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