Happy Birthday to me! :)

Lately, we have really made an effort to involve the members in our preparation day to come play soccer with us for a few hours. That is something that I really enjoyed when I was in Puerto, and when I arrived back here in Managua I thought that I was not going to be able to play soccer again on Pdays because our pday is Saturday, not Monday with all the other missionaries. But my companions enjoy soccer as well, so we found a way to invite the members and still be able to play a lot. I think I might reconsider my career in professional soccer, I have seen much improvement! :)

Last Sunday we had stake conference. It was an awesome experience because I was able to see so many people that I know from some of my previous areas in the mission. Basically all of the members from Ducuali, and a few members from the Rotonda. As I was standing up saying hello to some people before the meeting, Alexis, one of my first converts came up to me and said hello. It was so awesome to see him and he told me about how he has the Melchizedek Priesthood, and how he is close to filling out his papers for a mission. He is just looking for a job at this point to be able to contribute for his mission. He told me that he never has and never will forget the elder that baptized him. There is no greater feeling than hearing a convert say those words! We also witnessed the creation of the ward Ducuali. Beforehand it was always a branch, but after some time of hard work, they have qualified to be a ward. It was so exciting to see progress like that in one of my past areas.

I got to see Alexis at Stake conference today!

Also got to see the family Miakel and Eva!

This week we have been focusing a lot on working with the members. We started to do an activity where we share a small message and then sing a couple hymns. The message shares about the topic of the importance of sharing the gospel with others. Then while we are singing the hymns, the members write down as many names as come to their mind. We have actually seen much success in doing this so far. One of the members, when we visited his house, wrote down 19 names. We have made plans to visit a few, but we will be able to go out with him a lot to get to know many of his neighbors. I know that this new idea is a recipe for success.

As I have a mentioned, we have been working hard on preparing Mari Luz and Jairo to be ready for baptism. Sometime ago they had accepted a baptismal date for the 24th of February, but when that date arrived they decided that they were still not ready. So we called in our district leader the following day to do the baptismal interviews and talk with them to help them clear up any doubts that they were having. After talking with both of them, they both said that they wanted to be baptized on Friday the 26th, what a good day. We made some quick arrangements so that we could have a good baptismal service. They wanted the bishop to baptize them, so we gave him a call and he was glad to help. They have a really good member friend whose name is hermana Candida and she helped them out a lot before the baptismal day and on the baptismal day. The baptismal service was very great, and you could see that they were very happy! They may not show it in the photos because that's how the people are here, but they were actually very happy. I don't know why they decide to make the most serious and angry faces for the photos but it does not express at all their actual feelings in the moment.

Baptismal prep!

At the baptism of Mari Luz and Jairo.

So it was also my birthday on Friday. I kind of forgot when I woke up, but when President Collado texted me I remembered. Aside from the baptism nothing too special happened on my birthday, but that's okay because I'm a missionary and nothing else special needed to happen.

I love when Alma is talking to his sons, because he shares some awesome doctrine and some awesome experiences and all. I have been sharing a lot from Alma 36-42 lately. They are great. But I love Alma 41:10
10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
We must remember that our actions in THIS LIFE determine our state of happiness in THE ETERNITY. So yeah, that is a pretty bold statement. I think that that is a lot of motivation to keep on the right track and always repent. It is for me at least.

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Moser

Other pics this week...

Good week last week with Elder Cuevas!

Cortando leña! Cutting up some firewood at our lunch cita!

Some interesting curtain made out of straws, bottle caps and bottles of soda.

So this is Gadea´s burgers! It is the greatest burger joint in the maximo! We are known there! haha

Eating some fruits! I like it!

Nothing like a P-day car wash!

Watering the almost dead plants...practicing for the future! haha That is such a "dad" type of picture with the dress pants and flip flops with socks. Nice one!

We almost bought matching robes! haha