NO RAIN, NO GAIN! October 8, 2017

All I can say is I got soaked almost every day during this week because of the storms hahaha. It rained for 36 hours non stop and the entire country was on red alert for floods! BUT, we kept going baby! Valiantly and proudly, talking to anyone and everyone that would give us a chance! This week, Mayra and Alvaro got baptized! You can read there story in my soon to be novel that is coming shortly.. They are so awesome! We should baptize FIVE more this week. The pieces are finally falling into place mother!

Another part of an email he sent me. 

 

 Now for the group one-This one is dedicated to my first cousin on the Kimberly side of the family to receive his call to serve from the Prophet of the Lord, Jake. I've never been more proud of you dude. You'll love those dog infested streets of Peru and be a witness of the marvelous work and a wonder that the Lord does among his children. Sure do love you man! Nicaragua was quite a hoot this week with non-stop rain and non-stop preaching the Gospel. Managua was not affected too severely from the storms but our brothers down south got hit like a truck..  

Our week was filled with new missionary meetings, trainings, and our monthly leadership Consejo. Elder Diaz and I are currently preparing for the visit of Elder Cordon from the Q of 70 in the following week. We have to give a practice to all the troops in the middle of his big machete that he is going to give us. Should be dope!

Thursday night, Elder Diaz and I went to teach the final lesson of Mayra and Alvaro, our 2 newest converts in the Maximo Jerez! We felt inspired before to teach about Chastity. As we began, we helped Mayra understand that all the big changes she had felt in herself were signs of the Atonement of Jesus Christ working wonders. She could literally feel the transformation as she repented and kept her commitments! We then went into teaching. At the end, I asked the deadly question, ``Mayra, do you have ANY problems with the Law of Chastity at this time?`` She hesitated. ``Yes, I think she so.`` she says. She goes on to explain how she as been talking again to her Ex-Husband that wanted to get back together and all that jazz. Mayra then said she didn`t want to get baptized for this very reason. We feared the worse! As she said that, he son, Alvaro, who rarely talks, shouts ``I'm still getting baptized, with or without you Mom!`` It was awesome haha. Mayra realized that she had felt with us was worth more than going back to her old life. She made a 180 degree turn right then and there. 

Saturday morning came and we went to clean our baptismal font! The best noise in the world for a missionary is the sound of running water in the Church. There were tons of spiders, ants, worms and what not swimming in the water 10 minutes before show time. I had to improvise and work some magic to get all that out.. But Mayra and Alvaro came and we had a spiritual service. President Poncio came and shared an awesome message! Alvaro chose me to baptize him and I felt honored. They both shared powerful testimonies about staying faithful until the end and how they both felt ``renewed!``

I love this work. It amazes me week after to week to see the hand of Lord helping the people of this special country. October 15th is right around the corner! ;)

Elder Campbell

Luke 16: Search and find where it talks about temple work.

working hard!

DISPENSATION=STEWARDSHIP, BOY!!! October 1, 2017

Well, after running around in the raining (literally a hurricane for the whole weekend) we were able to bring a grand total of.... 17 investigators to conference!!! It was a flat out miracle, just like Elder Rasband talked about. So many of these 17 loved the talks and are reflecting on the messages. Elder Nelson´s testimony touched the heart of an old man named Denis that has been investigating deeply into Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. He came in clutch! We are currently with 10 progressing investigators for baptism this month of October and I couldn't be happier seeing how the Lord brings so many awesome things to pass if we just trust in him and work our guts out. Holland and Christofferson's back to back duo talks on the Sacrament and the Atonement of the Lord brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful. I know he lives man because of the mighty change of heart he has wrought within me these last 14 months. There is no other explanation. 
(This is an exert from the email Brayden sent me.  More to follow in his email.)

At the end of another General Conference and another seven days full of miracles being produced from God´s hand, I am proud to say beloved family and friends that the Savior is a compassionate king and we are his eternal debtors. I know he lives and has influenced the lives of each of our investigators in the Maximo Jerez. October is know to be a month of miracles in the Nicaragua Managua North mission and it is cooking up as we speak. Just be prepared!

Our beloved friend, Nora, finally allowed the Holy Spirit to witness unto her heart of the importance of obtaining her baptismal record for the Church. As we began teaching Nora, we soon came to realize that she never experienced a true conversion to the Church as she was inactive for the better part of her life. She denied the Book of Mormon, claimed the Testigos doctrine to be more correct, and claimed God did not talk to prophets. Slowly but surely, as we taught her and humbly prayed on our knees after every visit, she began to have one of the most drastic changes I have seen in my mission. As we got closer to her planned date, she fell. She had doubts. We recovered, but then she fell again. Finally, we made a plan with the Lord´s help. We focused on the temple. As we explained in 1 year (exactly when her son returns from the mission) how she could go through the Lord´s House, she got pumped! But, the doubt still lingered in heart of a second baptism. We concluded her last lesson with Alma 34:33. ´´Why wait Hermana Nora if you know how true this is?´´ was the Golden Question. Saturday, after I baptized her, she shared an inspiring, convert testimony of the Savior and his heart-changing powers!

As we battled the rain every single day this week, trying our hardest to get our investigators ready for Conference, the Lord stepped in and put everything into place like a puzzle. We were able to bring 17 different investigators to the 5 sessions! Each of the Apostles delivered key messages that sparked big time desires in our friend´s hearts! We now have 10 likely candidates for baptism for October.

Ah yes, I hacked my toenail. Had to walk around in a flip-flop and get made fun of everyone and anyone. The Lord´s work can't be stopped hahaha!

All I have to say is the Elder Christofferson and Elder Holland back-to-back duo stole the show. read and reread those talks, por favor! 

´´Salvation is an individual matter. Exaltation is a family matter!´´ 

Luke 15 and D&C 84:38-We are all prodigal sons. The Lord wants to give us ALL he has. The perfecting power takes place in the eternities!

I love you all! Take care up there Elder Hales!

Elder Campbell

He's learned so much - maybe one day, he will learn to clip his toenails!!

Nora's Baptism