Well, this week was great...went by super fast as always!
I'm pretty sure i'm living life in fast forward...just a theory...haha. But
cambios are this week! So crazy! It's a 4 wk cambio so that the missionaries
going home can go home before Christmas. The next cambio will be 8 wks long. I
don't think anything will change. I don't want to leave Rosario, so I'm fine
with that. My guess is that Hna R will have cambios next time...in
Feb.
This week was a bit of a struggle. A mix of trunkiness,
sickness (Hna R once again), and who knows what else. But we still were
able to see the blessings that came. T is still doing really well. She
feels ready to be baptized in 2 wks, so it's just up to whether her grandma
will give her permission. T even fasted with us on Sunday...she's pretty
pilas. We started teaching a new investigator, J, who is another 16 yr old!
He's really receptive...but likes to sleep in on Sundays. So we'll work on
that...haha.
P was confirmed on Sunday! She's officially a member!
She didn't tell many people about her baptism to keep the news from reaching
her anti-mormon sister, so when she was confirmed in church, there were lots of
surprised looks. It was pretty funny.
So Rosario has progressed a lot over the years. The ward
started out about 25ish years ago in the home of a member. Then they moved into
a little house...then finally they built a chapel. And now, we barely fit, so
they're going to enlarge the chapel! The construction is going to take 8
months...which means we'll be meeting in a house once again. But at least this
time the house is bigger. It's still a bit squishy, but at least we don't have
to go all the way to Jinotepe each Sunday. That would've been difficult.
This weekend was...interesting. Part of Nicaraguan Catholic
culture during the holiday season happens on December 7th...La Purisima! Which
is basically Halloween, but the kids go around singing to altars with statues
of the Virgin Mary. They sing songs about Maria and receive candy like
trick-or-treating. It was pretty weird. There were also lots of fireworks
involved...until very late at night. Teaching was really difficult because no
one was in their house. We actually had to return to our house early because
things got a little too crazy. Apparently it was even worse in Managua. But the
members told me it gets even worse in January, when they celebrate the patron
saint of el Rosario...basically it'll be like alpine days, but with lots of
alcohol and crazier people. Yikes.
Did you watch the Christmas devotional? We watched it in the
Bishop's house. It was so awesome! It made me feel a bit trunky, especially
when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang, but I loved the messages! Especially the
one from President Monson. I've heard messages similar over the years, but this
time, when he talked about how we need to give ourselves to the Savior, it
really struck home. I'm trying my best to do just that. We all need to focus
ourselves on dedicating ourselves to the Lord and serving His children. It is
so important! I love this Christmas season because of the unity that people
feel, but most importantly because it's a time to refocus on what's most
important. I know that Christ is our Savior. He came to this earth to teach us
and give us the perfect example. He died so that we can live with Him and
Heavenly Father one day. I am so grateful for His life and example!
It sounds like all is going well at home! I hope Karen
recovers quickly! I can't wait to see what the house is like! I should be
calling on the 25th...still not sure if it'll be skype or just a phone call.
Pres. Russell has been going crazy changing all sorts of rules in the mission.
But either way, it'll be awesome! Have an awesome week!
Love,
Hermana MacKay
(Posted by her Mom)
No comments:
Post a Comment