EMAIL... Week 72

Hola All!

Time is flying by and we are enjoying being anxiously engaged in a good cause! Last Sunday, Marra Jones was born to Lacee and Daniel! We are so happy to have been blessed with our 12th grandchild! We are sad not to be able to be with them to welcome this little angel and help, but we know that this is where we need to be at this time. We are so grateful to Malia for flying up with her two youngest daughters to help and support the Jones family at this special time. We are especially grateful for our knowledge that families can be together forever!

Sunday, after our Temple Prep lesson in Condega, we drove to the river there for the baptism of Ever. It was a beautiful setting and Elder Bassett did a great job. They changed to dry clothes in the tall bushes and we took them back to the Elders’ house, where they meet for church. It was a sweet reminder that we need to be witnesses of Heavenly Father and our Savior, at all times, and in all things, and in all places.

We had some wonderful visits this week with members who are truly trying to be “all in”. Many struggle with attendance due to work conflicts, the weather, sickness, and no desire, due to lack of faith or having been offended. As we talk about how much our Heavenly Father loves us and knows us, and that if we do the small and simple things to the very best of our ability, He will not only bless and strengthen us, but He will help us find the way to accomplish all that He wants us to do. As we reflect on the perfect life of the Savior, and of His perfect example of love and service, and His fulfilling His role in Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness, suffering and dying for all of us, we are humbled and want to do our very best to follow Him and keep the commandments. The Gospel is for all of Heavenly Father’s children. We each need it to become the person we have the potential to become, and prepare to return to our Father and Savior.

The fun highlight of the week was traveling to Managua to surprise Barton and JoAnne Foutz, and the Bryans at their clinic for prospective missionaries. It was great to see their faces when they saw us. We had been trying to figure out how to get back down there with our crazy schedule, and the “Red Sea parted”, and we were able to go down. The timing was great, as they were all about ready for their lunch break. We got a tour, chatted with a few of the youth there for physicals from our mission area, met lots of the volunteers (who pay to go and serve these youth with love and sacrifice), and had lunch with these dear friends. We told our Mission President that Bishop Foutz had been our bishop, and had also been our home teacher for the 19 years before we came and never missed a month...so he came all this way to check on us. Talk about a faithful home teacher! Oh how we love these faithful examples and friends!

Our Multi-Zone on Thursday was great! The Poncios are great speakers and presenters. The missionaries love to get together and there is a powerful spirit in their presence. We all feel the spirit and gain an enhanced commitment to do our best!

I get to teach the couple we are working with to prepare for their Temple marriage, how to make chocolate chip cookies today. Nabill speaks a lot of English and he wants his fiancee to learn, so he’s coming along to make sure she understands. They are adorable! This is one of my small contributions to the work, but I love these people and serving them however I can.

We love you all! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder and Hermana Koelliker