Testimonies and My top 10 unforgetable Ecuadorian MOMENTS!

Hello my fabulous family! I would say that I miss you but you are around me all the time. (In case you have not been keeping up on my blog, I am home with medical issues). So the first sentance really is not that rude. :) 

I am not sure what to write about this week. I guess I will start with a quick update...

1) I am still waiting to be reassigned...(I was here waiting exactly a year ago)

2) I have no idea where I will be assigned next (but I can't leave the states).

3) I will be just as excited as when I got my first mission call, when I get the next.

So what have I been up to this week. 

Well, just like all other weeks, I have been reading the Book of Mormon and am in one of my favorite parts about how Alma the Elder was converted and what he did to organize the church during the time of the wicked King Noah. Just to give a quick background. Alma lived during the time of a wicked King who did not want anything to do with religion, as he was just doing whatever he wanted. A man named Abinidi, came into their city and started to teach the words of Christ to the people. Abindi was thrown in prision for teaching the people and brought before the wicked King Noah and his priests. One of his priests was named Alma (the Elder). As Abinidi taught King Noah the words that the Lord wanted him to share, Abindi would not deny Christ to save his life. And once he was done teaching all that the Lord wanted, King Noah, put him to death. Alma (the Elder), knew what Abinid said was true, and did not want Abanidi to die, he tried to convince the wicked King and could not. So, instead teh King said that Alma was a trader. Alma ran from the city to save his life. 

Alma not only gave up his seat on the counsel of Elders, he also gave up everything, and left his riches, and worldly things in the city as he fled for his life. Why, you might be asking? He knew that what Abindi had told him was true and he wanted to share that with others. 

This week I had an amazing opportunity to share my missionary experiences with the Young Men and Young Women of my ward. I was so nervious and had no idea what I was going to share with them. The bishop introduced me and then I got up to talk. Not knowing what to share or how I was going to talk for 40 minutes. I grabbed (the book I love...of course that is the Book of Mormon), and started to share my experiences. We talked a lot about why it is important to be converted and not just have a testimony.

So you might be asking what is the difference between these two...a converstion and a testimony. Well, let me see if I can explain. "A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves His children; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior's true Church on the earth; and that the Church is led by a living prophet today. With this foundation, a testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel." - From LDS.org.

Converstion to me, is something that comes when you have a testimony and then you want to share it with other people.

I shared with them how important it is to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and to study it daily, because as we do that, we will fill our spiritual "gas tank". I also told them how important it is to pray daily for an opportunity to share the gospel with a friend. I admitted that I was never great at this. It takes time. When you are a missionary it is easier (I think it is because you have a dedicated calling to share the gospel). But even as members of this great church it is important to share the gospel with the people you love. 

I had such an awesome time sharing my mission experience with them and I hope that I helped them be more inspired. We also talked about other things like what is my favorite day of the week...

Of course if you are a missionary, it's MONDAY! P-day. If I had to pick another day of the week it would be Sunday for obvious reasons, right, church. 

As I wait I have gained new perspectives on my mission and have taken the time to reflect on my time down in Ecuador. I will never forget my companion (the one and only Hermana Y), who was also my trainer and we spent 4 months together. 

So to end this weeks posts, I thought I would post about my top 10 unforgetable Ecuadorian MOMENTS!

#10 Washing my clothes by hand...that was kind of a joke...Hermana Y keep telling me one day I would get it. Well that day never came because the Bishop's daughter offered to wash our clothes. :)

#9 Getting MORONI district t-shirts

#8 Fresh coconut ice cream for 25 cents...you might be getting the idea that I love FOOD and you are RIGHT

#7 Riding the public buses...it was like a 50 cent roller coaster that you swear you won't get on again

#6 Watching fireworks on NEW YEARS from inside our house...we couldn't sleep due to the entire sky being full of morters...and with the constant bomb bomb bomb...who could sleep?

#5 Watching how people celebrating CARNIVALAS...it's kind of like the color run where you peg people with colors and water.

#4 Getting kissed by an Iguana - it actually bit me on the ear. I have never freaked out more.

#3 Getting to know the ward of Happy Town! I LOVE THEM! They are my Ecuadorian family.

#2 Teaching the G family and watching their family become active again in the church

#1 Spending 5 months in ECUADOR in the GUAYAQUIL OESTE MISION 

First moments in Ecuador @ the airport

Well, that is about all folks. I hope next week I will be updating you with where my next adventure takes me.

Love you mucho! 

Hermana Weller

And some more random photos from the week....

Lunch with my sisters