My Time Here

Hey guys! I am really enjoying my time here in Ecuador. I love the people here, they are super open and loving. They live humble lives, and understand that happiness come from things bigger that those of this world. The food here is really good, especially in the coast where I am right now. Lots of fried fish! :)

During my time here, I have really grown to feel the love that the Lord has for me. I know that we have a Father in Heaven, that He loves us and wants the best for us. I know that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, here to earth to free us from the bonds of sin and death and to teach us the way back to Him. I know that as we follow His teaching, we will find happiness here in this life, and eternal life in the world to come. 

He has a plan for us, and He knows how to help us overcome the challenges we face. Even though this life is not perfect, we can find joy and hope through Jesus Christ. I hope that each one of you knows that there is someone that knows how to help you through your trials. If we trust in Him, He will lift and strengthen us. 

Wishing you all a great summer (yea, I know, it`s a little late:) and hoping that life continues to go well for everybody!

Elder Bahr

My time in Quininde

(Note from Elder Stephen Bahr's mom:  his birthday is on Friday, June 5th.  The packages we have sent in recent months have not been getting through.  For those who would like to wish him a "Happy Birthday", please email him at stephen.bahr@mylds.net - I know he'd appreciate it!)

Right now, we are teaching a couple of families and I am really excited! First off, is the L. B. Family, and they are just great. It is a mom (45ish) and her two daughters (23 and 17). The "husband" of the mom and the husband (they`re actually married!) of the older daughter work in Quito, and so we don`t know them yet. They are going to be coming out at the end of the month, and we are looking forward to talking to them as well. They are preparing to be baptized on the 6th of June (it`ll be a pretty sweet birthday present :). They are all progressing really well, just hoping that every thing goes well with the husbands. 

Update:  Yes, they are still planning on being baptized the 6th. I`m really excited for it. The family is showing great faith as they try to overcome the trials that they are facing.  Their 18 year old gas stove died last weekend. They are cooking with charcoal right now. Hoping that they can get something better here soon. Just makes me think of how grateful I am for all that we have in the States. But, despite the challenges, they continue to attend church, read in the Book of Mormon, and smile. They are great examples to me, and I can`t wait for the 6th. It is going to be a truly wonderful day.  They are all really excited to make this covenant with the Lord, and I`m really excited to be a part of the process. The mom has asked that I baptize her, my companion will be baptizing one of the daughters, and Elder T. (the district leader) will be baptizing the other.

We are also teaching the R. V. Family. They were a reference from the L. B. Family. It is a single mom with three kids (24, 21, and 19) and they too are really excited to be able to learn. They currently have a date for the 13th of June. The only challenge for them will be attending church. They live about 15 minutes from Quinindé (in bus) and they also seem to enjoy their social lives on the weekend :) But, I know that if they have the desires, the Lord will help them to come to church and receive and answer to their prayers. Just have to help them feel the Spirit and gain their own testimonies.

We are also teaching the M. C. Family. This family is a husband and wife (again, they`re married!) with two small children. The wife is progressing really well (her brother is a recent convert here, and he`s been helping alot). The husband has great desires as well, the only problem is he has to work on Sundays. We are praying that he will be able to find a new job so that he too can attend and they can begin down the path that will lead them to an eternal life together.

Update:  The M. C. Family has been listening to us for a few weeks now. The wife has come to church a few times and absolutely loves it. The husband is really progressing as well, especially when it comes to the Book of Mormon, but given he works on Sundays, he can`t attend. This week, we were able to share with them a little bit about the Sabbath Day. He told us that he was looking for a new job so that he too can attend church. He told us that he trusted that the Lord will help him, and that according to His timing he would be able to attend as well. I`m really excited for this family, and I can see their progress. I know that as we trust in the Lord with patience and faith, we will be able to see miracles. I am most definitely seeing one in the life of this family.

We are also teaching several other families and we are very excited for everything that the Lord is giving to us right now in Quinindé.

These are pictures from our recent district activity and bus trip to meet with Pres. Richardson.  Having a great time with those that I get to serve with.

Con amor,

Elder Bahr

Easter

Elder P. went home this past week.  My new companion's name is Elder F. His trainer was Elder P. about 20 months ago. He too is from Peru (Lima), and he has three changes left in the mission. His a really cool guy, and I am really excited for the time that we will have to work together. 

I really enjoyed General Conference (an opportunity every 6 months we have to hear from our Church leaders) this week. I enjoyed all of the talks but, my favorites where the two by Pres. Uchtdorf and the one by Elder Holland (however, the ones by Elder Renlund and Elder Ringwood really struck home too.) I really liked the general theme of both of Pres. Uchtdorf´s talks; we are obedient and faithful in the Lord´s work, not out of a desire of praise or numbers, but because we love the Lord and love what He did to save us. Elder Holland´s talk was just normal Elder Holland, pure testimony with lots of power :)  It was a wonderful way to spend Easter - listening to testimonies of our Savior and how we can draw nearer to Him.

Here's a pic of the "gringos" watching Conference in English.  Everyone else was in the chapel watching the Spanish translation.

I know that my Savior lives. I know that He directs His living church, and we need never fear if we are holding fast to His eternal gospel. I know that as we do our best to follow Him, He will make us stronger. I love the Book of Mormon because it testifies so clearly of the purpose of the Atonement. We are not only to go back to Him innocent, as we were before this life, but we are to go back to Him fully developed by His divine grace. I love Him for what He did for me, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to remember Him this Easter season. 

Getting a Little Dirty

My week was pretty good. I was able to do "divisions" (meaning my companion and I met up with some other missionaries and changed who we were working with for the day) on Friday with an elder from Montana. He has been here less time than I have. It was the first time that I`ve been with someone with less-time that me during divisions. It was nice to be able to talk English and also to see how much I`ve learned to do as a missionary.

I felt pretty focused this week. With my companion so close to going home it`s a little hard, but the Lord`s helping. Definitely feel like He's help me to have the Spirit this week.

Physically everything is going well. Cross Country was very helpful in the preparacion of climbing a volcano every day. Mentally I am doing well. At times Spanish makes me a little tired, but I guess that`s why there are divisions with other "gringos" :) Spiritually I am doing fantastically. My testimony is growing everyday, and I can feel that now I have an even greater desire to talk to the people and help them receive the knowledge the Lord has given me. Emocionally I am fine as well. Doing what I love - what could be better?

To assist me you guys can pray for me and for the people that we are teaching. I know that prayer brings power from heaven, and that is something that every missionary needs. 

The M. T. family is a family we've been teaching. We`ve been able to share with them the first two lessons, and they came to church again yesterday. On Saturday, we talked about the Plan of Salvation, and has we were talking about the Atonement, they both shared powerful testimonies of the Savior. I felt the Spirit very strongly. I know that Christ is our Savior, and that through Him we can overcome any difficulty or weakness that we might have. I know that He loves us, and He will always be by our side as long as we strive to keep His commandments. 

This week it has started to rain alot more. On Wednesday, we woke up to a rain-storm, and it kept going well into the afternoon. We were walking down the mountain, and we came across a 15 passanger van that had gotten stuck in the mud. The driver was a member of the church that lives in Otavalo, and he was there with what I assume were his mom and his sister. We spent about 25 minutes helping to push them out of the mud. In case you were wondering, this has been my favorite service.

Pics & Tidbits

Elder Bahr with his companion who will be returning home in early April.  

The volcano the Elder Bahr often walks up to visit with those he is teaching.

Loving the people.

The apartment in Imbabura, Ecuador.

Emails with My Little Sister

14 Year Old Sister:  Are you used to the water flushing the other way?

Elder Bahr:  I`m still on the North side of the Equator, so it still flushes the right way. I`ve gotta go to Quito for that to happen. 

Sister:  What has been you favorite lesson that you have taught so far?

Elder Bahr:  My least favorite lesson was the one where a bird pooped on my head. That was not a good day :)

Elder P. and Elder G. laughed really hard about it. The best part was we were teaching about the Holy Ghost and how it descended in the form of a dove. Don`t think that`s what Matthew meant. :)

Know 2 Words Now

Hey everybody!

Life here in Imbabura is going well. I`ve readjusted to the altitude and am enjoying being able to serve and teach the people here. It`s almost like being in a different world than Esmeraldas. The people are much more conservative and very peaceful. When we go home at 9 every night, there is usually nobody in the street. Learning their native new language is going well. I can now say I know what 2 words mean! (Thank you, and brother). I really enjoy being here and have learned alot. (But, I do miss all of the delicious sea-food that was in the coast.)

While I`ve been here, my testimony of Jesus Christ has grown substantially. My mission president challenged each of us to memorize "The Living Christ" in Spanish. As I have been doing so, I have felt a greater love for all that He has done for me. I know that He lives and that He loves each one of us. Through Him, we can be redeemed from all of our sins and weaknesses if we will just accept His invitation to follow His perfect example. Through Him, we can find new beginnings and hold fast to the hope of a better world to come. Here on the mission, I`ve grown to see my own weaknesses, yet I know that as I do as He asks of me, He can make of me something greater than I ever could imagine.

I hope that you guys are all doing well, and I thank you for your prayers and support while I am here doing the Lord`s work! Have a great week everybody!