Wikipedia Corinto, Nicaragua  Sister City Portland, Oregon

We visited a cool beach town in Corinto this week and got a free ride back to our house which does not happen often. 

shoes/zapatos

 Saturday night our lunch seta hosted a Quinceañera for a close friend.  They were busting serious music in their house.  Hey Dad I know you are a man of music.  I have a song for you to listen to, it's called "7 Dias,"  by Romeo Santos Romeo Santos That night she fed us sandwiches, beans, cake, and soda.  Here in Divino Nino we are fed very well.  We actually had to tell our seta to slow it down a bit. 

Elder Scaggs and Elder Smith 

 Oh my gosh I'm so thankful to hear from you guys, I love it!!!!!  Please keep the updates coming.  I love it!  This week was a huge game changer.  I got a new companion and his name is Elder Reese.  He knows Spanish very well, and I already see my Spanish improving because of him.  I am so thankful for his help on my mission.  This week was odd, we were really just trying to get our legs under us.  We found some cool investigators that we will visit again this week.

Easton, Grandpa, Dad, and Alex 2014

Easton knows how to do it right.
He helped build our garage.

I learned a huge lesson this week about goals and doing things right.  We were meeting with these people, and during our lesson the "electrician" came by to fix this woman's power.  He pulled a cable out of the ground, just YANKED it up and put some tape on it.  Then he buried it in the ground again, maybe 2 inches below the ground.  It made me realize a few things.   1. America is Heaven   2.  Things that are valuable do not come fast and without work.  It made me realize that my Spanish is not going to come fast.  My teaching skills will not come fast.  They will come slow and steady with lots and lots of hard work.  When I finally have the skills I want they will be solid and valuable.  This may seem obvious to you, Mom and Dad, but as an 18 year old missionary, it's a game changer.  I'm working hard and enjoying my time here.  My goals this next week are to improve my Spanish and teaching skills every day.

Your advice is golden Dad, I am learning a lot.  Thank you for your influence throughout my life. Please keep the Christmas Tree up!!!!!!  Keep it up!!
When Easton was called on his mission David let everyone know that he was going to keep the tree up until Easton came home.  I thought about taking it down this month but.............. we won't be doing that now:)

We sent him  a number of photos and this was his response.

Oh my gosh you guys are so awesome!!!!!!  I love the pics.  I love the info.  I love the love and support from you guys.  I'm glad things are going great for you.  Keep sending me pics.  Mom you are looking beautiful like always.  (insert happy mom face here)

We had changes this week.  Elder Smith is in Managua and I am with Elder Reese.  He is so Freakin Awesome!!!  He is a hard worker and knows Spanish very well.  When we leave the house we only speak Spanish, so it will be very tough but so worth it.  I am also showing Elder Reese around the area, so I've got to remember the names of all the recent converts and investigators.  Once again tough, but worth it.  I was not able to send you a letter this week due to changes, but I will send one next week.  This week was crazy.  We had divisions two times in a row, so I was busy making plans and showing people around the area.  I contacted a lot of people with Elder Perkes and Cedeno, so I'm getting much better at speaking.  Things are getting easier, and more difficult at the same time.  Honestly, I think the key is just to be happy.  I can't really change what happens around here but I can do my best to help out and enjoy every day.  I'm trying my best, but I know I can do more.  I feel like this change will really make a difference.  Mom and Dad thank you so much for your help.  I need all the help I can get.
Love You

April 6th Chinandega

This week was a game changer for me.  Wednesday I went on divisions with my Zone Leader.  We contacted all day long.  He helped me so much and was very patient with me, but it was hard.  I stumbled and fell through sentences, but it made me realize I can't afford not to study and work hard to learn the language.  It's an ongoing process guys.  I want to learn the language and I've got to work for it. This week was the hottest week of the year, it reached 109 or 102, I can't remember. So, when we watched General Conference in English from the comfort of an air conditioned building, it was heaven! Way to go on going to the priesthood session together.  Things like that make me super happy down here.  The reality is you guys are freaking awesome, keep killing it back home.

Thank you so much for the help Dad, more often than not I feel inadequate down here, but the truth is I'm definitely growing.  My mission is very productive but tough at the same time.

Elder Smith   Elder Easton Scaggs 

 Some days are awesome but some day are really tough!!!!  I'm finally sort of getting the language.  I can kinda communicate with people, but understanding is a whole other thing.  Hayden, I am basically working in a place like the video game Jack 3.  Everyone is poor, but has motorcycles and spikey hair, it's pretty sick.

You gotta take pictures of your Disc Jockey stuff and send them.  Hayden thank you for writing me, you may not think I appreciate it, but when you guys, MY FAMILY, write it's like diamonds to me.  Pictures, words, you name it, I love it !!!!!!  Please send tangible photos in the next package!!! Hey mom, I finally got the packages!!!!!  Thank you a ton for the snacks and supplies, they will and are very useful!!!!  I especially loved the peanut butter power bars, those things are sooooooo dope.  I know I need to write you guys, so I sent my first letter to you today.  It's got some cool stuff for you guys, I promise.  I am finally starting to get things situated, and I am so incredibly thankful for your support.

Jocote

Photo of Haircut with Spiked Sideburns

This week I ate this thing called (ooz naca) it looks like diarrhea with the texture of tar, but it's so dope.  It's like a mixture of mango and this fruit called jocote.  It tastes like peach cobbler, and it reminded me of the father and son camp-outs we used to have.  We also had this crazy soup called sopa de marisco!!!  Basically it was soup with a ton of fat shrimp and stuff  with a whole fish flopped in the middle of it.  You guys would loveeeeeee it!!!!!!!!  I tore that thing to pieces.  I have come to realize that I am going to gain weight on my mission.  It is not my fault though.  I have tried everything I can to stay fit, but the odds are against me.  Our lunches and dinners are all fried in a very large amount of oil   We eat this odd type of cheese here that they pretty much drench in oil, I think that one is going to kill me.  So far my favorite food is pico de nueve, doughnuts, hot dogs, and enchiladas!!!  Last night I had a freshly made doughnut for the first time in 6 weeks, and I about cried.  Honestly I could have eaten 20 of those things.  Every time I eat american food here I lose my composure and scarf  it DOWN!!!!!

Chinandega March 30th

Alright I've got some crazy stories for you. First of all its not the rainy season yet. This week we have Semana Santa, that means Easter or Holy Week. Check out the information on how Nicaragua celebrates Easter. http://www.nicaragua.com/blog/semana-santa

We had a huge conference this month. It was cool, both missions and the mission presidents were there. Nicaragua, Managua North, and Nicaragua, Managua South met in Managua for a great conference. Bishop Dean M. Davies from the Church Presiding Bishopric, and Elder Ochoa from the Quorum of Seventy attended. It's going to be the hottest week in Nicaragua, and I'm in the hottest place in the country, but its all good. By the end of training I'll have a wicked tan. After Semana Santa it rains hard so I'll keep you posted. I am not allowed to take my camera proselyting because we need to be focused, but this next P-day I'll be sure to get pics of yummy weird food, or I may take pictures of our lunch and dinner sitas.  You guys definitely have to visit Nicaragua sometime.

We have the nicest people and everything is dirt cheap, I get meals for 2 dollars. Less than 100 cordobas got me the hot dog and soda.  Monday we had a little party in Corinto for Elder Cua, a missionary who is going home. We ate Ceviche on the beach with a family, it was awesome a little sketchy but I did not get sick, so it's all good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceviche

Question: Show us photos of the food you eat, have you eaten anything weird yet? This question was from Hayden.

Answer: Dude I try to eat normal food, but sometimes I have to ride the risky edge. I have not gotten  super sick yet, but I have gotten diarrhea a few times, not bad though.

I am 3 hours from Managua, so we travel there all the time for meetings on buses and stuff. It's fun, but the buses are super cramped and super hot, its cool though. My area is super poor, lots of metal, cardboard huts, its the life man!!!!  Later in the week we met up with some missionaries to go shopping and we all piled into one car. We managed to fit (?) missionaries into one of these small taxis. We stuffed elders in the and they had to hold the door down or they would fall out.

Later on we met up with an investigator and her Canadian friend. He tried to speak a lil spanish but ended up just speaking english with us. He was cool. He told us about all the service he did for the needy. He also said he ran a surf club on the beach for his church. We asked if his shop was in Chinandega and he said, "no the beachhhhh with water and sand, ya know" we just smiled and said, "is it in Chinandega the providence?" and he said "oh yeah". It was just funny because Elder Smith and I are busting our butts for two years and he's surfing. Anyway, I don't have an assignment in church, and I have not spoken yet. I am in the the singing group for church. (this is most surprising)

Question: What happened on the plane from Salt Lake City to Atlanta 3 weeks ago?  
The following is an email I received 3 weeks ago, and it let me know part of what happened on the plane. I had no idea until I got this from another missionary mom with a daughter in Nicaragua.
 I love this group! All your words of advice and hope are so comforting! Nanette, that's so exciting that our kids were traveling together today! Kara said that there was a guy on their flight from SL that got really sick and they almost had to do an emergency landing. But he said that he knew there were missionaries on the flight so he asked for the elders to give him a blessing! They made it to Atlanta without any unforeseen stops. Isn't that a neat story! What a blessing and example of disciples of Christ these kids are!!

Stephanie Dickey

MM to Hermana Dickey NIC-MANN 1/15-7/16

Answer: Oh!! Elder Martell and I gave a blessing to a man who had kidney stones and was super sick!! It was pretty awesome, we were definitely not expecting it. We gave the blessing in the back of the plane on a small bench!!

Elder Martell, Elder Rendon, Elder Scaggs

Alright my awesome family not much has happened this week but at the same time a lot has happened. I got my first hair cut in Nicaragua. We went to the local barber named Josea (pronounced Hosway) Anyway, he was a super cool guy. He is not a member but once again super cool. He works in a run down barber shop with a tin roof surrounded by palm tress. He trimmed up our hair and even shaped up our sideburns and neck hair with a straight razor. He did some killer work for 30 cordobas, which is equivalent to a dollar back in the states.

 He made my hair Nica style with pointed sideburns and spiky hair. Hayden and Alex, you definitely want to get pointed side burns, they are the bomb. Other than that not much has happened. This week has been much better for home sickness. In reality I just need to push it aside. These two years are going to fly by, and if I don't use my time as best as I can I will have to face the Lord with it. It's hard work though guys and it takes time. My goal for this week is to talk as much as I can, which basically means stumble through Spanish But Smile While Doing It. The people here are very patient and very loving. They help me with my Spanish and most of them listen to what we say.  Thank you for being patient with me and getting me out here. It's tough work, but it is so worth it. Right now I am already a completely different person than when I left. I still have 22 months to grow and be a new person.

 Hayden and Alex, I want you guys to serve missions. Your mission to what ever place in the world will be your mission. You will meet the coolest people. You will form the strongest connections. You will do some of the craziest things. Please pray now about your mission. Pray about YOUR mission. Not a mission. Not the mission. Pray about your mission. I will tell you right now God knew this would be tough for me. Its hot. The language is tough. I stumble and roll through lessons and conversations.

I have also met the coolest people. My buddies from the MTC are some of my best friends. My buddies in the zone are some of my best friends. I have this awesome connection with the people in the ward and in the city I work in. I can guarantee this mission will be hard. I can guarantee  you will start counting your days as soon as you get to your mission. But I can also guarantee that with time you will become something new, something fresh, something strong, something experienced, someone who knows what they want. someone who is tight with their family, someone who knows their purpose.  I've already written my name in my Preach My Gospel, followed by 2 more Elder Scaggs with a blank space ready for your missions. Pray tonight about YOUR mission.

 I want to know how it goes next P-day I love you guys so much. The Lord is going to bless you guys and me during these two years, soak it up!!!.  When I get back we are going to be the tightest, strongest, dopest, most freaking awesome family on the block. Just you wait guys. I'm bringing back all the traditions of Nicaragua with me.  

Much Luv From your boy in Nicaragua

Thank you so much for sharing news from home that is much much needed.  I am in the Chinandega Zone, in the Divino Nino Area.  This week has been pretty great. 

 



The church strengthens us and allows us to renew our covenants with Heavenly Father.  The Sacrament cleanses us, really it is like we get cleansed from our sins every week.  If we don't partake of the Sacrament we can't fully utilize the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I want to be with you guys forever, and the only way that can happen is we stick to God's will and obey the commandments.  I'm going to be very furious if I can't be with you guys forever, don't let me down.  We met a ton of people, got some baptismal dates, and worked with some people to go to the temple.  It's all going pretty well.  This one family have been members of the church for less than a year, and their dad is already the President of the Priest Group. 

Mi Casa

The ward is super nice, and they help me with my Spanish, which is great.  I love it here, but it's definitely a very very different world.  I got bit by one of the many stray dogs in the area.  It wasn't bad, just a nibble, it didn't go through the pants.  We use our Book of Mormon to hit them away.  ( I told him to carry a big stick and use that to hit the dogs away.)

 

We have little shops every 10 feet in this area called pulperias.  They sell soda and juice.  I get juice all the time, and it's super cheap, less than a dollar every time, everybody drinks Coke, Pepsi, or Fanta down here, it's everywhere!!!!  They have plastic bottles or thick glass ones for Fanta and Coke.

 

They pour the soda into bags and keep the bottles, so yep... we drink from bags, it's kinda cool.  They sell juice and popsicles in bags as well.  My favorite is peanut popsicles and coconut popsicles.  Oh man they also sell frozen bananas dipped in chocolate.  We eat rice, beans, eggs, chicken, and lots of fruit juice, that's amazing!!!!!

I have seen some freakin crazy bugs out here.  I killed a fat roach last night with my Spanish book,and I killed a fat cricket this morning with my shoe.  These things are so big that when I step on them they pop like an explosive, and they are about the size of Alex's fist.  I don't need a camping shower, our bucket shower is dope no worries. 


Bucket Shower

The cold water is a blessing in this hot part of the world.  (When I asked him how it worked this is what he said.)  You just pour water on your body, suds up for a few minutes, then pour on a couple more buckets, it's the life my friends.

Near Mi Casa

I love you so much, and I am so looking forward to being with you again.  This work is tough.  I don't know the language and I struggle to make sentences, but I'm getting it.  The Lord is working with me, and I am so thankful for your support.  This week was much better.  I'm learning faster, feeling better, and I'm more at home.  The ward is pretty big.  They have a much bigger church than we do, they don't fill the pews, but they are great and very friendly and very loving!!!!  Keep emailing and updating me, I love it.
Love you guys

Hey mom, I only have like 45 minutes total to message you guys so I really gotta pound some words.  Nicaragua is very very very different. It's the hottest place ever.  We have a bucket shower with cold, kind of warm water.  Anything cold in Nicaragua is amazing.  Straight up, we are living bare bones here.  Our apartment is small but one of the nicer homes here.  The majority of houses are made of sheet metal and have dirt floors.  It is super crazy!!!!!!  There are geckos everywhere.

The people are humble and sooooo nice.  Elder Smith and I tract on dusty roads, it's fun.  Hayden, Nicaragua is cool.  All the ward members are incredibly kind and loving.  Even the people on the streets are super nice.  They either love the message, kinda like it, or simply and humbly decline.  It's awesome.  My companion has been here his whole mission, 7 months.  We eat different types of bread and eat lunch and dinner with a member.  The same member.  She also cleans our clothes, it's super super nice.  She cooks amazing, clean, filling food every time.  She even cooks French toast, it's pretty nice.  I'm missing the family but it's getting better. Dad I want to thank you for serving a mission.  I'm realizing now how awesome you guys really are, thank you so much for putting up with me.  I work super hard so I don't miss you guys.   I'm serving the Lord in Nicaragua with the greatest missionaries and people in the world.  I want a message from each and every one of you.  Luv U