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