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