Pre-Christmas Post

Monday, December 20, 2010

First, a couple pics from P-day:

Is this the Christmas turkey?

Hna. Rippstein taking a little rest...

A cool story to share:

We contacted this couple in the central park of Leon and they seemed really really enthusiastic that we come to their house and quick and so because it wasn't in our area we gave the reference to the elders (my friend Elder Mendez in the picture- he is our zone leader and actually goes home this week) and we urged them to go visit them quickly. So they did, but it was the wrong address and I remember I asked them if they at least contacted the wrong address. They said yes. This was at the beginning of this change. Didn't hear anything else about it till Elder Mendez introduced me to this man, Juan, who was the wrong address.

Turns out that he is going to be baptized this Saturday. They wouldn't have found him in the precise moment he needed help if we hadn't been at the park at that time contacting that couple who gave us the wrong address. I don't believe it was an accident. Not at all. God works in mysterious ways. It was really cool getting to be a small part of this whole thing. If I stay in León this next change, I will get to go to his baptism. Remember that sometimes we dont know why things happen but they do happen for a reason. Maybe we won't see it until far down the line, but it is there.

Some pics from the Church Christmas Activity:

El Verdadero Significado de la Navidad

Tue, December 14, 2010 1:02:06 PM

First things first - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!! I hope it was magical! Thank you for always supporting me and pushing me to be a better person with bigger dreams. Thanks for helping me to see the big picture. The things you have taught me have helped me more than you know. Here´s to another year of adventure!!

Hnas. Avila & Rippstein with converts Josue and Johan-

when they received the Melchizedek Priesthood

Hnas. Rippstein & Avila on the road to Los Leches

Courtney--I mean Hna. Rippstein

Another beautiful Nicaraguan sky....

Hnas. Avila & Rippstein headed to Los Leches again

Just a quick thought because we were cut short of time today. Logically, I have been thinking a lot about the nativity - the really reason we celebrate Christmas. When Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to stay they went door to door searching.. but no one had space for them. Today we go searching door to door as well, searching for someone who has sufficient space in their hearts for Him. Also.. when Christ was born, the kings gave him 3 gifts that were of very high value in those times. Since we can’t give precious material things directly to him now, what is our great gift? What is something grand that we ourselves can give to him?

Christmas--already?

Mon, December 6, 2010 5:11:05 PM

Well.. this blog will be rather short this week but I would like to open with how much I absolutely adored the Christmas Broadcast this year. I really never took advantage of such things before my mission. I hope I never lose my love for conference talks and devotionals like that. I loved how Elder Uchtdorf recalled the story of the Grinch (even though he did make me a little trunky! Especially in the part where he talked about apple cider.. mmmm. Absolutely killed some of the elders hahaha). Elder Uchtdorf.. I just unfailingly enjoy every message he ever offers. I felt very very touched by the other two addresses given as well, especially about the Atonement. We had 3 investigators (people of strong character and potential) who came to the devotional and I think they really did love it and feel the spirit. I did get to watch it in English, by the way, and it was glorious. Just an excellent way to celebrate the season in my opinion.

I am not exactly sure how Christmas is spent here just yet. I have gotten contrasting answers and some folks absolutely detest the celebration of Christmas. For others it is by far the best day of the year, for whatever reason. the 24th of December is supposedly the biggest day of the entire year though. It is supposed to be filled with fiestas - for all you gringos reading this that means parties :) - and yelling and noise and FOOD and dancing dancing dancing. For me it will be spent working and I am happy with that. My line of work really does bring a sense of achievement and a level of happiness and satisfaction that is impossible to describe right now.

I am feeling great here in Nicaragua overall. I am happy even though I am a chronic worry-wart - does that make sense? My life is an oxymoron hahahah it really is. I am so opposite in every aspect of my personality. But hey that is why we are friends right? We are really starting to get to know a lot of great people and have helped some people with many personal issues and obstacles (including myself sometimes!). It is ever amazing to me how we all really do have our own individual battle here in the world. I love it when questions of the soul are finally able to receive an answer. Sometimes I think I focus so much on the big big big overall picture and all the millions of things when really all I have to do is zone in on one thing at a time. I think I have never really been very good at that. But everything is possible with the help of the Lord. I know that. I testify of that every day. Some folks dismiss others as lost causes but I can say that I know there is almost no such thing as a lost cause. They are very very few and far between. Sometimes all someone needs is a friend to really listen. To really be there. To help to resolve the real problem that is hidden underneath.