November 12, 2012

Family!!!
  Wow seems like there are some hard times in the East! I hope that they will be able to make it through!  Well I should probably explain that its not until Wednesday that I get a new companion and become the District leader.. lol This change however has been one of the hardest... however one of the best and one that has helped me grow and become more of a disciple of Christ.  As this change has been coming to an end I have been pondering on how I have changed and how the Lord has shaped me to become a person He needs me to be. I have been very happy with this area and with my companion who has helped me SO MUCH!!  I have learned to be happy, and not just happy but to actually have true happiness in the work.  That missionary work is one of the most joyful works I have ever been able to be apart of.  I have been able to completely lose myself in the joys and happiness of the work.  I have so grateful for my Heavenly Father for directing me in ways that bring me joy.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to become more like Christ to follow in his footsteps!  This change I have learned to become more like a child.  because a little child is full of joy, hope, love, and opens up to all.  Which has been the hardest thing to develop.. I don't know why however I have been focusing on becoming like one of these little children.  Opening up to all of the people i come in contact with and just have confidence in the Lord.  I have truly been able to learn a lot from him and he is probably the best companion I have ever had.  He taught me that the mission is actually something fun! I know the reason for him and the reason he was my companion and I know the reason I was sent to this area and I know that being here longer the Lord will only shape me more into the missionary I need to be.  I know these next two changes will be some of the hardest however I know that the harder the challenge the more God trusts in us and the more we are going to learn.  I am so extremely grateful for everything that I have experienced!  I am so grateful for my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ I know that He lives and that He wants us to be happy.  That is really whatI have learned most in this change is that God wants us to be happy.  That his work should fill us with love and joy and that if we allow him to make us who he needs we can find joy and happiness!!  I am extremely happy in the work and actually I have never been so happy in my entire life! I'm happy because I know that the Lord is guiding me and making me who he needs me to be.  I think back on who I used to be and am filled with joy and love fills my heart!  Love for my god, love for my savior... And its because I know I am becoming who they need me to be and that person actually is a little child.  Someone who opens up to others, full of love, humble, joyful, kind, quick to forgive and submissive.  I am so grateful for you all as well! For who you helped me become before the mission and also the sacrifices that you have made for me.  I am thankful for your sacrifice for allowing me to come out here and serve and even more thankful for your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. For believing in Him and having confidence in Him that he will protect me and keep me safe!  I love you all so much and hope you are changing as well as I am.  That you too can become as little children!!  I love you all so much!! Thank you for all that you do!!! I pray for you always and wish you a great week!!

  Elder Trujillo

November 4, 2012

HEY!!

 Wow, I'm going to start off with the happy news that I was able to receive today! (Drum roll)  I.... Am.... Going.... To.... Train a new missionary!!! But wait that's not all!! (there's always more) I'm.... Also.... The... District Leader!!! haha I'm super happy however super nervous because it is a lot of responsibility! So that is the big news this day.  

 This week I have been able to learn so much and have been able to become better.  As I was pondering one night I was wondering why our investigators aren't progressing and what we were doing wrong.  I started to pray and to read the bible and I found a scripture that was talking about a guy who had received 5 gold coins and he went out to serve, then another with 3, and finally one with only 1 coin.  Then it talked about how the first went out and received double of what he received and had 10 then the guys with 3 had also doubled and had 6 and the last with only one coin came back to the Lord with the same one he had and the Lord said I will take that of which you have and give to the one who has 10.  I learned that I have a lot of abilities and am truly filled with the love of Christ... however I learned I wasn't actually giving my love to others.  I was so worried about being the best missionary I actually forgot about the needs of others.  It has been one of the greatest fights to change.  To not only think of what I need to do for my salvation however also the salvation of others.  We are all very well capable of loving and have all the talents that we need to succeed  However we often time keep it to ourselves.  That maybe we didn't do it but we also didn't stop it.  Maybe we helped ourselves become who we want and who the Savior wants however forgot about our family who are stuck in darkness.  It has been the hardest things to change however the most rewarding and I have actually felt the hearts of others.  I have felt a true love.. in the bible it says all those who are great amongst you let them be your servants.  When we actually love like the savior and are filled with the love of Chirst we serve them we do all we can to bring them up.  To pull them out of darkness and into the light.  I have been able to grow the greatest love for my companion by serving him.  We didn't have any clothes and the hermana couldn't wash them so I decided to take our clothes and wash them... it was hard and  I was tired... however the love I have grown through the service of him is great.  That we can truly feel more love when we serve others.  Your love for others will grow and even greater your love between one another will grow as well.  I would give the advice to serve one another.  Even more important is pray!! not only personally... however as a family!!! If you want more love one with another.... PRAY!!! TOGETHER!! I know its hard because you all have different plans but force yourselves!! Make the fight!! I know that Through service you will feel more love one with the other!  That we can feel closer to the Savior.  Love like Christ with a pure love..  Charity is the pure love of Christ.  Forget yourself and go to work!!!

  Love you guys and hope you all are going well!!

  Elder Trujillo

October 28, 2012

HEY FAMILY!!

  Wow well on  Oct. 28 marked the 7 month mark in the mission... wow I feel like I just started my mission yesterday!! Well things are going great here and as we have been working hard to find a family to baptize we have seen a lot more miracles!  First of all we decided to go out with the members one day and it went extremely well.  I was able to talk with the families that we have and to find some new people who are truly chosen for us.  As I was walking with one of the members to one of our appointments we passed a young guy who I just said hi and passed by.  Not two seconds later he started to scream ELDERS!! ELDERS!! half frightened I turned around as he came running towards us.  As he approached us he said why haven't you passed my house in so long? quite confused by the response I replied what do they call you? lol he started talking with us and we were able to find out that the missionaries before had been teaching him and he had a baptismal date however they had changes and the other missionaries weren't able to find him.  As we continued throughout the day we were able to find and to teach a lot of families and people.  Then as the day came to a close we went and visited a family that we have been struggling with because they wont pray... They tell us that they know how and have before however its a challenge for them.  We were supposed to teach the Book of Mormon and so the member started to teach.... however I cut him off and started with prayer and the Holy Ghost because I was inspired.  As I taught I have never felt the spirit so strong! In the middle of the lesson I had a thought come to mind that said "the sight of souls is great in the eyes of God see how I see."  Not understanding what it really meant I continued.  As the member started to teach a little more I remembered the prophets words from the conferencia general.  He said to the missionaries the way to find success is to look at your investigators as God sees them.  In that moment  I suddenly realized that these aren't just people however my brothers and sisters... I started to picture what I  would want for you guys... a family with love and joy.  I pictured him in a shirt and tie ready to serve the lord.  I started to realize there potential and started teaching and as I taught they were attentive and after the lesson they told me they were going to go pray! I was extremely grateful for the spirit in that moment to talk how I did.  Because i felt like Nephi when he spoke to his brothers and realized that they wouldn't have changed if I wouldn't have spoken to them like I did.  I have had experiences when I feel like Amulek and sometimes like Alma when they are preaching to the people.  Also I have felt like sons of Mosiah that I have felt the grandest desire that not ONE soul be lost. .  I know that Christ lives and that He is my Savior and Redeemer.  I know through Him we can return to live with our Father in Heaven. That our family can live together! 

 Love you guys!

  Elder Trujillo

October 13th Email

Hey!! Familia!!

 Hey sorry about last week I couldn't really write because I didn't have enough time however I will today!! Its been great my companion is Elder Pineda he is such a awesome companion and we have been able to work hard and to find a lot of success!! We have already baptized someone!! Her name is Patricia!! It's been great I love it here!! I have already seen a lot of experiences here already! We were teaching a family that has been having some troubles and they were progressing however not exactly how people normally progress and we were teaching them and the hombre told us an experience that he had with the Book of Mormon and so we started to teach about the importance of the Book of Mormon.  At the end we were about to pray however I had the urge to teach about Jesus Christ.  I had shared a story in the Book of Mormon about Jesus Christ and faith in Him and when I was done he was crying.  I am still not sure why however they have been going to church and ALL the activities that we have! However that wasn't the only experience that I was able to have.  The same thing happened in a different lesson we had taught and it was great... however at the end I felt the urge to teach about Jesus Christ... yet again the people completely changed.  In the night I was pondering about the experiences I had and in my mind came a thought that I should read the Book of Mormon.  As  I was in the book of Mormon a story about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and as I read I felt the spirit so strong that I had realized why I had felt the urge so strong to teach about Him.  I realized that he is everything  our message, our light, and our life.  Through all of my experience that has been the most strong to come to me.  The greatest gift I could of ever asked,  one of comfort, of peace, of joy, and happiness.  Its the knowledge of that I know that my Savior lives and that He loves me.  The joy of knowing this is unlike any other thing.  Even more I have been able to see so many miracles and have been able to grow and change!  I am so grateful for the mission and I know I wouldn't be able to learn all that I have if I never would have gone.  I have learned to love, to serve,  and more than anything to care for others more than myself.  The love I have been able to experience with these people is the love I have for each and everyone of you.  I have been able to see a little tiny bit of what God sees in us.  The potential we have and the love He has for us.  every day I pray for the ability to love like Him, and that I can become more like Him.  I have grow so much in this area, and my companion has taught me so much and he has helped me to become a better missionary. We have so many families progressing and doing very well however we have been focusing on helping people have a true conversion, to really understand what we understand which is that Jesus is the Christ and that He loves us... and that we can return with our Heavenly Father and live with our families forever!! I am so grateful for the gospel for each and everyone of you.  I just want to give my testimony that I know these things to be true that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Jesus lives and loves me,  that I can become like my Father in Heaven and live with my family forever!! I am so enjoyed to be able to be here and bring this light to the world! 

  For a update on my things are going well! I have been able to learn and grow and I am super happy!! I was a little sick this week and I learned I have a parasite... however I have been able to see the doctor and to receive medicine and he told me within three or four days it should clear up.  and I have been able to see improvements and I am feeling super great! I hope you all are doing well!! love ya!!

   Elder Trujillo

October 8th letter Conference Weekend

This week has been GREAT!! I just love conference weekend!!! I have been able to grow and learn and cant wait to put into practice those things that I have been able to learn in the conference!! As far as the mission I have been changed once again and I am in GRANADA!! Wow seems like just yesterday I was in Batahola!! My companions name is Elder Pindea!! He is awesome and has 23 months in the mission! He has helped me grow and learn so much already!! We have only been together for 4 days however everyday I learn something new and he helps me to grow and become better!! I am so glad for the experience here in Dirimo!! For my companion and for the opportunity to put my trust and faith in God! When I first arrived I was worried however I am feeling better and really excited to work and do my best to bring souls unto God!! I have been able to grow and learn about how to become more like the Savior and have more love for those I teach! I dont have much time I'm sorry however I will explain more of my storires next week!! love you guys  Elder Trujillo

September 24 Email

Yeah i heard that they dedicated it!! How many temples do they have now in Utah!! seems like a billion... or like 16 haha my companions name is Elder Montenegro and he is from Panama!! He is one change from going home and I think that I will be with him till he leaves!!! Things have been going great for us we have two families who will be baptized on the 13th of october!! We will baptize 4-8 people!!! Depending on how the people progress however I want to have 8!! To be like John the Baptist and do one after the other!! lol they are really progressing and they hvae a deep desire to be baptized!! We only need to get the Dad to want to get married that is his challenge he has!! It's really weird but there is a fear here that if you get married you will get divorced and so people just dont get married... sometimes its a big problem.. however we are working hard to be able to get them baptized!! We actually only have me and my companion in our house because it is about the size of the downstairs computer room in our house however a little smaller... lol we onlly have room for our bed a dresser and 2 desks and its completely full!! there is hardly any room to exercise so that has been a challenge for me... lol  we actually have a new bishop I am actually sad because the old bishop was really awesome and worked with us a lot!! We now need to get to know the other bishop and im not sure how well he will be able to go out with us.. However the work goes on. :)  This week has been really great for me and I have been able to learn about how our attitudes can change the work! how if we will follow the words of the profeta Thomas S. Monson and think "its better to look up" that our attitudes can really change every aspects of our lifes! I have truely felt the uplifting power of the spirit as I have applied the wonderful works of our beloved prophet! I am so glad we are able to have a prophet that directs our eyes skyward when times get tough and when we seem to feel insignificant! Because I know sometimes I feel like I am just a peice of nothing sometimes that I work all the days and sometimes people dont want anything.  I only think of the scripture in Doctrine and Covanants that a soul is great in the eyes of God.  That how great will be your joy if you bring one soul unto Him, however how great will be your joy if you bring many!! I keep this in my mind to help keep me going and  I have realized that some of the hardest days are when this passage of scripture comes to mind more.  And I realized why is because I have a Father in Heaven who truely loves me and is giving me his words of encouragement to help me keep going when it seems like nobody wants to listen!! I have been working on my attitude and trying to be positive in every situation!! I try to always to look up!! to try to bring light to a world that seems to be almost as dark as a cave! one people that I have been looking upto for guidance is Nephi and his example! He truely showed what it really means to have a positive attitude! He could have given up and just quit however, he always looked at the positive.  There are many stories when he showed how to look up! When his brother tied him up,  when he was constructing a boat, and when his brothers always mumurred! I have come to love the scriptures and they have become one of the ways I first look to when I am needing help!! I am so grateful for them and more for my family!!! I would encourage you to ¨always look up¨ that God really does love us and He will help us through any situation no matter how easy or how dificult it may be.  I know that through changing our attitudes we can be more filled with the love of God for others that you can bring light to the dark that when others may not be able to stand we can lift them up!! i love you all so much and miss you tons!! I pray for you ALWAYS!!!
Elder Trujillo

September 17 Email

  How is everyone doing? things have been going well here still no baptisms however. we do however have baptismal dates set we just need to keep them progressing and going in the right direction!! We have two families that are doing well and are really positive, the only problem is with one the husband doesn't really want to listen... which makes it hard to get him to be baptized.. but the other has been going to church and doing well we only need to get them to go two more times and they are ready!! It has been pretty hard this week as the mom (Ana), her father died and she has been really sad. However, with some words from the spirit she was able to overcome her sadness and she has found hope.  Hope and faith for me is everything, that faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement.  That I  know all things are possible through our faith.  I read in Moroni 7 and it says with faith in Jesus Christ all things are possible.  After reading this it made me really think about my mission and what I really wanted what I really wanted to accomplish.  I realized that if nothing is impossible then everything is possible.  Because God wants ALL men to be saved not just a few.  It helped me to realize how important my mission is that He has given me the opportunity to do the impossible.  However I am not alone He is with me every step of the way guiding me.  In one of my favorite hymns it says I will go where you want me to go dear Lord over mountain or valley or sea.  I keep this in my mind when we are out and the day seems to go bad and all the appointments fall though  I put all my faith in God that He will truly guide me where I need to go.  I have been working on building my faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement because I read about Lehi and how he ate of the fruit and after, he found a desire to share with all.  I have thought about this a lot lately and realized that if I want to have the desire that Lehi had I first need to partake of the fruit! That as I partake more and more of the fruit how much more of a desire I will have to declare these things to the world!! This week I have been able to finish the book of Mormon in Spanish!!! It was actually a very awesome thing to do and to realize how much power the Book of Mormon has! I have really grown to love it as I have struggled and how it has opened up my mind every day to let in more light and to give me more understanding! I know with all my heart, might, mind and strength that this book is the words of God! That it really was written like the prophets said (for instructions for my children and my generations) I have had questions answers and have received some of the strongest impressions in my studies of the Book of Mormon! Sometimes it was a struggle to read because I didn't understand however I am so glad for the mercy and the love of our God who has given me the knowledge to understand these things and to be able to learn this language that at first seemed almost impossible! I know this book was translated by Joseph Smith and is from God! I Know that through the power of the Book of Mormon I have been able to learn Spanish and it has taught me everything I know that because of this book I have been able to speak! I am so grateful for this book that through some of the hardest challenges in my mission I have been able to find enlightenment through this book! I have also been able to gain some amazing experiences here in Batahola that have really strenghthened me to know my God loves me and is really here helping us.  I was able to discern the thoughts of men.  We were teaching a family and as we were ending in my head I heard the words these guys are crazy.  I then started to tell him I know you think we are crazy and he was instantly interested. He asked me how I knew he thought that I told him that i just had a hunch... lol however looking back I realized that is was just like Alma when he taught the king and discerned the thoughts of men.  That I was able to be filled with the spirit and know the thoughts of men to be able to declare repentance! I have been able to speak with the tongues  of angels. I am so humbled knowing all of the miracles that i have seen! I don't have time to write them all however, I know that God lives! That Jesus is the Son of God who came to this world to save us! That he is the life and the light.  All those who come unto him will receive eternal life! I know that our family can be together forever! That I would make it a goal for you to really learn of the atonement to partake more of the fruit that Lehi speaks of exercising your faith.  It says in Doctrine and Covenants: " learn of me and walk in the meekness of my spirit and I will give you peace" I know that God will bring forth miracles unto you if you will learn of Him and exercise your faith.  That the blessings of eternal life are real and that we can live together forever! That what is bound on earth is bound in heaven.... however, what is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven.  I know that the covenants with God bring true happiness... especially the ones in the temple.  I am so glad I have been able to know that my brother has been able to go through to be sealed with his wife for time and all eternity.  I love you guys with all my heart! I know that this gospel brings forth blessings from God! I know these things to be true that God really does love me and it is manifested to me every day! That there are miracles! That through our faith all things are possible!! i love you guys and i pray for you always i love you i love you I love you!!
            Elder Trujillo

09-10-12 Email

HEY ALL!!!!!! THINGS ARE GOING GREAT HERE IN NICARAGUA!!!
  This week went by so fast I can't even believe it!! I felt like I just wrote you guys!! lol However, I have been able to learn and grow a lot and have experienced some cool things!! I have seen so many miracles and the love I  have for the people have grown so much!! To start off, all is well as far as the earth quakes and the volcanoes it hasn't affected the south part of Nicaragua so that is good! There was a big earthquake in Costa Rica that we felt however it was only a little one!! The church has been taking all preoccupations for us and have been giving us instructions on what to do in case anything happens, so dont worry!! However I want to start to explain about the begining of the week and the struggle I was having! I felt like I didnt really have love for the people and that I was only just going through the motions! I Felt like I needed help from my Heavenly Father and so Monday night I got on my knees and with all the strength of my heart and might I prayed for help that I would be able to learn to love the people and learn to be able to become a better missionary! And what I learned was even more then I could of imagined!! He sent me a missionary by the name of Elder Coque he was truely sent to help me with my situation! He taught me to really focus on the people to find their needs and to show them how the gospel can help them in their lives! I was able to know that God does really love me and sends me people so that I can grow and learn! And not only that, but I was also given the opportunity to put into action what I learned because I was put with another gringo who didnt know very much spanish!! I am so grateful for this because I was able to really love the people to grow to know them and learn how to become a better missionary!! I learned that God will answer my prayers and if I will ask in faith He will give it to me! I am so grateful for this experience because I have grown so much from it! I Know this week went by so fast because I felt the love with every person I talked to!! I was able to apply what the Lord taught me!! This work is really centered in the love of the Savior and that he really will help us to love as He loves! I have learned that if I really care for others and desire to help them the work goes by faster and I actually love to go out!! I am so grateful for all the things I have been able to see and experience! All the things I have been able to go through and all the things I will be able to go through!! I'm so greatful for the help with my spanish and I am able to understand almost everything!! there are words that i dont know but i learn every day and i can communicate almost with exactness!! i love you guys and all that you do for me!! LOVE  LOVE  LOVE  FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY

September 3rd Email

HEY FAMILY!!!

  Wow! This week has been full of different adventures and exciting things as we have started to explore our area a lot more.  We have met some of the coolest people and have seen some miracles come through our faith. First I will start with contacting because that seems to be the thing we do most!! haha We were able to find two families and each one teach the restoration and every time I felt the Spirit really strong and we were able to put a baptism date for them both!! We have about 5 dates set for baptisms!! This area will bring a lot of baptisms!! I have been listening to the Spirit more and gaining more knowledge I am able to teach and help more.  As well as my Spanish has improved a mountain sense the first day I was here!!! I am able to have conversations with the people here and for the most part they understand me and I understand them. However I don't know everything I am working on mastering the language to be able to interact more!! The spirit has helped me with my Spanish in ways I couldn't even imagine! It was a struggle at first but as I keep learning and growing I feel the spirit give me words in my mouth and I am able to fallow the spirit more. My faith personally has grown as I have been striving to love the people here more and try to become more like Christ every day! I am working on love and charity this week and I didn't know but its actually a commandment of god!! To love others as ourselves and to give the pure love of Christ! That through this love we can actually feel how the savior loves us. I have been trying to grow that love for all of my brothers and sisters of Nicaragua!! Sometimes I just think that they are you guys to help me out a little bit!!! I have been praying with all my heart and soul that I can love as Christ does because it seems almost impossible at times because not all people like to listen to us... However just as you love your family you still love them no matter what mistakes they make.  I have truly felt the love of my Savior in these last few days as I have been feeling a little sick and sometimes really tired. However I have read the scriptures for help and I read about the savior and things he went through and I feel empowered I have felt him lift me up when I felt like I couldn't walk any more and give me love in times I felt alone. I am so glad for his love and the opportunity I have to serve him and to fallow his footsteps. Like it says in Doctrine and Covenants learn of me and walk in my meekness and I will feel your soul with peace and joy.  I have truly felt of his love and at times his arms wrapped around me to lift me up and to give me strength! I know he lives and that with all my heart he loves us that he truly cares for each and everyone of us! Always waiting to forgive and always waiting to help us we only need to ask!! I love you guys so much and I pray for you every day! I'm glad I have you in my life and for all that you do! All is going well here with me!!! LOVE YOU!!!

            Elder Trujillo

August 27 email

FAMILIA!! 

  como se van? There are a lot of changes this week!! I have a new companion and I have changed areas!! My companion is Elder Montenegro! We are in the area of Batahola of Nicaragua!! its a lot hotter here than in Masaya! however I am opening a new area!! im super  happy about it!! I have really learned about really talking to everyone like in the stories of the Book of Mormon!! When the missionaries preach to everyone they see!! we have been working really hard and we already have 1 family with a baptismal date!! and another lady with 2 kids with one as well!! and it's only been 5 days in our area!! I think there will be a lot of success here in this area! we have been working with the members a lot to help them with their goals as well as achieve our own! I have been focusing on building my faith this week and doing all I can to really find in myself how important this message we have for everyone! A message that really changes the lives of those we teach!! I have meet some of the most amazing people ever and really learned about charity and loving those we meet. not just loving them but truely opening up to them like they are family! It has helped me a lot here to really focus en this.  I have been able to learn about love and how important it is to have a pure love of Chirst and truely love everyone no matter poor rich color of skin.  I feel so grateful for all the things I have been given for this opportunity I have to teach and learn the path of Christ! all the time I feel stressed or just am struggling I think of Him and how strong he was and always I feel like I'm lifted up to work harder and go farther then I could ever go! An experience I have is with contacting because sometimes it is hard for me to always walk constantly being rejected and seeing these people not even care of Christ.  Sometimes I want to cry when I hear them completely say its not important or they dont care.  however I have learned a lot of Christ! I am constantly  reminded how much I need him and how much he has already helped me not only spiritualy but also physically I can understand what people say and also I can talk which for me is one of the greatest feeling I have experienced! I feel like after I changed areas the people just understand what I say and they dont ask! another thing I realized here on my mision that the person that Iwas crying for help in my prayers was myself. I am so grateful for my savior Jesus Christ and His atonement for the chance he has given me and to know how much he loves me.  That the blessing really will come we just need to first show our love for Him through our obedience like the stripling warriors who were obedient with exactness and were able to overcome all!! I love you guys so much and for everything you have given me

      Elder Trujillo

August 20th Email

WHATS UP FAMILY!!!!

  Well I don't have time to answer all of your questions but this week has been great!! Its' kind of sad though at the same time because there is a chance that my papa(trainer) will be leaving me and I will be let loose rawr! haha However this week has been one of the most spiritual so far in my mission.  First off i will start with a reference we had given to us from one of the members of the ward.  we had went and contacted them however, not sure if they were in our area, we went anyways we had found out they had 10 people in the family and each of them had their own family so there was 10 families living in one house!!! And i thought our family was crazy!! haha we had talked with all of them and got to  know them all however not having much time we decided to just set an appointment and head out.  as we were walking up the street there was a lady that was approaching us and as we got closer the lady shouted at us with joy saying ELDERS!! a little frightened by her scream we introduced ourselves. This awesome lady had before listened to the missionaries however what I'm guessing had happened is both missionaries had changes and she was not contacted by the new ones.  We got to get to know her for only a couple of min. but she was super awesome for some reason she kept calling us by other names... guessing the names of the other missionaries that taught her. Leaving that road we found out that it wasn't our area and it was actually the area of the sister missionaries. So giving them the reference we ended with that and that was about it.  Later that night we were in the lesson with Gema and Perla they are sisters and we usually focus on Perla because she is the one that wants to be baptized.  However this night Perla wasn't there so we were going to just put a appointment but decided to teach her because we felt like we needed to.  so we had entered the house and started not planned at all!!! haha good thing we have the spirit to guide us!! anyways we started to just ask questions and found out that her husband had left her and that she lived by herself for about 3 years now with 3 kids and she works a ton to support her kids.  She is only 22 years old!! So we taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ. We asked her to be baptized because she had heard all the lessons that we have taught Pearla.  She said she wanted to know more about the church and didn't feel like she could be baptized.  However it was getting late and time for us to leave we stood up.  Then two seconds after we stood up we had both sat down haha Elder Veron opened his scriptures turned to Alma 32:21 and read about faith and we taught about that and helped her remember the story of Hermano Bado who taught her how much the spirit helps our understanding and we cant learn everything without this spirit and asked her again and she accepted!!! so we had 2 baptisms this week!!! we were both able to baptize!! however the next day we got a phone call from the sister missionaries and come to find out the lady that came up to us in the street wanted a blessing from us.  we had went to the house and she was waiting at the door so right when we shouted she was there hahahah so we entered and started to get to know this lady.  She has 4 sons that 1 lives with her and the others are in Guatamala and Costa Rica.  The lesson was just full of the spirit at one point when I was testifying I literally felt the spirit within me Iheard the words spoken to me.  I was testifying and after I testified she was in tears saying she knew it was true.  it was one of the most powerful experiences i have ever had.  we had given the blessing and as we were leaving she asked when me and Veron were going to come back and we had to explain that the sister missionaries were going to teach.  a little sad but knowing it was true she was happy.  so this week has been awesome on Saturday the baptisms went super awesome and they were smooth and didn't have any problems.  there were lots of people who attended and we baptized Bismark, and Gema!!! we have seen a lot of success these last few weeks! we hope to baptize this week also!! however another experience i had with the spirit was after church yesterday we decided to go teach Pearla and help to be baptized next as well as the mom! when we were teaching them we decided to go out front because it was hot and i was sitting on the cement steps to the house.  there is a little boy by the name of Kevin and he is the son of Gema he is like 2 or 3 years old.  he was out playing and in the sidewalk and we were at the front of the house.  As we were starting the lesson for some reason I felt the urge to take my backpack off of my lap and put it on the ground next to me.  feeling like it was the spirit and not knowing why I did so anyways after doing so not two seconds later Kevin came running over and tripped and fell face first right where i had put my backpack!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I had seen the exact spot I put my backpack was where he would fall.  I am so grateful for the spirit! there have been times where I hear God speaking to me and times where I'm guided to go to places and always always always there is someone who needs our help or someone that is ready to be taught! in contacting I always am praying for guidance asking the Lord which house to contact and what person to teach! I am so glad for the spirit who teaches me what to teach who gives me light who when I feel down He lifts me up! I have been able to see the fruits of the spirit in the lives of others seeing them grow and find peace and love in this life! I am so grateful for all the opportunities of this mission! I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else! i love you guys!! There are changes on the 22 of this month!! should be awesome! I'm not sure if I will be getting a new companion or not because they let you know onT uesdays but ill update you on that next week!! love you guys!!! listen to the spirit it will guide you and open doors you wouldn't even think were possible!

August 13th Email

HEY FAMILY!!

Speaking of families I have a baptism for a family this week!! I'm super excited about it however even more excited about it is the investigator!! i cant believe how fast things are going im coming to a close on my training and after this week i will be just like the other missionaries... kind of... haha I'm super excited to start the experience of leaving the house at 10:30 instead of 12! it gives me that much more time to talk with the people and to go out and really work! Im excited to see this investigator be baptized because he really has changed so much! He had a lot of problems in his life before and now he has stopped all of it to find Christ! His family has been strengthened and he is truely a different person! I cant believe how much he has really changed and even more how much i have changed! I feel the spirit testify my words every day! and just like you i have been really been blessed with the gifts of the spirit! I can understand about everything that the people say and i am able to communicate! I cant even express how happy i am for the oppurtunity to be able to be humble to feel the spirit to know that it doesnt matter what our needs are or what the problems in this life are that the Lord really cares and that he helps us! I had a grand expreience with prayer this week. I was really frustrated on what to do about my language because i felt like i really lacked as well as knowledge. So one night i got on my knees next to my bed and started to pray i prayed for all i was thankful for and afterward i spoke the words " i dont know what to do i cant speak the language i need help i dont know the gospel like i should please help me tell me what to do" and i sat and waited for a second to hear his voice and he spoke!!!! I was told to go to preach my gospel. I turned to the chapters he told me and they were the ones on the Book of Mormon, and as well as the one on the language! I know with all my heart he listens before this moment i only prayed because i would see the example of my mom and how she knew. However these last couple days have been some of the greatest! It is because i talk with him i have full conversations with him! He teaches me guides me! Helps me when i am having hard days and teaches me all that i need to do! Im so greatful for prayer and for the oppurtunity to have a wonderful example in my life to teach me to always pray because now i know with all my heart and soul that he listens that he helps and more importantly he loves us!

Im glad to hear you all are doing well and that you are improving as well as i am! Its exciting to hear that skyler and kylie are headed to the temple that they are able to experience those exciting things!! yeah i dont really eat breakfest because i feel sick by the end of the day because i get fed so much!! i get joy when i read your letters and they really help to heal the home sickness!! I love you!!!

Elder Trujillo

August 6th Email

HOLA FAMILIA!!!

     Like yours my week has been everything but expected!! There have been so many surprises I don't even know where to start!! This week I found out that we had interviews with the mission president. It was actually really good to talk with him and see how he can help me!! At first, I was a little scared because I have never had an interview however, it was great and we talked about things that I could improve and how I can learn to become a better missionary! He explained how I could strengthen my faith in the work and he challenged me to develop in Christ like attributes every day!!! I have really been analyzing my weaknesses know that I have many and slowly but surely working on those to make them strong! I was able to speak with the wife of the president and that was great too! I learned that I am supposed to be speaking with Elder Veron in the house in English!! ha ha ha that's fun for me because he sees how hard it really is to talk with someone and they have no idea what you are saying! It's a good thing we both have really developed patience! However, later that day we were talking with one of our investigators and she had been really reluctant on being baptized because she didn't feel like she could and that she wasn't worthy! However, she was READY and it was only that she needed to commit! In the lesson we taught about how important it is to follow Jesus Christ and we for her to commit!!! In this lesson I felt the spirit stronger than than any other lesson I have taught I felt every word come out of my mouth being testified before me. She had told us after her baptism that in that moment she felt like angels were talking to her! I dont' consider myself an angel however to them I realized we are just that. She had been struggling with things in her family and her mom and dad left the family to move to the United States and she and her brothers have been living in Nicaragua. However the family is really separated and they don't talk with her so it was good that we got her to commie because she needs the love of God and Christ right now!! Saturday was the baptism and her and I were both nervous for this big day!! IT was my first baptism!! When she entered the water and came back out I not only saw but felt a difference in her!! Then on Sunday she was able to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and I was able to participate in that! The power in those blessings are real and they are truely lighted up and just like a whole different person!  She was happy and full of love!! IT Was a great experience to see how much we are blessed to have this in out lives and how much it can bless out lives!! This week also we had a district as well as a zone meeting! They were both great and during these meeting we talk about our challenges and the challenges of the investigators. In the zone meeting we learned about planning and differnt subjects in Preach my Gospel!! It was great andI was able to learn a lot and have been really trying to apply those things in my life!! However, during the zone meeting I expeirenced something very different......I FELT AN EARTHQUAKE!!! It was the weirdest thing ever! I felt litk I was in a movie everything was shaking and ahhh it was cool however it was scary too......Later that night there were 3 other aftershocks! I guess the ground is really active right now! However I haven't really felt anything since that! Yesterday in the night there was a small one and it took out all the lights of Masaya!!! It was so cool the night sky lit up like a light! It was really and marvelous sight!! However that was my week it's been going well. The baptism was awesome and I felt the spirit so strong! We are planning on another one this week of a lady with 3 kids! If things so well we will have one more the following for a family!!! It brings me such joy to see the change in these people and how much the gospel is a light to the world and how much it can bring joy and happiness and peace in tine of hard!!

I love you all so much I send my love and prayers!
Elder Trujillo

July 30 Email

You have been gone 4 months!!

OOOOH Mom i honestly sometimes miss not being able to talk with you, and have those fun conversations! haha :) Things have been going great. We ended up having to push back the baptism this week to next week, because he didnt go to church grrrr. However the work goes on! We have been working hard this week to meet our goal of baptizing 3 families we have 3 getting ready for baptism its only now trying to get them there! Its been kind of sad that we have had so many problems that have happened but i keep telling myself that I want them with all my heart to see that christ lives and god is listening and that they really are converted to the gospel! We have 3 families with a baptism date however the complicated part is one needs a devorcio y tambien un matrimonio so that complicates things her sister also has a baptism date for this week!! Wahooo she has three kids and is such a strong women her husband left her after the third to costa rico so she has raised these three kids on her own! We have a family with a dad that is left to be baptism for a family completo so that should be great! He wants his brothers and mom to be baptized so we will for sure be working with him on that! He has 3 or 4 brothers and each have a wife and kids!! The mom is slowly but surely accepting the gospel and continuing. We have another family we taught yesterday that we put a date for and they are really positive! Another family with 2 younger parents that are 18 and 19 and a little kid! We really want them to be baptized because it will help guide their life's because they are so young and they need all the help they can get! We have a lot of work ahead of us as well as trying to get new ones and progress the others! Ahh so many things to do and not enough time! haha I also had capasitacion this week not sure the word in english haha but its that we got trained by a past missionary that was trained by the people who put together preach my gospel! she is one of the most spiritual people i have ever met! I learned a lot from her and also how important preach my gospel is! however its work work work work work! haha I love it here so much mom i cant even describe the feeling i have every day its truely a milagro no se en ingles but i see the spirit and the lord in my life every day! I see these peoples lifes change right in front of my eyes and not in years or months but in days!! The lord really can change us and make us better! We have a saying we say when we teach and its no importa la problema o desafio pero el senor ayudara cambiarnos! When i say that i truly know that its true! I cant describe the love i have for this people! When i first got here i was scared and not going to lie i thought i was going to die and i wanted to come home. haha But as time has gone by i have come to know how much the lord loves us I can only hope to get more and more lost in this work! I think of you guys every night in my prayers and i miss you a lot and when i see you change i know that the lord is blessing you as well! It empowers me and helps me to focus on the work to know that my family has angels watching over them and that through my faith I know that i need not worry! At times i will have a dream or a thought that makes me miss you however i then think of how much more you will be blessed as i work hard and sacrifice what i can to the lord! i love you so much mom and all that you did for me to get me here! You truly have a faith that is unbreakable and i know that your faith has helped me to come to this point in my life! WE now need the rest of the family to come too i see the changes and i pray for all that you will feel the spirit and will find the love and compassion of the lord! I hope that you all are growing just as much as i am! seek for the help of the lord because he will make you more then you ever thought or imagined! We can do hard things! I have come to know this is true but they only seem hard when we try to make the trek ourselves! Search for the lord to help in every instance and what he wants you to learn! I love you all i pray for every one of you individually! For you well being and for you to be able to do all that you desire! Love you so much!!!!

           Elder Trujillo

July 23 Email

HEY FAMILYYY!
  Wow seems like we are almost reaching the 2 month mark since i have been in Nicaragua!! It's been great i have grown so much in these last two weeks then i have in my entire life! I have def. learned patience this week as our investigators have thought it to be funny to not go to church last week so this week has been frustrating! we really pushed for them to go to church teaching the blessings and how much it can help us in the week! We learn of His doctrine! the people here have really opened my eyes to new things and have really helped me to grow closer to Christ! I know i came here to help others come unto Christ however in the process i have learned about myself and have grown and truly leaped mountains! In the beginning of the week i said i was working on my Patience and now i want to tell of my experience of this and what i have learned! first off in my studying i wrote what i think patience is and i wrote " its when you put up with things you don't like and don't want to do" haha however patience is FAR from that! I learned that first off you need faith because when we hope and desire we put into action of faith and are willing to sacrifice our own needs for something greater.  one experience of this is one investigator wasn't receiving a answer to his prayers about the Book of Mormon and the church and so i gave faith i had fasted for him.  I was upset the next time we visited him because he still didn't have a answer and i thought for a second that he is doing sometime wrong.  However yet again that wasn't good for me to think.  I realized that just as we make mistakes and are forgiven we also need to truly love.  This week started off with me just struggling and not knowing how to do it.  However i have realized that patience isn't only putting up with something its believing and hoping for things unseen... Faith believing it is possible through Jesus Christ and through His grace and mercy.  Loving with a pure love of Christ and sacrificing our own needs for the needs of another person! This helped me to truly feel the love of the Lord! because 1 I put love in God and Jesus Christ believing that they will help me and strengthen me and 2 i love others and not think of how its helping me! Patience has shown me how to love and how i can show my faith more! It has brought me such joy! Through our trials and through our hardships we truly learn the most! God loves us that he gives us these experiences for our growth! i am full of joy when i am given trials and hardships because i now think what can i learn and how can i become more like Christ! Every time someone rejects me, or every time i get made fun of i am full of joy because i get to feel a tiny glimpse of what our savior felt and what he went through! I know Jesus Christ lives that He is my savior that we have a father in heaven that loves us and gives us opportunities to grow! i know Through Him we can be made strong

One Month in Nica

Hey family!!!
   Well what a amazing week it has been here in the mission for me.  First off i was able to buy some things for the birthdays everyones been having i hope that they get to you elder page will be home by the end of the week and he said he will be stopping by to give you the things!! Some events that have happened are one my camera broke!! so i will have to go and buy a new one either this week or the next so pictures will be a little short today.  But as for the people and the progress its been huge! It fills me with joy to see the people go from a state of darkness and somberness to a whole new life that bring them joy and happiness! we have two families that are schedule for the 28th to be baptized and I'm super excited about that i only hope and pray that they will progress and do the things necessary before!! I never really pictured how hard it is to really have people be converted to Christ.  Because there are some that know he exists and know that the gospel is true however they say that changing is to hard and that they would rather suffer then change.  I am filled with such sadness when this happens because i want it with all my heart for them to change and become better but they don't believe. However the work goes on and they have their agency.  I have been really studying the bible more because i was able to understand how important it is to use both the B of M and the Bible for the FULLNESS! I have been really pushing myself this week to study has hard as possible.  my schedule is wake up at 5 and start studying the Bible then at 6 start working out and at about 6 45- 7 I start to change and get ready for the day and by 7 30 start to read the Bible then at 8 start reading the B of M and by 9 we are studying in companions and then at 11 study Spanish!! I started doing this on Saturday and by the time we get to the house and i change i am completely exhausted! Its been a really great experience though because i have learned and gained so much more knowledge! some things that have happened are one they have a festival here that is a celebration of the president and the revolutionary of Nicaragua! however we were unable to attend and we actually had to return to the house at 6 because it gets scary at night with all the drunks and people that don't like gringos!!! However we were safe and protected by the hand of the Lord and we got to our house at 8 and were completely fine!! However their is a member of the church that didnt' do so well because at about 2 or 3 in the morning he was walking to his house with his son and their were two other men that came and attacked him! he tried to run but realized that his son wasn't fast enough so he told his son to run to the house.  The father had turned around and faced the attackers their were 2 of them and they both had machetes.  He was really beat up bad and was cut up all over he has 3 cuts on his head and his hands were cut up all over.  he was in the hospital and we had visited him and he was not doing so well because he had lost a lot of blood.  I am really worried for him I'm not sure of the name of the man but if you could keep him in your prays that would be great! we are hoping that he will be able to recover! However I was thinking of this experience and how much it can relate to the savior! i realized that we have a brother that did the same thing as this man did.  That Jesus did nothing and that he realized that we wouldn't make it and he turned around for us.  He gave the greatest sacrifice to us and took the beating and pain so that we wouldn't have to suffer.  This story of the man really put into perspective of how much Jesus truly loves us.  That like this story we are the kids running home for protection that if Jesus wasn't there to help we wouldn't make it.  The love of the savior is great and he  will  turn and help however all he asks is that we believe that he will help.  I have been really thinking of how i can grow closer to Christ and what things i can do to learn and believe more because i know that without him i am nothing and i am weak.  However he gives unto us weakness that we may be humble that if they would come unto me i would make weak things strong unto them.  This has been such a great humbling experience and every day i realized how much i need him and that i couldn't do this without him.  I just want to end by saying Jesus is the Christ that his atonement is for ALL that he loves each and everyone of us that he gave his own life.  He truly bore our griefs and our burdens.  That we can become strong through him and the atonement and their is no other name given whereby man can be saved. that if we will hearken to his precepts we to can be saved.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the words of God.  That the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through Joseph Smith.  I know with all my heart that it is possible to return with our father in heaven and that Jesus lives!! that we can return as a family with our father in heaven for time and all eternity! I know this with all my heart and all my soul.  I love you all and thank you for the love and support you give! Im glad to hear you are all doing well i will keep you in my prayers always!! love love love family family family!
              Elder Trujillo

July 1st Letter

HOLA FAMILIA!!
   This week has came and gone! The time seems to go faster and faster!  I am not sure what the mission address is because I do not have my mission book anymore.  This week things have been going great I have been able to have a few experiences that have really made me think and change me! One thing that happened was a recent convert had a dream that she was standing in a dark tunnel and at the other end there was a person who was dressed in white that kept saying read Alma 5 30 it is a scripture that talks about repentance and coming unto Christ! This was really good for her that she was able to have this experience because she was not going to church and doing the things she was supposed to.  I guess its tough love... however she has completely changed and has read her scriptures every day and also she comes to church every week.  However I started thinking about this experience and how much we really can change when we realized that there is a God that loves us and that Jesus is the Christ.  That this is real and not some joke! I started to think about how grateful I am to be able to know these things and to grow closer to God and Jesus Christ.  Another experience I was able to have is we were in the house of hermano Salvador and he has a son named Terry and Terry has a son that is about the age of 3 and 5 and he was severely sick and on top of that he has asthma or however you spell it.  But it wasn't looking good they didn't have any money to go to the doctors and it seemed like all the things they were trying just didn't seemed to work.  However Elder Veron and I came to the house and saw the need of help.  We could have simply given them money and they go to the doctors however Elder Veron has a strong testimony of the power of the priesthood that I am so very thankful for!! At this moment we gave the little boy a blessing! However it was complicated because the little boy didn't want to be touched and so we prayed that we could just simply give the blessing to him.  He calmed down and eventually we were able to give the blessing.  It was time to head to the house because it was about 8 50 so we left and the whole time I was praying in my heart with all my strength that this little boy Josua would be healed through the power of the atonement.  Because I remembered that Jesus also took upon him the infirmities.  That night was rough for me because I was not able  have a good sleep and I just wanted to pray and pray for Josua.  I was able to finally fall asleep and I had an amazing dream but for now the story of Josua.  The next day came along which was Sunday and we went back over to the families house to check up on the little boy and a miracle had truly taken place.  The mom was in tears with what had happened to her little boy.  She had said that after we left and she had gotten to the hospital and into the doctors that Josua was healed.  That the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with him and that he was completely healthy!! When I heard her say that my heart was swollen with joy and I felt the arms of the Lord cover me!  We were able to have them come to church(they are less active members) so that was just great for them!! This week was fast Sunday!! I have no idea why I love it so much but it is honestly the best thing in the world.  I was able to understand a lot and I have never felt the spirit so strong and so much.  I Have been able to grow such a strong love for the church and when Sunday comes along i cant wait to just head to the church!! I honestly feel the love of the lord more and more each day as I strive to apply the things that i read and become more like Christ! I have been really trying to find Christ more and find how really the atonement can help me not only in my work but also in my life.  I have truly learned more about myself in this last month then i really knew.  It is only through Heavenly father and Jesus Christ I am able to really come to know myself because they know me better than i do.  They have helped me in the times of struggle and the times of joy.  One quote i remembered was [I didn't say it would be easy i just said it would be worth it This quote has really helped me think that we pass through struggles and hard times so that we can find the treasure at the other end.  However this week I wanted to ask how can we use the atonement more in our life also that you search Christ with all your heart and energy because through him you will find yourself
  i love you all with all my heart!!!
            Elder Trujillo

Letter 06/25

HEYYYY!! wow it was super weird seeing you guys out camping!! i wasnt too upset because i feel like im actually there with you just in a different part of the world!! hahaha this week has been crazy and like normal the usually challenges! It is weird to say but i actually like to go through challenges and struggles it brings the greatest joy and happiness for me!! haha Only because i know when i am going through hard times i am being taught the most.  This week i learned about the importance of sacrificing our own needs for the needs of others.  At the beginning of the week i was really struggling with how i could make the people like me and just stop making fun of me because it was what has been happening constantly.  I honestly thought the people were just super rude and just didnt like me and so that is why they were just being so rude.  However one night my comp. decided to do a comp inventory and it was just horrible because we were having problems and in the day i was just upset and i didnt really want to talk at all.  we ended sitting for 10 mins in silence because we didnt even know where to start.  we ended up talking little by little and we just couldnt figure out what to do and ended up calling Elder page for guidance.  He ended up coming over to our house and talking with each one of us and truly giving inspired words from the lord.  after about a hour things were great and fine and the day was good a little bit rough but good.  then the next day i went on changes with the zone leaders!! his name is Elder Nybo who is such a great missionary with about 3 months left!!  throughout the day i was still confused on what to do because people just continued to laugh and joke about me. I was so tired that i actually prayed to heavenly father to send me someone or teach me what i need to know. later that night Elder Nybo was talking with me and he explained the reason things are so hard is because i am fighting the fact that people are different here.  I didnt realize it but i actually was asking the people to change how they acted and were because it wasnt the way i did things.  It was such a huge thing to realize that it wasnt them who needed to change but me!! I realized that all the times they were joking and all the times they were playing jokes and messing around was there way of welcoming me.  It is weird to grasp and accept but once I realized it my whole mindset of the mission had changed! I went from having people make fun of me to people who were open and loving.  They really have been doing what they do when they are welcoming people however it is different from what I'm used to so i thought it was them being rude.  I have sacrificed my ways of thinking and have realized that they aren't correct for 2 years that i actually have to become a nica!! hahah After realizing this and actually trying to change things have gotten so much more better! The people truly have tons of love and open hearts and are so willing to change and it was right in my face i just didn't see it!! However another sacrifice my zone made was service!!! it was so awesome! i used a mecheti or however you spell it! we cut down grass that was super tall for a hospital! I actually had a ton of fun doing it and was able to get a ton of pictures that i will send you!! I have learned a lot about myself this week and also about the people of Nicaragua! I am still upset about how i haven't baptized anyone yet but I'm hoping that i will be able to! It inst to big of a problem to get people to want to be baptized because they see the need and want to change and become better however they don't do the things necessary for it! Its very frustrating and some days i just pray and pray.  A huge problem here is a lot of people drink, smoke and say they want to quit but say its to hard.  we do however have a lady that is really positive and we actually have 2 other ladies that listen to us and really are interactive.  its a mom and her two daughters however the one that is really positive is the daughter of about 30 named perla and she has gone to church 2 times and is really progressing and so on the 7th we have a date but not exactly sure what will happen there! i just am so frustrated because i feel the spirit so strong and we have the investigator progressing and when it starts to come close they drink or something happens that makes it so they cant.  Satan really works against us a lot and We just try our best and help them the best we can! we also have a FAMILY who was really interested and so we will be teaching them and i hope so bad that they want to come the husband has a drinking problem and also a problem with smoking but he has been trying to quit both for a couple months now and we told him that he can receive power to over come his problems and he really got interested! we will have to see about them!! but I am going well and in great health the heat is exhasting sometimes but somehow i find the strength and am able to do it every day!  I think my body has started to adapt to missionary life so thats good but i have a lot more strengthening to do before i am really 100 percent.  Thank YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FOOD AND CANDY!! i am trying to be wise with it because it is in really short supply(they dont sell it) hahah so I'm trying to be smart! anyways I'm glad to hear your all doing well!  I would like to try something though because my mission is going to change me and give me so much happiness i want you to experience it with me!!! This week I was able to learn the principle of sacrifice and what it means to sacrifice! I was able to pray to my heavenly father and he truely answered my pray and gave me Elder Nybo to teach me that I need to give up my way of thinking to truely help others.  In a scripture i read it explains this purpose(2 nephi 31: 6 or 7) not sure but it explains how the people will learn in thier language and understanding. I was able to fallow the guidence of Elder Nybo and the scriptures and change and use the atonement to become better and more like christ.  To be able to learn that through sacrifice i can be happy and i can recieve joy! So this week i would like you also to think of something that you have a challenge with and pray to god and ask for help and what his will would be!

Email 06/19/12

AAAAHH! THE DAYS ARE ALL MIXING TOGETHER!!!! hahaha today I thought it was Friday and it's already p-day!! I guess time flies when you're having fun!! This week has been such a good one because my Spanish has improved so much from the first week, without even realizing it I just started speaking Spanish! I honestly love it so much, the feeling that I've improved and have grown is one of the best feelings! Sin embargo yo necesito continuar con la obra! It sounds like you are all doing really great and I was able to receive your package!!!My goodness it is huge I couldn't even believe me eyes! I was super excited to get it and it was filled with lots of great things!! My companion and I were talking about how excited we are to fill with a bunch of Book of Mormons and just go and find people! Thank you so much for it and everything in it. It has truly been a blessing for me because I have been dying for American candy!! The candy here is strange tasting so I try to stay away but sometimes it's hard when they like to see you try their food.I was also able to see the Humphries family and Elder Humphries!!! It was nice to see and talk with him about the work and all that he has been up to! He has so many cool stories and I can't wait till I am able to have some cool experiences like him! He has changed a ton from the last time I have seen him! It was kind of funny watching his parents interact with the natives because I look at them and I think back on the first week I was here and I was probably the exact same way! Just not really sure what to do and what to say to people! hahaha However in such a short time things have just become natural and I am able to be more confident! I don't understand all of everything but I'm trying my best! One thing I have been doing is writing down in my planner all the goals I have for the day with my language and for the people and that has helped me improve the most! Each day I finish my goal I am able to come that much closer to being more of a disciple of Christ!  I want to be more diligent though because there are times where it is super hard and I feel like I can't do it but then there are other times where I work super hard so I want to figure out how to work hard and be like Christ which is having long suffering! I haven't baptized anyone yet because there are a lot of problems with the Word of Wisdom. I don't think I have ever seen so many drunk people in one area! One family was almost torn apart this week because the husband decided to drink and he got mad at his wife and he hit her and pushed her to the ground and so they almost were going to separate and me heart was filled with sadness because of how special they are to me and how beautiful their family is! Things worked out and we were able to use prayer and scriptures to solve the problem and they are headed back in the right direction. I have had such a great time with the people of Nicaragua because I can now interact and talk with them and they truly are such nice people. They have big hearts and the would do anything for you in a heart beat! i have grown so close with them and I can hardly believe it!! I feel like I am helping family and it makes me even more happy hearing how much me being here has helped you all! I am so enjoyed by this work there are some days when I get back to the house and just be so sad because it is one less day I am going to be here! I have never thought I would love so much, I was talking with another elder and I decided I wouldn't be able to serve a mission in the states and I would only be able to serve here in Nicaragua! The Lord truly knows me and who I am and he knows what I can become, I just need to follow his way and he will lead me to joy and happiness!! I LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPE THE BEST sorry for the letter so short we didn't really have tons of time to write. I love and pray for you always!!!

Happy Days

Well its another week in Nicaragua!!! Things are going good, this week has has its ups and downs but I think I'm getting used to the schedule. Every night I'm super tired and have NO problems falling asleep. But this week has been good the language is coming slowly but surely. Probably because I am forced to talk and interact in Spanish which makes it so I have to!! but it sounds like everyone is doing well and just getting along!! That would be such an awesome experience for Skyler if he was able to give Seth a blessing! That is so awesome that everyone has been improving and just getting better! But no, let everyone know that I miss them a lot and that they mean a lot to me. Don't' be upset but I try not to think about it too much because I want to focus on the people and how I can help. However, I do love you all so very much! When I start to get sad I read the scriptures and I came across a story in Mosiah and how they went out for 14 years and they couldn't even talk with their families! I look up to the prophets in the Book of Mormon because they are all so strong and they could do the impossible and as of right now I feel like this work is impossible. My body wants to rest all the time and there are times when I am talking and falling asleep at the same time. ha ha But I try my best and I pray with all the power of my heart that I will be able to make it through each and every day. and somehow I end up being able to do all that I need. But today I talked with Stephen!!Sounds like he is getting ready to return back to the states! I have been having dreams about returning and they are so amazing and it has brought good and bad because I want to feel what I did in my dream and I want it so bad but then I know I first have to show my faith and love to the Lord. I am still not sure about what everyone is saying but I am getting better!! I get scared hearing people tell me it takes about 3 months to be able to feel fine with talking and with interacting 100 percent! Because I want to help them NOW!!! ha ha that has been a problem with me in my life is that I want to just do things now instead of waiting. But I can see if I wait and do it on the Lord's time then things ALWAYS work out! I was thinking about this week if I was going to be able to endure and so this because I struggle with the language and I just want to help with all my heart but then I think of the story of Jared and how he went up to the mount and was tried of his faith with the rocks. And I applied it to my life, that I have challenges in front of me and I can either grab hold and with the help of the Lord bear them or to take them an put them all upon my back! Because the Lord says come unto me and I will make thou burdens light. And I just think of that and it helps but it doesn't' mean we throw all of our burdens on Him, it means we carry them together! But no, things are going great! I am having a problem with the language but it's a small stepping stone compared to the amazing glory that I want! This is God's work and I know it because I see it change people lives every day! I see it change my life and I have a booklet full of spiritual inspirations that i have received and it is a lot and it's only my second week! So I know I can do this I just need to grit my teeth and go to work!! I love you all so much and you all mean the world to me I hope you know that! The people here in Masaya have shown forth what is really important in life. The joy people have here and the openness is tremendous and it is really an inspiration for me to see. Also seeing all of you come closer helps me and I can truly feel the love of Lord in your lives and how much it blesses you and it give me the extra push to do all I can to keep going because if it's blessing you then it's worth it. It says in the scriptures if you will but only bring one soul unto me then how great shall be your joy, and then how great shall be your joy if you bring many!! I know this is hard work there isn't one thing in my life that has been as hard as the Lord's work, but how can I say I don't want to suffer when I myself asked to go where He went and to be how He was. I go to bed at night more tired then ever before and more sad then ever before because I love these people like my family and to think that they would suffer in any degree makes me say beyond belief!! I cry every night and I pray to have them feel the spirit and how important this is and to know what I need to do!! This truly is His work and I have truly felt the spirit every day! I love each and every one of you and think of you daily, praying that after this short time of us being apart will bring even more joy in the future! I wouldn't be here without you and I feel like each and every one of you is with me and helping! I feel your love and I know it's only but a short time! It's hard and sometimes you want to give up but don't, just pray and ask for his help because he will lighten you load!! I feel it I know He is there watching out for us! In the scriptures it talks of a prophet that was so weak and could hardly even stand or raise his hands, but in the next scripture is says you will have angels on you right and on your left to bear you up and give you strength! I know this is true because it's happened to me and it can happen to you!! I love you all and I hope all is going well! As for mail I was told to just e-mail because it is easier and their are a lot of problems with the whole mail and can take time from the work so if it's ok could you use e-mail? I Love you all!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxox

Elder Trujillo


If you all would like to email Austin his email is austin.trujillo@myldsmail.net. Thanks for all your love, support and prayer!!

First week in Nicaragua!

I am a little behind, sorry to all! Austin left on Memorial day and we didnt' hear anything from him for a week. We got our first letter last Monday June 4, this is what Elder Trujillo had to say:

Well family it's my first week in Nicaragua!!! Things are going great! You would never guess what my first meal in Nicaragua was! IT WAS MCDONALDS!!! hahahaha it was super weird to be in a different country and eating the same food as in America! Anyways things have been going great, my first day I went out with one of   the elders who is about to leave and I went contacting with him and we taught a lesson... well he taught a lesson ha ha. The first day I realized that my Spanish is horrible ha ha but, no things are going great and I'm learning a lot. The first two days in Nicaragua I was in Managua but then I was put with my new companions whose name is Elder Veron. He is from Argentina!!!! He is super awesome and really funny he is always telling jokes and just so full of energy. We have a lot in common and we are becoming good friends. I will send a picture when I send my SD card. I don't even know where to start there have been so many new experiences that I have been through, but I will start with where I am at. I am in the Masaya Missions it's about 45 minutes out of Managua and it's such an amazing place. The way things are here are A LOT different then in America. I sometimes feel out of place because people just stare at me but then I just smile and say hello and its fine. Nicaragua is honestly the coolest place in the world and I don't know why I haven't been here before in my life!! Not going to lie though it is scary at times. I would be more scared if I wasn't wearing my name tag that says I am apart of the church because there have been some scary situations. However the food is great I would say!! I gots me some beans and rice or some rice and beans sometimes it's hard to choose between the two but somehow I manage lol. The third night with my new companion there was a giant bug in my room and we were trying to kill the bug for 10 min apparently the bug will bite your skin and cause you to have a huge lump so we had to kill it......only problem is that it flies and it's fast!! So that made things a little harder but we finally killed it. I have had so many different experiences, the people here are very nice and open to hearing the gospel because almost  all of them believe in Jesus Christ and God, There is one investigator named Douglas and he is coming along very well I feel like he will be my first baptism!!! He is ready he only needs to fix little problems in his life. He is super awesome and he is shorter than me and he is 24. A lot of people here are very short. My first Sunday here I went up and bore my testimony which was awesome, i don't know if anyone understood me but it was cool to say my testimony in front of about 30 people in Spanish! The churches don't have very many people but I guess that's what the missionaries are here to do. The showers are awesome sometimes I get to use an actual shower or other times I get to use a bucket!!!! However the water is not warm soooooo yeah.....it's good though because I am hot all day so it's nice to have a time where I don't' feel like I'm on fire. The days are good here, there was one day it rained and we decided to continue contacting and it was just crazy we were soaked and just all wet, good thing my bag has that rain protector thing or else all my stuff would have been wet!! The people are really humble and they are just so nice and welcoming to everyone. They like to talk with us but I just wonder if they are accepting the message or not. I just love Nicaragua so much the people like to hear me talk in English which I find weird but it has got us into houses so I'm ok with it sometimes. We have 2 investigators with baptism dates for the 23rd of this month so I might be sending some pictures to you guys of that.!!!!!!!! I never thought something so hard would be so fun. Each day after we get back to our house and are getting ready to fall asleep I feel  like my feet and hands are going to fall off, but I somehow make it each day probably because of the spirit lifting us up. I believe with all my heart that this gospel is true and that it can really help and life people up. In the short time that I have been here I have seen it change and lift people up. My heart is filled with love for this people and I almost feel like they are family to me. I may not speak the language very well but I know that this is God's work and he has sent me here to teach these people! I know that without the help of the Holy Ghost this work wouldn't be possible. I love you all and hope all is well! Things are going great here!!

Good-bye Utah, Hello Nicaragua

Elder Trujillo left the Provo MTC today and headed down to Managua Nicaragua. We got a surprise call from him this morning at 7:00 AM!! He had his first layover in Texas and then flew down to Miami, Florida. He then called us again and was able to talk to everyone! It was rough to say another goodbye but we are so happy for him and it was great to hear his excitement! We are supporting him 100% and are so proud of him. He will be one hour ahead of us and he arrived in Nicaragua at 7:00 Pm (6:00 our time). We will keep you updated as we continue to get emails. At this point if you want to write him it's best to use DearElder.com. They will use pouch mail and he will have a greater probability of receiving your letters!!

We love you Elder Trujillo!!!

More MTC Pictures!

Flag of Nicaragua

Elder Trujillo and his companion Elder Hammond

 

Look mom I'm doing my laundry!!!!

 

 

Last p day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Que es buen? Este es me ultimo sermana! Esta my enthusiasmado por mi saliendo. I'm super pumped to leave!!! I can't even explain it!!! I am also excited because it's memorial day and I know that I will be able to talk to everyone!! But mostly to get to Nicaragua. I can call you ant time in the week but the biggest lay over is between 1 and 4! So that is probably when I will be calling so be prepared!! I'm super excited and actually kinda nervous about calling if that is weird!
Esta pasado semana yo he leida mucho en el libro de mormon. Una experiencia esta semana fue sobre como yo era orar con dios y yo recibia un bueno contestar. Yo he estado leyendo mucho sobre como yo puedo venir mas cerca a dios. Durante mi leyendo yo aprende que por medio la expracion yo puedo llegar a ser ma mejor y hizo weaknesses fuerte. es muy importante por me llegar a ser mas mejor en el envengelio y yo quiero ser convertio a la inglesia
I can't wait to talk to you!!! I'm super excited to talk to you all, this week has been so hard because  I am getting super excited on leaving! Pero I need to continue to focus and try to work hard I love you all and can't wait to talk to you! Love you all can't wait to talk!

05.08.12 Email

Hola! Esta semana será muy bueno! Tengo muchas experiencias en el CCM. Mi testimonio tuno crecer mucho y tengo poder llegar a ser a cerca dios. Por medio trabajando duro u dando todo mi fe en Jesucristo tengo poder ver mi bendices. La idioma ha llegar a ser facial por me. Cuando busco este pedo aprender por creciendo a cerca dios todo fue facial. He poder ser menos tnsion en mi vida despues aprendendo esto. Las bendiciones de llegar a ser es muy bueno. La Idioma es no duro per ser un largo camino. Tengo crecer cera la personsa en mi districto. Por soy un lidir tengo desarrollar mucho abilidad servicio las personas en mi vida. La carta es no largo pero yo esperanza puede el espiritu cuando lee me carta.
Mi testimonio es no grande per ha cambiar me. Yo se que Jesucristo es me salvador, que por medio Jesu Cristo podemos volver a dios. Yo se jesucristo es centra en la plan de dios. Yo se que mi familia es muy importante a mi y yo se puedo volver a dios con mi familia. Soy muy gratitud por todo la ayda mi familia dar me. Sin mi familia no ser aqua in mi vida . Sin la exsperiencia in mi vida yo no se el envengelio es verdad. Amo me familia y el envengelio u la axsperiencia in my vida.
Amo todas las personas en mi familia. Gracia por todo hizo por me! esperno usted todo!!!!

Which translates loosely  to:
Some things didn't quite come together or make too much sense, because he is still learning and somethings are jumbled!! But he is doing an amazing job so far!!!


Hello! This week has been great! I have many experiences in the MTC. My testimony has grow much and I have gotten  to learn about God. By working hard or giving all my faith in Jesus Christ I have to see my blessings. The language has become easier for me. When I grow and  learn about God everything was easier I can be less tension in my life after learning  this. The blessings of becoming very good. The language is not hard but it will  be a long way. I have the personal growth in my district. For I am a leader I have much ability to develop service people in my life. The letter is not long but I hope you can feel the spirit when you read my letter.
My testimony is not large but  has changed me. I know that Jesus Christ is my savior,that through Jesus Christ we return to God. I was focused on Jesus Christ is God's plan. I know my family is very important to me and I know I can go back to God with my family. I am very grateful for all the family has given to me. Without my family in my life. Without experiences  in my life I do not know the true atonement . I love my family and experience you bring in my life.
I love everyone in my family. Grace all did for me! Bless you all!!
Love,
Elder Trujillo