I AM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF MY LOVED ONES, FOR EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU READING THIS. YOU MAKE MY LIFE BETTER.

Waddup all,

So I think you will be happy to know that I have not died of Rabies!! Thanks for making sure I got those Mom; I'm glad you called. The only reason I was so insistent on you not calling is because the nurse and my companion were so insistent on me not telling you guys because if you called, the office would apparently be super mad...but I think that was with the former President. From what I have heard about him, he was pretty strict and uptight, but I can't imagine President Torres having a problem with it. From what you said Mom, it sounds like he didn't. And you are right, he is a very warm and caring man and I am soooooo glad I came to this mission right around the same time he did.....because I don't think I would have been able to handle not having a loving mission president. 

So ya, all is well. On Tuesday I got my first out of five Rabies shots. Not sure if it was as effective starting the series two days after the shots but whatevs. And since the place was closed over the weekend, I didn't get my last one until this morning. So as of today, I am officially done with the Rabies madness. And  luckily I didn't get them in the wound, but in the stomach. Which is not fun either, but after hearing they are sometimes given in the wound, I'm feeling thankful for the gut shots. haha. Getting shots here is so weird. I have to go across the street and buy my own syringe beforehand. Isn't that weird? I'm sure the meth addicts back in the states would love the convenience of being able to purchase a syringe for 30 cents at every street corner. haha. But ya, I haven't gotten sick or anything and it has been over a week now since I was bit, so I'm pretty sure I'm Rabies free. The wound still hurts a little but it's starting to scab a little. I probs won't know how gnarly the scar is gonna be for a couple weeks. But I keep it wrapped up when hitting the streets so I think the dirt has managed to stay out. I think that's all I have to say about that. :) 

The full names of my converts Mom are....Carla Vicente, Bolivar Aguirre, and Elias Vera. And now....Alejandro Cruz!! The 86 year old little carpenter was baptized on Saturday!! Did I tell you guys that he still works? I don't remember but ya, he has a little carpentry shop where he lives and works. It's really small and dingy with dirty floors but it's cool cause every time we go teach him, we can see the progress that he's made on a dresser or bed frame or whatever the project happens to be. He's bien chevere as they say here. haha. Chevere is basically just cool.  Which reminds me, Hno Mostacero wrote me about Bay and told me that my hermano was "bien cool" hahaha. And then after he said "son iguales." This basically means that the two of us are the same. I enjoyed that. But anyways, Alejandro's baptism was really nice! I will attach photos. But it was cool to see this 86 year old man, who has done who knows what in his lifetime, be completely free of sin. How awesome is that? His confirmation on Sunday went well also and todo es bien con el. :) 

Alejandro's Baptism

Oh Michelle told me she sent you pics mom! Michelle is Valeria Garcia. Her name is Valeria Michelle and she goes by Michelle but apparently it's Valeria on fbook. Whatevs, I don't understand how they do names here. haha. But she loved that you wrote her back in your Spanglish. Why didn't you have Rye help you write in Spanish? haha. Also, congrats on the new calling!!! You're gonna do so awesome Mom, I know it. :) Also congrats to our new Bishop Baker!! That sounds way too weird. haha.

Well other than the baptism, this week wasn't too exciting as we had to spend a couple afternoons in the house cause of my leg and then one other one too because my comp had killer migraines. So three afternoons not working equals not much to say. As of now, Mom, I'm not completely sure about transfers. It looks like both Hna Lujan and I will be staying in Boyaca. I think I'm glad about that. I'm scared of having a transfer since Boyaca is all I know and I'm scared of getting  a mean comp too. So I'm glad that it seems like I'm gonna be having another transfer here. :) 

I love hearing what's going on at home with all of you. And Mom, I loveee the detailed everyday things. Honestly, just hearing about the small things that you guys do, like movies and Strands and what not is awesome. So keep up the detailed letters! and just on writing. 

I'm gonna start trying to include more spiritual thoughts in my letters. It's just hard since I basically only study in Spanish so instead of being spiritually edified during study time and stuff, I'm just struggling to understand what I'm reading. But I do understand more and more everyday and my dictionary is my best friend. haha. This week i did read the introductions and testimonies at the beginning of both the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, (in English) something that I had never really taken the time to do thoroughly before. Idk, I just loved it, and the testimonies really helped to strengthen my testimony.  I felt with assurity, the whole time, how true this church is and how incredibly lucky we all are to be a part of this wonderful restoration in Christ's church, the same church that he established when He was on the earth. We are soo so incredibly lucky and I personally feel tremendously blessed for this opportunity I am able to have in this season of my life to share this wonderful restoration of the true Church of Christ with children of our Heavenly Father here in Machala. I always think how sad it is that these people haven't been as fortunate as me to have this knowledge and happiness in their lives and my desire to learn and teach increases. Whenever I feel discouraged or what not, I always just remind myself of how blessed I am and how important it is for all of God's children to hear of the restoration of Christ's church. And then instead of feeling discouraged, I just feel incredibly blessed, which I know I am. I truly have been blessed, not only with this gospel but also with an amazing loving family and awesome supportive friends. I am so thankful for all of my loved ones, for each and every single one of you reading this. You make my life better. Ok I gotta go, so until next week.....keep on  keepin on everyone!

With Enormous love from Ecuador, (sorry thats the best I can do as far as alliteration goes right now)

Hna Abbie Harper

Forgort to tell you, I got everyone's letters finally!!! woohooo! Thanks so much everyone, you are all the greatest! Also the pictures and drawings were fantastic family! love you all!

WHEN I WAS CRYING IN THE STREET AND IN THE AMBULANCE......HALF THE REASON IS BECAUSE I JUST REALLY REALLLLYYYY WISHED I HAD YOU WITH ME

Familiaaaa,

Mom,  I saw your questions but I don't think I'm gonna be able to get to them until next week. Because I have had the absolute craziest week ever. So let's start with the bad news shall we....and mom you are not allowed to call the office or anything. In fact, the nurse was like ya don't tell your family. for real don't tell them. But I have to tell you cause I wouldn't feel right not. But just know that I'm telling you more than they would tell you and honestly they don't know that much so don't calll!!! Ok you're probs freaking out but it's not that big of a deal.....the inevitable just happened....I got attacked by a dog. and it bit me. and there was a lot of blood. My skirt and left shoe are ruined, but anyways this is what happened....Oh it was yesterday. 

Our sacrament meeting isn't until 3 so we were passing by for our investigators in the morning and as we entered the dirt street of one of them there was a rounded corner up ahead. My comp was in front of me cause sometimes I just can't keep up with her so obvi she rounded the corner first. That's where the dogs were. So when I rounded the corner after her, the dogs were already there. (ie no time to take out my dog dazer grandma! haha) but ya, I still had my eyes on my comp after roundingthe corner and she was still walking fast 100%. Ok so I didn't even look down at the dogs. Which is probs a good thing cause the giant black lab was apparently charging me at the time. So ya, it totally got my left leg and I didn't even see it happen. I didn't even have enough time to think, Oh no, is this dog gonna bite me? Let alone retreive the dog dazer from my backpack. But needless to say, I screamed, "Hermana help me", but she didn't hear. 

So I had to run after her with my leg gushing blood.  She finally realized what happened but by that time it didn't matter cause the dogs had already left. All the neighbors came out and some old lady started dabbing my leg with a cotton ball and alcohol and one tied a dirty rag around it. Not super effective. I was scared I was gonna die from some sort of infection or rabies and I didn't know how to convery to everyone that I needed and injection like now. My comp understood what I was saying cause she's good at understanding me but I don't think she realized the siginificance of how important it was....So we started hobbling out to the main road to catch a taxi to the hospital but then the neighbors were like no, we called an ambulance, stay here! Then this guy has me sit on this step, which is just crawling with ants mind you, while he douses alcohol on my leg and yells in the phone to the ambulance that doesn't know how to find where we are cause addresses here basically don't exist. So we finally get in this lady's car and drive to the ambulance, which ended up just being a few streets away.

Oh I'm sobbing this whole time btw. Not cause of the pain, I mean it did hurt, but mainly just cause I didn't understand what was going on and I knew I needed injections. Oh and we sisters aren't allowed to leave the house with our cell phones so we couldn't call anyone. Finally a lady in the ambulance let us borrow hers, but guess what? Nobody answers cause they are all in church with their phones off. Not the nurse, not the DL, not the ZLS, not the president, not his wife. Nobody. So ya, I was totes scared, not gonna lie. In the ambulance they trying to ask me all these questions but I barely know how to answer and my comp didn't know that much and it was crazy. But they disinfected my leg and wrapped it up and gave me a shot in the butt for the pain. That was fun. Then I had my first ambulance ride!! Who would have thought that would take place in South America? Is it wrong I kinda felt like I was in a Grey's Anatomy episode?? haha 

Anyways, when we got to the hospital there were onlookers who heard the ambulance coming and when I got out they put me in a wheel chair and the Ecuadorians start taking pictures of the gringo with the bleeding leg in the wheel chair. nice. haha So ya, they give me a tetnus shot but that's all they can do becasue guess what....I forgot this part....apparently they can only know if a dog has rabies if it dies within a week after biting someone (at least thats what I have gathered, but i know it sounds weird) but while I was in the ambulance, the vecinos of where the dog bit me come running over screaming that the dog died. and we were like what?! It just dropped dead? nope. The vecinos strangled it. Talk about intense. I don't like thinking about it but I'm secretly glad. But I kinda wish they would have waited a week cause now idk if I have rabies. 

So we went home and finally got a hold of the nurse. She said she was gonna come over and check it out. (she's in Machala) so that made me feel better cause she's a gringo and talked to me in English. And President called us back and had a good chat with me and he told me to buy som amoxicillin, which I did. And we went to the clininc this morning and saw the doctor that is with the mission's insurance, she gave me some other pills to take too. They also said I can't walk for 4 to 5 days. So don't worry.  I'm being well taken care of. Hence, dont call the office!! :)  I'll send you the same pic of my bite that I sent to Pres Torres. It's really not that bad. The punctures are pretty deep, but they are just punctures, not tears. So ya, that's a plus. It's a bummer though, cause we missed our confirmations :( 

Oh, speaking of, we had 3 baptisms this week!!!  I figured I would save the good news for last. I know I'm rambling but I don't have time to make this an eloquent non repetitive letter. haha.  Anyways, little Clarla Vicente, who is 14, was baptized Friday night!! My first baptism!! It was so awesome. The smile on her face when she got out of the water was priceless.

Carla Vicente

Bolivar

And then Saturday Bolivar was finally baptized!! Him and Luciana finally got married Friday morning, which our zone leaders didn't give us permission to attend :( Which i was sad about, esepcially since we spent all earlier this week helping Luciana hunt down all the papers. ughh.. but whatevs, they got married and now Bolivar is baptized!!! 

Elias

And the third is this 22 yr old kid named Elias. The rest of his family got baptized last year but he was away at schoool in Quito. A couple of weeks ago, when he was home for break, we taught him a lesson and he accepted a baptismal date for the 17th. But then he left and didn't return until....the 17th. So it's a crazy story but to put it short, he was taught all the lesssons an hour before he got baptized. That would so never happen in the states....but my comp was like you know he has the desire and he's returning to school tomorrow night so if he wants to then ya, he can get baptized and learn what he doesn't know after. I was like bueno.... haha So ya that happened. He left for Quito again after his confirmation the next morning. 

Baptisms are the best! I sang a duet with Michelle sin piano at Bolivar and Elias's service.....lol right??? haha It was bad but these people can't sing in tune so I don't think they cared. I'll probs give you guys more specifics about the baptisms and stuff next week since this week won't be very exciting, with not being allowed to walk much. But just know I'm ok!!! Really. We made it to church for the last hour to congratulate Carla, Bolivar and Elais on their confirmations and everyone in the ward was all worrying about me and wanting to know what happened. The hermanas all fretted pobrecita!  que loco perro! etc etc. And all the men told me bien venidos a Ecuador! (Welcome to Ecuador)  Literally all of them said that. haha 

But ya, I'm being well taken care of by everyone so don't worry about me! I'm not gonna lie Mom...when i was crying in the street and in the ambulence and stuff, half of the reason is because I just really really reallllyyyyy wished I had  you with me or could at least call you. I wanted my mommy real bad :( but i have my "mammi" here in the mission and she's been helping me wash and wrap my wound. As she's said "es no igual, pero buenoooo..." haha (It's not the same, but it's all good) is basically a translation. haha. Ya so trauma and joy this week. 3 baptisms. So stoked on that. and we got Alejandro's, the 86 year old, baptism this coming Saturday!! So Machala is doing well overall. Sorry for the sporadic email and I promise I will answer your questions next week Mom!! Miss you all and love you so muchhh!!!! 

Oh...... PS send all emails by sunday night!!  cause we print Monday morning but don't write till the afternoon. So if it's not there by the time we print, I won't be able to read it (cough cough Rye, Dad, Shells, and Kenz.) I just printed them now anyways so I'll read them tonight, but if you wanna response, do it earlier!) Love you all Until next week...

Madness From Machala (well at least this week),

Hna Abbs Harper

Abbie in front of her apartment in Machala, Ecuador

Abbie, Michelle Valeria Garcia, Madelaine Gonzalez

Carla's Baptism

Carla's Baptism

Michelle, Abbie and Hermana Lujan

Abbie and her trainer, Hermana Lujan from Argentina

STILL STRUGGLING WITH SPANISH, STILL TAKING COLD SHOWERS, AND STILL DOING MY BEST TO DO THE BEST I CAN!

Hola Familia!

Well as always I never know where to begin....First of all, thanks everyone for the letters!! It is truly the best to hear about everything that is going on with each and every one of you. And tell Ricey Wright to write me!!! Annie Loy told me about Ricey's call a couple weeks ago and I had no idea Ricey even had papers in let alone a call!!!! That girl is in biggg trouble. haha No, I'm stoked for her. So Write me Ricey!!! k cool. 

So I wasn't having any problems with bites so I didn't use my bug spray for like a week. Bad idea. I now have like 6. ughh.  haha Speaking of bugs, the other day we were teaching the plan of salvation to this 17 year old kid and my comp and I were sitting on a couch with our backs to an open window.  In the middle of explaining the atonement something flies in and lands on me and I just kinda wave my hand cause I think it's a moth. But, all of a sudden Roger, the kid, grabs this empty water bottle and starts telling me to get up and that's when I realize that there is a FREAKING GIANT, AND I MEAN MASSIVE, FLYING COCKROACH CRAWLING ON ME!!!! Needless to say I bolted off that couch and Roger proceeded to chase the thing away. But it's probs a good thing I didn't realize what it was at first cause the inevitable scream that I would have emitted would have for sure chased the spirit away. haha So that was a good Ecuador moment.

Another one is that I drank an orange the other day. That's right, I drank it. They shave the peel off with a knife but the pulp is still there holding it together, and then they cut a hole in the top and you squeeze it and suck the juice out of the hole. It's like a little cup. So that was kinda cool cause I had never eaten an orange like that before. 

Hey, when peeps friend me on fbook accept ok? I think Michelle friended me and she said she was gonna post and tag me in some pics! It was her cute little nieces 2nd birthday the other night and they invited us over for cake and we took some fun pics. So keep an eye out for those! Also that's funny you read Hna Busath's blog. She's in my zone so I see her a few times a week. It's the only time I get to talk in English! It's great. haha

Not much exciting going on with investigators to tell...just teaching lessons and trying to progress everyone to baptism! We are supposed to have 2 this coming Saturday so I'll let you all know how it goes.  Well, once again I'll try to send pics but it probs won't happen. I don't think I can do Google drive cause my comp is literally sitting right next to me staring at the screen. I mean she doesn't understand English but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be ok with me going to a site other than myldsmail.net. So ya, I still don't know what to do regarding pics. But anyways, all is the same here in Boyaca Machala. Still struggling with Spanish, still taking cold showers, and still doing my best to do the best I can! We had a training session with President Torres on Saturday and I learned a lot and it got me stoked to work even harder! Well i gotta go until next week...

Love from Ecuador,

Hna Abbs

...SO I GUESS I SHOULD PROBS LEARN SPANISH. HA. IT'S NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS PEOPLE.

Hey Fam,

So today has not really been Pday...Today has been "wake up at 3 am to catch a 4am bus to Guayaquil day." My comp is a Sister Leader and had a meeting. Therefore to Guayaquil I must go as well. But I got to see all the girls from my CCM district (well the ones here in Ecuador that is) so it was a fun mini reunion. Oh, and I gave my reimbursement receipt to an elder who works in the office and he said he would take care of it. He said the money will just go back on my card. So I guess we shall see. Let me know, ok? 

But now I'm back at the bus terminal in Guayaquil writing home in a cyber before take a bus back to Machala. But I'm bummed because I don't have any of my stuff that I usually have with me when I write. Like my camera, my journal, my printed letters from everyone, etc. But I guess it's all good. Honestly, the main issue is once again the language. If the people here would just freaking speak English it would be alllllll good. But no, they don't so I just smile and nod and say si about half of my life. But it's cool....idk. I just feel so useless and feel like I could actually be making a difference in this work if I was an English speaking missionary. But I'm not.....so I guess I should probs learn Spanish. ha. It's not as easy as it sounds people. But it's all good. I still have fun times. For example, usually after our mission leader meetings after church on Sunday nights, we go to the family Espinoza for dinner. We usually don't eat dinner with members but this family has us over every Sunday night anyways. They're awesome. But they were out of town, so instead we went over to Madalaine's house (one of the ward missionaries. She's 19 and has a call to Quito!) and the 5 of us (me, my comp, Madalaine, Mishelle, and Diego) all made dinner and it kinda felt like I was hanging out with friends and having a little family Sunday dinner. It was nice. 

Let's see what else happened this week.....ughhh. I need my journal. idk, Bolivar and Luciana couldn't get money for marriage so his baptismal date was pushed back to the 17th. lame. but he is still at church every week so I'm confident it will happen. We had an 86 yr old man named Alejandro and a 14 year old girl named Carla in church this week. Both super cute in their own respective ways. haha I have high hopes for them but we have only taught each of them once so I'm not sure yet how interested either of them are. We shall see! 

Honestly though I can't think of anything else super exciting that happened this week. But the nurse who works in the office here says she has seen some pretty big packages come through for people....qu en el mundo? new rules maybe? Also if and when you do send anything, you should put in a mini English hymnbook. What I would do for one of dem....haha. I've been longing for one for a while now. But if not, that's ok. :) Well since my journal is not here I guess thats all I got for you guys this week. But I just discovered my camera in my backpack. I forgot I put it in there last night! so maybs I will try to send some pics. idk how though in this cyber and I don't have my card reader. So don't expect it, but I'll try. haha 

Anyways, sounds like everything at home is going good like always.  Que en el mundo familia. haha Also as always, I'm jeallly of the Sano nights. Especially now that Rye is home. Although Bay is gone so that's weird. You gonna be Rye and Dad's new surf buddy, Iz? Cause I know it's not gonna be Mom ;) Enjoy the beach for me. Oh how I miss it. Oh my teacher Hno Mostacero emailed me and said he saw Bay and talked to him. Don't worry, between my teachers and my hidden notes, I got that kid covered. I'm so excited for him! Well I love Ecuador. I love Machala. Life is good. I just wish I spoke Spanish. haha Love you guys, keep the letters coming. until next week....

Love, Hna Abbs Harps

Miss you so much Mom. every. single. day. I have the best Mom in the world, and I thank my Heavenly Father for that every single day as well. love you!!!!!!

I always have to stop myself when I start thinking about home and family while in the streets and my eyes start to well up. haha But you know me, it's not necessarily cause I'm sad, it's just cause I love you guys so much. :) I've been worried for Bay all week, but that's just me being my worried protective self. haha I know he can do it and that he's ready. Also, I can't get this thing to read my card. so I guess no pictures again. sorry. But I'll try the Google Drive thing next. week :) Love you so much! Talk to you next week!