Transferred to Machala, Ecuador!

Note:  This email was short because we had spoken via Skype just the day before.  Rachel was transfered last week and is now in the city of Machala. 

Facts about Machala

1. Machala is 3 hours away from Guayaquil
2. There are a lot more pobre parts (poor) and the streets are really dusty
3. since we are in a field, there are a lot more trees, weeds, and weeds here are a lot prettier than they are in the US...
4. My sector is huge and we have to take tons of taxis

Here is the shpeel: when I arrived in Machala, the hermanas that were in my casa had their own programs for investigators (we put on the wall for the month of May our baptismal dates, the investigators have to attend 3 weeks of church before they are baptized) but they changed and so me and my companion have the other hermana's program for baptism, its a little weird, but it is inspired and we just go with it. hopefully I made sence, probably not.

We have 4 new fechas, all of whom i don't know really well: Jasmin who is 16, Johnny who I believe is 30, and Estefany who is 8 ( I am not really sure how she became a fecha because she is only 8 but okay)

Last week, I think I got a little trunkie, but I realized a way to get over it, its just to get over it and stop thinking about myself and just focus on one moment at a time. I have been praying every night to have charity for all those that I teach and just focus on the needs of the investigators, when i do that...the day passes by so fast. I really do like the area a lot, the people are a lot more open to hearing the gospel.

There are a lot of things that I need to work on, especially with the language, it is hard for me to understand the needs of my invesitgators but I know if I listen with the spirit, the spirit will be able to indicate to me what it is they need. one scripture that I read today was in Jacob 5:71-72 and it just talked about how the Lord worked with the servants in the vinyard, I know he is working along side me and directing me, I just need to have faith and let the spirit guide, so that I can rejoice with him in all the work that I have done for his children. Although trials pass, I have a testimony of the restored gospel and that Christ lives. I cant wait until I can see him one day. Love you all!

Same Sector, New Companion, and "Intercambios."

We had intercambios this weekend, and I went with Hermana Schiller, her sector is on the Galapagos!! She is really awesome and has such a happy spirit. She is the only 2 people in her family who are active, she is really strong and such a good example that she on a mission. I really surprised myself. It was awesome to be able to take the lead and teach the investigators. We broke our record with lessons with member, we had 6 and I didnt even need my trainer! I know the area, the member know me, and I am able to do this. The Lord keeps showing me that I can do this, and when I start to think of myself, and feel tired mentally, I do this things that I need to. When I focus on my conversos, I no longer feel the way I feel. I want Giovanna, Eduardo, and Francisco to progress. They are so special and I know that if I do all I can to help them, they will be able to have strong testimonies for life. Recieving baptisms is great, but when they progress, endure to the end, and go to the temple...that is what matters to me. and That is part of our purpose, they endure to the end and reciece their covenants in the temple. 

For a long time I wondered why I am still in Centenario, but I know that it is because I need to help Giovanna, Eduardo, and Francisco, they need me because no other missionary knows them the way I do. 

I read in Jacob 1:17-19, and it was just after Nephi had died and the people started to become more wicked, but Jacob, was consecrated a priest for these people, and has taught them in temple the things of the Lord, he knows that it his responsibility to magnify his office and answer the sins of the people upon his head, if he did not teach them the word of God with all diligence where their blood might not come on his garments, or their reason for falling was not his culpa (fault) he knows that he will not have to answer for them during judgment.  I realized this relates to missionary work, we as missionaries go through the temple before we are set apart, and we learn about the Plan of Salvation in the temple, and that everyone is child of a loving heavenly father. We are set apart because it is a hard job, but it worth it. and we have a heavy job description, the salvation of the childern of God is in our hands, but if we labor dilligently with all of our souls to teach them and bring them to Christ, we will not have to answer for them at judgment. This is a calling that is more than a trip, it is a lifetime calling and we are helping so many people. I hope that I can do the best I can to bring these people to Christ, and I hope that people will accept him! 
Love you all! 

Of New Companions, Fanesca and Testimonies in Spanish

So my newest companion is named Hermana Cambal, she is from Puyo, Ecuador which is the Frontera de las Sierras y la Ciudad. I am really lucky because I get to learn actually ecuadorian Spanish, and learn a lot of things from her because she knows the culture. It was really hard at first, to accept the fact that there were cambios, but after a few days, when I saw the way she teaches, and the new ideas she has, she is really Pilas! I have a ton things to learn from her, she knows the gospel and is really strong in the scriptures, and has a lot of different and awesome ideas

A couple days ago we made pizza with family with part members. We were able to kind of have a stronger bond with them and show them that we were serviceable. It was a nice change and it was really fun. I hope that the more we serve people like this, the more they can trust us and are comfortable with us sharing the gospel with them, and them accepting it.

This week, the holiday Semana Santa happened, it is basically like Easter and everyone basically holds crosses and flowers, walks around in the streets together, and sing sad songs in tribute to the crucifixion of Christ. They have this tradition in making fanesca. fanesca is a soup where they use dried fish, uncooked frijoles, egg, maduros, and vegetables. I had fanesca with tuna in it. I have heard that different opinions from missionaries about fanesca, but it actually isnt bad. It is cool to try something new!

There are a lot of pluses and minuses to the mission, although there are ton of baptisms there a ton of menos activos! The easiest type of person to baptize is niños because they are the most humble and the most accepting, however if they have no support, they will most likely fall away. I have seen a lot of people who said they were baptized in the church, but have not come back for many reasons. It is so sad to see them not want to repent and not want them to come back. The gospel will improve thier lives, going back to our sins only will make us more miserable. Wickedness never was happiness. It is so important to have support, but it is also important to have a foundation. We need to always read the scriptures and pray. It is the small things that strengthens our testimony and belief in Christ.

The Lord everyday has shown me that I can do this. There are a lot of days where I feel I can't get through another day and we will not be able to find people, but we do. I have the spirit with me and the spirit talks to me and inspires me. The spirit helps me to say what I need to say, and I know that people listen to me. Words have always been my biggest asset, I always to help people with them, and I know I am. I am blessed with the words of life and the gift of tongues, I have authority to preach the gospel.
yo sé que Jesucristo vive y él es me salvador y mi vida.

Yo sé que la iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los últimos dias es verdadera. La Unica manera nosotros podemos regresar la presencia de Dios es mediante su evangelio y su enseñanzas y nuestra fe y esperanze. La Quiro muchismo, no puedo esperar por su proxima carta.

Hermana Arnold

My Typical Day (with a small tribute to my mom)

Herman Arnold and Ayer recreating a pic
from her mother's mission

A typical day here is to wake up at 6:30 am, pray , wrokout, get ready at 7, have breakfast at 7:30 , then at 8 we have estudios personales, then after that we have companionship study for 2 hours, then at 11 we have idioma estudios. At 12 pm we start proselyting. usually we visit one or two people before lunch and then we go to lunch at 1 pm. We have about an hour to eat, then we proselyte from 2-9 p.m, we teach converso rescientes, menos activos, and investigadores. if we don't have any sitas (appointments) that is when we just start talking to people on the street we either invite them to go to church or invite them to be baptized. I have learned that it is important to talk to everyone until we find the right ones (mangos bajos). At 9 p.m we return to the house, we plan for the next day for about 30 minutes , we inform the district leader about our progress, and after we write in our journals and get ready for bed...that is my day!

Sister Weiler and her companion circa 1989.

I am getting a new companion this week.  I am staying Centenario and Hermana Ayer is training another hermana and they are opening up a new sector in Cuenca. I am really jealous that they get to go and really sad that I don't get be with Hermana Ayer...We have been through a lot these past 9 weeks, its crazy to think that we are going to part. I know this is the Lord´s will and we are both going to grow in some shape or form. I think we are going to be friends forever.  Seriously, she is like my best friend now.

Things have been really good in Centenario, but still it is one sector that is little more duro than others. Duro, meaning hard hearted. Hermana Ayer said at one point she had 11 investigators and right now in Centenario, we only have 3. Santo Rosa is more pobre and campo (poor and field/ valley) people are more accepting. In Centenario, there are more people who have money and cars, so people don't like to listen as much. But the one thing I have noticed about this sector is that, even though people don't like to listen as much, the people that do are Seguro( sure) and they know for sure that they want to be baptized, they don't just get baptized on a whim. I have noticed that in order to be fruitful, we have to be very obedient...its not as easy to receive so many new investigators. The members of the Ward are so helpful and the mission leader works really hard to keep the members active and help the converso rescientes. Hermana Ayer said that the ward is probably the most solid in all of Guayaquil, the members have such strong testimonies of missionary work, they help us a ton!

I love the members and the area however, I have to break through many mental barriers. These past 9 weeks have gone by fast but they have also gone by really slow, at times I wish I were somewhere else. I guess these cambios are good because it is going to help stretch me and change things up a bit . I am terrified because I have a Latina Companion, and so far this is my first. I have to show her around Centenario to get used to things and I am so nervous, because I have depended so much on Hermana Ayer...its going to be a lot on me for a while. I speak pretty good Spanish for only be here 2 months, but I know it is going to be a challenge because I still have a lot to learn. Looks like the Lord is going to bless me, I just need to stretch my wings and fly from the nest. I am capable of leaving the nest! I know the Lord has a plan for me and he just wants me to grow, I am so grateful to be in Ecuador and to be able to speak Spanish. I am so grateful to have the knowledge that God lives and that God communicates to his children. I am so grateful to be born into a family with the gospel, I realize that even though I am blessed, I have a big responsibility to help others come unto Christ and find thier families. I need to remember all the blessings that I have.

Elder Utchdorf said something that I really liked: could I suggest, as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? in other words, im suggesting that instead of being thankful in our circumstances--whatever they may be...true gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. it comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will.

We need to always remember our blessings, and during both hard times and good times to have a thankful disposition, having eye of faith and hope that someday everything is going to be okay and these trials of life are only temporary. During the ups and downs i need to look at the bright side of things and need to see the reason that I am going through that trial, and one day I will see what that prepared me for. I know that this life is short and that we go through a lot of hard things, but it is not in comparison to all the things we will go through in the eternities. As Elder Utchdorf said, we are not made for endings, our lives are only made to begin and never end. This mission is only a year and half and I know this experience is going to shape me for the rest of my life. I am blessed to have these experiences, I know that this mission will sustain me forever.

I love you all!

Hermana Arnold

Fruits of Labor and Just Fruit!

Lots of Fruit in Ecuador...This one, Passionfruit

I am an in the city Guayaquil, Centenario. it is a richer area, a lot of people have cars and actually have fairly nice homes. Habiscuses and other tropical flowers grow outside people´s homes, they are so beautiful and people in the U.S would kill to have these kind of flowers! People here really love rice and Plátanos (really big plantain) there are two types, verde, green and flavorless, you have to cook it and you make chifles and patacones with these. Then there are Madures wich are mas dulce (sweet) and you make Madura Fritas with them, you cook them as well. They are both really good.

I am actually doing fairly well with the language. it is easier for me to just listen to people talk than for me to talk, even though I am fully capable of holding a conversation with somebody. I need to have more confidence in my abilities. The fastest way to learn the language is to listen to what common words people say, study them, and study the scriptures! When you know the doctrine and do all you can to serve people, the Lord will bless you with the Gift of Tongues!

Arnold and Ayer with Giovana at her baptism

The people are hospitable here! Every time we go to someone´s house they offer us jugo, agua, or cola or anything that they have. The people love to talk and tell their life stories. At times it is unrelated to the lessons, but it shows they trust us, and they love to have company! And also Latinos love that upbeat hymns, and it does not matter if they are in tune or the harmony, they just sing with conviction and testimony, it is awesome!

Saturday was got 8 references from a member and invited so many people to come to church. We were positive that we were going to lograr out metas ( reach our goals) which was 10 compremetidos a assistar a la Iglesia. We woke up early one Sunday morning, to walk to thier houses, and nadie (noone) woke up and noone wanted to come with us .We were devestated because we also missed the Santa Cena. It was a really hard Sunday, my body was tired and just wanted to go home and sleep.

I learned that God withholds miracles from us because he is testing us, we need to fulfill our capacity or our potentcial. We haven't been inviting enough people to be baptized, Lately I have felt a burden, this is how I usually feel when I run a race and I dont give it my all, I am going to have peace until we give it our all and invite everyone to be baptized. Afterall that is our purpose. We need to have faith that someone will accept our message. I also learned from Hermana Ayer, that if we have trials or we have problems, we need to understand the root of our problems, like Nefi when he broke his bow. We have our agency to change our situations, and trust in God that he can help us fix it!

I just need to remember his will and he has all power to give us miracles! We just need to constantly change and trust in God! Max Lucado said, ´God loves you just the way you are but he refused to leave you that way." This life is our time to prepare to meet God. The Lord knows best; he knows our potential, I love you all!

Hermana Arnold

Miracles and Difficulties

This week I experienced a miracles and desafíos (difficulties). The first experience that I had, was at a baptism, me and one of my companion went to of one of the investigators of the Hermanas in our district. As a goal of our zone, we planned to invite our nuevos fechas ( investigator with Baptismal date) to the baptism so they can experience what the service is like. We planned to invite 3 of our fechas including 3 menos activos. Only 2 of our menos activos came, and 0 fechas. It was a bummer, however, the miracle happened with the menos activa Elsie. She has been inactive for most of her life, she 16 years old, and doesnt even remember her own baptism. We have been trying really hard to get her back to church, so far she has been really closed off and shy. I think it has been hard for her because she knows she has to change her life to come back to church. The truth is hard to hear. For a while, we werent sure if she was going to progress. But the Lord showed us people can and have desires to change.

She on her own went to a Noche de Hogar activity and she went with us to the baptism! So after we got to the church, we left her with the people who were attending the baptism and walked to get our other menos activa. When we came back with our menos activa, Elsie's little 8 year old brother was there with her! This was a miracle because this little boy wanted us to teach him, he had desires to be baptized! We didn't even think to invite him. The Lord inspired someone to bring him, it was super chévere! Elsie was welcomed by all the youth, and gave her kisses and hugged her (latinos are very touchy and loving, this is the way that they show love) They welcomed her as if she was already apart of the family and she wasn't even gone! The Lord wanted us to reach out to this family, I still believe that they have a long way to go, but at least they know that there is a way, and they have people that can help them.

Also Giovanna, got baptized this week!!! we were so happy for her and she was definitely prepared for us! I took some pictures before the baptismal service!

My second experience was really difficult. Sunday mornings, some of the members and the missionaries in the ward meet to go walk to menos activos and investigators houses for church. We planned on inviting 6 amigos, only 2 came. We could not get anyone out of their houses. One of investigators with a fecha, was not able to come for some strange reason, and she never came. Giovanna and Francisco came to church, but did not stay the whole 3 hours of church. That was really frustrating, they do not understand the importance of going to church yet! Then We went to go plan Francisco's week before his baptismal date which is this Saturday and the family told us that Francisco cannot be baptized this week because they have a really trip to take to see a relative and will not return until Sunday. We were devastated and frustrated because there are cambios this Saturday (transfers) and we may not be able to see him get baptized...lots of not so easy things happened that day.

One thing I learned is that, through the good and bad times, the Lord is blessing us. and even though we are not perfect, and people reject us, and not understand the importance of their salvation, we still have ours. We still know that this church is true, and if it is not going to get through to them, its going to get through to us. There is only one way to happiness and eternal life, and that is through the Savior. He descended below all, so we can be raised up and live with our father in Heaven. I love this Gospel and I know my Savior lives. This work is so hard, but Vale la Pena. Vale la Pena means it is worth it...Salvation isn't easy, but its worth it!

I love you all

Hermana Arnold

Things To Know About Ecuador

1. It rains at least 2 to 3 times a week and half of it is !Full hace Color! 
2. The bakeries, the rice, and the cockroaches are 10x bigger in Ecuador...
3. There is a 3 day holiday called Carnaval where everyone throws water at each other. Me and my companion were only able to proselyte for 2 hours each of those days! One day, we were walking down a street and a cute little family drives slowly past us and sprays us with soap and water...it was by far the weirdest experience I have ever had in my life...
4. Latinos really like to practice their English when they pass by us. They say," HIII HOW ARE JUUU" One Latino yelled at us while he was on his motorcycle," Hermanas I love JUU¨" It really is quite hilarious. 
5. You cant flush toilet paper down toilets, you have to dispose of it in the trash. Its nasty 
6. The jugo (juice) is absolutely amazing, members make it for us for lunch. It is like a smoothy, it super buenísimo! 
7. Guineos (bananas) are like 25 cents each, I am addicted to them! 
8. Keys are worth a lot of money here, like 45 minimum! Aparently, to make them it is really expensive in Ecuador. A lot of families have only one set of keys! 

MORE FACTS TO COME NEXT WEEK!

This week has been really difficult for me to have confidence in teaching. Every time I say something, the adversary really loves to send buses to overpower my voice and dogs that start barking. At times I freak out because I don't know what to say or how to start lessons. But the times when I just let the spirit guide, everything works out and I am able to teach with clarity. It seriously amazes me when I have no idea what to say, but when I start to open my mouth, the spirit gives me words to say! I have faith that the investigator understands by the spirit!

In Alma it says by small and simple means the Lord will bring about His great and Eternal purposes. I don't know everything, I cant see everything, but I know I just gotta keep doing everything I can, as simple as it might be.

I also learned about sacrifices, that when we make sacrifices the Lord will bless us even more that we thought possible. We just have to have faith and let the Lord lead us! And like President Monson once said," sometimes faith means trying again tomorrow". We cant be perfect at something unless we keep working at it, sometimes we just gotta jump into the cold water until swimming and breathing becomes natural.

Faith is the biggest principle, Life is always about faith. Faith can help us see miracles, we just have to work at it until we no longer need to act on our faith to see miracles, we will have a perfect knowledge of things...I love you all!

Hermana Arnold