Week 9 - February 24, 2014 (first video)

Hey Mom!

I love you!!! :) Freak you guys had a huge week!! That is unbelievable about Laba! hahahaha! HOW AM I MISSING THIS??  Oh well I will be there for her senior prom! I loved the picture of Ash! Especially the one with his hands doing that face he always does! I'm so proud of my little bro! He better get his eagle before he is 14! ;) And I loved the pictures of Korver's party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Ugh I miss my little Korver! I wish I could've been there, or...... had you guys come down here! hahahaha! 

I had a pretty decent week, except for our baptism fell through because, well back story. This guy is a RC (recent convert) and was dating this really sweet and kind girl and she was going to get baptized tomorrow, but then this guy went and cheated on her, but not like committed adultery. He would go on dating websites and flirt with girls on there, and his fiance/our baptism candidate suspected he was doing it, so she created this profile, and began to flirt with him and he denied having a girl friend or anything! Freaking Caballito (horse/dumb person haha)! So we are trying to help him fix this relationship and help him through the repentance process. Alma 42 is an awesome chapter that we showed him and it helped him a lot! Then the rest of the week was pretty normal haha.

video E. Naisbitt shot of a normal day's lunch.

Elder Garcia and Elder Naisbitt showing the after effects of blue candy!

 Elder Macias bought a ping pong set and we have been playing that at night before we go to bed and after we plan! Pretty fun, but its super cheap, so its not that great! hahaha. In response to your questions... :) Our ward is really great, but they really don't understand the idea of missionary work/the work of salvation. We feel like we are holding the church together here, and its really stressful. but the church is really only 15 years old here because of the revolution that happened here. SOOOOO, Its a really great ward, they just don't really understand how the church works and how the work needs to progress. Our ward service is from 10:30 to 1:30 and in the morning from about 8:30 to 10:30 we are little cattle rounder uppers...forgot that name hahaha anyway we go to each of our investigators houses and pick them, literally sometimes,. and take them to church. People here have a ton of faith, and its incredible but they never allow that faith to lead to action. Like they have faith in Christ, but they don't like to repent, come to church, or read the Book of Mormon (Investigators). GYARRRRRRRRRRR Butttt we get it done hahaha.  Like yesterday we brought 7 people to church, 1 shy of our goal, which is really good, and we had a whole family there too! I cant remember their names but they are super positive!!!!! So we just got to keep them animated and engaged about the gospel! Hopefully we can get them to read the Book of Mormon this week! And our Youth are really awesome! There are like 20 of them all together, and they are the ones who really understand missionary work! We get so many positive references from the youth here! I love them! They are all so willing to help us missionaries and go on splits with us.   They bring a really strong reference  point for investigators to draw from! because to the Investigator,  we are just teachers, but when they see an actual member, it is really great!

E. Macias teaching!

I wish I could tell you everything about all of our investigators! We are teaching like12 families right now!!! It's crazy, but we gotta lose ourselves in the work! :)Time is going by so fast now! I feel like I just wrote you a few days ago! I hope you guys are seeing time go by fast too! I love you! There is a ton of pictures on drop box now, a lot of them are from the prison, and others are investigators, and I think there are a few in there of me with my Nica Hair Cut, hahaha I've got nothing left!!!! :) hahahahaha And There is another one in there of me with this drink in a baggie! Everything we buy on the streets and its a drink (Fresco) are in baggies with a straw coming out of it! They are so good! :) I love you guys! :) have a great week!!!! :)

Elder Naisbitt drinking a Fresco from a baggie with a straw!  He loves them!

Mom, you asked about "fast food".  Well not really fast food, its more like pulperia food, a pulperia is like a little store that sells food and stuff, that is generally what we have for dinner hahaha some bread and juice haha :) The local members have said I have lost weight and I have only been here a month hahaha :) I love it here! :)  I eat a lot, I'm just eating a little healthier I guess hahaha and we walk like 10 miles a day too hahahaha

Does this ever get old?

Love,

Elder Naisbitt

PS...OH and HAPPPY BIRHTDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) 

I have been looking around and I have some ideas, I wanted to get you un amacca ( hammock) they are dirt cheap, like 12 bucks, handmade, but I didn't know what you would ever do with that hahaha :) 

Dad,

You are an old man!!! :) hahahahahaha I'm glad everything is going well at home! I love you guys!

Mom has the big update from the week! :) Korver's party looked like a blast, and Lauren is going to prom!!!! Freak how is it that she is that old!!!!!!!!!! Shes breaking all sorts of mandamientos de Dios though! :) Jk :) She is going to have a blast, Have fun paying for a dress.......... :) You can go with her and have a BLAST!!! :) ha ha

I love you dad! I miss you a lot! there are a ton of photos on there! Most of them are from that prison we went to, and some others are investigators! I have a few of me with my new Nica hari cut! the guy just started lobbing of hair hahaha I paid C$ (cordobas/cords) 40 for that, which is about 1.75 dollars hahaha :) its was pretty sweet! :)

I love you! Update me more on Lauren & prom stuff!! :) Love, Elder Naisbitt

P-day (2 weeks ago @ old prison in Masaya

P-day (2 weeks ago) at an old abandoned prison in Masaya. Elders scaling walls

Week 8 - February 17, 2014

February 17, 2014

Hey Mom! So, this Stupid computer I'm on right now won't accept my camera, so next week there will be a whole lot of pictures! Ugh, I miss Utah Food! I'm proud that I have an awesome mom that will stand up and machete a group of people like that! I'm glad Ash saw you stand up to the guy! 

 (Ash and I went to a Jazz game last week, we ate at Rio Grande and rode in a 15 passenger van with 14 other people in it.  I sat on the first bench, Ash on the back bench.  There was a group of 30 year olds chatting about getting rid of all the Mormons in the legislature and replacing them with Catholics, or another suggested Latinos, more women and another suggested Aftrica Americans.  Mind you there were a lot of us in the van, Ashton (10) sitting right next to them.  One of the guys in the group said "I don't want any N-word making the laws for Utah."  Well, that was that, and I turned around and said, "really, you are going say that in front of all of us, including my 10 year old sitting two spots down from you?  In my mind, that is the most offensive word you could ever utter from you mouth.  It is racist and derogatory and you should be ashamed."  One of the other passengers, muttered, "glad my hearing is poor, because I didn't hear anything!"  Unfortunately, we had to ride back with the same group or walk from the ESA, needless to say, it was a silent van ride back to Rio Grande.,)

 So I found out this week that our district leader is from West Jordan and lives on the same street of Westland Elementary.   How funny!  He was telling me that he used to hang out at Jordan Landing and watch movies at Cinemark and then go to Yogurt land afterwards!  This kid has lived my same life! hahaha :) 

It was a pretty standard week this week, but there were two awesome nights! The first was Tuesday and that day we worked way hard and we needed to go and get like 10 more contacts and so we went out to an A.A. meeting!!!!!!! It was awesome! I was kind of like, this is a silly idea for contacting, everyone there will want nothing to do with the church! Anyways, so we decided we would just go in and wait until we could talk. Once there was a break in discussion,  all three of us testified of Jesus Christ! It was pretty cool! We couldn't say anything about the church, but we basically just said, if you want to learn more, talk to us afterwards :) We didn't really get any great contacts, but we got a couple good ones,  haha, I'm planting seeds right? :) And then last night we played UNO with the district leader and his companion at our house, and that was a lot of fun! Lots of good memories! :) 

Dad was talking about the Olympics, I forgot that those were even on right now! But that's awesome! Nicaragua will probably come away with the most gold medals! ;) not haha. I'm glad Ash and Lauren are doing well! Tell them I love them and that I miss them!

Oh and I forgot to mention last week, Elder Garcia is from Guatemala and Elder Macias is from California! :) 

Love you guys! Its super cheap to send stuff down here, so this week ill be looking for your birthday present! It will be awesome! :) Love you tons!

The mom of Hma. H. Frodsham (shown) sent me this photo wondering if one of these was Garrett! Happy missionaries!

Coyotepe (old prison in Masaya) the district visited this.

Elder Naisbitt

HEY DAD!

So I am on this stupid computer and the key board is like trying to type on rocks hahaha. And the worst part is is that the computer wont hook up my camera! Freak!  So, this week was pretty standard missionary work! 12 hour days of contacting teaching and recontacting! Our district baptized like 7 people this week, we didn't, but we have one scheduled for next week and then March will  be a big month! Hahaha funny story time, so we needed to get some more contacts on Tuesday last week, so we decided to go to an A.A. meeting and preach about repentance and that through Jesus Christ we can beat all types of temptations! It was awesome, and we got some contacts out of it! So we are in the middle of Masaya, and I didn't even know that there was a lake here until today! Today for a district activity we went to Coyotepe (an old prison) and walked around and took a ton of cool pictures, and the view was awesome! And yeah it is pretty freaky having that Volcano right there! We were like, we are so hosed if that ever goes off! hahaha :) Missing you guys,! hahaha Be safe in Argentina!

Oh, dad, you asked about the families we are teaching...there are like 8 families right now! :) and all but two are progressing really fast! We are super busy everyday and really don't have anytime to do anything else, which is what needs to happen on a mission! I'm learning a really great work ethic from my trainers! They have been through the refiners fire here on their mission and are one of the few that have come out this strong! Its pretty incredible, and daunting because my trainer, Elder Macias, he's from Californnia btw, and Elder Garcia is from Guatemala! Anywho, he was saying that he and Elder Garcia both served as district leaders in two of the hardest areas in the mission, and this area is where they send really really lazy missionaries, and/or President Russell will send the prospective missionaries that he believes will be leaders, to put them through the fire. idk, whats going to happen, but I guess I just have to keep putting all my trust in the Lord!

Oh and yes my card works with ATMS!

 Love ya ! Elder Naisbitt

Week 7 - Febrary 10, 2014

Nicaragua missionaries leaving Mexico CCM, and flying to Nicaragua!

Missionaries heading to Nica, Managua South Mission

Feb. 2, 2014

Last day at the CCM!  Looks like Garrett missed out on the candy!
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014

Mom, 

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay I'm laughing so hard right now, your oven story is PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Love it!

Okay so below are answers to your questions.

Companions: Elder Macias y Elder Garcia both they are the Zone Leaders of Masaya

Town/location - I am serving in Masaya, a pretty big city an hour outside of Managua! best city ever!

Housing set up - we are pretty well set up (haha) our house is huge, and has running water. I use my filter all day, but i am getting used to non filtered water right now! No sickness at all!! 

Internet Cafe- uhhh its a little cafe in town :)

Ward or branch- Ward,  Masaya

Language - Spanish, but its different, they don't say the "s" in a lot of words. 

Weather - no rain yet, its still the dry season until May

Daily routine WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we start working early and don't stop till 9 or 9:30

P-day hang out with the district, and email the best parents in the world

Favorite food so far? Surprising, Gallo Pinto! our ward lady who makes lunches for us cooks it soooooo gooooooodddd!

Mamacita for meals or laundry? Si, We have a lady who does laundry and another lady who does lunches for us!!

1st area, Masaya, 

I miss you a lot mom, and I can't even begin to describe how well off Americans are..... We taught this group of kids on Saturday and literally their house was tin roof, wood sides, and dirt floor. but the worst was the yard.  Their yard was like a river of water (wouldn't call it water) in their backyard, and there were ducks and the skinniest dog ever.  Despite the conditions,  these kids, are the happiest kids I have ever seen. Its truly  amazing. Elphy doesn't even know how good she has it! (haha.)  So Just some stories throughout the week :) Masaya is the greatest city ever!   Its soooo peaceful and like 0 crime.Everything is so chill!  I met my companions on Wednesday after during the changes. They call me their son, and they are my parents haha :) funny haha :) everybody does this funny finger flicking thing here, and I'm getting the hang of it, but it basically means, heck yaaaa!,  like we use it when someone commits to baptism, or we got a response to our questions! 

There is a term we use here when we chew someone out for being lazy or just dumb, but we say we gotta "Machete" them, or when the president "Machetes" missionaries with a rust blade for getting bad numbers (haha.) so that will be a term that I think I'll use for the rest of ever!! The other one is Frick, even the locals so blah blah blah freaking blah blah blah haha. its funny :) oooooooo the other one is a Spanglish term we use a lot, and its Crapiar :) basically crap  :) yo voy a Crapiar :) Its hilarious! 

We work so hard mom, its unbelievable! Like we get home at night, and have just enough energy to plan for tomorrow and then we crash! Its so awesome to be feeling the spirit all day, I can't describe the feeling of peace that is constantly with me. I am stressed cuz we have a lot to do everyday, and you can see in one of the pictures, so we are running around like crazy people!  We try to contact 30 people a day, but that is pretty hard. We teach a lot, and when we aren't teaching, we are trying to contact. its nice however cuz the days fly by. :) oh and your errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr my precious watch is not stolen, its in my bags, safe and sound. hopefully we get that package! :) Its super cheap to send stuff down here, like 120 C$ which is like 5 bucks haha :) so I will be looking for sweet stuff for you and the family when we have time :) 

Anyway, I love you mom, and I really can't even describe how grateful I am for you! You are the greatest mom in the entire world and I am truly a better person because of how incredible you are! :)
 Love ya mom!

Elder Macias Elder Naisbitt & Elder Garcia

Masaya, Nicaragua

MY DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you dad! Mom has the full update,but i don't have a ton of time, but i want you to know this.

One I'm grateful to be your son. I have two true heroes',  you and mom! I love and miss you guys!

I'm in Masaya, Nicaragua and loving it! I could live here forever, its peaceful and clean, and full of people so willing to receive the gospel, its awesome!! We work so hard everyday and we can see miracles in our lives from working this hard! The thing that drives me crazy is the lack of faith that the people have. I love them and I know that they are Gods children, but many of the people just have 0 faith. They wait for an angel to tell them what to do, and can barely hear the still small voice. They all know the church is true, and even more are reading the Book of Mormon everyday, but going to church is the hardest thing to get people to do. Its maddening! I don't want to get frustrated, but it just drives me loco!!!!! :) Patience I guess. its just super frustrating. Faith is dead without works....

Three are the list of missionary terms we use hahahaha :) hopefully you get a kick out of this!

My favorite, Crapiar: spanglish for crap. 

Next is Chupar: to suck ex: Chupaso: This sucks!

Machete: To get upset and to chew them out for chupando (sucking)

               I'm with ZLs so they are constantly macheteing lazy missionaries, and the AP's are macheteing us hahaha :) 

uhhh i think thats it, but if more come I will let ya know!

Food's good!

:) Tell lauren and Ash I said Hello!!!!!!!!! and tell them sorry for not getting to their emails, we are only on line for an hour, and its like 0 time after I email you and Mom! Tell Ash I'm proud of him playing hard on his Jr. Jazz team! Also, Tell Laubs she rocks, and that I love her! I miss hearing EEEEEEEEE Garrett!!!!!

Love you guys!!!!!

ElderNaisbitt

Week 6 - He's in Managua Nicaragua!

Week 6.........February 4, 2014

We just received a really nice email from Garrett's mission president and wife.  He arrived safely last night.  As in most missions, his P-day will be Monday generally.  We've all gotten used to hearing from him on Thursdays, this week will seem a little longer than usual.  But I'm glad to have received this letter!

If you are interested in sending "real letters or packages" just send them through the US postal service to the mission home address.  (listed below).  Anything sent by UPS/Fed Ex/DHL will get held up in customs and incur enormous duties, and taxes.  In addition, the mission president has to go personally to the government offices.

Nicaragua Managua Sur Misión,

 De la Retonda del Periodista,

150 vrs al Sur Ofiplaza Suite 725,

 Managua, Managua, Nicaragua

(or)

AP Box where you may send letters or packages: 

AP 3527, Managua, Nicaragua. 

garrett.naisbitt@myldsmail.net

Let's buckle up and enjoy the ride!