The World Turns Round Like a Merry-Go-Round

SALUDOS DE NICARAGUA!

Familia...How are y'all? I only get updates from mom, dad and grandma so it's hard to know how well the rest of you are doing since i never hear anything from you (then again, i do forgive siovhan for her lack of computer). but Ben and Miki, what's up???

Back to business. So life as a DL is pretty much all I thought that it would be: more work, more stress and more fun! I love being able to have a different relationship with the missionaries in a district. Being in charge of 4 extra missionaries, besides myself and my comp,  sometimes seems like a lot of work, but gratefully the other Elders in my district are fantastic and work really hard. I'm so proud of them...whereas my area on the other hand. Let's just say that I'm working really hard but I'm not quite seeing the fruits of my labor yet. I know that I need to change how I work, because out here in Managua there's a different way of working than in Puerto. It's like if take dad out of his position at Covidien and call up Bishop and tell him to go over and take over for my dad. Sure, they are both businessmen, but Bishop is not accustomed to all that dad does and vice-versa. They would both have to learn their respective roles and then keep working. There might be a point in the process where is seems like neither one is getting anything done, but such is the nature of the beast. There has to be a crossover, a change. I think I'm starting to find it, I just need to put my all into the work and hope that I can start seeing results.

I love this area here in Managua, don't get me wrong. The people here are absolutely fantastic, it's just so different from Puerto. I love the people in Puerto and miss them more than I could ever express with mere words. All I need to do now is trust in the Lord and have the faith that whatever it is that's going on here in my area is meant for my own betterment. I believe that sometimes in life we do what Elder Wirthlin said, we ask "Why me?" instead of "What am I supposed to learn from this?" Sometimes I think like that, especially with the pressure that exists within me to help others become better and to baptize, but I need to realize that I need to press forward and have more faith. These things will pass. It reminds me of my first week on the mission: it was SO hard and seemed So difficult, but it was only a week.

Regarding Thanksgiving: We don't have anything special planned except that I told my cooking lady that I want this dish called Indio Viejo, as it's the closest thing to an American dish that is made from scratch here. I do think that my comp and I are might do something....I just have to get a little creative.

Grammy--The work at times is a little discouraging. I am not going to lie about that. However, for me everything is better when I have one person come back to the church, or when I help a family enter the waters of baptism. When I get a little upset I just think about how little time I have here in Nicaragua and how I need to enjoy it. I also think about the other people that have already gone through things like this, or worse. After that I feel fine and work even harder. The General Authorities are correct when they say that the secret to missionary work is the work. Also, there is a significant different between those who decided to go to school before their missions and those who stayed at home. I know that I made a good decision because of the miracles that happened at BYU, but I am even more grateful for the fact that I learned how to live with someone else before coming here. There is a big difference between those Elders that had roommates and didn't. :( Packages get here to me Grammy, so don't worry, just don't send expensive things.

Mom and Dad--I'm going to be super careful now. I am really sorry. I should have been super careful, but I wasn't. I'll have to make this up to you after the mish...but thank you for helping me not only fiscally, but spiritually as well. Also, I didn't get the chance to go to the leadership training. I did hear that it was amazing. It makes me so happy to know that even before the General Authorities tell us to do somehting, we're already doing it. That has happened to me here in the mission, leaders will tell us that we need to start doing something, but normally I'm already working on it/already started it. Cool stuff. And regarding the package...I would love like 2 short-sleeved white shirts, 6 dri-lux round-neck mefium garment tops, 6 of those 50-50 garment bottons (32), maybe a bottle of lotion from Bath and Body Works, and maybe a pair of shoes. My shoes are getting trashed, and fast. My boots are fantastic though. Send me those Floorsheim that we bought. I think that is all, unless you can/ want to add more. ;) 

Thank you all for your love and your prayes, they make a world of difference for me here. Stay strong and work hard in all you do. Also, HELP OUT THE MISSIONARIES. Referrals should be the only way to work as a missionary, they are the best ones to teach, the most fun, and the most secure for baptism. Invite friends and family-friends to come over and meet with the missionaries or go visit them with the missionaries.

Love you all, 
Elder B

Erin's Concert

Myrna wrote: We had a sweet call from Erin inviting us to her Christmas concert at school. She said something about going to the airport on the 20th. Is that for another concert? We would like to be there for the school concert. I don't know if we can work it out or not. We are trying to figure that out and then we will call her.

We love you all, M