A First for Everything

Riding in a carita for the first time. Sharing the passenger seat for 25 pesos each. The broken front window and duct taped dashboard doesn’t slow business a bit.

Paradox

The two girls (not standing) will be baptized today. I was struck by the contrast between their corrugated tin ceiling and their flat screen tv. 

The Front Porch

Going to Market

Now you know what happens with all the clothes you donate. Once we saw someone wearing a Ponte Vedra sharks T shirt (our daughter’s school).

Need a Ride?

These fancy cars are how our missionaries get around. They are a step down from a taxi (that doesn’t look a lot better) and cost far less. They may not have windows and there may be 6 people in back at one time but the engines run (most of the time).

All in the Family

Our missionaries with all the members of the family that they baptized.

AT LAST!!

After 39 years together this couple was married and baptized this week. Who led the way into the waters of baptism? First their grandchildren, then their children, and now the grandparents.

Touring Alone

Presidente had to make 55 phone calls on our p day Saturday, so I went exploring in the colonial zone.

It's Not a Record But It's Close

We’ve seen five adults on one moto.

Mormon Standard Time

9:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

Returned with Honor

It was so fun to meet the family of this great Hermana who was released in January and came back to visit this week.

So Precious

Welcome to Church!

This is what greeted us at the chapel doors today.

A Branch Resurrected

These missionaries are transforming this branch! A confirmation during church and a baptism after. We’re have enough priesthood holders now the missionaries don’t to serve in the leadership positions!

Wide Cargo

They can carry anything on a Moto!

Seventh Times the Charm

Every time we get new missionaries we teach them about consecration. We use Moses chapter 5 to teach them about offering a sacrifice that is acceptable to God. I always teach that Adam offered sacrifices of the best of his flock because it was in similitude of the sacrifice of the Son of God and was a way to help him appreciate the atonement of the Savior. While preparing this training for the 7th time today I learned something new that had a great impact on me:         Imagine you were Adam, and every time your flock of sheep had babies, you had to choose the very best one and sacrifice it. You couldn’t keep it to breed. You couldn’t use the wool. You couldn’t eat it. You couldn’t even let it grow up as a pet. You had to give up the best, most pefect lamb every time the ewes gave birth.         What would you learn from this experience if month after month, year after year, you gave your best to the Lord? (We know Adam did it for was a long time because the scriptures say so.)         I think you would learn to let go. You would learn not to get too attached to your possessions. You would soon learn that the sheep aren’t really yours anyway. You’re going to be giving them away. You would learn not to be materialistic. You would learn that everything you have place comes from the Lord in the first place. You would learn not to covet your own possessions. You would learn how to give your all to the Lord. You would learn consecration.         I think the first time you sacrificed the best of your flock, you might understand a little bit more how it feels to be God and give your Only Begotton Son to be sacrificed.   But I think after you gave your best away time and time again, you would learn that everything we have belongs to God. It’s pretty generous we get to keep for ourselves as much as we do.

Lively Zone Conference

It seems to be effective to teach with activities.

In the Field

It’s so much fun to leave with the hermanas. The youth love them.

Companionship Study

We modeled a companionship study due zone conference. The missionaries really went with it.

98-year-old convert

One for the team

New Granddaughter

So happy I was able to return to the USA for a couple days to help me only daughter with her first baby:)

Remind You of Anyone You Know?

Becoming adept at changing a tire

Quintessential Santo Domingo

A valiant attempt to beautify alongside the garbage.

Just Who is in Charge Here?

Miracles with the Pamphlets

We have been trying to make better use of the pictures in the pamphlets, ask our investigators inspired questions, and let the spirit give them the answer. Yesterday, I was teaching with some Hermanas who found a new investigator who had heard that Joseph Smith founded our church but knew nothing of the first vision. When we showed her this photo she said, “that’s Joseph Smith and that is God and Jesus Christ,” then she added, “he must have been really prepared to see god because I think I would die on the spot.” Yes, he was prepared... and apparently so is she!

A Final Gift

These kind missionaries sang Presidents favorite song for him the night before they went home.

Our Anniversary Dinner

Not a Doll

This dear sister was trying to teach Relief Society with a baby on her lap and a toddler trying vying for her attention. So I got to hold the baby for the whole lesson.

Such Kind Hermanas

Grandpa's Passing

We were very saddened at the passing of President's father this past week. He was 82 years old and had been widowed right before we left on our mission last June. He was extremely lonely and we feel he is very happy to be reunited with his beloved wife of more than 60 years. Presidente is mourning the loss of a great mentor but focusing on the needs of the mission makes the loss more bearable.

Galen and Carol Smith
50th Wedding Anniversary

Front Yard Hair Salon

Our Hermanas contacted this lady while she was creating braids.

Training Ward Missionaries

Our capable missionaries trained all the ward missionaries in their stake, even practicing contacting with them.

P-Day Service

These wonderful missionaries sacrificed their p-day to help clean up an old missionary apartment that had been vacant for some time.  They scraped inches of grime off this floor and left it cleaner than ever!

Not a Choir!

One of our elders made ties for his entire zone. He insists he was not inspired by the Hermanas gift at Christmastime. (Right!)

Charging Batteries at Zone Conference

We just finished three wonderful days of zone conference. I often wonder if the missionaries like getting spirituality fed as much as they enjoy getting physically fed!

Marvelous Conference!

The members here were so excited about some of the announcements this conference they yelled out loud in the chapels! Our missionaries brought their investigators to our casa for the last session. One of the boys was celebrating his 13th birthday. Luckily the session lasted two hours and gave me time to bake a couple of cakes.  After the session two couples whose children were baptized but they had been holding out asked when they could be baptized!