Closing Up Changes

BUENAS Fam! :) 

 

We got back late from the activity with Hermana F and the hermanas who are in the pueblo area of our mission.  It is always so sad that we can’t do the activity with all the hermanas together because there are so many.  A lot of the hermanas I came with and Hermana M and Hermana G are all in the city :( Hermana G has been in her other area this ENTIRE time after she left La Paz.  Wow super crazy! But the activity went well I’m pretty sure! Haha I think Hermana F will be putting the pics up on the blog.  Each zone did a talent, and with our hermanas we did the hukilau dance since Hermana N is from Hawaii.  They are 3 and a half hours away from Tegu. However, they got to the activity a little late, so we practiced all together like 10 minutes before we presented our dance... haha but it actually looks pretty good in the video I have :) 

Here are some pictures.  Hermana G and I put together some games, and some sweet paper leis haha :) She is so creative, I can tell she was a bomb teacher :) I’m taking good notes from her :) I saw Hermana C too at the activity and that is always fun! She is still a sister training leader just in a different area :) Also, the sisters from La Paz were there, so I got to ask them how the area is doing, I miss everyone there! :( But M is doing well! D, they want to go on a mission, haha, and J is still going to church but is sick right now. 

 

Also last night mom; with one of the members we made saltenas! Wow... a lot longer process than we thought, so our FHE got postponed...  

But we finished up this morning with her during breakfast hour. Haha But didn’t have time to taste them.  Hermana N told us they tasted good though! And yes I wrote down the recipe, but hopefully I can remember all of what we did. :) 

 

Aw, I am sad that this change is coming to a close this week, and I’m not sure if I leave, or if I stay. I hope I get to stay another change with Hermana G, but we will see next Monday. :) J, the 14 yr old boy we have been working with that is the son of the member we made the saltenas with is getting baptized this next Saturday! :) Whoo hoo :) 

 

A lot of traveling again for intercambios en juticalpa and campamento with the sisters :) They are doing well... for the most part :) I am definitely learning a lot from them, in how I can be a better missionary, and that is why I love intercambios. 

 

Also, President spoke this week in our activity about one of his experiences in how he followed the subtle prompting of the spirit that I thought was really awesome.  He told us how he went to visit one of the families the Elders were teaching.  They were waiting for this family to arrive who was out buying food for their store, and President had other visits in other cities that he had to make still.  He thought that he would just go and try to visit this family another time since they hadn’t arrived, but he felt like he should wait.  Finally the family arrived, and after they entered and the husband and wife during the opening prayer started crying.  After the prayer President asked them what happened and why they were crying? They said that it was because the husband had had a dream where a trigenio (black guy) :) was in their house teaching them, and knew that this man was Presidente they had been trying to figure out who it was.  They had been asking their family and friends if there were any black pastors who had been teaching them, and they had said no.  Presidente was super grateful he had decided to wait, and knew that it was because of the still, subtle feelings we feel from the Holy Ghost.  We can help God’s children here are earth.  It is so true, I am learning more and more what a gift it is to have the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  He told us that as we strive to be obedient and are diligent, and strive to listen to those small promptings we will be able to help so many people.  I know that it is true, and this week I am striving to recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost more this week.  I challenge you guys too, to recognize when the Holy Ghost prompts you this week :) Let me know about your experiences, and I hope to have some as well! 

 

Much love!

Hermana Nichols 

3/16/2015 Updates

Hey hey fam! 

Oh my goodnes I cannot believe how fast time flies! I know I keep saying this, but whoa, this week has flown! 

NINE months! whoa... can't believe it :) 

Well this week at church I felt so happy to see 4 families who have recently been baptized this year at church.  And even though they are not my converts, I have seen these families in some of their ups and downs after baptism as they continue to progress.  We helped this week 2 families of those we teach come to church! 

I know that the Lord works through people on earth.  Hermana G and I planned a sort of famliy home evening with a family who are members.  But we hadn't verified what time yet, with this recent convert family that we visit.  Well their cell phone doesn't work, and they live way up in the mountains, so Hermana G and I were just praying that there would be a way to get a hold of them.  As Hermana G and I started climbing the mountains to get to this family to bring them to this famliy home evening, we were hoping that the husband would be there as well.  Well as it turned out, right as we got there the husband and wife were in a big fight, and the wife was just in tears ready to leave for her grandma's house with the kids.  We did not know what to do, and tried not to counsel them but tried calming Hermana C (the wife down) They continued to argue about how one doesn't help the other, and other things, etc. But finally we convinced Hermana C to come with us to get some fresh air and her husband (J) would watch the kids.  She finally agreed, and we climbed the mountains back down to go to our house and give her some of the pictures from their baptism and wedding from the Hermanas that baptized them.  Also before we got there, one of the members gave us some tamales that his mom made and so we were able to give these tamales to J and the kids to eat for dinner as we left with Hermana C.  We then left and went to visit the wife of the branch president so they could talk, and we walked with them back up the mountain to their house where she could talk and help them.  Oh man, but how grateful I was that we were there, when we were there to help this recently baptized family.  I know that there are not coincidences as you said Mom, but that the Spirit helps guide us and put people in certain places at certain times to help us in our challenges.  They are doing better, and I know that if we were not there, Hermana C would have left. :( How grateful I am for the Spirit that can guide us every day! 

Also we are still teaching J2, who is supposed to get baptized March 28th.We were talking to him about how he feels for his baptism, and he told us that he still is looking for an answer to see if this chruch is true.  A dream or vision.... most people expect that.  But Hermana G whipped out Alma 32, and we talked about how we don't walk by sight essentially, but by faith, and how faith is not to have a perfect knowledge.  We know J2 knows it is true, and we have had some sweet spiritual lessons with him.  Now we just hope that he will feel and recognize in his heart that this is what he needs to do.  J2 is also only 14, (I feel like I have baptized the whole Young Mens.) haha and only his Mom is a member.  But we know what a great influence he can be for his family and especially his dad.  

Well time is flying, and I am so happy to hear that Jamison is coming HOME!!! :) whoo! I miss you all! and hope you will keep J2, this recent convert familily who is having some trouble, E family, and also the other J who we are teaching in your prayers, that they will remember the spirit that they have felt, and keep their commitments so they can progress!! :) 

Love and miss you! 

Hermana Nichols 

Talanga Updates

Hey hey family! 

This week, normally like all the others has FLOWNNN! 

Started off with our Zone Conference Tuesday, and got to hear more from Presidente Fortuna! :) and Hermana G and I gave our presentation on how we can plan for our investigators using the story of how Cpt. Moroni fortified the city before war and prepared a plan to protect the city.  We used this to compare it to how we need to plan for our investigator's needs first, then what doctrine we need to teach according to their needs, then what commitments we are going to commit them to,  act and do, and then what blessings we are going to promise and testify of, along with a practice at the end.. haha We think it went well, and hopefully the missionaries got something out of it :) I have learned this week that really it is the doctrine that changes people.  President Fortuna talked to us about how he feels we sometime focus more on the applications of the gospel, when we should really focus on the doctrine, and not be afraid to tell people what commandments they are breaking. 

President Fortuna talked about different points that every missionary should know. But the one that we talked about most was about how there is always opposition in our lives.  ALWAYS.  But every problem and experience is necessary for our salvation.  We need to have challenges in our lives for our faith to grow.  But that instead of focusing on the problem, we should always focus on the solutions.  There are always solutions. Problems are nothing more than solutions in disguise.  There are no excuses. Continue finding, and trying solutions until you have success.  

or something like that from my translation :) haha 

But He said that every problem and challange is only an opprotunity to find solutions and be better.  

It is so true, through this gospel, and through Christ, there are always solutions for our mistakes or challenges in life.  I know that we always have help from our Heavenly Father in finding solutions to our questions and challenges.  And as misisonaries we can bring the answers and solutions people are searching for in their lives through the message of the gospel. 

We had exchanges with the sisters in Catacamas, which is 3 hours away.. oh man, but so beautiful... Busses and taxis are our life! haha 

We are working hard with our investigators and trying to help them progress! 

Love you and miss you!  So sad I only have 9 months left!  Yikes where has time gone?! 

Pictures of all of our sisters that we have changes with, with Sister Fortuna (Mission President's wife) and this is with the sisters in Catacamas. Sister N is from Hawaii and lives on Oahu, so yes mom, we talked about Oahu and the PCC a lot. haha :) 

Good Ole Talanga

We have been feeling the heat! whoo.... 

This week Hermana G and I had the opprotunity to baptize 2 brothers, U and D! They are so cute, and so smart. :) They are 11 and 13 years old, and U already told us he wants to serve a mission.  They are the nephews of one less active who is reactivating, and doing great!  A who is 12 who got baptized a couple weeks ago, already recieved the priesthood, and is doing great, passing the sacrament, and going on all the visits with the YM.  I love seeing converts after baptism who are so on the ball! 

Hermana G and I are working hard though now, to help new people progress for baptism.  The people here are so willing to listen, but it is hard getting the progress, and most importantly GO TO CHURCH! ughh... our investigators have trouble getting out of bed, and it is only at 9!!!!! I went to BOTH Sacrament meetings at BYU, one in Highland and the other at BYU, I want to tell them! 

But things are good here in Honduras, I love it here! Just not the bugs... haha 

Tomorrow is our big zone conference, and Hermana G and I have to speak... yikes a little nervous, but hey, thanks Mom for sending the email from Elder U way back.. haha because we are going to use the scripture en Alma 50 when Alma prepares the city for war, and compare it to how we need to prepare our lessons well for our investigators to help them overcome their challenges and help them prepare and get to their baptismal date. :) Hope it all goes well for us :) haha and pray they will understand me.  My accent still suffers. lol 

   Love and miss you all!!

   Hermana Nichols

Updates

Buenos dias! :) 

Well the heat is starting to return, and so are the bugs, I guess.  I was doing pretty well there with out any bugbites, but they have definitely come back. :( 

This week Hermana G my new companion (26, and from Bolivia) took on Talanga :) She is so cute, and was a preschool teacher in Bolivia before the mission.  She is definitely a preschool teacher. haha so sweet, and loves candy and all sweets! so we are a great match :) She keeps pulling out this bag of candy before we leave the house and gives me a handful of this rainbow colorful taffy essentially. haha 

Sad to say goodbye to Hermana C :( 

Highlight this week was when Hermana G and I went with Relief Society to essentially paint the house of one of the members.  Hermana F :) Oh man, I really have come to love it here in Honduras. She is 87 years old, and walks to church every Sunday.  She lives literally in the mountains with few neighbors.  By the end of the activity it was mostly Hermana G and I painting her house. haha I was doing the top and Hermana G the bottom.  They use white dirt and water to make the paint,and then slab it on :) haha 

Hermana G and I are starting to find new people to teach here in Talanga :) Sundays are always hectic.  We somehow ended up bringing half of the young men and primary with us to church. haha The best was when Hermana G pulled out some cookies and started sharing them with our row of investigators... the primary :) 

But we have 2 powerful brothers who are 11 and 13 who are getting baptized this next week! whoo! they live with their aunt who is a less active, but who is reactivating right now! :) Other than that, we are working with sons of members right now.  

Pray for K, J, and J that they will see the need for baptism now.  

We are also teaching our neighbors who are not married (normal here in Honduras) and are trying to commit them to baptism on the 28th of March. :) 

Miss you, all!  Things are good here :) Time is just flying! 

Love, 

Hermana Nichols 

Getting to Know Talanga

Well, I feel like I am officially getting to know Talanga a little better.  I have one more week before our next exchanges. where Hermana C will leave the area this time, and I will stay here. So I'm going to need to pick up the pace and get to know it a little better this week. haha :) 

This week we had exchanges and we went to Juticalpa which is 2 and a half hours away from Talanga.  Yikes, and for half the time, we didn't have a seat on the bus. haha But oh man, I am just so grateful for the companions I have had here on the mission.  I got to leave with sweet Hermana H, who is new in the mission, and we went to work in Juticalpa. :) It made me remember my first few weeks in the mission, even though I still feel new. But I am beginning to see a new side of the mission, in having to work and help out in problems in companionships and so on. But nothing too too big. thank goodness :)

Traveling back and forth from exchanges definitely takes up our time here in Talanga unfortunately :( so a little bit slow this week in the work.  But Mondays here are always my favorite.  Not because it is Pday, haha but becuase we have family home evenings with 2 families that just recently got baptized with Hermana C before I came.  My favorite part of the mission is to meet with recent converts after they have been baptized and see the difference in them.  :) It is so awesome seeing these two families start putting the principles of the gospel in their homes.  Last Monday for our FHE, Hermana C was teaching the dad how to start FHE.  We asked him what song he wanted to sing for the opening hymn, and he said "Angels we have heard on high." I always like the Christmas songs, so that is what we sang :) haha Later after the lesson, we asked the wife what song she wanted to sing to close, and she said after searching through the hymn book, ummm I think "Angels we have heard on high." haha Hermana C and I just looked at each other for a little bit and I couldn't help but laugh, because she totally didn't remember that is what we sang for the opening hymn, and also that they really like those Christmas songs here. haha :) 

The other family that just got baptized with Hermana C is doing awesome, too.  The dad always wears a white shirt and tie for FHEs.  It is so cute. 

I feel in these last couple weeks I have learned so much, and wish I would've known what I know now back in my old area. :( But I feel these last couple weeks I have really come to better understand our role here in the mission and as a missionary.  We really are so blessed to represent the Savior, His Church, and our famlies in teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to others.  I am so grateful for you all, :) and for your examples of people who live the gospel! 

Love you! 

Hermana Nichols 

PS they celebrate dia de mujer here (day of the women) and sweet Esteban, the ward secretary bought all the women in the ward a rose. :)  

Temple Trip & Exchanges

Hey hey family! 

How fast this week went, well, like all of them! This week we got to go to the temple! WHooo.. always my favorite, and the temple always looks so beautiful.  I also saw Hermana P and Hermana K who came with me from the CCM, I always love seeing them, so that was a treat, too. :)  My Spanish.. well is gettting there.  I guess I am understanding now when it says in my blessing, learning the language will be "relatively easy." haha I definitely can understand more than I can express, which still is frustrating at times.  This week, super sad that one of our baptisms,  L, who is 18 and who I thought was super prepared to get baptized, more than any of my other investigators, didn't pass her interview. She said she had a hard time believing there was a need for the Book of Mormon.  Super sad, because she leaves for Tegucigalpa to study at the U, and will only be back on the weekends.  We are still going to try and teach her, :( but will be more difficult now.  But Hermana C has taught me SO much lately.  Oh man, those shorter lessons are really helping. haha We have a lot of people preparing for baptism, even though that doesn't mean all of them will get baptized. She is teaching me how to work more efficiently.  This was the first Sunday on my mission where I didn't feel SO stressed in getting our investigators to come to church.  They came on their own! Wow, I am learning how to just do my part and let the investigators do their part.  Because I feel like previously I have been trying to do their part, too in accepting the gospel.

I like what Presidente told us in our meeting.  "No one can stay active in the gospel without reading the Book of Mormon regularly." and how there is a difference between being active in the gospel and active in the church.  We always leave something for our investigators to read in the BoM every time, and most of them are reading! :) Hermana C was sick this past week, and I read 15 chapters in the BoM. haha  I dont think I have read that much in one sitting, and I know there is such power that comes into our lives when we read and study the Book of Mormon. :) 

Exchanges with the sisters this week went well, and I feel like I am learning more from them than I could teach them.  

I am well here in Talanga, feeling a lot better than last week! Those bucket showers are great :) haha But I am doing well! 

Miss you all! Love you! 

Hermana Nichols