New Companion

Arrived Jan2, 2017

Love the family more than corbatas quemados! Again we stuck to tradition and had the ceremonial discard of a tie. I think only return missionaries understand what it is like once all the sister missionaries that started with you go home and you feel the pressure of only so much more. Every week I panic a little. The mission is too good. Happy New Year and happy 18 months Elder Sheffield.

 

transfers

What a week. Every time you have a transfer it feels like starting over again. For some reason certain investigators suddenly disappear from off the face of the earth while others progress. You have to worry about eating differently. Who takes the shower first. And now only Spanish. Once again I realize my Spanish isn’t that great haha.

My new companion is Elder Laureano from the capital of the DR. He is an amazing elder and I couldn’t be more satisfied really. We have been having good hard work but a lot of laughs and a new spirit here in Bonao 2.

Monday night we taught Isaury even though his wife was in Camino and then never showed up. He is pretty prepared for the gospel but she isn’t very much help. I’m a little worried for the decision that will eventually have to be made. 

 

Elder Rasmussen and ice cream

Tuesday was my last day with Elder Rasmussen and we worked hard. Sometimes missionaries spend the day relaxing a bit by saying goodbye and taking pictures. I really admire that guy. We didn’t get along too great, or that bad, we just had different personalities. He is a good guy and it will be different without him. We taught Oclide Casado and again the wife was gone. He said he wants to go see a baptism before he makes a decision to get baptized or not. Another great person, but coming down to an official decision.

With my new companion Elder Laureano (Elder Laurel) we have had some amazingly spiritual lessons. We have taught a few less active families that both had problems with being ashamed for mistakes with chastity that love the gospel but are having a hard time with coming to church. It is really sad and as a missionary you really feel for them.

 

Elder Laureano

It has been a good week for door to door contacting and this week we will see how things go. It is a constant planting, culturing and separating the wheat from the tares here. 

Juana and Gustavo are pretty set on being baptized. They are working on their marriage papers and coffee. Juana was so funny. Starting our lesson with the word of wisdom she read a little ahead of us and suddenly blurts out ¨coffee! You guys are gonna kill me¨ Haha she understands it’s an addiction and we put plans with her to make a hot chocolate or drink instead of coffee. Finishing the lesson their grown up son walks through the front door and into the kitchen. After looking around for a bit he shouts to us in the other room ¨mom any coffee?¨ Gustavo couldn’t keep down a big smile and busted out laughing. They are super funny and sincere.

For almost everyone but Juana and Gustavo, and Santiago, this week was almost another lost week. It’s really hard to help people when their families come around for a few weeks to ¨eat drink and be merry¨ (scriptural proof) 

I love some of these people and I really don’t want to move on from Jose, or Alen, or Isaury or Hipolito. 

 

a family in Bonao

This week I was thinking about prayer and guidance again. I can think of very few other things that I want for our investigators and myself than these things. I’m still putting yearly and less than six month goals so for all of you that are like me, pray for goals, present them to Him and ask for confirmation. I love the word confirmation. Do something good and ask for the confirmation, I promise it will come. 1 Nefi 10:19. El que busca, hallara. Entonces busque! 

Con mucho amor 

Elder A Sheffield