Last week in February 2013

Hola familia y amigos

Buenísimo fue esta semana.

Mom! Thank you for coming to Nicaragua and dropping off my uke and the bag of goodies. We are enjoying the dried fruit (the family I live with thinks its super weird haha) But tonight Ill be taking my uke to the family home evenings we have planned for a little bit of fun. I also loved the Chipotle burrito! Woohoo!! I had to save it for two more days in the fridge, but I was on cloud nine when I ate it for dinner. Thank you SO much for that! Super rico y loaded with flavor. The other part is that my stomach isnt accustomed to eating such flavorful food now, so that was a good reminder of how much food from Nicaragua Ive eaten. Thank you to Aunt Lorrie and family and Kari and all that were part of the package! I still havent opened all the stuff yet, but I plan on doing so soon hopefully today.

One of the most awesome parts about you coming here to Nicaragua this weekend, Mom, is that we had a baptism Friday night. You were here when we baptized Jose Feliciano del Norte!!! Woohoo!!! Thank you for ´attending´ the service with your presence here in Nicaragua. Hope your trip was safe and you enjoyed meeting the people you met!

In other news, we had a really good day yesterday in the church. It was ward conference and I felt the spirit really strongly as the bishop spoke of the importance of the sacrament. It was a good refresher to hear his firm testimony in the importance of such an ordinance. This week we had a few investigators attend church along with our new convert, so we were busy searching for scriptures and exchanging books of mormon for triplets for bibles and such.

One of our investigadores, se llama Ismael has an issue with the word of wisdom, but has a sincere desire to change. Little by little we have been helping him, but we couldnt find him in the house this past week until Saturday night. He was under the influence, but coherent of what we representated. In that night, he told us how terrible he feels and knows we can help him. The following day, yesterday, we passed by again. Even though he didnt remember clearly what happened, he still had the firm desire to change and accepted the committments we left with him. Its a good trial of faith to leave a scripture a pamphlet or even the invitation to pray with someone. Not only for that person, but for me too. Some its hard to believe they will complete the committment, others you dont have a doubt, but the result is never constant. Even the people that never fulfilled a committment before tell us in a visit, I prayed. With something simple, great hope is gifted.

I know this church is the only true church with the authority of God in the world. I know that we are the times of preparation in how we should be more like Christ. This is the gospel, these are lessons and this the way for us to accomplish it. Without this gospel, I would be lost. I would find a way to enjoy my life, but my joy would only last until I die. I know that I will have this joy for all eternity as I continue in this gospel. This is part of my purpose, to share the joy. I hope you search for your purpose as well.

--

Elder Mann

Nicaragua Managua Sur

La Mejor Misión del Mundo

February 18, 2013

Hola!!

This week was really a blessing. With our investigator Jose Feliciano that Ive explained a little bit about, he is the one that is looking off in the other direction in the photo, we have made a lot of progress. He had his baptismal interview and came to church again (only a little late) and is prepared to have his baptism this Friday. Its been really fun and spiritual to teach him because he understands the importance of baptism and knows that we visit him to teach him, but he still changes the subject to things that are competely unrelated ha He knows it, so he talks for a few minutes until he says `alright, back to repentance` or whichever topic we are teaching haha But really, he has been such a big blessing to Elder Gonzalez and I. We are also going to have a member named Jose Feliciano baptize him haha . The one that is already a member was baptized just over a year ago and is super strong in sharing the gospel, even though he is pretty old too. This week in church he made the comment `Elders, Im not sure if I can baptize him` we were shocked and asked why. He explained `because his name is Jose Feliciano and my name is Jose Feliciano. If I baptize him, its like hes baptizing himself, and thats not possible!!` hahaha Both have a good heart and like being called `Jose Feliciano del norte y Jose Feliciano del sur`

In other news, changes or transfers or cambios are the 6th of march. This transfer appears to be a week or two shorter to compensate with the changes for the durations of the MTC. In stead of being here with the Family Toval (the family we live with) its highly possible that Ill be transfered out to some other area because Ill have 4 transfers here. Which is about 5-6 months. Haha Just like in Taylor Heymans post a while ago, Itd be super exciting to leave and work in a new area, but super sad too haha I would like to pass my birthday here at least, but we shall see.

A quick note, Thank you mom and dad for the mini package of ties haha We wore our `new` ties yesterday to church. I do believe you sent me a kids tie though haha because the one I used yesterday had less than an inch on the small side and barely reached the top of my belt ha but thank you! Also, thank you Allie Patroch (I dont remember your new last name) for your letter! I was super excited to hear from you haha Best of luck to you and my new cousin in Australia!

Be well, enjoy life and remember why you are here. Ask if you need the help. Search for it and God will give it to you.

--

Elder Mann

Nicaragua Managua Sur

La Mejor Misión del Mundo

Hno Jose Feliciano and his wife and grandson. This JF is the member that is going to baptize

One of our zone Masaya from a week or two ago

Me!

 

Some older photos that an elder in my district had on his memory from when we gave service a while ago.One with taking out the tree root and the other when we repaired the roof

 

 

Febuary 11, 2013

Hola!

Well this week was pretty good. Something a bit strange that has been happening recently is people telling us their dreams and asking us to interpret them. Im not sure why. Each dream has something to do with God, but why they think we know what it means... not entirely sure, but it is really entertaining and cool to tell people what their dreams mean. It has been happening with the two other elders in our ward too. One of them, Elder Lopez, says he is going to carry a crystal ball with him the for the next time it happens to bring it out and start saying `I see!!! I see!! Water!!!` `what does the water mean???` `Watttter!!! It means... It means... BAPTISM!!!` Haha, Ill let all of you know how that goes.

We also helped reconstruct a house this week. The house is just tin roofing with branches and a few boards of wood nailed together. So it was interesting to find a way to support the roof and make a door frame with pieces of wood that arent equal or even by any means. But we did it! That part of his house is a bit more stable.

And... no more time... So the summary of the week- we interpret dreams and build houses...

Thank you for tuning in this week. I hope you come back to look at the pictures. Ha

 

Elder Mann

 

One with Hno Andres that always gives us hugs and we live with him haha

The other from making a dirt ramp, we put the hard stones layer by layer to make it more firm. So I was breaking off hard stones with that ha

The first, our district, the elders, and Hno Jose Feliciano del norte. I dont know why he is looking off to that direction, he doesnt either when I showed him the picture hahaha

And little andreyita!!! The daughter of the taxista Shes 3 and thats her school uniform

Shes so cute haha

Coconuts!



 Coconut!

More from the coconut

More from the coconut

Feb. 4, 2013

Hola!

Wooohooo!!! 6 months in the mission!! Weird.

First off, thank you Mom and Dad for the package that you sent before christmas! I hung up the stocking two days ago hahaha and my companion loves the cookies.

Thank you to those who sent me letters and cards tambien! aka familia, Aunt Lorrie, Julie Clement and Josh Lee!!

Hope all is well in the home front as well as Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Jamaica, South Africa, and Washington DC! (and all the others that are serving missions right now too)

We have found a really awesome investigator, well two. One, is named Jose Feliciano, one that I think I have already explained. Anyway, we had a lesson with him a few nights ago and he said by his own will ¨Im going to stop working Sundays and just go to your church, read the bible and relax¨ He shows the attributes of a golden investigator ha Just needs to come to church 2 more times before he can be baptized. The other is a family, but specifically the dad. He reminds me of Harry (I think thats the name) the short burglar in Home Alone. He looks similar, talks similar and is super animated. Talks a ton too haha and he knows it. When he notices that we are trying to talk and guide the discussion, he talks for a few more minutes of us saying ¨si hermano¨¨si, pues¨ ¨asi es hermano, entonces¨ until he does the action of closing his mouth with a zipper ha

Transfers are this week, but I dont think Ill go because Im training still haha Even though Elder Gonzalez is super awesome and teaches super efficientley.

Anyway,

Love to you all!

Hope you enjoy your weeks and remember that you can always rely upon our Heavenly Father to give you strength. I know that that is true because I know that it is how missionaries continue day to day and do their best.

--

Elder Mann

 

 Harvesting avocados... with a bamboo tree (see the end of the tree for the avocado) lol

 

 



 

Little andreyita (andrea) with the xmas mouse (i gifted it to her because she liked it... and she likes dora too lol)

 

 

hno andres (her dad) driving us to an activity haha