to understand what that actually means."
 
An Hermana who is new in the mission. She is very down-to-earth and great.
 
 This is a recent convert and she is sooooo cute. In her prayers she always crosses her arms across her chest and begins saying, "Papito Dios, Buenas tardes..." ["Daddy God, Good afternoon..."]

Writing on the window (language study) but it`s weird cuz it melted a little or something.

Our zone.




Caldo de verde [plantain soup]...deliciousness.

Activity with our district today. We ate goooood with the Familia B!


 
Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Week 65! "Made in Ecuador"

From 4/20/15

Thanks to each of you for writing. Your experiences make me smile, and your thoughts make me feel grateful for every piece of the plan of salvation.
 
I felt so happy this week. I felt so energized. I felt so...so...uh...what`s the word.....just felt good.
 
We had divisions [splits] on Tuesday and a surprise visit with some hermanas Saturday morning (one of them, Hna Z, actually knew Ash at the MTC).
 
I got to share a talk on gratitude Sunday in church. Hna B and I shared a special brief message in a meeting with other missionaries and President Richardson Friday....and I just feel happy. Happy to always have opportunities to serve and feel the Spirit. What makes me feel most confident and at peace is focusing outside of myself.
 
And something I`ve noticed is that it`s most easy for me to connect with the population of recent converts and less active members. That`s..."my thing" I guess you could say.
 
Yesterday is rained SO HARD. There was one point when Hna B and I were legitimately afraid...but just for a little while is all...:p jaja. It`s because the rain caused RIVERS in the streets. And there were lightning bolts that stretched from star up to floor down. One exploded so big that I think my ear drums are still recovering from it. I told Hermana B that I'm almost 100% positive that that bolt struck a building...or a person. It was the biggest bolt I have ever since. This is God`s way of saying, "Welcome back to Quito" for sure! jaja.
 
It`s cold. My hands turned blue yesterday. I made Hna B write stuff down in our agendas because my hands, well, I couldn`t feel them. Aaaah! And a big truck even went out of his way to "splash" a giant wave of water at us....boohoo. Well, I don't think it was entirely on purpose, but, that`s ok. I actually (secretly) thought it was kind of fun, jaja.
 
Also, Saturday night we went to pick up a member to come with us to a visit (Sister Y is awesome and about 60 and always packs her little backpack with her scriptures to come with us to visit at night when we ask her if she can). As we waited outside for her to finish getting ready, a little scrawny boy in thick glasses came running up to us yelling, "Hermanas!!"
 
I didn`t know him but responded, "Hola hermanito".
 
Excited to see us, he pulled out a little rectangular slip of plastic with several butterfly stickers on them.
 
"Hermanas, I am selling this for ONE DOLLAR!" he exclaimed.
 
I told him I wasn`t sure if I had the money, but reached for my monedera [purse] anyway and made a special effort to act as if it were hard for me to find the coins. I wanted to observe his reaction as he was forced to wait patiently. (jeje).
 
Then, I looked up at him and said, "I only have 50 cents, hermanito."
 
He paused, and thought for a brief second, then responded decidedly, "That`s okay!"
 
I gave him the 50 cents, which he happily tucked away in his pocket, and I reached for the butterfly stickers to happily tuck away in mine. I`m not sure what the money is for...but obviously he is anxious to buy something important.
 
The best part was what came next: as I sat there on the ground (me and Hna B relaxed and waiting), the little scrawny boy with thick glasses went running off. I chuckled as I heard his pocket jingling as he went, obviously full of coins he had collected over time. I wondered to myself what lengths he`s had to go through in order to collect all those coins. jaja.
 
I don`t know why I wanted to share that story. I just thought it was really cute. jaja
 
Anyways, have a great week and remember to count your blessings :)
 
Love you all,
 
Hna Fernelius

"This week we had a great experience visiting the house of a less active woman, her daughter, and 2 grandchildren. Hermana Y distanced herself from the church when she began attending another church and felt confused as to what is actually the truth. The first time we visited, we asked each one of them individually what it is that they desire for their lives. One said she didn`t know yet, the two grandkids said they wanted to serve missions (they are 8 and 10 years old) and then when Sister Y spoke, she began to cry. She said she also wants her grandkids to serve missions because she feels missionaries truly are there to serve and to help.
 
Hna B and I didn't do anything extraordinary...we just listened. But this softened her heart and allowed her to share some feelings of how confused she felt. She trusted that we would be able to help her. Her two grandkids, without being told, went to their grandmother and wrapped their arms around her.
 
It`s interesting how, when we truly want to know someone for who they are and what they need, sharing the gospel, testifying, asking good questions, listening, and in essence...being a missionary...just seems so natural. Every time we testify of God`s plan for families, the Spirit`s presence is unmistakable.
 
We had a follow-up visit with Sister Y Saturday and testified of the commandment Dia de Reposo [the Sabbath Day] with specific blessings that matched her needs. She mentioned the different spirit she feels when she speaks with us versus other places.
 
Yesterday she came to church. In Gospel Principles class when she introduced herself she said, 'I am grateful to be here, and I hope to stay.'
 
One of my favorite parts of missionary work is when someone becomes independent in being able to recognize and feel the voice of the Spirit. Because it`s key in their own conversion and being able to make other important decisions later on."
 
"Much better! Made in Ecuador"

Sister T is still super new in the mission.

The rain here at night...brrrr


RAIN RAIN RAIIIIIIIINNNNNN :)


Pretty mountains :)

Saturday morning with some of my Sisters.

It`s kind of big, wouldn`t you agree?

Otavalenian ladies in our ward!! Yaaayy. I liked this hermana`s style with her shoes :)

Me and Sister B today outside our complex. With the band Amy made me, jaja. Thanks! 
 
Friday, April 17, 2015

Week 64! "This Mission is Not the End"

From 4/13/15

I have felt a little weird thinking about the time I have left in the mission. Am I giving it my all? I think I am. But....there`s always the wonder. Yesterday I fasted for some type of peace. Today for P-day we rested at home. I was reflecting a bit. Then, more suddenly and unexpectedly than I anticipated, I had a feeling of serenity wash over me. A distinct impression came to mind, "This mission is not the end." And I felt more surely than ever...a seal of approval for the work I`ve done here so far. As well as -- there is much more "despues de la mision" [after the mission].

I have a good feeling about my current area. I don`t know yet why I am called here. But, as always, the Lord knows exactly what it is He wants to make of me. And my goal is to put as much passion into this work as I can :)

"Right now I`m getting to know the sector and ward people. This is a good place. I`ve been thinking on what I would like to accomplish as I enter the last 12 weeks of my mission, and I`ve felt that it`s time to increase my conviction of Jesus Christ. I want to be able to know Him. In 4 misionero, there`s a part that promises that as we give ourselves to God, we can come to know Him even as perfectly as He knows us.

This week we had a special experience. The Elders gave us a reference to a family they`ve been teaching for about 6 months who live in our sector. This family was married in order to be baptized, but suddenly they decided they didn`t want to be baptized. Sister S, the wife, and Brother B, the husband, were saddened that the Elders passed the reference to us. The night we visited them, we applied an unusual introduction where every question that came to our minds was super specific and unique. The questions that came definitely did not come from us. Immediately, we discovered the iceberg: in all this time the missionaries have been teaching them, neither had ever felt they had received an answer that the Restoration is true. They want to know, but didn`t understand how to recognize their answer from God.

We testified of the role of the Spirit and how to listen for an answer after we ask God. We shared D&C 9 when it talks about a burning in the bosom vs. a stupor of thought. In this lesson, the room seemed to hold still and silent. A pin drop could've been heard. The spirit was strong.

Though I have time in the mission, moments such as this always marvel me as I reflect on how the Holy Spirit can work through us when we love someone enough to ask good questions and listen to their replies and body language."
 
I know that God lives. Jesus is the Living Son of God. I felt very humbled when I read in Jesus the Christ a part where Jesus Himself is professing to be nothing. In John 5:30 He said, "I can of my own self do nothing," then He testified to be living to do only what His Father asked of Him. If Jesus Christ Himself said He is nothing -- what does that make us?
 
I feel that every step of my life has been in the care of our Father in Heaven. I know He loves us and lives in the details. I am grateful for the Restored Gospel, which we have, and that the Holy Spirit always testifies that it is true.
 
I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!!
 
Hna Fernelius :)
 
I made fritos! I learned a long time ago from Hna Q...they didn`t exactly turn out buuuutttt....yeah we still ate them jaja


Chaulafan -- Chifa place- These are the wantons here.....not....the same. jaja oh well

 
Monday, April 6, 2015

Week 63! "Transferred! (For the Last Time?)"

From 4/6/15

Hi family!
 
Today we have transfers.  It was the first time I have cried because of the changes :( jaja because I have never felt so loved by so many people like here. But, I feel good about it and know it will be good! :)
 
I haven`t read your mails. I don`t know when I will write again. But know that I love you all and am happy because He lives!!!
 
There`s a video we are sharing with everyone. Gracias a Que Èl Vive. Please see it. It is poderoso :)
 
General Conference was amazing, right? Very inspired. The Mission Assistants are very inspired to help the mission right now as well. And...in things they have said this week...a have helped me out incredibly! With my own personal growth and conversion. If there`s anything I am grateful for this week, it`s that God and Jesus Christ live! And that they love us. And this is why they allow us to receive and act upon modern day revelation. It`s a connection between heaven and earth. And it`s so AMAZING!!!!!
 
Love you all. Have  great week!!!! :)
 
Hna Fernelius
 
This is a photo of all the mission leaders.

[Looks like some serious training going on!]



[This is one of Tiffany's first companions saying goodbye before honorably completing her mission.  She was at a crossroads during their time together, and she credits Tiffany with helping her make the decision to stay and finish.  Whether that's true or not is irrelevant as far as we are concerned.  The fact remains that she did what she was called to do, and we are grateful for both of them - Brother Fernelius].


The Elders and us going to Quito last week for a consejo [meeting] :)



The Elders made breakfast for our zone meeting.






Our friends during general conference.




We made necklaces with our names written on rice!


I GOT THE PACKAGE. And it came the night of the cambios [transfers]...of conference yesterday. Just when I needed a spiritual boost for hearing I would be leaving the coast :P jaja Thanks family! :) I love the stuff!!!!!


The alphabet I made for Hna R in our house of Area 2.