Half Time Desire

Dawn Patrol Managua,

Elder Jake only in crowded, sweaty buses and taxis again this week. All over managua tues and weds. Thurs, fri, sat Hirschi and I went with prez to all of his meetings with leadership in chinandega and leon. We came back sunday afternoon to get back for our boy Aaron's wedding and baptism. Aaron is so freaking sick. He's 23 and got a great wife named karla who is already a member. They are both so sleezy and are some of the greatest people i know. Aaron anounced his May 14, 2016 date during his baptism to go get sealed in the temple in either salt lake or san diego. 

Aaron and Karla's Wedding

Never thought that I would be in charge of planning a 10 year olds car pool schedule but that is my life now. I also broke that same 10 year olds trampoline last week so i guess thats what i get. Speaking of breaking things and ten year olds i accidently shattered a childs ripstik in the street the other day. We walked slowly back to his house as he cried and angrilly told his mother how the stupid white guy had broken his skateboard on his birthday. (This stupid white guy replaced the skateboard right away!)

One year down. Its crazy how fast the time has gone. I really feel like it was just yesterday that i waved good bye to suzette two times in the airport haha. I have been thinking a lot lately how my life has changed completely in such a short period of time. What have i done and what can I do better. I have gained a greater appreciation for all of you in my time away. 

Every good thing in this life requires sacrifice. If i have learned anything over the last year it is that. Effort is always required. The struggle is essential. Work. Sweat, blood, frustration. Patience and dedication are learned by those who want it. And the feeling after a win, after doing something hard, is indescribable. 

The game is half over. Many of you can relate to sitting in a locker room at halftime. Exhausted, frustrated, hating the enemy and overwhelmed with anticipation and desire to get back out and drop 30 knowing that all the sacrifice and time you have put in before will have been worth it. 

A man once said

Strength and struggle go together. The supreme reward of struggle is strength. Life is a battle and the greatest joy is to overcome. The pursuit of easy things makes men weak. Do not equip yourselves with superior power and hope to escape the responsibility and work. It cannot be done. It is following the lines of least resistance that makes rivers and men crooked. 

Doing hard things and sacrifice makes everything in this life worth it. Rededicated. Knowing that putting in work for God now will allow me to love and apprieciate all of you and this life even more.

Sleezy always. Love you guys.