I'M IN NICARAGUA!!!
This is kind of insane. I still have random realizations
that 1. I'm in Nica and 2. I'm a missionary...in Nicaragua. Haha but it's
awesome. The last Sunday before I left, the elders in my district gave us
blessings. It was so awesome! That helped my nerves a lot. My last day in the
CCM was really boring. All we did was sit through 8 hours of workshops. But for
dinner, there was a chocolate fountain...you better believe that was my first
stop...haha Anyway, to the more interesting part...We left the CCM at about 3
30 am and flew out of the airport at 7...and arrived in Nica 1.5 hrs later!
Woo! We made it through customs and baggage, and then my Mission President was
there to greet us! The Russells are great. Sis. Russell reminds me a lot of
you, Mom. So once we arrived at the mission home, we started workshops.
Yay...but we went to a Nicaraguan restaurant for lunch! We slept over that
night, then the next morning...Cambios! Exchanges!
All the newbies had to bear their testimonies...that was
nervewracking. But I made it through. My trainer is Hermana R from El
Salvador. She doesn't know any English, so I am in full immersion here. She's
great though...very patient. She only has 4 months left until she goes home, so
I'll probably be in my area for a while. I'm in here in Managua! Miraflores
District! Our area is bigger than I expected for a city. But it's actually a
lot like Provo...Nicaraguanized...haha. Our house...for lack of a better
work...is one room with a kitchenette, desks, and beds. The bathroom is kind of
like an outhouse...fun stuff. I'm always terrified there will be a huge spider
to greet me in the morning. No such luck yet...I'm sure it'll happen one of
these days.
So I thought I knew Spanish pretty well...FALSE. I can
understand my companion without straining myself too much, but for everyone
else, I have to concentrate really hard. Guatemalan spanish was way easier to
understand than Nica spanish. My first day, we visited a lot of
investigators...had no idea what they were saying, but I was there! One couple
really liked me...I think it was because I was just smiling the whole time even
though I had no idea what was going on. Oh what fun. One of the first things I
wrote in my journal my first night was 'HORMIGAS (ants) ARE NOT MY FRIENDS. In
the US, most of the time they're just annoying. Here, they all attack you. My
legs are a testimony to that. Mosquitos also happen to love my chelita skin.
The intense bug spray we got is failing me. Yaaaaay. Here, everyone calls me
Chelita...it means little white girl. It's somewhat endearing, until men call
it out in the street. Then you walk away as fast as possible.
I am a GIANT here. I knew I'd be tall, and usually I don't
even feel that tall here, but in a picture that we took on Thursday, I am
waaaaay taller than everyone. I also am the only one who ever has to duck when
walking on the sidewalk. Sometimes, I forget...stupid trees get in the way. I
also scare small children with my blue eyes and abnormal height. Haha. But
Welcome to Nicaragua!
So another Welcome to Nicaragua moment...I had my first
baptism on Friday!!! I don't really think I can claim it as mine, since I
didn't even meet Jose until the day of, but still. First, J and his (now)
wife got married, then afterwards, he was baptized! It was awesome, even if I
didn't understand much. I got roped into singing a musical number at the
baptism...fun stuff...haha. I sang a primary song about baptism in spanish.
I didn't even start tracting until Saturday because we were
so busy visiting investigators and less actives. Tracting/contacting is so
nerve wracking! I know I'll get used to it, but oh man. So scary. Here, there
arent normal doors/doorbells. There are wire gates surrounding the house. So
you call through the gate, "buenas" and usually someone comes to talk
to you.
I had a cool experience a few days ago. We were visiting a
less active family, who was actually attending a Catholic church...they didn't
really want to listen to us, but let us in anyway. We started teaching about
prayer/their concerns and when I was bearing my testimony (one of the few
things I can actually do in lessons) the Hna. started to cry. I was a little
concerned that I'd said something wrong, but then she said I reminded her of
Hna C, who was the one who found them. Tall, blue eyes, brown hair. Just by
being there, I helped her remember her baptismal covenants/why she initially
joined the church. So was so sweet! She also invited me to her 8 yr old's
birthday party...I think I have a new friend! haha
So for food, we pay a family to feed us lunch. I think we're
going to start having the make dinner for us too. The bishop's family (familia
E) does it. They have 2 girls my age, so that's fun. It's sooo hard to
understand Bishop E though. My goal is to understand him soon. The
daughters are my "aunts" and now I have another set of abuelos...and
Hna R is my mama. The food is great! Not at all like the food we tried to
make when I got my call. I think my favorite part is the drinks. So good! I had
the drink we attempted to make...we didn't make it right. It was amazing. I
love Nica food! I might change my mind after a year of it, but we'll see how it
goes.
Church was interesting. We have a pretty big
membership...too bad there were only 28 people there! Yeah, I counted. So
crazy! Retention is definitely an issue here. It's because so many people can't
afford to not work on Sundays. So sad. But I am the only piano player in the
ward...too bad I hadn't played for amost 2 months. Karen...think about how
"well" my accompaniment went in YW in VA...yup, it was that bad. Oh
well, I don't think it made much of a difference to the congregation!
Sometimes I feel like I'm in an old Western movie, but with
colorful homes built with scrap metal. Occasionally there's even a horse
pulling a cart...not even kidding! But then someone pulls out an iPhone and
ruins that vision. It is SOOO hot here though...I haven't even tried to wear my
hair down because it's so hot and muggy. We affectionately call our house the
horno...which means oven. It gets so hot during the day. But I love it here. I
feel safe. I'm happy. I'm serving the Lord to the best of my ability. It's
great. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints really is
the restored gospel. Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon trhough
revelation/inspiration from God. And it changes lives. Prayer makes such a
difference in daily life. I feel so close to Heavenly Father.
Well, I hope all is well at home...and CONGRATULATIONS MARK
AND JILL!!! Can't wait to come home to a new sister! Yaaaay! So awesome. Oh and
I did see Trent Colton at the CCM, he's doing well!
Love,
Hermana MacKay
(Posted by Lisa's Mom)
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