Two Little American Girls and a Baptism

Hello Family!

Well.. This has definitely been the wettest, coldest, funniest week of my mission. Maybe of my life. I don’t think I’ve ever been out in so much rain and puddles. First of all, so glad I have a waterproof bag. Second, this rain jacket has saved me. And third, I never thought I could be so cold on the equator. For reals though, don’t quite know how that works, but it was like someone turned on the switch this week and DUMPED the water!! Nonetheless, we laughed through it (especially when cars would pass and spray us with sheets of water), and boy have I never slept better in my life, that is for sure!!

RAIN!!

I have lots that I want to write this week. Lots happened, including a baptism of two investigators that we have had for quite a while. Yay!!!! It’s this adorably cute older couple, who learn slowly but have suuuch funny and sweet personalities. Their problem in the beginning was that they weren’t married, so last week we had their marriage, and this week, their son (only baptized three months ago) baptized both of them. As they both walked out of the water I could literally picture their whole family together in the temple and it made everything worth it. All the lessons, all the details to get them married, and filling up the font. That especially was tricky :) 

We got a call from the mission leader that he wasn’t going to be able to go to the church, so in the morning, we left our studies, took the bus to the church, looked, tried, and eventually figured out that we didn’t have the keys to the gas. So... back on the bus, back to our house (about 30 min), found the keys, back to the church, and then it took us about 45 min to figure out HOW to turn on the gas. But... us two American girls eventually figured it out, started the water, and it all worked out perfectly. As I watched them be baptized, I really saw a portion of the love that the Lord has for them. They are so happy, so energetic, and show up to church early every week with smiles on their faces. Love that example!

Filling the font....was a little tricky!!

We also had a really cool experience in a lesson this week with one of our recent converts. It’s a family of a single mom and five kids (the ones that fed me guinea pig!:)) They haven’t been able to go to the temple yet because of money and time and some days it’s even hard for them to get to church because all the busing costs here. On Wednesday, we had a lesson with them about the temple and the blessings that we receive when we sacrifice to go. Then at the end we let them know that the ward wants to help them with the cost of their food so that they can keep this commandment and go to the temple as a family. It was amazing to see their reaction as they heard this. The mom had tears in her eyes and told us how much this meant to her. I love love that this church is about service and help and that the Lord will ALWAYS provide a way for us to keep his commandments. I let them know that this wasn’t us, wasn’t even people from the ward, but that it was a blessing from Heavenly Father because they are living right. Such a humbling experience.

...and MORE rain!

Well, on a completely different note... along with the rain, I think someone also turned on the switch of beetles/cockroaches. They are everywhere! (Reminds me of the locusts in the bible. If you don’t remember look in Ex 10:4-6) We find them in our house, everywhere in the streets, found one in my hair. Hermana Ettinger and I have even debated catching them and cooking them up for a nice breakfast. We figure we should take advantage of living in a third world country, right? Ha, it’s funny to see all the little kids play with the bugs like they’re toys and try to stuff them down each others backs. No thank you! :)

This week on Thursday we got Cafe Rio for lunch and ooohh man, it was delightful. We have been so lucky and eat really well here. Every day we have a "mamita", a family who gives us food, and lots of them are pretty American, so we’ve had steak, fries, spaghetti, ice cream. Very very lucky in this sector!!!

Well, I forgot to bring my scripture for this week, but I want you all to know how much I love you and how much I love this gospel. Over these 12 weeks I have seen how the gospel can help us in literally every problem in our lives. The Lord is so good and gives us exactly what we need, and I know for me right now, that is a mission in Quito, Ecuador. Thank you for your example!

Love Hermana Yorgason 

Gelado