Ethan's Mission to Nicaragua

  Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012 11:19 AM To: Jim And Sandy Bever Subject: Hello! Hi family! Had a good week this week and we got a lot done, we should be having a baptism here in the near future if all goes as planned with our investigators (its a family!) so that's been our motivation for the last week. Elder Garcia and I are learning a lot together and I'm amazed how much I can learn from him every day. The mission has transfers this week but I doubt that we'll have one, however its always a threat. Thanks for the e-mails, its always nice to hear from home. I received Grandma Bever's email and tell her thanks for me for everything. I appreciate the updates and thoughts, it sounds like things are going well over there. I hope finals went well for Thomas, I was thinking about him last week and I was grateful that I don't have to walk in the doors of the testing center at BYU for another 2 years or so. I'm sure he did great (I prayed for him to do so). Th...

  Sent: Monday, December 10, 2012 11:18 AM To: Jim And Sandy Bever Subject: Happy 13 days 'til Christmas! Hi there! It was fun to read all of your emails, they made me smile. I'm sitting in a tiny little room right now that's l0'xl0' and about 90 degrees, so no it hasn't snowed here in Nicaragua yet and they're saying that its not likely this year ;) But we're officially in summer here and they do say that it doesn't rain here for like 6 months straight but because its so humid here everything still grows year round (thought that was interesting) . It looks like you found a nice Christmas tree, and I'll look for something to put up in our house here in Ticuantepe. Emily: I'm not sure what you could make to ship here , but perhaps like some seat cushons. Everyone here uses those plastic chairs and I never thought they were all that comfortable but after walking like 2 miles to find some family , nothing beats em. I' ve sat on some pr...

  Hello! Today we´re in the area of our zone leaders writing as a district and this cyber is a lot nicer than ours in Ticuantepe. But thanks for all of the e-mails and its fun to hear how things are going there. I recieved a bunch of mail this week from just about everyone. I got your letter mom, and the picture. That was sweet. Got one from Grandma Hansen too and thanks for the letter, keep it comin'. Also got one from my (favorite) cousin: David... don't tell Caroline because I think I told her she was my favorite too. But thanks for sending me something, I enjoyed it a lot. And tell the Roses that I received their's too and it was really nice of them to put something in the mail. Sounds like its just the Emily-Dad-Audrey trio again at home, (sorry dad) but do something manly and pretend that I'm there with you. Hope mom has a good trip and everythings going well with finals for Thomas too. This week was super great and really busy. I had divisions with my zone and...

 Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 11:24 AM To: Jim And Sandy Bever Subject: Hello! Hi everyone! For P-day we're writting as a district, so sorry if this is being sent a little earlier than normal. Sounds like everyone had a good time in Utah for Thanksgiving and I'm sure it was a busy week. Wish I could have been there with you all on Saturday, but I get to feel that same way as in the temple every day that I'm here, it just isn't quite as clean and it smells worse here. Too bad about Hostess and BYU soccer ... oh well. We're keeping busy here in our area and Elder Garcia and I are working hard to help a ton of people. Yesterday we visited with a man named Barus for the first time, and had a great first visit. He's from Luisianna (so he can speak english) but was born here in Nicaragua. He's visiting his family here for a couple of months but has had a rough time in the past. His family is fairly well off here which is hard to find, so we enjoyed air conditio...

  Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 1:48 PM To: Jim And Sandy Bever Subject: Hi and happy Thanks Giving to you all too! It was nice to get your e-mails from the week and it sounds like things are going well at home! I had a pretty good week too. First off, I have a son! (that's just mission language for I'm training a new missionary, i know it's a little immature but its the only immaturity we're allowed) But his name is Elder Garcia and he's great! He's from Quetza Tenango, Guatemala ( where they just finished the temple), he's the oldest of 4 with 3 younger sisters , and he likes basketball and pineapple jelly . Those are the observations that I have thus made. We're still here in Ticuantepe, and it sounds like we're going to be here for Christmas too. But he's really excited to be here and its great because he just kind of pulls me around and I try to teach him a thing or two here and there. I have a feeling that I'm going to learn a l...

  Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 1:48 PM To: Jim And Sandy Bever Subject: Hi from Nicaragua! Hi everyone! Had another good week in The Mission (oh and before I forget I think we have a video that's on Y ouTube as a mission you'll have to look up, it should be under Nicaragua, Managua South Mision or something like that, but if you can find it, its worth watching). I enjoyed the e-mails, Yes I did hear about the elections, and I try pretty hard not to talk about politics down here, not that anyone really understands anyway. I had absolutely no knowledge about Veteran's Day so thanks for the reminder Audrey , and I'm glad to hear that my cardboard can is being used for the canned food drive. I have yet to receive my package, but I know where it is and I will be receiving it Wednesday in our transfer meeting. With that said, I'm planning on sending stuff out for Christmas from here within the next few weeks for you. I can't really send "things", ...

  Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 2:18 PM To: Jim And Sandy Bever Subject: Hello! Well this week flew by, it sounds like yours did too. Thanks for the e-mails and updates on things at home. Things that make me laugh: Everyone here loves American clothes even if they don't always understand what they say, so its always fun to see the 80 year old women walking around with things like "Hot Mama" on their shirts and other stuff. I just keep walking and don't bother explaining, sometimes ignorance really is bliss. I can't think of anything else at the moment but I'm sure I'll have more next week. I give thanks for you guys every day . And that's a really good thing that I think I'm going to do this week is give more gratitude. Ticuantepe had their elections this Sunday (yesterday), and let's just say that they aren't quite as formal as the elections for president there in the states. In fact I think the elections for student body president...