March 28, 2011

Querida Familia,

Hey, I am doing great!

This Friday we baptized Jorge. While we only baptized him, his family are already members so we completed a family and now they can prepare to be sealed in the temple. The family is great.

We had a surprise for his baptism. He is old friends with the Second Counselor of the Stake so we arranged for him to come and perform the baptism. What was great is the Second Counselor has a truck ha ha so we went with him to pick up Jorge. He was great, him and his family were all ready, waiting on the curb and they didn’t even know we were coming to pick them up in a truck.

My new ward is great. I am friends with the Bishopric and the Ward leaders. They called a new Ward Mission Leader yesterday and we are super excited to get working with him, he is poderoso (powerful).

The food is great. We make our own breakfast, Jamón and Queso (Ham and Cheese) Sandwich for me. And we eat Lunch and Dinner in the house we live in. The familia cooks well, usually a meat with Rice and Beans on the side.

Well, today we ate something interesting. I would tell you what it is but I don’t know. She asked us this morning if we wanted to try a different part of a chicken. I said sure! It wasn’t too bad, I asked the familia what it was called and they told me some name I can’t remember. Then I asked what part of the chicken it is... and they told me they weren’t sure either.

Last night we taught a new family of ours. We actually found them because a couple of weeks ago we passed a gordito (chubby) kid and said hi to him and were nice to him. Then this week, we found him at a friend’s house one night. He asked us if we wanted to meet his Mom. So he took us to her and we contacted her in the park outside their house.

Then as we finished talking to her, her partner came out and called to us, ¨Alright, come in Elders!¨ Turns out he is an inactive member who was baptized 7 years ago in Puerto Cabezas (other side of Nicaragua). We talked to them, and he taught his wife the first lesson. Ha ha we mostly listened.

At the end, he gave a very powerful testimony that he knows this is the True Church, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and José Smith was a true prophet. He told us that he has been wanting to come back to church and fix his life for about 6 years now.

The most Faith Promoting part for me is how powerful his testimony is, even though he has messed up a lot in his life the past few years, he can still fix it. He can change, repent, and help his family be eternal. He knows it, and is coming to Church this week to start.

That’s one of the best parts about the Mission. Sure, baptizing is all fun and good (and crucial for someone’s salvation), but it´s the changes you get to see happen to people and their families, preparing for and being baptized. As well as with people who are already members and are wrestling to get back on track. That’s what I like, the following the example of Jesus Christ part.

Hannah, I haven’t bought a baseball mitt yet. The thing is everyone plays Baseball on Sundays. It’s kind of an Arch Enemy really.

My favorite PDay game, hmmm well in Boaco we would always play Fútbol. But here we haven’t really played too many games. I washed my clothes, cleaned the house, showered with a 3 liter bottle of water, writing my family, eating,... really it is all fun to me.

You are right, I should think of something special to do with my comp. next PDay. It will be the second to last PDay of the Change. Ahh.

Ha ha, Alexis, Ward Missionary?! That´s great! But I don’t know why you should be nervous. Listen, all the people you are going to be assigned to visit are less active members that are your age. The most important thing you can do is listen, you should be able to relate to them and put yourself in their shoes easy. Listen, figure out what they need, how the Gospel answers it, and tell them.

And when you get nervous, or don’t know what to say, that is the easiest part. Just bear your testimony, about what you are talking about, about the Book of Mormon, the Prophet José Smith and your Savior Jesucristo.

And since you don’t have full time mission rules, if you have to flirt a little with their brother to get them both to come to church... ha ha just kidding.

Good to hear the Duck is content, Emily. I’m glad to hear he is growing fast (fattening up) he should be ready just in time for Thanksgiving :) Great with Dance. Math = Greater Light and Knowledge you will have to learn one day to get to the Top.

Ha ha good look with the Robin role, Hannah, that is so great. Love you too Oompa Lumpa.

Love you all, say hi to the Duck.

Elder Hardy