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