Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Pictures from November
Spencer may or may not have broken (or dropped in water) the first camera he left home with.... We finally got him a new one and now we get pictures! Yay!
November: Transfer!
On November 18th, Spencer wrote he has now been transferred to Diriamba, Carazo, Nicaragua. He is in the same stake, but a different zone. The weather is a little bit cooler.
Here's some info on Diriamba:
His new companion is Elder Rojas who is a convert from Costa Rica.
Here's some info on Diriamba:
Diriamba is a municipality in the Carazo department of Nicaragua, with a population of 31,200 (2005). It is located to the west of Jinotepe.
Coordinates: 11°51′N 86°14′WThe city is well known in the country by a number of idiosyncratic events and landmarks, as well as its mild weather, rich agricultural lands and jovial people. The city celebrates the life and story of the Chorotega chieftain named Diriangen, and famed by his struggle against the invasion by the Spanish conquistadors.
During the month of January, the city celebrates the annual festival of San Sebastian, Diriamba's patron saint. The week-long celebration culminates with the marching of El Gueguense, a complex dance incorporating both Christian and pagan traditions in a satirical criticism to the Spanish colony. The Gueguense is the first precolonial literary figure in Nicaraguan history. It was allegedly written by an unknown author in the 17th century. The storyline hails back to the years of the colony and by confusing Spanish and Nahuatl word sounding alike, it makes fun of Spanish authorities.
October
In an email to me (Ashley) Spencer commented that he wishes he could watch Nacho Libre because the extremism of the cultural and many of the references made through make so much more sense to him now. :) I think he will quite enjoy re-watching that when he comes home. He then proceeded to tell me the following story that I will try to re-tell in his words--more or less: (If you don't know this already Spencer's emails are almost like trying to decode ancient Egyptian):
Written on October 1:
Friday was super crazy. We had a zone meeting in Jinotepe which is an hour away, including the walk. We came back to Nandaime at 2, ate lunch, and had a ton of stuff to do to prepare for a marriage/baptism the next day. Finally we got the time to go visit the family and see how they were doing. When we got there (there is pretty far away and in the POOREST part of Nandaime), they were super depressed and told us they weren't going to do anything the next day--get baptized or get married. I was like, "WHOA, WHAT!?! I don't think so. What's going on?" And this is why they were so bummed: In the poor parts of Nicaragua, some people revolt and steal electricity. They just send someone up one of the poles and make their own power lines and no one says anything. BUT the person who makes the power line and puts up the pole that everyone connects to has almighty power. This particular day the power went out in that area and the owner of this pole and power line doesn't like Mormons! They have been very very very clear about that. When it happened they pointed fingers at this family because their line was this little teeny wirey thing made out of barbed wire and because the missionaries visit them. So they cut the line and now the family is more or less out of luck and out of power. They basically thought well life sucks as a mormon so I don't want to do this anymore and I said, "You wait right here." I went to the house of the people own the pole and huffed and puffed and rebuked them with almighty power!! Actually, no, I didn't do that. I ran home to call the district leader and ask him what we could do. We came up with this idea: We rallied all our troops marched back down their with torches and pitchforks--minus the pitchforks and if torches were flashlights and add some hymnbooks. With 12 or 13 Mormons under a super teeny tiny tarp roof, we prayed, we sang, we taught, we laughed, we cried, and we ate cake the next day after a super chaotic marriage and baptism!!
That is one of my favorite stories he has told. :)
Spencer later went on to say that he and his companion were able to strengthen their relationship by working on contacting the streets. He said nothing gets your blood pumping like mustering up the courage to talk to complete strangers about the gospel. He took a lady and a man to watch General Conference, but when they came back for the gentleman he was a little too drunk to go the Priesthood session.
On October 29th, Spencer commented that there had been a lot of rain and he and his companion had to spend a lot of time shoveling buckets of water out of people's homes.
Written on October 1:
Friday was super crazy. We had a zone meeting in Jinotepe which is an hour away, including the walk. We came back to Nandaime at 2, ate lunch, and had a ton of stuff to do to prepare for a marriage/baptism the next day. Finally we got the time to go visit the family and see how they were doing. When we got there (there is pretty far away and in the POOREST part of Nandaime), they were super depressed and told us they weren't going to do anything the next day--get baptized or get married. I was like, "WHOA, WHAT!?! I don't think so. What's going on?" And this is why they were so bummed: In the poor parts of Nicaragua, some people revolt and steal electricity. They just send someone up one of the poles and make their own power lines and no one says anything. BUT the person who makes the power line and puts up the pole that everyone connects to has almighty power. This particular day the power went out in that area and the owner of this pole and power line doesn't like Mormons! They have been very very very clear about that. When it happened they pointed fingers at this family because their line was this little teeny wirey thing made out of barbed wire and because the missionaries visit them. So they cut the line and now the family is more or less out of luck and out of power. They basically thought well life sucks as a mormon so I don't want to do this anymore and I said, "You wait right here." I went to the house of the people own the pole and huffed and puffed and rebuked them with almighty power!! Actually, no, I didn't do that. I ran home to call the district leader and ask him what we could do. We came up with this idea: We rallied all our troops marched back down their with torches and pitchforks--minus the pitchforks and if torches were flashlights and add some hymnbooks. With 12 or 13 Mormons under a super teeny tiny tarp roof, we prayed, we sang, we taught, we laughed, we cried, and we ate cake the next day after a super chaotic marriage and baptism!!
That is one of my favorite stories he has told. :)
Spencer later went on to say that he and his companion were able to strengthen their relationship by working on contacting the streets. He said nothing gets your blood pumping like mustering up the courage to talk to complete strangers about the gospel. He took a lady and a man to watch General Conference, but when they came back for the gentleman he was a little too drunk to go the Priesthood session.
On October 29th, Spencer commented that there had been a lot of rain and he and his companion had to spend a lot of time shoveling buckets of water out of people's homes.
Monday, September 17, 2012
September 10, 2012
I am doing good. I did feel the quake, but it was a side to side quake not up and down so it wasn't dangerous or anything, but it was super cool to feel!!! I loved it!. And I am no where near the volcano so don't fret. my comp is good. I love talking to Catholics especially the faithful ones that are open because they are really loving.
But ya the mission is pretty great. I learn a lot every day. We had a multi zone meeting this past week. Holy cow! We have the truth! That is something pretty exciting. We have allllllll of the blessing God can give us and we can be 100% prepared for the day we see God. Sometimes it sounds like a fairytale, but that's because it is.
Spanish is better, I am feeling more confident I just need to study hard. pray. and practice. I want to leave with perfect spanish. but it probably wont happen because the spanish here isn't that great. I did know about Peyton (Manning). I was at a house and someone was flipping the channels and passed ESPN and I saw him in orange and almost threw up.
But ya the mission is pretty great. I learn a lot every day. We had a multi zone meeting this past week. Holy cow! We have the truth! That is something pretty exciting. We have allllllll of the blessing God can give us and we can be 100% prepared for the day we see God. Sometimes it sounds like a fairytale, but that's because it is.
Spanish is better, I am feeling more confident I just need to study hard. pray. and practice. I want to leave with perfect spanish. but it probably wont happen because the spanish here isn't that great. I did know about Peyton (Manning). I was at a house and someone was flipping the channels and passed ESPN and I saw him in orange and almost threw up.
Update July/August
At the end of July, both Spencer and his companion were plagued with stomach problems. I think he might be still adjusting to the food. They had some great learning opportunities when a sister from the church came down to provide extra training for the missionaries. Spencer said, "Its really hard to be the missionary that you want to be. No one ever tells you about how hard the mission is in that sense." I know he is trying really hard to be the missionary he knows he should be. After this training meeting he and his companion had a terribly tough time getting back to Nandaime. All the buses were full and no taxi seemed to be going that way. They were blessed when they came across a taxi driver headed home that way who gave them a ride.
Spencer was adamant that his sister's baby was going to be a girl. He was right, and very proud of it.
Spencer had a companion change. He is still in the same area, which he is really excited about. He is enjoying getting close to the members and understanding the area. Now, he is training! After only a single transfer. His companion is from Guatemala. So at least one of them speaks perfect Spanish. :) However, Spencer has mentioned that his Spanish is getting much better, still not perfect though. He is loving the learning opportunities he has a trainer.
More updates to come. Promise.
Spencer was adamant that his sister's baby was going to be a girl. He was right, and very proud of it.
Spencer had a companion change. He is still in the same area, which he is really excited about. He is enjoying getting close to the members and understanding the area. Now, he is training! After only a single transfer. His companion is from Guatemala. So at least one of them speaks perfect Spanish. :) However, Spencer has mentioned that his Spanish is getting much better, still not perfect though. He is loving the learning opportunities he has a trainer.
More updates to come. Promise.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
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