I'M WAY EXCITED to BATHE in that 60 POUNDS of DEAD SEA SALT....

Ok..... so first and foremost I was indeed transferred! I got the call Wednesday night (that afternoon

Hna Torres called me and we had a nice chat. I love her; she's the best) and Thursday afternoon I was on a bus on my way to Loja! So that's where I'm at. It's way similar to Cuenca, just a little smaller so even a bit more tranquila. It's really pretty. I like it a lot so far :) and it's for sure nice to be in the cold again! The heat in Guayaquil is just ridiculous. So here in Loja it's still a district, not a stake. The church has even been here for like 30 years but I guess they just lack priesthood and tithing. So my branch, rama, is also called Loja. It's pretty small, only 40 people attended on Sunday.  I guess there are usually more like 60 or 70 but it's like vacation time right now so a lot of people are out of town. So I haven't even met the branch president yet, but all the members I have met have been super nice so I'm excited to get to know the rama more :)

My comp is Hermana Bytheway and she is awesome! She goes home in 2 weeks though so that's sad :(  She's the girl that was in my Chathamtowne ward at BYU! I honestly didn't think we were ever gonna be companions, but I'm way glad that we are cause she's super cool. I'm really excited to work with her for these next few weeks. I'm also way excited to bathe in that 60 pounds of Dead Sea Salt once I get back Mom. haha. Wow, I can't believe all the stuff you've gotten. 

Well as far as my skin goes, it's been pretty much the same, but I've only been in Loja for like 4ish days so I'm still hopeful that the change of climate and what not will heal it. President also put me back on Prednisone and I just remembered I think the name sounds familiar because isn't that what you take Dad when you want to taste? So isn't it like a really strong thing? Kinda scared for my future health then cause they've been giving me a lot of it....but oh well, if it works that will be cool. And bathing now hurts a lot less since the water is not hot so hopefully that means it's getting better too :) So physically is like the same but emotionally and mentally being here in Loja with Hermana Bytheway has been great for me. In this short time I have already learned so much from her and my animo has been renovated and I'm really excited to get the working going here in Loja! 

We have met a lot of people who have a ton of potential, and a couple even came to church on Sunday. One night we stopped and bought some hamburgers and invited the guy to church not thinking much of it. And to our surprise Sunday morning he comes walking in the door! He stayed for the classes too and really liked it so we are hoping we will be able to progress him this week :) We also had a really cool spiritual experience with an investigator of the elders. She hasn't really been progressing with them as she has problems in her life that she doesn't feel comfortable with confiding in the elders, but within 30 min of knowing us she told us everything. And the only reason we went to visit her is because a member told us that she would probably have a better chance of progressing with hermanas. But we have to get permission from the elders to actually teach her since she's their investigator so we shall see what happens. We already feel so much love for her, and even though she's been investigating the church for like 6 years, I feel like with a loving push from us we could get her to commit to taking the step of baptism :) With the help of the spirit of course. Well I don't have much else to tell as I've been here for mere days but thanks for all the worrying you've done about me. I'm doing better so no need to fret :) Especially Mom, Dad and Grandma. haha Thanks for all the prayers, fasts, and words of love and support. I have the best family and friends ever :) Can't wait to hear about all of the going ons in America next week. Love you all!

Love from Loja,

Hermana Harper

A cool castle thing in our sector! It's like the door to the city of Loja apparently. 

I WISH I had GRINGO TEENAGERS to HELP us ALL the TIME....

Hey there everyone,

Shout out to my cousin Blake and his new wife Breanna! Congrats guys. I heard the wedding was beautiful! :) Also thanks for the package family and Shelley! Loved it all, you guys rock, don't ever change ;)                                                             As always my mind is running with where to begin....I guess I shall start with Tuesday! We were on our way to lunch when we get a call from the zone leaders telling us to come to the church because there are a bunch of gringo youth who are gonna go on splits with all  of us. A bit confused  

we went on over there and it turns out that there was a hugeeeeeeeeee  group of gringos who were here doing service, like families. The majority of the dads having served their mission in the Guayaquil South mission over 20 years ago! One of which being a dad from San Clemente, Chad Fatheringham (don't know if thats how you spell their last name) there with his 16 year old son Cole. And they know Jim and Robin! Cole told me he would watch Deanne's kids some times. haha It was way cool being able to talk with people from home, reminiscing over Sano nights and what not. haha But anyways they helped build houses for some really poor people, chicken coops, and also gave free dental work to kids and missionaries! (there were like 6 dentists) 

So Tuesday two cute girls, Ellie and Shayla, came out with us for a few hours! We took them to our cita with Ximena and then contacted for a bit. We got a lot of attention with 3 gringos walking around together, especially since Ellie is way blonde. haha It was fun. I translated for the girls so they could share their testimonies while handing out folletos and a Book of Mormon or two. It was a really great day as sometimes mission life can be so routine and having something different to do was way fun. Which was why I was way stoked when we got the same call  the next day!! This time only one girl went out with us, her name was Morgan. With all the girls, I had them pick people to contact when handing out their Book of Mormon so it would be a little more meaningful to them later and Morgan picked an older lady selling empanadas and juice and stuff like that. She didn't live in our sector nor did she really accept the invitation to go to church, but after Morgan gave her the Book of Mormon and I translated her testimony of it for her, the lady got teary eyed, said she would read it, and said that she was really grateful that we took the time to talk to her and then gave us some juice. pretty cool. I wish I had gringo teenagers to help us all the time. haha 

So then the next day we went back again so my comp could get her teeth checked. They ended up pulling 2 of her wisdom teeth so we were there a while and there were a couple dentists who didn't speak Spanish so they had me help translate. So there's this 6-year-old boy in the chair and his mom is there with him, obvi. The dentist sees that he has 4 baby teeth on the bottom that are soooo rotten they have spread infection into the bone and the bone had disintegrated. I explained that to the mom and that the doctor wants to take them out and she said ok. So the doctor tries to numb the kid and the kid just starts screaming and crying and writhing around. So the assistant has to climb in the chair with him to hold him and his head down, while another assistant comes over to hold his legs and I'm holding his hands. After a long battle, they finally get the shots in. The dentist then realizes he got a jammed needle and the medicine didn't come out. It was one of those you have got to be kidding me moments that is just so ridiculous we are laughing. But luckily the mom or kid didn't understand what happened. haha But still they had to go again. round 2. Alright, so the kid is finally all numbed up, but now it's time to pull them. Oh my gosh, it was like the kid was being tortured he was screaming so bad! The doctor was only able to get 2 of the 4 out and then the mom had me stop him saying ya, no more, he's crying too much. Which is really sad cause he needed them out, but despite the dentist's and mine efforts to get her to understand the importance, she was like no, we will just wait for them to fall out. While in the mean time, his bone continues to disintegrate but what are you gonna do? So that was crazy.

One last experience this week is that we contacted a lady whose spouse of 12 years recently left her and her 3 kids, and whose cousin, who lived with her, got murdered a mere 3 months ago. The crazy boyfriend of the cousin killed not only her, but also their 3 year old daughter together. so tragic. We were able to share and testify to her about the plan of salvation and she cried, saying that she wants that for her and her family and that she wants to come closer to God and help her children do the same. She accepted a baptism date for  late August! However she couldn't go to church on Sunday as she had to go out of town to take care of her aunt or something like that. So pray that next week she can come! Her name is Diana. :)

Well life moves forward here in Huancavilca. My skin continues to suck, the challenges keep on rolling, but the blessings and miracles are rolling as well and I really do love being a part of the work of salvation in these crucial latter days. I know this is the work of the Lord. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else at this time in my life. Love you all!

Con amor, Hermana Harper

The lady who I always buy balones from in the morning! Balones are balls made from verde (plantains) mashed up and usually have cheese and pork. We can't eat pork so we just get them with cheese. They are sooooo good! I'm obsessed.

The  process

 

Our ward mission leader drove by in his ghetto van. haha Their last name is Redwood 

but they are straight up Ecuadorians with a gringo last name. weird right?

So on Friday, there were fiestas de Guayaquil! No one had school or work or anything. 

This is the flag of Guayaquil!

My Zone!

MEAT! so yummy

OH, WHAT a WONDERFUL NIGHT it was....

Hello People!

Hey, Happy Pioneer Day on Saturday! Glad to see all was celebrated in classic Mission Viejo Stake fashion. Miss those days. Lots of wedding celebrations happening. Congrats to Jenna and Andy! Even though I haven't talked to you in over a year, I'm way happy for you guys and always knew you 2 would get married. :) Melany Stransky congrats as well!!! Wish I could've been there to congratulate you in person but oh well :)

So even though I wasn't home to celebrate weddings and take pictures with the brides in their white dresses, I was able to take a picture with XIMENA in a white dress, celebrating her baptism!!!! Oh what a wonderful night it was. She brought tons of friends with her (who unfortunately don't live within our mission boundaries) and her grandma and sister came too. We tried talking her mom into coming for like a half hour but she didn't want to. No matter what we told her about how she should be there to support her daughter and how she's now changing and she should help her change etc, she just kept saying no, Ximena has done this and that and she thinks she can just get baptized in some church and everything will be ok? No, I'm tired and I don't want to, etc etc. It was way sad to see a mother being the immature teenager. like really???? The whole time I was talking to her I just thought of the stark contrast between her and my mom. No matter how mad you would ever be at me Mom, I know you would never in a million years not go support me at something I really wanted you at. Ximena was crying because she asked her mom to come and her mom said no and then lectured her on all her faults. Seriously so sad. But man how I am grateful for my mother, who I know will always be there for me no matter what. I love you Mom :)

So we left to go to the baptism sad but when we got there, there were tons of members there to support, and her friends that she made at institute came too. In fact, her institute teacher baptized her! When she bore her testimony afterwards, she just started crying and said that she can't even begin to express the joy that she feels, and how much her life has changed since having the gospel in her life. Not necessarily huge changes, because she didn't drink or do drugs or anything, but just how she felt restless and sad before and now she feels at peace and content. That's what the gospel does people. It's a miracle to see it work within someone so subtly. The next morning too, she sent us a text message just saying thanks for all we've done to help her and that she woke up feeling happy and content. I LOVE THE GOSPEL!! and I love Ximena so so much.

Well that's all i got this week folks. The pictures will consist of celebrating Ximena's sisters birthday earlier in the week, her baptism, eating Chuzos with a member who helped us do visits this week, and lots of other random things that I shall find on my comp's camera as I scroll through them all to do uploads. haha Thanks to all those that emailed me this week and for the words of love and encouragement as always. :) I know this church is true, I'm Mormon, I know it, I live it, I love it. Catch you all later....(don't know why I said that lame phrase, but what's done is done. haha)

Love, Hermana Harper

OUR LOAD is THERE for a REASON...

Well Fam, don't have much time but thats ok as there is not much to tell this week...

Ximena is doing great! All set to go for her baptism this weekend. We made invitations and at church she was inviting everyone. haha so awesome.

Spent some time in the clinic, which is the norm with me and my skin and also spent some time in the government offices renewing my visa. fun stuff. 

My comp is so quirky. She takes pictures of literally everything, from the magnets on the fridge in the less active members house to the broom that we use to sleep the floor. She also saves everything from her ice cream trash to the cake box from a district meeting where we celebrated an elders bday (she doesn't even know him). It's way strange but I love her and it keeps things way entertaining!

I learned a lot this week reading from and studying Elder Bednar's talk, Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease. I love the idea that we each carry a load, and that our load is there for a reason. Without having our own personal loads, we wouldn't be able to gain the spiritual traction that we need to get through this life, and make it out and home to our Father in Heaven. I know the Savior has suffered and felt all of my pains physically and emotionally and I can honestly say that I am so grateful for my trials. I am so grateful for these loads that I have been given to help me to learn and grow in this life and to help me to better comprehend the great sacrifice of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The atonement is the biggest blessing we have and we can't take it for granted people. I'm grateful for this opportunity that I have to share this knowledge and testimony that I have with the people of Ecuador. I love you all! Update me on your lives next week, will ya? k thanks. 

Love from Guayaquil,

Hermana Harper

Making popcorn with Ximena!!!  

XIMENA has TRULY BEEN a TENDER MERCY for me from THE LORD...

Hey Everyone,

I would like to first and foremost start out by saying thanks to all that wrote me nice letters of love, advice, and consolation this week. Mom, Dad, Riley, Grandma, Shelley, Uncle Gary and Bishop Baker (not used to that) especially. You all made me cry, but in a good way. I feel so incredibly blessed and loved. I seriously don't know how I got so lucky to have so many amazing people in my life. So thank you for the kind encouraging and loving words in my time of need :) You all rock. 

Well this week was a little better as we actually have a progressing investigator, so we had someone to teach. Her name is Ximena Mendoza and she's 20 years old. She actually attended church last week, just showed up by herself. I didn't mention her at all because we were under the impression that she lived in a different sector, but it turns out that she lives in ours! And let me just tell you, this girl is awesome. She seriously was a tender mercy from the Lord. So this is her story: she seriously dated an inactive member for about a year (they've been broken up for a few months now). He wasn't a very good example as he was inactive but during that year she did go to church with him and his family once as his family is active still. So she was going through a really hard time a couple weeks ago just feeling really sad and lonely and depressed and remembered that one time she went to church with this old boyfriend. Here in Guayaquil there are quite a few mormon church buildings. 

So one night during the week she decides to go (not realizing we only meet Sundays) but luckily it was open as an institute class had just ended and there were still a couple people in the parking lot. So she goes up to a man there and asks for his help. He said of course, how can i help you? She started to cry and explain to him that she feels lost and doesn't know what to do. So he shares with her his testimony of the gospel and the atonement and invites her to start attending the institute classes, which she did a few times. They gifted her a scripture set, answered her questions, and gave her the direction to the capilla where she lived, which is our capilla! And throughout all of this, we are somehow the first missionaries she has ever talked to. 

She has really opened up with us, sharing with us her desire to repent and be baptized. I didn't even really have to invite her to be baptized, she pretty much did herself! haha. Ok well I did, but she already wanted to. It was just having to put the date. The 18th is when it's gonna happen! And here's the coolest part: On Sunday she bore her testimony!!! She said that she knows the church is true and that it's Christ's church. Afterwards, all the members that bore their testimonies talked about how awesome of an example it was that she bore her testimony even though she's not even a baptized member still, etc. And everyone talked to her afterwards, the YSA kids invited her to an activity and it was just so great. Oh, and then after in gospel principles class something was mentioned about the spirit world and she turns to me and goes that's in the plan of salvation! And since we still haven't taught her that lesson yet, I was like ya, you're right, but how do you know that? I learned it in an institute class she responded. Wow. She's basically already a member, probably one of the most smartest, prepared investigators that I have ever met. Like i said, Ximena has truly been a tender mercy for me from the Lord, and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to help her develop her faith, repent and come unto Christ! So great.

So I have a new companion! She got here on Wednesday? Her name is Hna Rayo from Nicaragua. She's a recent convert, got baptized 2 years ago. She's definitely a special person. She has very sweet childlike mannerisms, especially in social situations with members and investigators and other missionaries and what not. Lots of awkward moments. It's hard to explain, but other than that she's really nice and sweet so we've been getting along.

No progression, only continued digression in the skin department, but definitely progression in the encouragement department. I feel a little better this week. My current zone leaders are actually 2 nice and humble elders for the most part...at least from what I've seen thus far so hopefully it'll stay that way :) We had consejo de lideres today and so while I did have to do endure a 2.5 number sesh from the assistants, I also got to have a 3 hour spiritual uplift sesh from president. He talked a lot about asking inspired questions when teaching and then listening. and THEN teaching according to their needs. A lot of the times in this mission we just teach the doctrine of baptism to try and put a baptismal date, cause that's what the leaders want us to do, to improve our program, so it was nice to be told to instead of doing that, to listen to the spirit and be inspired first when teaching :) 

All right, I think that's all I got this week. Thanks again for all your prayers and love :) and HAPPY 74TH BIRTHDAY TO MY PAPA!!! Love ya mean old man. Can't wait to see you in person to give you a charlie brown :) Thanks for always being such a great grandfather and friend in my life. I love you so much! until next time.....

Amurrrriiicaaa!! Celebrating the 4th of July the best I could. God bless the land of the free and home of the brave! :) I love my country! Mi compa, Hna Rayo :)

My comp randomly takes pics all the time but works for me! Eating lunch with the Guzman fam 

Consejo today. My good friend Hna Ynoñan. We lived together in Naranjal! She's from Lima, Peru. Say hi to her fam for her iz! haha

LITERALLY WOULD BE DEAD in the STREETS of ECUADOR without it....

Well fam let's do this...

I got nothin'. Literally nothing happened this week it seems. We spent a few afternoons in the house as my ear infection literally took over the right side of my head and not even pain meds took away the throbbing all consuming pain. But I went to the doctors office, aka president's office, and he got me some meds and ear drops that slowly but surely started to take it away. It doesn't hurt anymore but I still can't hear out of it very well. I walked around all week like a viejita (old lady) cause I couldn't hear anyone haha. And my skin keeps on being my skin. Showers are the worst part of my day. It hurts so bad. 

So last Tuesday afternoon Hna Apaza had cambios, which was weird cause cambios do not happen in the afternoon in our mission. But it was because an hna was going home for health issues and being the only trio, they took one of us to be the new companion of the sister who was now companionless. yep. I liked her a lot so was sad, but it was good because ever since she left, Hna Chacon has been cool and normal and we get along fine. So that was that.

Well we haven't really had any success this week. All the investigators have flaked out on us and all the new people we have found don't want anything. And my companion had an interview with President a few days ago and he straight up told her that she was going to be having cambios this coming week and asked her where she wanted to finish her mission. So it looks like I'm going to be given a new companion soon and we have nothing and nobody. And I don't know the sector very well or how to get to where the members live. So it's gonna be interesting, but hopefully my new comp will be cool but excited to get out there and find people cause not gonna lie, it's been trunky town up in here as my comp has only got 8 more weeks to go. haha

So I have felt lately that I have been lacking in the spirit department and that I don't really recognize when I have impressions or personal revelation but I found some good quotes about it in an English Liahona that I found in the apartment: "What does a burning in the bosom mean? Does it need to be a feeling of caloric heart, like the burning produced by combustions? If that is the meaning, I have never had a burning in the bosom. Surely the word burning in the scriptures signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity. That is the witness many receive. That is the way revelation works." - Dallin H Oaks. and "How do I know if a thought comes from me or the Holy Ghost? We have to act. Then we find out if it's coming from me or if it's the power of God...everything that invites us to do good and to be good comes from God." - David A Bednar. So I have decided to make a conscious effort to improve in this aspect this week and I challenge you all to do the same! :)

A happy birthday shout out to my little sis who turned 16!!!  So crazy, cant' even believe it. Live it up in Peru girl! Also a shout out to Russ Jones! Didn't even know him and Christy were getting married, but I'm so happy for you Russ! You have always been so kind to me and treated me like one of your own in your house. I love the Jones family! Also of course shout out of congrats to mah girl Laura Thornburg now Hillyard!!! (although you're probs not reading this since you're on your honeymoon) literally cried when I saw the pics, but I'm glad stick-me made it into a few ;) Wish so hard I could've been there, you have no idea. But you looked so beautiful and happy! Love you girl. Well I think that's all the shout-outs I got. Let us all press on, put our shoulder to the wheel, and carry on carry on carry on, cause all is well. hehe gotta love hymns :) Thanks for all the love and support and letters as always! Literally would be dead in the streets of Ecuador without it. Straight up truth. Sending lots of love to the north end of the Americas!

Love, Hermana Harper

THINK WE COULD GET SOME PEST CONTROL SERVICES GOING on OVER HERE DAD? T'WOULD BE GREAT : )

Hey Fam Bam, 

taken in the cyber right now with my comps camera. haha

Welp I might as well just come right out with it....on Tuesday night at 10:30 pm I got the transfer call. :(   I knew it was coming though. It was way sad to leave Hna Nazer, and I cried, but it's not long till we shall be up at Provo together so that's good.  So ya, I was transferred to a zone in Guayaquil called Huancavilca. That's the name of my sector too. I'm also in a trio! Hna Chacon is from Honduras and goes home in 2 months and is my co-sister leader, and Hna Apaza is from Bolivia and is just about to hit her 9 month mark. 2 Latinas is a little crazy for me, especially coming from being with Hna Nazer but I'm dealing. haha   They have already been companions for 3 weeks now and when I got here on Wednesday morning there was already tons of tension in the companionship....so let's just say it's been a rough week. When there's tension you don't have the spirit and you can't work well. So we pretty much didn't accomplish anything this week. Kind of a bummer coming from Naranjal where we were just so busy, but that's ok. I knew I was gonna have to serve in Guayaquil at some point since a third of the zones are here. haha 

So here I am! Ok, so there are only 2 investigators but like kinda not really because they are way flojo. Like they didn't even come to church on Sunday...buuuut at least one of them, named Rocio, has tons of potential, and if she gets to church these next 2 weeks, she can be baptized on the 12th still, which is her fecha. The Bishop is way cool and seems like he should be really helpful with the work. I hope we can find people to teach this week cause I'm not sure I can handle another one of no productivity. 

So I got two bad news: the first one is that I can't find my camera. I think it got lost or stolen at some point during the transfers cause I haven't  seen it since. And since I just got here, I kinda don't think another miracle like last time is gonna happen :(  But I'm still praying that somehow it will! I've been super distraught about it. But oh well. It was bound to happen for real at some point. Also the other bad news is that my skin continues to be bad. BUT I'm thinking that Heavenly Father gave me that gnarly infection so that when my skin is red, itchy, inflamed and flaky in its normal way, I could at least feel grateful that there's not a crusty liquid leaking layer of strep above it. (you're welcome for the disgusting descriptive words) jeje. 

But ya, pretty much everyone and their mom tells me to stop scratching, stay out of the sun, and put some alcohol on it to take away the itchiness. It's pretty amusing. haha But no, I love the love Ecuadorians have for everyone and how they want to help everyone however they can, even if it's someone they just met. So that's my life! Oh, I also have an ear infection that hurts pretty bad. And my new house is even more infested than the houses normally are. Do you think we could get some pest control services going on over here Dad? t'would be great :)  

Sounds like it was a solid week at home what with Rye's bday and what not. Shout out to my fam, the Smiths and the Butlers for fasting for my skin. (and special shout out to Rye for foregoing his bday breakfast for it) I way appreciate it. In fact, I even started to cry when my mom told me. You guys are the best. :) Now we just gotta wait and have faith :) But I really have come to an even deeper understanding of the atonement through my trials, and know that my skin sufferings are absolutely nothing in comparison to what Christ suffered. So I really have nothing to complain about. Thanks for all the support and love as always! I really couldn't do it without it. :) Les amo muchisimo!!!

Love,

Hna Harper

(sorry for the lack of spiritual experiences. I'll get on that next week)