"Grateful for Their Example"

This week we had our final meeting with President and Sister Richardson. (They returned home today after serving in Quito, Ecuador for three years).  I am grateful for their example of Christ-like love and service. They have helped me to progress immenslely, and I am glad to have served under them for these past almost-two years. They have taught me how to love the sinner but hate the sin. I know that the Lord loves us, and that as we keep His commandments He will guide and bless us. I love them and I can`t wait to see them again when I am in Utah.

The following is from Heather Bahr, Elder Stephen Bahr's mom:  Like Stephen, we are so very grateful for the love, care and compassion that Pres. & Sis. Richardson have given over the past 3 years.  Their examples of sacrifice and service have touched our lives.  Whether it has been illness, volcanoes or earthquakes, our family has been at peace knowing that these wonderful servants of the Lord have been ever watchful in caring for all the missionaries they have led.  May they now enjoy a wonderful reunion with all their family and friends back home knowing that touched the lives and hearts of many.

Answers to Post-Earthquake Interrogation

Mom, I´m fine. 

Ok, now that that is out of the way, I´ll go into the details. Yes, we felt the earthquake here in Otavalo, but it wasn´t strong at all. I was actually in the chapel doing a baptismal interview. The chapel shook for a little bit, and then it stopped so I just continued with the interview. All went well. No damage where I am at, but there was a ton of damage in the coast. (I´m sure you´ve seen more of that than I have). Most of the damage occurred in the Guayaquil missions, and there was some damage in Esmeraldas as well. (Damage was not so big that changes were delayed, missionaries have been able to get in and out just fine.) As far as anything beyond prayers, I´m sure there are plenty of things that you can do, I just don´t know what. I´m sure the church will be trying to help, so maybe you can see if you can do anything there. 

Well, like I said, changes went along as normal. Elder H., my companion, was transfered to the jungle after just having been in the sector for 2 weeks. I´ll be training a new missionary. (Yes!!!!!) He´ll most likely be my last companion (but you never know). So, I´m super excited! Elder H. was a little sad to leave, but he was happy to be able to be able to go to the jungle, so that was good. 

(This picture was taken today for his friend, Kevin.  Seems to be doing well & not shaken too badly.)

From a couple weeks ago:  This week, we were able to see many more miracles. L. G., the man that we are teaching that is waiting to get married, now has a baptismal date for the 23rd. His "wife" decided one day that she needs the blessings that come from living the law of chastity in her life. So, on Saturday, she moved up the road to a little apartment and will be there until they are legally married. That was awesome!

Update from today:  L. G. is doing great! Hopefully he will be able to get baptized and confirmed this week! 

Safe & Accounted For

   
All the missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in Ecuador, including Elder Stephen Bahr, are safe and accounted for after last night's 7.8 magnitude earthquake.  Thank you for your care, concern and prayers particularly as they move forward in the days & weeks ahead.


       

Easter Thoughts

I am very grateful for the blessings that the Atonement have given me in my life. I know that I have many, many weaknesses, but because of the Lord´s grace I can overcome those as I strive to become better and do what is right. He will always be beside me as I strive to help Him in His work. This is His work, and there is nothing more important that anyone could be doing with their life. I know that He loves us, and because He loves us He died for us. I hope that you are also able to feel this love from Him, and that you can continue growing closer to Him. 

The work here is going great! I know that the Lord will be providing us with great opportunities to see miracles in our lives and in the lives of the people that we teach! There is time for one story. It is of a 52 year old man from Esmeraldas, who during his life has played professional basketball and volleyball. After his career, he moved around a lot, and he ended up in Otavalo. A couple months ago, he became unemployed, and due to the rough financial situation here, it was very difficult for him to find a job. He started to talk to the missionaries, but he still couldn´t find the needed work, and his situation rapidly got worse. He had nothing to pay rent with, and he didn´t have money to eat every day. That´s about the time that I got to the sector. When we would go by to teach him, it was difficult to talk with him because he was so worried about how he would get along. We worked with the members of the church to see if anyone could get him a job, and we were praying really hard with him so that he could find it. 

Here in the mission, March is "the month of miracles". Well, on the first of March, he received a call from an old friend. He found a job and we were able to start teaching him the lessons again. He has attended church every Sunday for more than a month now, and he is super excited to be able to keep going! He was baptized on Saturday, and during his testimony he said that it was the best day of his life! It was amazing to see his progress, and I know that it truly is a miracle of the Lord!

(Here are some other candids from the past couple months including a visit to the equator).

Busy but Doing Well

We had an activity today and we just finished, so I´m just writing this little message so that you know that I´m not dead. We are having a great week, and I can´t wait to tell you all about it next week! :)

I love you all a ton!

Elder Bahr

Christmas Skype

Elder Bahr skyped home on Christmas Day.  Here a couple tidbits of what he had to say.

Come Unto Christ

My week was really good! I am finding joy in my service. I know that the missionary work that I am doing here is more that just sharing a few lessons. I know that the Gospel can lift the down-trodden and depressed. It brings hope into our lives in times of trial, and it helps us to fully comprehend the love that the Lord has for us. I know that He loves us, and He wants to give us His greatest blessings. 

Everything that we have in this life is because of His love and grace. Today, I was able to finish reading the Book of Mormon. I love what Moroni says at the end.   32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

 33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

I know that the Lord can help shape and mold us until we become as He is. Despite our weaknesses, he has given us the opportunity to work with Him. I know that the call to be a missionary comes from God. I know that He leads us and guides us each day. I love being a missionary! 

Even with all of the meetings and the craziness of December, we were able to teach a family this week, the B. Family. The dad is 24 and less-active. The mom is 21 and investigating the church. They have a daughter that is 11 months old, and are currently not married. When we first started visiting them a few weeks ago, they wern´t getting along very well. We began to invite them to start doing the daily little things that allow us to have the Spirit in our home. Now, they pray together every morning and night, and are reading the Book of Mormon as a couple. There is a huge change in their home, and I testify that "by small and simple things great things are brought to pass." 

Life here in Quito is going great! This week we had a ton of meetings, so we were running around like crazy. On Tuesday we helped with a Christmas lunch (I love the food :) and on Thursday we got to help with a Christmas dinner (it ended at about 11:30pm). During the White Elephant exchanges, I came away with a sweet hat and a new tie. It was a pretty solid week :). On Friday, we had the Verification of the new missionaries and trainers, which meant we got wake up at about 5:30 to prepare the breakfast and all that fun stuff. I was exhausted. But, I love being able to serve the missionaries, and I hope that what I am doing is helping them to work more effectively. 

 

I hope that you have a great week! I love you all! 

Elder Bahr