Padre Parte 2

Hello everybody!

This week was good. My companion is leaving. I'm sad about that, but we had a good transfer together. Presidente Cowan called on Monday and told me that I'm going to train! haha. It will be fun and I'm going to make him love the mission, whoever he is.

I went on an exchange with Elder Cutler from Cottonwood Heights. We played soccer against each other when we were little. He is a super good missionary and I learned so much from him. He is going home on Thursday. He is the closest one to the camera in the pizza picture.

We couldn't write on Monday because there was a riot because of the gas prices. haha. We went to this one restaurant that these Chinese people own. They saw a big group of people and got scared and locked us in, but it was actually nothing. We didn't see anything the whole day and I told my companion that the riot was lame, but I definitely changed my mind after we got to the house.

I called one of my converts, Elpidio, from Puerto Plata. He is like 55 years old and he told me that he is GETTING MARRIED! He is getting married to a member that lives across the street from him. He told us that he was in love with her when we were teaching him. That makes me so happy. He is such a good guy.

We have a lot of good people. There is so much sin in the world, but I know that I'm doing all that I can. I can't change the world, but I've been able to change the world of a few people and that feeling is priceless. I love the mission. The church is true. Cristo vive.

Pictures,

This is what I look like.

PIZZA

A better way to eat marshmallows... thoughts?

Miracles

Miracle #1

We were just walking through the street on a normal day, all of our appointments fell through and the sun was super hot. We didn't know what, I don't even remember where we were going but all of a sudden Jimmy just walks around the corner. He was progressing super well and went to Haiti for a few days, but didn't come back for 2 months. He said he only came back to get something so he was only there for one day. He is living in Dajabon by the border of Haiti so we are going to send the missionaries over there to baptize him.

Miracle #2

Elpidio got baptized! He had so many trials before getting baptized. He literally got kicked out of his house the day that his baptism was scheduled the first time, but the Lord provides. Elpidio is such a humble guy and I feel so blessed to have been able to be in this area and find, teach and BAPTIZE him! Elpidio is a super good person and I know that he is a convert and not just a baptism.

Miracle #3

The Atonement is a miracle. Our Elders Quorum President had a stroke or something and now he can't use the right side of his body. Its super sad. We shared with him Alma 7 11 and 12 and how Jesus knows what he is going through. Sometimes in life we have to suffer. It's hard but if we never suffered we would never be able to understand even a little of what Jesus went through for us. 

Miracle #4

The Prophet came to the DR! We got to hear him talk to the missionaries and also to the whole country. I felt the spirit very strongly when he was talking and I know that he is a prophet of God. He gave us 2 things to do. #1 Teach our companions English. I'm not doing a very good job of that, but I will now. #2 He told us not to marry anybody unless they love the Lord first. #takenote

Miracle #5

Our neighbors have a puppy. He is super energetic and he is getting pretty big now. Whenever he gets excited he pees. I don't know why but he does. We came walking down the stairs one day, he saw us and came running and he peed all over my hand. (The miracle is that our neighbors have a puppy, not that he peed on me.)

This week was good.

I don't have a lot to say, but I'm learning a lot.

We were walking down the street and Elpidio yelled at us. He was back in his house! He got kicked out like 2 months ago, but he talked with his lawyer and is back. We went in to teach him and all the stuff got taken out by the old lady's kids. But he is going to be baptized this Saturday! He's such a stud.

We had stake conference this week. President Cowan and the temple president came. Our president is so cool. He has so much energy. He is learning Spanish again and makes a lot of mistakes, but he doesn't let it bother him.

We had a zone conference on Friday. We talked about how the Book of Mormon can help answer any question. We don't need to fight with people, just make them read the Book of Mormon.

We passed by this guy's house that we contacted. A lady there told us, el esta pero no se encuentra. He is here, but can't be found is basically what she said.... hmmm

I'll write more next week. The church is true. Love you all.

Pictures

Elder Alba is going home. He is a good guy. Funnest transfer of my mission.

The TRIPANIONSHIP is reunited.

I was in a cloud this week.

A lot of stuff happened this week.

At the start of the week we couldn't find anybody and so many people rejected us but we kept working hard and eventually found some people.

There was a cockroach and a frog in our house at the same time. I killed the cockroach and the frog disappeared when I went back.

I went on exchanges with Elder Webster from Colorado. All of our lessons fell through but oh well.

Elder Feliz, my old companion is in Puerto Plata now because his comp went home. That means there are no missionaries in Moca again, the area that I opened. That kind of bugged me, but he says Papo still goes to church so that makes me really happy.

We went to the Teleferico today. It was cool. There was a cloud on top.

Elpidio went to church again. He is super cool. He should be getting baptized soon. As soon as he can find a house. 

Pictures,

Me eating the strangest fruit in the world by a swimming pool.

Me in a cloud in the Celestial Kingdom.

Me and Our Savior.

Elpidio!

This week went by super fast. I don't even remember what happened.

On Tuesday, we went to almost every single one of our appointments and found a lot more new people to teach which is awesome.

We had interviews with President Cowan. He came all the way to Puerto Plata and he and his wife are pretty cool. The interview was pretty good and in English. We were finishing and I asked him how he likes being a mission president so far and then he talked to me for a long time. They are both really nice and I can tell that they are loving it so far.

On Sunday, Dewdy and Marilyn came to church again. They've come 3 Sundays in a row and I'm so happy to have been able to meet and teach them. Elpidio who was going to get baptized came to church again too. He was going to get baptism then the lady he took care of died and her kids kicked him out of the house. He has been living all over the place, but we have been praying for him and prayers work!

I don't even know how to say this word in English but the girls here are so freca. They are so flirty and they don't have any shame. We will just be walking down the street and some girl will just tell us that we look good. Its kind of weird, but blessings come in all sorts of ways I guess haha.

This week wasn't as interesting as the others but I'll make sure to tell some good stories next week.

...

I totally forgot to talk about the best part of the week. The kid in the picture is named Frandy. We had an appointment with him but he wasn't there so we passed by this internet center where there are always a lot of kids and asked where he was. They showed me a video of him fighting with this other kid. I shouldn't laugh, but the video was so funny and they had scissors and everything. Frandy won so its ok. Thats it.

Hot Shower

Lots of good news...

We were contacting and my comp saw this door open on the second story of this building and I didn't really want to but we contacted the house and this guy came to the door and he was super nice. He is married! Him and his wife don't go to a church, but believe in God and they seem really interested.

Elpidio went to church! I'm pretty sure he is going to get married to this member lady that lives across the street from him and so I might get to go to the temple in a year from when he gets baptized.

There is this super cool returned missionary in our ward and his family, the Polancos, are FILTHY rich. His dad distributes all the Mars Bars and Colgate for the whole country. We hung out with him today for our pday and they fed us and gave us a bunch of food. We played tennis then soccer and I took a shower in their house. It was the nicest shower I have ever been in. I took a cold shower because its so hot here but I put it on hot for a second just to remember how it felt. He is 20 and speaks perfect English and Spanish. He is going to BYU in August. But their family is awesome and I love this country.

The church is true. Jesus is our Savior. God is real. The Book of Mormon is also true, read it.

Elder Eliason

Me at the Polanco house

Me shooting a giant cannon at pirates

Sometimes nobody wants to listen to us

Milagros

Woah! This week was so awesome.

First, we got this reference from a member last week and we went this week and this guy is so cool. His name is Elpidio and he is so prepared. The first time we taught him we were basically just listening to him talk and he started asking us what he has to do to be a member of our church. He takes care of this ancient lady that is 88. He asked us to give her a blessing. We went into the room and I thought she was almost dead. We gave her a blessing and in two days when we went back he said she is doing a lot better. She ate solid food for the first time in a long time and was talking too. The Priesthood is real. We have already taught him 3 times and he is so ready!

We went to teach Mariano the Word of Wisdom and he was super drunk so we decided another day would be better. haha

We played basketball 2 times this week. All the kids in the street respect me because I can play basketball.

We went to the Teleferico today which is basically like the tram that goes up the big mountain here. We saw a lot of gringos and I felt really uncomfortable around them. It is super cool. I'm defintely coming back here to visit.

Pictures,

Me holding up a giant statue of our Savior with only one hand.

Me preaching repentance to all of Puerto Plata.

Coolest picture of me ever taken???