Week 69 - Ottavalo - 27 April 2015

Hola mi Querida Familia,

Another week gone by! But I feel really good about this week's work. We had Stake Conference, and even though the power went out and we all had to run to the stake center, and there were probably just short of a thousand people packed into one building, plus 3 or 4 dogs, quite a few investigators and recent converts came! It was a powerful service. I definitely was spiritually fed. The stake president and his councelors literally remind me of the 3 Nefites, and probably are. But for real, it hit me that everyone in this region where we teach are direct descendants of Lehi. And every page of the Book of Mormon was written out of the love which the ancient american prophets held for these very people. It very well could be that the spirits of Alma, Ammon, Amulek, and Nephi walk the streets of Otavalo and San Pablo preparing the hearts of our investigators. A very strong priesthood power is felt here:) 

Thanks to our fasts and prayers, David Carlosama is back! And he is progressing towards baptism. Its kind of a funny story with David. He actually has a baptismal date for this saturday, May 2nd, and we haven`t been able to talk to him about changing it yet. He really wants to get baptized this saturday but we haven`t finished teaching him all the missionary lessons because of the week and a half where he dropped off the face of the planet. He has vacations from the U this wednesday, thursday, and friday. So if we visit him everyday maybe we can make it work:) Hermana Perez and I feel more comfortable with changing the date however, we will see what happens. David is awesome! He is a smart kid and definite future missionary. A miracle.

I may have mentioned in my letter last week about a couple new families we found.. well two of the three are showing real interest. And came to church yesterday. The family Ajavi, where the father is inactive and the mom is investigator, came to church, but the mom hasn`t accepted  baptismal date yet. Pray for her! They have 7 kids.. that`s a lot of future potencial for the church in San Pablo.. we have got to help them reach solid testimonies. The Familia Delacruz has been a little tough to find but all the kids came to church on sunday, the parents had to work, but the kids loved conference! We have also seen progress in the father, Giovani, who at first just wanted to contend, and now listens like a schoolboy. None of these families have baptismal dates yet, and for that cause we shall work this week!

We have felt the spirit very strongly this week and I would like to share a little bit of insight I received about teaching in unity. We have learned since the beginning of the mission we should teach like Ping Pong.. teaching and sharing brief portions of the message with our companions. Sometimes I teach like chess. Sometimes I talk and talk trying to find the best maneuver before passing over to my companion. BAD MISTAKE. I learned this week that the spirit is always much much much more stronger when we teach in short, brief portions the message. We are able to ask more questions, show more love, and grow as a companionship.

I know that the gospel is true. I know that Christ is at the head of this church. This is HIS church. Led by His authority. We are living proof that His work is hastening. We see miracles everyday. We must press on with faith in Christ and perfect charity. I love this work! And I love all of you! Have a fabulous week and remember what really counts:)

Con Amor
Hermana Powley

1.Corn Guardian

 

2. Hermana Perez and a basket

 

 3. Stake Conference Missionary Pic

 

Week 68 - Ottavalo - 20 April, 2015

Hola Querida Familia,

 

Well we are happy to write this week and say that the Lord truly has blessed us with small miracles and large ones each day. Last week we were able to find and teach 3 new families, The Familia Ajavi, Familia Gonza, y la Familia de la Cruz. Each family found was a great miracle. The Familia Ajavi, as I might have mentioned in my past email came to church last sunday, we thought they were less active last sunday, but when we visited them, we found at this the mom isn`t bapitzed! They have strong desires to return, its true that there are many challenges and addictions that they are going through right now but anything is possible when your on the Lord`s side. The Familia Gonza, they were a door contact after one of our citas feel through. We prayed to know where to go and felt the urge to contact the biggest house on the block. The fmaily was home and accepted a quick message on the Restoration and Eternal Families. They are very interested to learn more. The Familia de la Cruz is also very special. We always seem to be running into the mom, Lucilla, and finally we were able to set a return visit. We brought along a member for the first visit, Lorena, and when we got to their house, Lorena was surprised. "This is where my aunt and uncle live!" she said. We were able to have a great lesson with the whole family. And the Dad was very hard in the beginning. But we followed the spirit and answered his questions. By the end, he told us that he felt as if his attitude had changed completely in the lesson, and he offered the closing prayer as we all knelt together. So cool! We hope that each one of these families can progress throughout this week in order to attend church next Sunday.

Sadly yesterday, David had to travel to Quito with his Dad so he wasn`t able to come to church. David Carlosama is great, as we have mentioned in past letters is preparing for a baptismal date for May 2<sup>nd</sup>. Its extremely hard to visit him because he studies in Ibarra everyday accept for the weekends and he wasn`t home Saturday or Sunday this past weekend. Pray for him so that he can still prepare for his baptism and that we can be able to visit him this week!

I feel truly blessed to be a missionary at this time in the world. There is so much chaos and confusion in the world. We have come across many people from other churches who try to downsize our faith. I feel like my testimony has been attacked more than ever this week, and at the same time it has grown more than ever. I have meditated and prayed with all my heart to find strength. I find strength in our converts. Seeing their testimonies and their growth is like proof that this seed is a good seed. That this faith is true. I find strength in the Book of Mormon. I love the stories and the truths that we find in Alma. I`m leaning onto the power and conviction of Alma, Ammon, Amulek, and Aaron. I know that we just need to listen to have that spirit of revelation. This week especially we have felt the spirit very strongly in some lessons. I have made a greater effort to be a “boat” teacher, and not  a “train” teacher. Boats run by the wind, and move according to the waves. Boat teachers listen and follow the spirit. Trains run straight on the track to their destination. Trains are missionaries who teach lessons and not people. I have tried to stop being a train. I feel a difference. We also have a goal this week to be direct and firm with our missionary purpose. Help others come unto Christ. Help them receive the restored gospel and repent through baptism and the gift of the holy ghost. I know that I will be strengthened as I continue to build myself on the Rock of my Redeemer.  I know he lives. I know he loves me. And I know as I pray with just a little more yearning, and as I study with even more intent, I will be filled with His love. I love being a missionary!

Con Amor

Hermana Powley

 

Here are some epic photos of our District excursion today. We went to las Cascadas de Peguche:

 

 

 

Week 67 - Ottavalo - 13 April 2015

Mi querida famila,

 

This week was wonderful. We have seen and experienced true miracles. Even though it was a little crazy with transfers, we were able to work a little in our sector, and we hope that this week we will be able to work even more time in our sector. This Sunday was so amazing. We had a really good turnout at church, a lot of less actives that came for the first time in years, 8 out of 9 converts, and 2 investigators!

I`d like to start out talking about David Carlosama. I might have mentioned him before, this kid is so prepared to receive the gospel! He was a reference and he has so many desires to join the church. It wasn`t hard for him at all to accept the restored gospel, yesterday we visited him and he accepted a baptismal date for May 2^nd. Its been a little hard to find him the past 2 weeks because he studies all week long in Ibarra, and he lost his cell phone. So we took a leap of faith and went to his house Saturday to leave him a note, inviting him to church. He got the note and came! We visited him after church and he showed us how much he had been reading from the Book of Mormon. In the 2 weeks that we haven`t been able to visit him, he`s made it to chapter 20 of 1^st Nephi! We were very happy! We had a very spiritual lesson, on faith, and he was able to share with us how he has been prepared throughout his life to receive the gospel. I can just see him as a missionary a year from now. Anyway, our action plan with David is to send him text messages of support each day this week and visit him on the weekends when he is home. May 2^nd here we come!

Another cool story. We were in Casco and a couple of our appointments fell through. And I felt the impression to walk up the dirt hill to visit a less active family and recent convert, the Casco Family. It was a leap of faith because, the parents always work (for that reason they are less active) But when we got there, the father, Feliciano, was home! He told us that he no longer was working weekends, and we had a powerful lesson with him and his son, Juanito about the doctrine of Jesus Christ and baptismal covenants. I remember in a training that we had with President Richardson when he said that we need to invite less actives to renew their baptismal convenants by taking the sacrament, not just invite them to church. So we invited him! And he accepted. This whole less active family came to church yesterday and it was beautiful. Also another surprise on Sunday was that a different less active family, whom Hermana Gonzalez had worked with in the past and had zero success, came to church for the first time in years. Recently this family`s cousin, William, has returned home from his mission and has been working hard with them to help them reactivate. I was able to see how William, being a returned missionary is bringing a making a positive impact on his family. I hope to be able to have a similar effect on those whom I come in contact with after the mission. The mission never ends!

I know that my redeemer lives and loves us. It doesn`t matter how many weaknesses we have, just that we trust in Him and believe that he will mold us as we pray with real intent and prove true to the commandments. We have seen repeated rejection, and also sweet, sweet miracles here in San Pablo. This week I have felt Satan working hard, trying to downsize my testimony. But we had an amazing zone meeting, where we all shared our testimonies with the zone. This helped me so much. I was able to realize as I shared my testimony, that no matter how many people tell us we are wrong, no one can deny the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. This church is true because I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It contains the doctrine of Christ in its most pure form. When I try to think of the one moment I truly received testimony of the church, I think of many successive moments that compile to the overwhelming fact and knowledge that I have felt the Holy Ghost in every meeting, testimony, and study. Its simply sad when others do not open their hearts to hear the music. But I know that as we keep working, God blesses us with people like David, and the Casco Family. I know He loves us and wants the best for us. And he will grant us success.

Have a wonderful week Everyone!

 

Con amor

Hermana Powley

 

 

Fotos:

Yo y Hermana Perez (so cute)

 

 

A pig trail that we found....

 

 

 

Carlitos tiene un nuevo perrrito!!

 

 

Week 66 - Ottavalo - April 6, 2015

Mi Querida Familia,

Abrìl, aguas mìl! I said goodbye to my beautiful friend Hermana Gonzalez yesterday. She truly taught me so much and will be flying home to her family in Guayaquil tomorrow. The beautiful part about her homecoming is that 4 days after she gets home, her family will go to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity. I remember Hermana Gonzalez told me that she made a promise with God. She promised to serve the mission and find families to be sealed so that God would help her family to become temple worthy. And Oh did Hermana Gonzalez see that promised fulfilled. I love her so much, it brings tears to my eyes and it makes me just want to sing at the top of my lungs how great and glorious is the love of God.

  My new companion is Hermana Perez. I have been with her on divisions before and she is a powerful misionary! She just finished her 12 week training and will be working with me in San Pablo. Its awesome because her old sector is closing so we went to her old house and got ahold of some new pots and pans:) (Sidenote) She was baptized a year ago with her whole family in El Salvador and she and her two other siblings are all out on the mission right now. Talk about a golden family. Right now we are in a trio helping out Hermana Salas because she is going to train and goes to pick up her daughter on Wednesday. Its really fun. They talk spanish super fast and I have to really pay attention.

It was a poor week for the work because we only had 2 half-days to work. For Monday and Tuesday we were in Quito in Mission Council with all the Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders, Wednesday we got back and had to do planning and correlation, Thursday we worked but also had our reunion de lideres, and friday we went to quito for the Interview of Hermana Gonzalez. Saturday and Sunday were General Conference. Its the worst week of numbers that I`ve had in the mission, but not everything is shown in these indicador claves (key indicators). As a blessing from our heavenly father we were able to focus in on a less active that we were able to rescue this week, Estela. Her kids just need interviews and they will be rescued next week. I also feel that I have truly been enlightened and my personal testimony has been strengthened beyond anything this week. These are the fruits of the amazing Capacitaciones we were able to have on Tuesday and also in General Conference. I remember that someone said that the most important part of conference is right afterwards, when we are brought to our knees to meditate and make new goals for our lives. I was brought to my knees sunday night as I looked at this week`s numbers and was bombarded by thoughts of, "You`re not diligent enough" or "why are you an hermana leader when you can`t set an example." I questioned myself, "How can I have a more profound desire to sing the song of redeeming love? And then I opened up preach my gospel and read page 2. It says in the 3rd paragraph, that as we come to understad the Atonement of Christ more fully, our desire to share the gospel grows. I thought for a moment and decided it was true. I must try to come to understand the Atonement more fully to truly have desires to be diligent in the testing point. I began searching scriptures on the atonememnt and reviewing talks form Genera conference and the Liahona. I have come to the conclusion that Chrsit suffered, literally for every person on this planet. If he suffered all their pain, sadness, and guilt, just so I can pass them on the street, or not talk to them in the bus, without even giving them the opportunity to accept and come unto Him, I am not believing in Him and His power to save. I know that Christ loves every man and women and child and nañagu and torigu here in Otavalo. Do I love them? I am praying to have this profound love. I feel a new and rejuvenized vigor to serve my Lord and Savior and make it so His eternal sacrifice was not in vain. I loved Jeffrey R. Holland`s talk that describes the atonement as hands shot out right before free fall to save us from impending doom. It`s so true. We are literally on a falling earth and we must only fight and keep moving forward with faith. This is what I have learned this week. As of now, we don`t have progressing investigators but we will catch them from free fall this week and we WILL have them in church next sunday. I am so excited to be with Hermana Perez. I am excited to learn from her and acecarse a nuestro Salvador juntas.

Con Amor
Hermana Powley 

Las Fotos:
1ro: Just me and my friend, Toro.

 

2ndo: For Herman Gonzalez`s farewell in the zone the ZL's brought a cake and I nudged the cake in her face.

 

 

3ro: Mision Council in Quito

 

 

4to: The Gringo Room for General Conference in English #alwaysagoodtime

PS. For easter, I decided to be my own easter bunny.  I bought a ton of candy and hid candy all over for Hermana Gonzalez. I wrote a sign that said Happy Easter. She loved it.

Week 65 - Ottavalo - March 31, 2015

Mi querida familia,

This week has been a Miracle with a capital M. We were able to help Carlos Catucuamba and Cecilia Farinango enter into the waters of baptism. We are so happy. Carlos will now be able to prepare with his fmaily to go the temple a year from now and be sealed for all eternity. In the bapitsmal program, the bishop felt inspired to get up and say a few words before the baptism. I don`t remember exactly what he said but I remember feeling an indescribable joy. That families are eternal. I looke over at Carlos with his family. And each of them had tear filled eyes. Its just so beautiful how the Lord works and how we can each see the blessings he pours from heaven. It wasn`t an easy week for Carlos but he made it. His daughter, Ingrid, also was baptized with him, she`s 8, and the water was freezing.. she also had to be baptized 3 times because she wasn`t completely covered in water. It was really sad. But she also did it! Cecilia Farinanango, probably the most beautiful abuelita in the world, also was baptized. The most beuatiful part however was sunday, when her own son, the bishop, confirmed a member of the church and gave her the gift of the holy ghost. It was so tender and beautiful. They too will be able to be sealed together in the temple a year from now.

David was able to come to church this week! He also came to the baptism and we gave him a tour afterwards. The members love him. He seems like he has been a little bit of a rebel in the past with his pierced ears and big chain cross necklace but he has strong desires to repent and come unto Christ. He is definitely someone that the Lord has been preparing. He loved church, and even though he has classes in the University of Ibarra we can teach him Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. David keeps preparing for the 18th of April.

Yesterday we went to go teach our newest recent convert, Cecilia Farinango, to ask her about how she felt receiving the Holy Ghost. When we got to her house, she wasn`t home, but her son, Eric Fernandez was home! He usually is hard to find and he is definitely a rebel. Cecilia has been telling us that Eric has been changing for the better since she started going to church. With tears in her eyes, last week Cecilia expressed a huge desire for her son to be baptized too. We taught Eric yesterday. It was a powerful lesson. Eric plays soccer on Sunday, gets drunk with his friends, and I`m sure other bad stuff, but we shared with him Mosiah 2: 36.37. Which King Benjamin basically tells us if we aren`t obedient, we are enemigos de Dios. It was very direct, and I felt like a missionary right out of the Book of Mormon, preaching repentance to the Lamanites. He totally understood and told us he wanted to change, Eric wants to be on the Lords side. We extended a baptismal invitation for the 25th of April, and he accepted. Cecilia came in after that and the smile on her face was indescribable. I feel like now the Lord is blessing Cecilia for her faith to be baptized.

I love this work. I never want to stop. During the Women`s Conference on Saturday night, I just felt a strong urge to never never never stop doing my best. We are here to protect the family. That is our calling. To help people realize that if they are built on the rock of Christ, who is our redeemer, we and our families shall never falter. This is my testimony. I know that Christ is at the head of this church. I know his power is real. As we prepare for easter this upcoming sunday, I want to remember Him more than anything. That thanks to him, we are clean. I know that baptism is just the door. As Alma invites his brethren in Mosiah 18, I testify that we must be witnesses of God at all times, in all things, and in all places. Covenants we make with our father in heaven are serious. He promises us strength if we have the faith to keep his commandments. Let us never give up. The reward is life eternal.

Have a wonderful week everyonen!

Con Amor
Hermana Powley

Pictures:

PS. Sunday was the last church meeting for Hermana Gonzalez. So we dressed up in the typical dress of the natives here. Almost everyone in the ward goes to church like this so we fit right in!

 

 

 

Liz Lizard on the road --

 

Week 64 - Ottavalo - March 23, 2015

Mis Queridos Queridos;

Well this past week was great! And this week coming up will be even better! One highlight of the week was when Hermana Gonzalez and I made green pancakes and surprised some of the sisters in Otavalo by arriving early in the morning to do a house revision and eat pancakes on St. Patrick`s day. Also, Hermana Gonzalez and I have seen the hand of the Lord in splits just as much as in our time together. This week we have been helping Carlos prepare for his baptism this upcoming saturday along with Cecilia. They are both investigators from member families. We are so excited to be able to help them to finally be able to form eternal families. Baptism is just the first step. I`d like to start out talking a little bit about Carlos.

Carlos Catucuamba has been listening to the missionaries for a long time and the only thing that had been keeing him from progressing was his work which only permitted him to be at home every 3 weeks. He has been on vacations the past couple weeks so we have been really able to focus on him. Something miraculous happened on Tuesday. Carlos lost his job. The Lord is closing a door for Carlos, in order to open a window that leads to heaven. He will now be able to look for a job that allows him to not work on sunday and spend more time with his family. Carlos knows that its going to be hard but wants to be with his family for forever. He has announced his baptism for this saturday and has invited his family. Even better he brought his mom to church yesterday! Carlos is going to be powerful! His challenge at the moment is his fear that after baptism he will fall. We are going to be contacting/visiting him everyday this week, building his faith. The members are also visiting and strengthening him.

Cecilia Farinango keeps progressing and has also anounced to her family and the ward her baptism for this saturday. Cecilia is a true March Miracle. Even though she could be my grandma, we have been able to help her cast away all fear and just trust in the Lord. This would not have been possible without the help of the members who have kindly translated into Quichua all the lessons with us. Cecilia came to another family home evening last night and participated! We love her so much. The other day my heart just about melted when she showed us her Camino de Fe (the plan that we give all progressing investigators to put on their wall to see their progress), that she had been marking everyday in which she has said her prayers. We gave her a picture of Joseph Smith to help her remember his name. She can say in Spanish.. "Joseph Smith.. Prophet!" SO CUTE.

We also have one more March Miracle of the week, Davìd Carlosama. Davìd was a referral from a few members that brought him to the noche de hogar we had last sunday. David is 19 years old and has been searching for light. His friends had commented to us that he wanted to be baptized, and our first viist with him we invited him to baptism, he accepted for  the 18 of April! He says he wants to follow Christ and come to know His true doctrine. There are many other churches in the world, but there is just one that contains ALL the doctrine of Christ in su forma pura. (DON`T KNOW HOW TO TALK IN ENGLISH ANYMORE) The young single adults in the ward invited him to the stake talent show and he practiced and danced with the ward. Sidenote* I love being in this area. The ward is solid. Something that I really love about teaching David is that he truly understands and applies the scriptures, and he remembers what he reads! This week he starts back up in the university, and he doesn`t know the schedule yet. We hope that everything will work out so that we will be able to keep visiting him in the afternoon because where he lives there are no buses at night.

Hey everyone. Thanks for your prayers and worries and love that you display for los demàs. As King Benjamin says, when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God. Something I learned today in my studies was that Christ always had the Father with him throughout his life because Christ never did anything that didn`t please His father (Juan 8:29). Christ was fearless. He befriended the beggar. He loved those who despised him. And he NEVER gave up. People knew the father through him. I want with all my heart to be the same. I want people to know God through knowing me. I want people to feel his love, reverance, peace, and goodwill through the example and concern I can give. This is the only true church of Christ on the face of the earth. There is no other way to receive celestial blessings than through the holy priesthood. These promised blessings are real. If we believe in them, than we will let it be known through our actions. Get to work everyone! How do you let your testimony show?

Con Amor

Hermana Powley

Pictures:

 

PS:::If you know me.. you know about my chicks.

 

 

PSS::: Cecilia and her ovejitas or llamagutas in Quichua.. sorry its a little blury

 

 

PSSS:::: Anyone want choclo? Its corn season! That means meriendas de choclo cada dia.

 

 

 

Week 63 - Ottavalo, Ecuador - March 16, 2015

Hola mi querida familia,

                This week has been great. We have seen and been a part of some grand miracles. I have gained a real testimony of the power of the law of the fast. With sacrifice, diligence, and faith we will always see miracles if it’s the Lord’s will. And missionary work is His work. Claro que si! Esta es su obra. Estamos realmente cumpliendo Jacob 5. Somos los siervos que El Señor mismo ha escogido para trabajar en su viña, preparando así el mundo para el segundo venido de El. Qué gozo es ser parte de ésta gran profecia!

 

         This week Cecilia Farinango is progressing! She is preparing for a baptismal date, the 28^th of March. She doesn’t talk Spanish very well so we have been visiting her this week with members who speak Quichua to help her really understand the doctrine. I see a new light in her eyes. She told us that she feels as if God’s hand is supporting her and guiding her along as she prepares for baptism. Cecilia is a very special investigator. I love her so much.  We had a special family home evening last night with her, her son, and a good chunk of the ward. The bishop even came with his first counselor, which was a fun surprise. There were about 30 people there and we were in charge of the lesson. We decided to play a game, everyone split into 4 groups and each group was in charge of teaching a commandment  (word of wisdom, law of chastity, 10 commandments, and tithing) We taught them how to teach and watched as everyone came to life teaching one another. It was really cool to watch everyone  try to be missionariesJ  There were many references that members brought as well and a couple possible future investigators.

         We also have a great miracle to share, evidence that this is the Lord’s work and his hand is in everything we do. Last week, Hermana Gonzalez and I fasted for an hermano, whose name is Carlos Catacuamba. He is an eternal investigator, and the head of his family, his wife and 4 children are members of the church. Hermana Gonzalez had been teaching him about a year ago but he didn’t progress. We fasted that he would accept a baptismal date in March. When we went to visit him this past Wednesday, Carlos accepted a baptismal date for the 21^st of March. His family was just beaming with joy. It was amazing. The only problem is that he left for a business trip Sunday and doesn’t get back until Friday night. We know that opposition is going to be working hard to keep him from being baptized. But we fasted again yesterday and he already has had his baptismal interview. Everything will fall into place if we diligently call him each day to make sure he is reading and praying.

 

     This week we had a special training meeting with President and Hermana Richardson and the Asistants. It was inspiring. President talked to us about time. We measured all the time we have in the mission in hours. than, he subtracted all the hours we use up sleeping (which is like a third of the time), eating, studying, and P´day. Our time to proselyte really is only like 85 days. And then he divided that by a thousand years  (which is one day in heaven) and our time to serve the Lord really only adds up to something like 41 seconds. It was shocking. I guess we can give the Lord our whole life and still it wouldn´t add up to be anything truly significant. He only wants our heart, our mind, our might, and our strentgh. That is our only way to give. Sometimes it overwhelms me the extreme and eternaly power of his mercy and love. We are HIS children. And we can become to be like him. As we are told in Moroni 7:48, we must pray will all purpose of heart, so that we may be filled up with His love, in order to look and appear as Him in the final great day. What are we doing each day to share His love? How are we spending our 41 seconds?

      I know that our Lord is with us in everything we do if we walk in faith. A scripture that I love is found in Doctrine and Convenants 123: 17. It’s a scripture that I love to share with the other sisters. Especially sometimes when we feel stressed are upset that everything we do doesn’t seem to measure up this scripture brings peace to my heart. We just need to trust after all we can do to see the glory of God in action. That’s what the mission is all about. To walk WITH Him. I love being a missionary and I know that this is where I’m supposed to be. I know that through praying with real intent and studying with the spirit God speaks to us through the Holy Ghost. I know that the fast is an eternal law and that as we put God before our earthly wants and needs we shall be raised up! I hope that you all choose to put God and His ways before the world. We are working hard ot be consecrated missionaries. Lets all just be consecrated sons and daughters of God. 

Con Amor

Hermana Powley

Picture: Our zone with President and Hermana Richardson. Hermana Gonzalez and I are super cool and dressed up in sentros (the typical skirt of the indigenous in our sector)

Week 62 - Ottavalo - March 9, 2015

Hola todos mis queridos!

This week has been a great week! There are miracles each day! We know that the Lord is blessing us as we strive to be diligent. Its true that there is always room for improvement, always room to give even more than what we are giving. It  makes me feel good to set goals,  make plans and see them  through.  I love this gospel. I feel like the purpose of life is to reach goals. To reach a goal we need to show daily diligence. Through repentance and faith we can realize each and every plan.

This week President, Cecilia  (the bishop`s mom) Didn`t stay for all 3 hours, so her fecha fell through. Its better this way so we can teach her really well all the lessons so that sh e understands. We were`nt able to refechar her sunday afternoon but we will on wednesday (our next planned visit) Our ward mission leader is helping us translate the lessons in Quichua. So she can understand even better.

A miraculous story that I would like to share from this week is a reference that Hermana Gonzalez and I received from a missionary in a different a sector, Hermana Bowman. The reference `s name is Marina and she is family of a member in the ward. She is a single mom. We called her on sunday to set up an appointment. Even though she wasn`t able toa meet with us on sunday we scheduled an appopintment for this week. We had no idea where her house was. After we called her we started knocking doors, doing some sunday  afternoon tracting. We knocked a door and 4 kids peeked their heads out the door. We presented ourselves and asked them if they ahd heard of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, they said no, and that they  were members of a different church. We asked them which church and they told us the Mormom Church. We gave them a really big smile and told them its the same church. Then we asked them if they were baptized, and they said no. We were slightly confused how they could be members without  baptism but  turns out that they had assisted church several times with their cousins and just assumed that they were members. You might wonder where Marina comes into picture. With afurther questions, we found out that Marina, the referral, is their MOM! Not just a coincidence. We are excited to see them and invite them to baptism later this week.

Also.. fun fact.. I did divisions with Hermana Nogales in my old sector! Ibarra Central 2. All my converts are going strong and giving references to the missionaries. So cool! We visited one convert, Silvia, and a family that Hermana Pinto and I rescued-- the Family Figeroa. The Family Figeroa has been inviting a young man, Junior, 19 years old, to their house to hear the discussions. Junior will be baptized this Saturday. Missionary Work spreads!!  I never had any idea when I was in Ibarra that what I was doing, through helping the Family Figeroa be active members in the church, was setting stones for future baptisms. It just fills me with such a joy to know that the Lord always has a bigger plan than we can imagine.

Anyway, I`m so happy to be here in San Pablo. Its true that ther are ups and downs each day but with the power of faith and fast we are lifted above complaints and doubts. We are seeing true miracles with less actives. We hope to rescue 9 this month. I love preaching the gospel to nonmembers and membears alike. I love this sector because we are truly learnign how to work with members. Like the prophet says, this is our time to Work Together! Members and missionaries. True missionary succes comes from diligence on the members part as well. Faith from members. It doesn`t matter where one could be serving their mission, if the wards are strong, there will be baptisms and even moreso, conversions. I  know that this  is the Lord`s work. We are His friends, His instruments, and emit His light. I love to be a missionary.

Con Amor

Hermana Powley

Pic - Me and Hermana Gonzalez in Mission Council

 

 

Week 61 - Ottavalo - March 2, 2015 (settled in a new area)

Mi Querida familia,

Well! After 4 and half months in Llanochico, transfers were bound to happen. Hermana Espinoza completed her misión and I got transferred to San Pablo, Otavalo Sur.  My new companion is Hermana Gonzalez and she is Sister Training Leader too! She was also trained by Hermana Madrid so we are literally misión sisters. Also we are the dream team. She is from Machala, Ecuador and also finishing her misión this transfer. She is so cute and powerful and fun and I could just go on and on. Plus our sector is gorgeous. We wake up every morning to a view from the movies. The beautiful clear lake San Pablo reflecting the grand, colosal, picturesque Imbabura volcano. Its actually the same vlocano that I lived under in Ibarra, but we are just on the other side! This sector is mainly inhabited by the native indigenous of Ecuador. Its so cool. Everyone speaks Quichua (or the language of the Lamanites) Yes. We are teaching pure lamanites. All the men here where their hair in long black braids and the women carry their babies on their backs. Our Ward misión leader could be Moroni. Our bishop kind of looks like Nephi. No big deal. I love it here. We are seeing so many miracles. My companion told me that its been kind of a hard sector the past year but I told her no. We just come to do the Lord´s will and he will guide us to find those people who are prepared.

 

This week we have an investigator with Fecha! A March Miracle for sure. Her name is Cecilia Farinango and she 64 years old. She is the bishops mother and has been some sort of eternal investigator. She came to church on sunday and we went to visit her afterwards. And she finally accepted a baptismal date for the 1st of March. We talked about how baptism completes repentance and makes it possible to enter into God´s kingdom. We used pictures because she doesn´t know english very well. When we made the invitation to be baptized, we showed her the picture of Jesus with his arms opened wide to receive us (the picture of the 2nd coming) and we told her that Christ was waiting for her. She said that she is now willing to set a date! What a miracle.

 

We also have plans this week to work with a couple families where not all our members. This is the month to see miracles so we are going to return to work with them after many missionaries have already tried. Two families in specifiic, the family Kashawa and the family Chicaysa, both have fathers who are not members. We met with both the families this past week and had some inspiring lessons on the fast and commited each family to fast for their fathers to enter into the waters of baptism this month. We fasted too. We hope to see miracles this week for these families. God´s plan is to bring everyone to the temple. That families can be exalted and not just saved. Through much prayer and hope and love we will see fruits this week.

 

Also more miracles! We were out teaching the other day and someone passed us on the road and said Hermanas! Her name was Cisa and she is a member of the church too. The ward is huge so we were working in a new area so we were excited to find a new member to visit with us. In that exact moment she joined in on the lesson and helped us with translating Quichua. Then another member came and we went on splits to visit more people. I went with Cisa, we talked about the mission and she expressed how she wanted to serve.It wasn´t until the end of the day that she told me that she was inactive in the church and that as she was accompanying us she was able to feel a new desire to go to church. Thad day we found many more less actives to begin teaching. Hermana Espinoza and I have a goal to rescue 7 less actives this month. Yesterday we rescued 2 and throughout all this month we are going to be working hard to rescue and teach Cisa, Andy, Nancy, Estela, Jonathon, Melany, and Erica. We might even exceed our goal!

 

Hey Everyone, I know the gospel is real. I know when we give up our whole will and heart and focus 100% on the Lord we see miracles. I love Hermana Gonzalez, we are so excited to help the members in Barrio San Pablo, each day I feel spiritually enriched. I feel the presence of angels in this sector. We are fulfilling ancient prophecies from the Book of Mormon, bringing the direct Descendants of Lehi to the light. I know the Book of Mormon is true. Being here is just strengthening my testimony even more of the restoration, of Gods love, and that I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak. We are about our Father´s business. Have a great week everyone! We love you and pray for you!

 

Con Amor,

Hermana Powley

Week 60 - Ottavalo - Feb 23, 2015 (transfer)

Mi querida familia,

And the verdict has been made! Hermana Espinoza is dead and I have been moved to Ottavalo. OK she`s not really dead she just finished the misión.

"Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." D&C 123:17

Now that we have changes I feel kind of bittersweet, but I also know that we have left a legado in Bella Aurora. I am excited to get to work in Ottavalo with Hermana Gonzalez. We are going to see miracles. We just have to give everything to the Lord and trust in him. I feel like this week I experienced a grand change of heart. It started last wednesday. We had a very spiritual weekly planning sesión even though we both knew that we wouldn`t be together for the following week. We left the house with a feeling that if we just submit to the will of God, He would lead us to where He wanted us to be, but we had to let go of our own selfish desires. We accepted that he would guide us and in order to feel the spirit to be guided we held prayers in our hearts. We found many new investigators this past week, but one, specifically I want to talk about. 

 

Maria Guaman was a contact from a couple weeks back, who we kept on seeing on the bus. We were able to make a concrete appointment with her for saturday night. When we arrived at her house the spirit was tangible. She told us how she knew she needed to learn more and she wanted to change her priorities from wordly things to godly things. That impacted me. What if all our investigators were like that? If we all just wanted to do what God wants instead of what we want? Thats they key of the góspel and the first great commandment: Love God with all our heart might mind and strentgh. We continued to teach and testify of the restauration and in the end she accepted to be baptized. When we asked her why, she said, "Hermana´s  you´ve taught me a lot and I know I still have much to learn, but if there´s one thing I have felt tonight that I never before have felt is that now I know with surety that God loves me."  We asked her to offer the prayer and she willingly bowed her head to talk with God for the first time, a miracle in and of itself. When she finished tears filled her eyes and she told us that God sent us to guide her. The next day she came to church and loved it. As Hermana Espinoza and I talked walking home that night we rejoiced in how Maria truly understood the purpose of Lesson 1, she felt that God loved her. Thats why we teach Lesson 1 the restoration, so others can feel of God`s love and understand that his church is once again on the earth. I have felt more of the love of my father this week than ever before and it is because I have forgotten myself and gone to work.

We also found a very sweet family, the Familia Echesi, also the family Herrera, and the Family Lema. All three are genuinely curious and have true desires to change the course of their lives in order to experience peace and joy in their families. The cool part is we found two of these families just walking around looking for peole who needed help, be it carrying huge bags of choclo, or washing clothes by hand. We rejoice in finding as we serve and serving as we find. People truly feel the pure love of Christ as we serve. As we have strived to follow God`s will with mind and heart this week we have been able to find more serving opportunites, which is exactly what Christ did when He was on the earth. He loved. He served. He taught. We can do the same be us members or missionaries.

 

I love to serve the Lord. Its true that I am sad to leave Bella Aurora but I know the Lord has a plan for me here in Ottavalo. Its a beautiful place and as we continue to put God first, to trust and ask him for help before drawing to quick conclusions I know we will see fruit, be it in the members themselves, investigators, less actives, we will change the world.

 

 

Con Amor
Hermana Powley

Week 59 - Quito Bella Aurora - Feb 16, 2015

Mis queridos,

How are you all doing? I have learned a lot this week. I am so grateful for personal and companionship study. I am so grateful for my sweet companion Hermana Espinoza and her amazing example. I am so grateful for orange-papaya juice.. the next big thing. I am also so grateful for Pdays where we just decide to stay in and give each other pedicures. I´m also grateful to have been able to go on splits with Hermana Dillman and Hermana Lefrant in San Carlos and Iñaquito. They both are great examples and I have been able to learn so much form them.  

To be honest, I haven´t  really been able to spend a  whole lot of time in our sector this week. I had splits in San Carlos with Hermana Dillman, and wow let me just say.. its a beautiful place. We had a service project where we helped a recent convert move to a different home. Literally we moved a huge couch from a 3 story apartment to the ground. Still not sure how the couch didn´t break, but miracels happen when missionaries are put to work. Also they rewarded us with grilled cheesed sandwiches, pringels and salsa.. a few American delicacies. Then I had divisions in Iñaquito... my first sector! It was definitley a blast to the past especially because exaclty a year ago we were stepping off the plane onto Ecuador soil. Hermana Lefrandt and I found a ton of new people to teach and we stopped by my favorite panaderia and the owners recognized me and gave me a huge hug. It was very special:) But Wow.. Hermana Lefrandt is a powerful missionary. I feel like I learned so much more from her than her from me. She always finds cool ways to connect the gospel to peoples lives. And she has no shame. A family walked past us as we were knocking doors, and we both looked at each other, and started to run to catch up with them. Hermana Lefrandt just yelled, "Hey! We need to talk with you guys!" and they turned around and listened.. such boldness I have never seen. 

Even though, in our sector we don´t have any investigators that are progressing, we sacrificed for the other missionaries and I know the Lord has his own timetable. We all just need to smile and have fun because we´re the Lord´s servants. We are also on the winning side. Even though some people tell us that they burned the Book of Mormon and they don´t want anything to do with us, we just need to go out every day and every week with MIGHT and LOVE. I know that everything will be OK. I´m just putting everything in His hands now. I´m going to stay on target with positive thinking. Negative thoughts only come from Satan. Doubts must be doubted before our knowledge and hope. I feel like I see so many miracles on divisions, and I truly feel like an instrument in the Lord´s hands when I go out with the other Hermanas. In my own sector, we are still seeing miracles. Strengthening members, helping with Family History, and helping recent converts build their testimonies. We are seeing progress!

I know that the Christ is the Master, and our creator. He is The First and The Last. Es nuestro abogado ante el Padre. Aunque hemos hecho muchos errores, Sé que nunca está demasiada tarde de cambiar o dejar habitas viejas. El Señor es nuestra guía. Entonces aun que las personas nos rechazan, solo se acerca nuestro entendimiento de la vida de nuestro Salvador. Estoy feliz de ser misionera. Sé que el nos forma y nos hace instrumentos perfectos, a fin de que demos música que cambie el mundo. Tenga una buena semana! Oren para las personas en Ecuador!!

Con Amor

Hermana Powley

Week 58 - Quito Bella Aurora - Feb 9, 2015

Hola Mis Queridas!

How are you all liking February? In Ecuador February is the month of Carnaval. Which means everyone runs around like crazy throughing eggs, flour, silly foam, and dirty water at each other. People even say that God plays Carnaval because in Febraury the rain begins. But not just any rain, downpour or aguacero. Its been a week of puddles and rivers and wet shoes:) This week has also been a week of meetings! It just flew by! Our investigators from last week kind of flew down the wayside as well. Turns out that Roberto is a member of a Pentacostal church, and they told him a bunch of garbage about us. So he told us he wasn’t interested anymore. God led us to him, so we were a little confused why he told us no, but everyone has their agency. Maybe someday in the future he will accept the gospel. Henry got a job offer and worked all this week so we couldn`t teach or find him. We`ve had to drop a couple families that aren`t progressing. But Oh well. We always must remember that NO means Nueva Oportunidad (New Oportunity) and we carry on with smiles!

On the bright side, we have a sweet family we are working with in the bottom of Yuraq. The Familia Tonato. It’s a little hard to contact them on the weekend to help them come to church. But the other day, Hermana Espinoza saw the mom, Maritza walking back from the store with her groceries in one hand and her book of Mormon in the other. Its little details like this, that keep us moving forward. Knowing that some people go to creative means like Maritza to meet commitments.

Also the other day, we had a lesson with Bridget, a less active and her mother Christina, a non –member. I remember walking up the steps to her house, just saying a quiet prayer in my heart that the spirit would testify to Christina the importance of the doctrine of Christ. As we taught the plan of salvation, the spirit filled the room and we invited Christina to baptism. The spirit was so strong she accepted! Christina had plans on Sunday to visit her Mom, so she told us that next Sunday for sure she would come to church with her daughter in order to prepare for a baptismal date.  Bridget lit up when her Mom accepted the challenge, filling Hermana Espinoza and I with hope and joy.

We also taught the Gospel Principles class on Sunday, it was so fun! The topic was Adam and Eve and the Fall. So we brought a ton of fruits to the lesson for visual effect, and as members of the class answered questions they could pick a fruit to eat. Not a surprise that the last fruit to be chosen was the apple.  (Everyone here seems to think that the apple was the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden) Rocio wanted to answer every question and she was very animated as we taught the lesson. We just love seeing her progress. There is an Hermana in the branch who`s going to have a baby, and Rocio bought the baby a blanket and knit the baby a cute little hat. Now she`s just finding opportunities to serve and preparing for the temple!

 

I know that the Lord will guide us as we trust in him and lean not unto our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). I have decided to start reading the Book of Mormon again. This time I am highlighting in different colors everything that has to do with trusting in the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I want to be the 4^th missionary. This is my time to be on the Lord`s time. There is no other time like this time. Its time to be an instrument in the Lord`s hands. I know that his atonement saves us daily. We may be fallen from God`s presence, but Christ lifts us up as we remember him and repent. I know the gospel is true. I love the Lord and I love to be a missionary.

Last week the Mission President`s wife, Hermana Richardson accompanied Hermana Espinoza and I to a couple of lessons (it was fun cuz we went in her car) She told us about a dream she had and its such a great visual of life so I want to share it with you. She dreamed that she was walking along a path and holding on to a ski tow rope. She was walking along holding on to the rope and it was easy. She could let go for a couple seconds, drift for a little and grab back on to the rope. But then something happened. As she kep walking along with the rope she realized that the ground below her gave way into a huge ravine, or dich. Soon she was holding on to the cable, but this time, dangling on for her life. Hermana Richardson said she had to make it to the other side of the ravine holding fast to the cable. Hermana Richardson told us the cable is like the iron rod, or our scripture study. There are times in our life when we can let go for a little and be fine. But there come times where the scriptures are our only lifeline. Where if we let go we fall, and we can face eternal consequences. Let us choose to hold fast to the iron rod.



Have a wonderful week everybody!

 

 

Con Amor

Hermana Powley

Week 57 - Quito Bella Aurora - Feb 2, 2015

Hola mi querida familia,

This week was a week of quality, not quantity. And we experienced success! Let me start out describing a new investigator whom we found yesterday, Roberto, 21 year old Christian. We had actually met Roberto earlier last week, but it was at night and his friend was doing most of the talking, so we didn`t quite remember him yesterday when we met him walking down the road and he smiled at us and said "Hermanas! ¿Como estàn?!" It took us a second to remember him. And just like that, he invited to his house to meet his mom and his cousin. He told us that he was out walking because he went to buy some medicine for a headache, but as soon as he bought the pill his head stopped hurting. He said it was strange,  but that right after his head stopped hurting he ran into us. As we taught Roberto and his cousin Soñia about the priesthood which Christ gave his apostles, Roberto asked a question I had never heard before, he asked if there was a way he could receive the priesthood. We both felt the spirit and explained that it had been restored through a modern-day prophet, and as we recited the first vision, tears welled up in his eyes. Roberto accepted a baptismal date for February 28th. We gave him a Book of Mormon and pray for his progress. He was definitely placed in our path by our Heavenly Father and is prepared.

Also we have been visiting, Rocio`s son, Henry over the past couple weeks. Henry is 26, and he hasn`t been able to go to church because of work, but this week we taught him the Plan of Salvation, explaining the importance of keeping commandments and trusting in Christ. We referred to Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and he committed to not work on Sunday. He also accepted to be baptized the 21st of February. He came to church this sunday with Rocio and the members loved him! Sadly he couldn`t stay for Priesthood (the 3rd hour) so we are going to extend his baptism date for the next Saturday, or possibly a weekday because the branch temple trip is that day. But Henry is so great. He is very humble, and he has faith that the Lord will answer his prayers as he asks to know if the Book of Mormon is true.

This week Hermana Espinoza and I have been able to feel the immense love of our father in heaven as we have taken the time and effort to make sure that members are with us to visit our investigators. Sometimes when we think of the word diligence, we get caught up in contacting as many people as we can, when really diligent missionary work is planning, studying,  taking the time to team up with the branch, serving the people with simple acts of kindness, and reevaluation. In that way, we see fruits and we see progress!

Funny story. We had to renew our visas on tuesday all the missionaries from my group because we`ve reached our year mark in Ecuador. As we were waiting in the 3 hour line to renew our visas, the senior missionary Elder Williamson sat next to a priest from the Catholic Church and started practicing his spanish with him. So funny. The sacerdote (priest in spanish) was actually young and friendly. They got along really well and the priest didn`t have any mean things to say about the Mormon church. A couple of the nuns sitting around him were a little startled. By the time we could finally leave, Elder Williamson (probably he is about 70 years old) said, "Padre, dame un ambrazo" And they hugged. Elder Williamson is so hilarious you just have to know him. It was cool.

This week I would like to put emphasis in a word that I love: smile. The other day, I was troubled because we hadn`t contacted too many people, and my nose had been running the whole day with a throbbing headache. It was a day in which I actually pictured in my head as we were out proselyting my warm bed at home.  When we got home for the night I remember praying that the Lord would help me know how to focus my thoughts and actions in the work even when we feel tired and weak. Just one word came to my head: Smile. Attitude is Everything. When we feel like we just can`t take anymore, Smile. When people reject, smile ad testify. When walking up a dirt hill, smile. We belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, there is no better reason to smile in the whole world.

The next day, all the missionary leaders in Quito were privilged to have a mission council with Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of the 70. Hermana Dunne and I sang "Yo sè que vive mi Señor" to start out the meeting (with stuffy nose and all) but the spirit was there. When Elder Christensen started the discussion, he told us a story of when he was Mission President in Mexico and there was an area with little success. As he prayed to know what to do, he received revelation to send sister missionaries. The difference was huge. The sisters in their first month had 8 baptisms and in the 2nd month 16 more. When he asked the sisters what they were doing, they told him nothing.. just that they couldn`t hold back their smiles. Elder Christensen said that as missionaries our success is related to attitude, and our smiles reflect our attitude. It was like a confirmation to my prayer the night before. We just have to smile and always see the silver lining. I testify that I know our Redeemer lives and that his mercy is sufficient after all we can do. I love him and I love to be a missionary. Have a great week everyone!

Con Amor,
Hermana Powley

Week 56 - Quito Bella Aurora - Jan. 26, 2015

Familia --

As we start the last week of January, I am blown away by how fast time goes by. This week was up and down and up again. Even though we still don`t have investigators progressing we have high hopes for this week! There are a couple families that we have found and contacted this week, plus a couple old families that we have re-found, that we are excited to teach this upcoming week. I will be honest, this week was a little bit of a sick week. I got strep throat wednesday morning and trudged through the day triumphantly until 9 pm, then thursday I was a dead log. We called the nurse assistant and then Hermana Hancey the mission nurse. She scheduled an appointment with a doctor in the Hospita Metropolitano, where for the first time I had a doctor`s appointment in Spanish (crazy.. there are still so many words in Spanish I need to learn), and was given a lovely shot of Penicilin. Thursday was basically a lost day other than a couple contacts we made on the bus and taxi rides. Planting Seeds. Friday and Saturday were much better days.

Real quick.. the miracles of the week.. Branch Conference. We worked really hard with members to help us visit all the recent converts who aren`t going to church. And members of the branch council truly went above and beyond to help the inactive converts come to church this sunday. The past month we`ve only had 1 or 2 converts coming to church a week (out of 13) But this sunday we had 4! The best part is, Mariana and Alexandra Altamirano came, and they had told us a little more than a month ago that they would not go back to church. With much love and care, we were able to help them see reason and return. Jenny Simbaña, another recent convert, came to church too, she is practically inactive, but the relief society president along with others in the branch have been helping her and she came on sunday! Rocio is doing great as well. We can count on her and her calling is underway!


Branch conference was amazing. I left church on sunday feeling so edified. One of the speakers from the stake presidency made a really cool connection. He talked about Cain and Able. They both gave sacrifices to the Lord in the beginning. But they gave different types of sacrifices. Able understood what God asked and Cain did not. Cain gave what was easier, just a few plants. This simple mistake, not sacrificing enough, culminated into all that we know Cain famous for. Now we live in modern times. Christ came. He told us that we no longer should sacrifice animals but a broken heart and contrite spirit. Now the great question: Are we giving a partial sacrifice or do we understand the nature of the sacrifice Chrsit asks? Are we like Cain or Able? Be honest with yourself. Are we holding back part of our heart? Do we let selfishness, envy, and pride get in the way of truly repenting each day? Are we giving everything? I know that I still need to give more. His talk definitely got me thinking. We must MAGNIFY our callings in every moment. Not just our callings as members or missionaries of the church, but also our first and foremost callings as daughter, son, brother, sister, mother, father, or spouse. I invite everyone reading this to make a self inventory of how much we are giving to the Lord.

We have focused on our diligence this week and it has payed off. Maybe all our contacts didn`t come to church, but the Lord blessed us with these sweet recent converts with whom we´ve been trying to help for all my time here in Bella Aurora, and they finally came to church. I know that everyday as we continue to work and be focused 100% on the mission, we will be blessed and be able to see the changes in those we teach. Its not easy, but being a disciple of Christ isn`t supposed to be. I know that He lives. I know that he calls prophets. I know that the truth is restored and we are called to declare it from the rooftops.. maybe not literally. The field is white and ready to harvest. Have a great week everyone!



Con Amor
Hermana Powley

Week 55 - Quito Bella Aurora - Jan. 19, 2015

Mi Querida Familia,

"Mas tu voz escucharè, `calma yo te guiarè.´" This week I have been able to learn even moreso that we need to rely on the Lord in EVERYTHING we do. I was reading in Luke when Christ tells his disciples and the Farisees, "Remember Lots Wife." Lets think about that warning for a moment. Lot`s wife looked back. Even more than looking back we can understand that her heart was placed in the things of the world. She looked back to her past. As missionaries and members of the church we can never look back. We can`t look back, changing our view towards the world, we can`t look back and be focused on past mistakes or choices. That's why Christ came and paid the price, so we don`t have to look back. We need too look forward. To the promised land.  As of right now we don`t have any investigators coming to church. But today we are not looking back. We have goals and a new week. Our teaching pool is dwindling but its a blessing in disguise. We fasted to be able to find families that progress. When we drop investigators its like finding a new opportunity at the same time. A new opportunity to teach those who are ready and prepared to make changes in their lives. And we won`t be able to find these people if we don`t depend in El Gran Maestro, Jesucristo, or in other words lets all look forward! 

We still have miracles everyday. On Wednesday we had a visit with a family that we visit on and off, the Familia Males, and we taught the Restoration so well until they understood that they needed to be baptized by someone who had the authority. I will admit I was a little nervous for this lesson. I just remember praying in my heart that God would give me and Hermana Espinoza strength. And he did. The spirit was so strong in that lesson. We challenged them to pray and see if Joseph Smith was a prophet. And they said they would come to church, but the adversary works hard too, and they had to go to Otavalo last weekend. We jsut have to shelter them this week so that they can go to church next week. But this family is solid. they have so many desires to change and a genuine curiosity. 

Also our recent convert, Rocio came to church on sunday and a member of the stake high council came to speak. He came to greet us the missionaries before the meeting and told us he was going to talk on family history. But when he got up to talk, he just testified of tithing and temple attendance. It was inspired and the spirit was there. After all three meetings we started talking to Rocio and she was full of questions about how to start paying her tithing so she could attend the temple with the branch at the end of February. Miracles! She is the best. We love Rocio. We are also teaching her son, but he disappeared off the face of the planet this weekend so he couldn`t come to church. Oh well. We`ll get him next week.

This week we had an amazing Capacitacion Especializada (Special Traning). We rewatched Lynn G. Robbins and Jorge Klebingat`s talks from General Conference, and talked about diligent repentance. I NEED to be more diligent. I need to let virtuos thoughts of diligence garnish my thoughts unceasingly :) I have set a goal to repent for specific things in my prayers each night. I will meditate on what I need to change at the end of the day and write in my prayer journal (idea tagged from Herman Richardson) what I need to repent for. That way we will be able to target our progress in a more thoughtful and thorough way.  We make mistakes each day, and without repentance we aren`t asking for Christ`s help in the changing process. The purpose of our life is to repent.  Also recently, we as a mission have been memorizing The Living Christ.. it has been such a blessing. No matter what people say, I can always testify of the savior and the vocabulary from The Living Christ helps me testify with even more power and concrete faith. So great to use the words of apostles and prophets when testifying of Christ, which just proves through the spirit that Christ`s true church has been restored! I know that Christ is at the head of this church. I know that we are endowed with power to preach the restored truth to the world. We are serving our fellow man, and we are serving God. I love being a missionary!

Con Amor,

Hermana Powley 

Week 54 - Quito Bella Aurora - January 12, 2015

And another change begins! I am staying here in Bella Aurora with Hermana Espinoza, I´m excited to keep working with her and to reach some new goals. Also, I´m excited for all the new Hermanas in our zone. It will be nice to help Hermana Corne, Hermana Saragoza, and Hermana Wight get accommodated to their new sectors, and two of the other Hermanas in Quito are training...what fun!

This week we still don´t have investigators that have accepted baptismal dates. That doesn´t mean we´re not challenging people to be baptized, just that many people aren´t ready yet. I feel like as I start this change, patience is a virtue. Sometimes when people just don´t want to act, it nags on me.. and I just want to change their attitudes! But we can´t do that, we just have to respect and invite and pray with faith that God will lead us to those who are prepared. I will be working on the Christ like attribute of patience this change as I worked and focused on humility the change before. I can sense a difference. When we make goals to become more like Christ, he is beside us cheering us on. You are all invited to choose an attribute for this month to develop, through scripture study, prayer, and action. Send feedback! If anyone knows of good talks on patience and hope, send them my way!

This week every time we stood up and testified of the restoration, my testimony grew that much more. This week we have strived to follow the spirit in everything we do. We had an impression to focus on the Doctrine of Christ with everyone  (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Confirmation, and Enduring to the End) Ironically, many times this week, investigators with whom we have been teaching lately told us to stop pressuring them, and we´ve had to leave quite a few. It just goes to show, that the adversary works hard, He tells people that its enough to simply believe Christ exists... that no matter how one acts in this life we all will reach heaven. A great lie. Many place their fear of man before their fear of God. We all face moments in our lives where we have to be brave. At times when pleasing God is socially unaccepted, at least once in our lives, we have spoken merely to please the crowd...but we need to change! (See Lynn G. Robbins talk, "Where do you Face?" from Conference October 2014).  Many don´t like to change because its not easy. They just want us to visit them, bring peace to their home and then leave them to do nothing in return. I wish with all my heart that we can just find and keep those who meet commitments. Constantly we promise blessings, and explain Christ´s doctrine, which is in essence.. change and progress. For a reason, we felt inspired to focus on Repentance and Baptism this week.. we had to let those people go because the Lord has others prepared.

Counting our Blessings. One miracle this week was Sunday night, we went to visit a family with whom we have been on and off visiting for a month or two. They have progressed, especially the husband since we began visiting them. The husband, Alberto Males told us last night that he was going to go to church with or without his wife next week. Alberto never has thrown out promises like that. He has never committed to any of our invitations before. The spirit filled the room. I can´t describe how much love I felt in that instant. I know that he will keep his word, and these first steps will make all the difference in Alberto´s conversion. We are hopeful to have many fruits this change. Its my 3rd change here, and I am learning that I need to change.. be more patient and loving, and selfless. I need to reach out to people. I need to dive into the water to find people, instead of just casually waiting with my fishing pole in the water. I need to know their desires their hopes their dreams, and then bring them out of the depths of sin and show them the light of Christ. This is only possible with the guide of God himself. He will be with us if we are with him. This week has been very edifying and I am grateful to the Savior for helping me see my weaknesses. Now! To work!

Con Amor
Hermana Powley

PS: Also divisions with my hometown sister, Hermana Hill! Love her so much! A super excellent missionary who simply glows:)

Week 53 - Quito Bella Aurora - Jan. 5, 2015 - The New Year!

Mi Querida Familia,

Espero que tuvieran una feliz dia el 31 de Diciembre. Aunque que yo no estaba allá, espero que comieran mucha torta y participaran en hacer mucho fuego artificial. 

In Ecuador the new year is even bigger than christmas. As soon as christmas ends, everyone starts parading paper maché statues on human size people with extremely ugly faces along side the street. On New Years eve, they burn all of them. Also men dress up as women and its pretty convincing. They´ll come up to you on the street and start dancing in an umcomfortable way until you give them money. We tried to avoid them. No one works this day, and almost everyone gets very drunk. It was also my birthday! Best birthday ever! At midnight there were fireworks in the neighbors yard and all the way up the hill. It kind of sounded like Quito was getting bombed. Not only do Ecuadorians burn human size clowns at midnight, but they also burn the old stuff they have accumulated throughout the year in a bon fire. We had a lot of cardboard boxes along with old clothes and supplies that previous missionaries have left in the house, so we gave everything to the neighbors to either keep or burn. It felt good to give people free clothes, and even better to clean the house! 

Aside from the cultural facts, this week was great in some aspects but also slow in other aspects. I was able to do divisions with Hermana Henderson and Hermana Mantilla which was awesome. With Hermana Henderson we were able to meet some of her goals and find a lot of new investigators. Hermana Henderson loves church history and I was able to learn a lot of cool things with her! Divisions with Hermana Mantilla were also great. We contacted and talked with a lot of people, and almost got attacked by two drunk guys. They may have been following us, because we met them in the early afternoon and at night they showed back up. One of them grabbed my hand and wouldn´t let go, but with super strength I broke free and we ran. They kept saying teach us la palabra de Dios… And we were like just take the pamphlet and leave us alone! To lose their tail, we crossed a busy street, caught a taxi, and made it home safe. Who knows maybe one day they will read the pamphlet we gave them and be converted to the gospel. We hope.

It was a little bit of a slower week due to all the parties. There were a couple nights where we went home 30 minutes to an hour early to finish studies we had missed in the morning because it was impossible to contact. Throughout the day we were truly able to exercise our faith because this week the rejection was unusually high.

I feel good about this week because we were diligent in contacting all the families that we came across. We have been praying to find a family that will progress and we found and have been able to teach many families. Especially Saturday afternoon we found a special family contacting on the street, when our mamita was running late she told us to wait 30 minutes until she got home to feed us lunch. We decided to take advantage of the time and contact. Then we found William and Angelica who were later joined by Angelica´s husband, René. They accepted a visit for the next day. We taught them sunday afternoon in their home. Usually follow up visits with contacts fall through because the contacts forget and dont answer their phones, or hide. But with the family Gualonchango, they let us in and were very friendly and we were able to teach them the restoration and challenge them to baptism. They didn´t accept a specific date but are very curious and eager to read the book of mormon. We have a tour set up with them on wednesday with the branch missionaries. We are super excited for this family!

I love working with the recent converts because they just need someone to be direct with them. I love being direct. This morning I was reading Alma 34 and it is such a great chapter. It talks about how we cant procrastinate the day of our repentance and in verse 39 we are told to always be watchful unto prayer. Or in other words we should alwasy have a prayer in our hearts so that we cannot be tempted. If we procrastinate our prayers it might be too late. I want to help all our recent converts slash inactives realize that repentance isn´t something that we can forgo day tras day. We must be strong, and through the power of prayer and Christ´s atonement we can be purified and clean. That was the great lesson I learned this week. I know that Christ is our savior and through him the world was created. We are part of His fold and we have the responsibilty and honor to love and serve our neighbors and familes. I love being a missionary!

Con Amor,
Hermana Powley