EMAIL... Week 60

Hola All!

Another week had flown by filled with visits, travel, and learning. We had to make a quick trip to Managua to trade cars. Hopefully, this will be our last vehicle here in Nicaragua. It is the car the Lees drove, so it is much newer than our previous rides. It has already experienced dirt roads, lots of rain, mud, and being packed with missionaries. It survived this week, so I think it will make it!

Great experience this week with a very special family teaching them a Temple Prep lesson. They were struggling as a family about a year ago. The father was having Word of Wisdom issues, and they weren't attending church regularly as a family, and when they were all there, they didn't sit all together. We started with the Marriage and Family Relations class for the 5 of them several months ago, challenging them to do the small and simple things to start with. Then added that they not only GO to church every week, but that they sit together as a family. We had a few classes that were pretty intense and they bore their souls and shared feelings. Little by little they started communicating lovingly and honestly, and working together more to prepare to be an eternal family. Right before the end of the course, they set a date to be sealed as a family in the temple this December. We started their second Temple Prep lesson on Wednesday and Dad was on fire! He had read both of the pamphlets on Temples, and had lots of deep questions. He testified of the blessings of paying tithing and how the gospel is blessings their lives in so many ways, and especially as a family. His light was awesome and he is leading his family as a worthy Priesthood holder! We feel so blessed to be able to witness the blessings of the gospel in people's lives here in Nicaragua, and know that the gospel can bless the lives of all of our Heavenly Father's children. We know that the gospel is a precious gift that we have been blessed with, and that it needs to be shared with all!

It's awesome to be able to serve a full time mission as a couple! We teach and testify together, with Lee doing most of the talking. He's really got this Spanish down. I am happy to be able to contribute as much as I can, but am grateful for his ability to be able to communicate so well for the both of us. It's amazing how often we are asked about our own family, family experiences, and experiences in the Church. They know that we have something special and we encourage them to do what it takes to have the blessings of the gospel and of the temple in their own lives. 

On our way to a baptism...Have a great week!

We love you all! 

Elder and Hermana Koelliker