Crazy Week (In a good way)

Whats up family?!

P-day in Granada on Lake Nicaragua

So here I am writing you guys from a cyber in Granada. Its pretty sweet, we got to come hang out with the other zone for p-day today and Granada is super beautiful. One of the pictures I attached is one I took today.

It’s about time that you guys start summer! We’re just getting done with summer over here supposedly. It’s still freakin hot though! But thanks for sending me those pics mom.  It’s so crazy how different everyone looks. Aubrey and Ava are all grown up! Also its weird that Connor just graduated. It really doesn’t seem that long from the day that I graduated. It sounds like you guys are gonna have a way sweet summer too.

This week was definitely a crazy one as far as missionary work goes, but crazy in a good way of course. On Tuesday night I did divisions with Elder Diamond all day and did 14 baptismal interviews. It was seriously so awesome to be able to talk to all those people that were so ready to be baptized. The other elders baptized 10 people on Saturday and we baptized a guy named Rodolfo to complete a family. It was such an awesome experience.  About a month ago, Rodolfo didn’t want anything to do with the church. He was about to get baptized before but couldn’t because he wasn’t married and started drinking heavily again, but through the healing power of the Atonement he changed his life completely. He was so happy this weekend along with their whole family.

The month of May really was a month of miracles and we have big goals for this next month. I’ve spent a lot of time praying and meditating on what we’re going to do to baptize this month and what I’ve felt is that we really need the help of the members. The ward has gotten a lot more excited to do missionary work especially because in all 20 people got baptized this month. It was awesome we didn’t even fit in the church this last Sunday! Anyways, the members are the ones that make all the difference in this work. This week we visited quite a few members, encouraged them to pray for missionary experiences, and to help us find the people that are prepared to accept the gospel. Never forget the responsibility that we have to share the gospel, and that it isn’t just work for full time missionaries. Weekly challenge= pray for missionary experiences this week and give at least one reference to the missionaries.

What else is going on here...I have a sweet ingrown toenail, so we’ll see what I do about that (don’t worry I’ll be ok), anddd...I realized that I have 8 months in the mission already. Time is FLYING! The little kids sang for their moms yesterday on mother’s day. It made me miss you too mom. Today I ate two pineapple pancakes and they were amazing.

Anyways, I love you guys a bunch and just know that I’m happy and pray for us to be able to reach our goal of 8 baptisms this month!

Love,

Elder Ward



Elder Ward & Elder Garcia/Rodolfo's baptism



All you need is LOVE

Hello lovlies,

Man it sounds like quite a lot is going on over there in good ol AZ! It’s crazy how much things have changed in the short time that I’ve been gone. I’m glad to hear that you guys are happy though and that everyone is involved in good things.

I’m sitting hear thinking about what went on this week, and I definitely learned a lot. Here it comes.

To be honest, Monday I was just being pretty lame, feeling a little distraught because I didn’t have changes. Tuesday I went to work with Elder Diamond in his area on divisions. By the way, I don’t think I mentioned this but it started raining here. And when it rains...it RAINS. On Tuesday it just dumped rain, enough to be soaked for the day. It was pretty awesome though. Good thing I got me them batman boots. Anyways, Elder Tax and Elder Diamond have a BUNCH of people that they are teaching and I went to go interview a family of 5 they’ve prepared for baptism. It was such a spiritual experience and was amazing because I felt so much love for them even though I had just met them. They were SO excited to get baptized and their testimonies are so strong.

I asked Elder Diamond what he was doing to have so much success. He said, "We just love the people". I realized that sometimes were so focused on numbers, what other people think, and our own personal desires, that we forget to serve how the Savior did, and with the purpose that he had. Love.

We did divisions for a little bit on Thursday night so that one of the APs could interview our two baptism possibilities. Little did I know that the mission president was working with our Zone Leader and wanted to meet some of the people that would be baptized this weekend. He went to go meet Donald and Freddy, which I didn’t even know about. We had planned to meet at an investigator’s house at 8:30, and when I showed up the president, our ZL, the AP, and my companion were all sitting there teaching our investigators. NUTS! It was pretty cool though and it was a powerful lesson.

Saturday was such an awesome day. I would send pictures but I don’t have my camera cord right now because I let someone borrow it. Pics will be comin soon though. The other elders baptized their family of 5 and we baptized the 2 brothers. I thought about my bros too because Marging (our recent convert that got baptized about 2 months ago and Donald and Freddy’s older brother) baptized his two younger brothers. It was awesome to see how they were examples for one another and how much they love each other. Connor and Collin, love you guys =).

Freddy & Donald Baptized by their brother Marging/Elder Diamond and family that was baptized

Anywaysss...that’s pretty much what’s been goin on. Oh yeah, today we actually cleaned our house (like the way mom would clean it and not a missionary). Mom’s going to kill me for hearing about this, but I had a box with some left over Christmas candy and stuff in it so I took it outside and realized that some ants had made a HUGE nest in it with eggs and the whole deal. It was pretty cool. We played "stomp the ants" (kind of like whack-a-mole) for about 15 minutes. Guess that’s one thing I still gotta learn...cleaning.

Love you guys a whole bunch and have fun finishing school and stuff!

Love,

Elder Ward

Another super busy but awesome week!

Hey family!

Sounds like you guys had another awesome week! It’s crazy that school is ending and all that good stuff. It’s also crazy that everyone is getting married, going on missions, and growing up. Also, it’s probably a miracle that you’re going to the gym dad. Speaking of staying in shape, I think I’m starting to gain some weight from all these rice and beans. Oh well, not trying to impress any of the women here...

Enrique and Vilma's baptism

This week was another super busy one, but in the end it was awesome. We baptized Vilma and Enrique on Saturday and it was so awesome. I love that family so much and it’s amazing to see how much joy the gospel brings to their lives even though they are going through so many trials. They’re already excited to go to the temple in a year! But the baptism and the wedding was awesome. About 50 people showed up from the ward and we had food and everything.

Welp...the zone leaders just announced the changes a little while ago and its looks like I’m going to be here in Masaya for another transfer. To be honest, I’m kind of a little bummed. It’s not very often that a missionary is an area longer than 6 months. I felt like I had done what I needed to here, but apparently the Lord has more work for me here. I’m going to suck it up and keep working though because, like you say Mom, I know the Lord wants me to be here.

We’re going to have two more baptisms this weekend so we’re pretty stoked about that. They’re 2 brothers of a recent convert (Donald and Freddy) and they’re super awesome! We had interviews with President this week and he’s happy with what we’re doing in this zone and stuff. I’m learning a lot about what it takes to be a good leader too.

It was pretty awesome because we brought 4 investigators to church this week and the other elders brought 21! It was pretty nuts. Our gospel principles class was overflowing! Anyways, keep praying for me because I think this transfer is going to be another growing opportunity. Also, mom if you could send me the Conference Ensign that would be awesome! Preferably in English! Anyways, love all of you guys and be the very best that you can be!

Love,

Elder Ward

The Power of Example

Hey again!

Well, unfortunately we got back late from our super p-day and now I have no time to write. But, it was seriously so good to talk to you guys. The 40 minutes went by so stinkin fast though. It was just good to hear about what’s going on in your lives. It sure sounds like things have changed a lot. Mom that’s awesome that you guys did that BOM challenge. I’m learning to love the BOM so much more in the mission! Dad, I was kind of wondering about the Lakers. I got word that there was a chance they could win it again. Oh well...not that important. But yeah, the mission is flying by and there is no time to waist.

A couple quick stories from this week…I learned a little bit about the power of examples, especially in our families. In March we baptized this 20 yr old kid named Marging who is just super awesome, comes to church every Sunday, and is already preparing himself for a mission. He brought his younger brother named Fredi to church the other day, and he already has a baptismal date and everything. He told us that he had read some of the pamphlets that we gave to his brother.  When we asked what interested him the most, he explained to us the whole plan of salvation and how we need to make covenants and ordinances with the Lord to be able to live with him again! We were blown away! The other day he was basically our 3rd companion as we taught the rest of their family. He bore his testimony of baptism, the Savior, and the BOM. It was super powerful!!!

We’re super excited for Vilma and Enrique´s baptism this next Saturday. They are going through a lot of hard times right now but they are gaining a testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what helps us most in our hard times.

Today we went to Catarina, this little town on a mountain above the Lagoon. It was cool because we got to see the Lagoon and the massive lake. We ate really good food as they played Bob Marley music...it was a good time.

Well, unfortunately I already have to go. But I’m so happy, I’m learning so much, and I know that this month is going to be a good one. I’ll let you know how everything goes next Monday. Love you guys!!!!

Love,
Elder Ward



The lagoon at Catarina



The month of miracles

Sorry, no time again. Talk to you next week.

Love,

Elder Ward

  

Bahahahah just kidding...sorry that was the worst letter ever last week. This week I’ve got time so don’t worry. I have a feeling that I’m gong to spoil you a little more because I have to write for the last two weeks. Dad, I’m glad that you’re still alive and it’s weird to think that I’ll be doing the same thing in the pretty near future. That’s crazy about Connor´s job but I think that it’ll be a good job and a good way to prepare for his mission. It’s better than having a girlfriend or something like that because we all know that they just go off and get married and get pregnant :).  I know that working and going to school has prepared me a lot for my mission. Mom, that’s way sweet that you went to women´s conference and stuff and please send me a copy of that talk if you can get one!

As far as calling you guys goes, all I know is that I’m going to be calling you on Sunday and I’m pretty sure that I’m just going to call from that ladies house again. I’m thinking that it’s going to be at around 1 PM, or something like that, which would be about 12 your time. But don’t freak out if it’s not at that time, but I’ll call in the afternoon. I’m super stoked to call though and it’s crazy that I’m already calling again! I’d like to talk to everyone for a little bit if it’s possible.

Soo...what’s been going on with me? Well a lot! My last letter said that I had come closer to the Savior and I’ll explain why. First of all, the month of April was TOUGH. Our mission president said that it was one of the worst as far as baptisms in the history of the mission, unfortunately. But that week was just super tough, and it was hard to be excited about the work. On Friday we did an activity as a zone where EVERYONE did divisions. I was in a different area on Friday and one of the ZLs called me to tell me that Felix (the husband of the Fam. Vegas) had drunk alcohol after a month without drinking. I was super bummed, and that’s an understatement. I just wanted to go back to the house and take a nap or something. But then I thought, NO. I can’t think this way, so I contacted the first person that I saw to keep my mind on the work. Turns out he was a hardcore Catholic and that it was their Catholic holiday so he just straight up rejected us hardcore. After that contact I realized what was happening. I remembered the scripture Mosiah 14:3-5 that talks about how Christ was rejected by men and acquainted with grief. That’s just about what I was feeling that day. I realized that the Lord was permitting me to suffer what Jesus Christ suffered and then my attitude changed. The next morning Elder Lezama, the ZL that did the interview told me that although Felix had drunk that he felt that he truly had repented and that he could be baptized. We basically got everything ready in an hour or so and it was such a happy day. That day I learned, or rather had my testimony strengthened, that the power of the Atonement is real. Christ suffered for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to and I’m so grateful for that.

District Leader Conference (Trevor is on top row third from right. President Monestel is on middle row far left)

This week was also an amazing one. I had a meeting in Managua with all of the District Leaders and we have some pretty big goals for May (the month of miracles). We’ve already seen some of those miracles. We went to visit this woman named Aniyelka and she was super stoked to learn more. We came back the next day and she said that she had prayed and felt that it was ture and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. On Saturday night she told us that she had been telling all of her friends and family that she had found the true church. SWEET! On Friday we did the same activity where we just contacted all day and at night when we were just about to go home an 18 yr old kid comes up on his bike and stops us. He asks if we give classes to people and told us that he had gone to every other church and hadn’t found what he was looking for. It was so cool to be able to explain that a young boy named Joseph Smith was in the same situation and that he DID find the truth. The Lord truly has blessed us with people that are prepared.

We contacted one man this week who left the house a little bit irritated explaining that he believed in God and Jesus Christ and that he didn’t need a church to do that. We started asking him some questions and ended up talking about prayer. He began to speak with emotion and said "I pray all the time and I have received answers from God like four times!!" We thought that that was cool and invited him to pray about our message. He went on to explain that he kneels to pray and everything. Then he surprised us by saying that he prays in his own manner though. As we waited anxiously to hear how it was that he prayed he responded with, "I pray completely naked." It took all that I had not to just die laughing right there.

Anyways...that’s pretty much what has been going on. The work is still stressful sometimes, but it was never supposed to be easy. I know that the Lord will help me with everything. I’m happy though and I know that this month will be a good one. Tell everyone that I said hi and love you guys a bunch! Can’t wait to talk to you next week!

Love,

Elder Ward