¡Hola de la República Dominicana!
I am feeling just jolly today! Lots of awesome stuff happened this week, so I'll go in order.
On Tuesday, our Hermana Leader/my old comp, Hna. Perez came here to Ivan Guzman to do splits, and I went with her companion from Panama. I had a very special experience with a reactivated teenager and her inactive mother, Cecilia, who has been attending a different church. Cecilia needed a boche con amor (a loving talking-to), and it was really emotional as she realized that her life was a lot better when she was active in the Church. Interesting: even though Cecilia still prays to God, she said she feels very far away from Him...because she's not feeling the Holy Ghost or receiving blessings since she's not keeping the commandments.
In addition to her, Hermana Vazquez and I got to work with several less-actives this week for the first time this transfer, which I loved! Those 600 inactive members in my first branch, Ocoa, prepared me to help all the less/inactives I've been able to teach in my following areas. You have to be bold and firm with them, simply love them, and not judge. Guess what? 4 of them came to church yesterday after we visited, wahoo!
Wednesday, we had zone meeting with the missionaries of Las Caobas. That night, we had a ward activity and watched "Meet the Mormons"! So many people came, including several investigators, and it was super fun! Awesome missionary opportunity for all:) On Friday, we were visiting a recent convert family clear out in the green, calm edge of our area, and the mom's friend, Daisy, was there and listened! Turns out that she took the discussions for 7 months in Ocoa(!) but moved here and lost contact with the missionaries. Get this: she has 8 kids, ages 3-15! That's big in Utah, but considering the average is 3 here, that's nutsy! The mission has a goal to find and baptize a family by Christmas--we may have found our prepared family:) On the way back, I saw the funniest thing ever: a ginormous pig waddling in the middle of the cement road haha so random, wish I'd had my camera:)
Then Saturday finally came! Hermana Vazquez and I went to the church to fill up the baptismal font and drop off cookies for Anthony's baptism...but when we came back that afternoon, someone had gotten in, drained the font, ate some of the cookies we'd hidden, and took all the white shirts from the baptismal clothes closet. So that was disturbing. We still needed to clean the church, which someone had left totally messy after an activity the previous night, and Anthony showed up with two other Young Men and a small family to help out--so sweet! We hurried to get everything ready, find other baptism clothes, fill the font, but still couldn't get ahold of a bishopric member, who was supposed to preside, the ward mission leader hadn't showed up yet, who was supposed to conduct the service, and some people who were on the program never came. It was insane!! Every baptism has a story, like the hurricane rain that tried to stop Estarlin's last week. BUT we got things pulled together, and many people came to support Anthony, including his inactive mom and his 13-year-old sister, Paola. Estarlin gave a talk about the Holy Ghost, and he spoke as if he'd been a member for years! It was so amazing to see Anthony be baptized; when he went under the water and came back up, he felt like a huge weight had been taken off of him, and he felt an indescribable peace. His mom, Angelina, said, "The next to be baptized are my daughters and my husband!"
The next day, he received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was ordained as a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood!! AND Estarlin passed the sacrament for the first time!! I have never felt a joy like that, and I have ever felt so honored to be a part of the Lord's work. These two valiant best friends have completely changed their lives and are changing others' as well, including mine. It was also the primary program that day, and it was very special to hear those darling children testify and sing of the simply truths missionaries share every day--but it's a lot cuter when they do it:) 9 investigators and 14 recent converts came, and the church was packed! Plus, another recent convert youth, Duncan, received the Priesthood! It was the best, most incredible Sunday of my whole mission:) Oh, and we got transfer calls on Saturday night; Hermana Vazquez and I will be staying together for another transfer as I finish training her (she turns 2 months old tomorrow!).
In the spirit of Anthony's baptism and the primary program, I'd like to share the words of one of my favorite primary songs:
I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain
And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain
I want to be the best I can and live with God again
I know when I am baptized, my wrongs are washed away
And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain
I want to be the best I can and live with God again
Con amor,
Hermana Randall
P.S. Gracias, Randalls, for all your sweet notes from the family reunion! I just got them and love them so much!
I am feeling just jolly today! Lots of awesome stuff happened this week, so I'll go in order.
On Tuesday, our Hermana Leader/my old comp, Hna. Perez came here to Ivan Guzman to do splits, and I went with her companion from Panama. I had a very special experience with a reactivated teenager and her inactive mother, Cecilia, who has been attending a different church. Cecilia needed a boche con amor (a loving talking-to), and it was really emotional as she realized that her life was a lot better when she was active in the Church. Interesting: even though Cecilia still prays to God, she said she feels very far away from Him...because she's not feeling the Holy Ghost or receiving blessings since she's not keeping the commandments.
In addition to her, Hermana Vazquez and I got to work with several less-actives this week for the first time this transfer, which I loved! Those 600 inactive members in my first branch, Ocoa, prepared me to help all the less/inactives I've been able to teach in my following areas. You have to be bold and firm with them, simply love them, and not judge. Guess what? 4 of them came to church yesterday after we visited, wahoo!
Wednesday, we had zone meeting with the missionaries of Las Caobas. That night, we had a ward activity and watched "Meet the Mormons"! So many people came, including several investigators, and it was super fun! Awesome missionary opportunity for all:) On Friday, we were visiting a recent convert family clear out in the green, calm edge of our area, and the mom's friend, Daisy, was there and listened! Turns out that she took the discussions for 7 months in Ocoa(!) but moved here and lost contact with the missionaries. Get this: she has 8 kids, ages 3-15! That's big in Utah, but considering the average is 3 here, that's nutsy! The mission has a goal to find and baptize a family by Christmas--we may have found our prepared family:) On the way back, I saw the funniest thing ever: a ginormous pig waddling in the middle of the cement road haha so random, wish I'd had my camera:)
Then Saturday finally came! Hermana Vazquez and I went to the church to fill up the baptismal font and drop off cookies for Anthony's baptism...but when we came back that afternoon, someone had gotten in, drained the font, ate some of the cookies we'd hidden, and took all the white shirts from the baptismal clothes closet. So that was disturbing. We still needed to clean the church, which someone had left totally messy after an activity the previous night, and Anthony showed up with two other Young Men and a small family to help out--so sweet! We hurried to get everything ready, find other baptism clothes, fill the font, but still couldn't get ahold of a bishopric member, who was supposed to preside, the ward mission leader hadn't showed up yet, who was supposed to conduct the service, and some people who were on the program never came. It was insane!! Every baptism has a story, like the hurricane rain that tried to stop Estarlin's last week. BUT we got things pulled together, and many people came to support Anthony, including his inactive mom and his 13-year-old sister, Paola. Estarlin gave a talk about the Holy Ghost, and he spoke as if he'd been a member for years! It was so amazing to see Anthony be baptized; when he went under the water and came back up, he felt like a huge weight had been taken off of him, and he felt an indescribable peace. His mom, Angelina, said, "The next to be baptized are my daughters and my husband!"
The next day, he received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was ordained as a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood!! AND Estarlin passed the sacrament for the first time!! I have never felt a joy like that, and I have ever felt so honored to be a part of the Lord's work. These two valiant best friends have completely changed their lives and are changing others' as well, including mine. It was also the primary program that day, and it was very special to hear those darling children testify and sing of the simply truths missionaries share every day--but it's a lot cuter when they do it:) 9 investigators and 14 recent converts came, and the church was packed! Plus, another recent convert youth, Duncan, received the Priesthood! It was the best, most incredible Sunday of my whole mission:) Oh, and we got transfer calls on Saturday night; Hermana Vazquez and I will be staying together for another transfer as I finish training her (she turns 2 months old tomorrow!).
In the spirit of Anthony's baptism and the primary program, I'd like to share the words of one of my favorite primary songs:
I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain
And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain
I want to be the best I can and live with God again
I know when I am baptized, my wrongs are washed away
And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain
I want to be the best I can and live with God again
Con amor,
Hermana Randall
P.S. Gracias, Randalls, for all your sweet notes from the family reunion! I just got them and love them so much!