We are doing really well here in Independencia! We're happy and we're working hard. Ha. Actually "hard" is an understatement... I have never been so tired in my whole life... I added it up the other night, and found out that we walk an average of 10-12 kilometers every day.... Add the sun, and a back-pack with a triple combination, a bible, an umbrella, and a water bottle... Ha. Yeah... When we get home at night, it takes just about all I've got in me to plan, write in my journal (and my gratitude journal), and then take a quick shower to rinse off the sweat and dust before I crawl into bed.
And some how, some way, I'm still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 6:30 am the next morning! There's some sort of support going on from the other side! I'm sure of it!!
Anyway. This last Tuesday we had Intercambio round two. Our district leader has to do one with each of us at least once a transfer, and apparently he wanted to get them done within one week. ha. He came with me to our area, and my companion went with Elder Rodriguez to La Paz (their area). It was a great day! We had TONS of appointments planned, and they all went really well!
One that was particularly awesome was a lesson we had with a little boy named Axel. He is a 9 (so we thought) year old kid from out in the south, who is now living here in our ward with his grandma (member). She asked us to come teach him while we were at church on Sunday, so we stopped by. It was AWESOME! Children are SO pure! He gave us a solid summary of all the things he has learned about the church from his grandma, and from watching the animated scripture stories. :) He knows it all! Ha. Also, when we finished our lesson, we asked him to say the prayer and the Spirit was SO strong! It reminded me of my little brothers. Definitely a trunky moment, but SO good at the same time!
After the lesson we talked more with Hermana Estefania (Axel's grandma) about the family situation, and it turns our that his dad is a member (in-active, but member none the less), and he actually doesn't turn 9 'til October. So we explained that actually, he doesn't need to take the lessons from the missionaries and that he can be baptized whenever he wants! But she asked that we keep passing by anyway, so that we can help him know all he needs to know. So that's the plan! We left them with all the pamphlets, and they are gonna study them together, then when we pass by he will give us an update on what he's learned, and he can ask all the questions that he wants to know from the missionaries. :) I feel like it's a pretty good deal!
On Thursday we had a combined Zone Conference with San Geronimo. First, all the missionaries in our Zones that are going home in the next two transfers got up and bore their testimonies, which as always was great! Then La Hermana Rodriguez spoke to us about Dengue.... A horrid, feverish disease that a species of Mosquito here in the DR produces and spreads... Ha. definitely something I'd like to avoid. After her, our Mission President talked to us about Elder Corbridge's talk the 4th missionary! He emailed it to all of us a few months back, and has asked that we be studying it! It is geared toward missionaries, but it definitely applies to everyone! I would suggest you all read it!
Then President and Hermana Anderson (our area president and his wife) came and spoke to us! It was UNREAL! Hermana Anderson talked about the baptismal covenant and how great our responsibility is of helping others make such an important step, but also how important it is that each and everyone of us remembers our baptismal covenant. We have each made a promise to Remember Christ ALWAYS. She emphasised the Always, and then read 2 Nephi 25:26 "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ..." and then went on to say, "If we claim to talk of, rejoice in, preach of, prophecy of, etc. of Christ, we should probably know Him." Then she challenged us to get to know our Savior better. She started the process off for us by going through parts of Matthew 8 and 10 with us, and then explained how much we can learn about Him in the scriptures! It was AWESOME! I have taken the challenge and started reading from James E. Talmage's Jesus the Christ again (something I started in the MTC but sort of put on the back burner when I got out into the field), and I also plan to pick up the study of the New Testament again (also something I was much better at when I had all that study time in the MTC, ha). Also, I'd like to extend the challenge to all of you! Get to know Him! His life is the perfect example of how each of us should live! His atoning sacrifice is what allows us each to repent, and make changes from day to day! He lives! He has broken the bands of death so that we can all live again, and if we follow him; if we GET TO KNOW HIM, we can all live eternally with Him, our Father in Heaven, and our Families!
After la Hermana, President Anderson talked to us. It also was AWESOME! He opened it up for a question and answer session, and answered each question with something that tied into the Doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End). Then to finish it up, he broke down each of the 5 components, and showed us how all the steps tie in together, and how they all support each other! We cant skip a step! We need to help each investigator go though all the steps, but we cant force anything. We are here as teachers... Our job is to get the information (the TRUTH) to their brain, and then we have to help them have spiritual experiences (though testimony, church attendance, prayer, scripture study, etc.), so that the spirit can take that Truth from their head to their heart. Cuz he is the one and only individual that can transverse that byway between the mind and the heart!
Also, he explained how the reason that they send 19 year old boys on missions, is so that we can come to truly understand Christ, His doctrine, and the Atonement. Which brought to memory what Elder Carter had said when he shared his testimony earlier in the conference. He said, "I have made a lot of changes during my mission. I've grown a lot. But I'm not Changed. Thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I have learned how to utilize His atonement and I have learned HOW to change." I hope that I can say the same at the end of my mission. I have already seen a lot of changes in myself, but I'm still trying to master the HOW... I think that's really why we're here on earth. Not to be perfect, not even to attempt to be perfect... A general authority (I cant remember which) said "I don't believe in perfection... I believe in Eternal Progression." And I've decided that I agree with him. That's why we're here, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the road map to that Eternal Progression. The Gospel is the HOW.
It was AWESOME! Definitely a perspective changing conference!
Our weekend was relatively normal. We walked a lot, and taught a lot, and found several new people to teach!
Then on Sunday we went up to Café. We had a lesson with Oliva, which was great! It was good to touch base with her, cuz she's been super busy this last week helping her daughter who just had a baby, and working. Ha. Also, in the middle of our lesson a big rat ran right across Oliva's feet and under the couch I was sitting on! Ha. She FREAKED out! All kinds of squawking and squealing! It was SO funny! lol. So after our lesson we helped her move the couches and chase the rat out. lol.
Then in the evening, we went to Hermana Atalia's house for the weekly Family Home Evening with the members in Café. It was great. Ariel shared the thought (he is married to the Bort's daughter and lives across the street from them in Café). He had us sing "Love At Home" for the opening hymn, and then he talked about how each of us has a line of anger, and then opened it up to everyone to share their different ways to avoid crossing that "line." When it came around to my turn to share, I told them that the hymn "love at home" reminded me of my mom, cuz every time we would fight as kids she would sing it. And how as a missionary I have really put into practice the suggested technique of humming a hymn when we feel angry or negative or sad.
I actually haven't really thought about it until last night, but singing or humming a hymn helps me SO much! Cuz really, if we have a hymn playing in our head, we have the spirit with us, and if he's there, Satan can't be! It was cool to realize that. :)
Then this morning, I got up, did some chores, and then took our sink apart... Ha. It has been clogged for the last month or so... Every time we use or kitchen sink it fills up with water, and then takes hours to drain... and as of this last week we've been having to scoop out the water with a bowl, put it in a bucket, and then dump it down the drain out by the washing machine... Ha. SO gross. Anyway, I took the pee trap apart and a ton of NASTY smelling water came pouring out. Ew. Then I shoved a hanger down the pipe to try and unblock it, but there was nothing there.... I think the problem is out back by the washer where there is a huge concrete box that the pipe empty into before it goes to the sewer... Sadly I don't have a jack hammer... So I think we're gonna have to call some one.`lol. Until then, we will be doing dishes with a bucket. :) I'll keep you posted!
Anyway. We gotta go! We have a Noche de Hogar tonight with Axel and la Hermana Estefania!
I love and miss you all! This church is true! Never forget it!
Love, Elder Cade Mooney
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| Back row, left to right: An Elder that had health issues and was staying in the office... I can remember his name, Elder Mejia, Elder Thomas, Elder Finlayson, Elder Briener, Elder Rodriguez, Elder Reeder, Elder Brimley, Elder Alba Third-awkward-half-Row: Elder Zorn, Me, Elder Ramos, Elder Sanchez Second Row: Elder Talveras, Elder Haroldson, Elder Adams, Elder Reidhead, Elder Chlarson, Elder Bautista, Elder Laifson, Elder Carlson, Elder Carter Front row (seated): Hermana Rodriguez, Hermana Schweeney, Hermana Anderson, President Anderson (our area president), President Rodriguez, Hermana Rodriguez P.S. I cant promise that any of those names are spelled correctly. Ha. I did my best. |
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| Two goofy pictures of me with Hermana Rodriguez, and Hermana Schweeney. |
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