Hola from crazy Nicaragua!
What a week! Just got back from going to a ceramic co-op about 30 minutes away for p-day. Lee will put pics and comments on the blog soon. She was amazing! Plus we are suckers for native ceramics...thanks to my sweet, creative grandpa who had his own pottery "shop" and helped me gain an appreciation for the craft! So fun.
Last Saturday we had another full on Nica meal...deep fat fried platano chips (type of banana), something like chicken nuggets (no telling what kind of meat it was), rice with yummy seasoning, refried beans, cuajada cheese, a slice of avocado and a fruit drink. My stomach revolted with all the grease afterward, but it was good! They were offended by a former branch president, so struggle with inactivity. The adult son did a "lesson" on judging others. It was powerful! I wish he would make a Mormon Message of it. We talked about how we don't go to church for others, we go to partake of the sacrament and express our love and learn of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Also, that no one is perfect, including our leaders, but we are all trying!
That evening we went to visit one of our investigators, Saul, with the Hermanas and the Elders Quorum President. Saul was pretty sick and had a rash, one of the mosquito-born sicknesses. After he was taught about the Priesthood and we were leaving, we were impressed to offer him a blessing. He eagerly accepted. Lee anointed and the EQP gave him the blessing. Saul was much better and was able to attend the Branch Conference, which by the way was awesome! What a sweet feeling to sustain the Prophet and Quorum of the 12 in Spanish with these good people. They love the Church leaders!
Pouring rain off and on all week. We had a Family Home Evening in Villa Cuba, which is way out with ridiculous roads. Great family that is preparing to go to the temple. Coming home we crossed the bridge over the creek, but the bridge was flooded. It was a little sketchy crossing, but we lived to tell about it. Lee wishes he had his truck. We love doing Family Home Evenings and taking the refreshments...cookies! Many are preparing to go to the temple, so they have lots of questions about the blessings of the temple. We can easily testify of the blessings, as we have felt that we have truly been showered.
This past week we had an awesome Noche de Hogar with one of the active families in our branch. The wife has had lots of questions about the temple and wasn't really willing to make the sacrifices to go. We had an incredible experience sharing our testimony of the temple and how it has blessed our lives. We challenged them to set a date, prepare, pray together, and ask Heavenly Father for help. So, today before the baptism, the member came up to is to tell us that he and his wife took the challenge and have set a date in December to take out their endowments and get sealed. Truly a miracle!! "Super Twanies!" Please enjoy the temple! We are so blessed to have easy access.
One of the less actives we have been working with has come 4 of the last 5 weeks (he was sick the one he missed) and went with us to do visits Wednesday. He bore powerful testimonies at each home. It was awesome! We had our first Multi-Zone Conference yesterday and that was great! I loved singing "Called to Serve" in Spanish with the group of missionaries, as a missionary. What a spirit! We just finished the baptism for Saul and Fernando! Wow! Lee was able to perform the baptisms for both, and it was especially choice since we have been a part of most of their lessons. They live about 2 blocks apart, but didn't know each other before today. We are just about to start our first English class. We'll see how it goes and if we will continue. The Church is true. Heavenly Father lives and loves us. Jesus Christ is our Savior and He lives and loves us. They want us to live worthily so we can return and live as families forever in their presence. It is up to us.
Con mucho amor,
Elder y Hermana Koelliker
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