THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER WANTED TO NOT HAVE A BIRTHDAY....

Hey Fam!

Short on time this week because the internet is dang slow and it's talking forevs to do anything....
BUT THANKS FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY WISHES!!!!

I'm basically in denial that im turning 21. This is the first time I've ever wanted to not have a birthday. It's like I feel like time should be stopped while I'm in the mission. It feels like I just turned 20 and that my 20th year has now been robbed from me or something. I don't like it one bit. But that's how the mission is I guess. I'll get over it. But as me and all my friends are starting the 21 year old birthday cycle, the grand majority of these friends being in the mission as well, I've truly been in awe and so proud of us that as we are turning 21, we are in the mission field serving the Lord. While the majority of the world goes out and parties and drinks when they turn 21. Such a contrast. I'm so grateful that I have the knowledge of the gospel in my life and that I'm here instead of out in the world.


Well this week. Got some ingrown toenails removed. That was fun. Typical missioanry stuff. Delivered the gifts from Bro Beazer to his convert family and it was such a touching moment. They cried and were just so grateful. It was a really spiritual moment in my week. They also showed me  photos of when he was here. 19 yr old Beazer. hehe and the best part of it all.....MYRA LOPEZ TORRES WAS BAPTIZED!!!! See photos. I am so proud of her and just love her so much. She almost didn't get confirmed cause her and her husband got in a fight that morning and when we got to the church, she refused to get out of the car and go inside. But we said a prayer and talked to her and she eventually calmed down, went inside and got confirmed! We were scared there for a second.haha

Well I wanna say more but I'm out of time. Today for Pday we went with the other Hnas to these ruins. Basically just like a pile of rocks compared to what I've seen in Guatemala and Peru but it was still fun to take pictures with everyone and stuff. Well I love you all and am glad you're all doing well in California. Say hello to the beach for me. Hasta la proxima Lunes....

Con mucho amor enviado de Cuenca,

Hermana Harper

Have tons more ruin pics for next week but here's one of just us 6 for now

WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS HOW HEAVENLY FATHER SEES YOU……

Well to answer your question Mom about how Hermana Clark and I are doing....we had cambios last Monday after writing. Hermana Clark left to another sector here in Cuenca, but the other zone and I have a new companion! Her name is Hna Brenes and she is from Costa Rica. She was in the zone that Hna Clark is in now. It was just a switcharoo no mas. She's got about 3ish months in the mission. She's really tall and speaks a lot of English! Like she can pray in English and everything. It's pretty cool. So this week has just been so crazy being the only one who knows anything about anything. The sector, the investigators, the members etc. It's rough. Don't get me wrong, my new comp is cool but I have really been missing Hermana Clark. But that's how all transfers are; It's hard to adjust at first. 

So anyways, guess what happened yesterday??? ALEXANDER GOT BAPTIZED!!! right?! came out of nowhere. We stopped by the capilla Saturday morning and the youth were there indexing for their upcoming temple trip and Alexander was there too, and said he wanted to go to the temple. The bishop was like cool, you can, you just gotta get baptized first. So he was like oh ok lets do it next week. !"·$& hablame enserrrriiiooo. So we go over to the house and the mom was completely normal again. It was deja vu.  Like idk what happened. I guess her pregnancy really had been making her so sick that she really didn't want to see or talk to anyone but now she's feeling better?? so weird. And the dad was actually there but getting ready to head out of town for work again, so they were like well, let's just do it tomorrow. so that's what he did! He was baptized at 8am and then confirmed at 9am in Sacrament meeting. so. crazy. But seriously so bittersweet since this was Hna Clark and I's FAMILY. We worked with them for months and cried and cried over them and then 5 DAYS after she leaves the sector, Alexander gets baptized. It was seriously so sad that she wasn't there, but the important thing is that he got baptized. Seriously, such a miracle. 

So it was a great ending to a really really hard week: adjusting to transfers, having a machete visit from the assistants, and meetings basically every morning where they tell you that you aren't good enough tends to take a toll on one's animos and confidence as a missionary. Seriously, it got so bad there were a couple days where i just cried and wanted to go home. These Elders are brutal, but lots of prayer and scripture study helps. Also what's most important is how Heavenly Father sees you amirite?? bueno, that's probs all I got to say about this week….Myra and Eddy were in Guayaquil half the time visiting  family members but as of now everything is still good for Myra's baptism on Saturday!! So pray that everything goes well with that. 

So fun you're importing all the old home movies Mom. Love the one of me being pummeled by the waves at 18months old and loving every second of it. Seems like the ocean and I were destined to be besties, huh? Dang I miss the ocean. ya mismo. Well keep up the good fight, fam y amigos. You're all great. I pray for you all everyday. KEEKS, CONGRATS ON YOUR MISSION CALL!!!! That was secretly one of the top places I wanted to go, like for reals. (New York, New York North) I'm a bit jealous. You're gonna be such an awesome missionary! Also, your hair is dark?? So crazy, you look like Shay!! So proud of you cuz!! Welp that's all folks, but enjoy the gnarly cuy-preparing,  slash and roasting pics I snapped this weeek! nast stuff. Love you guys!!

Milagros en Cuenca,

Hermana Harper

POR FIN SE BATIZO ALEXANDER!!! 

Some more valle pics. I never get over how gorgeous it is.

Messing around while filling up the font. haha

CUY. SO NASTY.

THE FRUIT IS JUST SWEETER AT THE TOP, I'M TELLING YOU...

We took some funny ones with the elders por la duda de cambios tambien. :)

Heyyyyy Fam,

Well this week a lot has happened yet not a lot at the same time....Well on Tuesday I had intercambios with one of the hermana leaders, Hna Ayer. She's from New Hampshire and goes to BYU too. She's pretty cool and it was a good day. Funny fun fact, she was one of Aubrey Brennan's roommates up at college and they are still really good friends. She was looking through my picture book and saw a picture of my group of friends from high school and was like is that Paige Brennan?! haha. It was really funny. BYU always makes for random connections. 

And then Wednesday night Hna Clark and I got home first....and found all of our apartment doors open....it was dark and we freaked out and went back downstairs (our apt is 3rd floor) to wait for the other hermanas to get home because we were too scared to go inside. When they arrived, we all went in together because we don't have phones and couldn't even call the zone leaders anyways. So we went in and turned on the light and all seemed to be in its place....we didn't seem to be robbed or anything....but we know that it couldn't have just been the wind or something because even the other side of the door that you only open when moving in furniture or something, that like latched to the floor and at the top too, was opened as well. Which couldn't have been possible unless somebody opened it....so we were still a little weirded out and one of the other hermanas was seriously freaking out. So we call the zone leaders and they come over. We are thinking that they're just gonna give the house a blessing or something but instead they have us wait downstairs while they look around and apparently make some calls because next thing we know we are being told to pack an overnight bag, we're gonna go sleep at the house of the other hermanas.....great. And then that next morning they tell us we are permanently moving in there. We went back, packed everything up and now there are 6 of us living in one house! But it's actually really big and we 6 fit more comfortably here than the 4 of us in the other house. It has two stories, there are 3 bathrooms with showers, so every companionship has their own bathroom, and it's only a 5 min walk to our sector as opposed to the previous 30 min walk! So all in all it was a good deal for Hna Clark and I :) 

Other than that craziness, the only thing worth mentioning is Myra and Eddy. They are progressing really well, and learning so much. It's just really hard for Eddy to quit smoking. Their pasts are so crazy, we've learned some more stories about them and let's just say they defs need baptism. But even though they are ¨mango altos¨ as my mission says (people that have problems and aren't quick baptisms) its 10x more fulfilling teaching them than it is teaching mangos bajos. (the people that don't have any problems and can be baptized rapidito.) Because I feel like m actually making a difference in their lives, helping them make changes, and that they are actually learning and progressing instead of just saying yes to everything the gringa says because why not? Don't get me wrong, mango bajos are great and a lot of the time are prepared by the Lord, which is why it's so easy, but mango altos have the greater reward. There is no denying that. The fruit is just sweeter at the top, I'm telling you! It may equal fewer baptism in number, but for me it's a greater conversion and that's what's important.

Quick shout out to the Baker fam and Chamberlin crew for sending me Christmas cards! Just got those this week. You guys are the best and your families are just the cutest! Hey fam, did you guys send out a Christmas card this year? If so, why didn't you send me one! At least send it electronically, please and thank you :) Mom and Beazer, I will withdraw the money tomorrow no worries. :)

Well that's all worth mentioning this week I think. We had some awesome other lessons,  but then the people didn't show up to church, so I'll tell you about them if they end up progressing. I miss you all so much! Thanks for always supporting me and sending letters! (except Riley, he sucks.) It's good to still feel like I'm a small a part of your lives even though I'm way over here in Ecuador. You're all in my prayers. Keep up the good fight.

Craziness in Cuenca,

Hermana Harper

No new pics, but a few weeks ago we took some with the familia Zumba when we thought we might have transfers. They are our favorite family!

…AND THEN BURN THEM AT MIDNIGHT….

Well I gotta lot to say so let's just jump right in shall we: 

New Year's Eve!!  So this is what New Years is like in Ecuador:  They all build these life- sized doll things that supposedly represent themselves, and then burn them at midnight, symbolizing burning away the old year. Out with the old and in with the new! It's kinda weird, but kinda cool. Everyone like sells them in the street too. It's like some creepy Halloween with just piles of dolls laying on the side of the road. They call the dolls año viejos. In fact, the ward burned one Monday night as an activity and we attended. It was pretty cool. They made me jump over it. haha. Also teenage boys dress up like women and dance in the street in front of traffic and collect money from every car window. It's pretty weird. It's supposed to represent a widow or something? no se. Anyways, we had to be in the house by 6 so we just relaxed.  I organzied some things, played some harmonicas, and ate cake with the other Hermanas. And then New Year's day was just like dead. Nobody was out and about. We also had to be in the house at 6 again so it was a pretty sleepy day for all.

Ward New Year's Party

We had 6 people in church this week!! Alexander came too!!! His family is still acting weird, and I don't wanna get my hopes up, but it looks like Alexander may still progress! We will have to see how it goes. 

The French speaking lady from Haiti came again with another Haitian woman. They don't understand anything but they are so cute! The bishop said he thinks there is someone in the stake who speaks French and he said he was gonna contact him for us. So hopefully this guy can help us teach these ladies! Another guy is a middle aged man whom the hermanas from another ward found, but because of some stuff I think we are gonna give him to the Elders to teach. But he's pretty cool and loves discussing the gospel. 

The last 2 were our two new investigators!!! They are a married couple named Eddy and Mayra. We met them in the street because Eddy started talking to us in English. Turns out he lived in Connecticut for 10ish years. His English isn't the greatest, but they are awesome!!! They invited us in after 10 seconds of meeting us and we taught them the restoration. They are soooo accepting. Turns out Eddy was baptized while in jail in the states while awaiting deportation. lolz. I know what you're thinking Dad. haha. 

Eddy already thinks the Catholic church is corrupt and he already has great faith and trust in the Lord and has good habits of praying and reading the scriptures. BUT he also had bad habits of drinking and smoking marijuana. Their history is pretty crazy so I'm probs rambling, but despite all of the challenges they have, they are just so awesome and have such a desire to learn! Eddy has already read all the introduction and testimonies in the front of the Book of Mormon and has gone on reading into 1 Nephi. He said that he already believes it's the word of God. So incredible! Now he just needs to quit the weed. But I had a really spiritual experience teaching them about the Word of Wisdom and was able to testify and promise through the spirit to Eddy that whenever he feels the temptation to smoke or drink, if he instead kneels to pray and asks Heavenly Father for help and strength, and then gets up and reads the Book of Mormon after his prayer, that God will take away his addiciton and he will be given the strength that he needs as long as he puts in this part. It was really awesome and the spirit was so incredibly strong. So pray for him that he will be able to overcome it! 

Well I think that's all I got for now. Still here in Monay with Hna Clark. On Wednesday an authority from the 70 is coming to talk to us, so that should be cool. It has been raining a lot here and it's getting a lot colder!! But I'm still loving Cuenca.  I hope I'm here to stay for a while longer. I had the opportunity to leave the sector today and picked you all up some nice souvenirs fam bam! Pretty sure I already spent all the money you wired over Mom. haha. I like never have the opportunity to buy things so I took advantage :)

Well, I love you all so much, and am so grateful for each and every single one of you in my life! Sharing the gospel brings such joy and I challenge all of you to participate in this joy and share the Gospel as well!! There are so many people who are lost and ignorant of this happiness and YOU have the knowledge to help them! Cool right? So go do it! Love you guys!

Craziness in Cuenca,

Hermana Harper

Oh ya we also ate chusos on New Year's Eve. chussssssoooooo. haha

We Hermanas, in by 6 pm, eating cake on New Year's Eve

Hermana Harper

WE LIKE FREAKED OUT WE WERE SO HAPPY......

Well Fam Bam, it's only been a few days since we have talked!!

Another cool view of the valle!!

I almost feel like it didn't happen, for real. It seems like it was a dream. But it was so good to see all of your lovely faces and hear all of your beautiful voices. Let's do it again soon ya? How about Mothers Day? Cool, sounds like a date :) hehe

So guess what?? Efrain was baptized!!! And man it almost didn't happen.....On Thursday night we were going over the baptismal interview questions with him before his interview and he was like hey, I think I'm gonna go visit my family tomorrow in Cañar until Wednesday cause I don't have work till then.....and we were like, you have got to be kidding me....We used all the pep talk skills we have when stuff like this happens.....telling him that when we are on the right path, Satan
puts things in the way so we don't follow through with the plan God has for us and how he could just wait to travel until after his confirmation on Sunday morning and still have plenty of time at home, etc etc. But during all that, he seemed pretty set on just waiting to get baptized until the next week.....we had pretty much given up and lost hope, sitting their in silence, on the verge of tears.....when he was suddenly like actually, ya, that's fine. I'll just travel Sunday after church.....we like freaked out we were so happy. haha. So the interview went well. On Saturday we had such a good member turnout to attend the baptism we almost didn't have enough dessert for everyone! We just had to cut really small pieces :) and Sunday morning he was confirmed and all is well!!! Efrain was such a tender mercy from the Lord for Hna clark and I as we have been working so so so hard opening this giant sector here in Monay and are so grateful we were able to see some fruits of our labors after all that happened. So far, no transfers have happened but we shall see how it goes throughout this week.....I honestly have no idea what to think.....if I'm gonna stay or go....but I hate the not knowing! anxiety. haha. Oh well.

So another cool story from this week.....on Saturday this black lady walks in to church (there aren't very many black people in Cuenca) and she's completely alone and no one knows her. So naturally we approach her and start talking to her. She doesn't really speak Spanish or English. And when we ask her what her language is she just says ¨no comprendo¨. We were like what the what??? She finally understands the word ¨pais¨ and we figured out she's from Haiti and speaks French!! What the What? So she stays at church all 3 hours even though she obviously understands close to nothing.....We walk her home after so we could find out where she lives and luckily her nephew who was there spoke Spanish!! He's been living here 2 years studying and when he came he knew no Spanish. He's also from Haiti and French is also his native language. Turns out there's like 5 people from Haiti there living with some Ecuadorian dude who is part of some foreign program or whatever, not quite sure. But it was just such the strangest experience....talking with people from Haiti in Ecuador....their native language being French, ours being English, yet communicating through Spanish, which is a second language for both of us. Talk about crazy!! So I guess this lady is here visiting her nephew for a few months and is Christian and wanted to go to church so the Ecuadorian guy was just like, hey there's one up the street and dropped her off at our capilla! So crazy.We have no idea how we are going to teach her since her nephew is barely home and he's the only one with translating capabilities. But i guess we shall find out!!

Well I'm about out of time but I love you guys so much and can't wait to hear about your New Year's next week!!! Can't believe 2013 is over, 2014 here we come!! Until next week.....

Con mucho Cariño en Cueca,

Hermana Harper

Replicating Dad' olds mission pic the best we could remember ;) hehe

The Cuenca Hermanas spending Christmas Eve together:  making and eating taco soup.

Christmas Eve Party in Cuenca

Christmas Morning

Traditional Christmas morning pic on the stairs.

Opening presents Christmas morning

Christmas Tree from The Smiths

I JUST BURST INTO TEARS AND COULD NOT STOP CRYING......

Buenas Familia, (12/23/13)

Well not gonna lie, this past week was a rough one. Not really sure what happened up until Friday but a LOT happened on Friday....To make a long story short, The ____ Family did a complete 360 turn on us. The mom went to the coast last Sunday and when she came back she was completely different. We didn't see her till Friday morning and she told us that they were all leaving again in the morning to go back to the coast but this time with everyone so we would have to change the baptism date....and then the elders said that they passed by there earlier that week and saw her peek her head out the window....which means she had been avoiding us and lying to us when she was really home the whole time. ____ went from being a little wishy washy to wanting almost nothing to do with us, avoiding us as well. However ____ was still stoked as ever and even went to Hermana Nydia's house with us to practice singing for the ward Christmas party. And then Friday afternoon, when we went to get him for the ward party, he was completely different as well. Wouldn't make eye contact with us, said he couldn't be baptized Saturday since they were gonna travel, and when we asked him if he would be baptized Jan 4th once they got back, he said I don't know, which means no. And then he didn't even go to the party even though all week he had been so excited to sing. And this whole time we have been teaching them, he has been so excited and so set, sure and firm about his baptism. We have no idea what happened but we are assuming that a family member must have said something to them to make them want to have nothing to do with us. 

I was hurt when ________ was acting the way she did because we had all grown so close and she has recognized and shared so many spiritual experiences with us. She always told us stories about since we started visiting them, she could see the changes in her home and the Lord's hand helping her and her family. She even went to a misioanry farewell with us and got all excited for her boys to serve one day. So that was hard. But what hurt the most, what seriously killed me inside, was seeing _____ act the way he did when before he was so 100% ready. It literally broke my heart to see him that way, avoiding eye contact and wanting us to go away. We were with the Elders because they were gonna try and help us see if we could do the baptisms that night before they traveled, but it became obvious the trip was just an excuse and who knows if they even left to the coast. The second we walked away from them I just burst into tears and could not stop crying for a solid 20 min no matter what kind words of comfort the elders tried using.  

I'm not gonna lie, I really like how now most wards have a set of elders and a set of sisters. They really help us a lot. So despite that big blow, we picked ourselves up and had 3 investigators in the ward activity that night. Efrain, the joven weve been teaching, and Luci and her daughter. She's really Catholic and doesn't want to go to church cause it's the same time as her church but she really likes it when we visit her and always wants us to come back, so hopefully after the holidays die down we can get her to church :) and Efrain is just progressing so rapidly, it's so awesome. We had to leave the party before it ended to be back in the house and usually when this happens the investigators leave with us, which is what Luci did. but Efrain was like no, I'm gonna stay! and later the members told ust that he was like one of the last people to leave hahaha. I guess he likes to dance, but he already has almost all of the lessons and 2 assistencias, so when we teach him tonight we are gonna see if he wants to be baptized on Saturday cause he's totally ready for it. I really hope. It would be so nice to for Hermana Clark and I to have a baptism together in December here in Monay, especially after what just happened....It's so incredibly sad, we just don't even like to think about it. It's a good thing we have Efrain to focus on otherwise we would probably be way too depressed for words with nobody to teach and our golden family fallen. But all is well, I know God has a plan for everyone and everything and I can only hope that one day in the future they will remember the spirit they felt and the truth they received and will go back to church and be baptized. 

So on anther note, we kinda finally had a late Thanksgiving!! for Christmas here almost everyone

eats turkey and it is literally the only time of year anyone ever eats turkey. So they had turkey at the ward party! But of course with rice, haha. Since we had to leave early we took it back to the apt to eat. So yummy. I'll send a pic. I will also be sending pics of us with Monica and Elder Infanzon. Monica left this week for her mission in Peru and Elder Infanzon finished his mission and went home to Peru, all within the same 2 days. haha They are two great people who I became good friends with in the mission and will miss them greatly here in Monay. But Elder Flores is still here being his hilarious self and his new comp has been pretty cool so far so all is well.

Chou to Elder Infanzon!!

Saying bye to Monica

Tomorrow night we are going to have a Hermana sleepover at the Hermana leaders' house! They got permission to do so, so the 8 of us are gonna have a giant Christmas party since we have to be home by 6 tomorrow anyways. We are gonna cook taco soup Christmas eve and make crepes Christmas morning!! We are also doing a secret Santa exchange so it should be fun. Well I can't believe I'm gonna be skyping with you guys in just 2 days!!! and that that day is Christmas!! So dang crazy. Well I love you all so much and will be talking with you shortly! I hope the annual Harper 23rd party will be rocking it tonight and that tomorrow night the normal Christmas Eve festivities and traditions will be carried out as well....cant wait to hear all about it and see all the pics! Lots of love being sent your way from Ecuador....

Lovin' Christmas in Cuenca,

Hermana Harper

Sunday dinner last week with the Familia Arguello. They are super awesome. We ate tacos. It was the best, and then after that...... 

.....we went to Hermana Elizabeth's house and made empanadas and took pictures with her pretty view from her front yard :)

HEAVENLY FATHER NEVER LEAVES US SOLO....

Buenas Tardes Familia Mia,

IT'S A MONDAY.....(points to whoever emails me with the reference to that quote.) Well here I find myself sitting in a cyber once more with my mind completely blank....let's see what come out shall we...

Well firstly, the Bravo boys did not get baptized on Saturday.  Miscommunications do tend to happen every once in a while when you got two gringa newbies teaching. But it's all good because now they will just be baptized this coming Saturday instead....which honestly we feel totally ok about because now their dad will be able to be there!!! He will be able to feel of the spirit and be a part of this really important and special day of their lives. And the truth is that Hna Clark and I had already been thinking about if we should wait for their dad. Heavenly Father has a plan and timing for everything. :)

Thursday the Christmas Choir tour came through Cuenca!! Had I told you about that? President set up this thing where a few weeks ago he pulled out like 8 musically talented people from their sectors and gathered them all in Guayaquil where they planned and practiced a Christmas program for a couple weeks and then toured all the zones of the mission!! The members were all invited and we all invited our investigators of course. Unfortunately the Bravo family couldn't make it cause they had a school thing that night, but the abuelita of a really active family here that we invited came! So that was cool. 

Before the program, President met with all of us and gave us gift bags with candy for Christmas. Also, all the people who have completed 12 semanas got a pin of the mission logo. I felt like I was in boy scouts as the hermana leader pinned it on me. haha. It was pretty cool though and it was good to see President and to talk with Sister Torres too. She is so funny; I love her. And then the program was just absolutely beautiful. There were only 3 gringa hermanas and 1 latino elder who sang, but also a latino elder on the flute and a gringa hermana on the violin, and a gringo elder on the piano. It was seriously so awesome; the spirit was so strong. And then all the missionaries in Cuenca, so me too,  opened up the whole thing singing the primary song I feel my Savior's love, and then we closed it singing I Know That My Redeemer Lives. All in Spanish of course. It was a great night. 

And then Friday night was the farewell of Monica, a girl who has been helping us here. She reports this week to the Lima Central Mission. Bishop asked us 4 missionariess to arrange a special musical number so we sang God Be With You Till We Meet Again. All 4 of us sang the first verse in Spanish, the 2nd verse just us hermanas in English, the 3rd verse just the elders in Spanish, and the 4th verse them in Spanish and us in English at the same time. (there's 4 verses in Spanish.) It was pretty legit. Everyone loved it; Monicas mom even cried. One pro to South America: is they all think I can sing really well :) It's quite funny. And then on Sunday, the abuelita from the Christmas program came to church!! It's actually the abuelita of Monica, and I think with her grandaughter leaving to serve a mission, she has become more receptive. She's never been to church before and her family has been members for 20 plus years. So we shall see if she will let us teach her. I really do hope so. :)

One cool story this week....on Saturday I think it was, we didn't have much time before we had to go to the church to be picked up for lunch (cause its like a 30 min drive into the campo) We randomly felt like we should go stop by this lady's house, someone we had contacted and taught once, but she never progressed. We found her crying, full on sobbing. She couldn't even talk. She finally tells us about some family problems she's been having wither her son and we were able to comfort her. She said she was so grateful for us and felt a lot better after our visit. It was a really cool experience. She also said she was going to go to church, but she never showed up. :( And she wouldn't let us go get her because she said if her husband saw us he wouldn't let her go. This is the 2nd time she said she was going to go to church and then didn't. So maybe it's not the time in her life where she has been prepared to accept the gospel, but regardless, we were able to follow the spirit and help someone in a time of need. 

Just goes to show that Heavenly Father never leaves us solo. We are never alone, and in our times of need, he will give us tender mercies so show his love. For N this day, we were her tender mercy. I challenge all of you to be someone's tender mercy. Be observant of others and help them when it may seem like they need help. Share the gospel always. You never know who has been prepared by the Lord, and if we don't open our mouths to speak, we will never find out. 

So crazy that Christmas is right around the corner. Not gonna lie, that thinking about the piano recital, Fashion Island trip, and Follow The Star traditions makes me wish super bad that I was home enjoying the Christmas season with all of my loved ones. But there is a time and a season for everything, and in this season of my life it is time to be a representative of Christ, and work in his vineyard. I hope you all are remembering the true meaning of Christmas and the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love you all to pieces....until next week....keep it real.

Christmas-time in Cuenca,

Hermana Harper

Making Empanadas with The Bravo Family

My old ZL, Elder Osorio at the Christmas program