Elder Cade Mooney: Spent the week with a General Authority! -- Monday, September 23, 2013

Hello family of mine!

My life in the DR is good. :) Let me tell ya! I honestly have never been happier!

This week I kinda felt like I was over exhausted and running on spiritual caffeine. haha. We were SO busy, but SO spiritually full! Every time I felt like I was about to fall over from exhaustion, I would get another spiritual boost. :)

On Wednesday we had an intercambio with Elder Alvarado and Elder Dowdle (our house mates). I went with Elder Alvarado to their side of our area, and learned a lot from him! He's really chill as a person, but when it comes testifying of the Restored Gospel, he's far from timid. :) Also, he's Peruvian, and he likes American music. So we hang out.

We had to cut our intercambio short and go back home to open the apartment for the Enriquillo Elders who came to spend the night cuz they live so far away. After they were all settled we went over to Carlos and Karen's house to meet up with our companions and eat some Dulce de Platano Maduro in celebration of their engagement. :) They are so great! We are working really hard right now with the Lawyer here in Barahona to get Carlos' divorce finalized, and then they'll be getting married! It's just a matter of paperwork and patience. We've set a goal to have it all said and done by the end of October!

Carlos and Karen are engaged!!! 9/16/2013

Thursday morning bright and early (like 4:30 am bright and early) we all got up and headed to the bus stop in order to make it to Azua by 8. There, we met up with the missionaries of 3 other zones and anxiously awaited the arrival of the one and only Elder Zivic! He's a member of the first quorum of the 70. :) He's from Argentina, served as mission president in Spain, and has been serving as a General Authority for the last ten years! He is an inspiring man! He talked to us about setting goals, and having an "I can" mind set. He told us to be proactive, and to use our works to show the Lord our faith; THEN we will be blessed! He got all of us pumped to be missionaries here in the DR, and told us that our happiness and our success depends on US!

La Zona de Barahona with Elder Zivic and his wife 9/19/2013

Me with Elder Meek (old comp) 9/19/2013

Me with Hermana Dawe 9/19/2013

Me with Elder Pemberton (my trainer) 9/20/2013

On Friday we spent the day in the capital at the Zone Leader meeting, and guess who was there?! Elder Zivic! He taught us about our responsibilities as leaders and talked about inspiring the missionaries in our Zones. I wrote "inspire, not require" in my notes. He talked of personal worthiness, and obedience. That we as leaders have a duty to be the best we can be not only for God, but also for those that are looking up to us.

Saturday we were back in Barahona for a Zone meeting where we talked about all we had learned from Elder Zivic, and discussed some of the ways we plan to apply the revelation we've received! :) My Zone is awesome. :) Can I just tell you that? We have 26 missionaries, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them is here to WORK. They are literally some of the most upstanding humans I've ever crossed paths with.

Our zone at Zone meeting 9/21/2013

Elder Montoya and me

Elder Rincón and me

Elder Zivic talking over our little pulpit in Branch 2 (Barahona),
He came to our District conference 9/21/2013

My companion, me, Carlos, Karen, Jonathan, Pavel, Vida and the Zivics. :) 9/21/2013

Saturday afternoon we spent running around inviting people to District conference (it's like Stake conference, but smaller. ha), and then went to our chapel for back to back Priesthood and Adult sessions. Guess who the guest speaker was?! Yep, Elder Zivic!! Along with his wife and President and Sister Rodriguez. It was AMAZING! Luckily for all of you, I took great notes! You'll just have to wait 6 months to read them. lol.

One thing I will share, mostly for uncle Tim: Elder Zivic told us about the progress in Haiti. At the moment there are 104 missionaries serving in Haiti, and ALL of them are Haitian. For safety purposes, the First Presidency can't send missionaries of other races to that mission, but the Haitian youth have answered the call and they are currently baptizing more than any other mission in the Caribbean. :)

The church parking lot after District Conference. 9/22/2013

Sunday morning we finished off District conference with Elder and Sister Zivic, and then spent the day preaching the Gospel. :)

After all the traveling and spiritual overloading... we decided to spend today cleaning our house and relaxing. :) I feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle another week.

I've learned SO much in the last week! I just want you all to know that I know this church is true. I know the Lord communicates His will to us through His servants. I'm grateful for inspired men, called of God like Elder Zivic; from whom we can learn how to change and progress. There are Prophets on this earth today, the Heavens have not been sealed, and if we will heed their words, we will be blessed.

I love each and every one of you. I hope this email finds you all well and whole. :)

Love,

Elder Cade Mooney