Upgraded our proselyting

Sorry I don't really have time to respond to your most recent email, I didn't have time to print it off this morning, so I'll write now instead of wasting time reading it, but I'll respond next week :)

OK where to start...

So we upgraded from proselyting in the park to the nearby University, which was founded in the 1500's crazy huh? It was super scary for me because I'm not used to just walking up to strangers yet and my Spanish isn't what I want it to be, but the Lord prepares us! The people are all so receptive and kind! Most everybody believes in Christ so they like hearing messages. I grew more comfortable as we talked to people, though my Spanish got worse somehow haha. We met this one lady who had gone to church with a friend once and when we invited her back she said, sure! We got her telephone number and stuff and kept going. I had the greatest feeling. Also we ran into this one guy who listened and then told us we needed to learn more Spanish, however he then bore his testimony to us and told us to never stop doing the Lord's work. It was amazing and he wasn't even a member. 

So our district is like family now. We have spiritual moments as well as fun ones when we play games like signs. I was nervous getting called as an AP with my companion but President Gave a talk that night about leadership positions and it really comforted me. 

On Sunday, one of the new Haitian elders gave his talk in french/creol and even though we heard his message through a translator I think we all had teary eyes as he bore his testimony.

We continue to bless and comfort each other, like Elder Nelson, who is having some things going on at home. I was prompted to give a district prayer for him and then us Elders gave him a blessing. I learned that through helping comfort others, the Lord Comforts us as well. 

The guys in our district have been practicing “Brightly Beams” for a musical number for church Sunday, which sounds pretty good if I may say so myself. We played futsol and ultimate frisbee outside and then drowned in our sweat, gross but kinda true sorry. 

Something I learned spiritually is about promptings. Our area president Elder Cornish was giving a talk about how promptings are really revelation. Our ability to understand and then respond to promptings is directly linked to the eternal progression of those we meet. We need to practice feeling promptings, to grow to known when to act. The MTC is the graduate school of revelation. The lord has plainly given us promptings and what he expects us to do, it's in black and white, called the scriptures. I know that we all get promptings at various times, and I want to challenge you guys, and I'll do this as well, to when you get a thought even a simple one that will bring about some good in someway to immediately respond to it. Good things come from God, Bad things from Satan. If we get a good idea- it's from God, it's a promptings, it's a revelation. I know we will become so much more effective if we do this, I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

With mucho amor from my corazon,

Elder Andrew W. Sheffield

It's amazing what we can do with the Lord's help

I love you more than...funny fresh mangoes!!!

 

The turquoise leather tie I want to show Emily

SO to answer some of your questions, Elder Wayman my comp is from San Jose California and My roomates, Elder Ourth and Rojas are from Kansas City Missouri and Utah (I forgot where). The CCM (MTC) is a really nice temperature and so is the temple but when you get outside it's hot. Our rooms we keep at like 20 degrees Celsius which is like in the 60s. We were studying outside the other day and sitting by the clothes dryer vents which meant I was in 90 degree weather with 70 percent humidity and hot air from the dryers blowing on me. I was roasting. To add to that some parrots were being really loud, but it was cool. I did get a hair cut and though it's not like a buzz cut, it's almost as short as it's ever been. 

Here's a few highlights from the past couple of weeks

Day 3 We celebrated the 4th of July with a thanksgiving dinner and cake

Day 4 Walked around temple grounds practicing our testimonies in Spanish when an old gentleman, I think it was Ghandi, came up to us and sang 5 versus of some spanish hymn haha. Latter that day we went proselyting in the neighboring park. I was super nervous cause my 4 days worth of Spanish knowledge wouldn't help that much, but the lord blesses the obedient

Day 5 started waking up half an hour early to get more study time, watched some amazing MTC devotionals on the t.v. and then walked around the temple grounds and ate ice cream.

Day 6 Learned that our teacher is the coolest, nicest, most spiritual guy ever. We have a new slogan for our district "Cheedo"

Day 8 finished the banana bread that someone snuck into my suitcase

Day 10 watched Elder Packers funeral, weighed myself and I've gained 7 pounds (which I have since lost 4 of those)

Day 11 learned to deal with dirty white shirts with not enough time for a washing machine. Met with president, who is amazing and heard a great mission story. Played fooseball with two of the teachers. Hermana Garcia reminds me of the main girl alien from the movie avatar. Personality and sound effects haha. Met some English speakers in the park and invited them to church. Gave Elder Ourth a blessing.

Day 12 We're always tired, heard "the file room" a really good short story which I THINK you have probably heard before. At lunch we all rush for the fresh cut mangoes. Hermana Bossard had some essential oil stuff, which makes me think of her as a native american medicine woman. Shouted/sang Battle hymn of the republic in spanish.

Day 14 said goodbye to the experienced mtc missionaries and the latinos who left this morning.

Sorry my thoughts are so scattered and I had to cram like two weeks of stuff into one email. I'll do better next time. Anyways I'll write about the past couple of days in more depth here. Our days consist of being tired eating and speaking Spanish. Honestly it's purely Spanish speaking in class which is broken up by breakfast, lunch, gym and dinner. I've learned sooooooo much about the gospel, myself and Spanish. We teach mock investigators, which gives us a lot of practice. I study flash cards, read my Spanish scriptures and memorize phrases. It's amazing what we can do because of the lord's help. We have the best district here and my good companion Elder Wayman is our leader. He's a really kind guy and super smart. My district knows so much Spanish and I work hard to keep up. New elders got here today and so the CCM is once again in like record breaking numbers. Our whole CCM is like a fourth of the size of the Provo MTC's choir haha. We have a lot of fun singing random songs and quoting movies. I don't know how they could be more like Emily haha. 

Thank you mom for your last two letters. The story of Christ's suffering and solo comforter and then the stories about fear have been an answer to my prayers. I don't know how to explain it but I am discouraged, tired, happy and filled with the spirit all at the same time. I'm glad it's not like home because I feel myself growing everyday. The lord really does shape our backs to bear the burdens that will come to us. We are molded to fit tasks so why do we ever let ourselves even think for a second that we can't make it through! We're in the fog and though we can only see two steps in front of us, as we take those two steps, two more are shown. How great is our Father in Heaven. I know Christ is living, He is our living, loving Savior. HURRAH FOR ISREAL!!!!!! 

Ask more questions if my letters are vague, I'm not used to writing more than persuasive essays and lesson plans. Kolipoki signing off. Talk to you next week

--

Elder Andrew W. Sheffield

Good Hard Days

I would tell you everything that happened this week but I don't have my little notebook with what happened and I have like 20 minutes to write you so sorry I'll do my best.

We cram in language study and gospel study. I need like two extra hours a day it feels like. I think I got put in like the advanced class because everybody is learning so fast. My companion is our district leader of 9 missionaries. We really get along, same with our two other roommates. Right now we're in a room meant for the hermana's but there aren't enough guys room so we're in there.

We eat soooooooo much every meal. They pack us full of rice, juice, beans and assorted meats haha. 

More on the spiritual side....we don't really get general authorities here like Provo but we do have access videos of past devotionals. We've had some crazy good devotionals from Bednar, Holland and then our area president Elder Cornish. It's amazing how sincere and forward they are about the gospel, real life hero’s. It's been really humbling trying to keep up with all the studying and my district. I'm the youngest and know the least Spanish, but it has helped me rely on the Lord and my testimony of this work. I am praying for strength to have struggles and to be purified by the refiner's fire ;). It's been a huge learning experience and it's been hard but the Lord sure does bless. I'll be having a good hard day and be discouraged but then have a great experience. Since the fourth day, we've been talking (trying to) to people in the nearby park and I always get nervous. Yesterday was especially one of those good hard days but then as we went to the park a super sweet catholic lady said I spoke a lot of Spanish, I felt the spirit teaching these three ladies about my testimony of how families are eternal (thanks fam.) and then we just talked about life with some english speakers. The days are hard but it's hard not to be happy with the spirit, the great teachers and great companions. 

Sounds like you guys have had a great two weeks without me. I'm such excited for Matthew Porter to serve, it’s amazing.

I got a turquoise leather tie from an Elder just so I can show Emily eventually. I love you guys so much. Thank you mom for the support and the inspirational stories in your letter, I got chills reading it. Thank you dad for all those late nights helping me with my math homework, teaching me that Sheffield's do hard things. I'm proud to be someone that can work hard, because my father taught me too. Samuel, Josh and Jacob you guys have so much to look forward to I hope you're sharing the stuff you are taking from my room ;) 

"Donde es Rachel" *In batman voice* 

Love you guys more than four pounds of rice for dinner

Elder Sheffield

Arrival

I'm feeling well. It's strange to think that I've been looking forward to this since as long as I can remember and now it's finally here. I miss you guys a lot but it hasn't hit me hard yet. 

The flight was good. I met up with like 11 other elders all on the same plane both to New York and to the DR. I tried to sleep a lot because I'm feeling tired but it didn't work out that well. On the plane ride to the DR everyone was speaking spanish and all of us elders were just sitting there hoping not to be a problem in anyway. Luckily there was one spanish speaking elder already and he kind of helped with any communication. I was nervous about customs but we blew right through. The ride to the CCM (MTC) was crazy! I think it was probably like Indonesia because there are motorbikes/scooters that  weave in and out of all the cars. Our driver would force his way into gaps in our big van, a little scary. It feels like everyone is playing chicken and whoever is the bravest gets through the traffic. 

It is beautiful here though. The water is super blue and there are palm trees all over. The city seems poor but we're excited to explore on P day. I have P days on thursdays by the way. I haven't met my companion yet. I ate rice and beans.

Gotta go we're pretty busy already.

"Yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me"

Love you guys more than secret bannana bread!

Alma 26:12

My companion is on the front row, first from the left.