3/17/2014

Well well then, thank you very much all of you who sent me bday wishes. Im looking forward to all the wonderful packages full of candy (Im expecting at least 21) haha just joking. I have my best bday gift lined up for saturday. We have the two young guys ready for baptism and we are very excited for that day. 

Here in the work, the past two weeks I spent 2 days in divisions, or splits in a different district. One day I worked with the district leader and the other day the dl and I worked with a pair of sisters. a different pair each week. It has been a really interesting experience. One, because I had never done ´splits´ with sisters before coming to this zone. Two, because it is really weird going 4 missionaries together. Three, because I could actually see how the sisters are working. Four, I learned quite a bit as well. Im learning to treat the sister missionaries different than the elders. For example, if an elder were to ask me ´Im having trouble sleeping at night, is there some medicine I can take?´ I would reply ´No, just work harder during the day.´ After responding that to a sister, I realized its not the same... So rinna, know that I am learning stuff that is going to help me my whole life haha. And that sister did forgive me, and actually did accept my counsel. 

So yeah. enjoy the pictures. Relax and have fun. Celebrate my bday family, I hope ya´ll go to texas road house or something haha (mac will appreciate it).

Changes are this week. I only have 3 left. 1 more with my current two companions and then 2 with my last companion... looks like Im going to end the mission inmy current area! I hope so!

Elder Mann

driving a motito 

 drawing our companionship (justice league)

 drawing our companionship (justice league)

 a few little girls that were talking to me about pens for half an hour and in the end gave me a pen to remember then haha

 a huge avocado

 capturing a rat in the chapel

 my lunch one day (really good)

 catholic church with a park in front

 me and Elder Cratty (the dl of the district I went with)

 me and Elder Cratty (the dl of the district I went with)

 little cookies here 

 the sister missionaries are both nicas, but the one on the left reminds me of my sister Kristen. Just that this one isnt even as tall as my shoulder... haha

 this is my friend. He has a drinking problem, but we always talk to him. He is very nice and super funny hahaha

 Us and Wilmer (the kid thats going to be baptized)

 thats larry the lobster

 thats larry the lobster

 our district meeting :D

 thats what is called a micro bus. Its a small passenger van that we cram 24 people into... its empty in this picture.

 waiting in an investigators house for them to get ready and just taking pictures...

ending the day in black and white

3/10/2014

Hola!

Well, this week was pretty good. I just want to share a short experience about one of our investigators named Wilmer. Hes 18 and lives with his catholic grandparents (and he was formerly catholic, and was until recently a teacher in a class for the youth). He´s come to church twice and has a strong desire to be baptized. (most likely the 22nd of this month). This sunday he said before sacrament meeting that he had something he wanted to talk to us about (normally not a great thing to hear, right?). So after church, we talked with him and he expressed how he has felt while coming to church. He expressed to us of the opposition that he has felt from his family as he has been reading the book of mormon and leaving suspiciously sunday mornings and randomly throughout the week (we meet with him in the church building). He felt extremely afflicted but at the same time shared one of the many revelations he has had in this short time. He said ´When I was praying, I felt a voice that told me ´You will pass by many trials and difficulties, but in the end you will receive the greater glory´´. 

We explained to him about the blessings he will receive as he is faithful to the answers he has received. We read him Joseph Smith´s experience in DandC121 where our afflictions will be just a moment.

It was the most spiritual experience I had this week and I just wanted to share it shortly with you. To let you know that just because it is hard to live the laws of God doesnt mean it isnt true, but rather the opposite. The son whom God loved the most had to suffer the most. Equally, we too much pass for our difficulties to show our faith and to earn a place in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Sincerely,

Elder Mann

  playing in the park

 that bird is a decoration in the park made from an old tire

 some pictures from riding in the moto taxi

 some pictures from riding in the moto taxi

 thats where i sleep when I go on splits with the other elders

 some pictures from riding in the moto taxi

 thats a nicaaid on my arm- cotton ball and masking tape

 preaching the word in the jungle

 in the bishops house

 thats a lawn decoration (an egg)

 this is what nicas do everyday (just sit in front of their house)

 in the jungle! :D

 working hard in dirt roads

 look at where the waterfalls come from

 thats how they deliver firewood for cooking haha

 from a ward activity with the kids (they like instruments)

 and tossing water balloons or playing soccer with the district

 not fitting in a door (thats common)

 playing in the park

3/03/2014

Wow... I got a ton of mail this week, so many announcments of marriage, Rinna coming home, friends in their missions... wow... I think this is the week I received the most letters and news in my whole mission.

First, congratulations to Hermana Clement for serving her mission honorably. She deserves every bit of praise that there is to offer. Im very proud of her and so humbled to even know her. :D

Second, fun week. We had an earth quake in El Salvador that was felt here. Woke us up Sunday morning around 3:37. Pretty neat. That night, the power went out so we couldnt for the last hours of the day. And I completed 19 months in the mission a few days ago. 5 more. 

It was a good week. We are teaching two young kids that are awesome. One is 15 and just a great kid getting ready to be baptized and the other is 18 and just a stud. Both shared in gospel principles on sunday how they received answers to their prayers when they prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true. Such a great moment. During testimony meeting, out of all the people in the ward, the best testimony I heard was from a guy that was baptized last week in the ward. He was literally shot up like a month ago, went to the ex bishop (a good friend) and just told him he wanted to change his life. When he shared his testimony, it was short, but powerful. Even the little kids and babies stopped crying for those 3 minutes. That was my favorite moment in church this week. A pure, simple testimony. 

There´s a lot of work to do... Gotta get at it. 

Congrats to Landon Palmer, Jake Holm, Peggy Hill and the rest who got engaged recently! (dang, all my friends are getting married already!)

-Elder Mann

 And thats our ´son´ trying to get up in the morning. My other comp dragged him out of bed because he´s a lazy kid and doesnt like waking up in the morning haha

 This is what we did when we didnt have power for those hours sunday night hahaha Just in case that you forgot that Im a handsome devil... 

 Look back at the other pictures, I baptized the little girls mom! They were baptized the 22nd after I left (when we baptized the little girl nathali here in San Marcos)