Don't Be Sorry, Just Improve

Mon, November 29, 2010 5:58:12 PM

"May we be strengthened with the understanding that being blessed does not mean that we shall always be spared all the disappointments and difficulties of life." Heber J. Grant

I would send photos from this week but I think the Cyber just erased all my photos from my mission. Yeaaaa I feel great. Well. At least it will always live on in my memory. And the few photos that have made it home.

This week was Thanksgiving. It was good to hear how everything went back home! But honestly I didn't think at all about what I was missing. Until elders mentioned Black Friday and then I was really really really happy that I was far away from the states and that madness hahah. As for us, we celebrated and gave thanks and I realized what a crazy person I was being, being stressed out n such. I'm just going to let it all go. My motto of this week is ¨Don't be sorry, just improve.¨ So on Wednesdays we have an activity where members and investigators come and it is like a spiritual thought night sort of thing.. hymns, a thought, testimony, a message and an activity of some sort. This week we wanted to make special so we arranged with the bishop to get some food in there too so we had delicious empanadas ticos de pollo and tang and it was awesome.

The whole night was focused on remembering the importance of the words of prophets because they are the words of the Lord for us and since his words were on Gratitude this last conference, it was just fitting. We shared and discussed and it was great and in the end we went around the room saying what we were thankful for. It was amazing. We also had an FHE with a more or less inactive family and lots of things were remembered for them (most were in church on Sunday!) and we did the same thing. And it was a humbling, happy experience. My focus is to remember the words of the prophet and be happy and always focus on what is going awesome. Because if you cant find any reason to celebrate or smile, you are doing something wrong.

Also I had kind of a cool experience in study this week. I know it means a mountain to me and probably not much to ya'll, but the scriptures spoke to me! Or rather, I got the answer to prayer and questions this week. I haven't really read the D&C in the field here because my focus has been in the Book of Mormon and the Bible, but for some reason I ended up randomly at D&C 6. And the whole thing shattered my world. I knew that those words were meant for me in that moment. And I went through all the particular scriptures in the chapter and wrote down why they were rockin my world at that moment. It was an amazing experience and like most spiritual experiences I didn't want it to end. I know that ya'll don't know what I was praying about or really whats been on my mind or my history or my conversion or the people that we are meeting with these days, and maybe you can't tell by reading the chapter but to me it was very, very exact. I got very exact counsel on very exact problems. I only want to share the scripture that hit me the hardest of all of them and just in a very general way, in verse 14:

¨Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; For thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time.¨

If I hadn't I would not be in Nicaragua. I would not be with the gospel. I would not be in this almost constant state of clarity or happiness that I have.

A few of the maaaaaaaaaaaaany things I am thankful for:
- For the times when things DO work
- Water
- Active members who are very involved and seek first the kingdom of God
- León, and my area in it
- My comps
- Memories
- Health
- Gallo Pinto
- Time
- Spiritual experiences every day
- Opportunity
- Showers and cleanliness
- My family
- Disney
- Challenges
- Picos (it is a type of bread)
- Support
- Goals and plans
- Practice for family life and challenges later on
- Letters
- The patience of others
-Spiritual gifts
- Strong members, recent converts, and investigators
- To be here and serve
- Music
- Clarity & Happiness
-Imagination

- Sleep
- Prophets
-The Spirit that is always with us to guide us
-The Gospel
- A plan for us, individually and as a whole
-Love
-The Lord

Life is good. I am good. Although the mission has had its ups and downs and this change hasn't been particularly successful as far as numbers (I have never been in this for numbers) and results go and it has been rather challenging, I have overall enjoyed all of my mission. All of the hard times even. Everything has been great. I love it. I just.. love it.

Momotombo

Mon, November 22, 2010 6:27:07 PM

Note: Somehow something happened to Courtney's email and as of right now I can't find the pics that accompanied this blog--they went on holiday or something! If I can retrieve them, I'll add them in....

Today when we went to Viejo Leon which is Old Leon - the capital was built and everything but it was destroyed and now it is here where I am, so we went to the ruins basically. Thing is the only thing they could do to preserve the ruins I guess was pour concrete all over the top and so it didnt look very ruins-ish but hey it was cool and we got to take pictures with volcano Momotombo! The pics I took kind of give you a feel of just how green and beautiful it is here in Nicaragua. I am going to miss it as well as how beautiful the sky is. The other pic is me in the school uniforms they have here hahah except with my own shirt cuz the girl we lived with that graduated did something with her shirt so yea idk but its more or less what they wear. Everywhere you go you see students in these. School finished more or less for everyone last week. They do not go back to school till like February I believe

This week we worked our butts off - just always going going going and we would barely have any time at night to write in our journals before collapsing cuz of how tired we got but yea. Started off the week going to a part of my area I have never been to, called Los Leches. Unsure where it gets its name but its basically a looooong road with a few houses along the stretch of it. We were walking out there a total probably of about 6 hours and we met some really cool people so we will see where it goes with them. We head out there again tomorrow but I want to make more time out of it so we are leaving earlier. But it was really beautiful.. we will probably bring Hna Ávilas camera tomorrow with us to take pictures. It is just so green and the weather is nicer over there too cuz it is more elevated. But at one point when we were coming back all of the sudden a stampede of cows and horses came barreling at us because they were being driven uproad and we were like AHHH RUN! hahahahah it was funny though.

Also we decided to start up a new thing with service projects, passing by and offering service to anyone that needed it. This one lady took us into her house to show us that she had nothing that we could do but it turns out they had tons of work to be done in their backyard so we cleaned it for like 2 hours and it was cool. They do not seem to be interested at all in the church or anything but it still felt good to help others out. We have a few more set projects and days of service coming up too. They are killer for exhaustion but so worth it I feel like. I like León more and more every day. I really like the feeling of knowing where I am too.. I can pretty much get us wherever we need to go now. Sometimes I feel like Im just walking down the streets somewhere in the states or something (no particular place) but then I realize I am in Nicaragua. It is weird. Every now and them I think to myself.. woah.. NICARAGUA. Thats where I am. What?!

Random things that happened this week - I saw a bike with a baby doll´s head on it for decoration, a guy driving a wagon with a horse meowed at us as he passed by, kids playing jacks (I didnt know they even still made jacks! I dont know how to play it and apparently it is popular here!), I got my first impulse to get out my phone and call mom (not for anything crazy just to call her and ask a quick question), people have begun to think I am from a different part of Central America instead of always U.S. and the final random thing is christmas trees made out of bottles and glass and trash and stuff from the street. I guess it was a recycling campaign about how clean León was or something.

Also we other soaking downpours 2 days last week... on one day we heard it coming and we started running and it chased us. We fumbled with the keys and our hearts were pounding but we got into the church just as it hit us and we were saved that day. The other day we were not so fortunate... But one thing I love is at night when its not raining but its still thundering and lighting oh wow it is so beautiful to watch it storm away! It lightnings which silhouettes the clouds and what more is it is a beautiful shade of purple and wow. I mean I saw things like this on tv on like the Discovery Channel or Animal Planet or something but I never really thought of it as really being that way so it always takes me by surprise to see something so breathtaking and realize it is real.

Hna Ávila and I are really loving this change, even though it is difficult. In terms of companionship it is great - she is very very similar to me which I find weird. I will say something and she will be like.. EXACTLY! And it always takes me aback because my other comps were not quite as similar. But I love it. We laugh a lot. Sometimes all you can do in a situation is laugh haha. Work is going slow as far as the obra misional. I think we may have 2 baptisms this week, but they are for kids. All of our investigators are either uninterested, the kind that need tons of time to figure it out, or they cant be in their homes at certain times so we have to pass by till we find them. We have had to drop a family and another couple of investigators this week. Also we have had a lot of difficulty with recent converts, even though we have put a lot of focus into them these last 2 weeks to be able to smooth the transition of Hna Platero leaving and helping them with their personal issues. Even when the spirit is strong and they express a lot of gratitude for encouraging them and helping them, sometimes they still choose to head a different direction.

It is hard seeing converts fall and not being able to help them because they have their agency. My life feels a lot like Tetris right now hahah there is just so much to do and we cannot do it all ourselves. Things are getting to a slow point right now - we work hard but dont see many results. Each Saturday that passes feels that much more tense. Many times at the end of the day the greatest satisfaction is knowing we did what we could and the rest is in the hands of the Lord. You cannot beat yourself up for every unsuccess because if you do that the enemy is gonna get power real quick. Endure it and get over it. Because you can do that!

Primer CAMBIOS!

Mon, November 15, 2010 5:55:08 PM

The missionaries at 'changes'

Well, we had changes and my "mom" left me. And she also took all the long-standing relationships with members with her. This week was filled with a lot of awkward silences with those who had the relationships with her. My new comp and I have worked very hard with little results. It is difficult but I have confidence this phase will pass soon. There are just so many problems and stressors and crazy things that came up this weekend. But it is okay and you know why? It is in our hard times that we grow closer to the Lord. This.. is strength. And one day I'll understand why we have had to endure these things.

Courtney's "mom" (Hna. Platero), Courtney, and Hna. Avila

My new comp is pretty chill and knows how to work and we have similar views on missionary work so that is awesome. Hna. Avila is from Guatemala, and for once in my life, I feel sooo tall! Also.. my new missionary language is Spanglish now. I keep switching between the two in conversations it is ridiculous.. cuz my comp knows English too. I'm going to be a weirdo when I return home. Well.. more than normal anyways. She is 23 years old and she has 11 months in the mission. She served 8 in Esteli and the rest in Managua and now she is here. Everyone always tells me how awesome she is so I hope some of that can rub off on me ; ) She will have served a 20 month mission when she leaves next year - I am not sure how that happened but that's the deal. The joke is she becomes an Elder at 19 months. Haha!

Hnas. Rippstein & Avila

I am learning to love again this change. We were machetied about numbers last change and it wasn't that I personally didn't love the people we were teaching (because I truly do!), but it only became about the numbers and dates for me. Even when we didn't have tons of numbers, the people we did have were still just figures. I was just a drone. I am starting to feel like I'm in it for the right reasons again. It is difficult though when you still have the pressure of your leaders but then you realize it is just because they want us to be able to find those that need help too. They want us to be able to be there for the people that are lost and to take every opportunity. And what is more, I want to be there for those that need me. I feel that urge pulling inside me everyday. I just love Nicaragua and the people. I really do.

Tomorrow I turn 5. Weird. I am almost to my half mark. Ish.

Another Miracle

Mon, November 8, 2010 6:51:58 PM

So this week we participated in another miracle. So as some of you may or may not know, my companion has been here in the area of León for the entire first half of her mission. We expect that she will be transferred this Wednesday at changes probably. Who knows if I will go or not, that is not the point right now hahaha. Anyways so what it is, is that she has been teaching this one man, Marcio, since she came here. It has been a long and difficult ride for the two of them (and me for the last little portion!), but this weekend he was baptized and confirmed. Amazing. I remember Hna. Platero telling me when I came here that based on how things had all been going and such, if he was baptized she would witness a miracle. And so, miracles still do exist! His family - wife AND kids - are really inactive and do not really support his being baptized. His 15 year old son mocked him for it and laughed when we came to pick him up like he couldn't believe it. Pretty difficult. I know, though, that he can be strong and has a great potential.

Hermana Platero

Hermanas Rippstein and Platero,

the Priesthood holder who performed the baptism, and Marcio.

Also, there must be something truly great planned for Johan, the man who was baptized after practically being hand prepared by God for the message. I have never seen someone so truly ready for the gospel in my life. Anyways, now just about every adversity is coming his way. He is of strong character and has a true testimony, but has no support from family, is mocked by many, and generally just in circumstances that are refining his character right now. He needs your prayers. I know great things are destined for every one of those who accept the gospel and move forward in faith, but Hna Platero and I can tell that the adversary is trying very hard to get him to lose that faith. But still he is strong and pressing forward and knows what he needs to do.

I am extremely thankful for being able to participate in this work and am starting to feel like I can actually help people and find personal purpose. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Happy Halloween and other news

Mon, November 1, 2010 7:09:51 PM

Happppppy Halloween!! They do not really celebrate it here. I heard that in other areas it is actually a day of black magic and voodoo but I am in a city so we don’t have much of that. Apparently in all of Central America Halloween is not a good day, according to my companion. This was one the lamest Halloweens I have ever experienced (Luckily the two days I will miss Halloween are on the worst days of the week to have it so that makes me happy). My district leader made sure to call me and wish me happy Halloween because he knew that this day was a very important one to me, which was very nice of him. We have one of the best district leaders ever. He is very thoughtful and always willing to help in whatever way possible. He falls well with me.

This week was busy and full but I do not remember most of it.. it is kind of all a blur. I can’t believe we are already at changes again. Life is good and I like being busy. We had a special presentation about the temple and stuff for all the recent converts of Leon and it turned out pretty well I think. Couples and families that had been sealed in the temple testified together about their experiences, the missionaries all sang “I Love To See The Temple” and it was just a good experience. Except for the fact that I got super trunkey for temples hahaha. Trunkey for those of you that don’t know is what they call missionaries who miss something about their homes.

This week we had another beach baptism, which went very well. President Arredondo, his family, and the APs all came and it was a great experience. I have added photos from the trip, some with members, some with the president and his family, some with missionaries and especially some of our converts, Johan and Tino. This time we only had 2 (the other 2 investigators fell through), but I think I prefer it that way almost because I can give them the attention they deserve on their special day, rather than running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to make sure that people are feeling good. The beach was more gorgeous this time, if that is possible, and we were able to stay till sundown which was awesome. My comp and I got to ride with the president in a VAN with soft chairs and AIR CONDITIONING and it was really a treat haha.

Johan and Tino felt so good and it was such a happy experience for the two of them. Ha when Tino (the older one) put on his baptismal clothes he was parading around and dancing a bit (he is kind of strange and kooky but that’s why we love him) and he was all like, ´Soy beautiful, no?´ Hahaha we almost died laughing. What a hoot! Johan is the same age as me, his birthday is actually only 7 days before mine, but he is still so stoked about preparing for a mission! He wants everyone to feel the same way that he does and, well, isn’t that the most that a missionary can hope for one of their converts? His whole life has been changed completely around because of the help of God. They are so happy.. and I am so happy because of it. And many of our converts are still buzzing with excitement and total happiness and fullness of spirit which is something great to see.