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Letter #46 - Happy New Years from ECUADOR! - 1.4.2016

New Years Festivities and Traditions in Quito, Ecuador

Hello, Hello! Happy New Years from ECUADOR!!! Kicking off the New Year in Ecuador Well, I have to say that this New Years was a whole different experience for me celebrating it in a different culture and country! New Year's Eve one street down from us was closed off with people selling different wigs, 2016 glasses, masks, hats, and a whole lot of other things to bring in the new year. There were people dressed up as Mickey Mouse, the Simpsons, and different characters from movies. We had to walk across this street to get to where we were going to eat lunch and for a second I thought I was in Disney World.

There were also some people walking down the streets with their dolls that they made. At first, I had to do a double take because they looked like they were carrying dead bodies, but after I found out that it was a tradition and it was normal here. Haha! There are dolls and paper made sculptures of all different kind of characters from movies. Scary clowns including chucky. People. Little and big. You can buy one or you can make yourself. Most of the people that we talked to liked to make it themselves because it was more fun. Then at midnight they burn them all. The buses put them on the front of the bus. Taxis had them on their roofs. I don't have pictures. I'm sorry. I was a little scared of getting robbed this day, but try googling Ecuador and New Years and maybe you can see pictures.

Festival by our house and men carrying their dolls. Everyone makes dolls here and then burns them at midnight...some of them are really creepy! These two men looked like they were carrying dead bodies...2 Attachments

Another tradition, is they have guys that dress up as women and dance in front of the cars for money. They go all out. We didn't talk to them, but they were everywhere. It was funny to see the first time because we have never seen that in our countries. They do it for money and people pay them, but I heard it was because many of them can get aggressive if you don't pay. We went to go get pizza and one of the guys poured out a huge jug full of coins. We went back to our house by 5pm for safety, but we ordered pizza and did our goals for this year. Then, at midnight we got up to see the fireworks. They were BEAUTIFUL. We live in the center of Quito so we were surrounded by fireworks. All of Quito was lit up including the streets with everyone burning their dolls. It was really special to be able to celebrate here. I am grateful to have spent 2015 as a representative of Jesus Christ here in Ecuador serving the Lord!!!

Following in His Footsteps

A new year brings new goals and resolutions. This year one of my goals is to follow Christ and to be diligent in becoming more like him. President Hinkley said, "Our safety lies in the virtue of our lives. Our strength lies in our righteousness." Do you remember when Jesus Christ instructed His Apostles, at the beginning of His mortal ministry? He said, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Jesus Christ continuously teaches us through His perfect example of what our priorties in life should be. Individually, we need to first follow Him and as we do this, the Savior will bless us beyond our own capacity to become what He wants us to become. We can't become like someone if we know nothing about them. We must learn of His character and apply His attributes in our lives. Often times when we study His attributes, we say "Oh, I have patience or I am diligent or I am humble." The true test though comes in PRACTICING what we proclaim. The reality check comes when Christlike attributes need to become visible in our lives-as a husband or wife, as a father or mother, as a son or daughter, in our friendships, in our employment, in our business, and our recreation. The truth is we can all be better in all of His attributes-knowledge, humility, charity, love, obedience, diligence, faith, and hope. I know each of these attributes are gifts from God and they cannot be developed without His help.

The one help that we all need is given to us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If we have faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement we will rely completely on Him-trusting in His intelligence, infinite power, and love for each of us. Faith always leads to action. IF we want to develop Christlike attributes we must exercise our agency righteously. Love and trust the Lord to follow His commandments-even when we don't completely understand the reasons for them. In order to become more like the Savior, we must believe that we can, reevaluate our lives regularly, learn of Him, and apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives DAILY.

After one week of working hard to develop Christlike attributes, I know it is not easy and at times it can be painful. That we can't do it without being willing to accept direction and correction from the Lord and His servants. I hope that in 2016 we will all "Lay aside the things of the world, and seek for the things of a better." (D&C 25:10). I know as we do we will little by little get one step closer to reaching our potential, see miracles in our lives, have peace, have happiness, and be a powerful instrument in the Lord's hands to help those around us.

As we go from day to day, we must be deliberate about doing the things that matter most. As a missionary, I have learned the importance of the little things and intentionally applying them DAILY. True obedience, humble prayer, serious scripture study, and selfless service to others. Each of these are key ingredients to help us develop our faith in Jesus Christ...step by step, line upon line, and precept upon precept. I firmly believe that we do things based on our desire. That it is OUR DECISION to strengthen our faith by choosing to do what is right and with all of our decision there will be consequnences that follow. When we do these 4 simple things, the consequence will be increased faith. As we do these the promised blessing is that we "be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (D&C 27:17). And as Alma taught "withstand every temptation of the devil, with faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." (Alma 37:33). I know that as we do our part to follow Jesus Christ, we will receive more blessings that we could ever think that we could receive. It is up to us! I hope you are all as motivated as I am to do a little better each day to become more like my Savior, Jesus Christ and follow His perfect example! I know as we put forth our part, we will see miracles in 2016!

Pday

FELIZ ANO NUEVO!!!! 2016!!!

Flood of Calls There has not been a lot of sick missionaries lately. I don't think I am going to be taking both missions because I haven't heard anything. It was funny though because I received no calls for Christmas or New Years, but the day after I woke up to 5 calls one right after the other. Most of them had stomach problems...can you guess what my first question was? Yep, what did you eat the day before. We have a feeling that this week will be busy with calls and appointments because the doctors were not in for the last weeks, but we will see.

Missionary Work

We continue to see miracles in our sector every day. This week my companion and I have sat down together and looked at all the things that we could improve in so that we can be better missionaries. We have been working hard together so that we can help the people in our sector to either remember how important the gospel is in our lives or to learn of the gospel for the first time. Many of our investigators were out of town this last week, but they all came back yesterday. We found new investigators and saw progress with the people that we have been teaching. I continue to see the Lord's hand in this work each day. Every time I testify of the gospel, the Spirit testifies to me that this is the truth. It all makes sense. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the SAME church that Jesus Christ established himself. It has the same organization and it is the only church that has the Priesthood which we can do those ordinances to return to him. This week we found many people who lost loved ones including one of our investigators. It was so special to be able to offer hope through teaching the Plan of Salvation. I know that this life is not the end. That we will see each of our loved ones again. That families are FOREVER. And oh how grateful I am to be able to know that and to know how I can obtain that promised blessing.

I love you all sooooo much! I hope you have a great week!!! Love always, Sister Pemberton