Well family, Christmas time is here and both the hna Rodriguez and I had changes which was kind of a bummer because all of our recent converts have to start from scratch with new missionaries but I know that cambios are always inspired. Really, it was all a little sad because I had 2 cambios with hermana Rodriquez and now.... It is amazing how much you can come to love someone and be accustomed to always being with them. She only has 2 months left and when I think about that it makes me want to cry, but I am also really excited to have a new area adn new experiences. So.... I ended up in Managua otra vez. My new area is Cuidad Jardin, it is really big and it is where the new missionaries come to work when they first come to Nicaragua. We share our ward with the APs and other elderes in the office. The pressure is a little bit stronger but it is really good. My companions name is Sister Vasquez. She is from El Salvador and she is hard worker. She is really sweet and she is willing to pay the price that is necessary to work miracles. This change should be really interesting. 

So this Friday was la purisima which is the day when all the people here celebrate the virgin mary and it is kind of like Halloween, only religious. The people walk to houses where shrines for Maria are set up and then they sing a song for her and the owners of the house give them a bunch of free stuff. THere are fireworks everywhere and the streets are completely filled with people. It is pretty crazy. 

Today we had our actividad for Christmas as a mission. We rented out a center with a bunch of soccer courts and played for the whole morning. It was awesome because I got to see all of my old companions. Afterwords we ate christmas dinner and every missionary recieved a gift bag from president and his  wife. AS a zone we prepared  Silent Night and had to sing it for the mission. I sang the first verse solo and a descant the third and I know that I had extra help because I was able to do it without getting too nervous. Really I have never had a Christmas like this before and in part it is really sad, but in other I feel like it is so much more real. I got two packages from Aunt Jan so that was a nice surprise. 

Really, my heart is pretty full right now of all the things that have happened to me in these past 8 months and the experiences that I have had and the people that I have come to love. I am so grateful that I am here. I love this gospel and my Savior Jesus Christ. Merry CHristmas. I love you guys so much. THank you for helping me come here.

hna Manning