What a Week!!! - Monday, October 15, 2012

Hello Familia!!

This week has been SO busy, but somehow it still feels like I just blinked and it was over!


My new companion Elder Maner and I 10/9/12



Tuesday morning we got up and headed to the transfer chapel to pick up our new companions. Elder Alba’s phonics was spot on… My new companion's name is indeed Elder Maner (pronounced May-ner), Jacob Tyler Maner to be more specific. He is 6’3”, 180 lbs, from Heber, Arizona, SUPER chill, and speaks Spanish like a Dominican. Ha. He has 14 months in the mission, and he’s ON FIRE! We have seen SO MANY MIRACLES in this first week together, and we’ve had SO MUCH FUN! And I highly doubt things can go anywhere but up from here!

On Tuesday afternoon when we got home, Elder Maner didn’t even take the time to unpack. He found his scriptures in his suitcase, and then was ready to go! Talk about hitting the ground running! We started the day off with a ridiculous amount of contacts, cuz we ended up on the east side of the area, and we only have a couple progressing investigators over here (cuz we were focusing more on the Barrio of Café).



The car our deaf friend painted



Anyway, while we were contacting we walked up to this guy that was prepping a car to be painted (i.e. he was taping the lights and mirrors, and covering the windows in newspaper), and said “Buenas” ha… He must have seen our feet out of the corner of his eye, cuz he stood up and said in AMERICAN sign language “I’m deaf.” Ha. It was SO unexpected. So we talked a little bit with what sign language I could remember (side note; he finger spells in Spanish. Ha. So the things I was saying I had to translate from Spanish to sign instead of from English to sign… It was SO cool!). We found out that he lives in the apartment complex we were contacting, and that he is a Jehovah’s Witness, because they have a deaf church in our area. We couldn’t really make an appointment with him, because teaching would just be ineffective, but now every time we see him in the street he smiles really big and waves, and usually gives us candy! Lol. Also, he is a legitimate car painter. He finished the car he was prepping that same day, and we got to see the whole process as we walked passed various times throughout the day. Ha. 

On Wednesday we had a day full of first appointments and contacts, and then in the evening we met up with Victor at the church for his baptismal interview. When we walked into the church he greeted us, and he told us that he wanted to move his baptismal date… to JANUARY! I don’t know if you guys remember Victor from back in July, but he had his first baptismal interview with Elder Brezack, but he failed it and had to wait three months for his baptism… We have been teaching him twice a week for the last three months, full speed ahead to have him ready for the 13th of October. So when he said he wanted to postpone it THREE more months, you can only imagine how I felt. Anyway, the bishop was still in an interview, and our district leader hadn’t shown up yet, so we called an audible, grabbed the nearest return missionary, and headed into the nursery room for an emergency, resolve some doubts lesson. Turns out, he was worried about not being able to be at church EVERY Sunday, cuz of his work schedule, and he wanted to wait until work slowed down so he could be 100% devoted. So we shared with him 1 Nephi 3:7 and talked about how if he will pray with real intent, and if it truly is his desire to be at church every Sunday, God will prepare him the way to be there EVERY Sunday. Then we wrapped it up real quick cuz the Bishop was ready to interview him. We still didn’t know how he felt about actually going through with his baptism, but I said a quick prayer that the bishop would know how to help him, and he did just that! Victor came out of his interview and said that he knew he needed to have faith and that he just needed to take that step and be baptized! So Elder Ramos did a quick interview, which he passed with flying colors, and then we planned a baptism!

Then on Thursday night, the Zone Leaders called us and told us that we needed to be at the temple at 8:30 Friday morning for our Zone Temple trip. Yeah, we were pretty stoked! A little surprised, but SO excited! So Friday morning we got up, got ready, and took a public car to the WAS, then walked up through campus to the temple! It was INCREDIBLE! I had NO idea how much I was missing the temple! I can't even explain the amount of energy and the sense of renovation and rejuvenation I felt from that session! I LOVE THE TEMPLE! I hope each and every one of you are grateful for and taking advantage of the ease of your temple access! Keep going every week! It is literally the most holy place on the entire earth! It is the House of our Heavenly Father, and you have the chance to visit anytime you want! GO!



Our zone at the temple! 10/12/12



Our beautiful temple!

 

Elder Chlarson, a missionary that I can never remember his name, and I



Elder Zorn, My Companion, Elder Reidhead, and I 10/12/12



My comp and I  10/12/12



Elder Chlarson chillin on a bench 10/12/12



The crew at McDonald's afterwards 10/12/12



After the temple trip, a group of us from La Zona Independencia went to McDonald's. Ha. It was SO good! It’s strange, but American fast food here is a delicacy. Ha. And I swear they do something different to the food here, because it was SO good!



Elder Zorn and I at Micky-D's





















After we came home from our temple trip we went back out to work. The first place we stopped at was Joel’s house. We had had an appointment with him in the morning, but because of the surprise temple trip, we had to fail him. I was worried about it in the morning cuz he said that he wouldn’t be there in the afternoon… But thanks to the tender mercies of the Lord, he was at home when we passed by. We went in, sat down, and proceeded to have the best lesson that either I or Elder Maner have ever had. Joel opened up to us and expressed his situation. He is a recently divorced, single father, raising 3 kids. He is working as a police officer, but doesn’t make nearly enough money to provide for his family. He is an alcoholic and he is addicted to cigarettes. He went on to express to us that he invited us back because he knows he needs God in his life right now. He NEVER thought about God when he and his wife were together, because everything was good. But now that he’s hit rock bottom, he has turned to the Lord and is completely ready to turn his life around. He is SO humble and teachable, and is willing to do anything and everything we ask him to, cuz he knows it will bless his life. I can't even tell you how I felt after that lesson! It was INCREDIBLE! The Spirit was SO strong! And I don’t think I have ever heard the kind of sincerity that he expressed when he said the final kneeling prayer to finish our lesson. I know that the Lord has been preparing Joel to receive the Gospel, and I know that the Gospel will truly be the thing that helps him rise above all that he is experiencing right now! I feel so blessed, and am SO excited to watch him progress! Missionary work is the greatest!!!


Victor's baptism 10/13/12



Then on Saturday we had Victor’s baptism! It was awesome! We had some great talks from a couple members, and a special musical number by the missionaries (we sang Joseph Smith’s First Prayer to the tune of Come Thou Fount. It was SO cool!), and then Raul Sandoval did the baptizing! And to top it all off Victor got up in testimony meeting yesterday and bore an amazing testimony! He will definitely be an incredible leader and testimony builder for all the saints wherever he is!



Anyway. I feel like I could tell you all a GAZILLION things more, but I have again ran out of time… I apologize. I hope this email finds you all well and happy! I know without a doubt that this is the one and only true Church of Jesus Christ, and that if we live according to the will of our Father in Heaven, we will be happy, and will be able to live with our families for time and all eternity!

I love you all! Keep the faith!

Love,

Elder Mooney 

Our "P-Day's Eve" party  10/14/12

 

My comp. Chillin' like a villian.

Dominican Sunrise 10/13/12

Me and a hobo house 10/13/12



Fishermen 10/13/12

Fisher of Men 10/13/12

More pretty pictures 10/13/12

Cool 10/13/12

 A funny bumper sticker. lol. 10/10/12



P.S. My companion and I have started a "P-Day's Eve" (as in the night before P-Day) tradition. We eat dinner and drink banana batidas on the roof of our house! Ha! SO tight! I can't wait to see what this transfer has to bring!




I'm 6 Months old!!!!! - Monday, October 8, 2012

Wow! What a week! So much has happened, I don’t even know where to start!

On Tuesday, we got up, got ready, and went to the La Paz chapel for Interviews with President Rodriguez! We had a great meeting with the Hermana while Pres got started interviewing people. Ha. We finished up with our meeting and our weight/blood pressure taking at around 1 pm. I will have you know that I have lost 15 more pounds since our last weigh in 3 months ago… After the seminar we got some lunch, and then went on a short intercambio with Elder Ramos and Elder Rodriguez cuz it would’ve cost 100 pesos to go back to our area, and it would’ve been lame to sit in the chapel and do nothing for 4 hours while we waited for our turn to be interviewed. At about 7 P.M. we were finally interviewed, and then got out of there at around 8! It was a long day! But I was grateful for the interview! It’s good to feel safe and be able to speak freely about anything and everything! Our President sure is a good guy!



Our final district meeting. 10/3/12
Back row: Elder Laifson, Me, Elder Rodriguez
Front Row: Elder Alba, Elder Carter, Elder Ramos

Wednesday was fairly normal. But as we all know, Fairly Normal in the mission field = Full of Miracles!   We taught Kenia and Ruca, and we asked Kenia about her reading and asked her to share something she’d learned. Well she told us she read from Alma 7, “like we told her to,” but I honestly can’t remember leaving that with her for homework… Ha. Anyway, we ended up having an incredible discussion about the Atonement, and she cried. It was AMAZING! I am so grateful for the Spirit and his ever guiding light!

Thursday I turned 6 months old in the mission, and my companion turned 21 years old in real life. Ha. It was a happy coincidence. We celebrated.

In the morning we had a Zone Conference, and all the missionaries went to lunch afterward, but my companion wasn’t feeling like eating Pica Pollo for the 92828743523762398th time, and the Hermanas in our Zone refused to eat there, so Elder Ramos, Elder Rodriguez, the Hermanas, My Companion, and I all went to Pizza House and ate birthday pizza. Ha.




I made my companion Pan"Cakes" for breakfast (thank you Elder Cabrera!) 10/4/12



Our Birthday lunch. Hermana Sweeney and I 10/4/12



Hermana Rodriguez and My Companion.

While were eating pizza Hermana Sweeney saw a cockroach, and said “why did God make those things???” I told her it was because somebody had to clean up all the garbage and leftover food that humans make, and it might as well be the Cockroaches. Ha. Well as weird as it sounds, that short conversation about the world’s most disgusting insect got me thinking about some pretty deep stuff. Lol. I asked myself what cockroaches think about humans… I mean really. If you think about it, we are the reason they are so nasty, not to mention the fact that we are constantly killing their brothers and sisters and friends. Lol. Weird, but I felt a sliver of charity towards those little bugs…  Well, that little perspective change made me think about how I need to look through other people’s eyes ALL the time. If I have an argument with my companion, all I have to do is take a step back and look at his perspective, and suddenly the argument isn’t an argument anymore. If I am frustrated with an investigator that just isn’t progressing, I just have to step into their shoes, and magically I understand what they are feeling, and I can better see their needs, and how I can help them. So my challenge this week is for everyone to check their perspective! Whether it be an “out of date parent” that just doesn’t “get” how the world works these days, or a stubborn teenager that wants to go to the sketchy party at the boyfriend’s house, or a mission companion that wants to work your area in a way that really just doesn’t make sense to you… Look through their eyes; try to see them as Christ does. Miracles will happen. I promise!

After lunch, we came home and still had some time to burn before our first appointment, so I called the Colmado and had them bring me some flour and some sugar, and I made BROWNIES!!! Ha. Our oven is ghetto, and has to be lit with a lighter, and it only has options one through five on the “how much gas it will emit” scale. I chose number three, and then checked it with the “poke the knife in, and if it comes out clean...” trick at 30 minutes. Ha. Apparently number three is pretty hot, cuz the brownies were a bit over done, but not to worry, we enjoyed them anyway!

Brownies

Then we had some great lessons to make a good day an even better day! Plus, in our last lesson of the day with Josefa and Kimberly, Josefa (the mom) surprised us with Mangú (a mashed potato like substance made from green (as in not ripe yet) plantains) and scrambled eggs for Elder Alba’s Birthday dinner! Ha. It was SO good!

Elder Alba with Joséfa and Kimberly and his Mangú 10/4/12

 

Me with Joséfa and Kimberly and my Mangú



Mangú

 

The Burning of the tie 10/4/12



Then we came home, and ate some more brownies while I participated in the burning of a tie ceremony to celebrate my 6 month mark. Ha. We didn’t have access to gasoline, but we happened to have a bottle of rubbing alcohol in the bathroom, so when the tie wouldn’t light up on it’s own… We improvised!! Ha. So much fire! So much fun!



 

 

Elder Suaste and I on our Intercambio 10/5/12

Friday was another good one! We had intercambios with the CCM again, so Elder Suaste and I were reunited for one last time before his birth into the mission field! I took him up to Café again, and we had some incredible lessons! I would bet my bottom dollar that that kid is gonna be an assistant someday. Ha. I learned a TON from him in the two (last Friday and this one) short days we spent together!

Elder Carter thinks he's funny 10/5/12

Also, while we were at Oliva’s she was cooking dinner and introduced us to “dumplings.” Ha. They are boiled balls of dough. Kinda like pasta, but more dense. Ha. They were surprisingly delicious.

After we sent the CCM kids back to finish out their sentence, Elder Alba and I headed to teach AnaMaria (my first baptism, if you don’t remember). After our lesson, AnaMercedes (AnaMaria’s twin) brought out some refreshments. Ha. It was saltine crackers with Sweetened condensed milk. Sounds sorta weird, but I highly suggest that you all try it! It was SO good!  

Axel's Baptism 10//6 12

 Saturday and Sunday Rocked! On Saturday night between the 2nd and 3rd sessions we had Axel’s baptism! He asked me to do it… Which of course I was happy to do, but I dunno if he was so happy about it after it was over… Ha. I had to baptize him 5 times…. SO funny, and SO sad at the same time! The water was FREEZING, so he really just didn’t wanna go under. So every time I tried to dunk him, one of his appendages would come up. Ha. Finally I just said the prayer, and then bent down and laid his back on the floor. Lol. Poor kid. But hey, at least we can be sure that he’s COMPLETELY clean! Ha. 

Also, as I’m sure you’re all aware, it was General Conference Weekend! We had at least one investigator attend all 5 sessions so we got to go to 4 of the 5! Sadly, we watched conference live, and because our time is 2 hours ahead of SLC time, Priesthood session ended an hour after missionary curfew… So we didn’t go. But the other 4 sessions were AWESOME!!! This church is true! I know it just from hearing our prophets’ voices!! Conference was exactly what I needed! I love how perfectly those talks apply to ME!

I almost peed my pants when I heard President Monson say that the ages to leave on missions have changed! Ha. I had to turn to my companion and have him tell me again to make sure I didn’t misunderstand!!! That is SO awesome! I hope and pray that each and every one of you that can now serve a full time mission will waste NO time! Get those papers in!!!

As for my conference report… yes Nana and Granddad, even though I moaned and groaned about the family get together every 6 months, it really has become a part of me that I will probably never let go! My favorite talk was Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk on Sunday morning. He talked about the disciples, and how they went back to their fishing after the Savior died… I love how he recounts the stories of the Bible, it seems so REAL! I vote we all pay him a bunch of money to narrate the whole thing! Ha. Anyway, his talk hit me pretty hard, cuz even though I still have three-fourths to go, my mission is pretty short… I only wear this plaque for 2 years…. But really, my calling as a disciple of Christ will never end! I will love Him and serve Him till the bitter end! I will NEVER go back to those nets! 

Then… Last night at like 10:20 we got Transfer Calls! And it’s good news!!! Neither of us are moving, but we are both getting new companions and they are splitting our HUGE area into two much smaller areas! My new companion’s name is Elder Maner (the spelling is based on my Dominican companion’s Phonetic skills… So I will include the correct spelling of his name in my email next week), he is American, and he has been in the mission for 13 months. Ha. At this point that’s all I know. Our new area is the east side of Independencia. The side that doesn’t include Café….. :( I’m sad about it. But I will still be in the same ward, and I will DEFINITELY be present for the baptisms of Oliva, Mulk and Prenda! I am excited to keep working here in Independencia, and I am sure that Elder Maner and I will continue to see all kinds of amazing miracles!

Anyway, My time is far spent.

I love you all! Keep the faith, and NEVER return to your nets!

Love,

Elder Cade Mooney

Cool houses 10/5/12

Doninican style laundry

Some Yuca (it's a root, kinda like potatoes, but SO not) and chicken I made. Ha.
I'm basically Dominican! 10/7/12

 

Another Week Gone Like a Flash! - Monday, October 1, 2012

Hey Guys! 

I can hardly believe that it's already P-Day again! Ha. Not that I'm complaining...

I've been hearing all about how fall is in the air back in the states, as well as in the Czech Republic, and other parts of the Northern World.... Sadly, it is still boiling hot here. And it still rains a lot. Just as bi-polar as ever. Ha. The only possibility of a change in weather here is maybe a few extra drops of rain in the semi-daily rainstorms. Ha. No fall for Elder Mooney!

Apart from missing my favorite season, I have had a good week. It's been a roller coaster, as always, but a fun one!

On Tuesday we passed by Guarionex (one of the Investigators that's been taking the discussions since before I arrived) while we were doing some contacting in his neighborhood. We asked him if we could pass by sometime during the week, and then he sorta just went quiet. He proceeded to tell us that he wants to "take a break..." ha, it kinda sounded like a teenage boy that didn't want to hurt his needy girlfriend's feelings. He told us that it wasn't our fault, and that he knew he would lose a lot of blessings without the gospel in his life, but that he needs some time off to rest and to think. It was hard to say goodbye... He was one of the very first people I taught in the mission field.... But I am SURE that his heart has been touched, because I have seen the changes he's made in his life. Now I will just hope and pray that another pair of missionaries find him in the future, and that when they do, he will be ready!

On Wednesday we found an investigator that strengthened my testimony on "planted seeds" and lifted my spirits after losing Guarionex. Her name is Prenda, and what I mean by "planted seeds" is thus: She is 28 years old, and is living in Café cuz she's studying at the WAS (a near by university). Her family took lessons from the missionaries when she was a little kid and all she remembers about the Mormons is a foggy memory of two young men in white shirts and ties. So when she saw us in the street, she told her cousin that she needed to talk to us. So her cousin, the next time she saw us walking by, stopped us and swapped info with us. We called, but to no avail. So we pressed on. But then a couple weeks ago, we were hiking to Café and Prenda was standing on the sidewalk with her cousin! So we met her, and set a time to stop by and meet with her. When we stopped by, she wasn't home... So we left a pamphlet with our number on the back, but didn't hear anything of it.

Then, this last Wednesday we were walking by her house and had some extra time so we decided to go see if she was home. She was! We had an incredible first lesson with her, and she explained that she had something unexpected come up the other night, which is why she left us hanging, but that she really would like to get to know our church, and the things that we believe in. She had all kinds of good questions, and we talked with her for almost an hour!

She explained her memory of the missionaries that visited her family when she was a kid, and told us that she wanted to feel what she felt when they were there AGAIN! It was cool to see her desire, and her hunger for light and truth! It was also a huge testimony to me that the seeds I'm planting right now (Guarionex for instance) will probably not be harvested while I'm here, but that some day, even if it's 20 years down the road, God will find a way to prick their hearts and bring them back into the fold!

On Friday we had Intercambios with the Elders from the CCM again. Ha. It always takes me back to that first intercambio that I did with Elder Zorn and Elder Jensen! Good Times!

Anyway, I was paired with Elder Suaste for the day, and we had a blast! I hope that he and I are companions some day! He is from Mexico and has been a member his whole life! He knows SO much doctrine, and is already an INCREDIBLE teacher! We had a great lesson with Oliva where we confronted some of the road blocks that stand between her and baptism; the greatest being that she wants to be baptized with her husband... But seeing that he doesn't have any interest in talking to us at the moment, we explained to her that she was ready to be baptized, and that she shouldn't procrastinate the day of her repentance! Also, that she would be much more effective at inviting her husband to be baptized if she herself was already baptized! She agreed and committed to pray about being baptized on the 6th of October!

On Saturday we had a pretty chill day. I also had a few more Dominican food experiences... Ha. We went to Pizza House for lunch with Elder Ramos and Elder Rodriguez and we ordered a gigantic pizza that was sectioned off into 3 parts. One was of Pepperoni, one of Ham, and one of... Corn! Ha. It was kinda weird, but surprisingly tasty! So if you wanna try something new, skip the pepperoni, and go with corn on your next home made pizza!

After lunch we had a few visits and then we headed to the Elders Quorum activity! We had three investigators planning on attending the activity, so we got to accompany them! It was great! We went to an underground lake that is in the top part of our area, and while we were down there we had a devotional about unity within the quorum! It was awesome! Ariel, the Quorum Pres, told us that we need to be like lead. Ha. He explained that Doctors put lead vests or blankets on the people being x-rayed to protect them from the damaging effects of said rays. He said that according to his doctor, the vests had to be made of lead because of all the elements, the atoms of lead are the most "unified," and they are so closely aligned that even the smallest bit of radiation cant get through. I vote we all be like lead! Whether you be a missionary that needs to work on his companionship unity, or a family that isn't so consistent with Family Home Evening. Change it! Be more like lead!




Underground Lake Trip 9/29/2012



The group: Back row: My companion, Ariel, Natanael.
Front Row: Me, Carlos, Broulio, Mulk, Antonio, and Dímar. 9/29/12




9/29/12





9/29/12



Me and the lake 9/29/12



The Group Underground 9/29/12

 My second food experience was called a Chimi. We went back to the church after are spelunking excursion, and Ariel met us there with a bag of Chimis and some grape soda. Ha. A chimi is a Dominican hamburger. I don't actually wanna know what kind of meat it is... but the texture wasn't quite the same as beef. lol. But it was good! I think besides Utah, the only place in the world that believes in fry sauce is the DR! And they COVER their chimis in it! Other toppings included: Tomato, cabbage, and pickles.

My Chimi 9/29/12



Mulk and I 9/29/12




Antonio and I 9/29/12



The group eating Chimis



Then, after a few visits Saturday night, we headed home. When we got there I called Oliva to see how her prayer went. Her answer: I want to be baptized on the 6th!! Woo Hoo!!!!


Sadly, because of complications with the communication between our mission leader and our bishop, and some cold feet on Oliva's part, the Baptism has been postponed. But I will have you all know that God does answer prayers! Not only did he confirm Oliva's inquiry to her baptismal date, but he answered my prayers as well! You have no idea how hard I've been praying for her to receive an answer, and to have the desire to be baptized! And finally, due to a divinely planned and guided lesson with Elder Suaste and I during our Intercambio, and much study and prayer on her part, Oliva wants to be baptized!!! I'm SO happy!

Due to the fact that transfers our on the 8th... I dunno if I will be here for it. But I know that her baptism will be one glorious moment for EVERYONE involved!
In other news: Our drain is still clogged. Ha. We talked to the owner of our apartment this week, but he didn't have any solutions. He said we'd have to call our mission office, and they will have to take care of it. So until they get some time to come check it out, we will continue washing dishes in a bucket. Ha.
Anyway. I gotta go. I love you all! And I know this church is true! I know that through faith and prayers all things are possible! And also, that we are constantly planting seeds of faith though our words and examples! So be careful how and where you plant them!

God speed.

-Elder Cade Mooney

Some pictures of the beautiful place where I live. 9/29/12