Everybody-
Javier Jojoa continues to be my favorite person in the world. He accompanied us again this Sunday even though he had to perform surgery at 2:00am the night before. He is also going to be recieving the Melquesidek Priesthood this coming Sunday- I think he might be getting an important calling this week too. Anyway, I´m so grateful that I have this time with my converts right now, because I usually leave my sector before I can see them progress. It isn´t every case that progresses so well like Javier.
We got the chance to talk to Javier´s sister, Natalia, this week also. She is still on track to recieve her baptism. I hope I´m here to see Javier baptize her!
Marisela is also doing much better. When we called her to set up an appointment she told us that she couldn´t because she had gone to Guayaquil because she wanted to see the temple! She went on a whim. I really have been so blessed with the people I´ve been able to know here in Ambato. It´s definitely one of my favorite places in the world.
We had a nice spiritual experience this week as well. For some reason we started walking in the wrong direction the other day, and when I realized it we decided to keep going. Not a minute later a woman stopped us, who it turns out is one of the first members of the church here in Ecuador. She told us that there was a friend of her´s in her shop who was really depressed and wanted to listen to the missionaries. So we were able to meet Maruja (Ma-rue-ha), who really does desperately need the comfort that the gospel brings. We also know Carmelina (who attends our Ward) now, who always gives us hot chocolate when we stop by!
As most of you know my little ward, Recreo, has been having some problems. It´s been pretty interesting for me, a Utah Mormon, to see how everything has gone down. The church has sent not one, but two of the Seventy to try to help work things out. This week we had the priviledge of hearing from Elder Torres, from Colombia. He was great, and fortunately the ward was able to work out all of their differences with our new Bishop. It got a little heated though, Elder Torres said to our Bishop: "Te falta todavía para ser obispo". or " You still lack as a Bishop". He´s the type of person who is compelled to be humble. He seems to be making some pretty great strides in humility this week though! My companion are feeling a lot lighter now that this burden has been resolved.
Javier Borja and his family are progressing really well! Mostly Monica, she does all of the reading and always has so many questions. We are at a bit of a stand-still with Javier, he doesn´t really want to quit drinking. Working on it!
I´ve been a little under-the-weather this week with what Javier calls Gringo-fievre, or Gringo fever. He says that all the gringo´s get it when they come to Latin America. Nausea, stomach pain, and ironically enough no fever! I seem to be completely recovered now!
Thank you for all your love and support!
Hermana Tanner
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Week 45
Ecua-fact: They divide up High School here. There are students in the morning until lunchtime, then in the afternoon until dinnertime. They even have night classes. They don´t have school lunch. Darn.
Everybody-
It´s been a slow week because of Zone Conference! We didn´t seem to get much done!
Although we did drag Javier Jojoa with us to all of our appointments yesterday. I don´t think he particularly enjoyed it...but that could be because he´s not a huge fan of buses, worse still buseta´s, they are vans that cram pretty much everybody they can in because the buses don´t run Sunday´s to the smaller locations. He really was the perfect choice though, he has such a great testimony and so many personal experiences that qualify him to help others.
In other news, Marisela didn´t fare too well this week, she drank a little on Saturday. It´s so much harder to see after Baptism. She truly feels bad and is already working on repentance. She´s is so great, always giving us references so that they can have and feel what she does.
Javier Borja and his wife Monica are also doing well. Apart from drinking all night Saturday, but he has decided to quit and we haven´t even taught the Word of Wisdom yet. They are such a beautiful little family though. I feel an extra push to help them out because Javier is Octavio´s brother (in Riobamba). It´s going to be a lot of work though!
It´s been a bit hard to get a hold of everybody this week and we are still looking for new people ready for the Gospel!
Another great week gone and not much left to go!
Hermana Tanner
Everybody-
It´s been a slow week because of Zone Conference! We didn´t seem to get much done!
Although we did drag Javier Jojoa with us to all of our appointments yesterday. I don´t think he particularly enjoyed it...but that could be because he´s not a huge fan of buses, worse still buseta´s, they are vans that cram pretty much everybody they can in because the buses don´t run Sunday´s to the smaller locations. He really was the perfect choice though, he has such a great testimony and so many personal experiences that qualify him to help others.
In other news, Marisela didn´t fare too well this week, she drank a little on Saturday. It´s so much harder to see after Baptism. She truly feels bad and is already working on repentance. She´s is so great, always giving us references so that they can have and feel what she does.
Javier Borja and his wife Monica are also doing well. Apart from drinking all night Saturday, but he has decided to quit and we haven´t even taught the Word of Wisdom yet. They are such a beautiful little family though. I feel an extra push to help them out because Javier is Octavio´s brother (in Riobamba). It´s going to be a lot of work though!
It´s been a bit hard to get a hold of everybody this week and we are still looking for new people ready for the Gospel!
Another great week gone and not much left to go!
Hermana Tanner
Monday, October 12, 2009
Week 44
Ecua-fact: Today when I mopped, I totally used diesel to kill the flea´s. I think I may be losing brain cells week to week, but that´s how it´s done here.
What a week! It was great but not without problems. My ward is still the cause of a little personal distress. Not a Sunday goes by without my companion breaking down in tears. She´s a bit prone to that. Those of you who know me would think that I would be prone to that but I cry surprisingly little in the mission.
We are currently teaching Guadalupe Eraso and Natalie Jojoa, family of Javier Jojoa. We seem to have broken a barrier with Guadalupe but she is still such a challenge. Natalia is really progressing, she does all the homework we assign her and is always ready with her Book of Mormon when we come. She even asked us to explain the Law of Chastity to her tonight, that NEVER happens. Probably because her brother is always saying "No puedo ser más casto." or
"I can´t be more chaste." It´s a bit more funny in Spanish. They are always so much fun. Javier´s nieces are also visiting and Camila says she wants to go back to Colombia "Mormona". It´s pretty awesome.
We also have a really great reference from Octavio Borja in Riobamba. We just met them yesterday, but really so great, Javier Borja and his wife Monica. Javier is Octavio´s brother and they really are ready for the gospel. They live really far out but it´s already worth the trip. Javier even paid for our Taxi back to Centro (the buses don´t go out that far). We are really excited because they have so much interest and are full of questions.
Monica Freire, Silvia Freire, and Myra Navarett are also really progressing. They came to church this week and Silvia even brought her husband, Pablo, with her. I have so much admiration for them and their courage. They are all such modern pioneers! The first 3 all have baptismal dates for the 24 of October! We are working hard to get them prepared.
We have also made some great contacts this week and are looking forward to teaching them this coming week!
Thank you for your prayers and support!
Con todo mi amor,
Whitney
What a week! It was great but not without problems. My ward is still the cause of a little personal distress. Not a Sunday goes by without my companion breaking down in tears. She´s a bit prone to that. Those of you who know me would think that I would be prone to that but I cry surprisingly little in the mission.
We are currently teaching Guadalupe Eraso and Natalie Jojoa, family of Javier Jojoa. We seem to have broken a barrier with Guadalupe but she is still such a challenge. Natalia is really progressing, she does all the homework we assign her and is always ready with her Book of Mormon when we come. She even asked us to explain the Law of Chastity to her tonight, that NEVER happens. Probably because her brother is always saying "No puedo ser más casto." or
"I can´t be more chaste." It´s a bit more funny in Spanish. They are always so much fun. Javier´s nieces are also visiting and Camila says she wants to go back to Colombia "Mormona". It´s pretty awesome.
We also have a really great reference from Octavio Borja in Riobamba. We just met them yesterday, but really so great, Javier Borja and his wife Monica. Javier is Octavio´s brother and they really are ready for the gospel. They live really far out but it´s already worth the trip. Javier even paid for our Taxi back to Centro (the buses don´t go out that far). We are really excited because they have so much interest and are full of questions.
Monica Freire, Silvia Freire, and Myra Navarett are also really progressing. They came to church this week and Silvia even brought her husband, Pablo, with her. I have so much admiration for them and their courage. They are all such modern pioneers! The first 3 all have baptismal dates for the 24 of October! We are working hard to get them prepared.
We have also made some great contacts this week and are looking forward to teaching them this coming week!
Thank you for your prayers and support!
Con todo mi amor,
Whitney
Casa Ambato
I realized I didn´t have any pictures of my apartment and I´ve lived in Ambato for more time than any of my other sectors!
You can tell which side is mine because I´m the orderly one!
You can tell which side is mine because I´m the orderly one!
Grrrr.
For those of you who are long-haired Whitney fans you will be happy to know that...
I have graduated to the big flat-iron, and I HATE IT! I miss my short hair!
I have graduated to the big flat-iron, and I HATE IT! I miss my short hair!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Week 43
Everybody-
WE did get to watch General Conference even down here in Ecuador! On the downside, I had to watch it in Spanish so I feel like I might have missed some important things...I understand almost everything at this point but they use so many old and big words in General Conference! I did get to explain warm-fuzzies to all of the latin missionaries. The translator for President Monson just said he didn´t know what they were, it was kind of hilarious. Elder Richard G. Scott and Elder Neil L. Andersen both gave their own talks in Spanish. Elder Andersen´s Spanish isn´t great he has a weird french accent but he´s intelligible. Elder Scott still speaks his spanish really well.
I loved Elder Holland´s talk the most. It´s nice to see somebody with so much energy for the gospel. His talk was very helpful for those of us on missions! It will give me some new material to use with our investigators.
I felt a little discouraged this week thinking that we weren´t getting much done. When we ended the week though I was quite surprised at our numbers. We were a little low in our lessons taught but almost every other category was higher. I think it really is true the the Lord blesses you when you spend a little extra time on your knees.
We are finding a lot of new and great investigators. Juanjosé Falconi is among them; he investigated the church about 5 years ago and recently his sister has been baptized in another Ward in Ambato and passed us the reference. He and his daughter seem to be really interested.
Also, Rosa and Oscar had us over for a Family Home Evening and we taught their neighbor, Angelica. I already know her though because Hna. Mérida and I knocked on her door when I was here before and we were teaching her children. Joselyn, David, and Cyntia. Joselyn really loves everything church related. She´s such a special kid! They all came to a session of the Conference yesterday too!
Anyway, I am happy and healthy (except for a cold, but that seems to be a permanent condition).
Love from Ecuador,
Hermana Whitney Tanner
Also Happiest of Birthdays to my Sis, M-er´s, 22 years!
AND Natalie W. I miss and love you both!
WE did get to watch General Conference even down here in Ecuador! On the downside, I had to watch it in Spanish so I feel like I might have missed some important things...I understand almost everything at this point but they use so many old and big words in General Conference! I did get to explain warm-fuzzies to all of the latin missionaries. The translator for President Monson just said he didn´t know what they were, it was kind of hilarious. Elder Richard G. Scott and Elder Neil L. Andersen both gave their own talks in Spanish. Elder Andersen´s Spanish isn´t great he has a weird french accent but he´s intelligible. Elder Scott still speaks his spanish really well.
I loved Elder Holland´s talk the most. It´s nice to see somebody with so much energy for the gospel. His talk was very helpful for those of us on missions! It will give me some new material to use with our investigators.
I felt a little discouraged this week thinking that we weren´t getting much done. When we ended the week though I was quite surprised at our numbers. We were a little low in our lessons taught but almost every other category was higher. I think it really is true the the Lord blesses you when you spend a little extra time on your knees.
We are finding a lot of new and great investigators. Juanjosé Falconi is among them; he investigated the church about 5 years ago and recently his sister has been baptized in another Ward in Ambato and passed us the reference. He and his daughter seem to be really interested.
Also, Rosa and Oscar had us over for a Family Home Evening and we taught their neighbor, Angelica. I already know her though because Hna. Mérida and I knocked on her door when I was here before and we were teaching her children. Joselyn, David, and Cyntia. Joselyn really loves everything church related. She´s such a special kid! They all came to a session of the Conference yesterday too!
Anyway, I am happy and healthy (except for a cold, but that seems to be a permanent condition).
Love from Ecuador,
Hermana Whitney Tanner
Also Happiest of Birthdays to my Sis, M-er´s, 22 years!
AND Natalie W. I miss and love you both!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)