It's Gonna Be Hard to Get Me to Leave

Dear Family,

Happy Anniversary!!! Dad, you’re right, one of the many things I have learned on my mission is the importance of our families. I don’t think I ever REALLY appreciated that sealing power, but now I know that it is truly amazing. I’m so grateful that our family will be together forever.

Well...you guys are coming to Nicaragua THIS WEEK. NUTS!!! It’s really weird because I feel like you guys are coming to visit my country instead of you coming to take me back to mine. You might want to bring some handcuffs because it’s gonna be hard to get me to leave. I’ll talk more about that in a sec, for now I’ll share some experiences from this week.

Tuesday afternoon was pretty slow. All of our appointments had fallen and we weren’t quite sure what to do (that’s when your plan A, B, C, and D all fall) so we started to contact. We went walking by what I would say competes for the humblest home in our area. There was a slightly gorda woman lying down on a wood pallet that she used as a bed with a very skinny, dirty-faced girl. She smiled and let us come in...her situation touched my heart. She had NOTHING. A blanket, a bucket, some sticks to make a fire to cook if there was any food, a couple items of clothes and her flip flops. We asked if we could help her with anything and she ashamedly confessed that she didn’t have soap to wash the little girl’s clothes. We went to the nearest pulpería (that’s what the little stores in people’s houses are called) and bought her soap that cost 50 cents. We came back, gave it to her, and she just started crying. She said that two minutes before that she had prayed asking God that somehow she could have soap. God loves His children...how different the world would be if everyone could just understand that one principle.

Other story….did divisions this week with the Zone Leaders. We went to go visit a family that they’re teaching that has really had some hard times. The husband is unemployed and they are having a hard time just to get food for their two daughters. We were in the middle of talking about why the Lord allows us to have trials when he started speaking to me in English (used to live in the states). He said that he was so desperate that he even had thoughts of hanging himself. I bore a simple testimony of the Atonement and Jesus Christ’s plan. He said, "I guess I am still supposed to be here because the tree branch snapped when I put the rope around it”. Sorry, I know that’s kind of disturbing, but my point is that Christ will carry our burdens, and I felt good leaving that lesson knowing that we could set a lost sailor on his course again.

Alright...I feel like I’m going to just make everyone cry. To lighten it up a bit…this week Elder Comfort was running away from the dog that lives by our house named Persa. He tried to fake her out or something but turned the wrong way and the dog totally took his legs out. He FLEW. You had to be there but we laughed for a long about that.

Ana and Adonis are so awesome. They love the church and complete every commitment that we give them. President has to interview Adonis on Tuesday so we’re praying that everything goes well so they can be baptized this weekend.

Mom, to answer your questions you can just bring some old vans...it doesn’t matter much to me. I’m a size 36 waist now so...JK haha…I’m still the same size, so you can just bring whatever size 32 pants. Maybe you can bring a new razor head too. I’ll give you the details next Monday, but you have to be at the church in Reparto San Juan before 9:00 am on Wednesday. The address of the church is "de la rotonda universitaria 1 cuadra al sur y 1 cuadra al este". I’m super excited for you guys to come and we’re gonna have an awesome time!

Also, I didn’t end up going to San Juan del Sur today :) but you guys will like it there. Welp...see you in Nicaragua!!!

Love,

Elder Ward
 

Finish My Course With Joy

Ramon's Baptism

Dearest Familia,

I’m not going to lie it feels really weird knowing that I have very little time left to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary. I don’t want to focus too much on that but, just to get it out of the way, here is my response to your encouragement to "finish strong":

Elder Ward, Elder Comfort and their District

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Just trying to finish my course with joy :) And this week has been a very joyful one. Let me start off with an interesting story...We had an appointment to go and visit a family that was a referral from the members. The husband’s sister just passed away about a week ago and we knew that it was going to be a good experience. We came to the door and the wife told us to come in. That’s when a crazy old woman, who appeared to be unhappy that we were there from the very first sight, came up and said in English, "Do you know what really pisses me off??? That you guys can come to my country but that I can’t go to yours!" Elder Comfort and I were pretty shocked. She went on to explain how the US government (and when she referred to the govt. she said "you guys") had taken away everything she had, had tried to kill her, etc. When she finally gave us a chance to talk I explained that even though we were from the United States and Canada (go figure) we were representing Jesus Christ and that our purpose was simply to help people like her that had had hard times to come closer to Him. Well...no matter what we said she was COMPLETELY convinced that we were spies from the govt. and that we were there to ruin her life. A taxi came up from behind us and our potential investigator asked us to help take the food in that they brought from the market. As we went to grab the sacks of food the crazy lady grabbed our arms and told us not to touch the food. It was a crazy experience but I feel like the Spirit really helped us to know what to say. We kind of just laughed about if afterwards. We still call each other "Agent Comfort and Agent Ward" every now and then.

Elder Ward, Ramon, Elder Comfort

We had a baptism this Saturday! Haha…I don’t even think I told you guys that we were going to have one but our investigator, Ramon, got baptized. He’s a really good guy and had a tough past so it’s really cool to see how the Lord has changed him. He even showed up to church with a white shirt and tie yesterday and looked like a stud. I’ll send some pics. Our whole zone is pretty excited because everyone is starting to see that this isn’t really the "No Baptizing Zone".

Ana and Adonis are so golden. I love that family so much and they have an unbelievable amount of faith. They came to church yesterday and LOVED it. The members came and welcomed them, including the bishop. They are super excited about getting married. They read the BOM every day and they said that they know it’s true. When we taught them about the Word of Wisdom they said, "Well...we drink coffee every day but it looks like we’re not going to do that anymore." And that was the end of that haha. Adonis even said that he doesn’t want to go back to the military because he wants time to be with his family and go to church. They even asked us what they have to wear to their baptism and at what time it’s going to be at in two weeks haha.

I’ve taken some time to think about them along with the other amazing people that have changed my life on my mission and I’m so grateful for their examples of faith. After seeing miracles like that it’s impossible to not know that this is the true church and that Jesus Christ lives. I’ve come to realize that what was at one point a belief for me has turned into a sure knowledge. THAT is what should motivate all of us to finish strong.

Question? What day are you guys coming again? Haha because I think our zone is going to San Juan del Sur next Monday. I’m pretty sure you won’t be there yet (which is probably good) but maybe I’ll leave you a note in the sand or something. I was gonna ask if you could maybe bring a pair of tennis shoes for me and some jeans (mine don’t really fit anymore). Anyways...I love you guys a ton and I’m super stoked for you to come!!! In the meantime...still going strong.

Love,

Elder Ward

Never too old for a crown at Burger King!

 

Elder Ward and Elder Comfort (Jinotepe)

 

Elder Chacaj & Elder Ward in Granada

 

It's Gonna Be Really Hard to Leave This Place!

Dear Familia,

Hola mi querida madre! Parece que has estado practicando tu español para venir a Nicaragua. Esooo!! (Hi, my dear mother. It appears that you have been practicing your Spanish so that you can come to Nicaragua.) I can’t believe I made it out alive of that crazy earthquake this week! JK...There was an earthquake this week but as far as I know nobody was harmed. They evacuated a lot of people because of a tsunami alert in Puerto Sandino but other than that it wasn’t a huge deal. It was nuts though. I was sitting their studying when I started to feel really dizzy. I realized that I wasn’t dizzy but the whole house was swaying back and forth!!!! Also, we haven’t been affected by the volcano erupting but there is a lot of talk about it.

To answer your questions:

1. The North Mission office is pretty close to where we will be so it really wouldn’t be a problem to drop those things off.

2. I feel like those things are perfect to bring. I was thinking that maybe you guys could bring some old white shirts as well if you’ve got any that no one is using.

3. As for me...my shirts are destroyed except for like 3 so maybe just like one white shirt to wear home...I really don’t need much though I’m going home...haha

4. I think that you and dad would really like Ometepe. You can take a car over on the ferry for pretty cheap. I really had fun there. There are museums, nature hike type things, I think there are kayak tours, and it’s just a cool place to be.

This week the Lord truly has done miracles in our area. Dad, you’re quote pretty much sums it all up. We’ve been being obedient and working hard so I think he had to bless us some time or another. We’re teaching a family named Armando and Angela who are super awesome. Armando is very humble and really, really wants to be baptized. He loves everything that we teach him and says that he feels like his life is changing. Angela was a Jehovah’s Witness for about 20 yrs. She listens intently when we come and I think she is slowly realizing that all the terrible things she’s heard about our church aren’t true. She has a lot of strong roots from her other church but we’re leaving it up to the Book of Mormon to help her find out the church is true. They went to church on Sunday!

Remember Ana, the girl we walked back to go contact? Well, her companion’s name is Adonis and it turns out that he went to church when he was 15 and was almost baptized. The first night we taught them together they accepted a baptismal date for the 29th and are so freakin awesome! They have such a strong desire to have a happy family and last night when we were teaching them they said, "When we get baptized we have to get married before right?" So they’re pretty much good to go. We’re having FHE in a member’s house with them tonight.

So many awesome things...I’ve felt so happy this week just knowing that we’re doing the Lord’s work and helping people come unto Christ. I think it’s gonna be really tough to leave this place behind. But in the mean time...I’ve got about 3 1/2 more weeks to go and we’ve got some people to baptize! :)

I can’t say it enough but I love our Savior and His gospel. By the way, thanks for the pics. They’re hilarious. I love you guys and don’t get too trunky! :)

 

Love,

 

Elder Ward

 

Nobody Else Can Do It

HEY!!!!

I hate to start with this as well but at some point of this week I realized that I have about a month left of my mission. I think I’ve mentioned this before but it made me think about Jesus Christ and the last month/week of his life. I imagine that sometimes He felt weary at times, but nonetheless thought, "Well, it’s time to finish strong." I feel like this week I got to take a couple of steps in the Garden of Gethsemane. I’ll talk about that in a sec.

It’s funny that we’re going to Canada on our trip because Elder Comfort and I always joke around and talk about how dumb the United States/Canada is. We argue about how to say words like "bag", "pasta", "tomorrow", and I usually make a comment or two about hockey being the only sport. It’s really all just friendly but I said out loud just now, "What the heck, we’re going to Canada?!?!" Elder Comfort said, "That’s awesome!" At the same time that I said "That sucks!". Good thing we won’t be there for too long. ;) I’m really starting to love the kid. That’s awesome that Mitt Romney is doing so well...to be honest with you nobody ever talks about that here. The big news here this week was who won the soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real Madrid won if you guys wanted to know. I haven’t been very inclined to exercise either on my mission but, like you two haha, I’ve been rockin the work out sessions. I don’t know what’s harder...trying to figure out ways to exercise without any kind of weights or doing the actual exercise. (Elder Comfort woke up to me bicep curling two metal chairs once).

Anyways...back to what I mentioned earlier. I read something in Preach My Gosepl this week that really got me. It’s a quote from Dallin H. Oaks, "Nobody else can do it." If I decide to "give up" now that means that nobody else is going to do the work that the Lord wants me to do. So...despite our seemingly fruitless efforts we kept working. Every time we see a family we contact them, and it finally paid off in these last couple days. On Saturday we had an awesome lesson with a family whose handicapped son came and grabbed my hand as we went walking by his house. If that’s not a miracle, I don’t know what is. Just one of God’s angels who by simply leading us to his house may have completed the most important mission he was sent here to do. Another story…. we were walking down one of the main streets in our area...and I remember just being a little down in the dumps because we weren’t finding anyone to teach. We walked past a humble tin house and through the crack between the sheet metal door and a wooden post I saw a young woman quickly glance at us. We walked about 4 more blocks but the woman stayed in my mind. One voice told me..."Go back, this is a prompting from the Spirit." Another told me, "You’re four blocks away already and she probably doesn’t want anything like everyone else that lives here." We turned around and a different lady came to the door. She said that she already went to a church and wasn’t interested and paused..."but my daughter-in-law doesn’t go to any church." We had a lesson with her last night, Ana, and she accepted a baptismal date and is super excited about coming to church. I thought about that afterwards. How many little decisions do we make every day that determine our eternal destiny or the eternal destiny of another person. Lesson learned: make the right decision.

This morning we went to Managua so that I could get my ingrown toenail out (for like the 5th time). We went to Burger King for breakfast right after. Even though I’m finishing my mission, I’m still not too old to ask for a crown from Burger King. I’m super happy here and I know that we’re doing what the Lord wants.

I don’t like to think about this much but I’m just trying to plan a couple things for when you guys come. On Wednesday, I was just thinking that after the changes meeting, which ends at like 12:30pm, President will probably invite us to lunch with the other missionaries that are leaving (like from 1-2:30) and then I thought that it would be easiest to just go visit some converts from my office area since it’s right there. President always invites the missionaries and their families to his house at around 7 for like a little goodbye thing (don’t know if you’d want to go to that or something else). Thursday and Friday are pretty much open. I`d like to go to Masaya, Ciudad Sandino, and possibly Jinotepe to visit people from the areas I served in. I figured that we could maybe do like two or three touristy things like: 1. Cerro Negro 2. Las Isletas de Granada 3. Market in Masaya (that we can do when we go to Masaya) 4. Volcan Masaya 5. Whatever else you can think of. So just be thinking about what you guys want might to do the most or talk to Elder Pace’s family to see what they liked the most...Just let me know what you’re thinking.

Also, we’re doing a presentation and I need a huge favor. I need a couple pictures from when I was younger (I remember one where I have my Easter suit on and the car keys which is awesome) and just pictures of some things I did before the mission. I need them for next Monday.

Anyways....I love you guys a bunch and excited to see you sort of soon. But for now...I’ll be on the Lord’s errand. :)

Love,

Elder Ward