8/26/2013

Well, I´m now a zone leader in the zone Managua. Its the capital city of Nicaragua. So many changes have happened. Firstly, the goodbyes in Sandino were really, really difficult. I was there 6 months, and wow. I didnt want to leave. We were teaching 8 families. 4 of which were going to church... all the missionaries in my district were united. We played basketball and volleyball every pday. Of 10 of my missionaries in my district. 5 had changes, or transfers. 2 becames district leaders, and I was called to be a zone leader. 

I transfered here into Managua, its about 20 minutes in bus from my last area, the same stake and everything. My new comp is Elder Parrish from Utah. (They call us ´Elder Ken´...) He has 20 months in his mission and a pretty lady waiting for him at home (he´s got a book of all her letters, like a 4 inch binder of her letters... haha) But he is really awesome. The most humble and tranquilo guy I have ever met in my life. He has a guitar too, so we play songs every morning and every night. Literally. Haha Our relationship started off well, in our first district meeting he stood up for a moment, so being the extremely mature zone leader I am, I slid his chair a bit farther back. He tried sitting down without looking and Woop! Fell to the floor hahaha... Yeah, we are going to be good comps... 

The new area is way different. Theres not any dirt roads. I got here wednesday, and today is monday and I havent had to shine my shoes again. I had to shine them everyday in my other two areas. Its so weird. We also get to play frogger on a daily basis, thats a thrill.

We also had a baptism saturday that was prepared from four weeks ago, I just came in at the right time. We baptized a family of 4 that is amazing. They are so dedicated to the gospel already. The older son reminds me a bit of Mac too haha They two sons and the mom speak English because they are from beliz. I didnt know they spoke english in Beliz, but the dos muchachos speak to us in English. 

Even more than that, we have an investigator from Michigan. He´s and old, retired white guy. Doesnt speak a lick of spanish even with 4 years of living here. Why is he here? Medical school. Yeah, I still dont understand that. But he just started coming to institute with a buddy who speaks english too, an ex missionary and we gave them their first lesson yesterday. It was in English. Im not even lying, or joking, or trying to be funny, but it was so difficult. I spoke so weirdly. I never speak english. In the lesson, I kept saying all the small simple words in spanish, then going back and trying to repeat it in english, doubting myself, looking for a confirmation from my comp, and then trying to continue my train of thought. I can write in english, I understand it, but speaking it is another beast. My comp told me ´maybe you should practice a lesson in english before the next time so that doesnt happen again´ Wow. 

So yes, it has been a great and busy week. There are many new responsibilites as zone leader that I will come to know one by one. Im in the ward Las Palmas (so mom, when you come again, avoid that area).

Les agradezco mucho por su apoyo. Que les vaya bien en esta semana!

-- 

Elder Mann

Nicaragua Managua Sur

La Mejor Misión del Mundo

 My Companion and I

Elder Parrish

 My batman agenda- thanks Rinna

 Baptism of a family of four (the four in the middle) here in Managua.

 Teaching Jeffrey from Michigan in english.

 Elder Rogers and I in the house of Freddy Largaespada

 Sister Virginia and her daughter Jessel the last day of being in Sandino. She cooked us lunch and dinner every single day and more... 

 A baptismal interview nica style. Sitting on buckets (quite common) in the middle of a jungle.

 Elder Carlos Rojas - I was his last companion (he´s nica, but wasnt released for some time after getting back, so I was his comp haha)

Final Baptism in Sandino of Oscar

8/19/2013

Hello dear family and friends!

I feel like this was a great week. We baptized a young man of 13 years that is going to be a future missionary. We met a sister missionary that just returned home to our ward here (its so weird talking to RMs here. I dont like it. It makes me feel odd.) We played basketball, I jammed with Elder Olive (tongan) and I also did divisiones or splits with Elder Gray (Hawaiian). 

In those divisiones, we literally went through a jungle. I have pictures, but I dont have my camera to send them. I shall plan to do it next week. It was great to go with him for a day because he is a dedicated missionary and really awesome. That night, we also planned what we were going to sing Sunday at church. We sang ´conmigo quedate señor´ or ´abide with me tis eventide´ We had almost all the americans sing because we included verses in english. It turned out real beautiful. Him and I both put ourselves as solists hahaha but hey, we did it well. From the comments, they could only hear the two of us in general anyways...

As well as that, our ward is growing. We are reactivating so many people and bringing so many investigators to church. This week we had two new families in the church. Every week for the past 6 weeks we have brought at least one family to church. It has been amazing. A grand change in the area in this transfer with my gringo comp Elder Rogers. (...normally he´s doing great, but right now hes got his head between his knees because he hit his back while playing basketball today... and he doesnt want to go work today... second day in my mission when I wont be leaving to work because my companions are hurt or sick... I must be killing my comps or something dang...)

Of all ways, I feel like I have progressed really well. Wednesday are transfers and for the first time my district doesnt think I am going to be a zone leader haha For some jokey reason they think Im going to be the financial secretary. Hope not, but I´ll do what the Lord asks. 

Always remember that the Lord is forgiving and kind. We must only be willing to believe. If life is good, thank Him for it. When life gets hard, he will show you why you were grateful. 

I love you all and thank you for the support!

-- 

Elder Mann

Nicaragua Managua Sur

La Mejor Misión del Mundo

8/12/2013

We baptized a family!!! Miguel and Fatima (fatima is a common name here) were baptized el 10 de agosto!! Even though the service was a bit... well, hindered. We still did it. In short, no one had the keys for the baptismal font, so I jumped over the glass barrier in front to open the door from the inside. And as all was being prepared... a brother in the ward shut the door because little kids were running around. Yeah. Didnt notice until it was time to actual perform the baptism. Five missionaries, the baptismal candidate, a bishop and another brother from the ward were all huddled around the door for about 15 minutes with credit cards, scissors, random keys and everything trying to get it open. Elder Bateman and I decided to go look for the bishops counselor that lives close by, so we took off running. Got the keys and returned. Baptized. It was an exciting service to say the least.

Even more, I went in divisions or splits with another companionship for 3 days... its not exacty normal, but one elder has been struggling a bit and being a bit difficult. So I went with him for the three days, I can say that there was progress, but still there are only things that time can teach... namely maturity. He has 4 months in the mission and just turned 19 a few weeks ago. So, unfortunately, he didnt want to listen to my advice or my worries for him. I hope he keeps progressing and learns a lot. Note for all the younguns! Listen to the church leaders because they are mature, they arent joking with you. 

We also have transfers next week. Dont know if I go yet or not. I hope not, but I will go where I am needed without hinder. I assume my district thinks Im going off to be a zone leader again hahaha Thats happened every time we have guessed who is going where in these 4 transfers that Ive been here. Congrats to Taylor Heyman too for being DL, trainer and opening a new area!! ESO mi amigo! Usted lo puede hacer sin problema! Sea fiel y haga lo que el le manda hacer! Good luck with the sisters in the district! Heard thats different (Our zone here is the only zone without sister missionaries)

And that is a short summary of the week. Thanks for the emails! Hope to see y´all in a year! hahaha

-- 

Elder Mann

Nicaragua Managua Sur

La Mejor Misión del Mundo

 lakes in Nicaragua 

  climbing over the glass wall to open the door

the family we baptized, miguel and fatima baptized by Carlos Rojas

a picture with the famiy and almost all of the missionaries from the ward (we are 8 missionaries in the ward)

8/05/2013

Alright, one year officially down. One of the best years of my life. We celebrated the day with a wedding of the family we are going to baptize this weekend. This will be the first family, or couple, that will have been baptized in this area in over a year. Two other areas of my district have also baptized families for the first time in over a year as well. ESOOO!!!! Success!!!

Its really awesome being district leader here. It´s so much fun haha Yesterday, Sunday, we reported the numbers of the week. How many lessons we had, people contacted, references received, people with baptismal dates, etc. Normally its pretty dull, but we decided to have fun. I put the phone on speaker and every time they had a good number or good success in one of the areas, in stead of just saying ´wow, great job. Excelente.´ we did the whole ´WAZZUUUUPPP WAAAAAZZUPPP!!!!´ from that one commercial in the 90s. Remember that? Yeah, even the latinos remember that. It was hysterical. We also decided to assign each member of the district to be a person from the Winnie the Pooh story. We had everyone, Winnie, tigger, eor, rabbit, owl, wefflumpsand woozles, piglet, kanga and roo, and Christopher robin. Who was I? Yeah, I was Christopher Robin. Aint that a coincidence, Rinna?Hahaha

Yesterday was also a great day in the work. We did an exorcism. Well, we didn't exactly take out all of the demons, but the 24 yr old muchacha that's a bit loca (she speaks like a little girl, stops talking and just stares, waves at random things, hears voices, sees shadows, and all of that... a bit creepy) said she saw the demons leave as we were giving the blessing. It was pretty ugly to be in that house. Her brother is a member and told us to pass by the house to give her a blessing. I... yeah, definitely didn't feel good to enter the house, felt pretty... unwelcoming. Anyway, she felt a bit better and we committed the mom to bring her to church the next week so she can get more help there. I really hope that changes.

All in all, I am enjoying my mission. Not for all the fun stories, for the interesting experiences that only happen in Nicaragua, but that I really feel full of the spirit. I feel the joy that comes from living a good life. I feel I am helping people receive the best thing that they can receive in their whole life, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ive learned so much better that joy that we are to share here in this area. My white comp is pretty serious, well he just doesn't smile much, and just teaches the doctrine, so Ive put myself into the part of cracking the gospel joke here and there and smiling extra during the lessons so the people don't feel like we are there just to condemn them with doctrine, and that has actually becoming really easy as I have learned to love them. Obviously, I don't love everyone still. There's some hard headed pastors here that just want to argue with us, but Ive gotten pretty good at using the bible to let them know that they cant just read a book and become a man of God. Its not according to the order of men with diplomas and certificates, its the order of God. One much be ordained to the authority as Christ ordained his 12 disciples.

I hope all is well, hope those who read this take an opportunity to talk to the two muchachos in white shirts and ties and really listen to them. Only good things will come if you do it.

Adios!!!

PS I got the package with the 365 uke songs!!! Its amazing!!! a great collection of oldies... perfect.

--

Elder Mann

Nicaragua Managua Sur

La Mejor Misión del Mundo

 My comp and his breakfast of champions and us in our area.

 Weekly planning

 Our house, we live on the top floor

 A future missionary that leaves this week. Carlos Lorio. Helped us a ton in this area.

one with Eli (baptized), Michael (will be baptized), and the three niñas.

Here is the family we are going to baptize this saturday. They got married Thursday!