Monday, November 6 to Sunday, November 12, 2017

Monday, November 6, 2017

We had changes today. Seven new latino missionaries came today. Usually they come on Tuesday, but because the Area Presidency is having a mission president training in Panama this week, the Latinos came a day early. Two were sisters and 5 were Elders. Two more North American Sisters come tonight.

We first taught the trainers about the importance of drinking pure water. We used the same powerpoint presentation that we used last week at the leader training. We had several zone leaders and sister leaders in the group who already heard our presentation, so I invited them to make the presentation, using my powerpoint. They did pretty well.

We then trained the new missionaries about the 10 commandments of health. President Poncio would take one of them out so he could have his interviews, then they would be allowed to write home. Therefore, we would have 3 to 5 of the 7 in our class at any given time. That’s not the ideal, but we made it work. Fortunately, Sister Bell had given them written versions of the presentation.

President with the new missionaries

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

The two North American sisters arrived late last night. President Poncio, Sister Poncio, the office secretaries and their companions came to the airport to greet them. They stayed at the Sister Trainers house last night. So Sister Bell and I took breakfast over to them; French toast, fruit, ham, yogurt, bananas, whipping cream and syrup. There were 7 missionaries (2 new missionaries, their companions, Sister Fersola and her two companions), plus Sister Bell and I. They ate everything we brought. They emptied a whole can of whipping cream.

L to r: Bottom row: H. Lopez, Aleman, Lord

Top row, L to r: H. Bell, Fersola, Hawkins, Grigg, Perez

After Breakfast, Sister Bell taught the 10 commandments of health to Hermana Hawkins and Griggs. She enjoyed teaching in English. We then loaded the new missionaries and their companions (H. Lord and Aleman) and took Sister Aleman and Grigg to the Israel Bus station and then Hermanas Lord and Hawkins to their house in Las Mercedes.

We stopped at the office for a few minutes, then went home. I began updating my housing spreadsheet with all the changes. Sister Bell ironed.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

We worked from home until about 11am. I finished updating my housing spreadsheet during this time. We then went to the office and then to the hospital. One of our Elders had a follow-up appointment with his doctor. We then came back home.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

We took a mattress to Corinto, on the west side of the mission. We met Sister Gunn, Sevilla and Inestroza at their district meeting in Chinandega at noon. We then took them to Corinto, dropped off the mattress, gave them another used DVD player and headed home.

As we got close to Managua, we got a call from a Hermana telling us that one of our missionaries had walked into a thorny tree and got a 2-inch thorn in his leg. It broke off when they tried to remove it. So, we sent them to the hospital. We met them there. The doctor was able to pull the rest of the thorn out and send them on their way.

We got a late night call from another Sister. They found a snake in one of their suitcases. I suggested that they call the Bishop. He came over and with the help of a few others, they found the snake and killed it. They said it was a coral snake, but pictures indicated it was a Black Banded Cat Eye Snake. This was the first snake report we have had - at least in a suitcase.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Today was errand day. We picked up 6 fans from the sister Leaders house and a used frig from La Fuente. We passed by Villa Venezuela to fix a closet and talk about the snake they found in their house last night, then we went to the office. We left the office early in the afternoon, went home for lunch, then bought an ink cartridge for the Somoto printer, cold medicine for me (I have a cold) and to Pricesmart. Then home. We spent the evening at home. I didn’t sleep well as I was stuffy and coughing.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

We stayed home from going North so I could rest. I had to call and cancel several appointments or make arrangement for someone else to teach or talk.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

We ventured out to attend Church in La Rotunda ward. Sister Bell wanted to check up on a Sister. We found her in great health, not having the pains that she was having. We talked briefly to other Sisters, who are in the Bello Horizante Ward. I thought they needed a fan, but it turns out they have an extra fan. We spent the rest of the day recuperating at home.