Fan Mail

The Cranberry Ward activity girls really outdid themselves with the Christmas care package this year. It may have come a bit prematurely but I AM leaving the wrapped-up package until Christmas. The cookies, on the other hand, didn't last three days. Thank you so much! I thought I'd take some time to answer the questions, too (original spelling preserved).

Eva Morgan

Why did you want to be a missionary and how old were you?

When I was a teenager I learned a lot more about the Atonement, and as I did so I felt the need to share it with others. I love this passage from 2 Nephi 2:

 6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

 7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

 8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth...

Were you ever a missionary trainor?

Not yet! Not sure I want the experience. It'd be pretty stressful.

What's your favorite thing about being missionary?

I love feeling the Spirit work through me and blessing others. It's an awesome experience.

What is your favorite food their

Encebollado, a fish soup with onion and a bunch of other stuff. I also have really come to like beans out here. You don't really understand the purpose of beans without rice.

What was your hardest word to learn in spanish? (I'm learning Spanish this year!)

"Ferrocarril" is pretty nasty because I have a hard time rolling my r's. Likewise with "tierra." Also, "nuestro." It's not that it's a hard word to pronounce, I just don't pronounce the r very well and I end up pronouncing it like the people from the Andes here, which is just the worst accent ever.

Kate Glover

Is it hard to wake up in the morning?

Eh, you get used to it. I'd already been getting up early before the mission so it wasn't a huge adjustment for me.

Do you like getting mail?

Yes, please.

Do you like it on your mission.

Yes! It gets easier as you go along. Now that I'm more at a point where I know what I'm doing it's easier and more fun.

Olivia West

Did you like it on you mission?

WHOA there hold up I'm not done yet and don't any of you start thinking I'm even close. But, I'm confident I'll be able to say "yes" at the end. It's the best experience. :)

Where you sad when you left?

When I left home? Yeah, I guess so, but I know it was necessary and important.

Did you met new people?

Every day! Recently they told us if we're not contacting every day we can't keep the missionary spirit with us. It's a lot of fun getting to know other people and cultures. You learn a ton!

Renee Lutz

Is it ever troubling trying to do your mission? Why?

You bet. It's not easy. What's hardest for me is seeing the giant gap between where I am and where I WANT to be. But I promise you'll never grow so much as you do in the mission!

Do you think it is fun? Why?

Once I knew what I was doing it starts to be more fun. But the fun of being a missionary is as President Faust once said...

When President N. Eldon Tanner presided over the West European Mission some years ago, his slogan was “Have a good time.” One day he said to a group of missionaries in Germany, “I would like you all to have a good time.” After the meeting, one of the missionaries came up to him and said: “President Tanner, I don’t think that it is quite fair for you to tell the missionaries to have a good time. You know, the only way they can have a good time is to do their work.” President Tanner said, “Well, go have a good time.”

What was your favorite part? Why?

Up til now? There have been several specific experiences where I've learned about myself and what I need to improve. They've been hard (and not my favorite in the moment) but I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.

Well, apart from that we had a miracle this week! Two weeks ago we started to contact. We said a prayer, and in the first door we found a less-active member who'd moved here a few months ago and gladly accepted an appointment! We came back to teach her and she said it seemed like God really wanted her to keep going on the church, that that's why he must have sent us. And yesterday she came to church, even bringing her non-member husband! It was really awesome. She was just so ready to come back, without any prompting from us, a huge blessing. And she's stayed all three hours, too! I can imagine how hard that must be, going to church again after so long in a ward you don't even know. But she did it!

Apart from that, Victor, our progressing less-active, is almost rescued! We finished up the lessons, he just needs his interview and to come to church one more time. Another huge blessing.

I think I'm glad I had a rough time the week before, because I think that's helped me be way more grateful this week. 

Thanksgiving isn't a thing out here (which means people have already have their Christmas stuff up for weeks already) but I hope you guys have a good one out there!

HEY I was checking out the church history website and there was this article about a branch in our mission in the coast! It's super cool, check it out. Until now the missionaries haven't actually gotten to go out there. https://history.lds.org/article/guayacana-ecuador-virgilio-simarron?lang=eng

We made pizza this week in the apartment!

I lost my umbrella but by the time I'd finally gotten it again I got wet. It's rainy season out here...

I just liked the name. "Pe" Peruvian slang for "pues."