Tuesday, April 10th - Monday, April 16th

We started with a zone meeting Tuesday. And so I found out that I would not be having emergency changes, since the missionary who was supposed to go with me is actually going home for his sickness. So we are still here together with Perez and me in Ciudad Jardin. So Tuesday we just did some nice normal working not much special. In the evening while we were visiting we got messages that came in late and it was from a member from my first area. Pirul. So we met up with him and his wife at the chapel. And it was a really great experience to see him again. I'm happy, now that I've seen my two favorite families from my first area, I feel I can go a bit happier.

Wednesday, well it was a pretty low key day until the evening when we went with a member to a reference she gave us. And it was a large family. There is this one lady and she lives with her mother, husband, brother, sister, 2 kids, and her sister's 4 kids. They received us nicely and it was a good lesson and opportunity to get to know them. The only problem is that they live a bit far away, but oh well. Nothing is too far for the Lord.

Thursday nothing really of special today, you know how it goes.

Friday- So today we went out and visited with one of the members. A youth who just recently turned 18 and is getting ready to send in his papers for his  mission. Things are all good here.

Saturday we had a big activity with the 3 stakes in the capital city that are part of our mission. It was a big group joint baptism, so people were preparing people from all over and we all met up in the stake center where the mission headquarters are. So there were a good 30 baptisms that happened there that day and it was a good experience. We managed to bring that family from Wednesday so they got to see it, and I also got to see a lot of missionaries and a couple members from my first area that I haven't been able to see in a while. Though the problem is the baptism from Reparto Shick remembers me...but I don't remember them. So yeah a bit awkward when that happens. Oh well.

Sunday we had church so we got up nice and early. But we did manage to bring 9 of the people from that one family to church. And it was really good. Then went around to visit, and did divisones with some members and got things ready for a baptism we will have this Wednesday.

Well anyways that was a bit about my week. Thanks for reading everyone. 

Love, Elder Vogt

Tuesday, April 3rd - Monday, April 9th

So It's time to start writing about the happenings this week.

So Tuesday we had a decent day of work, we left with our bishop to visit a few families and it was nice to leave with him. Since he is my second bishop (or branch president) to have gone out and worked with me. The first being in La Trinidad. So that was good. And in the evening we went and stayed with our DL

Wednesday it was another normal day, went to visit a family who lives pretty far away and they're all members except for her 12 year old son. So we have plans for his baptism next week. That should be really special and cool if we can get that done.

Thursday It was another normal day. Had our Zone meeting in the morning, and came back to work in the afternoon. IN the evening we were in the church and I had some visitors. And it was a family that I married way back then In the beginning of my mission. The husband and wife and their 10 year old son came and it was super special to be able to see them again. I think it's a small portion of what we will feel when meet up with all of these people again in heaven.

Friday we did divisions today so I went with Elder Russel to his area and worked there. It was good met a lot of cool member.

Saturday we did the normal Saturday kinda stuff. Well we went and visited around.

Sunday we went around to go bring people to church when it started raining on us. So we were all thinking no one will come for the rain, since everyone always make excuses when it comes to church. And rain is one of the larger ones. But we got there to church and it was the highest assistance that I have seen there so far in my time here, and a good 10 investigators showed up, which is a whole lot more than I've had in a while. It was a really neat experience. So yeah. thanks everyone for reading and have a nice week.

-Elder Vogt

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additional Q&A with Family

1.In the 572 days that you've been out serving, what is something that STANDS out to you and you know you'll remember for the rest of your days?! 

well to start off, I count each day in my journal. I just started in the MTC like day 1 day 2 and just rolled with it. And it's crazy how fast the time flies.

Something that stands out. Well I think something that will stay with me...hmmm that's a tough one. I think one of the bigger things has been the opportunity to hear apostle speak and bless us directly. That has been really special 

2. What was the highlight of your week? I'd say a highlight of this week was Thursday night when Jimmy (from Reparto Shick) came to visit me in the chapel here with his family. That was a super neat experience.

3. Did you see/experience any tender mercies this last week? well this sunday we had a great assistance at church with a good 10 investigators so that was super high and was more than I've had in church in a long time.

Tuesday, March 27th - Monday, April 2nd

So I guess a few points of interest this week.

So we finilazed things with the housing, this week, and Friday we moved houses. Now we are really close to the church. Just a few doors down. Though it was quite intersting the move since it was the same day as a stake activity, so we didn't get help, except from 1 other companionship in our zone. But it was all good, we got it done in a few runs. (since we moved by foot)

Also we had General Conference as you all know. It was a really great experience to be able to watch it. It will be the last one I have in the mission. And finally the announced the temple here in the country. We were the only central american country to not have a temple. Now in a few short years it will be here. Thanks for your prayers everyone. It's really appreciated.

I'd say that was one really big answer to all the prayers of all the people here. I know that the people in this country will recieve so many blessings for having a temple. It's one of the greatest blessings we can have on the earth.

It's been something big that everyone has been working and looking forward to for so long, and it's amazing to see the way the lord answers the people's prayers.

Now I know that there is still a long way to go, and a lot of work to do here in this country. But this is one major stepping stone towards an abundance of blessings being poured out upon the people here.

-Elder Vogt

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Q&A with Family:

1. Any thoughts, quotes, stories or speakers that made an impression on you?

Yeah the conference was quite amazing. I really enjoyed it. I honestly just enjoyed all the talks. They were all really interesting, and interesting with some of the changes in the church.

There were a couple reoccurring themes that I saw in some of the talks. One is about forgiveness, we need to forgive others if we want to be forgiven. And Another is continual revelation in the lord's church. And the importance of acting on spiritual promptings.
2. What was your reaction to the announcement of the Temple there in Managua? Where were you when it was announced and how did the people around react?
It was amazing to hear the announcement. So with the 5 sessions hardly anyone showed up in the church just like 10 people except for Sunday morning where it was about 60, but there were few in the church but it was really powerful to hear about the temple. The reactions of the people they were all really happy and a few were crying from joy. 

3. What is something you gained or took to heart in your scripture study this week?
I like just how much we can apply the scriptures to our lives. I know that many of them are in the format of stories, or just words of wisdom, but we can really apply them to our lives. That's something I really enjoy from the scriptures.

4. What was the hardest thing you encountered this week?
Well a hard thing was getting around with my foot. It's almost all better but just a bit tender still. Though it was hard moving houses (by foot no trucks or anything) with the problem.

5. What was something that brought peace and happiness to you this week?  I'd say the happy moment was the temple announcement.

 

Letter to my Home Ward

This is a letter Elder Vogt wrote at the request of his Bishop back in Montana. This will be read over the pulpit on April 8th.

So this will be something different for me. Giving a message in Engish instead of spanish. But I shall try my best.

So well I guess I should start off with Hello Everyone. This is Elder Vogt. Some of you might remember me from the few months I had there before heading out here to Nicaragua. I remember quite a few of you. 

So to start off I'd like to share some words from Thomas S Monson. “Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save.” So that brings in the theme. Missionary work. I really like this quote because if we stop to think there are so many other people in this world. I know that sometimes from our day to day task everything seems normal and alright. But everyone has their own problems, their own personal struggles. Inside and outside the church. Take a look at each of your own lives. We all have things that go wrong, we have problems, whether they are caused by our own actions or the actions of others, there are things that everyone of us have to face. 

The problem is that sometimes we have the instinctual desire to turn inward and try to solve everything with our own lives first. You know like get your own kitchen in order before helping others. But I'm here to say that your figurative kitchen can be helped by helping out other people as well. I've seen many changes in the people here during my mission. Many changes have been small, but a few have been big. I think the biggest changes come when we forget ourselves and become more like Christ and reach out to the needy. Help others. I'm not saying that you should neglect your own needs or that of your family to help complete strangers, but there are small ways we can serve each and every day to help out. Just think of something that you would like done unto you, and try finding someone who would like the same and try to help them out. 

I know that as we do these small Christ like services we will be more in tuned with the spirit and more open to receiving the promptings to help. I find with the promptings they come in the same way a parent would give chores to their children. Imagine that you have 2 kids.  1 Obedient, and 1 disobedient. You ask the obedient to wash the dishes and he does it on the first time you ask. You feel good so you keep asking him more and more, and giving him more responsibility. Since you know he will be accountable. And with that you'll also be more willing to help him out. Maybe an allowance, or if he wants to do something you'd give him permission more easily. Now with the disobedient child. If you ask him to vacuum and he complains and you have to ask him 3 or 4 times before he does a half hearted job, the next time you might be reluctant to ask him to do things since he probably won't. So you ask less and less, but at the same time he looses the blessings that you would have given him if he did act. Well the same thing is with us and the Lord. The more we follow spiritual promptings the more we will get them, and the more we get them and act on them, the more we get blessed, not just us but those we help as well.

Something else. So recently Elder cook of the 12 apostles came to our Mission and gave a nice talk. He said that the people here in Nicaragua are ready and willing to listen to the gospel, and that they believe in the Lord and how this message can help them out a whole lot if they can just gain a testimony. I can testify that those words weren't just specific to this mission over here, but it's also true for where all of you are at as well. I know that all of you have friends, family, neighbors, many people who are ready to listen to the gospel. Many times they just need an invitation. I realize that it might seem scary to invite someone to come to church with you. I've been there with you, I've had friends and it was always something of me thinking, "I don't know what he'll say, he probably won't want to do things with me anymore if I talk about that kind of stuff."  But if you push aside the fear, the Lord will help direct you all. In the scriptures it says Doubt not fear not. 

A challenge I have for all of you is to make a list of possible people who might be able to listen to the missionaries or be invited to church, and have a special prayer to see which of those names stick out. And follow the Counsel to doubt not, fear not.  The lord will tell you who is ready and willing, and he can help build the courage in each and every one of you to talk with them. It can be something simple, invite them to an activity, or just the meeting. You never know how much of an impact just a simple invitation can really make. And above all if we follow these instructions by president Gordon B Hinkely when he said “Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord. Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him.” It can be an added strength to give us the inspiration and courage to help out those we love.

So yeah I guess that's some of the words I would like to share with you. I just want to close with my testimony that I know that this is the true church. It's because I've prayed and received my answer from the Lord that this is where He wants me, and this is where we all can reach our full potential, to one day reach the goal that we all have to live with our Heavenly Father and our families forever. I know that the Book of Mormon can help all of us gain a stronger  testimony, and that once we have this, it will be easier to keep strong in the faith. I know that we have a prophet now who is the head of the church and he receives revelation for each and every one of us, and if we follow his counsel, we will be able to prepare ourselves for the challenges of today. I want to leave these things with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Tuesday, March 20th - Monday, March 26th

Okay so time to write about my week.

So starting off with Tuesday we had a normal day of work visiting around, lunching, more visits and the likes.

Wednesday we had a zone meeting. So went to a chapel and did that.

Thursday all good

Friday we went and did stuff for my residence card since I lost it like 6 months ago, so that took most of the morning, and in the afternoon did divisons with our DL so he could do some interviews for baptism. So I went to his area with Elder Russel and stayed there the night.

Saturday we had the Relief Society Birthday Anniversary activity, so went early to the church to help set up, and then had the activity (the youth of the ward also did a Pioneer Dance) and afterwards a Baptism of a sister Martha.

Sunday church and the likes, hurt my ankle but it's all good now.
 

It's funny how as the time goes by, Missionaries write less and less. I guess I'm getting to that phase. Though I'm enjoying everything here. Thanks for all of your love and support.

 

Cya next week!

Elder Vogt

 

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Additional info from Family Emails:

Questions:

1. What is something you gained or took to heart in your scripture study this week? well as for the scripture study it wasn't really the scriptures but I was reading the church printout magazine on the life of Thomas S Monson, and one thing that really stood out to me was just the power a good example has on people. And how we always need to act on spirtual promptings even if they seem small. 

 

2. What was the hardest thing you encountered this week?
Well I hurt my ankle. That was a bit difficult, but I'm walking almost fine now (it happened yesterday) should be better by tomorrow.

 

3. What is something that brought peace and happiness to you this week? the nice baptism of a sister in the ward.

Tuesday, March 6th - Monday, March 12th

So this week went alright. Just the end of the changes. And this Saturday the Apostle Quentin L Cook came over to our country here and we got to see him and all the missionaries. It was really cool. And I guess if any of you are wondering. Yeah I had changes. Now I am in Managua again, in the ward Cuidad Jardin. With Elder Perez a Guatemalan who has like 15 months in the mission. Also something exciting is I hit 18 months this Wednesday. Anyways thanks everyone for everything. Cya

- Elder Vogt

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Additional Info from Family Emails:

He shared a few more details about Elder Cook's address:
* Well Elder cook was a really great speaker, 2 things from it were that there are lots of people ready and willing here to hear the gospel. Also, how compared to other countries the devil doesn't have quite as much of a hold here, and everyone still is Christ believing. Also he gave a great testimony saying He's heard the Saviors voice, and seen his face, and that he's a special witness of his reality and divinity. when he said that everyone was all like woah!
*To close he left a blessing on all of us. that our missions will bless the lives of everyone we love. Our brothers and sisters, parents, future spouses. Friends. Ourselves. And that we'll be able to see the impact of our missions in the lives of those we love for years to come. 

* There are 3 zones in Managua in our mission, so I expected it to come (be transferred back to Managua). In my zone there is Elder Caceres (from my old Zone in Chinandega). And in the other zone (in Managua) is my old comp Santizo with another old comp Garcia. And Elder Lund is now with Elder Price in the third zone. I won't really see them all too much except when we have Multi Zone conferences

* I am studying about the life of Jesus Christ. One thing that kinda stood out is just how he could inspire the faith in people. And it wasn't for the miracles or anything like that. But because of that faith that they had they received all these miracles. So what we need to do is help people build their faith constantly in order to well receive the miracles 

* It'd be nice to have snow again. I miss it.

Lots of pictures this week of saying GoodBye to families in Chinandega and then with several friends and old companions that I got to see at the big Conference in Managua with Quentin L. Cook

Tuesday, March 27th - Monday, March 5th

So this week was pretty good. We had our zone meeting Tuesday and then starting Wednesday till Friday we had family home evenings with a large group of people by sector. So we have 3 sectors and just depending on where you live you are assigned to one of them one of the days. We went about and visited people. And something different this week was Thursday in the morning we helped the elders in another area in our zone move houses. So we came with our bishop (since he has a truck) and helped them move. Their new house is really awesome. One of the best houses of the missionaries I've seen here in this country. And Saturday we did an activity in their ward where we cleaned a street and contacted all the houses. And yesterday was alright the church and the normal stuff. But All good in the hood. I'm excited for this week since the apostle Elder Cook will be coming Saturday. So I'm looking for that. Anyways I hope you all have a great week. Thanks for reading.

-  Elder Vogt
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Additional info from family emails

* Their ward has 650 members on the rolls but only 65-120 show up so they are really focusing on reactivation.

* They played soccer, and cooked food for PDay. Everyone cooked something from  their country. He teamed up with his companion do a dish from his country called Mangu. It's like mashed potatoes but with plantains. 

*A member from his comps old area was leaving the country (and she was visiting family in Chinandega) and so all of the Elders who had that area before all went to Pizza together.