EMAIL... Week 58

Hola All!

Another week with much gratitude for the power of prayer and fasting, and the gift of the Holy Ghost! The comfort and peace we are given by this member of the Godhead are powerful and so needed, especially in this crazy world with so much negativity. Although Satan has a powerful grasp on many, we know who will win the battle and the war! We are on the side of good! We are on the side of the Savior! Never allow the evil one to even think he has a chance with you. Stay strong by doing the small and simple things that we have been commanded to do, remembering that commandments are to protect us and help us progress in a positive direction! Do all you can to fortify your family and help them to progress! They are the ones we want to be with forever, and they are the ones worth all of the time, effort, thought, and prayer we can give!

Fun time teaching Hermanas Perez and Elías how to make chocolate chip cookies on Monday, and they loved the dough and warm cookies right out of the oven. We know we will lose one of them this change, and will miss the one who goes and be grateful for the one who stays. That's how we feel every change...we don't want to lose any of the missionaries we get to work with because we grow to love them so much. However, the new ones come and we love them too...kind of like having a new baby, your heart expands to love the new one just as much as the ones you already have. Elder K went to hit balls with Elders Mower and Hughes, while we were making cookies. Elder M is quite the hitter and hit Elder K, who was pitching to him, with a line drive in the right thigh and then ricocheted and hit his left thigh. He has two awesome bruises, which a few select people will be allowed to see the pictures of at a later time.  We then had lunch with Hnas. Perez and Elías, and were also joined by Hermanas Nova and Cortez, who are serving in Darío, but came up so Hna. Nova could say goodbye to the people in our Rosario Branch. She was another one we hated to lose, but it has been fun to have her back in our Zone this change and fun to be able to say goodbye to her before she finishes her mission and goes home to Guatemala on Thursday. 

Had the Acevedo Family to dinner and Family Home Evening on Monday. He was the District President who presented Elder K to be the Branch President and said in English to him, "May the force be with you!", when Elder K sat down after speaking. She is the District Relief Society President and has two young sons. They are amazing, despite struggles with him being out of work right now. They are both educated and trying to learn English, so we help each other. They understand the trials the people here are facing and recognize their lack of motivation to progress and change. But we all love the people here and want to help them progress and understand that there is so much more available to them in this life and in the eternities. I think it's hard for most of us to keep that eternal perspective when we are struggling and/or experiencing trials. I have learned to say, "Great blessings require great sacrifices!" in Spanish. (Grandes bendiciones requieren grandes sacrificios!) We are trying to help the people here develop hope and perspective, as having these qualities can change their lives! 

Good visit with President and Hermana Poncio at lunch on Wednesday, as they were here for interviews and house checks. We passed! They are so fun and upbeat with their missionaries, even when they have to machete them a bit about cleanliness. So grateful that we have a nice, clean, safe place to live here. We are relieved that we're not being changed to a different place. Pres. Poncio teases us about moving us sometimes, so we never know how serious he really is. 

Had such a sweet experience visiting with Carlos (104) and his wife, Evangelista. He has prostate cancer and is quite weak, but got dressed and came out to visit with us yesterday. Sometimes we have to go see him in his bed, but even then, he usually smiles and gives us a firm handshake, unless he is really sick. He can only eat soft food, so they need help getting food for him that he can tolerate. We picked up a few things and went back to deliver the food today. Elder K asked him how he was and he told us that he is alive, and that he's grateful that we come to visit him and pray for him. He said he hopes we get blessings for doing it. The blessing for us is seeing this older couple (I can say that because they are older than we are!) persevering well until the end! Great examples of joy, love, devotion, and faith! The Hermanas love him too, and he lights up when the 4 of us walk in the door...mainly because of these precious young missionaries and the light and joy they bring, which fill the room! 

We are so blessed to be here, serving together, serving with amazing young missionaries, and serving the wonderful people of Nicaragua. We know there are people here that we are here for specifically, and that is always such a humbling thought.

Thanks for your love and prayers! We love you!

Love,

Elder and Hermana Koelliker