EMAIL... Week 10

Hola!

Another very wet week! I guess that's why they call it the "rainy season"! In the craziness of last week, I forgot to send shout outs to Henry & Robin Johnson from their nephew, Elder Hobbs, who is a ZL of one of the zones attending the Multi-zone Conference. Also, we found out that the district leader for the Esteli district is Elder Spence, the nephew of Mike and Deanna Messina. Great young men and leaders! 

I had another mini-milestone last Sunday, as I was able to bear my testimony in Spanish, especially of sustaining and praying for our church leaders. Too many people choose to be offended by others, especially leaders, and use that as an excuse NOT to do what they know is right. We forget that they were called by God, but like all of us, they are human and not perfect either. I'm sure I messed up some parts, but I'm keeping at it! (She was awesome! I'm very proud of how far she has come with the language.) Lee bore a very powerful testimony and I understood most of it. 

Lee had a great experience with the 2 guys who came to fix our shower. They started asking him questions about where are we from and why are we here, and then noticed his name badge. Then they started asking about the church. He gave them pass along cards about the Book of Mormon and told them when the Sunday meetings are. They asked if they could have a Book of Mormon. Lee gave them each one, and then they asked him to read something from it. He read Moroni's promise, that if they read and ponder the Book of Mormon with a sincere heart and pray about it with faith, that by the power of the Holy Ghost, they could know the truth of all things! They gave him their names and phone numbers, so he could give them to the missionaries in their area. It was definitely worth the cold showers we experienced! 

Another "memorable" experience was when we went out to visit people in Villa Cuba...we were driving on a meadow and the tires started to not catch, and Lee got us out a bit and right into another bog. We were stuck in stinky, boggy mud! The Hermanas and I got out to try to push it onto a drier spot, and couldn't get it out. The man we were headed to see came out to help, then his neighbor, then another man from the neighborhood. We got it out and then got stuck AGAIN! I was really praying then! It was stuck worse! We all started pushing again, and this time our feet were almost ankle deep in the stuff. Finally it moved out and as it released, the Hermanas and I and one of the men were splattered with the stuff! Yuk! Prayers were answered, but sometimes with an additional price. We went home to shower and change and wash our clothes! The next day, quite a bit drier, we went back out to visit and took cookies to our good Samaritans. We feel blessed to be here and truly love the people! 

Tomorrow is the last day with this branch for a few months, and one of our Hermanas is going home after a truly successful mission! I just finished making 60 cinnamon rolls to share for their long walks home after church. We want them to know how much we love and appreciate their kindness and friendship, and that's sometimes my way, especially with my lack of language skills. We start with another branch here on Tuesday, as we will be helping with changes on Monday. We will work with the Hermanas here one day a week to follow up with the families we have been serving, and then the rest of the week with the new Hermanas in the El Centro Branch. It will be fun to serve in a different part of town, but we will miss this one. Glad we get to keep a foot in the door. We have the good news of the Gospel, and it is wonderful to be able to share it with Heavenly Father's children and help them obtain the blessings we enjoy!

Love to all!
Elder and Hermana Koelliker