Celebration...

Monday, August 29, 2011 7:25 PM

Note from Mom: I owe Courtney an apology for being so late posting to her blog! She is very diligent in sending posts; however, with the beginning of school and such, I got behind. So, although it's a little late, here is an update (with this week's to follow shortly!)...

So we decided to do a piñata for an elder´s birthday because his family doesn’t write him and stuff so we wanted him to have his first birthday party ever. It was really fun. And delicious. It was a blast beating up Barney too!! hahahah. We didn’t have a stick or anything but I think that punching the piñata is much more entertaining (and less dangerous for spectators) than batting it around.

My area is a difficult area with a lot of rich people - because there are no necessities in life, because they have no tribulations, they do not feel it important to go to church or to learn of His gospel or to do anything for Him at all for that matter. I’ve actually found it very interesting how here in Nicaragua, the people that have problems really realize and recognize that the reason they are where they are is because God expects a change out of them. I wouldn’t wait up for something like that back home, personally. Anyways, we have still been finding a few families and individuals that we can teach. My comp and I have found and taught 2 great investigators for our District Leader and it is a joy to see them progressing. They are to be baptized these next 2 weekends. I like seeing people accept the teachings of the Lord and to make real changes in their lives. One of them compares himself to Joseph Smith, really being able to identify with how it feels going from church to church looking for something real that sticks. Miguel feels that this is what he has been looking for all this time.

In the mission, we aren’t just missionaries. We aren’t just representatives of our families or of the church. We aren’t just guides, or instructors or teachers. We don’t only preach the gospel. We don’t just strengthen and organize the church. We don’t just study and plan and we aren’t just counselors or servants. But beyond all that, we are the answer to the prayers of the people that have pleaded with the Lord for something better. We are representatives of Christ Himself in the world. There are people waiting for us. We are their superheroes, their angels. Most of the time it’s just working to become perfectly united with the Lord to find those chosen. He needs to be able to entrust His children to us. It really matters where your heart and interests are at.