Motorpsycho Week

FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can´t even tell you how much I love you. Christian, I can´t believe you´re a state champion! Way to go for your tennis team!!! That is so cool! As many sports as I did, we never won any state champion anything. I am so proud of you and your hard work. Way to go! Also, I can´t believe Kirsten and Karen are coming to visit! How fun! I hope all the preparations are made and everyone´s animado. And I wish I could join you for your trip to Nauvoo this summer. That´ll be so great to meet up with Brenda there, too. Aww full familia! Mamá, how did your singing go? Parker and Christian, what are you singing for Father´s Day? Also, is anyone giving a talk?? We don´t want to break tradition now! Keep up the good missionary work!

Well, guess what? I´M TRAINING!!!!!!!!! I have a daughter! Well, a daughter missionary. Her name is Hermana Arellano from Chile. She is so wonderful! She´s 19 and is so excited to work. She relies on me a lot, which is good for me because it makes me work harder. This week has been great. Opening up a sector. Getting to know the members of the branch (yes, I´m in a branch). Figuring out what we need to do to have éxito. All that good stuff. It´s been a great adventure and honestly I really like being senior companion. It´s been a tradition in my life to take a back seat when someone knows what´s going on more than I do, but then to step up to the plate when I´m the one in charge. It´s been good for me to finally step up to the plate. I realized how much of a back seat I was taking when I finally got more responsibility. I feel great, though. I like knowing what´s going on and I've definitely been relying on the Lord in all that I do. It´s been interesting, because this week, I've understood more than ever. The Gift of Tongues is REAL! Every cambio, I understand more and more, which has been a miracle...Moroni 7:33.

Also, found out today that our mission has the highest baptism record of any mission. My mission president will be ending beginning of July and has over 6,000 baptisms. And he´s so humble about it. Kinda cool.

This week, we worked hard to find new people to teach and to invite people to be baptized. We found a lot of great people, got a lot of references, but it´s been difficult because the majority of the people aren´t married...just living together. It´s hard to see, and the process of getting married is pretty difficult here, so most everyone just skips that step. I know marriage is ordained of God, and it´s essential for our happiness in this life and the life to come. I met a joven who we visited after he accepted a fecha, and he told me that his dad said he couldn't get baptized. I asked him, "But what do you want to do?" He said, "Yo quiero bautizarme." His testimony and desire to be baptized was so strong, and I just felt the love God has for all His children. Although his dad won´t let him be baptized right now, I know that in the future, he will get the opportunity. Heavenly Father wants all of His children to return to His presence and have the felicidad that comes from Eternal Life. I know that Jesucristo makes all this possible, but only through Jesucristo. We need to have faith in Him, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. That's it. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know He lives and He loves us. His arms of mercy are extended to all who come unto Him. I love the Gospel and I love serving here in Ecuador. :)

Les amo!!!!!!!!!! FELIZ DÍA DE PADRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Te amo, Papi :)


Hermana Ayer

P.S. Everyone who promised to write me, remember I only require ONE letter.

P.P.S. But I´ll hold you to that one letter.

P.P.P.S. Wedding announcements count.

P.P.P.P.S. HAPPY FATHER´S DAY in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.P.P.P.P.S. PARKER´S BIRTHDAY IS IN ONE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.P.P.P.P.P.S. I thought I´d share some pictures. A typical Ecuadorian dish. Me with Presidente Montalti. (Ignore the fact that, yes, I´m becoming a gordita.) Me and Hna. Arellano.

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. Oh motorcycle week. Good times. Every day in Ecuador is motorcycle week.


               A typical Ecuadorian Dish


            Sarah with President Montalti


               Sarah and Hermana Arellano