we are lost ALL THE TIME!!

Fam Bam,

I feel like almost every week for the past month something crazy has happened. So last Monday night at around 10, almost ready to go to bed, we get a call saying that we BOTH have transfers. They didn't say anything else. just that. Started freakinggggg out, felt sick to my stomach and everything. I had only been with my hija 3 weeks! I love Monay! Nooooooo. They said we had to be in terminal at 4 am. I was devastated. We begrudgingly start packing up all our crap, which took me forever cause I've bought you fam so much stuff here in Cuenca. haha. Anyways when I finished that, I used the last couple hours to write on the back of photos to leave with the members and my converts, etc. I didn't sleep at all.  We get to the terminal and they told us that Hna Martin and I were being transferred TOGETHER!!!! and that we were being sent to TARQUI!!!! (another sector here in Cuenca, but the other zone.) Not gonna lie, it was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was still way sad to leave Monay but I'm still with my hija and I'm still in Cuenca!!!!! So all is well. 

It has been a CRAZY week to say the least. This sector is the exact opposite of Monay. Monay is country and Tarqui is CITY. We have the grand majority of centro in our sector and since we are both new, we both don't know the sector or streets or buses so we are lost ALL THE TIME!! and the hermanas left us with a bunch of investigators (which is awesome) but since we keep getting lost walking and lost on the buses, we keep having to take a taxi to visit these people and taxis in Cuenca are expensive so we have been blowing a lot of money.....but hopefully this week we will learn it better and take the bus more. 

So like I said, there's quite a few investigators so for now, for the sake of time I'll just tell you about the one who has a baptism date for Saturday! His name is Nicolas Arias. He is 16 years old and a super chill kid. He even wears Vans and at church Sunday he looked like dad had dressed him! Super nice suit coat, tie, etc. (hipsters exist in Cuenca!!! weird right?) Anyways, he's the neighbor kid of a family in the ward, whose son that he was friends with growing up is on a mission right now. He's way stoked on everything, and super smart, BUT his mom isn't the hugest fan of the idea so pray all goes well for his baptism Saturday!! I'll tell you about the others next week 

But Tarqui is a cool ward. Can you believe that the bishop is GRINGO!!! Obispo Foreman. Plus, there are like a few other gringo couples in the ward as well and a gringo family, the Smith family, who moved  here two months ago and are staying for around a year I think? They have 4 kids who are 8, 10 15 and 16. So it's cool to hangout with them.  The bishop fed us Sunday and we had a crockpot dinner of chicken, potatoes, and carrots. YUMMY. Also on Sunday, a 70 came to capacitate for ward council, which means we had to go cause we are part of ward councils. All of Cuenca went so we were able to see our Elder buddies from Monay and the bishop and all the other leaders from Monay as well!!! It was so sad but so great. 

One of the saddest parts about having transfers when we did is that we missed the talent show!!!!! that we had been planning for and practicing for for weeks!!!! Not gonna lie, still pretty upset about it, but they all said that it went well and that there will be videos on fbook. Look for it Mom!! The Elder's number would have been ten times better with us there but whatevs ;) haha. Well sorry this email has been sporadic and not well thought out but so much has happened!!! We had 8 investigators in church, so I know this sector has so much potential and I am so excited to get to work!! I definitely have been feeling way inadequate, but I'm just trying not to think about all that going on and pray to the Lord always that I will have the spirit with me to lead me and guide me so I can know what He wants me to do and say as I try to win over investigators and learn the ropes of Tarqui. 

Thanks so much for all the words of encouragement that you all send me every week. I am so very blessed to have such awesome people in my life. Can't BELIEVE what happened with Bay!! I'm gonna have to email him, but I am SO SO SO glad he is ok. Well I officially completed the first half of my mission! Still haven't taken my traditional pregger pics yet so I'll have to do that and get those to you next week. Love you all so much! Keep on rockin it in the good ol USA. (or for you mish peeps in whatever your respective country of residence currently is) AS my good friends and I used to always say Sophomore year when taking World History, peace. land. bread. lovessssss.

Besitos (I've taken to bays way of signing off),   Hermana Harper

It was so sad to leave Hna Maria, my mission mom!!! I saw her son at the training thing on Sunday and he told me that she cried when she found out I left. so sad :(

Some last Monay shots

WE'VE GOTTEN WATER-BALLOONED, SQUIRT-GUN-SPRAYED......

Helllllooooo Family,

You have found me in the middle of Ecuador during Carnival festivities. It's crazy. We've gotten water-ballooned and squirt-gun-sprayed and can-of-soap-stuff sprayed countless times. We were in the house all day yesterday after lunch, and today and tomorrow they're only giving us 2 hours to work. but ya, Wednesday everything will be back to normal. and Dad, the talent show is actually THIS friday so I'll send the pics from that next week :)

So last Monday was Hna Maria's bday and we ate dinner at their house. Lasagna!!! with chicken. hehe. Hna Maria is like our mom in the mission. She's the cutest and I love her so much. I'll attach pics. You will also find....BAPTISM pics!!!! The niece and nephew of Hna Francisca got baptized!!! Erik who is10 and Jennifer who is 9. They are the cutest, but it was so crazy. Long story short, I had to teach them all the lessons: The restoration, the Word of Wisdom, the Law of Chastity, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Law of Tithing ALL in one day, before their interviews, which were supposed to happen Tuesday night. They were gonna meet us at the church at 6. They didn't show up. The elders showed up at 7 for the interview and we didn't know what to do. We got permission from the zone leaders to go to their house (they live in a different sector but Hna Francisca has stake permission to attend in Monay) and finally find them at like 8:15.  A miracle I tell you, cause the attention spans of these children did not last very long. and they MIRACULOUSLY passed their interviews right after. One of the craziest nights of my life. and that's the watered down version of the story :) 

And then on Wednesday President came and we had an awesome training with him. Learned lots about obedience and faith. good stuff. and I don't think I ever mentioned this, but a few weeks ago President banned all music other than hymns. I cried when the leaders told us. no joke. Probs why I didn't mention it cause I was just trying not to think about it. Definitely a trial for me, but I know if I'm obedient I will be blessed. But it's only after the trial of our faith that we will receive said blessings! :) That's what I remind myself of on the daily. haha Well anyways, the baptism service went great. Hna Francisca bore her testimony after and cried and the spirit was so strong! We not only helped these two kids, but even more so, we helped their aunt. The kids just moved in with her a month ago after their mom abandoned them and there are 4 in total. So needless to say, she's been having a rough go at it. But I know that the kids embracing the gospel have helped her :) Well I'm short on time but I'll update you all on everything else that happened last week!! (and I might have to send pics later cause the cyber is closing) love you all!!

Loves, Hermana Harper

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PERFECT PRIESTHOOD BLESSING.....

No time this week, but truthfully it's been more of the same. We have a lot of potential investigators,

but the key word is potential. I'll let you know if and when any of them progress :) But we had an awesome lesson withy Eddy and the Bishop and one of his counselors. The spirit was really strong as they shared with him advice and comforting strengthening messages to help him overcome his addictions. And then afterwards the bishop gave him the most perfect beautiful priesthood blessing of strength, one of the most spiritual lessons of my mission.

We are starting to work with a niece and a nephew of 9 and 19 yrs old of a sister of the ward. She's their aunt and they just started living with her about a month ago, and coming to church as well. So it's even possible they might be baptized on Saturday since they have so many asitencias (attendances) already. We are working together with the Elders, the boy Erik is their investigator and the girl Jennifer is ours. They are super cute, so we shall see what happens there! Other than that, all the same. 

They had elections yesterday so the streets were crazy cause everyone was out and about voting. Apparently it is obligatory here for everyone 18 and older to vote and if you don't vote, you basically can't do anything like get a bank account, buy a car, etc. It would be like having junk credit. weird right? kind of ironic in my opinion. 

So next week we are going to do a talent show in the ward for an obra misonal actividad. We are preparing our number right now, it's gonna be great. I'll be sure to have someone video it. Oh, today I had to get a flu shot! The whole zone did. It was so sketch, they weren't even wearing gloves! gotta love South America. 

Well truthfully, I think that's all I got as my time is basically out. Sorry for the lame email; I'll try to make up for it next week. Thanks for all the letters, love, and support. I couldn't do it without you guys. I know that this work is the Lord's work, and that being a representative of Christ here in his vineyard is one of the greatest privileges I will ever have in my life. Sometimes I don't feel worthy of it, but I just always remember that because of Christ and his mercy, he makes up for my weaknesses and imperfections, and that as long as I try my best, he will make up for the rest. It really is a miraculous thing what he did for us, and we will never be able to repay the debt no matter how hard we try. But that doesn't mean we just shouldn't try.  We should give it our all each and every single day. As my dear mother tells me, Keep on Keepin' on friends!

Love,    Hermana Abbigail Harper

I'M a MAMA!!!!!!.....

Familia Mia,

Well so much has changed since we have last conversed.....still in Cuenca. Still in Monay. (going on 4 months now. dats waddup.) Here's for the kicker.....I'M A MAMA!!!!!! Was outside a menos activas hosue talking to her with Hna Brenes last Monday night when all of a sudden, the elders come huffing and puffing around the corner shouting, Oh my gosh we found you guys!!! It's a miracle!!! and we're like, What happened to you guys??? and they're like, Sorry lady we gotta go and dragged us away at a run and we're like, Ok obviiii there's cambios, just tell us! and they're like, We gotta get you guys on a bus to Guayaquil asap!! and we're like, Ok but tell us where we're gonna end up! (stupid elders : ) ) and they are finally like Hermana Harper, you're training. I think still here in Monay. and Hna Brenes, we can't tell you yet. !"#$%& So we go home to pack a bag for 2 nights in like 5 min and get on a bus to Guayaquil. 

We get there at like 2 am, and sleep at the nurse's house. In the morning we went over to the temple and had a meeting with all the future trainers and President. It's a small group, only 5 trainers, which is REALLY weird. Even weirder, we were all gringos! But the best part is that trainers get to do a temple session before meeting their hijos!!! So I got to do a session for the first time since leaving the MTC and it was the best feeling in the world. Like I can't even describe how much comfort and peace I felt being in the House of the Lord and remembering all those sacred covenants I have made with my Heavenly Father. I seriously love the temple so much. AND THE NEW VIDEO!!!! SO AWESOME!!!!! The whole time Hna Bytheway and I were like looking at each other with our mouths open because we were just so overcome with the power and spirit of the new video. So powerful. They only gave us like 5 min in the Celestial room but it was still just so incredibly nice to be there. Just what I needed. 

So when we exit the temple, the 5 greenies were out there taking pictures with President. Guess what, also all gringos. 5 gringo newbs and 5 gringo trainers. Say what? which almost never happens, but President just said he felt inspired that this is what they needed. So here we are! We even did the orientation meeting in English cause all the nuevos speak English! It was so weird but WAYYYY cool to hear President in English. So I definitely received some awesome revelations listening to President in English. He's awesome, I love him. 

After the session before we even knew who was gonnabe our new comps.

So that night we slept at the temple and the next morning made our way back to Cuenca!! So we didn't have much time to work this week, and therefore still have no investigator, but thanks for all your prayers. I have faith that we are gonna find people soon!!! I have faith but if not, it's like you said Mom, we just gotta do our part and trust in the Lord and his plan. 

Well my hija is Hermana Chelsey Martin. She's 19 and is from Blackfoot, Idaho. speaks no Spanish. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING relies on me, which doesn't only include teaching the Cuencanos, but also the responsibility I have to teach and train her. Talk about overwhelming, but she's way cute and we get along way well. I'm really excited!!!!! It's gonna be hard, but I know the Lord wants us as companions, I know that without a doubt. 

Welp I gotta go, but sounds like you all had a fun Valentine's day!!! not gonna lie, forgot about it. haha and the Olympics! not gonna lie, bummed I'm missing out on that.  Also, look up on facebook Barrio Monay. They have a page and there should be a couple pics of me on there. haha Well shout out to THE TAN CLAN!!!! Finally got your guys Christmas package. Love the socks and the scarf and the earrings and candy!!!! You guys are the best. Still no bday package or envelope but I have faith they'll show up eventually Mom!!! Maybs I'll just have a 2nd bday in April. haha Also tell Chad I sent him an email last week but idk if he saw it since he's now home!!!! So tell him to check his mission email if he can. Well you guys are always in my prayers and I love you all so incredibly much!!! We shall talk next week. :)

Lovessss,   Hermana Harper

The next morning....me and my hija Hna Martin!!!!

Me with Hna Bytheway. funny story. We both lived in Chathamtowne at BYU the same year and were in the same ward and everything. lolz. Even better.....same FHE group and I was her FHE mom!! I think we had talked once but we defs were't friends....but now we are! so crazy. love her. 

 Some cool pics I took on the drive up to Cuenca 

The terminal in Guayaquil. Tons of missionaries there having transfers and was reunited with my mom! Hna Lujan! I'm standing next to her in this pic.  

WHEN ALL the PEOPLE ARRIVED it was LIKE BABYLON

Helllooooo mi Familiaaaa,

So still no package. On Tuesday I got one and was stokeeeeed. It was the one with the calendar and jump drive, which is awesome by the way! Love itttt. I'm backing up my photos now Mom as we speak. But then I called the office cause I thought it was weird that came before the bday one when you sent the bday one first, and they said the only thing in the office for me right now is something small from Huntington Beach. I'm guessing it's something from the Tanners?? (Hey thanks Tanclan, love ya guys!!! I should get it in a few weeks :) )  But apparently there's not anything else, so maybe it got lost :(  Do you have a tracking number for it Mom? Maybe it'll jsut take awhile like Bays 3rd Christmas package. haha

Well anyways this week was hard. We have no investigators. Every once in awhile we meet someone cool and get all excited but then they don't progress; it's the worst. Once again, no one in church, the worst feeling in the world.  But we trudge along nonetheless. On Tuesday I had intercambios and worked in Hna Nazer's sector with her. We had fun together chattin about BYU and what not and it's always great to just vent and discuss with another gringa. And since the next day we had our 8 month mish anniversary, we bought each other flowers and chocolate because we found Snickers and the flowers are way cheap! only a dollar! The same price as the Snickers! haha So that was fun, see pics.

Another reason why this week was hard was because smack dab in the middle of our sector this weekend was a planned street race. They raced everything: cars motorcycles etc. But the main event is when they race semi trucks!!  How crazy?!?! In the morning when they were settting up, we made friends with a guy cleaning one of them and took some silly pics. haha. But later when all the people arrived it was like Babylon. I felt like I was at a mini outdoor festival or something. Same vibes, alcohol, street food, people milling around the grass, loud music, flyers littering the ground, etccccc. Not gonna lie, it made me a little trunky for my music scene but at the same time i just wanted to declare repentance and invite everyone to church. haha. But because of this event nobody was home. We literally couldn't do anything all day. 

But I'm just trying really hard to trust in the Lord, remain faithful, and work hard. Easier said than done, but I just try and stay positive and look for the lesson, because the Lord is always having us learn something :) Well it sounds like you guys are all doing great at home. I hope you know how much your letters mean to me. The support and love is always exactly what I need and even just updating me on your lives gives me animos. So keep on writing! Love you all!!! Till next week...

Lovessss from Cuenca,

Hermana Abbigail Harper

Bought Ecuador jerseys with our names on them for only 6 bucks! I got the number 21 since I had just turned 21 when we ordered them. hehe anyways being silly :)

YOU'RE TELLING SOMEONE WHO'S ASKING, NO?……...

Hello Familyyyy!!

(explanation of photo:  So this photo is one that every one in the ward wants a copy of. It's the traditional outfit of a cholita. which is a traditional Cuencana woman who lives in the mountains. el campo. We were at a store that sells stuff like that cause my comp and I wanted to buy polleros, which are these skirts. But they are dang expensive, like eighty bucks. But anyways, it's funny cause it's a cholita gringita says todo.)

Well this week was a good one to be sure. It started Monday night after writing. We had a FHE slash Birthday party at a member house. The familia Pulla. We shared a message, played ¨que pasaria¨ aka ¨what if¨and then they sang Happy Birthday. I blew the candles out on the postre and they smashed my face in the cake! haha. But it was really fun and sweet of them. See pics. 

And then Tuesday morning, Bday day, I woke up to the Hnas singing the Beatles Birthday song outside my door and when I opened it up, they threw balloons at me! haha. That's when I found out that Hna Nazer and Hna Ayer had written you Mom! Ok the sad part....Hna Ayer had transfers Monday night so wasn't there for all the Birthday festivities she helped plan with Hna Nazer.... :( so that stunk but it was still a good time. Hna Nazer showed me the email you sent. Looks like you got a little carried away talking about me ;) hehe, but I loved it. It was so nice to read those nice things you said about me Mom, especially since I didn't have my package. Still don't have it by the way. Hna Nazer thinks they are holding back our mail because our zone numbers are low. The office in my mish really is a piece of work, but Hna Nazer is in Guayaquil today so I'm hoping she'll be back tomorrow with my package! We shall see.  

Anyways then she made me crepes for breakfast, and after studying we had a zone meeting. A typical 3 hour long meeting. But then after the meeting, she surprised me with a CHEESECAKE! It was awesome. I can't believe she was able to pull that off in Ecuador with limited supplies, impressive.  She even borrowed a mini oven from a member in her ward and secretly baked it in her study room. So the zone sang Happy Birthday to me and we all ate cake. Then we went back to the house for lunch cause we had all canceled with our mammitas for the day and she surprised me AGAIN with all the fixings for paninis and a spinach walnut salad. SALAD!!!!!! (We aren't allowed to eat lettuce but she washed the spinach with hot water so all  was well.) She even made your dressing Mom! and all this was a feat as she kinda had to wing it as far as ingredients go since we are in Ecuador. And they had decorated the hosue with streamers and a Happy Bday banner and she even decorated my desk area with cut out hearts that all had something nice about me written on them. BASICALLY SHE IS THE SWEETEST PERSON EVER!!!!! Seriously, let's just say between her and the members, I felt way more loved turning 21 in Ecuador than I did turning 20 in Provo. So thanks to Hna Nazer, my bday was awesome. I'll pass on the hug from you to her Mom, don't you worry :) ps - She told me to tell you that she loves you and can't wait to meet you :) haha

Alright, on to other experiences of the week. We have this one investigator named L. she lives far away and doesn't want to go to church so we don't visit her that much. But the other day, we decided to visit her and she told us that she found out her husband is cheating on her AGAIN, apparently like the 5th time and she almost committed suicide, but decided not to for her 6 year old son. It was so heart wrenching and we were able to testify to her of the power of the atonement and that thanks to Christ, we don't have to go through our sorrows and sufferings alone, but that we can turn to him cause he understands exactly what we feel as he has experienced the exact same thing. We talked about this theme for quite a while and she said she felt better and that she was gonna go to church on Sunday...but then she didn't. She told us it was because her family told her not to and she didn't want to upset them. Not sure if it's truth or lie, but either way, she's just scared. It's always the people who you can see visibly how the gospel will change their lives for the better that don't have the courage to reach out and accept it. But that's why we are here, to tell them that all they need to do is act on their faith and let the gospel change them. However, even when we do all that we can, the people still have their free agency. So we shall see how it goes with her.

Another funny story....we were walking on the street a little after 8, almost time to head home, when a guy crossed our path, but after passing us turns around and says, hey, do you have a book I can have? I start to approach him and be like ya, of course! when my comp starts saying no, we're really sorry but we don't.....and I was like what are you talking about? We have loads of books in our bags here to hand out to people and you're telling someone who's asking no? Turns out she heard wrong and thought he was asking for money....funny that the gringa heard correctly…haha. So I give him the restoration phamplet, we talk for a few min, get his info, and he said he would go to church the next day. Well he didn't show up. In fact, nobody showed up this week. But that's ok.  We aren't getting discouraged, and we are just gonna work even harder this coming week. This guy on the street is named Alberto and tomorrow we plan on finding him so we can teach him a proper lesson. I'm stoked :)

Well, I think that's all I got for this week. This week I was definitely reminded of how incredibly blessed I am. Whenever I feel down, I alwasy count my blessings and become truly humbled by how much the Lord has given me, and then reflect on the phrase, "where much is given, much is recquired.¨  ¨Because I have been given much, I too must give.¨ and that's what I'm doing now. Serving the Lord to try and repay him the best I can for all that he has given me. Which is impossible, since I could serve a misison for my whole life and still never repay the debt. So I'm just here doing the best I can to be the best I can and to bring people unto Christ.  It's hard work, but it's awesome work. Thanks for all of the inspiring thoughts and stories fam, and for updating me on your lives!! until next week....

Love from Cuenca,

Hermana Harper

ps - so my comp and I really wanted to buy polleros, the traditional Cuencana woman skirts, but they are really expensive so we settled for others that were cheaper and like a different kind than what they wear in a different part of Ecuador or something? Anyways, it was a bday gift to myself and on my bday we both wore them. Got lots of funny looks and comments; it was a good conversation starter. :) and all the members just laughed and loved it. see pics!

 A pic with the classic cholita braids as well.

Me and my cholita mannequin amiga.

Hermana Brenes and I rocking our traditional Ecuadorian birthday skirts! haha

More Birthday Surprises!

Me and Hermana Nazer.  She is basically the sweetest person ever!  Thanks for the awesome Birthday!!!!!

The cheesecake Hna Nazer made and Hna Brenes trying to put the cake in my face again. haha

Nightgown pic! I'm gonna miss Hna Ayer :(

Love my ward!

Gettin my face smashed in the cake. frosting all ova mah mug

Me with Myra and Eddy. They gave me chocolate banana bread on my bday!! So legit and soooo yummy!!

Subwayyyyy eat freshhhhh.

Beazer's family! They live way up in the mountains, middle of nowhere. So when we left their house, the hermana gave me a stick to fight off the dogs. lolz. Luckily we didn't encounter any that attacked. :)

cool graffiti

Photos taken from our last Pday at the Ruins