HERMANA HULL!! and what I've learned about Ecuador.

Hello Family!!

Once again, its fantastic to read your letters and it always brings a smile to my face to hear about all the great things you’re doing! Hope you guys have a great week of school and Tanner and Dallas... I’m sending my good luck vibes to you guys as you start college!! 

Me and Hermana Hull!  Oh JOY!

Well... I’ll start with probably the highlight of my week. I GOT TO SEE HERMANA HULL!! Oh man that was one great moment in my life :) My companion and I got to the church where we had our big devotional.. We had been there about 5 minutes, and I opened the door to walk out of the bathroom and guess who was opening the door to walk in? Both of us literally froze for like 5 seconds, and then gave each other a huge hug. More like 10 huge hugs. It was so so good to see someone from home. Although I still could have talked to her for many more hours, we got to sit by each other during the meeting! And talk before and after. Ah she is doing so great and it was so good for me to hear her experiences, her advice, and her encouragement. My goal is to be like she is in 6 months :) But wow, we had our own little 10th ward reunion right here in Quito, and it was wonderful. I think that was a tender mercy for both of us.

Our baptism

We also had our first baptism this Saturday which was really really cool. It’s been so cool to see how people can change after they start learning about the gospel and living it in their lives. We have been so so blessed to be members of this church for our whole lives, but my eyes have really been opened to what it’s like to NOT have the church in your life. I think that’s something that I sometimes took for granted when I was home because I’ve always been surrounded by a great family, great ward, and great friends at school. The gospel truly can heal people. And this baptism on Saturday was such a great experience. Our church building here is actually very nice and we have a real font (unlike a lot of the sectors here). Afterward we had a ward party and it was really cool to see the unity of a ward who really is SUCH a minority where they live. But they are so strong and so united. Although its still hard to have real conversations with people, they are so so accepting and a lot of the kids like it when I teach them words in English. That’s been fun :)

Ward Party

Although this is still all so new for me, I feel like I’m STARTING to get a feel for Ecuadorian culture. Here are a few things I’ve realized about this place so far...

-People don’t use "adios", its always "chow". I’ve had to really get used to that.

-EVERYONE kisses you on the cheek when you meet them and when you say goodbye. (We just have to make sure it’s only the women and girls with us though:) ) Haha so hopefully when I come back I can get used to high fives and handshakes again.

-The milk here is... different. It comes in a bag and tastes weird. BUT it’s better than nothing. And cereal for a 9:30 snack at night has become a great tradition!

-Taxis.. are everywhere and cost a fortune! But our area is so big that we have to use them a lot. That’s not my favorite thing

-There are dogs everywhere!! I’ve gone so far without getting bitten, but that may not last long. We’ll see…

-The weather is wonderful! I even get cold sometimes at night, but during the day is perfecto.

-If I haven’t already woken up by 5:30, I won’t be sleeping for long because that’s when the chickens by our house like to make nonstop super super loud noises! 

-Lots and lots of rice

-Lunch is the big meal here (like I’ve said), so dinner is usually popcorn, cereal or a roll

-People sell food, ice cream, bracelets and lots of other random things on the bus

-And apparently there isn’t a rule about where to cross the street. Cross walks aren’t a thing here, so we have to be careful to weave our way through traffic :)

Waiting at the bus stop

It’s been a good week. Again, a hard week. Lots and lots of challenges from being a new missionary and everyday I realize more and more how important prayer is. There is no way I could do it without that strength and support.  I have been blessed with a great companion, loving people in my ward, and a growing love for the Book of Mormon. Like Nephi said, If the Lord commanded it, we could do all things. Nephi has been my hero the last few weeks and I am so so grateful for his example! Thank you thank you for your support and Love. I hope you have a great week!!!

Hermana Yorgason

Getting Used to Ecuador!

Dear My Wonderful Family!

District Activity

Thank you again, so so much for your letters and pictures.  Mom, the longer the better.  I love hearing every detail about your lives!  I don’t have as much time to write today because we had a District Activity far away, but I’m going to type as fast as I can so I can reply to a few people as well. Wow, school has started for all you guys! Aww, that’s such exciting news :) I know you probably aren’t totally thrilled, but good luck to you all! It’s crazy how fast summers seem to fly by! It also sound like you guys are so so busy! Good luck Tanner with school this week and good luck to Dallas and KC with the wedding coming up! 

Home Sweet Home

Another week down here in Ecuador! I feel like I got a little more used to things these last 7 days. The schedule, the town, the people. Just like you guys, we are so so busy and we’re working nonstop. Something I’ve had to get used to is the schedule here. We wake up at 6:30, start studying at 8 and it goes until 12, leave the house soon after that.  Somedays we have a lunch appointment at 12 or one, and then we work, talk to people and have lessons after that until 9 o’clock until we have to be back in our apartment. Since lunch is the big meal here, we eat at lunch, but we don’t get time for dinner. So we can either stop at a shop quickly or eat a snack when we get home. Ha ha it’s quite the opposite than it was in the CCM. But people are so nice here are many times they offer us bread or crackers or a drink during their lesson. When we get home at night, we plan (which has been taking us quite awhile), get done around 10, get ready for bed, and start our companion prayer at 10:20 so we can be in bed at 10:30.  Woosh!  It’s a whirlwind. Something I’ve really come to learn though, is the WORK is the cure to homesickness and discouragement. Work. And even though I am absolutely exhausted at the end of each day, I know that WORK is what I was called to do. When I have time to think and rest (or get ready for the day), like the mornings, that’s when homesickness really has time to creep in. My companion and I are really trying hard to be working constantly and I’ve seen that that helps so much. There were a few days this week where we had 6 lessons, and wow, am I learning a lot from her.

This is Ecuador!

The language… is coming along. I really felt your prayers this week and am so grateful for the diligence that this is forcing out of me. This week I was able to help teach with parts of the lessons instead of just bear my testimony at the end. During lessons I really feel the Spirit helping me know what I should say, and as my companion says, it’s a process, but it’s coming. During one of our lessons this week the girl we were teaching asked me to say the prayer and since she’s trying to learn English, she wanted me to say it in English. Have not done that in a long time!! And it was hard. I’m forgetting how to pray in English!!!  Haha I had to think hard when I was starting a new sentence because I’m in such a habit of saying everything in Spanish. It was pretty funny, but I guess that’s good news? :)

This week we are going to have our first baptism on Saturday and I am so excited for that.  It’s a girl we’ve been teaching who is 13 years old and is so happy and excited. It’s amazing to see the peace that comes into people’s lives when they learn about this gospel, and I am so excited for her. After the baptism we are having a party at the church for the 50th anniversary of the church here in Ecuador. Food, talking, games, and hopefully it will be a great way to get to know new people and find investigators.

This week on Thursday we also get to go to Quito to hear a general authority speak to our whole mission, and guess what that means??? I THINK I’ll get to see Jenika, and oh is that SUCH a tender mercy for me. I am so so looking forward to seeing her. Seeing a piece of home. And I’m also so excited to hear the words from a general authority. Meetings like this always are such an encouragement to keep working hard.

The ward that we’re in had the opportunity to do a temple trip this week (Sadly we didn’t get to go with them:( ) They do this every few months and its an 8 hour bus ride each way. It amazes me every time I realize how lucky we are in Logan Utah to have a temple 10 minutes away from our house. Some of our recent converts went and came back with a literal glow around them. It made me realize once again how lucky we are to have the power of the temple in our lives. Every time I think of it, I realize that that is just one more way that Heavenly Father shows his love for us. We have a place of absolute peace in this crazy world, and wow, is that SUCH a blessing. 

Sister Training Leaders

Thank you thank you for your prayers. They are going both ways. I love you guys. Its so so hard to be away. So hard, but I know that this is exactly where I need to be to grow, and help other people have a happy family like we have been blessed with.

Have a great week!!

Hermana Yorgason

My First Week in Ecuador!

Hello Hello!!

Wow, I sure feel like I haven’t written you guys in so long! I am officially here in Ecuador, and wow is it such a change! This week has definitely had the highest highs and lowest lows of my mission, but I am learning so much from every experience. It’s been a whirlwind, but I’m really loving being a real missionary :) It was so good to read your letters as always. I came about an hour ago and printed them off so I didn’t have to use up time to read them. It was my companion’s brilliant idea :) You guys start school this week!!! Wow that came so fast! Luke and Chad, I hope you have SUCH a great time being in the same school. I remember when Luke and I were at Sky View together and that was one of my favorite years ever. I want to hear how it is for all of you guys!

At the airport.

Well, from the beginning.  About 40 of us left the Columbia CCM early Tuesday morning at 3 and then waited in the airport for a very long time while they tried to figure out our flights. We were quite a funny/cool looking sight :) When we got to Ecuador, President and Sister Richardson and the APs were waiting for us at the airport. That night and the next day we were in church buildings in Columbia getting to know the president, learning about the mission and figuring out Visa stuff. On Wednesday, all of us Americans had to walk down to a government building to get our visas activated and it was such a funny experience. One of the Senior Elders led us down there (about a mile and a half) and to say the least, he was not afraid of anything.. people, cars, dogs. I felt like I was in the Movie Mulan when the grandma is crossing the street with her eyes closed. We didn’t know where we were going, so we didn’t really have a choice, but there were a few close calls as we were walking at a very fast pace through the streets of Ecuador. Ha ha, oh we were laughing at ourselves. That night we had an opening dinner with Pres. and Sis. Richardson and it was so great to be in a nice home, with people I knew, getting excited for our mission. I absolutely LOVE my president, and his wife... Wow, she already feels like my mom away from home. She told all of us sisters to call her if we ever need ANYTHING and just from talking to her, you can tell she is so in tune with the Spirit.

Pres. and Sis. Richardson

Opening dinner at the Mission President's home.

My companion, Sis. Mortera

The next morning we went back to the church for some more training and received our companions. My trainer is named Hermana Mortera from Mexico. AND I absolutely love her! She is so patient. So Christlike and has such a strong testimony. She’s 27 years old, has been a member for 2 years, and has only been on the mission for 12 weeks! Ya, she JUST got done with her twelve week training! We’re in her old sector and also opening up a new one (so that is very interesting with directions and such).  Just she and I live in an apartment which is very nice compared to a lot of the houses here, and she doesn’t speak any English. I know it’s a blessing in disguise. Right now it’s a little rough because if I ever want to talk to someone, the only option I have is to speak Spanish. Some nights I feel like my journal is my best friend, but my faith is really, really being tested and strengthened and I know our companionships are so inspired. I have learned so so much from Hermana Mortera! We’re in an area called Tumbaco and it’s about 1 hour away from Quito. It reminds me a lot of Mexico and there’s a pretty wide range of houses, but this week we taught a few lessons in tiny a house, with dirt floors, two beds, a sink with 8 people living there. So so humbling.

To get around the city, we either walk, ride a bus or take a taxi. The buses here are crazy and I’ve almost been left a few times because they barely wait for everyone to get on. The day that we traveled to our sector was quite interesting because we had lots of bags and two VERY heavy suitcases. We walked about 1 mile and a half through dirt roads and lots of rocks. One of my suitcases is pretty shot, but hopefully tape and lots of love will do the trick. There are people everywhere and people are trying to sell things everywhere. It’s also so humbling to see 7 year old children try and sell pieces of candy so they can take that money home to their families. But if you need fruit here, it’s no problem because there are fruit stands everywhere!

Hello Ecuador!

As soon as we got to our apartment, I unloaded a few things, and then we headed out right away. AHh. A little scary! But I got my first contact on the first bus we rode. It was a super sweet mom who was very interested in religion, and that night we actually went over and taught them the first lesson. Although there is A LOT I can’t understand, I was able to bear my testimony at the end about families and really felt the Spirit there as we were teaching.

Teaching at an orphanage.

We’re also teaching a group of boys at an orphanage. (Mom I’m so glad you got the picture!!) Again, I couldn’t say much, but it is so cool to see how the gospel can change lives. The owner only speaks English so it was SUCH a breath of fresh air to be able to talk to him after a full day of Spanish church. He also made us American tacos so that was a plus for sure!!

The language is hard, getting up at 6:30 is hard, but I am really loving this new adventure. I have so much to learn, but I have a great companion, and I really feel the Lord helping me everyday. And I do feel your prayers. I am so so grateful for that because I need the gift of tongues more than ever right now and I know the Lord will provide. Although there is ALOT I don’t understand, there is something I DO understand, and that is that the Spirit speaks in all languages. I have felt it so many times here and am so grateful for the knowledge that the Lord really does know everything we’re going through. 

Thank you so much for your love. I miss you guys sooo much! I’m trying hard to not let it distract me, but know that I literally pray for you every night.

Have a great week!!

Hermana Yorgason

I LOVE Sis. Mortera!

Last Week of MTC Coming Up!

Dearest Familia!!

I love you guys so much. And I absolutely LOVED getting the update on these past few weeks. Wow, you guys know how to have fun. I was extremely happy when I read that you decided to go to Lagoon on the day that it was the worst weather. Haha, that sooo sounds like all of you you guys :) Second, Dallas and KC, CONGRATULATIONS!! Those pictures are beautiful! (KC you are gorgeous) and Dallas, you pulled of the engagement, which include chasing down the ring. Hahaha. I am so excited for you guys!

Saying goodbye to the CCM

Well, this is my last week here at the MTC. I am halfway super nervous about being away from comfort, SOME English speakers and this fenced in area, but the other half of me couldn’t be more excited! Since I’ve been in the CCM the whole time, THIS is what feels like my mission, but I can’t wait to actually truly be out in the field. Teaching lessons to your teacher everyday is great, but there’s something about talking to a REAL investigator that I love. Wow, I can’t believe it’s so soon! We leave early early Tuesday morning (I think 3 or 4), drive to the airport, our flight is at 8 and when we get to Ecuador our Mission President will pick us up at the airport and I’m assuming take us to the Mission Home. I think we get to write when we get there so I’ll let you know I made it safe. ALSO, I heard that maybe we could have the opportunity to call home. I think the problem is that we would have to find a pay phone and I feel like there aren’t many of those around these days. So.. I don’t know how likely it is, but if you get a call from a number you don’t know, it might be a good idea to answer it :) I have no idea what time it would be but I’m so very sorry if I wake you up. 

Me and Hermana Roderiguez

So yes, like I told you last email, this week everything changed. Another group of Latinos came in, we got new companions, new districts and new teachers. We went from American companions and teachers who could speak english to all Spanish, all the time. Wow, there’s quite a lot in this brain of mine. My companion is named Hermana Roderiguez and she is from Venezuela. And.. she doesn’t speak any English. She also is one of the fastest Spanish speakers I have talked to so that makes for an interesting time. I would say at least half of the time I don’t understand her because I think talking slowing isn’t something she knows how to do :) Yes, I figured that would be the case, but I have been amazed at how much I have learned in this week from being forced to speak in Spanish whether its about how we want to teach our lesson or what time we want to get up and shower. The Latinas here are very sweet and it’s been cool to figure out how we can work together. Hermana Roderiguez has a great testimony, but we also have VERY different personalities, but I have really grown to love her and recognize her acts of service throughout the day. It’s been good for me this week to learn how to work with all different types of people, and I realize, here we go, because I will have many different types of companions.

This week has been full of being completely lost and confused, and then time when I think to myself, wow, I’m actually starting to get this. It’s hard for me to understand my companion, but I usually can get what the teachers are saying most of the time. We practice Spanish in the Lunch line, bathroom, go over conjugations while we’re running, I usually bring my English-Spanish dictionary with me wherever I go so I can look up words, and our companions are really good at helping us practice grammar and different tenses. 

An example of a major part of the week.. one night Hermana Roderiguez and I knelt down to pray before our companion study. It was her turn to pray so she started saying the prayer, and I could understand a few words, but between her speed and having her head down, words here and there was about it. Awhile into the prayer I thought she had just paused in the middle to think.. after about 10 seconds I opened one eye, and apparently she had already said Amen, because she was just sitting there looking at me with a very confused look on her face. Haha we had a pretty good laugh about that and then continued with our planning.

While that describes a lot of my week, there were also moments where I was amazed what the Spirit can do and how it can help me understand Spanish. Last night we were talking about prayer in one of our classes and how we can teach it to our investigators. Our teacher had us pair up with our companion for a role play and instead of us being one of the investigators like usual, we were both ourselves. My companion was supposed to ask me questions, find a need, and then teach me how prayer can help me in that situation. As we talked about our experience at the CCM and she shared how prayer is such an important part of my life, I could completely understand her. She told me how impressed she is with our (North Americans’) Spanish and promised me that the Lord called me to this exact mission because he knows I can do it. She pulled out a scripture that said angels will surround you, and it reminded me of the closing prayer Brother Bezzant gave at church the last week. I was so amazed at how clear her words were and how much I could feel the Spirit in that moment. Also, one of our favorite things to do is teach each other our language. Many times after a meal we come back to our classroom and teach each other scriptures in the opposite language. She’s hoping to learn English and I am happy to teach her and speak it for a few minutes each day :)

I again have a great district. I was talking to an elder from my district and when he found out that I am from Utah, he said... "Most of the people I know have to travel at least 12 hours to get to a temple and I know you have many in Utah. The Lord loves you and you are very blessed." Another time I was talking to the people in my district and they were all telling me about times when they’ve been robbed at gunpoint around their town. It had happened at least more than once to everyone. They told me that I live in the Celestial kingdom and they all want to visit there one day. I’ve been so humbled this week to see how blessed I am and how happy these other missionaries are that have almost nothing. I have really loved getting to know them and hear about their lives. (But also mom, don’t worry, they told me I’ll be completely safe as a missionary:) )

I don’t know exactly when I will get to talk to you next, but I love you, love you, love you. I’m so grateful for what I’m learning about the gospel, the hard experiences, and the spiritual experiences I have here that are preparing me to share this with others. Have a fantastic week!!

Hermana Yorgason