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.