The Work Goes On


Sometimes we have to just pinch ourselves to know this is all real. Mostly because of the amazing experiences we are having. Other times life has a way of letting us know without any pinches that it is real. Hermana Borup has been sick now for about 2 weeks. By sick I mean not even well enough to go for a run. That may not be very sick for some of you but for her not running means she is very sick. This week on Thursday she was finally able to get out the door. She says she is really all better now. The way she describes her illness is "you don't want to know! I don't want anyone to ever feel that bad". I'm glad she is feeling better it was hard to see her suffer like that. I think it helped us to be more sympathetic to sick missionaries.

I made a couple of trips to Azua this week to find and secure our new home. Elder Buhler had to go to Neyba (which in the South of the Mission) to find a home so the missionaries can return. Remember they were kicked out of their house a few weeks ago because the Financial Secretary is really bad. It turns out that that landlord owns most of Neyba. We found a great place for the missionaries right across the street from the church. On the way home form Neyba we looked at some homes in Azua. We found a place that I am excited about but Hermana Borup has not yet seen. We signed a contract with the Landlord on Friday. I am a little (a lot) nervous to see Hermana Borup's reaction. It is not as posh as she is used to. The Church pays $1200 US for our apartment where we stay now. The house in Azua will be $300 US. So there is going to be a little difference. She likes camping and backpacking right?

This week we made our 31st trip to the airport. We took a Hermana that was going home to the Cayman Islands. She is the first missionary ever to leave from the Cayman Islands. I always thought she was a little bossy and rude when we had to deal with here about here travel plans and other things. I didn't have a good image of her as a missionary. We had to pay 10,000 pesos for her to get through immigration because the church was unable to get her the proper visa. When knew this before we took her to the airport and I made a smart-aleck comment like "that will be money well spent!". On the way to the airport, I asked her what her favorite area was. It like turning on a bright light. She couldn't stop talking about her mission and how much she loves the people and much she is going to miss it. When I saw how much she loved the people I knew instantly what a great missionary she was. I felt bad about having my judgemental thoughts but felt really glad about the gift of repentance. Her favorite area, by the way, was Azua. 

We were so sad to hear about the death of President Monson. What an amazing example of serving the individual. He was never too big for anyone. The Lord's Prophet and he was never too big for anyone. That tells me a lot about the Lord. We have access to the internet and are somewhat connected so we were able to hear the news very soon after his passing on Tuesday. This is not the case for everyone. At church today the Brother that gave the opening prayer asked to bless President Monson with good health. Shortly after the prayer, the Branch President announced the passing away of President Monson. I was watching the brother because I knew it was the first time he heard it, He was very shaken. President Monson was loved by people all around the world including people in tiny little branches in tiny little corners of the globe. We love him and will miss him dearly. 

I got up today and shared my testimony with very little forethought. I just spoke Spanish without writing it down or thinking about to some great extent. I told the members of the Branch that we will be moving to Azua. And since people came and asked me about our move I can assume they understood. I can say I'm not sure how they feel about us leaving. We weren't able to spend as much time as we wanted in the branch so I'm not sure how big of an impact we made. I hope they know how much we love them and will miss them.

We are excited about our new adventures in Azua. We pray we can make a difference in th growth of the Church and in the lives of the people We know that as we listen to and follow propmtings we will find ourselves where we can do the most good.

Have a great week!
your friends
Hermana Y Elder Borup




This really does say it all. truth is truth.
Templo de Republica Dominicana 
There's always room for more. This Guagua found a great place to store some extra chairs. When a passenger gets rowdey they can have them ride out there.
Moving day for someone. This was a truck way out by the Haiti boarder
Sugarcane getting taken to be processed
Hermana going home to the Cayman Islands. She looks sweet but she's on the National Rugby team
This about 40 lbs of excess weight Hermana had to take out of her bags. Most of it is church-related supplies. She told us in the Caymans it is really hard to get things. She was very sad to leave it behind.
Not uncommon to see ladies in the biggest curlers known to human kind.
Who needs to carry things in your hands?
Another view from last weeks drive with the kids
Enriquillo and the beech in front of it. We almost moved there.
this is where will be moving. Azua It's called Bahia de Ocoa
Nativity outside of the oldest church in the Americas
Madison getting some fresh fruit on Bolsa Chica Playa
Fried fish and platanos on the Beach at Bolsa Chica (just East of Santo Domingo)

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