¡¡¡¡Feliz año nuevo!!!

¡¡¡¡Feliz año nuevo!!!

Thankfully ñ is just another letter on the keyboard here, so it didn’t take me too long to find that. What IS kind of annoying though is that a little red squiggle appears under every word that I write because supposedly I’m spelling these words wrong. Just so you guys know, it was super awesome talking to you guys on Christmas. That 40 minutes went by sooo fast though! Honestly, I really can’t believe how fast the time flies here in the office. I’ve been here for 3 weeks now and it still seems like I just got here. It sounds like you guys are all just kinda chillin and being lazy: the boys doing their classic sit-around-and-do-nothing-but-play-video-games-and-eat marathons, Dad watching football and getting mad because he´s losing on his bowl game picks after spending hours of research, Mom enjoying not having to do all the stuff she always does, and Aubrey and Ava just playing with their friends and their new Christmas toys. The house is probably a mess too... See, look, I’ve been gone for a while but there are a few things I just don’t forget about. :)

Anyways, this week was pretty good. After I talked to you guys we got invited to this guy’s house who works in the U.S. embassy and had a super good Christmas dinner. It was totally weird.  They’re just like a regular American husband and wife, members of the Church and everything. It was pretty sweet but I was missing home a little. I won’t talk too much about the office, just because that’s going to get real boring really fast, but all I’ll say is that I feel like I’m getting the hang of everything and I’m excited to take the reins and go.

Funny story. We went to the post office this week to get all the packages and let’s just say that Santa came late. There were 25 packages and I got all excited thinking one would be mine... None of them were. Oh well haha. What else?...  I can’t say that I had any stand-out spiritual experiences this week but one thing I’m starting to feel is a greater love and appreciation for the work I’m called to. I read President Monson’s talk about the ABC’s and I loved where he talks about attitude. I’ve realized that a good attitude is what makes any situation a better one. I’ve also come to really love the couple hours that I have to get out and work. It makes me just want to talk to absolutely everyone I see and I feel a greater love for the people that I teach. 

Mom, to answer your question, I don’t know if I’d send anything else with Connor. Just send him with enough white shirts. Also...there’s a lot of things you don’t need to send...like hand sanitizer and all that good stuff...most of the things he can buy there. Don’t worry about it too much though.  Missionaries can survive with few things. I can’t tell you how many uses a sheet of notebook paper has.  :) haha. 

Anyways...I hope to have more good stuff to tell you guys next week. We’re going to President’s house for New Year’s Eve and it’s gonna be sweeeeeet! Love you guys a whole bunch and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Elder Ward and Elder Galvan

Elder Rose ?, Elder Ward, and Elder Pace

Elder Ward

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P-day at Mombacho Volcano (Elder Call, Elder Ward, Elder Ward, and Elder Rojas)

Hooollaaaaa!

Hey, sorry that I didn’t get to write to you guys earlier in the day, it’s been a pretty crazy day. I’ll make this kinda short just because I’ll be able to talk to you all tomorrow, but I’m glad to hear that everyone’s week went well. Haha to be honest with you it does make me a little jealous that you guys had a huge volleyball tournament, and dad I honestly don’t know how quickly I’ll be able to get back into shape for that. I might just have to go get a couple of ingrown toenails removed, get a little more well nourished, get rid of some parasites, and learn how to jump again. The good thing is that I don’t have to worry too much about that right now. Well, I imagine that you guys are in the middle of reading Luke 2 with the family or something. If for whatever reason you guys get this e-mail right now with the family (maybe on dads fancy new iPad or something) tell everyone I said hi and FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Just a couple of quick things....this week was probably different than any other week that I’ve had in the mission. Monday was a SUPER busy day because we had to go and get everything ready for the Christmas conference that we were having on Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m learning that, unfortunately, there will be some days where we don’t even get out to the field. Monday involved going to get the gifts from the mission for the missionaries, gifts that President wanted to give to his counselors and stake presidents of the mission, buying EVERYTHING for the activities and a whole bunch more things. We ended up getting to bed at about 1:00 am. Tuesday we woke up and went to McDonald´s early in the morning. I think we made the biggest order that they’ve had all year…95 Sausage McMuffin combo meals two days in a row.....that’s a lot of McDonalds. The conference was way awesome though. President and his wife were also celebrating their anniversary so all the zones brought gifts or had presentations for them. One zone even had a Mariachi band come which was pretty hilarious. Tuesday night we filled up 1,000 water balloons and got to bed pretty late again. All in all, it was a LOT of work but its was cool to be able to see all the missionaries having a ton of fun, especially knowing that we had done so much to get it organized. Ahhhh…I dunno…I still have mixed feelings about being here (in the office). I’m trying so hard to have a good attitude about it...it’s just a bummer because we’ve only gotten out to work in our area for like 2 days this week. I’m sure I will come to understand why the Lord has me here pretty soon.

I won’t say much more but today was a pretty awesome 24th. We went to this volcano called Mombacho and did this super crazy hike around the craters of the volcano. Also, I think the greatest Christmas gift that I could’ve received this year was being able to go to Edwin and Mercedes´ baptism just a couple of hours ago. It was pretty cool, Elder Leiva called me after they passed their baptismal interview and they said that they wanted me to come to their baptism and baptize them. I asked for special permission from President and he said that it was ok. They were so happy and it really got me thinking about the true meaning of Christmas....and that the meaning is in the name itself (more Christ). Let’s put aside the presents, the tree, the candy cane, all the goodies, the reindeer, the Christmas movies, the warm fireplace, the stockings, the songs....you name it....Christmas is all about our brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. How great was the event of his birth almost 2012 years ago. It was such a great event that is the median of time...when we started counting the years, and there’s something special about that. One thing that Edwin said when I asked them if they were ready for Christmas is, “this year will be a lot better than the last because it will be one that is centered more on Christ.” Christ gives us a point to live, a reason to be truly happy, especially this time of year. I know that He is our Savior and that He lives. Remember that this Christmas. Edwin and Mercedes both gave powerful testimonies after. Well I’ll just leave it at that...because I’LL TALK TO YOU TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think what were gonna do is I’m going to have you guys call me at the office phone at around 5:00 pm my time, or 3pm your time (I think).  If for whatever reason you haven’t called by that time, I’ll just call you...and yes, it’s still 40 min. haha. I’m super excited to talk to you guys though and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Elder Ward



Edwin and Mercedes Baptism on Dec 24th





The Office Crew



New Assignment!!

Hey surprise! 

Haha, I know, really weird that I’m writing on Saturday right? Well, I'll give you a hint: I had changes this week and it’s honestly nothing that I expected. You might be as surprised as I was when I found out but I got assigned to be the mission financier (or financiero). Haha, I still don’t really know how I feel about it. That means that I’m serving in the mission office now. Want to know something else super crazy? My comp´s name is Elder Ward. Haha, he is from Centerville, Utah, he’s a gringo as I’m sure you can figure out, and he’s training me to be the financier right now. Basically, I’m going to be in charge of absolutely all of the finances of the mission, and have to manage all of our accounts. We also work a lot with President Monestel, the AP´s, and the two other secretaries to plan activities (the Christmas multi-zone activity is keeping us SUPER busy right now). Haha, basically its a pretty drastic change. I went from the hot dusty roads of Ciudad Sandino to an air conditioned office, McDonalds and Subway for lunch, a super big expensive house, hot showers, and doing pretty different work.

I think the Lord wants me to learn something really important here. To be honest with you, I did NOT want to have changes this time, especially because I was just really starting to love my area. Also, Edwin and Mercedes are getting baptized the 24th.  I’m also not a big fan of sitting in an office or in the car all day.  Our goal is to get to the field to proselyte at like 4pm every day, but we’ve been leaving at about 6 pm these first couple of days. In a way, I feel good about this new assignment just because you have to be a good missionary that President, and the Lord for that matter, trust to be able to be in the office.  President sat me down and told me that my success here wouldn’t exactly be measured by how well I have everything organized here in the office, but by how many families I baptized, so it’s going to be a super busy couple of changes. I guess what I continue to learn is that this is the Lord’s work and not mine. So if this is where He wants me to be, I’ll do it, and I’ll do it the best I can.

But still, I don’t know anything about accounting or anything like that! Haha, I’m feeling a little inadequate because it’s such a big responsibility, but I already feel that the Lord is helping me. The first day here I was so anxious to get out to the field to work and when we did I just prayed that the Lord would let us have success in the little time we had. We were walking up the street and this guy comes up and says, "Hey, this woman wants to know more about your church." Elder Ward and I were pretty surprised, but she invited us to her house in that very instant. Turns out that there are like 3 houses of people and about 8 of them came out to listen to us and they are all super stoked to go to church. Anyways, it was pretty awesome how the Lord just dropped them on our lap...and I know that He will help us even more to baptize since He understands that we’re busy doing other things.

So today (Saturday) is P-day for the office, just so you guys know for the future. The cool thing is that we can go anywhere we want for P-day. We went to the zoo today which was actually way awesome. The guys from the office are all super cool, and you learn a lot from them cuz they’re all really good missionaries. It was awesome at the zoo…we were looking at this huge jaguar when it came up and turned around and peed backwards in Elder Call’s face. Also, as we were leaving, a huge swarm of bees came and a bunch entered the car so we were all freaking out. Luckily none of us got stung. This morning we played volleyball for the first time in my mission and I SUCK! But it was way fun!

Anyways, I’m having a lot of fun here but it’s SO BUSY and the time flies. It’s been really cool to work so closely with President Monestel and to be able to be around his family and stuff. He really is an amazing man and he’s so devoted to the work of the Lord. Elder Ward is a really cool guy too. To differentiate between the two of us, I’m “The Good Elder Ward” and he’s “The Bad Elder Ward”. It’s kinda funny because President Monestel started that as a joke.

Anyways, I’ve written a bunch already and I could write more but that’s what’s been going on this week. I’m super excited to talk to you guys next week! The cool thing is that we have a phone here in the office that makes international calls, so I think that I’ll be calling you guys from that on Sunday. I’m sure that it’ll be in the afternoon sometime. I think I’ll probably be able to e-mail you guys again when I have a better idea. By the way, I’ll be able to read what ever you guys e-mail me back so please e-mail! I want to hear from you! I miss you guys a bunch and I hope that you’re thinking about Jesus this Christmas!

Love,
Elder Ward

Elder Leiva and Elder Ward

An Action Packed Week!

Elder Leiva, Elder Ward, and Elder Pace

December 12,2011

Hello Beloved Family!!!!

Just so you guys know, this might be the most action packed letter that you’ve gotten for a while, so hold on to your seats. I feel like I say this every week but I feel like this week is the week that I’ve learned the most in my whole mission.

On Tuesday, we did divisions with 2 returned missionaries from the ward who are super awesome. One of them was the AP in Guatemala and another was a ZL in Taylor McBride´s mission. Haha…even said he knows Taylor and they did divisions once or something. His name’s Alex Cruz if you wanted to mention that to Taylor. Anyways, we’ve been helping out the ward a lot so we decided to spend a whole day just looking for less active families (to give you an idea there are more than 1000 people on the records of our ward but usually about 150 attend church). It turned out being an awesome day and we found new people to teach that are part of part member families. Also, we had a super powerful lesson with Edwin and Mercedes who FINALLY ACCEPTED A BAPTISMAL DATE!!!!!!! for the 24th of this month. More about that in a second...

¿Quien causa tanta alregria?...la concepción de Maria!" That’s the phrase I heard about a million times on Wednesday. It’s a national holiday that’s a mix between the whore of all the earth and halloween. It’s called la Purisima. Everyone sets up like these shrine things with the virgin Maria in the middle (the mother of all of Nicaragua supposedly) and the whole world make huge lines to come and sing to her because the people from the house give you free stuff (candy, juice, sugar cane, you name it). I realized just how lost the world is and how grateful I am that we have the gospel. Elder Leiva and I, just to joke around started saying "Quien causa tanta alegría?...¡¡¡¡La Gran Apostasía!!!!

This Saturday we got a call from Edwin, who never calls us, saying that he needed to talk, but not in his house. He came to the church building with a preoccupied look and we sat down in the baptismal font room. He just started to break down crying...which isn’t something you see very often (a grown man that works construction start bawling). He went on to tell us that his mom has a bad illness that she’s dying from, that he doesn’t have enough money to pay for the exams, and to tell us about all the trials that he has passed through in his life. He said that he was just about to go accept an illegal job to pay for the medical tests of his mom and then go smoke and drink to forget about it, but he felt prompted to call us. It’s amazing how the Lord knows His children and sends His angels to help. Earlier that morning, I was doing sit ups when I felt prompted to text Edwin to encourage him not to smoke that day. Next, when I was studying the Book of Mormon later on...a random talk from the April Conference Edition Ensign kept popping into my head, so I read it. Its called ¨More Than Conquerors Through Him That Loved Us".  Anyways, Edwin said that the text made him think to call us and I feel like what I studied is EXACTLY what he needed to hear. We had the most spiritual lesson I’ve ever had in my mission. He asked, "Why do I have to suffer so much if I’m just trying to do what’s right?"

We read this scripture together:

6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

The Spirit was so strong as we promised him that if he persisted and gave his trials to Christ that He would lift his burdens and that he would have an ETERNAL reward for all that he suffers now. We gave him a blessing in which the Lord made many promises to him. All in all, it was a super spiritual experience that I can’t even explain, and if there’s one thing I know, its that our Savior loves us and knows us and our Father in Heaven as well, and that whatever suffering we have in this life will be paid for in the next.

I love you guys so bunch and I can’t wait to talk to you soon! I think I’m going to have you guys call a members cell phone or something. I’ll give you the number next week but I think the 25th would be the best probably like at 2 or so...I’ll give you more details though. We haven’t found out yet if I have changes but I think one of us definitely will.  Keep being good and Ava keep a look out for my clothes! haha

Love,

Elder Ward

Elder Leiva, Elder Ward, and Elder Pace

Back in Action!!

Hey hey pajarillos!!!!!!!!

Elder Ward was back in action this week! Mom, don’t worry.  I took all of my antibiotics and kept my sores clean, everything healed up pretty good. Now I just got to get rid of my parasites and the allergies I still have all over my body... I think I’m going to do that today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel kind of lame that I can’t do anything for you guys on your birthdays. I’ve never even sent a package from here or anything but the mail is pretty lame here. But Ava, I love you so much and I can’t believe that you are so big now!!!! I want to see the picture that you drew of me in the jungle. I miss you so much and whenever I show people the pictures of my family they say, "How cute!!!!!!!! Look at her beautiful hair and eyes!" because nobody here has blue eyes or blonde hair. But I love you so much and I can’t wait to call you on Christmas!

So, this week...we had a meeting with all the Zone Leaders and President. It was a super good council and he told us that he only wants us to baptize FAMILIAS! which is pretty cool, because it’s so much more special when you baptize a family, but we have to work our butts off.

To be honest with you, this week has been difficult. That family that I told you about last week had a problem with the members they were living with and moved. The worst was that they would be baptized this week. Another guy named Lenin that we found this week was SUPER positive. He was so happy to hear the message of the Restoration and accepted a date to be baptized but we came back the next day and they said that the owner kicked him out of the house. I’ve learned a couple things from that. One, the most important is that they heard the gospel, and that we may not have the privilege of baptizing them, but we did what the Lord wanted us to. Second, sometimes passing through a trial has much more value for us personally, than having success in our efforts, and the Lord recognizes that much better than we do.

I found a lot of comfort in reading...Alma 8 I think it is, when Alma, a missionary who went from baptizing millions ran into a tough area where they spit on him and rejected his word. The same angel that appeared at the time of his conversion appeared to him and told him to go back...and that’s what the Lord did for me this week. On Saturday night, I let Satan get the best of me. I was just disanimated and tired, and felt like we weren’t having any success. Miraculously, Edwin and Mercedez, who weren’t really progressing, came to church. We went and visited them last night and they’re progressing a ton now. So keep them in your prayers please.

Well, I gotta go because Joey wrote me this week and I’m going to respond back by e mail, but just know that I love you guys a bunch!! Think of this: what are you guys going to give to Jesus Christ this month? I know that Christ is our Savior, and the Prince of Peace, so enjoy that peace this month. LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Ward

Mom, yes I bought baptismal pants and like 5 pairs of underwear... And Dad, that’s awesome that you saw my area [on Google Earth]. Our area is actually where the capilla [chapel] is in Zona 8. I’ll try to explain the rest next week. Haha.

Elder Ward and Elder Pace (a friend from AZ)

Elder Ward and Elder Pace serving in the same zone together.

Thanksgiving in the Hospital

On Thanksgiving day we received an e-mail from Trevor's mission president's wife (in Spanish) informing us that Trevor had been in the hospital since Tuesday with a skin infection and was receiving intravenous antibiotics.  She said he was in good spirits and that he is a very obedient and hard-working missionary and a great leader.  They expected that he would be released from the hospital on Friday.  Here is Trevor's account of his hospital stay.  Warning:  It is a little graphic!

Hey Family!

Well, I was kind of wondering what kind of e-mails I would be getting from you guys today, and I guessed right. Hahaha. First of all, I’m ok, and you guys don’t need to worry too much. I guess I’ll just talk about that because that’s basically all that happened this week....

So...about like two weeks ago this bump appeared on my leg and I thought it was just like an ingrown hair or something. (By the way, this story is really graphic.)  Soon after, another similar bump appeared on my butt like in between the two cheeks. I didn’t really pay much attention to them until they started growing and started to hurt. I called the mission nurse (who, I hate to say it, doesn’t help a whole lot) and he said he would call the mission doctor to set up an appt with a dermatologist. Well long story short, he never got back to me. I was in a lot of pain, and tried to self doctor myself, but figured that I'd just have to tough it out until it went away.

The good news was that last week Elder Amado came to our mission, from the Quorum of 70, and we had a SUPER spiritual conference with him. I felt super pumped up spiritually after, but my body felt crappy. When we got home I felt like throwing up, my butt hurt more than ever, and I had another huge lump, and I had a fever. I crashed on my bed and in the mean time Elder Leiva had made a few calls. He woke me up and said, "Were going to the hospital", which kinda surprised me, but we went. We went to emergency and they made me show them all the spots. My favorite part is when they squeezed the bump on my butt like a zit so the puss would come out. OUCH!!

Anywayssss....they told me the infection specialist came and they told me that they’d have to hospitalize me for 3 days...3 DAYS!!!! I guess I couldn’t argue with that. The weirdest part is that I was there alone the whole time. On Wednesday morning the nice nurse came in, gave me a towel to shower with, and I took a heavenly hot shower (the hospital is actually super nice). Then I put on a cool blue hospital gown and reclined in my fancy bed in my Maternity Ward Suite, and they brought me breakfast in bed: pancakes and syrup...I thought hmmm...this couldn’t be too bad. That’s when Señor Mustache and a short fat doctor came in. They injected anesthesia in my butt and cut me open to get all the puss out...fun stuff. My underwear got super soaked in blood so they gave me a man diaper to wear all day...

Anyways...making the story shorter, the first day was SUPER boring because I didn’t have scriptures or anything with me. I read the whole Mission handbook, made oragami, took a nap, and that’s when President and Hermana Monestel came at night and they actually tried to call you guys with me right there, but you weren’t home.  President said something to me that actually made me feel a little better. He said, "Elder, I wouldn’t say this to a lot of missionaries, but since you’re a good missionary, I think the Lord is giving you a time to rest." I’m not going to lie, I did feel a little homesick and a little lonely, but the amazing thing was that I think I felt closer to the Lord maybe more than I ever have in my mission. I had a LOT of time to reflect on my mission, my life, my relationship with the Lord, and what I was truly grateful for. I think what I really narrowed it down to was Jesus Christ and his Atonement....I think I came to understand that a little more this week. It also made me appreciate the opportunity that I have to teach the gospel. Haha, I even joked with the nutritionist lady that came to ask what I wanted to eat. I asked if they had turkey and had to explain what Thanksgiving was. I ate lots of good food though, got really rested, and had lots of time to read, ponder, and pray. I was constantly hooked up to antibiotics though because what I had is called MRSA...which is supposedly a really serious skin infection that’s resistant to most antibiotics. I’m fine now, I just have to put bandages on my ankle and butt and take antibiotics every 4 hours.

I’ll save the story of the other one for when I get home (nothing serious happened, its just gross) By the way, I left on Friday like Hermana Monestel had mentioned.

Its kinda weird being back working now, there’s been days where I’ve said, I miss the hospital...I think I realized just how tough being a missionary can be after sitting in a nice air conditioned room with nice food, hot showers, and all that good stuff. But what I do have to say is, it’s worth it. I know that the sacrifices we make in this life for the Lord will be more than compensated in the next and that we will have treasures in heaven.

Quick story...remember that miracle family I told you about? Maybe I did...I can’t remember. Well we’re teaching this girl named Cindy who’s 17 and her husband is a member. She’s super Evangelical and her family wants her to get baptized with them in that church. We’ve been using our most powerful weapon with her quite a bit (the Book of Mormon). The awesome thing is that last night she told us that she got her answer and has a baptismal date for the 10th of December!

Anyways...I miss you guys a bunch. I’m glad you had a good thanksgiving and I’m so thankful that you’re my family. Don’t worry about me because I’m in the Lord’s hands.

Love,

Elder Ward

PS Mom I’m going to try to go to the distribution center here tomorrow to buy baptismal pants, so I’ll let you know next week if I could or not. Thanks!

Be the Best You Can Be

Dearest Ward Clan,

Man, I love reading your guys’ letters! It’s truly amazing that we can be in two different parts of the world and have similar spiritual experiences. I’ll respond to some of your thoughts with some of the experiences I’ve had this week.

To start the week we had interviews with President Monestel. It’s always a super spiritual experience and I think for me it made me really reflect on my mission and what more the Lord expects of me. It got me really fired up to just be the best that I can be so I’ve been trying really hard to be the best that I can in every way.  This week more than ever I’ve felt the pressure of being a Zone Leader. We’ve been trying so hard to give the elders in our zone good examples, teach them true principles, animate them, train them, and love them. I’m gonna let you guys in on a sad secret. I think everyone would imagine that all missionaries, considering that they’re representatives of Jesus Christ, are obedient or mostly obedient, and everything is just fine and dandy. Unfortunately, there are very few in this mission that are like that. Connor and Collin, decide right now that you will give the Lord your all in your missions because there are many called but few are chosen. We found out this week that there are problems with obedience with the majority of missionaries in our zone. Elders with girlfriends, elders with extra cell phones, elders that don’t work, elders that leave the zone to go have fun, and just a bunch of stuff. These past couple of days have been super crazy, but somehow I’ve found peace in having to make a bunch of decisions with many of the elders. I’ve had to ask the Lord for a lot of help and it’s truly amazing how He’s guided me in everything that I’ve done.  I was reading Mosiah 2 this week and I was amazed by the love that King Benjamin had for his people. In his last moments of life he took it upon himself to talk to his people 1. because he loved God and his fellowmen and 2. so that he himself could be clean from his sins. I’ve learned that all that we can do is be the very best that we can so that we can tell the Lord that we did all we could.

That ties in to another experience that we had this week. We’ve been working hard to find new families to teach and baptize but haven’t been seeing very many fruits. We were kinda bummed because we didn’t have anyone in church when all of a sudden a family of members walked in with 3 people, a family and another guy. They just came from another city and were already taught by the missionaries. The member said, “hey elders, I brought some investigators to church for you. They’re basically just ready to get baptized.” We have an appt with them tonight so we’re pretty stoked. Honestly, sometimes we feel like our obedience and our diligence isn’t paying off but the Lord always has peculiar ways of blessing us.

Last night I spent the night in Elder Pace’s area. He’s had some real tough times with his comp who is having emergency changes tomorrow which is a long story, but it was fun to be able to just hang out and talk about how much the mission has really truly changed our lives. We reminisced about the times we used to hang out in front of Wallace Theater in 7th grade and where we are now, in the heart of Nicaragua preaching about Jesus Christ. Sorry, don’t have much time left but just know this week that I’m so grateful for you guys and for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Tell grandma I said happy birthday too!!!!!!

Love,

Elder Ward

PS...I really don’t know what else I’d want for Christmas....one idea, don’t know how you’d do it but what I’d love is like a little folder or binder of pictures that I could use to teach from all the principles of PMG...but don’t worry if that’s too big of a hassle  cuz I could make it too.

MARIO AND JUNIETH GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!



Elder Ward and Elder Leiva



Dear family,

Man, this was such an awesome week! For me and for you guys. Mom and Dad, I’m glad that you guys enjoyed your trip, not that I’m trunky or anything but I’m already thinking of some of the fun things I want you guys to experience in Nicaragua...eating cow heart (had it this week, and didn’t like it), getting cool rashes (which got worse this week but now I’m taking these pills that the mission nurse told me to take), and other cool stuff. Haha. By the way, Collin, that’s dumb that BJ said that... I’m sure that you’re an awesome setter. Just know that it couldn’t have ended worst than my championship game did when I got hit in the face on an overpass.... You’ll get over it… its just volleyball.

This week was full of victories...one night this week we were coming home (the 4 of us) when the kids on our street were like, “Hey chele, lets play futbol!” and I thought...nahh, we need to plan, but we agreed anyway. Long story short, we killed ‘em 5 to 3 and the WHOLE street came out to watch. Everyone was like, hey the Mormons are playing soccer!!!! The best was that we had agreed that the team who lost had to do pushups in the middle of the street. All of the neighbors counted as they did their pushups and it was a good time.



Mario and Junieth's Baptism

 MARIO AND JUNIETH GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!! Honestly, it truly is amazing to see how the power of the Atonement can change people’s lives. Mario used to fight with his wife all the time, hardly ever smiled, didn’t ever look up at us to talk to us, and just wasn’t a very happy person. All I know is that he pretty much had an Alma the Younger conversion. He used to be a gang member and President Monestel had to come interview him, so I imagine that he had some pretty heavy repenting to do. It brought so much joy being able to see his face when he walked out of the interview and President said that yes he could be baptized.  It’s amazing because there is a different light about them both now, and they have changed completely. The cool thing is that Junieth asked him (President Monestel) if he would be there for their baptism and he said that he would be busy. About 20 minutes before the baptism he texted us saying that he was coming so it was cool that he came too.

I’m really starting to love this area...the members, our investigators, our recent converts, the other missionaries...to answer your question, Dad, unfortunately we haven’t been able to visit Edwin and Mercedes much because they’ve been sick but we’re hoping to be able to this week.

I realized how much I miss volleyball this week. I don’t think I had even touched a volleyball up until this week. A bunch of little girls were playing in front of where we eat so I taught them how to play. We got up to 24 hits with them! But it’s worth it to be here as one of the Lord’s missionaries in Nicaragua. Anyways, miss you guys a bunch and I love you so much!!!!! I’ll keep praying for you and you keep praying for me :)

Love,

Elder Ward

Mario and Junieth's Wedding

PS. Mom, I thought of a few things I might like.
-the memory that you sent me is full so maybe another memory stick thing
-outdoor volleyball for P Days
-stuff i said before like underwear, ties, socks
-memory card for camera (if it’s not too expensive)
-pair of shorts (like volleyball shorts)
-another journal
-I know that whatever you send will be good




A Miracle Happened This Week




P-day with my zone ( I am in the very back on the left)

  Hey mom and dad!

Man...fachentos (“rich people” in Nicaragua), you guys are in Hawaii... I’m glad that you guys are getting to spend some time together there. And the rain and the bugs sound just about how Nicaragua is. Haha. It sounds like life has been super crazy lately but I’m glad everything is going well. By the way, we only have an hour to write now instead of 1.15 so I gotta make this kinda quick.

On Wednesday we had changes meeting. It was way sweet because I ran into Collin Pace and I’ve hardly seen him at all. We were sitting next to each other and when they got to where he was going they said Xiloa which is an area in our zone!!!!!!!! We were both super stoked because we go to the same church building and everything on Sundays. So that was kinda cool. We went fishing and had a picnic at the lake in his area. 

To answer your question before I forget, my toe is better...but the bad thing is that I think I have allergies to something in our room so I have a bunch of red bumps all over my body but I’m taking Benadryl which has helped a little. 

This week a miracle happened. I was reading an article this week called faith precedes miracles. I loved it because it gave examples like when Noah started to build his ark there wasn’t a cloud in the sky... Anyways...I’ve been thinking a lot lately about who we were going to baptize this month. Long story short, I don’t know if you remember Mario and Junieth, the family that makes piñatas that split up? Well I never really wanted to give up hope on them and Elder Leiva and I prayed that the Lord would work a miracle and get them back together. This Saturday we saw them walking in the street together and I just got the happiest feeling ever... I couldn’t believe it! We went to go visit them last night and they immediately asked if they could still get married (which they didn’t want much to do with before) and baptized (which was kind of a surprise) I learned that sometimes we have to hit rock bottom, feel a true godly sorrow like Alma the Younger did, to be able to come back up. We are so STOKED that they will get married and baptized this Saturday.

We had a lesson with Edwin and Mercedes that really built my testimony too. Edwin basically just broke down and told us how difficult his whole life had been (mom is dying, his little son is really sick, he’s not getting paid enough, his dad tried to kill him when he was younger, he’s addicted to cigarettes...the list goes on...) and he said its just not fair that he has had to go through all that. We talked a lot about the Atonement, and read a little bit of the story of Job. Even though he had such a horrible life, he knew that he would see God in his resurrected body. It made me really think that no matter what we go through here, the Lord ALWAYS has something a millions times better if we are faithful. It felt good to be able to explain that to him.

This weekend has also been kinda crazy with the elections. Lets just say it’s not like the States... There is a ton of corruption with the voting process too. The former president won again so it looks like Nicaragua continues to go down the drain. There was a drunk guy in the street dancing like a maniac so I took a picture with him. It was pretty awesome.

Anyways... I miss you guys a bunch and I love you lots. Just know that I’m super happy here in the mission and I know that this gospel is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. 

Love your son,

Elder Ward

Lessons Learned This Week: Diligence and Cut your Toenails Good

Hey Fam!

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!! It feels kind of lame not being able to do anything for you, Mom, but just know that I love you a whole bunch and that you’re still the best mom in the whole world! It’s kind of weird to think that you’ve had two birthdays since I’ve been in the mission. Also, Happy Halloween to everyone! Haha!  Halloween in Nicaragua is pretty funny. It doesn’t really exist but they’ve heard about it so a few select people dress up in costumes but that’s about it. A few people have asked me what we do in the States and they sound weirded out when I tell them that we go door to door in costumes asking for candy...  It is kinda weird honestly.

This week has been a pretty rough one but at the same time a good one. I think that the Lord sometimes just lets us have hard weeks on the mission so that we can learn and grow. This morning I had an especially great experience. I think I told you guys that I had a pretty gnarly ingrown toenail that was all inflamed and pus was coming out and stuff... Anyways, I decided that I should probably go get it taken care of. We went to a foot clinic in the morning and the asesino (assassin) of a doctor comes and asks if we had an appointment.  I told him no, and he just plopped me down in a seat and demanded that I take my shoe off. I didn’t even have time to think or pray or do anything. He put a little but of anesthetic on my toe for like two seconds which didn’t help at all and then cut a little sliver in my nail. He than got a metal tool and just started digging my toenail out and WOW did it hurt. The worst is when he went really deep into my toe to excavate the 6th toenail I had in there. It was nuts how far it had gone into my toe. Anyways...cut your toenails good everyone.

I’ve learned a lot about diligence this week. The Lord wants us to be faithful at all times and to keep working in His vineyard even when we’re not seeing fruits. This week we contacted A BUNCH to try and find new people to teach but the majority of the people we talked to just didn’t want anything but we’ll find ‘em. J Unfortunately, we weren’t able to baptize Edwin and Mercedes... They are really struggling with giving up smoking and coffee but I know that the Lord will help them struggle through it and that we’ll baptize them this month.

This week we spent a lot of time up in trees. We did service for Silvia and for one of the investigators of the other Elders this week. It was actually pretty fun climbing up there and just hacking at the branches with machetes. Silvia continues to amaze me with her faith. We found her crying one night this week because her ex husband told her that he didn’t ever want to see her again and that he wouldn’t give her money for food and stuff. The Lord has heard her prayers though and she’s starting to see a lot of the blessings of her baptism.

Anyways...sorry I don’t have much to write about this week. This week is going to be super crazy because the elections are going on but don’t worry, we’ve got God on our side. I love you guys a bunch and keep being good!

Love,

Elder Ward

PS. Mom, I honestly haven’t thought a lot about what I’d want for Christmas.... mainly socks and ties...just like some snacks and stuff, anti-itch cream, batteries, and anything else you can think of. Thanks! Oh, and maybe another memory card for my camera but I don’t know because it hasn’t been working lately. It turns on fine and stuff but it says that the memory is like protected and I can’t take pictures or anything. I’m going to try and fix it today. Thanks!

This week was.....MIRACULOUS!!

Dear Ward Family,

Man, I just get so happy when I read your guys letters! It’s good to know that I have a barbaric (they use that to say awesome or cool here) family that I love so much. I guess I’ll start out by telling Ava good job in the primary program! That is one of the most important truths that we have, if not the most important and it is something I say almost every day. I just say "Nuestro Padre Celestial y su Hijo, Jesucristo, se le aparacieron a Jose Smith.¨ Collin, I imagine that you’re super good at volleyball now and keep dominating. Connor, congrats that you’re going to the temple man! I miss the temple so bad, so live it up! Just one piece of advice, don’t stress too much and just listen to the Spirit. Mom, I love the BOM so much too. I started something about 2 weeks ago and I think I’ll do it for the rest of my mission. I’ve started walking around with a BOM in my hand all day every day and its amazing how it has strengthened my testimony and the testimony of others already. Congrats for finishing and keep reading! If you wanna try something different, read together and mark 4 different things in 4 different colors: 1. Every time that there is a reference to Jesus Christ 2. The words of Jesus Christ 3. The attributes of Jesus Christ 4. Important principles and doctrines from the Book of Mormon. It’s awesome!  Dad, thanks for reminding me of some of my duties that I have as a missionary and for always making me want to do better.

Alright...this week was...miraculous. Remember Silvia? Well, on Monday night we had a family night with her and her sister Araceli who is a recent convert. We had finished everything and Elder Leiva and I both felt really strongly that we should challenge her to be baptized THIS weekend. It was a huge jump of faith for her, having to leave her husband and start her new life so soon but she said yes! She was so happy this weekend and her baptism was amazing. I love her so much and she has taught me a bunch. First of all, because she is in a wheelchair but she plays wheelchair basketball and can do cool tricks and stuff with her chair. Also, because she has fought to raise her son basically by herself and had enough faith to leave her husband that she had been with for 12 years, not knowing how everything would go financially and stuff. She bore a sweet testimony in her baptism and shared that it doesn’t matter how big the sacrifice is if its for the Lord because He will always bless us with more. She is going to be an awesome member.

We’ve been teaching a family named Edwin and Mercedes in these past couple of weeks. We’ve hardly even taught them anything but we went to go visit them with the members on Wednesday and had an awesome family night with them. On Thursday night we went over and taught the lesson of the restoration. The Spirit was super strong and they listened really attentively. It was a long shot but we put a baptismal date for this Saturday the 29th and they said yes! It’s amazing how the Spirit touches peoples hearts and how beautiful and simple our message is. Please pray for this family cuz we’re going to baptize them. :)

What else...today we played soccer and baseball and it was super legit. We just had to have a little discussion with the kids that were feeding their horses their to tell them to move. Also...I hit a ball on to a guy’s tin roof off a foul ball. He was NOT happy when I went to go ask for it. This week are the elections for who’s going to be the president. Let me just tell you that I’m glad that I live in the US because the elections are INSANE here. What other random things...Also this is the last week of transfers and I can’t believe how fast it went.

I have so much more to write about but I’ve gotta wrap it up. To answer your question mom, I don’t even want to talk about that. Let’s just say that I’m wearing dirty underwear right now. The girl that washes our clothes is....let’s just say that she’s not going to be washing our clothes next week. Somehow I don’t have hardly any socks anymore, I don’t have as many underwear any more, I lost my baptismal pants and tie a while back, and I think I’m good with shirts. Haha I’m sorta getting good with using the washboard things they have here. Umm...but yeah give me some time to think about the Christmas thing cuz right now I don’t know. But I will definitely be needing underwear and socks and stuff.

Les amo un montón y sean felizes! Tambien, no sean caballos. jaja no entienden, solo papá. Son bromas sobre el caballo.

Love,

Elder Ward 

I Love This Work!

Dearest family,

Freeeaaakk, I don’t know why but your letters really made me miss you guys this week. I don’t know if it was because half of it talked about volleyball, or if I just miss being with my fam. But don’t worry, I still got my head in the mission. I don’t want to think too much about the end of my mission but I think that would be really sweet if you guys came to pick me up. Our president does allow that and I know that the parents that do come really enjoy it. You’re gonna cry though so just prepare yourself. Anyways...I think that would be awesome. I would recommend going to stay in San Juan del Sur before coming to get me haha. Anyways...we’ll talk more about that in a year.

Listen, I may have a GPS (gallo pinto stomach) and I may not be able to jump to save my life, but just so you know the real champ is gonna be there for the volleyball tournament next year so get ready right now. I’m glad that you guys got to go do that even though I’m jealous.

What’s new in Sandino? Welllllll a bunch of stuff happened this week. I’ll just give you guys the highlights. We baptized 3 people this weekend (one is a lady named Maria who is super awesome, and two kids named Tonio and Kevin (9 and 11). Maria is super humble and loves the gospel so much. Tonio and Kevin are dead set on being missionaries and come from a family of like 20 people. It was an awesome day and we were stoked.

It’s amazing how some people are just ready to hear the gospel. When we went to go visit Kevin and Tonio like 2 weeks ago this guy named Edwin and his wife Mercedes just took out seats and sat down to listen to us without us even saying anything. This week we had a super awesome experience with them. Edwin told us that he’s been smoking for 27 yrs and has tried everything to stop and can’t. His wife is also super addicted to coffee. There was a strong spirit as we talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and that through it they could repent of their sins. They went to church this week and loved it. We’re hoping to baptize them at the end of this month.

This week we were out in the boondocks of our area and we passed by a humble tin house. Four little girls waved to us and I felt like we should stop and talk to them. They came running up to us super excited and the littlest one came and hugged my leg. I asked where their parents were, considering that the oldest was like 11. They all said, “in heaven”. They went on to explain that they lived alone in their little house and that their aunt just came to visit and gives them money every now and then for food. They told us that they were members and went before their parents died in an accident. It really touched my heart to see them at church on Sunday with big smiles on their faces, also the fact that they knew where there parents were....and honestly I just felt so much love for them.

Wow this is a lot but anyways...remember when I wrote about Silivia (the woman in a wheelchair that’s super awesome but that just can’t get baptized because she’s not married). Well last night we just stopped by to say hi when she told us that she got an answer to her prayers. Her drunk husband came home on Saturday with lipstick all over his mouth and that she decided it was about time to leave him. She’s gonna get baptized on the 29th!!!!!!!

Anyways...this week has been crazy. There have been a lot of problems with elders in our zone this week and I think I’m learning what its like to be a parent with 14 kids, but I can’t help but love them as I try to help them to be better missionaries. I love this work and I know that this church is true. I miss you guys and pray for you often. BE HAPPY!

Love,

Elder Ward

Families are blessed and healed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Dearest Ward Family,

HEY!!!!!!!!!! What’s up guys? It sounds like this week has been another crazy one for everyone. Man...I’m so jealous that you guys are gonna go play in a volleyball tournament. I think I’ve touched a volleyball once in my mission. But it’s worth it. Mom, just wanted to say that you have awesome sons because you’re awesome parents. (and were really not that awesome).

Anyways...this week has been another busy one. We’ve been trying super hard to animate and unify our zone and baptize all the people that the Lord has prepared.  One thing that was pretty awesome is that we had a multi zone conference just about the BOM. We had to choose a part from the BOM to make a play about. We chose the 2000 stripling warriors and it was super fun. We all came armed with broom sticks and cardboard swords, bed sheets, ties on our foreheads, machettes, and flip flops (basically whatever a missionary can find in his house in Nicaragua). For some reason I got to be Helaman and had to yell a lot. (lost my voice). But it was fun and we feel like the zone is a lot more unified now.

As for our investigators...ahhh...I don’t know why this happens always, but the Lord has His reasons. One day we went to go visit Mario and he was MAD when we showed up. He had a bloody gash on his leg and explained where it was from. Turns out that he argued with his wife, hit her, and she stabbed him in the leg. Soo...the family that we love so much and had been working with split up. She took her things and left. It was interesting because just the day before that I felt prompted to read Ether 12:34-35 to him and explained that if he doesn’t have charity he’s going to lose all that he loves. Once again my testimony that families are blessed and healed by the gospel of Jesus Christ was strengthened.

We’re working with a couple of other people right now that are close to baptism so we’re excited. Things have been kinda crazy here because they’re giving 3 areas of our zone to the North Mission this next week, so we’re trying to get all that figured out.

I think that’s pretty much all I got for this week...just a random side note, you guys gotta come ride the buses in Managua sometime. THEYRE NUTS! It’s kind of a bad nickname but they’re known as "fornibuses" by the missionaries cuz they just pack like a 100 people in there and drive 80 mph on little roads. Anyways...just a random question, are you guys really thinking about coming to pick me up after….just out of curiosity.

Love you guys a whole bunch and keep being good! Also, do awesome in volleyball this weekend and just enjoy it!

Love,

Elder Ward

Hulk, Pinatas, Getting Drenched in the Rain-"I Love Being a Missionary!"

¿¿¿¿¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡NEW ZEALAND?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?????????????!?!?!?!?!?!

Dude! That’s so freaking awesome! Man, I’m so stoked for you Connor! That will be such a sweet mission and I’m so stoked that you’re going to be going on your mission really soon. Like Brent said, it really doesn’t matter where you go, the mission will change your life and you will love the people wherever you go. It’s just too bad that you’re not going to the best mission in the world though :-). Just a little bit of council… Satan is going to do everything he can to ¨unprepare¨ you for your mission. Don’t let him do it. Dive into the study of the BOM and PMG, learn to love people more, and be a missionary now. If it’s possible, do divisions with the missionaries. I love you a ton bro and congrats! Sorry that I couldn’t be there.

Well...this week I find myself in better condition. Wow, last Monday sucked, for lack of a better explanation, but I received a priesthood blessing and was only sick for that day and the next morning. Honestly, it’s been a busy two weeks here with lots of changes, but I love it. To answer your questions the house is alright, we have a regular shower and toilet and stuff which is always good (just no hot water). We eat with a really awesome member family with the other two missionaries. Ciudad Sandino is SUPER hot, but I’m already getting used to it luckily. All in all I love the area.

Well...here come a few random stories. The other day we were walking on a little dirt road by a bunch of tin houses when we pass by a little kid. In the instant that he saw us he jumped up and screamed ¡hermanos, hermanos, o que bueno que vinieron¡ (brothers, brothers, its good that you came!) We were a little taken aback, like maybe someone in the house was dying and needed a blessing or something. He then went on to explain that he had been waiting in front of his house for days so that the elders would pass by (turns out he’s a member). I wondered just what it could be that he needed so bad. He went on to explain that his toy Hulk was stuck on the roof of his tin house and that he’d been trying for weeks to get it. It was a modern day sandlot story. I stood on a plastic chair then boosted him up and we got the Hulk doll. After that he shouted with joy, ¨MI HULK, MI HULK, MI HULK!!!!!´ and gave it a big hug. It made me think that there are some people, whether they know it are not, that have a missing hulk doll in their lives, and are just waiting for the missionaries (that means members too) to come and pull them down.

Turns out that I’m not so good at making piñatas. We are teaching a way cool family named Mario and Junieth that the other elders left us, and they tried to teach me how to make piñatas and its hard! Anyways...I love them to death but they are like another Anabel and Milton because they have lots of problems in their relationship and don’t want to get married. It’s amazing how small and simple things can change our family relationships.  We are also teaching a lady named Silvia that is SUPER legit. She has a wheelchair and has a stronger testimony than lots of members. She has gone to church like 30 times and knows the BOM, you name it. She just doesn’t know if she wants to get married or get separated from her husband but we’re working towards baptism with her.

Conference was SUPER awesome. I honestly don’t know what I liked the most but I think that it was Elder Holland’s talk in the priesthood session. I too am so grateful that we have living prophets today that lead us and guide us. It makes me feel like my job is even that much more important. In between the morning and afternoon session on Sunday we got absolutely DRENCHED in the rain. Usually I would be kinda bummed but I just couldn’t help but smile and think I love being a missionary.

And it’s true, I love it. I continue to learn more and more everyday and I feel the pressure of being the leader of 20 missionaries, but I know that the Lord is helping me as I go. I miss you guys a ton, and Connor, get ready for the time of your life! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!

Love,

Elder Ward

I am now in Ciudad Sandino

September 26, 2011

Hey fam!

Man, a lot sure is going on at home. I’m super stoked for my little bro and that he’s gonna get his mission call. I’m also excited for all of the great things that everyone is doing. I hate to say it but this letter might be kinda short. I think sometimes the hump days are some of the hardest. I’ll start with the bad news and then give you the good. We went to go play soccer early in the morning and I really wasn’t feeling well. I’ve thrown up about 4 times today, have diarrhea, a fever that got up to 103.7 and just feel like crap. So, I’m here writing you from a member’s computer so you guys don’t worry too much.

I feel like the Lord is really testing me and giving me opportunities to learn and grow. To answer your question dad, it was really difficult saying goodbye to everyone, especially Anabel and Milton. We all cried together and they thanked me for all that I had done for them and their relationship`. Anyways...here I am now in a place called Ciudad Sandino. I love it here and we’ve got lots of potential to baptize here......well something interesting just happened. I threw up and had diarrhea at the same time. NOT fun! Anyways the members here are way pilas (helpful?) and we’re teaching some cool people. The thing that is nuts though is that they took out both of the elders that were here before so we’re still a little bit lost.

My comp is Elder Leiva from Guatemala. He’s a super good missionary and works really hard. With respect to my new assignment, I’m zone leader 1 now which basically means that everything falls upon my head if things aren’t going well haha. Anyways...it’s been tough because I hardly know anyone in the zone and it seems like there are a bunch of missionaries that aren’t as obedient. I actually did divisions with Elder Rosa (my trainer) which was pretty cool...but I’m sure the Lord will teach me a lot this change, even if it’s by trials.

I’d love to write more, but I’m gonna go be sick some more. I’m super duper stoked for you though Con man.  My comp thinks you are going to Los Angeles, California, and I think that you’re going to Guatemala...well that’s kind of what I hope because missions in Central America are the best. Anyways....sorry this letter is so lame. I’ll give you a better update next week and don’t worry about me too much because the Lord has me in good hands.

Love you a bunch and enjoy conference this weekend!

Love,

Elder Ward

"I'm gonna get baptized because it makes Jesus happy"

September 19, 2011

Hey Fam!!!!!

Man, what the heck is goin on over there...Connor is goin on a mission, Collin is driving and likes girls and stuff, Aubrey cooks and sews, and Ava goes to school for 7 hours a day?! Nuts. I guess things do change quite a bit in a year. Duuude that’s so awesome that Connor put his papers in!!! I can’t tell you my guess of where he’s goin yet, but give me some time to think about it.

So, I was just told a little while ago that I have changes on Wednesday. Kinda weird considering that I’m used to being in an area for about 7 and a half months, haha. I have mixed feelings about leaving. I think I really will miss this area, not because we baptized a bunch of people but because I feel like I really converted myself here. Never in my life had I been so humbled and had to trust in the Lord as much as I had to here in San Marcos. The cool thing is that we ended up baptizing four people this Saturday: Margarita and her daughter Celinda and also Xiomara (15) and Geral (10). It’s pretty amazing how the Lord just put them in our path because as of about 2 weeks ago they didn’t have any plans of getting baptized. It was a sweet day especially because our zone and the Zona Jinotepe had a baptism together in the stake center. 8 of the 9 companionships had baptisms and it was so cool to see the smile on all of their faces.

That was a good end to a week that has been NUTS!  This week we had independence day for Central America and basically everyone and their dog comes out in the street to watch every one of the school bands perform...it was pretty legit. I spent the night in three different areas because everyone had baptismal interviews that they needed to be done. I’m super glad that Guatemalans are really small. I was with Elder Coyoy and we didn’t know we’d be spending the night, so we didn’t have keys. We had to take the glass out of their super tiny bathroom window and somehow he got in. I had another interesting experience with a little 9 yr old girl that I interviewed this week. She said that she was really nervous about getting baptized but towards the end she exclaimed happily, “I’m gonna get baptized because it makes Jesus happy!” She also tried to tell me that with tithing we should pay more than 1 cordoba if we have 10. She said that “we should probably pay like 5, cuz Jesus gives us everything.” Imagine if everyone had that attitude...

Anyways, I can’t begin to tell you about all the awesome experiences I had this week but one thing I’ve thought about a lot this week is the law of consecration. Anyone can go sit in the chapel for a couple of hours on Sunday, lots of people can get up and give a nicely worded testimony, almost any 19-26 yr old person can go serve a mission, but those that will have a spot in the kingdom of our Father are those that give everything to the Lord. By the way dad, loved those scriptures...I happened to read Ether 12 this week.

Anyways...that’s all I got for right now. I’ll be sure to write you guys and let you know how the new area is and everything. I love you guys a bunch and be happy!

Love,

Elder Ward

The Lord Truly Works in Strange Ways

Hoy mi querida familia!

Wow, I love my family! As I read your letters right now I felt a sweet spirit and a feeling of gratitude for the family that the Lord has given me. Dad, I’m so glad that you’ve been having success in your business, and I’m even more glad that you all recognize that as a blessing from the Lord. Right now I’m reading in Mormon in the Book of Mormon where the Nephites destroy themselves...just remember not to fall into the pride cycle because even the most faithful of us do it sometimes. I’m so stoked for you Connor that you’re going to turn your papers in! Prepare yourself for the best experience of your whole life...and start preparing yourself NOW. Make yourself into a tool that the Lord can use in any situation. Collin, that’s legit that you got your blessing and that you’re progressing so much spiritually! Remember that the blessings that are stated in it will only be received according to your faithfulness. Also, I got the other package, Mom, with the pictures of the fam, and Aubrey and Ava look like grown women!!! Mom, just so you know, we have such a great family because of your example and your faithfulness. I just want to thank you Mom and Dad for living faithfully and for making the decision to start an eternal family years ago.

The Lord truly works in strange ways. The Lord keeps giving us opportunities to be tested and tried and we’ve been working hard to be able to baptize this month. Oddly enough, the people we didn’t even plan on baptizing at the beginning of the month are the ones that will get baptized this week. One is Carlos, the guy I talked about last week. He is so humble and basically when we got to his house he said he wanted to get married and be baptized. I love how strong his faith is. He said, “Honestly elders, I have a big problem with drinking coffee (he works nightshifts driving an ambulance), but if that’s what He (the Lord) wants to be done, it will be done (to not drink it).” The rest of his family was inactive but they’re all coming to church now. A miracle happened this week because he has to get divorced which usually takes 2 months (huge bummer)...but we prayed a ton that the Lord would prepare a way and He did...we got permission to go all the way to Masaya (my old area) to go get a marriage certificate. Long story short...the last names on his ID and the certificate are different and the lawyer says that his old marriage is technically invalid!!!!!!!! It truly was a little miracle that the Lord blessed us with.

The other is a woman named Francis and her daughter. She showed up to church all by herself two weeks ago and had gone before that. She told us that she never really believed in the church until she took our challenge to pray. She said that she kept thinking about James 1:5 and that she prayed with all the faith in her and later felt a burning in her chest and started to cry. It was amazing to be able to tell her that that was an answer from the Lord. Her little daughter is 9 and reminds me a lot of my sisters. She LOVES saying prayers and they’re almost as good as Ava´s.

Anways...I can’t really talk about all that’s going on right now but the Lord has been blessing us over here too. I love being a missionary. Anyways...random story...this week we were walking and a bus passed by and one of our recent converts (teenage girl) and all of her friends were in it. They all said ¨¡adios elderes!¨ I turned to look and my backpack got caught on a nail on a big telephone pole and I basically just got stuck there like a moron. Everyone in the street thought that was pretty hilarious, especially E. Mejia. Haha. Anyways...I love you guys a bunch and I love this gospel! Stay sweet.

Love,

Elder Ward

PS – Mom, I got the other package and the boots are SICK!!!!!!!!!! They’re a little different than the ones I had. I gave the other ones to E. Mejia and he was way stoked so it was double good. Thanks for the food and posters and all that too. It’s perfect! Love you!

THEY KNOW NOT WHERE TO FIND IT

Hey fam!!!

How’s it goin guys? I’m super jealous that you guys are in California playing volleyball, going to the beach, and all that stuff. We played soccer today against a bunch of the Nica kids and my whole body hurts, haha! I guess I’ll tell you guys a little bit about my week.

On Tuesday we had a meeting for all of the zone leaders. It was pretty sweet because President took us up to this mountain and we had the meeting there. We ate a really fancy lunch and he gave us time to go walk around in the woods/jungle. It was nice to get away for a little bit.  This week I’ve been thinking a lot about what we need to do to change our results as a zone and in our area. One thing that I kept feeling and thinking is that the Lord is preparing people for us to teach and baptize and that we just need to find them. My testimony, that people are just ¨kept from the truth because they know not where to find it¨, grew this week. One day we were looking for a referral that someone gave and after getting like 3 different directions we ended up talking to a lady that was mending clothes in front of her house. She told us that she had gone to church like 6 times and had read the whole Book of Mormon and that she has friends that are members. We were like… why did this lady not get baptized?!?!?! Also, one of the members gave us a referral of a family where only the wife is a member and they really want to get married and the husband wants to get baptized. I know that the Lord loves His children and wants all of them to know that Jesus Christ is their Savior. Are you guys looking for His sons and daughters that he’s preparing? Jesus Christ asked Pedro three times, “Peter, do you love me?”, and I think like any of us would answer, “yes, yes I love you Lord”, but the Lord goes on to say “feed my sheep”. If we truly love the Lord, we should always be looking to feed His sheep. In other words, be missionaries! Invite someone to FHE, to church, bring them an Ensign, invite them to watch a church movie, do something more.

Anyways...I’ll get off my soap box now. I just know that our family will be blessed even more if we do those things. I’m trying to think if there’s anything else.....I GOT MY PACKAGES!!!! Thanks big time mom. I got the debit card, all the candy and stuff, and one shoe. Aubrey and Ava look super different in the pictures! Haha…hopefully the other shoe comes pretty soon.

Anyways, I miss you guys a bunch and I’m glad that you’re doing well. Sorry that this letter is so boring. Hopefully I’ll have some better stuff to write next week. Love you all!

Love,

Elder Ward

P.S.  Right now we have a ridiculous amount of people that have gone to church and are progressing that just need to get baptized, so I know that this will be a good month.

I'm a Disciple of Jesus Christ

Hey fam!!!!

Man, you guys had a lot goin on this week! It was good to hear from you, like always. Connor, congrats for receiving el Sacerdocio de Melquisedec. Just remember the quote from Spiderman, ¨with great power comes great responsibility.¨ It truly is a blessing to hold the very same power that Jesus Christ used to create innumerable universes and that God himself used to create us. That power is one of the very key things that makes our church the true one. That’s awesome that you went to the temple and stuff too. I wish I could’ve gone with you guys.

Today I’ve got 11 months in the mission. Almost done! haha jk. This week was a good one. I stopped my pointless whining and realized that no matter what the circumstances are, I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ and will keep serving Him. On Tuesday night we opened up the church and shared a ten minute message with a whole bunch of young kids and then they played soccer. I think we’re going to play with them tomorrow.

This week my testimony of the Book of Mormon was strengthened quite a bit. Unfortunately one of the families we are teaching (Denis and Yira, the soccer player and his wife) read just about all the material you can find about anti-mormonism. Right when we sat down they fired off accusations about Joseph Smith, polygamy, the Book of Mormon, garments, the temple, they even said that we worship idols because we have a pure gold Angel Moroni on one of our temples. I thought, wowwww...I’m gonna have to talk about all this stuff?!?! But I thought for a second, and the Spirit told me what to say. “Listen, I could answer every one of those questions that you have, OR I can ask you one question that will resolve all your doubts...have you prayed to ask that the Book of Mormon is true?” They couldn’t really say anything from there, because really if the Book of Mormon is true, then everything that we believe in is too. I love that book!  It really does have all the answers.

Yesterday Milton showed up to church with a white shirt and tie and a smile on his face. It was pretty awesome to see that. He already had his interview to receive the priesthood yesterday. This week we went to go teach a family that is super humble and awesome. That didn’t even have chairs to offer us, and as we sat there in the dirt talking about eternal families there was a sweet spirit. There’s nothing more rich than knowing that we can live together with our families and with our Heavenly Father again.

A new month is starting and we’ve got a lot of hope for September. We’re teaching lots of awesome people and we’re going at it with even more motivation after the things we’ve suffered lately. Thank you, guys, for being examples to me and for your words of encouragement. I miss you guys a bunch and love you a bunch too!

Love,

Elder Ward