Arrived July 4 2016
Love the fam like I love the Dominican people.
Officially halfway through the mission and it is strange to think it has been
this long. Even when things are hard or I complain- I love the people and I
like the country.
The week in review.
We have started a new batch of investigators. the goal
is to constantly bring people in and sadly let people go, but most of the time
it is in batches. You get a big batch of new people because there aren’t people
left and then you go through them until they can’t go further. Imagine a batch
of cookies in the oven and the majority of the dough won’t be cooked enough and
then fall to the bottom of the oven. The goal is like the escalators where
people get on and off constantly until they reach the top. Domingo is a new
investigator, who had a few key indicators for a good investigator. He is
married, not just living with a woman, he has a motor vehicle, so he can make
it to church, and he offered us juice. A wise member of the church once said
that the investigators that give you juice are the ones who are going to
progress, so naturally that was a good sign. Most people fall into three
categories. 1. they don’t want to talk 2. they aren’t concerned much if
you come back or not 3. they will accept you because they love the word of God
and therefore allow anybody who preaches. Domingo is more on level three.
We gave our recent convert a big lesson on opposition
and how he will always find reasons to not come to church. He hasn’t come for a
while and so we are concerned about him. He loved the lesson and got it but on
Sunday even after passing by his house to wake him up, he didn’t come to
church.
Cesar and Ilumindada are to the end of the line as well.
They kind of don’t want to progress more, but they said they would try hard to
get an answer from God of yes or no. They didn’t drop us but neither did they
put the effort into praying to get an answer. Ignacio hasn’t been able to share
for a little while and couldn’t come to church. We ended up not having anybody
in church even with us and two other members passing by people’s houses Sunday
morning. It is frustrating when you walk into church late and sweaty, with the
feeling of failure and the stares from members. It is like showing the world
after all your work there are no results.
Our investigator Confessor, we gave a copy of the Book
of Mormon and he received it well and with the challenge to read it. I thought
it was the most likely to be read copy I have given out and I wasn’t
disappointed. He read it and prayed about it! Then he went on to explain to us
that God answers prayers, but in his own time. I was very happy and it doubled
when he said he wanted to give us juice the next time we came back!
On Thursday, we had a talent show activity with the ward
and it turned out better than expected. With usual lack of punctuality, it was
started but turned out well with several singers, a few skits, a game and my
companion juggling. We figured out a way to juggle with fire but with my
disapproval, in the end we just did normal juggling with the possibility of
problems if burning balls of flame scattered across the church.
On my one year mark we had the mission leaders council
so I got a great lunch and to see various people from my group. President and
Sister Castillo entered the same day we did so they also were celebrating one
year. They brought cake for everyone and it was amazing. That night I did the
traditional burning of the shirt and we ate a chocolate cake we had made for
the occasion.
Saturday there were two baptisms! However, both of them
were members who had to be baptized again because of lost records and things.
It did help out our numbers, we will take what we can get, since one was a
member in our area and the other in the are of the sisters. We also got to
visit the wedding of two investigators of my companion in another part of our
zone. They were one of the few couples who really understand what fornicating
is and then choose to be married legally. The wedding was very Dominican with rice,
beans, and a lot of dancing. We did appreciate the lack of alcohol though. The
couple will be baptized next week.
Today we had a big 4th of July activity with another
zone at our chapel. We grilled food, played ping pong and uno, sang the
national anthem and then our district had a go in with water balloons. Go
America!
Some great spiritual moments were Confesor but also with
these two roommates called Blanchi and Jeffri. They had come up to Oldroyd one
day and like something out of the movie the Saratov Approach had asked him if
he was a mormon missionary and then if he could come to their house to teach
them. We didn’t get kidnapped, which was a good twist in the plot. They are
always working so it has been hard to teach them, but in our last lesson we had
some success. With talking about the apostasy Jeffri really understood and we
felt the spirit. At the end of the lesson they told us they want to visit us in
the church one day, that they have walked the streets but want to change their
lives. Many times in the mission you get discouraged that you aren’t a success
story from the Liahona, so it is really encouraging even when there is a
glimmer of hope like this. There is goodness in everyone and you have to be
ready for when the Lord helps the people bring it to the surface.
I was thinking of somethings that I wish I would have
known before and beginning the mission (besides the umbrella I wish I had had)
wishing I was more outgoing and courageous and wishing I had a bigger suitcase,
I was thinking of some more important things. If I could help others or go back
in time and help myself I would say learn to pray better, be better at
scripture study and lead on visits with missionaries. Living with missionaries
helps realize that people are people and you have to help them not just teach
them words. Scripture study is a two-man thing. Not only are you there but the
spirit should be there and be your tutor. I wish I would have studied the
gospel with the spirit and not just with my self-righteous and sleepiness late
at night and early in the morning. Also I wish I would have had a better
relationship with Christ and with God. Often times we pray and communicate with
God but this is just words coming out. I wish I would have known how to have a
relationship with my Father. I encourage everyone to work on these things if
they need to be improved and they always do.
When I left on the mission I left with the scripture
Alma 26:12 on my mind, and now halfway through I have another from the same
chapter. I think of Alma 26:26 through 28. I have been changed in my heart
because I have had to give up what I want for what the lord wants. I try daily
to give up my life and live the one the lord wants me to. I have come here to
help bring Gods children to love their savior and their god, I know the gospel
is true. It works.
Love Elder Sheffield
Pictures: our barbeque
one year
and part of the group with Hermana Castillo
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