January 10, 2011

iHola Familia!

It’s funny that you say you wouldn’t mind some Nicaragua warmth & sunshine, because today it is all cloudy and has been raining. But it’s still really humid!

Hmm my favorite food... gallo pinto ha ha (just kidding). But I really don’t think it is that bad when it’s not too dry. When I change to somewhere like Managua is when I am going to get sick of it. (Gallo pinto is their rice and bean dish). 

No, my favorite food might have to be the fried plantains. They are pretty good when they get a little caramelized on the outside. That and a fresh banana con leche shake, Beto puts cinnamon and caramel syrup in it too.

And of course the pupusas (corn torillas filled with cheese, meat, beans & spices). You guys should try doing an El Salvador Day and make pupusas for dinner along with the plantains, banana con leche and gallo pinto!

I’m afraid have not received Jenny´s package yet. Either the ZL´s have it or hopefully I will get it Wednesday when we go to Managua for changes. I am pretty excited though. Tell them thanks for me.

Changes are this Wednesday. But I really shouldn’t say "when we go to changes" because we haven’t found out who is changing yet. But we are going to find out tonight! Not that I am excited to change.

Nicaraguan toys, Hannah? Excellent question. Well, a really cheap toy that you always see the kids on the street playing with are called Clackers. Ha ha and that is about all they do. They are these two balls connected together with a string. And you put the middle of the string in between your fingers and move your hand up and down until the balls hit above and below your hand and make this really loud clacking noise. Ha ha its actually harder than it looks.

What else... they like playing with cheap fireworks. Oh and we see them playing street baseball all the time. I have seen them play with all kinds of balls too. Including bottle caps. And of course fútbol.

Today we played fútbol in the little park on a cement basketball court. It was really fun and all the chebalos flocked to watch and we even let some of them play. Ha ha there was this gordito on my team (little chubby kid) and he was actually pretty good.

Oh and hey, in this server (internet café) they have a Wii and an Xbox 360, which you never see. And they are some guys my age playing on them and they are terrible! Hannah, you could probably beat all the kids in Nicaragua at Mario Kart. Or any other game for that matter!

I can’t wait to get the special package. I think it is really nice of everyone who helped out. But oh boy, something I would really like in it. I don’t know, I have forgotten about the things I don’t have. You all know better than me now. Anything from the states is really nice.

I know it sounds typical but corbatas (ties) are always good. They are like currency down here with the other missionaries.

Oh! Which reminds me. Ha ha to Jenny, Jim and my Cousins. The tie you guys gave me the day of my farewell (The really awesome vibrant violet/purple one with stripes and paisley)… all the other missionaries want it. They keep trying to convince me to trade them for it (for two or even three of theirs). But I keep saying no, I can’t trade it. Elder Bailey even stole it once. But Elder Mejia gifted it back to me in a present for Christmas ha ha.

Something else that I could use is tricks to show to all the kids. The kids in families love a good magic trick. But I still don’t know/have too many. Treats and snacks that are different from the States always taste really good.

Something Elder Coj really wants is a Jesus the Christ in Spanish. He has been begging me for mine but I really like it. I guess changes are Wednesday but he wants me to give him one the next change when we see each other. Really anything you put in a package is really special and appreciated.

To Stevie: congratulations on the mission in Uruguay. Ahora que ha ayudado las personas en Uruguay obtener la salvación, necesita encontrar su propio Exaltación. Jaja. ¡Buena Suerte!

This week I would like to share a message for all of the families. And it is about having Noches de Hogar (Family Home Evening). I am afraid I may have taken for granted Family Home Evening at times before the mission. But my testimony about the blessing of Family Home Evening, Family Scripture Study and Family Prayers has become very strong in the short time I have had here in the mission (well it feels short. It has been going by so fast).

I am not going to write any stories or anything but I have seen the wonderful effect on families and the blessings that have come from doing these things. And how not sharing the gospel in your own family every Monday and every day, and sharing your love with your family everyday gives room for disastrous effects to take place. I’m not sure if that makes sense. But please make sure to always have family home evening with the whole family.

And I am sure it seems hard at times but reading the scriptures daily as a family (even if it means waking up early (they do it here in Nicaragua, trust me you can do it) will give countless blessings to the family and your day is just going to be better.

And there is not an easier way to show your love to God and to your family than kneeling down every night before bed and giving thanks to your Heavenly Father for your family and the wonderful blessings in your lives.

Please try your hardest to always do these things. Because God doesn´t ask us to do something without making sure there is a way to do it. So if we try our hardest to do His Will, it is always going to work out.

I can testify of that, and write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you and thank you so much for your support and love. It blesses me every day here in the mission.

Elder Hardy