Everyday FUN!

Everyday for me and elder compton is a blast!!! haha! and sometime we have to much fun with our food. HAha! So just wanted to send you some funny pictures that we took while eating our breakfast. Haha!! We are coming up to the end of march and soon it will be changes. I really hope that we can keep working together for my last change but we never know. This past week we had a miracle as 5 investigadores came to church by themselves and loved it... It has been a tougher area to get moving along but things are looking up and the lord is our strength and our captain. There is always time to have fun in the mission and I have found that to laugh and have a good time with your companion, brings joy, which joy brings positive attitude and excitement for the work. We are loving every minute of the journey and the best part is see the change and growth in those we are teaching. I love you guys and I loved the pictures that mom sent. Thank you so much mom for sending those photos. My companion really liked the photo of spencer. It was really funny.

our investigador family that came to church has the quietest family and they were outside ride there bike and so we went up to them to ask if we could try. They were laughing so hard as I rode there bike and their parents loved that we talked with them. Children our the funniest and have the greatest love towards all. great times 

Joy

Muy buenas tardes familia,

It has been such a wonderful time. Last night as we were finish the day I began to ponder in my heart and mind of how much our savior knows and answers our prayers... (Sunday morning) Before heading out to visit those we had commited to church we took a few minutes to say a prayer of thanks and gratitud for this past week. It was a special expierence for mi and my companion. And as we looked back we could feel a peace in our hearts that we had given it our all.

as we left I held a prayer in my heart saying... Lord we have done all within our power to make it possible for these special sons and daughters to recieve the opprutunity to attend your house, where they can be relevied of there troubles and worries of the world. Lord we are not perfect but please bless these people with the desire the spirit so that they will be able to go and recieve a love to go to church...

First we went by our first investigador hermana jackling, and to are suprise her daugther answered the door and she looked ready to go to church and we asked her if her mom was home, she said yes but that she would not be able to attend church today. A feel of sorrow came into my heart and as we walked away from the house, I recieved a impression to go back. So we did and again the daughter received us and I did´nt know what to say.. so I just said we invite you to tell your mom that she should go to church and that you want to go with her and that blessings will come if she will.

We began to the next stop and the whole way I was feeling pretty down for my desire was so strong that they could go, but as we showed up to the next house to our suprise, they were up and ready with the biggest smiles that all the feelings of pain were washed away. We told them we would be waiting at the church doors to recieve them and we left for the church. 

As we arrived and were saving seats my heart was filled with gratitud for the family that wanted to come and was ready when all of sudden we saw jackling with her 2 daughters walked in, and right behind them the other family that was ready to go. We sat them next to the memebers that were saving the seats for us. during the whole church and the sacarament my heart was filled with love and joy that the lord listened to our simple prayer. 

I know that he answers prayers through our persistence to do good. Something wonderful that presidente collado wrote in his letter today was when we sin and want to change the best time to change is today. Satan wants us to think that its to late or that we can´t change but the lord does not have those words in his vocabulary. We can change we can make, we can be clean. When we make mistakes we should feel a sorrow or sadness for what we have done but it should be a sadness not of the world but of the lord. He wrote many times as memebers and sons of god we feel so sad for what we have done that we think he will not listen to our prayers or that we cant change. WE shouldn´t feel that sadness but a sadness that helps us relize that we need to change and dirrectly after this sadness comes a overwhelming joy and love from our savior jesucristo. 

Remember that Alma was one of the greatest missionaries and prophets of the americas to ever have lived and even he had to overcome his weakness. Weakness don´t define us weakness make us stronger. 

I love you all so so very much and I am so grateful for my mission. It has shaped and modeled my in ways that I could have never become without it. I invite you all to night as you say your personal prayers to say your prayers and keeping praying until you feel the spirit touch your soul. Presidente collado invited us to do so, to always remember to thank him love him and talk with him. As I have done so I have seen the difference of prayer. Not always is it a overwhelming feeling but just a feeling of his presence with you and then ponder... 

I love you all so much and can´t wait tell the day to give all of you such a big hug and have great times. Love you all this is the work of the lord and he is the master in the name of jesucristo Amen

Elder Boyd

Just hanging around

Love this gospel

Presidente collado has taught us to always where ever we are or whatever we do we are the hands of the lord here on the earth. He shared with us the talk that dieter f uchdorf gave two years ago about how a city was attacked in world war 2 and the statue of christ was only destroyed on his hands and so the government wanted to reconstruct his hands on this statue but the people told them to leave it how it was and they placed a plaque below which read we are the hands of the lord. I know that this is true we all our his hands to be ready and willing to share and help where ever we are. I invite you all that today as a family say a prayer and pray that you all can be the hands of the lord in this work to bring this gospel to one of your friends that you know. I know that if you do you will see miracles and you will find someone to share the gospel with. I also invite you to look up tonight on lds.org I`ll go where you want me to go under work of salvation and see how this family puts this small concept into action. I know that missionaries around the globe are awaiting to help share the gospel with your friends and co workers and all it takes is a small act of kindness and a small invitation to meet with the missionaries, or visit church with you. I love you all and I am so proud of all the work you are doing. I only wish I could have done more before my mission to fellowship my friends around me and be a hand of the lord in all times and in all places. Love you all god speed.

Elder Boyd

Happy Birthday MOM!

Seres Queridos del Estado de Arizona, 

WOw!! Happy birthday mom!! Primeramente antes de todo, le quiero felicitar mama porque fue su feliz Cumpleaños esta viernes pasado. y también esta lunes que viene va hacer el cumpleaños de Josh. Mama te quiero mucho y espero que su cumpleaños fue extraordinario. (firstly before everything, I want to wish mom a very happy happy birthday this past friday. and also this monday that is to come will be josh´s birthday. love you mom so very much and I hope that your happy birthday was extra ordianry.) 

Wow time is continually moving fast and I had in mind this last p-day to write happy birthday to mom, but with all that I had to get done it just slipped the mind and so when friday came along I realized, Oh wow its moms birthday!! So very merry happy b-lated birthday all the way down from Nicaragua!! I love you so much mom and I hope that you were able to enjoy a wonderful delicious dinner with the finders and chocolate cake. Tell the finders that I say hi and that they are truly something else. I always enjoyed learning from brother finder in his wonderful classes at church. And to this day the wonderful phrase that he would always share has been engraved in my mind about when revelation is received and then shared=more light and revelation we receive. and also we are able to retain it more in our minds as well. 

It has played such a vital part in the lords work among his children and we find as the investigators put in their all and effort to learn and share what they learned with us and their friends, more progression is found and they answer their own questions through the revelation through the holy ghost. we had a experience this week with one of our investigators that we have been teaching, a family called the family castillos. Every time that we went to visit with them, they have had so many great questions such as what is the spirt world? What happens after this life? will we see our loved ones? To respond these types of questions we told them that those are wonderful questions and we asked them to write all the great questions they had and that we would ponder about them and then bring scriptures for them to study to respond their own questions. As we did this there questions were answered through personal scripture study and not by what we had to say or teach. The greatest part of the work and the key to true conversion for anyone is the spirit. and thats what was so great about it was we were able to stay on topic of what we were teaching them and help them understand the basics, and then they were able to study their questions and the scriptures just opened up for them. It truly been a miracle to see and this past sunday we were able to see that the spirit had touched their souls as they participated and came by themselves to church again!! I know that the spirit is the greatest teacher of all and as we allow him to instuirnos opps sorry as we allow him to instruct us we will never be led astray and we will be happy.

Well anyhow, give brother finder a great big hug and tell him thank you for all he has done. as well his family. Tell his son as well that I say hi and that I am so glad to have known him. We always had fun at mutual whenever he came. He is such a great guy and family.

And more over How truly grateful for such a loving family that has truly blessed my life with some much. One thing I have been eternally grateful for in my mission is Piano!! One because it has been a great source to relieve any stress that may be in the soul and it has been a great blessing to be able to play for the ward as needed. Talents are such wonderful things and helps us to feel special and happy. And am always in amaze when I hear such wonderful things the boys Jacob erick james and spencer... and weston HAha!! Weston has such a great talent of being so quite. haha!! its always fun to see him on the videos. YOu guys are incredible and I invite you whenever you feel down or discouraged look to your patrical blessings first and see what blessings the lord has given to you and then give thanks for what you have. One thing I thought about this past week that I am grateful for is carpets, My companion asked me the other day saying hey here in nicaragua do houses have carpets, and then it hit me, Carpet exist!! Haha!! Its been so long since seeing a house that has carpet or floor. Be grateful be smart and be happy. I am also very grateful for the holy ghost, for he is my light and my greatest friend, and through him I have been made whole. 

But what a great time it is here other than the wonderful heat that is coming on...haha! it has been the greatest times in my mission teaching so many people that my shoes are almost Holy shoes because of all the holes in them. haha!! But boy is the work so rewarding when you see the light come into their lives and direct their paths of those you teach. I am so grateful for all your prayers and support. 

Me and my companion elder Compton have been just loving every minute of everyday. He is such a great example to me and always has a big smile as we teach. The wonderful part is he is already fluent in speaking spanish and understands 90% of what they are saying. Together with the lord and his spirit we feel so good and are working harder than ever to help all to come unto christ. Thank you guys for all you do and the funny videos and letters that you send. Josh happy happy birthday from all of us to you we wish you happy birthday so we can have some to....(emprors new groove) best part Haha!! ((cronk) haha, its your birthday!!) hope you have a great birthday and that all are having a wonderful time and are working hard. love you all. Always remember to say your prayers and take time to let the spirit guide you through the scriptures and to also always be gratiful for what you have... In el nombre de jesucristo, Amen. till the next time.

Elder Boyd

Fantastic Monday

FAntastic Monday Querido Familia,

Thank you mom and dad for your emails and prayers in our behalf, The work of the lord here in the area is progressing more and more faster, and with each coming day I just can´t believe that the days are coming shorter and I just have to work harder. 

Wow The gilbert temple is having its dedication this week. What a tremendous and most spiritual experience it will be to be among the presence of our lords servant the prophet Thomas S. Monson. Send me lots of photos and videos if you can so I can see this wonderful occasion. When the hondorous temple was dedicated we were able to see it here in nicaragua and be apart of this wonderful experience. Our ancestors will be present, along with millions awaiting there temple work to be done and the spirit of the lord will be upon its people and those who live in gilbert. 

This is his work and glory to bring to pass the immortally and eternal life of man. The start of this past week, 

Elder Compton and I had all the attitude that the Lord would guide us to those who were searching for the truth. It all started when all our appointments fell through the day and we continued with faith and determination to find a family and new people to teach. As we searched and searched and went to other appointments it looked as if old scratch was at his work again. we were not finding much to say the least, when suddenly, my companion Elder Compton received a revelation. He told me we should visit sister Marta, a investigator, and when we went to them I had a impression that I had to contact a sister who was cleaning her yard outside. And as we began to contact to my surprise, she was not very positive at all and had spoken with missionaries before but visits another church, and respectively said she did not want to hear our message. I was a little confused why I felt to contact her. When were about to leave to Martha , suddenly a woman and her sister called out to us. Directly we turned to them and began to talk to them and we found that missionaries had spoken with them many many years ago but after they had they never could find them later. 

The the first words they said were, do you have information about the church of Jesus Christ and said they wanted to learn more. I felt like the missionary on the best two years when he finds the man again in the shop and gets so excited! What was crazy was they had many wonderful questions and asked if we could visit them. It was an experience I 'll never forget because it showed me that the Lord knows those who are seeking the gospel and preach my gospel says you will find those who receive you, and there are many truths waiting for this .

I am grateful to be serving in Ruben Dario. Sunday night , we visited with our loving Bishop Rivas. He is a bishop of love and talked with him yesterday to better plan the work and asked for a blessing from his hands. It is essential that we are united or otherwise we will not progress as a district , area , companionship and personal . Thank you for your letters. Onward with Faith in every foot step, and I love my lord and redeemer. Christ is the reason behind it all and he will lead us to those who are searching.

Well I don´t have much time remaining but I sure do love you all, keep up the great job of inviting others to come unto christ. Have a fantastic crazy fun spiritual week and I will talk with you all next week...

Elder Boyd

Querido Familia

Querido Familia

what a wonderful p-day! mi and my companion receiving pure Book of Mormon Revelation en our hamaca!! Life just can´t get better than this!! Beautiful scorching hot day!!! Got to love the humid heat! haha!! but we are having a blast and just enjoying every minute we have together. Miracles have been coming forth each day and we are putting all of our heart and soul into the work. It has been tough to get this area up and rolling, but its a coming!! 

We had three investigadores show up to church on there own, while we waited at the church for them to arrive. The second they walked in we helped introduce them to the members and from there we let them do the work. During all the classes the investigadores sat with their new friends and we just having a spiritual blast. I know that this is the gospel of Jesuschrist. He is at the head of this work and is preparing the hearts of men to receive and accept his gospel.

Thank you guys so very much for all you do and for all the wonderful videos. HAHAha!! that was so funny when dad was singing the birthday song and then hayden blew out the candles and dad just starts coughing! haha! so good. And wow how everyone is growing up so fast. Can´t even believe it. Weston don´t you grow up to fast just yet!! He is looking more and more handsome with everyday and a future missionary in NIcaragua the best mission in the whole world, next to Bolivia, canada, the eastern states and the infamous Kirkland Ohio. Missions are the most wonderful things in the whole world and what is so amazing is as we work and work and work to bring others unto christ, we find that at times it seems that we are the ones growing closer and closer to him. This is his work and his glory to bring the immortalidad and eternal life of man. Something cool I learned in my studies today was that the lord had the whole plan ready from the begin with adam and eve. The question that came to mind today was why does it say his work and his glory is to bring to pass the immortalidad and eternal life of man. Than I thought, wow before we can become immortal we must first be mortal. And thats why its so important to gain a body to be able to return and receive immortality and return to gods presences: Eternal life. The scriptures are truly outstanding and bring so much comfort and life to those that apply it. 

This past week we went out on divisions with our recent convert William, and his best buddy Bismark (memeber). I went with william to teach a group of investigadores that had contacted us and wanted to learn more. As we sat and taught the spirit was so strong you could cut it with butter and my heart was swelled with undescribible joy to see and hear william bear his testimony and share with him what was most precious in his life. He has had many trials since becoming a memeber, But the lord is blessing him for his faithfulness. His testimony is what made the miracle on sunday as the 3 investigadores that we taught came to church on there own, Patricia, josseling, seamara. What a amazing week and how eternally grateful to my padre celestial for what he has done for william and for me. He has forgiven our sins and he has made the way possible to return to live with him. And heaven would not be heaven without these precious nicaraguans William y lucia, ossmar and doli, juan, alba, Flor, marcos and tania... and everyone!! The lord loves his childern and the gospel blesses lives. William and his family our enjoying the blessings of prayer and scripture study. They have grown so close together as a couple and family. The KEY that I have found to happiness in the home is, morning and nightly family prayers, family scripture studies, family home evening, tithing, going to church, If every family in the world would apply these 5 things in there homes the prophet gordan b hinckley has promised that there would not be any homeless, there would not be any with out food, the lord will always make prospers those who keep his commandments.

I know that these things our true becuase I have lived it, and because I have witnessed it and seen it here in the mission. God lives and he answers our prayers daily. We must look to find the answers to recieve them and we find them in the scriptures and through trial. I love you all dearly and am continually praying for your success. Only little time is left and we our focused 150% in the work, in the name of our savior, our loving brother and friend, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Boyd 

una mano y soldado de cristo