VIVANICARAGUA May 21, 2018

President Monson always taught that the time of preperation ended the moment decision or opportunity time arrived. I sure was not prepared for the moment the call came to end the adventure in Nicaragua a little early. 

I thank the Lord on high for giving me the celestial chance to serve in this unique misison. I've come to realize just how much He truly knows me while I've walked the paved and dirt streets of Nicaragua.

The planned day for the great return is TOMORROW.  I'll see you all soon! It's been one unforgettable ride.

#VIVANICARAGUA

Elder Brayden Campbell 

Elder Campbell's journey has come to an end.  On Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018, he returned home with honor due to unrest in the country of Nicaragua.  We are forever grateful for his safe return.  

MUTHER'S DAI Y 'TISMS! May 14, 2018

​​​​There is nothing sweeter in life than playing in the garabge-smelling rain while looking for your beloved investigators and having to take those shoes off to get to the zinc hut! Memories.. Anyway! The week of Mother's came and went, and I felt great telling mom that I would be seeing her in 2... Months! 

This entire week we had been working with Yessile, the newest member of the congreation in El Viejo! Her Father opposed her baptism, but her mother,Mama Yessenia, (NOT A MEMBER!) came to the rescue and decided to let her get baptized regardless. We had spiritual lessons with the entire house, and Saturday came. At 10:30, the whole family showed up early and found us cleaing up the church. Yessile's baptism was another addition to the miracle of The North mission adventure and I sure am grateful to be apart of them!

Enjoy fam and freinds. 

Elder Campbell 

NORTH MISSION BROTHERHOOD! May 7, 2018

We just returned from the White House in Managua with President Poncio. Familia Chinandega Oeste got the VIP treatment if you know what I mean! (COCO) No there were no protests or gunshots, thankfully. 

On Wednesday after working our guts out on Tuesday with Elder Rod, we had our last monthly consejo as the North Mission Brotherhood. All my mission homies shared their final testimonies. The miracle is to see how much we have changed during this 2 year journey!

Yesliee and Lidia are 2 of our more eternal invesitgators who have been coming to church nearly every single week, but always doubting one little thing to take that final step of baptism. On Sunday, during Church, we committed both of them to this upcoming Saturday and both glady said yes! Also, my foul mouthed, mariachi guitar player William unexcpectly showed up to Sacrament Meeting after we had powerful lesson on the love of Jesus Christ. He then said he felt something in our words and wanted to find out what that something was. Pretty dang cool! My good friend Reynaldo who we baptized at the beginning of March shared his testimony yesterday as well, even though the church had no speakers working, and expressed how grateful he was more missionaries who are willing to love unperfect people and help them find a better lifestyle. That one hit home for me!

Until next week brothers and sisters.

Elder Brayden Campbell

THE JAKE HONE PROPHECY COME TRUE... April 30, 2018

"Que se rinda tu madre" has become the slogan of my dear Nica university goers as they protest the President of Nicaragua. We just preach peace and Jesus and hope the wellfare of all the people we have come to love so much! We bunkered down for a few days and were deposited a little nica cash to go and get some "essentials" to live on for a week.

The theme of Abril is Breaking Records and Taking Names according to Elder Rush. Boy is the Lord happy with the Nicaragua Managua North Mission!

Our dear friends Christopher and Evancito were baptized over the weekend after a month of lessons, church going, bible bashing, and everything in between. The Spirit opened the hearts of them both and the reactions has they came out of the water was priceless. One in tears, the other celebrating like he scored a game winning touchdown and trying to take a few laps in the font like Micheal Phelps. Miracles like always!

A man named Osmar stopped me on the street, appearing to be drunk. He asked me the question, in English, "Did Adam live with and ride the dinosaurs?" I figured he just wanted to make small talk to a gringo, but as we listened, his soul searching questions came out and we taught him on the street! A few days later, we went to his house, found him, had a special lesson, and lo and behold, the man was walking into the doors at Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. Keep them coming!

the goal was 12 and we have that gift to the Lord. April 2018 will be one to remember for years to come. My new comp will be Elder Rodriguez from Honduras! Should be a fun ride!

The prayers are being felt family and friends. Thank you! I love you all!

Elder Brayden Campbell 

WAR AND ORDINANCES April 23, 2018

Dearest ones! Yes, we are safe and enjoying P DAY at the moment while the rest of this country is in quite the uproar. Lots of reading, story telling, journal updating, and everything in between because we have had tons of downtime in the house waiting the storm out. The work of God rolls on and we are inching closer and closer to the most historic month in quite sometime in Chinandega Oeste!

The adventures played out swimmingly. We chased and played with wild dogs with toy guns to celebrate the events going on around us. We found a severed garrobo (iguana) head in the road and decided a celebratory picture was necessary for your enjoyment!

A few weeks ago, while I was wondering the dusty paths with the late, great Elder Morarles, we went to a reference´s house to see what elect we could find! We yelled "buenas!" at the house and out came Jonathan, Mirian, and Chirstopher. At once, they brought out chairs and started asking questions about us. Come to find out, their mother and father are long time inactive members, who lost contact with all members of El Viejo. It was the time of our lives teaching them and taking them to the activtites for the last month and having the chance to baptize Jonathan and Mirian this Saturday (DURING THE PROTESTS HAHA!). Christopher is lined up for this following Saturday, along with his dear grandmother, Mercedes. 

Keep the Nicas in your prayers. I love you all! 

Elder Brayden Campbell

Iguana Head!

DAYS NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN April 16, 2018

Loved ones back at home. The famous Elder Hunter Campbell as been called to serve speaking the celestial language of SPANISH in Ecuador! I could not be more proud of this little dude who is one of the most diligent and hard working machines that walks this earth. Prepare Ecuador for the one of the best of this dispensation to cross your borders! 

God never seems to disappoint. I have never seen so many spiritual influences in one week. He has been right by my side every step of this adventure and you are going to love the stories this chapter entails!

On Tuesday, after our district meeting, we hit the trenches and went out looking for chosen when we ran across a pet monkey. Of course they let us play with him. I love Nicaragua hahaha!

Wednesday morning was a decisive one for Elder Baez and I. We have been studying our butts off to find out just what our Golden Famliy, Jairo, Maritza, and Brissa need to hear so they could commit to those final steps. We came to our senses and decided to share 1 Nephi 8 and compare Jairo to Lehi leading his family out of the vapors unto the tree of life. What a lesson it turned out to be! The Spirit struck their hearts, and we told them the way to finally come unto the tree and partake of the fruit was to enter the waters of baptism.. THIS SATURDAY! Maritza immediately looked to the ground... Jairo was dead silent. Maritza starting playing with her baby, but then told Jairo that she could feel it in her heart. It was what they needed to do. SHE SEALED THE DEAL!!! I've never been so filled with joy during my entire mission to hear those words. 

Thursday we committed Jennifer to her baptism after powerful lessons of the Atonement of Christ and the separation of her boyfriend. She was so excited to be clean!

Friday we committed her sister, Yorlenis to enter those same waters and leave behind the life she used to live. Of course, the spiritual lessons change the hearts of even the most unbelieving. She could not deny what she felt and committed to Saturday!

Saturday was our Tarde Blanca. We organized it all and put up a presentation with all the names. To see our 5 investigators dressed in white was a humbling moment for me. I could feel the Lord's approval as we started that meeting and as I was standing in the baptismal font. Martiza´s mormon family members from Managua came up to see the big show! The story of miralces does not end there as we went to the house of old investigators at 8:30 pm to end the night. Daniela and Genesis, granddaughters of a menos activa lady, received permission from their parents that night to be baptized the following day, Sunday, as we shared about obedience to Christ's life and commandments. It was a day where I felt alive!

Sunday was thee coolest to see our 7 recent converts pass one by one, and receive the Holy Ghost and to see the big smile on each one of their faces. These are the moments that a missionary lives for!!

And of course, today, P Day was celebrated at one of thee coolest beaches in Nicaragua with some soccer and sun burning. 

This is His work and we are seeing the fruits of our labors. True to the end! I love you all!

Elder Campbell 

fotos:

ROUNDING UP THE HERDS FOR CHURCH April 9, 2018

Devin Carter is getting married... And my little brother, Hunter, was ordained to an Elder with a mission call just around the corner. Life is good friends and family at the homestead. And here in the trenches? Even better! We saw miracles each day wrought by our words and the Spirit's power and it was quite a sight to see! 

On Wednesday we had such a powerful NDH with our golden family. Maxel and Wuankyria and their little chele son, Max came with us to add that dagger of a member testimony. We watched the conversion of Paul and explained how baptism is the way to show Christ that we are all in for him. It was good. Maxel came in at a clutch time to help the dad, Jairo, who is the most doubtful of joining, and we could see the words touch his heart. Members and missionary work is the way to go young pups!

Consejo del Leaders. The usual!

Saturday was the primary baptism day. Our candidate ran away with his MEMBER father right as we were right about to begin. Satan....

Sunday, I felt like a rancher herding together all of my little sheep or cows to bring them all to church, running around all of El Viejo to invite them and get them there. Our baptismal goal is starting to look like a reality coming to life, keep us in your prayers!

I know God is pleased with all his missionaries around the world. This work sets the tone for life and marks the lives of so many others. I thank Him for each moment!

So ends another chapter of the Nica journey. Stay tune for next weeks! 

Elder Brayden Campbell 

THE 50 YEAR WAIT HAS ENDED April 3, 2018

The glorious moment of witnessing brothers and sisters Nicaraguenses in literal tears and shouts of joy after the announcement of God´s house to be built on their land... A moment that will be seared in my memory for the rest of days. There is not a more deserving people on the face of this earth that deserve the temple more than the Nicas. To all missionaries that have served in NIca Land.. WE BUILT THAT FOUNDATION! God is good.

Shoutout to my main man CJ Bauman for that fat mission call hookup to sunny California, speaking the celestial language of Spanish. Love you little dude!

We started off our week of miracles hitting the ground hard and gettin' dirty in the dust. Everyone and their dog literally took off to the beach, but that didn't stop us from finding those chosen families! We had spiritually lessons with everyone of our investigators, including miss Fanny who took those final steps of baptism immediately following the big temple announcement! Her Mother was there to witness it and was in tears as the Spirit helped her comprehend what she just learned in conference and what her daughter was doing. She's next hahaha!

Morales and I brought 16 of our most impressive and progressing investigators to conference and every single one loved the messages. Jairo, Maritza and Brisa were waiting right for us at 9:45am on Sunday to go. Cutest family ever! Shirly, one of old investigators, had a come to Christ moment as she was praying for guidance after a rough week and almost simultaneously we showed up at her door to invite her to hear God´s words at conference. We shared Matthew 11:28-30 with her, explained how she needed to learn of Christ and be humble and MEEK (BEDNAR!). Her whole countenance changed. You bet she showed up and is now progressing towards baptism again!

The sad news of this week is that my dear friend and companion Elder Morales is returning to his homeland of Guatemala. It was a solid 9 weeks learning from him and the love he came to have for the Nicas. My new comp will be Elder Baez, from the Domincan Republic! History will be made in El Viejo! 

Behold the Man and you life will change. He's changed mine. Miracles are real occurrences. Love you all!

Elder Brayden Campbell 

TAKIN' NAMES YET AGAIN! March 26, 2018

Dust and Sun is the only way to describe this beloved place that we have been given the charge of. We have been preparing spiritually and mentally for the Semana Santa as all of our brothers and sisters of Nicaragua dip out of their houses and race to the beaches. Only the elect will stay behind to listen to our beloved Prophet testify of the living Savior. We are in for a good one in Ol' EL Viejo. The week was quite a normal one! 

We rolled down to Managua before the dawn had come upon us and enjoyed seeing all the old and new faces of the mission. 

The #1 moment of this week's adventure was teaching the mother (Jehovah´s Witness) of an old investigator and explaining the Apostasy of Christ´s church with a living example. We took out her "bible" and had her read all the scriptures that they have decided to take out. Her face, and the Spirit testifying, were priceless. She now is progressing towards baptism! 

The work and glory begin for the salvation of 12 human souls beginning in the month of April. Get ready for lots of white clothing in the coming pictures!

I sure do love you. Keep praying and fighting!

Elder Brayden Campbell

Fresh fish with Mama Ester!

Campbell  

Finding Tarantulas in the pila bautismal 5 mins before the ordinance takes place.

THE FANNY PACK MIRACLE March 19, 2018

We've kept the Elder Hobbs style of a FILA fanny pack living in Chinandega, AND our little investigator named Fanny had some awesome spiritual experiences with the Book of Mormon and Church on Sunday! A group of Evangelical Pastors boldy followed me to church and came into the meeting. That was a proud moment for Elder Campbell to defend the faith in front of our whole congregation as they decided to bad mouth the Prophet and other personal things. Mormon 4 Lyfe!

We had a one of a kind multizone this last Wednesday with the APs and President Poncio. Nicaragua Managua North is currently going through a history making fight. Be strong friends!

Christ is walking beside us. More miracles soon to come family and friends. I love you all!

Elder Campbell

1 Nephi 11:23 The most joyful.

Alma 29:1-2 Repent/Love. It´s the same message!

El Viejo, Chinandaddy

The chicken coup on top of a tacoma

BOTH MY SONS TOGETHER <3 proud dad!

The mansion