Changes meeting was today and we decided to come just to see what happens. Elders Litchfield and Nelson both left the zone: Elder Litchfield now has the temple in his area and Elder Nelson is a new Zone Leader out in Guanacaste. It won´t be the same without them in the zone, but we did get some decent replacements for them. I´m gonna be with Elder Rodriguez for at least another change. I kind of have the feeling we could be together for two more changes...I´m not 100% I could handle that, but we´ll see what happens.
Not a whole lot happened over the week. Just contacting references and trying to keep my companion from forming the habit of spending too much time in people´s houses. If a cita falls through he usually just wants to go to a member´s house to play UNO, and gets a little upset when I say no and have us knocking doors. Keeping animated has been a little rough this last week. However, things are starting to pick up as far as working with the members goes, so there is light at the end of the tunnel afterall. =P
I´ve managed to download a few of the conference talks to my MP3, but with such slow internet connection it´s been kind of a pain. Apparently within the next week you can download the entire conference video, so we´re going to try to brun off a couple DVDs for the recent convert families who didn´t get to see it. I´m trying to switch things up for the next few weeks so that I don´t get bored with the area, seeing how I´m going on 6 months out here. I made a Book of Mormon reading chart for the recent converts and for our investigators, so instead of asking if anyone read we just ask for the chart. At least this way we can monitor better of who´s reading and who isn´t, and focus our lessons from there. I´m really just looking for some priesthood power right now. The branch is growing a little stronger as time goes by, and ultimately the goal is to convert the branch to a ward and form a stake (Estaca Guapiles) outside the San José Valley. If Siquirres is gonna be a ward, we need some healthy priesthood to get the job done. Ulises, who Elder Logan and I baptized back in January, is now our ward mission leader. We´ve been teaching him what his calling his and planning out when he´ll leave/meet with us every week and all that good jazz. It´s a calling that brings with it a lot of responsibility, but it´s also a perfect opportunity to help Ulises continue to grow and learn. Hopefully I can help him get the gist of it all. Elder Rodriguez doesn´t really pay any attention at all as I´m explaining things to Ulises. Like I said, the kid just wants to play UNO.
Alright I gotta jet but I hope you guys have a great week and stay safe. Take care and I´ll write again (as usual) MONDAY! Love you, ciao.
Tu Hijo,
Elder Nunie
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Last General Conference
That´s a real bummer you guys didn´t get to watch Conference. Try to watch what you can ASAP. You´re right about family being the topic, but there´s a LOT more to it than that. All the talks from Saturday we´re directed to parents, telling them to step up and teach their kids and youth better than ever before. EVERY talk on Saturday hit this topic. Sunday was more general in the topics. Although they did mention it, there was much more talk on the Savior and the Atonement, it being Easter Sunday and everything. I will say Elder Anderson´s final talk of the Conference hit it home. Elder Holland´s talk was especially necessary, along with President Monson´s closing talk in the Priesthood Session. Elder Holt, my district leader, said it best: Back to Basics.
Saturday morning we left for Limón to watch Conference. It was so cool to watch Conference with 3 of my best friends in the mission: Elder Litchfield, Elder Nelson, and Elder Butler (he goes home in May). Saturday night during the Priesthood Session we had an issue with one of the junior companions, and later that night calls were made to President Gálvez. All in all, it was a nightmare, but I tried not to dwell on the headache of it all and focus on the Conference talks. Right after the final session Sunday we jetted back for Siquirres just in time for some quick appointments before day´s end.
Today I took my companion and the Guacimo elders out to the waterfall here. The Limón elders were gonna come too, but they ended up having to deal with other stuff related to what happened Saturday night. We got out there on a perfect day. Elder Holt was in shock at how beautiful it was, since a lot of the nature has been destroyed by the people. I got pretty burned from the walk to and from, but it was a pretty good P-Day. It´s funny talking to Elder Holt because we only talk about all the old missionaries who use to be in the missions and our old companions. I can´t do that with my comp, and Elder Holt can´t do that with his because they´re both so young in the mission. I don´t consider myself an old missionary by any means (maybe when I have 20 months), but talking with Elder Holt is just like "Wow...everyone I know is GONE...that´s too weird." =P What was really funny was when I was talking with Elder Nelson in Limón before Conference. We realized all four of the junior companions put together didn´t have our time in the mission. That got us a little giddy for a minute or two. =P It just made me remember my first companion, Elder DePriest, and how he would say stuff like that at every district meeting. =P
Alright well I need to write Pres. Gálvez. I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Tell everyone I say hey and that I´m still alive and loving life. Take care and I´ll write you all next week. Ciao!
Tu Hijo,
Elder Nunie
Saturday morning we left for Limón to watch Conference. It was so cool to watch Conference with 3 of my best friends in the mission: Elder Litchfield, Elder Nelson, and Elder Butler (he goes home in May). Saturday night during the Priesthood Session we had an issue with one of the junior companions, and later that night calls were made to President Gálvez. All in all, it was a nightmare, but I tried not to dwell on the headache of it all and focus on the Conference talks. Right after the final session Sunday we jetted back for Siquirres just in time for some quick appointments before day´s end.
Today I took my companion and the Guacimo elders out to the waterfall here. The Limón elders were gonna come too, but they ended up having to deal with other stuff related to what happened Saturday night. We got out there on a perfect day. Elder Holt was in shock at how beautiful it was, since a lot of the nature has been destroyed by the people. I got pretty burned from the walk to and from, but it was a pretty good P-Day. It´s funny talking to Elder Holt because we only talk about all the old missionaries who use to be in the missions and our old companions. I can´t do that with my comp, and Elder Holt can´t do that with his because they´re both so young in the mission. I don´t consider myself an old missionary by any means (maybe when I have 20 months), but talking with Elder Holt is just like "Wow...everyone I know is GONE...that´s too weird." =P What was really funny was when I was talking with Elder Nelson in Limón before Conference. We realized all four of the junior companions put together didn´t have our time in the mission. That got us a little giddy for a minute or two. =P It just made me remember my first companion, Elder DePriest, and how he would say stuff like that at every district meeting. =P
Alright well I need to write Pres. Gálvez. I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Tell everyone I say hey and that I´m still alive and loving life. Take care and I´ll write you all next week. Ciao!
Tu Hijo,
Elder Nunie
Spring Break on the Mission
Hey family, I hope everyone´s been enjoying Spring Break. This week has been pretty loaded for us. Sunday I had the opportunity to baptize Yurico. After every baptism it really does justify every rejection we meet day in and day out. The rest of the week has been filled with service projects. I´ve never done so much service in a single change, but with Elder Rodriguez´s background in construction a whole lot of opportunities have opened up for us. Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday we helped lay a cement floor for Yurico and her mom. Yesterday we built a closet for Ulises and Iraydelis. Last week we also repaired a few of this tico rocking chairs too. It´s been pretty busy.
Sunday a member came to us and said that she wanted her son to be baptized. They´re an active family, they just got lazy and didn´t baptize the son when he was 8. He turned 9 on Monday, and they wanted to have the baptism today (Friday). Long story short Elder Holt had to come down from Guacimo to do the baptismal interview Wednesday (which the family was an hour late to), and I spent Wednesday out in Guacimo with Elder Duncan.
While out in Guacimo we visited a recent convert family and after a little while talking they asked me where I was from. When I said I was from the states they were all really surprised. =P The mom was like "Are you serious? I thought you were from Panama or something!" I kind of laughed, I´m pretty sure I sound pretty gringo in my spanish, but when stuff like that happens it does make me feel good about how far I´ve come.
I´m not gonna lie, I´m not all too pumped about this baptism. The family is active, the kid´s been in the church his whole life, we don´t even need to teach the kid and to tell the truth I didn´t bother trying to. There´s a lot of missionaries that would be like "9 year old kid. Perfect. We´ll teach him everything in one go just to count him as our baptism." ...I´m the complete opposite. If I baptize, it should be to fortify the branch or ward I´m in. If the family was less-active, I would´ve taken the time to teach not just the kid but the FAMILY, strengthening the church. But this baptisim is just like a niño-inscrito. It really should have anything to do with us, but because the kid has 9 years old it falls on our shoulders.
I really have a hard time with stuff like this. It just goes back to the days before Pres. Gálvez, when the missionaires we´re baptizing for numbers and nothing else.
Tomorrow we´re headed to Limón for General Conference. We´re spending the night in Elder Litchfield´s house. =D This will be the 3rd time I watch Conference with Elder Lichfield. =P It´s gonna be a great weekend. Elder Holt and I decided this is the first Spring Break we´ve had in the mission. We have today (Friday) off because of the Semana Santa. Saturday and Sunday are General Conference, of which Pres. Gálvez wants us watching all the sessions (I love a mission president who loves us), and Monday is P-Day once again. 4 days off rest. It`s a beautiful thing. =P
Alright I gotta jet and eat something. I love you all and I hope you enjoy Conference! I´ll be sure to write on Monday. Ciao!
Sunday a member came to us and said that she wanted her son to be baptized. They´re an active family, they just got lazy and didn´t baptize the son when he was 8. He turned 9 on Monday, and they wanted to have the baptism today (Friday). Long story short Elder Holt had to come down from Guacimo to do the baptismal interview Wednesday (which the family was an hour late to), and I spent Wednesday out in Guacimo with Elder Duncan.
While out in Guacimo we visited a recent convert family and after a little while talking they asked me where I was from. When I said I was from the states they were all really surprised. =P The mom was like "Are you serious? I thought you were from Panama or something!" I kind of laughed, I´m pretty sure I sound pretty gringo in my spanish, but when stuff like that happens it does make me feel good about how far I´ve come.
I´m not gonna lie, I´m not all too pumped about this baptism. The family is active, the kid´s been in the church his whole life, we don´t even need to teach the kid and to tell the truth I didn´t bother trying to. There´s a lot of missionaries that would be like "9 year old kid. Perfect. We´ll teach him everything in one go just to count him as our baptism." ...I´m the complete opposite. If I baptize, it should be to fortify the branch or ward I´m in. If the family was less-active, I would´ve taken the time to teach not just the kid but the FAMILY, strengthening the church. But this baptisim is just like a niño-inscrito. It really should have anything to do with us, but because the kid has 9 years old it falls on our shoulders.
I really have a hard time with stuff like this. It just goes back to the days before Pres. Gálvez, when the missionaires we´re baptizing for numbers and nothing else.
Tomorrow we´re headed to Limón for General Conference. We´re spending the night in Elder Litchfield´s house. =D This will be the 3rd time I watch Conference with Elder Lichfield. =P It´s gonna be a great weekend. Elder Holt and I decided this is the first Spring Break we´ve had in the mission. We have today (Friday) off because of the Semana Santa. Saturday and Sunday are General Conference, of which Pres. Gálvez wants us watching all the sessions (I love a mission president who loves us), and Monday is P-Day once again. 4 days off rest. It`s a beautiful thing. =P
Alright I gotta jet and eat something. I love you all and I hope you enjoy Conference! I´ll be sure to write on Monday. Ciao!
The Promptings of the Spirit
This week I´ve been trying my best to do what needs to be done, despite my companions lack of enthusiasm. And because of that, the fruits of my labours have started to come forth.
I´ve been trying to pay more attention to the promptings of the Spirit these last few weeks. With my companion yelling and screaming all the time, it doesn´t matter where we are, trying to think for myself just doesn´t work. So I´ve been learning to rely more on the Spirit than ever.
Tuesday night we passed by one of our investigators, Yurico, who we´ve been visiting for a while now. She´s been in the same situation as a lot of people here: she wants to be baptized, but she´s living with a guy and not married. She´s 20, he´s 19. He doesn´t work, and he´s a nicaraguan who´s here illegally. Just so you know the back story to this, we´ve tried to help the guy get his residency papers, but he doesn´t care and keeps blowing us off.
Tuesday night was planned as the make or break with her. Pres. Gálvez gave me some advice on what we can do to help her along, and I put it in practice. We covered the Law of Chastity again, making the seriousness of the matter pretty clear and that the decision to change was in her hands, no one can make that choice for her. I invited her to pray, morning and night, and to give us an answer Saturday. Wednesday my district leader, Elder Holt, and one of the assistants, Elder Richardson, came to Siquirres to do some blitz divisiones in the area. My companion went with Elder Holt to visit some new investigators we needed to contact, and I took off for the other side of town with Elder Richardson in search of new people to teach. Knocking doors hadn´t been all that successful, and I had a feeling we needed to visit Yurico again. We weren´t too far from her house, so we passed by. I had a feeling to share about the "Sense of Urgency" Pres. Gálvez had talked with me about, and although Elder Richardson was completely lost with the screaming of little kids all over the place, I managed to keep Yurico listening to every word as I shared with her a few scriptures I felt she needed to hear. When I was done, she told me she had received her answer. Yesterday (Sunday) she talked with her boyfriend and told him to leave. I put a baptismal date with her for this coming Sunday, the 28th. I´ve never felt better in my life.
Apart from that, that same night we passed by a member´s home, Hna. Darla, to receive a reference. I had wanted to pass by Tuesday, but we didn´t have any time during the day. I insisted we pass by Wednesday, but I didn´t tell Hna. Darla why until we got to the house. Since Tuesday morning I had the impression this hermana knew someone we needed to visit, and as I explained this to her I asked if she could offer a simple prayer in asking who this person might be. She did so, and not wasting a moment she told us of a family that she had wanted the missionaries to visit for quite some time. We passed by the family the following day, and we´re passing by again tomorrow.
Along with the good news comes a new situation as well. Friday night the family Elder Logan and I baptized told me that when I leave, they won´t receive the missionaries anymore. They not gonna drop the Church or anything like that, but they can´t feel the Spirit with Elder Rodriguez around. I can´t blame them, seeing how he didn´t pay any attention to the lesson as he watched Motocross on the TV and screaming like a child. The family even told him to his face he didn´t act like a missionary, to which he got really offended. After we left the house I explained the situation to Rodriguez, and told him to shape up and grow up. He asked me why when only one family has a problem with him, and I had to lay out the truth that it´s not just one family that´s said this to me, it´s almost a dozen. It´s hard when half the ward tells you they don´t want you to pass by because they don´t want your companion in their house.
Alright, that´s about all that´s been happening around here. This week we have Zone Conference, and I also get to learn how to make a typical food found only here in Limón. Hopefully I can get it down so I can make it back home for you guys. =P
I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Tell Ashley to hang in there, not too much more to go. If I can hold out, I know she can. And by that I mean 18 MONTHS!!! ...Yeah, I still don´t feel too old. Maybe when I hit the 20. =P
Tu Hijo,
Elder Nunie
I´ve been trying to pay more attention to the promptings of the Spirit these last few weeks. With my companion yelling and screaming all the time, it doesn´t matter where we are, trying to think for myself just doesn´t work. So I´ve been learning to rely more on the Spirit than ever.
Tuesday night we passed by one of our investigators, Yurico, who we´ve been visiting for a while now. She´s been in the same situation as a lot of people here: she wants to be baptized, but she´s living with a guy and not married. She´s 20, he´s 19. He doesn´t work, and he´s a nicaraguan who´s here illegally. Just so you know the back story to this, we´ve tried to help the guy get his residency papers, but he doesn´t care and keeps blowing us off.
Tuesday night was planned as the make or break with her. Pres. Gálvez gave me some advice on what we can do to help her along, and I put it in practice. We covered the Law of Chastity again, making the seriousness of the matter pretty clear and that the decision to change was in her hands, no one can make that choice for her. I invited her to pray, morning and night, and to give us an answer Saturday. Wednesday my district leader, Elder Holt, and one of the assistants, Elder Richardson, came to Siquirres to do some blitz divisiones in the area. My companion went with Elder Holt to visit some new investigators we needed to contact, and I took off for the other side of town with Elder Richardson in search of new people to teach. Knocking doors hadn´t been all that successful, and I had a feeling we needed to visit Yurico again. We weren´t too far from her house, so we passed by. I had a feeling to share about the "Sense of Urgency" Pres. Gálvez had talked with me about, and although Elder Richardson was completely lost with the screaming of little kids all over the place, I managed to keep Yurico listening to every word as I shared with her a few scriptures I felt she needed to hear. When I was done, she told me she had received her answer. Yesterday (Sunday) she talked with her boyfriend and told him to leave. I put a baptismal date with her for this coming Sunday, the 28th. I´ve never felt better in my life.
Apart from that, that same night we passed by a member´s home, Hna. Darla, to receive a reference. I had wanted to pass by Tuesday, but we didn´t have any time during the day. I insisted we pass by Wednesday, but I didn´t tell Hna. Darla why until we got to the house. Since Tuesday morning I had the impression this hermana knew someone we needed to visit, and as I explained this to her I asked if she could offer a simple prayer in asking who this person might be. She did so, and not wasting a moment she told us of a family that she had wanted the missionaries to visit for quite some time. We passed by the family the following day, and we´re passing by again tomorrow.
Along with the good news comes a new situation as well. Friday night the family Elder Logan and I baptized told me that when I leave, they won´t receive the missionaries anymore. They not gonna drop the Church or anything like that, but they can´t feel the Spirit with Elder Rodriguez around. I can´t blame them, seeing how he didn´t pay any attention to the lesson as he watched Motocross on the TV and screaming like a child. The family even told him to his face he didn´t act like a missionary, to which he got really offended. After we left the house I explained the situation to Rodriguez, and told him to shape up and grow up. He asked me why when only one family has a problem with him, and I had to lay out the truth that it´s not just one family that´s said this to me, it´s almost a dozen. It´s hard when half the ward tells you they don´t want you to pass by because they don´t want your companion in their house.
Alright, that´s about all that´s been happening around here. This week we have Zone Conference, and I also get to learn how to make a typical food found only here in Limón. Hopefully I can get it down so I can make it back home for you guys. =P
I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Tell Ashley to hang in there, not too much more to go. If I can hold out, I know she can. And by that I mean 18 MONTHS!!! ...Yeah, I still don´t feel too old. Maybe when I hit the 20. =P
Tu Hijo,
Elder Nunie
New Email
MyLDSMail has done an upgrade, so we all had to get new email addresses to compensate for the new system. =D
Alright, not too much has changed over the last week. I´m still putting my patience to the test with Elder Rodriguez. He really just doesn´t care about obedience AT ALL. Friday we had interviews with Pres. Gálvez, of which I felt at peace for the first time during the week. Saturday and Sunday ended up being really hard days. I´ve just come to the point where I´m going to do EVERYTHING within my power to be obedient to mission rules, and if my comp has a problem with it, he can take it up with President. Just has Elder Holland said, "The promise is in the obedience."
Nothing much has happened during the week. We contact a pair of references, and our list of investagators is finally starting to grow some after having dropped everyone who wasn´t progressing. We´ll see if these can go all the way or not during this next week. Saturday the only appointment that didn´t fall through for us was our english class, which ended up with a decent turnout for once. =P I got to practice my teaching skills with something other than the gospel, which put a twist on things for me. Luckily I did my planning so everything went smoothly.
Sorry I don´t have much to write about this week. I kind of just want to forget it and put it behind me, starting fresh and over again. I´m trying my best not to be disanimated, but it´s taking a lot out of me without the support of my companion to do things as they should be done. Oh well. There´s a reason to everything.
I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Take care and I´ll write back next week!
Tu Hijo,
Elder Nunie
Alright, not too much has changed over the last week. I´m still putting my patience to the test with Elder Rodriguez. He really just doesn´t care about obedience AT ALL. Friday we had interviews with Pres. Gálvez, of which I felt at peace for the first time during the week. Saturday and Sunday ended up being really hard days. I´ve just come to the point where I´m going to do EVERYTHING within my power to be obedient to mission rules, and if my comp has a problem with it, he can take it up with President. Just has Elder Holland said, "The promise is in the obedience."
Nothing much has happened during the week. We contact a pair of references, and our list of investagators is finally starting to grow some after having dropped everyone who wasn´t progressing. We´ll see if these can go all the way or not during this next week. Saturday the only appointment that didn´t fall through for us was our english class, which ended up with a decent turnout for once. =P I got to practice my teaching skills with something other than the gospel, which put a twist on things for me. Luckily I did my planning so everything went smoothly.
Sorry I don´t have much to write about this week. I kind of just want to forget it and put it behind me, starting fresh and over again. I´m trying my best not to be disanimated, but it´s taking a lot out of me without the support of my companion to do things as they should be done. Oh well. There´s a reason to everything.
I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Take care and I´ll write back next week!
Tu Hijo,
Elder Nunie
The Gift of Patience
Give Logan a hi-five for me on giving such an awesome talk. That´s what I like to hear. I´m glad to hear the challenege I made is going through too. That´s a pain that the dryer and washer shut-down like that, I hope you´re able to figure that out soon. =(
This wekk I realized that although I had thought I had learned the principle of patience rather well, the Lord still sees it fit to teach me more. =P I´m refering more to my new companion, Elder Rodriguez. Over the past 48 hours not one, not two, but seven members have told him straight out he doesn´t behave like a missionary. I´m in no place to disagree. He´s a super animated and friendly guy, however his hyperactivity has him crossing the line of what a missionary should act like. I won´t even go into what happened during Sunday School yesterday, but let it be said we´re in danger of nobody taking us seriously.
I´m kind of humbled that the Hermana Gálvez told you I was an obedient missionary. I´m not perfect, but I´m trying my best. My companion questions any and all rules we have, especially the internet rules. I kind of feel like I´m training him over again, even though he has almost 8 months in the mission.
Elder Rodriguez does come into the area with some useful knowledge of course. He worked construction for some 5 years, and this coming week we have 3 days where we´re going to be helping some families with some construction stuff. Nothing too big, but doing more service like this will quickly show the fruits of our labors.
Not much else has happened this last week. I hope everything is going okay back home, and that nothing else decides to give up the ghost like the washer and dryer did. =P Take care and I´ll write back next week! Ciao!
Tu Hijo,
Elder Nunie
This wekk I realized that although I had thought I had learned the principle of patience rather well, the Lord still sees it fit to teach me more. =P I´m refering more to my new companion, Elder Rodriguez. Over the past 48 hours not one, not two, but seven members have told him straight out he doesn´t behave like a missionary. I´m in no place to disagree. He´s a super animated and friendly guy, however his hyperactivity has him crossing the line of what a missionary should act like. I won´t even go into what happened during Sunday School yesterday, but let it be said we´re in danger of nobody taking us seriously.
I´m kind of humbled that the Hermana Gálvez told you I was an obedient missionary. I´m not perfect, but I´m trying my best. My companion questions any and all rules we have, especially the internet rules. I kind of feel like I´m training him over again, even though he has almost 8 months in the mission.
Elder Rodriguez does come into the area with some useful knowledge of course. He worked construction for some 5 years, and this coming week we have 3 days where we´re going to be helping some families with some construction stuff. Nothing too big, but doing more service like this will quickly show the fruits of our labors.
Not much else has happened this last week. I hope everything is going okay back home, and that nothing else decides to give up the ghost like the washer and dryer did. =P Take care and I´ll write back next week! Ciao!
Tu Hijo,
Elder Nunie
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