Monday, November 28, 2016

A Mac and Cheese Thanksgiving

Hola Hola!

I hope that everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving! My companion and I celebrated with kraft macaroni and cheese. haha :) I am so grateful to be a missionary and to have such an awesome family that supports me back home. And of course I am so grateful for the gallo pinto that I was able to eat for lunch on thanksgiving! Totally beats football and stuffing. :)

This week was a little sad because Digna and Junieth left to work in the mountain so they couldn't be baptized. :( Me and my companion were a little sad but we have the faith that they will come back really soon and enter the waters of baptism! It kind of stinks that as missionaries we cant take away peoples agency sometimes..haha but what can you do? They went to go get money to pay for their house and I know that when they come back they will get baptized!! :)

This week we have a zone activity in a place called Selva Negra :) We went hiking and saw monkeys! woohoo! Here are some pictures of the zone and the cool places we found.

The hurricane turned out to be a dud here in Jinotega...it didn't even rain. haha. but we have powder to make milk if it hits us a little bit late! :) But we are all safe and sound here.

This week we have changes and we will see where the Lord wants me to be! I know that He knows best, so where He puts me I will give all my heart, might, mind and strength. :)

Love you all!

-- 

Hermana Willes

Zone Activity in Selva Negra

No Caption Needed...

Beautiful Nicaragua

Monday, November 21, 2016

It's Cold!!

Buenas!

This week FLEW by. I dont even know where the time is going.

We had our interviews with President Poncio in Matagalpa this week! It was so great. President is such an inspired man. He told me about some of the miracles He saw as a missionary. I felt really close to him when we were in there together, and I felt the spirit testify to me that He is called of God to be my mission president.

This week it has been getting SO COLD in Jinotega! On Sunday I wore two sweaters to church..and the other night I was walking around in a winter coat that a member lent me! :) Who would have thought that Nicaragua can get a little cold? Crazy snakes!

On Tuesday a member, Junior, left on his mission! He went to Guatemala. He used to always work with us and it has been really weird without him this week! But I know that he is KILLING it over there and He is gonna be such a great missionary!

There is a quote by Elder Oaks that says, "Our Savior experienced and suffered the fulness of all mortal challenges 'according to the flesh' so that He could know 'according to the flesh' how to succor (which means to give aid or relief to) His people according to their infirmities. He therefore knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, and our suffering, for He willingly experienced them as an essential part of His atonement. And because of this, His atonement empowers Him to succor us-to give us the strength to bear it all.'

Also Elder Paul V. Johnson said, "He can make us whole no matter what is broken in us." I testify that this is true. Sometimes we feel alone, broken, or like a part of us is missing. But like the parable in the bible about him finding the lost sheep, He will find us and make us whole again. By feeling His love, we will realize our true divinity as sons and daughters of the Almighty God. He does not leave us alone in our trials, but is there with us every step of the way.

I love all of  You!  Have  a great a week!

--Hermana Willes



Junior leaving for his mission

Cold, in Nicaragua??? What??

This is what I'm trying to do...change Nicaragua,
one Nica at a time


Monday, November 14, 2016

Be a Little Better

Hola Hola!

This week FLEW BY. Seriously i dont know where all the time is going!

Yesterday we had the District Conference in Matagalpa (like stake conference) and it was so great. Junieth and Digan came and LOVED IT. They are preparing to be baptized next week and we are super excited for them. They were all ready to go when we got to their house on Sunday morning..such a blessing.

Hermana Amado and I have been running around like crazy doing divisions and going to Managua for the New Missionaries meeting! She is such a great sport about always having to travel. I love her so much! 

I read a parable in the Bible this week that I loved. Its in Luke 19 and it talks about a man named Zacchaeus. He was a really short man so when Jesus came walking through the streets, he had to climb a tree so that he was able to see Christ. In our district meeting this week we related it to our testimonies and our acts of conversion. Sometimes we need to elevate ourselves a little more or consecrate ourselves a little more to be able to see Christ. And once we start to give a little more, we will climb that tree and we will be able to see Christ better in our lives. We will be closer to Him and be a little bit more like Him. I love this story because we can always do something a little better or give a little more. I love being a missionary because that is my goal everyday, so do a little more and be a little better. :)

This week we have interviews with President Poncio. I am so excited to talk to Him! He is such an inspired man.

I know that the Savior lives and He is the head of this church. I know that being a missionary is the best thing I have ever done! I always joke with the new missionaries about switching time with them so I can be here for longer and they always look at me and are like SERIOUSLY?! haha. but really. I love being a missionary more than words can say. :)

Have a great week!

- - 

Hermana Willes

PS.  also..ive started singing christmas hymns in our lessons. YAY CHRISTMAS!


Our View

I love my companion

I love being a missionary!

Monday, November 7, 2016

Nicaragua is Sacred Ground

Hola Hola! Como estan?

This week was so great! Emily, one of our investigators got baptized!! Yay!! Her husband got baptized about a month ago but she just barely had her baby and has been waiting to recover. She was really worried about the water temperature so we went to the church really early to boil water to mix in the font..but it didnt work! But she is such a champ that she did it anyways :) Her husband baptized her. They are the cutest couple and we were so excited for her. She came to church yesterday just beaming with the biggest smile. I love working with families because they just are so special to Heavenly Father. :)

This week we have had to be home at 7:30 because of elections so we have been running around like crazy snakes trying to visit all of our investigators. We are working with a mom and her daughter and they are planning on getting baptized next week! Their names are Digna & Junieth. We are having a District conference on Sunday in Matagalpa and they are SO excited to see the church in Matagalpa. They are the cutest! We taught them the Plan of Salvation this week and they just loved it. Junieth feels like a little sister to me and she reminds me of my little sister, Abby. I love teaching them! Keep them in your prayers.

Since we have more time to study at night I have been reading a book of quotes that my mom sent me from President Eyring. One that I love says, "The Lord doesnt put us through this test just to give us a grade, He does it because the process will change us." I did divisions this week with another newbie that got here two weeks ago named Hermana Jensen. She is from New Jersey and is so incredible. As I was talking to her, I was reminded of who I was when I first came to the misison and who I am now. Obviously there are still a lot of things I need to change and want to change, but I know that The Lord has helped me grow so much here in my mission, and for that Nicaragua will always be sacred ground for me.

I also have permision to call Ernesto and His family (my converts in Ocotal) tonight because Genesis, their youngest daughter, is turning 8 this week and will be baptized. I am SO excited to talk to them and see how they are doing!!! :) 

Love you all so much! Have a great week!

-- 

Hermana Willes


The Beatles in Nicaragua

Emily's Baptism

Love Her!