Last P-day in Masaya

Elder Ward at San Juan Del Sur



HEYYY FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we’re going to have to make this a quick one because, unfortunately, today’s been a busy day. We went to a place called San Juan del Sur today which is probably the nicest beach in Nicaragua. WOW!  It was such a temptation to go in the water. What made it worse is that I think the waves they have there are some of the best I’ve ever seen, and yes, there were a bunch of people surfing out there.  It was an awesome last P Day with La Zona Masaya though. I’m FRIED too.  That’s not so awesome.

Anyways, that’s right, I have changes. I don’t even really know what to think. I don’t really know anything else besides Masaya on the mission. I’m excited but I’m REALLY going to miss the people that I met here.  There are a lot of truly amazing people here that have changed my life and I love them as if they were my family. It’s going to be tough saying goodbye to everyone tomorrow but it feels good to leave knowing that I did all the Lord wanted me to do here. Don’t know where I’m going yet but there’s rumors going around that [crazy things could happen].  It will definitely be another adventure. Whatever happens I think the Lord wants me to learn and grow even more. Ire y hare lo que el Señor me mande. [I will go and do what the Lord commands.]

Man!  Now Grandma Peart too?  Well, the Lord tests those that He loves and I know that if I know any two people that have faith in Jesus Christ they’re my grandmothers.  A quick story that might help us to be patient and have faith in these trials.  Remember the familia Chavarria? Well they’re still doing awesome, going to church and all that, but one person in their family isn’t a member. Her name’s Evi and she really doesn’t want much with the church. Her sister, Hna Elizabeth, was telling us one day that she had a brain tumor and that an operation was scheduled and she asked us if we could giver her a blessing. Evi had the faith just to say ¨yes¨, or ¨si¨, and we gave her a blessing. I didn’t think much about it after but this Sunday Hna Elizabeth came running up to me and said IT’S A MIRACLE! Turns out that she went to go have a check up and there was nothing!  The doctors couldn’t explain it but the tumor was just gone. She went to other doctors and they were all amazed.  I don’t know if the Lord will miraculously take away grandmas’ sicknesses but I do know that He lives and that He still performs miracles.
This weekend we baptized Gilma.  It was a sweet day and a sweet way to end my experience in Masaya. I  love you guys so much and good luck with everything that’s going on. Keep praying for me and you know I’ll keep praying for you guys. 

Baptism of Gilma



Love a super whole bunch,

Elder Ward



Waves at San Juan Del Sur.....TEMPTING!

More of San Juan Del Sur



One Pretty Sweet Week

HEYYYYY!!!



What’s up guys? That’s nuts that you guys got to see me this week! Haha, I was a little confused when I read that first line that said that you guys saw me. I thought you had come to Nicaragua without telling me or something. That video is pretty sweet though huh? (Trevor’s mission has a blog and there was video on it made by his zone)





Zona Masaya

  





First of all, I just want to say Happy Father's day dad! I hate to say it but I totally forgot about that. Well, not really, but all the holidays are different over here so I got confused. But I just want to say thank you for being an awesome dad. The other day we were talking to a guy named Julio whose family just went to the temple and who hasn’t gone to church for a while. We were talking about how the role of being a father is the most important one that he has and will ever have. I told him that I was where I am today thanks to a lot of the things you’ve taught me. Love you dad.



Welllll, this week was a pretty sweet one. This week on Saturday we married a guy named Marvin to his wife Gilma. Marvin is a returned missionary and Gilma is the first investigator I ever had in Nicaragua. She always wanted to get baptized but Marvin, the ingrate, didn’t want to get married. It’s crazy how the Lord touches people’s hearts and that even the vilest of sinners can change. Gilma is getting baptized this Saturday so we’re pretty stoked! Haha, also I let Marvin borrow my suit which is hilarious cuz he’s pretty short. Looked a little baggy.

Yesterday, I gave a talk on the role that the members have in missionary work. I shared the story about Joey and Sister Dell'Oso and how much joy that brought to our lives. Basically, to be able to do missionary work a member needs to have three things. 1. The desire 2. Divine help 3. To know how to do it. The members are so important in this work, and I know that the day when every member does their part in missionary work will be the day that missionary work will be at its best. I encourage you guys to pray for missionary opportunities and to be bold enough to invite friends and neighbors to come unto Christ. Remember that OUR eternal salvation depends on it too.

We had a super sweet family night out in the boondocks on Saturday night with two families that we’re teaching. We acted out parts of Chapter 3 and 4 of 1 Nefi (yep that’s Spanish). It was fun to watch the little kids act out their parts, and I still think I have a bump on my head from where Anthony (or Nephi) chopped my head off with his sword (my umbrella).

Well, it looks like this is my last week in Masaya. I’m really, really going to miss this place. I’m ready for a change but I was thinking about all that has happened here and I have grown a lot in this place. I love being a missionary so much and I love this gospel. I love you guys so much and I’m stoked that we can live together FOREVER!!!!!!!!

Love,

ELDER WARD

PS- Tell Taylor that I love him. (LONG LIVE THE 4 HORSEMEN!) My goal is to finish my mission as well as Elder McBride did.

Elder Ward, Elder Pace (a friend from AZ), and Elder Dimond







Put Your Trust in the Lord

Dearest Family,

Man, I’m not even sure what to think after reading both of your letters. I’m filled with a lot of mixed emotions, part of them happiness because you had an awesome week but at the same time I’m a little shocked by what’s going on with Grandma Ward (she begins chemotherapy this week) and Taylor McBride (who returned home from his mission with a major head injury). Its kinda weird thinking about Utah (mom that just made me really trunky for about 10 seconds when you said that the ski resorts are still open over there) and all the stuff I used to do, but it makes me excited to think about the day when I come back being able to say that I did everything the Lord needed me to do in Nicaragua.

I don’t think anyone can truly comprehend the Atonement of Jesus Christ or the affect that it has in our lives, but I feel like this week I understood just a little bit more. After reading this letter it makes me realize just how much our Savior Jesus Christ means to us. This week we went to go visit one of our recent converts, Felix Vegas (one of our grandparents), and we found him slumped in his old rocking chair.  The life seemed to be sucked out of him. His eyes didn’t light up as they usually do whenever we come and we realized something was wrong. He told us that his son had died and that his wife (Hermana Rosita) was in the hospital. The Spirit was so strong as we talked about the Atonement and the Plan of Salvation with him. It felt good to promise him that he could see his son again.

We tried to go back and find him a couple of more times that week with no success. Little did we know, he was having a pretty tough week with all that was going on. Yesterday, we came rolling in to church and there he was sitting with the bishop. As I started to talk to him he just started to cry. He told us about how hard his week had been and that he had left his son’s funeral to be able to come to church and feel the love of the Savior. That really got me. How many of us would go to church after a week of pure misery, knowing that’s where we could receive comfort. After church we went to visit Hermana Rosita in the hospital with all of the relief society. We walked in and she had her normal cheery smile on her face. We had been informed that she still didn’t know about the sudden death of her son and all thought, well, maybe that’s why she’s so happy. We sang a few hymns with her and the Spirit was super strong. She said that she was feeling better and knew that Jesus Christ had been there to help her along the way. She also asked, with tears in her eyes, that we would pray for her son who passed away. It was amazing to see the love of the relief society and we talked to her about the Savior and his wonderful plan. The Spirit was so strong and I think everyone was in tears. She gave a powerful testimony and there was no doubt in her voice when she said that she knew she could see her son again and that the Lord loved her. It was amazing to see that as we were leaving there was pure joy on her face, a pure joy that comes from knowing that she has a Savior that loves her and knows her.

I can’t really put the whole experience in words but it was amazing to see the faith of this old couple who have only been members for about 2 months now. They let their tests and trials strengthen their testimony of the Savior and they put all their trust in him in their trials. To grandma Ward and Taylor McBride, put your trust in Him. One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 7:11-13. He knows EXACTLY how to comfort us because he has already been through it. I’ll keep you in my prayers and thanks for being good examples for me always.

This week we found the most awesome family I’ve ever met. They’ve had tons of problems in the past, personally and in their family, and they are just so ready to hear the gospel. We taught them the restoration last night and when we asked them what they were feeling they said, ¨well, I know its true.¨ They accepted a baptismal date and the husband gave a powerful prayer to end the lesson, in which he said, ¨please help us to be members of your true church.¨ AWESOME!

Other random things....I removed my ingrown toenail this morning. I just bit down on a sock and went for it. You can call me Dr. Ward from now on. I had a root beer two days ago. It was like pure gold in my mouth. I’m ready to have changes but I’m really, really going to miss this ward and the people here. Mom, if you could maybe send me some of that bed head gel that would be way awesome. Anyways, everything is going good. We’re hoping to baptize the mom of Donald and Freddy this weekend and we had a lot of investigators in church so that was sweet. I love you guys a bunch and keep enjoying life!

Love,

Elder Ward

PS: Random question….I know you said that you guys wanted to possibly pick me up after my mission in Nicaragua. Is that still a plan? Haha. I’m not trunky or anything, just wondering if I should buy a machete now or later.



I Love This Work!

Dear Family Mas Salvage,

Man, I sure miss you guys. On Tuesday night as we walked through a neighborhood with dirt roads, spotted with tin and plastic houses, getting drenched in the rain, I took a step back from reality for a second and realized how crazy it is that I’m in Nicaragua serving the Lord for two years. I feel like I learn more and more every week and this week I learned a lot.

It was kinda weird because I read the story about Connor (selling pest control door-to-door) and I couldn’t help but think about a lot of the days I’ve had on the mission. We basically started out this week, and this month, with not very many investigators and not the same excitement we had the last month. Sunday I had a day that was pretty similar to Connors. Nobody was home to teach and just about everyone rejected us. On Tuesday we did an activity in the zone where we all did divisions and went to a different area in our zone. That morning I pleaded with the Lord that He would allow us to be instruments in His hands and find the people that are prepared to hear the message. Tuesday turned out being such an awesome day. We ended up finding 30 new investigators and 7 new families that day. Connor, learn from the times that you’re going through right now because it’s the preparation that the Lord wants you to have for your mission. Everyone has their hard days but the Lord always blesses us with success when we’ve learned our lesson.

On Thursday night we went to talk to a girl named Milena who has been an investigator ever since I’ve been here basically and has just NEVER wanted to get baptized. We talked to her with the young women’s president but she still just said that she didn’t want to, maybe next year. We were pretty bummed.  On Friday night, we went by the church to see if a few investigators went to mutual. We were surprised when she ran up to us to tell us that she wanted to be baptized on Saturday! It seriously was a miracle. As I thought about what made the difference, I realized that it wasn’t necessarily all the lessons we had with her but from the influences of all the people in her life. Hermana Marcia (one of our converts and her mom) told us later that she wrote in her journal how much she loved the gospel and that she wanted her daughter (Milena) to let it change her life. All the young men and young women helped her a ton by being her friend, and especially the young women’s president. This week I learned that the organization of the church is truly a revelation from God and how important YM and YW’s programs are.

Anyways, the baptism was awesome and it was another good week, even though it was pretty stressful. I love this work and I love this gospel. I love you guys a bunch and tell all the family in Utah that I said hi!

Love,

Elder Ward