Good morning from the Amazon!!
Yeah, surprise for me, too. I really didn´t expect to have a transfer right away, even though it happens sometimes. Anyway, about a week ago, I packed up my bags (yes, the other hermanas were all very impressed that I fit all my stuff in just my two red suitcases and my proselyting bag. Thanks for the luggage, Mom and Dad. ) Then, Wednesday morning, I began my 9.5 hour trek across the country. Being able to talk with people made the time pass more quickly, though. It would really help if people would talk a little louder, (and with some gringo accent, too, I guess) but it was neat to realize how much I had carried on conversations all by myself with natives on the bus. I´m so grateful for the blessings the Lord pours out on us missionaries, because we definitely need it. Knowing all the prayers that are poured out for us from your homes and from each temple everyday just helps me remember we are here working along with all the forces of the Lord God of Israel. There are definitely more with us than against us.
I really enjoyed the drive between Santo Domingo and Quito again, but it was even more exciting to go farther east and enter the Amazon. I´m in Tena, and you can find info about it online for sure, because it´s a tourist area. (Which also means things are more expensive…not quite as chévere.) My new companion is Hna Weiss, from Washington State, one of the many middle kids of 11 and the fifth Sister (missionary) Weiss in her family. She´s been here about nine months, so we´re assuming we´ll be together as she passes the year mark. It was okay for me to realize that, until I realized that I´d be passing the 6 month mark during the same time. That scared me…a lot, but then I just reminded myself that that´s doubling my total time here. How fast time goes.
The branch here is tiny enough that there´s not even a chapel, but we´re working toward that. Like everywhere, there´s so many more people who are on the records than actually come to church. We and the elders in the branch are effectively part of the leadership. Luckily, the old branch president is back from Quito, so there´s not a question as to whether or not there will be one at the church. There were probably about 20 people at church yesterday, 10 of which are kids. The Sunday School class is all together, as was relief society and young women for a while. I get to take over what the other sister had been doing-primary! That was a little scary, what with the language issues, 2 hours and range of ages. Luckily Hna Weiss came in and helped me at the end. It´s going to be awesome, though. We´re totally going to have fun and learn in primary. Plus, we´re going to organize a program, because I remember Mom mentioning that every comes when there´s the primary program.
As the branch is so itty bitty, we are the home and visiting teachers, too. Except that we need to visit every family in the ward every week. Oh yeah, and we´re still going to be meeting the mission goals (at the minimum) and finding new people, because you know the whole world needs this message, even if they don´t know it yet.
I´m so touched by the examples of the recent converts clinging to their faith here. The teachers of Sunday school and YW have 7 and 2 months in the church, respectively. They want to learn so much more and are just so faithful. I heard that the YW lesson for the one yw there yesterday) turned into a discussion of how the gospel has changed their lives, reactions from friends and family with changing of faiths, etc. Like everyone, they run into old sins or doubts about their abilities to continue, or their worthiness before the Lord. It is awesome to be here to remind them and teach them that the good news of the Gospel is that it really works. The Atonement was for all of us, but also each of us, if we do our part. It is a Plan of Mercy because we can repent and be clean. Heavenly Father knew we wouldn´t make it through this life without mistakes. He knew we would need help. So He sent His Only Begotten Son to show us the way, but also to provide the way. The first step in this glorious trail back home is always faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. We need to not only believe in Him, but remember to believe Him. Believe that He has power to do all He says. Believe that His Redeeming power can heal you, because it can. It´s real. I testify that our amazing Brother, Jesus Christ continues to heal the broken-hearted, suffering and sick. He does it spiritually just as He showed us so many times physically. The best part is that we can use this power of the Atonement in our lives because of the Restoration of His Church and His Authority on the Earth.
I love this work! We are so blessed to know the truth. To know it. Now get out there and share your testimonies! You know you want to!
Love you!!
Hna Sue
Ecuabit: Did you know that when people talk about something being “Amazon”, it´s for a good reason? We had verdes-plátanos in Santo Domingo, as well as maduros (same thing, more mature…thus, “maduro”), but the verdes and maduros here in Tena could eat the verdes from Sto Domingo any day. I haven´t seen any “amazon people”, though, so don´t depend on me to find your wrestling squad just yet. I´ll keep you posted, though.
Um..P.S. I forgot to ask Caroline, Michael and Mom and Dad to put up the pouch address in old wards. Could you do that? Also, I´m not sure who´s mail is lost, but I´ve totally written Clayton 2 real letters and only received 1.2 from him, so I think I should be the one whining “¡no es justo!” hahaha I´ll see what I can do, though, despite my records I´ve carefully kept.
I never received a card from Huntington, Mom. Did you send me one? They told me before they would send it to my (aka your) house. So, no, I haven´t had access to it, but it´s been okay. I don´t want the statements, though. Thanks for being my bank managers, too. Thanks for the Halloween card, too! I just received it.
Thanks Anne Marie for your letter...I haven´t read it yet, but I´m sure it´s great!
I love you all!!
Yeah, surprise for me, too. I really didn´t expect to have a transfer right away, even though it happens sometimes. Anyway, about a week ago, I packed up my bags (yes, the other hermanas were all very impressed that I fit all my stuff in just my two red suitcases and my proselyting bag. Thanks for the luggage, Mom and Dad. ) Then, Wednesday morning, I began my 9.5 hour trek across the country. Being able to talk with people made the time pass more quickly, though. It would really help if people would talk a little louder, (and with some gringo accent, too, I guess) but it was neat to realize how much I had carried on conversations all by myself with natives on the bus. I´m so grateful for the blessings the Lord pours out on us missionaries, because we definitely need it. Knowing all the prayers that are poured out for us from your homes and from each temple everyday just helps me remember we are here working along with all the forces of the Lord God of Israel. There are definitely more with us than against us.
I really enjoyed the drive between Santo Domingo and Quito again, but it was even more exciting to go farther east and enter the Amazon. I´m in Tena, and you can find info about it online for sure, because it´s a tourist area. (Which also means things are more expensive…not quite as chévere.) My new companion is Hna Weiss, from Washington State, one of the many middle kids of 11 and the fifth Sister (missionary) Weiss in her family. She´s been here about nine months, so we´re assuming we´ll be together as she passes the year mark. It was okay for me to realize that, until I realized that I´d be passing the 6 month mark during the same time. That scared me…a lot, but then I just reminded myself that that´s doubling my total time here. How fast time goes.
The branch here is tiny enough that there´s not even a chapel, but we´re working toward that. Like everywhere, there´s so many more people who are on the records than actually come to church. We and the elders in the branch are effectively part of the leadership. Luckily, the old branch president is back from Quito, so there´s not a question as to whether or not there will be one at the church. There were probably about 20 people at church yesterday, 10 of which are kids. The Sunday School class is all together, as was relief society and young women for a while. I get to take over what the other sister had been doing-primary! That was a little scary, what with the language issues, 2 hours and range of ages. Luckily Hna Weiss came in and helped me at the end. It´s going to be awesome, though. We´re totally going to have fun and learn in primary. Plus, we´re going to organize a program, because I remember Mom mentioning that every comes when there´s the primary program.
As the branch is so itty bitty, we are the home and visiting teachers, too. Except that we need to visit every family in the ward every week. Oh yeah, and we´re still going to be meeting the mission goals (at the minimum) and finding new people, because you know the whole world needs this message, even if they don´t know it yet.
I´m so touched by the examples of the recent converts clinging to their faith here. The teachers of Sunday school and YW have 7 and 2 months in the church, respectively. They want to learn so much more and are just so faithful. I heard that the YW lesson for the one yw there yesterday) turned into a discussion of how the gospel has changed their lives, reactions from friends and family with changing of faiths, etc. Like everyone, they run into old sins or doubts about their abilities to continue, or their worthiness before the Lord. It is awesome to be here to remind them and teach them that the good news of the Gospel is that it really works. The Atonement was for all of us, but also each of us, if we do our part. It is a Plan of Mercy because we can repent and be clean. Heavenly Father knew we wouldn´t make it through this life without mistakes. He knew we would need help. So He sent His Only Begotten Son to show us the way, but also to provide the way. The first step in this glorious trail back home is always faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. We need to not only believe in Him, but remember to believe Him. Believe that He has power to do all He says. Believe that His Redeeming power can heal you, because it can. It´s real. I testify that our amazing Brother, Jesus Christ continues to heal the broken-hearted, suffering and sick. He does it spiritually just as He showed us so many times physically. The best part is that we can use this power of the Atonement in our lives because of the Restoration of His Church and His Authority on the Earth.
I love this work! We are so blessed to know the truth. To know it. Now get out there and share your testimonies! You know you want to!
Love you!!
Hna Sue
Ecuabit: Did you know that when people talk about something being “Amazon”, it´s for a good reason? We had verdes-plátanos in Santo Domingo, as well as maduros (same thing, more mature…thus, “maduro”), but the verdes and maduros here in Tena could eat the verdes from Sto Domingo any day. I haven´t seen any “amazon people”, though, so don´t depend on me to find your wrestling squad just yet. I´ll keep you posted, though.
Um..P.S. I forgot to ask Caroline, Michael and Mom and Dad to put up the pouch address in old wards. Could you do that? Also, I´m not sure who´s mail is lost, but I´ve totally written Clayton 2 real letters and only received 1.2 from him, so I think I should be the one whining “¡no es justo!” hahaha I´ll see what I can do, though, despite my records I´ve carefully kept.
I never received a card from Huntington, Mom. Did you send me one? They told me before they would send it to my (aka your) house. So, no, I haven´t had access to it, but it´s been okay. I don´t want the statements, though. Thanks for being my bank managers, too. Thanks for the Halloween card, too! I just received it.
Thanks Anne Marie for your letter...I haven´t read it yet, but I´m sure it´s great!
I love you all!!
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