EMAIL... Week 75

Hola All!

Another packed week! Saturday night we picked up the Condega Elders, who were here to interview a girl for baptism, and then drove up to Condega for their Hermanamiento. They had Elder K do the message, since the family that had planned to do it was going to be late. He showed “Enemy Territory” by President Packer for all the youth there. We had a great discussion and then played “Nines”. Look out, Grandkids! You will be introduced to all of the fun games we have learned! 

Monday we took the 4 Hermanas and 2 Elders serving with us here in Estelí to the waterfall. The car was packed, but we had fun and enjoyed the beauty of Nicaragua on their last P-day for this change. It was weird to realize that this was our last trip there, but we have so many great memories with so many different missionaries and friends at the waterfall.

We are loving doing Family Home Evenings with the members and less actives here. It is so sweet to share Christmas videos produced by the church and sing Christmas carols. They don’t know the Christmas carols very well because they don’t sing them very often. That is one thing we have really missed, the music. Without a piano or organ being played by the talented musicians we are used to, they struggle to learn the hymns and to sing on key. We were shocked until we realized that this is part of being young in the gospel, but we did think everybody knew the Christmas carols. Nope! So, it is fun to teach them in a more intimate setting. And of course we love sharing treats!

Our pancake breakfast with our Zone is always fun for us, and I think they like it too, because they eat like they do. We have found that missionaries are always hungry, unless they are sick. All that walking and talking burns tons of calories! We are always so impressed with their teaching, love of the people they are serving, and their strong testimonies! The future of the Church is in great hands!

This week we were able to find some people at home, who we haven’t been able to catch for a long time. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to bring the Spirit into their homes and see them feel it. It reminded us how important faithful visiting and home teaching are. You never know when it will be the right time or you will say what they need to here at that moment, and it is your opportunity to be an instrument in the hands of God.

We had one of our favorite families over to dinner last night. Marvin has become active this past year and is serving diligently in his calling. His wife and 19 year old son still rarely come. We love them so much and have visited them, or have had them come to our house, every week for the whole time we have been here. Progress has been slow, but as they talked about how they have looked forward to our weekly visits and have felt the spirit each week, I was teary. Blanca said that she realizes that the Church is working like we are telling them and modeling for them in the United States, but she knows that it will take time to get to that level here. That was huge, as she has been so turned off with the irreverence, the lack of commitment and preparation, and the attitudes of many of the people. She had gone back to going to the Catholic Church with her mom. We told them that they need to be the leaders and show the members of the Branch what the Church can and should be. We challenged them to prepare to go to the temple as a family and be sealed. Marvin is ready, and Blanca and Marvincito love the idea. Poco poco!

Life is good! The Church is true! We are children of our Heavenly Father and He loves and knows each of us! Our Savior has fulfilled His role in our Heavenly Father’s Plan, so that we can return to Them for eternity, if we do our very best to fulfill our part! We love this season and the extra Spirit that comes with Christmas! Let’s all continue to light the world with that Spirit!

We love you all!

Love, 

Elder and Hermana Koelliker