The Zone I am in is Bello Horizonte, and the area is West Ponte or Waspan. My first day in Nicaragua, we had made it to the area about 5:00 p.m. and started going to work. The branch president gave both of us a blessing, which was nice, and then we were off. We visited a recent convert family named Carlos y Ana, which was quite the experience. I didn’t understand anything at all. They talked about stuff I didn’t understand. I have decided that the CCM only really prepares you to teach about the Gospel and not much else. Those first few days, I was lost in many ways. The first night, I was lost both mentally and physically. For once in my life, I did not know where I was and wasn’t sure if I wanted to do this. The next day’s got better -
My companion, Elder Zorrilla, is a zone leader. Because of this, I get to go on a lot of exchanges with other people so he can train other missionaries. I think I have spent as much time with other companions than my own. I have slept in three beds total here. The first exchange, Wednesday, was with Elder Baldwin and Elder Spencer. The lady for the lunch appointment was interesting and tried to help me with my Spanish. I could teach about the gospel but nothing else. The next day was with Elder Hidalgo and I stayed overnight that night. It was definitely different from sleeping in my own bed in the casa. The third exchange, with Elder Rodriguez, probably was the best. He would let me talk more in the lessons and I could understand the people better. We have been teaching a few people, but we only have two real investigators who are getting baptized Saturday. So I get to have a baptism in my first two weeks. We have others who have a few lessons, but not really are investigators. One is named Jefferson and he is about 14 years old. We teach lessons but he depends on his friend for answers and he needs to get his own testimony of Gospel to know it is true.
Sunday was definitely interesting because I could not understand anything being said, until sacrament meeting. Sacrament meeting is the last part of the meetings here, and this area is a branch. I only understood it all because it was testimony meeting which I enjoyed. They were all so simple without fancy stories, and they were direct and to the point. I also was asked to share my testimony since it was my first week in the ward.
It is definitely a different jungle here than in Mexico or the US. The people here are so nice here though. If you want to talk with someone you yell “buenas” through the door and they will talk with you. We invite everyone to church and ask to give them a lesson. But only a few people will let us teach them. The people here just love to talk. It is hard to get in and out of a house in under an hour because they talk so much. You don’t have much time to say something in each lesson.
I still don’t understand much here unless it is about the Gospel, but it is slowly improving. The place I am living in is nicer than some missionary casas, especially because it has a swamp cooler. I was also right about the germs. Mom, there is not enough hand sanitizer in the world for you to come here. People just sweep their trash into a canal, and it is a breeding ground for bacteria.
It is great here, and I hope I remembered most of the important things to tell you. I have less time to write here than in the CCM. Only 45 minutes, so I have to be fast and because I have another person to write, the mission president. I love you so much and thank you for your support.
Elder Ferrin
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