Miracles do exist in Monjas

This week was pretty decent. I'd like to start my email off with a quote from my old investigator Eduardo. He said, "Elder White did you know that girl friends don't exist?" And I said "what do you mean?"  "No Elder White, girl friends don't exist. Only girlfriends and acquaintances.  No more questions." This was the argument he used to tell me that friends didn't exist either. 

So the week was way too fast! It was the sixth and final week of the change. 

On Monday we went to the volcano in Ipala. It was my second time and it was pretty fun. I might have gotten a little bit sunburned, but that's chill. We also had a great lesson with our investigator Josué. He is super sick and I am sure he will get Baptized in this change. 

Tuesday we  had a pretty slow day. By that I mean we contacted a lot and stuff. 

Wednesday I woke up at four in the morning throwing up and sick and everything. It was rough. We also had a solid conference with Elder Ochoa from the 70. It was a three zone conference. With the three zones from outside of the Capital. He taught us some really good things. He said something that really touched me. He said, "Elders and Sisters there isn't anyone outside of this building that doesn't deserve to receive the Gospel." I also completed 17 months so that was crazy fast. 

Thursday we taught Josué and invited him to be Baptized. He pulled out the "does my Baptism in the Evangelical Church not count?" And we read in Acts about those who were Baptized without receiving the Holy Ghost and got re-baptized. He then said, "my baptism wasn't valid then." It was great. He did not however accept a date, but he said he will do it. So this change he will become the newest member of the branch I'm sure. We also got cake from our investigator Eduardo because, it was his 19th birthday. We taught another awesome family about the Book of Mormon. The Pallez Family and Josué are the two best investigators when it comes to understanding things that I have had in Monjas. They understand everything perfectly. 

Friday we got the confirmation from Eduardo that he would be Baptized. At 6:00 we left in the bus to Jalapa and he was Baptized at 7. This is where the miracles come in. I never thought I would see the day that he would actually take the decision to do it. He always said yes, but one day. After doing all we could for these three changes with Walton and Castro he finally did it. And after all of the fasting and prayers and sleeplessness it all changes with a simple question that the Spirit put into my heart. 

On Thursday I simply asked him "Eduardo why do you think that we want you to get Baptized." He thought about it and said he wasn't sure. The answer I gave was with all of my heart when I said, "we want you to get Baptized because we love you and we want you to have the joy that we have received through this Gospel. It's not to fill up a paper or to have one more convert. It's because I love you Eduardo and I want you to live with me in Heaven."  He just sat speechless and made the decision. The simplest testimony. Like President Uchtdorf said, sometimes a simple phrase of testimony can set events into motion that change a persons life for eternity. Never doubt the spirit and the power of the things it whispers to us. I never will again. 

Saturday Nothing

Sunday was decent. We had Church and Eduardo got confirmed and got the Priesthood. The Branch President moves faster than a 16 year old boy when he finds out his crush broke up with her boyfriend, but I'm down. We also put a date with his little sister for this Saturday. My companion was supposed to do it, but he didn't so I did and after I made him try to put one in a door contact. Haha. The man didn't accept it. We also got the call and I have changes. I will be leaving Monjas Tomorrow and probably the state of Jalapa for a very long time. Like until I come back to visit Guatemala after my Mission. But I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to be in this beautiful little city. It has been great and I can honestly say that I know I did all that I could to help the kingdom of God grow in Monjas, Jalapa. 

The Church is true Brothers and Sisters. Who knows where I'll write from next week. 

I love you all. With much love. 

Elder Nicholas David White 

17 Months

Elder White & Elder Steed

Ukraine is weak...

I don't know if that is a Seinfeld reference or if I'm talking about the Olympics. But This week was pretty nuts. It went by super fast. 
Monday wasn't p-day so we went back and contacted and had two lessons. It was a pretty solid day. Tuesday was a decent day as well. We had zone counsel which means they just told us stuff we already know and told us to do it. So that was the same as always. It was a bit different this time. They gave us all cards as companionships and each one had something written on it. We all had to teach one principle of the restoration, but we had to apply it to us as a zone or as companionships and include the points on the card. We talk about the restoration. The sisters before us talking about the apostasy and how we can fall into apostasy as missionaries. We talked about  why a restoration is necessary and how we can all experience personal restorations in our missions. It was solid. We also had an awesome lesson with a new family and they understood it perfectly. That's big time news in Monjas when the investigators understand the restoration perfectly. They are an awesome family. 

Wednesday we had a meeting in the capital with all of the trainers and the new missionaries. It was good. We came back in the bus with my old zone like always so that was fun. One of the new kids just walked up to me and was like, Elder white I've heard that you dig Taylor Swift. And I was baffled by the kid, but later I found out how he knew. Turns out we played lax against each other in Vegas in high school. Cool right? We also put a baptismal date with Eduardo for Saturday!

Thursday we went to the Temple. It was awesome. The new video is super sick I won't lie.  I also saw my ward mission leader from Montserrat so that was fun. 

Friday the interview of Eduardo happened. He passed and all. He said he was going to get baptized Saturday at 1. 

Saturday he then said 3 and then said no. So he didn't get baptized and he'll tell us when he will. I says he will he just doesn't know when. 

Sunday another investigator came to Church for the second time so that's good. 

The church is true. This week the fair is in Monjas and it's changed into a crazy city full of people. I love you all. 

Love, Elder Nicholas White

P.S. I like Nicholas more than Nic now

Elder White's "kid" fell asleep during planning

Monjas during the fair

Elder White with a cute little kitten

The P-Day that wasn't

Today isn't P-Day. We're going to the Temple on Tuesday. I feel like I just went when I was in Las Lomas, but it was six months ago. Crazy right? This week was super weird, but it was decent. 
On Monday we went to the Capital. I miss the capital so much. My comp had to go do some paper work stuff. So we left early... or planed to until my kid turned off my alarm clock and went back to sleep. We woke up an hour late and missed our bus. So we went in another bus. Which broke down and left us in the middle of nowhere. So we finally got on one that was passing and we got to the office two hours late. I went to eat with the other Elders that were there so that was fun. We then went to the office to write and we couldn't get a taxi called so we got to the bus station way late. The point is we got home way late and our whole day was spent traveling. 

Tuesday we left with the Branch President for the afternoon because, he wasn't working. It's hard to get him out because of his job so it was good. We had some solid lessons and we found a great new guy named William. We're going to visit him tonight. We also ate some late birthday cake for my birthday so that was cool. 

Wednesday we had a noche de hermanamiento. The Perez family was the only one of our families that came! But they enjoyed it  a lot. So that it good. 

Thursday we finished lunch early and went to the campana in a tuc tuc to visit a sweet family. Then we came back and left with the President again.  We found a  new guy named Jesus that's 20 and he is super cool. 

Friday we taught the Valenzuela family and it was solid, but their problem is going to Church. 

Saturday there was a Baptism of some little kids from the branch so we went to Jalapa. I saw all the friends from the old zone so that was sad.  

Sunday we had some solid lessons. The good part is we taught 19 lessons with member this week. First and last time that will happen in Monjas.

I love you guys. The Church is true. 

Love, Elder White

Eating Birthday cake with Elder Castro

I'm back in the glory...just for today

What's up? I'm writing from the capital. I miss the capital with all my heart!!!!!!! My comp had to come for some visa stuff so my p-day has sucked. But it's chill. Last week was weird, but good in a way. 

Monday I got my haircut and that's about it. 

Tuesday we didn't do anything. That's a lie. We did stuff. Just it wasn't that significant. 

Wednesday we woke up too early and went to the cap. We went to a conference with the Central and East missions. I got to see lots of my friends and some old comps! It was sweet. Elder Cook shook each and everyone of our hands. It was awesome. He didn't give me the normal shake though. He put his other hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. Cool right? He gave a great talk. I listened to it twice so that was good. In English and in Spanish. We learned some awesome things. It was chill. I came back in the bus with my old zone and it was lame. It made me sad. But it's all good. 

Thursday we had interviews with the President. It was good. 

Friday was my b-day. I'm old now. The ZLS and others showed up at my house at like 7 and cleaned it and brought me cupcakes. We did divisions. So that was fun. 

Saturday we left with the Branch President. It's been so hard to get him to finally leave with us more consistently. But it's coming along. If he's not with us we pretty much can't teach with members cause, there are only two other men and both are always working. 

Sunday was decent. We had a sweet lesson with the Valenzuelas. I love you all. The Church is true. 

Love, Elder Nicholas White

Happy Birthday Elder White

Monjas at 4:00 AM

Week 2

Hey whats up? This week was fast.  It was pretty decent too. On Monday we came to Jutiapa for our first p-day here.  We ate Wendy's.  It had been awhile since I'd had some solid American food.  Well kind of American. P-Day now is worse than ever cause we spend twice as much time in the bus and have no time for anything else. But it's chill. 

Tuesday we had zone meeting and it was good. We then did divisions with the ZL's.   I was in Monjas with Elder Guaman.  It was a good time. He's a cool guy so it was pretty fun. 

Wednesday we had a branch night of fellow shipping where we had a fire pit. It was solid. 

Thursday we contacted a lot. 

Friday we had a lesson in the Church and our investigators couldn't come.  So the member and us were sitting there and we just started contacting everyone that walked by trying to get them in there to listen to a  quick message. I got one family to agree, but as we were walking in their daughter freaked out and started throwing a fit. So they left.  It was pretty disappointing. 

Saturday we saw some disturbing things. We were walking past a Church house and there were a bunch of people in a circle sitting around one guy in the middle that was shirtless and had a bag on his head and they were all bowing to him. But yes people these are the Churches that people in Monjas like to go to more than the True one. We also locked our keys in the house and had to get them out before our lesson in the Church. We met with Eduardo and taught him abut fasting. We fasted with him on Sunday. 

Sunday we fasted with Eduardo. We also found a new family. The husband knows a lot about Jesus Christ and has a strong desire to learn so that's good. The bad thing is they are only both there on Saturdays and Sundays. Well this week will be my b-day and the conference with Elder Cook and the east and central missions.  I'm so stoked. The Church is true. Love you all. 

Love, Elder White

Yeah...

This week was decent.  Monday was my last p -day in Jalapa. They split our zone and left us in the other half which doesn't even make sense cause my area is 30 minutes from Jalapa and an hour from Jutiapa. The branch doesn't ever come to Jutiapa for anything. So the missionaries will never go to stake conference or meetings or general conference with their zone. No one thought about this decision logically that's pretty obvious. My comp Elder Walton left too. So that's sad

Tuesday was changes. We woke up early and went to the capital. I saw tons of the friends so that was cool. Elder Walton got sent to... yeah you guessed it. Nueva Montserrat! So I'm way stoked that he's in my 1st area. I miss the kid a lot. I got Elder Castro from the DR. I'm training him. 

We taught the Perezs and they can't make decisions even though they know they have to. We believe that their lack is true intention. We are trying hard with them, so we'll see how it goes. 

Saturday we went with Eduardo to his friends house to teach him. His friend is cool. He came to Church last week, but couldn't yesterday. We also taught a group of guys that were sitting in a corner. 

Sunday I hit 16 months so that's cool.  We also found some families. The Church is true. 

Love you guys. 

I also found out this week that many people including some families that Elder Pineda and I found in those months I thought we couldn't get a break in Las Lomas have gotten Baptized. I was so happy for that. 

Love you all. 

Love, Elder White

Changes

This day is sad... Almost all of the cool missionaries in my zone have changes and I don't.  It's way disappointing. But this last week was decent.  2014 is getting off to a bad start. 

Monday we did nothing. 

Tuesday we did divisions with the zone leaders and I was with Elder Huayta here in Jalapa. So I spent my New Years eating in their Bishops house with him, the Bishop and his family, and the sisters from here. It was fun. We taught lots of lessons and did some contacting. We also found out that there wasn't a bus. So we had to do two day divisions. What? 

Wednesday I did an interview here in Jalapa for an 18 year old that got Baptized on Saturday. It was awesome.  I also passed all day with Elder Huayta working. New Years Day isn't the best. 

Thursday we taught the Perez family with a member. 

Friday we taught a less active and his wife... AKA girlfriend who had his kids. He is awesome and has the real desire to change so I hope he can come back to Church. 

Saturday the zone leaders came to talk to Eduardo so that he could get Baptized. He  didn't on Saturday! But this Saturday he will! So that's good! 

Sunday we found out that my companion and our whole zone have changes.  I'm nervous, scared, sad, and angry. But the Church is true. 

Love , Elder White