Earthquake

Hello all my friends and family!!!!

It has been quite the week and I have sooo much I want to write so we’ll see how fast I can get it all written.

So, first of all... the first thing I’ve been reading in everyone’s letters. The Earthquake. Yes, there was definitely an earthquake here! The good news is I and all of the other missionaries are completely fine. The bad news… I've heard that there are quite a few deaths and many many injuries. It’s crazy how fast life can change, but I’m sure there are many people praying for the people of Ecuador. So thank you for that :) 

Saturday was sure a cool experience.. one that I won’t forget for a long time. At about 6:45 we were in a lesson with some of our recent converts.. talking, laughing, just getting started. All of the sudden I felt a little dizzy and figured it was something just from walking all day. But very soon I realized it was NOT that because everyone in the room started getting nervous and I heard lots of people outside screaming that there was an earthquake. The thing I remember most vividly was looking up and seeing their TV (flat screen TV) shaking back and forth, almost falling off the table. It’s honestly all kind of a blur, but we all went outside to find a spot far from the houses. People were kind of freaking out in the streets.. I think mostly because none of us knew how long it was going to last and how strong it was going to be. I’ve never been in an earthquake before, so I honestly didn’t know what was gonna to happen, but I think I was more intrigued than anything. It was a feeling I’ve always wanted to feel :) I think it lasted for about a minute or so.. pretty long! Where I was, was very far from the center of the earthquake, but it was still pretty strong. I heard that it was 6 something (on the scale) in Otavalo where we were. For us there wasn’t much damage.. I saw one or two telephone poles tipped or knocked over, but it was more of just a big startle... for everyone. That’s all people have been talking about and there have been big trucks going around collecting food for the people who live on the coast where it was much much stronger. I just pray hard for them. I can’t imagine losing family members in something so sudden.

But... the Lord protected us. For me... It wasn’t scary. During the whole thing, I just felt calm and the rest of the night we pretty much carried on like normal. 

Waiting for the taxi... on my way out!

The other news of the week is that we had changes. And I knew the time had to come one day, but I’m leaving Otavalo and going back to Quito. (I was hoping so badly for the coast.. but that didn’t happen:)) Honestly, being in San Pablo has changed my mission. I think it has also changed my life. In the 4 and a half months that I was there, I was able to see so many miracles and blessings from the Lord. I felt like almost every single day we saw a big answer to our prayers. The people there... man, they sure have a special place in my heart, especially our recent converts. I have seen so many people change their lives around and find true happiness from accepting the gospel. It was such a blessing to live there. But, how missionary work goes, changes come and serving in different areas with different people is inevitable. I’m going to an area called Calderon (near my first area), I’m going to be in a trio, and I’ve been called to serve as a Sister Training Leader. I’m super excited to serve in a different area, in a different way, and learn from all the sisters around me.

About a few of the people we’ve been teaching and some of the miracles we saw this week...

One of my FAVORITE families

We’ve been teaching a family (Family Pachito) for about a month now. The mom just got baptized last week and the dad and little son have a baptismal date for next week. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a big change in someone in all of my mission. I remember the first lesson that we taught, the mom had been crying because they were going to separate.. her husband wanted to move somewhere else. I remember sitting there just listening to her talk and cry and explain to us how she felt completely hopeless and empty. A few lessons later we found the dad at home too, so we invited him to join us... and reluctantly he did. As we returned little by little I could tell that what we were saying was getting to his heart. He started answering our questions, he moved back into his house, he loves his kids.. he’s always playing and laughing with them when we visit them, he is getting baptized this next week, and they are preparing to get sealed in a year when they can enter the temple. It has sure been cool to see the difference after a month of listening and being taught by the Spirit.

We also had a cool experience this week in one of our contacts. We saw two ladies sitting on a bench and decided to talk to them. After getting to know them and talking for a while, we found out that they were sisters and both going through some really hard trials (one of them being living far away from each other and feeling alone). Hermana Sanchez and I could definitely relate to that. As we bore our testimonies on eternal families, I don’t think there was one of us that didn’t have tears in our eyes. This subject being so close to our hearts also, I think Hermana Sanchez and I maybe benefited more from the words we said than they did. We set an appointment, returned and taught lesson one, and now she is preparing to be baptized on the 7th of May. It was so cool to hear her say that she’s been praying for someone or something to help her find more peace in her life.

And, if you guys remember the Family Casco that got baptized a few weeks ago.. our miracle family, after a few lessons of inviting and trying to get to know their son, a few weeks ago he finally agreed to join us in our lessons and has attended church twice. Yay. They’re gonna be a complete family of all members!!

Birthday party for Julissa (from the familia Casco)

Cake face :)

This week Hermana Sanchez and I figured out how to make a cake in the microwave and man... I don’t know if that was a good or bad thing. Many nights that was our dinner (at 9:00). Haha it was sure tasty though. We’ve gotten pretty creative :)

I didn’t realize how popular church themed Password would be. We’ve played it this week in a few more family nights and the members LOVE it. Haha it is so funny to see how people try and explain things :)

It was a cold day...and we didn't have our jackets, so our conversos
made sure to supply us with everything we needed :)

Well, I just want to end by saying how much I love you all! I heard a quote this week in our district meeting that I loved. "Be a golden investigator for the Lord". Seeing how happy I am when our investigators progress and change, I can’t imagine how happy it makes the Lord to see us follow him and obey his commandments. Something I want to remember.

Love you all!!

Hermana Yorgason

Mom, You wanted a picture of the cows.... :)

Remember...

Familia!!!!!! And all my amigos!!

Man I just love getting letters from you guys. Sounds like it was another BUSY busy week with dances, working and lots of Ultimate. I hope you cheer extra loud for me. That’s definitely one thing that I miss. But mom, it did make me super happy when you reminded me that I’ll be there for at least one of Tanner’s seasons :)

It was another good week here. It’s kind of bitter sweet because this next week is transfers so who knows where I’ll be or who I’ll be with. I Love this ward, so I’d be HAPPY to stay.. but I guess we’ll see. This week we were talking with a lot of members in our ward and they told us we HAVE to come back to visit... so Hermana Sanchez and I want to plan a trip to come back when the temple gets dedicated. 

Zone Conference

Speaking of... sorry that I didn’t say anything about that last week in my big letter. I wrote so much about the temple announcement in personal letters to different people that I didn’t realize I didn’t mention it as the HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK. Man we were sooo excited. It’s pretty much all the ward members have been talking about for a week, they feel so blessed. It will be a BIG change from living 8 hours away from the closest temple. I can already see a big change as they talk about preparing for the temple and things they need to improve. Especially because they are wanting temple workers and people who are prepared.  That announcement is going to be such a big blessing for the people of Quito. The people I’ve come to love :) It sure was a happy, fantastic surprise! 

Three Baptisms!!

The highlight of THIS week was the baptism that we had on Saturday. This was definitely a continuation of the month of miracles and it was a great day!! Like always.. the ward is so supportive and there are always lots of people at the baptisms. Three people got baptized and man, they are super special to me. The first two... a mom and her daughter. This is the family that we found from contacting. We had knocked on a door and the family wasn’t home. So... we prayed and decided to contact the 5 doors surrounding the first one, and one of those doors was Fatima and Diana. In the very first lesson that we had with her she told us that she would listen but never wanted to get baptized. It was so special to see them about 4 weeks later in white and so so happy. They are definitely some that I will miss! The other one that got baptized is the mom of a family that we have been teaching. We have seen SUCH a change in her and as she bore her testimony, she said it was one of the happiest days of her life. I have sure seen time and time again in this sector how the Lord has blessed us and led us to those who are ready for the gospel.

Last Monday we had a Family Night with a less active family in our ward. We shared a spiritual thought and then Hermana Sanchez and I showed them how to play... Password/Charades. We made little cards with lots of church words and the kids LOVED it. When we finished they wanted to do it all again. It was a fun night and got them excited to come to church.

This week we had a meeting with President and the assistants and learned more about the plan of salvation and how we can teach it with clarity. I think this plan is one of my favorite things to teach because I love the perspective that it gives us in life. If we could only remember our goal always… that's the hard part. But it sure is a plan of so much happiness.

Wednesday's challenge....We couldn't let go of the Book of Mormon

This week was the celebration of the restoration. Everyday we had a different challenge. My favorite was Wednesday where we couldn’t let go of the Book of Mormon from the time we left our apartment to the time we got home. A lot people saw the book, were interested, and it was always a super easy way to start up a conversation :)

Family Night with very random "treats"!

Yesterday we also had another Family Night in Angla with lots of people from the ward. Like I’ve kind of explained before, the "treats" that they have here are sure different than what I’m used to. They all bring something random (rice, potatoes, corn, noodles), get out a big sheet, dump all the food on the sheet and carry it around scooping food for everyone (usually into plastic bags because they don’t have much else). The funny part is the last night before we went, both Hermana Sanchez and I were saying how excited we were for the food. Haha something has sure changed. I think THIS is when you finally know that you’ve gotten used to living in Otavalo.

This week in my study of the Book of Mormon there were quite a few things that stood out to me. I loved something that I read in Helaman 11 about the Nephites and their problems, trials and wickedness. It says that in year 81 they remembered the Lord and had humility. And in year 82 they were back to wickedness and didn’t think about the Savior and what He did. One year! I started realizing that this is so true and accurate, also for us. Sometimes its even shorter. Why did they become so wicked? (Or why do we at times become prideful and lazy?) Because they forgot about the Lord. It says in the next few verses that all of this happened because they began to forget about the Lord and his signs and his miracles. I came to realize that I think one of the keys... is REMEMBERING. Remembering our blessings and the miracles that we’ve seen leads us to humility. I love in Alma 5:6 when Alma asks "Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long suffering?" I had to ask myself, am I really thinking about and remembering all the great things that the Lord has done for me? It has a lot to do with one of my favorite talks from conference that said as we learn and study, we remember. As we remember, we feel more dependence. And as we feel dependence, we are more humble. In James 4 it says that... with humility, the Lord will lift us. I think ALL of us would love to be "lifted by the Lord". I came to realize that the reason I study, write in my journal, and ponder is so that I can REMEMBER how many blessings the Lord has given me. 

I hope you all have a great week and remember how great of a blessing it is to be a part of the gospel.

Talk to you in 7 days!!!

Hermana Yorgason

General Conference

Hi family and friends!!!!

Looks like this week was quite the good one. (Especially for you kids at home) No school, sleeping in, movies, family, sports. Luke and Chad... I can understand completely the numb mouth, not being able to eat... or sleep.. or talk. I’m glad you guys got through it. And just think.. wisdom teeth is only a one time deal. So congrats to you guys :)

It was also a great week here. Mostly because we got to watch general conference and man… there's just something about watching it as a missionary. It’s like one of the best weekends of the year. Maybe THE best. 

Watching Conference is the BEST!

Well first of all... we finished our month of miracles. I have a big feeling that those miracles will carry over to April.. and to May, and so on. We have a bunch of people with a lot a potential and three people that are preparing to be baptized this week. One of the biggest miracles on the last day of March... I found my camera!!! Ah that was quite the exciting day. Someone in my zone had been at their mamita (a house where we eat lunch), and the mom mentioned that someone lost their camera. Apparently I left it at the church, she had grabbed it, and just so happened to pull it out when missionaries from our zone were over there. Quite the miracle if you ask me. So… I'll try and send extra pictures today to make up for it. 

The other exciting thing was that we got to start listening to EFY music again! April 1st we woke up and ran straight to the ipod. We’ve gotten to listen to the Tabernacle Choir for 2 months, and to be honest I love that also, but it was a nice change to hear music with somewhat of a beat again. My companion was just excited that she could listen to David Archuleta :) I think Glorious has played like 20 times in our apartment :)

Wednesday we had a interesting thing happen. As we were inside our house doing our weekly planning, it started to rain and storm outside. Really hard. It went on for about an hour... but we were just happy we were inside at this time. (Mom, you would have loved it. It was probably the biggest storm I’ve ever seen) But as we were talking and planning, all of the sudden there was a HUGE bang/light and all of the power went out. We found out later that day that a lightning bolt hit the telephone pole right in front of our house and we and about 5 of the houses around us didn’t have power for a few days. That was sure exciting to live like we were camping. One top of that, these last few days we haven’t had water. Its an interesting way to live :)

We had a small and cool experience this week with prayer. It was about 7 o’clock, a few people we had visited weren’t home and we were trying the figure out who to visit. We were thinking one of the new families that we had just met. They lived close and it just made sense. Well we decided to pray and as we were done, Hermana Sanchez just felt like we didn’t need to visit the family that day and for me, the name of one of our Less Actives came into my mind (who we haven’t visited a lot and who also just happen to live right across the street from this family.) So we figured we’d go to the less actives house to see if she was there and share a short message. As we got there, we heard someone call our name... it was the bishop and his two counselors standing by the side of the road, near where we were... just standing there. Apparently they were wanting to visit this new family but were lost and didn’t know which house it was.. so they just waited... for something to come along. I guess that something was us. We showed them where the house was and they were able to talk with and visit this new family we had found. It was so interesting how both the answer of Hermana Sanchez and I helped us so that we didn’t interrupt their lesson, but were able to help them find where this family lives. It’s cool to see how the Lord works sometimes. 

Zone Activity

Live BUGS!!

Today we had such a fun zone activity. It was like fear factor and the Ecuadorian style Academies (that dad did in Eagle) all in one. We were all in our districts, had challenges, and then had consequences. The first challenge was putting as many marshmallows in your mouth at once... and our district won. Someone got 25 in there.. of the big ones. It was intense :) And the consequence... eating bugs. Yes, live, crawling around, real bugs. I was very surprised because everyone did it! It was sure entertaining to watch. Afterward Hermana Ettinger and I ate one also... just because. Because we wanted to be able to say we did it.  But... the second consequence was a lot worst. One of the elders had this paste/fruit juice from the coast that was... probably one of the grossest things I have ever tasted. Literally. I’m very surprised no one threw up from that one. There were also mints with soda and lots of non-cooked hotdogs. They went easy on those ones, but it was sure an exciting day. Ended it with a huge game of capture the flag :)

Competitions and Consequences! 

North American missionaries

Like I said... General Conference was super great!!! All of us from North America were able to watch it in a room in the church in English. It was fun to be able to talk, laugh, but just completely focus on the words of the prophets and not have any distractions. Sunday in between sessions obviously we couldn’t all leave and buy lunch, so Hermana Ettinger and I made lunch for the whole zone. Chicken Salad Sandwiches... and let me tell you, it was quite the blessing to have some good American food again :)

There were so many talks that I loved. Elder Uchtdorf, Elder Holland, and I loved the talk that said when we are further from the giver, we feel more entitled. I think one of the big themes that stood out to me was that as I learn about Christ, I will just be happier. I’ll be happier because I’ll realize what he’s done for me and all the good that is ahead of me. But as always... the biggest part is applying and changing. I loved the quote in Women’s conference that said... "Your faith and religion will never save you in the Celestial Kingdom unless you LIVE the things that you are learning." 

I love you all. I love hearing from you and knowing that you are doing well. Hope you have a fantastic week!!!

Hermana Yorgason

BYU ATTIRE.  We sport it all the way here in Ecuador!

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