Mon, Dec 26, 2011 at 2:05 PM

Hola Hola familia. It was really great to hear from you all Saturday. It was good to hear how you were doing and what not. Hey, you never told what the surprise was for Uncle Mark. I really like the chess set too. I also like the picture in the back of Rachel and me in the mission. That is awesome.

Christmas here was pretty good I guess. We got invited to different houses to eat boiled chicken so that was great, haha. That night everyone lit off fireworks, or more like bombs, at midnight to celebrate so that was cool too. Not too many people showed up to the Sacrament Meeting the next day and we only had one investigator that went. The Jimmy and Cristina family are wanting more time before they get baptized and now a bunch of problems are coming to stop them. It is really difficult.

Today we went to the Market and I almost got everything for everyone. This market is a little more expensive than the the one in Masaya but it was reasonable. We then ate some Hamburlooca and that was good. I pretty much already talked about the other things that have been going on here in the phone call so there isn`t too much more to talk about, haha.

I hope all of you are well and wish you a Happy New Year. I love you lots and lots.

Amount of times we should forgive Hearts,

Elder Ochs

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 3:32 PM

Wow it is great to hear all of the great things that are happening. That movie Hugo, I read the book once when we were at Barnes and Noble. The book is mainley just pictures and the ending was strange. It was supposedly given a bunch of awards as a book but that is cool that they made it as a movie too. They need to do the Bartimus Trilogy or some of the Peter Pan books or the one with the kid and his little friend. Sorry Mom about your bad experience and they you didn`t get to try any of the good looking food. Did you guys order the candle from Oregon or something? That is awesome that the Primary got to do a small Christmas presentation for the ward. I can`t wait to see all of the little ones all grown up, haha. The video greeting worked but I used a Cyber without headphones so I wasn`t able to listen to it. It was nice to see all of your smiling faces though. That would be cool Dad to get an insulated hammock. They don`t sell those here though because insultation isn`t necesary. The President Daniel Ortega has his house pretty protected and you can`t go in without a setup visit ahead of time. It is completely blocked off by huge green fences with police all around. Maybe I will give him a call though. I told you those slippers were a hot item, haha. I will start preparing my talk now and the fireside will be easy. Is Kaleb going to be there too? What is his Topic? You aren`t serious about the fancy Beans and Rice restraunt, right? I would not eat there for a while. I think that I will get Tyler a soccer outfit of the favorite team here or something. Dad you put quite the dent in the horn. Can you put cereal in the dent in your back, haha. I imagine the wall got a little scratched up too. I have eaten that Top Ramen with egg here too, haha. It is pretty good.

Today was an even worse Pday than last week. The one year anniversary of the Mission President is comming up so we had a multi-Zone planning meeting to put together something for them. We went to the chapel but it felt like we really didn't get that much done for 2 hours. I got to meet missionaries from other zones though so that was cool. We are preparing something but it is hard to have order with a bunch of missionaries during Pday.

I haven`t got the package yet. Is it kind of big? I may get it at the last changes.

I do have two new pictures for you:

Here is a picture of me studying in my room.

And this is a picture of me with my new companion Elder Bala. He is going to finish the mission with me. He also went to the MTC with his siter and she already went home in August too. He is really cool and we are going to finish strong here in Acahualinca. He is from Guatemala and he is 25 years old. His parents aren`t members but all of his brothers and sisters are.

We tried a soup that I would have never imagined eating Saturday night. Bone marrow soup. The substance is a little more solid than a lugi. It leaves a filmy slime on your tetth too. It was a gagging experience but we finished it. The good thing is that I found Chocolate Chip Cookie mix in the store so we are going to make that for the Family Home Evening treat. I am going to finish the mission with my two kids in the same zone too. Elders Feliciano and Santos, so that is really cool! Hey has there been an Elder Bowers in the Oakdale ward within these past two years. One of the missionaries here is best friends with him and he believes that he served in our ward. Well it is going good and I can`t wait to see you all again. Love you tons and...

How much I can`t wait to see everyone Hearts,

Elder Ochs

Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 11:54 AM

Well it is great to hear from all of you again this week. So did the sleeping bag over the hammock work, haha. I would expect it to be a little breezy at the top.

Dad you finally found the house. That is it at the corner.

About the talks that we have to give when we get back, do you know what they are on or about? I can start now a little bit ahead of time, haha. What kind of fireside will it be? For our ward, stake, or something else?

Dad I have already forgotten your number and just to be safe could you send me the number of Mom and Rachel too.

For some reason Google couldn´t show the videos. I will see if it works on other computers but I am not sure.

Ya last Pday was boring and also this one. We were going to go play baseball with the zone today but my comp takes forever to get ready so when we had gotten to the chapel they had already left and I don`t know where to. Um, the president would machete me if I showed up at his house because it isn`t in my area and the missionaries don`t visit him.

Happy Anniversary to the both. Mom, hurry and buy those Batman slippers because that is a hot item that goes fast, haha. Rachel, my hair turned out good I guess. I forgot to take a picture of it to send.

As for my week, this was the last week of the change. Today I will find out who is going to kill me. My last change starts Wednesday.

Our animated family came to church this Sunday and also a surprise family that we weren`t expecting. The family of Jimmy and Cristina are going to get baptized this weekend. Our zone leaders came and interviewed them last night and they are good to go. We need to go talk to the surprise family tonight to see if they want to get baptized.

As for the gift for Tyler, do you think that he would like one of the tops. I want to get him a traditional Nicaraguan shirt but I don`t have access to one here. I will bring one when I get home.

Well I love you all lots and lots,

Amount of cobblestones in Nicaragua Hearts,

Elder Ochs

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 12:10 PM

Alright well it was great to hear from you all. That trip of the Kimball's was really awesome. That movie "Cricket on the Hearth" sounds like a classic, haha. Did you rent it or buy it? Poor little Luke, sounds like us with Ryan, haha. Maybe that is why he walks all funny like now. Tell Grandma and Grandpa thank you very much and I love them a ton. I am not sure that the Seventies stiff arm regular members but I hope not, haha.

Well now I know where the house is. So there is a block where there a bunch of little blue roofed houses all lined up at the upper right hand corner. Go four blocks to the left. In that block it is the long brown roofed house at the bottom right corner. We live there at the corner. Hopefully you find it.

Wow President Gelwix is pilas. That is awesome. The missionaries work really hard for their baptisms.

Dad don´t worry. I will inherit those slippers, haha. Hopefully the first kid is a boy. Those Batman heads are really big, haha. Those can be used as pillows also. Did you already buy them because the picture is of them in the store?

That was an awesome story about Bishop in the Subway and being able to help that guy out.

About the phone call on Christmas, Will you have your cellphone with you also? I can call on the 24th or the 25th. Which one would be better?

This Sunday we had the same family come to church again and they are really animated. They are doing great and the spirit is strong with them right now. We will need to baptize them soon before the Spirit leaves. If not this weekend the next. We have to get our baptisms in the water before the 24th and 31st of December because everyone drinks on those dates. Even if they don´t drink all year long, it is tradition that everyone drinks those days.

I don´t know if any reindeer is going to want to eat carrots out of my stinky boots, so we will have to see I guess, haha. Or if Sinterklaas can penetrate my fortress.

I love you tons and

Santa´s Cookies Hearts,

Elder Ochs

Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 2:12 PM

Alright so you had an awesome Thanksgiving. The "Bottle of Power" sounded fun to play, haha. It was fun here too. The mission gave us money to buy something for Thanksgiving and we put the zone money all together and bought pies, ice cream and milk. That was pretty tasty. That is what we did for Thanksgiving.

Dad as far as where is my house, you got it, that is the Plaza with the tree and everything. I do live close to a lot of cool stuff but I haven´t visited any of them yet. The Plaza has a big carnival there right now so that is going on 24/7. But my house is from the Presidential Palace all the way to the left. If you can zoom in around there I think I can spot it out. Between the National Theater and the Palace I am pretty sure.

No I haven´t seen Brother Falabella for a while because he is working a lot in his business and isn´t going on splits with the missionaries now. I am writing him though and he is doing good. That hanger in the picture is his actually which is why I took a picture with it, haha. Elder Montierth was dressing up for Halloween and he went as Trix the Rabbit. I think he just found the mask thing and made a costume out of that. He is actually getting married soon. He is already engaged haha. But he is having fun I guess, haha.

As far as the BYU thing, I think that you are right about waiting it out. I saw that calendar and it confused me. I don´t think that I am supposed to do it yet. I am just so glad that the yards will be spotless when I get home, not till next year for me, haha. Ya I still need to get more stuff before handing out the stuff from the package. I think that I will wait till I can pass them out personally. There isn´t as much cool things where I am at right now.

This weekend we had our baptism for Gabriela and it went good.

I got to baptize her so that was cool. She is like 12 years old and the family is really cool. The rest of the family are members except for the little girls. They are really cool. We also had a a whole family that came to church and they liked it a lot. They have been having a lot of family problems and we have been helping them out. Hopefully we can baptize them before the end of this change. The bishop has been going out with us a lot and that is awesome. He really likes to do missionary work. Tonight we are going to have to Family Home Evenings with him.

This Wednesday Elder Amado of the Setenta (Seventy) for Central America came and talked to us. He gave us training on missionary work and it was really good. He talked about how Nephi was allowed by the law to kill Laban because they were living the Law of Moses where it was eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. When Laban tried to kill him unjustly that automatically gave him permission to get him back. But it isn´t like that now, haha.

Well I love you all lots and lots

The amount of stink there is in this Cyber right now next to an open sewage Hearts,

Elder Ochs

Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 11:39 AM

So ya there is now a whole bunch of emails that I have to catch up on. A lot are from others that I wrote last week when I had extra time, haha.

I did get a lot of pictures taken of our little unique apartment. Here is a tour of our place:

So this is the first floor where we study at different angles so you can see everything,

There are the stairs,

and the view looking up the stairs,

getting to the top of the stairs,

and then turning to the right,

This is the little walk way to the sleeping room,

the bathroom door to the right as you first enter the room,

my bed,

the bathroom.

This is the view I have in the mornings of the things around me while in bed.

My companion's bed.

So there are also a lot of questions you have sent to me to answer. Hopefully I get the majority of them. Well first Dad I don´t recognize the picture you took. Maybe it would be better if you found the chapel in Acahualinca and then it is like 10 blocks East I think. Hopefully that helps. I won´t be able to see Brother Falabella but I will see Elder Amado the new Seventy. I have met Falabella before though, he is cool I guess. The video you sent me was really funny about the stolen candy on Halloween.

Yes, I need the answers to those questions you sent me Mom about school. I don´t know anything about that or how to do the paper work. Maybe if you sent me the requirements for me then I can do what I need to do here. They give us time to do that.

Hey I am going to buy the house next door. Save it for me for when I get back, haha.

I have never heard of the Frisbee rule (the guide book for the Nicaragua Mission discouraged the Missionaries from bringing Frisbees or Footballs to the Mission) but that would be weird if it was one. What could happen with a Frisbee? Yes, The boy I gave my plastic top to was able to get me a nice wooden one. I have gotten it down alright but I don´t know how to battle. Hopefully little kids don´t challenge me.

Sunday we had two investigators in Church and one is getting ready for a Baptism this Saturday. It is a 12 year old girl and we are activating her family. They are really cool people and funny.

Mom I found out a secret to make your fruit trees give fruit twice as much in the year. A old lady told me that if you put CDs, ornaments and other wierd stuff in a tree or plant it gets embarrassed and it blooms more flowers and gives more fruit to look good again. You should try it out.

Well I got to finish up now but I love you all a ton

I can´t think of a size vast enough to express Hearts for you,

Elder Ochs

Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 11:55 AM

Hey this is the only photo I think you don´t have.

It is my comp and me. I am eating a chocolate covered marshmallow with a gummy mouth and nose.

I am writing a little bit early today which is maybe why I haven´t got any thing from you guys yet. Elder Stanley and I are working a lot better this week together now. We started off a little rough but it is better now. There is still some stuff to correct but little by little. I am his Step-Dad so he only knew his Father. We got a new lunch lady to cook for us. She lives closer than the other. She is Chinese but doesn´t know how to make Chinese food. She came here when she was twelve so she is pretty Nica now. She is kinda of old and crazy. She has like 8 dogs in the house and she grabs them by the two side legs and drags them around. She also feeds the stray dogs outside. She is a pretty good cook though. She is always getting on Elder Stanley for not finishing all of his food, haha. She saw that he was giving me his juice yesterday, haha. She doesn`t really care though when I leave food on the plate, haha. She is crazy.

I got a cool top. One of our recent converts gave me one of his and I have been practicing a lot. I got it down but now I want to do some tricks. Everyone here knows how to spin tops. It is a childhood experience for all Nicas. I had a plastic one but I gave it to a kid so he could win me a wooden one which is better. They have battling competitions to win other peoples tops here.

Today we played Ultimate Frisbee for the first time in my whole mission. Another Elder has been asking his parents for one his whole mission but they didn`t send it until now and he is going home this change, haha. It was a lot of fun and now the zone wants to play it more. I made a lot of touchdowns. They were saying that I was the Chery Picker, haha. I do like cherries.

Sunday we had two investigators that came to church so that was really cool. We had a lot of people telling us that they were coming but didn`t show up. Maybe we will have more this next Sunday, yes.

Alright well I love you guys lots and hope to hear from you soon.

Lucha Libre Hearts,

Elder Ochs

Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 1:49 PM

Wow wow a lot did happen in this last week. It seems like a long time since the last time I wrote for some reason though. So yes I am in a new place but in the same Zone I was in about a 1 1/2 years ago. I am in Managua again with the heat. My area is really close to my last area Linda Vista actually. My area is called Acahualinca. We are right next to a place called the Plaza which is used for performances and everything. Right now they have a really tall Christmas lights tree that you can see from the house. There is also a carnaval right now and it goes all night. Recently they did the elections so everyone has been crazy here. Unfortunately you can`t carry around your camera here because robbing is normal. So I may not be sending as many photos now and there aren`t really any cool plants and flowers either. I do have a few pictures for this week though:

A picture of my last zone

My flight plans for coming home. It will be on Jan 26.

A chicken with crazy frizzy feathers.

Me with a hanger in my new house. Brother Falabella is a good friend that was in the Ward when I was last here in Managua.


Now we have running water so that is nice. The house that we are in is pretty cool also. I meant to take pictures but I forgot. It is two stories tall but not all that much space. We sleep upstairs and it is kind of tucked away and hidden so I like it a lot. It is kind of like a little fortress haha. I will probably die here like Rachel said but I am fine with that. We have a nice grocery store here that has a lot of nice food so I am excited about that. I bought Chex Mix the other day there. They recently built a new capilla (Chapel) that is really nice. Sunday we only stayed for the Sacrament session so that the people could go vote. That Sunday so many people gave us red soda, like 2 liters each of us. I was sick of soda. My new comp is Elder Stanley from Panama! He said that he is from the capital. I don`t know if you knew him Rachel. I will send a picture next week of him. He likes to work a lot so that is great. I am his Step Dad so he is pretty new here. I eventually broke in half his one dollar air soft gun though because he kept shooting me, haha. But that is the news here.

Now to answer the other questions. The Beaches here are really nice and very warm. I definitely want to come back here to swim and surf and whatnot.

It sounds like you all had a fun Halloween there. Dad the video you sent didn`t work, I don`t know why.

For Pday today we played a game that we invented here in Nicaragua in my last area. It is called "Horseball". You play it on a court where it has the lines for Basketball and Volleyball. It is a mix of a few games. There are three people on each side inside of the yellow box for volleyball. there is a box between the two boxes also. You need to kick the ball past the other side with only two kicks from your side. The ball has to touch the inside of the box and you can`t touch it if it goes in the middle. It is called Horseball because you make crazy hits which they call here being a horse. Being a horse is when you do dumb stuff and sometimes in this game you make dumb kicks or you do kicks like a horse. I will have to show it to you all when I get back because it is actually really fun.

Hey Rachel I was thinking about applying for BYU Provo for the April-September session. Could you look that up for me and help me out with that?

Well I love you guys a ton like always and I hope to hear more interesting stories next week.

Tuna Hearts,

Elder Ochs

Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 4:24 PM

Oh man, Nicaraguans don´t celebrate Halloween. It is just another day, and it is raining. But you guys seem to be having a good time. I can´t wait to see the costumes. That one picture of Rachel is definitely scary. And Dad that is the picture I was referring to, haha. I didn´t realize it till afterwards reviewing it on the computer, haha. You said that Nikki came with Bryce and Ryan? Is Nikki with Bryce?

I tried taking out some money the other day and I couldn´t. Maybe it was just the bank but I don´t know. The amount in there is good though. You were saying Mom about the clothes, I am leaving behind my shoes because I can´t get rid of the mold growing on them and they are really old. I am going to see if my boots last me.

Rachel I believe I have tried out that caramelo milk thing here. They make some weird stuff here. I hope the headless bride turns out good and maybe you can scare Dwight, haha. I liked that scripture you sent me and the message. I want to buy a bunch of the church books online to start studying when I get back. I have been holding back from studying that kind of stuff while here on the mission. Which books does Dad already have?

Dad you never said who won between Whitmyer and Morgan. I heard that Sister Morgan is really good but I don´t know about Brother Whitmyer. I have only played once here Dad so I will challenge you when I get back, haha.

About the waterfall picture, you can´t see what is behind me. There is an artificial dam and a little dry path out to the edge. I had him take the picture so it looks like I am in the middle of a rapid waterfall, haha.



Today we went to a place called Masatepe to see a supposedly "cool" lake. It is just a water and trash run-off. We went down this really big hill to get there and we had to go back up it sweating like crazy. I can do that any day of the week in my own area. Afterwards we ate Pupusas.

The path to the "lake" was pretty cool

Here is a cool flower

and a Catholic church we saw on the way back

So from what is coming from the grapevine, I have changes and Wednesday I will be going to my new area, and probably the last. I am sad to leave La Concha but I will be back soon.

This weekend the baptism didn´t happen because they didn´t feel prepared yet. So I won´t see their baptisms. It stinks because we didn´t have a baptism all of this change. I want to finish well though. Hopefully I die in Masaya.

Well I love you guys lots and lots and hope you are all well.

Elder Ochs

Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 5:31 PM

So you guys are having a good time and are staying busy as always. Cool story that you found a guy from Panama, to bad Rachel wasn´t there to attack him, haha. Dang a Chess Night sounds like a lot of fun to do. I have played it once here but that is it. I have got a lot better with my car motion sickness. I sat backwards and hunched over for about a 40 minute drive today and I wasn´t even sick, yaaaeh!! As for the Christmas package just put some money in my account to get stuff in the Market in Masaya. I have a list of all of the names of the family and I still have more people to give gifts. I got Ryan´s gift today and something for some one else but I just don´t know for who yet.

Rachel that is awesome that you are going to BYU-Idaho. You will get to be there with Hillary. It is also going to be really chilly up there. Thanks for that scripture in the Book of Mormon. That is really cool and interesting to know. Somehow I don´t even remember that one, haha. And I read that one just a few weeks ago.

My Camera cards are fine and the package got sent off about a week ago now, I believe. Alright I will look for a gift for Tyler. I believe that we are going to Masaya this next week so I will get something cool there. That is really cool that you got to see Jeff Peabody. That doesn´t seem like a coincidence to me either.

I am sending a bunch of pictures so I won´t be writing that much.

So hear are some of the pictures from our P-Day last week and the trip that we took down to La Maquina.

a Catholic church in San Marcos on the way.

This looks like it could be London but it is Diriamba.

us on the side of the road waiting for a bus.

The water was really muddy and it was raining this day.

Alright so I got up on the waterfall and a Park Ranger got mad at me and Elder Woodruff.

A rickity bridge.

A Panama tree.

and a cool rooty tree.

Here is a picture of the group that went.

Here are a few random pictures:

us in a multi zone conference.

the Green Lantern, haha.

Dolphin boy (an option to engrave on a ring, haha)

And here are a few more pretty plants that I found for Mom:
















Today we went to a beach called Huehuete. It was really cool and I found a lot of cool shells. We had about 2 hours to run around and whatnot. I also got some cool pictures:

Here we are in our house having some hot chocolate before we head out.

us on rocks on the beach.

one of me in the rocks, does it remind you of another picture? haha.

me

and me on a log

We found a tiny hermit crab

and also a big crab

So concerning your question about how me and my companion is doing: Elder Chavez is a strange guy but we are getting along fine. We finally had an investigator in church so that was great. We are going to see if we can get 3 baptisms this weekend and possibly a family. Pray for us so that we can finish up this change strong.

Love you lots and lots.

All of the creations Hearts,

Elder Ochs