Sister Jenika Hull will be serving in the Ecuador, Quito North mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Follow her weekly updates here............

Monday, September 19, 2016

Well this is it............

Mama,

Well this is it. I can't believe this time has come to write my last letter of the mission. I love my mission, Ecuador Quito Norte. I have grown to love the culture, the food, the people, the geography, the everything about my most beautiful country of Ecuador. The things I have learned here can't be written or explained or anything but through spiritual eyes that someone can understand. I have grown and changed. I have become someone I feel proud of. It does not mean it is the end. I have a long way to go but I feel very blessed to have come to this mission. I have been changed more by the people I think than I helped them to change. In every sector I have left a piece of my heart. I remember saying in my first skypé home that my heart was in Hyde Park and with my family. I can't say that anymore. I am not sure much of it is there any more. I think it has been split into 6 different parts and I am leaving it all here. It hurts. Its hard. I've cried many times this past week and feel that I will continue to cry this week. I am leaving one of my homes. And returning to the other. I feel that I wouldn't have become as much as I am without the mission.
     I know that this is the true church. I know that my Savior Lives. He loves me and I have grown closer to him. I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father. I know he created a perfect plan for me. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a true and powerful prophet of god. I know that Thomas S Monson is the true and living prophet today. I know that the Priesthood was restored and it is the literal power that God gives to man to help in the Salvation of his Children. I know that the Obra Misional is the Lords work. I know that it is inspired and that it changes one more than any other thing on this earth. I know that Families are Forever. My family is huge now and I plan on being with each member. I truly know these things are true and I know them to be that way because I lived them and the Lord has blessed me and testified to me through his Spirit. I love this work and love the 19 months that I have been here. They have not been easy. But if it would have been that way it wouldn't have been as fulfilling or fun. Everyday I have seen Gods hand in my life and am sooooo blessed for it.

All in all I Love being a Missionary!

Thanks for all the support you have given to me in this time of my mission. Thanks for all the words of encouragement and love. All the prayers and fasts. Thank you for all that you have done for me. Every single one of you!!!

I love you all. I pray for you all. See you soon!
Love
Hermana Hull :D


Monday, September 12, 2016

Some crazy changes!!

Mama,

    Well here is the craziness of my week........First off no I am not staying longer I know you all thought that when I wrote that title but I am for sure coming home on the 24th, don't worry about that. But there has been some crazy events this week and well it isn't the most ideal way to finish the mission. There has been a lot of tears and really rough periods this week with all that is happening. So here is why, my companion Hna Ramirez is really one of the big reasons I stayed, has to go home. While she was in the MTC she fell and thought sprained her knee. Well over these months the pain has grown and about 2 weeks ago we had to go to he doctor. She had an MRI and they found that she has a torn meniscus or ligament. Not exactly sure which one. So she got the call from President that she has to go home. He told her she was going to be leaving today but since we have 2 baptisms this week he gave her permission to stay until the 19th. Well that is crazy because it means I have to leave Yaruqui and stay with another hermana until I come home. It has been crazy and well super stressful,first finishing the mission is super emotional and second this makes it even more emotionally hard. But I'm happy that she will get it done and be able to come back. It just is a bit crazy.

I know that this is the true church. I know this work is really the work of the Lord and we are super blessed.
I love you all a ton!!! Please pray for our investigators that all goes smoothly this week. LOVE YOU TONS!!!!!!
Hermana Hull

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

The Condor of Ecuador!

Mama,

Sounds like you are just all having a blast still even with school and all. This last weekend sounds great and just wow. I want to go rafting on the Snake River but it is going to be cold when I get back so I guess I will just have to wait until next year!!

I love this work so much. It has been such a fun week with some crazy things and some huge miracles. First Karina one of our investigators is going to get baptized this upcoming week and we are super excited for her. She is super great and so ready. She seriously was a miracle. She found the church one Sunday and is just so prepared to make these covenants with her Heavenly Father. Pray for her!!!!!
Yaruqui is just amazing. When I got here there was not to much trust between the missionaries and the ward members. We are seeing more confidence now. We have gained the trust of a lot of the ward now and we are seeing improvements. Now its just to get them to work a bit more in this wonderful work. They are a lot more friendly and just open now. We have helped a lot of them and not only are we finding investigators but we are having rescues.. A lot of Menos Activos are coming back to church and we are helping them. We are seeing tons of miracles. I just love it here and just feel so blessed to be a missionary here in this wonderful little branch.
A few crazy things have happened this week as well. There have been a few more earthquakes but they are a lot smaller. It is still a little nerve wracking at times but we are prepared and know what to do when it happens. So really there is nothing to worry about there. Just being obedient and knowing as we are, we will be blessed and protected!! Also some crazy rainstorms that just happen out of no where. Like it is super clear in the morning and then there are tons of super gray clouds all the sudden with tons and tons of rain. I think I was probably in the biggest rainstorm of my life yesterday and was not prepared because all day it had been clear and then at 6 a huge storm with thunder and lightning and the works. It was AWESOME!!!

Overall everything is good here. We are having a blast and working hard. We are seeing miracles and becoming more converted to the Lord. I love this work and am so thankful for it.

I was reading in a talk this past week from Elder Bednar in the Liahona from August. He talks about accepting the Lords will and his timing. I have learned that I need to do that even more. I understand how but at times it is so difficult because of the natural man. But as I have learned to trust him and put my faith in him then I am able to do all the things that he would have me do and I am blessed because I am in harmony with the will of the Lord. I know that we can each work on this more. I know that is part of why we are here on the earth and is one of the best ways to progress. I love this work and love the Lord.
Being a missionary is the BEST!!!
Love you Tons!!!
Hermana Hull

PS The pics are with the Condor of Ecuador. It is what is in the middle of the flag. so that is cool :D Love ya