I think that half of the reason I have been surviving the CCM is because of all the Nutella. I have replaced my addiction to ice cream with the Nutella. I think that I am enjoying being able to eat as much Nutella as I can until I leave. I don’t know what I’ll do when I get to Nicaragua because I might not get Nutella or 5 bananas a day (it’s the only fruit that actually is ripe here most of the time). And yes, mom, I have used my medicine about the second week when everyone got sick in our district, so I used the cold medicine.
This week I really enjoyed Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Elder Andersen and Elder Maynes came and spoke to us. It was one of the coolest experiences ever. When they walked into the auditorium, you could definitely fill the spirit that they carry with them to testify that an apostle is called of God and acts in his name. Elder Andersen also took the time to shake every single one of the missionaries hands, so I had the opportunity to shake Elder Andersen’s hand. I wasn't able to give him a hug or trade ties with him. Apparently if we did that, the CCM president would shoot us on the spot. Of course he was joking though. Elder Andersen spoke to us about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it can apply to missionaries. One of the things that he really emphasized was that you cannot teach the Atonement if you have never used it in your life. That is so true, I don’t think I would know anything about the Atonement and how it works if I had not been able to use it in my life. I think that true understanding can only come from action. If you want to know how to actually do something or if something is possible, you have to try it. It is like every single other principle in the Gospel. You can’t gain a testimony of truth or something like the Plan of Salvation if you aren't willing to act upon the teachings and see if it is true. Another thing that Elder Andersen talked said was not to judge yourself based on those around you, but how you have improved from the last day or month. I feel like that is something I always do, and I just need to take a step back and realize how much change has come in my life and that I’m improving because of it.
On Sunday, church was amazing as always. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to partake of the sacrament. I liked how in conference, one of the woman talked about how the sacrament should be a spiritual experience and it truly is for me. I also enjoyed the class that we had with the CCM presidency. It was President Pratt and he was speaking about testimony and conversion. Something I am always trying to learn more about and his class truly helped me. We also watched another devotional from Jeffrey R. Holland and I enjoyed it a lot. It was similar to the last one we watched about Preach My Gospel and how it is made more for the missionary rather than the investigator. You should always have one convert on your mission, and it should be you. He had a lot of funny things to say like if you come from your mission and you fall away from the Church, you better not find Elder Holland in a dark alley. It is so amazing how passionate he is about missionary work and everything about the work of the Lord. We should all be trying to eventually have same desire and passion for the work of the Lord.
On Monday, we did our service activity which was assembling bags with the language material for the incoming missionaries. And it is much better than scrubbing the walls of the rooms for you service time. After the bags were assembled and we were taking the bags down to the main floor, four of the missionaries used the elevator instead of the stairs. Then they got stuck in the elevator and had to show up to class about 15 minutes late. It was quite funny to see because the elevator has a little peephole into it so you could see four elders crowded together in an elevator. It was quite funny to see.
I don’t know what else to say, but thanks for all the support and love you have given me. Good to hear from the people who have been writing me and telling me what’s happening in their lives. I’m not sure when I´ll be writing next so until next time. Nicaragua here I come.
Elder Ferrin
