Ejemplos Para Mi

HI family!!

At the moment we just walked into the internet cafe, I sat down and feel like I’m going to pass out because we’ve literally been RUNNING from place to place today and for our zone activity today... we went to an American’s house and had a late Thanksgiving dinner! And if you can imagine.... a year without eating anything american, I may have had third and fourths on the food. And I’m just starting to realize what a bad idea that is to try and walk to all sides of Otavalo with that in my stomach. So.. forgive me. :) But I’ll try and highlight a few of the things that happened this week.

Our Zone - Late Thanksgiving dinner

Again.. it seemed to pass by so quickly. I think my favorite part is that a general authority came this week and we had an AMAZING reunion with him on Friday. The biggest thing that I took out of it... WE ARE DISCIPLES FOR LIFE. When we learn about this gospel and experience the changes that it brings, we literally CANNOT go back to who we once were. I know we’ve all had spiritual experiences before. Amazing. Inspiring. Times where we just KNOW that this is all true and that the Lord has a certain plan for us. Well... Satan also knows that we have these experiences. He doesn’t like that. And he will try and do everything he can so that we forget, doubt or ignore these amazing experiences that the Lord gives us. But our job is to never let the doubts of satan weaken and damage the roots that we have gained. He can’t if we don’t let him. Something that I’ve been doing the last few weeks is writing down my very favorite spiritual experiences from my mission (and the rest of my life) and wow... I am amazed at all of the ways that the Lord has and continues to show me that THIS is His gospel. THIS is the truth. If any of you feel like Satan has been working hard at ya lately, it’s something you should try. I know that the Lord blesses us with MORE as we show Him that we value the things and experiences He HAS given us. 

Well, the general authority did something interesting. He had all of those in their last change stand up. (Honestly, I didn’t stand up for a while.. halfway because I forgot that was me and halfway because... I don’t know if I’m quite ready to accept that yet). But he had us stand and said "you might think you’re going to go back to real life soon. But you’re not. THIS.. is real life. You can’t return to who you were." Like President Holland said... being commissioned by Jesus Christ to be his servant for 1 year and a half or two will change a lot of converts... but it HAS to change us. It has to change us forever. I love knowing that the Lord needs servants everywhere in the world and every one of us can be changed forever because of our baptismal covenant to serve the Lord. WE can’t go back.

We also saw some cool miracles this week.

Remember Oscar from last week? He and his brother came to church this week. For all three hours. And the ward was sooo awesome with them!! They’re practically family now and have a billion friend. That makes one happy missionary to see that :) They both want to get baptized and are praying and reading the Book of Mormon.

We also had a super special lesson with one of our investigators, Jose, whose wife and daughters are members and he wants to get baptized this month. He accepted the goal of the 24th and wow... he sure is doing his part. Every time we return, he’s so happy to tell us about the things he has ready (even though he doesn’t understand Spanish very well) but he is trying so hard. The obstacle is that he’s been having to travel to Quito a lot lately for work, so time could be hard, but we’re praying a lot and seeing lots of blessings.

Kati - My friend

Another of our investigators, Kati, told us yesterday after reading a chapter and praying that she received her answer and knows that the church is true. My companion asked her how she received her answer and she told us that it was through a dream. The next night she dreamt that the Church is true and she needs to join it. She was so happy. Just smiled through our whole lesson and told us that she is ready to obey any commandment that the Lord has for her. She’s 24... more like a best friend to us than anything. She came to church yesterday and LOVED it

On Wednesday we went to a new mamita named Clara. A lady in our ward. We got to her house and wow... she lives alone. Her husband left her and her kids won’t talk to her. She’s sick and breaking down, barely has any food and her job is selling in a teeny store that she has in her house that no one really ever comes to. We asked what she was doing for Christmas and told us... I have no one. Just the Lord. I’m gonna be here alone. So we planned to come and have a FHE with her Christmas day. Her example is so inspiring. She sits in her store all day everyday with her scriptures open, trying to learn how to read, and just reads and prays and reads some more. But somehow... she’s one of the happiest people that I have met because she knows WHY she is here.

Another family that we’re teaching.. Family Mendez. The mom and dad are separated (because of some drug problems) the mom has 6 kids and just lost her job. She told us that there are some days that they don’t eat because they literally have no money. And boy, can I imagine how hard that would be, but she trusts. She trusts that God won’t leave them alone, even though they truly are surviving day to day.

I can’t even begin to explain how grateful am I to be getting to know such great people. Its stories like these that make you think... wow, my life is so good. We are so blessed, and especially during this month, we get the opportunity to lift others who are in the midst of big trials like these.

I hope you all know how much I love you. How much I love the Lord. He truly is the reason that every single one of us can have hope... no matter how lost or alone we feel. Thank you for your love and support!!

Con amor... Hermana Yorgason