December 22, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

Well Nicaragua is crazy right now firecrackers everywhere and all the people in the street buying and selling things

I don’t have much time to write because I get to Skype with my family Thursday WHOOO HOOO but I just wanted to let you know that I love it here and it is the greatest choice I have ever made. I was born of greatly parents that taught me in the ways of the Lord I have been blessed!!

WE had interviews this week with President Russell they went really well he helped me with a lot of things he knows me so well I love it!! And his wife is just the best she looks at our houses to make sure they are clean and she left us brownies mmmmm!!! Well I hope this Christmas is awesome for yall I love ya!!!!!!!

E. Olsen, E. Sanchez, E. Carter, E. Anderson, H. Udall, H. Combs, H. Tambriz, H. Pena, H. Vallacillo, H. Hernandez


 



Inspection by Mission President' wife Hermana Russell "Perfecto"!!

December 15, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

Hermano Pablo got baptized!!!! whooooo hoooo finally I have been working with him this whole time I have been in this area he just had a lot of problems and he overcame them all it was amazing!!! 

Newlyweds (Irma and Pablo) AND new member Pablo with Jessica and companion.

Wedding Poster Jessica made for Irma and Pablo.

Newlyweds Irma and Pablo.

Well this week was fun we were contacting and ended up in the middle of a wedding....oops.....buuut the gospel can be accepted where ever you go....it was a catholic wedding jajajaj it was just really awesome but awkward.

This coming week we have interviews with president again I actually love them he gives us personal advice on what we can do better and then his wife gives us brownies!! 

SO we had a mouse in our house this week....again so I used my skills that my dad gave me and smashed it.....with my fist.....I was going to use the broom but I got a little nervous and just killed it....oops...don’t worry I washed my hands with Clorox afterwards! 

So we were walking down the street this last week and the people here LOVE to play with things that explode so they shoot them in the sky them blow up on the grown any place they can but the ones that go up in the air have pieces that fall down in the street and if they fall on you they will burn you so we were walking down a street and heard them go off and my companion just took off running and screaming and it scared me so I jumped and ran into someone and I had to go after my companion we looked like crazy people it was funny. 

Well that is all for this week I need to run and get some stuff mailed to the mission offices!!! Love you all!!!!

Little Alexa and her dad Santos

They had the "Primary Program" today.  Here's the Primary Children.

Part of Primary and leaders with recorders they played.

December 8, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

This week was an interesting one. 

I got a letter from Jordon and Ami this week!!!! Awwww and from my ever hardworking Grandmother Myrna Udall too! 

We have had a baptism planed for one of our investigators for every Sat but something ALWAYS gets in the way. He has been my hardest investigator in my mission we have been working with him in so many things and this last week he told us I just need time so I think I will just wait you guys can teach someone else with your time. But something told me. no . You will not take this answer. So I said fine we will give you time buuuut the next day we went back (jejejejejeje) and he asked us what? And I said ya we are here to talk to you again and we started asking him questions that the spirit was telling us to ask and at the end of this lesson he said to us. I am going to get married and baptized this Saturday. I just said and now that you said that how do you feel and he said I KNOW this is what I need to do I can feel it. WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOO oh yeah that is just another testimony to me that I am not the teacher the spirit is.

I don’t know how to say this in English but here in Nicaragua the catholic church celebrates what is called the Purisima it is basically like Halloween in the United States but instead of saying trick or treat you sing and they sing to a Virgin Mary that is inside the house and the people that live in the house with the Virgin Mary they give the people singing things and this goes on ALL day and people are drinking and they streets are full was crazy and at noon they blow up fire crackers and a ton of other things right there in the street I felt like I was in a battle it was crazy that happened yesterday so the ZL's called and said we need to go home early so after the Christmas Devotional we headed to the house but seriously crazy! And they said that Christmas is going to be worse. 

Hermano Trinidad on of our recent converts had a little puppy on his ranch that was my best friend but he died I was super sad and so was he but this week he found 7 puppies newly born just in the street so he brought them back and when I went to visit him he said God blessed me this week with a present for you and he showed me these puppies and I was just the happiest camper ever.

Hermana Jessica with "Puppies"!!  Happy Camper... :)

Hermano Trinidad who Jessica says is Grandpa Frank's twin (reminds her of Grandpa).  Farmer

 

 

Puppies!!!

 

 

For P-day today we woke up and had a TON of cool plans for the day but when we went to leave EVERYTHING was closed apparently the day after the Purisima nobody works it’s a miracle that this cyber place is open so we went back to the house and cleaned cleaned cleaned I hand washed all my clothes and bed stuff and so right now my house is awesomely clean the spirit is going to have a party there ;) 

I am excited about the work that is going on here in Masaya it has been hard to adjust to this area but I know God wants me here and I am glad! I hope to get pictures from you all and emails"" I loooove ya!!!! 

December 1, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

Another month has flown by it is now December I cannot believe that I am completing 10 months in my mission this week I cannot believe that 

Well this week was really good we had a guy named Andres that I have been trying for 6weeks to get him to go to church and this week HE WENT!!! I was so excited and the thing was Hermano Juan brought him we didn’t I was so proud of Hermano Juan. 

This week we had a talent night and as missionaries we sang it went really well but we sang a Christmas Song and it made me miss my home but I know that this Christmas I will see miracles here in Nicaragua we have a lot of things planned and I am excited to see what happens.

Well I didn’t have changes but my companion did but I got a sister missionary from........GUATEMALA ALL of my companions have been from there but her first language isn’t Spanish either she had to learn it when she came here she speaks one of the dialects from Guatemala and she dressed in traditional clothes its really awesome she's a powerful sister her mom died while she was in the mission she came here the same time I did.  

Some days are good with the Virus and some days are bad but I am still working so that when my time comes I feel like I did all I could. I love this work and I love this gospel I hope that everyone with make an effort to serve people this month and always be focused in Christ he is why we live and breathe I love you all!!! Until next week. 

 

Shoes Old and New!

Shoes Old and New!

Shoes Old and New!

Shoes Old and New!

 

Hermana Eusebio from the Dominican Republic and Hermana Udall

Hermana Lola - New Convert did the Marimba at the Talent Show

Jessica and her new American Flag

Hermana Udall, Hermana Lola (new convert), Hermana Tambriz

Mission News showing those doing well..  :)

Jessica and her new companion Hermana Tambriz from Guatemala.

Paulito- New convert

Hermana Udall and one of her favorites Sair.

Refreshment on a handmade chair.

Xavier and Lilliana and children.  New converts.

 

Christmas opened early! 

 

November 24, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

I went to the hospital this week.  Don’t worry everyone wasn’t too bad well then again maybe it was I had a virus from a Mosquito....called Chikungunya it was probably the worst virus I have ever had but I am better now I just had to go the hospital and they gave me an IV and they gave me medications and such and sent me on my way but told me I couldn’t work for 5 days....it was the worst I still have two days I can’t work but I left the house yesterday and worked a little because I just couldn’t do it. 


A little I.V. fluid does the body good!  Yucky virus. :(

Current Zone Members of Elders and Sisters

 

 

Hermana Gomes-Guatemala, Hermana McKay-Utah, Hermana Vasquez-Honduras, Hermana Udall Garden of Eagar Arizona.

Well there are changes again this week but I don’t think I am going anywhere I have short time left in my mission and I just got here so I think I will be here in Masaya for a little bit longer which is okay I won’t mind that at all this City is pretty alive EVERY Sunday there are people that go out in the street in costumes that a super awesome and they just dance this country LOVES to dance it is awesome this weekend that is coming there is something that is call the Baile Negra or the black dance they all dance in the street but it’s not a guy and a girl its two guys one is dressed as a girl and the other is a guy they dance with masks and are SUPER good at dancing the way they can move is CRAZY but they kinda scare me a little.

Wellllllll we are supposed to have another baptism this weekend and a wedding but we haven’t been able to find Him these last weeks he has been working but this week we are going to run him down and find out what is going on he had a lot of questions for us and we want to answer them and we have been answering them but he just works all the time but I know if we talk to him he will make the right decision it is hard sometimes for them to see that this is the truth that is where patience comes in handy we just wait and work for the day that they have that light bulb moment and when they do we grab  it and go I LOVE light bulb moments.

Juan said the closing prayer in Sacrament meeting this week it was AWESOME he got up there with all his pride that he is a Mormon and he said it and it was a very powerful prayer he prayed for my companion and I in front of everyone which was embarrassing but it was cute. 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING it is so weird to think that it is almost December which means I almost have a year which means the time is flying crazy fast I don’t even know SO all of you know I am trying to get letters out to everyone I doubt they will get to you before Christmas but I am sending them anyway I hope they get there!!! 

Well I love you all and hope life finds you all well remember now that the cold is coming sleep with socks on so you don’t get sick!! I love you and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!! 







 

November 17, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

JUAN GOT BAPTISED!!!!! That was the coolest part of the week he was crying in the font because he was so happy. He called us yesterday because he went to visit his family after church and he said that his family was so grateful for us we then explained that we had nothing to do with it and its the truth when people get baptized it really isn’t us it our Heavenly Father that has prepared them to make this choice in their lives and Juan was definitely prepared by God to be baptized right now in this time of his life I am just so glad that I could be there to watch this miracle unfold. 

This is the last week of this change I cannot believe it! This change has flown so fast we have changes again el 27 I am almost 100 percent sure I will stay here which is okay I will at least know a few people for Christmas! 

This week the Elders had a reference for us so we went with them to find him and there he was sitting outside he is a cute little old man that is about 90 years old so we talked with him a little and everything went well until the elders left and when they left this crazy old lady came out and was just yelling at us calling us liars telling us that we were going to hell and that we just needed to go home and start working my companion just looked at me because she didn’t know what to do and I just made a motion to not say anything so I just looked at the lady and smiled and when she was done she left. It was funny and scary all at the same time.

This week was a good one but nothing really big happened but the Baptism I will make this coming week different so I will have more to write about! I love you all and hope all is well!! 

November 10, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

Hermana Jessica Udall

I hope you all remember my investigator Juan...because...HE IS GETTING BAPTISED SATURDAY!!!! I am so excited it’s unreal I love this work he has come soooooo far it’s unbelievable Then the next Saturday we are going to have a wedding and a baptism!!! It is just going to be grate I am so excited!!! 

This week was a fast one I don’t remember much that went on but I remember it was a little hard but that just means we are going to have a baptism!! One of our recent converts works on a ranch of one of our investigators and our investigator bought us hammocks so today we went out there and used them and they are awesome!! he bought us hammocks because he is worried that we are walking all day every day and we are so tired and never have any rest so he bought us hammocks super nice guy this same investigator has banana trees in front of his house and he gave us A TON of bananas I love bananas they are super good!! He also gave us corn on the cob which made me a little home sick but that’s because my dad’s corn on the cob is the absolute best!! 

 
This last week the Elders baptized a family but the daughter didn’t want to get baptized and The elders didn’t know what to do so they called us and when we got there I talked to her and she looked and me and said it’s the right thing to do right?? And I look at her and said not only is it the right thing but it’s the BEST thing you can do. This act is the one in many that will lead to eternal life with your family. I love this gospel because it gives people hope it is hope in all this craziness.

This week I have actually been missing Nandaime a lot well not so much the town but the people I love them and miss them a lot but there are three hard working Sisters that are there so I trust that they are taking care of my people. 

I love you all so much and hope that all is well just remember God is a God of miracles. 

November 3, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

Okay the time is flying so fast I feel like I am falling behind. But I love love love my mission so the first story I want to tell is about how small this world is SO I don’t think most of you know Kevin Brewer but he is from Show Low was my co councilor at youth conference well he went to his mission in Honduras and there is a sister in my district Hna Vasquez that is from Honduras....Kevin baptized her family and right now she is helping other people get baptized how cool is that!!!

Well this was a good week in the Obra del Señor my companion and I walked so much this week it was crazy but we found 3 new families and we had 6 people at church!! 

This week they had a talent show in the church so that inactive members recent baptized and investigators could come and meet members it all turned out really well except when they told the missionaries that we were supposed to sing 2 min before we can give you any lesson about the gospel in short notice but sing..That was a mistake we didn’t sound so great but all the people enjoyed it so I guess we were okay. 

That is all I have this week I am sorry its short I will make sure to write more this next week! I love you all!! 

October 27, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

Well another week has flown by we had a baptism Saturday which was really good the only bad thing is she was scared of the water and cried a lot poor girl her name is Iris Celeste she is 9 years old and she is just the sweetest little girl ever!! 

Hermana Gomez from Guatemala, Hermana Udall, Iris and Diego.

We had another really cool experience we have an investigator that got kicked out of his house because his family didn’t want him there so he came here to Masaya to work but didn’t have any friends so he got into drinking and smoking when my companion first contacted him they were thinking wow he isn’t very positive and didn’t really go back when I got here we decided to go visit him again so we taught him about the Word of Wisdom and he said that he wanted to change so he has stopped drinking but the cigarettes he was smoking about 20 everyday so we set goals with him that every day he was going to smoke less and less we invited him to church and he didn’t go but this last week we invited him and yesterday when we went to get him there he was waiting we got to the church and showed him around nobody had gotten there yet we had to leave to bring someone else but there was one of the strongest members of the church he was waiting there so we felt safe leaving him there for just a little bit when we came back he looked so happy we finished the meeting and he stayed for the second class but then had to leave but later that night we went to his house and he came out super excited and we asked him how he felt and he said I wanted to cry it felt so good to feeling something good from life I felt a peace and joy that I never have before he said I have been to a lot of churches before but they never felt like this. So my companion took the moment and ran with it! We got to testify that that feeling was the holy ghost telling him that he had found the true church and he was doing what he was supposed to they we asked him how many cigarettes he had smoked that day and (remember it has only been a week) and with a huge smile he said ONE he went from 20 to One in a week! These are miracles of God. and I get to see things like this every day if you have been thinking about going on a mission DO IT and if you haven’t been thinking about it NOW is the time to start doesn’t matter if you are a married couple or single ask Heavenly Father and he will tell you what is the right thing to do!! 

We have a Recent Convert her name is Lola she is about the funniest person I have ever met we were in the baptism this last Saturday and she was telling a story that she was walking to the baptism but half way there he skirt broke and fell to the ground IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET so she had to go back home to change and then Sunday she busted into Relief Society and said super loud  SISTER I WAS LOCKED IN THE BATHROOM and I didn’t know what to do I was screaming and nobody heard me I started crying and I was screaming and nobody heard me but then a little girl came and climbed under the stall and opened it for me.....My companion and I almost died laughing and she did to we had to leave so that we weren’t a distraction oh man it was super funny...

This last Friday they had what they call Halloween down here EVERYONE was dressed in black and had super scary masks on oh man worst night ever they were just running around scaring everyone I almost died.

I love you all and hope all is well!! Talk to you next week!! 

 

Current Zone of Elders and Sisters

Current Zone in Masaya in front of a mural about that particular volcano (Masaya).

 

October 20, 2014 (Masaya Nicaragua)

Well everyone I had changes! I am in a place called Masaya it is one of the bigger cities that has THE BIGGIEST market in all of Nicaragua I love my area and my new companion Her name is Hermana Gomez she is also from Guatemala Jalapa it is in Mission South in Guatemala she is awesome!! But they closed my area in Nandaime and now Nandaime is just one HUGE area it was super sad the elders called me at 11 30 at night to tell me they were going to close my area I just started crying but I know that it will be okay. The only thing I worry about is Griselda and Brunilda but they have support.. 

Today for P day we went Volcano Masaya mom would have LOVED it but it looks a TON like Arizona there it was kinda cool but I couldn’t breath because it was a lot higher than I am used to.......I am going to die when I get home 

I think you might have all heard about the earthquake again this was a pretty big one but there was only one and now we are all good there is just a TON of rain but I have decided....I don’t like earthquakes

This last change I felt like I had no excitement for the work but right now I can feel it flowing through me like it’s part of me again I LOVE IT

I am forgetting English.....There are a bunch of new elders here that are from the States one is from Gilbert Arizona he is AWESOME but they keep trying to talk to me in English and it makes me super nervous and I just can’t do it.... but I LOVE LOVE LOVE Spanish!!! 

I will write more next week when I have adjusted to my area but I LOVE you all!!!

 

My new Companion Hermana Gomez from Jalapa Guatemala.

 



Hermana Udall at the edge of Volcano Masaya.

Picture of Volcano Masaya's history.

 

 

Pathway up to the mouth of the Volcano Masaya.

Looking down into Volcano Masaya.

 

October 13, 2014 (Nandaime Nicaragua)

Well this week went by SUPER fast because it’s the week before changes tomorrow I find out what I will be doing for the next six weeks wish me luck!!! 

This week it rained ALL week long I missed the sun! And I was cold!! For the first time in my mission I was super cold and it was only like 78 degrees......I am going to die when I get home...

Well today for P-day we went and played volleyball and soccer with the Zone because like 5 of them are finishing their missions this week I am super sad but that’s the mission life I was playing soccer but then I started guarding like I was in Basketball....and it worked really well.... but I screened someone....and they scored so I think you can mix the two right?? Grandpa Frank would tell me no hahahah! 

Well Our Taxi driver isn’t going to get baptized for a while we had a few problems with him so I hope that in the near future it will work out it is hard to have the truth sometimes because no matter how hard you try and share it sometimes it’s just not their time and we must wait patiently for them to come around to it. 

This last week Hermana Brunilda turned 90!! So we had a cake and everything it was wonderful!! she has been super sick they sent her to the hospital in Granada she is having some of the same problems that Grandpa Frank had.....it makes me scared and sad 

WE GOT A PIANO IN THE CHURCH it is probably the coolest thing it plays the hymns for you!! So cool.....

 

Hermana Udall and the new Piano for church.

New Piano

 

Well I will tell you more this coming week I love you all!!!! 

 

RAIN

RAIN



Lost Power Ranger in the rain.  Ha ha.

More RAIN.

           

                     Hermana's Atkinson, Vargas, Martinez, and Udall wet after Soccer in the Rain.

 



People we eat meals with...Humberto, Maria Teresa, Christopher, and Marizza.



 

 



Birthday Cake for 90 year old Brunilda.



Jessica with Birthday girl (lady) Brunida and her cake.



Hermana Udall from Eagar AZ and Hermana Grow from Mesa AZ started same day on their missions.



Hermana Martinez, Ernesto (14, he's huge) and Hermana Udall.



Little member crying in church... Jessica consoled her so mom handed her over....



Hermana Martinez, Hermano Carlos (like my grandpa here), and Hermana Udall.