Arrived 18 Jul 16
Love the family more than
Dominicans love their pot bellies from rice!! (alcohol tambien) It is common
for people to sit out on their front porches or just about anywhere and pull
their shirts up just over the top of their pot bellies. I think it is a strategy
to give them air so they keep growing. Either way it makes for funny jokes and
family nights.
So it turns out both my companion
and I stayed in the area together! We were both super excited because this is
his last transfer in the mission. In mission terms I’m killing him because I’m
his last companion. We are looking forward to working hard and also having fun
on p days to visit his old areas, a fun tradition in the mission. Today we went
and bought fabric and then went to a tailor. He is getting a three piece, hand
made, fitted suit for about $95, but for me I chose to get some pants made.
Sorry mom if you already sent me a pair, it only costs about $20 to get pants
made so its a lot cheaper.
It was an interesting week. We had
an abnormally good week in terms of lessons with members and the amount of
lessons we taught. The majority of our investigators are coming to or already
reached the end of the line. We have a few new people we contacted, but we
kinda exhausted our resources and so now we are working in the limits of our
area and in the rich neighborhood. I get a little nervous around the rich
couple we met named Pedro and Jasinta because I feel like my Spanish is very
informal because that’s all we hear and speak, the informal kind of people are
more commonly receptive. I do appreciate that they don’t just try to please us
and will ask questions. You would laugh about how many times people tell us
that our message is true but they cant read the scriptures or join the church
or believe the message for some reason or another.
We have been really bold this week
and even told a few people that they were thinking of excuses why not to act
when we asked the to make commitments. One lady spent a good 2 minutes trying
to think of something to do on Sunday at nine in the morning, we told her she
was making up an excuse but she denied it and said that she really did have to
let the laundry dry for three hours on Sunday morning.
I got to ride in the bed of a few
trucks during the week! I am unsure if that is obedient or not but when you are
driving to pick people up for church or on your way for lunch with a member
family, safety isn’t really on your mind. I felt super excited to be going that
fast, I forgot what that was like. Also to be in a truck or in the front seat
is weird, especially when seatbelts and air-conditioning are involved.
Paulino our anciano investigator
has been up and down with his health. Somedays he is well and happy, others in
pain and grim. He couldn’t make it to church so I think we are going to move
his baptism back a week or two. The other day we did splits and in extra time I
taught a lesson on prayer with him. He is such and amazing man. He said one of
the most sincere prayers I have heard an investigator say! I hope his health doesn’t
continue to be a barrier.
Coronel De Luna, he is a coronel
for the firefighters and I don’t really know his first name, is doing well. He doesn’t
read well but has been inviting neighbors or his maid to read to him when he
has time! “Ahhhh what?! You went out of your way to receive our message?!” Also
he said that in the firehouse the other day they were about to eat when he said
all of a sudden he shouted “We are going to bless the food first! If you don’t
want to be a part of it go over there and sit in the corner.” I could hardly
contain my excitement. I think already the spirit is helping him change his
life, even if he doesn’t recognize it. I bore testimony that the gospel changes
us and as we continue we will want to change more and more. I think his
obstacle will be coming to church, not a shocker, and steady lessons since he
works crazy hours being a firefighter.
Lately I have been listening to
older devotional talks, from, President Lee, President Spencer W Kimball, Neil
A Maxwell, President Hunter etc. I love listening to their advice and thinking
about my grandparents and parents as young adults following their admonitions.
One talk I really enjoyed the other
day was one about the last days. We live in the last days and it is apparent
that the world is in turmoil. I hear people talk about the trouble in ¨Nueva
York¨ or in the United states and in all parts of the world. What I liked about
the talk was that even though we live in these ultimate times, we will be
triumphant. In no other period of time on the earth was the gospel to remain.
Prophets thousands of years ago gloried in the knowledge that even though in their
time the church was to fall to apostasy, in our time it will not fall. IF we
remain strong in our faith to Christ we will not fall to the attacks of the
world. This is the only dispensation in which we not only have hope for a
future victory but a victory in our day.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto
you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.
Love, Elder Sheffield
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