Elder Cade Mooney: Hello from Ocoa! - Monday, January 21, 2013

Hey Family!!

Another week gone… Holy cow. Time flies!

Just like all the weeks in the past… this one ROCKED! Ha.

Tuesday, we got up and went on another house cleaning, service expedition. A lady in our ward was in a motorcycle accident with her husband (nothing super serious, but enough to kink her back and make housework a little difficult), so we went and mopped her floor, did the dishes, swept the patio, and dusted everything! It was solid, and she appreciated it. :) Then we went home, and seeing that we had no gas to cook with, and we had a counter overflowing with avocados, I improvised and made some sandwiches with an avocado-mayonnaise spread, fresh onions, peppers, tomatoes, salami, and cheese! SO good! I would suggest that you all try it out!

Shortly after lunch, our new ACTIVE (I’ve never seen our last one at church) ward mission leader, Erik, came by and took our gas tank to the natural gas station for us, then brought it back and we fed him a sandwich while we had a meeting and talked about our investigators! We are SO pumped to have someone to work with in the ward!! Erik is the bomb, and has tons of animo to work hard, and see growth in the ward!

Wednesday we had “surprise” interviews with Pres. I say “surprise” because the Zone Leaders announced them for the 26^th, which was passed out as a misprint in the monthly mission newsletter. Ha. So they called us on Tuesday night, and told us it was really on the 16^th, and to change the appointments we needed to, so we could be there. Ha. Although it was unexpected, it went really well. Pres is a cool guy, and it’s good to talk to him and hear his opinion on what I can do better as a missionary.

Also, while we all wait for our turn to be interviewed, Hermana Rodriguez gives us a schpeel on heath and cleanliness, and then a training session on something or other before she takes our weight and blood pressure. This round’s training session was on the Area book, and while we were talking about contacting (tracting), and new contacts, she shared the conversion story of President Rodriguez. Turns out, the missionaries knocked on his door and his older brother accepted a return appointment. But when the Elders went back to teach him, he wasn’t home. Instead of being discouraged, saying “well, can you tell him we passed by,” and then calling it good, they asked if they could share a short message with the people that WERE home -- President Rodriguez and his mom. They both got baptized, and within a year or two, one by one the rest of the family did as well, except the brother that was originally contacted. 26 years, and thousands of prayers and invitations later, he was baptized. But had those missionaries not taught the people they could, the whole family would probably still be right where they were 26 years ago. SO cool! It was a testimony to me that really we need to be teaching EVERYONE we see. Even if the person we contact isn’t home when we return, we need to be listening to the Spirit, so that if another member of that family is prepared to receive the gospel, we can be there for them.

Thursday was great! My companion and I fasted for Juana (the long time investigator, that is still having problems with smoking), and we just felt like we were on cloud nine all day! In the evening, we swung by Gregorina’s (the drunk girl from a while back) house. She was sick with a fever, and had zero energy, but she wanted to share with us anyway. It was AWESOME! We had an improv Atonement lesson with her. Christ knows EXACTLY how she feels, and has already suffered everything for her! SO cool! How great is it that we know that!!?

Friday, we broke our fast at noon with some arroz con leche that Mavel sent us home with Thursday night. Ha. But… While I was pulling it out of the fridge, I dropped it and the glass bowl broke… Ha. Well, we couldn’t just waste it… So we ate slowly and pulled the glass out of our mouths as we found it. Haha. Then in the evening we got round two of arroz con leche at Nermis’ house! SO good! We ate SO much!! Don’t be too jealous, GrandDad! Ha.

Saturday was normal. 'Cept for all the noise! Haha. Right now it is “patronales” here in Ocoa. Which is like a week and a half long celebration for the Virgin Altagracia. But it is far from religious. There is just TONS of alcohol, and tons of people, and TONS of super loud music! Ha. And its going on 24-7!! These people really know how to party!!

Yesterday was hilarious. Lol. We went to church, which was supposed to be an area conference via satellite, but they couldn’t get it to work… So we all just went home. Haha. Only in the DR.

Then in one of our lessons with a family of all girls (Angi and Sesarina with their mom Maris), somebody ripped one… haha. Their cousin was the culprit for sure. She walked out of the tiny, one room house right before it started to stink! Haha! Then she came back in and spent 10 minutes denying it was her!!! It was SO funny!!!! I have never laughed so hard!!

Then we got more avocados from Gladis and Anairis! Ha. I have avocados growing out of my ears!!! We eat them EVERYDAY!!! I wish I could send you all some!!!

Anyway. The internet guy wants me out of here due to the holiday…

I love you all! Keep the faith!

-Elder Mooney