The temple at night

For the first time in 14 months we went to the temple gardens at night.  President had to do an interview with someone there. We wish we could do so every night. It is so peaceful.

It's a good thing we only have three cars for the whole mission!

To each his own

Consecrated members

The branch presidents wife in one of the branches told me today she really wanted to attend the baptisms of all the new converts. However they don’t have a baptismal font in their building and the new converts have to travel across town to be baptized. She prayed about it and received the impression she needed to wash bottles. She could earn just enough money washing bottles to pay for the bus ride to the baptism.  Then she said “why else would I need more money?”

Elder Bednar on revelation

In the seminary for new mission presidents Elder Bednar taught that we might not always know we are receiving revelation until later.  This past week we felt impressed in the weekly letter to remind the missionaries to speak with everybody.  

That week two of our elders were trying very hard to get a birth certificate for a woman who wanted to get married (so she could get baptized.)  Her name appeared in three different ways in different government documents and the officials told her it would be practically impossible to get her birth certificate and if they could it would take months.

The elders were discourage but when they entered the elevator to leave the building, they remembered the words from the weekly letter that said to talk to everybody.  They started talking to a man in the elevator, who asked why they were there.  They told him their dilemma and he said he knew how to fix it.  They followed him to his office and right then and there he gave them the documents they needed so this woman could get married and baptized.  They knew it was a blessing because they were obedient to the counsel reiterated in Presidents' letter.

Object lesson

The box of m n ms was wrapped heavily in packing tape.  The question was, “how much do you want it?  And what are you willing to do to get it?”

Honored guests

This is the choir from stake conference today in the stake los restauradores.  This member insisted she take photos with us and her friends.  Only later I found out she was in charge of public relations, her friends were pastors from another church, and the photo was for the paper!

You've never seen anything like it

People line up to enter “santo Domingo’s got talent” for primary children. Each ward in the stake has an “act,” children singing and dancing and the gym is overflowing with fans cheering and yelling. You would think it’s a rock concert

Fish anyone?

They sell some pretty weird things from car to car while we wait in traffic but I am most amused by the goldfish!  Who decides, on the way home from work, “oh, I forgot to buy my goldfish?”

Miracles Never Cease

Remember Hermana Mendez, who baptized the step father and the father of a Dominican sister who she taught with while preparing for her own mission?  Well, the stories gets even better...

Elder Peay was in walking on the temple grounds one day and bumped into a non-member from Villa Mella.  He sent the reference to the missionaries in Villa Mella, but they could not find the reference.  The following transfer Elder Peay was transferred to Villa Mella.  (President and I knew nothing about the reference).  Amazingly, Elder Peay bumped into the reference on the street.  He was able to teach her himself and she decided to get baptized.  He asked if there was anyone special she would like to perform the baptism.  She said she had a brother-in-law who had recently joined the church who could perform the ordinance.  Elder Peay found the brother-in-law and it turned out to be the step-father of Hermana Mendez' companion whom Elder Peay had himself just baptized in his previous area.

Story to follow

It's a promise

This is our mission leadership council putting their names to the baptismal goal they have for this month

Practical Dominicans

The Dominicans are nothing if not practical.  What’s that in those motos sitting in the sun?  A piece of cardboard held in place with a hunk of concrete 

Like I've been saying.......

You really need a hat here in the DR no matter how you find one

Anybody for some fodd?