Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 6 - Transfer Week - Staying

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 6 - Transfer Week - Staying

So we got transfer calls and I'll be staying in Espaillat with Elder Cornejo for at least another month and a half and I was super happy to hear it, because we're doing great and working super hard. But, we're gonna' have two more missionaries in the house.  Those new missionaries will take over the second area we've been working and will be teaching some really prepared people we found, but, we did our part and in the end, the important thing is that they come to the Gospel.

A zone activity we had complete with Papa Johns pizza, water balloon volleyball, and crazy soccer (which is where you and your comp are tied together at the ankle - which was Elder Cornejo's idea).....One of the sweetest P-days of my mission.

But we've really been focusing on the Rodriguez family. We found them about a month and a half ago and they're doing AWESOME. They're basically already a part of the Ward and they really love the Church. They told us that they want to get married out of the blue and we haven't even taught them that principle yet, but they told us they know it's a commandment of the Lord and they want to be living the commandments so we will be starting that process tomorrow. But they're super excited for their baptism date and we've really seen a powerful change in their family since the day we first met them. They really are a blessing from God.

Best district there is. Didn't think it was possibly, but think I might be getting even skinnier. I'm gonna' come back 6'4" and 150 pounds hahaha.

Martin is also doing great. He's been coming to church for about a year but after a super powerful testimony from a recent convert in the ward, he decided to put a date for marriage.  After he reaches that, he expressed his desire to be baptized. We have half the marriage papers and the other half is coming on the second of September. It was amazing to how a pure and simple statement of truth from someone can change someone's desire to follow Christ.

We're also working with a guy named Wilson. He's been taking the discussions for a while too but has always had a problem with alcohol. He said that its too hard of a temptation and that it's something he probably will never get over. In one of our lessons, we taught about the will of God and how he will bless us and NOTHING is impossible if we put our part in and do the small and simple things that will fortify us in our weaknesses. He's been clean and sober for 2 weeks now. I know and testify that the Lord, when we do our part, is our support. He helps us do things that we wouldn't even come close to doing without H

is watchful care. It's amazing to see the impact that this Restored Gospel has on the lives of the children of God. I have learned so much in these past 11 months and I'm so blessed to be a missionary.

Hope you all have a great week.

Elder Graff

Elder Maatatia called me and told me that Angel Luis (right behind him, white shirt, 19) - who is the brother of one of the part-member families we were teaching who was inactive - is now coming to church every Sunday and planning on SERVING A MISSION. I was so stoked when I heard it and hope he gets called to Arizona so I can help him out when I get back.  Hahaha

 

"But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over ALL those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto deliverance." 1 Nephi 1:20

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 5 - Just Hold On....

Santo Domingo 5 - Just Hold On....

We had such an amazing week here in Espaillat. In addition to all of the lessons, the working, sweating, and busy stuff, we had the opportunity to help out a ship that comes here every 2 years. The majority of the medical and dental providers that come over on the ship are American and they're here to provide free medical services for Dominicans, Haitians and basically people that can't pay or provide them for themselves. So a couple billingual missionaries and I went over there on yesterday to translate (that's why I didn't write on P-day and I'm writing today, by the way).

It was a lot different than I expected. I knew the people were going to be in need and that we were going to be providing a lot of help for the people that I've come to love and appreciate so much in my time here. But I was humbled greatly. I worked in the dental section, helping surgeons and doctors understand and communicate with the patients. As the day started up, the people started coming in with all kinds of problems. Cavities, root canals, and sometimes their teeth were so bad that the doctors just looked at me and we had to decide which of all the teeth we were going to pull. It was very sad to see the lack of health care that the people have in this country. 

 

At the medical station, translating for the doctors and dentists that came on the ship

 

In my time there, a family walked in, a mother with two small children. One of them was 2 years old and had Down Syndrome; the other a little 8 year old girl. I was thinking that they came with their mother to wait for her to get surgery, but after talking with them for a while realized that the little boy- at such a young age and with such a difficult disability- was going to get the dental surgery. We brought him over to the table and I tried my hardest to make him comfortable, get him laughing, and just do whatever I could to keep his attention. The doctor took out the needle and I told the little boy to grab my hand and squeeze it as hard as he possibly could. I told him to try to break my hand if he could. So, with one hand holding down his flailing knees and the other holding his right hand firmly trying to comfort him, to do whatever possible, we proceeded with the surgery. The following 15 minutes was one of the most touching and difficult experiences I've had in my entire life. To see the pain and discomfort of someone so innocent, so loving and young, killed me inside. In that moment, I wanted more than anything to take his place. To put his trial and his pain on my shoulders so he could have rest. In that little room with the doctor and his worried mother and little sister, God helped me see how He felt when His Son, Jesus Christ, took upon Himself the pains of the world. There was nothing He could do for his Son. He couldn't go through it himself, it had to be Him. What He did was comfort Him. He sent an angel from the heavens to help the Savior and Reedemer of our souls go through what He did in the Garden of Gethsamane. I learned the pain and anguish that you feel to watch someone go through something so horrible and not be able to do anything about it. And it helped me learn and fortify the testimony I have of Jesus Christ.

 

I know that He lives and I'm so very grateful for the sacrifice He made for each and every single one of us. I know this Gospel is true and I'm priviledged to be able to preach it.

Elder Graff

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 4 - Two Areas; Exchanges

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 4 - Covering Two Areas; Exchanges; Surprise Singing in Church

Ok, so Elder Cornejo and I have been getting a lot more comfortable with running both areas of Espaillat. There used to be four missionaries here but now it's just us two and it calls for a lot of work but we've been doing stuff and organizing things with the members to try and get the ward super hyped about missionary work. We'll see if we can get some activities started up here real soon.

A picture of Enrique, Miriam and Manuel in front of the temple.

But we had another exchange (splits) with some elders in the zone on Wednesday and I went with Elder Zamora. Really crazy story though is that on the way back to our area to work for the day we were in a little gua gua (mini-van) with like 12 other people when it probably should only fit max 7. We were super crowded, sweating up a storm, when the driver YANKS the car really sharply to the right to avoid hitting a motor that sped out in front of him. We hear a snap and then I look over to my left to see the drivers front wheel fly past the window. The taxi tilts to the left and slams on the ground, sparking everywhere until we finally skid to a stop. A little dazed and lots of people scared, BUT we all walked out of it unharmed. It is cool to see that angels are always protecting you if you're trying to do what's right.

 

JUAN CARLOS visited our ward and I was the happiest person in the world when I saw him. He was wearing the tie I gave to him (even though he said it was ugly), so thats how you know he's a true friend.

We had the privelege again, though, of visiting the temple with a family we're teaching. They've been coming to church every single Sunday for the past month now since we contacted them and they're doing so awesome. They're such a prepared family.  Being able to teach them is honestly a miracle and blessing for us trying to stay strong in the mission service and contacting even after every single lesson we had that morning fell through (which is hard in the Dominican sun  --hahaha). 

"Ahora, loco" ! (Translation - "Now, crazy"! ).

Enrique had a good laugh when he saw the picture haha.

But in the garden outside the temple, and we were the only ones there because the temple is going through a little bit of renovation so it's basically like they got a private tour, we discussed about the importance of the family and about the sacred knowledge and blessings we recieve through temple ordinances. The lesson was really powerful and they actually want to go back on the 18th, the day after the temple reopens again to visit as a family. We're gonna try and set it up so they can go with a member family again. But we're gonna be setting everything up with their marriage here real soon so they can fulfill with their desire to be baptized and be able to go inside the temple. They wanted to go inside so bad and it was so amazing to see the desire that being there planted in the heart of the father to help his family become members of this Gospel.

We had our Ward Conference yesterday also which was such a spiritual day. The Ward asked me too -- THE MORNING OF -- if I could sing in the choir, and so I said "sure". Little did I know, I was filling the part of a duet with one of the sisters in the ward in front of tons of investigators. But, even though I wasn't planning on it, I feel like it went really well and everyone loved the talks, testimonies, and everything the ward planned. 

 Even though we've been super busy with everything that's been going on, I feel really calm and happy with the work we're doing. I know this church is true and love to preach this message to everyone that wants to listen.

Elder Graff

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 3 - Fast Week

Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 3 - Fast Week

Probably the fastest week to date in the mission.

We were honestly so busy I hardly had any time to think hahaha. First we did an exchange with some Elders and I went with Elder Turketo who's from New Zealand. It was awesome and I took my first hot shower in 10 MONTHS --AND IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY ENTIRE LIFE !  I WISH THE COMPUTER HAD DOUBLE CAPS. Words cannot describe how happy I was --haha.

On the exchange at a dinner that a member prepared for us --which was pretty sweet.

But we are doing so great. We have two families we're teaching that both came to church on Sunday. One of them we found contacting when everything fell through during the day last Saturday. They are progressing really well and we're planning a trip to the temple for this Saturday. Rafa and Rosa are headed out to Haiti till the 5th of September which is going to push back their baptism till the 19 of September. But before Rafa left in our last lesson with them for a while he told us that he's going to be going to the "Mormon church" in Haiti so he can understand a little better (because he's still learning Spanish a bit). But they're both super excited for when they get back and even though it'll be a little while yet, they are ready. 

Working really well with the ward and we're really seeing the miracles. Honestly, it's just trying to fit everything into our schedule cause we're working both the areas and it's really hard sometimes. But, we're doing everything we can and God is definitely blessing us.

Sorry my letters keep getting shorter and shorter. I had a total of 15 minutes to write today so that was sweet thanks to this Internet Center again. But, everything's going great and we're really having the time of our lives.

Elder Graff

Exodus 4:10-12

"And Moses said unto the Lord, Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue."

"And the Lord said unto him, who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?"

 

"Now therefore go, and I WILL BE WITH THY MOUTH, and teach thee what thou shalt say"