22 Agosto

Okay fam MIRACLE WEEEEK.

We've been teaching Harold all this time, and all along he has told us that his parents were cool with him getting baptized. And we could never meet them because they were gone all day every day. So we gave him baptism paperwork for his parents to sign and he said NO PROB.

Next day, he told us his mom finally had a little bit of time, so we decided to go talk to her about the baptism, and how Harold was going to need the support of his parents, and basically to tell her about how important this covenant is that he was going to make. And she didnt let us in, just stood at her door and told us that she wouldnt sign the paper. And that he had already been baptized in the Catholic church, and she wanted him to focus on his studies, that he hadnt listened to us long enough, etc. MASSIVE list of excuses, but we could tell that she was a good mom, just wanted what was best for her kid... And she didnt have any knowledge of the gospel. So we explained the difference of baptism in this church and invited her to pray about it, and we told her to have Harold share his testimony with her. And she still wasnt budging. We left it at that.

Harold told us he would talk with his parents, and didnt seem too worried about it. SOO a couple days later, Harold told us his dad decided to sign it. But we still wanted his mom to be okay with it, so we passed by his house. And his mom answered the door, handed us the paperwork and said, "We know this will be for the best, and we want to go to his baptism and learn more about the church." WHAAAT we were SHOCKED she changed SO much. We have no idea what happened, or what changed her, but she had a change of heart.

Soo YESS Harold got baptized! His mom and sister were there. Super cool, classy, nice family. And now that they saw his baptism they invited us to teach them and it was a MIRACLE. Awesome day, so happy for him. :) Future missionary.

I had another exchange with Hna Sandison THE BEST. Shes so funny, we were just laughing the whole time. We found the COOLEST new person, Hna Flor, who was super prepared. We explained the Holy Ghost before teaching her the Restoration, and after we taught it, she told us that was exactly how she felt. Calm and happy. And we explained baptism and she said "How can I get baptized like that?" And told her to pray to know if our message was true, and that she was going to feel the Spirit, but she told us she already felt it. Accepted to get baptized in September, awesome. 

But opposition in everyday, a man came up to us and asked us to preach to him. So Hna Sandison starts talking about the word of wisdom, and then he quotes a scripture about how you have to be clean to enter the temple of God, and goes on to tell us that women with their mentrual cycle cant enter the temple. Sometimes people like to interpret the Bible way too literally.

Update on the rice.... Turns out there was probably a whole bag of bad rice because we found worms ALL WEEK. I couldnt do it anymore, and my prayers were answered because im now out here in TUMBES! Out in the middle of nowhere, new world out here, on the border of Ecuador, and with HERMANA SPAINHOWER. From Payson, UT, first gringa companion. Which means my emails are about to get way more interesting because everything is automatically 100 times funnier out here where youre with someone who can laugh with you. Tumbes is a dream.. I feel super Latina because its been over a year since ive been with Americans... So i told Hna Spainhower to help me out. Then she asked me if i knew i was coming to Tumbes. And i said "Yes actually, I had a dream." Hahaha first Latina strike. Everyone here believes in their dreams. But its true I had a dream i was coming and im SOOO happy to be here.

LOVE this work! There are miracles in every day, in all the little things we do, I have no doubt this is the Lord's work, and He carries out His work through us, even though we are weak and simple. 

Have a good first week of school. :) Love you alll

Hna Richan

Harold's Baptism

Saying bye to Algarrobos