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.

Week 59! "The Baptismal Jumpsuit..."

From 3/9/15

Usually Sundays for us are pretty crazy! Yesterday we left from one sector super early in the morning to make it to the church meeting in another at 9 am. The missionaries we in charge of singing "Bienvenido día santo" as a special musical number. Did we practice beforehand? uhhhh....of course!!! You know those 3 minutes of prep time between 9 am and when the presiding priesthood gets up to start the meeting?...Those were QUALITY 3 practice minutes right there where we went to another room and fiddled a little with the notes.

 

The problem: when we got up to sing, Hermana R and I forgot what it was we had practiced. Ahem.

 

Elder O has a super great voice. He started off with a solo! Woo. Awesome. One mother (I kid you not) even bent over to her small child to hush him so that she could listen to the wonderful musical number by the missionaries.

 

Then, Hna R and I started singing the chorus....when we weren´t supposed to. We hushed quickly, but I tried to recover by coming into verse two accompanying Elder O by singing the harmony. But, as I did, Hna R elbowed me in the side and said quietly but firmly, "Cáyese! Cáyese! No es su turno. Cáyese!" (in other words, "Shut up! It´s not your turn to sing yet") and shook her head side to side, indicating for me to stop singing. I was thrown off! The alto notes took a turn for the worst....but now what could I do? Me tocó a continuar! So I continued...Then all 4 missionaries came in at the chorus and last verse of the song.

 

When it was all over, me and Hermana R embarrassingly grabbed our mochilas (backpacks) and scurried out the church house door....relieved to have an excuse to leave since we had to go straight to the other ward at 10 am). jejeje It wouldn´t have been SO OBVIOUS if she hadn´t have elbowed me in the side and told me to shut up IN FRONT OF EVERRRRYYYONE. jaja

 

But, after the block meetings in the other sector came the payback:

 

We had to hop on a bus that only comes every 25 minutes or so to make it to our lunch mamita after church. I got on okay, but the bus took off and closed the doors, leaving Hna R yelling and running from behind.

 

"STOP! STOP!! THERE´S ONE MORE! STOOOOOOOOOP!" The bus driver finally looked back wearily and sloooowly stopped the bus. I peered out around the door, newly opened, and saw Hna R sprinting from behind to catch up.

 

All the people who saw what had happened at the bus stop were motivating her on, "GO GO GO!!!" They shouted. Until finally, about 300 feet later, we were reunited once more. :p jajaja

 

Oh the adventures...

 

Well that´s all for this week. Love you all and take care!

 

Hna Fernelius

 

"We currently have a MIRACLE person! :)

 

She has a fecha [baptismal date] for the 28th. She has 2 asistencias [gone to Church twice]. She lives alone and is about 42. Her father is a church leader in Quito and came all the way here to hunt the missionaries down so we could visit her. The night we got the reference, we were heading to consejo de barrio [ward counsel] at the casa capilla [Church]. The Elders called saying a man was there and was waiting anxiously for us to arrive to introduce us to his daughter.

 

We met with him at the church and he took us to his daughter´s house. There we met and took out another cita [appointment] with her. She has been prepared by the Lord for a long time! When we first visited her, she accepted a baptismal date. We presented the handout 'Camino de Fe' and she took it in her hands, looked at it, and replied, 'That´s interesting. I´ve seen this in a dream before.'

 

She was referring to the staircase structure of the steps preparing for baptism. The hermanadora [fellowshipper] who came with us that night is the PERFECT hermanador because they both like craft work and clicked that night so well. Also, due to health issues, she has obeyed the Word of Wisdom for her entire life (which is otherwise a potentially big desafío [challenge] here).

 

The other evening her father called us from Quito to ask how his daughter is progressing. We confirmed to him the good news that she is preparing for baptism (though he had intended many years before to introduce the church to his daughter and she hadn´t accepted it then).

 

He is such a hopeful man and was filled with enthusiasm and joy. He mentioned that he would love to accompany us to a cita, and to let him know when it will be that we go visit her. I asked, 'You would come all the way from Quito to join us in a cita?'

 

He responded without a second thought, 'Yes, Hermanas!'

 

Wow! We have an hermanador from Quito. :p

 

We are so blessed here. She is one miracle, along with another family that was rescued and whose youngest daughter was baptized this weekend :)"

 

At consejo de la mission [mission counsel] last Tuesday. We were in Quito for TWO meetings....Leaving Monday morning and getting back Wednesday super late at night....we were wiped from all the travel. And more meetings Thursday and Friday....yikes!!! But this week we have full time awaiting us in both of our assigned sectors!!! It´s go time. :)

What a mini´conferencia de la zona [mini zone conference] looks like.

The branch president kids climbing the tree by their house. They look like little ants. Here´s what happened:

"Mom! We´re going to swim in the rio [river]!"

Mom - "Only for 20 minutes!"

<Kids rip off their pants while racing out the door to the river>

As they jumped off the tree, we got them to yell one time "FOR NARNIA!!!" and another time "PARA LAS HERMANAS!!!!" jaja They are so fun to watch. And especially these kids because they are so obedient! They spent a long time cleaning the pigs on the finca [farm] before going out to play. Awesome!

[See the previous 5 photos for the following account]:

M and his daughter V:

M came in this white shirt to the baptism, but none of the jumpsuits the mission leader brought were fitting him comfortably. After fiddling with them a bit and trying different things, he came out of the bathroom and held the jumpsuits in his hand saying, "Don´t worry hermanas. I already gave permission for the Elders to baptize my daughter."

I probably shouldn´t have, but I put my hand firmly on his shoulder until he looked up at me squarely, and the words I had not prepared came out:

"Hermano, if you can baptize your daughter, we will do anything it takes so that you can."

An idea came to mind and flowed out directly following that sentence:

"Can you fit your legs into the jumpsuit?"

He said he could.

"Okay, then what we can do is you can put on the jumpsuit up to your waist, and keep this white shirt on that you have right now."

There were comments about how he didn´t bring another white shirt to change out of once this one got wet. My reply (jaja):

"Only the bottom part is going to get wet, not the whole thing." (i.e. "What does it matter?" :p)

He seemed to like the idea because his countenance brightened up a little bit again. He put on the jumpsuit to his waist as suggested. People commented on the little tail he had sticking out because of the sleeves folded over in the back of the jumpsuit at his hips. I once again looked at them all and suggested, "Well, why don´t you tuck the sleeves into the inside of the jumpsuit so it doesn´t hang out?"

M did baptize his daughter. And I don´t think there was another soul in the room that noticed the jumpsuit sleeves tucked into the waist back. The Lord is so merciful to help us come up with solutions in the moment even though at times there appears to be none.

This family was a miracle in the first place because they live so from the rest of our sector. M was the one who came and contacted the Hermanas (a week before I got here)! He informed them that he and his wife and daughter were less active. But....they were super solid and have great testimonies.

All this time I have felt like we were visiting an active member family. Their daughters remind me a lot of us when we were little and the connection I feel to this family is just that: very familiar-feeling. It was such a miracle and a blessing to be a part of this family´s progress and finally seeing V and her father make it to this point...his 9 yr-old daughter´s baptism :)

M is very blunt but also very funny. He reminds me of Dad.

These pictures for me are just...priceless :)

Oh! And my picaduras [mosquito bites] that are healing!!!!! I´m trying everything under the sun to get my legs better again. These mosquitoes eat me like crazy! But, it´s getting better! :)

And, the view outside our window (this picture is from this morning) :)

 

Week 58! "Short and Sweet..."

From 3/2/15

Sorry family and friends. There is no time to write this week. We got to Quito late and had some errands to run, leaving no more time. But I did have some pictures to send though I didn´t think I did. I hardly take my camera out now that we are living between 2 sectors and 2 houses and I don´t want something to happen to it.

 

MIRACLES are ABOUNDING!!!! I love the strength I feel working with my companion and exerting myself, though without God I am nothing....very weak without God. Yes, very weak. But He is making me strong :)

 

I have a testimony of prayer. They really are answered.

 

Love you all have a great week!

 

Hna Fernelius

 

We´re cool and have the coast as our sector. What what!! :p We ate lunch there last week BUT we didn´t step on the sand, we promise :) [It's against her mission rules to "step on the sand"].

A service project Tuesday.

How locals nail wood down.....



How WE nailed the wood down!