Well, it´s been three weeks in the field. Come Wednesday, this change will be half way over. Time is going relatively fast. The days go by slow, but the weeks generally go by fast. We had our first baptism on Saturday. It was a crazy story. We were originally going to baptize him on saturday, but then he wanted to do it sunday. We had this big mother´s day activity that were planned and had to do on Saturday. The guy came to the activity and then we called us when they got home and said that he had to leave in the morning. We decided that we better do it right then. We hurried and firnished cleaning up the church and took a taxi up to his house. When we got there, he said that he didn´t want do do it. After making our taxy guy wait and he got mad at us, we finally told him to leave. We talked to Unigenio, that´s our investigator´s name, and tried to talk to him about how he had told us earlier that day that he was excited but now things had changed. He said he wasn´t ready. he said he didn´t have any clothes and that he had no money. We told him over and over again that he didn´t need either one, but that he had it all covered. He is a little crazy. he is about 65 years old and a few short of a full deck, but he has a good heart and is a funny guy. We finally got his wife, who is a member to tell him that he neeed to do it. We finally got him to come and got another taxy. We went into matagalpa (ps. the picture that I sent of the town in two emails ago was of matagalpa. my town isn´t even near that big) we went in at 8 00 at night. we did a short baptismal service and then baptized him. Of course he was so happy when he got done. It is amazing how hard Satan works on people. Once they have the interview and are found ready to be baptized, Satan just attacks them and tells them they aren´t ready, they don´t know enough and that they shouldn´t get baptized. HE was happy though when it was all done. We have not had water hardly at all this week. We finally paid our water bill and got the water back on after last week, but found out that there is a leak in the water pipe, which is why we had a 400 cord bill. We got it back up, but often have no pressure in the pipes to get water or take a shower. It hasn´t been bad until today when we woke up and there was no power or water. Anyway, things are going well. We are hitchiking a lot. Yesterday we had to come into Matagalpa and it was pouring rain. We caught a ride in the back of this big truck and were dretched in water when we got to the church here in Matagalpa. We had a multi-zone conference on Thursday. We had to drive 2.5 hours to chinendega for it. It was a log day. We were up a 300, i almost had to sleep on the ground, i shared a tiny matress with another missionary and then we didn´t get home till almost 11 at night. it was a very long day, but it was good. Yesterday, I had to conduct and give a talk that wasn´t prepared and bless the sacrament for the first time. Things are going well. I´m learning spanish. I can mostly understand and talk a little. Things are going well. I´m not perfect yet, and I still have a lot to learn and to work on, but i´m working hard and will continue to grow. It is realy hard to get our members to church and to see them not coming breaks our heart. It is hard when people choose not to listen to our message. We know it is true. We know it is going to change thier life and make things better, if they let it. It can strenthen families, bring more happiness and more purpose to the lives of those who listen and live the gosple of Jesus Christ. I know that this church has the authority to do all the sacred ordanences for salvation. I know that there are specific ordanences and conventants that must be done in order to enter the kingdom of God. We have the way, the knowledge and the peace that can come into people´s lives if they are willing to listen and apply the teachings of Jesus Christ and a living profet, just like moses and abraham. Share this with all. It is true. Thank you for your prayers everyone. thank you for your support. I would LOVE some hand-written letters if anyone has some time ;) I will send more pictures next week. I forgot my cord again. I am sending some from last week and from in the MTC. THanks everyone.
Elder Ashby
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