Condor

The Ward Missionaries and Ward Mission Leader--we gave them envelopes that included counsel we wish we would have had while preparing to serve our own missions, a talk, and a picture of us!  We were missing 2 that day!

HOLA familia and friends!!!  

Well this week has been a good week--pretty normal full of learning experiences, miracles, trials, and everything the mish brings.  We are so grateful to still be here in Condor and together!

Last Monday night we got a phone call from Kevin at night telling us that he had taken Steven out to eat and to find a job and had talked about the baptismal date I extended on Sunday (for the 25th that he originally didn't accept).  Well at the end of their conversation, Steven made the decision to be baptized!!!  I was SOOOO HAPPY!!!!!!  We couldn't even believe it.  What blessings.

Tuesday we went to District Meeting with a new DL and a new ZL and found out that the whole zone basically changed.  We are one of 2 companionships that stayed the same.  Crazy!  I'm trying hard to have a good attitude about it all....haha it's the same feeling again like the other zones.  The leaders have a hard time being animated and loving and teaching with the Spirit, and we are trying to think and be creative of how to pump up the zone and how to help the leaders motivate us and how to help us all rise up to our potential and LOVE and JOY in this work, which is what it should be.  So maybe that is one of the reasons we were left together.  The zone is pessima right now haha but it's all good!  I definitely miss Elder Ayala and Elder Falk.  Oh also, Sister Welch is here now in Guayacanes and we are going to lunch with her right now.

Tuesday we had a super funny and awesome teaching experience with Steven. He´s hilarious--way simple and likes it clear and firm and just accepts, and he is getting baptized the 25th!!!!!  Also we got to see some of the ward missionaries and people were astounded that we were preaching--just Hna Alvarez and me that day because usually we have other ward missionaries with us haha.  It's so great to see and feel and note their progress. 

Wednesday was a good day and we got to visit Angela--Jonathan's mom.  We figured out we have to go way slowly with her but have faith that she will accept little by little.  This is what she needs.  Also Wednesday Kevin expressed how sad they all were and he was thinking about changes to the point of tears--I guess I didn't realize that all the feelings I feel inside, the love, emotions, sadness thinking about leaving, etc they feel as well and we all have our hearts knit together.  It's wonderful but painful at the same time haha but just goes to show what a miracle it is to have people change your hearts forever, and they have changed mine and vice versa. 

Wednesday also Hna Alvarez and I were praying to set the goal for September and no matter what number we prayed about didn't feel much and didn't get an answer.  We both got the impression, however, that the Lord was telling us now, "You already know the answer."  Haha we laughed at the fact that we both felt that, and we knew we had to trust in the Lord and set a high goal and that he would help us reach it as He has done in the past and with all His miracles.  It's 4 for September so we are looking for miracles.

Thursday we got sick from lunch so that was pretty fun.  Poor Hna Alvarez experienced what us gringos have to experience a lot more often here in the mish haha.  We also had a lesson with Steven and he basically opened up his heart and told us his whole life story.  I was dumbfounded.  Literally NEVER in my life had I expected to know someone with a life like his.  Everything I've ever seen in movies or heard about or situations, etc he has lived.  He lived in Colombia on the streets for a while and has crazy stories and experiences and things that have marked his life, and I was so in awe of the miracle the Lord brought about in his life.  What a miracle!  Hna Alvarez and I commented on the fact after the lesson that we now understood a little bit more fully the depth of the Atonement and how far it reaches.  The Atonement covers ALL of that.  Wow.  How incredible it is to think about the fact that our Savior and Lord and Redeemer suffered for all of the sins, pains, tragedies, sicknesses, wickedness, etc etc etc of the whole world.  And that He blesses people who don't even expect it to help them reach their full potential and fulfill the plan He has for them.  Steven wants to serve a mission, change his life, etc. and just in 3 weeks has flipped his world upside down all thanks to the Savior and His blessings and miracles and Atonement.

Friday I felt pretty dang sick still from Thursday and struggled while being out, and we ended up going to the Fam Correa´s house--Kevin's family and being there helping his mom and then talking to his younger sister.  It was wonderful to have a home and family to go to when I felt so sick.  Gaby opened up her heart and expressed the fact that she wants to do family prayers and FHEs and everything but is scared to be the one to mention or bring it up and take control (she's pretty shy).  She opened up everything to us and we supported her and motivated her and she said that she would try again to get them to do family prayer.

Friday at night we went over to Angela´s --Jonathan's mom and we taught a mini lesson and knowing their situation that they have nothing and have debts and her husband left her and she has to work to support 3 kids, etc etc, offered us dinner.  I told her we couldn't and that was for them and she just insisted and her daughter told us to just accept.  We were dumbfounded and felt so badly but it was wow incredible.  That is charity.  That is the pure love of Christ and that is consecration.  She said that the things we have shared with her have helped her feel better and it was the least she could do because she hadn't had anything to offer us beforehand and she could make the food spread and multiply that night.  They have nothing!  I was shocked and then felt happy for the incredible blessings she will receive for that act of giving when she had nothing.  The Lord always recompenses.  These are the people I live with and love so much and I can't believe the blessings I receive from knowing and observing and loving them.

Saturday wow was a fail of a day hahaha we haven't had a day like that in a long long time!  Every single lesson we had fell through and every single plan B we had fell through and everyone we passed by for fell through!  Every single one hahaha.

The good news of Saturday was Steven's bapismal interview---he passed and our DL was dumbfounded at him and how prepared he is and his strong desires to serve a mish, etc.  I love Steven!!!

Also I found a quote in Jesus the Christ on Saturday that I love and made me think a lot.  It says, "In mercy the Father sometimes delays the granting that the asking may be more fervent." I guess I had never thought about the fact that sometimes we don't receive answers to our prayers right away because we need to ask harder and really really fervently want it and ask.  And that that is not punishment or cruel, but a mercy from the Lord.  Mercy because when we ask and feel that fervently, we grow, we remember the Lord, and are humbled.  Then when He grants those answers to our fervent prayers, we grow in gratitude and love for Him and grow in humility and testimony and faith and see His miracles and blessings.

Sunday was pretty disappointing because only Steven came to church.  Stefania basically disappeared during the week and didn't come to church, and Karina and Eduardo were sleeping and didn't come, and Andres left for Quito, and Angela didn't show up.  BUT there is just something so wonderful about Sundays and the Spirit of church and the LOVE and JOY I feel in this ward.  We were helping the primary president set up chairs before church and I saw a white, blonde, tall girl walk in and then her family and knew they were gringos.  They smiled looking at me and stopped and I hugged them and said, "Buenos Dias,"  and the dad shook my hand and said, "Buenos Dias" and the mom just a bit desperately said, ".....Hi!!!" haha poor thing.  I asked them how they were and they sighed with relief hearing English.  Turns out Brother Hart had served his mission in our ward 27 years ago when the boundaries were different etc but came back to visit.  His daughter, Becky, has been in Quito for 2 months with OSO (the program that Brit Taufer did a while back) and her parents came out and have been there for 2 weeks and they went to the Amazon, touring and finished here.  They are from California.  Bishop asked Bro Hart to give a talk hahahaha and he had to refresh his Spanish and talk about missionary work.  It was so neat to hear his testimony and hear him say that he feels like he has 2 countries in his heart, half of his heart in USA and half in Ecuador and when he said that, Sis Correa looked up directly at me smiling.  How true that is.  My heart will always be here :) 

In Relief Society, I tried to help Sis Hart and Becky understand by translating and that is when I realized how much of a problem I am going to have when I come home and try to speak in English all the time.  I was trying to translate Spanish words for other Spanish words explaining them and just kept apologizing for my English and my elementary school like explanations! hahaha They just laughed and said don't worry.  Man, rough times ahead hahaha.  But that makes me happy too :)

We had a lesson with Karina and Eduardo and they accepted a baptismal date for Sept 1 so we have to pray lots for them that they progres towards that date.

Also we had an amazing lesson with Stefania and she told us that she had received her answer but fallen into temptation again this week but knew that the Atonement was the answer to her prayers and that she feels this is the truth and told us she wants to be baptized on Saturday to receive the blessings more quickly.  WOW.  Such blessings!

Also Steven was just so happy all day at church and at lunch with the Bishop, Steven was the one to remind about the prayer before eating, etc.  How neat it is to see that! :)

So we are working and trying to find new people---haven't found many new people but have faith that references will come and we will be guided towards the Lord's elect and these wonderful people will keep progressing and that we will have 2 baptisms on Saturday! 

1 Nephi 22:25--Christ numbers His sheep and those sheep KNOW Him.  O sea, His true disciples know Him, know and follow His ways, know and follow His counsel, have a relationship with Him, recognize and heed His voice, etc.  Are we His sheep??  Do we know Christ??

Thank you for your prayers, love, support.  I need them, believe me, and am always praying for you!  I know this church is true.  God is a God of miracles.  Jesus Christ lives and loves us.  He is our Savior!  Because of Him, we can find happiness and joy in this life and forever.  Because of Him and His sacrifice families can be together forever.  Because of Him, I live and love.  This Gospel changes lives eternally.  Share the Gospel with someone this week.  Pray for missionary experiences.  We can't do this without your help---we are one big team with God and His angels at our side.  This is the most joyous work that exists and how blessed I am to be a small part of it!  Hurrah for Israel!  I love my Heavenly Father.  I don't feel deserving of His many blessings but know He helps refine me and make me better.  That is the purpose of our mortal life---to become more like Him.  And ironically, only with His help, can we do so!  What mercy and grace He gives us.  I love Him.  I love you and I love missionary work. Let the joy and love of this work into your lives!

Love you :)

Hermana Bryan

The Valarezo Sisters--Sara, Griselda (Kevin's Mom) and Janeth--Love Them

Kevin and Me being who we are--remind you of Dallin?  :)