The Paiz de Ants

Hola hola!! From the paiz de ants!!! That is my new nickname for Nicaragua:)

I hope all is going well with all of you!! Sounds like beth is doing well with being all alone...don't know about you, mom. Is there enough to do to keep you busy or do you come home to an empty house?

This week has been a lot better!!! I decided this week that i was going to really put my heart into the work, and just do my best everyday. The Lord really has helped me out. I felt last week and the begining of this week that things were just so hard and I didn't know exactly what the Lord wanted me to learn from it. But the Lord really does give miracles. But those miracles come after we have done everything that we possibly can. I had had a few hard days, and thenThursday was a GREAT day. My companion and I were working well together, taught great lessons, and found positive people. The Lord really is there.

Tuesday we went to a multizone activity that was REALLY godd. The topic was come, follow me. So there were talks and workshops on how to be one with our companion, with Chrsit, with our bishop and ward, and more. The spirit was very strong and we were all lifted up and feuled to go work hard again for the week. The President and his wife really are called of God and know how to strenghten this mission! We spent all day in Managua for the activity. It was fun to see some of the other missionaries serving here in this mission! Missions are great!! Everyone has the same goals (or at least we hope!) and we all build each opther up.

We have this really great investigator named Leonardo. I found him with my trainer one day. we were walking from an appointment and he was out working in his yard/hill. He called out to us and asked us a question about where in the Bible it talked about the BOM. Iu thought he wanted to fight with us. but we gave him a pamphlet of Lesson 1 and left. The next time we saw him he talked about how there was a need for the restoration (wow!!). So right now he is our favorite investigator. He has such a powerful testimony!! He knows that God lives and the spirit is very strong when he talks with us. The only problem is his health (he is pretty old and has lots of problems). Sunday we were sitting in church, and none of our investigators had shown up...then 20 minutes before sacrament ended he walked in!! That was another miracle!! He said he wants to know more about the chruch before baptism (he wants to wait until December....yikes!!!) We are trying to help him change his mind about taht oine :)

One of our investigators (justo cesar). The teenager who was one of my favorites does not know if he wants to be baptized....that is KILLING me!!! He has GREAT potential. I can see him as a leader in the church. But he won't be clear with us as to what is wrong. he says the church has too many rules and he can't have fun. So we think that he has broken the Law of Chastity and feels bad. We hope this week to help figure out what happened with him! his friend Lornel won't be able to be baptized right now because he has been drinking and smoking.....that makes me sad, too. I hope one day he can realize the church is true and how he felt with us!!

We are still contacting like maniachs here inBuena Vista! Trying to find those ready for the gospel. It is hard, but we are working on it!!!

But his week I have learned more about myself and strenghtened my relationship with my heavenly Father. Learned to rely on him, and feed off of his grace. Learned more about how the Atonement applies in my life. Because it really applies to every single facet of our lives. There is no part that it doesn't help with. i know he lives, and taht he died for us! There are some people who don't believe taht, and i am glad taht I do know it! So...follow christ!! Put him first in your life! EVerything will work out if you do. He always blesses us. Sometimes I have to look at the small thigns like the sky (which is beautiful here!) or plants or something to remind myself. But he is always there, never leaves us alone!!!

hope you are doing well!!! I love you ALL to pieces!!!!

Keep doing great things and making great choices!!!! you are the best!! And don't forget it!!

Love, your Nicaraguan Missionary!!!!!

Learning Confidence

Hola hola!!! Another week has gone by!!! This week has been....hard. But I will tell you the good things that went down rather than the bad :) 

It was sad because our Zone leader last week said he didn't feel like he could do it anymore and asked for emergency transfers....It makes me sad to think of that!! He was a good leader!! But so now almost everyone in our zone is different. But we had Zone Conference on Friday and they really have a good vision for our zone. Good goals and plans on how we can be better. They really want us to be unified from our companionship up to the mission which I like a lot.

We found a young woman in our branch who in the past left with the missionaries daily. So she knows ALL the lessons, how to contact, and knows our whole area. Which is nice because neither of us knows our area well. She is a very upbeat girl and fun to work with! We are blessed to have her. 

On Saturday the Hermanas in Rivas had 2 baptisms and it was very spiritual. One of them almost didn't show up but did eventually. And the teenager who was being baptized started tearing up before because he felt the spirit so strongly. The only sad thing is that on Sunday the girl did not show up to church to receive the Holy Ghost...I don't know why!! That is the crucial part. We just hope that she comes next week so that she can complete her covenant with the Lord!!

I don't have too much to tell!! Nothing too interesting has been going on. Just a lot a lot of walking, and lots and lots of contacting and talking to people. I still am working on being more confident in my teaching. It is hard but I pray hourly for the Lord's help!! My companion is a hard worker and she really does not like feeling insecure or afraid. I know I will learn a lot from her!!! 

I know that the Lord does love me!! I forget at times, but when I pray I feel it stronger. I know he puts us in places and with people to learn a lot and change the bad. The mission is the hardest thing ever, but I know I am a different person and just hope I am becoming the missionary and person the Lord needs me to be!!

I pray for you a lot!!! Keep doing great things and making good choices! I love you tons and tons!!! Ustedes son Salvaje y pilas, y tuanies!!! (the words of Nicaragua).

Oh!! Mom, Ask uncle Chris about what districts he served in Nicaragua!! I would love to know where and if I ever serve in the same area!!!

Love, Your Nicaraguan Missionary!!! (hermana Calocha!!)

Turtles

Drum roll......So I had transfers!!!! My companion left and I am training the area!!! My new companion is Hermana Perez! She is from Guatemala as well but knows a lot of english. It is nice that when I don't understand something she can explain. But we talk a lot in spanish. She is REALLY great. I know I will learn a lot from her. It is weird without the other missionaries here, but I know that this is all part of the mission!! So I will get used to it!

We are getting to know the area together. My trainer had been here for 6 months so she was a little drained of the area and we didn't go to areas that she had contacted before. But our goal together is to get to know everywhere together (which is a lot of areas). We contact and contact because we have 0 investigators. So we are tryng to find ways to make it intersting and fun (any ideas?). But we work really really hard. I have never been so tired in my life!! But I feel the Lord give me a little push of energy at the end of the day to contact one more house or person, and usually that person is positive!

           One night, my companion was not feeling good and we thought about going back to the apartment, but decided to contact just a little more. I had felt like falling asleep during our previous lesson but decided to push for more. We went to a little street and contacted a house that had a family inside. And he was positive! He accpeted the booki of mormon and our message!! So we have learned that sometimes when we feel like not going more, we should anyways. There is always someone waiting for us!!!

This week we ate turtle eggs....different!! They are apparently illegal...but we did not know that! They are boiled, and soft. you rip a little part off of the shell and suck the egg out! Not my favorite, but it was fun to try something new!!! 

I don't really have too much more to say! We just have lots to do to find new people to teach and help fiind the truth! It is hard work, but worth it! Can't believe that I almost have 5 months here in the mission! It goes by pretty fast. 

Glad you all are doing well!!! Hope that this week of new adventures goes well!! Zack with work, and everyone else with school! Beth, I did not like the scarlet letter either!! 

I love you all tons and tons!!! Keep working hard and doing your best!! Remember the love the Lord has for each one of you. Remember that he has a plan for your happiness :) 

Make good choices and choose the right!!!

Love, your Nicaraguan Missionary :)

 

Palm Readings

hello Hello!!! Como esta everyone?!?! I hope you had great weeks!!! Our energy has been a little low as it is the end of the transfer and we are a little nervous about what may happen!! Buttomorrow we find out and plan to work hard in new places if there are, and if not, in the same place!!!!

First things first, I gave my first talk in sacrament meeting yesterday! The District Leader told me at 10 saturday night I was giving a talk (not much time to prepare) but I was surprised with myself that I did not feel too nervous. I decided to talk about scriptures and why they are important and why we are commanded to read them. It was simple enough to do in spanish, but still important!!! The president of the branch said that the gift of tounges was in play because they could understand me! I am grateful for that!! 

Also this week I have eaten so much at a few appointments that I thought I was really going to explode and die...so difficult to force the food down! Good food, but so so much!! One of them we ate a soup that had a whole crab in it. It was really good, but difficult to eat. But I know my stomach will stretch :) 

I was watching the district last week as part of my training. Sometimes I really hate watching them because they make it look so easy. I think if only I were speaking english, I could do this! And if it was the same culture!! I do learn a lot from them, but it is frustrating too :)  But one of the missionaries was saying that there are more hard times on the mission than good, but those good times outshine the bad until you really can't remember the bad. you remember that it was hard, but it has been dulled. I remember thinking Hailey was crazy when she said she couldn't remember crying...but I can see it now!! And I really think taht that is one of the great gifts from our loving heavenly father. The ability to forget the hard times. To learn, but then to move on afterwards. Beecause if we didn't forget, how could we go on and do tomorrow and today with all the hurt and hardness piled up on top of each other? And I see that already in the mission. I have forgotten some of the hard times. I remember it was hard, but it is dulled...Just a thought for the week!!!

Our investigators....at a really all time low right now. The 2 boys we are teaching received their answers this week and want to be baptized 28 of september!! That is great, so we just need to keep working witht them. But we desperately need to find more people to teach. I think after we find out if we are transfering or not it will get better. Those two are the only ones progressing right now because everyone else is not coming to church. I hope next week I have a better report for you :) I plan on working hard!!! 

a little fun fact: last week we went to a woman in our ward who reads palms :) She told me I will have 5 children close together, get married after studies and only have one boyfriend!! So things to look forward to when I get back :) Oh, and we will serve a mission together....do you believe it?

Today we had such a fun activity with our zone. We went to this member's farm (it was HUGE) and played some sports and hung out in the clean air. He fed us delicious hamburgers. He lived in the states for 34 years and know english very well. He is an incredible person who shares everything he has and has a huge heart! It was good to get to know him and be out in the beautiful nature.

I think that is all for today!!!! I love you all so much!!! Good luck preparing to go back to school!!! You can do it!! Keep reading Scarlet Letter bum and playing your heart out!! 

Make good choices this week!! I love you and miss you!!  

Love, Your Nicaraguan Missionary!!! 

Shmancy Tag Shot

Learning a New Football

BUENAS!!!!!!!

Como esta? Que tal su dias?!?!

Can you believe that summer is over?!?! I can't!!! it seems like it has flown by. it feels like last week I was reading your letters about school being over and starting work, and gradutating!!! Now back to school for all of you!! It is weird to think that beth will be all alone now....so weird!! What will she do with herself? She always needs peeps around?!?! But I know she will find things to do and occupy her time :)

Today I played football (soccer) for my first time with my district!!! Woot!! I am terrible, but it is fun! They really know how to work the ball!! I hope I can play better by the time I end my mission :) The sun was shining pretty fiercely, but then all of a sudden started pouring. That is life here, always prepare yourself for the rain!!

One thing about the mission here is we record our numbers in 3´s. President Monestel really really focused on families. So we focus on contacting, teaching, and baptizing families. REcord the families contacted, taught, etc. the priesthood holders, and totals. So when we report our numbers, we report 3 (3 families contacted/5 priesthoods/and 10 total). I think we are the only mission in the world that oes it like this. But the only problem is that people forget to focus on the individuals as well and realize that the individuals are future families. Who knows if President Russel will change this!!!  I think he is seeing the progress of the mission and how things are being done, and slowly chaning things. Not all at once, but as he sees need to. No changes as of yet, but I think they are coming!!!

We had really big hope that we would baptize 2 teenage boys this week (they both are 16 like you beth!!!) but when they had the interview with the district leader we found out they both have problems with the word of wisdom as well as chastity :( But I think they have a desire to know more and be baptized, just little by little. They really don't want to be forced into it!!! So little by little with them!!!

A group of members in our branch and from our district (like a stake) went to the temple in Hondurusthis week! It was so fun to see them excited about the work and to get names ready for the temple. People are now more excited about doing indexing and finding names to take to the temple. Ah, don't take the temple for granted!!! I can't believe how many we have in Utah!! I pray taht Nicaragua will get one soon!! The problem is the tithing! Need more active members and members who pay tithing. But there is hope and faith!!!

We are really working on finding more people to teach. We are at a big low

 of progressing investigators and people we are teaching. But we are working on it!! Pray for us to help us in this please!! We found Rosaon Saturday. I felt like we needed to go bakc and figure out what happened, but was nervous that it would be the same as last time. But we found her and taught her. She does not want to leave her boyfriend, but does not want to create huge problems and divorce her husband....so we will probably have to stop teaching her, but it was good to leave on a good note and not with the memory of her hiding behind a barrel!!!

One thing I learned this week is the importance of rereading and studying the words of the prophets. General Conference and the church magazines combined with the scriptures our our very own Liahonas. Our guide to know what is right, and what we need to do. They can help us know what to do, and what we can be doing better. So maybe make a goal this week to re read some of the conference talks!!! I promise that if you do so, you will find answers and strenght to endure your dificulties and do what is right!!

I think that that is all this week!!! Next week are changes!! So maybe I will have a new companion or be in a new place!! Who knows?!?! (god does :)

Until next week!!!!! Keep doing your great things!! I love you all so so much!!!! REad your scriptures and keep praying :) Know that I am praying for you always!!

Love always, your Nicaraguan Missionary!!!

Month Numero 4

Can you believe that it is August already?! I can't believe it. This week has FLOWN by!!! I have about 2 weeks left in my training which is crazy! Then I REALLY need to know what I am doing. But It will all be good. I can either stay the same, train my area to a new companion, or leave. I just know that the Lord knows where I am needed and I will do the best I can wherever and whatever happens!! I have learned a lot about myself and other things with this companion! We will see if I need to learn more!!! 

Tuesday the sisters (there are 4 of us) were all sick with something. I just had a little cold and was fine, but they were all pretty bad! So they were sleeping in our apartment and we just stayed there ALL DAY! It wasn't too bad, but a little boring. It gave me time to study spanish and read the LDM (which I am SO behind on, pretty sure I won't finish it in a month!). But everyone is better now!

Wednesday we went to go teach Rosa one of our really positive investigators. Her husband has been really really hard because he is fine with his religion (catholic). But lately he has been more animated and excited to see us, talking to us and such. We have been trying to think of how we can help her with the law of chastity (she has a boyfriend) and so haven't stopped by as frequently as in the past. But when we went by on Wednesday their daughter said she was bathing, and he said she was out with his sister......We finally left and went around the side of her house (contacted a russian who knew neither spansih nor english poor man) and saw that she was hiding behind a barrel. We tried for about 10 minutes to talk to her and get her to come out but she didn't budge or say anything. And when her husband came out he told us with a straight face that it wasn't her, that it was someone else. Probably that saddest moment ever. Our hearts really sank because she knows the church is true. I hope it isn't what it seems. We are giving her a break and plan on trying again to see what is going on on Wednesday. Let's hope it is better!

On Thursday we went to San Juan Del Sur to teach Kevin and Milagros. They really are great investigators. She has him to help get her excited about the church. We taught about temples, the law of chastity (that was a fun one with them because they are living together) and the Word of Wisdom. They want to get married, we just hope they do it sooner than later!! They are very very positive! They keep us going right now! Them and 4 teenage boys that are really good right now.

I am doing well!! I am pretty sure I am gaining weight here:) I feel like I am learning tons and tons! Nicaragua is a great place. So different, but the people are good, hard working. I love being a missionary and helping people! 

I know the Lord loves you all!! I know the Book of Mormon is true. If you have ANY problems, turn to that book and it will help you. I am in Alma right now and LOVING their examples. I hope to be a missionary like them!!! 

Keep doing your best, making good choices, remembering who you are!!! I love you tons!!

Love, your Nicaraguan Missionara!!!