Good Bye´s and Sunburns

Hello Everyone. Today as i look out across the city, it´s a beautiful sun shiny day. The city is all a hustle and bustle again after the weekend and everyone is off to work and school. Everyone that is, except me! Last Wednesday I drug myself out of bed with the motivation of “Emily you only have three weeks of classes left, you can do it!” well when I got to school on Wednesday I was talking to my friend Lorena who informed me that Friday was going to be the 6to courses last day of normal classes!!!! I asked why and Lorena said that it was because they had three weeks of free study, and then a month of exams and then after that because they are seniors they don´t need to return to normal classes.
When Friday came it was a very bitter sweet feeling. I mean, I was thrilled to not have to wake up so early any more, and put on my uniform, and sit through boring classes, but at the same time it was weird to be done. To watch another part of my life come to an end, and know that I’ll never get it back. Yes these past few months at school have not been the most exciting, but they were still part of my Ecuador experience…and with it ending that means my Ecuador experience is almost at an end. Which, just admit is downright crazy!
I took tons of pictures with classmates, said goodbye to teachers, and walked around the school one last time. (i´m sure if I REALLY wanted to I could always go back and visit…) but when the bell rang at 1:40 on Friday I walked away from part of my Ecuador Experience. It´s always a weird feeling on Graduation day. You´re excited to be done with Highschool, to move on to more exciting things, but then it´s also sad because you´ll be leaving a part of you behind. Well I did that all last year in May, and then I did it again this year, and I don´t suggest doing it twice. It´s just as hard the second time…
Then on Saturday we had an Xplorer trip. And we went to Papallacta. Don´t worry this time I was VERY careful and reapplied sun screen (spf 70) many times. Of course I still got sun, but not near as bad as last time. And the only part that really fried were my thighs. So, life is definitely good!
On our way to the Hot springs, we stopped to take pictures. The vegetation on the way to Papallacta always amazes me. It really looks like the mountains in Idaho. But much bigger! We had tons of fun! And after we ate at a restaurant there by the pools. It´s always fun to get out of Quito and explore!
And so that brings me to this week, because I got out of school so much earlier than I planned I offered to help at the OSSO orphanage two days a week. I am excited to start that. Also next week I am going to the jungle with Josh and Melanie! Which will be sooooooooooo much fun! I am excited to get out of Quito! Haha. But other than that, school is out and I am a free woman! It makes me feel not so guilty about changing my plane ticket home a month early. I think I can handle two months of nothing to do, but three might just about do me in! haha, however anyway…I will live it up, I promise!
Love you all
Emily

¡ EaStEr SuNdAy!

Ok, this is the last blog post today i promise! I just decided that I wanted to do three separate blog posts today, in order to keep my thoughts straight. So, if this is the first one you´ve read, make sure to scroll down and read the other two that I posted today! Anyway,
I was very sad that Ecuador didn’t do the Egg, and egg dying tradition. So my mom sent me my own egg dye! It was super fun, and Hermana Rose and I had a blast coloring fun eggs. Turns out the brown ones make a really pretty antique looking color, while the white ones turned out more bright and vibrant! It was super lots of fun! And brought a little bit of “home” to Ecuador as we colored eggs.
Easter here, as I’ve said before is very different. And so I was a little sad on Easter Sunday when it wasn´t even recognized as a special day. (Even in church) the only person who mentioned the special day was Josh in his opening prayer in Sacrament meeting, and that was it. I am thinking that the reason for this is the fact that the Catholic´s SOOO over do it and maybe our people feel slightly embarrassed and so they just don’t recognize it at all?
Anyway, because of this the Senior missionaries planned an Easter dinner, with Ham and Potatoes, and Fruit salad and pies, etc.etc. it was a fabulous Easter dinner and I was grateful to once again be surrounded by members of the Church. Hermana Rose also planned an easter lesson where we had eggs and inside there were symbols which each represented something from the Easter story. It was very spiritual and I was grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Easter, and to feel closer to my Savior without the distractions of commercialism. We also watched a beautiful Easter video, that had pictures of Christ´s life, played with music.
I was also able to talk to my family in the states, and my Grandparent´s. it was great, and it helped bridge the gap a little bit! And the other exciting this was, this was my last Holliday away from my family!!! I survived them all!!!! Yippee!!!!

Because of the timing, I think it is important that I share my testimony with each one of you. I felt a little jipped yesterday because the theme of the Glorious Resurrection was not even mentioned at church. However, I am so grateful for the Easter season and all that it represents to us as members of the Church. I have a testimony of the atonement, and the fact that through it we all can be saved, as eternal families, and be resurrected just like our older brother Jesus Christ. I know that he lives, and he is real. He´s not just a figure of our imagination, or something we wish to believe in. he is real, and he loves me. He has held me in times of utter loneliness and has wiped away my tears as I’ve cried unto him for forgiveness for things I wish I wouldn´t have done. His gospel is my life, and my light. It has molded me into the person that I am today, and because I have it in my life I know I am never alone, that I have constant guides, and companionship as I trudge through the rocky path of life. I know that the Gospel is true, every part of it, and it´s through its truthfulness we have a bright future in front of us. I´ve felt the darkness of sin in my life, but I’ve also felt the peace of knowing that I can be clean again, because of what Jesus Christ did for all of us, and I know that just like he atoned for each one of you, he atoned for me. This Easter season I had the opportunity to really focus on the true meaning of Easter, and I felt closer to my Savior than I have ever in my life. I will remember forever the Easter that I spent in Ecuador, because it was yesterday as I looked at pictures of Christ´s life, and I felt his spirit, that I received a witness and a testimony that he lives! That he loves me! And that I am NEVER alone.
Until next time!
Love Em!!!

The Lord works in Mysterious Ways....

I´ve often heard the saying “The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways” but, it wasn´t really until I moved to Ecuador that I understood what that saying meant. This week in particular I have two stories I’d wish to use to illustrate my point.
First, Saturday with nothing to do Gabi and I decided to go to the Market. We boarded the Ecovia and headed south. About half way through our journey a man boarded the Ecovia who looked a little sketchy. Gabs was in the middle of a really intense story so she didn´t notice any thing odd, but for some reason I had the distinct feeling to “watch out for that guy” with one ear listening to Gabi´s story, I kept an eye on the stranger for the rest of the trip. When we went to get off I noticed he was getting off to, and so just to be safe I told gabs to wait to get off, and we´d go after him. Well sure enough he got off and we followed. The crowd of people headed towards the doors, and I had the feeling to just stay tight, and not move yet. Well the crowd thinned out and I realized that he wasn´t going any where, he was watching to see what we did. Well we hung back and watched him pretend to read a notice on the bulletin board, (I doubt he could even read). Then gabs and I started panicking! What could we do? He was totally blocking the exit making it so that we couldn´t leave?! Well so then I walked up to the ticket lady and I explained to her what was going on, she helped us sneak out the entrance, all while our strangers back was still turned.
Now we will never really know what would have happened if I had not been paying more attention, but as it was gabi and I made it safely away with out anything happening. He probably wouldn´t have done anything right by the Ecovia, but he probably would have waited until we were walking alone down one of the side streets. As it was, I am sooooooo grateful to be watched out for!


Next story, so…yesterday on my way to church I took the bus. As I was waiting for the bus I noticed a man walk from the same direction in which I live. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, so that´s what caught my attention, anyway a bus came and I didn´t realy think any more about it. Well I got off on the corner by my church, and I started to cross the street. The light was red and so traffic was stopped. Well about half way across the cross walk, a car came speeding out of nowhere, and there was no way it was going to miss me. I was terrified, and I was like “I can´t die in Ecuador!!!!” anyway, then someone pulled my arm out of the way just in time, and I recognized him as the Blondie from my corner. (however he is one of those weird people from Ecuador that speak only Spanish, but have blonde hair and blue eyes) He started asking me if I was alright…etc.etc. And kept walking with me. Well then he asked me where I was going, I said i´m headed to church. After asking me which church I was headed to I explained to him I was going to the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints” he seemed interested and then said, that he was headed to work. After a few more seconds of silence he said “When are you going to invite me to your church?” after a stunned second of silence I said, “Well today of course” he then expressed regret that he had to work and couldn´t make it. I asked him about next Sunday where he said he always had to work Sundays…well then I took a deep breath and asked him if he would like to speak to the missionaries from my church. They could come to his house, and tell him things about our church, answer questions, and teach him. He was thrilled, and gave me his name and number, address, and times that it would be good to call him.
I walked away…utterly amazed! Isn´t it interesting how some people just walk right into our arms just waiting to hear the gospel?
Love, Em

Good Friday

Not coming from a Catholic community at all, it was very interesting for me to participate in such Catholic events. It even seemed weirder to me than Christmas was. Mostly I think because the Catholic Church focuses more on Christ´s suffering and Crucifixion on Friday than his Glorious Triumph over Death and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. To do this they have what is called “Semana Santa” which literally translated means “Holy Week”. Each day of the week down in the Old Town of Quito they have events that lead up to Good Friday. They have churches open to go and worship, they have many different ceremonies, and they make a traditional food called Fanesca which is a soup that contains 12 of everything, 12 grains, 12 veggies…etc.etc. you get the picture. Then it is served with fish to represent Christ, while the 12 represents his 12 apostles.
Josh, Melanie, Owen, Sarah (Josh and Melanie´s friend), and I decided to go down to the Good Friday procession on Friday morning. Everything in the city of Quito was closed and the city was really eerily silent. There wasn´t a soul on the busses, and no cars on the roads. As I headed out I thought it was super weird, and I was a little nervous! However upon arriving in the Old Town, I quickly realized where everyone was! The few blocks that the procession would take place were sooooooo crammed with people it was impossible to maneuver.
Our first adventure started as we exited the Ecovia Bus station. There was a large group of people, surrounding a smaller group of people, and we couldn´t tell what was going on, but kept on walking up the hill towards the parade. Well a few minutes later the swarm of people starting running up the hill. It was very interesting and we kind of started to get a little freaked out by it, but still weren´t able to see the source of the panic. Well as Melanie tried to steer us all out of the way, and protect Owen police arrived on the scene and started to spray pepper spray, making it so that we were all coughing uncontrollably, and really starting to get freaked out. Well about that time, two women ran up the hill, one had what looked like a knife, while the other had a bloody face. The police took off after them, and we never really found out what else happened. Except for that the bloody face lady was seen a few more times that day selling gum again…
The procession it´s self was very interesting, it started out with what I call the “Purple People Eaters” but they really are called the “Cucaruchoos” (I really have no idea how to spell that) they are in purple representing repentance, and their loyalty to change their lives. As you can see from the pictures each purple is different, and this represents the gravity of their sin, and the amount of work they are willing to do to repent.
Also in the procession there were Christ figures. Who carried crosses up the hill. I guess the people who are selected to do this part are selected years in advance, and it´s a grand honor to be selected to carry the cross up the hill. Also of course there was Virgin Mary, and she was escorted in by “Veronica´s) who also looked like the purple people eaters but without the cone shaped caps. It was when Virgin Mary came in that the crowd started to cry, and many wept openly in seeing her. I kind of felt guilty for taking pictures, because for most, this is their religious Easter, and all they will do in celebration of this season. After the Virgin went by, then people from the sides started to join in, and then they all continued walking.
Over all it was VERY interesting.

Love,
Em

"Your Future is only as bright as your Faith"

What a wonderful weekend we all had! Although most of you enjoyed conference in your jammies curled up in front of your home TV´s eating crackers and cheese and taking notes I once again had the amazing opportunity to go to conference here in Quito. While just last year conference really just meant to me a day when I got to sleep in a few more hours, not shower, and not have to make the trek to Dayton to go to church, living in a place very far away from anything that is familiar, my view on General Conference is also one of those many things that has changed.
Saturday morning dawned bright and warm and beautiful, and although we´d had rain for the past few days the streets were dry and the sun beamed brightly upon me and I made my way to the Iñaquito stake center. To get to the stake center I am required to take two buses, which take me to connecting streets on Calle Americas, and then I needed to walk about two blocks up a hill where the stake center is located comfortably in the corner of a very quiet and nice neighborhood. I hummed hymns in Spanish as I made my way to conference. And I thought how interesting it was that conference was such a big deal to me now!

Now for those of you who are wondering, my stake center is generous enough to set up a room for us English speakers. The chapel is devoted to the dubbed over Spanish version of conference (very weird to hear President Monson´s voice in Spanish…) but the Relief Society room was set up with a T.V and a channel in English. I feel very lucky that even though I am still so far away from home both conferences I’ve been to here I’ve been able to enjoy and listen to thoroughly in English. It makes me offer a prayer of gratitude for modern technology that makes it so that members of the church everywhere in the world are able to partake of the blessings of conference.
Before conference started I was startled to run in to a gringo missionary whom I know from the states. Elder Grange (picture) is from College Ward Utah, and his home ward is the same as my Grandparent´s and my Aunt and Uncle and cousins. Elder Grange and I had many things to catch up on and it was fun to see someone from home. He comes home in August!
I thought the Saturday talks were fabulous! And enjoyed every one of them. As I look through my notes as I write this I’d have to say there isn´t one that didn´t touch my heart and make me want to do better. From the first talk by Robert D. Hales regarding the financial and economic struggles to Russel M. Nielsen’s regarding prayer I felt fully spiritually uplifted. I am always amazed how these loving leaders of our church come down and tell us what we need to work on, with at the same time making us feel loved, and appreciated. I was impressed as it seemed that each talk although highlighted the rough times we are in, also encouraged us to be grateful, be of good cheer and how the solution to all of life´s problems no matter what it is indeed is to turn to the Lord and follow his commandments and we will be ok!
My two favorite talks from Saturday would have to be President Eyring´s, and Elder Rafael Pino. Elder Eyrings struck me personally as he highlighted that there is a common things among all of us, Adversity. I really liked one thing that he said about how the very fact that we have adversity is evidence of our Heavenly Father´s love for us. It truly is an interesting way to look at it, but he points out that the disciple who accepts trials as an opportunity to grow will find peace and comfort during his afflictions. ´
Elder Pino, is in the Area of 70 presidency here in Ecuador. English being his second language he was very nervous to deliver his talk in front of the world in English. However I think and feel like he did a fabulous job! One thing he said really stuck with me, “living the gospel doesn´t mean we will escape adversity. Rather we will be prepared to face adversity with confidence”.
I was also very impressed and motivated by all the talks about getting to the temple, doing temple work, going to the temple, preparing to enter the temple, and setting specific goals to get there regularly.
Sunday´s talks were just as good, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir´s music touching. Elder Uchtdorf´s talk about discipleship was really good. He talked about how it´s not a spectator sport. It is not enough to just speak of it, or surround ourselves with symbols of it, it´s not a second hand religion we need to get off the side lines and practice what we preach. I also loved it when he said, “even when we give up on our selves, He never will. We see our selves as yesterday and today, God sees us as forever.” In closing he reminds us, it is never too late, it is ALWAYS the right time.
President Monson reminds us to be of good cheer, to turn away from troubles and focus on your blessings as a member of the church, and as we make the Gospel the center of our lives we will be able to face our challenges and rise triumphantly. However, I must say Jeffrey R. Holland´s brought tears to my eyes as I felt like he was speaking directly to me. As he spoke of the Lonliest journey ever made I couldn´t believe how comforted I felt. Knowing that those feelings of loneliness have been felt by some one else, when you think no one understands. I learned that someone does understand, and because Jesus walked that path, I don´t have to.

I am so grateful for this gospel, for the blessings it brings in to my life. And for the assurance, and the confidence I have because I am a member of this church. I love each and every one of you, and I thank you for your prayers, love and support! Until next time!
Em

Tomato Soup, Fudge, and a day off of school!

So the other day I had a few minutes of spare time, and i started to read through some of my old blog entries, from the very begining of my Ecuador experience. It´s very interesting to look back at September or October´s entries and realize how much things have changed, how much i´ve changed, and how incredibly blessed and grateful I am to be here.
The past little while, i´ve been kindof going stir crazy. I´m not doing anything in classes right now except for reading, or writing stories, or finding other ways to occupy my time, and so i´ve been a little stressed out. You all know me, I have to be involved in doing something, or I absolutely get bored. I´m not a super good relaxer…i´m a go go go kindof girl. And so through some loving council from my mom we´ve been trying to decide what I can do to fill in some time. She encouraged me to enjoy reading a novel because once I hit college I won´t have time. She advised writing a story or brain storm ideas for children´s stories. We´ve decided that in order to get in everything I still want to I need to plan in advance, (something Ecuadorians don´t believe in) and jam my schedule full of things to do.
I´ve been contemplating changing my return date home for about a month early. It´s come up in quite a few conversations between me and my parents lately, and the subject still remains an issue as I try to decide what I want to do with the next part of my life. However those are all way to deep of subjects to blog about so I thought I would share about my fun week so far!
Monday Hermana G. and I found some Campbell’s Tomato Soup, and Velveeta Cheese slices! Now here in Ecuador, if you see something yummy you have to get it at that moment, because if not they don´t restock so we splurged and make ourselves grilled cheese sandwiches, and tomato soup. (My favorite lunch) Now we calculated and decided that considering import taxes and tarrifs, and the rarity of the meal, the $1.50 meal (if that) in the states, suddenly became about a $7.00 meal here in Quito. Crazy I know!
FHE Monday night was also fantastic. Elder and Hermana Curtis prepared a lesson about the Draper temple open house! I can´t believe that just when I get back, after being gone a year there will be two new temples in Utah! Craziness…but they read President Monson´s dedicatory prayer, and it was beautiful.

Tuesday I went over to Elder and Sister Rose´s to learn how to make fudge! We had tons and tons of fun, and Melanie and Owen came also. The Fudge turned out great! Especially for the first time making it in Ecuador. We also ate Chicken Enchiladas with the Rose´s. After we got done making fudge Elder Rose walked me out to get a taxi, we ended up waiting the longest I’ve ever had to wait, about 20 minutes. People kept walking out of the buildings and jumping right in front of us and we would go to get in the cab. I think Elder Rose was pretty agitated.
Wednesday I met Owen and Melanie and we went on a walk to a really cute yummy little restaurant. Then we went back to Melanie´s house to play with Owen. Traffic was bad coming home because of another Futból game here in Quito. Ecuador vs. Paraguay. However when I was on the bus I couldn´t help but feel a little bit of the Ecuadorian sprit as we listened to the game. When we made a goal I thought the bus would tip over from all the excitement on the bus!
Now that brings me to today…well I drug myself out of bed way to early for my taste so that I could get to school. Only to get there, and not find a single soul in my class. They had all decided not to come to school today, and everybody had neglected to tell me…and so I was a little ticked off but decided to take the morning to updated my blog, and emails. (one day I might get used to this country!)
Anyway! It´s almost conference weekend which I am sooooooooo excited about! I will go to the stake center to watch it, and they have a broadcast in English just for us! So excited. Can´t believe it´s already spring conference!!! (last year I was in DC) weird..
Entonces, eso es todo! I love you all have a GREAT day, week, month, year, whenever it is you read this! And remember that I am thinking about each and everyone of you! Thank you for your prayes and support!
Love,
Em