Elder Erickson the Funeral Director - April 17, 2017

Hola Todos!

This week has been pretty chill. Monday night we got a call from a member and they asked us if we could go help with a funeral the next day, so we said we could and the next day was pretty wild. We ended up speaking at the funeral, and walking in the procession and helping dedicate the grave. It was an honor, and it was cool to help the people who were mourning. 

Wednesday, we had divisions with the District leader in Boaco which were good. Thursday was a normal day of lots of work, and Friday we went to the Juigalpa district meeting and then planned for the week and worked the rest of the day. Saturday no one was home because for Easter everyone goes on vacation, so that was kind of a long day but all is well. 

Sunday was a great Easter and it was nice just to really focus on the Savior and His resurrection. Today we got some good lunch and then bought some food and stuff to update the kitchen. I think I’ll be here for a while so I thought I would get the kitchen up to where I could actually cook. This week was great. Last week I think I forgot to mention that we had a baptism! Her name is Pauola and she is super cool! We are still working with some of our other investigators to help them be baptized by the end of this month. 

This week I ate some really weird stuff. The "rocky mountain oysters" grilled were actually pretty good. they tasted just like beef but just had a weird texture. Then the next day the same lady gave us cow brain soup with the extra "rocky mountain oysters". That was disgusting. But hey now I have tried it so that’s cool. Hopefully this week will be great too! Thanks for everything!

Elder Erickson

Tortuga - April 10, 2017

Hola Todos!

Sorry it has been a while since i have gotten off a good email. I have been kind of busy these past few weeks. This Monday we were in Bluefields to bring the missionaries supplies and to work with them. It was fun getting there. We had to take a 2-hour boat ride to get there through the rain forest! It was pretty cool, but after sitting on a boat for that long, it was good to be on land. Bluefields was pretty cool. Coolest part was that as we were walking back to the dock to go back to Juigalpa we saw some dude selling turtle meat in the fish market. Apparently, they had just caught the turtle and that is something they eat in Bluefields. So naturally we bought some. I cooked turtle steak that night and it was actually pretty good. It tasted and felt like pork that had been left in the ocean for too long. But hey, I would eat it again. 

This week one of the members said that they are going to give us huevos de torro. If you don’t know what that is they also are called rocky mountain oysters . . . yay. Life is good here in Juigalpa. It is a lot cooler here than in Granada. Elder Scott and I get along great and it is fun working with him. We went to Managua on Thursday for a multi-zone conference. It was pretty fun too. Also, because we got McDonalds on the way back :) 

Things are finally settling down and I only have to go to Boaco (a city 2 hours away) this week on Friday! This week is also the week leading up to Easter. I am really excited for Easter because of why we celebrate it. This next Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of the Savior. I am so grateful that because of Him, death has no sting, the grave has no power. I know that He really did live. I know that He died and suffered for every one of us. I know that He resurrected and that He lives today. I love Him and am so grateful for all that He has done for me! I know that we can find peace and help only through Him. I hope this week you can all remember Him a little bit more this special week.

Love,

Elder Erickson

Watch this video to remember Jesus Christ and all He did!

https://www.mormon.org/?cid=HP_SU_9-4-2017_dMIS_fMORG_xLIDyL1-A_

Bluefields, Nicaragua and No Time - April 3, 2017

Sorry all this week I have no time! I traveled to Bluefields (7 hours) and time fell away! Life is awesome! Next Week!

Elder Erickson

Surprise I'm in Juigalpa - March 27, 2017

Hola,

Well this will be a quick one! I got changes. I am in Juigalpa! I will have calves of steel because there are tons of mountains. My new companion is Elder Scott and he is the other Zone Leader. I like it here it is a lot cooler! I miss Granada, but all is well! No time -  more details next week! Hang in there!

Elder Erickson

Granada

Granada

Granada

Granada

Granada

Juigalpa

Juigalpa

Juigalpa

Miracle of the Costa Ricans - March 20, 2017

Hola Todos!

This week has been crazy and it feels like it has been faster than the others. We have spent a lot of time this week preparing the investigators for their baptisms this coming Saturday, if all goes to plan we should have 4! It has just been a rush from one place to another. Lots of fast walking. But it is all good. The weather was really weird this week. It was mildly cooler and it rained a lot (right now it is the dry season). That was a nice break from the heat I guess. 

I have adjusted to eating liver now. It is pretty much just like steak. but then again, I haven’t had steak in a while. Apparently right now people eat a lot of iguanas and turtles. We have been promised turtles but our lunch appointment so I am excited for that. They also said they would try to get us some more opossum. 

A cool story for the week. Sunday night we were teaching an investigator named John. He has had lots of doubts for a while and we have been working with him for a while to try to get them answered. We had a great lesson with him, and we were about to close when three Costa Ricans showed up and were like "Hey we are members of the church too and we saw you guys so we came over!" Anyways they were super excited that we were teaching someone and they taught John everything over again and gave a great second witness. The Spirit was really strong and it was an answer to prayer for us! John got a lot of answers and he is going to decide today where he wants to go! I know that this is the Lord's work, and that His hand is in all things! I love serving here and I am so happy! Thank you all for everything!

Elder Erickson