Well Familia, the time is flying and here is the updates of all the goings on aqui.
1. The familia Lezama did not got baptized this weekend, but we had a lesson with them and one of the Zone Leaders and the spirit was really present. They know baptism is the right thing but they are having a hard time with asking the Lord if the church is true. I cant say enough about how important prayer is. If there is one thing that has really been impressed on my mind this week it is the importance of prayer. I really like a scripture in 2 Ne 32:8-9. And something that I have been pondering and asking my investigators to ponder as well is why Satan doesnt want us to pray. Familia, please be strong. Say your prayers. Read your scriptures. I learned this week that there are about 200 inactive members in our ward. My heart is a little broken, but I have seen the power of transformation that comes with the gospel and I have hope. I know that if we will just do the things that we need to we will dont have to fall away from the church. Please be strong.

2. Well I hit my 3 month mark this week and hna Rojas and I ate a choco banano to celebrate. Time flies.

3. More about Nicaragua: here everything comes in little plastic sandwich baggies. If a person buys a fresco it comes in a plastic bag with a straw. If someone buys a taco it comes in a plastic bag and the vender squirts everything (sauce, creme) right in the bag and not in the taco. THese little bags litter the streets because here the streets are the garbage system. THings are super cheap here too. I can by a bag of grahm cracker cookies and a bottle of minute made for a little less than a dollar. 

4. I found out this week that my companions favortie movie is Brother Bear which is pretty ironic. We are allowed to watch Disney movies so in the morning while we are getting ready we listen to the song tell everybody I¨m on my way, and I´m lovin every step I take. 

5. THis week we hit a record adn taught 7 Menos Activos in one day which was really sad. It wasnt in our plans but we ended up in a little area called the champas (it is super pobre. Most of the houses have dirt floors and the seats are a combination of buckets and plastic chairs, and most families are cooking over open flames) with a member and she introduced us to a whole world of people that we didn´t even know excited let alone that practically all of them are members and none attend church. I am not really sure what to do but I have faith and the know that the Lord knows the hearts and intents of all people.

6. This week we woke up everyday with the mentality today is a day of miracles and it was. I dont have time or space to write them all but I know that the Lord´s hand is always present for those who have eyes to see it.
Love you and pray for you all.
hna Manning

The weeks seem to be flying. Here is an update of all that his been going down.
1. Well this week la hna Rojas y I were a little sick. She had the gripe and my alergies where going crazy but we tried to keep working anyway. I have got to say that we were a lot less effective and accomplished a lot less. It is increible how aqui when a we are sick it is a lot different then at home. I tried to rest for a little bet on my bed and the whole time my thoughts were running a million miles an hour...who do we need to visit....what leccion should we teach... who do we need to invite to church... needless to say I hope to avoid the experience in the future. Our ZL s came and gave us both blessings and after that all was well. 
2. Well this week one of the families have been working with told refused to answer the door...yeah that was pretty much a bummer.
3. On thursday I lost my fourth planner...I am on a roll.
4. This weekend is a holiday weekend here so we didnt have very many members in church... awesome.

But none of this really matters because one of our progressing families came to church with us  this Sunday! We have a tenative baptismal date set for this weekend but they have been hesitant so please keep them in your prayers. Also, Francisco and Maria, our recent converts are amazing. We stopped by for a visist and they told us that on Monday they had had Noche de Hogar which consisted of casi 4 prayers and hymns and rice for the treat afterwords. Francisco is only 13 or 14 but he is on fire with the gospel. I have never seen anyone with more enthusiasm for the church in my life. He stays at the church all Sunday and goes to all the wards. THis Sunday he wore a white shirt and tie and passed the sacrament. After the meeting he asked me for directions for the house of an less active member. Increible. If all members could just have his enthusiasm.

Okay a little more about Nicaragua. Here people dont like to get married so it is always a barrier for baptism. Usually we end up having a marriage ceremony right before the baptism in the church with a lawyer. It is amazing how different it is here than in the US. The missionaries (18-25 yr olds) arrange everything from the lawyer to the clothes to the cake. The whole service takes about 10 minutes and usually people dont even invite their families. In some ways this makes me really sad, but also when I think about how much money is being saved a think that in some ways the people here have it right. 

Wow...you can tell that this week I was a lot less active because i dont have very much to say. I will try to have jammed packed email for the next week. The hymn for this week is Venid Adoremos, or Oh Come All Ye Faithful. Be faithful, go to church, be active in  your callings, this is the difference between a progressing ward and a stagnant one. I love you all and am grateful for all the emails this week. Please keep the Familia Lezama en sus oraciones. 

Hermana Manning

photos from Marli

Well family, the first half of my cambio is over and I´ve got to say that it was super fast. Thanks for your letters and updates about life. They really are a blessing. Now....what to report on. This week was really interesting and little sad. Almost all of our progressing families dropped of the face of the earth which, I am not gonna lie, was kind of a  bummer. We spend so long trying to help them see the blessings that are just around the corner that it is hard when they reject them. Maybe I just need to be a better teacher. Anyway, patience is key and it is something that I am trying to  develop right now, especially with my spanish and my investigators. 

Now a little more about NIcaragua. Everyone here has bicycles and the public transportation is tricycles so every now and again hna Rojas y yo use them to get around. Sometimes whole families fit on one bicycle which is incredible. The streets are cobblestone and the floors of all the houses are either tile or dirt. 
Well the fourth of july passed and I didn´t even think about it until we got back to our house, and you all know how much a love the USA so I had to sing the Star Spangled Banner and God bless America and whatever other patriotic song popped into my head. Luckily my trainer is awesome and although she said she didn´t, I´m pretty sure she enjoyed it as much as I did. 

Other things about my trainer: Her name is hna Rojas and she is from Costa Rico which is interesting because Nicaragua and CR arent on the best terms. She pretty much knows how to do everything and takes special delight in teasing me, I try to fight back but my Spanish is pretty weak sauce so she usually wins. We have a lot of fun together. Today for P Day we cleaned our entire house which pretty much means that we flooded the house and then scrubbed the floors down with soap and brooms. Hna Rojas said it is probably the first time in more than 6 months that anyone has done anything. Yeah it was pretty gross before. What started as cleaning turned into hna Rojas dumping a bucket of water on me, which she thought was hilarious. I will attach the pictures. 

Now onto the important things. The woman and son that we baptized last week are called Maria and Francisco. They are incredible. If every member of the church could have their faith and humility we would have Zion on the earth. Well we went to check on them and see how things were going and as we always do we kicked things off with a hymn. They liked it so much that we ended up singing for an hour, one  hymn after another and we only stopped because it was getting late. I guess at times we take for granted the simple things like hymns but the spirit was so strong in their house and this is the power that we have available to us always. What a privilige it is to be here with these people. El himno de poder para esta semana es Santos Avanzad, or in English Press Forward Saints. The gospel is something to be celebrated and when hope and love are our motivation, all things become doable. 

Well family, I love and you and pray for you always. Please keep me in your prayers and keep the emails coming.
hna Manning

Well family, another week has passed and I am ready to give you an update. First of all, I had my first baptisms here this Saturday! We had 6 BAPTISMS - one family of three, a mom and her son, and a young man. Wow... it was incredible, honestly a miracle but Im not going to lie, it was a lot of work. The church here is getting stronger but it is still pretty young, so me and my comp. cleaned the church to prepare for the baptisms and washed and ironed the clothes and I even gave my first talk here in NIcaragua. I dont know if I have ever been more physicially exhausted than I am right now but it is absolutely worth it.

 

So now onto a little more about my life:

NIcaragua is piping hot every day. I am probably the tallest girl for miles and the comments that I get the most are: Sus ojos...que linda¨. y Chalita! which is like the equivalent of white girl. Everyone here thinks I have tons of money because I live it the US. I try to tell them that as a missionary I have enough for the necesities and not much more but I dont think they believe me.

The people here wake up every morning at 5 to go to work. Most families sell food out of there houses which is I think is pretty funny because everyones sells to everyone else but it isnt really food of substance and some families that sale dont have any to eat. Midday here is murder but las noches....you all would love the nights. The sun isnt melting your skin and the air is still warm. All the people have sterios and play music in the streets adn every house has a hamock or two. It really feels like fiesta every night.

 

Here you dont say Hola when you see people in the streets. You either say Buenas or Adios. At first I thought this was funny but now it has just become a way of life.

 

This last week it has started to rain. What a blessing for me! I dont think I have ever been more grateful for rain in my life. Our house has a tin roof so when it rains in the night we definitely know. Every night I fall asleep to the sound of little animals scurrying across our roof. It really is beautiful here.

 

Now onto an amazing experience. Hna Rojas y yo had been working all day with our investigators to prepare them for baptism and hadnt contacted one family. When we realized what had happened hna marched up to the first door she saw and knocked on it.   Buenas! Somos missioneras de la iglesia de jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias! Before she could say anthing more the man had us sitting in his front room with his wife and son. He told us that has already read the book of mormon and loves it, especially Alma. He really likes our church and we have high hopes for him. We will teach him the first lesson this week.

 

It sounds like you all have a had a fun filled week with the grandparents. Tell the family high and thanks for the words of encouragement.Thank you for your updates. I hope the whole family knows that this email is for everyone even though right now I am only sending it to mom and dad. Has madison been posting it for people to read? RIght now, the only way to contact me is through email because I probably am not going to get mail or dear elders for a month or two, and I have permission to email whoever so if people want to get ahold of me, tell them to email me at this address. I have little more time to write now so if members of the family write me individually I should be able to respond.

 

Well, the work goes on. It is hard but it is incredible. To see a life changed by the atonement of Christ is worth the sacrifice. This week I have been especially drawn to the hymn Come Come Ye Saints. I know that grace shall be as our days and that it is better far for us to strive our useless cares from us to drive...There is a great reward to be earned and their is much joy to felt in the service of the Lord. I love you all. Godspeed.

Hna Manning

 

Familia!

Welp, here I am, in a little internet shop in Chinendega Oeste. Let me tell you that the past week has been insane and amazing. I will give you a rehash of the most interesting parts.

Sunday: Pues, this sunday Estuardo y Cesar came to church with us and both really liked it. After church we talked to them a little about how it went and then I asked them if they would be baptized the 7 of July and they said yes! Increible! I am sad that I am not going to get to see it, but I know that is the life of a missionary. What a blessing and privilege it was to know them.

 

Monday: Monday I said goodbye to Guatemala and I´ve got to say that that was hard. I love the country but more than that I love the people there. They are incredible and the church is getting stronger. What a privilege it was to attend the CCM there. Probably the hardest part was saying goodbye to my teachers. I came to love them and it is hard when you know you might not see someone again in this lifetime. It was also really hard to say goodbye to the food because en el campo, we dont have guacamole with every meal and a fruit bar and we definitely dont have delicious icecream. Well we boarded a  flight and flew to El Salvador where we connected with a flight to Nicaragua. President and his wife met us at the airport and we went out to a special treat: McDonalds. The second I stepped out of the air port I thought I was going to die. It is SO hot here. THe hottest country in CentroAmerica. That night 6 of us slept on four mattress on the floor of an apt of hermanas, we got to have one last slumber party before being separated.

 

Tuesday: Tuesday we recieved training and were oriented to the mission. We heard a little more from President and a lot more from his wife who is amazing and doesnt take any nonesense. Then President took us to lunch at this delicious place called Tacontento which is like the golden corral of tacos only everything is right on the table like a family style meal....yeah it was amazing. After being fed, we hit the field and prosylited for the rest of the day. The country is beautiful and the people are really friendly and really poor. What a blessing it is to have the necesities of life.

 

Wed. Wednesday was a big day for me because I recieved mi Entrenadora! Her name is Hermana Rojas and she is from Costa RIca. She is incredible and only has 3 cambios. She knows and loves the people of this community and they all have a lot of respect for her. I guess I am just really blessed. First Hna Pearson who is amazing, then Hna Heiner who I cant tell you how much I love and appreciate, and now Hna Rojas who is teaching me the ropes and is helping me to set goals and reach them. Our Area, Naranjo, is about the second hottest in Nicaragua...yeah I think that is pretty funny...but it is gorgeous.  Most of the people live in 2 or 3 room houses and some only in houses made of tin. IN some parts the people dont have food everyday, but dont worry about me. We have a cook and she makes delicious food so I am recieveing the sustenance that I need!   I washed my clothes by hand for the first time today. I am becoming so self sufficient. I am also becoming really sweaty adn stinky. I am really gross all day everyday but after a while you just get used to it becuase there are more important things to think about.

 

So now a little about the work. I got my first fecha this week in Nicaragua! It is for a woman and her son and they are so receptive to the gospel. It is amazing here how some people are so prepared. On the other hand there are a lot of others who can give any excuse in the world why they don´t want to listen. Today for my first P Day my whole zone adn the other zone nearby went to Corintinos to la playa and it was beautiful. I really wish I could just have you guys come down here and experience the life for yourselves because it is incredible. Welp, I dont have a lot of time so I just want you to know that I love you all and I am so grateful for your prayers ands emails. Please keep both of them coming. I know that this work is the work of God and that it is a blessing to be a part of it where ever you are.

 

Love Hermana Manning

Familia, Okay to jump right into this week. Things are going really
well. I will start by filling you all in on Estuardo. We found out
that he is only 23 and his nephew is 19. This week he brought his
nephew to our lessons and it was  incredible. We sat down and started
talking and he said, I was hoping that  you would tell Cesar about
Joseph Smith. We were pretty stoked about that so we talked about
authority and then the first vision and while we were talking Estuardo
would say things like, Can share and example, or can I share a
personal experience. He was a better missionary than we were! He cant
come to church with us this sunday but his nephew is so please keep
them both in your prayers. Yesterday Hna Heiner and I taught Estuardo
without any help from our Maestra Hermana Melgar which was pretty much
a our first time all on our own in Spanish with a real investigator.
Im not going to lie it was really hard to keep the lesson focused, but
at the same time, I feel like I was able to understand a lot of what
he was saying and I felt the spirit there as well. He kept saying
things like. You both are special. God has plan for you. You guys are
like Saints or something. I know  that God sent you here right now and
brought me here right now for a reason. So we tried to explain how
special he is and how God has special plan for him and for all of his
children. He kept saying things like, After my baptism.... so that was
really encouraging. He is reading the LDM and praying for a testimony
so I know we will continue to see progression in the one week we have
left with him before we leave for Nicaragua. What a miracle it is to
see the change that comes over a person when the know that God knows
and cares about them!          Okay onto another highlight of the
week. Last Saturday I was getting ready for bed and realized that I
had no idea where my retainers where. I searched through all my things
and through the garbage cans in the CCM with no luck. Then I
remembered that I had put them in a paper towel to dry them and that I
had thrown them in the trashcan in teh bathroom. Of course that
trashcan had already been emptied so I thought all hope was lost. I
decided to get down on my knees and pray. I asked God to help me,
because although two retainers isnt really a big deal, to me it was
pretty important. When I finished my prayer I talked to the other
Hermanas about what happened and next thing I know they have their
shoes on and we are walking to the presidents appartment. He gave us
permission to go dumpster diving and honestly no more than 10 min. and
3 dumpsters later we had found my retainers. What a blessing and
miracle! I know that God hears all prayers and that he knows what we
need in our lives.          Another highlight of the week, a member of
the area presidency came and spoke to us this Thursday. Usually for
these meetings we have head phones and a teacher translates but our
teacher Hermana Melgar told us that we would be fine so we decided to
take a leap of faith and go with help. It was increible! I think I
understood almost everything that was said. The gift of tongues is a
real thing. I only have a week left here in Guatemala before I hit the
field and I have got to say I wish my spanish were a lot better, but I
can say enough and with the help of a companion I will be able to get
by even if it is really painful. I am little sad that my CCM stay is
almost over. I am really going to miss my teachers and it really hurts
my heart to think I will probably never get to see them again in this
life. I am also going to miss Guatemala. It is beautiful here. Along
with all that, it is really hard to leave Estuardo. I just want to see
him continue progressing. I want to see him get the priesthood and go
to the temple and get a calling, but I guess that is the life of a
missionary and only a teaser of what I will be experiencing every
transfer. I leave for Nicaragua not this Monday but the next.   Well I
am out of time, but I want you to knkow that I love you guys and am so
grateful that you help me to live the gospel. Yo se que el evangelio
bendice a las familias. That is something that the spirit really
testified to me this week. Thank you for making our home a heaven.
      Hermana Manning