A 9 Hour Walk...

Hola familia y mis amigos! I hope that you guys are all doing great. I’m always thinking about you guys. Hope this letter finds you all doing great things and enjoying life! Make the most of every day. So this week was CRAZYYY busy. I have never been so tired on my mission - but it’s all good, getting after it here in Sabana Grande. 

So Monday after we wrote and played with the rest of our zone, we got back to our house and had to do laundry... let’s just say that there is no more washing machine like we had at Bens house. So... we washed clothes by hand.... it was MISERABLE. HAHA It was so hard, no joke it was like a workout for the arms and shoulders. It takes us over an hour to hand wash all our clothes... so that was quite the new experience. I was with Nino and Elder W. on Monday too. Guess what? Elder M. is in a different zone than us but we play with them every Monday so I get to see that goon every week now too! Good stuff! 

So this week we got a call from some other elder and they asked us to do them a favor, we were like no problem what can we do to help? So we had to go to a place about an hour south of Sabana Grande to take out some papers so that they could help this couple get married. So we hopped on the guagua aka bus and went to Nueva Armenia. It was an hour bus ride. Well after that the stories just goes down hill! HAHA! So, when we get there the people are on lunch break so we wait around for an hour because they are supposed to come back. Well... they don’t so we were asking around for where they lived cause this place is a little small pueblo. So we finally find out that the two people that work there are not coming back to work... GREAT.... wait it gets better…so then we go to wait for the bus and they told us that the last bus leaves at 2:00 ... we were like what.... are you kidding me? So we went to the local pulperia where you can buy drinks and stuff and packed our backpacks with water. Here the trek begins... just so you know it’s a 9 hour walk back to Sabana Grande. Well, we walked for hours and finally a truck past bye.. and we hopped in the back and returned home safely.  We were only 1 hour from Nicaragua... that’s how far south we were. IT WAS THE HOTTEST WEATHER I HAVE EVER BEEN IN. It was 92 and humid and the sun was so hot because we were in the mountains... so that was quite the experience to say the least...

Well, we ran into a few large snakes this week... just another week here in the mountain or jungles… whatever you want to call it. But we got after it this week. We had 11 lessons con miembros this week. It’s the most lessons missionaries have ever had with members in one week. We’re getting after it here, they have no choice with me. HAHA But, we are having a blast along the way that’s for sure. I also had interchanges withe the Zone leaders this week which is always a blessing and a lot of fun. I was with Elder S. which he is from DF Mexico and we had some good times together. We talked about the CCM and future plans when he comes to the states to play soccer. He is amazing at soccer and played professional before the mission. So overall it was an exciting week and we did a lot of walking that’s for sure. Lots of teaching and lots of having fun and enjoying the experience!

This week I spent a lot of time studying about Jesus Christ. I read a lot of different things and scriptures. I came across something that I really like. Jesus Christ not only came to atone for our sins he also came to show us the way. He is the way. You not only may become like him, everything is stacked in your favor to become like him. Think of this life as a path on which you never stand still. As your move forward, you incorporate into your being the characteristics and qualities of God. As you move backward you assimilate the qualities of Satan. Every challenge you face, every hard thing that you confront, every bad thing that happens to you, every unfairness, every conflict, every sadness, tragedy, every disappointment and heartache, every temptation and every opposition happens for one purpose only, to give you opportunity to respond by applying your life with the teachings of Jesus. As you do so you are changed to become more like HIM.

I LOVE THIS. I want you all to try and apply this in your life. LIVE IT. LOVE IT. ENJOY IT! 

Make it a great week. LOVE you guys with all my heart. Thank you for the love and support! You guys are the best!!! 

Aim High in all that you do and put your best foot forward every day! 

LOVESLOVESLOVESLOVES!

Elder Long