Passion with a Purpose

Sleezy Dawn Patrol Report. Elder Jake will be here in managua at least till october. Pretty stoked though. Elder Hirschi 's freakin dope and we are running this place like Will Ferrel runs his youth dance teams- lot of energy. lot of hight fives. lot of smiles.

Things here in Iraq are good. The missionary convoy had no carside puke bombs from elder hirschi. 

We do however think that a family of cats has died in one of the walls of our house. Reminds me of the smell of the infected, steaming feet of those in the ER whose toes have molded together into one beautiful knob on the end of their leg. (suzette gag) That dead family mixed with the 2 day clogged nicaraguan bathroom toilet makes for a "hot box" like atmosphere every 90 degree night. Love this place haha. 

Maddy hammering away in Mexico

Speaking of the ER, we did a little service project last week for a single mom named Alma. We replaced the zinc sheets that cover her tiny
little concrete structure. One of our more intelligent, somewhat plump missionaries, forgot that he actually didn't get a bachelors degree in home remodeling and thought it would be a good idea to walk across the tiny little sheets of zinc on top the house. 30 minutes in and we almost had a little trip down to Nicaraguan Rancho Springs ER where there wouldn't have been that one cute PA waiting to bandage that little guy up. After 30 minutes all the elder quorum was exhausted and the bishop did a solid job and showed up with cheese and coke at 7 in the morning. Ahhhhhhhh! Lot of high fives, smiles, power tools, unnecessary welding torches, and no female supervision. I looked like maddy up there hammering all those nails in and didn't even break a nail. All said and done our girl alma got a sweet new roof so that her and her baby wouldn't get wet when it rains.

This week Jessenia and Carlos got baptized. Carlos is an awesome dude that has issues and cant walk very well so we had to throw a chair in the font for him and i had to stand on his legs so that they would float up during his baptism. Jessenia is an amazing lady that sacrificed everything to be able to baptized. More that just the common extreme poverty that exists here, Jessenia had an extremely difficult life and has given up everything for the gospel and for her two kids. She wakes up every morning at 4 oclock to go sell tortillas with her kids and mom. She is passionate for the most important things in this life. Jessina has nothing but gives everything. 

I admire those who have a passion for things. Who put there heads down and do what is necessary despite adversity, pain or poverty. Playing ball and watching the greats put in work and just do it despite adversity taught me this growing up. There is no better feeling than putting it all out there, exhausting yourself and overcoming. It a universal principle that should be applied throughout life. 

Passion, however, without purpose has little effect. Those who work hard and put in the time without an end in mine or an ultimate goal will come up short, loose focus, or find themselves faced with a problem or difficulty that seems impossible to overcome. Michael Jordan talks about this wall that we face many times in life. 

He says,

  

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

How do we know how to get around it? What is the right decision? How do we overcome?

The gospel of Jesus
Christ gives us purpose and direction. It fuels our passion. Those who put their faith in God and strive to be good people will be directed around the impassable walls that we often find ourselves in front of. God will always help those who are humble and trust in Him. Passion with purpose allows us to overcome ANY obstacle that we may face in this life. 

20 But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage;and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him.

I love all you guys. Stay sleezy. 

Hirschi Squirts

Dawn Patrol Jake and Hirsh

Elder hirschi and i ran around directing multizone conferences this week. A lot of teaching. Little sleep. A lot of driving. And a little puke from elder hirschi every once in while when he would look at me in the passenger seat with a white face and yell "duuuudeee pull over." We had some fun puking in the jungle together. i am the son of my mother because i almost puked my chocolate milk all over presidents car listening to hirschi squirts heave out all those rice and beans. 

I love the mission. I miss all of you but would be anywhere else in the world. 

Next week i wont be running around so much so there will be some better pics and a goooood letter. 

stay sleezy. love all you guys. 

Puro Pinolero

hey guys whats up?

how was the week?

just some little stuff.

My release date is april 28 2016. president has already talked to me about extending. but april is the plan so far. 

the only thing i want to do when i get home is eat panda and come back to nicaragua in june to shred and be here with all my buds.  

we are still preparing big time for the apostle. there is a butt load of crap to do when a big dog comes. it will be way dope tho. both the missions are going to get together. 

Elder Hirschi, Jose, Anna, Elder Jake

Nothing new this week. Elder hirschi and i moved and found a sick house right next to the church and by this great chocolate milk place. Finally put up my chain nets the other day. We have been waking up early to play half the mornings. 

On friday night at 830 pm Anna got baptized. She is the wife of Jose Ramoncito that went for a swim a couple of weeks ago. A month and a half ago she wouldnt even talk to me. on friday night we went for a swim together. it was awesome. they are both so freakin sick. 

I guess this is his weapon of choice in the fight for freedom

A couple of weeks ago nicaragua celebrated the 19 of july which is their holiday to commemorate the end of the war here in Nicaragua and their appreciation for Augosto Sandino, the leader of the rebellion efforts and socialism here for many years. There was a small gathering of over 500,000 people near lake managua not 5 minutes from our area on that day. 

Though i do not usually support communism, socialism, arson, alcohol abuse, and plenty of domestic violence, the 19 of july was a great day this year. I love nicaragua. Nothing will ever be the same. 

I saw a quote this week by Augosto Sandino this week and it was something that i shared in my hour or so talk that i gave in our meeting with all the leadership this last week.  

Si hubiesen hombres en nicaragua que la amen como yo. Nicaragua seria libre. 

If there were men in nicaragua that love it like i do. Nicaragua would be free. 

I love this place. My life will never be the same. I am so grateful for the friends and family that i have back at home and the freedoms that we enjoy. I am even more grateful for the blessing that god has given me to be able to help my brothers here obtain the freedom that comes through faith in jesus christ. 

love you all. stay sleezy. 

Dylan's title come from the phrase "soy puro pinolero, nicaragüense por gracia de Dios"  It is a phrase from a famous nicaraguan song, Nicaragua Mia, but is used to show true pride in being Nicaraguan.  The first part "puro pinolera" (I'm very pinolero) refers to a pinolillo a traditional Nicaraguan drink of cornmeal and cocoa and the Nicaraguans use a twist on the name and refer to themselves as Pinoleros.  The second part "nicaragüense por gracia de Dios," means I'm Nicaraguan thanks to God.