Change....

Hi Family!!

Man… sometimes change is hard.  I guess I’ve never liked it. My whole life. But I’m learning to know what it means to completely trust in the Lord and see every change as an opportunity to grow. Yesterday we were walking into general conference all tranquilla y feliz and our district leader just randomly pulled us aside and told us that our changes had come. We usually don’t get them till Sunday night so it was totally unexpected. Hermana Israelsen is leaving to the coast! I was so surprised with her changes that I wasn’t even paying attention to what he said to me. I get to stay in Imbaya. Honestly, I am coming to love it and just have this overwhelming feeling that miracles are awaiting. I don’t know who I’m gonna be with yet because I’m training and getting my companion on Wednesday. I know the Lord wants me to be able to keep going and sprinting strong. Can’t wait for the energy of a new missionary. Although the sector still is hard, there are still many people that don’t like when we talk to them, I know that my Father wants me to grow closer to Him. And I’m so grateful to see what’s ahead.

As always, we had a interesting and exciting week in Imbaya. Last week after writing our emails Hermana Israelsen and I were both stressed and frazzled because the computers weren’t working, we were frantically trying to respond to people that had written us, and then we turned around and had to dive straight into working at night. I guess we were both kind of drowning in stress. We felt like we should go visit one of our investigators, Maria. Right before we knocked on her door, we took a few seconds to stare up into the stars and realize how blessed we are. As we started asking questions in the lesson, we found out that Maria had had a really hard weekend with an unreliant family, an abusive spouse and no where to turn. She opened up to us with tears streaming down her cheeks and as we were able to bear such a sure testimony to her that the Lord knows, loves and understands her, I felt the same message go into MY heart and I realized how un-alone I really was.  There really comes a power when our words go from our heads to our heart so the Holy Ghost can testify. There’s really nothing that can more quickly take your pain away than listening to and trying to help someone else that’s struggling.

Its only in Imbaya that you get to walk with pigs, llamas, cows, and goats everyday on your way to work. We’ve sure gained some new friends. Hermana Israelsen makes sure to always keep a stick in her hand just in case bunches of devil dogs try and attack us. We had some close calls this week… but we’re starting to master how to fight them off. We contacted this week a person petting a chicken and another playing with a cockroach in their hand. Later this week we walked into lunch seeing a bowl of dead cockroaches sitting on the table, being horrified that we were gonna have to gulp them down. Luckily she was saving them for the next meal. We cut that one close.  We got sick halfway through the week after eating at a mamitas house. We helped her prepare the food and she used the same knife to cut the raw meat and then the fruit for the juice. Good thing for prayer ;) We were walking down the street and I saw a piece of really nice Green grass. I think the nicest I’ve seen since being home. Then we looked up and saw a lady shoveling it all out. She said she didn’t want it to spread to her other plants and ruin them so she had to dig it out. So sad ;( Grass is a weed here. We also realized halfway through a meal that its only on the misión that you eat a meal without washing your hands… and then end up eating it WITH your hands J

We had a funny moment in one of our lessons. Our investigators gave us a hot Apple cider drink filled completely to the top. Hermana Israelsen asked me what time it was and as I went to look at my watch, and my hand tipped and the burning hot drink started spilling onto my lap. It was burning my hand and my legs now. Hna Israelsen was laughing so hard that her drink started spilling too. We were dying because our legs were burning and everyone thought it was hilarious. We could barely walk home!

Man, I have barely any time left but I had a super spiritual week. Conference was exactly what I need. I had a really cool experience with personal prayer and answers from the scriptures and I felt extra love from the Lord. I know that all he wants us to do is try… and if we do, he will give us more than we could ever ask for. He is there to bless us. I know it.

I love you all. Espero que tengan una buena semana!!

Love Hermana Yorgason