Service with a smile

Love you more than…Homemade crepes!!

Made them this morning and even though I found out I'm terrible at flipping them and putting the stove at a good temperature, it was great. Brought back memories of general conference mornings when we'd all be waiting, with conference on the t.v. and eating crepes or waffles in the kitchen.

 

Service with a smile

Another email, and I have to say that I don't know what to write. I thought I'd grow out of this by now. So yes, I have three months in the mission! I'm also proud to say that I haven't been sick this whole time, probably from all those days choking on lake water while water skiing haha, but hey so far I think I'm immune. Some cool stuff that happened this week were a service project we did for a menos activo. We cut down banna/gineo trees with machetes and then planted the roots again. 

Using a machete to cut Banna trees

Elder Coombs has some admirers in the branch, which is funny for me, but could be difficult if it progresses. We are continually finding menos activos as we do street contacting and then after a few minutes of talking with them, they're like “hey I'm a member by the way” haha.

 

This week's summary: We have a few really promising investigators, some newly found menos activos that like us a lot (one lady gave us juice, fritos/fried platanos, spaghetti and jello; a miracle) and a ward mission leader now! Also this Sunday we had the normal amount of people show up for church. Lots of them were investigators and menos activos. Also frammi was finally able to get confirmed. I went on my third entercambio in three weeks with our new zone leader from Idaho. He is kind of like your stereo-typical jock, but he's a good guy. I was nervous because I had to take him to our less good area in Carbonera, but it was a better day than normal! Lately I've been feeling like I don't get to talk a lot in our lecture, like lessons, but this week we improved a lot in our simple but powerful lessons, and I've talked a lot more, with more success.

A few other things from our week. We sing hymn number 153 “Oid el Toque del Clarin” like every sunday so I almost have it memorized. We have had some amazing first few lessons with a boy named Jeffri/Yeffri and Jean Carlos. The zone leaders gave us mangos. Maria Jose is trying to make us fat off of club crackers and Dominican brand coke and it rained yesterday so me and Elder Coombs thought about skipping down the street at 9:00 singing “Singing in the Rain” haha But we didn’t.

 

Singing in the rain

I'm 99% sure we will watch conference in English but you never know. I'm super excited even though that much English will probably destroy my Spanish haha. I think we'll see it delayed, not sure. We will get an English and Spanish copy of the talks like the other monthly Liahona's so don't worry about sending me one.

Made applesauce popsicles

Sounds like you guys are doing great! Samuel keep up the work with basketball, Jacob take care of your pets and learn to be a vet, Joshua stop growing. Mom be careful how much you work-out, I feel like I'm getting skinny in the arms and getting a little chubby rice/dominican belly and I can't have my mom be stronger than I am! Dad you are my hero.

For a spiritual message I want to share a few things. We found the amazing kid Jeffri/Yeffri when looking for a contact. I didn't expect much since it was this small wood house behind two others and these two adults who just stared at us the whole time. As we talked and when we shared the second time, I realized how special this was. Jeffri is 14 and really quiet, but with a lot of spiritual knowledge and a great heart. He really listens and wants to know more. His father works in the military and his mom hasn't said more than a few words to us, but I know they are prepared for progression. Gold is found by sifting through the dirty silt in rivers. Yeffri is gold not because he is perfect but because he has the desire. Physical wealth, and especially spiritual wealth comes from the desire to do more. This desire coupled with prayer is priceless. Prayer is literal communication with the Being that created and knows everything. If you say you don't have time to pray, you really just say you don't want to be better; to progress. Please pray. Pray about everything. Father is there for you and me. I know it, and you guys need to know it to.

Con todo de mi gringo corazón (with all my gringo heart)

Elder Sheffield