Week 102 - July 8, 2019

Final Pics of Elder Copeland's Missionary Experiences in Ecuador

Letter to Elder Copeland's Stake President from the Ecuador Quito North Mission President:

Dear President Taylor:

We are pleased to advise you that Elder Kaden Robert Copeland will be honorably released from the Euador Quito North Mission on 9 July 2019.  Upon his report, please give him the enclosed honorable release certificate and extend our deepest gratitude.

His family, ward and stake can be proud of the service he has rendered to our Father in Heaven.  His effort in the mission field were greatly appreciate as he served as Senior Companion, District leader, Zone Leader, Financial Secretary, and Trainer.  He left a possitive influence upon his companions, members of the ward in which he served, and his investigtors, helping them come closer to the Savior and His church.

Elder Copeland was a great help during his time in the office, helping others fulfill their responsibilities by providing them with the financial help they needed.  During that time, he also learned about how the Lord can magnify his limited time in his sector to find, teach and baptize converts.

I encourage him to participate in the Careet Workshop, and to actively participate in his ward and a local institute of Religion.  Establishing a plan and a vision to achieve a vocational or professional goal together with growing in his knowledge of the Gospel will help ensure that he prepares well for the next stage of his life.  I also encourage him to continue searching the scriptures and to attend the temple as often as his circumstances permit.

Please extend our thanks to his family and ward for supporting him during this time which he has dedicated to the most important work in the world.

Sincerely,

President Blake P. Murphy

Ecuador Quito North Mission 

3 Nephi 5:13

Signing off from the Ecuador Quito North Mission

Elder Copeland

Week 101 - July 1, 2019

Dear Family,

Well, I guess this is it... My last letter home... I can't even believe it, I don't even know what to think.  I still feel like I'm going to be here another month and that it's just going to be transfers again.  But, wow!  What a wonderful experience it has been here in Ecuador.  I love this place so much!  It truly has turned into a second home for me, and I really hope that I will be able to come back and see all of the beautiful mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches, etc.  I'm going to miss the people even more... They truly have changed my life, not in the way I thought they would.  Even though it required a lot of patience with them, I loved them.  They have shown me how simple the Gospel truly is.  I feel like before the mission, I would always try and complicate the Gospel... But it's so simple, and when we live it, we are happier people. We just have to do the simple and small things.  The people here always cared for me and I truly have loved them so much.  I have gained relationships that I will treasure for the rest of my life.  

As well, I'm going to miss all the types of cultures that they have here and how I got to be a little part of it.  I love this place!  But more than anything, I'm going to miss putting my missionary name tag on every morning and going to serve my Savior.  Such a bittersweet feeling it is to be an "instrument in his hands" and to have brought so many of his children to his light.  I love my calling to be a missionary because it is one of the only callings that lasts for a lifetime. It's now time to put into practice the things I've learned and to bring even more people to Christ.  Wow!  Words can't describe how I feel and how much love I have for this place.  I love the words of Alma when he finished his mission in Alma 26 "...But behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God." and "I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."

But as you can see, Jairo was baptized this week, which was such a special experience.  He was so excited and happy to have made a promise with God.  

He lives right on the beach so whenever we see his family fishing on the beach, we go out and pull the net in with them.  So, we got some good pictures for that.  But other than that, not too much happened this week.  All of our investigators are progressing well and will be baptized soon.

1. As for the most important thing that I've learned in the mission... Is the testimony that I have gained of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  Honestly, I didn't understand the importance of his life before, now I know.  He is my Savior and thanks to his Infinite Atonement, I have become a better person.  I remember at the beginning of my mission, I was kind of going through a rough time, but later on I decided to learn more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  And for my challenges, I truly was able to know who my Savior was and that he loved me.  I know that he showed himself to Joseph Smith in the Spring of 1820 and that this is his restored church.  The Book of Mormon is the Word of God without a doubt in my mind.  How could you not believe in the teachings that it gives us?  It truly does testify of our Savior and testifies of the love that he has for us.  If any of you do not have a testimony of these things, I ask you to seek with true intent because I know that it will bless you like it has blessed me.  I hope that these letters were able to bless someone in some type of way or that in the future it will bless mine again.  I love the fact that I can say the same words that Mormon said in 3 Nephi 5 13: "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."

I'll just be sending pictures next week, not a letter. But until then...

Love,

Elder Copeland

Week 100 - June 24, 2019

Dear Family,

This was actually a pretty good week here in Atacames!!  Still working hard out here trying my best to finish this thing off haha.  I love this work so much but there are some moments where I am just tiring out... Even though it was a great week, there were some hard moments.  But, let's just focus on the good haha.

This week we had the baptism of Lola and Gaby Guayanay!! It's about time that they finally got baptized.  They were so prepared when we found them.  Lola was going to get baptized awhile ago but wasn't able to do because her husband was against it.  But we were finally able to talk to him and he just misunderstood.  He now is thinking about getting baptized in the future.  Lola is the mom and Gaby is the 11-year-old daughter that is now one of my best friends. She is hilarious haha.  But it was such a special baptism--something that I hope that I never forget.

As well, this week the papers of Israel and Jessica progressed a little bit and now are a little bit closer to getting baptized.  But they are doing awesome and are becoming converted to the Lord.  We were actually able to teach the mom and sister of Jessica this week that came down to visit them for a little bit.  They, as well, were confused about what we believed in and we were able to clear some things up with them.  Hopefully, the missionaries can talk to them over there now and help them out.

We have been preparing our little investigator, Jairo, to get baptized this next coming week a lot.  He is a little 10 year old that was supposed to get baptized a little bit ago, but his mom fell away from the church and has chosen a bad path and he now lives with his grandma.  His grandma is super awesome and is helping him truly understand the real purpose of baptism.  Also, Elder Bogren came for the weekend because of some things that are happening in his sector, so it was fun being with him for the weekend.

2. There is a verse that I like in Helaman 12:1-2 where it says, "And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him. Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in sliver, and in all manner of precious things of every manner of precious things of every kind and art... yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people..."  This verse and the mission has helped me realize that the only thing that the Lord wants for us is to be happy.  I feel like before this mission, I didn't understand what the gospel was or how to live it.  But it has been such a blessing for me to know that it makes me happy to repent and to know that it's okay to mess up sometimes. Not only does the gospel give us happiness, but it brings to pass miracles in our lives and in the lives of others. Like it says in Ether 12:16:  "Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and those who were after."  I have been able to witness so many miracles in my mission.  Miracles do exist. The Gospel helps us live a better life and is the only way you can live a happy life here on earth.  The money doesn't give us happiness.  It's the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that now and I'm so grateful for that important knowledge that I have gained here in the mission..

Love, 

Elder Copeland