Six Months Down - January 16, 2017

Hola todos,

Things are just moving along down here in Nicaragua. Elder Brooks and I are busier than ever, and things just keep on growing. we have 6 progressing investigators right now and more are on their way. This week we had to go to a multi zone conference in Managua, and that was pretty awesome. Then Wednesday I did divisions with the zone leaders and that was good too. 

Friday was my 6-month mark which just seems so crazy. We ordered pizza at night to celebrate so that was fun. Time has passed by so quickly and things are just rolling along. 

We worked hard Saturday to commit everyone to church and teach all the people, and then Sunday we had church and meetings. We also went to the Curzon’s for dinner (the gringo family here) and had American spaghetti and brownies. That was exciting too. 

Today we cleaned the house, went shopping and rested. And now I am here again. It feels like just two hours ago I was here writing last week. Time is just flying. I want it to slow down a little bit, but all is well. 

Fun things that happened this week: a bird pooped on Elder Brooks which ruined his day but it made me laugh :) We found lots of Europeans and Americans this week and by far my favorite was a man from Northern Ireland. His accent was so cool. 

Fun food experiences: we were eating lunch at our lunch appointment yesterday and this guy walks in the house with this bag that was moving, then the family calls us over to look in the bag and it turns out that it was an opossum that the guy had caught. So, guess what I am having for dinner tonight . . . Barbequed opossum. Should be fun. I will let you know how that goes. 

But life is good, and I am just loving it out here! I am so grateful to serve out here! I love everything about this work! Thanks for all that you all do! 

Elder Erickson 

Package from MaNae and Grandpa!

We Got No Power, No Water - But We Do Have Investigators, January 9, 2017

Hola todos,

First things first, today the entire country of Nicaragua lost power. I am not sure why. but oh well. This means that I am pressed for time today to write, because the power just came on, and we got to get back to work at 6:00 . . . entonces vamos pues! 

This week was filled with work. Elder Brooks and I went crazy with the walking this week. I am down another 7 lbs. But it payed off because we found lots of great investigators! It was so cool to see how the Lord has prepared them to receive His word. We got them to go to church and all is going well! 

I went to Managua this week for a training, and we are also going back for another training tomorrow. The buses here have no concept for personal space. they are meant for like 30 people, but they put like 60 on it. Oh well. 

Time seems just to be flying by, and this week I will complete 6 months as a missionary!!! I am so old. Life is just awesome here and I really do love it. Things are just rolling. It is getting hotter already, but the work is picking up! Things are great! That is about all the time I have this week! Hopefully next week the electricity stays on! But life is good! You can always find joy if you look for it! Thanks for everything!

Elder Erickson

Two White Guys and a Happy New Year, January 2, 2017

Hola todos!

Feliz año nuevo!!! To celebrate here in Nicaragua, they make a dummy (piñata like thing) that looks like an old man, they fill it with explosives, and blow it up. Happy new year Nicaragua. 

Well life keeps flying on by. but here is what happened this week. This week was changes and I got a new companion. His Name is Elder Brooks, and he is from Houston. He has 4 months in the mission (one less transfer than me) and he is a cool guy. We get along really well, and have been working really hard together. I am excited to see what this change brings. 

Well I am running short on time but here we go. This week we have done a lot of finding and we are having some good success. We found four new families to teach this week, so hopefully things will go well with them. We celebrated the new year with lots of members and menos activos, and that was fun. we had lots of food, but strangely nothing too weird. I am starting to really like Nicaraguan food. It is still weird, but all is good. 

This P day we went to the farm of the white family in the branch here, and that was really fun. we took lots of pictures and had a good time. the funny thing is that it looked a lot like Texas back country. 

Okay, funny story for the week: We were at a member’s house and they have a duck. Elder Brooks wanted a picture with it so he picked it up and it freaked out and tried to bite him, so he decided to throw it at me. It hit me in the head scratched me up, and then proceeded to poop on me. It was pretty funny, and if any of you were wondering, no, my luck has not changed. 

Things are going well here and I am excited for this next week. Hope everything is going well wherever you all are! Thanks for everything!

Elder Erickson