The Nica is home!

Alexis spent Wednesday in Managua before leaving very early Thursday morning for the airport.  Here are pictures of her last day in the Nicaragua Managua South Mission - with the Mission President & his family and the 20 missionaries who were also going home.

 

 

 

 

 

Alexis flew through Atlanta and arrived safely home on October 4th at 6:10 p.m. with a big smile on her face.  Happy times!  We are so thrilled to have her home and look forward to the return of the other Hermana Cottam in just six more weeks.

 

 

 

You may have heard of Flat Stanley!
Well, this is Mom & Dad with "Flat Elena" to welcome home Alexis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last email from the Nica!

Well, we just got back to Diriomo from Managua and my final interview. It went well. President was very complimentary and said he was sad to see me go.  I love my mission president and know he is the one I needed.  I had had the thought a few weeks back to ask him for a blessing in my interview so I decided to ask him for one as I leave.  I told him that my Dad had given me one before I left and that I would like one before I go back.  It was a nice blessing and just made me feel closer to my mission president.  President thanked me for always having a good attitude and being a good influence on others and good to my companions.  I really can’t believe it is over and that I will actually see you on Thursday.  President asked if I was excited to see my sister.  I said yes but that I will have to wait another 7 weeks ...he thought we left together.  But anyway, we finished off the change with another baptism.  We baptized the man who read the Book of Mormon in 10 days.  He is excited and even had to go out to the farm he bought, since he was living with the in-laws and they didn’t want anyone not of their religion living there.  We feel bad having 2 people get kicked out of their houses but they are doing great and moving forward.  I enjoyed the Relief Society broadcast.  We went with some investigators of the elders and it was great.  I felt the same sisterhood I feel at home and had tears in my eyes as I thought about leaving my Nica sisters.  As I saw the young single adults singing I thought that in a week I will be one of them and not Hermana Cottam.  I feel so many emotions right now but I am thrilled to see you soon.  So we head to Managua again on Wednesday and then stay at a hotel that night and we are off bright and early on Thursday.  I just can’t wait.  I know this is where I needed to serve my mission and that the Lord knows me and where I am.  I know this is His work and that this is His church.  I don’t doubt it.  I can’t wait to see you and tell you all about it non-stop.  Thanks for all the support you give us.  I have the best family ever and can’t wait for the party this week and then again when we are complete again in November. Funny stories from the week... this crazy man on the street called my companion Princess Diana.  That was hilarious.  I was talking to my companion about The West Wing.  I figure that I could watch the entire seven seasons in about 4 days without sleeping ...maybe that would be fun ...just kidding.  I didn’t get mail this week.  Hopefully I will get the last letters before I leave.  I am excited for food at home.  Saturday was not one of my favorites as far as food goes - soup for lunch, and chicken innards for dinner.  I struggled a little, downing the dinner, since I had asked before-hand what it was.  But I did it!  So I can’t wait to see you ...try not to make a big scene at the airport people ...you know me and my not liking to call attention to myself.  But I am super pumped.  I have been cleaning out and getting stuff ready to go but I will probably start packing more tonight.  I really can’t believe it is over.  I feel like I am in a dream.  It just can’t be possible that my mission is over and that it has been 18 months since I have seen you.  I love you soooooooo much.  See you on Thursday. I will have such a big smile on my face ...can’t wait.  I love you tons.  I am a happy girl.  Love, your Nica hija, alc

10 days people!

Well, it has been a good week.  We had a great baptism on Saturday.  The guy is great and really going to help the branch here.  It was funny - he didn’t want us to invite tons of people but as we contacted on Friday night we would ask the people if they knew him and then invite them to the baptism.  Everyone knows everyone in these little towns ...funny.  He is a very strong guy and wasn’t going to let anything stop him.  His parents told him he had to get out of the house because they saw him come out of the church but it was so rewarding to see him get baptized.  We missionaries sang, ´I Like to Look for Rainbows´ in Spanish, which was cool.  On Sunday it was awesome to see him in his white shirt and tie.  He even got asked to give a testimony in the meeting.  These moments make it all worth it.  We had another man come to church for the second time this week.  He is from the east coast and English is his native tongue.  We gave him a Book of Mormon last Sunday and by Tuesday he had already read over a hundred pages ...way cool!  One day this week we taught him in English.  He comes to lots of the church activities and seems really interested.  He just needs an answer to know that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  He says he knows the Book of Mormon is true.  We watched the Joseph Smith movie last night and there were a couple of lines I especially liked - as we build the Lord’s temple, He builds us, and that the Lord wants us to be happy.  Seriously, it was so hard to teach the man in English.  I will try to talk in English but I know I will slip some Spanish words in.  I talk almost all the time to my companion in English but I still have words I say in Spanish. I’m definitely looking forward to a Spanglish fest with Lenny in 8 weeks ...so cool!  Yesterday, we were talking about plays and I mentioned ‘Wicked’.  My companion started singing ‘Defying Gravity’ and I was trying to remember the other one that we listened to before we saw the play.  I couldn’t remember it though.  Then as I was cleaning out this morning and going through my CDs, I took a closer look at a sampler you sent and that song is on there – it’s called ´For Good´.  The words are so great and I can think of people on my mission that I feel that way about.  I have been blessed to enjoy my latest companions a lot.  So, we had a decent p-day.  It hasn’t been my companion’s favorite day.  She got her hair cut and says it is too short.  I think it is fine.  As for mail this week, I got your package ...good job with the owl stickers.  My companion loves owls.  I got your DearElders so that was great.  I sent a package of letters home today and a bunch of postcards.  We went to Granada today and I got my hammock and some other small items.  I hope we get to go to Masaya next week with everyone who is leaving but who knows?  If not I have my basic stuff I wanted.  I can’t wait to see you.  I am sooooooooo excited.  Thanks for all the support these last 18 months and my entire life.  It’s so weird that I will be back in the real world so soon.  I can’t believe I will see you next week.  It doesn’t feel real yet.  I have loved my time here in Nicaragua and as a missionary.  I love my family more than ever and can’t wait to tell you all about my mission, nonstop.  I know the gospel is true and that knowing that, there is nothing else that matters.  Next week I have my interview with president.  I assume it will be in the morning and I will email as usual ...so weird it will be my last email.  That’s good that Lenny will email on Tuesday so she can read my last email from Nicaragua before I get home and send her one from Arizona ...way cool.  Well, I am just about out of time.  As for where I want to eat when I get home- I was thinking Tia Rosa’s since it is close and easy and I love beans and rice.  I am getting more and more anxious as we get closer but it’s a good anxious.  You are the bestest.  Have a great week!  Until next week - when I will see you in 3 days ...so crazy.  Love you tons.  Love the Nica, alc

P.S.  ...can’t wait to write my senior missionary parents when they go on a mission.

2 weeks...crazy!

Well, I can’t believe I hit 18 months yesterday.  Sometimes it feels like an eternity since I have seen you and then in other ways it seems like yesterday.  I am sure we have all changed some.  I can’t wait to see your faces in 2 weeks.  I only have one real p-day left since the last one we have to go to Managua for my exit interview...crazy.  Well, we are super excited for our baptism on Saturday.  He is a great man who will definitely be a leader in the church here.  Today we went with the elders and youth and played basketball and soccer with him. He is great.  On Saturday we found him with the elders in the street and invited him to come to a visit with us.  He did and then joined us for dinner.  He sent a text later to us that said he had never eaten so little at dinner but felt so full afterwards.  He has come to church 3 weeks in a row and is getting baptized on the date we set with him a few weeks ago.  That is rare that people actually get baptized on the first date we set with them.  The man has changed tons and is great.  Well, I had to give a talk yesterday in church.  It went well, and one member complimented me on my Spanish.  The Branch President spoke too and one thing he said that I really liked is that true friends are people who make you better or be better.  That’s the truth.  Thanks for being my bestest buddies and family.  I love you tons.  I also thought of Hermana Rivera - maybe that’s why we were so close, because by watching her I wanted to be better.  She didn’t tell me what to do but watching her I learned.  I am always smiling.  I love it here.  It will be so weird leaving.  I am ready but it will be weird leaving my Nica life and coming home.  I know my tastes have changed in the fact that I will eat just about anything...definitely not a picky eater.  When the people ask if I like something I just tell them I eat what they give me.  Obviously there are things I like better than others but now I eat coconut ice cream and like it and pineapple fresco (or punch) and lots of things.  You would be proud of your Nica. I am so excited to see you.  I can’t believe my mission is almost over.  I love you sooooooooo much.  I know the gospel is true.  I am so happy being a missionary but I will be so happy to see you and tell you all my crazy stories.  Thanks for being the best and always supporting me.  I don’t know what I would do without you.  I better get going.  We are off to get some groceries and then to work.  Thanks for everything.  I will love you forever and ever.  Love, your Nica hija, alc

P.S. Dad, we can see the Monbacho Volcano from here.  We were in Granada today.

Elena, I was wondering what you did after you dumped me off 18 months ago.  Try not to keep the gas on all night again.  I hate gas.  Luckily we don’t have it in the houses here.  Well, we don’t cook anyway.  I loved the mom is an angel, dad is a saint...super funny... but it’s true.  I love the way you write Lenny!

Mom, I will cook you some gallo pinto...mmmmmm.  It’s rice and beans, that’s it.  You cook the beans and the rice and then mix them together... mmmmmm...not too hard.  I found these cookie things this week that I might bring home for Dad.  It is a regular butter cookie with marshmallows on top covered in coconut.  Sounds like a Nicaraguan snowball.  You could look up some Nica recipes like gallo pinto, indio viejo, or the drink arroz con piña - which is a pineapple and rice drink.  We drink oatmeal and barley too...gotta love it here.  Actually the barley drink is my fave.  It is barley with cinnamon... really tasty!   It feels so surreal to think I will be home with you so soon.  It will be awesome.

3 more weeks...

Wow, every time I think about it and see the time ticking away I feel so weird.  It is crazy to think it is almost over.  Well, as for funny stuff - one day it was raining and I had my raincoat just over my backpack and my companion called me hunchback... super funny and we had a good time talking about Disneyland.  (She went in March with her family.)  This one member we work with lots has told several people that my companion is Miss Utah and this week he told them she was first runner up in Miss USA...funny.  He told the mom of the lady where my companion almost passed out that she passed out because she couldn’t bear to see her all beat up.  This member speaks English and was reading the conference Liahona in English and he sounded exactly like Pres. Uchtdorf and looks like him too.  The member loves Miss Universe.  Did you know it will be in the DR in December?  So, I think it was on Wednesday that we felt a nice little earthquake for about 40 seconds.  I guess there was one in Costa Rica and we felt it.  On Saturday we heard there are some issues with some volcanoes up north but the president sent his normal email and told us there have been no problems in the mission. Tomorrow at our regular zone conference they are going to go over the mission emergency plan.  This week president came to our zone to go over a new pilot program we are going to do in the mission and we are the pilot zone.  It is working more on converting and retaining (true growth) not just baptizing. We are supposed to do FHEs with members in their houses but have investigator families there and do 10minute quick lessons with members every day.   We can present the teaching record with the investigators and have them see their progress and put their own goal for baptism.  We need to make sure people are really prepared for baptism.  Anyway it should be good and work well.   We are really happy with one investigator we are working with.  He is really making lots of changes in his life and is quitting smoking.  He told us on Saturday that he had a meeting to go to on Sunday so he wouldn’t be able to go to church.  That was a bummer and when we woke up on Sunday morning it was raining... not cool.  So we left and got to work going to find people and then we got a message from the man and he said he would see us at 9.  The meeting he had, got cancelled for the rain so that was a big blessing in disguise.  So he came and enjoyed it and hopefully he will get baptized on the 22nd.  We had a cool meeting with the converts and investigators Sunday afternoon and it was really great.  I loved hearing people’s experiences and testimonies.  They even had this investigator get up and tell his experience. He called us angels.  Anyway, he is going to be a great leader here.  The branch here is small but growing strong.  Really we are finding the future leaders of the branch.  They just called a convert of about 4 months who received the Melchizedek priesthood a couple weeks ago to be the first counselor in the branch presidency.  The church is young here but that makes it exciting.  I love it here.  I am happy being a missionary and it will be so different not being Hermana Cottam anymore... 3 more weeks with my name tag... 3 more Sundays in Nicaragua... 3 more emails home... but an infinite number of memories to live for eternity... wouldn’t change it for the world.  I love it and can’t wait to tell you everything.  The gospel is true and what makes people happy.  Love you tons.  Have a happy week!  (Elena, I hope you are ok... gotta love living with bugs inside and out.)  See you soooooooooooo soon.   Love, alc

P.S.  I think my shoes will make it 3 more weeks.  This week I super glued the brown ones together.  I am definitely bringing my shoes home as a memory. J

 

4 more weeks!

I am here in Granada right now and then we are headed home and off to Family Home Evening. We had a non-eventful p-day.  We ate here at Telepizza.  It is very touristy here and very European I would say, but it is fun. We could stay a night or two in Granada when we come back for a visit.  It takes us about 40 minutes to get here.  The town I am in is super cute and small, kind of like Saltburn.  Well, we had a good week.  Yesterday we had a family at church who can now get baptized and married.  I don’t know them that well but I am sure we can do it this month.  We also had a man at church.  He has a baptism date for the 22nd.  The sisters found him a few weeks ago but could never find him again.  We were on the corner one night standing there deciding what to do when he just walked past.  The member we were with invited him to church and we made an appointment for the next day.  He said he couldn’t sleep that night and was left wondering about the whole thing.  We taught a little of the plan of salvation and I mentioned that we needed to do certain things in this life like baptism.  He said he has never been baptized but knows he should but he never has had the desire.   So we set the date with him and he came to church yesterday and seemed to like it, which is great.  A weird thing that happened this week was that on Tuesday night we were with the same member and an appointment had fallen through.  He took us to a house of a sick lady we had contacted with him and the elders last Saturday but when we got to the corner of the street they were setting up chairs and stuff outside for the vela (or viewing) because someone had died.   We had made the appointment with her for Wednesday and that was when her funeral was going to be...crazy. We talked a minute to the family and I saw the lady.  She had died that day and we were sort of shocked that she had died.  The member suggested that we go to the funeral at the Catholic church as a nice gesture for the family and so the people could see that we respect other churches and people.  So we went on Wednesday with the member and branch president.  It was interesting and an experience to remember.  Then on Saturday, this same member saw the husband of a family we had taught once.  The wife was in a moto taxi in the morning and crashed with a bus.  They didn’t know how she was but the member said we would stop by to check up on them later since we already had an appointment.  She was there.  She was all bruised and cut up and had broken her pelvis.  I was sitting on the bed across the room with a couple of people and there wasn’t enough space for my companion so she stood for the 10 minutes we were there.  She said the prayer to leave and afterwards totally just threw herself on to the bed in the little space there was between me and the member.  I was thinking why are you sitting down?  We are going to go.  She said she was going to pass out.  I just did my normal laughing reaction and was like ok what am I going to do?  She asked for a piece of candy and drank a little of the water I had.  We finally got out and told the member.  He got a chair for her and then went to get a taxi to take us home.  She said she couldn’t see anyone as she shook their hands on the way out and her eyes were real big.  Anyway, we went home and she ate some crackers and was weak and we ended up just staying in that night and the elders took care of the appointments we had.  It was kind of funny and we ended up just chatting the time away.  Anyway, we are having a good time and seeing some good results.  I am doing great and hoping to see some baptisms before I leave.  I know we can do it.  I am so glad I decided to come on a mission ...best decision ever.  I can’t believe it’s going to be over in just four short weeks. I know the gospel is true and I am a happy girl sharing it with everyone. I love you sooooooo much ...can’t wait to see you.  I got mail- DearElders from the week of the 12th - you, Lou, Amy, Brittany, Joyce, and Ms. O’Neil.  I got letters from Mom and Lenny too.  I sent my letters from last week on Friday when we came to Granada and I sent more today.  I am doing real good.  I guess the next time you go to the airport may be to pick me up...sooooo close.  I can’t wait...4 weeks.  It will be so fun.  Well got to go... have a happy week and good trip.  Love you tons.  Elena, congrats on the baptism.  Love your Nica, alc

Greetings from...

So people... I am here in Diriá (sounds like Didia) with the Hermana Parker.  She is from Hurricane, Utah.  So that is a big change for me.  It is very different being with a North American but we have a good time.  She reminds me of Amy Allen.  This is her third change so I am feeling pretty responsible for everything and in the Spanish department, but she does good.  I did have pretty good guesses for the changes and what all happened.  So Diriá is a really tiny town.  It’s a branch with Diriomo.  We live in Diriomo and walk about 15 minutes to the area.  There aren’t many members in our area but it is good. It’s really cute and there is a family from Utah who has a house here but they aren’t here right now.  It’s really small town - no bank or post office but we have all that in Granada which is about 30 minutes by bus.  We are going to Granada on Friday for a zone meeting so we will mail letters and go to the bank there.  There is a grocery store so that’s good.   Anyway, I really am having fun and we are working good together.  She seems happy with me.  I really do miss my Hermana Rivera but life moves on.  I had never felt that way about a companion before but I do feel so close to her and want to see her again but who knows if I will.  It is fun to experience having a North American companion.  I will at least have someone to see at mission reunions and stuff.  She is a year behind me and wants me to take pictures at Disneyland and email them to her. Thanks for sending the family photo to Hermana Monestel. 


Cottam family at BYU-H graduation celebration

She showed a bunch during her talk at change meeting and I was happy to see mine.  Everyone asked which one was me.  That is the photo I have on my agenda.  When she said she asked for photos I knew I could count on you and that you would send one.  Thanks pranks.  It has been raining at night but nothing too bad.  I can’t believe it is almost over...5 weeks.  I love it here and I love you tons.  I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t come on the mission...best decision!   The gospel is true.  On Thursday an elder was at our dinner appointment with his parents visiting who were picking him up.  We started talking to them in English and that was fun.  Their other son had gone to the DR in Lenny’s mission and they had picked him up too.   I just can wait to bring you back and meet all my people, see my Nicaragua, smell it, breathe it, live it.  I can’t imagine leaving it but it will be happening in a short 5 weeks.  Crazy... it seems too unreal.  We are hoping to baptize a bunch here this last change.  The area hasn’t been too successful lately but we are going to change that.  There is a member, actually a couple of people, that are really excited and helpful and we have some good vision for the area.  And just a funny story...when I was going through some stuff before I left Managua, I had an extra toothbrush and jokingly told Hermana Rivera that I would leave it for her for her inheritance.  I thought she had forgotten about it but I hadn’t and I wrote a little note and left it under her sheet before I left.  Then, at the change meeting as I told her good bye she said ´you didn’t even leave me the toothbrush´.  I said yes I did and that it was on her bed.  She is super funny.  We had a good time together and even with the newbies that we were with on Monday and Tuesday nights at our house we managed to have a good time.  I really wasn’t happy leaving but now I have realized that this was what I needed.  I was just too comfortable there with her.  I was happy listening to her teach and sit back and listen.  Now I really have to take charge and speak and I am responsible for everything.  I was a little stressed the first couple of days not knowing anything, but now I have a good sense of the area and won’t get lost (except I won’t have to show anyone else the area since I will only be here 6 weeks).  Now I am just excited to get to work and baptize some people.  I have to work at speaking Spanish with my companion but it’s all good.  I am happy and doing well.  I can’t believe it’s almost over.  I love it here.  I don’t know what it will be like getting back to real life.  Anyway, we are finding new people and hoping they can progress and get baptized this change.  I am doing good.  It reminds me a lot of my first area here.  I have gotten a few bug bites but that is Nica life.  I love being a missionary.  I hope you have a great week...5 more emails.  I think for the last one I will send you my list of things I need at home to feel like I am in Nicaragua. J  Who knows?   I will try to send pictures next week. Well, the gospel is true.  I am sure of it.  I love you tons.  You are the best.  Love your nica, alc

6 weeks people!

Well, it was a good week.  We had a baptism on Saturday, but the man didn’t show on Sunday to get confirmed ...not cool, but it will happen this week.   But I won’t be here.  I really love the man.  He is so cool and it took 3 months from the day we contacted him to his baptism but it was well worth it.  Yesterday we went to visit him and he said, ´aprendí algo de usted´ (I learned something from you).   I asked what did you learn?   He said, ´que no todos son malos´ (I think he was saying that not all white folks are bad).  I hope that’s not the only thing he learned but really I thought nothing would top the baptism of Ericka in June, but I would say this one did.  He is a changed man and he even bore his testimony at the end of the baptism.  I had the same feeling of joy and satisfaction watching him that I did with Ericka and I thought that it was worth 18 months just for that moment.  He is super funny too.  When we passed by on Saturday before the baptism he was calling for help from the back room.  He was trying on the jumpsuit for the baptism but it was too small and he couldn’t get it off.  Luckily the mission leader showed up real quick because we couldn’t help him.  We were just dying laughing.  Anyway, I can’t wait for you to meet him someday.  He is so cool. 

We had interviews this week.  It was good, real short but good.  President was very complimentary so I was happy.  I sometimes wonder what he thinks but he made me feel good.  I have been enjoying my last week with Hermana Rivera.  I won’t know until Wednesday where I will be headed.  I am not too stressed since my attitude is that I can deal with just about anything for 6 weeks. I love being a missionary. I can’t believe it will be over so soon.  These last 6 weeks will fly by.  Hermana Flores (the one I trained here) is going to train.  So that’s exciting.  Well, I got mail this week...the ward newsletter, my ballot, and letters.  As for the ballot, I filled it out and will mail it to you tomorrow so you can take it to the polls if it gets there in time.  I doubt it will, but whatever.  My companion got the package you sent and was a happy camper.  She said it was the second package that she has ever gotten on the mission.  The lacey socks are her style.  She’s a cool girl.  I guess that she is kind of my Latina Chessy.   I don’t know how we got into our groove but we just have a blast together.  I love this girl.  She needs to come to Az.  She says she wants/wanted to be a flight attendant.  I feel so close to her and I don’t know why.  Yesterday when we finished the agenda for the change she said that that was the end of the ´cambio mas divertido´, most fun change.  I definitely agree and I did decorate my last agenda with a Nica flag and a family photo.  Yesterday at church I was so happy to see a family we found this week, walk in.  We didn’t have anyone there and I just didn’t want the change to end that way.  So I was thrilled when the couple came in.  Really, what Elena said is true...maybe the people don’t accept the message or do what we want them to, but I hope they remember that the American girl came and they felt the spirit.  Somehow, someday, they´ll accept it and find the truth.  I know I couldn’t live without it.  I love testifying of the family and how even though we aren’t perfect and have difficulties we are happy.  I am a happy girl.  I love you tons.  I know the gospel is true.  Well, I just have a couple of minutes left.  We had a good p-day.  We went to a Mexican restaurant that was good, like a restaurant at home.  Tonight we are going to eat bean soup at Ericka’s house and have Family Home Evening close by with other people.  It will be good but I have a feeling we will be eating all night.  I love it here and am sad to leave but 6 weeks people ...that seems so crazy.  Well, give my best to the Laytons.  That was a shock I am sure, but at least we have the comfort of the gospel and plan of salvation.  Well, I know I will be going where the Lord needs me.   Love you soooo much!  Have a great week.  Thanks for being the bestest people on Earth.  Until next week.  Love, alc

7 weeks more in my land of Nicaragua

So, I am here now.  We have been relaxing today.   I wrote letters and will finish them later.  I did get mail last week and a package with socks in it...not Socks the cat.  J  But anyway, we both are a little sad since the zone leaders called at lunch and my companion is going to be a trainer.   We really hoped to be together until I finished but that’s the mission.  That’s okay... logically I will be headed to a new area for my last six weeks but I won’t know that for another week.   At least I have time to prepare myself.  We had a good week.  But highlight of the week - our hermano got confirmed and we should have a baptism on Saturday so that is good.   I was so thrilled and filled with joy as we walked in to church and he had a white shirt and tie on.   He looked great.  I can’t wait for him to get the priesthood and progress in the gospel.  I had an experience (and have had this thought before) realizing why certain scriptures are scripture mastery.  When we learned them in seminary I didn’t really understand how some of them were important for me but really they all have something to do with the missionary lessons.  We were in a lesson and someone was asking about if someone could really see God and my companion said something about Moses seeing God face to face.  She couldn’t remember the reference but my good little number tricks and the spirit helped me remember that it is Exodus 33:11 - face to face 33, 11 (don’t know if you understand that but whatever, I do in my little mind).  I have realized on the mission the significance of the scripture masteries.  Also as we were in a lesson my companion was talking about the priesthood to a member man and how he needs to use it and bless his family with it.  Her dad is a member but she said she doesn’t have a memory of her dad using the priesthood or giving her a blessing.   This is one of the things I have come to be more grateful for on the mission - a family sealed in the temple and a father who worthily holds the priesthood.  Thanks Dad.  I thought that if I was home right now, this week Dad would have given me a blessing to start school - great tradition.  I love you so much.  As for investigators this week, we just had the man in church who should be getting baptized on Saturday.  I have seen him from the beginning and what a change he has had.  We had him pick out the hymns for the baptism and gave him the clothes so he feels more excited.  I imagine him blessing the sacrament or in the temple and it makes me so happy. So hopefully I can finish my last week here in Linda Vista with a baptism.  That would be sweet.  I know Hermana Rivera will be a lifelong friend.  I really feel like she is my sister and we just have a good time together.  At least I have this week to prepare myself to leave.  We will see what happens for my last 6 weeks but it will be an adventure.  On the 10th they were celebrating Santo Domingo here.  It was for a Catholic saint but I thought of Lenny in her Santo Domingo land ...17months on the 16th and 14 for Lenny. Tomorrow we have interviews with president ...last one before my exit interview. Crazy!  Hermana Rivera says thanks for sending a package.  That will be good for her to get even though I won’t be with her.  I can’t believe how fast the time is winding down.  I feel a sense of urgency thinking about it.  I read my call letter today and was reliving the memory of opening my letter.   I really don’t know what I was thinking or what you all were thinking ...but who knew 18 months later ...and Nicaragua is my new home and will be a part of me forever.  The mission is great.  The gospel is true, so what else matters?  I really feel like I am living the best transfer of my mission and don’t want it to be over.  6 weeks ago I was afraid to be her companion ...funny how first impressions are deceiving, but she is the best.  I am happy for her to train again.  I guess the Lord has other things in store for us.  I just didn’t want it to end.  But life rolls on.  Crazy that it has been a year since I got to my beloved Rivas.  The time is passing so quickly.  I just can’t wait to see you in 7 weeks.  (Hopefully the newbie who comes here plays the piano because everyone in the ward says they don’t want me to leave since there isn’t anyone here to play the piano ...but they´ll be fine.)  I love you tons.  Las familias son eternas.  Love, your Nica daughter, alc

More from the nica...8 more weeks!

Hola!  Well, it has been a decent week.  It really boggles my mind when I think that I only have 8 more weeks. 8 more emails. 8 more Domingos at church here.  I can’t believe it.  I sort of feel anxious thinking about it... not anxious in a bad way, but just a sort of sad and happy feeling, bittersweet.  But I am sooooo excited to see you and talk nonstop.  We did have a hermano come to church yesterday.  He may get baptized this week. Anyway, we did have a couple cool experiences this week.  We were out contacting and this one lady let us in and told us she had been visiting the church in another area but had stopped. We taught her and she accepted a baptismal date in this first visit.  She told us she had prayed a few days before for direction in her life.  I love being the answer to someone’s prayers.  She couldn’t keep the appointment on Saturday but we will see her this week.  Yesterday we were a little bummed with not lots of people at church and we were fasting.  But during Relief Society someone from the Bishopric came and got us to come meet a family that had showed up.  President had told everyone to include in their fast the blessing of baptizing a family this month.  This family is moving to our area next week and said they will come next Sunday.  Afterwards my comp said there is the answer to our fast.  So that was cool.  The gospel is so true.  So we had a good p-day.  We had to go to immigration to renew my ID card.  It was good since we are here in Managua so that makes it easier.  Then we went shopping and dropped off the groceries and went to lunch.  We went to the nice restaurant that we went to about 4 months ago.  I had a bacon cheeseburger and a banana split.  It is quite expensive for here but about 9 dollars.  My companion isn’t used to spending that much (well now neither am I) but it was good.  She asked me if it was normal for me to go to this type of place at home.  I said sort of.  One part is super ritzy with the tablecloths, etc. but we were in the part more like Outback or Red Robin.  She said it was good and we were with the other hermanas.  It was good to see some of the Olympics on the TV.  I saw the DR runner win the 400m hurdles, so that was cool.  Congrats on the DR Olympic gold.  What happened to the Nica boxer who was in the semi-finals?  Now we are emailing and then I will try to get some letters written.  I got mail and the little package from you this week and a letter from Grandma Olive.  Gracias.   Anyway, I am a happy missionary and I love it here.  I hope to finish here with my Hermana Rivera.  I told her that I feel like I can be myself.  She is funny.  On Saturday she was tired and had a headache and said she wanted to go home.  I asked which of the two - here or in El Salvador.  She said either.  We joke about going on the buses that go from Mexico to Panama. J I really am so blessed.  I have realized that more on the mission.  I have a great family, great parents who don’t fight, and we are sealed together forever.  At home that’s more common but here it’s not.  Well, I love you tons.  You are the bestest.  See you soon.  Have a great week.  Love, alc

P.S.  Here are more photos from our tennis adventure last week.

More from the nica

Crazy how fast the time is flying by. I just sent a ton of photos so sorry if my letter is a little short but I have 20 minutes left.  We went and played tennis today for p-day and then went to the palace and cathedral again.  It was fun. 

I got tons of mail this week - like 39 letters - but I haven’t had time today to respond so sorry if I don’t get to it today - but thanks for all the mail.  I had a good time reading all your letters.  I love you so much and can’t wait to see you.  I got my travel plans too...good times!  We had a good week but a hard last couple of days.  Friday was good - and our man got baptized on his birthday and all was well.  Saturday our numbers weren’t very good and on Sunday we had no one at church...not cool!   And we had a man to baptize this week but he didn’t come on Sunday.  But life goes on.  Better week this week.  We are still having a good time together.  I told my companion she needs to come visit me in Arizona.  We had a good training from Hermana Payne.  She is famous in the missionary world from the DVDs we watch.  It was really good and I learned lots.  She said how we are the only people in our areas who have this calling to help people reach salvation.  It is true.  We have what they need to have eternal life.  It was a good meeting.  On Tuesday we went to Masaya to do divisions.  When I said good-bye to my companion we gave each other a big hug.  I love this girl.  She says she feels really relaxed around me.  We both feel real comfortable around each other.  It’s really good.  I am a happy camper. I love you sooooo much and can’t believe that I only have 2 months left...crazy.  The gospel is true and I love you. I only have a few minutes left but here are some pics from the last FHE we did before Hermana Flores left.  The guy is our mission leader and it’s in his house.  I am doing real good.  Happy August!  Adios.  Love, alc.