El Cambiar

Well I should start by saying I am doing alot better. The love and support I am getting is by far overwhelming. I had so many emails I don't even have time to read them but I'm printing them so if I don't reply I'm sorry just know that you have all helped me so much and I appreciate everything.

I hope all my friends see this. I won't be able to email you anymore. I need to be following the rules exactly so I will only be able to write letters to those who aren't my family until my new mission president comes if he lets us follow the church wide rule. As you can tell I'm very bitter and upset and scared about this rule but I know that if I am exactly obedient I will be blessed. 

My Comp and I

These past few days have been really cool. The first few days sucked as you guys know, but things have looked up so much since then. We had a baptism on Saturday for J----n. We didn't teach him before he was baptised but we now check up on him and will continue to meet with him now that he is baptized.

J----n's baptism

We have OUR first baptism on Saturday, for an 11 year old who's whole family is members but not him and he is ready and wants to be baptised. so we've been teaching him and we are all so excited for Saturday.

We have been teaching a woman named S-n-- who is so sweet. The hard thing about teaching people here is no one is married. So its hard because if they live with there gf or bf or father or mother of their children they can't be baptised until they're married. I just want to have a huge wedding and have all of our investigators get married so their families can be baptised and be sealed together forever... but no one wants to be married. I simply just don't understand that... I'm pretty sure I've wanted to be married since I was like 7. haha But its going to be a challenge we are going to have to overcome because these people can feel the spirit and know we have something they need. And we will find a way for them to have it. Okay back to S-n--... The first time we taught her it was amazing, she said the closing prayer and she just had tears in her eyes. The spirit was so strong. It was amazing. Experiences like this really help me understand why I'm here.

So I ate a fish. Like it still had its head on it and everything when they gave it to me. Don't worry I have pictures. hahahaha 

But Hna. C-rm-n the woman who is like a mommy to us made it for us, and it was actually really good. The first time I've ever enjoyed fish.... plus I prayed before, that God would help me be able to eat this because I hate fish ahhaha the power of prayer is real ;)

Hermana C----n and me

I want you all to know that I know I need to be here. I know that there are people here who need me and that I need. I have already met some. But just like everyone else I am human. I  am weak. And have fallen, I will continue to fall but I KNOW that my Savior will pick me up. just as he has every time in the past. 

I've learned so much being here. I've learned so much about myself. I've learned ALOT about who my true friends are and who will stand by me till the end. That's prolly one of the realizations that has hurt the most, but I know in the long run will be very beneficial to me. There's a scripture that I came across that I feel describes my love for my friends (and family) and their love for me. Its John 15:13 and it says "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" I really do love you all so much. More than life itself. So thank you to those who have constantly written me, you all know who you are. CONTINUE to write me. Just because I can't write you doesn't mean you can't write me! I  can print the emails and read them all the time :) I don't have my address on me. But there are two separate addresses, one for letters and one for packages. I'm sure my mom will get them to Dana to post on this blog for ya'll! 

speaking of.... BIG SHOUT OUT to my AMAZING parents for organizing all my emails and all my information for me! I appreciate it SO MUCH! And another BIG SHOUT OUT to Dana for updating and designing this amazing blog! Thank You! It means so much!

Its just like home!

okay well I'm going to leave y'all with my testimony okay?

yo se que este evangelio es la evangelio de JesuCristo y se que Dios es mi padre celestial y me ama mucho. se que Dios conosce me personalmente. se que JesuCristo sentia todas cosas que yo senti y mediante su expiacion yo peudo tener paz en vida vida. yo se que El Libro de Mormon es verdadero y es la palabras de Dios. Este evangelio es la unico cosas que puede traer lo maximo bendiciones es mi vida y en sus vidas. yo estoy muy agradacida para este Evangelio y para mi testionio y para mi relacion con Dios y JesuCristo. En el nombre de JesuCristo, Amen.

I love you all so much. Thank you for the support. 

xoxo

Hna Younce

If any of you love me!!!!! YOU WILL SEND ME PEANUT BUTTER CUPS AND SOMEONE PLEASE SEND ME A TEDDY BEAR.......... I NEED A CUDDLE BUDDY. thank you :) xoxo hna younce

Just in case you guys miss this face... Cause I know I would if I were you

Super Awesome Tan Lines

Bruises on my knees from praying so much... it really works!

RE-ASSIGNED

A few more pics from the CCM

My family at the CCM  (my district)

 Hna M---- and Hna J------ two of my best friends in the CCM

hahhaha my latina roomate trying to be like me. Hna O-----

The final product (hna beyouncè pose)

I wasn't kidding when I told ya'll they loved me. One of the maintenance men made this for me. And my Latinas told me the alllllll the Latino elders and sisters knew of the famous Hna Beyouncè... haha amazing!

Me and Hna C--- taking a nap...shhh...

   

Me and my comp and our Latinas

      

Me and Elder F---, please give him a shout out on my blog. He is my person. Seriously. We needed each other in the CCM. I love him so much!

Our last pic at the CCM... its also 4 in the morning here, we look great!

    

 Bus ride to the CCM with my fave latinas Hna O----- y Hna M------

At the airport. Ecuador North Hermanas

My girls from the CCM and our new companions

     

June 21, 2013 

Well I guess I should start by telling you that I have been reassigned to the Guayaquil West Mission. Prolly one of the biggest struggles I've dealt with so far. I'm having a really hard time understanding how they can just switch me, when my call from the prophet is for another place. But I trust in the Lord so I just have to stick it out. Idk how I'm gonna to tell Jennifer about this. If she doesn't get reassigned too idk what I'll do.

I was reassigned because of the area I was assigned to. When they added the West Mission all of the coastal areas were put in the West Mission. I am in an area named "the playas" in English its the beaches. We are the first sister missionaries here in 15 years and we have a lot repair work to in order to really transform this area. It is a veryyyy poor area. Luckily we have a semi nice apartment that we live in. But I really just wanna come home.

Our first night here (before we got our assignments and our companions) we slept at the temple apartments in Guayaquil which was super awesome. So beautiful. Make sure to look at the difference in the views from our apartment and the temple apartments (if they let me send pictures on this computer.)

View from when we stayed at the temple apartments

     

My companion is Hna P------, she's super sweet, very quiet.................. and sometimes, well most of the time I feel like she doesn't like me because we can't communicate. But besides that it's great. 

I got to talk to my parents on Tuesday morning when we flew in which was so nice, but so hard at the same time. I really really miss them and all my friends. I never knew how weak I was until I got here. But the Lord works miracles. 

This area is pretty scary for me. I'm like an endangered species here. The men look at me. During the day its good but at night when we contact, I pray more in my head than I ever have in my life. Instead of having to be finished with our last lesson at 9:30 we have to be in our house at 9 because the people drink alot here and it's not safe for us to be out. Like what is life. 

So I guess my mission president changed some rules specifically for this mission, like we cant drink coke........... we have to wear nylons........... I have to wear nylons and i can't drink coke because my companion puts me in check.

I'm sorry this update is so depressing. I just really hate it here. But I know that it will get better eventually. 

On the plus side there is a member of the church here, Hna C----- who is amazing!!! She's like a mom to us... I love her. She feeds us everyday and her family is amazing. And the Galapagos Islands are in my new mission but apparently they don't send sisters there. So well see about that. 

Don't get me wrong I am excited to be on a mission. I am just being broken down little by little, but I am not suffering even an ounce of what the Savior went through for me. So I know that I can do this.

I love you all. Thank you for your support.

My view here

But my bed spread was comforting that they had there for me. 

         

The Start to a Big Part of My Journey

Younce Family,

                Receive a warm greeting from our part. It pleases us to inform you that Sister Younce has arrived to the mission field without any complications. We are very happy to receive her in the Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission. Attached you will find the following: One picture with President and Sister Amaya and the other missionaries from her group, one picture with her trainer, a letter written by your daughter, and a letter from President Amaya.

Thank you for the support that you give to Sister Younce.

Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission

La Iglesia de Jesucristo SUD

Secretario del Presidente

    

Hey guys!

So I am officially here in Ecuador! I know I just talked to you guys so I don't have much of an update besides the fact that my mission president is awesome! His wife is so sweet too. We are at their house right now. They fed us lunch and I almost cried it was so good! So there is a chance I could be reassigned to the West Mission.... Uh what? I will find out tomorrow. I really hope I'm not reassigned. I know it will be the Lord's will, but idk if I can handle much more change right now. 

Not gonna lie... I'm scared out of my mind and I know it's just Satan trying to get me to quit. But man... It hasn't even been 5 hours here and it's already working. But don't worry I'll be strong and I promise I won't give up.

Keep me in your prayers. I love you so much! 

PS - it's really sticky and hot here. I hate it. And I think I've gotten 5 new pimples simply from these past few hours. Pero (but) I'm not here for me, I'm here for the people and for my Savior. Love ya'll! Write me letters they will help so much.

xoxo

Hermana Younce

Dear Younce Family,

After her experience in the MTC we had the wonderful opportunity to receive SisterYounce at the airport along with other missionaries in her group, we shared together a welcome lunch, and special moments starting her mission. She received instruction on the rules of the mission and the correct manner to work, she met her first companion, Sister P------ from Argentina and was trained in the "Plan of First Twelve Weeks", according to the direction we received from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. With great pleasure I am pleased to report that the development of the Plan of Twelve Weeks has been so far a great experience with excellent results.

Every Monday is her preparation day and she has the opportunity to write to family, we hope you will encourage and support her. 

Your daughter is doing very well, we care for her and she is progressing, she is an excellent missionary and has performed admirably, we express our gratitude for having prepared her to serve the Lord and supported her. For Sister Amaya and I it is a great privilege to have her in the mission and have the opportunity to help and guide her in this sacred process of developing her potential so she can serve the Lord the best she can. You have done very well, Congratulations. The Lord will strengthen her, help her, and guide her through the Spirit, of whom Sister Younce will have to depend on as never before in her life.

Sincerely yours, and May the Lord bless you.

President and Sister Amaya

Last Week at the CCM

Well its my last p day here at the CCM I probably wont be able to email next week so dont be woried if you dont hear from me!

So something funny to start off! A few weeks ago we were teaching J---e our fake investigator and I was inviting him to be baptized and instead of telling him we would have a baptismal service I told him we would have a baptism of beer for him..................lets just say he didnt hesititate to committ. And now no one will let me live it down. haha service in Spanish is servicio and beer is cerveza (ser-ve-za) talk about the strug life.

We got two new roomates finally. 2 latinas. They are so sweet! And so fun! I'm obsessed with them. Their names are Hna. O----- and Hna. M------. They are from here in Peru and serving in Mexico. They are waiting for their visa's. We are teaching them English and they are teaching us Spanish. It's been so fun.

                                                Us and our Latina roomies

So this week has been really hard for me. I've been really homesick and dealing with some unkind people. I'll start with the unkind people. There is a boy in my district that ever since we got here has been really rude to me. Everytime I say something he has something rude to say and everytime I raise my hand to ask a question he sighs or grunts or something and I have never said anything to him. I was just trying to be Christ like and not be bothered by it, that ended quickly. One night this week during class I asked a question and as soon as I rose my hand he expressed his disturbedness through a rude comment. As my eyes filled with tears I held my tongue, and waitied till after class to confront him. After class I asked him to stay behind (he's our district leader so he thought maybe I was confiding in him because I needed something.) Let it be known that I did not cuss and I stayed very calm during the whole conversation. I asked him if he had some sort of problem with me, he responded no Sister I do not. So I went on to say "Okay well if you don't have a problem  with me then I don't understand why you have to make a rude comment everytime I talk. I don't know if I'm too sensitive or too loud or too crazy for you... but that is who I am and I expect that when I step foot into this classroom I can feel safe and confident in who I am and confident in asking questions and participating just as anyone else does. I am not only a missionary but I am a daughter of God and I deserve to be treated like one. If there is somethingIi have done to upset you I need you to tell me so I can do my part in fixing it, because I can't feel the spirit in class cause I'm too busy being upset with you." He replied with, "No, you haven't done anything and I am sorry that I have hurt you. I will do my best to change that."  Not one rude comment or grunt has been made ever since. The next day his pocket on his dress shirt ripped off and I sewed it back on for him. Everyone calls me Mama Hna Younce. As well as his shirt, I also fixed a hem on Elder S------s pants. My sewing skills are growing.

                                                The pocket I sewed 

                                             E. S-----n and me

                                                 Elder S-----n 

Speaking of being Mama Hna Younce a quick experience this week. I was talking with one of my teachers and he told me "Hernmana Younce, Hno F----- and I love you so much, you're such a different missionary than we've ever seen and we love you for it. And I want you to know that not only are you going to be a great missionary, but you're going to be a great mom. I know it. And I see it. And I want you to know that too. I want you to imagine with me, i want you to look up at the sky, and picture a bunch of little children sitting around your Heavenly Father watching you right now, and all those little hijos are going to say Heavenly Father I want Hermana Younce as my mommy. And God is gonna look at those hijos and say you sure bout that?! And the hijos will respond yes! She fun and crazy but a great example and daughter of God. I want her as my mommy. And God will look back to those kids and say, amazing choice children. And those hijos will wait for you to be ready one day and your Heavenly Father will send them to you." 

That was just one of my faovrite experiences that I loved and I wanted to share.

So next is the home sickness. Man... this has been a very hard week. With father's day coming up and Tye's birthday too... and simply just realizing its been a month since I've seen my family, I finally hit a breaking point. I started having some night mares about home and plus I'm having my lady time so everything is just a little bit of a roller coaster. So I've been praying like crazy for my family to feel my love and the Saviors love in their life. And I had told my teacher about my night mares and he told me that being a missionary I have the power to cast satan out of my mind. So I did, I laid in bed that night and when I started to have scary thoughts, I casted satan out of my mind in the name of Jesus Christ. And I slept perfectly and everynight after that too. I just kept praying and trying hard not to think about home and Sunday I woke up with a really bad mirgraine. So I asked for a blessing and Elder S-----n (who is amazing) gave me a blessing to be healed. And at the end of the blessing he paused for about 15 seconds and said, "Morgann your Heavenly Father wants you to know that your family loves you and that they know you love them. And even though it is hard to be away from them right now, your family is being blessed for you service." So by the end of the blessing I was totally ugly crying, snot everywhere, and sweating cause the spirit was so strong. I had never talked to E. S-----n about being homesick at all so I know that that blessing came straight from my Heavenly Father. That blessing has strengthened my testimony so much of the knowledge and love my Heavenly Father and Savior have for not only me but all of you. And I can not express enough how gratefull I am for the priesthood and the men in my life who remain worthy to use their authority to bless my life.

My spirit has grown so much here and I feel like I have become more and more converted to this Gospel everyday.

I have fallen in love with the missionaries here. There's a couple girls in a level below me that will be very hard to leave. Hna M---- from Colorado and Hna J------ from Utah. I love them so much. I am so blessed to have amazing examples in my life.

                                               Hna M---- and Hna Younce

                                        Hna Younce and Hna J------

So two funny things to end with. First I have made friends with the maintenance people here and one day they all asked to take a picture of me because they think I look like Adelle! ahahahah I was cracking up and I have officially earned to name "Hermana Beyouncé" All the latinos call me that because the way they pronounce my name is younce-ay. So when you add Be in front of it it sounds like beyoncé hahahah and now when they see me they all go "all the single ladies all the single ladies" its amazing. So because I am friends with themaintenance people, the guy who makes the missionary tags here loves me! So he is making me a tag that says Hermana Beyouncé hahahahaha I am so excited!

Fathers Day is this Sunday I think... so keep an eye on the mail box Dad! I sent you a letter! And don't worry Mom I sent you a letter too :) Tylen Nicole! check your mailbox too! I sent you a letter for you birthday!

I love you all so much! All the love and support I have recieved has been amazing! I won't be able to email next week so don't be worried if I don't write! Keep me in your prayers! Ecuador here I come!!!!!!

over and out!

Hna. Younce

                                                           Our District

                                             Me and Hna T----- on the bus

    Me and my comp at the temple today

Leading the way

FIRST OFF! YOU ARE HEARING FROM THE NEW MTC SISTER LEADER! Me and my companion were just called this week to be the sister leaders over all the girls in the CCM! (MTC)! Such a great opportunity. Basically we are the mommys for all the girls. We check on them at night, we make sure everyone is following the rules, getting along, and if anyone needs anything we are the girls to go to. We now have a leadership meeting every Sunday and a branch counsel meeting every Sunday! I am so excited and feel so honored!

Okay! So truth be told the reason I wrote so little last week was because I was extremely sick. Somehow I got an infection in my stomach, and it was AWFUL. The night before P day I was in class and my body felt like someone had hit me with a baseball bat everywhere. Obviously because the infection was in my stomach my digestive system was completely out of wack. And I was throwing up and had a bad case of the "siempres" siempre in Spanish means always. And when you have the siempres youre always in the bathroom. But I had a special case. It was very scary for me because I had never experienced what was happening to me before. That night my body like went into shock. I was freeezing but I was sweating. I was uncontrollably shaking and I couldn't move because my whole body hurt. As I was curled up in bed balling my eyes out I finally hunkered myself over onto my knees in bed and prayed. I pleaded to my Heavenly Father to just let me feel his love and his warmth. Immediately my body stopped shaking. I layed on my side and could feel the comfort and love from my Heavenly Father. My body was immersed in it. I saw the doctor the next day. He told me that if I didn't feel better the next day I would have to go see a doctor at the hospital. I was on an antibiotic for three days and my body is completely back to normal now. The power of prayer is real. The power of the piresthood is real. (I recieved a blessing the night it hit me also) My relationship has rappidly grown with my Heavenly Father, it's unreal. But don't worry everyone!! I'm perfectly okay!

                                 Life of a sick missionary

Saturday we went prosolyting! MAN WAS IT AMAZING!! I'll tell you about all the people we taught:

L--s: So we knocked luis door and he wasn't home. So we moved on and while at his neighbors house I see him out of the corner of my eye go into his home. I told my companion that we nedded to go back to that door and knock again. So we did and he invited us inside. I stumbled on my Spanish a little and he goes "English?" and I was like YES! hahaha So we taught him about the plan of salvation. We tried to use as much Spanish as possible, but it was nice to use English too. it was amazing. The spirit was so strong. We got kicked out cause his wife came home and wasn't too fond of us teaching him. But we gave him to pamphlets and got his info to give to the sisters in his area.

G-----l and J---y: We stopped and talked to these two men on the street. They sit and watch the street. It's a rich area. They were like neighborhood watch guys. So we stop and chat with them and ask them if they wanna hear about Jesus Christ. They say yes! Turns out G-----l already has a Book of Mormon and has READ IT ALREADY! He had so many questions it was so awesome. Because he mumbled a lot the teacher that was with us had to do most of the talking. But I got to teach him about why there were so many different churchs on the earth in Spanish and bare my testimony. It was amazing! His friend      J---y was sooooooo interested. Soaking it up like a sponge. So I gave him a Book of Mormon and he committed to reading it. And they both committed to praying for an answer about if the church was the true church of christ or not. We also got their info for the sisters in the area.

M---li: this is prolly one of my favorites. We saw this woman laying in the park and so we stopped her and asked her if she wanted to hear our message. We taught her about the church and placed a Book of Mormon with her. I taught her how to pray, and she said that she would read and pray personally and with her family to get an answer about the church. She was the sweetest most prepared woman I have ever met. So humble and so genuine. She actually gave the closing prayer in the park for us! And in her prayer she thanked Heavenly Father for me and my companion and for that moment and the opportunity she had to hear our lesson. So amazing.

Cleaning lady: So we were walking down the street and we saw this lady cleaning someone's house. So we asked her if she could talk and she said she didn't have time. So we gave her a pamphlet about the church and went on our way. On our way back up the street we walked by her and she had tucked herself back into the corner of the porch and was reading the pamphlet and she had the BIGGEST smile on her face. it was serioulsy such an awesome thing to see! I wish we would have stopped, but we didn't have time left. But I could see the spirit in her eyes and in her smile. I was so happy.

S-----n: oh my gooodness.. So this man wasn't our finding. He approached two other sisters that were in our area and said "what is that in your hand? (the Book of Mormon). Teach me! Teach me right now!" So they went to his house and we walked by while they were teaching. And he callled us over and all four of us finished teaching him. He was SO excited to hear about the gospel. He was clenching that Book of Mormon like it was gold. Like hugging it. Nothing was going to get between him and that book. He took a picture with us! ( we aren't allowed to take cameras prosolyting i was bummed) but he has it for him. He wrote down all of our names. It was such a great experience. And the sisteres will continue to teach him. He is so ready for the gospel.

So over all this week has been amazing! I am so happy! I know that this is where i am supposed to be. Not gonna lie I've been VERY homesick. BUT I know that the Lord will bless me for staying focused and working hard. And after seeing how much we did in 4 hours of prosolyting I can't wait to see what full days bring in Ecuador.

I know that this is the true church of Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet called of God and that Thomas S Monson is the prophet today that has been called of God. I know that our Heavenly Father knows us all PERSONALLY and loves us more than we will ever be able to understand. I am beyond thankful for the atonement in my life and the example that my savior Jesus Christ is for me. I love you all so much! And I'm so thankful for all the love and support! I leave all of this with you in the sacred name of my savior Jesus Christ.

Amen.

My mission! On the map! Classic mish pic!

                        Just us being AMAZING!

    Me and Hermana C--- being models

        My Peru soccer jersey! Hopefully this is a proud brother in law moment for Nathan!

                               

          My two gaurdian angels on my chest. Jesus Christ and Brandon