A NEW YEARS MIRACLE

Hey everybody! This week was super good.

We had interviews with Presidente cowan and it was awesome. I asked him about the miracles he has seen as a mission president and we talked about that for a little bit. I know that he is called of God to lead and direct this mission.

Johan went to church again! He's going to get baptized soon and I'm very grateful for him. I think I'll be leaving soon from Bonao and I haven't had too much success if you look at the numbers. But, I'm super happy for Johan and being here in Bonao will have definitely been worth my time.

On Sunday, we went to this appointment that I knew was going to fall so we planned to contact this place close by. It didn't look like anybody was home, but we saw a door opened and we called. This dude came out and let us in. We started talking to him a little bit and he said that he was going through some really hard stuff and said that just a few moments before we got there he was praying to God for help. It was a super good experience. We taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how that can help him with what he is going through. I know that God sent us to that house and there is no better feeling than knowing that God has used you as an instrument in his hands.

A bird pooped on me today for the first time of my life.

I love you all. The church is true. Jesus lives and loves you!

Pictures,

The first look at Elder Tupou and Elder Eliason in the new year.

A Christmas Miracle

This week was awesome!

First off, we went to Santiago for our Christmas missionary party. It was fun and we watched a movie haha. It was just fun because I got to see all of my friends. I love the mission.

We had our branch Christmas party on Friday. It was so unorganized omg. But it was super fun. Johan and his little sister and her friend came. I'm so grateful for them. Bonao isn't as loving as some of my other areas have been, but they are super good people. We had some good food and music but missionaries can't dance...

We found this really good guy during the week. We had passed by his house like 100 times probably, but never contacted it. He let us in and was very nice. He said he would go to church on Sunday. He didn't, but he did read the BOM and thats better than 98% of the people we talk to! He told us Saturday that he couldn't go but still says him and his wife will go.

On Sunday, we invited so many people to church. A lot of them had to work because it's close to Christmas. We had 3 people come to church on Sunday and I really feel like it was a miracle. Everybody backed out of their commitments, but we were still blessed. 

I'm very grateful for this Christmas even though I'm far away from my family and its not even cold here. The best CHRISTmas present we could ever get is Jesus. He gave us a perfect example of humility and love. I feel honored everyday to be able to wear his name over my heart and preach His gospel. This Christmases Christmas miracle is how much my testimony and love for everybody has grown. I hope that we can all remember the true meaning of Chirstmas and why that is important to us this year!

Pictures, 

Me and The Divine Child

Like 5 weeks ago I said we met a dude that said he was Jesus. Yep, this is him.

Me and Elder Call from Utah

Branch Christmas party

Me and Johan!

Santa delivers in the DR

Visit from a 70

This week was super good. We had zone conferences and Elder Alonso from the 70 came. Presidente and Hermana Cowan talked about La Doctrina de Cristo (Faith, repentance, baptism, the reception of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End) and how we should be implementing that in every lesson. Elder Alonso spoke to us and it was so good. Oh my goodness. He blew my mind. I learned so many good things from him and he said that if we work for it we can achieve 200 baptisms every month which is more than twice of what we are doing right now. My testimony in Prophets and Apostles is so much stronger after listening to somebody that represents them.

We went on exchanges with the zone leaders. I learned a lot. We are teaching this kid named Andrew and his siblings. He is so receptive to our message which has been a good change from lots of other people we teach. We put a baptismal date with him and I have a lot of confidence in him.

We still work in this neighborhood super far away from were we live called Los Arroces. There are a lot of good people of there, but it's frustrating because we will have a good lesson, invite them to church and they will say yes. We will keep talking and realize they have no motorcycle or car and the church is super far away. If they let us buy a bus, we would fill the chapel every Sunday. 

This guy stopped us in the street today and told us they he was Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. And did it in English. I don't think it was actually Him though.

My life is very good as a missionary. I feel very blessed for the opportunity to be here. Being worthy of the Spirit is the best feeling that there is. I know that Jesus lives.

Go to church everybody.

Pictures,

There was a lizard in our house so we put a leash on him.

¡Viva Los Utah Jazz!

One Year?

What just happened?

I feel like I just got here but now I have a year in the mission and I'm already more that halfway done with my missionary service. Wow. In the last year I have learned so much. I know Spanish, I feel like I am a lot kinder and patient, my testimony is a lot stronger, and I know how to work hard. Lots of times people talk to us about how we are losing two years of school and stuff like that, but I know that I couldn't have learned the things that I've learned anywhere else except for the mission. I'm happy to be here and I love being a missionary and preaching about Jesus!

This week we had a lesson with this super good family. The dad is a less active member and the mom and 2 kids are super good too. The dad says that he wants to reactivate himself and get sealed in the temple eventually! ESO! They are super cool but I don't know if I'll get to see their baptism because I've been in Puerto Plata for a long time. But we'll see what happens!

We found a quarter in the street this week...

Pictures,

1 for one year

#themission

I always send 3 pictures and I didn't have any other interesting ones.

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.)

It's hot here

This week was interesting.

First, it is so hot here. If we walk in the street for more that 5 minutes during the day, I get soaked. It's so uncomfortable.

We had to contact so much this week. I feel really lucky to be here because the people are so nice and let you in a lot, but nobody let us in. I don't even know how many people we talked to but it was a lot. It was sad because these people don't know what they are missing out on. But... 

we did find a part member family that is super good. The mom hasn't gone to church in like 20 since she moved, but her family is cool and she gives us lemonade. So all the work was worth it.

Also this week so many people have been saying crap to me about Spanish. So many people judge me because I'm white and if I don't start talking to somebody first, they don't think I speak Spanish. It was bugging me really bad so I read about when Jesus was crucified and he said, "Forgive them for they know not what they do." I really liked that because a mission is hard and I've only been speaking Spanish for 9 months. I'm trying to help people and they don't know how it is so I don't have to worry about what they say.

I just keep learning more and more about Jesus and how amazing He was and is. I know that Jesus lives and that He loves us. He lived a perfect life and suffered for us so we don't have to. But we have to follow Him. Even though a mission is hard, I am happy. Jesus equals Happiness.

I didn't take any pictures this week, but here is another one of me on top of Puerto Plata! I love Puerto Plata!