Lincoln Mission August 13-19 2024

It was a good first transfer here in Narganá and now we're on to round 2. I believe that I won round 1, so now we'll see if I can survive these upcoming 6 weeks and come out on top.

Good bye to Elder Griffiths

This exchange was one of the best I've had. We ended our time together by using something called "sabdur." It's a traditional fruit-looking plant that kunas use to paint themselves. You cut the fruit in half, take out all the seeds, smash them up to get out all the juice, and then apply it to your body. The catch is that it doesn't immediately paint your skin. It takes hours for it to take effect and start showing up. Us, being non-believers in the powers of sabdur, started messing around with it and got it everywhere. The next morning when we woke up we were dark blue. Worth it. All the kunas thought we were awesome and would come up out of the blue and talk to us in rapid dulegaya.

Hello to Elder Hulme. Again.

On wednesday, my good friend Elder Hulme arrived and it was a happy reunion. Our second time being comps because one wasnt enough. It should be a super fun transfer.

Baptism

Our friend Joinel got baptized! He's awesome. A super patient, mature kid. We went to the island and were able to help him make his first covenant with God. Here, the kids we baptize wear one of our shirts because good condition baptisimal clothing is scarce here. Joinel was super happy and gave us a huge hug afterwards.

Culture week

This week is culture week, meaning that there will be a bunch of cultural presentations, dances, food, etc. We already saw a huge parade of little kids walking around in their traditional clothing. We're super excited and hoping to do everything possible to immerse ourselves in the culture. We got out the sabdur again and painted our noses this time. The kunas went crazy for it.

Mowing the lawn

Well, our grass may have gotten out of hand and the neighbors complained. The chiefs of the island told us that we were going to get fined if we didn't cut it, so we broke out the machetes and spent hours trying to get the lawn to look somewhat decent. Kinda cool.

More highlights:

- got water again

- played more chess with the kids

- ate more fish

- saw some flute dances

- found some more people to teach

Well, thats basically it. Sorry it's long, but that's what the popular opinion (my mom) is asking for. It's wild out here, but I love it so much. Kunas are the best. Their culture is amazing. 

Also, I decided that half way through my mission I would create a google photos album to share. Don't judge.

Hunter Mission August 13-19 2024

 This week was full of so many awesome things I’m not really sure to begin.

 

Tuesday was probably the coolest experience of the mission so far.  We got to spend the entire day with our friend Tamara and her family. It was her big day and at 12:30 we were able to watch her get married to Gino and then the same day I was able to help her make her first covenant with God. It was so special to be able to see how important this was to her personally and not just something she was doing. She's already participating as much or even more than the members in our ward, which is saying something because our ward is amazing.

 

Also, this week we stumbled upon so many milagros (miracles), which we are definitely in need of. Next Sunday is my comps last Sunday in the field and were trying to bring as many people to Christ before he leaves. One of our milagros was the fact that we had 4 people who got their first attendance at church this past Sunday, so we have the potential to have 4 different baptisms next week. So far 3 of the 4 have committed and are looking forward to baptism next week. We are just are gonna need a lot of prayers and work for the other person, but he’s awesome and I know he will be guided by the Spirit. So yeah, we are going to be grinding this week preparing all these people and seeing how much good we can do while I’m still with my trainer. 

 

There was so much more that happened this week, but I want to leave it there just because of how awesome those two events were for me. I want to testify to y’all that prayer works. I know that if yall’s prayers for our friends are what helped them make the decision to go to church and all the prayers of the members here made a huge difference. We have the power to help so many people as we pray sincerely and then act on the will of the Lord. That is something I’m trying to be more aware of, Gods will for me, and prayer is the best we to do that. I know that God looks out for every one of you and as you pray he will listen and answer.

 

Love everyone!

Elder Nelson

Hunter Mission August 6-12 2024

 What is up my fantastical friends and fam! This week was absolutely amazing I can't believe that I get to be out here doing this work for 2 years i'm going to love every second of it.

First off, yeah we done got evicted. A few weeks ago the people that we were renting with told us that they had "other plans" for the apartment so we couldnt live there anymore so yeah only a few weeks in and already havjng super fun experiences. We moved all of our stuff from one apartment yo a new one the only problem is that the only one that they could find was a 30min walk to our sector, and a hour and a half walk to the chapel so like hey, imma be super fit from all this walking, gonna be super awesome. Oh we also figured out that we had to install our own gas, but the problem with that sentence is that we figured that out... first day in the new apartment was an amazing ice bath, 36 degree water in 32 degree wether (no heaters yet). God has a funny way of helping us be greatful that is for sure but i have no complaints. The showers felt great after the fact and now we're up and running!

This week was great for me to have, we were able to help so many people wether it be through service teaching or just laughing together we found ways to love the people. Enphasis on laughing together. Ive found out that no matter what language you speak everyone can understand laughter, i always find so much joy when we are meeting with our amigos who have kids. All of these kids will crack up just from a silly face and a single high pitched laugh from one of these kids can make the entire room smile. That is something that no language barrier can stop and it has brought me comfort when i struggle to understand the language.

Anywho something awesome that happened this week was a ward party last friday, we were celebrating the countries Columbia and Venezuela. There was so many interesting foods to try that were all so delicious and we were able to get out friends to go! We had a family of 7 attend the event and they all had a wonderful time and were able to connect more with the ward. Its so awesome when you can bring others to the church and everyone just loves them in half a second, that is one of the main things that i love about the church of jesus christ of latter day saints, it is all centered around love. We all are in this together and we can share our trials with our ward family, they can support us and help us know that we are cared for, because that is what Jesus would do.

I also have a favor to ask of yall, we have amigos who have been struggling recently. They love the lessons we teach and love to have us over but they struggle with keeping commitments and going to church. If yall could send some prayers up for them that would be amazing, they are an awesome family and I know that the power of prayer can help them out. Prayer is one of the greatest gifts we have and i know that it can help out this family and help our you guys personally as you have that conversation with God and showing faith that he hears you. This would be so awesome, if you need help with how to pray hit me up with an email and we'll figure it out together!

Absolutley love everyone of you!

Elder Nelson

Lincoln Mission August 6-12 2024

 This week was awesome. My mother has asked for more detail in the email again so here it is.

Transfers

For a little backround, back in changuinola I was comps with elder Hulme and it was awesome. We had a bunch of fun, we worked hard, etc. The sad part was that we only got one transfer together, but yesterday I found out that he's coming to Narganá with me! We're going to be comps twice and I'm super excited. My old comp elder Baugh is now my new ZL so thats also awesome. It's going to be an awesome 6 weeks

Exchange kind of

Elder Griffiths came to nargana for a few days because elder baugh had to go do ZL stuff. It was super fun. Elder Griffiths came into the mission with me and is hilarious. Just an all around awesome guy. 

Storm

So a few weeks back we had a massive storm with thunder that shook the house. That storm took out the internet in the church leaving us to use the data from our phone which just doesn't work half the time. We finally got the whole system for the internet and wifi in the church back up and running this week and it was great. Then yesterday we had an even BIGGER storm that flooded part of our house. More crazy thunder and lightning that gave me flashbacks to vietnam. Long story short, we no longer have internet in the church. It was fun while it lasted. We'll see how long it'll take someone to come out here and fix it. Again

Guna parade

The school this week had a small parade where all the kids walked together through the streets in their traditional clothing. I think they said it was international day of indigenous people, but I habe no way to confirm that. It was super cool and I was able to watch from the almost half finished second story of our house. Alas, I didn't have my phone to take pictures. Sorry mom. Next time.

More highlights

- Gardening with a machete

- handwashing clothes for a member

- got served chicken organs again

- a bunch of our friends came to church

- i got to hold a live iguana and some hermit crabs

- usa won the olympics. Best country in the world

- the dog that lives under the church decided to come inside

- more drunk people with sober thoughts

- the electricity company fixing the powerlines while also leaning their ladders on those same powerlines

Life goes on and has never been better

Elder Nali