Monday, October 28, 2013
10-22-2013 Sorry this is late
Hey there family! I hope you are all doing well!! This week was just another normal week in the missionary life!
Monday
we went to the park with all of the Elders that we are friends with
because 4 out of the 5 had transfers. So we went to the park and the
Elders got hamburgers I got myself a big cup of cacao- It is like
chocolate milk but 100 times better-
Tuesday was just a normal day. We had our last lunch with the
Elders and then said goodbye. Then we worked like usual and we were both
kinda having a bummer day so we decided to make it a "eat like an
American night" I got a super delicious hamburger and Hermana Lopez got a
hot dog. It was so so delicious!
Wednesday we had a meeting for the Zone to meet all the new people.
We played mafia and had introductions and I told people that I was from
Nicaragua haha. I think some of them actually believed me too... That
day we found Rina y Leonardo. They were standing outside and I got this
overwhelming feeling that we needed to talk to them SO we did. Turns out
they live in the area of the Elders. But the Elders gave us permission
to teach them :)
So Thursday we went looking for their house. They live in what is
called "La liña" it is a much poorer area then ours and is a little
dangerous so the Elders have to accompany us. It is all dirt road and
tin shacks, but oh my lanta it is beautiful. There are plam trees and
flowers and the people are so incredibly happy and friendly. I love it
so much there. Anyway they are going to be baptised and married in
December because Leonardo has to go to Managua for a month for his work I
am praying I will still be here. They are so awesome.
Friday we were walking and out of no where this guy asks us if we
have anywhere to go for the next half our because he wanted to talk
about Jesus with us... so we said sure and went with him. He invited us
inside and told us to sit down. Before we knew it there were 7 more
people that came through the door. Turns out it was a meeting for a
different church haha... but by that point we couldn't leave... hahaha
so we polietly sat there as they sang and prayed. As we were leaving we
ran into the Elders.... that was a little awkward to try to explain.
Haha that night the Bishop fed us dinner, he wanted to make me feel at
home so he got us hot dogs. But with jalepeños inside. It was a spicy
hot dog.
Saturday was pretty normal, we were out tracting and out of nowhere
came this huge storm. Normally we can tell when it is about to rain
because there are clouds but this time it was just like the movies where
there was a random crack of thunder and then downpour!!! We were soaked
within minutes. Haha its a good thing I know how to swim.
Yesterday we had 3 lunch appointments... I have never been so full
of gaillopinto in my life. Hahaha. We had to roll ourselves home.
Today
we had to go to Managua in the morning to renew the identification for
H.Lopez, we left here at 5:00am and I am very very tired. We had to walk
through the market to get to the bus and it was really exciting. It was
like in the movie Aladdin, I enjoyed it but it kinda smelled like old
fish so that wasn't super enjoyable. And now here I am writing you all.
Sorry this email isn't super exciting!! Just living life in Nicaragua
:) I hope you know I love you all!
Love,
Hermana Willardson
10-28-2013
Mi familia chelita!
Man can you
believe that I hit my 3 month mark this week? Time is flying so fast! I know
that before we all know it I will be living back at home. That is a scary
thought hahaha just kidding! This week was good as usual J
Tuesday we
were helping Manuel with smoking because he is having troubles again. We helped
him destroy a whole pack of cigarettes!! It was the first time I have ever held
a cigarette haha who would have thought that the first time would be on my
mission ;) It was awesome to see him take more steps to change. I know it was
hard for him but it was great to see how happy his family was.
Wednesday
we did splits with the teenagers of the ward, I really enjoy working with them
because a lot of them want to go on missions so this gives them an opportunity to
see what a mission is really like. As we were visiting Hazel in the night she
told us that she wanted to be married and baptized the next day. You can
imagine our surprise and exceeding joy! So we called our District Leader and
she had her interview. We have been working with her husband as well but he is
tough. He believes that he doesn’t need a baptism, so we have met with him a
few times.
Thursday we
had the marriage of Hazel y Jinmey and the baptism of Hazel. The bishop was
there and he bore testimony of how important baptism is and it was perfect for
Jinmey!!! After Hazel was baptized we were waiting for her to get dressed and
the ward mission leader had me directing hymns. He came up to me after we sang
a couple and asked me what my favorite hymn was, so I told him it was How Great
Thou Art. To which he turned to the people there and said “Hermanos y Hermanas
vamos a cantar por ustedes.” (brothers and sisters we are going to sing for
you.) You can imagine my confusion and shock. He counted to three and we both
started singing Grande eres tu! Hahaha. Talk about always having to be
prepared, you’d think I was a boy scout or something. Anyway after we were done
the bishops wife told me that I am learning Spanish because I am supposed to
marry the ward mission leader… Awkward… haha. People always love to joke about
me marrying people here. But anyway I laughed about the surprise duet for the
rest of the day.
Friday we
had a meeting with the other Chinandega zone and President Collado. We also had
the privilege of hearing from an area 70 Elder Maravilla. It was very spiritual
and I learned a lot! I also got my
package (Thank you mom) J And I don’t know if Sarah Young reads these
letters or not, but if she does I just want to say thank you for your letter!
Mail means so much to a missionary, I don’t think people understand unless they
have been on a mission. So if anyone else feels like sending a letter feel
free! Haha, but seriously….
Saturday
was pretty normal, there was a soccer game on that everyone was watching and it
reminded me of how Utah is on the day that BYU plays U of U. It made me miss
sitting on the couch with Dad watching the games. I have decided that I really do like watching
soccer though. So that is something else new that I have picked up from here J
Sunday was
another day of rain. In the morning we did splits to bring more people to
church and at 1:30 we did splits again because one family told us that they
could only go to the 2:00 meeting. So Hermana Lopez stayed at the church with
one of our families and a teenager and I set out with another teenager into the
monsoon. I kid you not the taxis were like boats. The water was up to our mid-calf.
So we swam to the house and it turns out they weren’t there. I gave my umbrella
to the teenager I was with because she was in a white dress and by the time we
got back to the church I literally had to wring out my clothes. I felt like I
had jumped into a pool fully clothed haha. Oh the life of a Nicaraguan
missionary. That night we had dinner at the family of Jerry (the Escorsias) and
her food is always so good. It is nice to have good food on Sundays because it
makes me feel like home. Anyway all of their family came over and we were all
laughing and having a good time. It reminded me of how lucky I am to have
family that all loves each other and the good relationships that we have. I
know that we are incredibly blessed to have the family that we do. I know that
Heavenly Father blessed us with our family because He knew that we would need
each other. I am grateful every day for the love and support of my family. So
thank you to my Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Parents, Brothers,
Sisters, Nieces and Nephews for your love and support. I know I couldn’t do it
without you all and the help of my Father in Heaven. Until next week J keep on smiling!
Hermana Willardson
Monday, October 14, 2013
What the Bat?
Hola
Familia!!
I am still here in Ayapal with Hermana Lopez J We hope to be together until she finishes the mission. That would be awesome. Our area is really starting to thrive and I am grateful. Cambios were today and some of my friends that I have grown close to are leaving which is sad. The mission is a strange time. Haha but I am grateful to be having the experiences I am having here in Nicaragua!
Tuesday we had our normal District meeting and it was a pretty normal day. It started pouring rain in the middle of the day and we were drenched in about 2 minutes haha. It’s a good thing I know how to swim because the streets literally turn into rivers when it rains here. It is crazy, I think I am going to buy a raft and when it rains we will just paddle ourselves to our different appointments haha. The Bishops dad died and the Bishop invited us all to the funeral, I tell you what if you are ever looking for an awkward experience go to a funeral of someone you didn’t know. It was a little awkward… haha
Wednesday we were walking to another appointment and it started pouring again so we took shelter on the front porch of one of our investigators. While we were waiting out the storm drunk Joseph found us again. ( I told yall about him last week) Anyway this time he had a bowl with him and he would scoop up the water from the street and drink it from his princess bowl. Then he proceeded to tell me that he knows 4 different languages. He is quite the funny guy, but he always seems to find us and he will always try to speak English but I swear he is always drunk. It is quite humorous to be honest.
Thursday we were with Emanuel for his baptismal interview and there has been an outbreak of Dengue so they are fumigating like crazy. The funny thing is that they fumigate very differently here. So we were sitting outside talking to Ingrid while Elder. Vivas talked to Emanuel and all of a sudden there was this loud buzzing noise. Ingrid stood up and ran into the street then came back and started yelling, in what I think was Spanish, grabbed the chairs and ran to the other side of the road. You can imagine my confusion. Naturally we followed and coming down the street was this pickup truck with a big tank in the back. It had a mister attached to it and it was spraying all the houses, kind of like a big sprinkler, but only one side of the street at a time. So as it passed we were all coughing up a lung because we were inhaling the pesticide, don’t worry I am sure it’s safe to breathe... Haha It was a fun experience
Friday we did splits and I was with Hermana Rojas. She is from Costa Rica but served in Nicaragua and was back visiting her recent converts. I learned a whole bunch from her and it was really good for our area. We went back to the house for a second to get stuff to do splits and we walked in and there was a bat flopping around on the floor. Scared the crap out of me and Hermana Lopez haha. We had to sweep it out with our broom but very carefully because we didn't want it to bite us. It was a little frightening I won't lie. It was also the Cumplimes of Hermana Lopez so we bought a pizza and Coke and for a moment I felt like I was home again. The pizza was super super tasty J
Saturday Emanuel and Jerry were both baptized. I tell you what there is nothing quite like watching people you have worked so hard with finally take the necessary steps. It was a very tiring but rewarding day. Both families wanted to feed us after plus we had our lunch appointment so we ended up having 3 lunches. I almost barfed haha I haven’t been that full in a really long time.
Sunday was a normal day, nothing too exciting happened. We were looking for people in the morning to bring to church like usual and I invited this random old man and he told me that he would come (which is what they all say.) and then we were sitting in church and what do you know Julio walked in (the old man). I was pleasantly surprised. As I was playing the piano for the Hymns the fan was on high so the pages wouldn’t stay. So I had to use one h and to hold the page and the other to play. It was really exciting. I will have to try to figure out something to do about that.
Anyway I hope you are all doing well and know that I love you! I am loving Ayapal and things are going really well! I am taking extra precautions with the mosquitos because 8 people have died in the last 2 weeks from Dengue.. don’t tell mom… haha just kidding. Anyway I am sorry this email was a little boring. But I love you all!
Love Hermana Willardson
I am still here in Ayapal with Hermana Lopez J We hope to be together until she finishes the mission. That would be awesome. Our area is really starting to thrive and I am grateful. Cambios were today and some of my friends that I have grown close to are leaving which is sad. The mission is a strange time. Haha but I am grateful to be having the experiences I am having here in Nicaragua!
Tuesday we had our normal District meeting and it was a pretty normal day. It started pouring rain in the middle of the day and we were drenched in about 2 minutes haha. It’s a good thing I know how to swim because the streets literally turn into rivers when it rains here. It is crazy, I think I am going to buy a raft and when it rains we will just paddle ourselves to our different appointments haha. The Bishops dad died and the Bishop invited us all to the funeral, I tell you what if you are ever looking for an awkward experience go to a funeral of someone you didn’t know. It was a little awkward… haha
Wednesday we were walking to another appointment and it started pouring again so we took shelter on the front porch of one of our investigators. While we were waiting out the storm drunk Joseph found us again. ( I told yall about him last week) Anyway this time he had a bowl with him and he would scoop up the water from the street and drink it from his princess bowl. Then he proceeded to tell me that he knows 4 different languages. He is quite the funny guy, but he always seems to find us and he will always try to speak English but I swear he is always drunk. It is quite humorous to be honest.
Thursday we were with Emanuel for his baptismal interview and there has been an outbreak of Dengue so they are fumigating like crazy. The funny thing is that they fumigate very differently here. So we were sitting outside talking to Ingrid while Elder. Vivas talked to Emanuel and all of a sudden there was this loud buzzing noise. Ingrid stood up and ran into the street then came back and started yelling, in what I think was Spanish, grabbed the chairs and ran to the other side of the road. You can imagine my confusion. Naturally we followed and coming down the street was this pickup truck with a big tank in the back. It had a mister attached to it and it was spraying all the houses, kind of like a big sprinkler, but only one side of the street at a time. So as it passed we were all coughing up a lung because we were inhaling the pesticide, don’t worry I am sure it’s safe to breathe... Haha It was a fun experience
Friday we did splits and I was with Hermana Rojas. She is from Costa Rica but served in Nicaragua and was back visiting her recent converts. I learned a whole bunch from her and it was really good for our area. We went back to the house for a second to get stuff to do splits and we walked in and there was a bat flopping around on the floor. Scared the crap out of me and Hermana Lopez haha. We had to sweep it out with our broom but very carefully because we didn't want it to bite us. It was a little frightening I won't lie. It was also the Cumplimes of Hermana Lopez so we bought a pizza and Coke and for a moment I felt like I was home again. The pizza was super super tasty J
Saturday Emanuel and Jerry were both baptized. I tell you what there is nothing quite like watching people you have worked so hard with finally take the necessary steps. It was a very tiring but rewarding day. Both families wanted to feed us after plus we had our lunch appointment so we ended up having 3 lunches. I almost barfed haha I haven’t been that full in a really long time.
Sunday was a normal day, nothing too exciting happened. We were looking for people in the morning to bring to church like usual and I invited this random old man and he told me that he would come (which is what they all say.) and then we were sitting in church and what do you know Julio walked in (the old man). I was pleasantly surprised. As I was playing the piano for the Hymns the fan was on high so the pages wouldn’t stay. So I had to use one h and to hold the page and the other to play. It was really exciting. I will have to try to figure out something to do about that.
Anyway I hope you are all doing well and know that I love you! I am loving Ayapal and things are going really well! I am taking extra precautions with the mosquitos because 8 people have died in the last 2 weeks from Dengue.. don’t tell mom… haha just kidding. Anyway I am sorry this email was a little boring. But I love you all!
Love Hermana Willardson
Monday, October 7, 2013
Hola
Familia!
This week
was pretty normal, things here in Nicaragua are good! The rainy season is
ending so everyday it is getting hotter and hotter. I know I wanted to be
somewhere warm but woooweee haha, I definitely got what I was asking for.
Tuesday was
pretty good we had a District Meeting and afterwards we played Mafia. People
always underestimate me when it comes to Mafia which is why I enjoyed playing
it so much haha. Then we started teaching Emanuel. He is the son of Ingrid but
for some reason she didn’t want him to be baptized the same day they were. But
we started teaching him and he will be baptized this Saturday. He has a hard
time focusing on the lessons because he is only 9 so I bring him candy and when
he is good he gets the candy haha.
Wednesday I
got a sweet package filled with American candy. It was super nice!! Packages
are seriously envied here so when you get one it is the talk of the mission
haha. Anyway we met with Jerry again. He is the teenager that was going to get baptized
a couple weeks ago but it fell through due to family problems. Anyway the
problems are resolved now and he should be baptized this Saturday as well. I am
very excited. During the middle of the day there was a huge rainstorm! In 15
minutes the roads were flooded and the water was up to the middle of our calves.
CRAZY!! So we sought shelter in one of our recent converts houses. Thank
heavens. Haha.
Thursday
was pretty good we worked super hard this week because we could only go to
General Conference if we had investigators. So we would leave early and come
home late. It was some hard work I tell you what. But we finally met Jimmey. He
is the husband of Hazel. Hazel is Ingrids friend that told us she wants to get
baptized but she needs to get married first. So we met Jimmey and talked to him
about the church. He is kinda hard but I have faith that things are going to
turn out right.
Friday we
were teaching Hazel and Jimmey outside when all of a sudden this drunk man
stumbles up and sits down with us. We were all a little startled because drunks
are usually dangerous, especially for me. So we were all a little on edge but
he told us to continue teaching. So we did. About 30 minutes after he sat down
he stood up and said, “Hay una chalita aqui!” It took him 30 minutes to realize
I was white haha. So he started walking over to me with his hand extended and
he told me that he could speak English. So I said, “oh can you” and he told me
his name was Joseph. So I shook his hand, and said, “Goodbye Joseph”. He
saluted me and went on his marry way, telling the dogs in the street that he
talked to the white girl with eyes of the ocean.. Haha. I am convinced that
Heavenly Father has a sense of humor.
Saturday
all of our investigators fell through so we didn’t get to go to conference L So we just worked hard all day. We
had an appointment with our neighbor Mirna. She is the one we had a lesson with
and her bird flew on top of my head in the middle of the lesson. So as you can
imagine I was a little nervous to teach her again. So as we walked up to her
door, Juan the bird, appeared and flew onto my arm because I was prepared this
time and held out my hand for him to land on. He climbed his way up onto my
shoulder and sat there for the whole lesson. Haha we have become good friends.
He is a parrot and will repeat random stuff throughout the lessons haha. Super
hilarious.
Sunday we
got to go to both conferences and they were super great. Hazel and Jimmey came
and I know that they felt the spirit because it was awesome. The church had a
bus for the members because it was in the stake center which is pretty far from
here. So we had a big bus that we got to go in. Exciting! But to be completely
honest I didn’t get as much out of conference as I was hoping to. 1. Because it
was all in Spanish and apostles like to use big words
2. I wasn’t
very focused because I was in charge of keeping the kids quiet. So when
conference comes out on the internet I will be listening to it while I write.
Today we
went to the market to try and find some Christmas presents. The hard thing is
that I am white so people think I have money so they try to charge me double
what it really is. So we took the wife of the Bishop with us. Haha I found some
stuff to send J And
now here I am in the Cyber Faby writing all of you! I hope you all know that I
am loving it here, I have realized that this is going to be the best 18 months
for my life and every day I am grateful to be here. Regardless of the
difficulties of living in another country I am so grateful and so lucky to be
here. Every day I realize more and more why I am here. I am so grateful for
conference and for the chance we have to hear from a living Prophet. I love you
all and I can feel your prayers. Thank you for your love and support.
Hermana
Willardson
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Sept 30th 2013
9/30/13
¡Hola familia!
This week I learned a lot about how trials proceed miracles. I am very grateful for this opportunity to have learned this lesson even though it was a hard one to learn.
Monday I was having a rough day, I was homesick and physically sick and just not having a good day. But we got to move into our new house thank heavens! But as a was praying that night and asking for help I realized that my head wasn’t in the right place. I realized that I need to take the word “I” and put it away for the next 16 months. And I tell you what after I figured that out the week was much better. Now I am not saying that magically everything was fine but I have realized that when you focus on the work everything else will fall into place the way it is supposed to.
Tuesday I hit my two month mark and it is hard for me to believe it has already been two months. Although sometimes it has felt like longer hahaha after we finished moving the rest of our stuff we were sitting outside with the elders that had helped us move and we bought them cokes to say thank you. And as I was sitting there on the steps of a rundown apartment building drinking coke from a glass bottle it kinda hit me that I am living in Nicaragua! I was filled with so much joy I just started laughing. People thought I had lost my mind haha. That night Hermana Lopez was telling me that her calf was really sore so I let her use some of my Icy Hot and it was the first time she had ever used anything like it… hahahaha she was rubbing it on her leg and then turned and looked at me and said “HERMANA WILLY MY LEG IS ON FIRE!!” In this cute broken Hispanic accent. I laughed so so hard! It was really funny until I went to take out my contacts and I had forgotten that I used a little of the cream too.. haha. Let’s just say I don’t think my eye will ever feel the same.
Wednesday morning they came and fumigated our apartment which they didn’t give us any notice but its ok we just had to let it air out for a little while. But we went back in and resumed studying and I was reading my Book of Mormon and all of a sudden a dead cockroach fell into my lap. Hahaha I tell you what I have had more strange experiences with animals here in the past month than I have my whole life. Then as we were teaching one of our investigators their next door neighbors started to have a party and they were playing American music.. It was extremely difficult for me to not stand up and start dancing right then and there!! But for the sake of my companion, investigators, and the seriousness of the lesson I restrained myself. Ha but it was not easy. That night there was an awesome lightning storm with horizontal lightning! I can’t explain it very well but it covered the whole sky with never ending lightning! It was so so cool!
Thursday we had interviews with president everyone was nervous and I was calm as a rock. Rocks are pretty calm right? And I am still not sure why people were so nervous but oh well haha anyway we forgot to close one of our windows and there was a really good rainstorm. A few of my books got really wet and things don’t dry very well here so we will see if I can still use them. Hopefully I will be able to. While we were waiting for our interviews we decided to go contact a bus. I was a little nervous I won’t lie. Just because I am insecure with my Spanish but I stood at the front of the bus and invited everyone to be baptized haha. It was actually super fun but I probably won’t be doing that again anytime soon. We did get one person that was interested. But they live in a different area so we gave the other missionaries her information.
Friday we had to get everything ready for the baptism and wedding. Which was a lot of work haha we pay for the lawyer and buy them a cake on our little missionary budget haha. But I was more than willing to help out. They had their interviews and we faced some difficulties and cold feet but by the end of the day everything was ready to go.
Saturday morning we found out that the bus that was supposed to take us to the Ocean wasn’t going to leave until 3:00pm which would mean we wouldn’t get back until 9:00pm and Ingrid didn’t want to do that so we just went to the chapel, which was still beautiful. That morning we helped her get ready and made sure nothing happened to them before their baptism. And then at 12:00 they got married then baptized. My heart was so full of joy and love for this family that I love so much. I know that I saw a miracle this weekend and it made every trial that I have had worth it. I am grateful for the chance I have to be here and be a helping hand of a miracle. After the baptism at 6:00 we had a dinner and the cake and Hazel (Ingrids friend that we have been teaching too) told me that she wants to be baptized ASAP!!! Another miracle, we are hoping that on October 12th she will be married and baptized as well!!!!
This week has just shown me how the night is always darkest before the dawn. (Thank you Batman.)
I am grateful for every one of my trials because I know that it either means that I am about to witness a miracle or learn a lesson that I will be able to take into my life forever. I am learning so much here, not only about myself but about life as well. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Yes there are going to be hard days, but if it was always easy what would I learn? I am so grateful for the support of my family and friends. I know it isn’t easy for you all to have me be gone haha but I am grateful for your letters and support.
I love you all!!
Hermana Willardson
¡Hola familia!
This week I learned a lot about how trials proceed miracles. I am very grateful for this opportunity to have learned this lesson even though it was a hard one to learn.
Monday I was having a rough day, I was homesick and physically sick and just not having a good day. But we got to move into our new house thank heavens! But as a was praying that night and asking for help I realized that my head wasn’t in the right place. I realized that I need to take the word “I” and put it away for the next 16 months. And I tell you what after I figured that out the week was much better. Now I am not saying that magically everything was fine but I have realized that when you focus on the work everything else will fall into place the way it is supposed to.
Tuesday I hit my two month mark and it is hard for me to believe it has already been two months. Although sometimes it has felt like longer hahaha after we finished moving the rest of our stuff we were sitting outside with the elders that had helped us move and we bought them cokes to say thank you. And as I was sitting there on the steps of a rundown apartment building drinking coke from a glass bottle it kinda hit me that I am living in Nicaragua! I was filled with so much joy I just started laughing. People thought I had lost my mind haha. That night Hermana Lopez was telling me that her calf was really sore so I let her use some of my Icy Hot and it was the first time she had ever used anything like it… hahahaha she was rubbing it on her leg and then turned and looked at me and said “HERMANA WILLY MY LEG IS ON FIRE!!” In this cute broken Hispanic accent. I laughed so so hard! It was really funny until I went to take out my contacts and I had forgotten that I used a little of the cream too.. haha. Let’s just say I don’t think my eye will ever feel the same.
Wednesday morning they came and fumigated our apartment which they didn’t give us any notice but its ok we just had to let it air out for a little while. But we went back in and resumed studying and I was reading my Book of Mormon and all of a sudden a dead cockroach fell into my lap. Hahaha I tell you what I have had more strange experiences with animals here in the past month than I have my whole life. Then as we were teaching one of our investigators their next door neighbors started to have a party and they were playing American music.. It was extremely difficult for me to not stand up and start dancing right then and there!! But for the sake of my companion, investigators, and the seriousness of the lesson I restrained myself. Ha but it was not easy. That night there was an awesome lightning storm with horizontal lightning! I can’t explain it very well but it covered the whole sky with never ending lightning! It was so so cool!
Thursday we had interviews with president everyone was nervous and I was calm as a rock. Rocks are pretty calm right? And I am still not sure why people were so nervous but oh well haha anyway we forgot to close one of our windows and there was a really good rainstorm. A few of my books got really wet and things don’t dry very well here so we will see if I can still use them. Hopefully I will be able to. While we were waiting for our interviews we decided to go contact a bus. I was a little nervous I won’t lie. Just because I am insecure with my Spanish but I stood at the front of the bus and invited everyone to be baptized haha. It was actually super fun but I probably won’t be doing that again anytime soon. We did get one person that was interested. But they live in a different area so we gave the other missionaries her information.
Friday we had to get everything ready for the baptism and wedding. Which was a lot of work haha we pay for the lawyer and buy them a cake on our little missionary budget haha. But I was more than willing to help out. They had their interviews and we faced some difficulties and cold feet but by the end of the day everything was ready to go.
Saturday morning we found out that the bus that was supposed to take us to the Ocean wasn’t going to leave until 3:00pm which would mean we wouldn’t get back until 9:00pm and Ingrid didn’t want to do that so we just went to the chapel, which was still beautiful. That morning we helped her get ready and made sure nothing happened to them before their baptism. And then at 12:00 they got married then baptized. My heart was so full of joy and love for this family that I love so much. I know that I saw a miracle this weekend and it made every trial that I have had worth it. I am grateful for the chance I have to be here and be a helping hand of a miracle. After the baptism at 6:00 we had a dinner and the cake and Hazel (Ingrids friend that we have been teaching too) told me that she wants to be baptized ASAP!!! Another miracle, we are hoping that on October 12th she will be married and baptized as well!!!!
This week has just shown me how the night is always darkest before the dawn. (Thank you Batman.)
I am grateful for every one of my trials because I know that it either means that I am about to witness a miracle or learn a lesson that I will be able to take into my life forever. I am learning so much here, not only about myself but about life as well. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Yes there are going to be hard days, but if it was always easy what would I learn? I am so grateful for the support of my family and friends. I know it isn’t easy for you all to have me be gone haha but I am grateful for your letters and support.
I love you all!!
Hermana Willardson
Sept 23
9/23/13
Hey Family! I hope you are all doing well J
This week was pretty good and it flew by faster than I can even handle!
Monday after FHE we had to hurry home because Hermana Raymond and Hermana Gonzales were sleeping over because we all had to go to Managua in the morning and we needed to leave at 5:00, it was fun but our room is tiny so we really didn’t have much space. 4 girls on 2 twin size mattresses and bunk beds. We had a good time!
Tuesday we went to Managua and it was another 6 hour bus ride round trip and these buses always make me sick because the way they drive is absolutely crazy! Anyway we were in our training from 9-6 and it was super super super long. Haha especially because I was so tired! As we left we convinced the bus driver to go to Mcdonalds. So we had to go through a parking garage to get to McDonalds and the bus was too tall. I know because we scraped the top as we passed the bar that tells you how tall your car can be but the bus driver just kept going so when we got to the actual garage we scraped the top again really bad and then finally the bus driver decided we were too tall haha. So we went to another McDonalds and it was so good I was so excited! I wasn’t even hungry but you better believe I got myself a hamburger.
Wednesday we had splits and I went to another area. This area includes a city called Naranjo and it is so incredibly beautiful. It is like a jungle with little shacks for houses. It was seriously so awesome. A lot of people here have pigs for pets and we went to this one house and the pig had pigglets and they act just like dogs. They were really cute but smelled super bad
Thursday we had a district meeting and I got the letters from the family!! It was super funny that you send 4 different envelopes haha people laughed at that. Then we were tracting and we sat down on the curb for a second and I looked in the street and there was a dead rat so I took a picture and I will send it. It was super gross but for some reason I thought it was hilarious. We had 2 dinners and I thought I was going to throw up, haha I am starting to get sick of Gillopinto already.. this is going to be a long ride.
Friday we woke up early and went running, yes you read that right. I woke up and went running. I tell you what I am a changed person haha it was super hot but I actually really enjoyed it. Then we had to go to the Chalpia to get the marriage papers for Jose and Ingrid because they are getting married and baptized on Saturday J. We also started teaching a woman named Mirna and as we were teaching her this parrot (her pet)came and landed on my head. No joke. I was just sitting there talking about the restoration and then out of now where this bird lands on my head. It scared me pretty good and I screamed hahahahaha holy cow it was so funny!
Saturday we finally found a house and we should be moving tomorrow. President just needs to view the photos and approve it! I am so excited. It is in a complex called Colonial Ayapal I dunno if you want to Google earth that or not. Then the Elders came and taught Ingrid and Jose with us. I think Jose was happy to have men to talk to haha.
Sundays are always really great but I woke up and I was so exhausted because we had so much to do this week haha, I couldn’t believe it was already Sunday though. Jose and Ingrid came to church with us and their daughter Sarah, and her friend Maribelle that I talked about a couple weeks ago. It was really great!
Today we went and bought some stuff and cleaned and started packing to hopefully move tomorrow. I am still loving it here!! I have the funniest tan lines too. From shoes and my watch and my shirts, it is a nice farmers tan!
That is about all for this week! I love you all and I will talk to you next week!
Hey Family! I hope you are all doing well J
This week was pretty good and it flew by faster than I can even handle!
Monday after FHE we had to hurry home because Hermana Raymond and Hermana Gonzales were sleeping over because we all had to go to Managua in the morning and we needed to leave at 5:00, it was fun but our room is tiny so we really didn’t have much space. 4 girls on 2 twin size mattresses and bunk beds. We had a good time!
Tuesday we went to Managua and it was another 6 hour bus ride round trip and these buses always make me sick because the way they drive is absolutely crazy! Anyway we were in our training from 9-6 and it was super super super long. Haha especially because I was so tired! As we left we convinced the bus driver to go to Mcdonalds. So we had to go through a parking garage to get to McDonalds and the bus was too tall. I know because we scraped the top as we passed the bar that tells you how tall your car can be but the bus driver just kept going so when we got to the actual garage we scraped the top again really bad and then finally the bus driver decided we were too tall haha. So we went to another McDonalds and it was so good I was so excited! I wasn’t even hungry but you better believe I got myself a hamburger.
Wednesday we had splits and I went to another area. This area includes a city called Naranjo and it is so incredibly beautiful. It is like a jungle with little shacks for houses. It was seriously so awesome. A lot of people here have pigs for pets and we went to this one house and the pig had pigglets and they act just like dogs. They were really cute but smelled super bad
Thursday we had a district meeting and I got the letters from the family!! It was super funny that you send 4 different envelopes haha people laughed at that. Then we were tracting and we sat down on the curb for a second and I looked in the street and there was a dead rat so I took a picture and I will send it. It was super gross but for some reason I thought it was hilarious. We had 2 dinners and I thought I was going to throw up, haha I am starting to get sick of Gillopinto already.. this is going to be a long ride.
Friday we woke up early and went running, yes you read that right. I woke up and went running. I tell you what I am a changed person haha it was super hot but I actually really enjoyed it. Then we had to go to the Chalpia to get the marriage papers for Jose and Ingrid because they are getting married and baptized on Saturday J. We also started teaching a woman named Mirna and as we were teaching her this parrot (her pet)came and landed on my head. No joke. I was just sitting there talking about the restoration and then out of now where this bird lands on my head. It scared me pretty good and I screamed hahahahaha holy cow it was so funny!
Saturday we finally found a house and we should be moving tomorrow. President just needs to view the photos and approve it! I am so excited. It is in a complex called Colonial Ayapal I dunno if you want to Google earth that or not. Then the Elders came and taught Ingrid and Jose with us. I think Jose was happy to have men to talk to haha.
Sundays are always really great but I woke up and I was so exhausted because we had so much to do this week haha, I couldn’t believe it was already Sunday though. Jose and Ingrid came to church with us and their daughter Sarah, and her friend Maribelle that I talked about a couple weeks ago. It was really great!
Today we went and bought some stuff and cleaned and started packing to hopefully move tomorrow. I am still loving it here!! I have the funniest tan lines too. From shoes and my watch and my shirts, it is a nice farmers tan!
That is about all for this week! I love you all and I will talk to you next week!
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