Exhausting Interviews and Multi-Mission Conference

Me and my buddy/Zone Leader, Elder Scheffler

Well, this week ended up being a pretty good one. First off, we had cambios... but neither me or Elder Smith were transferred. So at least one more change together, which is strange because I have been his trainer and usually they switch things up once the training is finished. Whatever, not a big deal, but we will both have 6 more weeks here in Rivas.

Nicaraguan roadkill -- check out the fangs!

Neither of the Zone Leaders were changed either, so Elder Scheffler (he is the Elder I replaced here in Rivas when he became the Zone Leader) came down for 2 days this week and we tracked all over Rivas doing 10 interviews and visiting with the most important investigators of the Hermanas, and even some from the missionaries in the other District here. It was very exhausting. Meanwhile, the other Zone Leader and Elder Smith worked in our area and we were able to bring a decent number of investigators to church on Sunday.

Unfortunately, our super-cool investigator, J., had to move back in with his mother, who is really anti-Mormon, and now he doesn't want anything to do with us. Which is sad, because he had stopped drinking and started changing his life. We are still looking forward to at least one baptism in February of a really great lady who came to church for the second time yesterday. Plus, she is inviting all of her family to come with her to church. The only problem is that she has to travel to Costa Rica at the beginning of February, so we will have to wait to baptize her when she returns... but she is becoming converted more each week!

Today we had the Multi-Mission Conference with President Christensen of the Seventy. It was pretty cool, but we didn't get back to our apartment until 5:00, so we really didn't have much of a P-Day today (which is why I don't have time to write much). Anyway, President Christensen talked about how we need to not only have more baptisms, but also have better converts because the retention rate is really bad here in Nicaragua. So it is tough here on the front lines in the mission field, and Rivas is a little difficult, but we are just working hard and doing our best.

Oh, I did finally get all the rest of my Christmas packages, and I also got the envelope with the copy of the Christmas slideshow. Tell everyone back home thank you so much for all the presents and things. Also, there has been a lot of wind here lately, and it is even a little chilly in the mornings as it has cooled down some. Anyways, I am out of time -- have a great week!!

One more selfie with Scheffler (say that 5 times really fast).