Civil Unrest Leads to All Missionaries Leaving Nicaragua

2 Weeks ago (on May 22, 2018), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints transferred out 169 of the 327 Missionaries serving in in Nicaragua (both the North and South Missions) due to civil unrest. Those with 2 or less transfers left were sent home while the others were reassigned. 158 Missionaries were left in Nicaragua and moved to "safer areas". Elder Vogt was one of the remaining 158 and was moved from Managua to Tipitapa.

Things kept escalating there and on Monday, June 4th the church quickly (and quietly!) got most of the 158 remaining missionaries out of the country and released this statement:

Church Transferring All Missionaries Out of Nicaragua

Missionary Update

4 JUNE 2018 - SALT LAKE CITY

 

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following statement about the transfer of all of its missionaries out of Nicaragua:

In light of continued violence and deteriorating conditions in Nicaragua, the Church has decided to transfer the remaining 158 missionaries out of that country. Those missionaries are being moved to temporary assignments in North America, South America, the Caribbean and New Zealand. Most of these missionaries have already left the country. All others awaiting travel are in a safe location and will arrive in their new assignments in the next several days.

As part of this move, the Nicaragua Managua South Mission president and his young family have left the country and returned home. The Nicaragua Managua North Mission president and his companion will remain in Nicaragua for the time being to take care of some ecclesiastical responsibilities over local Church members. (note: President Poncio ended up leaving the country 3 days later for safety)

The Church will continue to monitor developments in Nicaragua and make a decision in the future regarding the eventual return of missionaries. In the meantime, we pray for peace and stability for all who live there during this uncertain time.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

We had received a quick message from Seth on Sunday (June 3rd) saying that he was headed to the Mission Home and he thought they'd be leaving the country. He didn't know if he was going to be coming home or reassigned to somewhere in the USA. We told him to use his debit card during his travels so that we could see where he "was". On Monday, June 4th, when we checked the bank we saw a charge from the Atlanta, Georgia Airport and new he'd been safely evacuated out of the country. We waited by our phones the entire day for word. At one point, I even called the Mission Office in Utah and asked if they could tell me where my son was - which they could not (they said for safety reasons) and that he would call me when he arrived at his new assignment. Around 8pm that night, we received a call from him stating that he'd been reassigned to the California Carlsbad Mission!

It was quite the change for him - a huge culture shock really (and I think he might have felt like he had just arrived into a "foreign" mission with how different everything was!) He was assigned to serve in Oceanside (Spanish Speaking) and was put into a Trio with Elders Morrison and Caswell. They treated him very well and helped with his transition. There was a total of 6 Missionaries from Nicaragua that were sent to that same mission (including his good friend, Elder Price).

Tuesday, May 22nd - Monday, May 28th

 

Well so pretty much since last Sunday we had to help with some people finishing up the mission they had to sleep in our house, we had Monday free, but Tuesday they called us in the morning and said we had to go work with the people who were being sent home. So We went out with 2 missionaries one elder Wight, and one elder Bassett. ​So we just chilled with them for the day and dropped em off in the evening. 

At like 11PM we got woken up by a call saying that a 70 will be in the mission in the morning and he was going to work in our area with us to see how everything is going country wise. So we were like dang...we gotta prepare something! We don't have any appointments in the morning or anything what do we do. 

But as morning came by they told us he would only go to south mission and we were off the hook. Just worked like normal pretty much all the week.

Friday we took care of a Brazilian who didn't have a comp, so we stayed with him the day, and we also had a mother's day activity in the church, and it was really cool. The youth all did dances, and they brought in a mariachi band and had food and all so it was fun.

Saturday was pretty low key

And yesterday I got word of my changes. (last change was only 4 weeks since a ton were companion-less so we needed changes to give people companions and leaders in the mission.) and so I went to Tipitapa in the branch la bocana. With a hondurano elder Ramos. So in the morning a member from my old area took me over to my new once since it is somewhat close, and we had lunch and now we are here writing. So I guess I'll probably finish here in this area and we shall see how it goes. I hope it all works out nicely. I honestly wanted to finish in my last area but oh well that's how the mission is, full of changes. 

Cya

Elder Vogt

Tuesday, May 8th - Monday, May 14th

Yeah so I guess I gotta start writing about what has happened this week. It was quite the busy week we hardly had time to do our normal visits. Since our area is large and we usually hit one part a day.

So starting off on Tuesday we had our zone meeting and did all that. Then we worked. This was one of the normal days except the power went out for a bit but other than that all good.

Wednesday due to a march going on we were told to stay inside pretty much all day. So we went out until lunch time then we went back and were stuck inside the house. So playing some games. Lucky for me is like 2 weeks ago I bought some Uno cards so we ended up playing that quite a bit and reading.

Thursday was Mother's day in my companion's country (Guatemala). So much of the day was occupied with his call to his family. It was nice to see em and he was happy to do that.

Friday we had a multi zone meeting where instead of just hearing a bunch of speeches from the leaders we ended up doing more pratices. Was fun to see everyone again. Then we headed back and made a visit or two before coming back

Saturday we left with our ward mission leader to some of those farther areas in our area. Just visiting around then came back for dinner at his place. I enjoy having him around since he is my first ward mission leader who has actually done anything, most don't. So it's a real blessing to have him here.

Though a funny storty that happened. Is in the area we were at he was telling us a story of how a while ago they found other missionaries from the South Mission working in their area (since my area touches the south mission) and after telling us that story we looked off into the distance and we some some. So went up to them and were like sup, and they supped us  back, and after chatting a bit we parted our ways. Good boys those ones.

Yesterday Sunday we had church, lunch, made a visit, then I went to call my family. It was great seeing everyone again. The time is running down short. I got to see my new house (since my parents moved from Montana to Idaho last week) and just spend time talking with the fam. They got some good pics and it's all nice. Anyways that's pretty much how my week was. Thanks for reading.

-Elder Vogt

Tuesday, April 24th - Monday, April 30th

So we had a decent week over here. It was the 7th week of the normally 6 week changes. It was extended a week because of all of the unrest and disturbances going on here in Nicaragua. We had been locked down in our apartment for several days and we were going crazy with nothing to do!

So yeah the changes got extended an extra week. But by Tuesday everything had settled down and we were able to leave our apartments.  Had our zone meeting and started working like normal. We had to enter a bit early each night but by Friday it was all good.
 

More or less this week we helped prepare a large family so they could be baptized and had 4 of them baptized this weekend it was really nice. And we also had changes/transfers. I'm still in this same area but got a new companion - Elder Garcia (for those attentive of you, it's not the same garcia as I had earlier, this one is from Guatemala.) and yeah that's pretty much it. Hope we have a great week and hope you all have a great week too. Cya

 

-Elder Vogt

 

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

*************************************
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

************************************************

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.