Feliz Navidad!
Great time at Selva Negra last week! We heard the monkeys, but saw none. Oh well, it was a beautiful hike and lovely breakfast! We enjoy our occasional outings with the other Senior couples.
We're at the church decorating for the Primary Program tomorrow, and the kids are supposed to be here for the last practice, but Nicaragua standard time...only two of the "for sure" 5 are here, and their mom is the Primary President. It has been very interesting working with them this last week, as we've expressed before, there is a severe reverence and obedience problem with the children in the branches here. Most have never experienced how Sacrament Meetings should be and how sacred the sacrament time is. The branch president called Lee on Tuesday to see if I could speak in the program and tell about some of my experiences in Primary, and so this is a great opportunity to teach what it can be like and the responsibility parents have to teach their children at home about the importance and blessings of reverence. Hopefully my lack of fluency won't be a detraction from the spirit. I'm praying that the spirit will be strong for the Program and that the children will do well on their songs and parts. We are so blessed to have things in place and well modeled for us, and experienced music people! Poco, poco!
Tonight is the Branch Christmas party. Our assignment was brownies and cookies for 70...all done and bagged. Whew! Our branch president is working hard to get more unity and more people involved in serving others and in the branch. They are so young in the gospel, everything is new for them. In many ways it's sweet to watch them grasp concepts and gain testimonies of different commandments and the programs of the Church. They are truly precious people and we have grown to love them so much.
Our favorite visit of the week was with a young man, who was baptized in April, and his mother. She set a baptism date for Christmas Eve, which is when they celebrate Christmas here. They wanted Lee to baptize her, and Lee asked the young man how old he was. Holber is 16. Lee asked him why he wasn't baptizing his mom, and he told us he didn't know that it was possible. Lee practiced the prayer with him and called the branch president to find out Holber's priesthood status. He hadn't been interviewed to become a priest yet. They set up an appointment and it's on. She is so happy to be able to be baptized, and having her son baptize her is the icing on the cake!
We love our Savior, Jesus Christ! We wish the whole world could have His gospel and the joy, peace, purpose, and love that we experience daily. We love you all and are so grateful that each of you are part of our lives. In case they don't do "Missionary Moments" next week, Merry Christmas to you all!
Love,
Elder and Hermana Koelliker
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