Hi family! Man, I love you all so much! It was a great week, and I can't wait for you to read all about it! Here's my letter to Presidente:
Hola Presidente Murphy!
It's just amazing to be a missionary in this beautiful country with these amazing people! Every day is an adventure, and a blessing, and I'm so honored to be here. I just love Hermana Giles. I love learning from her, and I love teaching alongside her. We had an excellent week together, and every day, I'm grateful to have her as an example and a friend to me.
We currently have four investigators with a baptismal date.
The kids of La Family Ajavi have decided that they want to be baptized right away. They're all so excited to be baptized, and they're so prepared. We love visiting that family, because everyone comes together to listen to the lessons, and they love to participate. It was interesting though, because one of the kids, Willian, has been struggling a little bit lately. He hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon, and hasn't been coming to church, and he's always too scared to pray in front of his family, and we weren't quite sure what to do about it. But this past Saturday we decided to try something. We have noticed that he's always really quiet around his family, and with six siblings, it's understandable. He's the second oldest, and I think that sometimes, he feels lost among his siblings and doesn't feel like he matters because his mom is really occupied with all of the littler kids, and his older sister, Lisbeth, is really outgoing. So, we decided to try teaching him one on one. So while Hermana Giles taught Gladys and Lisbeth, I went to the side to talk to Willian to find out what's been going on, and why he hasn't been reading or coming to church or praying. Turns out, he feels like he doesn't pray well, and he hasn't been reading because he's been busy with helping his mom with the littler kids and sewing the traditional blouses to sell. He hasn't been coming to church because he doesn't like going without his dad but his dad is inactive, so it's hard to find a way around that. But I just had a conversation with him. We talked about prayer, and why it's important, and then I suggested that we practice. I said a short, simple prayer first, then asked him to pray, and he agreed rather hesitantly, but he said an excellent prayer. And we came up with some ideas together as to how he could read a little bit of the Book of Mormon every day. I asked him to come to church on Sunday, and he agreed. When we rejoined Gladys and Hermana Giles and it was time to close with a prayer, Gladys said she wanted him to say it, and seriously Presidente, it was amazing. He stood up, and without any hesitation, prayed for everyone. And the next day, he showed up at church with the rest of his family, despite the absence of his dad, and I wanted to stand up in the pew and yell because I was so excited! It's amazing how following the promptings of the Spirit can work miracles, even among younger investigators. #MayTheSpiritBeWithYou. So, Willian, Lisbeth, and Lillian all have a baptismal date for the 27th of May! We also have Mayra Erazo for the 10th of June. Her biggest challenge has been coming to church, because she's been working, and she was traveling for Mother's Day this past week, and she has to come to church the next three weeks in order to meet her baptismal goal. But she knows everything is true, and she recognizes answers to her prayers, and she has incredible faith, so we are really hoping that she can make it to the tenth of June.
This church is true. I feel it every day in our lessons, and I love seeing how the Spirit touches the lives of those we teach. I know that this country and this people are so special, and it is such an honor to have the opportunity to serve here. Thank you for your leadership and for your love and care for us missionaries. We all really appreciate it!
Have a wonderful week!
Hermana Kennedy
Seriously, this experience with Willian was so cool. It's probably my favorite mission experience yet!
Okay, so funny thing about Ecuador. We have a place in our sector called Angla which is pretty far away from everything else. It's up in the mountains, and it's where the majority of the indigenous people in our sector live. It's also where they speak the most Quichua (the indigenous language here). Anyway, so because it's a little more out there, the buses for Angla don't pass very often. We have lunch in Angla every Sunday, and if we don't catch the bus at 12:30, we have to wait for the next one at 1:40. Yeah, crazy right? Well, because of the limited number of times that the bus passes, it's almost always full to the brim with people. So, this past Sunday, we were waiting after church to catch the bus to Angla with a few of the members from Angla. It was late which we thought was kind of strange, but we were ready when we saw the bus with "Angla" written on the front. However, the bus didn't stop when we hailed it down, because like usual, it was full to the brim and couldn't take any more passengers. I was thinking that we were going to have to take a bus to San Pablo, then take a taxi from there to Angla, but the members had another idea. They somehow saw a friend of theirs driving by in a truck and hailed them down, and we all hopped in the truck. I thought we were going to drive all the way to Angla, but turns out, the thing to do here is hitchhike until you pass the bus you want, and then drive to a stop further down the road so that you can catch your bus. So, we actually did end up driving all the way to San Pablo, at which point, we got out of the car and caught the bus up to Angla #thatecuadorlife
So, talking to you guys yesterday was like the best thing ever! Oh man, I thought I was gonna be crying, but I just felt so happy, because I seriously have the best family in the world! Although, I am sorry about the comments about not getting mail. It was so silly of me to say anything, especially since I can print your emails. I'm sorry that I sounded so ungrateful by complaining that I don't get any mail. Don't feel any pressure to send me anything. I'm a little spoiled, and that manifested itself a little yesterday, and I'm sorry. I really can't tell you how much I love your emails, but I've always loved getting mail, and I have the rest of my life to get mail, and that shouldn't be what I'm focused on right now. Mommy, for real...DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. I DON'T FEEL BAD. Hermana Giles' mom sent her a letter like weeks before I even left for my mission, and it still hasn't gotten here, and I just don't think there's any hope for it.
I really do have the best family though, and you know, it was really interesting for me this week to read Alma 38. It's the one chapter dedicated to Alma's words to his son, Shiblon. For so many years, I've heard people say that it's kind of sad that Shiblon only has one chapter while his brothers each have two or three dedicated to them. But, if you read it, it's such a beautiful chapter. Shiblon has been righteous for his whole life, and there just isn't much for Alma to say to him because he doesn't need the help that his brothers do. But it really struck me, because Shiblon is a middle child. For so many years, I've struggled with my identity as a middle child, and I've always looked at it as a curse, because honestly, it's not because my parents never gave me attention, but it's hard because middle children are surrounded by our siblings, and I'm especially surrounded by my siblings, it's hard not to feel intimidated or jealous. But I've come to realize that being a middle child is the best position that you can hold in a family. We middle children are in the unique position of touching everyone around us. We get to be a part of everything in our lives. I remember being small with Ethan and Mark, and there isn't a time that I've ever felt like Ethan or Mark is far away from me, and I've always had Glo in my life. There's never been a gap or a point where I don't feel connected to my siblings. As a middle child, we get to be the bridge in our families, and I've become that in mine, and I love it. There are still times when I feel a little intimidated, just because my siblings are amazing, but I love having a completely unique connection with each of them. I love that I've gotten to grow with them, and that all three of them have been incredible examples to me. And I know that they love me. They tell me that all the time, and I know it without a doubt. It's such a blessing to be me and to be where I am in my family. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to realize it, but it really is the best. And Mark, this applies to you too. #rockinthemiddlechildlife. I love you guys so dang much, and I wish I could adequately and eloquently express that to you.
Also, cute thing: I don't know why, but I've been wanting some type of flora to put on my desk, but I haven't wanted cut flowers or anything, because they die. But this past week, for my third cumpleanos, I found a cactus (just a small one) at the Nuevo Mercado, and Hermana Giles bought him for me to celebrate! His name is Bob, and he sits on the corner of my desk, and every day, it's so fun to say good morning to him. He's in a little red pot, and Hermana Giles wrote his name on the side all fancy. I can't wait for my first transfer when I get to carry Bob to my new place with me. Of course, the dream is that I would never be transferred, but when I am someday (hopefully in the very far future), I'm excited to be that missionary with a cactus named Bob :-)
Anyway, thank you everyone for all of your emails and love and support and general awesomeness! Thanks for your prayers. I love you all, and I know that Heavenly Father loves you too! Have an incredible week and keep being the wonderful human beings that you are!
Much love,
Hermana Kennedy
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| It rained here all week last week, so there is so much dang mud on the roads! |
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| Yep, mud everywhere. |
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| This was the beginning of the Mother's Day celebration in Relief Society. It was followed by rice, chicken and potatoes. Followed by brownies. Followed by more rice, chicken and potatoes. Followed by pizza. We finally had to "excuse" ourselves to use the restroom because there was no way we could eat anymore food! |
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