Week 12! "Cambios de Emergencia!!‏"

From 4/14/14

Hi family...guess what this week is: SEMANA SANTA!!! WOOOOO CELEBRAAAATE. YEAHHH.

But, uuuuhm. What is Semana Santa?..I really still don`t know.... I guess it`s a week where all the people here celebrate the life, sacrifice and miracle of the life of Jesus Christ. We are awesome, because we celebrate the life of Jesus Christ every Sunday, and most especially every day of our lives, as members of the church. But one way they celebrate here is by a specific food every eats called `Fanesca.` It`s a soup made with 12 different beans (gorbonzo, peas, lentils, pshoo they have it all) and a little bit of cheese or other dressings on top of it.

We ate it at the O family`s house last night, and it was delicious! But I felt bad because it took 8 hours to prepare, and about 20 minutes to finish it off. I felt worse because they told me the "twelve" classes of beans in the soup represent the 12 apostles....so I felt like I was eating the apostles. Nevertheless, they were scrumptious. :)

My companion is a little crazy sometimes, too. I can`t remember if I told you last time or not, but pretty much every morning when we wake up and begin getting ready, I hear a little voice from across the house yell, "muuuusica!" And that`s my cue to turn on my music. jaja. Sometimes I humor myself and ask her for a request, knowing her answer will be the same every time: "His Hands." (aka "Sus Manos"). Then when she hears it, she squeals a little like she`s at a rock concert. jajaja

Music has helped me a lot this week. As Ash has said, it`s true that every day is a little bit of a rollercoaster here. Rollercoasters are great, but sometimes I don`t always find it pleasant. As the days roll on, it`s easy to get carried away in our own inadequacies and weaknesses, then feel sorry for ourselves and decline a little in our efforts. It happened this week. But, I can`t tell you how grateful I am, not only for your unfailing prayers, but also for a knowledge of the goodness of God. He is so merciful and extends His hand out to our in every moment we reach up to find it. As I turned to the Liahona, the scriptures, my journal, prayers, and music...I felt several times that I was tapping on the right door. Finally one day, it opened. 

I was able to communicate my concerns to Hna C, I was able to fast (p.s. fasting is so hard on the mission, en serio! Everyone wants to feed us!), and we were able to continue with much more understanding and unity. I realize that, when we speak and testify as one voice, although we aren`t perfect teachers, the Lord is able to use us as instruments in His Hands. And He animates us with miracles. Then I remain in utter awe at all the blessings He gives us, and have an increased desire to serve Him even more. Or at least, with more pure intent.

There`s a message I read en la Liahona, along with others that stood out to me: "Una mujer que habia pasado años de pruebas y dolor dijo a travès de las lagrimas: `He llegado a comprender que soy como un billete viejo de 20 dolares: arrugada, hecha trizas, sucia, maltratada y marcada; pero sigo siendo un billete de 20 dolares...`" No matter how beat up we feel or are, we are still too valuable to just let our worth pass us by.

One challenge I also found more apparent this week is that pride is the huge stumbling block of progress in the Gospel. There was a pattern of several investigators and less active members (all men...how weird) that were blatantly and declaringly rebutting some principles of the Gospel. In every one of these lessons, we felt the Spirit very present as we testify boldly using scripture and testimony. But, it`s hard to get through to them. Pride is one of the enemy`s biggest tools. Can`t these men see? Can`t they see that they are causing they`re our stumbling blocks, and that the enemy is winning? I can see it. But if they can`t, there`s not much I can do except pray for their hearts to be softened and continue to testify.

Last night was a little bit of a shocker. We got a call from the zone leaders at about 10pm. As Hna C spoke, her eyes grew wide. I knew something was up. Cambios de Emergencia....Emergency Transfers. Ohhh no.

Hna C was taken away from me. I`m excited for her because she is now one of the new Hermana Lideres. But it`s a mix of emotions...I`m still recovering from it. I am still here in my sector, but now I`m responsible for knowing where to go and what to do. My new companion came from Otavalo. Her name is Hna U, she`s from Nicaragua. In anticipating the changes, especially because of how sudden it was, I wasn`t sure what to expect. But Hna U is so sweet, skinny, and real. She already mentioned to me she likes to work hard. She is kind and genuine. I look forward to the rest of this cambio with her. It will be different, but it will be good. A new energy is in tooownn baby. :)

People here say I have "ojos de gatita"...translation for the extreme gringos: "cat eyes." I`m not sure if that`s an insult or not jaja. But one day someone asked us if we get a lot of nonsense from the muchachos around here. No. No really. There was only was time that an old man stopped to sing to me as we were contacting down the sidewalk. But that was just plain funny. And happened a long time ago. I love being half Ecuatoriana. I am pretty sure that before I`m done I`ll be completely Ecuatoriana. Just like Ash will be completely Cuernavacania.

Also, it`s weird, but I`m right in line with the height of the men on the buses. Taller than all the women. Taller than even some of the men....At those times, I feel so American-ly white. And you all know, I am really not that tall back in the states...so this is a wonder in and of itself. It`s pretty great.

I`m not sure what else I was going to say this week. I bought an Otavalenian sweater. The clothing they wear is so colorful. Remember those pj`s I always wore at home? Now I understand where we got them from. There are so many colors here! 

I know this church is true. I know that God lives and is very mindful of us. I have felt His Hand in my life. And every time I reach up for His, I find His Hand reaching down for mine. It is a blessing a miracle to be here. And, although the days ahead will be revealing and will require some esfuerza and faith, I know every moment and experience is for our good. And in preparation for something more. I am grateful for Jesus Christ and His Atonement. I pray we may never be too proud to overlook the goodness of it all. And the miracle of His forgiveness and love. 

To President:

"This week I was able to feel the Lord very present in my companionship with Hna C. This week we noticed something very pronounced in the way we work together. And that is, that when we work together as one voice and can collaborate and communicate well, the Lord immediately blesses us with miracles.

This weekend two of our young investigators, Ja and Po, were baptized. They were very excited, and gratefully, had a lot of support from the members of the ward. The unity of our ward is improving a little at a time. But this was a blessing because their father, Pe, chose not to come to their baptism that day to support them. He did, however, come to church Sunday for a little while to support them in their confirmation. Pe is a good man, but has some concerns still about the nature of our beliefs, specifically the commandments. He has a baptismal date for this weekend, so we hope to work with him this week to help him strengthen his testimony and understanding. He has an interest and desire to learn more, and feels that this gospel will be able to help him as a single father of two pre-teens, to be able to guide them and give them a solid foundation to develop upon.

Yesterday, Hna C and I were walking up the street to pick up the two children for church. Just as we passed by a busy store, a young man exited it and, looking up at us, asked, 'Are you two missionaries? We have been looking for someone, but haven`t seen missionaries in this area yet.' 

He proceeded to tell us that he is a member of 19 years, but that he is new to this area and doesn`t know where the church is located; so he hasn`t been attending Sundays. He also informed us that his newly wed wife is not a member, but that he would like her to receive the lessons so that she may be baptized. We were astounded...and very pleased. hehe That very morning we invited them to get ready for the classes (since they wouldn`t be ready in time for sacrament mtg) and that we would come by to show them where the church was. But at 10:20 am, when we were going up to meet them at their home, they were already dressed and heading on down to the church themselves. What a blessing! 

The Lord has shown His tender mercies to us again and again, especially in those moments when we feel inadequate or weak. But, as we humble ourselves and turn to Him for strength and guidance, He is immediate in His response to bless us.

It was such a huge blessing to have Hna C as a companion. I know she will be a huge asset for the hermanas as Hermana Lider....and I`m grateful she`s still fairly close! haha I look forward to working with Hna U. I can already see that she is very kind a genuine and has a lot to offer, and hope that I can help her transition to this area be a smooth one.

That is all for this week! I love the promises of the gospel. They are so constant and reassuring. And the Lord is so good to me. Blessings like this only make me want to contribute more back to Him. I know He lives, and that this church is true."

Have a good week familia! I love you all! I am grateful for you all!

Chow!! Se cuiden!

Hna Fernelius

Last day with Hna C...this morning :((

Week 11! "Jumbled Mind..."

From 4/7/14

Hola familia!

For General Conference, 10 of us gringitos were able to go to a separate room of the chapel and watch in Inglés. Initially I wanted to watch in Spanish, but as I have learned in the past, it´s always better to learn in our native language jeje. And, it was gooood. I took notes on roughly 13 page sides. Therefore, I have no idea what I wanted to share with you today....jaja. I did notice a theme of family history work, the increasing need for our force against the adversary, and a few analogies I really liked...Like the one from Elder Bednar about traction. He put into words something I´ve believed for a long time. Also, did it sound like Elder Packer was giving more of a "farewell" talk? No!

Una cosa que me gusta bastante es que me siento que mi español esta progresando. Yo puedo conversar mas facilmente y contar historias y experiences sin sentirme anciosa antemano. Es una bendicion grande a sentir mas cómoda con el idoma, y testificar en una forma sencilla, y por medio del Espíritu Santo.

There are some phrases that the people use here a lot. They say "Oh seaas" before beginning a thought. Which means "That is to say"...I also hear "No cierto?" a lot, which I´m starting to pick up poco a la vez. I still hear the accent Mom was talking about with the people aqui en la sierra, because they put emphasis in weird places at times. When I pray, I notice that my voice lifts in weird places, so I clear my throat before I continue. Jaja sorry Mom.

Before I go, there is one scripture that strung a chord with me this week: Acts 18:9-10. "...No temas, sino habla y no calles. Porque yo estoy contigo, y ninguno podrá hacer mal, porque yo tengo mucho pueblo en esta ciudad..." I only have it written to share in Spanish, but it´s pretty good. The verse after made me laugh, because it says something about "that is why you are here for 18 months", but in other words.
 

The Lord continues to bless us. I wish my thoughts were a little more together this week. But, biggest of all that I´ve felt this week is of the importance of families. Finding families to teach, strengthening our own families, establishing peace in our own homes, and working with families in the ward to strengthen the kingdom.

Families are fundamental to our Father´s Plan. I´m glad that we were able to recognize the need to work more with families this past week. And that the General Authorities placed emphasis on it.

"We have been focusing on a different part of our sector, and focusing on finding families to teach. It started off a little slow it seems. But we had great desires and prepared many invitations to invite families to General Conference. We spent early one morning preparing many tarjetitas and folletos with our names, number, and info of the capilla to give to every family and menos activo we would encounter that week.
 
 Although the people we invited did not come to the sessions of General Conference, we did have one family - Pe, Y, and Pa - who came to a session Saturday, and a session Sunday of conference. Pe is the brother of a recent convert, and he lives alone with his two children of 12 and 11 years old. Pe expressed deep desires to understand more of the doctrine after giving him a brief testimony of the prophet and short version of the Restoration of the Gospel.

As we found out later, this family actually has attended the church in the past a few times. The children have accepted a baptismal date for this weekend. And, I believe the father will accept a date as well when we have the opportunity to speak with him tomorrow.

I am very grateful that the Lord is mindful of the righteous desires of our heart. I have a testimony that he focuses on blessing us specific to the goals we have set for ourselves. If we have a goal of contacting 'a couple' people one day, He will provide us with those 'couple people.' If we set our standard a little higher and, say, have a goal of 'finding a family prepared to receive the gospel,' He will bless us with a family.

As we set our standards high and work hard to achieve them, I know the Lord will confide in us. And therefore, bless us with His children.

It was wonderful to hear so many miracles and experiences from the other missionaries this morning at the breakfast. After hearing from the prophet and apostles at conference, I feel confident in every way that they are called of God. 'By their fruits, ye shall know them.'

It is a blessing to be here. I love being a missionary. And knowing that every effort is for my Savior....makes every minute worth it. As the adversary works harder, so shall we. I look forward to the testimony-building experiences ahead of us."
 

I love you all!

P.S. ...I love our family!

Hna Fernelius

Yesterday...picking up our investigators for General Conference

 

My zone

 

Today outside of QuiCentro

This morning we had breakfast at President´s house as a reward for ending Fe de Febrero traerá Milagro de Marzo as the second best zone for baptisms. Our zone had 21 baptisms, but we were beat by Ibarra, who had 24 baptisms. jaja Breakfast was good :)

Week 10! "Is the Mood Ring Blue?"

From 3/31/14

 

Hi family! I don`t have much time to write today. As castigo (punishment) for not meeting our weekly goals, Hna C & I cut down on the time we would have to write today. Nooo! But more motivation to work hard this week.

 

Thank you for your beautiful emails. You all make me smile. Especially because I find it funny that the weeks I need the most spiritual umph are the weeks you all make me smile the biggest. Especially because Ashley`s email was so happy. It made me so happy too! haha

 

Well, we have 2 new Elders in our ward, making that 3 missionary companionships in one ward. The energy of the barrio is shifting a little at a time. One of these Elders is Elder K, gringo from Arizona. He has so much vibe and zeal in his work. He leads by example and gives us specific advice for how to help our investigators. He also gave my district a hearty challenge that we can`t count anyone as a new investigator UNLESS that person also has baptismal date. Ut Oh. That is motivation indeed for competitive Hna C and me. We challenged ourselves to bring 10 people to baptism for the month of April. And that, my friends, is very possible. There are so many people prepared. And when we set the standard high and work our part, the Lord introduces us to those people.

 

This weekend is General Conference, and you better believe Hna C and I are most excited to hear the prophets than anything else!! But, initially, I was looking forward to it as "a break" and chance to reinvigorate spiritually and physically. But what was I thinking?! This is the BIG CHANCE to invite EVERYONE WE KNOW!! So you`d better believe we are going to make hundreds of copies of invitations to invite pretty much every person we contact, and every family we see on the streets....everywhere. I am so excited to give them this opportunity to hear the prophet of the Lord. Only good things can come from this invitation! Only good.

 

We also had a very good Sunday yesterday, where every testimony was amazingly powerful and pure. The Spirit was very strong. And those kinds of testimonies really help me to feel at peace. And helps to realign my purpose and privilege to be on a mission.

 

I put on the mood ring Dad gave me years and years ago that says "princess" haha. And, silly as it sounds, it helps me to always keep my emotions in check. At times, I am stressed, and it turns a weird yellow-orange. This morning when I read from Tia Myriam, it turned purple...I think that means super excited and emocionante. And the goal is to always have it a deep, marble blue. That means content and happy. Hna C now asks to put it on every once in a while to see if she needs to change her thoughts or perspective in order to produce a deep blue as well. hahaha It`s really funny. But, it`s a small reminder that, no matter what, it`s important to be positive and happy. And this week, I feel a little too happy. I hope I don`t break the mood ring from all this good energy. hehe :P

 

To President:

"I am grateful to be a missionary here and grateful to serve the Lord. I am grateful for our studies that offer us vigor, renewed perspective, and light.

Saturday, 'A C' was baptized. He is 70 years old, and the father of the P family that was baptized the first week of March, grandfather of Cn and Ca (who were married then baptized), and husband of a long deceased member of the church. We are completing a family through the first covenant of the Gospel, baptism. It has been such a blessing to see a family slowly tie the strings together and enter the covenant of baptism and reception of the Holy Ghost a little at a time.

A C originally didn`t want to be baptized. He attended a Catholic church faithfully every week. And, his understanding of the lessons was poor because of his age. But, by the Lord`s miracle, he began attending church Sundays with his newly converting family. And although his entendimiento was poor, one thing he did understand: that he could be with his wife again one day. That was one concept he heard, understood, and grasped onto.

 

The night before he was baptized, he walked to all his family to announce his baptism the next day. He pulled out his tuxedo from dusty containers in his room, and dressed in his tux for his baptism Saturday. He is a quiet example of a man with sound understanding...not of the logic and technicalities of it all, but sound understanding in the voice of the Spirit when it testifies a pure truth to our heart. And the principle of having an eternal family is one of the purest truths of them all. Powerful enough to change a 70 year old, Catholic man`s life.

 

On the other hand, M was not baptized. The reason: because he vocally declared his loyalties to another church. Despite the fact that he said he felt the Spirit, he let logic and reason take precedence.

 

We witnessed examples of both ends this weekend. And because of it, we are witnesses that the pure, simple truths of the Gospel are the ones that change hearts. And the ones that the Spirit can testify of more powerfully than ever, as one voice with that of mine and Hna C's.
 

This month we have more desire than ever to find, teach, and invite people (specifically families) to baptism."

 

I love you all. Have the best week ever......GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! :D Don`t miss it for the world.

Hna Fernelius

Week 9! "What Ash Said..."

From 3/24/14

 

My beautiful family!! I hope you are all doing great. Mondays are always a day I look forward to....for obvious reasons. :P I have only been able to read those who wrote early, but I´ll be printing and reading the rest later today. Usually Mondays I print the emails about 10am, which is 7am our time I believe. Then I read them as we go about our day and email 4:30-ish, or 1:30 your time. So, take that to heart hehe.

Ashley is training!!! Wooo. Crazy life we´re living hermana mia. I am so happy for the progress you´ve made and are making. I've felt very similar sentiments about members as missionaries. We´ve been exerting ourselves to be able to carry our investigators and less actives from beginning to end. But, it´s impossible to keep going this way successfully. We need the members of the ward. We need everyone. And that´s what the Lord asks. Anything helps. But like Ash said, if you take that initiative to the missionaries, you will be blessed tremendously. That´s also a promise from the Lord.

And Dad, "hastening the work" is not just a snappy catch phrase hahah. I love the way you said that. Bishop Pace is a great example of what the energy behind missionary work should look and feel like. Being here, I feel a certain energy brewing in the air. It´s almost as if, like what Mom said, the spirits on the other side are preparing the work. We are just setting up the instruments and means for this work to explode in full force in the future. I feel like the battle between both sides is going to be ever more prominent. And all attention, from us as members as well as those not within the church, will turn to this battle. There is something brewing in the atmosphere. And it is coming quickly.

One thing I was thinking this week was that I sure got the "best of both worlds" between Mom and Dad. I don´t know how I got so lucky. But I keep feeling like the balance that I grew up with has helped my understanding with the behaviors of so many people. And therefore, how to be a positive influence for them.

Last week, we found out that that person I saw, or maybe it was someone else, was actually not a good one. I'll share briefly. One morning Hna C woke up and saw someone tall standing in the space between our beds. He was standing with his arms clasped and looking at me. She couldn´t speak for a moment, but when she was able to call out, "compañera!" and I responded back a "que?" the persona moved swiftly toward the door and vanished. Her heart was beating quickly and we said a prayer before going back to sleep. Our zone leaders were able to bless our home and we´ve felt at peace since then.

Just yesterday, we were visiting a less active family. Afterward, we began to leave the "driveway" of the house and one of them came out to ask us something. He had questions about some scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants. We began to address it and redirect him to the doctrine. But, as we spoke, we began to feel very dark. I know when there´s an evil influence because I begin to feel a little antsy and uncomfortable. We cut the conversation and left. There was something very wrong and his eyes showed it. Both Hna C and I felt it as we walked home. And I even noticed that I felt very irritated and angry for no reason until we went to bed at night.

The influence of the adversary is everywhere. I don´t mind sharing this with you just to prove the point, that the guerra that Mom was talking about is real. Very real. But we know how this battle ends. I feel that the Lord has a lot to conquer still, and as we work for Him, we will have the experience that the sons of Mosiah did in Alma 26. The enemy has no power here. Because the Spirit and authority of God is with us.

This week ¨my group¨ also has verificacion to see how we´re doing. We visited the Panecillo in Quito, which is a historical place. This is where Elder Spencer W Kimball offered the dedicatory prayer in 1965, to initiate the mission work in Ecuador. In the prayer, he said, "They have waited so long, our Father, for the gospel to come to them..." In obtaining permission from President Mackay to begin the work here, he commented to Pres Mackay, "I believe that the time has arrived for the Lamanites to hear the gospel." And President Mackay agreed.

There are millions of blood Lamanites (natives) here, according to President Kimball. It was inspiring to look over the city, farrr into the distance, and know: that this is true. And that I am here.



Tiffany's dad says, "No comment..."

I love you all! Can´t wait to read the last-minute-ers. heheh. Take care and have a great week! Take up the challenge and talk to your ward missionaries! Share uplifting stories with them. Pray for them. Offer your support. That´s the prayer of a missionary!

Also, I love my companion. When she´s sick and there´s nothing I can do....it´s the most terrible thing ever. She´s a sister to me. Like Hna P (Ashley's former companion), I´m pretty sure she was accidentally born into a Peruvian family instead of ours. haha

Love,

Hna Fernelius

One more transfer - 6 more weeks - with Hna C!!!! Our only "cambio" was changing to a new house since a pair of Elders is coming to our area! The work is growing people! That´s THREE missionary companionships now for our ward. MUAHAHAHA. And Hna C and I are happy with our new home.....it has a lavadora for our clothes!!!!! :]



Moving stuff for our new house!

 

Week 8! "25 Cent Miracle"

From 3/17/14

 

Hi family! I do realize I write a lot, but tell everyone....I just can´t help it! haha Sorry! But I hope the pictures I send help to ease the pain of long letters heheh.

 

 

 

One morning, I heard my companion clamber out of bed at about 2 AM. She was very apparently in a lot of pain. I opened my eyes to see if there was something she needed....if there was anything I could do to help. But, still rather sleepy, I opened my eyes to see Hna C already walking toward the bedroom door. But as I drowsily checked what was going on, I saw a young person following her out the door. "Oh, okay, he´ll take care of her," I clearly remember thinking as I closed my eyes, flipped over, and went back to sleep.

 

In the morning, I remember reflecting on what had happened, what I had seen, and what I had felt. I told Hna C about it, and she proceeded to tell me that when she was in the restroom, she thought I had gotten up, because she heard footsteps walking along the stairs. She has had a couple other experiences where she heard someone walking in the kitchen, felt someone touch her shoulder to wake her up, or felt someone sit on the bed next to her. Each time, she thought it was me. "Nope, Hna C, I was sleeeeping," I would say back to her.

We know that there is someone wandering around our house. We don´t know who, but it´s comforting to know we have good company. haha

 

I want to testify of what Ashley said last week, that "Miracles do not have to be miraculous to be miracles." I know the truth of this statement. And usually when I say that my companion and I are witnessing miracles, it is meant in that very sense. However, they are miracles nonetheless, because we see how the Lord prepares the timing and circumstance of every one. And every person who accepts the gospel is, in one way or another, a true miracle.

This week "Cn" and "Ca" were married and guess what!!! Hna C and I were  invited to be the witnesses for the matrimony at the Registro Civil! I have a picture of me signing the official documents, raising my hand to the square, and everything.

 

More importantly, though, is that the way was prepared, and once again fulfilled in the way of the Lord so that Cn could be baptized two days ago.

 

Another thing I noticed this week is that Satan is working. Hard. He has been working so hard here it´s ridiculous. Nine Elders were sent home for participating in something terrible. President spoke to us with names and details of what happened. And....Ecuador must be a very special place to be a missionary in this time, because the enemy is trying to destroy the work  here. But, with that in mind, I wake up every day with the determination to work even harder. To be even better. To uplift even more. God´s children are here, and this is His work.

One quote in a talk by Elder Joseph B Wirthlin called "Lessons Learned in the Journey of Life," says, "Let us...realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that power to work is a blessing, that love to work is a success."

May we develop that  perspective while we have the opportunity to in this life, I pray. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

"Good afternoon, President.

 

Hna C and I were able to have a very special experience last week. My sister, who is currently serving in Mexico, wrote something I found to be very true. She said, "Miracles don´t have to be miraculous to be a miracle." I feel the truth in this statement as milagros de marzo continues onward.  But, Wednesday as we were preparing to take the bus home from the Registro Civil, Hna C and I realized that we didn´t have any coins left. We were low on apoyo and had just finished giving Ca the 52 dollars our Ward raised in order for them to pay the document fees....we had nothing left.

I turned to Hna C at the bus stop and whispered concernedly to her, "I don´t have anything left." I  saw the look on her face, and concluded that we might have to ask Cn to pay the bus expense home on our behalf. It wasn´t the worst that could happen, but I didn´t want to put him in that situation.
Hna Cuenca reached into her mochila and pulled out her coin sack. She reached inside  and when she pulled her hand back out, there, in her hand, were four perfect quarters. Just enough for the bus ride home.

Hna C didn´t have quarters in her coin sack. I know, because I watched as she picked out nickels and pennies to give Ca for the 52 dollar fee at the counter of the Registro Civil. I know that this was a miracle from the Lord. And it was a confirmation to me that the Lord was pleased with the work we were doing to allow Cn and Ca to be married that week.

I know that the Lord gives no commandments unto the children of men, save He shall prepare the way that they may accomplish it.  Obtaining those 52 dollars in the first  place was a miracle in itself, because Cn didn´t have the means to provide for it right away. But it was the 25 cent miracle that left us richer than ever before.

I know the Lord knows us. And I know that He will provide for us when we do all that we can to obey His will and bring His children unto Him.

I am going to miss this month  of miracles. I hope that they will continue in abundance even when April comes around."

I love you all! Keep going strong, because God lives. This church is true. And God never lies.

:DD

Hna Fernelius

Week 7! "Ohh Sundays :)"

From 3/10/14

Love you all!

 

My pictures won`t upload :( Que lastima. But know that I still have two eyes, a nose, and smile as big as ever! Oh!! Also, Stake President "S" and one other person told me I look Guayaquileña!! Both in the same day. It was brilliant :)

We are drinking lots of hot chocolate and pansitos because of the colllld. And Hna C and I decided we are getting chubby, so we bought fulll yogurt and granola today for our future breakfasts heheh.

 

On to this week's events:

 

This week....we found a house!! I am a proud owner of a first floor apartment at a reasonable price and ample space for the things we need. We received the keys today, but instead of taking a picture, we have to send it to the mission secretaries heheh. We spent a portion of Saturday helping the family move things out so that the mission can move things in tomorrow. 

After looking for place after place and receiving several declinations from the secretaries, we know this apartment is top notch, because we have been able to compare our options. And this apartment is definitely the place they promised us the Lord has been preparing. Because the price, location, set up, people living in the floors around us is perfect. Ahh yes.

But one day as we were looking on the way to an appointment, we saw a blue house that appeared to be emptied. Tired and desperate, we knocked. Nada. Yep, it was definitely empty alright. But as Hna C was knocking, her ring fell off and rolled under the gate. Usually the homes here have some sort of gate before getting to the actual door of the house. This gate had slivers of space, or holes, as part of the design. We could see the ring. We tried stretching through the hole, reaching with our arms, and even with a branch of a plant Hna C saw nearby.

 

As she brainstormed nearby, I figured I`d try the quick solution: my leg. I lifted my skirt up just enough to fit my right leg through the hole. Determined, I stretched as far as I could to try and reach for the ring. Until, out of the corner of my eye I saw a man in a suit standing a few feet away towards the other side of the road. With my leg completely lodged in the gate, I cocked my head sideways just enough to see him standing there, facing me squarely, with an absolutely perplexed look on his face. No smile. Nothing. He just stared at me.

 

"Hola. Como esta?" I said a little too nonchalantly and quirkily. I`m pretty sure he thought I was robbing the place haha.

 

But when I dislodged my leg, and Hna C finally realized what was going on, we explained the lost ring situation, and the man was actually nice enough to help us retrieve it with a broom. He left pretty quickly after that, but who can blame him. Hna C and I had a good laugh out of the whole scenario and thought about going back to reenact the scene with a picture, but obviously that never came into fruition. hahah. But it was priceless.

Anyhow, this week was a little rough. There has been a situation in our ward from the very first Sunday I was here. Since our ward is a recently combined set of two wards, there is some difficulty with butting heads and unity with the members. At times I feel like we are simply burdens on the members of the ward because there are two sets of missionaries to feed, and it`s hard to find people in our sector willing to help us out with that. The stake president came yesterday and gave a beautiful and heart-felt talk in sacrament meeting about supporting the Lord`s servants.

 

I`m pretty sure people could hear me crying afterwards from outside the bathroom. I haven`t cried like that in a long time. But immediately following, and after having a "special meeting" between the missionaries and stake president, who said some very tender, encouraging things, we had the most productive ward counsel we have ever had before in our ward.  Instead of just talking about what we need to do, there was an air of action and excitement. We spoke of our members and investigators and of their needs, then went to action with solutions. It was an absolute answer to prayer, and quite immediate too. 

Every week, and every day, I feel something changing in our ward. There is more understanding and more unity. I cannot stress how important it is to serve one another, to fellowship, and to have that unity. Zion was not Zion without it. I even had an opportunity last week to go into the bishop`s home to ask him something, and realized what a good person he is. And how hard he is trying. And the most important eye-opener I`ve had thus far is that he called of God. How often do I say that just to say it? But really, these callings are from God. And however inadequate we might feel, if we do our part and put in our effort, the Lord will accomplish His purposes in His way. 

Just briefly I also want to bear my testimony of the importance of Sundays: the Sabbath Day. Every Sunday, there`s a period of about 30 minutes that is the most stressful (I guess I could say) of the entire week. Our ward here also starts at 9 am, like our ward at home. But we leave early in order to retrieve all the people who said they would go the days leading up to Sunday. 

And every Sunday, something happens where the investigators or less active members say they are unable to go. Satan works so hard on Sundays, I am a witness of it. But, if these investigators do not attend church, they cannot progress, and they cannot enter into the covenant of baptism. And that is an entire week of difference at the least. That`s a lot.

In Isaiah 58:13-14, it speaks of the blessing of church attendance. It says something about developing a delight in the Savior when we keep this commandment. In 3 Nephi 18:1-25 it also speaks of the importance of church. One part says that, as we know that the Lord is gathering His people, when we choose to attend sacrament meeting, we are the ones separating ourselves. We are the ones choosing between gathering ourselves within the house of Israel or not. Every Sunday counts.

Yesterday, out of 6 who said they would come, no one came. Until about 15 minutes into sacrament meeting, one gentleman called us and asked for directions to the building. This gentleman came from further away than the rest. He arrived by bus. And when we went outside to wait for him, we saw him arriving in crutches and hopping on one leg all the way down the sidewalk toward the church building.

Wow. That is what it`s all about. I don`t think I ever understood what it means to keep the Sabbath Day until now. And I still think there`s more to it that I still don`t quite know. 

But I`m starting to realize that it`s one way the Lord is gathering His children and distinguishing between the wheat and the tares. Our obedience is so important, but more than that, our willingness. We are needed in our wards, wherever that may be. Our talents, our service, and our support is needed. I feel that, through the missionaries, the Lord is testing our ward and giving them a chance to grow and strengthen. And, as a missionary, the Lord has not neglected us. Every time there has been something we have needed, He has introduced us to a new family or someone who could offer us just it is that we were looking for.

I am grateful for wards. I am grateful for the organization and structure of the church. I am grateful for good people who have nothing, and give everything. And I am grateful for those who truly understand our role as children of God, with truth that no one else has. Who are we without each other? I hate to say it, but God needs our faith and obedient service. And those who have been able to support the Lord`s servants in this way are the ones who may never know how grateful I am for them. 

Sister B said something in her letter to me about how the members find, and the missionaries teach. And I can testify that most of the investigators we have had were references from a member of the ward. And Hallelujah for them. One young lady of only 27 years old was able to receive a lesson of the Plan of Salvation in that way. Who, I recently found out, was ready to commit suicide. 

I am so grateful every day that I serve the Lord. There are some things that I can`t express in words, but I know this church is true. I know that God knows us, and our hearts. And I know that everything He commands has a purpose. With a little bit of faith and action, we can understand why. And with complete conversion unto Him. we won`t even feel the need to know why, we will simply do it. And we will be His.

"Good afternoon, President Richardson.

 

I think the Milagros de Marzo has begun for Hna C and me. This week was a little rough, but I`ve also been able to see how the Lord has blessed us.

 

It`s been a little rough because of all the distractions and obstacles as far as time goes. This week started off slow because of carnival. Then a couple days we had to prepare our own meals because at the time our mamitas were either unavailable or not established yet (now we have mamitas for the whole week, so we`re good :). Also, we were able to find an apartment and did a service project to clean and empty the furniture from it. Also, one day Hna C was feeling really unwell, so we had to take it a little slower than typical.

 

But despite the obstacles, I feel that the Lord is aware of our desires and has continued to bless us with incredible opportunities. For example, "H" was able to be baptized this week! It was a little bit of a sacrifice for him because his work called and said he would need to work this weekend, starting at 8:30-9:00 every morning, and not returning until about 9:30 at night. Regardless, he and President "A" were able to meet early (at 7am) one morning. President A emerged from the interview and pulled Hna C and me aside. With tears in his eyes, and complete tenderness in his voice, he related to us that H had experienced something so profound and scarring in his life. He said that H was a man well-prepared for this baptism, and that, although Pres A didn`t know what to say at one point during the interview, he simply knew H should be baptized. At the end, he looked down for a moment, silent, then looked back up into Hna C and my eyes and said, "Please take care of this man." And that was it.

 

Saturday morning, at 7am, H was baptized. He was so excited. And although only a trio of elders, two members from the ward, us, and H and President A were there, the room was filled with the presence of the Spirit and a sense of joy and love filled the room. H is a man who has changed dramatically...not in appearance of customs. But, in his countenance. He is so much brighter, there`s a light in his eyes, and his desire to reach outside of his previously enclosed way of living has grown tremendously. He took the initiative to ask his boss that, since he worked an extra hour Saturday, that he would be able to take an hour of work off in the morning Sunday so he could attend Sacrament Meeting.

 

That was one blessing of this week.

 

There are many more, but one more I feel was impactful was a brother we first visited Wednesday. His name is "C". He has a desire to be baptized, but the big problem is that he is not married to his "esposa." But, I was shocked with the way Hna C handled the situation, persistent and direct that they needed to be married....this week. So that he could be baptized the Saturday that came. And the crazy thing was that they were both so receptive to all of it. They opened up by saying that this is what they`ve wanted to do for so long."

Week 6! "Leave Them Alone, They're Mormon"

From 3/3/14

 

Here is a picture of me trying the earthy, peachy, hairy fruit of Zapote. I look three shades darker because that morning we were house-hunting:

 

 

This week we spent a loooot of time house-hunting. The requirements are so specific in order to make sure the new missionaries coming in will be distant enough from each other and secure. Right now, our ward has 2 sets of missionaries. But in the new transfer in a week, a new set will be coming in....therefore, house-hunting. I´m eager to find a place so I can proudly announce my new title of first-time home owner heheh.

 

Today I kinda just want to share some stories I think you´d enjoy.

 

March 1st through 4th is Carnival. So for those days, we are only allowed to go outside if we have fijas, not citas. (Fija = planned appointments). Because if not, there´s a chance people are going to chuck water balloons at your head from their terraces, or dump buckets of water on you, or....Carioco.

Hna C (my companion) and I were walking down the street to an appointment, when suddenly I felt a giant wet glob on the left side of my head. I looked up and saw a big yellow school bus drive around the corner, and a group of pleased young children laughing. I made the saddest, most pathetic puppy-dog face I think I´ve ever made in my life as I peered back at them through the bus window. They laughed even harder as the bus drove off. It was so funny. Hna C loves the smell of carioco, so fruiiiity. But the left half of my hair was in clumps the rest of the day hahah.

 

Saturday, we had a family baptism. The family "P" that I mentioned before in that huge shpeel about the "C" family...yeah them. I´ll tell you a bit more about them at the end. But it was raining quite a bit this week, so I let them borrow my parrawa (umbrella).

 

 

And Hna C and I put trash bags over our heads to keep our stuff dry. We loove the rain!!! So we basked in it and climbed the long hill home. The only problem was that the entire highway blacked out. No lights anywhere....All the cars were gone. Only a few crazy people were left standing sporadically throughout the sidewalks. My shoes got soaked. Squash squash squash. And onward we climbed, in the complete blackness of night. Every once in a while we saw the lights of a car pass by. But other than that, raindrops and empty streets. It was awesome! But also kind of scary. These places can be sketchy at night sometimes. And carnival doesn´t help with that heheh. But we were so soaked! It was so cool :) And we didn´t get sick. :)
 

 

Hna C and I have to pass through a little alleyway sometimes. We avoid it especially at night, but this day we were walking through and were walking past a man and woman standing there watching us approach. The man began to say something and move as if he were about to do something to us. He was obviously on drugs, and not the type of person we wanted to be around. But as we walked briskly and purposefully onward, the woman curtly turned to him and said, "Leave them alone. They´re Mormon." He left us alone. And we walked through. I feel the protection that comes as a missionary. And we feel the promptings when there´s peligro or something to be cautious about. We feel the angels around us, to protect us, and to bear us up.

 

Another time on this very same road, there was a suspicious-looking man leaning back-to-wall. We walked quickly past, but he called out, "Hello Elders!" as we did. I didn´t think to respond because I was so focused on getting through there quickly. But he called out again, "Good afternoon, Elders." Hna C turned her head a little to greet him quickly as we walked on. Then we heard him call out, "One day I will repent and change. One day I will follow the path of God." And that was that. It was actually rather sad. But one thing I´ve come to notice is that these people often steer clear of the missionaries. They leave us alone because of some unspoken knowledge or respect of what we represent.

 

Every day I feel the Lord´s protection. And every day my eyes are opened a little more to the variety of people that live on this earth. People we don´t know, but He does. We were visiting with a less active member family, and they serve us in amazing ways. Even though the wife is less active and the husband refuses to join any religion, they recognize the Spirit of the Lord when we enter their home. It is amazing.

 

And, did I tell you? I live in the clouds :) Literally. And figuratively. Life here isn´t always perfect, but it´s always right. And I already know I´m going to miss it in 16 months. I love you all and hope you are doing well. I love your stories. Aren´t stories great? Especially mom´s this week. And Dad...thank you. I look forward to every Monday when I can get another glimpse of your story.

 

 

"Good afternoon, President.

 

This week was a little different because Hna C and I spent a lot of time looking for a new apartment or home within the sector, as well as the difficulties teaching and finding people because of Carnival heheh. But, we were blessed to have a few special experiences embedded within this week.

 

The P family (including the mother and her two daughters) were able to be baptized this past Saturday. It was very special because her sobrina ´happened´ to be visiting that weekend and, as we found out, is actually a less active member in the church. Also, several members of this family were also able to attend the baptismal service. The energy and excitement of their girls spread throughout the rest of the family, and the excitement showed in their faces. The family members were able to support them in this decision, just as Hna C and I prayed they would.

 

The room was so full for the baptism that a couple members and missionaries has to stand in the hallway during the baptismal service. It was special to see a family with so much interest in completing the covenant of baptism. Prepping up for Saturday, they kept asking, "When will it be Saturday? When can we practice being baptized?" This is also the family that we found at a discouraging moment, and through the miraculous event that the C family finally permitted us to enter their home. The Lord is in the details. And He is preparing His children. This I know, because I have seen it.

 

Also, we are teaching an hermano named H, who will be baptized this coming Saturday. H lives alone and when we encountered him, he was rather depressed and alone: swallowed in the grief of something that happened in his past. As Hna C and I began to visit with him, we felt something very sincere and genuine about his desire to improve his life. He initially felt unprepared to be baptized, but began challenging himself to step outside his comfort zone and put his seed of faith to the test. He has been to every church meeting and baptism since then without fail, and is also looking forward and announcing the day of his baptism.

 

He shared a very special experience he had several years ago when he last visited the church. I hope he is about to share it with you when you visit with him this week. He mentioned that he felt as if he was "wrapped in the arms of Heavenly Father" one day years ago as he sat in one the gospel classes. H is a very prepared man, and I have seen the light of hope brighten every time we share our experiences and testimony of the gospel. He is not the same person I met a few weeks ago. Instead, he is glistening with a new hope and light. And I know that this is what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can do for us.

 

This weekend is his baptism, and I look forward to seeing the progress these families and investigators will continue to make as they accept the Lord as their Savior. Hna C and I have the goal of being a little braver in contacting and finding new people heheh. Because when we do the work with confidence, I see that the Lord blesses us with His children who have been prepared."

 

This last picture is of us this morning making Pan de Yuca. :) We had a little bit of a carnival ourselves with the almidon heheheh