we'd receive the call for transfers last night, but they will probably
be tonight. I really really hate how transfers work... because we have
no idea until we get the call at 10:30pm. If we're told that we are
leaving, we have to pack up ALL our stuff and have to leave to our new
area at 7am. It really sucks. I stress out so bad, because it's the
"fear of the unknown". It's such a test of faith to say "Ok, I will
go where the Lord wants to me go and in the exact moment he tells me
to go". At this moment, I am grateful that I at least get to have a
normal pday and get to spend one last day with my companion and the other
missionaries in our zone. Anyway, enough of the stress, I'll let you
know what else happened this week.
This week was pretty busy, but we weren't able to get a lot done
because we went to Guayaquil and were preparing our investigators for
their baptism. Monday in the evening we just taught the Familia
Salinas-Muñoz and we spent a lot of time with them because we still
had a lot we had to teach them before their baptism Saturday. So that
was all we did that evening.
Tuesday morning we had our district meeting. There we found out that
Elder Richard G. Scott wasn't coming to Guayaquil and that Elder
Gonzalez (one of the area 70) was coming instead. It was quite a
bummer to hear that, because we were super excited and bragging in our
emails every week that we were going to listen to Elder Scott, but we
were excited to be spiritually uplifted and see the rest of the
missionaries in the mission. We also got our zone jackets, which are
pretty cool (pictures soon to come). In the afternoon, we went to
teach the Familia Salina-Muñoz so we could finish the rest of the
lessons they needed, and then Elder Keables came after for their
interviews. It was cute because they were all super nervous for their
interview and it all went totally well. They are a super awesome
family!
Wednesday morning we met at the terminal at 9 and left for Guayaquil
in a minivan (or mini-bus). The "road-trips" with the Elders are
always super fun! We swap stories and watch a couple of movies, and all
in all it's super fun. We got to Guayaquil around 1 and had to wait
in a park for an hour for all the other missionaries to get there so
we could have lunch. OH MY GOSH, it was so hot! Even though I miss the
people in Guayaquil, I do NOT miss the heat. The conference started
at 5... and the funny thing was the North mission sat on one side and
the South mission sat on the other side and we could feel this little
tension of "hmmm.... which of us is better", but it was all good.
Elder Gonzalez gave a good message too. He talked about our purpose
as missionaries, then we had a little demonstration, and then he
closed with questions. After it ended, we had a few minutes to talk
to the other missionaries and then we were off (with a quick stop at
McDonald's). We didn't get home until about 1 in the morning.
So, I had forgotten to mention this the week before, but last Monday,
we got a call from Jacqueline telling us that she couldn't get
baptized on the 28th, but wanted to the next Saturday. We just
accepted it because it's been a struggle for the last month and half
of chosing a day (because she kept changing her mind). But, Thursday
morning we got a call from the zone leaders that said they had called
her, that she had changed to her mind, and that we were going to
Lentag in the afternoon for her interview. This was pretty much all
we did for Thursday because she lives almost 2 hours away and the
interview took forever. But we were so happy because we were going to
have 4 baptisms (which was our goal for the month of May).
Friday we had our weekly planning session in the morning and then in
the afternoon we went to Sayausi to contact all the
references/contacts we had received from the activity on the 30th of
April. We just had no time this month to go and we finally had time
to go visit them. We taught women named Nancy and Gladys and they are
really interested and we believe our message and the gospel is going
to help their lives.
Saturday was such a crazy day! We were running all over the place to
get the baptism clothes, teaching lessons, filling the font, getting
food and drinks, and getting the investigators to the baptism! It was
SO stressful, but it all got done and it was a great service.
Jacqueline Tirado, Nidia Salinas, Ivan Muñoz, and Fernando Muñoz were
all baptized and there were more the 35 people at the service. They
were all super happy and I was super happy that I was practically
dancing all over the place. This evening was definitely one of the
highlights of my mission thus far!
Sunday was a little crazy too, because the Familia Salinas-Muñoz
almost didn't make it to sacrament meeting. They lost the keys and
had troubles getting a taxi and they came super late. Hermana Barker
and I were freaking out because they almost didn't get confirmed.But they got
there after the sacrament and were confirmed. Nidia's blessing was
super awesome too. It said that her decision to be baptized will be a
blessing in generations to come and that her descendants will praise
her name. Then, in the evening we went and taught them about the
priesthood. Ivan and Fernando are preparing themselves to receive the
priesthood and should be passing the sacrament soon!!!!!
This week was really great! Not many things happened like normal, but
we really focused our time in the ones who were getting baptized and
we had success. Hermana Barker and I are super happy and are
continuing to work hard and prepare the other 8 (and hopefully more)
for their baptisms in June!
Today we played Ultimate Frisbee with the Elders, but this time it was
in the mud and rain!!!!!! It's been raining for the past couple of days,
but we didn't care, we wanted to play! It was super fun! We got
super dirty and were sliding and falling a ton, but we had fun! I am
getting better and the Elders are passing the frisbee to me. After,
we left to go eat at a buffet for $3. We ended up getting on a bus
that was super packed and I ended up sitting next to woman, who had
her two children sitting in front of her. I had full on conversation
with her about her family, work, and life. She teaches Kindergarten,
so we talked a lot about how I want to do the same thing. To make
this long story short, I got her number and address and we're going to
teach her and her family this week. Now, I don't know what will come
of this, but this was the first time I've ever contacted someone ALL
by myself. Mom told me in her email today that I haven't said
anything about struggling with Spanish in awhile. The truth is, yes I
am still struggling and it's super frustrating at times, but I'm
learning and talking more and it's amazing HOW MUCH the Lord is
helping me. I still have A LOT more to learn, but the good thing I
have 13/14 months left. As we ended this transfer, I added up all my
numbers thus far.... I have taught 216 lessons and had 5 baptisms.
Just shows how much work has to be done to help bring someone unto
Christ through baptism. And even though I have taught 216 lessons, I
still have to practice because I struggle with it. For my personal
study today, I was working on a lesson plan for the Restoration and
was working on the first principle that God is our Heavenly Father.
This is pretty much all I studied and worked on, and it was confirmed
to me how much love He has for me and all his children. It brought me
to tears. And it makes me so sad that so many people don't know how
much love He has for them and it's my responsibility to teach all the
people I come in contact with to let them know the love he has for
them. I just hope that I can do and convey it well enough with my weak
Spanish to the people of Ecuador.
Well, that's pretty much. Next week for sure ya'll will know if I'm
still in Cuenca or not. I sure hope so because I love it. I feel
like my purpose here isn't over, but we'll see if the Lord has another
plan for me!
Have a fabulous week! I love you all :) And I'm glad you are all safe,
healthy, and happy!
Remember Heavenly Father loves you MORE than you can IMAGINE!!!!
Love,
Hermana Smith
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