He's Home!

Nathan stayed in Ibarra (and Quito North) to finish out his mission, with Elder Bybee.  They had 6 more baptisms during those last 5-6 weeks - Alejandra, Isabel, Didier, Pamela, Vanessa, and Danny.  Danny was his last baptism, which was just a couple days before the end of his mission.  Alejandra's mom had been baptized about a month prior to her daughter, so that was pretty special.  Isabel and Didier were 2 kids whose parents are waiting to get baptized after they get married.  Pamela was a special baptism as well, since she had connections with church members in Esmeraldas (where Nathan had served recently and knew her friends).  Pamela shared her testimony that a big part of her conversion was reading the Book of Mormon.  

Nathan also shared his experience with the Book of Mormon:  "This week I have felt the power of the Book of Mormon.  It constantly testifies of Christ and my testimony has been strengthened.  I am marking all scriptures that refer to the Savior in yellow and I noticed that a lot of the pages are completely yellow.  It is another testament of Jesus Christ.  I testify of the power of the Savior.  I have felt His hand in my life and as I have served.  I have even felt him at my side.  He is all powerful and there is nothing he can't do.  I also know he died for us and now he lives.  We can be forgiven and we can overcome all things.  Mistakes, pains, sicknesses, and weaknesses.  He is who makes this work possible.  So I invite y'all to look for the Savior more earnestly in your life.  'Look unto him in every thought, doubt not, fear not'.  I am constantly praying for more faith and that He may continue to change my heart."  

Nathan got to visit and teach in a drug rehabilitation facility.  He said, "The spirit was so strong in the visit as we shared with them about the hope that comes from Christ."  He got a new mission president the beginning of July - President and Sister Bradshaw.  President Bradshaw served his mission in Paraguay (where Jared is now serving).  Nathan got to translate from Spanish to English for Sister Bradshaw at zone conference since she was just learning Spanish.  

As a zone, they got to cook hamburgers for a meal the week of the 4th of July.  He got to have some fun with the other missionaries one day - doing cartwheels, push-ups, and weightlifting each other!  It's not all work and no play - they get to have a little bit of goofing around.  

Nathan also got to see Cascadas de Peguche, a 50-foot waterfall in Otavalo.  The area is classified as an indigenous ceremonial site because of the cleansing baths done there before the Inti Raymi ceremony, so it's considered a sacred place to the indigenous people.  

Even down to the very last week, Nathan was meeting people, being in the right place at the right time.  They met a man named Jorge, who about 10 years prior had met with missionaries and loved the lessons.  However, one day the missionaries never came back.  Jorge talked about how he loves the Book of Mormon and how it teaches us that the Savior was in the Americas.  He knew it made a lot of sense, so it was great that they ran into him that day to teach him more.  

Here is Nathan's last thoughts before he left:  "Honestly I wouldn't be able to describe the experience in this email.  But I know this is God's work.  He guides us through the spirit and through prophets and our leaders.  I have seen lives change and my life has changed.  I know the Savior Jesus Christ lives and His sacrifice makes it possible to change and be able to return to God's presence.  I love Ecuador and the people here.  I will always remember them!! And I am going to miss the beautiful landscape here.  I want to thank each one of you for the support these past 2 years and I hope that y'all can see the light of Christ in the gospel!!  See y'all around!!"  

Alejandra

Pamela, Isabel, and Didier

Old and new mission presidents, switching out

Cascadas de Peguche

Vanessa

His apartment, showing where he washed his clothes. 

                                                                                                     Danny

Last night in Ibarra

Nathan left Ecuador on July 29th and flew to Atlanta with 4 other missionaries.  It was nice to get a photo from Atlanta from the older sister missionary traveling with them.  Nathan flew from Atlanta to Salt Lake City on July 30th and then on to home.  We had a group waiting to welcome him home!  Savannah made the poster for him.  It was exciting to see him come down the escalator, and everyone knew that I got the first hug!

Directly from the airport, we met with the Stake President so Nathan could officially be released from his mission service.  It was a tender moment watching him take off the name tag and put it in his pocket.  While he won't wear the name tag anymore, we know he'll continue to be a witness for Jesus Christ as he moves on to the next chapters in his life.  We're proud of him for his service and sacrifice to help others come to Christ.  Of course in the process, he also changed and developed a stronger relationship with God and Jesus Christ. It was a great blessing to watch him grow these past 2 years!  We're also excited to have him back home. 

We went out to our favorite hamburger place after we met with the Stake President.  It was a bit of culture shock for him to be back in his home town.  I think it was surreal for Nathan to walk in the door at home.  He had some of his favorite things waiting for him on the table.  And he had to go say "hi" to Kai.  One of the first things he did was look in the fridge and noticed it was full of food!  Most of the time while on his mission, the fridge was pretty empty.  Nathan spent some time unpacking and going through his things.  We loved his croc "slides" or whatever the footwear is called.  He brought back a few other souvenirs too.  He brought back some Ecuadorian ties which the boys were excited to wear.

He was so exhausted by the time he got home.  That last picture in the collage is fitting (not taken the first day, but a couple days later).  He just wanted to be able to sit on the couch.  You can see he crashed on the couch while reading his scriptures - worn out in the service of God for the last 2 years.  That's a well-earned nap on the couch - well done Nathan!