Semana LOCA‏

This week has been the craziest of my entire mission. First, Ecuador is having and political outrage which includes the native people "fighting" with the police. With their handmade wooden tools and blocking the streets so no one can pass. It makes no sense, because there are plenty of landslides anyways! YAY Second, Cotopaxi the volcano exploded just some ash! Next I am in Quito right now to renew my visa. What?! I have been here for a YEAR. That is a little of the craziness that has happened. Hermana Macias has experienced so much in just 3 short weeks. 

Elder Waddel?! The conference was going to start at 10 am, but did not end up started until 5pm thanks to all the craziness that has happened the past couple days, the president and him were stuck all day trying to get there. In the short hour that we had with him was amazing. He spoke to us mostly about baptizing converts and not just baptizing. The part that struck me the most was he talked about 2 different types of missionaries. Ones that strive to have the spirit with them and ones that do not. Something I have learned here on the mission is that we should do NOTHING to keep us from having the spirit with us. The power, protection and guide it gives us is not worth not having. We should pray to have faith in the spirit not to have the spirit, baptized members have the gift of the Holy Ghost, I think sometimes we just need the faith to trust in the spirit. 

After the conference because of all the craziness we had to sleep in Ambato and I got to stay with the Hermanas in my old sector. It was a treat to be with them and to know that some converts there have been to the temple these past few months when I have been in Puyo. This week has been a HUGE testimony builder. Amongst the scary crazy situations, along with some problems in Puyo, I have had the experience to reflect on my testimony of the power of the priesthood and to know that we are truly protected has missionaries.

OH and the cherry on the top is that I saw Hermana Diaz today in Quito, she is the north mission but we went to the same high school and grew up together!!

I love this work. 

Love you all, say your prayers at night.

Hermana Merrill