Holidays? What Are They?

I completely forgot about Valentine’s Day until I saw the women who do Zumba in the park all dressed in red. But Presidente remembered. :)

An Apostle's Visit

Thank God for the apostles.  We were so privileged to have Elder Dale Renlund and his wife here this week.  They held a special meeting just with our mission--and with our whole mission.  It's the first time our whole mission has been together at once.

He told us a little about how we were called as mission president and wife.  He said our photo and bio was presented to the entire quorum of the 12 and we were discussed.  Then every member of the quorum of the 12 apostles had to raise their hand in agreement that we were candidates to serve.  Then one member of the quorum was assigned to interview us.  

After we accepted the call to serve, our photo and bio were again presented to the entire quorum of the 12 apostles and they all had to agree about the mission we would be sent to.  He talked about the process of receiving revelation and bore testimony that we had been called by revelation to serve here in the DR, just like the missionaries who have been called to serve with us.

We really felt buoyed up by his confidence in us.  He was very complimentary of our mission and our missionaries.  Both he and his wife could tell our missionaries are obedient, they are faithful, they are working hard, and they have great attitudes.  I was really proud of our missionaries and I wished I could have shared what I know about each one of them with the Renlunds.  At least they could feel their spirits.

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The Language of the Spirit

The other day I was giving an English exam to one of our missionaries. She had answered many of the questions and her English was really good. After a few minutes I came to the question, "Can you tell me how the gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed your life?" Immediately, before she opened her mouth to answer, both of us were enveloped in the spirit, and we both began to weep. I didn't need to hear her speak to know the answer to the question. The language of the spirit communicated the truth to us more clearly than Spanish or English ever could have.

Later this hermana shared part of her spiritual heritage. Her father was cleaning someone's house one day when he spotted a Book of Mormon in the house. He asked if he could take it and read it. After reading it he was so certain of the truth of the book he wanted to find out where it came from. At this time there were no missionaries, and no LDS churches in his country so he wrote to Salt Lake to ask how he could join the church that taught the Book of Mormon. The authorities in Salt Lake arranged for someone in a neighboring town to teach him the gospel and he was able to be baptized. There is real power in the Book of Mormon.

The Lord Helps the Missionaries

No Such Thing as Coincidence

Yesterday we met with some of our zone leaders who were concerned because they had nine people who wanted to be baptized this month, and the bishop would only allow them to baptize two of them.  They were sad because the bishop didn't have confidence in them. We spent a lot of time coming up with a plan to change the bishop's heart.

As we were driving the zone leaders back to their apartment, we just happened to pass the bishop, driving down the street in the opposite direction. He rolled down his window greeted us warmly and drove on. That night at correlation meeting, the bishop approved all nine of the baptisms!

Perhaps seeing the zone leaders in the Mission President's car made him realize the zone leaders had the full support of the Mission President and he didn't want to take on the Mission President??  But it was more than coincidence that he happened to drive by at the exact minute we were on that street.

An Answer to Prayer

Two of our hermanas saw a woman picking up trash and stopped to help her.  They walked her home and when they arrived, she was locked out of her house.

Here in the DR when the buildings are locked, you can't open the door without a key.  You can't go in our out without a key. (Yes, it's extremely dangerous and is giving President Smith nightmares.)

This woman couldn't get into her house because she couldn't find her key. Her niece was inside the house, and the niece couldn't find the key either. So the aunt was locked outside, and the niece was locked inside. The hermanas offered to say a prayer so the two women could find their keys. As soon as they finished their prayer, the women found their keys. They were convinced the hermanas were sent from God and invited them to teach the gospel.

We taught the niece the first discussion tonight and she believed everything and has committed to prepare for her baptism on March 24th.

Angels In Our Midst

I was pondering the experience of Alma the younger in Mosiah 27 and I had a lightening bolt experience. Alma the Elder prayed with much faith for his wayward son and the Lord answered his prayer by sending an angel.

I realized there are all kinds of parents in this world praying for their wayward sons, and The Lord responds to their prayers the very same way he responded to Alma: He sends angels.

Many times these angels are dressed in white shirts and ties with the name of Jesus Christ on their chest. They are our missionaries (Alma 24:14). Many of them are an answer to the prayers of a faithful parent.  

Sometimes these faithful parents are in the Spirit World praying for their wayward sons here on the earth, and The Lord sends earthly angels. Sometimes these faithful parents are on earth, and the Lord sends angels from the Spirit World. In both cases, those who carry a message of repentance and salvation are, indeed, miracle-workers in the lives of wayward sons.

An Apostle Is Coming

I’ve never seen such diligence... painting and pressure washing and repairing and cleaning. Everybody is preparing for Elder and Sister Renlund this weekend.

Getting Organized - This & That

The requests for this and that come in so fast I just write them on stickies. Then, while we’re driving I can figure out where to begin.

Brand New Companions

Waiting for Final Interview

Absolutely Loco!

Yet another week of the totally unexpected:
- Auto-sufficiency  instructor (?) is a no-show & must teach impromptu class for missionaries going home on how to adjust.
- Employee doesn't show up for work because it's a holiday (who knew??) We must pull dinner together for 13 people.
- Discover three new missionaries at the airport who weren't on the transfer board.
- Redo transfers to accommodate the new missionaries.
- Learn that I'm speaking at stake conference at 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning [in Spanish].

Temple Work

The temple will be closed for the next two weeks. Good thing we went the last two Saturdays.

Steep Climb

These stairs led to the home of a family we visited. When you turn the corner, the stairs disappear and there are just rocks. It was literally a 4-point climb.

And I'm Only 5 Feet Tall!

These darling Hermanas were walking down the street when this man saw the Libro de Mormon in their hands (a mission norm to carry one in your hand always). He tried to catch up with them, but they were waking too fast (the tiniest Hermanas in out mission!!!). Hurray for their sense of urgency. He called out to them and they stopped. He is taking the lessons and will be baptized on February 11th.

"This is a work of love!"

This dear Hermana bore her testimony in one of our recent reunions because she was going home in four days.  At first she could not compose herself. When she could finally speak she said simply, “Esto es una obra de amor.”  And she closed.  She is right. This is a work of love and I will miss her dearly.

Obedience

This week Presidente spent very day in interviews. During the interviews I train along with the assistants. I discovered a great passage about obedience in Preach My Gospel, and it's not in the section about obedience. It's in the section on faith. We learned that obedience is an act of faith. Those who choose to be disobedient lack faith in Jesus Christ. And if you don't have faith in Jesus Christ, in whom do you have faith? Certainly no one with the power to save and exalt. It's pretty obvious there is absolutely no good reason to be disobedient.

Una Boda Especial

This couple was married Thursday so they could be baptized on Saturday. After the baptism, the whole branch celebrated their wedding. Many times our missionaries find people who want to be baptized, but they need to live the law of chastity to be baptized. It’s always a blessing when they can find the Papers necessary to be baptized.

Soulmate

Spence, you have a soulmate here in the DR.

When the Lights Go Out

Just because there is no electricity in the church doesn’t mean we cancel the baptism. A long extension cord connected to the colmado (grocery store) next door provides enough electricity to run a projector.

Completely New Culture

We are learning all kinds of ways the culture here is different than our Western culture. You don't see it from the surface, but we have discovered:

 1. When you walk into a meeting late in the DR, it's rude to slip quietly in back so you don't interrupt the meeting. Here, they expect you to walk to the front, and greet the person in charge and ask to be invited to stay.
 2. The Dominicans value relationships, even among strangers. They will bend over backwards for you if they consider you an ally. But, don't get on their bad side or they deliberately make your life miserable.
 3. Two 'o clock it is! Don't plan anything during the lunch hour. The Dominicans will drop their work mid-project at the stroke of 2:00 to have their biggest meal of the day.

No, It's Not Jail!

This is the entrance to the church. It is as secure as the hermana's casa.

Now That's Secure!

These hermanas have to unlock four doors to get into their casa.

The Blessings of Faith

Two of our hermanas had been teaching a joven who wanted to be baptized but her parents would not give permission. However, one day the parents invited the hermanas over to have dinner and the entire family was there -- aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.  During the dinner, the hermanas asked, again, if it they could have permission to baptize the daughter.  The family held a council and decided that if the young lady wanted to be baptized into the Mormon church, they all needed to know more about what the church teaches. So they all decided to come to church the following Sunday.  We expect to have a bunch more new investigators after this Sunday!

Angels of Music

This lovely display is in the music conservatory across across from our apartment.

The Tree that Survived

I can think of all kinds of object lessons for this miracle tree that fell over and then grew again out of the side of the mountain.

No Place to Stay?

We had to visit a branch in the nethermost parts of the vineyard. The elders there told us that there was no place to stay over night. We found a place online in the middle of nowhere that turned out to be wonderful. It was built around a series of waterfalls.

We were greeted by these ducks and our room was built into the side of a mountain. The walls were literally the rock that constituted the mountain.

Wonderful Missionaries!

When we received our weekly report this week, we learned that our missionaries had found 596 new investigators in one week. This means they have found someone new, taught the first discussion, and set up a return appointment. A new investigator is someone seriously seeking baptism.

We are so pleased with these outstanding young men and women. I am reminded of the scripture in Alma 57:21 because I realize these missionaries are obedient because their mothers have taught them to be obedient. And that's why they are receiving so many blessings here in the mission.

Mmmm ... Road Side Diner

Now That's a Big Bug!

You know if you can drive down the highway at 70 mph and spot a spider on the side of the road -- that’s a big spider!

Happy New Year!

The park where we exercise in the morning is usually full of Zumba classes and personal trainers but today the whole city was vacant. They were up all night celebrating the new year and the music only stopped with the dawn.

A Little Service Goes a Long Way

This week in our mission a 15-year-old boy was dragging a 55-gallon bag to a store, and he called out to the missionaries to help him carry the bag. A couple days later, the young man called out to the missionaries and said, "Come here do you remember me?"

The missionaries didn't remember him but he said, "You helped me carry my bag. I want to buy you a Coca Cola." The missionaries said they didn't need anything to drink, so the young man asked if there was anything else he could do for them. The missionaries said they would like to come to teach him. He said they could come teach him, but they needed to talk to his parents first. They went to his house and his parents said he couldn't be taught right then. But, they promised he would come to church.

The elders dropped by the next day to take him to church. His mom was there and said he wasn't ready but his Dad would bring him. About 10 minutes later the young man came in to the church along with his brother and his cousin. The missionaries are now teaching all three of them.

The Envy of Every Man

Did you know the temple had a huge shop -- well-equipped and all in order — just like the temple?

Waiting for the Temple

We got to take all our missionaries to the temple this week. These Hermanas are catching up before the session.

The Campo

We love it when we get out of the city to go visit missionaries in the campo. It’s how we imagined the DR.

Softie

 Presidente could not resist when this young man asked if President would be the one to perform his baptism. The members were in shock. Better not risk any heart attacks in the future.

Zone ozama

We just combined two zones into one to correspond with the stake boundaries. It's much easier that way.

All the zones (ten) prepared skits/songs for our Christmas celebration. They were darling!!

Feliz Navid

The hermanas made ties for everyone (119) and I made aprons for all the hermanas (41).

The elders all changed to the new ties.

We only have one missionary from Europe. He is from the Netherlands. (Picture below.)

Subway Preaching

And we thought our missionaries had a lot of courage!

Safe and Sound

This is one if the guards that stands inside the iron gate in front of our apartment 24-7. He’s really a teddy bear when you get to know him.

Contacting on the Metro

Such a Kind Gift

Christmas Trees

The Christmas trees here are very pretty. Boy instead of a star or an angel they put a bouquet on top. The florists must have come up with this tradition.

Last Stake Conference of the Year

This stake reserved the front row of the chapel for investigators and had a display of materials available for all visitors. This missionary is helping an investigator sing the hymns.

Trapped

That’s what I get for climbing fences in my Sunday shoes.

Must Be Christmas!

In case anyone’s wondering, a lot of mail is arriving just fine!!

Our District

Presidente Smith is the district president too and these hermanas from our district invited us to attend the temple with them on Saturday.

Chauffers

I have wondered for months why these men sit in the parking garage of our apartment doing nothing all day. It turns out they are here to drive you in your own car around the city.  Tells you how challenging it is to drive here.

Mid amigos en la misión

No one told us all to wear pink.

Purple Christmas Lights?

Do they have purple Christmas lights in the United States? Either I missed it or they're new this year.

Mission Tour

We just spent three wonderful days with elder and sister Gonzales   They taught the missionaries and they taught us. Hermana Gonzales is a wonderful actor and is great at role plays!