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!