Week 75

Ha ha it was great to get to talk with you guys this Christmas!! Everyone is growing up super fast!!!!! My brothers look super different! Even though you all say that I have Spanish accent....Ha ha thats what happens when you speak Spanish 24/7....Ha ha.

I apologize I dont have a lot to write about this week. We talked a lot about the week on Friday.

This week we met a super awesome investigator. It was one day when Elder Herrera and I were knocking on house doors....or yelling buenas.... and a guy came out of his house to talk with us. We talked to him for a bit and found out that he is an event organizer for a Rock Band....ha ha, pretty cool. He is super postive and we have plans to go by tonight to talk with him and his wife. He was all ready to go to chúrch when we passed by his house on Sunday for church.

On Thursday we had a great time at the Multi Zone. It was super fun to see some old friends, including Elder Orellana and Elder Presinal. The two of them are doing really great and it was fun to talk with them. Its crazy to think that Elder Orellana has already 9 months in the mission!!

I attached a bunch of Photos. I hope you enjoy them. Take care, I love you guys!!!

With love,

Nicaragua Managua Sur,

Elder Morgan Anderson

Multi-Zone Christmas activity with President and Hermana Russell

Elder Morales, Elder Gesualdo, Elder Anderson, and Elder Hererra

Christmas Skype 2015

We loved hearing from Elder Anderson on Christmas Day via Skype.  He sounded good and we loved hearing about his new area in Masaya, Los Pueblos.  He struggled at first to speak in English and after a few minutes we could still hear a strong Spanish accent as he talked.  The Skype connection was not the best, but it was pure joy to hear his voice and see his beautiful smile and handsome face.  We were able to talk with two of the Elders he lives with.  We loved meeting them and speaking with them for a few minutes.  Elder Morales speaks English, but the other Elder only speaks Spanish so Kevin spoke with him.  Elder Anderson does not want to come home this summer and has made life long friends with his various companions and other Elders he serves with.  He became emotional as he spoke about his previous area and in particular about the family he was so blessed to see enter into the waters of baptism.  This family continues to grow in the gospel and are a family of GOLD.  The work is hard in this new area, but he is positive and we know that great things will take place as he continues to serve with all his heart, might, mind and strength.  He had his multi-zone Christmas activity on the 24th.  One of the presents from President and Sister Russell was a microwave for each apartment. He and the three Elders he lives with enjoyed microwave popcorn that night.  Such a treat to have a way to cook food now. I took a few videos of his call, hopefully I can download them and you can hear his Spanish accent. He is doing great! We are richly blessed as a family through his missionary service.

Week 74

Wow its almost Christmas......and Happy Birthday Dad!!

So I don't have a lot of time to write. This week we worked in a lot different areas. I went out to a place called Diriomo and worked with the District Leader out there and his companion. It is a really cool area that is up in the mountains. In the area there is a huge lake that is really deep. It used to be an old volcano.  Water filled it in so it is a lake now.  In this area there are a lot of little villages that have a ton of people in them! It was a lot of fun, but we had to get up super early both days to get up there. Its not super far away, but it takes about 45 minutes to get there by bus. 

This week I have contacted a lot in the area. A lot!! ha ha. We would just find streets and just contact the whole street. We didn't have a ton of success as our commitments fell through on Sunday. Just have to keep my head up and keep pushing forward. I really like the area and the zone. The people are super friendly and the area is nice and cool. I know we will have a lot of success really soon.

For Christmas, the 25th of December, I will plan on being on SKYPE after 3 Nicaragua time. It could be as late as 7 or 8 Nicaragua time. We are still trying to decide on a few details but I will be on. So just be ready to respond.

On the 24th we will have a multi zone meeting with President and Hermana Russell. I am excited for that. I bought myself some Christmas gifts. I bought a new bag that goes around my waist like I had before, but it is super cool. All the missionaries have a bag like it. I also bought a new watch...so those are my new Christmas gifts....ha ha.

I have really enjoyed reading a letter everyday. I enjoy reading and feeling of everyone's testimony of Christmas and Jesus Christ. Thank you. 

I love this time of year and I am really excited to be able to spend Christmas of 2015 with the people here in Nicaragua. I love this work. I love this Gospel. I know that Jesus Christ was born in a humble manger,  but is our Lord and Savior. I love him. 

Merry Christmas!!

Nicaragua Managua Sur,

Elder Morgan M. Anderson. 

 

Week 73 - Los Pueblos

So I guess the story of the week is changes. It was hard to leave Las Palmas and the people, but I love my new area. I am in a newer zone called Los Pueblos. It translates into english as the villages. Most of the zone is in the higher part of the city of Masaya, but a lot of the areas go up into the mountains. There is a district of missionaries up in the mountains by Granada which takes about a 25 minute bus ride. It is a super cool area in terms of the weather. Our area where we live is like a big subdivision, but we walk like 5 minutes and we are in farm country and climbing mountains. I will attach some pictures.

Its a lot cooler weather here as well. I wake up in the mornings a little bit cold. Something that never happened in my time in Managua. Sometimes the water goes out, but we have a big tank in the house that holds the water. Everytime we shower or need water you have to turn on the pump. If you want to turn the water off you just yell really loud and somebody turns off the pump.

While walking this week I have seen a lot of corn, tomatoes, platinos, and farmers in there little villages. This week while walking we ran into a member with three little calves so I told him I wanted a picture with the calves.....he is in the back of me holding onto the calf while it was trying to get away.

My new companions are Elder Morales, (The other Zone Leader) Elder Gesualdo (the companion of E. Morales that he is training) and Elder Hererra (my companion). Elder Morales goes home the end of this change and is from Honduras. We have been good friends as we know each other through Zone Leader meetings and I am excited to be able to work with him. Elder Gesualdo is my 5th companion from the Dominican Repulic. He is a super fun guy! Elder Hererra is my companion and is from Guatamala. He has helped me a lot this week to get to know the area and the investigators.

I love my new area. I love the work. I know that through faith, obedience, and hard work brings miracles. I love teaching the Nicaraguans. This week we walked back to a house clear up into the mountains and they were not there so we hiked all the way back down. I was kind of upset that they were not there to be honest....we walked a long way....hahaha. But we passed by a recent converts house and shared a quick message with him about the Sabbath day. I quickly felt the spirit and the love of Christ again and realized once again how much I love the mission. I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ, and by living His gospel brings 

eternal life and happiness.

I hope all is well. Take care!!

Nicarauga Managua Sur,

Elder Morgan M. Anderson

Elder Diaz  and I with the Bishop and his wife in Las Palmas

Mountains of Masaya

Elder Morales and I by a Christmas tree of lights

Week 72

I apologize as I do not have much time to write. This week is a big holiday week and everything is going to close down today in the afternoon. 

This week was full of miracles. An investigator named Maria gained a testimony from reading the Book of Mormon about baptism and told us on Thursday afternoon that she wanted to be baptized on Saturday!! Wahoo! We have been teaching her for a long time now and finally she got baptized! We also baptized the lady from the Atlantic Coast that speaks mosquito. 

As well this week Elder Diaz and I went to a few lessons with our recent converts Oscar and Zenobia. We were teaching about the Book of Mormon to a family and Oscar pulls out scriptures and starts teaching about the Book of Mormon with scriptures, testimony, and testifying of the blessings he has received as he has read the Book of Mormon. This family is awesome!!

We worked really hard this week and it payed off. Elder Diaz is now finished with his training and is one of my favorite companions. He is a great missionary and I am excited to see him in the future. He will be a great fantastic missionary!! I have a lot of respect for him as he taught me many things of humility, faith, and following the spirit.  I know that he was a very large part of why we have been successful these past few months here in the area, Las Palmas.

I know this church is true. I love you guys. I think of you often. Take care! Tell the family hello! I love you guys!!

Nicaragua Managua Sur, 

Elder Morgan Anderson

Zone Leaders.

Elder Martinez with Elder Anderson

Elder Antuna, Elder Mateo, and Elder Diaz with Elder Anderson. 

Zona Managua.

Week 71

I am just going to start off and apologize as I dont have a lot of time to write.

This week was a lot of hard work in the area and was a lot of fun. Elder Diaz took the lead in all the teachings as his training is coming to a close. Elder Diaz has taught me a lot as a missionary and many times has taught me many lessons of humility and patience. Both things that I really need to work on...hahaha.

We do have a baptism this week. Its the lady we have been teaching from the Atlantic Coast. She got interviewed last night and is super excited for her baptism. The ward has helped us a ton teaching her. Our recent converts Oscar and Zenobia went with us to teach her. What a strong spirit I felt as they both testified of the truthfulness of baptism and the need to pay tithing. I love working with the members. The Bishop helps us a ton with the work and is always willing to do whatever to help our investigators progress. 

Thanksgiving we went to a restaurant with the Zone and had lunch. It was a very traditional lunch with grilled chicken, rice, plantian chips called tajadas, and mixed vegitables. I love veggies now....haha anything including cauliflower.... It was a little bit hard that day but it turned out good. I missed being with the family but we worked hard in the area and we didn't even remember that it was Thanksgiving until the end of the day. A member gave us a pot of chicken and potatos and rice. We ate a pretty good dinner after the day was over. 

Thank you for all your help and support. I love you guys! The shoes are awesome. Thank you!!

Nicaragua Managua Sur,

Elder Morgan Anderson

Week 70

Wow this week we had a lot of different things going on. It was a long week, but it ended with 2 great baptisms from our area here in Las Palmas, Managua.

Leticia was a great baptism. It took a lot of work to get her baptized. But like I said last week it was through the Book of Mormon that she got a testimony. There were so many times as we talked that she would express her desires to do what's right, but could not decide which church to join or where to turn. There were many times as well that she would tell us in tears that she had been praying and praying to receive her answers. While teaching her Elder Diaz and I started something which I haven't done much of. To start or end the the lesson, we would sing a hymn. I love to sing, I know my Savior Lives. I feel the spirit so strong as the song testifies of the life and power of the Savior and how His atonement strengthens, heals, and lifts us up. 

So as I am sure you have seen, the Zone had interviews this week with President Russell. It was a lot of fun. We were in the chapel all day on Friday. I got a special treat and as we did housing checks.  Elder Kliener and I with Hermana Russell stopped at McDonald's and got lunch for President and us. I got a Jalepeño Burger. First time at McDonalds in Nicaragua! Ha-ha. I also got my packages. I haven't opened them up yet. But Mom said that I could open one up for family home evening tonight....or I guess its called, Missionary Home evening. I guess we will see what we got this week. 

This week was filled with a lot of hard work and Miracles. It rained super hard this week as well for 4 strait days. Every night we can home super tired and muddy. But it was a lot fun. We found actually a lot of cool people to teach as we knocked a couple of doors while working. I love it when it rains.

I love this work and the Gospel. I love you guys. Take Care. Happy Thanksgiving!! 

With love, 

Nicaragua Managua Sur, 

Elder Morgan M. Anderson 

I'm thankful for...

Two baptisms this past week.

Pictures

My heart is filled with gratitude for President and Sister Russell.  They are amazing!  They love their missionaries!

Elder Kleiner (AP) and Elder Anderson.  A Nicaraguan first...going to McDonalds!  Jalapeno burger.

Christmas packages arrived!

Week 69 - Restoration of the Gospel

Well this week has been a week of teaching about the Restoration of the Gospel. We met and found an inactive family because they didn't understand the message of the Restoration and left to another church....wow, that was an experience. They had a lot of questions about the plan of salvation as well. 

I am often in awe how everything relates back to the Restoration of the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. With out this knowledge we are lost. Through this gospel we know of the Plan of Salvation and we are able to preform the saving ordinances of the gospel such as baptism. I love teaching of the Restoration of the Gospel.

So we had a baptism this week. His Mom is a less active and he lives in the furthest part of our area where there are lots of businesses and its really hard to contact. He is a super good kid and will be turning twelve in a short period of time. 

We have two more baptisms this week. A older man named Mauricio, and an older woman named Leticia. It has been a great time teaching them. Leticia this week had a lot of questions as her baptismal date gets closer and she wanted to get a for sure answer. We have taught, prayed, and prayed again for her. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and I know that helped her receive her answer! I love the Book of Mormon. It really is the Keystone of our religion and is the best way for someone to get a testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

We went and visited one of the recent converts in the ward this week and found her three year old daughter with a really bad sickness caused by the mosquitoes here. She was running a super high fever. Before we even said a word the Mom looked at us and said she wanted us to give her daughter a blessing. We were able to use the priesthood many times this week and I am always humbled at the opportunity to give a priesthood blessing. I know that it is the Power and Authority of God to bless the lives of others and to serve them. 

So funny story of the week. Last night we were walking to an appointment and Elder Diaz and I saw a lady and her young son struggling to carry a bag of sand to their house. So we decided to help them. We each took turns carrying the bag. We were about a block away from the house and I took the bag from Elder Diaz so I could take my turn carrying it. It was super heavy. Well I threw the bag on my shoulder. I didn't see the hole in the bag and sand fell all over me and my shirt. Haha!  I finished working the night with sand in my shirt and all over my backpack.  Hahaha!  It was something good to laugh about. 

I love the work here in Nicaragua. I love you guys. Always remember to share the gospel with everyone you come in contact with, even if they are members. I love you guys and pray for you always. Take care!!

With love,

Nicaragua Managua Sur,

Elder Morgan M. Anderson

Week 68

Well another pheasant hunt has passed...ha ha jk. I didn't even realize that it was the pheasant hunt this week.

Well everything is super good. So I promised this week that I will talk a little bit about my investigators....

So this week Elder Diaz and I were knocking doors for a little bit. We contacted a young mother that has family here in the ward. She has been to church several times before, but has never been baptized. She is from a place that is on the Atlantic coast up by Honduras. They speak Mosqito.....its a pretty cool language. When she prays she prays in Mosqito. I have to speak a lot slower in Spanish so she can understand me a little bit better, but she is super cool. She went to church with us this week and one of the recent converts in the ward helped her out while at church. She has a date to be baptized in December.

Another lady we are teaching is an older lady. She is really fun to teach and really receptive. We just taught her the Book of Mormon and word of wisdom. We went to go pick her up for church this week in a taxi......she had already left her house and was at church.

This week I had a lot of meetings with being a zone leader and with training Elder Diaz. It was a lot of fun being with all the other leaders a bunch this week and talking to all of them and seeing how things are going. 

Elder Mateo has a little grilled cheese sandwich make that we all use....I have been using it to make peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches, ha-ha. It's nice to have a little bit of warm food when I get home at nights. 

Elder Diaz and I have been running around like crazy this week as we have had some sick Elders in the zone and I have done several baptismal interviews... I like being able to go to the other areas like I have said before. 

These last few weeks I have been a little bit more cautious around dogs....ha-ha!  Everytime I have walked by the place I got bit I have been checking for the same dog. Another investigators dog almost got me this week as well, but my foot stopped him.....ha-ha. 

I hope all is well and the family is good. Looks like you guys are having a lot of fun. I love you guys and hope all is well. 

Everything is great here in Nicaragua. My testimony is strengthened every day. I love you guys! Happy Birthday Dallin!

Nicaragua Managua Sur, 

Elder Morgan M. Anderson 

 

Elder Mateo and I at a meeting with all other Lederes de Zona.

A food traditional lunch here in Nicaragua. 

Elder Paine and I after zone meeting.