A Whole New World.... Ha. - Monday, June 11, 2012

From: Cade Mooney
Date: Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 4:12 PM
Subject: A whole new world.... Ha.

Wow. 
I am here in the DR in the mission field. I am a real life missionary... Weird.

This week has been good. :) Definitely an eye opener!

We finished up our stay at the MTC with In Field Orientation, which was two days of demonstrations and explanations of what we should expect and what is expected of us in the mission field. It was really good, and they actually made it really fun!

Then on Tuesday morning, we said our goodbyes, and got in our different cars to head out to the mission!

They took us to a church where we had a short interview with the President, who is one of the nicest dudes I´ve ever met, and then we took pictures and filled out our ¨get to know you¨ forms. After that we went into the chapel where they ¨presented¨ us to our trainers. Then we had a few hours of orientation/instruction and then they sent us off with our new companions!

My trainer is Elder James Alfredo Pemberton the 4th. Ha. For real. He is from Las Vegas, Nevada, but his dad is from Puerto Rico (so he´s brown) and he speaks Spanish really, really well, so everyone just assumes he´s a Dominican. Ha.

We live in a 4 man house with Elder Brezack and Elder Arias. Elder Brezack is from Nebraska, and he is super funny and easy to get along with. Elder Arias is from Costa Rica, and only speaks Spanish, but he understands English perfectly. Ha. I guess he´s just more comfortable with Spanish, cuz we all know he can speak it, he just never does. They´re all super chill, and I think this next 12 weeks with them is gonna be great! :)

I´m definitely a greeny. Ha. My first mistake was going to the bathroom with out asking for instructions... Ha. I put the toilet paper in the toilet, which is a no no. I guess it clogs the pipes. And I we also didn´t have any water in the Tanaco (the tank on top of our roof), so the toilet wouldn´t flush. Ha. I had to get a bucket and flush it that way.

Also, the water has run out in the middle of my shower twice this week. Ha. It´s actually pretty funny cuz I´m covered in soap and I just have to stand in the shower and yell until someone brings me a bucket full of water to rinse off with..

This is definitely gonna take some getting used to. Ha. Hot water is a thing of the past... Also, anytime we want water we have to hook up the ¨Bomba¨ (the Pump). We hook it up to a spicket outside, and put the other end of the hose down in this HUGE hole in the ground that's full of water, then the pump fills up our pipes, and after they´re full it fills up a big tank on the roof. Then gravity caries it back down. Ha. No water pressure. Just gravity. We don´t have a shower head, just a PVC Pipe sticking out of the wall. lol.
No air conditioning. Just sweat and fans; when we have power. When we don´t have power, just sweat. Ha.
Also, cockroaches. And Ants. EVERYWHERE. Ha. We don´t have windows, just bars. So all kinds of critters can come in. Including geckos. :)

It´s different. But it´s a super good different. :) I´m loving being a missionary. :) Our investigators are all super amazing, and all the people here are unbelievably kind, and generous.

The work is hard, but it´s SO worth it! I had my first baptism on Friday, which doesn´t really count cuz I only taught her twice before her baptism, but seeing her baptized and then receive the Holy Ghost in sacrament meeting yesterday was AMAZING! It makes all the heat, and the walking, and the bugs, and every other hard times worth it! 

This work is incredible! It brings SO much happiness to people! I can´t believe the changes I´ve already seen in peoples lives in this one short week. I´m lovin' it! :) I know the church is true, and I am so grateful for the things I´ve been blessed with. This is gonna be the ride of my life!

Anyway, I´m out of time. Sorry it´s so short. I love you all! I hope things are all going well!

Love,

Elder Cade Mooney