September 20, 2010

Hola Familia,

Well, my companion Elder Soto is from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. My ex companion is from San Pedro Sula. There is an ex missionary from Honduras here in the branch that served here about a year or more ago, and he's married to the Branch President's daughter. They will be living in San Pedro Sula, the same stake as my ex companion, but for now they will wait for her to have her baby.

Hna. July apparently won't be getting baptized. It looks like she will have to wait at least until December because she wants to move to Colon with her sister when her son finishes the school year... and right now there aren't too many other people progressing much right now...

Oh, there was a tarantula in our house the other day. I have a cool video, but I think it might be too long to send...

Yes, I have been able to see Hna. Ochs a few times now. Today I the Hondureños are going to cook something for lunch.

Love you all tons,
Elder Niendorf

September 13th 2010: Interesting Photos

Hola Familia!
If you have seen the photo then you know that I took a picture with a certain sister missionary new to the Zone La Chorrera...Hna. Ochs! She isn't in my district but the zones are usually like one big district. It is pretty cool that she is here, because I (obviously) haven't seen anyone from Oakdale in a while! So I am excited for this change. The other photo is my ex-companion Samir Rodriguez.

I remembered Wednesday morning to say Happy Birthday to Dad, but I forgot to write it....Happy Bithday. And tell Jon to send Anna a Hppy Birthday from me as well for this Saturday. I will be able to say Happy Birthday to Rachel - I mean - Hermana Ochs in person :P

My new companion is Elder Soto from Honduras as well. He is 21, and it looks like we will be able to get some good work done; Hna. July has been challenged to get baptized this Saturday the 18 of September. All the Zone's baptisms for this Saturday will be in a place called La Laguna, so it would be a super great experience if she gets baptized...maybe you guys can be praying that she can overcome her fears and get baptized this Saturday.

Well, there isn't much more news than that. Our new branch mission leader is the ex-missionary that served in Argentina, Juan Jose Reyes, and he's super awesome (and reminds me a lot of Jonathan). He came over this morning to help us clean our house, and he is going to be contacting all the houses in his neighborhood (we have already taught 3 families there with him). So far I really like being senior companion, and hope to be able to be a good instrument in the hands of the Lord i helping people make the changes in their live to become closer to him.

With lots of love,
Elder Niendorf

September 8th 2010

Hola Familia,

I am writing today because Monday I went with my companion to go visit Barriada Kuna, one of his old areas on the other side of Panamà in Colon. The President gave us permission to go, and we were there all day. I was a fun pday, getting to know several people. To get there we took 4 buses (including from our house) in about 3 hours. We got home pretty late, but I think it was good for my companion. He is pretty emotional about leaving Panamà.

And last night there was a new experience connected with his departure; another person (July) had a very difficult experiencet the day before, and then to have to day good bye to him was too much for her, and she fainted. She recovered in about a minute, but my heart was feeling a lot of love for her and her situation...

There was a missionary farewell for our mission leader, so they added my comp's farewell to that activity. There was a ''baile tìpica''(I don`t know how to say tìpica...something like native?) And there was a hike to the beach in the branch (Personal Progress and Duty to God) that we attended as well...Our Branch Pres. gave an old laptop of their family to him...que suerte!

My new companion is going to arrive in about 2 hours, anad I have been told that I am now going to be Senior Companion. So next Monday I will tell you guys if it's true.

I will attach a few photos (This Zone, the hike, and a speaker at the farewell [the new missionary is in orange]), but next week I hope to be more organized.

Con mucho amor,
Elder Niendorf

August 30th 2010

Hola Familia!

This week has been perhaps one of the fastest weeks that I have experienced here on the mission. I am glad to hear all is going well with you guys, and in that I know my prayers for you are answered. Part of this week I have been a bit sick because I held a cat for a while, which lowered my defenses...but I am better. I haven't had time to write to Hunter recently, but if you talk to him, tell him to write to me and that I will try to write to him next week...

There were several baptisms together this week of other areas, and a Cine Mormòn afterwards. It was a good night because we saw the Testaments and Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restauration. Last week Pday was pretty great because some missionaries prepared lunch (the sisters , but sever of us male missionaries helped) There are some pictures of a service we did for a family, where we dug part of the latrine (there is no sewer system). My companion is finishing the mission this change, so one picture shows that...Another photo is of my study area at it's worst, but I like having everything nearby on that table...

Our branch El Progreso will be receiving a pre-fabricated chapel! They announced it yesterday (we missionaries already knew because we have 2 dinners in the house of the branch president) At member let us see our houses in the new Google Earth 2010, which was pretty cool because the images have been updated since the last time I saw it. We saw a few temples as well. You guys should try to add that photo of the Oakland Temple that is so beautiful. I am still hovering around 140 in weight, and I think part of that is a bit more muscle mass...

Well. that's all for now. Tune in next week for another exciting episode of 'Elder Niendorf: Missionary of the Lord'

Love Love Love Love Love,
Elder Niendorf

August 23rd 2010

Hola Familia,
This week went by very fast for a few reasons. First, Tuesday was Interviews with Pres. Ward. It was a great experience getting to talk to him, and Hna. Ward also interviewed us. She also made lunch for us. Then Thursday was Zone Conference, and I felt more energy or desire (ànimo) to keep going. Friday, we went with the missionary couple in charge of the houses to get some things that our house didn't have (fans, more plates/silverware, pans, etc.). And yesterday was a Baptism! Hna. Elvia was baptized, and I was the one asked to do the ordinance.

I feel more peace about being here in Panamà, like, as they say, these will be the best two years in my life so far. Jon, maybe you could send me some stories or experiences with people in the mission that you had, I would like to hear about that.

I hope all goes well and that you all can feel closer to our Savior.

Love,
Elder Niendorf

August 16th 2010

Hola Familia!

I don't have too much time to write today. I am sending photos of a missionary that returned from service in Argentina, pink and lime green pancakes (using the powder to give flavor to water) and the temple trip!

The return missionary is Juan Jose Reyes. He is very cool. He sort of reminds me of Jon, and he talks a lot. He is sometimes a bit forward/pushy when he comes with us, but it is just his nature to have so much energy. There was a homecoming as a group night and I look forward to his help.

The temple trip went well, and almost all the recent converts in this area were able to go and do baptisms for the dead. I felt the Spirit a lot as well!

Yesterday was stake conference, and Pres. Ward, his wife, the temple Pres, and his wife came, and it wast pretty cool. We arrived with one of our investigators and were able to present her to Pres. Ward. The person who will be baptized this Saturday also went, she being the person who had been married only according to Jewish law and not civil law (the ex-'husband' moved out).

Interviews with Pres. Ward are tomorrow, my first with him. Also, this Thursday is Zone Conference, so this week should go by pretty fast!

I hope all will go well this year in school for you all (excepting Erika, who already finished :P) Remember to always try to do Family Home Evening, and study the scriptures as a family, and that I love all of you.

Lots of Love,
Elder Niendorf

August 9th 2010

Hola Familia,
Everything is going well. The photos are of some purple pancakes that I made this morning. I sent some photos of a boa to Erika, so if you want to see them you can ask Erika to send them to you.

This week went well. We are preparing a person named Elvia Quintero for her baptismal date on the 21st of this month. She talks a lot, is the same age as mom, and has a son my age named Armando. She has wanted to be baptized for a while, but the situation with her 'husband' was an issue. But they are always talking and sharing much of hteir live. Armando is a bit special, but he is pretty cool to talk with. He always has a different way of seeing things.
I heard that a member of the ward here was communicating with Jon. Aaròn is his name. He is the same age as Joshua.

I love you all, and talk to you next week.

Love,
Elder Niendorf

August 2nd 2010

Hola Familia,
How`s everything going for you guys? Anyway this past week there has been a lot of rain. Wednesday we got stuck at a chino (little store) for an hour. We saw a lot of lightning, and one time there was a flash and the sky was turquoise, then the power went out for a couple of minutes. Later, when a taxi finally stopped, we couldn't get to the house of the person who prepared us dinner because the bridge had been flooded over...

There isn't too many people progressing in the area, but there are a lot of families with trials (usually due to the male adult of the family...) There is not much more than a few words we can share in those moments to help, but I am always praying for them...

The 12th of this month we get to go to the temple because there is a temple trip where all the recent converts get a special price, so if they go we get to go with them to do the baptisms for the dead. Our Mission Leader is usually very busy, but he is usually able to visit with us one or two times a week.

I am currently in or around 3rd Nephi 3, and in Exodus 34. I usually try to read at least a chapter of each and Predicad Mi Evangelio in my personal study, and if I have more time (I usually do because my comp. is slow in getting up on time for companionship study) I clean or work on projects (right now I am trying to make a bag for my scriptures and stuff) or I study a bit more....

My comp has a CD of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir that is pretty awesome. I want a copy. Most of my music isn't by the church, but I have about 35 conference talks that I am listening to for the 3rd time...

The photo is a friend of mine at the photo printing place at the grocery store...

Until next week
Love you all,
Elder Niendorf