Buenas tardes, Presidente Murphy,
Alejandro was baptized on Saturday! It was really great because he had a lot of support there. Last Tuesday, we showed up for an appointment with them, and he and his mom opened the door crying. We just hugged them for a while before going inside and finding out what was wrong. Turns out, her husband told her that he doesn't feel anything for her and wants a divorce. Alejandro was almost hysterical, and at one point, starting bawling and ran into his room. After a little while, we were able to help them distract themselves from their thoughts and talk about it. We thought at first that maybe they wouldn't want to go ahead with the baptism because that's a lot to handle in one week, but before we could even say anything, they started talking about how excited they were for the baptism. Jennifer invited all of her family in Quito to come, and she invited the whole ward too. And later in the week, she told us that position is cool, because what happened with his dad really reinforced his testimony. I guess before, whenever his mom would talk about his baptism, he said he was excited, but not really showing it. But after all of this she said that he walk around talking about his baptism all the time and seeing his family and how he knew that everything would be okay. I am happy to report that his entire family and a lot of the ward showed up, as did his dad. It was really beautiful, especially when Alejandro bore his testimony and said that he knows families can be together forever, and that he knows that the church is true.
We also have José Inlago with a baptismal date for the 23rd, and a marriage date for the 18th. They are doing well. José is waking up early in the mornings to read his Book of Mormon, and they are studying together at night. We just really need the ward's support in their activity on Saturday to earn money to get married. But José is progressing really well, and he loved stake conference, especially since so many members from Otavalo were talking to him.
We also have Adrian Yamberla set for the 23rd, so he and José will be baptized the same night. He is the son of Dolores Yamberla. We talked to you about him this week, and his mom had an interview about her activity and everything. He says that she's very active and good to go and that he knows Adrian will stay active. Dolores is going through some difficulties in her life, but she talks to us all the time about how the church brought light back into her life after a dark time, and she won't leave again. Adrian is reading his Book of Mormon, and they came to Alejandro's baptism on Saturday.
Milton is set for July 7th in Latino. He is such a great kid, and it was really sad. Last night, we went to visit them and got there to find his inactive older brothers drinking, and Milton and one of his sisters crying. We weren't sure why, but it turns out that it's the anniversary of their dad's death, and Milton is sad because he grew up without a dad. It was a little hard because of his brothers, but when they went into the other room, Milton told us that he wanted to tell us something. He went onto this speech of how the church is true, and he knows that if his brothers would just come back, their family would be happier. He knows it's hard for his mom, and he wants to always support her and help her and his sisters. He wants to go to church, and he wants to be baptized so that he can see his dad again someday. I felt like in the moment in 3 Nephi when they say that the children began to speak marvelous things that couldn't be written, because I couldn't believe what I was hearing from a nine-year-old. I felt the Spirit while he spoke, and I know that what he said is true.
There really is so much sadness here in Otavalo, but I think that's what helps the work progress. These people need the gospel in their lives because it brings joy and peace to their hearts. Even amidst their trials, they are able to stay firm in their faith in Christ and His Atonement. It makes me so sad to see all of their problems because they open their hearts so easily to us, but their faith and determination to follow Christ amazes me. I love this beautiful place, and I love the people here. Thank you for allowing me to come back here.
Well that's about it for this week. Thank you for all that you do. I will see you tomorrow. Have a wonderful week.
Hermana Kennedy
And now the fun update, or shall we say the fun-date?
Okay, so this week was awesome because I had three exchanges with three awesome hermanas! I love the hermanas here in Campo, and it was so fun to have time to get to know them better. So, the first day of exchanges was super funny for a couple of reasons.
First, we went to a pet store to teach a recent convert named Maritza. She's super sweet, and it was super cool, because as we were sitting teaching her, the vet for the pet store walked in and sat and started to listen to us as well, so we got to introduce ourselves to her.
As we were finishing up, these two teenagers came in and sat down, waiting for the vet to finish her other appointment. Anyway, I'm like, "Awesome! More people!" so I contact them. Well, one tells me that he doesn't believe in God and he's all science-y, and I'm like, "That's cool. Me too, and I still believe in God." He then asked us what we do as missionaries which led to him asking us if we go to parties. Basically, he was trying to flirt with us, but little did he know that everything he was saying was directly opposite to what we believe as missionaries, so I was like, "Okay, let's skedaddle out of here." I left first, and my companion, Hermana Rodriguez asked me after we left, "Did you hear what he said?" I was like, "What?" "He said that if we went to parties, he would invite us." That got us laughing for while, since we obviously wouldn't be able to accept his invitation anyway. #ThatHermanaLife
We then headed to correlations and for some reason, in the room in the chapel, there was a STUFFED CHARIZARD! We have correlation with our mission leader and with the elders since we share the ward. So the elders start doing a photo shoot with the Charizard, and then ask Hermano Chuquin (our mission leader) if he knows if it belongs to anyone. He says no, and that they can take it. So we head out.
What you need to know is that what always happens when we leave the building is that the elders lock up the chapel behind us, and we hermanas walk in the same direction as the elders are going. Without fail, they will come up suddenly behind us and scare us, so I decided to turn the tables on them. When I heard their footsteps behind me, I unhooked my umbrella from my bag and whipped around and yelled in their faces, "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Needless to say, the looks on their faces were priceless, but even better was the fact that one had the Charizard in his hands, so it looked like I scared all THREE of them! Fun times.
Also, with Hermana Moss on another exchange, we were contacting pretty high up in the hills of our sector when we came across a pig. Well, I love pigs, and Hermana Moss said, "Scratch its belly." So, I crouched down and started scratching his belly, and he flopped on his side, and goodness me, was that a happy pig?! He was so cute!!! And unlike some humans I know, he was willing to listen to our message :-) Seriously, I love animals. They're the best.I'm also learning how to make dream catchers. I've never been like, "Wow! Dream catchers!" but they are so cool once you learn the mechanics of them. Hermana Dolores makes them to sell, and so when we go over, we teach her and help her make the dream catchers. Yesterday, she actually gifted me this gorgeous printed one for helping! It was so sweet. But man, they are a ton of work. I'm thinking I should start my own business when I get home :-)
Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARKIE!!! How old are you? 25? Man, you're so old.
And in response to all of the family news, I feel so happy that the house finally sold. Like, I feel like you and Daddy can get started with your lives again.
Also, I hadn't heard about President Nelson's challenge to fast from social media for a week. I'll give it a try this week too ;-)
Man, I want to be in Young Women's with you. That sounds so fun! Maybe for the two weeks I'm home, I can be your assistant :-)
Yes, yellow is a very happy color. I've actually been thinking about my room at college, and I'm buying stuff here that all has the same color scheme so that it'll be beautiful and Ecuador-y and make me happy.
I also sent in my other summer assignment to my hall advisor last week, but I apologized if there were any typos and explained that I only have a few minutes to work on it, and the Ecuadorian keyboards aren't great. She wrote back, "Sooooo, just realized that you are still on your mission. Don't worry about doing the assignments right now. You can do them when you get back!" Isn't that awesome?
I'm feeling much happier this week, because I got some breaks from that trial we all know looms over every missionary. When I saw Hermana Knapp in Quito for leadership council, I just hugged her, Mommy, and started crying. I love her so much, and I love that she understands how I feel. Me Monsters are always difficult for anyone, I think. But the hermanas here are AMAZING, helping me feel like we are working together towards a goal.
And I can't wait to get your morale package for our sweet hermanas! I'm going to make invitations for the party and use all the decorations and tasty treats you send, and we're going to have a GRAND old 4th of July!
Well, that's a very long email, but it's because I have a good, fast keyboard today. Man, I love good technology.
Okay, I LOOOOOVVVVVVVEEEEEEE YYYYOOOOUUU ALLLLLLLL!!!!!! Have a fantabulous week! Haben sie eine schöne Woche!!!!! I'm practicing my German. Is that the right grammar? Hehe.
Love,
Hermana Kennedy
 |
| Leadership Council |
No comments:
Post a Comment