April 18, 2011

¡Buenas Dias Famila! I AM IN CUENCA :)

I don't know if I told you about Cuenca before my mission, but it is
BEAUTIFUL and COLD!!!!!! I had heard great things about Cuenca before
my mission, so I was super excited to hear that I was coming to serve
here! We actually had transfers on Friday instead of today. They were
early because the general authority of the area, Elder Nash, is here
for a conference with us. The missionaries in the south part of the
mission are leaving for Machala this afternoon for the conference
tomorrow. We'll return back to our areas tomorrow night. I'm pretty
excited, mostly to be with other missionaries, be spiritually
uplifted, and take a break from walking a TON!

So in our district meeting this week, we found out that transfers were
going to be early, and that our district leader would call us and let
us know where we are going when he found out. Well, Thursday night at
10:30, I got a call that I was to be at the bus terminal at 730 and
there I would find out where I was going (Hermana Parralas is staying
in Huancavilca). I was super nervous because I had to pack up all my
stuff and have NO IDEA of where I would go or who my companion would
be. While I packed the song "I'll go where you want me to go dear
Lord" kept replaying in my head. I was also reminded of how
"high-maintanance" I am, because I have a TON of stuff and took
FOREVER to pack. I got like 2 hours of sleep.

In the morning, we headed to the terminal where there were tons of
other missionaries waiting to find out where they were going. There I
was told that I was going to Cuenca and my companion is Hermana
Barker. She's great! I met her when I first got to my mission because
she was working in the office as the nurse. She's from Indiana and is
going home in August. She served the first 5 months of her mission
here in Cuenca and then the last three weeks (because one sister
missionary was super sick and had to go home). She knows the area
really well and all the members of the ward. Our area is HUGE!!!!! We
have to take a bus to a lot of areas. For example, Friday afternoons,
we go to an area called Baños, and so when we're there we'll teach our
investigators there or contact. Even though we are taking buses, we
walk a ton. There are tons of hills and it's super muddy because it
rains every day. In Huancavilca we talked a ton, but it was super
flat. Right now my legs are killing!

As I mentioned before, it's kinda cold. I don't know the exact
temperature, but everyday I wear a light sweater and my big jacket.
At night I sleep in sweats, a t-shirt with a sweatshirt, socks, and 3
blankets. Our apartment is big and beautiful. It's supposed to be
for 4 sister missionaries, but at this moment it's just me and Hermana
Barker. There is a family from the ward that lives 3 houses down from
us and the mother washes our clothes (and our garments too because she
is endowed...ah I'm SO glad I don't have to wash them in a bucket
anymore! haha).

As far as teaching goes, we have a good number of investigators,
especially for Cuenca because the people are SUPER Catholic. It's not
uncommon to not have any baptisms in one transfer. Saturday morning
we taught a woman named Jacqueline. She lives like 2 hours away (yes,
in our area). She wants to get baptized and we have a baptismal date
for May 27th. We have it far in advance because she lives far away and
needs to attend church at least 2 times and we need to teach her all
the lessons. We also have the Quituysaka Familia. The father wants
to get baptized and has a strong testimony of the church, but may have
a few things to work our before he gets baptized. I met them last
night and they were awesome! We're hoping for a baptism in May with
them.

That's pretty much about Cuenca. Just a few more things to mention
about my last week in Huancavilca.

Last Monday, Hermana Parralas, Hermana Castillo, Hermana Robison, and
I went to a park with Iguanas. We got permission to leave and visit
because it was the last pday for Hermana Castillo. It was pretty cool
to travel around and visit different parts of Guayaquil.

Julio Espinoza had his interview for baptism, but he doesn't want to
get baptized anymore :( The Sunday before, a Jehovah's witness talked
with him and now Julio doesn't believe in Joseph Smith. Hermana
Parrales and her companion are going to continue to teach him... I
sure hope!!!

We had a family home evening Tuesday night with the Lamota Family and
the Herrera Family. It was so fun! We took tons of pictures and told
jokes (which I didn't understand haha).... I attempted to tell the
joke about the duck and the grapes. It wasn't a total epic fail, but
it worked hahaah.

I got my birthday package this week :) THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM AND
DAD!!!!!!! I also got a birthday card from Lyss and a few other
letters from my friends. I feel terrible that I can't write as much as
I thought I could. Sending letters here is super expensive, like 2 or
3 dollars every letter. What I am going to do is to send a few
letters in one big envelope to the house (with the US stamps you sent
me). Hermana Salmon told me it's cheaper to do it that way.

Well, I think that is pretty much it. I am doing good. My companion
and I get along great. We try to talk as much in Spanish, but it's
such a blessing to be able to communicate, ask what something means,
or for her to explain something.

I've realized how much Spanish I have learned. I talk more and
understand more than I did 6 weeks ago. I still have a LONG way to
go, especially with talking, but I have the faith that the Lord will
help me and that it's the gift of tongues that's allowing me to speak
and understand as much Spanish as I know.

I miss my first area, well mostly the people, NOT the heat! I've been
taking Dad's advice. Every morning I wake up telling my self "The
Lord sent me here for a reason!" and when I go to bed I think of all
the amazing things the Lord let me experience that day.

Hopefully my next email will have more details about the mission work
and less about random details. Look up Cuenca on the internet, it's
seriously so beautiful. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to
serve here and see the beauty of God's creations.

Have a great week everyone! I love you and miss you!

Love Always,
Hermana Smith