March Madness

These past 2 weeks have gone by super quick because we have had zone conference, consejo de Líderes (leadership counsel), and a ton of service todo. Most of the service we do is just chopping weeds or pulling weeds out. Since it has been raining for the past little while, everything has started to grow quite a bit so there is a lot of green. Our first service of the week was just cutting or chopping weeds up and the hermanas weeds were like vines so we would cut the vines but we still couldnt pull them out. Then the second one of the week we went up to El Suspiro, which is about an hour or an hour and a half north from our sector. We had to ask permission and they gave us the permission so we went up to this pueblo or super tiny town in the little mountain in the middle of nowhere Ecuador. We went to a pepper farm where they grow peppers, but it has over grown with weeds so we had to look for the peppers and pull everything out around from the pepper. It felt like iIwas in the movie McFarland. We got back to Santa Elena around 5pm so we were dead from the service and we all got burnt. 

Then the day after the service we had our consejo de Líderes or our missionary leadership counsel. It was probably the best counsel we have ever had and it was the most I have felt that we were guided by the Spirit in the counsel. All the leaders came prepared with soluciones and were ready to comment. We ended up finishing early but still got back super late por que el líder de zona de otra zona casi se hizo encima. 🫣🫣

Now starting with the miracles that happened 2 weeks ago. We were heading to a lesson but I saw a house that was kind of hidden and I told myself that there was a house there and that we could go see if they were interested.  Out came a lady who was pretty busy who seemed really interested to find the true Church of Jesus Christ and told us that we was interested. Since then Shirley or the mom who we contacted and Scarlett have been to church 2 and have a baptismal date for the 26 of April. If everything goes right, we will have 4 baptisms lined up in April and the ward should have around 6-7 new members of the ward because of the hermanas too. 

Then after the second hour of church yesterday, this hermano comes up to us and kind of jokingly tells us to baptize these 2 kids are his family. And turns out he had brought his son and all of his family who aren't members of the church and really liked it. I don't know what the Lord had in mind for us or for the family but I think the thing I have seen in this sector is that the Lord is preparing people and we just have to look for them and help them to live the Gospel and understand it.

Transfers are next week so we'll see what happens or if i just stay with Elder Villanueva👀👀

Los extrano 

Elder Roper 

Leadership Council

 

Zone Conference

 

March 24

Full Monte y Full Milagros

Well . . . what a week here in Santa Elena 1 and just in the whole zone! This week we had a ton of service to do, from Thursday to Saturday the week was full of service and all we have done is pull weeds and chop down trees. Since it's been raining more the plants and monte (weeds) have been growing and in some placed it is overgrown so whenever we ask to do service they always ask to pull or chop their weeds. I am still getting the hang of using a machete but it's been pretty tiring. On Saturday we helped pull and chop weeds and also helped the hermanas move from their house to another one outside of the zone 😐

To start with the miracles 

1. To start off the whole entire zone has been working really hard and facing a lot of challenges of sectors and personal stuff. This week we learned that a mom of an Elder in the zone passed away unexpectedly but the Elder has decided to stay and hasn't really let it affect his work or anything else. This week that Elder ane his companion had 15 people come to church which is a HUGE miracle and we're able to see the fruits of their labors. With this the zone had a lot of success extending baptismal Invitaciones and helping people coming to church. Now every companionship has a least 1 baptismal date!! 

2. In our area there is a hermano that has come to church 4 times and consistently participated on the classes and already seems like a member of the church.  Well, the Elders had received him as an online reference a while back and he has been coming to church consistently. He doesn't have any time to teach him because he leaves for work at 6:30 and gets back at 10:30. Well we walk into Sunday school and he is giving his testimony and after the class we knew we had to talk to him about the Gospel and baptism. He walks up to us and just plainly asks "cuando me puedo Bautizar?" We told him we are ready to prepare him and now has a baptismal date for the end of April!!! I guess Elder Villanueva and his old comp had already taught him about baptism and he said he had been baptized by a rabbi pastor but just by going to church Byron, our friend was able to feel the spirit confirming that the church is the church of Jesus Christ! He has such a strong faith and will be a very strong member in the Church

Now this week I read on Church News that Kalani Sitake had given a devotional at BYU and so I knew I had to listen to it. In his speech he talks a lot about adversity and many stories in his life where he has passed through adversity. I love this quote that he shared: 

"Heartbreak means you're a step closer to finding true love.  Struggles in school mean you're learning new skills.  Being low on funds means you're learning how to budget and will be thankful and humble when more compensation arrives.  God will provide. And good times are ahead".

The whole entire zone has been passing through adversity, but we have been able to see the blessings and miracles if we can continue on through hard times and endure patiently. 

Love and miss all you guys,

 

Elder Roper 

P.S. Florida taking it all for March Madness