This week has been another good one! Lots of fun and lots of miracles!
On Tuesday night we had a super great Noche de Hogar with the Vargas Family. They are a less active family in our ward, and their home teacher Hermano Natera (Also, he's a former-stake president, and a double former-bishop. Just an awesome guy. Basically Grandad, but black, and doesn't speak English. lol) asked us if we would get involved with the reactivation effort, cuz their youngest son Guely is not baptized yet. So we're gonna see if we can get the whole family on the "get Guely baptized train" and by doing so, reactivate the family.
Anyway, we had a Noche de Hogar, and my companion whipped out an incredible lesson about the 2000 Stripling warriors. We read Alma 57:19-21, 25, and 27 and talked about the things those young men did to keep themselves strong, and how through their faith they were able to defeat their enemigos, and overcome the challenge placed before them without losing a single soul. Caridad (Hermana Vargas) was a huge fan of the fact that they were obedient with exactitude to the things their mothers taught them. haha. And the boys were in awe at the story. It was solid.
Then to finish it off we ate Tuna Fish sandwiches, that had been made from fresh Tuna that the boys caught with their dad the day before. Ha. They are avid fishermen, and they take their yacht out every Sunday and fish about 50 miles off shore (cuz the water close by is gross, and the fish don't live there anymore) and just fish ALL day long. Ha. That would be the life!
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| Breidy (left) and Jerry (right) eating tuna fish (caught from 50 miles off the DR coast the day before) sandwiches. 11/6/12 |
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| My comp and I with the Vargas Family. Ha. little people... 11/6/12 |
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| The Vargas Family with Hermano and Hermana Natera 11/6/12 |
Wednesday was all right. My comp had a surprise District leader training meeting ALL day long. So we were at the San Geronimo chapel from 2:30 til about 8.... I spent the day with the other Companions of the district leaders. One of the kids I talked to was a hater.... He had a bad attitude about everything in this country. I mean yeah, we have our fair share of trials, but he was just plain cranky. It fortified my previous mindset on attitude. I firmly believe that my attitude is my decision, and that I can choose to be happy. I know that when I am happy, it's easier for those around me to be happy as well. So that's what I'm attempting to do. Chose to be HAPPY! :)
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| Elder Fassett and I... Boy have we changed. lol. 11/7/12 |
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| The lunch that Amelia made for us! 11/8/12 |
Thursday was a food day... Ha. We were invited to Amelia's (our menos activa that had a tumor in her jaw bone) house for lunch. She made us a morro of rice and guandules (I think they're called pigeon peas in English...), Yuca (tapioca in English- it's a root that they boil, kind of like a potato), Meat balls, Dominican Potato salad (boiled, chopped potatoes and carrots, minced onions, all covered in mayonnaise), with fresh avocado on the side (she coated it in lime juice and salt), and a fresh banana for dessert! SO yummy!
After we shared a message with her, we went and preached with SUPER full bellies. And while we were at Josefa's house, she surprised us with grilled cheese sandwiches, and juice, and then immediately after that we went to our dinner appointment with Hermana Zunilda. Ha.
Hna Zunilda made us Mashed Yuca, with Eggs, diced peppers, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro on top. Fried cheese and avocado on the side, and fresh Cherry juice to drink! WOW! I think I died and went to heaven. ha. We were SO full!!
My comp and I eating at Amelia's. 11/8/12
Friday we had intercambios with the CCM missionaries again. Ha. My companion's name was Elder Diaz. He is from Guatamala, and he's headed for the East mission. We had a solid day. But about half way through our allotted time to contact for the day, he asked if we could stop... lol. I guess in Guatamala they don't contact because the members just give them references... Well. That's not how it is here. I suppose he will have a rough couple of months until he realizes that his mission is not gonna be like those of the missionaries in his country. haha. I was just kinda sad that I was the one that had to expose him to the real world... I guess it is kind of a rude awakening.
Saturday was norm.
Yesterday was BOMB TOWN. We had a lesson with Rosalena, the mother of Angel (our investigator that has a heart attack a while back). The whole day we spent having doors slammed in our faces, and having people fail us. We showed up at her house expecting to teach Angel, but he also decided to fail us... I was bummed. Anyway, as God always seems to do when I'm discouraged, He inspired someone to change my attitude. Rosalena shared her conversion story with us, and it was incredible! She told us about the day the missionaries first knocked on her door, and how weird it was that they happened to find her at her house when they did. She said that God had to have had a hand in it, cuz with her work schedule at the time, she was rarely home. Anyway, she accepted the discussions, and was eventually baptized. Since then, she's had a couple of operations on her eye, and had some rough financial difficulties and the church has helped her with all of it. She says that the Church has been the greatest blessing in her life, and that she is eternally grateful for that happenstance meeting when the missionaries contacted her. Missionary work is real! I have the power to change lives, and to bring people the fullness of the restored gospel! I just have to keep knocking doors, and seeking our the ones who are ready to listen!
Then, last night, we went to La Familia Carazco's house (Anamaria and Anamercedes + kids) and brought Amelia (menos activa) with us for a super great FHE. We had an awesome lesson about Testimonies! We read part of an article from the July Liahona that told us the definition of a testimony, and explained the gaining of a testimony like putting together the pieces of a puzzle. Then we all found scriptures (that had been previously selected), and Identified the words "I know," "I believe," and other such phases that indicated "pure testimony" (Alma 4:19). Then we discussed which "part of the testimony puzzle" was being expressed by the prophet, and then we each had a turn to bear our testimony and share how the testimonies from the scriptures have strengthened our personal testimonies. :) It was super fun! I learned a lot, and I realized how much power even the simplest testimony can have. Bear your testimonies! They have true power! And every time we share them, they grow! If you don't want to get up in church and do it (which I completely understand cuz it's terribly nerve wracking), share it with a friend, or with your kids, or with your spouse. It doesn't matter who it's to, as long as you share your testimony of the simple truths that you know to be true, your faith and the faith of those who hear it will be strengthened!
I love you all! I hope you are all doing well! Choose to be happy, and bear your testimonies!
Love,
Elder Cade Mooney
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