EMAIL... Week 5

Hola!  

This place and her people never cease to amaze and humble us! Last Saturday we were able to attend Naman's baptism, which got moved up an hour, but then started 45 minutes late...that's Nicaragua! An older man in the branch, who has been a member about a year baptized him. It took 3 times to say it correctly and the 4th to get everything under. Both men were so happy and humble. The counselor in the district presidency confirmed him the next day. We have the only car in the branch, and are only supposed to drive missionaries and Church workers, well...We are trying to be obedient. A few members have motorcycles and several have bikes. Families of 4 are often on a motorcycle together, and it scares me for the little kids. The drivers here make NY City look calm. The branch has a much bigger geographic area than our ward, so it really is a challenge and commitment for them to get to church, let alone on time. 

We have been teaching them about the importance of temples, so that they can have eternal families. This to many is an impossible dream. Since there is no temple in Nicaragua, they are in the Honduras Temple District. The trip itself is expensive, and the paperwork fees make it seemingly insurmountable. Another blessing we have, that we may take for granted. They are amazed when they find out we were married in the temple, that all of our children were married in the temple, and that all of our family are members of the Church. Only 8 people have been to the temple in the Branch besides the missionaries. Very few have been members longer than 5 years. We will continue to encourage them, and have shown President Monson's Mormon Message, "Temples are a Beacon", at the Family Home Evenings we have done. They really love the videos, and the Ward Council would be impressed with Lee's tech skills in downloading them in Spanish and showing them.  

We had changes in the mission this week, so we spent a lot of time at the bus stations, taking and picking up missionaries. We had one of the Hermanas with us Monday until her new comp came, and today had the Zone Leader with us until 2 other Elders came to town to pick him up to work with them. I'm glad I don't have to change, because I really like my companion and the casita we live in.
We love the Hermanas we serve with in the Rosario Branch, and feel truly blessed that we have had an English speaker both times to translate when needed, as we try to understand and communicate. We're working hard on our Spanish, but are realistic in knowing that it's going to take time and lots of practice. Lee spoke in Sacrament meeting last week, and comments and prays with relative ease. I have given several prayers and born my testimony in Spanish, but most of my comments are broken or translated. I am grateful for their patience! 

We just found out tonight that the crazy rainstorm we had yesterday was from a tropical storm. It was so loud we couldn't even hear in our house and it was raining sideways, so we had to shut all the windows. We lost power for awhile, so we took the Elders out for dinner, since I couldn't turn on the stove to cook. Darn! Life is good. The Church is true! We are learning much and loving the people! 

Love to you all! 

Elder and Hermana Koelliker