It's About Other People

Another week has gone by!!! I know I say this a lot, but the time really does fly by!!! I can't believe that Kara and Holly and  Spencer finish their missions soon!!!! I think I will be 50 years old before I know it and not know what happened!!!! 

But this week has been good here in good ole Juigalpa. I have 7 and a half months here. Woot!! EVERYONE says that I will get changed on Wednesday. But we will see. Only the Lord knows what I need and what the people here need. I will let you know next week!!! But my district leader dies (finishes his mission). This has been my favorite district here, but we will see what the Lord has in store for me next or here

My companion sprained her ankle Monday playing soccer and it was pretty bad. She spent all week with a sister in our ward while I went out while I could to work with some other sisters in our ward her were willing to go with me. I have never been good at working with the members. Jus because of the bad experiences I have had and not really feeling comfortable working with them. But I learned a lesson that there are people here who are really wanting to help in the work and eager to share the gospel with their neighbors. I also saw how the investigators reacted. The family we have been teaching, were able to able to open up the couple I went with and express their fears and doubts. And as the couple shared their experiences and testimonies the spirit was very strong. It is so important to work with them!! I plan on doing it a lot more. 

We were also able to have a baptism!! I teenager of 13 years named Oscar. I was surprised at how easy it was. he already had the desire to be baptized and we just had to make sure he had a testimony and that he knew that the church was true and the basic doctrine. We learned in our district this week that you cannot force anybody to get baptized. it has to come from them. We have to remember as missionaries that it is not about us, but about the people. Like Elder Holland says they are not statistical numbers, but human beings with feelings. And they have their agency to choose whether or not they want to do the things we share with them!!! 

That really is all!! One of my favorite parts of the day still is my personal study. I LOVE the time I have to read the scriptures and let the Lord speak to me through the words of his prophets. I always learn so much. The time always goes by way too fast. I know that the Lord loves each and every one of us. He wants us to be happy. We talked in church yesterday about obedience and how the hardest commandment to obey is loving our neighbors, especially our enemies. We ave to remember that He loves them just as much as us!!! I am very grateful for this Gospel and for who it helps me to become. It helps me to change the bad things I do and to always try to be better. I was reading this week about the 2,000 stripling warriors and was amazed again by the faith they had in their Father in Heaven nd the results that that had for them. They are incredible examples to me. And they always repeated. We know it, for our mothers taught us. So thank you mom, for always helping me to have a firm testimony!!! 

I love you all so much!!! I hope you feel better, Bethany!! I will be praying for you!! Good luck moving Zack and Hailey!! And Clair, keep learning esañol!!! you can do it!! Have an INCREDIBLE week!!! I will let your know about changes next week. 

Love you tons and tons, 

The other Hna. Morey (su Nica Hermanita!!!) 

Easter!

Hello!! Easter was SO different here in Nicaragua. Here so  many people are Catholic taht they celebrate the whole week. The kids don't have school, many don't have work. There were days when NOBODY and I mean nobody. Everyone goes to the beach or to visit their families elsewhere. But they focus a lot in the death of Christ. Which makes me so glad that we focus so much in the fact that He leaves, and all the blessings that we have because of the Atonement. I studied the Atonement and life of Christ a little more. And I love the scripture in John 3:16 that says that God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten son. And that He didn't come to condemn us, but to bring us eternal life.

This week we had the opportunity to have divisions with our Hermana leaders! I usually hate them because I feel a lot of pressure because I know they are there to see what I am doing wrong. But I really enjoyed it this time. We worked with Hermana Chuj (de Guatemala) and she is very nice and kind. helped us with some things in our area!! Then we had interviews with President on Friday. It was really short and he just asked me why I thought the Lord put me with Hna Ordoñez, told me I should contact more (oops) and that I am doing a good job.

This week we contacted a reference of a member. His name is Oscar and is 13. he is incredibly special. He has gone to church about 5 times and wanted to get baptized. The member told him he needed a little more than just assistance in the church, and that is where we came in. He has one of the greatest desires I have ever seen to get baptized and do what is right. He has questions, but confides in the answers he gets. When we shared with him the first lesson of the Restoration he started tearing up. It is an incredible opportunity we have to teach him!!

Friday or Saturday we were working. Not doing anything very special, the normal things. But I was overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings of how much I love this work! It is extremely hard, and very mundane sometimes, but there is nothing more I would rather be doing. even though so many people don't want anything to do with us, at least I can say I did my best to help them receive the blessings of the Gospel. moments like these help make all the hard and bitter ones worth it :)

After my intervies with President and now that I have come to the year mark in the mission I have been thinking a lot about the things I want to change in the next 6 motnsh. Sometimes I feel like with 6 months left how can I change the bad habits I have? But this talk by Elder Uchtdorf showed me differently (https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/01/the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree?lang=eng). Right now is the chance that I have to be the best missionary that I have ever been. To end my mission well and to change all the bad things that I do. So that is my goal right now. To do it, even if it is hard. To not give up, but to keep going strong.

I love you all very much!! I hope that you have a great birthday Mere!!! So sad to hear that Crump is retiring and that you can't take Poli Sci, Beth ;(. You are all doing incredible things. Thank you for all the support and love!!!! Have a GREAT semana!!!!!

Love, Your favorite Hermana Morey

Semana Santa

Before I start, just know that everything is okay here in Nicaragua. I was sad, I didn't even feel the earthquakes. But places like Managua had much more damage, we are lucky to be so far away!! There were a lot of people scared, though. Things have calmed down. 

This week we were able to have both of our baptisms that we had planned!! A miracle happened so that Betsabeth could baptize (and I mean everything happened, her mom at the end was saying no). But in the end everything worked out. And it really was a beautiful service. Ervin was super nervous, was afraid he would drown :) But we could tell he really felt good afterwards. They were both very excited to take this step. Especially since Betsabeth has waited about a year to do it!! It was a fun day!!! And everyone was happy. 

One thing I have noticed throughout my mission is that the Lord answers my prayers and speaks to me during District Meeting. There will be something that I am struggling with, a question I have, and that is just the topic of that weeks meeting. This week I was a little shocked. It was about companionships, and the importance of doing an inventory. I really just sat there for a minute or two, shocked at how directly I had needed that. We then took some time to have an inventory and really talk to our companions. It was the first time we really sat down and talked about how we feel about our unity and companionship. It really helped because we were able to figure things out and put some goals. Things are always hard, but better when we understand each other better. 

This week I have been reading in Alma with all the wars between the Lamanites and Nephites. It is interesting how they write so much about obedience. The nephites are obedient, so they win and have God's protection, the Lamanties are only fighting to gain power and they lose. The Lord promises to always help us when we are doing what he asks of us. It won't be easy, it will require sacrifices, but the blessings are so worth it!!! We must keep working and doing what he asks no matter what. He knows so much better. I also like a quote from Pte. Uchtdorf : We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today, God sees us in terms of forever. I love it!! 

I love you all very much!!! I am so excited to know that there is another Hna Morey out there!! I know she will be great!!! Keep up the great work!!! I love hearing about your adventures!!!! Have a great Easter, we here will be celebrating all week with Semana Santa (wish us luck contacting :) Love you!! And remember that Jesus lives!! 

P.s. I just finished reading Jesus the Christ. What an incredible book about Christ's life!!! 

Love, Your Hermanita Morey!! 

"The Hermana Morey sang as she contacted and contacted and contacted...."

First of all, Conference. Did anybody else just love it? I sure did!!! I was bummed when they said they would not announce any temples until next year, but what can you do when the Lord commands something? We all want a temple here badly!! Maybe next year!! We were able to have investigators in all sessions. That was good!! So we could watch it all. I especailly felt the spirit and felt answers to my prayers sunday morning. I LOVED the talk by Pte. Uchtdorf and by Elder Bednar. I love how they can talk to millions of people, but how the spirit touches our hearts and makes a certain message special for us. I noticed how a lot of the talks were based on the principles of the gospel (faith, repentance, baptism, confermation, enduring to the end). A lot about how to walk through our trials with patience and hope. Andabout the life of Chrits and how he is our perfect example. Love conference, love our leaders. It was weird to see a few familiar faces in the choir saturday afternoon. 

I had really hoped that our family that we are teaching would come to church this weekend because I knew they would feel good and like it and receive answers. But they did not. Every session we called them and they promised they would come to the next. Hate that. Hopefully we will be able to get them excited again. If not, we will keep searching for new people!!!!! 

This week has been pretty normal, nothing too exciting. The mission here is progressing as we learn to give better commitments and to really help people understand the importance of the Gospel. I feel like I have progressed a lot and changed for the better. Of course there are a lot of things I can change and be better. But it is good to know that I have changed during my time here!! 

Wish us luck this week as we work on finding new people!!! The song The Hermana Morey sang as she contacted, and contacted, and contacted, and contacted. And walked and walked and walked. They both aply very well :) But I have faith the baptisms will go well and that we will find new people!!! 

One more thing. Mom: who will be your favorite Hermana Morey? Pretty sure that I will be!!! Can't believe Clair leaves!! What will everyone do without your jokes?! You will have to write us all. 

Know that I love you all, and I love this work. I know the Lord never leaves us to suffer alone. I know that we will all be families forever!!! I know that the Church is true and that we can find so much peace and joy and happiness by doing what the Lord asks us to do and by patiently enduring. 

Have a great week!!!! Tell me EVERYTHING!!!! I love you!!! 

Love, Chelita (white girl) a.k.a Hermana Morey 

Swedish Fish

To start things off!! Thank you so much for the Birthday package!! Finally got it!!! Loved the letters. I shared the swedish fish with the elders and the nortes all about died of happiness at seeing them again, and the Latinos were a little confused as to why it was so popular. But they were really good!! And the skirts are very pretty!

Is anybody else excited for Conference this weekend?!?! I sure am. I love the prophet and apostles and cannot wait for what the Lord has to say to us. I know we will all receive answers and revelation if we pay attention. I like to write down a few questions I have or things I need help with, and usually all three are answered. The Lord really loves us to give us this opportunity. And we are all praying for a temple here in Nicaragua!! How great would that be?! Incredible

This week went by VERY quickly. I don't know if it is just me, or if life is just passing by super rapidamente!!!!! But we had an excelent week. Even though Betzabeth ended up not getting batpized. We passed by on Friday to do the interview and the mom was not on the same page, wasn't in Juigalpa and wasn't going to come home in time and the dad didn't invte his famiy (they are ALL members and want to come. Who wouldn't?) So for General conference it got postponed for the 12 of April. Let us all hope ti goes well!! My companion was pretty sad, but I feel like this way it will be better, and she will ahve a better experience. And what does the date matter if she eventually does take the step? Pray that she does get baptized the 12th please!!!

We have been teaching a family that is really golden. The man wo said he would never change his religion he believes so strongly in the virgin? He and his mom (who couldn't walk well) and his girlfriend came to church. We had such an incredibly spiritual experience with them on Saturday with the mom asking how she can know which church is true. She wants to know so badly. The Elders came to give her a blessing and all she could do was cry and cry because she knows she will be able to walk again. And the husband came to the baptims and said that he think they will put the goal for baptism (which we still ahve not been able to put) much sooner. They were wantign 4 months but feel like they are getting answers. We are nervous to put a date because they don't want the pressure, but they need a goal. We are praying hard to know what to do. They also told us he as to get divorced (if we do that quickly it costs $3,000 cordobas) and they have to get married ($300) and they have NO money. There is a lot to do to help them, but they are really receiving blessings and answers and doing what we invite them to. We hope and pray everything goes well with them. If I don't see them get baptized, I know they will take the step. Hope that makes sense!!!

On Friday we had zone conference. The Elders had us go out and practice putting fechas or dates in contacts. In 5 minutes. They would like us to practice doing that. They really want to help us have the faith to baptize. But I must say I don't like it too much. I feel like I am attacking the people and putting a date just for the sake of it. I think they need to feel something before accepting a date. But we will try it and see how it goes!!!!

Everything is going well here. We are happy and working hard!! I always try to be happy while working no matter whether it is hot, or raining, or we are tired. I hope you all have great experiences in conference!!! I love you all fiercely. Hope the letter wasn't too jumbled as I tried to rapidly put a week of craziness in an email.

I know the Lord loves each and every one of us. he wants to help us in our struggles and help us be better. Just remember that we always can. And we are working and preparing to become Gods one day!!!

Have WONDERFUL weeks. Know I love yoiu all very very much.

Go do some good!!

Hna. Morey