tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69546407880533307272024-03-21T12:13:17.899-07:00 Jessica Jo in Guayaquil Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-6277657136716929382015-11-01T22:25:00.001-08:002015-11-01T22:25:04.187-08:00Homecoming Talk<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">HIII hermanos y hermanas!!! Can you all believe I have been home for 2 months now?! The blessings of a mission are priceless. I just want to go back. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> For those of you who were unable to make it to my homecoming talk/ my sister's farewell talk here it is...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Side note: A quartet of brethren sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy" and surprised everyone by singing the last verse and chorus in Spanish...YES, I was crying. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Megan,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let the lower lights be burning;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Send a gleam across the wave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Some poor fainting, struggling seaman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You may rescue, you may save.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know that this is THE TRUE CHURCH. I would NOT let my sister leave for 18 months
if I did not know that this is the only true church on Earth. That is why in
turn she allowed me to leave for the past 18 months to rescue and save my
eternal Ecuadorian friends and above all to rescue myself, a poor fainting,
struggling sea woman. The blessings of a mission are priceless and I would not
desire anything more for my sister. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Responding to an invitation from my Mission President and
from the First Presidency of the Church to begin I wish to address the youth of
the church and my sister, in relation to serving a mission. Youth, becoming like Christ is HARD. Becoming HIS representative is HARD. Discipleship is HARD. Imagine this: Walking out of an airplane parked
on the tarmac, hitting into a wall of humidity that makes you immediately sweat
and feel sticky, hopefully praying for air conditioning but sadly there is
none, blankly nodding at what the Ecuadorians are saying because you know NO
Spanish, being overly fed a heap of rice for every meal with the starter of
soup which, SURPRISE has a pig’s foot with its stubby black hairs still intact;
and to top it off persistently scratching your face that itches from the five
mosquito bites that welcomed you into a new country. How would you react? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I felt overwhelmingly stressed, lost and doubtful of my
decision to serve a mission and longingly hoping for those eighteen months to
be over, even though I had just started day one. The only relief I found that night involved a
shower with bitter cold water and tears. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the book of First Thessalonians, Paul counseled the
Thessalonians in a moment of doubt that they should be quick to “REJOICE
EVERMORE. Pray without ceasing. And give thanks in ALL things.” Honestly my reaction to my first day in
Ecuador did not reflect, “Oh, let’s rejoice evermore!” However, the following months my perspective
on such doubtful and arduous instances altered dramatically. I humbly saw a three year old boy dash out of
his bamboo one-roomed home, shirtless with tattered pants too big for his
stature, running shoeless with dirt plastered feet and outstretched arms to
greet my companion and I. Eager to
reveal his new toy that his mom had so graciously given him, he ushered us to
his designated play area where we came upon a freshly dug two inch hole. His unforgettable smile, exposed his once
white teeth now covered in charcoal colored plaque, indicated the pride and
personal value of his toy. He proudly
gazed at us with his engaging eyes as he presented his used, sullied and
chipped plastic spoon. His “new toy”, an
eating utensil, allowed him to rejoice and unconsciously ignore his state of
living. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I believe in rejoicing evermore. From that day forward, after seeing true joy,
I emphasized this belief and treasured countless plastic spoons that allowed me
to “Rejoice evermore” just as the young three year old boy had taught me. So youth, as Paul invited those in times of
old, I do the same today…The mission WILL be hard, however you will LOVE IT if
you, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.
And give thanks in ALL things.” The
mission will not be the best two years OF your life, it will be the best two
years FOR your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brothers and Sisters, as I share a few moments of
“Rejoicing evermore” more with you today, I earnestly pray that the Holy Spirit
will abide here and astonish each one of you, not from the words that I will
say but what the spirit will testify to each one of you. HE knows you, and WILL communicate with you
through the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Walk tall you’re a daughter, a child of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Be strong, please remember who you are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Try to understand.
You are part of his great plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He’s closer than you’ll know reach up he’ll take your
hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As we sang those words to our dear investigator,
Katherine, a 20 year old single mom of 2 kids, Christian and Javier, we left
her humble home in awe of her incredible faith and the matchless love the
Savior had for her. She would patiently
care for her 2 boys until 5:30 pm when she would leave to night school, to
hopefully receive at least her high school diploma. Like many girls in Ecuador, she got pregnant
at a young age and gave birth to a still born baby girl who she desperately
wished to hold again. Katherine, like
all of us, had made many mistakes during her short 20 years on earth, therefore
she was intrigued by the principles of repentance and eternal families and the
ordinance of baptism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One day Katherine’s faith was tested when her friend
introduced her to a flattering and very charming man. The man owned a large mansion, fancy clothes,
and a temporal substance she and her two sons lacked...MONEY. Glorifying his wealth, he gave Katherine a
tour of his mansion. The unknown man
promised her she could reside there and cleverly persuaded her that her and her
two sons would never lack the things of the world. All could be hers. Money, food, an education. However, there was one condition - she could
not be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Later, when recounting this story to us with her
tear-stained face, Katherine said, "I need that money for my kids, we have
little food and clothing and I receive no income to pay for my education or
that of my children." Despite her
temporal need for food and clothing, and her desire to have the best for her
kids, she declined the offer from the man and with stalwart faith told him,
"I would rather have my children grow up and know they are a child of God
than have your empty promises of wealth."
After declining the offer, her friends and family ridiculed her for her
decision and they persuaded her to go back and accept the offer from the charming
mysterious man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She traced her steps back to the mansion and only found a
spacious field. The mansion was no
longer there. She was left spinning in
circles, in the empty field, confused as to where the mansion and handsome man
had gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Katherine said to us, “Hermanas that man…he was Satan –
he promised me all the pleasures in the world if only I would NOT follow the
example of Christ and become a member of His Church.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Satan wants everyone to be miserable like
unto himself.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But, like many courageous disciples before her, she declared, "THIS IS MY
RELIGION!"</span></div>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On May 31, 2014, Katherine Rosío Reyes Sanchez was
baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
She has been beaming with the light of Christ ever since.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The gospel for Katherine was wonderful and filled the
void of emptiness and lack of physical substance in her humble home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brothers and Sisters, is this gospel still wonderful to
you? Or has it become the “norm” in your
life? Can you yet see, hear, feel, and
marvel? Or have your spiritual sensors gone into standby mode? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I want each of you to think of the first undeniable time
that you felt the influence of the Spirit, the first time you entered into the
doors of the House of the Lord, the first time you truly prayed with a broken
heart and a contrite spirit to our Heavenly Father, the first time you invited
someone to hear what you believe, the first tender mercy that you recognized
came from the Lord or the first time that you really applied the Atonement of
Our Lord and Savior. Ponder and listen
intently and sincerely to the Spirit testifying to you as to why the gospel in
this “first time moment” was so wonderful to you. Do you wish to feel that way again? YOU CAN!
You can feel that awe and wonder in the small and simple things. In this past general conference, Elder Causse
taught three principles on how we can continue in marveling at the gospel. First, never tire of discovering or rediscovering
the truths of the gospel. Second, anchor
your faith in the plain and simple truths of the gospel. And finally, to seek
and cherish the companionship of the Holy Ghost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Book of Mormon highlights for many Nephites and
Lamanites, their first time witnessing a sign that came from heaven that
preceded the coming of the Messiah to the Americas. Suddenly the signs of His
birth appeared in the heavens. The people were so stricken with astonishment
that they humbled themselves, and nearly ALL were converted. However, only a
short four years later, as it says in 3 Nephi 2:1, “the people began to forget
those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less
astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be
hard of hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which
they had heard and seen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are blessed to live in a place where the Church is
well established, and the majority of those you associate with are members. I grew up here. I had a discernible and
tender testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel. However, before the mission I was not always
anxiously participating personally in the teachings of the gospel, such as reading
the scriptures every day or saying my personal prayers, despite what my parents
had taught me. The gospel had stopped
being wonderful to me. It was just
normal. The primary answers seemed so
simple to me, that they became less and less important. In Alma 37:41, my dilemma was highlighted
when Alma, addressing his son Helaman, says…“Nevertheless, because those
miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise
their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did
not progress in their journey.” Alma continued to council Helaman in verse 46,
“O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so
was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it
is with us. The way is prepared and if
we will look we may live forever.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In my first area, we lived a good 20-30 min away, in walking
distance, from our assigned proselyting area.
Every morning on the familiar walk there we passed an eye-catching home with
two flower pots outside, full of red flowers nicely kept, and embellished
detail on the windows and door. I
remember seeing an older man sitting outside the house in a red plastic chair
reading a book and I had the thought, "Hey, he likes to read - give him a
Book of Mormon!” After having the thought I would always rationalize it away
with something like, "No, you don’t know enough Spanish!” or “You just
want to share the gospel with everyone because you are a missionary. Plus, we have lunch or a visit right now and
can’t be late!" I specifically
remember failing at least two times to initially heed the prompting from the
Holy Ghost upon seeing this old man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One evening we passed the house with the two flower pots
and there was the old man in his red plastic chair reading another book. I thought, "Hey, look he is reading
again...he really does love to read...the prompting came again…give him a Book
of Mormon." My companion had a
similar feeling so we both looked at each other and approached the man in the
red chair! So I introduced myself and asked,
“Do you like to read?” He looked at me
and pondered the strange question from the foreign girl, and responded “Yes,
why?” “We have a book that you will just love! May we come in and present it to
you?” Carlos Pacheco invited us into his
home we had a PERFECT first lesson and he accepted to be baptized in 2 weeks. Like GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR ALERT!! (In the back
of my head I was thinking why I didn’t listen to the spirit earlier this guy is
golden) HE even gave the closing prayer
PERFECTLY. We asked him if he was a
member of the Church and he said no.
Still doubting because it was a seriously perfect and organized prayer
we asked him again and he said no. The
next day we came back and he apologized for not telling us earlier that he was
baptized about 40 years ago and had been inactive for more than 30 of those, so
he didn’t think he was still a member of the Church. His wife had died 4 years ago as a faithful,
active member of the church, but they were never sealed in the temple to each
other or to their 11 children because at the time, there wasn’t a temple in
Guayaquil and they didn’t have enough money to travel to the temple in Lima,
Peru. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">His son was the current Stake Presidency’s secretary and
had sent MANY missionaries to invite him to church again, but he NEVER let them
in. Carlos and his son expressed their
gratitude believing that we were an answer to his prayer as we reminded him of
the great plan of happiness and that Heavenly Father loved him. The Spirit had told me beforehand to stop and
give him a Book of Mormon but I did not listen and quickly rationalized away
the prompting. We were just beaming when
we found out he was already a member - all he needed was a loving and helping
hand to bring him back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we told Carlos, it does not matter how
long you have been inactive, you are a member of His church!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">May we always go straight way without fears or any
inconvenience and rescue the one! The
lost, the last, and the least. God is
aware of each of us. God was aware of
Carlos Pacheco and placed him in our path so he can become, Carlos Pacheco in
the red plastic chair, reading the Book of Mormon! He later entered the Temple in Guayaquil to
do baptisms for and behalf of his loved ones and is preparing to be sealed to
his wife and their 11 children in the coming months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Carlos over 30 years ago, stopped marveling at this
gospel. But remembered that wonder and
his “first timers” years later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In D and C 20: 32-34 says, “But there is a possibility
that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God: Therefore let the church take heed and pray
always, lest they fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are
sanctified take heed also.” Do each one
of us need to take heed, in Spanish it says cuidar which also means to watch
out for, ourselves? Yes. Does the Bishop need to? Yes.
Stake President? Yes. The
prophet? Yes, of course. Brothers and sisters please do not be swayed by the easiness of the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> At some point
maybe we have felt like the prodigal son did as recorded in Luke chapter 15
verses 20 and 21,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was
yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell
on his neck, and kissed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Have you ever said this or something similar before? Perhaps when your heart was broken and your
sprit contrite in prayer with our Heavenly Father? Have you ever felt unworthy to be called HIS
son or daughter? LISTEN to what the
father’s response was...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the
BEST ROBE, and put it on him; and put a RING on his hand, and SHOES on his
feet:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us
eat, and be merry...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was
lost, and is found.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our Heavenly Father and HIS son saw you and will have
compassion and RUN and embrace you. In his
talk, Elder Holland taught,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">"Only the Father and His Only Begotten Son can do
that. Salvation is in them only. So we pray that they will help us, that they
will “come out” to meet and embrace us and bring us into the feast they have
prepared. They will do this!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why the BEST ROBE, a RING and SHOES? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our Heavenly Father, in those moments of "I am
unworthy to be called thy son or daughter" will clothe us with the ROBES
of HIS son. The BEST ROBE he could ever
offer us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Elder Holland said, "I know that if we will be
faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting
for everyone, robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then the RING. A
ring is a symbol of love something eternal and commitment in marriage. The
truth is, is that when we are baptized we are ALL married to, or better said,
become part of the family of Christ.
After our baptism we express our love and commitment to Him by keeping
the commandments and continuing the process of changing, repenting and
constantly renewing our covenants with Him.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The SHOES allow that we may walk in the footsteps of HIS
Son and follow His example continually.
And, I will add that they are the GREATEST brand of shoes ;) because
they will ENDURE TO THE END. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know with ALL my heart that if we come unto our Father
in HEAVEN and ask for forgiveness, like the prodigal son, HE will give us THE
BEST ROBE, a RING of promise and SHOES top follow in. I also know that HE will, like the scripture
says in Spanish, throw a "fiesta" because HIS son or daughter has
been found! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I will forever be grateful for my Heavenly Father and His
Son Jesus Christ, and for these 3 gifts that were given to me as the gospel
became wonderful for me again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Our investigator, Hermanegildo, otherwise
known as Poleto, suffered from depression.
And when I say depression, I mean HE was DEPRESSED. During a visit, Poleto told us of a time
where he almost took his life. He said,
“Hermanas I almost tied the rope around my neck...but I saw a LIGHT and heard a
voice tell me that I was needed here on earth.
So I dropped the rope.” Poleto
continued by explaining how, even after this experience, he STILL did not feel
like God needed him here. We were then
prompted to share a short video with him called “The Hope of God’s Light” that
relates a very similar story about a man named Todd Sylvester. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After the video ended the Spirit was so strong in the
room and I asked him, “Poleto, do you believe that we are sent from God?” He paused, thought for a moment, and then
said, “You could be...I don’t know?” On
this day, I had exchanges with Hermana Jaimes, and we both looked at each other
without saying anything then knelt down. As we were kneeling on the ground, we invited
Poleto to PRAY right then and ask our Heavenly Father if He had sent us there
to help. With our eyes shimmering with
tears and hopeful faces, we waited until he slowly got down on his knees and
offered the most fervent and sincere prayer.
He expressed his sadness, frustrations and everything that was troubling
him...and innocently asked if God would let him know if we were sent BY Him and
if this was HIS true church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There was a pause in his prayer as Poleto was unable to
speak and tears ran freely down his cheeks.
He finished the prayer, and we looked around the room which included
Manuel Santana (who was recently baptized), his best friend Johnny, and Hermana
Jaimes and I, ALL with tear stained faces.
I mustered the question again..."Poleto, do you believe that we are
sent from God?" He looked us both
in the eyes and said, "Yes I do!"
And of course the next question was..."Do you believe that this is
the church of God." He replied,
"It is undeniably the truth, Hermanas!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Afterwards I testified, and now testify to ALL of you,
that as missionaries, we ARE sent from God to answer His children’s
prayers. The hope of God’s light is
REAL. In that moment, MY words were HIS
words. The Savior understands us
all. Poleto also needed comfort and so
God, just like that night, sent an ANGEL to comfort him. God DOES listen, and wants us to act on our
faith to FIND His light. We can come to
know Him by serving Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Now, to close, I
would like to quote from the late Elder Boyd K Packer’s poem called “These
Things I Know”, as I feel that his words have become mine as I have served my
Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I now can say with all certainty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That I KNOW and LOVE the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I can TESTIFY with them of old<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As I preach His holy word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know what He felt in Gethsemane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Is too much to comprehend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know He did it all for us;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We have no greater Friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know that He will come anew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With power and in glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know I will see Him once again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the end of my life’s story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll kneel before His wounded feet;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll feel His Spirit glow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My whispering, quivering voice will say,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“My Lord, my God, I know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="ES-EC" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: ES-EC;">Y yo si lo conozco! Jesús
vendrá otra vez con poder y Gloria. Espero
de seguir conociéndolo para que en el último día me conocerá como uno de sus
siervos. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="ES-EC" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: ES-EC;">Dios es un Dios de
amor, ira, milagros, El ama la justicia y aborrece la maldad, es celoso,
requiere sacrificio, no puede mentir, es perfecto. Sé que Él es nuestro Padre Celestial y tiene
un plan perfecto para cada uno de nosotros.
En su infinito amor, mando a su hijo para que en aquel que en El cree no
se pierde más tenga vida eterna. Su
expiación es suficiente para cada uno de nosotros. Sé también que hay un don impecable que nos
ha dado del Espíritu Santo para guiarnos e inspirarnos a donde debemos de
ir. Sé que José Smith fue un profeta, lo
sé porque lo he defendido y sentido el poder de sus frutos. Uno de estos siendo El Libro de Mormón. Ese libro es perfecto y es la clave de mi
testimonio. La historia de mi vida está
aquí, el suyo también. Sé que Dios
revele sus secretos por medio de sus siervos los profetas. Siéguenlos. La Iglesia es verdadera. Les Amo. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="ES-EC" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: ES-EC;">En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-46962776600458652522015-08-17T20:49:00.001-07:002015-08-17T20:55:50.947-07:00These Things I Know<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">August 17,
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hola
Familia,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">AHHH I can’t
believe that this is the LAST time I will have to write you guys…and that soon I’m
leaving to come home. Voy a extrañar de
ser misionera ;( [<i>I’m going to miss being
a missionary.</i>] Your letters this
week made me bawl like a little baby. The
guys next to me here in the internet café thought my dog died or something.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As I begin
to write this I’m already tearing up so this might come out a bit sentimental. ;) As I
think of ALL my letters that I have sent home in the past year and a half, the
most repeated phrase found would probably be...“I just LOVE being a missionary!” But really.
I LOVE it with ALL my heart. I
have REJOICED EVERMORE, prayed WITHOUT ceasing, and GIVEN thanks in ALL things!
(1 Thes. 5:16-18) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am and will
be forever grateful to my Father in Heaven for calling me to be a
representative of His Son, Jesus Christ.
I could sit here ALL day and tell you how much I love the mission, but I
want to take this opportunity to tell you what I KNOW. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">First, that
unspeakable gift, the companionship and power of the Holy Ghost allowed for my
words to be CHRIST’s words. This unspeakable
gift of the peace of God, which passeth ALL understanding, works in PERFECT
unity with our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and causes us to
pause, kneel and heed its promptings. Let’s
just say my knees are a little calloused and bruised from kneeling on cement
and sometimes dirt floors while receiving this divine guidance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Over the
past 18 months my heart has changed and this has led to my conversion. I HAVE used, and will forever use Christ’s
infinite atonement to continually change me from something good to something much better. Indeed, I have felt to sing the
song of redeeming love. So...in response
to Alma’s question “can you feel so now?”
I answer with certainty - OF COURSE I CAN! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Holy
Ghost testifies of the Father and the Son, as will I. As stated in my patriarchal blessing and after
the many miracles seen in my mission, I AM a WITNESS that Christ LIVED and ATONED
for US. I know that He LIVES once again,
and because He lives, we shall live also.
His atonement is very DEAR to me, it always has been and always will
be. Just as an angel came to comfort the
Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane, I know with all my heart that Christ will
do the same for US! For He has succored
and extended HIS love unto a ONE such as I during my mission. It is truly wonderful to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Christ gave
us an impeccable example to follow which implores EACH of us to echo His own
words in saying, “I came to do the will of my Father.” As a missionary, I have seen those who have followed
this example, and answered His invitation to Come Follow Me. I TESTIFY that miracles have not ceased on
the earth and that following our older Brother WILL bring us to REJOICE
EVERMORE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">His Father,
OUR Father is a God of love, justice, mercy, laws, miracles, perfection, power,
discipline, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">truth, forgiveness, order and MUCH, MUCH more.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He is truly perfect and has a PERFECT plan
for ALL of us.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Part of His perfect plan
for me was coming here to Ecuador.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
thank him every day for the chance He gave me to LOVE His children here so
deeply, just as He would if He or His Son were here on earth.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It was hard leaving my family to come to a foreign
country, but I know I will see you all YA MISMO [</span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">SOON</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">] ;) and I KNOW my family is eternal.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What makes ending my mission SO HARD is I am
not sure when I will see my Ecuadorian family again.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Before I leave I will just have to hug each
one of them until their EYES start bulging. ;)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I told them all this week that I will be saving a seat for every single
one of them in the celestial kingdom of heaven, and if they are not there they
will have to suffer the wrath of Hermana B.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">;) HAHA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am going
to struggle without a companion by my side every moment of the day. President Riggins says the cure for that is
getting married soon. HAHA FUNNY
PRESIDENTE! I think my rice belly,
mosquito bitten BODY (here they bite you everywhere, not just on your legs...it’s
lovely) and once lice-infested hair will scare all men away. ;) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But getting
back to companions, during my mission Heavenly Father blessed me with the
chance to meet 6 truly loved and now ETERNAL friends:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hermana
Toledo, AHH I just love her with all my heart.
She was my mom when I arrived here, caring and protecting me from
harm. She taught me how to BE a
missionary and to LOVE every minute of it.
She also constantly showed me that PRAYER truly is a privilege to talk
to OUR HEAVENLY KING. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRd2TR6vVr_Yj09CKqLSQAQiNPynkzZpA0izMutsf1zlM_-4T6W4xMoBVpkvjynLoACLZnXbe_hxvHbNbLFQlPs-Dh4DltvkatxdBsHuOm_3T5rlGJ8loz_DebzSADm9fz77JFnL4NHjX/s1600/4-21-14+Hammock+with+Hermana+Toledo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRd2TR6vVr_Yj09CKqLSQAQiNPynkzZpA0izMutsf1zlM_-4T6W4xMoBVpkvjynLoACLZnXbe_hxvHbNbLFQlPs-Dh4DltvkatxdBsHuOm_3T5rlGJ8loz_DebzSADm9fz77JFnL4NHjX/s400/4-21-14+Hammock+with+Hermana+Toledo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Toledo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hermana
Latorre, haha she is crazy and yet the most OBEDIENT companion I had. She taught me that working diligently and
intelligently will give you much satisfaction and love for this work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQrT5Se5OS2T2pcIIKaB21hE96jb8kkBztFocrIwtrsG8MEvVcnMYEV38WRiaijFhfPuzXVXmNQ8lbNPSLfa1VrqClwyzVraMgZi42qs3QdlZB3S9Mu7sTdLw6H2Ka-yxYiYq4HwYqkoy/s1600/8-18-2014+Hermana+Latorre.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQrT5Se5OS2T2pcIIKaB21hE96jb8kkBztFocrIwtrsG8MEvVcnMYEV38WRiaijFhfPuzXVXmNQ8lbNPSLfa1VrqClwyzVraMgZi42qs3QdlZB3S9Mu7sTdLw6H2Ka-yxYiYq4HwYqkoy/s400/8-18-2014+Hermana+Latorre.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Latorre</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hermana
Perez taught me how mission work is more than just teaching – it includes working
with the ward council, and utilizing the ward directory or basically ANY list
the church has, to find those who are lost yet prepared to come back and accept
this gospel. She also taught me the importance
of FEARING GOD more than MAN. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96grmSuXJYNdzuNg2-cDsvXLNtgqk2BZY_U4Al09ApgiknJb022p2SFyvaP_7aueaLEuyn8B_vGGv9GxtDXOB5ig6kiqqekYgroV0mse3OUgbQzJ6UgeCLANGqzzAxzDiDndInvyPZ_oP/s1600/11-17-2014+J+and+Hermana+Perez.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96grmSuXJYNdzuNg2-cDsvXLNtgqk2BZY_U4Al09ApgiknJb022p2SFyvaP_7aueaLEuyn8B_vGGv9GxtDXOB5ig6kiqqekYgroV0mse3OUgbQzJ6UgeCLANGqzzAxzDiDndInvyPZ_oP/s400/11-17-2014+J+and+Hermana+Perez.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Perez</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hermana
Vilchez, MI HIJITA, is the strongest person I know. She taught me that God loves us even when we don’t
necessarily want to love Him, and that because He loves us He gave us a Plan of
Salvation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8XY0FISQmvsWExZwYztPXIkEhLLUGU-DE_p49fksc3kXmk9S72vS2sNLVLV0cTtRxxR1pjhWEfwjnfp2kXx3h7B3pyIyBJXWaU0n9RNWqkhdfOXjnQdt_NUtYDNoVLYB6C_10qD0yoK0/s1600/12-23-2014+with+Hermana+Vilchez+at+Guayaquil+Temple.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8XY0FISQmvsWExZwYztPXIkEhLLUGU-DE_p49fksc3kXmk9S72vS2sNLVLV0cTtRxxR1pjhWEfwjnfp2kXx3h7B3pyIyBJXWaU0n9RNWqkhdfOXjnQdt_NUtYDNoVLYB6C_10qD0yoK0/s400/12-23-2014+with+Hermana+Vilchez+at+Guayaquil+Temple.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Vilchez</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Hermana
Blacutt taught me to not be offended by what others say in church or how they
look at you.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Also, that we should go to
church because it is there we strengthen our faith and find the saving
ordinances that will get us back to God.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Her final lesson was that it sucks going home, which I am coming to
understand now. ;(</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxstc_bYCiSomff79PX8LRj6oIlM-eAVV5Rjw65zqU37pTK5MRZZCx0v6XiHHVabzsg9gOdgH-B08IXmqzPamnV5cWWn1K8fxmvLM5lQlmNiB_tWIAvR7RByhiwlObBx8PeLmvFduryOh/s1600/3-16-2015+Hermana+Blacutt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxstc_bYCiSomff79PX8LRj6oIlM-eAVV5Rjw65zqU37pTK5MRZZCx0v6XiHHVabzsg9gOdgH-B08IXmqzPamnV5cWWn1K8fxmvLM5lQlmNiB_tWIAvR7RByhiwlObBx8PeLmvFduryOh/s400/3-16-2015+Hermana+Blacutt.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Blacutt</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">AND finally
Hermana Rebolledo reminded me of how much I LOVE Chilenas. Dad we have to go to Chile soon! She is the greatest example to me of being
teachable and truly living up to your full potential as a missionary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFAH2WSAhNuX8TvGB5dkz3UTweEKWGc-wxf8ErMmmlq788ZOsaECFbvwzBTyp-JMRLe1d8IKNPXD2dzdS3emL9H2W4fuakoRHaT-IkyPZevQMjGAR50bbeFNVY15w9FhR4asB6HKhu_Lf/s1600/7-20-2015+Exploring+on+P-Day+2+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFAH2WSAhNuX8TvGB5dkz3UTweEKWGc-wxf8ErMmmlq788ZOsaECFbvwzBTyp-JMRLe1d8IKNPXD2dzdS3emL9H2W4fuakoRHaT-IkyPZevQMjGAR50bbeFNVY15w9FhR4asB6HKhu_Lf/s400/7-20-2015+Exploring+on+P-Day+2+%25282%2529.JPG" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Rebolledo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Family, I
know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and has
brought me closer to HIM and our Father than any other book. I have read boldly from it every day and I
know that it has the power to soften our hearts. I also know that Joseph Smith was a prophet
of God and that through him, God restored the FULLNESS of the gospel of Jesus
Christ here to the earth in these last days.
I have defended and PRAISED him that could easily be classified as the
most attacked prophet who has ever lived.
He was not perfect and did not know everything, but was WILLING to learn
everything and bring about God’s work here on the earth. I also know that the temple is GOD’S
UNIVERSITY. I LOVE the temple and am SO
grateful for the covenants I have made with my Heavenly Father there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, to
close my LAST letter, I would like to quote again from the late Elder Boyd K
Packer’s poem called “These Things I Know”, as I feel that his words have
become my words… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I now can say with all certainty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That I KNOW and LOVE the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I can TESTIFY with them of old<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As I preach His holy word (for one
more week as a full-time missionary).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know what He felt in Gethsemane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Is too much to comprehend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know He did it all for us;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We have no greater Friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know that He will come anew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With power and in glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know I will see Him once again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the end of my life’s story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll kneel before His wounded feet;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll feel His Spirit glow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My whispering, quivering voice will
say,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“My Lord, my God, I know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And I DO
KNOW! Jesus Christ will come again in
Glory and I hope to continue to know Him, so at that day He will recognize ME
as one of his servants and greet me with a warm embrace and say, “Well done
thou good and faithful one.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusions
from the mission? JESUS LIVES, THIS
CHURCH IS TRUE, so REJOICE EVERMORE!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hermana
Jessica Jo Bartholomew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-68987780477122920212015-08-10T19:25:00.000-07:002015-08-10T19:25:22.958-07:00"The Greatest Day of My Life"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">August 10, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hola Familia,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few additional "LASTS" came and went this week, pero NO se preocupen, porque [<i>but don’t worry, because</i>] my last day still hasn’t come. ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Tuesday, I attended my LAST leaders council. After, I took my LAST picture with two of my favorite people - Hermana Olsen (my CCM comp) and Hermana McKee. It seems hard to believe that we arrived here in Ecuador together 16 months ago today!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 10, 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 4, 2015</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJemFHR7OhH2lPBA3I3mlF6jUOva8e8yTRas8wmKMT3Cc27cCcWQgxY-V6SMY_JY7jCOtKk6IGJk0IJvVuzSCZo4ihLdzttYB_ylulUVFN2jdIr3MjALcbF7KlCw0MolCY-f_GEgx0HBx/s1600/8-10-2015+With+Hermanas+Olson+and+McKee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJemFHR7OhH2lPBA3I3mlF6jUOva8e8yTRas8wmKMT3Cc27cCcWQgxY-V6SMY_JY7jCOtKk6IGJk0IJvVuzSCZo4ihLdzttYB_ylulUVFN2jdIr3MjALcbF7KlCw0MolCY-f_GEgx0HBx/s1600/8-10-2015+With+Hermanas+Olson+and+McKee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have no clue why they
always put me in the middle of our pictures...it makes me look even
shorter. But it helped remind me of what the real world will be like when
I get back. ECUADORIANS are SHORT! My neck will probably be
sore for the first few weeks after I return home because I am NOT used to looking up
at people. haha ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This past week on Saturday we went to the TEMPLE in Guayaquil with Andreina, Jairon,
Manuel, Robinson, and a BUNCH of other members from here in Buena Fe. Manuel put it best when he said, "This
has been the greatest day of my life." He is seriously the cutest
old man. He cannot wait to be baptized for his son who passed away about
6 months ago! All of the converts here are BEYOND excited to be sealed to their families in
the temple during the coming year.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRndXj7h3uGkEeuXgN_HbCVPjFrokxCOHy1FLbHvqwj9rcRQuyY5vqjDcXGMR-Sn3RH-08Qxj2yFO0ooMNngCxOxMFVQEXs5pafYZXHTtCKrt6VTCL0fJ7b3gHoekYbydpxusxGG-reXJ/s1600/8-10-2015+Temple+with+Ward+Members+from+Buena+Fe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRndXj7h3uGkEeuXgN_HbCVPjFrokxCOHy1FLbHvqwj9rcRQuyY5vqjDcXGMR-Sn3RH-08Qxj2yFO0ooMNngCxOxMFVQEXs5pafYZXHTtCKrt6VTCL0fJ7b3gHoekYbydpxusxGG-reXJ/s400/8-10-2015+Temple+with+Ward+Members+from+Buena+Fe.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Guayaquil temple with Lupita y Lisbeth - they are the cutest :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have I told you that I LOVE being a missionary? ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sorry I don’t have enough time to write more this week, but I love you all
and promise to write more next week! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hermana Bartholomew </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSWoNydLNfFxPQCC7K0ipJwxASP96KDzlfEvHyr9RzkyqbIuB0vONJMT7sidGl22JA1PiLn05JixDGzHYwzcwYzGnq5RfCaT1YiHsD09X2_W4Hkn6XLANRwhlJOlzNTkHc3FeXIC4TW_j/s1600/8-10-2015+Las+Hermanas+de+Buena+Fe+at+the+Guayaquil+Temple.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSWoNydLNfFxPQCC7K0ipJwxASP96KDzlfEvHyr9RzkyqbIuB0vONJMT7sidGl22JA1PiLn05JixDGzHYwzcwYzGnq5RfCaT1YiHsD09X2_W4Hkn6XLANRwhlJOlzNTkHc3FeXIC4TW_j/s640/8-10-2015+Las+Hermanas+de+Buena+Fe+at+the+Guayaquil+Temple.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Las Hermanas de Buena Fe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-42243213770366586112015-08-03T21:41:00.000-07:002015-08-03T21:47:08.373-07:00The Hope of God's Light<div class="MsoNormal">
August 3, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hola Familia,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It will never cease to amaze me at how TRULY small this
world is and how fast it spins...because time is FLYING by. I know I have
said that MANY times, but I am called to testify of the truth and the truth I
will testify of today is that time goes by WAY too fast!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The next few weeks will be full of “lasts” for me.
Sunday started it off as I was prompted to share my testimony in church for the
LAST time as a full-time missionary. Don’t worry I’m not trunky, but it
is awful to think that this mantel I have as a missionary will not last
forever. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadly, I am off to my LAST (there’s another one) leaders
conference today, so this letter will be short.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Our investigator, Hermanegildo, otherwise known as Poleto, suffers
from depression. And when I say depression, I mean HE IS DEPRESSED.
During a visit this week, Poleto told us of a time where he almost took his
life. He said, “Hermanas I almost tied
the rope around my neck...but I saw a LIGHT and heard a voice tell me that I
was needed here on earth. So I dropped the rope.” Poleto continued
by explaining how, even after this experience, he STILL did not feel like God
needed him here. We were then prompted to share a short video with him
called “The Hope of God’s Light” that relates a very similar story about a man
named Todd Sylvester. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2w49_1a9X0Q/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2w49_1a9X0Q?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w49_1a9X0Q">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w49_1a9X0Q</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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After the video ended the Spirit was super strong in the
room and I asked him, “Poleto, do you believe that we are sent from God?”
He paused, thought for a moment, and then said, “You could be...I don’t
know?” On this day, I was doing an intercambio [<i>exchange</i>] with Hermana Jaimes, and we both looked at each other and
then knelt down. As we were kneeling on the
ground, we invited Poleto to PRAY right then and ask our Heavenly Father if He
had sent us there to help. With our eyes
shimmering with tears and hopeful faces, we waited until he slowly got down on
his knees and offered the most fervent and sincere prayer. He expressed
his sadness, frustrations and everything that was troubling him...and
innocently asked if God would let him know if we were sent BY Him and if this
was HIS true church. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There was a pause in his prayer as Poleto was unable to
speak and tears ran freely down his cheek. He finished the prayer, and we
looked around the room which included Manuel Santana (who was recently baptized),
his best friend Johnny, and Hermana Jaimes and I, ALL with tear stained
faces. I mustered the question
again..."Poleto, do you believe that we are sent from God?" He
looked us both in the eyes and said, "Yes I do!" And of course
the next question was..."Do you believe that this is the church of
God." He replied, "It is undeniably the truth, Hermanas!"
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Afterwards I testified, and now testify to ALL those who read
this, that we, as missionaries, ARE sent from God to answer His children’s
prayers. The hope of God’s light is REAL. In that moment, MY words
were HIS words. The Savior understands us all. Poleto also needed
comfort and so God, just like that night, sent an ANGEL to comfort him.
God DOES listen, and wants us to act on our faith to FIND His light. We
can come to know Him by serving Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ll close with the words of the dear late President Boyd K.
Packer...<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I know that Jesus Christ will come anew with power and in
glory. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know I will see him once again at the end of my life’s
story. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ll kneel before his wounded feet, I’ll feel his spirit
glow. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My whispering, quivering voice will say, my Lord, my God, I
know.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have come to know Him, and will continue all my life, so
that when I am in His presence once more, I too can say..."TE
CONOZCO!" [<i>I KNOW YOU</i>]<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love you all DEARLY, until next week! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-36384136633276225282015-07-29T21:17:00.000-07:002015-07-29T21:49:04.208-07:00Making Weak Things Strong<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">July 27, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hola Familia,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I just want to cry because this week went by WAY, WAY, WAY
too fast! And as a gift for completing
17 months in the mish, I got LICE. Lovely.
Haha that’s what you get for lending someone your comb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am also sad because one of my best friends from the mission,
Hermana Te’o is going home this week. :( BUT she is coming to visit Utah
in December, so really it’s just a see you soon! I hope I can take these
last few weeks to become a missionary like HERMANA TE’O! She is just the
greatest, if I write more about her I will cry, so we will just leave it at
that! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9yHWE5n06gghfY0e2Fj12cinkU_0PPngnjjmZAbadxFnOQuikviQ1HRXlQcv5N9fil0boc51mdF2hJY3OHHBAv3BPH4m0JjqThQ9dxtXuHbkqGoX_Dlw1Bj39UbqD96Esnd3cS47C2Gq/s1600/7-27-2015+Goodbye+to+Hermana+Teo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9yHWE5n06gghfY0e2Fj12cinkU_0PPngnjjmZAbadxFnOQuikviQ1HRXlQcv5N9fil0boc51mdF2hJY3OHHBAv3BPH4m0JjqThQ9dxtXuHbkqGoX_Dlw1Bj39UbqD96Esnd3cS47C2Gq/s400/7-27-2015+Goodbye+to+Hermana+Teo.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Te'o</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mi compi has now hit the big 20 and also completed 9 months
in the mission, I woke her up the morning of her birthday singing, “WOOO, YOU’RE
HALF-WAY THERE, WOOOH LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER!”
However we forgot to take the infamous “BABY BELLY” picture, which
obviously comes compliments of RICE, rice and MORE rice. Can you imagine how
big mine is after 17 months? YIKES! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp52OX_jQt4W0Jyp1VkT0V8yaTjqrTByQwF04Jsh2JVUegHqgm8IEAbmxsqBGkYYlSUikmw5dQiXuHUYBb9Pr9zLd4RPGjg843Eh9Lif5JCm1IJOONkzboYY1qHw5U1-jZEzTrIFMQe1Us/s1600/7-27-2015+Happy+Chicken+Foot+B-day+Hna+Rebolledo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp52OX_jQt4W0Jyp1VkT0V8yaTjqrTByQwF04Jsh2JVUegHqgm8IEAbmxsqBGkYYlSUikmw5dQiXuHUYBb9Pr9zLd4RPGjg843Eh9Lif5JCm1IJOONkzboYY1qHw5U1-jZEzTrIFMQe1Us/s640/7-27-2015+Happy+Chicken+Foot+B-day+Hna+Rebolledo.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
HAPPY happy birthday compi, here's a chicken's foot for
lunch!!! ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXO7HJ1bU4Nj0iQy4V0nrFKA9kdCIDhbKL0lP1hwBqQvdKpPes8JonD-SWLGeZZBFodKlt7E1Lf7blsGOBzaDoLnonDrCguMmlLDE_K5PidLMsrqLpE8rp8DgFOnrV7CzSYXLu9PUwSh3P/s1600/7-27-2015+Posing+with+the+Chickens+Foot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXO7HJ1bU4Nj0iQy4V0nrFKA9kdCIDhbKL0lP1hwBqQvdKpPes8JonD-SWLGeZZBFodKlt7E1Lf7blsGOBzaDoLnonDrCguMmlLDE_K5PidLMsrqLpE8rp8DgFOnrV7CzSYXLu9PUwSh3P/s640/7-27-2015+Posing+with+the+Chickens+Foot.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
Thinking...pose with a chicken's foot ;) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 17 months in the
mission I STILL don't understand how to eat these things. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Side Note - there was blood on my hand after taking this picture. </div>
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Only the best when freshly CHOPPED off the Chicken!)</div>
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<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyZytnC68L1O0xZG5vRk7cFbgeB6eQVhDJYZqXzSUXYmCc5SkIV_H0fMmHzycPTfPPVC99Gl0kRlOjuQo9XJMcDbngOHpm5InSGP3qZ5e0VyYJWo46ZVvnXaN65xOQL-w_msoPwfwsTXE/s1600/7-27-2015+Lobster+and+Crab+over+Rice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyZytnC68L1O0xZG5vRk7cFbgeB6eQVhDJYZqXzSUXYmCc5SkIV_H0fMmHzycPTfPPVC99Gl0kRlOjuQo9XJMcDbngOHpm5InSGP3qZ5e0VyYJWo46ZVvnXaN65xOQL-w_msoPwfwsTXE/s640/7-27-2015+Lobster+and+Crab+over+Rice.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
THIS on the other hand was the GREATEST lunch we could
have. Lobster and crab, yum yum! <o:p></o:p></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now for the best news of the week - ROBISON Romero was
baptized! I was SO proud watching Jairon baptize his baby brother. When Robinson asked his brother to baptize
him, Jairon BEAMED and said YES! Then Robinson
looked at us and said, “I better not get on his nerves or he might just leave
me under the water.” :) HAHA! They
were both SO nervous but afterwards I had never seen them both so happy.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpSS4AVFRUxemyz5telrUrnFEGlNfixBych3mgJ3jLbdXdFNPSAKNBbidq0_h2yy2J3AGZa-wNylAqzjX5E0BKNlzvlqCf9yfBwyqlUi01MVh0caqCsceQqot2BRHKZq73CqEMef5Qn9G/s1600/7-27-2015+Baptism+of+Robinson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpSS4AVFRUxemyz5telrUrnFEGlNfixBych3mgJ3jLbdXdFNPSAKNBbidq0_h2yy2J3AGZa-wNylAqzjX5E0BKNlzvlqCf9yfBwyqlUi01MVh0caqCsceQqot2BRHKZq73CqEMef5Qn9G/s640/7-27-2015+Baptism+of+Robinson.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jairon & Robinson Romero</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcf_T0DBGs0HwlD134TJ3q_0w5X2t260x4LQe4pSjilaQTED2GMT431H4ToL9kMDU-6ehAW5R8TXIVaOpaCZanXHz7yUCa0U8NK-CCvNVBkO9LLycbqjwCsJ2a-PKbaxLTd_JhCiYjsUA/s1600/7-27-2015+Rejoicing+Evermore+with+Robinson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcf_T0DBGs0HwlD134TJ3q_0w5X2t260x4LQe4pSjilaQTED2GMT431H4ToL9kMDU-6ehAW5R8TXIVaOpaCZanXHz7yUCa0U8NK-CCvNVBkO9LLycbqjwCsJ2a-PKbaxLTd_JhCiYjsUA/s640/7-27-2015+Rejoicing+Evermore+with+Robinson.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rejoicing Evermore with Robinson Romero</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9PRsPTygbofYd1CEWHjxmiu6TATp5zHf42D6O_0CDBpqxVaqJQUPhy42KRLC_GMtHmvV22stkJvxghnxq0591Mrkl7MpY9f1ZN8YebMuDj9VOHSPdEvq3PpOrV6UcM17VowdABoJ4EHm/s1600/7-27-2015+Robinson+and+his+sisters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9PRsPTygbofYd1CEWHjxmiu6TATp5zHf42D6O_0CDBpqxVaqJQUPhy42KRLC_GMtHmvV22stkJvxghnxq0591Mrkl7MpY9f1ZN8YebMuDj9VOHSPdEvq3PpOrV6UcM17VowdABoJ4EHm/s640/7-27-2015+Robinson+and+his+sisters.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robinson with his family. His sisters came to support his decision - they were all SO proud!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m short on time this week, so I’ll leave you with this
thought. Our plea this week with all our
investigators was...“if you feel small and weak, please simply come unto Christ
who makes weak things strong.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Christ truly loves us and has made ME strong. So I
KNOW He can make you strong too! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I Love you all. Until
next week! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hermana Bartholomew </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Note from Jessica's Dad:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our family was in Hawaii this past week, and while there had yet another experience that
strengthened our faith that God knows each of us individually and His love and
tender mercies for us can be manifest in unexpected ways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To start, on
Monday we received Jessica’s weekly e-mail, with the comment about Hermana Te’o
finishing her mission. Jessica met
Hermana Te’o in her very first area of Babahoyo, where they lived together and became good friends as I’m sure they helped each other get through the challenges of being a new missionary in a foreign country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On Tuesday, we
took the family to a zipline activity on the north shore of Oahu. During the activity, one of the guides there
asked about our family and we told him that our oldest daughter was in Ecuador
on an LDS church mission. He said, “one
of my best friends is just returning to Hawaii today from her mission in
Ecuador.” Having just read Jessica’s
e-mail, and remembering that Hermana Te’o was from Hawaii, I said, “does her
last name happen to be Te’o?” He said, “YES!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Long story
short, the guide made a couple of phone calls and connected with Hermana Te’o’s
family. They were at the airport in
Honolulu picking her up. After our zip
line activity, we drove a short distance to the town of Laie, where we had the awesome
experience of meeting Hermana Te’o and her family just as they were arriving back
into town. (They hadn’t even been to
their home yet.) We enjoyed a short
visit and she expressed her love and appreciation for Jessica in helping her
get through a tough time on her mission.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3xAUQRidwugfogBVDDybqcJFRyzF4BXmaVjRrKjMHYmsihSgFus8OfAZj4Yu04NKC_FUXa9Oohzii6zYsdHttjeGVaUsRwPeTZ-o2oKI6vfEkbGjYYAMjS88hbYuNFc3NeiFg7DAEY5e/s1600/With+Hermana+Te%2527o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3xAUQRidwugfogBVDDybqcJFRyzF4BXmaVjRrKjMHYmsihSgFus8OfAZj4Yu04NKC_FUXa9Oohzii6zYsdHttjeGVaUsRwPeTZ-o2oKI6vfEkbGjYYAMjS88hbYuNFc3NeiFg7DAEY5e/s640/With+Hermana+Te%2527o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homecoming in Hawaii with Hermana Te'o</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is no way
that our meeting Hermana Te’o was just a coincidence. God knows us, and watches over us, wherever we are – including when
we thousands of miles from home. We have
repeatedly seen His hand in Jessica’s mission and rejoice evermore with her in
His infinite goodness and mercy! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-13541108003493048242015-07-20T20:59:00.000-07:002015-07-20T20:59:32.343-07:00I KNOW YOUR HEART<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">July 20, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">HAHA looks like God loves the Bartholomew and
Dominguez families!!! SO on Tuesday last
week, I knew that new missionaries were coming, and that one of them would be
Hermana Dominguez (from Draper). Thinking
that I wouldn’t get the chance to meet her in person, I asked one of the Hermanas
from this area, who was going to Guayaquil to pick up her new trainee missionary,
to take a mosquito killing essence with her and give it to Hermana Dominguez so
she wouldn’t die from mosquitos the first night here in Ecuador like I did.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, it turns out that WE LIVE TOGETHER!!! Yup. Hermana
Dominquez was assigned to Buena Fe as the first area of her mission, and we
live in the same apartment. (Thanks for
sending the hug mom!) ;) Hna Dominguez
basically knows everything about my family, me included! AND she is adorable and is already an
INCREDIBLE missionary. I was talking
with the President Riggins and he agrees with me! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKT8p2P2gKb_7u3UOZb_ds7BcJBNBvdCS5KlQsdX7A33yD2XQAFlwC1D0H1RBy9f8PF9zVBpNxhyphenhyphenZybB7PcRlRmf2-S_KjVMRa3q4cOeHYMs8lAlF5AyL3wnrM74Qj7wgYOgcpl1AwCda/s1600/7-20-2015+Jessica+and+Melissa+Dominguez+-+eating+oranges.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKT8p2P2gKb_7u3UOZb_ds7BcJBNBvdCS5KlQsdX7A33yD2XQAFlwC1D0H1RBy9f8PF9zVBpNxhyphenhyphenZybB7PcRlRmf2-S_KjVMRa3q4cOeHYMs8lAlF5AyL3wnrM74Qj7wgYOgcpl1AwCda/s640/7-20-2015+Jessica+and+Melissa+Dominguez+-+eating+oranges.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Melissa Dominguez<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Don't know if I ever explained this to you all, but en los
pueblitos they peel oranges, when they aren't orange (not ripe) just enough so
that the white skin is still there, and then you cut a hole in the top and
squeeze the wonderfully delicious juice right into your mouth. You look
awkward while eating it, but it is amazing! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Funny story, Hermana Dominguez and her companion got
locked in their study room today for almost an hour, while Hna Rebolledo and I
tried to take the doorknob off and rescue them.
HAHA, it was classic. Also mi
nieta [</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">my granddaughter – the new Hermana
Hna. Vilchez is training</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">] came ALL the way from the States and es PILAS en
su Español [</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">she is wonderful with her
Spanish</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">]. Well, it turns out from the new missionaries that came in,
10 of them were sisters and with luck, 5 of them came here to QUEVEDO!!
WOOT! WOOT! I love working with the new missionaries and the ENERGY they
have to work. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuUgTbC8i_ouqHa7arKc2yeOBClq5K7qy9CU6ipDjnXpyXP9brE6t9m6MzOhmzDpXaOgrq0OK9FEA8FwPRtF3cOQZb3ZePYbBfdJisgf_HdXa9ReGbGSvoYCij3EaVn8E9IIsGxmkC7_F/s1600/7-20-2015+Exploring+on+P-Day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuUgTbC8i_ouqHa7arKc2yeOBClq5K7qy9CU6ipDjnXpyXP9brE6t9m6MzOhmzDpXaOgrq0OK9FEA8FwPRtF3cOQZb3ZePYbBfdJisgf_HdXa9ReGbGSvoYCij3EaVn8E9IIsGxmkC7_F/s640/7-20-2015+Exploring+on+P-Day.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Los 4 Hermanas de Buena Fe</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Things are just dandy here in good ol´ Buena Fe.
</span><span lang="ES-EC" style="line-height: 107%;">Robinson esta SUPER animado
por su bautismo. </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">(sorry I just realized that was in Spanish
aaaah.) [<i>Robinson is super excited for his baptism.</i>] He is determined to change
his life for good. His biological mom is coming all the way from Quito to
support him in his decision to be baptized, so it is going to be a great
day! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday morning, Fernando told us that he wasn’t
going to go to church anymore and that he will return all the folletos [<i>pamphlets</i>] and books that we have given him.
:( This absolutely crushed our hearts,
but we know that in a few months he will either get married or stop breaking
the law of chastity so he can get baptized. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ok, so we are short on time today BUT I have a quick
story for you all. On Tuesday, while
eating our lunch at Issela´s Diner (she is a less-active member), we saw this
guy named Marcos that is always there to help her wash dishes while he is waiting
for another bus to come so he can sell pan de yuca to the passengers. In
my 5 months here we have invited him a million and two times to come to church
and he has always said, “Hermanas, one day you will just see me show up to church…and
the first time that I go it won’t be the last.”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So on Tuesday, we were able to finally teach him. He ended up missing his bus, but the gospel
is important right? ;) He is a
great salesman, so we told him that one day he could “sell the gospel”.
Which he said he would never do because once he HAS the gospel, he would never
give it away, but that he WOULD share it with others while also keeping it for
himself. :) At that point, the Spirit prompted us to read a scripture that
truly knocked his socks off. We read from Section 39 of the DyC, and as he
began reading…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="ES-EC" style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Y
ahora bien, he aquí, te digo, mi siervo James </span><span lang="ES-EC" style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">(we inserted his name MARCOS for James)</span><span lang="ES-EC" style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">, he observado tus obras y te conozco.</span><span lang="ES-EC" style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">[<i>And now, behold, I say unto you, my servant
James, I have looked upon thy works and I know thee.</i>] After he read this part, he paused and then looked
up at us with tears in his eyes and asked us why we wanted him to read this.
</span><span lang="ES-EC" style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">We
encourged him to keep reading...</span><span lang="ES-EC" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Y de cierto te digo, tu corazón es recto delante de mí ahora; y he aquí, he conferido grandes bendiciones sobre tu cabeza; [<i>And verily I say unto thee, thine heart is now right before me at this time; and, behold, I have bestowed great blessings upon thy head;</i>]</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />No obstante, has conocido mucha tristeza, porque me has rechazado muchas veces a causa del orgullo y de los afanes del mundo. [<i>Nevertheless, thou hast seen great sorrow, for thou hast rejected me many times because of pride and the cares of the world.</i>] Again he just looked up at us and said in amazement, “It’s like God is talking to me.” </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Pero he aquí, los días de tu liberación han llegado, si escuchas mi voz que te dice: Levántate y bautízate, y lava tus pecados, invocando mi nombre, y recibirás mi Espíritu y una bendición mayor que cualquiera que hayas conocido. [<i>But, behold, the days of thy deliverance are come, if thou wilt hearken to my voice, which saith unto thee: Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on my name, and you shall receive my Spirit, and a blessing so great as you never have known.</i>]</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Y si haces esto, te he preparado para una obra mayor. [<i>And if thou do this, I have prepared thee for a greater work.</i>] Marcos then said, “HOW IN THE WORLD? We were talking before about how I would be a good missionary?!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /> Predicarás la plenitud de mi evangelio que he enviado en estos últimos días, el convenio que he enviado pararecobrar a los de mi pueblo, que son de la casa de Israel. [<i>Thou shalt preach the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth in these last days, the covenant which I have sent forth to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel.</i>]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />I had never seen someone read the scriptures so SLOWLY, and truly absorb ALL that the verses had to say, as Marcos did that day. He looked up at said, Issela will you go to church with me on Sunday?! And I am happy to report that when I got up to give my talk in Sacrament Meeting yesterday, Marcos quietly walked in the back doors. I almost gave him a shout-out in the middle of my talk, but I wanted to keep the reverence that was there or else I totally would have done it! <br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The scriptures are written for US!! Apply them to your life and you will know how to have eternal life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I LOVE YOU all and hope you have a wonderful week! <br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hermana B</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkmMTtVp8uzDqubLa-cj8WwA8XfvbwLrI_hUDKs4ZxSFh-0epd4AcnxsyhL39jfTL7ld71Fkcq8zo2CkVrjalGCAIb1_j91o4E9V7JE-tpwmpizpNb1J45BAjO9kc3INg8k-TVmk0LCe8/s1600/7-20-2015+Exploring+on+P-Day+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkmMTtVp8uzDqubLa-cj8WwA8XfvbwLrI_hUDKs4ZxSFh-0epd4AcnxsyhL39jfTL7ld71Fkcq8zo2CkVrjalGCAIb1_j91o4E9V7JE-tpwmpizpNb1J45BAjO9kc3INg8k-TVmk0LCe8/s640/7-20-2015+Exploring+on+P-Day+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring on P-day with Hermana Rebolledo</td></tr>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-2695906034792550832015-07-13T21:00:00.000-07:002015-07-13T21:00:35.852-07:00I Have Found My Eternal Friends<div class="MsoNormal">
July 13, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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So it’s official, I’m an oldie!!! Why? Because I’m going to be a
GRANDMA!!! That’s right, mi hijita [<i>my
daughter – meaning her trainee Hna. Vilchez</i>] is going to train this week,
she called me in a panic when she found out, asking for advice...but she will
be SUCH an amazing trainer – much, much better I’m sure than her mother was. ;)
Also, almost every sister missionary here in Quevedo will be training, so
hopefully Melissa will come to Quevedo so I can finally meet her. ;) CROSS YOUR
FINGERS! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Manuel is seriously going to be the next prophet. ;)
He now has the priesthood and is starting to share the gospel WITH EVERYONE!
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Bone family still has not fetched our MANY BONES that we
have thrown for them to go to church. BUT we still have faith that they
will come! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Everyone was asking about Fernando, but sadly he was not
baptized this week. The assistants to the President came to have his
baptismal interview, but he wasn’t home, so I called him and he told me that,
“The church wasn’t for him.” Devastated, I pleaded for ONE last meeting
with him the next day. Turns out that he was just scared to not live up
to all the expectations of being a member of the church. Needless to say
he realized he can do anything with Christ, and came to church on Sunday.
He is still a little hesitant to get baptized this week but we are hoping for
the 25th. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Robinson, is Jairon Romero’s younger brother, and LOVES the
church. His earthly temptation has been drugs for quite a few years, but
since going to church he has now gone 3 weeks without drinking, smoking or
whatever else you can do with drugs. He told us that he had to quit
before, but when he entered into the church building and sang “Nearer My God to
Thee”, he just decided that he would never partake of those things again.
He is planning to get baptized the 25th as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Jose Quinteros finally came back from the mountain!
HALLELUJAH! He shared with us ANOTHER incredible spiritually prompted
moment which went something like this...He was offered a job on the OTHER side
of the country and would receive MUCH more money that he is currently
making. He told us that as he was about to get onto the bus to travel the
long 8 hours to his destination, but he felt a strong prompting that he should
NOT get on the bus. However, ignoring
the prompting, he started once more to get on the bus when AGAIN he was
prompted not to do so. While holding up
3 fingers he said, “The spirit told me 3 times not to get on the bus...so I
didn’t.” About a week later, Jose was
offered another job closer to Buena Fe and will be making about the same amount
of money he was offered with the other job. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jose always says that we are “the white angels with long
dresses” that have come to help him find the truth. As we shared the plan of
salvation with him after church on Sunday, the sprit TESTIFIED to each of us
that before we came to this earth, Hna Rebolledo and I PROMISED him that we
would help him find the truth. This spiritual prompting reminded me of a
story I heard in one of the many missionary farewells that I attended before
the mission. It’s called, I FOUND MY
FRIEND. The story quoted below is from
the farewell talk of an Elder before leaving for his mission… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“During the time I was waiting for my mission call I had a dream. I knew it was not an ordinary dream. I dreamed
I was in the pre-existence and awaiting my time to come to earth. I was filled with the same anticipation and
excitement that I had before I received my mission call. In my dream I was talking to a friend, and I
felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life. As we talked, a messenger came and gave me a
letter. I knew it was my call to go to
earth. In great excitement my friend and
I opened the letter. I gave it to him
and asked him to read it aloud. He read,
<i>"You've been called to earth in a special time and to a special land.
You will be born into the true church of Christ and you will have the
priesthood of God in your home. You will born into a land of plenty, in a land
of freedom. You will be born in the United States of America."</i></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call, and while we were rejoicing
the messenger returned. This time he had
a letter for my friend. We knew it was
his call to earth. Now my friend gave me
the letter to read aloud. His letter
said, <i>"You've been called to go to the earth in circumstances of
poverty and strife. You will not be
raised in the true church. Many hardships
will attend your life. Your land will be
fraught with political and social difficulties - which will hinder the work of
the Lord. You will be born in Costa
Rica."</i></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the realization of our different assignments settled in, my friend
and I wept. With tears in his eyes, my
friend looked at me and said, "When we are down on earth, you in your
choice land, and me in Costa Rica, please come and find me."</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then this young missionary, with tears in his eyes, said, "Brothers
and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I am going to Costa Rica."</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is a sequel to the story. About a year after the sacrament
meeting, the bishop received a letter from the missionary in Costa Rica. The
letter had one sheet of paper in it and on that sheet written in capital
letters were four words:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I FOUND MY FRIEND</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although, I did not
have a dream before coming to Ecuador, the sweet assurance of the spirit has
confirmed to me MULTIPLE times here in the mission that I promised these people
that I would come and help them remember the choice they made to follow our
Savior before coming to this earth. I know that Jose Quinteros is one of
them, along with many others from Babahoyo, Duran and here in Buena Fe. I
HAVE FOUND MY FRIENDS, and I will keep finding them until it is my time to
leave. I have found these ETERNAL friends and through meeting them, can I
just say how much I LOVE THEM and the perfect plan of JOY that our Heavenly
Father has blessed me with. HE truly
loves me and each one of us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We found OTHER
eternal friends this week including Familia Sanchez Macias. Their names are Marjorie and Roberto and
their 2 sons. And, yup you guessed it....“Here Comes the Bride”, will be
played once more! Marjorie’s smile could light up ANYONES day and she has
become our dear friend. They own a bakery and have a talent for making
sugar cookies. They were not able to come to church on Sunday, but we are
hoping they can make it this week! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many more
families that we are teaching, but I don’t have time to write about all of
them. Cross your fingers for next week!
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In closing I’ll tell
you that Genesis and Milton shared their testimonies last week in Fast and Testimony
meeting. Milton was wearing the tie we
gave him and they have SUCH strong testimonies of this church. Ya mismo [<i>already</i>]
they are going to receive callings in the ward. We are also planning on going
to the temple on August 8<sup>th</sup> with them, Andreaina y Jairon, Manuel,
Fernanado, Robinson and anyone else who wants to come. ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My companion’s sprained
ankle is as GOOD AS NEW and we are back to our full walking speed. ;) We
love teaching together and are making the most of each and every day! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love you ALL and
hope you have a great week! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hermana Bartholomew<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is a picture complements of Jessica's former companion, Andrea Perez. It was posted on facebook by Hna. Blacutt.</span></i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQMCH7Eextamkv_B1UYftXrIgXWycDqubV7U3vALaeGt-LKToCvk0dWFpwTw8OsxMMlrO3ciFa8QeH88ey9a4VkkrGEXokXvh3Sj3pKmghz4j_IQvWMJ-xOv6o2etBwhk1PjOYWtJDQhs/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQMCH7Eextamkv_B1UYftXrIgXWycDqubV7U3vALaeGt-LKToCvk0dWFpwTw8OsxMMlrO3ciFa8QeH88ey9a4VkkrGEXokXvh3Sj3pKmghz4j_IQvWMJ-xOv6o2etBwhk1PjOYWtJDQhs/s400/IMG_2178.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-9933609631431365982015-07-11T21:38:00.000-07:002015-07-11T21:45:28.570-07:00Our Ecuador Grandpa<div class="MsoNormal">
July 6, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hola Familia,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well this past 4th of JULY was one for the books. The
day started off with a phone call from our ZONE Leaders screaming "HAPPY
BIRTHDAY `MURICA!!" Haha they’re crazy. Then we made 3 cakes
for the main event of the day…the baptism of Manuel Santana - because we
invited EVERY single person we know here. Then on the way to the church
building, as we were walking down the stairs exiting the house where we made
the cakes (and decorated them quite professionally I might add ;) ) my compi
with her KIND heart, tried to help me with one of the cakes in my hands....AND
SHE FELL, spraining her ankle. Even with
all the pain, SHE laughs and we wobbled on over to the church dying
laughing. But no worries at least the cakes didn’t fall. ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Manuel`s baptism service was one of the MOST spiritual
baptisms I have witnessed on my mission. It truly was the greatest
experience for my companion and I and all those who were there too, but
especially for our "Ecuador grandpa", Manuel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ltRady3wiJfsAFpO0GKLB9F0mBmQIuEqbKoSgdjvMpogWUf_0jTYEpI4vPzTYSxGeWDbi_pSfhP5vHWCEbu0ZCJcbZ18wuLq2a1PdbLnIQaXIrcIMU6LJXb4Ooh_UD6mglL7l-89N7zQ/s1600/7-6-2015+Manuel+Santana+Baptism+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ltRady3wiJfsAFpO0GKLB9F0mBmQIuEqbKoSgdjvMpogWUf_0jTYEpI4vPzTYSxGeWDbi_pSfhP5vHWCEbu0ZCJcbZ18wuLq2a1PdbLnIQaXIrcIMU6LJXb4Ooh_UD6mglL7l-89N7zQ/s640/7-6-2015+Manuel+Santana+Baptism+2.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hna Rebolledo, Manuel, Hna B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOe78rqDNTjE4XGmhXFBILYxvn1v0Zfi1V_WPvxqTuaNegJJ8Zn0Y9pwLkcXzELtYkbt0y5ct4rJaYEWpvS9sMEWtRplreBEYCg0UVr2DWcKwbMolvs9uozVJMtednRI4f_iDJLoGryHq/s1600/7-6-2015+Manuel+Santana+Baptism+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOe78rqDNTjE4XGmhXFBILYxvn1v0Zfi1V_WPvxqTuaNegJJ8Zn0Y9pwLkcXzELtYkbt0y5ct4rJaYEWpvS9sMEWtRplreBEYCg0UVr2DWcKwbMolvs9uozVJMtednRI4f_iDJLoGryHq/s640/7-6-2015+Manuel+Santana+Baptism+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
We told Manuel to put his shoes back on so we could go outside
and take pictures, but he said<br />
"Jesus walked without shoes, so can I!" Haha he is adorable.<o:p></o:p></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6bZEWFeNBDJGWgzqnpCGJ29rmDWUTUl0NOYshJRgoHy0ndFToKK_t-6al9Qhbufkl5YEbiAwx7P4LKrLnm6rdwhHxv-wR42Bu6SzylLHDmWk6wH-lvuG8rEkVwZF8zMQo6NT4a0nKRyf/s1600/7-6-2015+Manuel+Santana+with+Daughter+Diana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6bZEWFeNBDJGWgzqnpCGJ29rmDWUTUl0NOYshJRgoHy0ndFToKK_t-6al9Qhbufkl5YEbiAwx7P4LKrLnm6rdwhHxv-wR42Bu6SzylLHDmWk6wH-lvuG8rEkVwZF8zMQo6NT4a0nKRyf/s640/7-6-2015+Manuel+Santana+with+Daughter+Diana.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manuel with his daughter Diana, who he LOVES with all his heart.<br />
(She is the Young Women President in our ward here)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-5XxpPebBAmkV_fvuQX6-7u4J_8Lj8drIiFbIHOgScOM4kMx24ti0JQoLuXNwwn4gIZo_VR_YPElXeK0hTzfyeTI9BhrzfA58qkwOa9w_qt2oCOJeBNTNqaQjtIQLS5L96DsfozGgF4L/s1600/7-6-2015+Manuel+Santana+with+Johnny.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-5XxpPebBAmkV_fvuQX6-7u4J_8Lj8drIiFbIHOgScOM4kMx24ti0JQoLuXNwwn4gIZo_VR_YPElXeK0hTzfyeTI9BhrzfA58qkwOa9w_qt2oCOJeBNTNqaQjtIQLS5L96DsfozGgF4L/s640/7-6-2015+Manuel+Santana+with+Johnny.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manuel with his best friend and next door neighbor, Johnny who baptized him</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Manuel IS THE
MOST Christ-like person you will ever meet. After I had cut and passed
out all the cake, my hands were pretty messy due to issues with the dull knife
I was using. Manuel came over and pulled
out his handkercheif (no clue how to spell that) and with MUCH care began to
clean my hands off. It sounds silly, but in the moment I felt as the
apostles of Christ would have felt to have their feet washed by their Savior
who had become their dear friend. I even told him, “NO I will get your
handkerchief dirty!” But he
insisted. A small group of those present gathered around to marvel at HOW
ADORABLE he is, and to feel of the spirit as we witnessed a true disciple of
Christ. I don’t think he has ever even killed a fly because he is so
loving. He is just the greatest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I don’t have enough time to write more from this week,
because we are off to Guayaquil once more and we have to leave earlier today because
THE POPE came to Ecuador and literally EVERYONE is going to see him in
Guayaquil or Quito this week, so the bus terminal is going to be CRA-ZYY!
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future
point, only to discover that happiness was already available – ALL THE
TIME!” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be happy folks!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love you each dearly, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-39492126697339826442015-06-29T21:45:00.000-07:002015-06-29T21:53:26.702-07:00For the Family is of God!<div class="MsoNormal">
June 29, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hola familia! I am
dumbfounded at how fast this week has gone. I just can’t believe it. 16
months in the mission...sniffle sniffle!
But let’s not think about that or I will cry. ;)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To begin this week, I’ll take you on a walk with me and
Hermana Rebolledo, you know, just a normal day walking in el CAMPO [<i>the countryside</i>]...when we see an extremely
skinny man with an immensely TALL and skinny bamboo stick. HAHA that’s
normal here. ;) Our curiosity prompted
us to ask what he was doing... “Well I am cutting down GUAVAS of course!!” They looked like oversized pea shells to me, but they are called GUAVA. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rfV_AIebAennqpCHxDu_cW2ixxjppbodMun6Ifron68GsNqhBbd-_ZKVmh2zollBU2oMH0f0sWoInD49KgtH_ySht9mWWyy27w3vSKJV4wOyK-7CbuYUyQwhU8-9MdjKtuB1X72HpI5m/s1600/6-29-2015+Skinny+Man+with+the+long+stick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rfV_AIebAennqpCHxDu_cW2ixxjppbodMun6Ifron68GsNqhBbd-_ZKVmh2zollBU2oMH0f0sWoInD49KgtH_ySht9mWWyy27w3vSKJV4wOyK-7CbuYUyQwhU8-9MdjKtuB1X72HpI5m/s640/6-29-2015+Skinny+Man+with+the+long+stick.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ecuadorian Guava</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Here in Ecuador, what we call guava in the U.S.
is called guayaba. Ecuadorian Guava is this pea pod
looking thing with a cotton-like fruit covering a black seed on the inside.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoECxkVtf6shY-jOLgPNNvwkZGZ15sdpb6iqUUjHfkOZ99bifAMG0BqToBA-GJFlD5sHDYtBX5vK3iIzOYvu4CvD9DD0bzZnWNOAw3yOx4z8Xm5pBbgQsxIsvc1vQYFAHCHF-zYDwaxjvY/s1600/Ecaudorian+Guava.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoECxkVtf6shY-jOLgPNNvwkZGZ15sdpb6iqUUjHfkOZ99bifAMG0BqToBA-GJFlD5sHDYtBX5vK3iIzOYvu4CvD9DD0bzZnWNOAw3yOx4z8Xm5pBbgQsxIsvc1vQYFAHCHF-zYDwaxjvY/s320/Ecaudorian+Guava.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0kl-NEEPhWyrr5VNgf1OBKig7Nptwwlbzo-RsLcX74YuUSrkdKxM3nND9VydqFAOlmLJPl9RYtA9zLYhZHxySrSYN2J_VU-o_n4DXqSbPIxJx350DQYSHa_teyyR4JcxjRG-mbnRLD0D/s1600/Ecuador+Guava+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0kl-NEEPhWyrr5VNgf1OBKig7Nptwwlbzo-RsLcX74YuUSrkdKxM3nND9VydqFAOlmLJPl9RYtA9zLYhZHxySrSYN2J_VU-o_n4DXqSbPIxJx350DQYSHa_teyyR4JcxjRG-mbnRLD0D/s320/Ecuador+Guava+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So at the end of the ginormous stick the extremely skinny
man was carrying, is a little blade...and AHH I wish you could see the video
right now because it is a little hard to explain...but basically you need to balance
the long stick, which is awfully hard, and in a spearing motion cut down the
guava. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB0PmeTtXQBMRNyy-dlcG1_XZ3OSQEj-MlA7tyBN5YGw946CivGbGk1CMKXyGBDyBdd0RJAWWQrNW22XwF3v5cflbhKCJ8aw9A7CCeQPHHGw8h2gLNgxX6B1QdhduBmXiH9B43NBHLVCd/s1600/6-29-2015+-+Rebolledo+and+the+long+guava+pole+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB0PmeTtXQBMRNyy-dlcG1_XZ3OSQEj-MlA7tyBN5YGw946CivGbGk1CMKXyGBDyBdd0RJAWWQrNW22XwF3v5cflbhKCJ8aw9A7CCeQPHHGw8h2gLNgxX6B1QdhduBmXiH9B43NBHLVCd/s640/6-29-2015+-+Rebolledo+and+the+long+guava+pole+2.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Rebolledo trying her hand at the guava harvest</td></tr>
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My companion and I tried AND couldn’t do it. So the extremely skinny man
proceeded to cut down as many as he could find and told us to take them home
with us. :D I just love Buena Fe! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxwLZw1ZnExinNasJGSDFzmH8yzka8aq-oaf8jSYQBo4sFEqyGiZ7YEpZg8LJgplhtyFKv38pq7OhY5v05nQqnJCpXy_RrBlubSXvhLQVsOiUHZt2RfSm2tCVRlImyd3O4tcnKHlVS7k8/s1600/6-29-2015+Guava+Tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxwLZw1ZnExinNasJGSDFzmH8yzka8aq-oaf8jSYQBo4sFEqyGiZ7YEpZg8LJgplhtyFKv38pq7OhY5v05nQqnJCpXy_RrBlubSXvhLQVsOiUHZt2RfSm2tCVRlImyd3O4tcnKHlVS7k8/s640/6-29-2015+Guava+Tree.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Guava Tree</td></tr>
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Before I forget, Happy Independence Day to everyone back home. The 4th of July in America, will be EXPLODING
with fireworks...but here in the mish it will be EXPLODING with THE SPIRIT ;) Why? Because
Manuel Santana is SOO pero [<i>but</i>] SOO
excited for his baptism this weekend. Who am I kidding? We are ALL so excited for his baptism. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Manuel is the sweetest old man there is. The other day
he was beyond excited to see us, because we hadn’t been there for 2 days. Well, in his excitement he forgot all about
the rules that he can’t hug the Hermana missionaries, and he just THREW his arms
up in the air, exclaiming “Hermanaitas!” [<i>an
endearing term meaning “little Hermanas”</i>]...and then it turned into the
awkward situation where you can’t accept the hug from the cute old man.
But I was tempted because it was adorable. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The other day Manuel said, “I am ready to be baptized into
the true church, and to be baptized for my dear son.” I’m not sure if I
told you all, but his son died 5 months ago.
Manuel gets his drive from his desires to be reunited with his family
one day. His greatest desire is to be
baptized, and then to have the chance to enter into the temple and be baptized
as a proxy for his son. Manuel feels
that his son has accepted the gospel in the spirit world and is also ready to enter
into this covenant as well. Let’s just
say that this will be the BEST 4th of July yet!!! :D <o:p></o:p></div>
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Familia Bone are PERFECT...PERO [<i>BUT</i>] they just won’t come to church. :( Why? There is a different reason every
time…this week it was because some friends of their family came to visit from
Quito and they hadn’t seen them in years, which is awesome we know, BUT we just
want them to go to church! ;) SO the game plan this week is to bombard
them with visits from all of the ward leaders - the Primary President, Relief
Society President, Elders Quorum President, Young Mens President, Young Womens
President...everyone! We are hoping with enough invitations to attend church
that the WHOLE family will finally come. Cross your fingers and your arms
in fervent prayer that it works! But happy are we because they are
planning to be baptized the 1st of August.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fernando committed to pay tithing once he is a member and to
fast with us this week to truly know that this is the true church. But of
course Satan messed with his plans to go to church yesterday. His girlfriend’s birthday was on Saturday and
she decided to have a sleepover....GRRREAT. :\ But the good news is he
came to a family home evening that we had on Sunday night, and we talked about
how we have AGENCY to choose to follow our Heavenly Father or Satan, and how we
can’t serve more than one master. We are planning for him to be baptized
July 11th. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The best news of the week - WE FOUND ANOTHER FAMILY!
Familia Solorzano are amazing. Just over a year ago they were meeting
with the missionaries and were planning to be baptized BUT there were too many
problems with the papers for getting married and so their baptism never
happened. :( (However, their 2 sons and a
sobrino [<i>cousin</i>] were baptized.) Marriage problems? Good thing I happen
to know someone who has gone through it all to help people get married here on the
mission. haha ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabriel, the dad, actually started paying tithing while he
was listening to the missionaries and received MANY blessing by doing so. The
mom’s name is Glaydis. They have two 5 year old twins, Isabel and Nicole, who
are the most ADORABLE and SASSY little girls ever. They also have two
sons, Jesus and Antony who were baptized last year along with their cousin Mauricio,
but the three of them stopped attending church.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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In our first visit with Familia Solorzano, Gabriel expressed
to us his concerns as a father and provider, especially for the lack of money
in their family. Gabriel sells snow cones (of course the Ecuador version...let’s
just say they are a tad bit different) outside of the elementary schools and at
the bus stops ALL day long, and EVERY single day of the week. He started
to list off all the things that he had to pay for, and a bunch of things he should
be able to provide as a father, but he just can’t make enough money. We listened and then promised him as
representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ that if he would keep the Sabbath day holy
and NOT work on Sunday that the Lord would guide his portable snow shack to
people who would be customers and he would have enough money to pay for his
needs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="ES-EC">“Mas busqad
primeramente el reino de dios y TODAS LAS COSAS SERAN AÑADIDAS!” </span>[“<i>But
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you</i>.”] As Elder Russell
M. Nelson would say, the Sabbath day became a DELIGHT for the Solorzano family
as they all attended church on Sunday. I
will send the list of blessings they received next week! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I just LOVE to see families come to church…and when they get
married…and of course when they are BAPTIZED.
As the primary song says - <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Our Father has a family. It’s
me! It’s you, all others too: we are His
children.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>He sent each one of us
to earth, through birth, to live and learn here in families.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>God gave us families
to help us become what He wants us to be.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>This is how He shares
His love, for the family is of God!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Hope
you all have a REJOICING EVERMORE week! <span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Hermana
Bartholomew <span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-51936748259582267292015-06-22T21:38:00.000-07:002015-06-22T21:38:33.642-07:00The Kingdom of God or Nothing<div class="MsoNormal">
June 22, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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FAM BAM!!! This week we had SO much to do, without enough
time to do it! BUT WE MADE IT! :D </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEien0rEVKBvgYbje72GG48Q9yvzuVSGSTuClEd1_1_XSRsxQu6qalGWRD7n56MO1tyYzlmwstp8BNdvBkFCFJc-EmvUws6xR79KteuV9ZJkYjo92_C6WfjJn9pseXt9HkSdRZU8dBl17RCW/s1600/6-15-2015+Crazy+selfie+with+Hermana+Rebolledo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEien0rEVKBvgYbje72GG48Q9yvzuVSGSTuClEd1_1_XSRsxQu6qalGWRD7n56MO1tyYzlmwstp8BNdvBkFCFJc-EmvUws6xR79KteuV9ZJkYjo92_C6WfjJn9pseXt9HkSdRZU8dBl17RCW/s400/6-15-2015+Crazy+selfie+with+Hermana+Rebolledo.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bartolomeo y Rebolledo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Due
to the explosion of the work here in Buena Fe, President Riggins has assigned
an additional pair of missionaries to our area and as of just 10 minutes ago, 2
new hermanas arrived to help us out. YAY!
The two new hermanas have been assigned
to the Buena Fe ward, so sadly we won’t be teaching the investigatores in that
area, but now we can focus ALL our energy and time with those in Buenaventura –
which was my original area when I came here.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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So it’s been a while since I shared any food stories. The other day we were served soup for
lunch. I absolutely LOVE finding surprises
in my soup! ;) </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLu9RDwsqsq2GKv57b26UHEhHHEkTAnQLPUXE9Z1HNfkWtBUGwynch9fYh98bgke1v231D2yrVod8UCUa_ZBreDTP_vxLvauvID4OkZTfsNGvEBVs2y5LMD0AOEf0plogY0-xUBRqE6TX/s1600/6-22-2015+Soup+Surprise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLu9RDwsqsq2GKv57b26UHEhHHEkTAnQLPUXE9Z1HNfkWtBUGwynch9fYh98bgke1v231D2yrVod8UCUa_ZBreDTP_vxLvauvID4OkZTfsNGvEBVs2y5LMD0AOEf0plogY0-xUBRqE6TX/s400/6-22-2015+Soup+Surprise.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup it is normal that your food has hairs on it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We still don’t know
exactly what it was that we ate. HAHA</div>
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Another fun surprise is a certain cross street in Buena Fe
where everyday at the strike of 5:30ish this intersection becomes THE DANGER
ZONE. Why you might ask? Because all the birds you can imagine come
from near and far to claim their spots on the power lines…and I think during
the day they have never gone to the bathroom.
All you can hear is SPLAT, SPLAT, SPLAT and then the road ends up
decorated with white spots EVERYWHERE.
It’s really quite lovely. I took
a video that I can’t wait to show you when I get home! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubuo9XcNtm64vZp01HP-q3Q0aHOi39zLwxXKKQuscj9Ag5-ppuk-S28YEje_BSDJrngTrxaD6hxENShD6-yEUScifi6_-9eK-z2NU2aJ5-f7Ery91Ckei2ucdR4QWIGwiWhmHC_UHzvjt/s1600/6-22-2015+Bird+Intersection.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubuo9XcNtm64vZp01HP-q3Q0aHOi39zLwxXKKQuscj9Ag5-ppuk-S28YEje_BSDJrngTrxaD6hxENShD6-yEUScifi6_-9eK-z2NU2aJ5-f7Ery91Ckei2ucdR4QWIGwiWhmHC_UHzvjt/s640/6-22-2015+Bird+Intersection.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you see how many birds there are?!?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now for a quick update on our investigatores...</div>
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Jose Quinteros just got home today from working in the
mountains and his back is doing better...SO we are hoping that he can take a
little time off of work and that we can actually teach him. We are also hoping that he can come to church
on Sunday. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fernando is doing SO great. He has a baptism date for
the 11 of July. Also, Fernando’s nephew
Antony is listening to the lessons as well.
Yesterday, they both came rolling into the church parking lot on their
bike!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadly, Familia Bone were unable to come to church on Sunday.
:( Well, the parents were not able to
come, but the 4 little ones did. Also the kids came to a ward Primary Activity
on Saturday where we reenacted the story of NOAH’S ARK! All of the kids either
came dressed as animals or painted their faces. Familia Bones kids came
dressed as MINNIE and MICKEY MOUSE. The
Bible does say that Noah saved ALL the animals, so I am sure that he saved
Minnie and Mickey as well, so they could exist today, right?! ;) HAHA My
companion and I were the wicked people that ended up dying; we got some good
laughs from the kids!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Manuel Santana, is the most prepared person I have ever
taught here on my mission. He is so attentive in the lessons and always
has a great story to tell. He always says as he throws his arms up in the
air..."I know where I want to go...and I am going to get there!"
He, like all of us, wants to be received into the kingdom of God one
day. Dad shared with me something President
Brigham Young once said about how he wanted the kingdom of God or nothing…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“The
Kingdom of God is all that is of real worth. All else is not worth possessing,
either here or hereafter. Without it, all else would be like a dry tree
prepared for the burning—it is all consumed and the ashes are driven to the
four winds.</i><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>To
me it is the Kingdom of God or nothing upon the earth. Without it I would not
give a farthing for the wealth, glory, prestige and power of all the world
combined; for like the dew upon the grass, it passeth away and is forgotten,
and like the flower of the grass it withereth, and is not. Death levels the
most powerful monarch with the poorest starving beggar; and both must stand
before the judgment seat of Christ to answer for the deeds done in the body. </i></div>
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<i>With
us, it is the Kingdom of God, or nothing; and we will maintain it, or die in
trying—though we shall not die in trying. It is comforting to many to be
assured that we shall not die in trying; but we shall live in trying. We will
maintain the Kingdom of God, living; and if we do not maintain it, we shall be
found dying not only a temporal, but also an eternal death. Then take a course
to live.</i><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>If
you give anything for the building up of the Kingdom of God, give the best you
have. What is the best thing you have to devote to the Kingdom of God? It is
the talents God has given you. How many? Every one of them. What beautiful
talents! What a beautiful gift! … Let us devote every qualification we are in
possession of to the building up of God’s Kingdom, and you will accomplish the
whole of it.” –Brigham Young</i><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Like Manuel and Brigham Young, I too want
the kingdom of God and to have eternal life with God, Christ and my family. I absolutely LOVE helping building the
kingdom of God here on earth today. To put it simply, I Feel ALIVE!
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love you all and hope you have a wonderful
and HAPPY week! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Con amor,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hermana Bartholomew<o:p></o:p></div>
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Pictures from last week:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYyHuuTYVQZAvu6BuxHXg-YjvavtwCIY3ZINPQulDROhzxFiCwhyTDW3KsDwS5McnwBAWFDzl_If4TlH271rApeyf0w56UvZD_zJxXo3cUDM5B4kC5ZMZ3Bnhwtw_yqvCuOhmfQpgOYdj/s1600/6-15-2015+Signing+the+Deal+-+Hilda+and+Andres.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYyHuuTYVQZAvu6BuxHXg-YjvavtwCIY3ZINPQulDROhzxFiCwhyTDW3KsDwS5McnwBAWFDzl_If4TlH271rApeyf0w56UvZD_zJxXo3cUDM5B4kC5ZMZ3Bnhwtw_yqvCuOhmfQpgOYdj/s400/6-15-2015+Signing+the+Deal+-+Hilda+and+Andres.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hilda and Andres Signing the deal 6-12-15<br />Aren't they so cute? They were matching from head to toe!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3_OtLx-zoPWxyAL5C__RybWKuWVNTWESUz0CjlEi8AGZFgSpl0m7_Y6uIE10DdgpkDNm7DsUC75OAQDzHFgvae9R7eAfxllqwq3nxJWPkhDpPhjWwwbg1tpcDUtKy-p-1zWEtFZsxUUa/s1600/6-15-2015+Baptism+of+Hilda+and+Andres+with+missionaries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3_OtLx-zoPWxyAL5C__RybWKuWVNTWESUz0CjlEi8AGZFgSpl0m7_Y6uIE10DdgpkDNm7DsUC75OAQDzHFgvae9R7eAfxllqwq3nxJWPkhDpPhjWwwbg1tpcDUtKy-p-1zWEtFZsxUUa/s640/6-15-2015+Baptism+of+Hilda+and+Andres+with+missionaries.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hna Rebolledo, Hna B, Hilda, Andres and son before their baptism on 6-13-15</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoyw46Q7AWnpjgUySlc9b4zFKVsqaIt5N4NKigfxwyFSA2Y0hk1pv4xn0JD5ENycqm1NNi19enfb066uQ0MI1a41UqJ82WGlAf7nM22XNXvQ7IR4N7UkOs2F5SWhz_EeGI53mfgAuEHuw/s1600/6-15-2015+Baptism+of+Hilda+and+Andres+con+Wilmer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoyw46Q7AWnpjgUySlc9b4zFKVsqaIt5N4NKigfxwyFSA2Y0hk1pv4xn0JD5ENycqm1NNi19enfb066uQ0MI1a41UqJ82WGlAf7nM22XNXvQ7IR4N7UkOs2F5SWhz_EeGI53mfgAuEHuw/s400/6-15-2015+Baptism+of+Hilda+and+Andres+con+Wilmer.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hilda and Andres with Wilmer - the Ward Mission Leader</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family and Friends of Hilda and Andres</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Home Evening with recent converts and their crazy children ;)</td></tr>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-39226733738283353602015-06-15T21:49:00.000-07:002015-06-15T21:49:02.245-07:00Still Rejoicing Evermore!<div class="MsoNormal">
June 15, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hola Familia,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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PO! I just love, love, love, my compi and I
together! Everyone says that we are TRUE sisters, which is a compliment
for me because she is perfect! As you all know, I love CHILENAS.
The stress is there from working as lideresas and covering 2 wards, BUT we LOVE
all the work. It makes us feel ALIVE! ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
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An update on some of our investigators…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Out of ALL the couples that we have helped marry...NOT ONE
of them were as happy as HILDA y ANDRES! They were smiling...and when I
say smiling I mean SMILING! :D Teeth and all...but not in the pictures, not
sure why? HAHA! Hilda kept saying "Hermanas,
I just feel SO good, there is something in my heart telling me that I KNOW I am
doing the right thing!" We are SO happy for them and even happier that a
year from now they will be able to seal their love in the temple for an eternal
friendship! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Jose Quinteros was working in the mountains all week, and is
now having spinal problems, so we haven’t seen him ALL week...SATAN. It
never ceases to amaze me at HOW much Satan works on those who are about to get
baptized. BUT, with faith and love and a
little pixie dust (that could be referred to as the Spirit) Satan will never
win!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Talking about Satan messing around with our investigatores...Fernando´s
girlfriend told him that he shouldn’t get baptized so quickly and that we just
want him to get baptized for his money. LIE. We are hoping to talk
with him this week and explain about tithing and help him remember WHY he
should be baptized. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The story about Virginia is SUPER long, but here is the
short version. About 2 months ago, Hna Blacutt and I witnessed a
motorcycle accident where a man was thrown off his motorcycle and into a wall. I won’t go into much detail, but let me say
it broke my heart...and even more when I saw his dear wife CRYING
uncontrollably asking for help. I remember her desperate cries and her eyes
fixed on the heavens begging that her dear husband would be ok. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now fast forward to a few weeks ago on Mother’s Day. As we were out walking, talking to any MOM
that we could find on the street and giving them all a big hug to let her know
she is loved (since we couldn’t hug our own moms, we hugged everyone else’s), we
formally met Virginia. She invited us to come back the next day, which we
so cheerfully did. That day she began to explain how her husband had
passed away just a few weeks before, only 2 blocks from their house in a
motorcycle accident. My companion and I
just looked at each other and I felt a strong impression "you were
there..." DING! It finally clicked in my head who she
was...she was the dear wife of the wounded man on the street calling for
help. We testified to her of the Plan of
Salvation and that families can be together after this life. She begged US to help her and while looking
at the heavens once more, asked God to make it possible to see her husband again.
SHE is un AMOR [<i>a sweetheart</i>]! Virginia didn’t attend Church yesterday
because her mom was sick and she needed to take care of her, but we hope she
comes next week! <o:p></o:p></div>
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OK now for THE greatest story ever. GOLDEN
INVESTIGATOR alert! His name is
Manuel. His daughter, Dianna, is the young women’s president of one of
the wards here in Buena Fe. She was
baptized when she was 15, she is an adorable orthodontist, AND 28, and single. (I told her to come and live in Utah and she
would get married just like THAT!) Over the past 13 years since his
daughter was baptized, Manuel had never attended church until yesterday! So how did that happen?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dianna and I are really close. She is always telling me about her dad and I
ALWAYS felt that one day we should meet him, but that would happen when the
time was right. A week ago on Sunday night Dianna called us with a
reference for us to teach her sister-in-law.
We set up an appointment for this past Wednesday BUT when we showed up,
we found out that her sister- in-law had gotten sick from a mosquito disease
here called Chiconguya so we couldn’t go and visit her. BUT guess who was there? HER DAD! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Manuel invited us into their home and was incredibly kind. As we sat down, right off he just started to
share all of his experiences of how he KNOWS that God is real and that He hears
his prayers. HE taught more in the lesson than we did. ;) He accepted our invitation to go to
church on Sunday and he came…all handsome in a WHITE SHIRT. And since Heavenly Father has a perfect plan
for everything, in the Sunday School gospel principles class the teacher taught
about the Plan of Salvation, which was inspired because Manuel’s son passed
away about 4 months ago. After the class
was over Manuel said, “Hermanas I am never going to stop coming to church.
NEVER! For the first time, someone explained to me where my son is and I
want for him to receive the missionaries in the spirit world and be baptized as
well.” AWWE! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh wait it gets even better.
We stopped by his house after church on Sunday and as soon as we entered
Manuel greeted us with the question, “Can you ladies help me be baptized?”
UMM YEAH! He is beyond anxious for his baptism which is set for
JULY 4<sup>th</sup>. Looks like I will
be celebrating the 4<sup>th</sup> this year with a big water splash and
fireworks of the spirit! ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, Familia Bone (the huge family of 15) are still great,
but because we were in Guayaquil and the dad is constantly working we haven’t
met with them much. BUT 2 of the family came
to church on Sunday! <o:p></o:p></div>
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OK! I almost forgot.
Remember Mabel Bermeo (we started teaching her here in Buena Fe and then
she moved to another town)?!?! Well the elders told me that she is
getting BAPTIZED next weekend! WAHOO! I am beyond happy for her and
I hope I can attend her baptism if it isn’t too far for me to travel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Also last night we had a Family Home Evening with ALL the
young couples in the ward, and I made lasagna and garlic bread! Thanks
for teaching me mom. ;) Everyone loved it! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s just say it was a REJOICING EVERMORE kind of
week! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Love you all,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-88606171165763757712015-06-09T05:35:00.001-07:002015-06-09T05:39:06.698-07:00Buena Fe is about to EXPLODE!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-EC">June 8,
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-EC">"¡YA
PO!" como dicen en CHILE!!! </span>[<i>as
they say in Chile</i>] [<i>“Ya Po” is a
common phrase used in Chile. It basically
means, “OK then”</i>] Dad, it looks like we will definitely need to go
and visit your mission and while we are there make a few stops…One in Los
Angeles to see Hermana Toledo, another in Santiago to see Hermana Latorre and
finally...to see MY NEW COMPI HERMANA REBOLLEDO in Concepcion!!! Let’s
just say I LOVE Chilenas. They are crazy,
fun, and PODEROSAS [<i>powerful</i>] - just
the way I like um. ;) My new compi also has THE CUTEST accent when she
speaks English. President wants me to
help her practice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbjsHZmWtfpEgwnqTrh5VASAEoIxGtFXk802ANKT4vLymK7H-q-B7jFzKxtyI_JNXQnIWqJL3VedIkyAqkqyIUfJcvaP7u_szZP1jtMJ0HCq83BJE8JlNwXxZp-afLAjKDPena_jpYlev/s1600/6-8-2015+Hermana+Rebolledo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbjsHZmWtfpEgwnqTrh5VASAEoIxGtFXk802ANKT4vLymK7H-q-B7jFzKxtyI_JNXQnIWqJL3VedIkyAqkqyIUfJcvaP7u_szZP1jtMJ0HCq83BJE8JlNwXxZp-afLAjKDPena_jpYlev/s400/6-8-2015+Hermana+Rebolledo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Rebolledo</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I saw Hna Rebolledo when she first started her mission
...yup I’m an oldie now :( and I felt that maybe one day we would become
companions. Beyond those feelings, now
it looks like President Riggin’s prophecy that Buena Fe is about to explode is
coming true...<o:p></o:p></div>
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So quick run-down on what is truly exploding...<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. My companion was
called as one of the new lidersas, so she and I are basically zone leaders of
all the Hermanas in QUEVEDO. FULL intercambios! Wahoo! I adore
all the Hermanas here in Quevedo, some I even call mis ñañas from another
mother but we have the SAME heavenly father ;) haha. We are so excited to
help each one of them here in the mission and to teach them to REJOICE
EVERMORE! <o:p></o:p></div>
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2. So as you all may know, there are 2 wards (congregations)
here in Buena Fe. One is called Buenaventure
and the other is called Buena Fe. Prior
to last week we had both a set of Hermanas (me and Hna Blacutt], as well as a
set of Elders working here in Buena Fe. Well,
just like what happened in my last area of Primavera, Duran, the Elders who had
been working here were transferred to other areas and were not replaced, so
Hermana Rebolledo and I are now in charge of 2 wards! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hearing that, you may have just thought to yourself...“poor
girls” or something along the lines of "that’s stressful" ahah. But the
truth is that we are SO HAPPY and ready to roll up our sleeves and go to work!
Not that it is going to be easy. Let’s
be honest, yesterday the phrase “take a deep breath” was uttered a few times in
my head. But we have been trying to see everyone as the Savior would this
week and we know that like President said, Buena Fe will EXPLODE with
miracles. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Have I told you all how much I LOVE teaching a lesson with
the presence of the spirit SO strong that it has the effect of astonishing the
people? Yeah, well it is one of my favorite things on the mish! I literally have SO many stories, and NO time
to write them all! We are off to Guayaquil again, yea! Our lives are too busy but we love it! I’ll share as much as I can before I have to
leave.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So as we gained ALL the investigators that were working with
the Elders here, believe it or not we are helping another family get married this
week. (I’m starting to think I should reconsider my career and become a
wedding planner haha ;)) Andres and Hilda
are their names and they are seriously the perfect couple and are beyond
excited for their baptism this week. We
feel like we have known them months but it has only been a week! We
sold Queso de Leche [<i>milk cheese</i>]
this week to have enough money for them to get married this coming Friday. I will tell you more about them next week,
along with sending all their beautiful pictures dressed in WHITE on their
baptism day! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Jose Quinteros is another investigator that we are teaching
who LOVES the Book of Mormon. He was attending church in Machala for
about a year but never got baptized. He knows SO much about the church
and every time we teach him he just says..."Hermanas, I know what I need
to do. Baptize me!" <o:p></o:p></div>
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Jose told us yesterday of a dream that he had where there
were two WHITE angels with long skirts and then said, “Guess who those angels
are? YOU TWO! Look how white you two are with your long
skirts." Haha. When he woke up from
his dream, he wanted to know who those angels were, so as he had been counseled
by many missionaries before, he decided to say a prayer. He said, “As I
was praying, I heard a voice that said, they WILL come. I thought someone was in the room, so I
turned around in a circle a few times to make sure no one was there...and then
I remembered, OH this is the spirit speaking to me.” He then teared up and said, you two are here
to fight for me, so that I can choose to follow Christ just as I did before I
came to this earth. Heavenly Father has big plans for Jose Quinteros and
we are humbled to be HIS angels to bring about this important work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Another highlight of the week…we found a family of 15
people. I am not kidding. And 10 of them are old enough to be
baptized. Familia Bone se llaman [<i>They are called the Bone Family</i>]. My
companion and I are so excited to continue to teach them and help this HUGE
family enter the waters of baptism and one day become an eternal one!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Remind me next week to tell you about Neiva and Byron, and Virginia
and Fernando! They are INCREDIBLE stories that 1 hour in the cyber café does
not permit me to write! <o:p></o:p></div>
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One thing about Ecuador that I LOVE, is that they are such a
prayerful people. So thanks dad for sending this quote to me...<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I know that you are a praying people. That is a
wonderful thing in this day and time when the practice of prayer has slipped
from many lives. To call upon the Lord for wisdom beyond our own, for
strength to do what we ought to do, for comfort and consolation…and most
importantly, for the expression of gratitude is a significant and wonderful
thing. Be prayerful. You can’t do it alone. You know
that. You can’t make it alone and do your best. You need the help
of the Lord.” - <i>Gordon B. Hinckley</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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With our new added responsibilities and bigger area now to
cover, I KNOW that I cannot do it alone. I need HIS help. And I
know and love that “the more we let God take over, the more truly ourselves we
become, because he made us.” I love being here in Ecuador, trusting in
the Lord and becoming who he wants me to be! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I love you all dearly! REJOICE EVERMORE! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></div>
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More Pictures from Last Week - </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixT8K0uz3pC42_RsUeSYv5T_YuDtVlsFbZnz4xwc0k4wdDslSLicBH6ox5HsGYskL4SKQCw9czl5_jlslL74y6dz4CjWiHGMjlpHWo0fTCBU-EtGiwXv5VmRBPy6emeqttLMyMlqnHgI8n/s1600/6-8-2015+Saving+Baptisms+-+the+bomberos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixT8K0uz3pC42_RsUeSYv5T_YuDtVlsFbZnz4xwc0k4wdDslSLicBH6ox5HsGYskL4SKQCw9czl5_jlslL74y6dz4CjWiHGMjlpHWo0fTCBU-EtGiwXv5VmRBPy6emeqttLMyMlqnHgI8n/s640/6-8-2015+Saving+Baptisms+-+the+bomberos.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Bombero filling the baptism font at the church for Genesis and Milton<br />
#savingbaptisms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvnAI7s-DxCNJNJhHORD2Cx4HaYUBUdG0nCfpOG69TpgyE59eADX6pTWos54mcUwU2gpybGk1_tk4Uieu5dy67yNUfJTlSkZrMkxMHqZ1czwNYZMppFXHPvgpGLQkzXPk6QygLY-RKbsv/s1600/6-8-2015+Familia+Lino+Baptism.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvnAI7s-DxCNJNJhHORD2Cx4HaYUBUdG0nCfpOG69TpgyE59eADX6pTWos54mcUwU2gpybGk1_tk4Uieu5dy67yNUfJTlSkZrMkxMHqZ1czwNYZMppFXHPvgpGLQkzXPk6QygLY-RKbsv/s640/6-8-2015+Familia+Lino+Baptism.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baptism Day for Milton and Genesis Lino</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IwQgUmRBScyJKtpCvbsfMVWIJYmz2pLtmSWpPq4kuPQ5GMW_KW-VxlarYhNufyiwA5PAuYDp4YzfxNkUjVr0qdJCHiAzeVAy39IEzUS21w8TIaTk7IWni4lPhd_9oD_-A9NH6pAMckJE/s1600/6-8-2015+Familia+Lino+-+the+cutest+little+family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IwQgUmRBScyJKtpCvbsfMVWIJYmz2pLtmSWpPq4kuPQ5GMW_KW-VxlarYhNufyiwA5PAuYDp4YzfxNkUjVr0qdJCHiAzeVAy39IEzUS21w8TIaTk7IWni4lPhd_9oD_-A9NH6pAMckJE/s640/6-8-2015+Familia+Lino+-+the+cutest+little+family.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Genesis, Milton and their son<br />
Tell me that they are not the cutest little family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTsFcnAl1pzylUQXTMfpqIsQKkdgOOrdhI7wKmudGxr8beCLlp4C_C-5sLdw5ckL1iUXCAZ-99LZ1MQ_JUYjhNHPXSfey8TDTxNkpcHPT_Xb5vi7CMZ0fMVCGbd6Mv3xWuZQY0J5ko0fe/s1600/6-8-2015+References+from+Familia+Romero.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTsFcnAl1pzylUQXTMfpqIsQKkdgOOrdhI7wKmudGxr8beCLlp4C_C-5sLdw5ckL1iUXCAZ-99LZ1MQ_JUYjhNHPXSfey8TDTxNkpcHPT_Xb5vi7CMZ0fMVCGbd6Mv3xWuZQY0J5ko0fe/s640/6-8-2015+References+from+Familia+Romero.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 References from Familia Romero</td></tr>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-50486105521337163912015-06-01T21:48:00.000-07:002015-06-01T21:48:48.133-07:00Los Bomberos<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">June 1, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-EC"><span style="font-size: large;">¡Hola
familia!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Did you guys know that firefighters not only save lives but they
can save baptisms too?! Well they do! However we will get to that
momentarily! ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So today I am writing to you all from Guayaquil, as I bid
farewell to my compi today (BLACUUTTT will be missed dearly), and am here until
I get my new companion. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaSV16CwevcSe3zJkRg6_1wcvN7HyJc2mspk48RRJH7WEGdx5ZFLTAhLhzBdDAKDmMllWDNEpGrhiZKF6kCzmowQ4Wgcm3GHi2Nj25p-bwO6TZ-IurxW35kp-s7ncBvmbOcDN5mnHjJTD/s1600/3-23-2015+Blacutt+and+Bartholomew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaSV16CwevcSe3zJkRg6_1wcvN7HyJc2mspk48RRJH7WEGdx5ZFLTAhLhzBdDAKDmMllWDNEpGrhiZKF6kCzmowQ4Wgcm3GHi2Nj25p-bwO6TZ-IurxW35kp-s7ncBvmbOcDN5mnHjJTD/s400/3-23-2015+Blacutt+and+Bartholomew.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bus ride to Guayaquil with Hna. Blacutt</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The assistants to the President gave me a hint
that I might TRAIN again, but I am still unsure! Maybe Hna Vilchez will
have a sister haha! But who knows – stay tuned and you will find out next week.
:) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ES-EC">So….DA DA
DA DAAAA!!! </span>Genesis and Milton were married last week and are SO beyond
ready for their happily ever after. Up
until right before the wedding, everything went PERFECTLY. As you all know, I have just a bit of
experience planning weddings here in Ecuador and with almost every wedding we have
had some sort of adversity or problem.
From lawyers yelling at me, to dropping ID cards down drains, to not
having enough money and making 200 cupcakes for a bake sale…the list goes on
and on! But with Genesis and Milton everything
was just too perfect! We thought Satan was maybe taking a nap or
something, because like I said, it was all perfect. But don’t worry, Satan woke up from his nap
10 minutes before the ceremony was supposed to begin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Prior to a wedding ceremony here in Ecuador, documentation on
the bride and groom must be input into a type of marriage registry system for
the country. Well, right before the wedding
for Geneiss and Milton, as the lady at the civil registry was verifying the marriage
license forms and trying to input their information into the system, well yeah
you guessed it, THAT system wasn’t working.
The marriage was supposed to begin at 3 o’clock and it was now about 4:30
and we were STILL waiting (keep in mind that the rehistro civil [<i>civil registry</i>] closes at 5 pm).
Their extended family, who are not members of the church, were murmuring that
maybe God was sending Genesis and Milton a sign telling them that they shouldn’t
be married. Milton simply said...“Nope, HE DOES!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Milton then whispered to my companion and I that we should
offer a prayer, and he knew that it would work out. My companion then offered
the most heartfelt prayer that I had ever heard from her and just pleaded with
Heavenly Father that the workers would be inspired and be able to fix the
problem with their system. The spirit
was SO strong in the little waiting room that even the murmuring, doubting
family members started to believe as well that the prayer would work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, at 4:50 a man called the lady that was at the desk,
and well, I only heard half of the conversation, but I understood that he
walked her through another way to get into the system. Within just a few minutes everything was
input and we were cleared for them to be married. HALLELUJAH!
Genesis and Milton’s faces just beamed, especially Milton´s. After they were married, Milton was so giddy
when the officiator said, “you may now kiss the bride” that he didn’t even give
Genesis a good kiss because he couldn’t stop smiling. HAHA <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aAXGczZiYpsV7noubbHHjoZGX77boRbUuMCE8WHC7CtRSgMvm9CvXGWU48upK5n7tzPKWIHV5vwLJ74zJk2LnnCjZO4nMkWpwXWfYJnYOkIntoqdLel9NJ63p1rWBBPl-9CV2xguSQ8l/s1600/6-1-2015+Marriage+of+Genesis+and+Milton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aAXGczZiYpsV7noubbHHjoZGX77boRbUuMCE8WHC7CtRSgMvm9CvXGWU48upK5n7tzPKWIHV5vwLJ74zJk2LnnCjZO4nMkWpwXWfYJnYOkIntoqdLel9NJ63p1rWBBPl-9CV2xguSQ8l/s640/6-1-2015+Marriage+of+Genesis+and+Milton.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Happy Couple - Genesis y Milton</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, so now onto the story with the firefighters! On Saturday, my companion and I went to the church
to clean the baptismal font and then fill it up. BUT of course we found there was no water in
the church! So who do you call that has a big red truck with a LOT of
water?!?! LOS BOMBEROS (the firefighters). </span><span style="font-size: large;">The head captain, or
whatever you call her, of the Buena Fe bomberos is a member of the church and
once told us if we ever needed her help to just let them know.
SWEET! After the firefighters arrived, and we started trying to fill the font,
we discovered that the drain wasn’t plugged.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">So then it took a while to figure out where the switch was for the plug so
that it would finally fill up! But thankfully we figured it out and were
very grateful for not only the LIFESAVERS but also the BAPTISM-SAVERS! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrNYZFrog4pN9UCI77h98wcoUFSLanNVuRKo1JABmFpe8aPdr6lB30vBKbLFvdckaUn6P0oZ4lHliGH_T4aX6okv0KWRDzUzTxAI9jWOew3GBrhiSarM0meLS3QBWXaP4neFgjgIfA9i-/s1600/6-1-2015+Fireman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrNYZFrog4pN9UCI77h98wcoUFSLanNVuRKo1JABmFpe8aPdr6lB30vBKbLFvdckaUn6P0oZ4lHliGH_T4aX6okv0KWRDzUzTxAI9jWOew3GBrhiSarM0meLS3QBWXaP4neFgjgIfA9i-/s640/6-1-2015+Fireman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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He is probably the coolest person I have met, he has a good
serious face right?! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The baptism service was a “rejoice evermore” occasion.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">To see this family, dressed in white on
Saturday, about to enter the waters of baptism, was the absolute greatest thing
ever!!! They both were BEAMING after their baptism and Genesis said, NOW
I have been baptized by someone holding the authority from God to do so.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I love, love, love seeing families baptized
together because I can always imagine in my mind one day seeing that same husband,
wife and children entering into the holy temple to be sealed together for ALL eternity! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgkzTOPMa7NLb3NRN5W7m_sKibQgPXBWqRmEHc62rTOuOp-m_27RilUxjpH1V72_xq8WmNeOVc6FGUZL0f5CLofqlVDUNRZvIllhPlqrQpJfpq19KN7yEvXRU10Y-k_dtBR880NvKsYBV/s1600/6-1-2015+Baptism+of+Genesis+and+Milton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgkzTOPMa7NLb3NRN5W7m_sKibQgPXBWqRmEHc62rTOuOp-m_27RilUxjpH1V72_xq8WmNeOVc6FGUZL0f5CLofqlVDUNRZvIllhPlqrQpJfpq19KN7yEvXRU10Y-k_dtBR880NvKsYBV/s640/6-1-2015+Baptism+of+Genesis+and+Milton.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Genesis and Milton - Baptism Day</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday, after their confirmation as members of the ONLY
true church on the earth today, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, they
asked us a billion and two questions on everything from where they should pay
their tithing, to what a talk was (Milton asked me when HE would be assigned to
give a talk in sacrament meeting...haha usually people don’t like to give
talks, but he is really excited), to when he would get the priesthood so that he
can baptize their son when he turns 8. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After the baptism we had a farewell for my sweet compi in
Familia Romero’s house and they also invited other young couples and their kids
along with Genesis and Milton and their son.
Now they are all basically best friends and we have a TOUR of Family
Home Evenings planned for the next month, rotating from house to house each
Monday where we will be eating, laughing, and feeling the spirit! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have so many other stories from this week that I am DYING
to share will you all, but I don’t have time. SO I will leave you in
anticipation for next week! ;) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love being a missionary more than ANYTHING! Hope you
all have a wonderful week! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I LOVE YOU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1loPQKZATuTDtLZv3qIR8N4_C5g9niZ7gaoscSNQNYE8Hahe86yFRJcDAQnQ4fVRzEur83zF0KRHm9n-jIyfz9k16FqUSdCG_IPTXuSd0jR_ZZ4xCAJoz3-VVBec0n8HmQlNA8YSVM5q/s1600/6-1-2015+Paola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1loPQKZATuTDtLZv3qIR8N4_C5g9niZ7gaoscSNQNYE8Hahe86yFRJcDAQnQ4fVRzEur83zF0KRHm9n-jIyfz9k16FqUSdCG_IPTXuSd0jR_ZZ4xCAJoz3-VVBec0n8HmQlNA8YSVM5q/s640/6-1-2015+Paola.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
This is Paola. She is the greatest because she gives us
WAY too much food and WASHES all my clothes;) </div>
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and we love her for many other things! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-11784935006521616682015-05-25T21:06:00.001-07:002015-05-25T21:06:41.409-07:00Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">May 25, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">OK, so let’s just say I am SO excited for this week.
Why? Well, one because it is the last
week with my companion before she goes home (which isn’t a happy thing at
all...I am actually pretty bummed about it), BUT we are going to make this the
greatest week that she has ever had on the mission. ;) We plan to invite everyone and their dog to
church and there will be people accepting baptismal dates all over the place. ;)
We are pretty pumped. And, two because this week Genesis and Milton
will be MARRIED and BAPTIZED. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I think I explained this, that Milton is a taxi driver in
Quevedo and he only has 1 Sunday of the month where he doesn’t have to work?
No? Well if I didn’t tell you before, now you know! So we wanted for Milton to have the chance to
attend church AT LEAST for 1 hour of sacrament meeting this week before his
baptism. On Saturday night, we went to their house super excited to tell
them of our idea...that he would help us bring all our investigators to church
(and this way he would be in Buena Fe) and then we would pick up Genesis and
their son and go to church as a one big happy family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As we shared our idea, Milton was still a little iffy about
it, so we shared with him something taught by Jesus in the scriptures found in the
New Testament in Matthew chapter 6, and also in the Book of Mormon in 3 Nefi chapter
13. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">“Therefore take no
thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal
shall we be clothed? For your heavenly
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. BUT seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take
therefore no thought for the morrow.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">WELL our plan worked and Heavenly Father fulfilled his
promises. Milton put FIRST the kingdom of God and did not worry about the
money he might lose and how that might affect tomorrow. He went to church on Sunday for the first
hour and then left to drive the streets of Buena Fe. Later he later told us that before leaving
the parking lot of the church he said, “well Heavenly Father let’s see how this
goes.” He received the same amount of money,
if not more, compared to the other Sundays he had worked, AND he had received the
blessings of attending church. Next week he says that he will attend all
3 hours. WOOT! WOOT! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ALSO, this past week we met with Familia Romero and shared
with them how proud we are of them and especially how proud our Heavenly Father
is - not only for what they have given but also for what they have given up to
follow Him. We then asked them the simple question of who they knew that needed
to receive the same blessings. Well, with
the help of my handy dandy post-it-notes they wrote down 22 NAMES of “old
drinking buddies” and “best friends” and they said that they even have MORE!
WHAT?!?! That has never ever happened in my mission. They are so anxious to share this gospel. This gives you a small glimpse into why I
think they are the greatest! ;) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well I love you all so much and invite you all to "seek
ye first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness” and I promise that ALL your
needs will be given you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-EC"><span style="font-size: large;">Con mucho
amor, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-EC"><span style="font-size: large;">Hermana
Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-EC"><span style="font-size: large;">(Sorry, no
hay fotos este semana. Se me olvidó mi
cable. Les prometo que tendrán muchos fotos
en la próxima semana!) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">[<i>Sorry, there aren’t
any pictures this week. I forgot my
cable. I promise you that there will be
many pictures next week!</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-26262679373128498892015-05-18T23:44:00.000-07:002015-05-18T23:44:09.482-07:00Now there are 2!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">May 18, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">WHERE in the world will she go?! <span lang="ES-EC">DA DA DA DAAAA! </span>ARGENTINA!!! I so so SO grateful for the opportunity that I
had to see Megs open her call and I couldn’t helped but squeal for excitement
when I heard where she will be going. She will be called HERMANA “B”,
Hermana “BARTOLOMÊ”, Hermana BARTOLOMEO”, or whatever you want to call us...and
now there are 2! ;) I am especially excited that after the mission we will
be able to talk in Spanish and Mom won’t understand what we are saying! Woot!
Woot! (Just joking mom we will translate it for you afterwards) AND she will
change so many hearts with her powerful testimony. There aren’t enough
adjectives to describe my excitement...BUT truly I am absolutely positively
beyond happy for my "little" sis! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclhlbAZ6kc03wz12VgtMNiOMIIyM28PFwHbnl882JqclUOkoGSJaeOnFmSMBdSXSfdXKsRXogRi1wwnxiuiuADBgyepERYJVSPfcc9WKHsn23kvCrfhD-QjbkyxRZEfLWltB-m51Chsjr/s1600/DSC_5082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclhlbAZ6kc03wz12VgtMNiOMIIyM28PFwHbnl882JqclUOkoGSJaeOnFmSMBdSXSfdXKsRXogRi1wwnxiuiuADBgyepERYJVSPfcc9WKHsn23kvCrfhD-QjbkyxRZEfLWltB-m51Chsjr/s640/DSC_5082.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Hermana B's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The work of the Lord is continually growing here in Buena
Fe. President Riggins said last week that Buena Fe is about to
EXPLODE! And I have come to know that he is full of inspiration, so we
trust that we will see the progress with the 15 families who are investigating
and the 21 families we are reactivating in the coming weeks and months! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Genesis y Milton estàn SUPER animados [<i>Genesis and Milton are SUPER excited</i>] for their baptism, and start
the wedding bells once more...they will be married on May 26th! Like I
have said before, Genesis LOVES to learn. At times, her husband is not
present during the lessons because he is at work, but without fail, once he
walks in the door she tells him to sit down and gives him a brief summary of
everything she has learned. And she always ends with..."so if we
apply this (the principle she just finished explaining), in 1 year we can
become an eternal family." They are the greatest! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">GOOD news! Do you remember Mabel? The Mabel that
was going to be baptized, but then her ex wanted her back, and she moved back
with him to another city?! Yeah,
her. Well she called and told us that one day she was sitting on the
porch patiently waiting for her husband to come home, when she saw 2 men in
white shirts and ties walking by. They
stopped and asked her neighbor, "What can we do for you?" The
neighbor declined to listen to them, but Mabel shouted out "HEY! I am
almost a Mormon!" Haha. She then
explained that she was listening to the "greatest sister missionaries on
the planet" (her words not mine) ;) and that she wants to get
baptized. I can only imagine how shocked the missionaries were. Probably something like I was in Babahoyo
when the young girl shouted to Hermana Toledo and I that she wanted to get
baptized. I am so grateful that we
planted the seed for Mabel here in Buena Fe and that soon she will be baptized.
The church is true my friends! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here on the mission I am coming to know who God truly
is. He is the ONLY TRUE GOD, like it says in John 17 verse 3. I gained a greater knowledge of who He is
this week while I was studying the parable of the prodigal son junto [<i>together</i>] with a talk Elder Jeffrey Holland
gave called “The Other Prodigal Son”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our quest in life is to kill the natural man that is within
us...we have all sinned and at some point maybe we have felt like the prodigal
son did as recorded in Luke chapter 15 verses 20 and 21,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“<i>And he arose, and
came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him,
and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>And the son said unto
him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more
worthy to be called thy son</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever said this or something similar before? Perhaps when your heart was broken and your
sprit contrite in prayer with our Heavenly Father? Have you ever felt unworthy to be called HIS
son or daughter? LISTEN to what the father’s response was...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“<i>But the father said
to his servants, Bring forth the BEST ROBE, and put it on him; and put a RING
on his hand, and SHOES on his feet:<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">And bring hither the
fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry...<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>For this my son was
dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our Heavenly Father and HIS son saw you and will have compassion
and RUN and embrace you. In his talk, Elder
Holland taught,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Only the Father and His Only Begotten Son can do that.
Salvation is in Them only. So we pray that They will help us, that They will
“come out” to meet and embrace us and bring us into the feast They have
prepared. They will do this!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This morning I pondered about the items and accessories
mentioned in the scripture...the BEST ROBE, a RING and SHOES. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our Heavenly Father, in those moments of "I am unworthy
to be called thy son or daughter" will clothe us with the ROBES of HIS
son. The BEST ROBE he could ever offer us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Holland said, "I know that if we will be
faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting
for everyone, robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I thought of the RING. In most cultures a ring is
a symbol of love and commitment in marriage.
Many say that as missionaries we aren’t really single ladies because we
are married to CHRIST. The truth is, is that when we are baptized we are
ALL married to, or better said, become part of the family of Christ. After
our baptism we express our love and commitment to Him by keeping the
commandments and continuing the process of changing, repenting and constantly renewing
of covenants with Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The SHOES brings to my mind the thought that we may walk in
the footsteps of HIS Son and follow His example continually. And, I will add that they are the GREATEST
brand of shoes ;) because they will ENDURE TO THE END. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know with ALL my heart that if we come unto our Father in
HEAVEN and ask for forgiveness, like the prodigal son, HE will give us THE BEST
ROBE, a RING of promise and SHOES. I
also know that HE will, like the scripture says in Spanish, throw a
"fiesta" because HIS son or daughter has been found! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I will forever be grateful for my Heavenly Father that He has
given me these things and will continually bless me until the end!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I love you all SO much, have a HAPPY week! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-89224590955999805152015-05-11T20:18:00.000-07:002015-05-11T20:46:25.472-07:00ANGELS<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">May 11, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hi beautiful family, long time no see! ;) I feel like
I just saw you yesterday...oh wait, I DID! Skyping was everything AND
MORE! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">[<i>Click on this link to watch a small portion of our Mother's Day Skype</i>]</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://youtu.be/X3fYEjSAGew" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Mother's Day 2015</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I guess I will still write you all a little something, just
because I love you all THAT much! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As you all know we found another little family that are
BEYOND excited for this month because they will be married and BAPTIZED!
Milton and Genesis and Matias are the greatest and LOVE to pray and sing hymns. I’ll keep you updated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This week as I was traveling back from Guayaquil, we took a
taxi from Quevedo to Buena Fe which is about 30 minutes of travel time.
We started to talk to the taxi driver and he expressed how he hasn’t enjoyed
the last few years of living here in Quevedo. We asked him why and he
started to explain how work is the worst, and family life isn’t the greatest,
and the many others worries of his life. We asked him, “and through all
this time, how have you felt about God?” He paused and simply said, “I
feel like He isn’t there.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we testified to this man of the struggles that GOD allows
us to have, and why, and invited him to pray THAT night to feel that he TRULY
IS THERE...I am pretty sure that Heavenly Father was guiding the car because
there is NO way that he could of kept on driving on his own with all the tears
in his eyes. As he quietly let the tears stream down his face, he asked
who we were. We explained that we were
sent from God to let him know that HE is aware of him and that his “afflictions
will be but a small moment!” We gave him
almost every pamphlet that we had and a picture of Christ. He thanked us
with a warm handshake and called us ANGELS.
Usually the men here call me “angel” just because I am white! haha BUT this one witnessed that we ARE sent from
our Heavenly Father to testify of Him and His Son. Oh how grateful I am that we were ANGELS for
him that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well as you all know I just LOVE being a missionary! I’ll
see all your lovely faces again soon! AND I am still freaking out for
Megan and her CALL!!! Where on earth will you GO?! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I love you all lots and lots! :* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-61712025367664663362015-05-04T21:31:00.000-07:002015-05-04T21:34:43.081-07:00To The Rescue<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May 4,
2015<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">HAPPY
HAPPY Mother’s Day week! I CAN NOT believe that it is already mother’s
day and I get to see your beautiful faces this week!! Shout out to DAD,
and your new calling WOOT! WOOT! ;) ALSO
MEGS!! I am BEYOND excited for you this week (or maybe the next) and getting
your CALLLLLL!!! The mission is truly the greatest thing on this EARTH!
Where on EARTH will you go?! I have a feeling you’re going to Europe, but
it’s just a hunch. ;) I’ll pray about it
this week. Lots of big changes for the fam bam, but I know that we will
be blessed for WALKING WITH HIM and one day we WILL BECOME LIKE HIM. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One day
this week while walking down the rocky road and looking at my surroundings I
was prompted to look to my left. I saw 2
girls sitting on a log and one of them was crying inconsolably. My heart
ached for her and I wanted to comfort her. I felt what Jesus would have
felt for HER. We gave her a smile and encouraged her that everything
would be OK. That moment probably wasn’t
a big impact on this little girl, but it made an impact on me. There is
nothing I love more than to be here on the mission and teaching my brothers and
sisters in Ecuador of my Savior and FEELING what HE feels for them. There
is nothing greater! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">TO THE
RESCUE was our theme this week as we met about 21 less-active families! Yes,
you read that right - 21 families! Sadly, not all of them attended church
yesterday, but 5 of them DID! AND 2 of them got up and shared their
testimonies in Fast & Testimony Meeting.
You could say that our faces were BEAMING! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ramiro
Alcivar was one of them. Ramiro would be
found in the dictionary under the word SWAG. He just has SWAG as he walks
down the streets and jumps on buses selling pan de yuca (yuca bread with CHEESE
filling; it is delicious and gluten free! ;) )
Ramiro was baptized over 10 years ago, but was only active for 4 before
he quit going to church. One day he saw
us on the bus and asked, "ELDERAS do you want some bread?!" We
asked him why he called us “Elderas” when really we are “Hermanas”. He replied, “Because I’m a Mormon too!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We instantly
became friends with Ramiro and the next day we were able to hear about his life
experience, which is too long to write in this letter, but it is INCREDIBLE.
We gave him a picture of the Savior and testified with ALL of our hearts
that it is HIS time to repent and come unto Jesus. Ramiro had an
interview with the Bishop on Saturday and let’s just say he OVER participated
in the Sunday School class yesterday! He lives with his sister and her
family so we hope to share the gospel with them as well! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week
we were out with the Relief Society President helping her visit of few of the
less-active sisters in the ward when she told us about a woman named Fanny who
has a 19 year old son named Eduardo who had been baptized over 2 years ago, but
had quit going to church. He was now involved
in drugs and was also involved in a fight with the police just over a month ago. She told us that Fanny just needed some
hope. So OF COURSE we went to the house to see if we could offer any help
and Fanny slowly came to the door.
Wiping tears from her eyes, she asked us what we wanted. When she saw our smiles and name tag, she let
us in! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fanny
expressed her solemn desire that her son would go back to church and that the
family could be happy again. Well, we don’t have the priesthood to give
her a blessing...so we decided to say a prayer with her. Kneeling on the cement floor of their humble
home, we plead with our Heavenly Father to help soften her son’s heart and give
him a desire to come back to church. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well,
Eduardo worked all week, so we decided to come back on Saturday hoping to find both
him and his mom there. Turns out that Fanny was not there but, Eduardo
was. Our prayer from earlier in the week was answered as he said, “Hermana
Bartholomew and Hermana Blacutt, I want to change my life and I will be there
in church on Sunday.” His heart appeared to be softened, but it also
seemed too good to be true!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday
morning, we stopped by Fanny and Eduardo’s home, thinking that we would need to
drag him out of bed, but to our great surprise, when we arrived he came out of
his room dressed up in a clean white shirt, wearing a tie with his hair slicked
back. WHAT?!?! Fanny thanked us with a warm hug and teared filled
eyes as she witnessed that her prayers had also been answered. We watched
the Mormon Message called “Stay within the Lines” featuring a talk by Elder
Holland with Eduardo and IMMEDIATELY afterwards he took off his piercings for
the last time. The TOUCH of the Master’s hand can change ANYONE! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-07-007-stay-within-the-lines?lang=eng" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Stay Within the Lines</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, with
all of these experiences this week, I had an important truth reemphasized. On the mission, I have learned the importance
of doing the small things. It does not matter WHO you are or what calling
you have in the church, t<span style="color: #333333;">here is a possibility that
man may fall from grace and depart from the living God.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" id="p62" style="background: rgba(255,255,255,0.00784314);">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" id="p62" style="background: rgba(255,255,255,0.00784314);">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they
fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
are here to be sanctified, HOWEVER even when we are sanctified we MUST BE
CAREFUL! Does the prophet need to “take
heed and pray always”? YES!!! The stake president? YES! DO I as a
missionary? OF COURSE. If anyone of us stops doing those things we
call the “primary answers” of reading the scriptures, praying, and going to
church; and I’ll add if we quit doing them with a WILLING heart, we are in
danger of falling into temptation. All those who I have found here on my
mission, that are labeled as “inactive” or “less active” in the church is
because they stopped doing the small things. Discover the scriptures,
pray without ceasing, and attend church with a broken heart and contrite
spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
LOVE you all and I can’t wait to see all your faces this week! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Hermana
Bartholomew </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-84901156736945859962015-04-27T20:45:00.000-07:002015-04-27T20:45:27.848-07:00Flying by in Happiness<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">April 27, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well this week just FLEW by.
And let’s be honest, the MISSION is just FLYING and FLYING and FLYING by
too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of flying, this week we were in a member’s
home. You know, the classic home constructed from blocks of cement plastered
together and a tin roof that exaggerates sound when it rains. I don’t
know if you have all had the opportunity to be in a cement home, but I have entered
into MANY and they keep all the heat IN!
So many of the homes here have a fancy design with holes above the doors
and windows, along with air space between the walls of the house and the roof
in order to help the air circulate throughout the house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, so when we entered Hna Johanna´s home this week, she
began to immediately complain about 4 pigeons that always enter through the holes
of the house and poop on the beds. How lovely. She had put blankets, newspaper, t-shirts, basically
whatever she could find to BLOCK the holes and prevent the birds from getting
in. BUT they still found their way into her house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">During our lesson, we had a little commercial break to try
and shew the pigeons out of the house. As
you all know, I am not tall and my companion is even shorter, so we used the
brooms and some giant pvc pipes that Johanna had in her home to try and whack
the pigeons out the door. Problem was, we didn’t know that they were HER
pigeons! Turns out that these birds have
a happy little home in the backyard, but when it is dark outside they like to
come in because there is light. My compi
and I thought they were just some old wild pigeons flying around getting into
people’s homes. We truly were trying to
WHACK them out of the house. HAHA <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I guess that I accidently “guided” one of the birds pretty
hard because afterwards it fell straight to the ground and behind the
fridge. I screamed, “NO! LO MATÉ!!!”
(Oh no! I KILLED IT!!!) I really honestly thought I did. But
then Johanna ran to the fridge and was able to grab the pigeon and put it in a
cage where it appeared to come back to life. I am not sure how we got the
others to finally fly out, but I am sure it was a sight to see 3 short little
ladies running around the house in circles with brooms and pipes. Johanna said that she will never forget the
experience we had. HAHAHA and neither
will I! I have no clue why, but I seem
to always have animal stories. Maybe one
day I will be a farmer - with a BIG pig, chickens that cross the road, and I’ll
be able to give pigeon herding lessons. ;) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Familia Romero were confirmed this Sunday during Sacrament
Meeting and they were proudly wearing their Spanish CTR rings (thanks mom or
dad, whoever’s idea it was!). Their coming
week is FULLY scheduled for FHE with the members of the ward. Also,
Andreina has an assignment now that every Sunday she will assign the opening
prayer and music for the Relief Society class and write it up on the board. She is thrilled. Jairon has also been
given an assignment to be in charge of counting the asistence [<i>attendance</i>] of the members of the
Elderes Quorum and I believe that he will also lead the music before they separate
into the different classes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We haven’t heard anything from Mabel in over a week, but we
have hope that she will come back soon! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This week, most of our efforts focused on strengthening the
members here and asking for REFERENCES!! This coming week, we have plans
to contact the families who have been referred to us. It will be a week FULL of FHE!!! WOOT! WOOT!
I am even teaching a family how to make pancakes tomorrow. ;) TOO bad it won’t
be the same as the famous Bartholomew sourdough pancakes and waffles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">GREAT NEWS!!! MI HIJITA [<i>Hermana
Vilchez</i>] is here in Quevedo with me!!! So of the Hermanas that I am
in charge of, 2 of them had transfers last week and one went home for health
reasons. When I called on Tuesday to see who the new Hermanas were, I
said..."Hola Hermana, I’m Hermana Bartholomew, who is this?..."
All I heard was a GASP and she said..."HI MOM!" I freaked
my freak and almost cried from happiness. Even though we aren’t companions
I still have the chance to see her every other week! WAHOO! :) We
saw each other today at SHOPPING (that’s what they call the tiny little mall
here) and we hugged and laughed and hugged some more. She is just the
greatest and I love her! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What did I learn this week?
I learned that I love being happy. Being sad sucks. But “how
can we know the way” to happiness? Elder Jeffrey Holland spoke of the
eternally applicable answer Jesus gave to this question when he said, “I am the
way, the truth and the life…and whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I
do...if ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What an absolutely breathtaking promise from almighty God!
He is saying live my way, live my truth, live my life. Live in this manner that I am showing you and
teaching you and whatsoever you ask will be given you. Whatsoever you seek you will find…INCLUDING
HAPPINESS. The blessings of happiness “may come soon, or later and others
may not come until heaven, BUT IT WILL COME.
We are all here on the QUEST to find happiness.” Adam fell that men might be, and MEN ARE THAT
THEY MIGHT HAVE JOY! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We are here to have JOY!
It’s true, isn’t it? Then what
else really matters? If we FOLLOW Christ,
he PROMISES us that happiness! “The only
way to truly be happy is to LIVE the gospel of Jesus Christ!” - that was once
said to me by my dear old dad! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Be it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Look for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">PRAY FOR IT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have a HAPPY week! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Con mucho AMOR, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hermana Bartholomew </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-40859487087142280222015-04-20T21:21:00.001-07:002015-04-20T21:28:42.039-07:00ASK and Ye SHALL Receive<div class="MsoNormal">
April 20, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
HELLO one and ALL! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Conclusions from this week...ASK and ye SHALL receive, and The
Church is TRUE! But we will get to that
in just a moment. After all, everyone
needs a little suspense in their lives. ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why did the chicken cross the road? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many answers to this question, and DAILY here in
Buena Fe I see at least one chicken cross the road. HAHA, but really.
So the other day as I observed one crossing the road, I asked my
companion..."Why did the chicken cross the road?" She DIED
laughing...she thinks I’m funny. Well,
just then a good old car came rushing down the road, and EVERYONE on the street
started yelling at the chicken to move out of the way or it would die. I think there was a genuine concern for the
chicken amongst the people. Well, it turns
out this chicken understood our concern and started flying, but in the same
direction the car was going so it was just a race to see who was faster. I am no physics major but I think the car
would win. In the end, the chicken´s
tail was severed by the front of the car and it was ALMOST just sucked right into
the grill. But don’t worry, no chickens were actually harmed that day.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MABEL came back home!!! It was just for one day, but
we were beyond excited to see her. She and her boyfriend want to get
married NOW, but his company laid him off for 2 weeks, so they are hoping to
find a new job here in Buena Fe. Mabel started reading the Book of Mormon
with him and she has basically become his personal missionary. She has taught him and also her “in-laws” all
about the gospel and who the MORMONS truly are. So we are hoping and
praying that all will end well with his new job and that they will be married
soon!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking of marriage...Cha CHUN CHUN CHUN (imagine the sound
of wedding bells playing the tune, “Here comes the Bride”) FAMILIA ROMERO were finally
married last Friday (and they sealed it with a kiss)!!! Friday morning my companion and I were the
wedding crew. We did everything from makeup,
to hair (straightening hair does not seem like a difficult task, but with this
humidity IT IS), drying tears, matching shoes, baking a cake...the whole
shabang! Of course we loved every second
of it. :D </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuwbLM-hgdibmmjh_guZgaRP7SmL42gDl8Q590tjfQEmUlIyluVil0Hkdusd0wcImDUzczeNXB0lew97tOH2hDFAjBNUeku493K1MkXeOT-arMzb_yxGz13Z4fiYbwrNJpP8UtWlUxp-Y/s1600/4-20-2015+Wedding+Day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuwbLM-hgdibmmjh_guZgaRP7SmL42gDl8Q590tjfQEmUlIyluVil0Hkdusd0wcImDUzczeNXB0lew97tOH2hDFAjBNUeku493K1MkXeOT-arMzb_yxGz13Z4fiYbwrNJpP8UtWlUxp-Y/s1600/4-20-2015+Wedding+Day.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The happy couple and their witnesses<br />
Hna Bartholomew, Jairon, Andreina, Hna Blacutt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoSVxaFGLHtX0uK0Nr1gkrid3iqdc5B3hwwYu-3gPcbMdCDIlRPQGX-cd2bakzRQ2pHUL9vB0H5kTuyeXA-5qxu2crUcgs2j_dCLgk9_EgMFoH4P-Sq-SiDBnP8PvFITV17_sQdR86aMV/s1600/4-20-2015+You+may+now+kiss+the+bride.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoSVxaFGLHtX0uK0Nr1gkrid3iqdc5B3hwwYu-3gPcbMdCDIlRPQGX-cd2bakzRQ2pHUL9vB0H5kTuyeXA-5qxu2crUcgs2j_dCLgk9_EgMFoH4P-Sq-SiDBnP8PvFITV17_sQdR86aMV/s1600/4-20-2015+You+may+now+kiss+the+bride.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You may now kiss the bride!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3va-BHjseWsCxVQLnWjL8SjbnlfKmahVI8g6NXKhetYY6RT7P30TfcMkdZc2ITmU07j7LZG0IbkevrdQTc3XcFM4J20qPjKjncDArn3QfSYXODYBHn1RB-nHYlM8gtPmF8lM1zY5hYX8E/s1600/4-20-2015+Familia+Romero.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3va-BHjseWsCxVQLnWjL8SjbnlfKmahVI8g6NXKhetYY6RT7P30TfcMkdZc2ITmU07j7LZG0IbkevrdQTc3XcFM4J20qPjKjncDArn3QfSYXODYBHn1RB-nHYlM8gtPmF8lM1zY5hYX8E/s1600/4-20-2015+Familia+Romero.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Familia Romero - the most adorable family!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The wedding ceremony itself
was perfectly short and sweet and they were SO happy. Afterwards they
were immediately buzzing about their upcoming baptism the next day! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday evening came and we were setting everything up with
the Elders (they also had a couple getting baptized so we combined their
baptismal service with ours). While we
were filling out the agenda, Andreina and Jairon walked in with their faces
GLOWING, all dressed up – Jairon even had on a white dress shirt and tie! Then, just as we handed them their white
baptism clothing so they could go change...BOOM!!!!!! The lights went
out. Yes. The power went out in ALL of Buena Fe. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jairon and Andreina looked so bummed, thinking that they
would have to wait another week if the power didn’t come back on. I immediately felt the impression that we
needed to say a prayer. The entire week we had sent text messages to the
members (I actually felt like we were in Newsies sending news to all the world...BAPTISM!
BAPTISM! Come and join us!), and they had come out in force to support
Jairon and Andreina for their baptism.
Using just the light from the shining screen of our tiny cell phone, we
gathered AT LEAST a hundred people into the parking lot so we could offer a
prayer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elder Fernandez, from Chile, was chosen to say the prayer
and it went something like this (from what I can remember because while he was
praying I was also saying my own personal prayer pleading with our Heavenly
Father)...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our Dear Heavenly Father,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need thy help.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 of thy children are here today, ready to enter into the
waters of baptism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They are worthy and prepared to do so. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know that we do not have any light, but we want them to
enter into YOUR light. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We plead with thee that with thy power, that the power will
come back on. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All these things we pray for, asking humbly if that it is
thy will,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The crowd repeated, “AMEN” and timidly opened their eyes to
see if the prayer had truly worked. Everyone
could not help but open their mouths and GASP in unison because after we had all
said “AMEN”, the power IMMEDIATLEY came back on. However, we noticed something
peculiar - the lights on the streets were not the first to flicker on, but rather
the lights inside of the CHURCH were illuminated first. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all stood there in silence, not knowing what to say, when
my favorite little primary-aged girl from the ward innocently said, “IT WORKED!
IT WORKED! HE HEARD OUR PRAYER!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6Iy5retBAmiSLh7pd3tYLax1OkArgLQUpfKJGpXoYXyHq5LyG8BysCWmg0Poi3xCaqZn1ft6WLkfEVvcjq0UtpwmwBwAGRNLIZfeHboKYh-EEBHnEKYauaGLqV1eW3bhaEjlW-7PeNv5/s1600/4-20-2015+Favorite+Primary+Girl+-+without+light.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6Iy5retBAmiSLh7pd3tYLax1OkArgLQUpfKJGpXoYXyHq5LyG8BysCWmg0Poi3xCaqZn1ft6WLkfEVvcjq0UtpwmwBwAGRNLIZfeHboKYh-EEBHnEKYauaGLqV1eW3bhaEjlW-7PeNv5/s1600/4-20-2015+Favorite+Primary+Girl+-+without+light.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite little friend stuck with me while we were without light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, HE did hear our prayer! My eyes filled with tears as I recognized
that I had just witnessed a true miracle from our Heavenly Father. Peace filled my heart, and I KNEW that God
absolutely knows us, and answers our prayers.
I will never forget that moment, EVER EVER EVER! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish to exclaim this to ALL the world, that God hears our
prayers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once Jairon and Andreina were baptized, they both couldn’t
help but shed a few tears as they knew that GOD knows them. He had stepped in with a miracle for
them. They expressed their joy that
evening in knowing that they were now CLEAN.
They had entered the water of baptism - willing to take upon them the
name of Jesus Christ, and obey the commandments. They knew that GOD had also completed his
part – and that they were CLEAN. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWEwUw4cHeMOJzp_-49krc408gz1rTrSnN-sddeCFxf1uogzzO1EPDLEK0nL1qkAx8nzDZNtEC1tzjZmmVJmH2Ize_O9crEB5WsZ6NZwJqMdx09hxowKTh2MFzg5gS0P0hV5vRVYH7m8o/s1600/4-20-2015+Baptism+-+Familia+Romero.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWEwUw4cHeMOJzp_-49krc408gz1rTrSnN-sddeCFxf1uogzzO1EPDLEK0nL1qkAx8nzDZNtEC1tzjZmmVJmH2Ize_O9crEB5WsZ6NZwJqMdx09hxowKTh2MFzg5gS0P0hV5vRVYH7m8o/s1600/4-20-2015+Baptism+-+Familia+Romero.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsU5hiht8WRnBK0uS6YxHrg2j_oj5WBf-vFDy1Syz1l_EhA4byMkGP_F0EdAZ1sFRxf13vDNLTpFXV74brP88Mq27ZpilhXaeAT3Nw9d_qAxd3SV5iXb8fcm1S20FXEtZ3j-TLj_PGWNV1/s1600/4-20-2015+Baptism+-+Familia+Romero+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsU5hiht8WRnBK0uS6YxHrg2j_oj5WBf-vFDy1Syz1l_EhA4byMkGP_F0EdAZ1sFRxf13vDNLTpFXV74brP88Mq27ZpilhXaeAT3Nw9d_qAxd3SV5iXb8fcm1S20FXEtZ3j-TLj_PGWNV1/s1600/4-20-2015+Baptism+-+Familia+Romero+3.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdivqLX_8MSQy2hWY1BPYPkI9iJl-r-9vKIupfsMnZPa0b-2AK8lhQz7GVZ3fKff8OzMxvkZac6uGHC3tnvj4lIn3AoMKh59e0qYQCFO-T5q0mhFcqwwir1qpKQ5QGpeYyt7TkpK2GTkdt/s1600/4-20-2015+Baptism+-+Familia+Romero+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdivqLX_8MSQy2hWY1BPYPkI9iJl-r-9vKIupfsMnZPa0b-2AK8lhQz7GVZ3fKff8OzMxvkZac6uGHC3tnvj4lIn3AoMKh59e0qYQCFO-T5q0mhFcqwwir1qpKQ5QGpeYyt7TkpK2GTkdt/s1600/4-20-2015+Baptism+-+Familia+Romero+4.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the baptism - celebrating with some of their many new friends</td></tr>
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As new converts they needed to wait until Sunday during Sacrament
Meeting to be confirmed and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. But Jairon and Andreina came a little late yesterday
to church because they had stopped on their way to share this happiness with
one of their best friends. And, as luck
would have it, the talks went really long in Sacrament Meeting, so there wasn’t
enough time for their confirmation. They
will have to wait until this coming Sunday, but they are SO excited! They are also already counting down the days until
they can be sealed in the temple! HAHA they are the cutest! <o:p></o:p></div>
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AHH, I can’t get over that miracle that I witnessed.
ASK and ye SHALL receive!! And then REJOICE EVERMORE. <o:p></o:p></div>
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LOVE YOU ALL! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWzzTqodY_DdDwZp49oDLFDOP0shokt3uN2h_HnKBL81L2vI0XTwPjY3LGxLZZdyRnJM44gzmQGRVvrO3Y3YOHd6Pi5V5SL5hd1MgFJe5vcfWQYo9YHlpcB0j2QblgsruaXaXJMP2Wo82/s1600/4-20-2015+Rice+Plate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWzzTqodY_DdDwZp49oDLFDOP0shokt3uN2h_HnKBL81L2vI0XTwPjY3LGxLZZdyRnJM44gzmQGRVvrO3Y3YOHd6Pi5V5SL5hd1MgFJe5vcfWQYo9YHlpcB0j2QblgsruaXaXJMP2Wo82/s1600/4-20-2015+Rice+Plate.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just in case you have forgotten how much rice we eat! ;)</td></tr>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-58830631705871371482015-04-13T21:04:00.003-07:002015-04-13T21:06:31.776-07:00ALWAYS There<div class="MsoNormal">
April 13, 2015</div>
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HOLA my dear FAMILY!!!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have some GREAT news for you all....as of right now I don’t
have any parasites or squeamish stomach problems from the discolored water and
rice that landed in my mouth last week. It’s hard to keep my mouth shut
though as we are walking down the street, when I need to open my mouth to share
the gospel CON TODOS [<i>with everyone</i>]! <o:p></o:p></div>
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OK, so ANOTHER funny story...the other day we were teaching
a new family that we had met, Familia Mendoza.
Two of their daughters are members of the church and the other daughter says
that she is "SUPER catholic" but never attends church, haha crazy
girl. So before the lesson started they
complemented me on my Spanish and told me that I sound like I am from Ecuador. Haha, it’s not true but it was a nice
complement. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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THEN we started teaching them about the restoration and the Catholic
daughter Eva asked us in what part of the Bible it talks about Joseph
Smith...so we showed her. But she wasn’t
too impressed by the scripture we shared, so I decided to ask her “where in the
bible does it talk about THE POPE?!” PILAS. Good question right?! Because as far as I know, the bible doesn’t
mention the word POPE. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So in Spanish, the word for Pope is “El Papa” but if you put
a “la” in front of “papa” or say “la papa,” it means “the potato” which happens
to be something VERY different. :) Well I guess I was just SO excited to
use that question that I said "Where in the Bible does it talk about
"LA PAPA"? A few...well many...BAHAHA`s entered the room, until
I finally realized, NO!!! I meant EL PAPA!! For a moment in my mind
I said it correctly because it ends in A which usually means it is feminine and
would be preceded by “la”...but nope, it’s a man so OBVIOUSLY it is EL
PAPA. JAJA it’s all good, just another reminder that I am not
perfect! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well it took a while to calm the laughter so we could
continue teaching, but Eva was able to see that it truly just makes sense that Joseph
Smith was called as a prophet and that today there are prophets and apostles. Let’s just say that she accepted our
challenge to read the Book of Mormon and we left them laughing! ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
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This past week was FULL of traveling for me. Last Monday after writing you, we embarked on
the 4 hour bus ride to Guayaquil at 5:30pm and I hadn’t eaten anything all day. So for you mathematicians out there I was
finally able to eat when we arrived in the terminal at 9:30pm and had a
hamburger (of course without the bun #glutenprobs) and fries...very healthy
huh! <o:p></o:p></div>
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The next day we got up at 4 AM so that we could be entering
the temple at 6. We had a special
session with just the Zone Leaders and Lideresas of the mission! There
was a strong spirit in the temple that morning and afterward the Temple President
told us that those people who had passed on, who we had done work for that day,
were indeed PRESENT that day in the temple.
The temple is the best place on earth!
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Following the temple we had a spiritually filled Leaders
Council with Presidente Riggins that lasted ALL DAY long until 5 PM. The long meeting was worth it because they
gave us ice cream sundaes at the end. ;)
Then we went to help the Hermanas in the sector next to the temple for
that night (that is where Hermana Bowles is assigned - the new Sister that
knows the White family), because at 8 the next morning I had to renew my
VISA. Then we embarked on the 4 hour journey back to BUENA FE once more, just
in time for LUNCH! We told the lady feeding us that we wanted less rice,
so she gave us a smaller plate BUT with the same amount of rice, haha.
Then the next day I had an intercambio [<i>exchange</i>]
with the Hermanas in Valencia on Thursday and Friday....needless to say it was
a LONG week, but I LOVED it! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Want to hear the greatest news?! FAMILIA ROMERO ARE
GETTING MARRIED!! The wedding bells will ring THIS Friday at 11
AM!! And the grand splash will sound twice as they are baptized the
following day! They are BEYOND excited for this weekend, of course we are as
well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The greatest lesson with Familia Romero this past week was
when we shared with them again about the law of chastity and the word of wisdom. After explaining these principles, Jairo thought
that the law of chastity meant that they couldn’t have sexual relations until
they were married in the TEMPLE (which can’t happen for them until 1 year after
their baptism). With a very concerned look
on his face he said, “But Hermanas, that is a WHOLE YEAR!” HAHAHA it was hilarious to see the look on
his face, and then the relief when we explained that they only needed to wait
until after they are married civilly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have come to LOVE this family and can’t wait for this
weekend! As President Packer said in this last General Conference (but I will
add a little tweak), “Fulfilling the plan of happiness [<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">as a missionary of the church] is to see that a man and a woman,
with their children are happy at home, sealed together for time and for all
eternity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sadly we haven’t talked much with Mabel this week because
she went on vacation with her future husband as he had work off for the week. So hopefully she comes home soon! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Maximo is still LO MAXIMO [<i>the best</i>]! But wasn’t able to attend church this week. :(
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I learned so much this week that I don’t have time to write
it all, but I will share one thing. During
my intercambio with Hermana Childs, as she expressed some of her concerns and
struggles with missionary life, I was impressed give her a picture of our
Savior and have “ONE DAY WITH THE SAVIOR” with her like I did in
Babahoyo. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnM4xsvrJwUWTZUkZInhdcKarjS5f0jJzv2pO7TB5feXWcG9DfFMNdfpkdZApvol8AN2pIHU6dDEGMAnbR8nJupytUGWI0G5U6P_QVWogXustKndPM-ga96gUVK_gMRmDoJsWeD7DvZGG/s1600/7-7-2014+One+Day+with+the+Savior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnM4xsvrJwUWTZUkZInhdcKarjS5f0jJzv2pO7TB5feXWcG9DfFMNdfpkdZApvol8AN2pIHU6dDEGMAnbR8nJupytUGWI0G5U6P_QVWogXustKndPM-ga96gUVK_gMRmDoJsWeD7DvZGG/s1600/7-7-2014+One+Day+with+the+Savior.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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During that day I was able to experience again, this time with
her, that our Savior is ALWAYS THERE. We saw HIM in every moment that day
and everyone we talked with SAW HIM. The truth is that He is always
there, sometimes we just forget...but I KNOW that HE is with us and that I am
here because I LOVE Him and my Heavenly Father.<o:p></o:p></div>
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[<i>Click on this link to watch the original Al Fox video called ALWAYS THERE</i>]<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUv5n2Lh5vw" target="_blank">ALWAYS There</a></div>
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I invite you ALL to do the activity, and I promise it will
be your best day YET! :) <o:p></o:p></div>
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I love you ALL! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="ES-EC">CON
MUCHISIMO AMOR <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-EC">Hermana
Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-53101543332324807022015-04-07T14:43:00.003-07:002015-04-07T14:58:31.641-07:00Live Like HIS Son<div class="MsoNormal">
April 6, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hello lovely family!! I hope you had a wonderful Easter week
and that the Easter Bunny visited with a few little treats...but most
importantly you had the chance to listen to CONFERENCE and remember the Atonement
of our Savior. It rained SO HARD here on Easter Sunday...the picture doesn't really do it justice, but you get the idea.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4DJz40F4rrwd-8y0_sWWx-xuitPd-1NrZmECApPrOh3a0naum2RH_Js4U_zgSx5m4ptD-brjlsFeNt0dlO9ed3L-6JV-v1jOioi6dH4oDpkzynY0TToM8OIead_eRff88GHtnjvQbbjA/s1600/4-6-2015+Hard+Rain+in+Buena+Fe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4DJz40F4rrwd-8y0_sWWx-xuitPd-1NrZmECApPrOh3a0naum2RH_Js4U_zgSx5m4ptD-brjlsFeNt0dlO9ed3L-6JV-v1jOioi6dH4oDpkzynY0TToM8OIead_eRff88GHtnjvQbbjA/s1600/4-6-2015+Hard+Rain+in+Buena+Fe.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Easter Sunday downpour in Buena Fe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Well, to start off this week, I have a funny story…Here in Buena Fe
the plumbing system is a little different than what you all are incredibly
blessed with! In fact, you can’t even properly
call it a plumbing system, it’s more of a PVC pipe system! Haha. In
every home there are many pipes that run everywhere and carry things outside; for
example - from the kitchen sink, drains into the middle of the floor, in the
balcony, etc. So whenever you put
something down the drain here, whatever it is, follows down the pipe and
outside of the house and drains out into the middle of the sidewalk or road. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzIZKYgJJ5n0J2g8n_fQP5coibTHDjs8lAjP0CrPaOrRh5qlY_Ze3Tk2Jysr0nlWDBHtIpKxyC9n8kyoPyAnL2ptZrP6_7rTBMPyxgbL9uYMpwIwIwy2k0C7hwl6eaqnROnt-c0O1A2WG/s1600/4-6-2015+White+Pipes+on+Buena+Fe+House.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzIZKYgJJ5n0J2g8n_fQP5coibTHDjs8lAjP0CrPaOrRh5qlY_Ze3Tk2Jysr0nlWDBHtIpKxyC9n8kyoPyAnL2ptZrP6_7rTBMPyxgbL9uYMpwIwIwy2k0C7hwl6eaqnROnt-c0O1A2WG/s1600/4-6-2015+White+Pipes+on+Buena+Fe+House.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopefully you can see the PVC pipes coming from the house?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0_VmXNoo7X06mgGFHB6rl68dQ0fHn-dWE67cwFLHyT2LdQSmA2M318lDto5PW1LnRuaHAOStL4K6BkvUmN6UOILfhaiDqNPEmUO86xwOfEHMLWzmfTMMdg-jlKnPSqIoHtvJ_iemPTlt/s1600/4-6-2015+White+Pipes+Part+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0_VmXNoo7X06mgGFHB6rl68dQ0fHn-dWE67cwFLHyT2LdQSmA2M318lDto5PW1LnRuaHAOStL4K6BkvUmN6UOILfhaiDqNPEmUO86xwOfEHMLWzmfTMMdg-jlKnPSqIoHtvJ_iemPTlt/s1600/4-6-2015+White+Pipes+Part+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer view...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now because of this, one should ALWAYS be cautious while
walking down the sidewalk in Buena Fe. You
don’t want someone’s leftovers that have been shoved down the kitchen sink to
be splattered on your head as the new fashionable hat trend. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, one day we were leaving the cyber (internet café) with
our zone leaders from printing off invitations we were handing out to people inviting
them to come to the church this weekend to view general conference. About that same time, someone had just
finished eating and didn’t finish all their rice (which is very rare :)), and
of course flushed it, along with who-knows-what other liquids down the drain,
JUST as I walked under it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It started off as just a few little drops and I simply thought
it was starting to rain. So I looked up
to see if my suspicion was true but....NOPE, I was wrong! And to top it
off, the washed-down-the-drain rice didn’t just become my new hat for the day,
but I was also blessed to have it land in MY MOUTH! :( Let’s just say it wasn’t my favorite thing I have
eaten here on the mish. But we all had a good laugh, and I rocked my
rice-meshed hat until I got home to clean myself off. On the way I bought some juice to help my
snack go down. HAHA! I will now be more careful to stay away from
the PVC pipes and will absolutely never look up for rain as I am walking down the
sidewalks in town. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A quick update on our current investigators. Mabel Bermeo went on vacation all last week because
her ex-boyfriend showed up to surprise her and see his daughter. Like I said last week, we could have
predicted it - we knew her ex would come back...they always do. So now they are back together again and need
to get married before she can be baptized. The problem is that he works
in Santo Domingo, which is about 2 hours from here and the soonest he can be here
is not this weekend but the next! So now
our plan is that she can be married in 2 weeks and baptized on the 25th of
April. We are super excited for her, and
she is BEYOND anxious to get baptized.
We are praying that things will go as planned.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Familia Romero are wonderful as usual, and will be married
next week so hopefully they can be baptized on April 18<sup>th</sup>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In closing I want to tell you about a new investigator. So we have a lady in the ward here that
ALWAYS gives us food - she is like our grandma.
In fact, she feeds EVERYONE, even the stray dog on the street. EVERYONE is loved by Maura. Well Maura has a brother named Maximo, which
translated into English means “the best!”
Maximo is one of those who eats lunch with Maura every day. It turns out his name couldn’t have said it
better but he really is THE BEST!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Seeing that Maura is the grandma of all the missionaries
that pass through here, many missionaries have also tried to teach Maximo. He listens, but has NEVER wanted to go to
church. One day this last week we gave
him one of the invitations I told you about earlier for general conference that
said, “Come and listen to the Prophet’s voice”, along with a card referencing
the church’s Easter campaign on lds.org called #becauseHelives. The thought of a modern day prophet intrigued
Maximo, and the #becauseHelives video intrigued him even more. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fast forward to Saturday morning right before the first session
of General Conference was beginning. Maura
called us and said that Maximo was waiting outside of the doors of the church,
but didn’t know where to go...WHAT?!?! We got up from where we were
sitting and ran outside and were greeted by Maximo who was so excited that he
forgot the rules that you can’t hug the missionaries. HE LOVED
CONFERENCE, and was so focused and intent on listening to every talk and even
tried to sing the songs in English with the choir! The time has finally come for Maximo to live
up to his name and to make THE BEST decision of his life and come into the
fold. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, I need to keep this short as I have to go to Guayaquil
now to attend a Liders Conference.
Looking forward to that 4 hour bus ride!! WAHOOO! ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I absolutely LOVED general conference. Just as the choir sang, “HE sent HIS Son.” He is the gift #becauseofHim. As Elder Jeffery Holland said, “He held me.
He loved me. He did not let me fall.”
Jesus Christ did the will of His father. HE rose again. HE
LIVES! After this conference we can ask
ourselves, “How will I change? "What
does He ask? LIVE LIKE HIS
SON!" <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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May we all become more like HIM! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I LOVE YOU ALL!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hermana Bartholomew<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-27545057689097650812015-03-30T22:30:00.002-07:002015-03-30T22:30:43.025-07:00HE IS HERE<div class="MsoNormal">
March 30, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s just say I am still in love with BUENA FE!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can you all believe that I have been gone for 13 months
now?!?! WHAT?! I sure can’t. On the day of my 13 month
anniversary we had a "ROMANTIC" daily planning session because ALL
the lights went out in the city of BUENA FE.
The best part was that I was finally able to use the flashlight that was
on the list of things to bring on the mish! The room was also enlightened
by a few candles that we found in the house. HAHA it was great! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So a quick recap on Mabel and Familia Romero before we get
to all the spiritual stuff. ;) Even with
all of the miracles that happened last week, they do not cease. Unfortunately,
Mabel is now separated from what was going to be her “soon-to-be husband”. Turns out that there were many problems in their
relationship, including that he has always worked so far away, and he began
drinking, and he is now involved in drugs, and he said MANY, MANY rude things
to Mabel that made her realize that he wasn’t her happily ever after. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bright side is that now we don’t have to worry about
Mabel getting married before her baptism on April 11<sup>th</sup>! She is
SO excited for her baptism and is always sad when the time comes for us to
leave for another appointment, because she is SO anxious to learn.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Familia Romero on the other hand are happy as ever, and
still need to get married. So we went exploring on Friday and found a
Notary Office and a Dr. Lara who happens to be an ex-mission president from the
Quito Mission about 5 years ago. Let’s
just say he saved us SO much time and money.
When we arrived at the office, it was like in the movies when they show
a newspaper or magazine office. You know,
when there are lots of people running around, papers are flying all over the
place, and everyone wants to be attended to because they have people to see and
places to be. That is exactly what it was like. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But since we are missionaries, and Dr Lara (aka Presidente
Lara) has a soft spot for the missionaries, we were attended to right away (we
were still there for three hours, but that is half the time that it would have
taken). Andreina and Jairo had to give a
declaration that they both have children from another conpromiso. AND it
was half the cost!!! Save money, live the law of chastity - this is not
something you can buy at Walmart folks (hopefully you all got that - it is my updated
missionary version to the catchy phrase “Save money, Live better, Walmart” haha
:)) Andreina and Jairo are going to the Rejistro Civil [<i>Civil Register</i>] on Wednesday to pick
their wedding day for next week! Stay tuned for more details. :) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I almost forgot, HAPPY (late) Palm Sunday everyone!! I
was super confused when we left church on Sunday and everyone in the streets
had a bundle of flowers and palm leaves cradled in their arms. Then
it hit me…“<i>And many spread their garments
in the way, and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they
that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying,
Hosanna; Blessed is He
that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name
of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.</i>”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I imagine that some of those who welcomed and received the Savior
on that day long ago may not have had much money or worldly status but gave a sacrifice
of what they did have. Whether it was garments
or tree branches, it all was for HIM. Sacrificing everything for HIM and
celebrating the LIFE of Jesus Christ was manifest in the perfect way this past
Saturday as the members of the Quevedo North Stake all woke up at 2 in the
morning to travel 4 hours by bus to Guayaquil to the beautiful temple to perform
ordinances for the dead in the House of the Lord. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I was struggling to stay awake in the bus ride (because I
was just a little tired) I thought...I have lived in Utah my entire life.
One of my great blessings back home is that there are SO many temples near my
house. In fact, my problem wasn’t
getting to the temple, it was in choosing which of the many temples I would
like to attend that day. And back home, when I did enter, sadly sometimes
I was one of the few who had come to feel of the Spirit and worship in the House
of the Lord that day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXJVmSyVONNyH87XZm2fdwI_NMKCoJxPdRLXIj89XR3GL0PsDrq4MX5VgDtyN8tBvchK7vysyjw09dkWIX4ezAgyHQGDLt2oyXeGoasSFWYYZhZweK3JQRXLPuttGOFXt7d41dDwURnDt/s1600/12-23-2014+Guayaquil+Ecuador+Temple.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXJVmSyVONNyH87XZm2fdwI_NMKCoJxPdRLXIj89XR3GL0PsDrq4MX5VgDtyN8tBvchK7vysyjw09dkWIX4ezAgyHQGDLt2oyXeGoasSFWYYZhZweK3JQRXLPuttGOFXt7d41dDwURnDt/s1600/12-23-2014+Guayaquil+Ecuador+Temple.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santidad al Señor, La Casa del Señor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Saturday morning I saw HUNDREDS of people, literally
HUNDREDS of people, who were crowded inside the entrance of the temple waiting
to show their temple recommends to enter into that holy House of the Lord,
indeed into His presence. Some came from Quito, others from Quevedo and
others all the way from Peru. (Even the
Hermanas from my old sector in Primavera were there and the quiet reverence may
have been broken a bit in the temple as they all came up to me and we exchanged
big hugs.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of these people sacrificed in one way or another the time
and money to COME to the temple. Reflecting
on this Easter season, because Jesus Christ lives, all of these wonderful
people could help others who do not have a body receive saving ordinances. They were literally giving their ancestors
the opportunity to one day have the chance to enter into the presence of God
and live with Him and their families forever.
As I participated in the temple work that day I truly felt that there
was a celebration in the Heavens as many came into the fold. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We left the temple at 3 pm and the buses arrived back at the
stake center in Quevedo at 7 pm - just in time to watch the General Women’s Conference
that was broadcast from Salt Lake City.
The meeting was the greatest, and I may or may not have cried during
President Eyring’s talk. I felt the infinite love and compassion of my
Savior as I listened to his talk, and realized again the important role that I
have been given in serving as a representative of Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While serving these past 13 months as HIS representative, I
have come to KNOW him. I have come to LOVE everyone I meet here in
Ecuador as HE would, to comfort them as HE would, and strengthen them as HE
would. Before I came here to Buena Fe, I
promised Heavenly Father that I would LISTEN to those I was teaching during the
lessons more than I would speak, that I may know how to truly help them.
The Comforter ALWAYS comes as I invite people to let not their hearts be
troubled, neither be afraid. Our message
is essentially this… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“If you reach out, call out, cry out – HE IS HERE.
Then, now, always – HE IS HERE. During the good, the bad, and the
in-between – HE IS HERE. No matter who you are, or who you were, if you
seek him, HE IS HERE. No exceptions, no lost causes. At all times
and in all places – HE IS HERE.” I know that He lives and that he came to
the world to do the will of the Father. I am here to become like HIM, so
I too, came to do the will of MY Heavenly Father. I love my Savior and my
Heavenly Father so much. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love you all too, and hope that you have a Rejoicing
Evermore week as you get ready to listen to the testimonies of HIS apostles and
prophet this coming weekend in General Conference.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
LES AMO!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-89154803452366442032015-03-23T21:51:00.002-07:002015-03-23T21:51:36.035-07:00The Lord will bring about His Miracles<div class="MsoNormal">
March 23, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“In his own time, and in his own way, the Lord will bring
about his miracles.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another week has passed, WHAT?!?!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well let’s just say that I am IN LOVE with Buena Fe and
everyone in it!!! I truly feel the love of our Savior for them and I just
want to hug everyone once I meet them...well girls only of course! Here they call it “the Hermana Bartolomé hug.” When the time comes to leave this area it
will be called “the hug that Hermana Bartolomè gave me, and she almost squeezed
me to death!" ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNEo7ar_ucSdE2TVT0oqmcN6gx7h0CtQDVox1-JEqylH2SN5L1EmSfnLHIGEhorMV3hqliDpBWBzNDw9T3gal7BBbIQhTFs3ABrLhMh_1oSaMp0ZwBaZxCQBHA2Rsp9fYamAVE-HW8xGG/s1600/3-23-2015+Parrot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNEo7ar_ucSdE2TVT0oqmcN6gx7h0CtQDVox1-JEqylH2SN5L1EmSfnLHIGEhorMV3hqliDpBWBzNDw9T3gal7BBbIQhTFs3ABrLhMh_1oSaMp0ZwBaZxCQBHA2Rsp9fYamAVE-HW8xGG/s1600/3-23-2015+Parrot.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was flirting up a storm with my comp. Haha parrots!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp23WZsNE5AYZT9tqZDO4E3imZWjZ6evHzdeU1Fgw1jNajUxuiL3kFnaa_ZneYCWPwwBHF-Qf3pJyYlrPR5AyFLJ8nlObUfulymVf6S5GpXXQeWZL68PFq4ee3EUxuhl8ZdttRhu61go1/s1600/3-23-2015+Blacutt+and+Bartholomew+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp23WZsNE5AYZT9tqZDO4E3imZWjZ6evHzdeU1Fgw1jNajUxuiL3kFnaa_ZneYCWPwwBHF-Qf3pJyYlrPR5AyFLJ8nlObUfulymVf6S5GpXXQeWZL68PFq4ee3EUxuhl8ZdttRhu61go1/s1600/3-23-2015+Blacutt+and+Bartholomew+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BLAH-CUT and BartholoME-OW</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week I introduced you to Andreina and Jairo. Familia Romero are seriously THE
greatest. We assigned them to read in the Book of Mormon from 3 nefi 11,
just until the end of the chapter, but they loved it so much that during the
week they kept reading and have read all the way to Ether chapter 3. They
will probably finish reading the entire Book of Mormon before they even get
baptized. This week we made a Baptism
Plan with them - a calendar that shows when we are going to teach them, activities
in the ward, General Conference, etc. (It
is so weird to think that a year ago I was in the CCM in Mexico City watching
General Conference the weekend before coming to Ecuador...sniffle sniffle.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also planned on this Wednesday to go and talk to the
notary `peeps to see how much money it is to get married and WHEN. Pray
for Team BLAH-CUT and Bartolomè that we can soften the hearts of lawyers and
the people in the government marriage office. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past weekend we had stake conference and we had a special
meeting with the Stake President and President Riggins with all those who were recently
baptized or who are investigators, and they all LOVED it. Afterwards the
stake had stacks of Liahona magazines from the past year available for everyone
that wanted them. All of these recent
converts and investigators definitely took one from each month. They were all like kids on Christmas morning
with the pile of Liahonas. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OH and I forgot to tell you, Andreina and Jairo work at a
banana plantation where they send bananas to ALL different parts of the
world. Jairo does all the heavy lifting of picking bananas off the trees
and sending them on the cart, and then Andreina puts the little stickers on the
bananas that say FROM ECUADOR. They gave me SO many stickers, each one is
different depending on where in the world the banana is being sent. Next time you are eating a banana look at the
little sticker and just know that our investigadores made it possible for that lovely
fruit to be in your hands. ;) . <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t think I told you all about Mabel Bermeo?! No?!
Tranquilos, les explicarè. [<i>Relax, I will
explain it to you</i>] Mabel is the most eager investigator I have ever
had, which I love. She always has a question about what we are teaching,
not in the matter of doubting but of wanting to know more. She has 2
kids; Leonardo is 5 years old and Domenica is 1. She really wants to get
married and her fiancé does as well, but sadly he is hardly ever home because
he is always working. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first time we met Mabel she expressed concern for her
daughter Domenica, who now has been sick for a month with a cough, sore throat,
and fever. Not wanting to eat is the
daily routine for poor Domenica and the medicines that the doctor has
prescribed are too expensive for their budget (she was also diagnosed with
anemia). Long story short, Mabel was never able to attend church because
her daughter always woke up on Sunday mornings with a fever. :( <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One day we felt impressed to share the following scripture
with her from the Book of Mormon...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<i>For if there be no
faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he
showed not himself until after their faith….Yea, and even all they who wrought
miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also
those who were after.</i>” Ether 12:12,16<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We promised Mabel exactly what it says in this verse.
Miracles exist today, IF we have faith. We told her that IF she would
come to church on Sunday, her daughter would get well. After making her
this promise, I could see that something was troubling her and she looked like
she was on the verge of tears, so I asked if she felt alone. She just
looked at us and started to cry as she expressed how hard it was to practically
be a single mom with her daughter SUPER sick, etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love being a representative of Jesus Christ. In that moment I had the privilege of bearing
testimony to Mabel that we should never feel alone. God is always with us. We then invited
her to kneel in prayer with us. With
tears in her eyes, she said a beautiful prayer and pleaded with ALL her heart
that her daughter would get better. She
added at the end, “if it be your will.” An
Apostle once said something to the effect that faith is real, and there is
nothing more powerful than the prayer of a faithful mother, pleading for her
children. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our ward mission leader, Brother Loor, who had accompanied
us to our lesson, offered to give Domenica a priesthood blessing and also give
Mabel a blessing of comfort. Domenica started screaming and crying when
Hermano Loor pulled out the consecrated oil to anoint her head. She thought it was a needle, and from the
sound of her screams she really doesn’t like needles. But after she
realized it was just a little oil on her head, she smiled and sat on her mom’s
lap quietly during the blessing. The
spirit was SO strong, and we each received the confirmation that Domenica will
be ok. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Afterwards Mabel thanked us with empanadas and some herbal
tea. At that moment, the beginning of
the miracle was manifest when Domenica smiled for the first time in weeks and
ate a whole empanada and wanted another. Mabel was SO grateful and
overwhelmed that her daughter had been healed.
She had witnessed a miracle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Sunday, Hermana Blacutt and I also witnessed a miracle. As we were on our way to the church, Mabel
called us asking where we were, telling us we were going to be late to
church. She LOVED church, but was super
bummed when she couldn’t take the sacrament because it was Stake Conference and
not a normal sacrament meeting. She also
stocked up on Liahonas and is very anxious to attend church again next
week! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Family I know with all my heart that...“In HIS own time, and
in HIS own way, the Lord will bring about his miracles.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus was once approached by a man with a son who had been
sick since childhood (with an evil spirit possessing him). The man said to Jesus, “if thou canst do any
thing, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to the man, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible
to him that believeth.” With tears, the man cried out in reply, “Lord, I
believe, help thou mine unbelief.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are BIG miracles and small miracles, but they all
depend on our FAITH and they all come from HIM. If you ever think your
faith is too insignificant to receive a miracle in your life, start by letting
the desire work in you, so you can ASK for Him to help you believe.
Miracles will never cease because the heavens are open to all those who
believe. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May we all recognize the miracles in our lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love you all SO much, have a miraculous week! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hermana Bartholomew<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
P.S. Yes, this week I made the best brownies that Ecuador has ever seen. The brownie mix was gluten free, but the Elders thought they tasted even better than regular. The Elders were seriously SO HAPPY to eat something from the States. Thanks Mom! :)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9TrlFy8Obsk-gj8MN_enXrTuOYHuINgw8qkm7Qa6WJl5-j1fGH2wLvvEZdsjXNIDO1PmBntjkvIAlw1SBUVQ0T3fRgURDHKwt63bjnOi0hBWfMiha4LbdrxsQdgh6H5KZzi7uS_uTsVG/s1600/3-23-2015+The+Best+Brownies+Ever.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9TrlFy8Obsk-gj8MN_enXrTuOYHuINgw8qkm7Qa6WJl5-j1fGH2wLvvEZdsjXNIDO1PmBntjkvIAlw1SBUVQ0T3fRgURDHKwt63bjnOi0hBWfMiha4LbdrxsQdgh6H5KZzi7uS_uTsVG/s1600/3-23-2015+The+Best+Brownies+Ever.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes - the BEST brownies EVER</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brownies and Ice Cream!!</td></tr>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-65300232245785077612015-03-16T22:25:00.002-07:002015-03-16T22:25:42.510-07:00The Promised Land<div class="MsoNormal">
March 16, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hello, hello FAMILIA!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Can I just tell you all how much I LOVE Buena FE?!?! Well I love it a lot. The other
missionaries would always tell me...just wait until you go to Quevedo or Buena
Fe, it’s literally the PROMISED LAND! It’s
SO true. Buena FE is the Promised Land...and the field here IS white, and
all ready to harvest my friends! ;)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYy2OLek-5hjEW7dmxN-SucdjE9ciCIY1FV7o__cSmD1eDTrRJQQcNQY-s4HUKTg-lhx8pW48DfWABTH8ro2HE0E7PYQSLCoC24jPJcJzmlf8MTszjKl1a_VLlGBcsCE8lp_iae1irdT9/s1600/3-16-2015+Up+the+Hill+in+Buena+Fe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYy2OLek-5hjEW7dmxN-SucdjE9ciCIY1FV7o__cSmD1eDTrRJQQcNQY-s4HUKTg-lhx8pW48DfWABTH8ro2HE0E7PYQSLCoC24jPJcJzmlf8MTszjKl1a_VLlGBcsCE8lp_iae1irdT9/s1600/3-16-2015+Up+the+Hill+in+Buena+Fe.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Hna Blacutt y Hna Bartholomè </div>
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Went up the hill</div>
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To teach the
people the gospel... </div>
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and THEY haven't "fell" down...yet! <o:p></o:p></div>
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So going from Primavera in Duran to here is SOOO different…<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. It is COLDER here as we are closer to Quito and the mountains. I was freezing in the church
building on Sunday and they don’t even have air conditioning, just good old
fashioned ceiling fans. But I was still
cold. But don't worry, I still sweat every second of my life...it is
just a little less sweat! [<i>The temperature in Quevedo is about 5-10 degrees cooler than Guayaquil, so the low to mid- 80's instead of high 80's to 90.</i>]</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading off for lunch to eat RICE! Lunch without rice just wouldn't be lunch here in Ecuador.<br />Using my jacket for the first time on my mission :)</td></tr>
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2. In the gated communities of Primavera it was prohibited
to talk with people randomly in the streets, but now it is ALL free game.
I have never talked so much in my mission (at least not since Babahoyo).
We had a goal as a zone for everyone to contact and schedule another visit with
10 people per day and....drum roll please we contacted SEVENTY- ONE
people. Overachievers, right?! ;) Also, we now have 15 families
that we are teaching and almost ALL of them need to get married first...la moda
es "unidos no mas" aqui jaja. After
my experience with Familia Leon, I am pretty sure I can recite all the requirements
for a couple getting married now! Wedding bells are in the AIR! <o:p></o:p></div>
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3. I went from a ward with anywhere from 300 to 400 members
attending church to only 97!!! HUGE difference, but from all the loving,
strong hugs I received on Sunday, I am excited to work with the beautiful people
here!<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. I went from training Hna Vilchez to being with my
adorable companion Hermana Blacutt...it sounds a lot different in English but I
like to call her "BLAH-CUT!" She is from Bolivia…sorry last
week I had no idea that La Paz was the capital of Bolivia (obviously I have
been out of school for a while). ;) Let me
just say that Bolivianos are TINY TINY TINY people, and so are the people here
in Buena Fe. So I know it may sound
strange, but Hna Bartholomew is TALL here.
Anyways my compi has 16 months in the mission and we are thinking that I
will be her last companion. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr0vBmYF14bQ01d_gU5bu6NDYkpBD6fZND3BL9gr6iBpt-sv_7QMEFJxnm3nCJdZ5ur4gsdR4I6VOnChL-AIlrLda73R2mfy7lNE-HiQGfchgT0VRE4Bplf2Wu_SXfZXL6fKWgkZQgv1v/s1600/3-16-2015+Hermana+Blacutt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr0vBmYF14bQ01d_gU5bu6NDYkpBD6fZND3BL9gr6iBpt-sv_7QMEFJxnm3nCJdZ5ur4gsdR4I6VOnChL-AIlrLda73R2mfy7lNE-HiQGfchgT0VRE4Bplf2Wu_SXfZXL6fKWgkZQgv1v/s1600/3-16-2015+Hermana+Blacutt.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My adorable new companion, Hermana Blacutt</td></tr>
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OK, I have SO many amazing stories this week but I will
stick with just one for now...<o:p></o:p></div>
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There once was a girl named Andreina. She lived in front
of the Mormon Church for basically all of her life. She loved listening
to the missionaries and wanted to be baptized, but sadly her mother would not
allow it. Her mother didn’t even allow
for Andreina to attend church. But the intelligent little girl that she
was, she KNEW that the church was true and so every Sunday at 9 am, she would
sneak out of the house while her mom was making breakfast to stand in the
doorway and at least listen to the talks being given. But sadly she knew
she could never be baptized and become a member of the church without her mother’s
permission. As she grew older she slowly found other things to do at 9 in
the morning on Sunday. But she always knew whenever she saw the
missionaries that their church was true. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And, once there was a boy named Jairo who was walking down
the street one day and found a book on the sidewalk that just happened to be
blue with an invitation inside that said, “Do you want to be a Mormon too?!” Well, he stole the book (the missionaries hadn’t
taught him yet about the commandment that says, “thou shalt not steal”), and he
loved what it said about Christ, so he kept it for a really long time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Andreina was married and had 2 kids. So too, Jairo was
married and had 2 kids. But neither one
of them was meant to have their love last forever, so Andreina was divorced and
so was Jairo. One day Andreina and Jairo
met and it was love at first sight…and now they are waiting to save enough money
so they can be MARRIED! <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Sunday before Hna Bartholomew came to Buena Fe, Andreina
and Jairo, along with Andreina’s sisters found the Mormon Church, and they
remembered that they had felt it was true long ago. So they entered the building. After all 3 hours of meetings were over, they
left having accepted a baptismal date for the 11th of April. After Andreina and Jairo get married, go to
church a few more times, and are baptized...they will endure to the end and
live happily ever after! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I absolutely LOVE this family. They are FULL of the
light of Christ and have always wanted to find HIS church. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be
afraid; for the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Jehovah</span> is
my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love my Savior and I trust in HIM! I am loving my experiences
here in Ecuador that are shaping me to become more like Him. I’ve got a long way to go...pero [<i>but</i>] HERE WE GO!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I Love you all SO much! Have a happy week! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hermana Bartholomew <o:p></o:p></div>
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P.S. The world keeps
getting smaller. One of the new sister
missionaries is from Springville (Hermana Bowles), and she is good friends with
the White family!!! She is best friends
with Addie’s sister, and we are now planning to room together at Utah State
when she gets back! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2wSaFDZjIDpJWhNwayfnwhFqZcveBDUutuHaXCaYRsDjUmshfopVMnBUlzO_hf2aRStZXDbBZEy_ee6HNwI7Zwj6zcIsttaBs5J34IwUsXVqu6-D9wjbLAUv5OgXCc8lj-hPzBjlLcbF/s1600/3-16-2015+Hermana+Bowles+from+Springville.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2wSaFDZjIDpJWhNwayfnwhFqZcveBDUutuHaXCaYRsDjUmshfopVMnBUlzO_hf2aRStZXDbBZEy_ee6HNwI7Zwj6zcIsttaBs5J34IwUsXVqu6-D9wjbLAUv5OgXCc8lj-hPzBjlLcbF/s1600/3-16-2015+Hermana+Bowles+from+Springville.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Bowles from Springville</td></tr>
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And finally...some pictures!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70RbKt_2bTfAJEHFXbLPt7M7icIyqkU9yEgKo8vKwZcOQn0TaCp5Hq2sR13dlByOQq4cg9L3fZLp4izv4kSKTj5M6suyZbTWB5r7svVXYu3Vuo0R8e3j0kaBBy3PkyZx_NdGH83s5S53u/s1600/3-16-2015+Hermanas+McKee+and+Teo+from+Leadership+Council.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70RbKt_2bTfAJEHFXbLPt7M7icIyqkU9yEgKo8vKwZcOQn0TaCp5Hq2sR13dlByOQq4cg9L3fZLp4izv4kSKTj5M6suyZbTWB5r7svVXYu3Vuo0R8e3j0kaBBy3PkyZx_NdGH83s5S53u/s1600/3-16-2015+Hermanas+McKee+and+Teo+from+Leadership+Council.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My two favorite ladies in the Leadership Council<br />L - Hermana McKee; R Hermana Te'o</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QsWrPCDUta6CSWh0Do4P_XZSMAlllqLED19YHyifTcaIrO-_QYTRZXLDvdND216jskCXr6vwHmvReWJCKkvTsjJsDDrzjnx7FACkDBifTqN_6f7m4Ksdn3oydnuKhMdOSCAd4fP3BjLZ/s1600/3-16-2015+My+old+Duran+Zone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QsWrPCDUta6CSWh0Do4P_XZSMAlllqLED19YHyifTcaIrO-_QYTRZXLDvdND216jskCXr6vwHmvReWJCKkvTsjJsDDrzjnx7FACkDBifTqN_6f7m4Ksdn3oydnuKhMdOSCAd4fP3BjLZ/s1600/3-16-2015+My+old+Duran+Zone.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P-day with my old Zone in Duran</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9NdMaS6zMWE2-dmkBM83-RvLJ64zSeXHrRfz7ucw4970d_B7bUkh70n7_az2dp3GkotVWzxSsm0DmvqX2z8jANZRCws1avtjwHcRUCTzYp9SEQKFsHHtGf46GWNonPEX74Hj2VXJAWMd/s1600/3-16-2015+-+My+Twin+Hermana+Green.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9NdMaS6zMWE2-dmkBM83-RvLJ64zSeXHrRfz7ucw4970d_B7bUkh70n7_az2dp3GkotVWzxSsm0DmvqX2z8jANZRCws1avtjwHcRUCTzYp9SEQKFsHHtGf46GWNonPEX74Hj2VXJAWMd/s1600/3-16-2015+-+My+Twin+Hermana+Green.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Green (Verde)<br />Everyone says we look like twins.<br />Hoping to be companions one day!</td></tr>
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954640788053330727.post-48151896841109742002015-03-09T20:34:00.000-07:002015-03-09T21:45:42.148-07:00BUENA FE<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">March 9,
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What have
I learned from being on the mish?!?! That Familias are eternal but
COMPANIONSHIPS are not. :( TUVE CAMBIOS!!!!!!! [<i>I was transferred</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I absolutely
loved every second that I had in Duran, and my sector Primavera and will miss
everyone DEARLY! Sunday night we were visiting Familia Jara, and when it
came my turn to share my testimony I just looked at all of them and the Spirit
told me...Hey President just moved your picture to another
sector...NOOO!!! Let’s just say my companion was confused at why I was
crying, and she told me repeatedly, right up until midnight that I wasn’t
leaving. That was until the zone leaders
called me and said that it was true...CAMBIOS! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And for
some reason I just knew I was going to QUEVEDO!!! PILAS!! I was
right! With a long bus ride, I am now 3+ hours away from Guayaquil and in
CHINA TOWN (apparently there are a lot of Chinese people here…haven’t seen one
yet though. I’ll keep you posted;))
So my new area is actually 30 minutes from the center of Quevedo in a little
town called BUENA FE, which means GOOD FAITH (many of the names of the cities
here in Ecuador are actually faith-based, and spiritually strengthening...if
you are looking for a miracle go to MILAGRO! haha) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfPhd3z9IPWmtqhQQRobHYeTwgTX0GmfFP3SfauRCDB5pD-lAUllfzhowB895e-BVPb73olgqfbT3T-LIvuQH-kVfdHkDXb1jjq5Wg3PSpIiw4WTNkTrd6Jdv9DC400G2Kjy-DEMrtS40/s1600/quevedo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfPhd3z9IPWmtqhQQRobHYeTwgTX0GmfFP3SfauRCDB5pD-lAUllfzhowB895e-BVPb73olgqfbT3T-LIvuQH-kVfdHkDXb1jjq5Wg3PSpIiw4WTNkTrd6Jdv9DC400G2Kjy-DEMrtS40/s1600/quevedo3.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quevedo, Ecuador</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AatlBrSoJYggzG6WZFQtZrgoEeFoJTYkihQDbhy7c1fJtX2PMKD3v-iGBLP7dRQoX1nCuM5_t1FI8Cu2LuRd6WcFDb0SSDE3utZTBVtlGS6nkqGSDTwrezDtKbVTq9m2VPgKadVbVQqV/s1600/buena+fe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AatlBrSoJYggzG6WZFQtZrgoEeFoJTYkihQDbhy7c1fJtX2PMKD3v-iGBLP7dRQoX1nCuM5_t1FI8Cu2LuRd6WcFDb0SSDE3utZTBVtlGS6nkqGSDTwrezDtKbVTq9m2VPgKadVbVQqV/s1600/buena+fe.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buena Fe, Ecuador</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIyzXNsAFLB414BCXz0eKhG_YRnwstgSX4v9J5t-YfISwYFxcnELPPvPC21P4u3tmSPKhGOKVSMPXqHewc9QLnvoWqdSJNl_ymW8isCHMRZyMjxUXmvsKye2dQdaM9DSRfje0-JAodAvr/s1600/97477336(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIyzXNsAFLB414BCXz0eKhG_YRnwstgSX4v9J5t-YfISwYFxcnELPPvPC21P4u3tmSPKhGOKVSMPXqHewc9QLnvoWqdSJNl_ymW8isCHMRZyMjxUXmvsKye2dQdaM9DSRfje0-JAodAvr/s1600/97477336(1).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buena Fe, Ecuador</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As sad as
I am to leave all of my dear friends in Duran, I am beyond excited for this new
sector. Oh, and how could I forget about my new companion, Hermana
Blacutt from La Paz (no clue where that is exactly). She has only had 3 weeks here, so let’s just say
we are both pretty new! She is adorable and I am excited to have her as
my companion. (Dad don’t kill me, but we
don’t have any pictures together that I can send you yet...but don’t worry they
will come the next week!)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjZkEyIQw7wSky00BpMurQ25svtUWlBakUjcg94MgFPNdAPhzgDLCb3HcQPOHArOGYvjFujNq-0v9EWyVU9FAV_XpCmDWZrgHc7olOCVLJh_D3TbTw4UQ2LEKgg_REflIUmIJzFN6xiJU/s1600/3-9-2015+Saying+goodbye+to+Zone+Leader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjZkEyIQw7wSky00BpMurQ25svtUWlBakUjcg94MgFPNdAPhzgDLCb3HcQPOHArOGYvjFujNq-0v9EWyVU9FAV_XpCmDWZrgHc7olOCVLJh_D3TbTw4UQ2LEKgg_REflIUmIJzFN6xiJU/s1600/3-9-2015+Saying+goodbye+to+Zone+Leader.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going Away Party for our Zone Leader, Elder Cuberos from Columbia who finished his mission</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0etWxC0ZKEPiNzfymaQACF2rUUeIo0OgxOKNZpuCM-rZzbT8gMcLnK5wpIiMfyFQqozxSOTLvbiStqWYphopqbHlc4x7k3k6mh3pgDk0qCPz7re3fIhoReFnbLUFTBilxbLdLHI1Xt1B/s1600/3-9-2015+With+Zone+Leaders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0etWxC0ZKEPiNzfymaQACF2rUUeIo0OgxOKNZpuCM-rZzbT8gMcLnK5wpIiMfyFQqozxSOTLvbiStqWYphopqbHlc4x7k3k6mh3pgDk0qCPz7re3fIhoReFnbLUFTBilxbLdLHI1Xt1B/s1600/3-9-2015+With+Zone+Leaders.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hemana Vilchez, Hna B, Elder Cuberos, Elder Sink</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJk1CtYRvVT9N4NumorEFLsAoCZNdDUq7UopSuKJP2FyO07wzJuFCVte6r3ueGhB2Z9CoImmtkGo0BkCawuEQQfzJyHzwAqQqdRiJnkFyknNz4ei8eLxfLSJpCAFXByYgGCZvYDXlqUfd/s1600/3-9-2015+Cambios+-+Saying+goodbye+to+Hermana+Vilchez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJk1CtYRvVT9N4NumorEFLsAoCZNdDUq7UopSuKJP2FyO07wzJuFCVte6r3ueGhB2Z9CoImmtkGo0BkCawuEQQfzJyHzwAqQqdRiJnkFyknNz4ei8eLxfLSJpCAFXByYgGCZvYDXlqUfd/s1600/3-9-2015+Cambios+-+Saying+goodbye+to+Hermana+Vilchez.jpg" height="400" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye to mi hijita - Hermana Vilchez</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I
apologize for not writing much the last two weeks, but they were nuts!
Two weeks ago I was starting to write and then the Assistants to the President
called and asked how I was, and how my p-day was going? I just kept
thinking how weird it was that they were calling us...so then I thought maybe
they were calling to tell me I had cambios.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Then Elder Bench tells me that he has some good news...he said, “Presidente
tiene mucho confianza en usted hermana y quiere llamarle como la nueva lideresa”
</span><span style="font-size: large;">[<i>President has a lot of confidence in you Hermana and he wants to call you as
the new lideresa</i>]. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My
reaction was a little bit of a nervous squeal sound that meant I didn’t quite know
what to say. Elder Bench said, “Wow Hermana,
que animo en so voz [<i>what excitement in your voice</i>]. I told him, “Sorry I just don’t know what to
say. He reassured me that I would do
well. I am super excited but yet nervous
at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last week
on Tuesday I attended my first Consejo de Líderes [<i>Leaders Council</i>] with President & Hermana Riggins and all of the
zone leaders and Hermana training leaders in the mission. All of the new leaders had to share their
testimonies…it was nerve wracking!!!! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rxTkBDbGhgGma2HmHvaXi1ui3DQu7Yz2EN_Dz3F70Ak50Uc-NXHVmvkjZTtnU_8VbDxIMqiw-kKPbkSIFENlmXHgfgY2fYg3JWZlh0eLgDcpMAoTmgs84jaNwOOIUSWjI8MxbqufAQXT/s1600/3-9-2015+Consejo+de+Lideres.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rxTkBDbGhgGma2HmHvaXi1ui3DQu7Yz2EN_Dz3F70Ak50Uc-NXHVmvkjZTtnU_8VbDxIMqiw-kKPbkSIFENlmXHgfgY2fYg3JWZlh0eLgDcpMAoTmgs84jaNwOOIUSWjI8MxbqufAQXT/s1600/3-9-2015+Consejo+de+Lideres.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ecuador, Guayaquil Norte Leaders Council<br />
March 3, 2015</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We
have a Consejo [Council] each month and it is basically ALL day long. On that day my
companion goes to another sector with the compañera of another lideresa…hope
that made sense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I will
have an intercambio [<i>exchange</i>] (which
is for 24 hours so we have sleepovers now!) each week with the Hermanas and help
them in their sector and see how they are working. I also receive their numbers from the week
and provide encouragement and support. I
have had lots of ideas that came to my mind this week to try and help the
others in their sector as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With my
cambio today, my responsibility will now shift to the Hermanas here in the
Quevedo area of the mission. I know
with all my heart that I will love this area. This is sad to say, and even more
awful to think about, but this may be my last area on my mission if the 5-6
months-in-one-area streak I have going continues, haha. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well
family, I know that this is our Heavenly Father’s work and He has a profound
personal interest in it. I have GOOD FAITH
here in BUENA FE that our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ guide this
work and qualify those who are called to serve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love and
adore you all! You are all the greatest!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hermana
Bartholomew signing off…a little sad, but SUPER pumped to start working in this
new area. :)</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12916007294868156810noreply@blogger.com0