Last Transfer 6/17/13

Well we got transfer calls and I am staying here in Sabana Perdida with Elder Martin. We had 9 people in church yesterday and our English class is growing. President recently announced that he wants us to teach a missionary course to the members, but that he will work with the stake presidents because they have the priesthood keys to authorize something like that. So in other words it’s going to take time to get it going, and I won´t be here. I love teaching, and it would be great to be a part of it, but I know the Lord has other big plans for me. My theme and motivation this month is found in LUKE 24. When Mary and others came to Christ´s tomb to dress His body, they found the stone rolled back and angels that proclaimed ¨Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, He is risen.¨ How does this apply to me as a missionary? Well in the mission we say that when an Elder finishes the mission he ¨dies¨. But I refuse. I have not spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours studying, meditating, and working to just give it all away. This mission has not been solely an occupation, but a foundation upon which I built. The skills, habits, principles and doctrines that I have learned will follow me through this life and the next as I continue to follow the footsteps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I will not be counted among those who finish the mission and move on, returning to the way things were before. This commission is for life. I may have other opportunities to serve or other responsibilities, but I am, first and forever, a Disciple of The Master. Elder Jared C. Nichols

Surprise 6/3/13

Dear Friends and Family, Well some may or may not have heard, but I have yet to mention it in these emails. I have a hernia. I went with the mission doctor and President to see a surgeon, who made his suggestions. So the verdict will either be that I have the operation here in the next few weeks, or that I come home a few weeks early to have the operation there. Doctor Walker is going to talk to the Mission Department today and I should find out soon. Love you all, Elder Nichols

Special Transfer 5/27/13

Dear Friends and Family Did I scare you? hahahaha. Well my comp got transferred. I am still in Sabana Perdida, but now with Elder Martin. He is from Idaho. He worked on a potato farm and loves golf. He is a good kid. Elder Adams went to Ozama to be with one of the old assistants. It sounds bad I know, but the assistant just wanted to get out of the office for his last transfer and didn´t want to wait. I heard it might have something to do with another sick missionary somewhere, but nobody really knows. Our new chapel finally opened up this week, so we wore our suits to church. The members here have been waiting a long time, and were meeting in a rented office space for about a year. Today we played games and I made chili. I am doing my best to finish strong. I love you all. Thanks for your prayers. Elder Nichols

Transfers 5/6/13

Well, after 4 transfers with Elder Ford, we have finally been split up. It´s about time too, because I am tired of the jokes about him and I being sealed in the temple. I just kidding, I am sad to see him go, he is a good buddy and we´ve had a lot of good, crazy, spiritual experience together. I am also the new district leader. Which is weird because the old District Leader is still in my district.... yeah that was an awkward phone call. He is cool with it though. He is going home this transfer anyways. My new comp is Elder Adams. I don´t know him, but I have seen him around. We were both comps with Elder Molina, a Dominican. That´s all for now. Take care my friends. Elder Nichols

Amoeba? 4/15/13

Dear Friends and Family Well, not much has gone on in the last week. After emailing last week I went home feeling terrible. I went to bed and woke up an hour later with a 102 degree fever, migraine, and all around back and body aches. So I slept for another 18 hours or so, and had some...well... let’s just say frequent really loose bowel movements for the following 3 days. We called a taxi to take us to the local clinic because I couldn´t walk. The clinic took my blood, feces, pride, and money, and didn´t really give me any usable information or results. The mission doctor prescribed me some pills for amoebas, even though they didn´t show up on the test results. So this week I only worked on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But today i played some soccer, so all is well for now. Love you all, thanks for your prayers. Love Elder Nichols