A Baptism in Chillogallo!!!

It was very cold and rainy,

but how can you not feel warmth with the spiritual high that a baptism brings??!!

Hello Everyone,
This week was a very special week. We had a baptism!!!! Not going to lie, it feels like a while since we have had a baptism in this sector...I love the power of the spirit. It was a special experience to witness another sister of mine enter into a covenant with Heavenly Father. The more I teach baptism, the more I realize it's not something that brings us blessings...it's something that we NEED! And when we realize that need, there is nothing that is too much to sacrifice in order to get it. I love how Heavenly Father is not a God of blind faith, rather a God of line upon line, precept upon precept kind of God.

Bertha is an amazing story! She started off as any other investigator letting us in, probably because we can speak Spanish and we aren't from here haha. She accepted the Book of Mormon right away, but didn't really take anything seriously. She went to church every so often, and kept progressing little by little. The thing I love most is her love for the Book of Mormon. She actually is moving to Spain next week so it is kind of weird to think that she got baptized her last week here in Ecuador. In fact, we were planning to send the referral to Spain so she can get baptized there and get to know her ward in that manner but we were at church and the topic of the Gospel Principles class was about the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We were talking about how it is literally impossible to get back to God without this sacrifice. Without Jesus Christ, it is absolutely impossible. The teacher then proceeded to talk about the importance of baptism and that is how we show God we are thankful for the atoning sacrifice and actually gain real access to the powers and blessings. She raised her hand and said "I am moving to Spain but I was wondering if it would be better to be baptized here so that I can go with the surety of this promise." Of course we stood up and were like please come this way and we will start filling up the font hahaha. But it was amazing as it clicked! Everything that we had taught over these couple of months clicked in that moment. That it isn't just a want...it's a need and a want!! Her baptismal service was very special. Very cold and rainy but how can you not feel warmth with the spiritual high that a baptism brings??!!

We also had the great opportunity to have a meeting with Elder Montoya. He came through the mission on errand to talk about Ministering, which was what the whole conference was about. Really becoming true disciples of our Savior Jesus Christ. I love a quote by him "Ministering will never be forgotten." And then he shared a special story about when Elder Renlund came to Ecuador after the earthquake and he was given an hour or so to give a talk to the people to lift their spirits. But rather than talking, he got up and told the congregation that he will be hugging every single person there instead of talking to them. So for over an hour he got to know them and hugged every single member there. That was powerful to me as I can only imagine how the congregation must have felt...so special. It has motivated me to continue to focus one by one...Ministering will never be forgotten. I love this work. I am so happy to be apart of it! I love you all! Have a great week and always remember to serve!
Elder Reynolds

LOVE OUR MISSIONARY!!

Quito Ecuador

Elder Reynolds, Bertha and Elder Mooney

Ministering will never be forgotten!!!

Chapel in Chillogallo Quito Ecuador

~Elders of Ecuador~

Their apartment!

They sleep in their winter coats because it's so cold at night. Elder Reynolds invested his money and bought a heater. It's in the 40's with 100% humidity...burrrr

We got this!

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"

Doctrine and Covenants 18:15