A usual day in Masatepe

 26 December 2011
Tanner Thanks for the letter.  It really made my day.  I love you too!  And I loved hearing your voice yesterday.  Your play table and dinosaurs sound really cool.
     Carrie, sorry I didn`t write you a note last week.  I forgot to respond individually.  Thanks for writing me and making Christmas dinner for my family. :)  An unusual experience?  My companion has been showing me her dirty handkerchief after she blows her nose and she gives commentaries on color changes.  
      Kevin, thanks for the letter!  I was really excited to hear that you two are doing adoption papers and that your proposal got accepted.  Your personality comes through so clearly when you write.  I`m glad you have had a project to keep you busy up there.  Tile floor!  woohoo!
      Cheryl, I loved hearing from you yesterday too!  I liked your Christmas letter... very nice.  I`m really glad to hear your voice.  You sound happy :)
     Kyle, it was really nice to hear you too.  You know just how to make me feel good.  I miss you, but my companion really reminds me of you a lot in good ways. :)
     Douglas, it was nice to hear from you too, but I didn`t hear much.  Dani tells me that you`re doing well.  Thanks for teaching your kids to say Nicaragua.  I thought that was really cute.
     Grandma Tew, I love you!  I hope you had a happy Christmas!  I`ve been enjoying life, especially since it`s Christmas time.  We`ve seen lots of lights and Christmas trees.  I hear you don`t like the food much where you`re staying.  We had red beans, rice, a fried egg with onion, and fried cheese for lunch today.  Christmas Eve we had the most delicious salad ever with cooked vegetables and lettuce and tomatoes.  I was so happy to see all those vegetables!
     Dani, Thanks for your letter.  I got your pictures that you sent with the Christmas tree last week.  I put a picture on my agenda today of Dad and Scotty.  He`s pretty cute.  I love hearing from you.
     Pablito, How`s it going?  It sounds like you have a good plan.  Study hard!  Tell me what your work is like.
     Dad, I`ve really missed you lately.  It was so nice to hear your voice and to get a little loving advice.  Happy retirement and WRITE YOUR BOOK!  You`re a really good writer.
     Mom, thanks for being such a faithful writer.  I really appreciate every letter you send me . I got your talk and it was awesome!  I really enjoyed it.
     Well,  Hna DeHoyos and I were laughing about what happened yesterday right before the phone call, how we were waiting outside the door, looking in at the desk where the phone was ringing and we couldn`t enter.  It was funny yesterday, but it`s funnier now.
     I realized I only answered half of Mom`s question. A usual day in Masatepe?  There really isn`t one, especially since Hna DeHoyos has been sick and we`ve had to run errands in the morning to buy or find stuff. But, we wake up at 8:30.  Just kidding.  We wake up at 6:30 and I lay in bed or sit up in bed for about 30 seconds and then I roll onto the floor into kneeling position and pray for about 10 minutes because I feel like I need a lot of help and I also get really distracted.  Then I go out into the other room and put my contacts in and sit at my desk and organize it a little and write in my journal and miracle book because I didn`t have time before.  I eat hojueles (I think) de maiz (cornflakes), milk from a box which is good but a little different, and raisins.  I don't have a bowl or a spoon so I just eat a couple flakes and raisins and drink a little milk.  I shower with HOT WATER except the thing pretty much exploded today, so... yeah. There are literally black marks on the wall, like you see in cartoons after something explodes.  So, I had a cup shower today...fun times. I do my hair (gel and let it go curly) and sit down at my desk to read letters or write or get organized.  I study at 8:00 and read from the BOM.  Then we have comp study.  We sing a hymn, get distracted and Hna DeHoyos talks about something random and then we pray and read 3 pages from the Manual Misional.  We share whatever is important from what we studied during personal study  like something we feel like we should apply with an investigator or in our own lives.  Then we plan what we`re going to teach...little lesson plans for every investigator.  Fun!  Estudio de Idioma.  I read out loud from the LDM and study a grammar book they gave me at the MTC which is really good.  I`ll try to let you know the name.
  We eat lunch at Hna Xiomara`s house.  We leave and go teaching.  We contact families.  If they are coming out of a church, if they`re walking, sitting.  We might take a moto to get somewhere more easily.  Oh boy.  Times up.  I guess I should try to be more succinct. :)
I loved talking to you all.  It was great just to hear your voice.  I love you all a lot!
Love, Marybeth

Hey I`m still in the best city in the world, MASATEPE!!!!

 19 December 2011
Hey family. 
  Here`s a few notes really quick.  I`m writing another email that I`ll send in about 15 minutes. 
You`re going to call me at 7:00 PM on Christmas day.  I know that`s kind of late, but hopefully that works out okay.  We don`t have daylight whatever time going on down here.  Here is the number: 25232714  It`s at Hna Ziomara`s house.  The phone call is supposed to be from 30 to 40 minutes.  So, we`re going to talk for 40 minutes!  Yay!  If you can figure out some sort of 3-way call with Doug and Dani and Kyle that would be great.  If not, it`s okay  I`ll just talk to you all in WY. 
   I haven`t gotten another package yet.  I haven`t asked my comp to look through my package.  I did take a sneak peak and the presents are not wrapped. ... Thanks for the peanut brittle (I think it`s peanut brittle)  :)
    Apparently this address is a lot better for writing me.
Hna tew
Mision Nicaragua Managua Sur
Apartado Postal 3527
Managua, Nicaragua
Love you all a lot!  Ok Bye!
Marybeth

  

                          E. Woodruff, H. Campos, H. Tew, H. Castro, H. Martinez, E. Talla

Hey Family!
   Hey I`m still in the best city in the world, MASATEPE!!!!  I was so happy when I found out.  I had told Elder Talla that if I had to leave Masatepe I would cry.  We were waiting at Hna Xiomara`s house when he and Elder Woodruff came out of their house with news about the cambios.  He started out by lying to us (solo Hna Tew tiene cambios en toda la zona) and then told us the truth.  We called the Zone Leaders just to make sure.  Anyway, Hna Castro was the only person in our zone to have changes.  She`s reopening an area in Managua.  I`m still here! 
   La reunion de cambios was on Wednesday.  President Monestel gave us a really awesome message about being osados!  [bold!]    He rewrote the verses that tell the story of David and Goliath so that it was about Elder David, the junior companion.  His leaders were chambones [lazy bums] and people told him to stop being a flechon (someone who keeps the rules)  It was a really good message.  He gave us a lot of scriptures about it too.  Cool.  So, when the cambios started I was looking around at all the sisters and trying to figure out who would be my companion.  I knew pretty much who was training.  I was hoping that my companion would be Hna DeHoyos...and she is!  She`s really fun and happy and cool.  She reminds me of Kyle because she has a pretty strong stupid detector.  Shes`s from Texas.  Her parents are from Mexico.  This is her last change.  Estoy matandola. muahahaha   She was one of the first, maybe the first person to talk to me when I got here to the mission.  She`s really great.  She is bold.  She is osada.  She gets to the point in contacting which is good.  She`s obedient.  She likes things done a certain way.  She gets things done.  Really she`s a lot like Kyle. 
    So we`ve been doing a lot of contacting.  It`s been interesting teaching the area to Hna. DeHoyos.  She`s been pretty patient.  She`s getting a lot of things in order and teaching me how to do pretty much everything better than I have been doing it.
   Every Friday morning we meet as a zone and have companion study and then language study (in two big groups...really, there is an English Class and White people time.  haha)  Then it`s district meeting and a zone meeting.  I was really happy this Friday because Hna. DeHoyos actually wants to be obedient and wants me to be obedient.  It`s really nice!
    I`ve been a little sick but not much.  Just a sore throat and an ear ache.  Hna. DeHoyos is still recovering from a nasty virus she got about 2 and a half weeks ago. 


   Yesterday we were walking to the church after trying to gather our investigators and Javier passed us on his bike in his dark jeans and white shirt (from his school uniform).  It was a beautiful sight!  Yay Javier!  Way to be awesome!

 I love my district and my branch.  I love my companion and my area.
The first foto is Javier and Milton.  Milton is Javier`s tio and he`s a recent convert.
Then It`s me and Hna Castro and Yeri.  (I think that`s what foto I chose)  Yeri is the son of Hna xiomara and Pres. Mercado.  We eat at their house.
Then I don`t remember which one I chose.  It might be Jamilet and Hna Castro.  Jamilet has a purple shirt and her daughter is Samantha.  Hopefully she gets baptized this weekend.    I love you all thanks for the letters. I forgot to respond personally until now and it`s too late.  But thanks for writing me dad and mom, Kevin and Bishop Kertesz and Carrie.  I love to hear from you all

Love, HNA TEW   Talk to y'all in less than a week.  Look up the weather for Jinotepe,

 

 

It's fun to say "they call us Mormons, but do you know why? It's because we use this book..."

19 December 2011
FAMILY!
  Well, I'm still in Masatepe. :)  And I'm going to talk to you all in less than a week.  crazy.  I'm really excited for this change, and I'm really glad to be in Masatepe for Christmas.

26 December 2011
   And that's all I wrote last week.  Well, it was really fabulous to talk to you all.  I loved just hearing your voices.  That was probably the best part.  I think I might just like to talk to you two, Mom and Dad, next time.  It was great to hear everyone though.  I really felt happy.  I thought I would write you a few cool things that are happening here.
   I'm learning how to be a lot more focused on my purpose.  Before I wasn't as direct in anything. Now it's more like...Hey how are you.  Buenas Noches.  Soy Hermana Tew.  Nosotras somos misioneras de la iglesia de Jesuscristo de los Santos de los ultimos dias.  Conoce la iglesia?  Alguna vez ha entrado?  Pues, nuestro proposito como misioneras es invitar a todos a venir a Cristo... I still need to work on going more to the Book of Mormon.  It's fun to say "they call us Mormons, but do you know why?  It's because we use this book..."  Our purpose really is to invite everyone to come unto Christ - the members, our contacts, our converts, the 11-year old, the Catholic couple.  It's a lot more fun and a lot more rewarding when that's what my focus is.  In PMG in the first chapter it says that our success is measured by our commitment to our purpose.  There's a lot of ways to measure that commitment.

2 January 2012
   It's been fun to spend Christmas in Nicaragua.  We went Christmas caroling with some RMs and jovenes. Yay!  Oh boy a lot of time has passed.  This is my third p-day with Hna. DeHoyos.  I'll try to give a quick run down of a normal day.  I wrote about a usual morning in my last email.  So here's the after lunch bit.  We leave Hna Xiomara's house by saying "thanks for the food" and clearing up the dishes.  We shake hands or hug or give kisses.  Then we're out the door.  We walk to some appointments and take motos to others.  We contact the moto drivers.  Hna DeHoyos likes to always have caramelos (candies) in her backpack to give away.  So we give a caramelo to the taxi drivers. That's usually really fun.  The most fun is to give the caramelos to people who obviously Do Not Like Us.  Hna DeHoyos likes to give those people hugs too. :)  She just walked over to a lady who had walked away after we had started contacting her and the rest of her family.  And Hna DeHoyos gave her a hug.
9 January 2012
    We have appointments and we have other just planned times to visit people - like just my companion and I plan and hope that they're there.  Well, today I'm going to write you about the craziness that was last week.  It actually was a good experience for me.  No fun, exactly, but good for me.  God's definitely in charge.  I've learned a lot from Hna. DeHoyos and I tried to put in practice everything I learned.  We watched a movie called Jarron Azul..  It was the story of a guy who had to buy this blue vase from a store and there were a million obstacles in his way.  He had to make hundreds of phone calls to people he didn't know, he had to hire an airplane, run, do lots of crazy stuff.  It was really cool.  He wanted to get the vase so badly that he did anything he could, but he was given the opportunity to break into the store and he wouldn't do it.  He didn't do anything he shouldn't have, he just didn't take no and he kept on working, even after the deadline he missed.  At the end, he gave the vase to his boss, who had asked for it in the first place.  He had spent his own money, paid a huge price and asked a lot of people to help him.  At the end, the vase got dropped and broke.  His boss just told him that the vase didn't really matter, he just wanted to see how dedicated the man was and how much he could be trusted.  We watched the movie on Friday as part of district meeting.  That was after I had called eleven people to see if they could go on splits with me and my companion.  So, that was a good movie for me to watch because it gave a longer term perspective on my situation.  How badly do you want to do God's will?  What are you willing to sacrifice?  How will this experience help me be a better missionary, and mom and person?
     Well, we're waiting in the hospital in Managua. Our choir practice today went well.  We had to change the song to be a hymn.  We're singing I know that my Redeemer Lives, arranged by Amy Webb.  It's pretty.   We only have one practice more:  next Monday.  I saw some missionaries I knew from the CCM - they're both in the North mission.  One of them was a roommate.  I could understand them---that was so awesome.

The gospel makes people brighter and lighter!

Feliz Navidad!
12 December 2011
Family! 
   Kevin Good luck in your proposal tomorrow.  I know that you will do great!
   Cheryl  Thanks for your letter.  It made me really really happy.  I`m glad you are enjoying Christmas time! I can`t believe Tanner has loose teeth and that he can read!  He`s a smart kid. 
   Dani  How are you feeling?  How is your mom?  Are you excited to go to DC for Christmas?  Hopefully we can have a three way call and I can talk to the Wyoming and DC folk. 
   Dad Thanks for your letter.  I like hearing about the successes you are having in the Stake! I hope you get to retire soon :)
   Mom thanks for the mail.  Thanks for the packages...I have just gotten the one which is good.  I`m going to find out about transfers later today.  I hope we go Christmas caroling here too.
   Grandma Campbell  I got your Christmas present.  It`s under my Christmas tree! 
   Kyle, tell me whats going on in your life.  Tell Carrie hi.
   Doug  Good luck with your tests!  Work hard and have fun!  I hope you enjoy this Christmas!
   Pablito  I can`t believe how often they use diminutives here.  It`s crazy.  How are you doing?  What are your plans? 
   This week we had a lesson with Jamilet.  She passed her baptismal interview but she still doesn`t want to be baptized.  She wants to wait.  We had a lesson with her and asked her about her lectura del Libro de Mormon.  She told us that she really liked a scripture in 2 Ne 2.  We read the verses with her and when she was talking to us about the scriptures I could just see the light coming from her face.  I felt really happy for her.  The gospel makes people brighter and lighter!
   We had a baptism yesterday.  Javier is his name.  He`s thirteen.  He came to church for the first time four weeks ago.  We went to pick up his brother, but his brother had left and Javier told his dad,
"I want to go with the hermanas."  This was the week that I was waiting for my other investigator and we got to the church late and had to run to catch the bus that was going to Jinotepe for stake conference.  This is my entry from my miracle book from yesterday.  Javier got confirmed.  We went to Chirinos to get him this morning and he got sent by our other pilas investigato (Jamilet) to buy something.  It was late and we were at his house and didn`t know what to do because he wasn`t there.  We decided to head to the church.  As we were walking he passed us on his bicycle going towards his house.  We yelled but he didn`t respond.  We walked back to his house and he said, Caminen!  He put on his white shirt over his grey polo because he said he was cold without the polo shirt.  Anyway, he got to the church. YAY!!!!! As we were walking back to Javier`s house I was a little sad because I didn`t know if Javier was going to come or not.  But we passed one of our RC with one of his friends and they were walking to the church.  That made me smile.  Javier got baptized by one of our Recent Converts, Milton, who is his uncle.  He just got back from a mini mission! 
   Today we went to San Marcos and played futbol.  I just watched and talked to people.  
   Last week our pday was fun.  We ate ice cream, wrote our families and then we went to Presidente Mercado`s house and picked up a frisbee.  We played frisbee in the church with our shoes off.  The 6 of us basically live in the same block.
   We had a lesson with a reference from the Elders this week.  His name is Francisco Herrera.  We taught him the whole first lesson.  He listened, answered questions, and said he would read the first chapter of the LdM.  We`ve passed by his house but he isn`t there.  A lot of people have trouble understanding us, but he got it.  It was fun.
   I read a scripture that I really liked this week. Ether 12:4-  1 We believe in God. 2 Because we know who God is we have faith in him and in his work.  We have hope in the Atonement and in the reality of the Plan of Salvation.  We have hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and in his power.  3.  This hope that we have makes itself an anchor for our soul.  We have peace, we have a home, We aren`t easily moved by our difficulties.  The anchor of hope makes us sure and steadfast in the church, in the gospel, and in our lives.  4 This hope helps us to focus on OUR purpose.  To keep the commandments of God, abounding in good works and bringing him our gifts, our efforts to glorify him. 

MK can you forward this to Regan?  Hi Regan!  I hope school is going well and that you are enjoying or are about to enjoy your break!  Tell Amy hi too!

Sobeyda  Como esta?  Estoy muy bien.  Hna Castro ha estado enferma pero està mejor ahora.  Cuando va al templo?  Quiero saber como estàn todos en su casa!

I have discovered a quick fix for how to obtain more of the Spirit. Walk up to a stranger (preferably two people that appear to be a couple or a bigger, more intimidating group) and, in a foreign language, invite them to come to church with you. Works every time.

5 December 2011
Dear dear family,
    Thanks for your emails and letters and Dear Elders.  It`s really really really nice to hear from you all.  Dad, your letters always make me feel loved.  I love to read what you write.  How is the College branch doing in Gillette?  I`m glad Grandma liked my letter.  It is cold down here.  I sleep with the fan on, sometimes with a sweatshirt, and my blanket.  This past week we`ve been reading the LDM as a district at 6:00 AM and I wear my sweatshirt.  Never thought I would buy a sweatshirt in Nicaragua.  I could probably do without it... but it`s nice to have.
      Kyle, your trip sounds awesome.  I`m trying not to be jealous that you`ve seen all those awesome musicals.  I`m glad you liked Wicked.  I haven`t seen any of the musicals you mentioned.  I`ve only heard about how awesome they are.  How`s your internet site going? Tell Carrie to write me a letter....every week...for the rest of my mission.  Send me some pictures of your trip!
Dani thanks for the letter.  I`m pleased that Scotty and Adam can say Nicaragua.  Thanks for being a faithful writer.  I really am impressed that you have written me so much.  Siga Adelante!
     Grandma Campbell Thanks for your letters.  I love reading about what`s going on in your life, in the family and in the world. 
     Grandma Tew!  How are you doing?  We`ve decorated our house with lights around one of the windows.  I taped another string of lights to the wall in the form of a Christmas tree.  There is a gold star on top.  Also, I hung some thick ribbon from the ceiling so we`re feeling the Christmas Spirit.  Today we will take a picture of the district in Santa Hats. Woohoo!
    I have discovered a quick fix for how to obtain more of the Spirit.  Walk up to a stranger (preferably two people that appear to be a couple or a bigger, more intimidating group) and, in a foreign language, invite them to come to church with you.  Works every time.  This week we got strongly encouraged to have 6 contacts with families every day.  On Wednesday we tried to do it (we were in splits) and I searched and searched and searched.  Everyone was primos or brothers and sisters.... AAAAHHH.  We got to the church and Elder Talla asked me how it went and I just wanted to cry because I really tried to find families but no habia ninguna!  We left the church at about 7:00 and we found four families on our way to our cita.  After the cita we found two more!!!!!  It was a miracle!!!!!!! 
    We went to the Christmas devotional last night and I loved it.  We had to go with investigators.  We went to the church to see if any of our investigators had shown up and no one had, but a family I had visited that afternoon had brought a friend.  So we could go.  Right before the bus left, our investigators showed up!!  Jose and Javier.  Javier is super pilas.  We were having a lesson with him and his mom and he macheted his mom because she told us she didn`t have time to go to church.  He comes to church early by himself.  He`s thirteen.  He`s awesome.  I loved Pres. Uchtdorf's talk about loving our experiences even though they are imperfect. It was awesome.  Also, Joy to the World and The First Noel were awesome.  In the mission they sing La Segunda Navidad when it`s your second Christmas in the mission. haha
    This week I felt a lot more grateful for Hna Castro.  I have learned a lot from her in these months.  And I know I have a long way to go, a lot more to learn from other companions.  But I am trying to appreciate the imperfections in all the experiences.  We had a lesson this week with Isela that was awesome.  It was about Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.  We both taught the lesson and it went smoothly.  I felt like we were a strong companionship.  I felt like we were an equal team. We asked questions and she listened, and she`s reading the BOM!!!  I felt the Spirit really strongly.  I`ve developed a testimony for Dia de Reposo and baptism more on my mission.  I was reading about Dia de Reposo one day and it was exciting to me.  I knew it was a true principle. 
    Cambios are the 14th of December. Everyone is telling me that I`m going to leave.  I am telling everyone that I want to stay here.  I keep on telling myself that I am trying not to think about it, but really I am thinking about it all the time.  Ay Dejalo!
     Dad I have a new work for you.  It`s portarse.  No one says comportarse (that`s like behave yourself, right?)  just se porta bien!  I want to talk to you in Spanish at Christmas, Dad.  I understand a lot more, but I still struggle. 
   I love my district.  There are 4 hermanas and two elders.  I talk more with the Elders.  Elder Woodruff talks to me in English a lot which is good.  The hermanas are cool too.
I love you all!   Be good! 

I am really grateful to be in Masatepe. I love love love it here.

                                             Hna Marybeth Tew Y Hna Castro

November 28, 2011

Dear Family,

Elder Amado came and spoke to us last Tuesday.  It was cool.  We left at 10 in the morning and got back at 8:40.  So… we didn`t get much done that day.  Hna and President Monestel gave awesome talks.   President Monestel talked about spiritual anemia.  But first he asked how many people have had anemia.  A lot of people raised their hands.  Then he talked about what is anemia and the symptoms and how it can be cured ( with an injection of iron)  He asked us what the symbol for Iron is.  Fe.  Aaaahhhh…..  He told us that a lot of the times people who have anemia don`t realize they have it.  He said all you that didn`t raise your hand,  are you sure you don`t have anemia.  He told us that even if we work hard all day and come home with big smiles on our faces every day it`s possible that we still have spiritual anemia and would benefit from an injection of Fe.   It was a really cool talk.  Because the affects of anemia are really the effects of not having enough faith.  Tiredness… stuff like that.  President Monestel is awesome.  Sorry my spelling is getting worse and worse... Asi es.

     I wrote you a letter today. Dad send me your John 17 notes when you get a minute.  I hope you can feel like you`re making progress in your book. Paul, I haven`t eaten anything weird.  rice, beans, gallo pinto, vegetables, cucumbers (I am starting to like them... hope you`re proud mom. and I always think of you Dani.)  platanos!!!!!! queso frito, crema, lechuga, repollo, papas, yuca.  We had pupusas the other day.  There`s a restaurant here that makes them. 

  Mary Katherine!!!!!!!!! your DE made my day!!!!  I couldn`t stop smiling!  Spencer is awesome. Not that I actually know him, but I do know that he is awesome.  I hope James David is living it up in the MTC.  Tell your mom hi. for realzies.  Have fun in your clinicals with the babies!

   Dad I wrote something in my letter that I`m going to repeat here.  I`ve been thinking about some things you told me about how you used to come home from work kind of discouraged and you would play a game with me and it would make you feel better.  I`ve been trying to do that too.  It always makes me feel better to play with Yeri. 

   I have two strings of Christmas lights and Hna Castro has one string.  I have Christmas ribbon and I have been trying to make a Christmas tree out of wire hangers and ribbon.  I`ll keep you posted.  :)

  Grandma Tew!   Happy post Thanksgiving!  I hope you`re feeling better!  We`re teaching someone named Jamilet.  She is about 24 or 25.  She went to the church for Manuel and Yolanda`s wedding and she has gone to some FHEs with us.  She has gone to church the past two sundays.    I am starting to feel more useful on the mission.  I feel like people actually care about me.  It`s a good feeling.  I am really grateful to be in Masatepe.  I love love love it here.  We had four investigators in the church this past week.

I love you all a lot a lot a lot.  I hope all is well with everyone.  Good luck with your dissertation Kevin.  Make good choices Pablito.  Masters Program sounds awesome.  Dani have fun and a baby girl.  please.  Doug good luck in your classes.  Have fun Kyle!  Dad enjoy life!  Mom, invite the family to church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!  This sunday an hermano came up to me and told me he had a family for me to teach and we figured out a time that we could go visit them together. It was awesome.  Mom  Don`t speak English for a day your confidence will go through the roof.  Cheryl have fun at work and with the munchkins! 

Goals

Fechas en la primera cita

10 contactos diario

FAMILIES!!!

Lots of love, Mb

I'm especially trying to be happy even when I'm frustrated.

It's a "lift where you stand" approach.

November 28, 2011
Dear Family,
    I am determined to write all this letter hoy!  And to send it off by tomorrow, Meta!
    Well, I live, and I'm happy.  Hna Castro se fue al dentista.  She went to Jinotepe with Grethel -- the daughter of President Mercado.  So right now I am with Hna Martinez and Hna Campos.  They are cool.  I really like my district.  Our district leader is Elder Talla.  He's from Panama.  He's really kind.  It's nice to be around people who are nice to me.  He is always being funny and friendly.  It's sad because I don't understand him very well -- he usually has to repeat himself.  But it always makes my day better to talk to him.  His companion is Elder Woodruff.  Elder Woodruff is from Ohio and he is also very kind.  One night I triple booked myself and I decided to help Anielka with the choir she was doing.  But it was at the same time as English classes which Elder Woodruff was giving.  In the chapel, we had trouble opening the piano and Elder Woodruff left his clas to help me even though I really should have been with him., helping him in his class.  But he's really pretty patient and he just works really hard to do what's right.  He talks to me in English a lot which is nice.  Elder Talla always tries to talk to me in English too.  He just says things like thank you and I'm sorry and how are you and see you tomorrow.  My favorite was que pase good night!
     Yesterday we had a goal to contact 4 families and we only contacted one.  I felt sick all day yesterday -- actually just after lunch.  I've felt sick for about the past 4 weeks.  But I do feel happy too.  Sometimes I just get frustrated.  But I'm grateful that there are people who are kind to me and talk to me and stuff.  I'm especially trying to be happy even when I'm frustrated.  I've thought about you, Dad.  You told me once that when you used to come home from work and felt grumpy you would come play a game with me and that would make you feel better.  Last night I came into Hna. Xiomara's house and felt terrible because we didn't complete our goal and I was kind of frustrated with Hna Castro.  But, I had played with Yen (the 5-year-old son of Pres. Mercado) that afternoon and when I entered he wanted to play with me.  So I played with him.  It's a "lift where you stand" approach.  I'm trying to make it that way--I know Hna Castro is supposed to be my companion and I hope I can learn everything I'm supposed to from her and this time, I am learning, but I have a feeling there's a lot more to go.
     I'm excited to get your recording that you sent me!  Thanks :)
     Something cool:  a recent convert, Milton Garcia, in our area---Milton is a mini-missionary.  He is super with-it.  He was baptized about 3 1/2 months ago  Now he's in our old zone --ciudad San Dino.  The elder, or one of the elders that baptized him is in that zone.  Milton knew Elder Hilton was in San Dino, but Elder Hilton didn't know -- so when he saw Milton he was REALLY surprised.  But how cool!  I have a picture of Milton walking away in his white shirt with his maleta -- tuanis.  Salvage!  I think Elder Talla gave him a shirt and a tie.  All the missionaries chipped in a little money too.  I'm really excited for him :)  He's a gooooood kid.  He would wake up all the kids that lived next to him so they would go to church too.
    When we have divisions, we usually meet back up at the church.  I told you a little about the family, Jarquin, that lives by the church.  Francis and Trinidad and Lola.  Trinidad is deaf and I've chatted with him a little.  I talked with Francis and Lola on his birthday.  Their mom goes on divisions with us.  Anyway, I got back to the church and Hna Castro didn't show up and my companion wanted to leave so I went over with the family Jarquin and talked to them  - again.  I think I've done that 3x.  They are really poor and this last time their dad Silvio told me that he did't work that day or the day before.  It's been a good lesson for me because I go to their house frustrated because Hna Castro is late but I really love this family now.  And they love me too.  Francis has come to church the past two Sundays and Silvio, the dad, says he's reading his B of M.  But he still hasn't come to church.  Dolores is fiel siempre!  Also Trinidad has a friend - kind of - in me.  I really can't communicate very well but I do try to talk to him.  Something that started out as frustrating has ended up being a blessing.
     Dad, I found a scripture that reminded me of you.  You told me that all the boys were better missionaries than you were and you had confidence that I would be too.  But you haven't got me beat yet - you said.  You have to raise kids to be better missionaries than you were.  I read 3 Ne 23:9 and it reminded me of this.  It says something about how Jesus did stuff to give glory to the father and I've never understood that.  But now it makes more sense.
     We're teaching some cool people.  Olivia was being taught by the Elders but she lives in our area.  So they gave us 4 investigators with baptismal dates, because they were tracting and teaching in our area, unaware....Olivia is cool.  She can't read.  She lives with her husband and her suegros.  We also met some people that live on the way to Pochote.  The mom just got back from the hospital.  I think she had kidney stones or rocks in her riniones or something like that  :)  She has 3 kids.  They're all grown up and work.  They make furniture.  We are teaching her (Angela), her daughter (Escarlet), her husband (Noel), and her daughter-in-law, (Juana).  They didn't come to church this Sunday.  But hopefully good things will happen.  Noel came and joined Hna Castro when she was on divisions and teaching a neighbor of his.  Then when we were at his house teaching Angela, Escarlet y Juana, he came and joined us in the lesson.  Hna Castro committed them to be baptized.
     Eddy se fue to the North to work for 15 days.  There is no cell service so we can't communicate with him.  We don't know if he's smoking or not.  I guess we'll wait and see when he comes back :)  All the Hna's have cell phones.  And the leaders.  It's nice to have a cell phone.
     We're also teaching Jamilet, who is really positive.  She has come to church the past two weeks.  It's exciting to have some families to teach.  I'm trying not to think too much about transfers.  Because I don't know what's going to happen and I don't want to get my hopes up for something that I can't really control.
Okay Bye!
But I really want to stay here in Masatepe.  :)
Love, love, love,
Marybeth

I still get frustrated and stressed. But I want to be here. Nowhere else, only here.

   I've been thinking about how much Special Ed has prepared me for my mission.  It´s kind of crazy.  Also, the roommates that I had have prepared me really well.

Hey family
ya`ll should write me before reading this letter from last week.
Mom I need to know if you sent me spanish scripture covers in my Christmas package.  If not I`m going to buy some.
Charlotte`s address?
Sarah`s mision?
Camera chip still isn`t here.

November 21, 2011
Dear Family
   Kyle! it sounds like Turkey is awesome.  I hope you have a good time there.  Thanks for the email.
   Pablito!  I´m glad you are feeling better. Have a happy Thanksgiving and don´t cheat too much in Rook.  Try REALLY hard to be lazy. :)
    Dad! I didn´t stick out my thumb.  It was the branch president´s wife.  We just rode in the back of the truck. Hna Xiomara, Presidente Luis and Hno. Eduardo.  I liked the way you expressed yourself.  It sounds like you are doing great with the Stake.  I hope all is well in the Gillette Stake and the RCSD mission.  Also, you always make me feel good in your letters.  Thanks for seeing the good in me and in my letters.  Thanks for being such a faithful writer.
    Mom I get lots of mail from you and I love it.  I really treasure every letter.  I have a question, the missionaries teach English lessons right?  I´m sure they have already invited the couple to church.  But it´s way way way more awesome if you do it!  Just ask them.  I was excited to hear about you sharing your testimony without notes.  Wow!  That´s really impressive. 
    Dani!  I hope you´re feeling okay and that Lil Critter is happy and healthy and hiccup..py.   Tell your mom and dad hi.  I read the email you sent me about contacting about every 3 or 4 days.  Thanks.
    Cheryl I hope your back is doing better and that the munchkins are behaving themselves.  Have fun at work!  Send me a gingerbread house if you have time... Just kidding.
    Douglas!  Happy Thanksgiving!  Happy Thanksgiving back. I hope school is awesome.  Tell me how you are doing and what you and Dani are up too!  Good luck with all your work in church and in school and at home! 
    Grandma Tew!  I started a letter for you today and hopefully I can finish it.  It´s just a card, but I´ll try to send it this week and hopefully you´ll get it before Christmas. :)  As we´re getting closer to Christmas I´m thinking about you and how you were Santa Claus on your mission.  If the opportunity presents itself, I´m going to take it.  Yesterday we had Stake Conference and the bus left from the church to Jinotepe which is about 25 minutes away.  I was in Los Chirinos which is a ways away from the church waiting for some recent converts and investigators to get ready.  They took a long time and we had to take a moto taxi to the church.  We got the the church---6 in the taxi plus a little girl.  We got out and Presidente Luis whistled at the bus to stop ( it was about 30 yards away )  They opened up the door at the back of the bus and yelled hurry up in Spanish.   So we hurried up, ran, and jumped into the bus.  7 investigators in church this week!  But... they aren´t really the ones we´ve been focusing on.  Apparently we need to change the people we are focusing on!  It was fun to hear the Stake Conference. Two kids recited the Articles of Faith.  About 10 recently returned missionaries gave their testimonies which was way cool.
  Kevin!  I love your letters.  They´re perfectly Kevinish.  I liked the picture of Nani and I´m glad to hear that your proposal is going well!
     So, Hna Dopp trained Hna Castro.  And Hna Dopp said she was from Hawaii, which is where her family lives now.  But she graduated from Newcastle.  So, I guess she´s the ¨Patriarch´s daughter?  She finished her mission about 3 weeks ago.
     I met someone really cool today when we went to Jinotepe to play futbol with another Zone.  her name is Hna Cottam.  She graduated from BYU Hawaii.  She also knows Hna Dopp because Hna Dopp worked at this ice cream stand in Hawaii before her mission.  Also, she has seen Glade around campus but doesn´t know him well.
     Cool Story with ending yet to be seen... We contacted a girl one night at a pulperia.  I talked to her and she seemed really really positive.  she told us she had heard good things about the church and that she wanted to come and she would come the next day (Sunday).  She talked about not knowing her Dad and missing having a dad.  Well, we stopped by the pulperia again to ask about her and the people there gave us her address.  We went there one Sunday to invite her to church but her step dad told us she wasn´t home.  Then, we went to our Recent Converts house for a family home evening and Jaosca was there!  We invited her to church and she came the next day with David and Jessenia.  Cool!  Hopefully she can progress and grow in the gospel.
Notes
  Elder Talla let us use his shoes so an investigator could use them to go to church.  Also, he nos prestó two white shirts for an investigator and a recent convert.  He´s our district leader and he is really kind.  He´s from Panama.  He really tries to help and support us and serve. 
   I've been thinking about how much Special Ed has prepared me for my mission.  It´s kind of crazy.  Also, the roommates that I had have prepared me really well.  I wrote some nice notes for Hna Castro and that completely changed our relationship.   So, thanks Behavioral classes! and Dr. Marchant.
  Also, I like to think of the "Overrule my acts to serve thy ends.  Change frowning foes to smiling friends."  It´s from Savior Redeemer of my soul.  It's kind of comforting to know that when we work hard we can have good results even if we´re not really smart or talented. 
   Last Monday we had an FHE at Manuel and Yolanda´s house.  I was sitting with President Luis and Hno Eduardo (my new hero I wrote a little about him in a letter) and Presient asked me how I imagined my mission.  Like this?  no?  mejor?  no. This is mejor. 
I still get frustrated and stressed.  But I want to be here. Nowhere else.  only here.
Love love love MB

I really am glad to be here...especially to be here in Masatepe.

There are lots of wonderful things about this place. 

 It's fun to walk down the street and recognize lots of people,

 say adios, and feel at home.

November 7, 2011
Dearly beloved familia,
     I miss you all!  My pen died.  Thanks for your letters.  I love my letters.  They are organized by date now, I believe, mas o menos.  I go back and read them all the time.  I print out your emails too.  I love to read them.
     Tonight we're hopefully going to have a Noche de Hogar with some recent converts and inestigators.  Hna Castro had the idea to roast marshmallows -- so hopefully that will work out.  Noches de Hogar are super awesome.  People love them.  Last Monday we had a AWESOME one with all the missionaries at the house of a member Ophelia  --  she had planned it all really well.  There was a message and singing and then Noche de Talentos!  Ofella lip-synched to two songs and it was really cool.  She was dancing.  People acted out a story, told jokes, sang, gave tongue twisters.  It was really fun.  Hna Castro sang a verse of I am a Child of God in English and I played the piano for her.  The BEST PART was Hna Eduardo.  He's a convert and he's super with-it.  He doesn't have work right now and he goes on splits with the missionaries ALL THE TIME...like 4-5 times a week for hours.

November 14, 2011
He's sooooo awesome.  He's probably 45 or 50 and he plays the guitar -- learned from a book.  He left and came back dressed up as a clown --full out baggy shorts, crazy shirt, pink socks, and clown shoes.  He had clown makeup too.  He did some tricks and sang 2 songs with his guitarra.  It was soooooooo awesome.  Magical, kind of, the songs were beautiful too.
    These days I've been feeling lot of things.  But I really am glad to be here...especially to be here in Masatepe.  There are lots of wonderful things about this place.  It's fun to walk down the street and recognize lots of people, say adios, and feel at home.

November 21, 2011
     I have a big list of thinks I want to write about.  But I don't know where to start.  I have had very very very little time to write in my journal and I want to record more of the everyday stuff.  What happened this morning, an interesting contact, a joke I heard.  I hope I can have more time to write in my journal.
    I lost my watch in Nagarote and it was probably a good thing.  We're always late and there's really not much I can do about it because Hna Castro has specifically told me that that's not going to change.  Sooo...we get to the house late, we leave the house late...I hate being late.  I feel super stressed because I know it really bugs a lot of members and investigators too.  Hopefully I won't get sick from the stress.  My stomach's been hurting but so far....no ulcers:)
     Anyway, life is good.  Something interesting that has happened.  We were walking down the street and an old man greeted us.  Hna Castro shook his hand and leaned down to hear what he was saying.  And he gave her a kiss.  And we left.  It was really funny.  The next day we were saying good night to the Family Mercado.  Gretel, the oldest, was outside talking to her boyfriend, Rudy.  Hna Castro gave her a kiss and then without thinking, obviously -- did the same to Rudy.  Right as she was kissing him she realized what she was doing and was like Aaahh!  And we all laughed and laughed.  And she was embarrassed.  But it was super chistoso.  About 30 seconds later the Elders called us and I was laughing as I was talking to them -- they came around the corner and Rudy told them what happened and they laughed too.  Hna Castro's comment:  It's because I'm a righteous disciple of Christ.  I give what I receive.  haha
    Last Saturday we had divisions and I was in Los Chirinos to ask permission from some parents so their kids could be baptized.  We were supposed to meet at the church at 5:00 because my companion was going to Jinotepe for the adult meeting of Stake Conference.  Hna Castro y I decided that if she was late in coming to the church, I could go to the house of a member who lived nearby.  So Hna Xiomara dropped me off there and thankfully the daughter who is almost 20 didn't want to go to conference so I stayed there and talked to her and her brother Francis.  Also, they have a brother who is deaf and I've chatted with him before.  I showed him pictures of my family -- that was cool.  His form of signing is very different so I couldn't use ASL, but his Hermanos translated for me.  When I chatted with him before it was so frustrating because I wanted to be able to communicate better with him -- it was cool though because I realized how much easier it would be in Spanish.
    I was there for a long time.  It happened to be Francis' birthday.  He hadn't done anything for his birthday and hadn't received any gifts.  So I have him a sucker Hna Castro had given me and I blew up a balloon Elder Talla had given me.  So he had a balloon and a sucker!  Yay!  I also ate dinner at their house -- gallo pinto + crema and pan.  I told them I wasn't going to eat because Hna Castro had just called me and said she was coming from the centro de Salud.  But Silvio, the dad, said if you don't eat we'll be angry.  "Entonces, como."
     I shared a scripture with them from the BoM and comprometer-ed them to read the B of M (Francis y Silvio).  They are both less active.  Silvio was the 3rd or 4th member of the church in Masatepe.  The church used to meet in their yard.  Francis told me he would come to church the next day  (And he did!)  and Silvio said that "me da pena" to go after not going for so long.  They fed the missionaries when the missionaries didn't pay members for food.  Anyway, it was cool that it worked out so I could visit them.

Sidenote:  This was the 2nd time I have given the only birthday present on my mission.  My presents are lame but I give with love!

Something I love is that when I walk down the street I say Hi to a lot of people because I recognize them.  I've talked to them before.  It's really fun to recognize Hno Jacob's mom, the abogado, the person who said no thanks to the gospel.  I really feel a lot of love for the people in Masatepe.  We say adios to a lot of people as we walk.     [hand drawn "extremely accurate" graph:  Y-axis:  # of times I say Adios...X-axis:  quality of my mood.  As value of Y increases, X increases correspondingly]

I love you Mom and Dad!
Happy Christmas and Happy New Year too!
Keep the Christmas Spirit alive in the Tew house!
Love love love love love,
Hna Marybeth Tew

I wish you could see Nicaragua. It`s beautiful. There are banana, lime, orange, and mango trees. There are palms!

I`ve hitchhiked,  roasted marshmallows, played with little kids and introduced lots of people to the Book of Mormon. 

November 14, 2011
Happy Birthday Nani!
Happy Birthday Mom!
Thanks for the emails Dani, Mom, Dad, and Cheryl! 
    Kevin I got your Dear Elder last week.  I hope school is going well  Tell me how it is going
    Mary Katherine, can you forward this to Regan?  Regan, thank you for your letters and pictures.  I got two last week a card and the photos of your sister`s wedding!  I wrote you about 3 weeks ago but I didn`t actually send the letter until a week ago.  Thanks for being a faithful friend! 
     I`m excited to get a recording from you all Dad!  It`s okay if I don`t get the package until after Christmas.  I don`t know how I`ll actually feel on Christmas, but right now I don`t really care if I get the package on the 25th or in January.  I`m excited to talk to you all.  In less than one week I will complete four months on my mission.  I know I have a long time left, but it`s crazy to me that I`ve been here that long.

Hna Sobeyda!   Hola!     Estoy feliz que usted me escriba!   Masatepe es perfecto.  Tenemos un investigador que esta dejando de fumar y tenemos otras investigadores tuanis.   Pero siempre hay mas trabajo.  Espero que ustedes esten felices !  Cuanda van a ir al templo?   Diciembre?  Mando Saludes a Hna Carmen Axelito y Abel.  La Quiero Mucho!  Hna Tew
(forward to Hna. Sobeyda please Mother!)

Hi Grandma, I  hope that you are doing okay!  I heard about your fall and  I`m sure it`s been kind of rough.  But I`ve been thinking about you and praying for you too!  I wish you could see Nicaragua.   It`s beautiful.  There are banana, lime, orange, and mango trees.  There are palms!   I`ve hitchhiked,  roasted marshmallows, played with little kids and introduced lots of people to the Book of Mormon.  Our mission is trying to focus more on the Book of Mormon since it`s the evidence for everything we believe.  It`s the way we know the church is true because its the way that we receive personal revelation together with prayer.  This week my companion and I worked in splits.  It`s always humbling to go on splits because I can`t rely on my companion.   I have to do my best and trust that the Spirit will help me, my companion, and the people to whom we speak.  I am getting better at contacting people but its still kind of rough.   I always feel happier after I contact someone, though. Love, Marybeth

An excerpt from my journal  What I've been learning:  We can't control a lot of things, but we can do our best with what we have.  I can't control all, but I can control if I go to bed on time.  I can control how many contacts I make.  I can control my personal study.  I can choose to be patient.  I can choose to think positively about my life and my opportunities.  Another thing I've been thinking about is how I want to be if I have the opportunity to train or when I am a senior companion.  (Thanks for  the suggestion, Dad).  I want to be happy and share everything pretty much equally.  I want to be humble and listen to her ideas.  I want to trust her and gain her trust.  I want her to feel important and valued.  I want her to feel loved.  I want to congratulate her in her successes.  I want to share and make goals with her.  I want to talk about life, everything with her.  I want to  focus on the good that she offers and try not judge.  I want to learn from her and apply everything good that she is and has.  I want to support her in hard things, and I want to ask for her help  in all things but especially the things I cannot do well.  
    Dani I hope all goes well with your mom, and you and little critter.   I`m putting down 10 cordobas that it`s a girl.  That`s less that 50 cents.
    Kyle.  I'm sure you'e already realized this but I think the opportunity to have Thanksgiving in Turkey is too good to pass up. I hope you have fun doing whatever you decide to do. 
     Mom, I`m glad that I have those shirts from Columbia.  They`re great.   I love all the shoes I brought.  Tom`s deodorant is awesome because there are no stains from sweating.  I've heard good things about the salts that they sell or something like that.  Thanks for telling me about Sarah Cotton I was going to ask about her but I forgot.  I know there are a bunch of missions but Rachelle Romney is in Antofagasta.
     Dad It sounds like life is good!   I hope all goes well with the town houses and retiring.  I`m really looking forward to  hearing your voice.  I was going to suggest that you could  record something on the MP3 player, but I decided not to.  I`m glad you read my mind.  I guess Dads can do that. 
Today we went to Diriamba (our zone only our zone) and listened to a presentation by Pres Monestel about the BoM.  Afterwards  he and Hn Monestel played soccer with us and then we went and ate pizza!  Woohoo! 
    I`ve been happy but also pretty stressed this week.  I`m trying not to make myself sick, though.  It`s been a good week.  We need to focus more on families so that we can baptize a family in December.  Hopefully Ernesto and Rosa can be baptized.  Eddy, will be baptized next Saturday. 
I love you all!  I wish I could write more.  I`ll send a really short letter this week!
Love love love Hna Mb Tew

The spirit directed the lesson. It was all the Spirit. I knew what to talk about, to whom I should direct questions

I asked him to choose another hymn and he chose Divina Luz (Lead Kindly Light).   It was awesome.  Because the night was dark, we were far from home...I had that feeling again, there is nowhere that I would rather be right now that in the back of this truck on the way back to Masatepe

November 7, 2011
Dear Family
Here are the questions and answers

Any  Christmas ideas?
YES I need a watch and a journal.  The package you sent on the 23 of Sept was received by Nicaragua the 3rd or October and received by ME the 4th of November.  Also, peanut butter would be nice. 
Does your companion have support from home? does she need anything?    She`s fine.  She has support.  You can send her something, though. .   
It's looking like I will be sending your MP3 player with....MoTab music??? any other requests? 
MoTab, BYU, Christmas music.  I can listen to inspiring music.  Conference music... 

Dani  I didn`t know your mom was having chemo.  Did I miss something in your letters?  I hope that she gets better.
Thanks for your story.  Thanks for the letters.  I`m excited to hear about little critter or baby. I liked your B of M story too.
Doug I don`t play the piano much.  I sing in the shower.  I love to sing!  It makes me so happy!  Don`t be rolling your eyes, Paul.
Tell me more about how school is going. 
Paul  tell me about your job and where you are living
Kyle How are you doing?  Write me a letter.  Tell Carrie to write me too.  Are you living in DC still?  Kevin, how`s school and the munchkins?  cheer on BYU for me. 
Cheryl  Thanks so much for the pictures and the holder.  It`s perfect.  I like it a lot.  The hard cover was really smart and I love all the pictures.  How`s life?
Dad  your email about John 17 didn`t come through.  I don`t know what happened.  But I did see that you were writing me at 5.30 in the morning.  Thanks. 
Grandma Campbell  Thanks for the mail and the postcard.  I wrote you a letter today and hopefully I will send it soon. 
Mom  Thanks for your emails.  I am still taking pictures.  I am making a descriptive list of the pictures I have on my camera card and I will send you the card when I get the new card.  Hopefully the letter will come through this Friday.  My Spanish is improving, I think.  I need to focus more and listen more when people are talking. I also need to talk more.  I have been learning more about quedar too!  I was excited to hear about your visiting teaching experience!  Its amazing how much we can do when we have to do it.

We only have 45 minutes to write emails now because people are being disobedient. 
I have decided that I should just do whatever I can do and not worry about things that are out of my control.  I am making a few steps of progress.  Last Tuesday I initiated 10 contacts!  I was really excited.  I felt so good! 

Tuesday we were walking in Chirinos, an area, and a boy stuck out his head.  We passed but Hna Castro said lets go back.  We chatted with him.  His name is Josue.  The elders talked to him once.  We asked him if he went to his mom`s church and he starting talking about how he wanted to find the truth.  He wants to know what church is true.  Uh... okay.  We can help you with that.   We had a lesson with a family and I just felt a lot of love for them. 

Wed.  We found out that a guy we contacted and invited to church actually showed up.  We hadn`t seen him!  We had a lesson with him and his daughter and son in law.  cool His name is Pedro. 

We`re also teaching Nancy.  She prayed to know the truth with us.  We`ve only had one lesson with her.

Saturday we had divisions in the night.  I went to Pochote with the Branch President (President Mercado) and his wife, Xiomara.  Also, Hno Eduardo came with us.  We took a moto to his house.  I was thinking when we left the chapel.  I`m not prepared for this.  I don`t know the vocabulary for smoking. I`ve never studied the lesson about the priesthood.  We were going to visit Eddy to give him a blessing so he could stop smoking.  Well, the time for preparation is past, hna Tew.  We got there and there`s a little hike into where he lives.  He is the brother of Rafael.  It was awesome. .  The spirit directed the lesson.  It was all the Spirit.  I knew what to talk about, to whom I should direct questions.  I asked an inspired question.  I knew it was time to ask one so I stopped, thought and I thought and I knew what to ask.  And he gave a beautiful answer. The Spirit helped me speak in Spanish and he helped Eddy to understand.  We read a couple scriptures from the BoM.  The BoM with the spirit are the most powerful tools we have.  Eddy chose I know that my Redeemer Lives as the opening song.  He thumbed through the book more and I thought he wanted to sing more so at the end I asked him to choose another hymn and he chose Divina Luz Lead Kindly Light.   It was awesome.  Because the night was dark, we were far from home.  I don`t remember all the words in English, but in Spanish it says that we`ll cross mountains and valleys with firm footing and the help of God.  It was very appropriate since we had to climb up a narrow steep path to leave and then we had to walk up a big hill.  On the way back a truck passed and Hna. Xiomara tried to hitchike.  The next truck passed and she was successful.  I climbed in with the rest Pres. Mercado, Hna. Xiomara, and Hno. Eduardo, who is awesome.  I had that feeling again, there is nowhere that I would rather be right now that in the back of this truck on the way back to Masatepe. 
   Life isn`t perfect, but it is interesting, and happy.  I love you all.  no letter this week. Sorry!
Love, Mb

No kindness no matter how small is ever wasted

Today I was sitting in a chair at an investigator`s house and I was thinking  I think this is heaven.  I think heaven is like Masatepe.

October 31, 2011

Dear Dad,
   Thanks for your email.  I actually was thinking about your talk on kindness that you gave.  I was praying and I prayed to remember that no kindness no matter how small is ever wasted.  I tried to implement that this past week and our companionship is much much much much better.  I actually felt like we were friends.  It`s a big change.  Thanks for your prayers and advice and I they have helped me.   I am sad that Elder Roller left you!  He`s great. :)  But I hope you are having fun with the new Spanish Missionaries.   Tell Grandma and Grandpa Tew I say hi.  I hope they are doing okay.  I hope Grandma feels better soon and neither is too lonely. 

Dear Mom,
      I ate a vegetable I think it was some kind of Squash and the name begins with a P.  It reminded me of Gillette and the garden and zucchini.  And I could taste the vitamins.  Ohhhhh.... vitamins.... how I have missed you!    Today I was sitting in a chair at an investigator`s house and I was thinking  I think this is heaven.  I think heaven is like Masatepe.

No effort is wasted.

I have been in Nicaragua 6 weeks today.

October 31, 2011
Dear Family,
    I have a lot to write.  I think... We had a good week.  Hna Castro and I are getting along A LOT better. 
   We received a reference a while ago for Marina Cortez and then we lost the address.  I was riding in a moto with Hna Dolores a member of the ward and I asked the nonmember driver for a reference.  He gave me his mom`s address.  His Mom is Marina Cortez.  Hna. Castro and I decided we should probably go find her.  haha  If two people give the same reference in a matter of days.  We tried to find her one day but something else happened so we looked for her last Jueves and asked an investigator who lives in her neighborhood where she lives.  She turned out to be the daughter of this investigator and actually showed up while we were chatting with the dad who is super cool.  We visited Marina and she told us about her family and how she feels really sad because her kids don`t visit her.  She loves to have kids at her house but the grandkids never come or at least not very much or often enough.  Her 16 year old son lives with his Grandma.  She really opened up her heart to us.  Hna Castro said we`re going to sing a hymn Families can be together forever.  She really liked it.  We have visited more.  We`re hoping we can teach her husband too.  He is really nice.  He`s a taxi driver. 
    Rafael was baptized this Saturday.  I have pictures and I`m going to send my memory card home whenever I get my new card.  I didn`t send a letter last week either.  We just didn`t have time.  But I`m going to send my two week old letter this week for sure!   Sorry.....
Rafael is the son of two members.  He`s twenty and he stopped smoking with some previous missionaries.  He has received many many missionaries and he finally got baptized.  This gives me hope because we talk with a lot of people who don`t get baptized, but we are preparing them for future missionaries.  No effort is wasted.  We contacted a family and they talked about the missionaries that had met with them twelve years ago.  But they still remembered some of what they were taught. cool.
    Gallo Pinto is the national dish.  It`s delicious.  Especially with queso and crema. queso frito is even better.  I love the food here.  There is also this fresco that they make with oatmeal.  Its super rico. 
    We taught a family called Areas and we really hope good things happen with them.  We contacted them with the BOM!!!  Pres. Monestel told us at the Multi zone that he would like to see every missionary walking with a copy of the BOM in his hand.  There is an emphasis on families and sacerdocios because we want to have a temple in Nicaragua.  The family is awesome. They are grandparents.  They and their grandson who is basically like their son,  he calls them mom and dad have a baptismal date for the end of this month.  Hopefully they`ll come to church...next sunday are elecciones. 
    A pet parrot climbed up the front of my skirt and halfway up my blouse last Saturday.  It`s beak was disturbingly close to my chin. 
    I met someone who served with Kyle.  Her last name is something like Guiterrez...  Anyway, someone in my rama knows you, Kyle!  Kyle are you still in DC?  Doug said they were thinking about going to DC for Christmas so I figure that`s where you are right now.
     Paul  I wrote you a letter today but I`m not sure I have the right address.  I may not send your letter until next week.  I hope you are enjoying life and that your intestines can be whole, healed, and happy.  :)  haha
    Doug I like to hear a little about your classes.  Tell me more!  Thanks for your email. 
    Dani  THANK YOU for your emails.  They really meant a lot to me. Ocassionally I feel like we are the same person.  I`m awaiting a picture of Adam in his turtle costume so I can see if he really was cuter than Scotty.  I am excited to see Little Critter.  I did see the whatever that thing is called that`s a picture of the baby that you attached. 
    Mom and Dad thanks for you emails always and your letters.  I didn`t get letters last week because a bag didn`t come to Masatepe from the office.  Hopefully I will get some this wednesday because Wednesday there are TRANSFERS!!! AAAHHHGG  I have been in Nicaragua 6 weeks today.  And I`m about to finish my first transfer.  I wrote this in my letter, but tell the Gardners that "Families Can be Together Forever" is touching lives in Nicaragua.  It was Griselda`s favorite song. 
    Kevin  thanks for the pictures!!!!!!!!!!  I`m printing them off with my emails too.
    Paul again: The day of Marybeth`s mission is the day in which you should write her.  I hope you`re feeling better! 
Look up Masatepe if you can.  It`s a cool city with lots of Artisan stuff.  Is that the right word?  They make chairs and baskets here.  The temperature is lovely. 

Things I want for Christmas  Tom`s deoderant  apricot,  I`ve heard good things about the salts if you think that would come over better. peanut brittle, a tape and tape player that doesn`t need headphones in order to hear, or my mp3 player and cord with music.  I have one of the plugs that connects an outlet to a USB cord, so I would just need the cord that goes from my mp3 player to a USB reciever. 
 I had a list and I forgot it at my house but I want a happy surprise and letters and notes and a tape from home.   I need peds!!!!  the little tan socks that you wear with dress shoes.  Like ten pairs.  I want a little hymnbook in English. Maybe a children`s hymnbook in English, but probably not.  How to teach piano in Spanish because I`m going to do that this Friday.  AAAHHH Also if there are Spanish scripture covers I would like that. 

I LOVE YOU
Love, Mb

Can you forward this  little message below to Hna Sobeyda?  you can say hi to her too in the email if you want.  She and her mom cooked for us in Nagarote and we lived right next to her house  the same yard but a separate house. 
Hna Sobeyda!  Gracias por su email!  Masatepe es super tuanis.  Me encanta la rama pero extraño la rama y Hna Carmen y usted y Axelito y Abel.  Estoy feliz y Hna. Castro esta feliz tambièn!  Saludes a todos en su casa! 
rojasbetancurt@hotmail.com

There is no where else I would rather be.

  I have reminders from Heavenly

 Father everyday that he loves me... 

There really are miracles that come 

from contacting.

October 24, 2011
Dear family,
    It`s been a fun week.  There have been many ups and downs.  We had a baptism on Saturday.  Manuel and Yolanda were married and baptized.  There were a ton of members there!  and non members.  We did lots of divisions this past week and I went out with Hna. Rapalo and Hna Campos and a Hna. from the branch. 
     I have reminders from Heavenly Father everyday that he loves me.  Yesterday we sang Tengo gozo during sacrament meeting!  In the primary class, Cielo chose me to say the prayer and told me to say it in English.  It was so awesome to pray in English.  Today I was thinking about how I like to imagine myself running up a mountain.  I`ve always liked that image since my freshman year of college and we walked to the Provo temple and saw angel Moroni pointed towards the mountains.  Like, life is hard and it`s a journey and there is a destination and it takes effort.  But this morning I realized that I can`t actually run up a mountain.  I can walk up a mountain if I have someone there to help me.  And I think it`s probably better to do it that way.    I am amazed at how many promptings I receive to read something or do something and it always makes me feel happier.  I love to get your emails.  Your notes and letters are really really really special to me. 
     This Saturday was awesome.  We had a baptism of a family!  We report our numbers as families, sacerdocios, and then a total.  They want to have a temple here.  I contacted four people during service.  I am starting to enjoy contacting.  That night we contacted a family in a house, something I had never initiated before.  But I did it!  and it was fun!  It`s fun to see the miracles that come from contacting.  We contacted Manuela and her 7 kids last week.  We've been visiting her and hopefully her heart will soften up so she will come to church.  She is shy and then she opens up and talks about how much God has blessed her and her family and she cries a little!   She makes chips and sells them. 
   Tonight we have a baptismal interview with Rafael.  He hasn´t smoked or drank for four weeks or four months I`m not sure which.  haha oh the joys of misunderstandings.  It can be funny.
    Today we went to the beach.  It was lovely.  I looked for shells and thought about Cheryl! 
    A few interesting things about Nicaragua:
    When people are referring to other people, they pucker up their lips and direct them to that person.  So, when deciding who will pray, they just pucker up and point with the lips.  When I do it people think it`s funny.  I think it`s funny too. 
     Nicañol dictates that no hay que pronounce the S.  I contacted someone with two kids, one has die anos and the other tre. 
     chocho means dangit!
     dele pues means alrighty then.  Sort of like, okay go ahead.  or lets get going with the siguiente. 
     I love to get your letters.  Everyone is jealous of how many letters I receive.  It was that way in the MTC too! 
     I have lots of ups and downs.  I still get homesick.  In the mornings I almost always feel sad until after lunch when we start working.  Then I feel better.  There is a quote in PMG about that in the section on Diligence in Christlike attributes.  I was rereading a letter from you, mom, this morning and you said you decided to memorize Nefi 3:7   I am memorizing it too.  Mom you can learn Spanish!   I pray every day that you can learn Spanish because I know you really want to and I want you to understand Spanish when you come to pick me up if you don`t get called on a mission before then.
    Well, I`m getting lots of practice of listening and speaking Spanish.  But I still don`t talk very much.  I`m getting lots of practice of trying to be happy even when I don`t feel happy.  I`m also practicing being more patient.  I`ve been remembering that nothing lasts forever.  The good and the bad are both going to end so I should enjoy the good, bad, ugly, and mediocre.  Everyone I talk to tells me that the mission passes really really fast and then it`s like a dream. 
  There are moments when I feel perfectly happy to be in Nicaragua and I have no desire to be in Wyoming. There is no where else I would rather be.  I`m going to start exercising in the mornings.  That will help me feel better. There really are miracles that come from contacting.  We find less actives and part member families and people who have heard about the church and want to come.  Saturday night we found a girl who lives with a neighbor.  Her mom lives with someone else and her Dad, who she doesn't know lives in the US.  She talked about how she feels sad that she doesn't have a father, and that she`s heard really great things about the church.  The great thing is that with contacting, you just have to ask questions, listen to the answers, and give the doctrine they need.  If it`s a good contact, the investigator basically tells you, give me the principle God is our loving heavenly father. But the Spirit is behind it all.  I have a long ways to go up the mountain.  But the view will be great.  Forgive the cheesiness, Pablito.  I love you all.  I really do pray for all of you everyday by name.   Mom, Dad, Kevin,Cheryl, Tanner, Nani, Kyle, Doug, Dani, Scotty, Adam, Baby, and Paul...except sometimes I say the munchkins instead of tanner, nani, scoty and adam.

It`s kind of ridiculous how good Heavenly Father is. How many chances he gives us and how much he wants us to be good and succeed.

We're in Masatepe... I'm cold!!!!

We live in a house that has hot water!!!!

 
Dear family, I have almost no time.  sorry!  I have a short letter that I`m going to mail at some point, but not much.  We`re in Masatepe and it`s still raining...  Vivimos en una casa that has hot water!!!!  wow!  It`s a nice house, big.  We eat with the president and his wife.  There is a chapel here too and the members supposedly are super excited about it and are inviting people to see the new church.  The members here help out a lot, I`ve heard.  The daughter of the presidente del Rama is going to work with us.  My Spanish is getting better.  Today I talked lot with Elder Ochs and Elder Woodruff in English.  It was fun.  It`s also fun to talk to the Latinos in English.  Some of them speak really well.
But we haven't actually done anything here yet.  Hna. Castro and I had a good week.  Felix and Suje came to church!!!  Only for an hour but they came!!!  It`s kind of amazing how many miracles there are everyday.  Like, this really is God`s work.  I haven`t read your letters yet Mom and Dad.  I read your`s Cheryl and it was beautiful I`m going to print it off with mom and dad`s.  Kevin, thanks for your dear elder.  Mk thanks for the email and your pictures!!!  Thanks Sara for the email and Rebecca too!  Thanks Grandma for the letters.  I LOVE THEM!!   Thanks for the letters mom!  thanks thanks thanks.  I love you all and I am grateful for your prayers.  This week was a lot better mostly because Oh something cool that happened on Tuesday.  We were in a lesson with Maura and I was bearing my testimony and then I said we`re going to end with a prayer and we`re going to kneel if that`s okay, I looked at Hna. Castro and she just nodded with this weird look.  The Lord then blessed us with a reference from Maura and we went to Josefa, I wrote a little about her in my letter.  We were looking for a hymn to start off with to sing and I found one and knew we should sing it.  But Hna Castro was picking and she picked the one I had.  She was like, you have it already?  After that lesson, which was sweet because she gave a really sincere prayer, Hna, Castro said: Today estuvo super tuanis [cool] because when you said let`s kneel and pray, that`s exactly what I was thinking.  And when the hymn thing happened that made it more cool.   It`s kind of ridiculous how good Heavenly Father is.  How many chances he gives us and how much he wants us to be good and succeed.  I have to go.  It`s late in the day.  P'day should be over but we had a long field trip and didn`t get back until late.  Well... bye!  Please pray for me!  I pray for you.  Look up the weather for Masatepe.  It`s ridiculous.  I`m COLD!!!!  It`s awesome.  Everyone says this area is awesome.  There are two hermanas aqui and two elders too.  We eat with them, so that`s awesome.  Okay Bye  write me!

...this is the Lord's work and all I really have to do is trust in Him.

Dear Family,  I am in a bus right now.  It's P-day and we just went to a nature preserve or something like that.  It was really beautiful.  I'm in Masatepe and I've heard really really awesome things about the area.  It's ridiculously beautiful.  This past week, and these past weks I've learned a lot about trusting in God, just doing things, being positive.  Pretty much every aspect of my life is a choice.  I can choose to love people, I can choose to change.  I can choose to talk.
    We visited a lot of recent converts on Saturday .  One was Hna. Magdali.  She has a problem with the Word of Wisdom.  She showed us a mostly empty bottle of some alcoholic beverage.  We took it and we were talking in the street.  It was dark and raining.  A  lot of lights had gone out.  I realized I still had the bottle in my hand and I told Hna Castro, laughing, "I feel like I probably shouldn't be walking with this."  Ha ha.  That made us laugh:)   I dumped it out and threw away the bottle.
     I'm not sure I'll have time to write much today.  For emailing.  We found a few new investigators this week --Carmen Moria y her family and Josefita.  Carmen is a teacher.  She's met with the missionaries before and even went to church.  She's very honest and open. She asks lots of awesome questions.  Her family is awesome and they all seem really intelligent.  We contacted her one night when it was raining.  I found a scripture in the OT that says something like when the sower sows, he doesn't know which plants will give fruits.  Asi es with contacting.
     Our other investigator nueve is Josefita.  We visited an investigator of the Elders (who left Nagarote) and asked for references.  She said, My next door neighbor wants to go to your church.  Turns out, we had contacted Josefa before and she had told us she wanted to go to church someday.  I was just like...whatever...but we visited her and her 2 grandsons and she prayed!  Wow!  It was really sweet.  She was all ready to go to church this Sunday (we passed by her house) but she got a call and had to go do something after we passed by the first time.  She's sincere.
    Griselda, our investigator who came to General Conference wasn't baptized this Saturday because she's still living with her "husband."  There are a lot of problems.  She has many troubles.  She loves the hymns Love at Home and Families can be Together Forever  (this song has touched another investigadore in Masatepe, too.  Maybe you can tell the Gardners..tell them I say hi, too!).  I really hope she can have an eternal family someday. 

October 24, 2011
The branch here is fantastic.  There is a beautiful chapel with a nice piano and two keyboards.  There were a ton of people at the baptism/wedding yesterday.
    I've been thinkg a lot lately about what it's like to be a missionary and how much we have to rely on the Lord.  When I think about everything I have to do I feel stressed and overwhelmed, but once in a while I think, well this is the Lord's work and all I really have to do is trust in Him.  Then everything will be alright.  Everyday I'm reminded that the Lord loves me and He knows how to help me.  If I go to him for help, I can help the people I teach and talk to.
    Saturday it rained really hard for awhile and the street was like a river.  Hna Castro and I walked from the President's house to our house and it was ridiculous.  I used Hna Castro's umbrella.  I was dressed in missionary clothes and she was walking with a buchet over her head.--in her street clothes from service.  As we were walking back I said that I really wanted my camera to take a picture.  So I ran ahead and grabbed by camera and her's and took a picture.  Right now I'm at...the Beach! My whole zone is here.  It's beautiful!  It took a long time to get here, but it's awesome to watch the waves and walk barefoot in the sand. There are rocks of lava and palm trees.  I'm homesick for Hawaii and Kevin and Cheryl and Samoa and Mom and Dad.  ha ha
    Today while we were waiting for a bus a man was asking us for money and we were at the market with music playing and he started dancing for us.  It was pretty funny.  He just kept on dancing and dancing.  Saturday we were giving service with the rama, clearing off a sidewalk which was buried under 1-2 feet of dirt.  We took a break and drank pop and ate white flour, chocolate and high-fructose corn syrup cookies.  They bought three 3-liter bottles of pop.  When there wasn't much coke left in the bottle, President Mercado cut off the top of the bottle with a machete.  He picked up a huge piece of ice that almost didn't fit in the bottle and started drinking from it.  Everyone was laughing and I just felt like I was at home.  I could see myself in Gillette at fishing lake or something and I imagined Dad doing something ridiculous and making us all laugh.  It was a joke that required no understanding of Spanish.  I'm still struggling with Hna Castro...but not much.  It's been good to be with other missionaries. I really like Hna Rapalo. 
    I love you all and I pray for you every day.  I hope all is well.
Love, Hna Tew
**Rafael said he would be baptized this Saturday!  I only met him last night--Hna Castro visited him during splits.  We're going to his house every day this week.  No cafe!  [coffee]  We have to talk a little more about our prophet today...Thomas S. Monson.  It's a 45 minute walk to his house :)  And it's BEAUTIFUL.  Hopefully he';ll get baptized the 29th! 
Love to all,  Marybeth

...when I don´t follow the Spirit, I feel like crap.

 Service is awesome.

Dear Family,
 I love you all!  I´m so grateful for your love and support.  I know you are praying for me all the time.  In Provo at the MTC, one of the devotional speakers told us that the mission is really for ourselves.  He told us to let the Lord mold us on our missions.   I need lots of molding.
   I felt a lot of failure this week.  I think a lot of it stemmed from my relationship with my companion.  I feel a lot of intimidation.  So, when I have an idea of what we should do, I don´t act on it or tell her because I´m kind of afraid of her.  This just leads to more problems though because that means I´m not following the spirit,  And when I don´t follow the Spirit, I feel like crap. 
    I have tried to talk more this week. But I feel like I´m failing at that too.  I know Satan uses discouragement against us, and I´m feeling it.  But yesterday we fasted to have a better companionship, and there is a difference. We fasted to have baptisms this month and to find the people that God has prepared for us.  I know this week is going to be better.  This morning we were with the Elders and I felt like I should contact the security guard at the Bank, so I did.  Even though it was Pday and Hna. Castro was there and the Elders too.  I felt so great afterward.  
   I know I should contact a lot more.  Contact everyone!!  Dad I liked what you said about having a quality contact rather than overcoming bashfulness.  It´s hard for me because everyone tells me that I have to talk more and my district leader asked me if I had many friends before my mission.  I was like, yes I had friends.  Not a lot...not a few...  I guess I feel judged a lot.  Oh well. I´m tall, white, and I don´t talk very much.  People are going to judge me.  I am trying to think less about myself and more about my investigators.  I need to think about Jesus more too.  I just feel really imperfect. I guess I should get used to the feeling and just rely on the Lord a lot more.   Here are some cool things that have happened.  
We had a multi-zone conference last week in San Dino.  It was great!  There were some really awesome workshops and talks.  Each of the three zones put on a theatrical work.  Ours was good!  I said 5 words haha. My lines were really funny and everyone laughed at them.  The people in our zone are good actors and they made it a lot a lot a lot of fun.  I was a grandma.  It was about the 2000 stripling warriors. 
Sorry If I sound super depressed in my emails.  I think I do.  I just have my up moments and down moments.  But this past week was kind of rough. 
I got about 14 or 15 letters last week!  Everyone is always amazed at how much mail I receive.  I got some letters that arrived at the CCM.  I got the Dear Elder from Sara Bingham (thanks! it was great to hear from you!)  Anyone can email me btw.  I just can´t email them.  I got pictures from Kevin and Cheryl´s visit in Wyoming.  I got a letter and pict. from Mary Katherine and a letter from Rebecca.
     This week two of our investigators came to church.
Our area is becoming part of the North mission.  this means that we are getting transferred to Masatepe (yo creo no estoy segura como se escribe)  I am sad to leave our Investigators and recent conversos.
    Yesterday we had divisiones and the District Leaders interviewed one of our investigators, Griselda, for baptism.  It took two hours.  She has many many many many problems.  But she passed the interview.  Last Monday, we went over to her house with Francis, who is 15 years old and knows how to cut hair.  Francis cut Griselda´s hair.  Her hair had a HUGE mat or something like that.  We cut the matted hair into like 4 parts, used conditioner and combed like crazy.  It took about 2 hours to comb all her hair.  We talked to her a little about how to take care of her hair.  I think Griselda feels a lot of love from us, and I know she loves Francis too.  Service is awesome. 
      A miracle:  We were talking in our district meeting about one of our investigators Felix who knows everything about the gospel and has refused a baptismal date at least twice.  He knows JS was a prophet.  We had a practice.  Hna Monestel was my comp. and we taught Elder Bailey and Hna Castro pretending to be Felix and his wife, Suje. The practice went okay and there were some really great suggestions.  One of them was to focus more on Suje.  Suje is almost never present she´s behind curtains in bed. She´s pregnant and kind of cranky sometimes. That day, later, I suggested that we stop by Felix´s to see if he prayed about baptism.  We stopped by....a little boy a sobrino or primo or something said that only he and Suje were there.  Hna. Castro just looked at me like Yeah, go.  So we came in and Hna Castro asked about what she was doing.  Suje said she was working on her English homework and she was having trouble.  Well, why don´t you let my comp help you!?  Sweet!  So, I helped Suje with her homework and talked to her about learning Spanish and how English doesn´t make any sense.  It was fun.  Later, Flor and Narciso, Suje´s mom and dad who live there too and we just baptized last month, came and then Felix.  We shared a scripture about family prayer from 3 Nephi, committed them to have family prayer and had a prayer with all of them. I'm grateful our DL Elder Carcamo had us practice and that he was thinking about our investigator and how he could help us.  I´m sure that district meeting and practice were inspired.
Okay, I´m feeling a little better now.  I really liked the conference talk about looking up and the other about looking back at how far you´ve come.  One of my entries in my miracle book was that I contacted people in the streets in Spanish without the help of a companion all by myself.  And really that is a miracle. Even though it happens every time we have divisions, it´s a miracle EVERY time. Thanks, Heavenly Father!