HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can`t believe it was this week that I talked to you. That seems like forever ago! But alas, twas not. I can`t even express how much I love you all. Thank you so much for your love and support and for your prayers in my behalf. I loved hearing your testimonies and sharing mine. It`s always a spirit-booster when I talk to and hear from you, and I want to thank you for that, too. I know that we will be a family for eternity, and I can`t even express all my gratitude for that blessing.

I wanted to send pictures this week, but my camera won`t connect to the computer. Qué bestia. But that`s life. What`s life, you might ask?

This week, before Christmas, we didn't have much going on because everyone left on vacation and the members were all busy with Christmas-y things, so we decided to serve in a traditional American way--CAROLING! We carolled to the members and presented them El Plan Misional de Familia--aka the way the members can get more involved in missionary work and we do this things they way it`s supposed to be done (the missionaries help and support the members in their missionary responsibilities). We sang and gave out no-bake cookies and everyone loved it. They commented on how we were just like the people in all those Christmas movies! The weird thing is, that`s one thing that happens in real life and not just movies--unlike most things you see on the big screen. It was cool.

Here in our ward, the members are lacking a little bit in faith--faith in their friends, families, neighbors, the other members, etc. It`s sad, because without faith, we can`t do anything! Faith is the first principle of the gospel! It`s hope. It`s belief. We always need to have hope and faith. Have faith in your friends and family and neighbors!! We can do great things! God is on our side! We`re helping to animar a los miembros aquí so that we can have success. This is the only way.

Also, happy New Years Adam today, and Halfy Anniversary last week! On Christmas, we watched On The Way Home and I bawled. Love that movie. Also, I tried cuy (guinea pig) this week! It doesn't taste that good, but it was cool to try.

I hope you have a wonderful New Years! Here, Christmas isn`t that big of a deal, but New Years is HUGE! The have superstitions that will help you have good luck for the next year: eat 12 grapes at midnight, run around the block with an empty suitcase, count money at midnight, drink champagne and throw the glass over your shoulder into the street, and they burn life-size dolls (and some even bigger) of someone or something who had a big happening during the year representing the burning of all the bad that happened and makes room for new good things to happen. It`s pretty exciting. I`ll let you know how it all goes. Last night, people already started the parties and were even listening to Ace of Base! I thought of you, Mom!

Well, I`m out of time. Take care! Exito!!! Rabbit rabbit! See you next year! I`ll be the first one to walk in Ecuador in 2014 on Mars!!


Hermana Ayer


P.S. Pres. Torres`s family likes Master of Disguise.

P.P.S. I was reading through the December 2011 Liahona and Whitney Stephenson was in there singing in a choir with Pres. Holland in the background!

P.P.P.S. 11 months?? Whaaaaat?

P.P.P.P.S. D&C 68:6

Happy Christmas Adam!

FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you believe that we will be speaking through the means of Skype in 2 days?? That is so nuts! Time really flies! I feel like it was yesterday that I was talking to you on Mothers Day, and actually, yesterday even feels like last year when I was home for Christmas! Weird. Happy Joseph Smith´s birthday/Christmas Adam today!! Also, yesterday marked one year since going through the temple. Seriously, time flies. So now that we have everything arranged for Wednesday, I feel a lot more tranquila. Talk to you at 11!

This week, I´ve been back in Cuenca. Definitely a different change of pace from traveling and singing all day. I had a temporary companion in Guayaquil, but now she´s my real companion! Hermana Nazer from Coldwell, ID. Like Mr. Nazer from Gilford, NH. She´s so cool. But doesn´t have dark hair like him. We get along really well. Her last area was the Galapagos, where Hna. Adams now is. They just switched places, hence we are companions. It´s been a while since I´ve said the word hence, so I hope I used it correctly.

Bueno, I wanted to give a little run down of my trips last week getting to know the mission.....

Tuesday: We got to go to the temple! It was such a wonderful day! We performed a few songs for the Temple President, too. That night, we performed in Cisne, which is apparently the most dangerous part of the mission. We were going to places no hermanas had gone before. The chapel even has an electric fence. Pretty cool, huh?

Wednesday: We travelled through the night and performed the next day in Loja. Let´s just say that if we ever come back to Ecuador, we have to go to Loja. It is gorgeous! Loja and Cuenca are similar in temperature--Spring-like weather all year-round. Beautiful.

Thursday: We performed in Cuenca! On the ride from Loja to Cuenca, I met a 10-year-old who told me he loved me. It was so cute!

Friday: We sang at an orphanage in Cuenca where a few people in my ward work. It was so fun! They have a lot of volunteers from the U.S. who go for a few months. It´s through OSO or something like that. The Spirit was so strong. That night, we performed in Santa Rosa! I can´t even tell you how much happiness and joy I felt to see my conversos there! Ah!! It was so awesome! I felt incredibly happy and I know that that is the Spirit of missionary work! How great shall be your joy if you bring one soul unto me. D&C 18

Saturday: Only comes once a year. We performed in Machala. In the morning, we had permission to sleep for 2 hours more because we hadn´t slept hardly at all from all the traveling, and right when we went to lay down, someone started playing acoustic Justin Beiber. It was horrible because when there is music, I´m listening to it. Gah! But the performance that night was the best ever. They had set up decorations and speakers and it was just gorgeous! At the end, the stake presidente asked us if he could have the congregations give us a round of applause and Presidente told him it was his stake center, so he could do what he wanted, so he had everyone applaud for us! I felt so weird, but it was a great turn out and the Spirit was so strong when we were singing.

Sunday: We went to Naranjal! It´s a branch that just got started about 4 months ago. The elders are the Branch President, etc. After church we ate iguana, which was cool! AT the performance, it was really small, but beautiful. The spirit was incredible, and there was a little girl who I gave a hug to at church because she wasn´t feeling well, and at the performance, she was better! She was so cute! My voice was shot after all the performances, but I have such a stronger testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ. I KNOW HE LIVES! He loves us!!!!!!!!!

I love you all so much! I´ll talk to you on Wednesday!!!!!! Get your questions prepared! haha LES AMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hermana Ayer


P.S. Elder Adamson was the one who played the piano in our musical group, and his mom is from NH and played field hockey! Apparently she has a plaque there in Winnacunnit High School. Rosemarie Selfridge. Maybe she played against Joan? Also, his dad, Ron Adamson, along with Hna. Campbell´s family, knows the Della-Pianas! He was the seminary, etc. Coordinator for NY/VT.

Noooo tiiiiiiime

Family!!!

So, I don´t have time to write much, but I wanted to let you know that we finished the musical performance and it was awesome! We´re traveling back to our sector soon, and I´m not sure if I´ll have time to write in the Terminal. But please know that I love you!!! The chuch is true! Christ lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hermana Ayer

P.S. Halfy Birthday to Parker tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.P.S. I got to go to the temple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.P.P.S. I finally got your other package and Dee´s package! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Famosos

QUERIDA FAMILIA!!!!!!!!

We´re famous. We´re breaking ground. Going places where no one has gone before. Doing things no one has ever done before. It´s pretty sweet.

We had our first 4 performances last week!! And they went so well! We´ve been in the zones in Guayaquil this week, and the week que viene, we´ll be traveling to the rest of the mission (except for Zamora Chichinpe [which is all jungle...I was really sad to hear we weren´t going to that part. Maybe someday they´ll have Hermanas there, and I can open a sector in the jungle.] and the Galapagos).

Remember how the only real solo I´ve had was "That´s too expensive!" when I was in Beauty and the Beast in 9th grade? Well, I¨m officially a soloist now. Meaning, I´ve had to sing a solo every day for the past 2 weeks and I¨m not nervous anymore! I even got tears out of some people yesterday! Tender mercies for someone with an un-soloist-y voice made to sing in choirs/groups.

It´s been so fun to go around to all the zones and get to know different members and missionaries. I hadn´t seen my first hija, Hna. Arellano, since we were companions four months ago, but I saw her on Friday! It was so wonderful! Also, I saw people from my ward in Guayaquil (Los Esteros) at our performance yesterday! I was only there for 6 weeks, but they still remembered me! I was so happy! There was one joven who we helped reactivate, and he´s leaving to go on a mission in 2 weeks to the same mision as Logan (Neuquen)!! I¨m so happy!

At the performance yesterday, a choir sang The Shepherd´s Carol...in English! I got to play for them, and it reminded me of all those times singing that song in a round with Christian!!! Miss you, bud!

Also, with this week came cambios de compañeras. Hna. Adams who was basically saving our spot there in Cuenca and keeping our program up just got called to serve...in the Galapagos. So the other hermana who was there is my new companion. Her name is Hna. Nazer from Idaho and she´s a red head! I don´t look white anymore. haha She also is singing with us now even though she came up in the middle. Fun fun!

This week, we had some excitement, though. Our house got a little leak. And by little leak, I mean huge flood. We woke up one day, went downstairs, and found a rainstorm coming from the ceiling. We now have tons of bowls and pans on the floor catching one leaky drop after the next. A guy has come to work and fix it for the past week. Hopefully he´ll be done soon. I hate living in disarray.

And thanks for the package!!!!!!!!!! I loved everything in there!!!! You know me sooooo well! It also got here in a week and a half! Super speedy quick!! Easy cheese was the best! I shared it with everyone. The gringos loved it and the latinos were excited to try it. It´s been too hot to drink the hot chocolate and apple cider, so I¨ll save that for when I get back to cuenca. EVeryone loved the balsam spray, too, and everyone comments on how pretty the necklace is! I love it! And singing the Christmas songs and reading the Christmas stories in English is awesome!! Still have yet to eat the bacon...but I¨m excited. :] You´re the best!!!!!!!!!!! And dad, I LOVED your letter! Especially the drawing! haha thanks!!!

This week, we ate lunch at a family´s house and they had a HUGE, black cat. Guess what his name was? Salem. As in named after Salem Saberhagen from Sabrina!! He was fatter than Sunkist. Even fatter than Megan Wernig´s cat Rocket. So great.

We also found an antigua investigadora from some other hermanas after knocking doors and getting them literally shut in our faces. It was a tender mercy after a long night. I love the Gospel and know it changes lives. It´s for everyone! Share it! Be an example! Invite someone to church this week! This is the truth! Help bring people to the truth!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hermana Ayer


P.S. Remember how Parker was going to send me a copy of his going away mission talk? Can you please send that to me??

P.P.S. There´s a new elder in my mission from Fresno, CA. Dad (or anyone who served there, too), did you know a Riffel family? He has hair almost like Elder Jardine.

P.P.P.S. Happy Pearl Harbor Day last week, Friday the 13th this week, and December 14th on Saturday (besides the fact that it´s Adrian Tidd´s birthday, it only comes once a year)!!

Singing a Song is Fun to Do

QUERIDO FAMILIA!!!!!!

So this week, we've been singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing and singing.

My voice is about gone, but it´s ok. We sing after studies in the morning until 6 PM, then we go out and work. It´s been kinda nuts, but it´s awesome. We have a group of 8 people, and my temporary companions are Hna. Campbell from Boston and Hna. Murri from Sandy. It's been great. They are so fun! Three of us Hnas. are singing, Hna. Murri is playing the violin, an Elder is playing the piano, other Elder is playing the flute, the other elder is singing with us, and the other Hna. is flipping pages. It´s been so fun. The performance we´re doing is De Nosotros El Mayor by Kenneth Cope. All the songs are about Jesus Christ, and in the 2 next weeks, we´re going to perform to all the zones in the mission (except for the Galapagos). it´s going to be awesome! I´m reallye xcited to express something so beautiful and powerful of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I´m nervous, though, because I have to sing a solo. It's Sus Manos..:I guess in English the song is His Hands...tools of creation...la la la....I don´t remember the words, but I have to sing a solo and I´m nervous. But it´ll be awesome. I´ll just pray...a lot.

Thanksgiving wasn't anything special, but Hna. Campell, Hna. Murri and I ate fake white bread with fake butter and real brown sugar to celebrate. Yummmmm. Talk about good, ol American cooking. But I did a tribute to William Brewster. Such a great man.

Also, on my mission, I've come to understand the importance of the Articles of Faith. I may have even written this to you like 5 months back (I at least wrote it in my journal), but the Articles of Faith are incredible! There is so much doctrine missiong in all the other churches, and the Articles of Faith explain so clearly the Doctrine of Christ, and what we believe. They are vital! Read L. Tom Perry´s talk "Las Doctrinas y los principios que se encuentran en Los Articulos de Fe" from the Priesthood Session of Conference!

Anyway, I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that Christ is our Savior. I know He loves me. I know He came to the world for us! He´s incredible! He lived a perfect life that all started with a humble birth. He loves us, and I¨m so glad I have the opportunity to share this message through music. I love Jesus Christ. And I know He loves me! Follow His example!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hermana Ayer :]


P.S. Rabbit Rabbit

P.P.S. If you send a package, which I´m not expecting anything, it can´t be over 4 kilos. Ever. Because it costs a lot of money to get the package out of the post office. Just a notice from our lideres. I just want hand written letters, the ensign in english, and that´s it!!!!!!! I love you!!!!!!!

La familia Vanegas