2 Baptisms and a Call Home

Well, this past week was a really good week! First of all we were able to have 2 baptisms! 1 for an hermana that I have been teaching since January. We baptized her daughter in February and this week she finally felt ready to take the step of baptism! On Friday she told us that she wasn't going to do it, but after a good spiritual lesson with her, she felt ready and her doubts were resolved. Her name is Eneyda.

The other baptism was a man that was pretty much a member. He has gone to church every week since I've been in Jalapa. We thought that he was baptized over 20 years ago, so we wanted to ordain him to the Aaronic Priesthood. But when we looked for his records, they didn't appear. So we had to baptize him so he has  record and can receive the priesthood. He is pretty awesome. His name is Orlando.

On Sunday at church we had 27 people which is really good with a lot of recent converts there as well. Then after church we went to the river to baptize Eneyda and Orlando.

After the baptisms we went to lunch and then to call the family for mothers day! It was pretty awesome.

After the call home, we went to visit a recent convert named Daysi. While talking with her, it started to rain really hard with thunder and lightning, when all of the sudden all of the lights go out in all of Jalapa. So we finished there, and when there is a blackout here it is kind of dangerous, so Elder Ruiz and I ran home which was a 20 minute walk or like 5 mins running in the pouring rain in a blackout. It was actually pretty fun, and a good story for later in life!

Well, that's all for this week,

-Elder Taylor

Me, Eneyda, Orlando, Elder Ruiz at the baptism

A little puppy named Pantera (Panther)

Jalapa at 4:45am

A plantain more than double the size of my hand!


A couple of videos First of a parrot and the second of a puppy

Rainy and Hot

Well, winter has finally hit Jalapa again,(that's right, I was here for all of summer). And that means a lot of rain and its still a bit hotter than usual. So it got pretty humid this week. But we still worked hard even with the heat.

This Saturday we should have a baptism of an Hermana that has been preparing for a long time for baptism. She finally feels ready and wants to take this step of baptism. Her daughter was baptized with me and Elder Alvarez in February. So it is a good thing!

And on Sunday is mothers day, so I will get to talk to the fam!!

A short letter but hopefully the next one comes with baptism pics!

-Elder Taylor

A Decent Week

This last week was pretty good. Elder Ruiz had to take it easy because he had surgery on his toe last week. But we still got a bit done. (He is all good now) We were in Ocotal on Tuesday for the weekly meeting and then we came back to Jalapa that afternoon. And cuz Elder Ruiz couldn't walk, we played Monopoly! That was pretty fun. (too bad I didn't get a pic)

On Wednesday we went to Esteli for the Multi-zone conference. I got to see Elder Alvarez again and a few other mission friends there. Oh and we woke up at 3 am to get there on time.

 On Sunday we had 18 people at church (A little low) but we have some good new investigators. So all is good here.

 Till Next week.
-- Elder Taylor

Me riding in the back of the mission nurse's car on the way to the hospital for Elder Ruiz's toe

A mouse that we caught in our house

An average street in Jalapa

My favorite lunch - guallo pinto, tajadas (fried plantains), churrizo, and the bottle is full of chile
(it is like a juice of vinegar, chile peppers, and onions. It is spicy and tasty. Almost everywhere has one)

100lbs of Bananas at 3am

Well since I last wrote, I have gone to Managua 2 times. And the first time was last Tuesday. We had reserved seats for the 3am bus. But it broke down before leaving Jalapa. So we had to leave on the 4am bus instead. We waited for the 3am bus on the side of the road, but when it didn't pass, we had to go to the bus station to wait for the bus. And one lady had a 100lb bag of bananas (cuz its Nicaragua) and so we helped her carry them to the bus station (like 100 yards away)

When we finally got on the 4am bus, all the seats were taken. So we had to stand for 5 and a half hours to Managua. But we made it. We went to a meeting for my companion, because he is new in the mission. While eating lunch there, the mission nurse came over and asked about my comp's ingrown toenail. When they went to look at it, it was infected, so we went to the hospital so they could clean it. And today we went back to the hospital so they could take care of the toenail but cutting it out. So Elder Ruiz will be on crutches all this week.

Yesterday at church we had 27 people and 2 investigators!! So we are still making progress toward being a branch!

Till next week,​​

Elder Taylor

The "Jalapeños" before the transfer

The "Jalapeños" eating Mexican food

Me with Elder Vaides when we did divisions

Jalapa toda via y un Nuevo Compañero

This last monday at like 10pm we got a call from the Ap´s saying that I had to be in Managua on tuesday. And that I had to take the 3am bus to get there in time. So thats what we did. It was a 6hr bus ride to Managua from Jalapa. But we got there. And we went to Ocotal the same day. And at like 9:30pm I finally met my new companion, Eler Ruiz.

He is from Guatemala. He doesnt speak too muck English, but he is cool and only has 2 months in the mission. I am finishing his training. The first week together was good, and we work well together.

Today we played soccer us 4 missionaries in Jalapa. There are 2 from Guatemala, 1 from Rio Brazil, and 1 from USA!!!!! We are all getting along well.

Tomorrow i will be taking the 3am bus to managua for a new missionary meeting. I let you know how it goes!

Love,

--  

-Elder Taylor

Me

A couple of kids where we eat lunch everyday

A toad that was in our bathroom last Monday

Another Transfer in Jalapa

On Saturday we got the call that I will be staying here in Jalapa for another transfer, and that Elder Alvarez will be going to Matagalpa. I am finishing the training of a new missionary that I am yet to meet. I will go pick him up in Ocotal tomorrow. This will be 4 transfers and 6 months here.

Sorry no pics today, but ill send some with my new comp for next week!

Always,

 -- 

-Elder Taylor

Getting Hotter and Conference

This week was pretty good. We have a few people that are progressing towards baptism.

It's getting hotter every day here. It's about 90° today. And it's a little humid as well. I remember when Jalapa had the high of 80°. That was good times.

On Saturday and Sunday we had General conference. We dont have a church here, and the place that we meet is a business so, we had to rent out a cybercafe to watch it with the members and investigators. We got like 50 people there over the 2 days! That was really awesome. And the talks were really good as well.

Hopefully we can have a baptism before the end of this week, cuz tranfers are next week. So, I might be writing from another city. (A lot of people think I am going to a place called Somoto) (look it up) But I will let you know!

Peace out,

Elder Taylor

To start out Saturday morning conference

To finish Saturday morning conference

Enjoying pizza after the Priesthood session!