Week 21 - Ibarra, Ecuador - 26 May 2014

Hola Mi Hermosa Familia!

Well, where can I start?! This week was amazing. I feel so blessed and lucky to be here in Ibarra, and even more so here in Ecuador. Siliva was baptized and confirmed this past weekend, and I am so happy. Although the program maybe wasn`t the most organized, it turned out beautiful. Many things went slightly array for example. The church building was out of gas to heat the water! So we brought our own gas from our house, which was a little bit of a struggle because it was super heavy.... but definitely worth it. When we had the water runnign adn everything was perfect, we came to check on the faunt a couple hours later and it was scorching hot. So we carried buckets of cold water to cool it down. On top of that the key  for the church kept getting stuck in the keylocks for the different rooms we needed to access, so we were a little stressed about that as well. And when everything was in place and ready to go, we didn`t have white pants that fit the branch president to baptize Silvia. Thankfully our District Leader came just in time to attend the baptism, and had the feeling that he needed to bring white pants and a tie. Whew! It was so great that our Branch President came and directed the meeting and baptized Hermana Silvia! Our branch president is passing through a refiner`s fire right now. He has a brand new baby, and recently lost his job. He is also relatively new, and the branch doesn`t support him as much as it should. And did I aso mention he is a convert of 4 years? Ya.. well he actually is really amazing and works so hard to help the branch. At first we didn`t really understand him because he didn`t come to the stake meeting for leaders or to my first 2 ward councils, but after Hermana Silvera and I took the time to visit him, offer our service,and share a message of hope, we have seen him work even harder. Anyway! Back to the baptism! After Silvia was baptized, she bore her testimony and I could feel the spirit so strongly She bore witness of the Book of Mormon, that even though we told her to pray and ask God if it was true she didn`t need to do that, becuase she can feel the spirit and the love of God everytime she opens the book to read (We`ve only bee teaching her for 3 weeks and shes in Alma). I also got to sing Nearer my God to Thee, and you know how much I love to sing, There was a love and spirit present in the air...Silvia was wiping tears from her eyes. All of the stress from the hour before started to melt away and I enjoyed the moment. A lot of members came to the baptism as well and Silvia was able to feel the love and support from the branch. We talked about temples and how her next step is to go to the temple! In the end, the baptism was a beautiful success!

After the baptism, we taught the Familia Vinueza in the church building about the temple, and I enjoyed especially seeing David`s face light up about the prospect of eternal families. David, and his two daughters had their baptismal interviews with Elder Lindeman, our District Leader after the lesson, and everything went great! They will be baptized this saturday! We are so excited for them. One thing I have realized through teaching them, is the importance of daily checking up. We have been able to check up on them almost everyday in order to read the book of mormon with them. Now, reading scriptures as a family has become habit and they are progressing so much. On Tuesday, Our zone leaders came with us to teach this family, and it was very neat. Elder Cedeño and Elder Olivares shared their testimonies about the importance of not necessarily needing to know everything in order to be baptized, but needing a testimony, or an answer to a prayer. We also talked about the priesthood, and how its very important for the head of the household to possess this grand power. And that the priesthood is crucial when it comes to having a successful family. I really think after this lesson, David became much more excited for his baptism.   

Wow! And miracles are real. On sunday, before the meetings we were pretty sad, because we didn`t have any promising new investigators. New investigators that we had been working with-- The Juma Family, and Visente--- didnt come to church. We were feeling pretty desperate for new investigators. And then, we received a phone call! From one of our contacts the week before, Simón. He told us that he wanted to come to church and was on his way to the building. Talk about God leading and preparing the elect! We waited outside the gate for him, and then introduced him to the Elder`s Quorum President, Hermano Meneses. Hermano Meneses was so great, he sat by Simón throughout the meeting, and even grabbed him a copy of the May Liahona to read (the conference talks) Simón stayed for all the classes afterwards, and then we were able to teach him outside the buiding on the grass. We wanted the purpose of this lesson to be to answer any of his questions about what he learned in church. But really he just wanted to know about prophets and the priesthood, and so we rolled right into Lesson 1. The spirit was so strong, and he opened up and told us that he feels bored and guilty with the way he is living and he wants to change and improve for the better. He has investigated many churches, but said their is something different about our church, and that he wants to be baptised. He has to leave to go to Guayacil some time in June, and so he doesn`t know if he will be here to be baptized but we are praying that everything will work out, and that even if he has to go to guayacil, he will be able to continue learning more about the restored gospel! 

Well that was our week! Hermana Silvera and I had a little rough patch on Saturday, but we talked about and we`re fine. I think the way that I express myself is sometimes very direct and I need to always rememeber to be careful and mindful of feelings. I learned that I need to always ask her what she thinks and for her opinion. I was always just used to stating my opinion with Hermana Madrid, and then Hermana Madird would boldly state her opinion, but now I know that with Hermana Silvera its not the same. I need to ask and be aware of her opinions or tense feelings build up inside of her... and we fall into silence and can`t feel the spirit as strongly. I am learning so much from her, like to have hope in everyone, and to be humble. We are having a great change and I am glad to call her my friend:)

There are hard days, and their are beatiful days, and God is present always. In the way the mountains touch the clouds with just the right tint of sunlight, in the way we feel love for everyone that we meet, in the way I know that the purpose of this life is to tie families together under binding convenants in the temple for eternities on end. I am so grateful for this mission. I can`t imagine how my life would be if I had not decided to serve a mission. I love this work so much!! Hasta la proxima semana! Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Powley

 

 

Week 20 - Ibarra, Ecuador - 19 May 2014

Hola mi Querida Familia!

This week has been great! I feel like Hermana Silvera and I have gotten close and we are able to really teach with the spirit.Some fun facts about my companion. She was baptized when she was 15, and is the only member in her family. After a couple months from being baptized she inactivated for 3 years. And then she decided to turn her life around and go back to church. She told me the hardest part about returning to church wasn`t just the repentance but being accepted in the ward. I see her through different eyes now. She is one of the strognest people I know. And I feel for her. I never want anyone in my ward to feel that way. If someone is trying to return back into the fold of God, we should never judge ony accept with open arms. I am so glad to have her with me, her testimony is so incredibly strong and she is super real. She understands the point of view of the investigator, the less active, and the leaders (did I mension she was also called to be secretary of the stake primary one year after she re-activated?) Wow I have an amazing companion. We have so much fun, we laugh after people reject us and we just keep going, I hope thats OK. But more than anything we are happy adn the spirit is with us. I have gotten to the point sometimes where after praying or studying I feel the spirit so strongly tears come to my eyes. I think this is one of the fruits of my maravilla de mayo. We set goals at the beginning of May to develop an attribute of Christ of our choosing. My "Maravillla de Mayo" is virtue. I have been able to see a change in the way I think... I don`t think in away where I focus on what I`m doing wrong..  but rather what I`m doing right and the things I can improve. I`ve discovered new stengths that I never knew I had, like planning, setting goals, making cake ;). The Lord has opened up my mind in ways that I never thought would be possible. I feel so much love for those around me.. and I know its because I have chosen to focus on having more virtue. Positive and clean thoughts filled with love and meekness. I have learned even more deeply how the power of prayer can change behavior and attitude. I have been able to really relate to one of our investigators, Silvia who will be baptized this Friday. Silvia was addicted to smoking, but we helped her make a plan to quit which included a lot of prayer, a lot of memorized scripture, and alot of reading the Book of Mormon. She has grown so much. I know without a doubt that she will be strong in the gospel because she has learned how to depend on the Lord. She truly has a testimony. I love her. I have seen how the Atonement has changed her behavior. She is filled with hope and focus. As I`ve watched her progress I have been able to seemy own progress as well. I think this is what missionary work is all about. Every time when we go to teach her her testimony fills my eyes with tears. Truly I feel like an instrument in God`s hands. We had her interview yesterday and she is ready!
Also we have been teaching David, Luisa, and Alexandra Vinueza. Their baptismal date was set for this weekend as well, but because David and Aexandra were unable to assist this Domingo we decided to change the date for next weekend.. This way we can have the baptismal interview this Friday night and announce theit upcoming baptism in sacrament Meeting in order to have total suport from the ward. Something truly miraculous is the progress we have been able to see in Luisa. Luisa used to be very reserved and struck us as kind of a rebellious child. Her Mom died about a year ago. But after we taught the Plan of Salvation, I can see a new type of light in her eyes. She came to church yesterday with her dad, David`s grifriend, Mercedes (A newly reactivated member) This was another miracel for the week. We talked about the gift of the holy ghost with them last night, adn they are excited to receive this companion to be able to make right choices and to have this companion of peace. David, more than anything is gaining a testimony of the church. He told us yesterday that he feels a special peace and happiness when he reads the book of mormon with his family and when he goes to church! This is the influnece of the Holy Ghost! Just imagine what it will be like when you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we told him.
Fun Story: I don`t know if you knew or not but a coupe years back a pair of sister missionaries was kidnapped in Guatamala. Anyway.. so our releif society president of the rama was one of those missionaries! One day when she was accompaning us to visit investigators she told us the whole story! And wow.. it all started with a lady telling them she wanted to be baptized with her husband and telling them to come visit later that night. And so ya.. Gladis and her companion went to this house and it was a trap! These man were waiting with knifes and they tied them up and everything. They were threatened and held ransom and beaten. I had no idea stufff like that even happened anymore. It reminds me of Alma and Amulek. Any way Gladis is just telling us this story like it was funny. I love hershe is so positive. Eventually the Mission President got together with the police force in guatemala and they saved the sisters.. but its the coolest story ever. Gladis would have to tell you... its a long story. Any way you could imagine that Hermana Silvera and I were a little bit on our toes the next day walking down the street in the dark to our last appointment. It was with a man named Pablo and he wanted to meet us outside of a school. We made it to the school and then Pabl drove up in his truck and parked in a little street a longside the school. We were kind of freaking out. There were some ladies waiting on the side of the street we contacted them and then almost begged them to accompany us, they were like.. Oh we know Pablo.. he`s fine! Then Pablo`s cousin comes out from the dark narrow road, and says we`re waiting for you sisters! Come over by the truck theres more light up the road (the little narrow road that looked like it led into the forbidden forest) we were like ok.. coming! And we said a little prayer in our hearts and didn`t feel to scared so we walked over to them. And itwas totally fine. Pablo is great he accepted baptism and everything. We were just a little spooked. We laughed so hard walking back from the lesson. I guess we are just girls sometimes. But if the spirit had told us not to go up the road after we prayed we wouldn`t have done it. Just so ya`ll don`t worry too much about us. Anyway thats my phone story for the week!

I love you all so much! Que Dios les bendiga! 

Hermana Powley

Week 19 - Ibarra, Ecuador - 12 May 2014

Mi Querida Family,

It was really great to hear from all of you  yesterday! Sorry I kind of broke down at the end.. I really wasn´t sad.. just so incredibly happy. I had no idea how blessed we really are to be in such a great, solid, strong family... tied together for eternity through temple ordinances. It was so amazing to see Andrew on the other side... I kind of had deja vu for a little bit remebering the times we were together calling him on mothers day and christmas.. It was interesting to be the missionary this time. I wish you all the best of luck this week. Andrew in interviews, Rachel in the AP test, Liz with finishing up Junior Year, Matt being a menace with his lacrosse (keep that bracelet on ya hear), and Thomas with his baseball bat. I wish I had a cool story to share this week... Just that for P-day today we decided to help the other sisters in our district deep clean their house because it had been inhabited for the past couple years by a dirty specimen: se llaman Elders. The house reaked.. we cleaned up cockroaches in the cupboards, earth from the corners of the floor. And some strange vegetable that had been sitting in a drawer for who knows how long. I feel bad that Hermana Corne and Hermana Wight had to live their for a week before having time to clean! Now the house sparkles, and smells slightly of bleach with an overwaft of apples and cinnamon. We Hermanas, truly are the army of helaman. 

I am so happy to be here in Ibarra with Hermana Silvera. We have been trying really hard this week to work as diligently as we can. I realized that I need to push myself every day... contact every person I see. And challenge many people to baptism. I´ve been able to feel really good at the end of each day because of my efforts. I´ve also  been able to see this week the power of goalmaking. We have an investigator named Sylvia who´s baptismal date is for the 24th of May. We found out this week that she has a smoking addiction. And we were able to help her make a game plan in order to superar este prueba. She still really wants to be baptized on the 23rd, and so she has real desires to complete this goal. We gave her a list of scriptures to memorize that bring a lot of strength, like Moroni 10:32. We also challenged her to throw out all the cigarettes in her house and to not buy more. Everytime she feels the urge to smoke, or feels lonely or down, she is to get down on her knees and start to pray. She told us on Saturday during a tour, that so far its working, and she just thinks about how much she wants to be baptized and she finds strentgh. Sylvia has so much faith in the Lord and it makes me so happy to see her progressing. We really can feel such a strong spirit when we are with her. Also she told us that the relief soceity president, Gladis came to visit her with her counselors. Sivlia said this made a huge difference. She can really feel the support from the ward. More than anything, this made me super grateful. There´s such a great relief or joy when you know that the ward is helping with the missioanry effort. I can´t describe it. All you members out there.. help the missionaries out.. but more than that.. its actually really just helping out our Heavenly father, adn bringing people back into the fold of Christ. After the tour on Saturday Silvia stayed at the church for a relief soceity activity. All the members interacted with her and she had a good time! Silvia really is "de oro". The elders were able to give her a priesthood blessing as well. The only thing is, because of mothers day, she wasn´t able to come to church on Sunday because a friend came to visit. I know.. it doesn´t make much sense... so we´re going to talk to her about keeping the sabbath day holy.

We also were able to teach the Familia Vinueza who have baptismal date for the 24th. They are really trying to read the Book of Mormon.. but in our lesson with them last night, the dad told us that he would really like to read the scriptures as a family each night. This was great for us! He truly wants to have more unity in the family, and knows that reading the book of mormon will bring that peace. We made a plan for them as well. Each night at 8.00 en punto, van a leer El Libro de Mormon juntos at the dinner table. I think we might just call them at 8.05 tonight to see if their cumpliendo eso. They also were unable to come to church because family came to visit for mothers day. I can clearly see that this week we need to focus in on keeping the sabbath day holy and church attendance. This is going to be our focus, that and contacting this week. We want this so bad that our weekly goals for investigators in sacrament meeting this week is 7. I know as we put in all our efforts, God will do his part as well.

One of my goals this month, is to be more virtuous. Never thinking negative thoughts or saying anything negative about anyone or anything.. including myself. NEver doubting in my potential. Becoming pure in mind and heart. One of the steps in my plan in order to be more virtuous is to memorize 3 hymns this month. I memorized my first hymn in Spanish this week, Tan Humilde al Nacer (all 4 verses) and I´m excited to get to work on the next one this week. Hermana Silvera is a great help with this.. we practice on the bus and on the streets. I have made a book mark with lines and I´m using it as I read the book of Mormon (In spanish I might add). When I come across a verse that I think applies to the value virtue... or just applies in helping me have a more pure, joyful attitiude.. I take note of it on the bookmark. Once I have filled the entire bookmark I´m goint to laminate it, and keep it for times when I´m feeling down. Then I´ll have a chain of scriptures that are close to my heart that will help me rememeber this maravilla de mayo. 

I´m feeling so great here in Ibarra! I feel so confident in teaching, in contacting, in ward counsil.. in everything... I really feel like God is strengthening me each day. Now its just my job to help strengthen those around me as well!

 I love you all soooooo much!! Have a great week!

Que Dio Les Bendiga!

Con Amor, Hermana Powley

Week 18 - Ibarra, Ecuador (TRANSFER)- 5 May 2014

Mi Querida Familia!

Well.. I guess I aways knew the end would come. Hermana Madrid and I are no longer companions. I feel like I left my other half in Quito. This morning they dropped me off at the bus station to go to my new area in Ibarra, 3 hours north from Quito. Its beautiful here.. More country.. rather than city. Fun story! I was on the bus, daydreaming right? Trying to come  up with lyrics to this song I`m writing, and all of a sudden this man comes and sits next to me. He strikes up a conversation, and asks me where I`m headed. I tell him Ibarra. And then he tells me we are in Ibarra. I tell him, Oh I know, I`m waiting til we get to the station. And he`s like.. we  past the station. Here I am all by myself in a part of Ecuador that I really don`t know at all. I get off the bus, and un muchacho me ayudò recoger mi maletas. Then I went on the side of the street  trying to flag down a taxi to take me to the bus station. Here I am with 3 suitcases, one of them actually broken, all by myself... 12 weeks ago I would have been terrified, but I actually just felt normal, pretty confident actually... because I think my Spanish is pretty good. Anyway, a super nice lady stopped with her taxi and helped me out. We had a really nice conservation.. she liked my hair. And then I invited her to listen to the missionairies. She said yes! And so that is that! I guess I can make dumb mistakes sometimes and make up for it by contacting people. When we got to the station, I found a cabina called my new companion, Hermana Lampero, who actually really wasnt my new companion, but happened to be with my new companion se llama Hermana Silvera.. Hermana Hill`s trainer!  We finally made it to the house.. which is super cute, in a nice neighborhood... rather than on the side of a busy road with 5 or 6 discotecas (bars) surrounding it (that was our house in Quito). We went to eat with one of the members, and let me just tell you life out here in the country is a lot different then Quito, we had to eat on the ground, because they didnt have a table. But its OK. And now here we are writing!!
 I am so excited to be in Ibarra with Hermana Silvera. It is beautiful here and I am ready to work! Of course I`m sad to leave Iñaquito, but also excited to meet new people and learn new things.  I know that if  I trust in the Lord and strive to follow the spirit we will find  success and happiness. I miss Hermana Madrid, I love her so much.  I learned so much from her. She is one of my bestest friends. She also had to leave our sector to be comapnions with an Hermana who`s really struggling right now. I know of no other missionary better for the job. I hope one day we will be able to work in the same zone or district, or maybe she can be my hermana leader.. or maybe in 5 years from now I can take a trip to Honduras and she can show me around or vice versa. Neverthless we had a great week. We were able to teach the Familia Vallez, and they came to church with us yesterday. They have a baptimsal fecha for the 24th of May. Whats really cool is that their mother, Mariana lives here in Ibarra in the rama elegido. She came with us to church in Iñaquito yesterday but also told us that she went to church in Ibarra tambien the week before. I am going to pass her information along to Hermana Lampero to visit. So cool.
Also our two other progressing investigators weren`t able to come to church yesterday. Jorge and Paola. Jorge had to travel to the coast to visit family. We are a little worried about him because he is beginning to have doubts about the Book of Mormon. I rememeber our first lesson with him he had a strong conviction about the Book of Mormon, and now hes saying things like ¨The bible doesn`t say anything about the prophets in the Book of Mormon." More than anything he is confused and we can see how hard Satan is working. Also with Poala, we had a tour set up and everything but she bailed on us because she needed to visit a friend who broke her foot o algo asi. We were really sad and then she said she would come to church but she never did because she had to stay in a meeting for her son`s Catacismo. Paola truly has desires to be baptized she just has things in the way, her priorities aren`t in the right place. Of course, maybe I don`t fully understand, because my priorities are in the gospel 24/7.. but I wish we could be able to get across to her the importance of church assistance. We have tried.. but I don`t think she really gets it.
On the brightside! We were seeing a lot of progress with our recent convert, Francisco. For one thing, Francisco decided to fast for the first time on Monday, in order to find trabajoo... And Monday morning, he recieved a call offering him a job. The first thing he did was call us and thank us for helping him gain the faith to finally trust in the Lord. He came to chruch in Black pants, white shirt and tie. And the ward sustained him to receive the Aaronic priesthood. Last night we had our last noche de hogar with him and the familia martinez. It was very tender. We talked about developing Christlike Attributes, and letting God strengthen our weaknesses. It was perfect. I felt the spirit so strongly, because the lesson in reality, was meant for me as well. Sometimes I doubt my potential and ability as a missionary because of my weaknesses. But in reality, God shows us our weaknesses for the purpose of strengthening us. All weak things can be come strong in him (Ether 12:27) and God doesn`t view us as what we are now, but rather what we can become. I know I have a divine potential and that God can make me strong. I don`t need to dwell on thoughts of self doubt. I need to give God a little more credit than that... a little more credit that he has the power to make me strong.
I hope with all my heart that the new hermanas taking our sector will be able to continue working with our investigators that we left behind. I really have grown to love Iñaquito and I know that I`m leaving our people in good hands but all the same I am sad. Its cool to think that we all teach by the spirit, and so our investitgators will continue to be taught by the same teacher. I am grateful for that. I feel like I have left behind my home... but soon enough this will feel like home as well.
I love being missionary! Also get excited for mothers day! I can skype... And it will probably be around 3 or 4 Utah time. I`m sorry I don`t have a specific time because we have mamitas after church who feed us. But I will send a quick email 5 minutes before I skype. So keep your eyes on our iphones! I am sooooo excited to see Andrew. Like I might cry so just be prepared.

I am learning how to sing "Someday¨" in Spanish. We know that God will protect the righteous. Its a different world here in Ecuador.


Hermana Powley

Week 17 - Quito, Ecuador - 28 April 2014

This week was a really great week! We were really able to meet most of our goals, except references and lessons with members. I guess there`s a correlation there. But we were able to baptize Fredy Puma and feel such a sweet spirit. It was a miracle that his mother, Yolanda could come, because she told us earlier on in the week that she had work. We asked her to do everything she could, talk with her boss, in order to make it to the baptism and the confirmation on Sunday. And she came! Just in time. After Fredy`s baptism, his Dad, Fredy Puma as well, bore his testimony, and expressed his gratitude for the support from the ward. This really touched my heart. Also that there was a row of deacons that all came to support Fredy in his baptism. I am so grateful for the leaders in our ward, that work so hard to provide support and love. The next day, on sunday, the whole family came to church and stayed all 3 hours. Fredy Puma (the Dad) had this exciting energy that we hadn`t seen before. He was asking when he could go out and do Home teaching! This is a huge improvement, because lately we haven`t seen them interacting a whole lot with the ward. I know that Fredy`s baptism was a miracle for the family. They were able to feel and remeber the covenants they made and God`s immense love for them.

Also this week, we have progressed with Jorge Espinosa, who was able to come to the baptism and a tour before. Jorge is an exciting investigator because he always has so many questions. I remember our first lesson he wanted to know everything... kolab, how we can become Gods.. galore. We are trying to help him realize that now he needs to focus on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the little things, that will provide as a guide in his path to eternal life. Jorge is very excited for his baptism. He came to church and particiàted in the Gospel Doctrine Class on priesthood. He loved it. 

Also, we are teaching Paola, and her son, Sebastian now. I love how Paola`s face brightens and beams when her son answers the questions we give him in the lessons. He is 13, but very bright. Paola, really just wants to be a better mother. They are reading in the book of mormon and praying together every night. The challenge that we can see with them, is that Sebastian has this Catholic Semenary he has to attend for his school, Sunday mornings, and can`t come to church. We taught them about the Apostacy last night and asked Sebastian to pray if he should drop the Catholic Semenary. He said he would. We read Dsoctrine and Covenants with him, in order to know hhow he would recieve answers to his prayers. Either a warm comforting feeling in his chest, or a confusing change of thought in his head.

Wow! I just love helping people expound on the scriptures!!! Being a missioary is so much fun!

I don`t have much time to write today because we went on a road trip to Ottavallo for Hermana Hemsley`s last pday. but really quick I would like to share with you all the miracle of the week! We visited our recent convert, Francisco Yesterday and reminded him that fast sunday was coming up and if he was ready to fast. He told us, Chuta, I`m gonna fast tommorrow too becuase I really need to find work. And he called us this morning whilke we were on the bus to Ottavallo, and told us that he was offered a job! Wow! God is watching over us.. thats for sure... Also fun fact. The other day I was walking down the street, and I was starting to feel really wet for no no good reason. I began to look around, and realized that we were actually in a cloud. Its kind of hard to explain, but I guess you could say we had our heads in the clouds. Quito is pretty high up in the air. like 10,000 feet above sea level no joke. 

I love you all! have an amazing week!!

Hermana Powley

Week 16 - Quito - 21 April 2014

Mi Querida Familia 

What a great week! To start off, we found New Investigators! One of the highlights of my week, was when Hermana Madrid and I decided to go to Cochapamba to visit a family of recent converts, the family Pillajo, and we always pass by a house of an investigator we used to have, named Alexandra (recent because she dropped off the face of the planet about 3 weeks ago) We would call her and her phone was disocnneted, we would knock on her gate, and yelled "Buenos" but she never would come. Hermana Madrid would say, she doesn´t want to listen to us, but I always knew that one day we would find her again. And this week we did!!! We were walking by her house, and it just so happened that her husband was walking towards, we asked him if Alexandra was home and he said yes, and that their 3 year old son was very sick. Alexandra then came out to greet us..after 3 weeks.. and we found out that she had been out of work for awhile, that their phone line was cut, also their water, and also their lights. But she told us that she was praying for help, and that she had been reading the book of Mormon all this time.. Wow! Right? She came with us to the adult meeting for the stake,and although it was entered in missionary work she thought it was very interesting, She was even taking notes! We are going to visit her tonight to set a date for her baptism. Miracles are real!

Also we have been working with Fredy Puma, who is actually part of a less active family, and he was baptized when he was 8 but the baptism was never recorded, and so he will be baptized again next Saturday. I think its sort of a little blessing from God to this family, that they are relistening to all the missioanry discussions and re-living their testimonies. Also a little blessing for us as well, cuz we´re going to have another baptism! They were having trouble with Dia de Reposo, but we taught them a very direct, and sincere lesson on keeping the commandments to help them realize the gravity of their decisisons, especially when it comes to churh attendance. Fredy is great, and has a very good memory, our district leader was super impressed in his baptismal interview yesterday... I hope that Fredy will be able to strenghten his family and one day serve a mission! Although he is only 14 now, now is the time for him to be an example to his family and those around him and build his roots in the gospel.

We have been teaching another investigator, Dani Quiñaucho, who is 11 years old, but super interested in the gospel, because her cousin, Maria Jose just got back from the mission. Dani is so sweet,a nd very smart for an 11 year old. We asked her if she prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet and she said yes. We asked her out it went, and she said that in her mind and in her heart she felt the same taht he did, like their was a big column of light pouring down on her. I am really gianing a testimony through Dani, that Christ is preparing all ages to receive the gospel. And children have the purest hearts, they can receive answers the easiest. Think about primary, how easy it was to believe in everything, to hear that Jesus loves us, and we need to be like him, and have that be enough. I want to be more like a child, forgiving, faithful, trusting, and pure.   Right now with Dani, we are praying that her Mom will give her permission to be baptized on the 10th. Maria and Johanna (Her cousins) are bringing her to church every week and she loves it so she has support. We are hoping that her Mom will be able to see the change in Dani and that her heart will be softened. 

We also were able to teach Poala, who was a reference from a couple weeks ago and who is super eager to learn about the gospel. She has a baptismal date for the 17th of May, and was facinated when we taught her about eternal families and applying Christlike attrtibutes in the home. She is golden!!

Oh! And one more investigator with a baptismal date: Jorge. We met him yesterday, he was a reference from two members of the ward, Fabian and Jarvi. Jorge, was flying to Ecuador from Canada and met missionaries on the plane, he beame interested in the church and then he met Jarvi at school. Jarvi gave him a book of mormon and invited him to institute. Jorge became infatuated with the Book of Mormon. When we asked him yesterday about why he like the book of Mormon. He gave us a golden answer: I know that the Bible doesn´t have everything.. its not that clear. That is why I like the Book of Mormon.. it has everything. Then he told us he wanted to know how he could be baptized. We asked him why he wanted to be baptized and he told us that he had investigated a lot of churches and he felt that our church was the closest to Jesus Christ. We told him that the reason he felt that way was beause this church is in realidad the Church of Christ. And that he needed to pray to receive that testimony with assurety before he could be baptized. We set him a baptismal date for the 17th of May as well. He told us that he is sure he will be ready. Jorge is a blessing! We have been waiting to have an investigator like him! Thanks to the members, Fabian and Jarvi!!

Quick tangent.. I know you are all dying to know how Easter was in Ecuador. And no.. I didn´t really treat myself to candy or treats. In all of Latin America, Easter is 3 days, Santa Viernes, Santa Sabado, y Domingo de Resurreción. Mostly no one has work.. and everyone goes to the Playa to party.. A little ironic if you ask me.En Santa Viernes, we ran into a procession... that almost broke my heart. There were men in purple robes that were carrying a cart. On top of the cart was a statue of Christ in a very Baroque looking, regal purple robe holding the cross..The cart was supported by 2 large crosses and so the men carrying the cart were literally carrying crosses. They were all chanting something in Spanish that I couldn´t really understand. But there was a different kind of spirit. And I didn´t feel comfortable. Bueno.. I guess that´s a catholic Tradition here. Also everyone in ecuador Makes a special dish called the Fanesca. Which takes like 5 hours to make but is super delicious. It is a soup made out of 12 granos to represent the 12 apostles. Also has fish, bananas, mini Empanadas de Harina y pico de gallo. May sound nasty.. but it is super rico and fills you up like none other! We had Easter dinner with some members that was really nice.. the Family Martinez.. one of my favorite families... I feel like they have become like my family. Also for Easter we had stake conference, it was televised from some of the general authorites. Elder Scott spoke to us in Spanish.. and I didn´t even know that he knew Spanish! It was beautiful... And also Elder Holland talked, he had to have a translator. But what struck me the most was when Elder Holand bore his testimony in Spanish at the end. It was very simple, and it reminded me of when I had to bear my testimony at the CCM. But the spirit was so strong. It touched my heart that all the members could hear his voice and his testimony coming directly from him. Yo se que el Señor vive. Yo se que me ama. Se que el tiene un plan para nosotros. Se que con Él vamos a vivir para eternidad. After all its the spirit that touches hearts, not people. I know that God speaks through his apostles. And when we learn from them, we are actually just learning from the spirit. 

This week was amazing. Hermana Madrid and I feel like everything is jbeginning to just fall into place. We have really learned to depend on the Lord and just do our best. I have gained so much confidence in teaching and following the spirit. This week my goal is to be more like a child. To be more pure in my thinking, and to trust in my Lord. I love this work so much!! 

Hermana Powley

Week 15 - Quito - 14 April 2014

What a great week! The highlight definitely had to be Francisco´s baptism on Saturday night. I feel so blessed that we were able to find, teach, baptize. and confirm Francisco Benalcazar. We were also so blessed to have the help from members, especially Fabian Martinez, who recently was less active, but has become one of our strongest assets here in the ward for helping us with the missionary work. Fabian took the role of creating the program for the baptism, and also was able to baptize Franisco. It was so beautiful. Also all of Francisco´s family came to the baptism to support him, and the next day as well to his confirmation. I could feel the spirit so strongly when Francisco was cofirmed and we asked him later how he felt and he said "el calor de corazon." This is his testimony beginning to grow. We also had a noche de hogar with him, his mother (who is Catholic, but interested in the Mormons) and the family Martinez. It was beautiful. We hope that his mother, Gabriella, can progress, we have a cita with her and Francisco on Miercoles. Also fun fact: Franciso wanted me to sing at his baptism, I decided to sing Acompáñme (Abide with me), but decided to change it last minute due to a late request by Francisco, He wanted me to sing Mas Cerca Dios De Ti,  of course I told him no, then surprised him and sung it anyways. I was a little bit skeptical that it wouldn´t bring the spirit because there was nothing, no piano, not instrumental back up, just boring little me singing. But I cannot describe the beauty I felt when I began to sing. It seems like finally I know why I have been given this gift. The spirit filled the room, Francisco´s eyes were filled with tears, and there was a power, tangible. It didn´t matter that there wasn´t back up because I was really just giving my testimony. I decide to sing the 1st. 3rd, and 5th verse, differentiating tempo and volume according to how I felt. For the first time, performing wasn´t about me, it was about the people I loved, Francisco and his family. The love I have been able to feel for complete strangers is overwhelming. I´m definitely not alone in this work, Christ is right along side me, and I know I am borrowing a little bit of his love everyday.  

Also, this  we were able to contact many references, one, in specific, Hermana Paola, is golden. We taught her lesson 1 and she just opened up, telling us how she didn´t agree with the Catholic religion, and how reptitious it is. She told us how when she reads the bible, she feels like God is trying to tell her something but she doesn´t know what. She just wants to have a better relationship with her 13 year old son who she feels like is drifting away from her due to the perilous high school life. We focused in the Apostacy and the importance of the Restoration, and I think she really "got it". She is facinated with the Libro de Mormon because we explained to her how the Libro de Mormon helps us grow in faith, by explaining the process and application of important principals more than the Bible does. Her only problem is she lives on the limit of the ward boundary, and wants to assist the San Carlos ward because it is closer to her house. She told us she was going to come to church on Sunday, and we even stopped by to pick her up, but she wasn´t ready, she said she was come as soon as she was ready and we never saw her at church. We are hoping she just decided to go to San Carlos, but we aren´t sure, we will visit her tonight and find out. 

 We are also working with the less active Family Puma, especially with Freddy (14 years old), who has a baptismal date on the 26th, but his papa lost his job and found a new one that tragically is on sunday, and so now he can´t come to church. I personally think its a prueba de fe, that he should keep looking for better work. But for now, he is not assisting la iglesia. And his family isn´t either. We are sort of furstrated because we have worked with them for so long, and they don´t seem to get the importance of keeping commandments. We even had a member stop by to take them to church but they were leaving for somewhere, so they couldn´t come with the member.
But they are such a sweet family, we just need to be very clear with them about the consequenses of not going to church. Literally the improtance of the Santa Cena (Sacramnet) is huge!! ITs our expression of love we have for Christ, and a demonstration of our willingness to be his people. It was one of the first things he established after baptism when he came to visit the Nephites.

 I feel like we are working really hard, and I can feel the Lord´s hand in this work, I just wish people would make better decisions. This in particular, the choices our investigators our making seems to be stressing Hermana Madrid out, and I can sense it. I´ve been trying to stay calm but sometimes I can feel doubts and I know that they don´t come from God. I like to look for the beautiful things in each day and I´m trying to help Hermana Madrid as well. We have become best friends and I always want to help her be happy. Pray for us that we won´t get stresed out that we´ll be able to put everything in the Lords hands.  I was asked to give a talk in church 5 mintutes before the meeting started yesterday, and I was kind of nervous. I mean my español is good, but not great. I quickly prayed for assistance in choosing what to talk about. And the thought suddenly came to my mind that I should talk about revelation through the Book of Mormon. I followoed this prompting, chosea couple scriptures and confidently waled up to the stand. (Confindence is always key to success.. especially when your confindece isn´t in yourself, but in the Lord). And then I gave my talk! It was great, I couldn´t have done it without the Holy Ghost. This taught me that we can´t worry about the little things, we can´t worry about our insuffiency, because in the end... We´re all pretty insufficient. We need to put our efforts in trusting the Lord and following the spirit, and then everything will fall into place. I feel peace right now. And its way more easier that being stressed. I like to think of what President Uchtdorf said in conference, that if we just link our yoke to Christ´s, everything is so much easier. And I can see that here ont he mission. So I invite you all to depend a little more on the savior to help you with your day to day problems, seek for revelation in your daily scripture reading. And enjoy this Easter weekend! Here in Ecuador,,, Easter is a week long Holiday.. its called Semana Santa. I probably won´t be able to eat any chocolate eggs which is a bummer, but I´ll try to make up for it in pan de chocalate which literally is my new addiction. Its like a cinnamon roll, but instead of cinnamon, melted chocolate... It can´t be replicated in any other country I´m pretty sure...so sorry all yall. I love you so much! Oh! And we also had Emergency changes today, Don´t worry I´m still with Hermana Madrid, But Hermana Cayama se fue.. which is really sad.. because I love her a lot too. Now we have a new Hermana se llama Hermana Aravena! She is pretty cool and she is from Chile. It's her birthday today... so sad... emergency changes on your birthday.. so we are going to make her a cake. Anyways that's the life here in Ecuador! Have a great week everyone!!

Attached is a pic of Francisco, Fabian, and us... Also another pic of a place once upon a time where I stood with Sarah and the rest of our HEFY group... The Teliferrico.    

Hermana Powley

 

 

 

Week 14 - Quito - April 7, 2014

Mi querida familia,

This week has been such a blessing. I have learned so much. 

To start out, I lost our cellphone, does that sound like a surprise? I actually am almost 98% sure that someone stole it from my pocket, but they were good ladrones, so I don´t remember how or when. 

So we have been making all our phone calls from cabinas this week. Its been kind of annoying, but we have been blessed with almost all of our citas not falling through, We truly have seen God´s hands in our lives this week. 

I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with the sisters from San Carlos. All my friends are Hermana Lideres, and so I got to help the Hermanas in our neighboring district when Hermana Madrid, Hemsley, and Cayama had a meeting, which lasted just about the whole day. It was so much fun. Their sector is significantly more peaceful and we were able to have fun time and also get a lot of work done. I was able to realize while on exchanges with Hermana Deveraux and Hermana Calderón that the gospel really is simple, and we can laugh and enjoy the love that we feel from our Heavenly Father, as we are walking. Its good to smile. We shouldn´t have worries harbored in our hearts, only hope. Hermana Madrid had been pretty stressed because of the lost phone, and I was stressed as well. We were able to talk about this in our weekly planning the next day and we have a goal this week to every night recount the miracles that we experience each day. 

Also, I went on exchanges again on Friday, with the mission infermera, Hermana Barrett, and her companion, Hermana Chim. The Hermana Lideres had another meeting. The Mission infermera is actually the mission nurse, sorry, I think that I sometimes use spanish words and I hope you all can understand my cartas. She works so hard, and since the nurse form the Mission Quito South has left, she has just been so busy. She hardly ever has time to work in her own sector. When I was studying with them Friday morming we witnessed a miracle. They called one of their contacts, Carlos, and he told them that he had been trying to call them and that after they contacted him, he recieved a phone call with a job offer. This was a sign for him that the missionaries were from God, and so he came to Generla Conference the next day. Wow.. Right? The Lord is blessing and preparing people, and it really touched my heart, that even though these sisters hardly get to contact and work in their sector, the Lord is blessing them for their diligence in their other responsibilities. 

Now for the really good news. Francisco had his baptismal interview yesterday after conference, and he is ready to be baptized this weekend. My first baptism! I am so excited! I can really see the change in him form the first day we found him contacting after one of our citas fell. He has been befriended by the Elder´s Quorum in the ward, especially by a former Menos Activo, Fabian. Fabian is the reason that Francisco has gained so much confidence in the ward. We had a family home evening with Fabian´s family and Francisco, yesterday, and the spirit was so strong. Francisco was smiling and glowing as the family bore their testimony about the book of mormon and Joseph Smith. The lesson was taught by Fabian, and was basically just an inspired discussion in how the book of mormon is the key stone of our religion. My heart was filled with gratitude to this family, that we have helped return to church. My heart is filled with gratitude right now as I look at who I am and what I have been able to see here in Ecuador. The people have such strong testimonies. And even though sometimes we have stressful days, we always have the assurance that Christ is by our sides

I was extremely touched in Conference this week by all the speakers who testified of Christ´s atoning sacrifice. I think here in the mission field, I have been focusing more in Joseph Smith and the Priesthood Restoration. In my mind have undermined the reality of Christ´s pure love and that he lives. Because this is one thing that almost everyone already knows here, everyone is Catholic. But I realized that as I was listening to Elder Christofferson´s talk, many people don´t fully know the pure love of Christ, because they don´t fully know the truth. I am a disciple of Christ, and it is my responsibility to remember and study that our purpose in life is literally nothing if we do not except and realize that Christ died, so we can live. And it is so simple. Christ lives, and so will we for eternity, if we but follow the straight and narrow path that he beckons us to follow. There are never endings.. only everlasting beginnings. (I thankfully was able to view conference in english with all the other gringos in our stake) And so I guess I´m not really ending this email. I´m starting a new week. And I´m starting the groundwork for my email next week. And thus I am everlastingly beginning anew testimony to share with you all. May everyone have a fantastic week and be filled with the Love of Christ!

Con Amor,

Hermana Powley

Week 13 - Quito - 31 March 2014

Mi Querida Familia!

Well! I have good news... I´m writing a song and its really beautiful. I´m mostly just writing it in my head because I don´t really have access to a piano, but I think it captures the mood of missionary work, rain, and then sunshine. You´ll just have to wait and here it! 

  This week just flew by! We had Zone Conference with President, a couple Noche De Hogares (family home evening), Conferencia de Mujeres (Women´s Conference) and met many new people!! I will share a couple stories from this week that really touched my heart, even though I feel like I could share countless stories, and keep on writing and writing about how blessed we are here in Ecuador. 

   First I want to start with Hermana Romero. We have been working with Hermana Romero since the 2nd or 3rd week I got here, she is a less active member, while her family is not. She fears judgment from the ward, and judgment from her father, who is not a member. She hasn´t gone to church for about a year. We have been working on gaining the trust of the family, and sharing the importance of perseverar hasta el fin (enduring to the end) for the past little while with the whole family. When we visited them last Saturday, we had the goal of inviting her to the Women´s Conference and escorting her there. Miracles of March.. she accepted the challenge. She quickly showered, and we grabbed a taxi for the church. When we got there, there was no internet connection!! And so we couldn´t watch conference... One of the members was holding up her cellphone, which had the internet, up against the microphone in the chapel so we could here the talks. There were 5 or 6 people trying over and over again to get television connection but it was to know avail. At about 20 past 7, Hermana Hemsely, one of the other missionaries int eh ward, went up to the microphone and suggested that we pray for Heavenly Father to allow the projector to function so we could watch conference. To be honest in my head, I was thinking.. sure.. like that's gonna help. But as Hermana Hemsley was praying I received a sort of mini revelation that truly anything.. is possible with prayer. And that miracles only stop when the faith of man stops, (Mormon 9). Three minutes after Hermana Hemsley prayed, we received connection and were able to watch just in time the video of Teach Me to Walk in The Light that was shown at Women´s Conference. It was beautiful, I looked over at Hermana Romero sitting next to me and she had tears falling down her face, and then I realized I had tears falling down my face. She took detailed notes the entire conference, and when we visited her the next day, sunday, we found out that she went to church for the first time in forever. We shared Lehi´s Dream with her and her family, and she bore her testimony that the Conference and our lesson changed her perspective and that she really really needed that. WOW. The Lord is working through us. And maybe we aren´t baptizing right now, but we are changing lives. And miracles are happening. Maybe not in the ways we expect. But they are happening. We just need to show God our faith. And maybe I couldn´t understand all of Women´s conference in Spanish, but one thing I did learn.. God´s had is in all of his Holy places.. the chapel, the church, the temple, our lives and our homes if we make them so. 

   Also really quick, we have an investigator, Francsico that is progressing and he has been to church two times in a row! He is starting to befriend the ward members! He told us on sunday that he received an affirmative answer about his baptismal date, April 12th during testimony meeting. Please pray for Francisco that he will be able to keep praying and receiving answers about his choices to come closer to Christ. We had a tour with him on Friday, and right after, viewed a baptism... It was sublime. The baptism was by our zone leader, Elder Murphy and we thought it was the perfect opportunity to show Francisco how baptism works.. He was convinced that we baptized in pools.. not baptismal fonts. Hermana Madrid and I also shared a message after the baptism on Perseverar Hasta al Fin. I didn´t really know what we were teaching until we were standing in front of everyone.. there were about 50 people.. and then Hermana Madrid just went into a discussion of the scriptures in 2 Nephi 31. When it was my turn to talk.. I said a little silent prayer in my heart and I´m not quite sure what I shared. But everyone was smiling. So either they felt bad for me, or could feel the spirit. Afterwards, Hermana Madrid told me I spoke in Perfect Spanish????!! Wow.. I guess Miracles in March are totally real.

   Today is the last day of March, and I´m a little bummed. But when we were ending our planning session last night, I  felt the Holy Ghost tell us that miracles don´t end in March. they keep on going. As long as we are willing to sacrifice our time, efforts, heart, and will to make little prayers and ask with faith for miracles. Ask and it shall be given unto you.  I am so excited for conference this weekend! I am so excited to write down questions and doubts that I have in order to receive divine answers! I advice you all to do the same!! Godspeed!

Con Amor, 

Hermana Powley

 

 

Week 12 - Quito - 24 March 2014

Querido Familia,

Looks Iike I get another 6 weeks with Hermana Madrid in Iñaquito! We had cambios today, and we had to help Hermana Gomez páck and leave, there was a lot of waiting at bus stops and such. But we luckily had a little intermediate time to visit Quicentro, which is a really fancy mall here and I found a yoga mat!I´m singin Hallelujah in my head right now, because now I can do yoga in a more sanitary way in the casa. We are supposed to be barefoot on the floor... Any way it was a lot of fun, but we didn´t have time to write, well the other sisters did, but there were only 2 computers. So now. I have permission from the President to write you, but since its after 6, I want to get to work. So I´m sorry this letter won´t be very long. 

This week has been so great! We found a young man contacting, and we´ve been teaching him this whole week, His name is Francisco, and his parents are Catholic. There are a lot of things that he doesn´t quite understand especially about the hypocritical ways the Catholic church seems to run. He said that the priests used the tithing money in order to have bigger grander houses and cars. He doesn´t agree with this, and hasn´t been going to church for a while. When we taught him the Restoration in our first lesson he accepted the baptismal date if he would recieve an answer. He has been reading the book of mormon, and came to church with us last sunday. He participated in sunday school, and has made friends with those in the elders quorum. We really hope that he recieves an answer soon, and we also are planning on teaching his brother this week! I really have faith that the Lord is going to place his hand in Francisco´s scripture study, and he will recieve the answer he needs.

We also met Andres this week. Andres is from Haiti and is living with his cousin. They own a little restaurant, named The Negrita becuase they are both black. When we taught him the restoration this week, teh spriti was so strong. And he generally asked questions that meant he was earnestly listening. He has a very close relationship with God and when we contacted him we felt that we should give him a Book of Mormon. When we met him agian, he had read a little,a nd had a lot of questions. He has had several miracles occur in his life, for example there was a point when he his legs did not work, but after many prayers, he was miraculously healed. We hope to work with Andre more this week!!

Also we met Juan Pimienta, once in the street when we were contacting, and again on the bus. Two completely different days. Juan is a personal trainer and he always has good advice for how we can eat more healthily, and the other day he taught us a little bit of personal deffense. He is an immigrant from Columbia and lives alone. When he was yougner, he was a rebel and did not lead a very great life. He told us that when he found God, in a Christian church, it changed his life and he has a very close relationship with God right now. THe only problem is, he thinks that all the religions our right, because God loves us all. This is a common problem we are faced with here. The only thing we can do is teach the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, and pray that they read the book of mormon in order to recieve a testimony of the truthfulness of the restoration. With Juan, he has a bad addiction to coffee, because he says its the only thing that really gives him energy in his work. But he was able to make a commitment to try one day without coffee when we taught the Word of Wisdom. I hope Juan has the faith to persevere and complete this goal!!

I love you all so much and I want to get to work, so I will write again next week. 

Love Hermana Powley

Week 11 - Quito - 17 March 2014

Mi Querida Familia

I have a story to share. On Thursday morning, I felt the urge to read the stories of Grammie and Grandad´s conversions in personal study. It had been a rough Wednesday night, with lots of rain, and Hermana Gomez got a little mad at me because one of my lessons went longer then we planned and we were late to her sector. On top of that we found out that 9 missionaries had to go home, 3 from our zone, because of obedience problems. As I was reading Grammie´s story, when I read the part about when she found out that Grandma and Grandpa Lockwood had been listening to the missionaries as well and were going to be baptized, I just felt the strongest impression of joy and I didn´t even know why, but I was crying. I had such a strong gratitude to them for listening to the missionaries and having the faith in order for God to show them the truth. There are so many many families here that are not sealed in the temples because either a father or mother or brother or sister is not a member. But when Grammie was baptized, both her parents were as well. I think because of this, our entire family has been blessed with strength and unity. I had an overwhelming peace come over me that everything was all right. That even though the Satan has a such a strong grip on so many people, missionaries included, we are a family blessed by God. It makes me so happy to know that Grandma Lockwood is with her family right now in Paradise because she was able to do all the family history work for them and that we are all tied together in a chain of eternal covenants. We have such a joyful knowledge of the plan of salvation because our grandparents had open hearts to listen to the gospel. And the journey doesn't ever end. We are always always progressing. 

This week we were able to see miracles, perhaps not in the ways we had planned, but miracles none the less.

On Wednesday night, we were teaching a new investigator, Alexandra, about the plan of salvation. At the end of the lesson one of the members we had brought to the lesson (A last minute decision.. I felt the impression to invite the members who made lunch for us to our lesson with Alexandra and they accepted even though it was very much out of the way and they had to leave work) bore her testimony. She is a recent convert to the church and she bore her testimony to Alexandra that we don´t need to know everything, we only need to have faith enough in Christ to be baptized and the rest will come. It was so beautiful and I wish I could describe in words the feeling in the room. Alexandra accepted a baptismal date for the 5th of April, and she shared with us a story: Two nights ago, her husband had a dream. Here in Ecuador a lot of people have dreams that our almost revelatory, its like a gift of the people here I believe. Anyway in this dream, he was walking in a garden, a beautiful garden with flowers and sunlight. And then he saw a girl, I have no idea who this girl could have been but they began to converse in his dream. She literally told him to keep reading the Book of Mormon. WOW. Right? This is only one of the miracles. We were walking down Real Audiencia trying to find a contact that we had planned to visit, when we came across a man standing on the corner of a street. He told us he was waiting for the "luz" which was actually just the electrical people who were coming, but I took it to mean us.. the luz.. the missionaries.. the truth. Anyway we talked to him about the gospel of Jesus Christ and Marco bore his testimony that right now he wanted to become closer to God and make the covenant of baptism. He has been chronically ill for the past year, and I think he feels deep down that his Catholic beliefs are not sufficient. Anyway... he accepted the baptismal date on the spot tight there on the street. And he prayed. It was beautiful. I know God placed Marco in our path. We had another lesson with him, and we talked about the plan of salvation and the atonement.. he is really excited to learn more and read. I´m excited to visit Marco again next week! Wow.. Miracles of March are real.  

Also, I would like to share real quick a personal miracle. I prayed last week that I would be able to wake up every morning with an excited mentality and energy to work. Before I asked God for this, I was waking up wanting to sleep more, worried for the day, worried for the language. But after I started asking Heavenly Father for this blessing in my night time prayers, I have woken up every single mornign with animo. This has been so great and has made such a difference in my studies as well. I have gained a new dependance in the Lord these past first weeks of March, and I am so grateful that He is aware of all of my doings and needs. 

We all can experience specific blessings according to our desires- maybe that means we have to make sacrifices to live more righteously, or focus more on being like Christ in our thoughts and hearts, but God wants to bless us. Most of the battle is just remembering to really ask God with pure intent in our prayers.

Any ways.. that´s my little peace of advice to everyone!

Have a fabulous week! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Powley      

Week 10 - Quito - 10 March 2014

Hola Mi Querida Familia!!

¿¿Coma estaís?? What a beautiful day here in Ecuador,... actually just kidding.. there's been rain all week. And I lost my umbrella in a taxi, and the taxi driver was being a grump too. I´d be OK if I lost it to a nice taxi driver, but he was trying to get more money out of us then the ride cost. Oh well. That was a really nice umbrella. The kids really liked to play  with the linterna (flashlight) connected to the handle. I´ve learned to grin and bear it. I tried to buy a new one today but the cashier told me my 10 dollar bill was fake. I ended up using the bill at a restaurant like 10 minutes later and it was fine. So I am taking this as sign that my umbrella really isn't lost and it will show up in the house. Anyway! How is everyone! Its really cool to hear how great all the sports/march madness is going. For me, we are going to march Miracles. The only type of food here that seems to bother me is the lentil or lerdujas...I just take zyrtec depending on the family. If they are super poor and its all they have to offer I eat it and take the medicine later, if not then I just tell them I have allergies. But my allergies to leche, is basically gone. And I haven't suffered from any nose congestion or anything like the first time I was here in ecuador. This is a miracle. Because that was not any fun. Sometimes I literally just feel super dirty. There is so much dust and soot from the city. But we are all doing great!! Have no fear, I am being careful.

This week we visited a lot of less actives. One family in particular, I might have mentioned earlier, the family Martinez, came to church on Sunday!! Faubian Martinez had to come home from his mission early, so he´s been dealing with a little bit of mental issues, but we have really befriended him, and he told us yesterday that he wanted to take the role of ward mission leader while the bishop looks for one. Our mission leader moved the week I got here so its been a little tough. What if this is the reason he had to come home, so he could help the mission work here in Quito? I know I´m just speculating, but we had a noche de hogar with this family and two investigators, and when Fuabian shared a message on faith, it was beautiful and the spirit was so strong. I am so glad that we have been able to help him. We also had another visit with a less active, Betty, who is struggling because her husband is not a member and does not want anything to do with the church, he doesn't even let her go on sundays. We sat down, to visit with her, and I felt inspired to share with her Nephi´s Psalm in 2nd Nephi Chapter 4. This is a beautiful set of verses, that Nephi utters in the midst of the struggle with his brothers and right after the death of his father, Lehi. It touched Betty´s heart so strongly. She burst into tears, and said that this was written just for her. I wanted to cry right along with her, because its true. The Book of Mormon was written for each of us, and when we meet people who say no me gusta el libro de mormon, it breaks my heart because they don't even know. They don't even know what they are missing out on. I love how in Santiago (James 1:5) it says if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God. The first step is to realize that you lack wisdom. We all lack wisdom, so why not ask God?

We had a beautiful lesson with a new investigator, Jessica and her husband Christian. They have a beautiful little boy, who is 3.. just like baby Jane, and he loves to talk and run around, and play with his cars. The lesson was on the Restoration and we were about a 1/3 of the way into the lesson, when Christians parent's walked in and listened to the lesson as well. When Hermana Madrid bore her testimony of the Joseph Smith, the spirit was evidently present. As we continued to bear our testimonies of the reality of this knowledge, and that we can know of  ourselves that these things our true, Jessica expressed her interest to read the Book of Mormon. I have so much faith in this family, and there was such a powerful spirit present, that I can´t wait to go back tonight and teach them agian!!

With our other prospective investigators, we haven´t had a whole lot of luck. Mario and Ricardo were in Guayacil this week, and Alberto told us on Saturday that he hasn´t been reading the Book of Mormon. A couple other citas fell as well with other prosepctive investigators. So long story short. We have been fasting and praying a lot to find new investigators this week. We are saying specific prayers, and I have no doubt that because of this there will defintely be miracles this March.

I have learned this week, that I need to submit my whole self and heart to each day. I especially have been praying in the nighttime, to be able to wake up in the morning and be alert and excited for each day. And in the passed couple days, its worked. I know that God is with me, and I feel his love fill up in my heart when we are teaching. On tuesday, I had divisions with Hermana Hemsley, who is super cool.. and we were walking down Brasil (a calle or street) when we met Noemy. Noemy lives alone with her son, and works non stop. She hardly has anytime to spend with her son, and we just happened to pass by her. She told us that she had been a member in Guayacil, but when she moved here to Quito, she became inactive. But she told us that now, especially she needs the gospel in her life. I feel like God placed us in her path. This was a miracle. And even though we were unable to help her come to church on sunday because she was out of town, I have hope that we will be able to visit her this week.

I need to keep up the animo. This week Hermana Madrid is heading to the coast with Hermana Hemsley (both are sister training leaders) and they will only be here today, tuesday, and next sunday. I will only be able to work in the sector for half of the rest of the other days, and so I need to really make every second count. Also I don´t know if I mentioned this, but Hermana Madrid is fluent in English, so she´s really great at helping me study the language. When she´s gone, and I´m just with Hermana Gomez, its good because I have to learn how to teach myself, but our study isn´t as effective. Hermana Gomez is great, and she talks so fast, and I just can´t understand, and when she turns to me for my turn to speak, I just try to follow my heart.  I have learned to depend on the Lord so much during these first few weeks. And I know that the Lord has placed trust in me as well. I know that as long as we give ourselves to him and work with all our hearts and have an eye single to the glory of god, he can work miracles through us. And so I´m ready, and I´m excited. Sure there are some times when the rain is pouring, and no one answers their phones, and we are hungry, but I know that the good in every day outweighs all of this. I´m so excited to take part in the miracles that God has in store for us this month!!

Con Amor,

Hermana Powley

Fun fact: I have discovered the true technique to making perfect french toast.. You must soak the toast in the egg and milk for at least 2 minutes, and not merely dip it. Also, we were curious what would happen if we just through some sliced apples into a vanilla cake mix and its super delicious. Also... The avocados are super cheap here and my favorite treat. And... there is a fruit that I cannot describe accept that it is probably what the fruit from the tree of life in Lehi´s dream tasted like. Its called Chilimoya.. I probably didn´t spell it right. But literally, it looks like a large artichoke, and tastes like heaven.  Attached is an avocado as big as my face and also a pic of Hermana Hemsley and

 I!!

 

 

 

 

Week 9 - Quito - 3 March 2014

Familia!

 

This week has been so great, and also really fast... its been pouring rain all day, and I must say I am a little stressed out. Nothing is open because of the carnivals here in Ecuador, and so we spent 2 hours trying to find a bank to take out money, and an extra 30 minutes trying to find an internet cafe to write. So I don't have very much time, but I don´t  want my mood right now to get in the way of conveying to you guys all the great things that have happened this week.

 

On the plus side today I was able to go running with Hermana Hemsely and that was so great, there are some huge overpasses here, and some intense stairs which we did as well. It felt great in the drizzle of rain!! Running always makes me feel better. For exercise I´ve measured the distance from my bed to the sink in the kitchen, and if I run there and back, 100 times, its a mile. So you could probably imagine my excitement to finally run outside. I´ve been doing a lot of yoga as well.. I´m going to be super pro by the end of my mission. If you can find any instructions for some cool moves please send me some!! Also.. I GOT YOUR PACKAGE!! Thankyou thankyou thankyou so much! It made my day! Those chocolates are delcecios.. and I was just thinking the other day about how much I needed some Hi chews. Its great to see everyone's handwriting, I received the package on Saturday March 1st.. so you can do the math! But keep em coming! The minnie mouse watch, sadly is close to death... I don't think its very water proof, but I love it so much. I probably will buy a new one next pday. One more thing.. Mom... thank you so much for that insight on Christ in your last email, and about Peter walking on water. I shared that with an inactive family and the spirit was so strong. One of the members of the family had to return home from his mission early, and I think it was exactly what he needed to here. We saw the fruits of this lesson later in the week, when we had a family home evening with this family, Martinez, and our investigators Mario and Ricardo. Faubian (the missionary)  shared a beautiful thought on faith and I think it really hit home for Mario and Ricardo. Both of them came to church on Sunday, and that was really nice. We need to check up on them, on Wednesday, and Faubian is going to come with us!

Here in Ecuador there is a tradition. I don't know how it started but it consists of Saturday, Sunday. Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday.. where everyone closes down and parties. People go on vacation to the beach, and there is NO ONE on the streets. Its so weird. They call this the Carnival. And when there are people on the streets, these people have eggs, shaving cream, water balloons, and flour. And its a full on fight throughout the city. We were walking to lunch on Sunday, and some kids rolled down their windows and sprayed Hermana Hemsley, and Hermana Gomez with Shaving cream.. It was actually pretty funny. Almost like snow.. haha. Also, Hermana MAdrid and I thought it would be funny to by some party cream and attack Hermana Gomez and Hermana Hemsley as they arrived home last night. We got em... We got em good.. It was so fun. Then we let them spray us and we have pictures to prove. I´ll attach them!

Remember those dogs? The ones that almost killed us.. Ya well they are three German Shepherds.. and they are still there in front of Jessica´s House.. And they still want to kill us. Everytime we pass her house I feel like I am Daniel in the Lion´s Den.  The other day, one of them tried to bite Hermana Gomez and only got her skirt, but there is not a single rip in her skirt. Pretty amazing. We haven´t been able to teach Jessica because I think she´s been on vacations for the carnival.  But hopefully next week! I don´t think I mentioned that my companion is sister training leader, and so on Tuesdays and Fridays each week she leaves me, and I´m companions with Hermana Gomez. Hermana Gomez is great and I have learned a lot form her.. but its a little hard to only be able to work in half of my sector for two days each week. It sometimes has really tested my patience.. because Hermana Gomez really likes to talk to the members. There have been a couple days where we have literally spent a whole hour at members houses when we really should have only been there for 20 minutes to share a short message. 

 

On the plus side, we have  a lot of members join us to teach investigators and this has been a great blessing, the members here are so strong and have such great testimonies.. almost all of them being converts. I have learned so much form Hermana Gomez as well. She is great with the people. She knows how to really relate with the people and ask heartfelt questions. Also, she knows how to make the doctrine so easy to understand, and she is charismatic. She has such passion for this work, and I love her so much. I have learned to take the lead in teaching all of the lessons in my sector, and I have learned to depend so much on the promptings of my heart in these lessons. This week we had divisions for 3 days and so I really learned how to be more responsible with planning and calling to set appointments. All of this in Spanish. I really feel like I am experiencing the gift of tongues. Sometimes I will be trying to say something, and the words will just come to my mind. I´m starting to think ,ore in Spanish, and although I am not perfect, I can almost understand everything when I focus. God performs miracles when we are obedient and eager to do his will. I know this as a fact!! We cannot doubt. We must be strong, and believe in what our minds tell us is not possible.

I was reading in The Book of Mormon this week, and I came across a phrase, "Exercise your Faith" What exactly does that mean? Like a sort of conditioning, where if you exercise it each day, it gets stronger and stronger. But how can I exercise my faith more? How can I exercise my faith, until it is tired, like when I run, and cant run any further because I am weak. I think with our faith we need to hope more to receive answers, literally believe, until we realize how weak we really are without the power and help of God and Jesus Christ. For me I am going to make more specific prayers, ask for miracles, and have more patience this week. How can we all exercise our faith a little bit more? 

 

Think on this.. study the Book of Mormon.. and pray above all to have a closer relationship with God. I know  through prayer and a broken heart and contrite spirit, we can come to know more about ourselves and God´s love for us than through anything else. The Book of Mormon was written for our day. I was reading in Mormon 9, and I finally internalized the words he writes in the last verses of his book, that all the people in his land, the prophets of old in the Book of Mormon prayed for the day that their brothers would know the truth. And they prayed, watching their brethren fall deeper and deeper into sin. Mormon for example, prayed for his brothers to know the truth of the gospel, even as he saw day by day, thousands of his brethren die in war. But the Lord keeps his promises.

 

And here I am, in Ecuador, literally working to save the very same brethren that those prophets in the Book of Mormon prayed to God to save. God is working through me to answer the prayers of thousands. This is amazing. It makes me feel sort of small, but also very large at the same time. I can´t explain the feeling. When people reject us on the streets, and at their doors, I just think of Alma 26, when Ammon states all the pain and tribulation he had experienced with his brothers by the hands of many Lamanites, all in hope that they could save some soul. And look what they did. For all the rejection they experienced, they continued to hope to be the means through God´s hands to save "someone"... and they saved many. I know God has a grand plan for me here in Ecuador. And I will continue to exercise my faith each day in every lesson, as I strive to speak Spanish. I know that through small and simple things are great things brought to pass. So I will continue to have this prayer in my heart this week. And I encourage you all to do the same!!

 

Buenos Suertes!! Les Amo!! Tenga una buena semana!

 

Hermana Powley