Baptism of Familia Casco! ... and a Funny Injury!

Well Family. Hello! I hope you are having a fantastic week and had a great Easter yesterday!

This is what "beautiful Ecuador" looks like.

To be honest, it didn’t feel like Easter here at all. I guess people don’t really celebrate it much, and it actually wasn’t until the middle of the day that I realized that it WAS Easter. But I always ALWAYS love thinking about Christ and the amazing sacrifice that he went through. On Saturday we watched Finding Faith in Christ with a few of our investigators, and it was one of those moments where my heart was so touched with everything the Lord went through. It felt like I could have been there with Him... seeing the miracles He performed and hearing His invitation... "All that are labored and heavy laden, come unto me and I will give you rest." If there is one thing I know, it is that the Lord can help us during trials because he knows EXACTLY how we feel. Every sadness, doubt, insecurity, failure, pain. He knows because He felt it. And for that reason, when it seems like there is no one else to turn to, He will always always have his hands outstretched to us. I think that is one of the number one most important things we can know and share with other people. And I’ve come to realize on my mission that that is my favorite thing to share in any testimony that I give. That the atonement is so real.

Well, an exciting week for sure. Besides a few challenges... a lost camera, I’m still sick (can’t remember what its like to be feeling normal:/), and a few minor injuries, we had some GREAT highlights.

Adventures with Hermana Ettinger!

Highlight number one. Divisions with Hermana Ettinger. (If some can’t remember, she was my second companion... and we just click) Oh man, it was a great 24 hours... filled with lots of talking, lots of remembering the good old times, finding some new investigators, and some great adventures. It was a good journal entry that night. :) First of all we were at a bus stop talking to a few people and I almost got hit by a car. They almost backed up right into me. But... luckily Hna Ettinger is quick on her feet and we’re all fine :) After that, we rode the bus about 30 minutes up to the house of Family Casco. It was getting late and there are only buses there up to a certain time so we knew we had to give a fairly short lesson so we could make it back home. We talked about the family, shared a few scriptures and man... they are just such great people. As we headed out the door and started to leave, we heard the bus coming down the hill and oh man... all we did was put on the burners and start booking it through their field. It was pitch black (besides the moon), so I’m sure we were a pretty funny sight. Lesson number one... it’s probably not the best thing to run when your not sure what’s ahead of you, because the next thing I knew, I was flat on the ground. Completely. There was a stake in their yard that I didn’t know about, haha and... I sure took a good spill. But all that was in my head was that we were going to miss the last bus, so I got up, half wobbling, half crying I think, half laughing, and half trying to run with Hna Ettinger. Well we were about 10 seconds short of the bus. And definitely short of breath, because running down a mountain isn’t something we do a lot here. So we went to plan B... tried to find a taxi, or someone that knew the number of a taxi. We also called everyone we could think of who had a car to come pick us up but no one was answering. So... after thinking and calling, and trying to wash all the blood off of my foot (I’ve got a good battle wound from that stake), we said a prayer and started walking. From Angla to San Pablo. And I know that doesn’t mean much to any of you... but like I said, its about 25 or 30 minutes in a bus. It was quite funny to think about.. 2 North American girls, walking through a mountain/canyon in the middle of no where Ecuador, under the stars, hoping that we could find our way home. But.. the great thing is, we weren’t scared at all. I just saw it as a lot more time to talk and a good experience we’ll remember. I know that the Lord protected us and we got home just in time :)

My battle wound....!

This week we also spent a lot of our time looking for a new apartment. The secretaries called us and said the in the next transfer, president is going to split our sector and bring in elders. We looked for a few days and found a GREAT apartment (it’s almost too great for a missionary living in Ecuador:)) and today we finalized it all. The sad thing is since I’ve been here for 3 changes, it’s likely that I’ll leave, so I’m trying to not get too excited, but we’ll see what happens.

Another highlight is we found a family this week who are soo great! Probably the friendliest family I’ve talked to here and they have soo many questions, so excited to learn. That was definitely a blessing from the Lord. 

A family in our ward let Hermana Sanchez and I borrow their ponchos.
It gets so cold here!!!

Another highlight. Yesterday I was sitting with Vanessa (got baptized two weeks ago) in sacrament meeting. I was explaining to her about testimony meeting, why we have it, what we can do, and asked her if she wanted to go up. Towards the end of the meeting, she turned to me and said that she’d go up if I went with her. So we both had the opportunity to bear our testimonies in sacrament meeting and it just made my heart so happy to see how much her testimony has grown even in two weeks.

We also watched the General Women’s Conference this Saturday and boy... was it great. It was so cool how every single talk was about service and being more like Christ. Something that really hit me was the example of the mirror and the window. That we, as children of God and having made a covenant in our baptism, should always look through a window, focus on others and forget about our own problems and insecurities.

And our course, the biggest highlight of the week was the baptism of Familia Casco. Wow. It was one of those days where I could just see so clearly exactly why a mission is so worth it. Lots of people from the ward came and the meeting focused a lot on the goal beyond baptism. The temple and eternal families. Each of them had chosen one elder or the bishop to baptize them, and as they each went into the water one by one, they literally looked like angels. The first thought that came into my mind was that THAT is how they are going to look when they are in the celestial kingdom as a family. I know I say a lot that I miss you guys... my family. Very much. But having an experience like we did on Saturday makes every pain, every sadness, every day out here worth it. The gospel truly blesses families and I want everyone to have the happiness that our family has.

Baptism of Familia Casco!

I love you guys. I know with out a doubt that the Lord has such a great plan for us if we will only rely on him and put him first.

Hope you have a great week!!!

Hermana Yorgason

Beautiful Otavalo and an Awesome Zone!

Hi Family and Friends!!!!

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS Luke on your mission call. I’ll have to say, it was a long long week knowing that on Monday right after I logged off, he opened his call and I had to wait until today. I think my companion and I brainstormed about every possible place that exists in the world. Every night we placed our guesses. And... California Spanish speaking was one of those guesses! Everything was Spanish speaking. That was my only hope :) Luke, I hope you know how much I love you and how beyond excited I am for you! Mission calls (and missions in general) are such an exciting time of life. 

So... today I don’t have a tooon of extra time to write, but I’ll try and say as much as I can. Today for P-day we went to Otavalo for a zone activity. Our zone is the COOLEST!  We’ve gotten really close these last two months as we’ve talked about faith and miracles and our zone has seen soo many blessings. As a little bonus, our President has given us a challenge that the zone that has the most baptisms in the month of March gets to go to the mission home for an all day feast with President and his wife. And we’re talking American food... mashed potatoes, steak, brownies, ice cream, cake. Everything. Right now our zone is tied for first so we’re really putting in all our might so we can have that day of relaxation :) I’ll let you know how it goes :) Today for our zone activity we played dodge ball in the church for a few hours. Oh it reminded me so much of when we played in our house in eagle and I loved it! I just feel super sore right now which tells me I must be really out of shape :/ Haha. More running and less ice cream for us I guess. :)

Familia Casco

This week we had a conference with President Richardson and his wife. They talked a lot about the Apostasy and Restoration and how we should highlight those two things in our teaching. It’s been so cool to me as I’ve studied about the apostasy, the time on the earth where really no one had the complete truth, how they changed doctrine, changed things in the bible, and at times it was actually not allowed for normal people to HAVE a bible... they just had to believe their church leaders and hope that what they were saying was correct. Studying about this time has really opened my eyes to how blessed we are today to have the true church of Christ on the earth. It is such a blessing and it all comes down to the love that our Heavenly Father has for us. He wants us to have this guide and happiness in our lives that came from the Restoration.

Ice cream and pizza on P-day.  There is nothing better!

This week was a lot of teaching, contacting and preparing investigators for their baptisms. We have an investigator who has been preparing and listening to the lessons for a month and a half and was really excited for her baptism that was scheduled for Saturday (the 19th). But she’s pregnant and since she doesn’t know when her baby is going to come, her parents didn't want her to do anything risky (including getting in the water for her baptism) so she chose to wait until April to be baptized. It was sad for Hermana Sanchez and I because we know how prepared she is, and were all ready for her baptismal service, but I know that the Lord will help her prepare for April.

I know I've said it before, but being in Otavalo is the absolute coolest! The culture and way of life here is a completely different world than anything we’re used to.  A few of the things I saw this week that made me smile about my sector....

-We had a family night and their "treats" were potatoes and rice :)

-There are pigs and cows walking around everywhere. It’s the normal thing.

-We ride buses everywhere we go. It’s pretty much the only transportation there is. But it’s all good because that gives us more opportunities to meet new people.

-There are these little ice cream freezers everywhere and my companion and I always reward ourselves with 25 cent ice cream bars   :)

-Our area surrounds a huge lake so it big and BEAUTIFUL. The mountains are green and there are lots of trees and sticks and huts and farms.

-It rains almost everyday here. The funny this is that everyone uses these Otavalo shoes that aren’t very much of a shoe. Their feet must be strong and used to rocks and mud.

-It’s sure peaceful and tranquillo here. Out of the world. A good way to live.

Waiting for the bus in the park in San Pablo

Well... I am officially out of time, but I hope you all know how much I love you. It’s hard to be away from you guys. Super hard. But I am happy here. Happy to serve the Lord and see all of the ways that he puts his hand in my life. Thank you for your example and prayers. 

Talk to you in a week!!

Hermana Yorgason

Baptism, Teaching & Work

Hi Familia!!!!

Good week, sick week, tiring week. Both my companion and I haven’t been feeling good all this week, but theres been so much work to do that we have had no breaks. Let me just tell you, I have found out this week that having a cough that won’t go away and being forced to talk all day everyday is a rough combination. But... in honor of our sicknesses we took the P-day and slept for about 3 hours to hopefully get better. I have not enjoyed myself so much in a long time :)

First of all, our family, Familia Casco Ipiales is doing so so good. They came to church again yesterday.. all smiles, and I think they pay more attention than half the members. The ward is doing an awesome job with talking to them, getting to know them, and making them feel so welcome. Hermana Sanchez and I have implemented a plan that’s called "Plan Veci". (Vecinos- neighbors) Since they live far away, we’re not able to make it to their house every day, so one day we go, and the next day someone in the ward visits them, and shares a scripture and a short message. It’s worked so well that we even got to give a training in our district so we can all apply this plan to all our investigators.

Familia Casco Ipiales.  No one smiles here in pictures,
but I promise they are so happy :)
And so great!

Like I said.. one of the only problems is that this family lives super far away. Up in the mountains, away from most other things, and buses don’t pass by very much, so it takes a lot of time to go, and return. This week we were up at their house teaching a lesson and left running so that we’d be at the bus stop in time for the last bus. Well, we waited and waited and waited a bit more. We asked people in the streets and in the internet cafes that we could find if any more buses were going to come, but no one seemed to know... or really care. It was dark, we were VERY far and walking wasn’t really an option and it wasn’t too long that we needed to be in our casa. Hermana Sanchez and I decided to say a prayer to ask for help. For SOMETHING. As we got done with the prayer, one of the members in our ward came into my mind. There aren’t many people here with a car, but we called the relief society president (hoping they were still awake). The first people we called, some of the only with a car, they answered right away and were HAPPY to come pick us up and take us to their house. I was so grateful for the little blessing from the ward that we saw that night.

Baptism of Vanessa!

This week we also had the baptism of Vanessa (the aunt of Erick from last week). We got to the church about 15 minutes early like any other baptism to let her change, set up, and wait for people to arrive. Well... this time when we got there, we went to the font to make sure everything was alright and.... no water. Uhhh. Ok that makes your heart start beating quite fast. Someone was supposed to go earlier to fill up the font, but we found out later that they didn’t realize the plug was open the whole time. People started coming, and luckily the bishop got there so he took charge of the water. We took charge of welcoming people (especially a lot of our new investigators who showed up) and tried to figure out what we were going to do for a few hours. We found a church video that we all watched for about an hour, and then thought of games and activities for about another hour. I felt bad that all these new people had to wait for so long... probably thinking that everything we do in the church takes like three hours ;) but it all ended up good. Vanessa was so happy and really glowing. She’s been going on visits with us this week and really wants to go on a mission in a few years :)

Again this week I had some super great studies. We also read a scripture in Relief Society that I loved. D &C 64:33-34

"Wherefore, be not weary in well doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of the small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind..."

I’ve realized and seen on my mission that is easy and very common for people to worry about titles, about what we have, accomplishments, or talents and strengths. It’s easy to focus on our appearance and how people see us. But I love that really what the Lord requires is a willing heart and good works. Any of us can do that. We can serve. We can smile. And we can tell the Lord in our prayers that we want to do what HE wants us to do. So often these things seem small, but it builds a huge foundation for our lives. Our character. Who we really are. It takes the pressure off of us that we have to have a huge list of titles and accomplishments, but that the Lord just wants to see us "abounding in good works."

Thank you everyone for your letters and love. Have a SUPER week and I CAN’T WAIT to see where Luke is going on his mission! Good luck :):)

Love Hermana Yorgason

One More Transfer with Hermana Sanchez!

Hello hello my WONDERFUL family and friends!!!

Well, well... it was the week of cambios. And..... I’m staying! In San Pablo. With Hermana Sanchez. WOOT. We were soooo happy. We found out today that we are actually some of the only ones in the zone that didn’t have changes, so its for something. Heavenly Father wants us to see miracles together :) When the district leaders called last night at first they told us that I was leaving to the coast. Because boys are boys and like to tease we told them "no… that's not happening... very funny.”  But he sounded serious and for about a minute had us convinced that I was leaving. Oh you guys. I almost started crying. My heart was in my stomach. Urg. Jokes sometimes are so not funny ;)

Staying with Hermana Sanchez!

Well, lots happened again this week. Sometimes I feel like the weeks here blur into one, but we’re busy busy busy. 

Our family (from last week.. the ones with a baptismal date) are doing so so good! They came to church yesterday, all of them together all dressed up. Early, sitting close to the front and listening the whole time. They are one of those families where I just KNOW the Lord has been preparing them. Every time we go to teach them they just eat it up. Have questions, comments and love the fact that in one year they can get sealed in the temple. (Hermana Sanchez and I already decided that we’re coming back for that ;)) The ward has been so great in talking to them, helping them feel welcome and they have about a million friends :)

Baptism of Erick

Saturday was a great day. First, we had the baptism of one of our investigators named Erick. We’ve been teaching him all way back since one of my first weeks here. And wow... I have seen such a big change in him. It’s been so cool to see how his testimony has grown little by little. He literally came out of the water smiling. What made my heart so happy was that when we went to pick him up on Sunday for church, he came out with a white shirt and church pants. And I have never seen anything close to that on him. To me it was an outward sign of his inward change. 

After the baptism we gave a lot of our investigators a tour of the church... explained the organizations and ended in the chapel talking about the atonement and how special Sundays and sacrament meetings are. It was super powerful and reminded me once again that we are so blessed to have the truth.

Then.. later that night, we were walking to an appointment that we had and we saw the aunt of Erick (also one of our investigators, 16 years old and named Vanessa). She has a super hard family life... Her dad is always drunk and her brothers wear black and listen to music that is pure screaming. (I think you can form a picture in your mind) She has been wanting to get baptized but never commits because of fear from her family. Every time they see her with a Book of Mormon they make fun of her and tell her all of the reasons why they think our church isn’t true. Well, Saturday night we saw her and as we started talking to her she just seemed so happy. She had been at the baptism of Erick and was really touched. She told us she wants to get baptized this week. AH!??? It was such a surprise and SUCH a miracle. After talking and when she left, Hermana Sanchez and I literally screamed and hugged. We are so excited for her. So this week… we're helping her prepare and excited for her baptism this weekend.

This is where we live.  Yep, the door with a picture of Christ....that's us!  Definitely can't go out the door running!

We had a funny experience this week. We left the house ready to work.. and how the weather is here, you NEVER know. It was warm, sunny, I didn’t think much about it. Well, we were going to eat lunch in a new area and apparently got a little confused because we got on the wrong bus, that was taking us in a completely wrong direction. We got off at a stop, didn’t know where we were, and then it started to rain. HARD. Like we felt like we were in a shower hard. We definitely didn’t have umbrellas or anything, the streets were FLOODED and we couldn’t see very well in the rain to figure out WHERE we were. Haha it was quite the good laugh. We showed up at our lunch appointment looking like sad little wet dogs :)

On Tuesday we were trying to find someone to teach before lunch.. the plans that we had weren’t there. We decided to say a prayer and asked that Heavenly Father would lead us to someone we could teach. As we walked past a random house I saw someone out back and didn’t think much, but then the thought came to me... why not, just say hi. Long story short, we started talking to her, she let us in, and as we started the lesson she started crying as she told us that her son is getting a divorce and she's been praying for someone to help her and give her comfort. It was cool to once again see the hand of the Lord in something as small as saying hi.

Clothes from Cayambee

Yesterday.. Sunday, was a super busy day. We wore the clothes from Cayambee because one of the members loaned both of us a complete outfit. A ton of our investigators came to church, so we were busy finding friends for all of them, the teacher of Gospel Principles teacher didn’t show up, Vanessa had her interview with our district leader, and about everyone was stopping telling us that "we looked pretty" haha, and on top of that both my companion and I were sick. I was a crazy day and my head was about on fire (and I was reminded again of how not fun being sick is), but that's what comes with all the blessings.

I know I tell you about every week, but thank you THANK you for all of your love and support. I know that this is the work of the Lord. We are only his hands, eyes and mouth. Hope you all have a FANTASTIC week!!

Hermana Yorgason