Mission Blog |
A dangerously acute account of 18 months in Nicaraguan Territory.
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O little town of Chichigalpa…I have discovered why I love it here so much. I believe it is because it reminds me so much of my home town. It’s just big enough to have the stuff you need, but small enough that everyone knows each other, and unlike the Savior’s birthplace of Bethlehem, which “how still we see thee lie”, Chichigalpa is crazy, especially in the month of December. I feel like I’m in the middle of a war, so many bombs are going off and the clash of music just makes my arm hairs curl, but I still love it here.
This week was rather interesting. The Elders Quorum President accompanied us on a visit to a less active, but on the thirty minute walk there, he introduced us to all his friends. Hno Julio is his name and he has a lot of friends. He used to work as the Brandy/Whisky taste-tester in a factory here close by, so he knows everyone who worked there. We were excited to teach his friends, but, needless to say, they all have a drinking problem. (I mean, who wouldn’t have a drinking problem if all you did was taste rum all day for thirty years?) We’ll see if we can help these old dogs learn the new tricks of the Word of Wisdom! I was very surprised to discover that even people here in Nicaragua hold grudges. Almost everyone, member or not, has had a problem with our Bishop and many others have issues with our Stake President. One less active member that we visited was so hard-hearted that only her husband received us. She came, told us her grudge (very loudly and directly) and then left. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so bitter, I bet if she cries, it comes out vinegar, and all of this because the Bishop is human and isn’t perfect. I’m not saying we have to ADORE our leaders, but we should recognize that they are human, they have faults, but they’re also called of God to preside over us, to help us remember of our eternal significance, not just what we do today. And now, a confession have I. Who knows how many people will read this, but please prepare yourselves for a very un-missionary act. So, my companion and I, walking down the street, talking about next week’s talent show (which is going to be AWESOME!) I mentioned that I wanted to do something, she asked with whom, I mentioned an Elder in our Zone, she asked why him, I told her that we had known each other before the mission. She asked how, so I began to explain how we knew each other. And when I finished explaining, she began to suggest that perhaps I had feelings for him. At which point (confession to follow), I punched her in the arm, playfully but with force, she laughed. And with the most stern, motherish voice I could muster, I told her that she should never think, suggest, or say such things. Hermanas and Elders just don’t mix. And moreover, we have a very specific promise from President Collado that if we look for love here in the mission, we will be miserable now, and for the rest of our lives. And if we marry someone from the mission, we will regret it for eternity. That’s a pretty specific promise. I don’t know if my companion thinks a mission is like “Hello Dolly”, but hopefully my words and my punch knocked some sense into her (I feel that I should mention that I’m normally not a violent person- Maybe I can plead “self defense”, which would be partially correct) Wee, family and friends (it actually would be rather interesting to see who actually reads these things), I wish you a very Happy Holidays, with yummy Christmas goodies and lots of Christmas memories! May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmas’ be white! --Hermana Beatty
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November 2015
CategoriesAuthorhola! I'm Naomi and I love reading, my amazing family, and the color green. |