Fishing, Teaching and Baptizing. Teaching in the

We just got finished with the YSA broadcast and I should share the experience because it is very typical.  The broadcast started at 8:00 our time so we told everyone to get here at 7:45. One of the members of our ward that is a YSA is also a member of the high council. He let everyone know to be here before it started. At 8:10 he showed up and a few minutes later his good friend. He started calling everyone. There was another Branch that was trying to watch it but they didn't have power so we invited them over. The 2 guys from our branch have motorcycles so they went to get the other 5. that makes 4 on one motorcycle and 3 on the other.  While they were gone another member of our Branch came. We started the broadcast at about 8:50. and 3 more showed up after that. just as everyone one was leaving 1 more guy showed up. We ended up with 11. But they loved the brownies.

I have said many things about how friendly people are here. One thing that is very endearing is how there doesn't seem to be anything private. While we were teaching a Lady that was about 45 years old a 10-year-old kid came in the open door and leaned on the couch and started listening to the discussion. He didn't say anything and neither did the investigator, so we just assumed he was one of her kids. Nope, just a neighbor, not even a friend of one of her kids. Her kids are older. After a while, he decided he wasn't interested so he got up and walked out. No one said a word. Just a little while later while we're teaching (with the sisters in the heart of Jesus) two girls who showed some interest two women that were walking by sat down and started listening and now there are 2 more investigators. Easy, that is proselyting in the DR. 

As you can see from the pictures below I had a chance to go fishing this week. The man part of the couple (Santiago) that got married last week makes his living fishing. I'm a little surprised that there isn't more of a fishing industry here but anyway he is a fisherman. He goes out most days from about 7 in the morning until 3 or 4. He sells his fish at the restaurants on the beach where he keeps his boat. I picked him up at 7 and on the way to the boat we bought $8 worth of gas. I noticed the tank wasn't full and offered to pay enough to fill it. He said it was enough. We fished with a handline and a little 6-inch jig. It was a little slow but we caught 3 nice fish, in 2 and half hours. As we were coming back to the beach and we were about 1/2 mile out, the engine stopped. Santiago put the gas tank on the edge so the last few drops would get us home. Mission accomplished. We made it home on the last fumes. It was cool how he knew exactly how long we could be out. 

Of course, the highlight of the week was the Baptism of Santiago and Danny on Saturday. The hardest part of the night was that we had to miss another Baptism of a young girl that we have done some things with to help the Elders.  She is the cousin of another recent convert. She is 9 and has lived with her cousin and aunt for 4 or 5 months. Her mom died unexpectedly so her aunt has brought her in to raise her. It has been very special to us to see her progress in the church. She is really smart and today we learned dedicated too. Her cousin (Escarlin, the recent convert) slept in today because she had a long day of work yesterday and she is a teenager, which means Evalin ( the 9-year-old) didn't have anyone to go with to church. We had no way of Knowing why she wasn't at church but we were worried because she still needed to get confirmed. We kind of guessed Escarlin slept in so they weren't going to come. with about 5 minutes left in Sacrament meeting, Evalin walks in by herself. She had walked just about a mile by herself at age nine so she could come to Church. She was able to be confirmed in front of the Branch just at the close of the meeting. We are so proud of her. And we hope Escalin isn't going to make this a habit (I think she might read this).

There is something really amazing about witnessing a baptism. It is a huge act of faith. Most people really have to change which makes for so many unknowns. It's a huge boost to my faith.

This was another great week and we're looking forward to see what next week will bring.

We hope your week will be great as well.
your friends

Hermana Y Elder Borup


Teaching in the Streets of la Villa de Corazon de Jesus ( Village of the heart of Jesus). The Hermanas get a little uncomfortable when we ask them if they need a ride to the Heart of Jesus.
Our friend  in the Heart of Jesus
Here he is with one of the Hermanas
There is always an onlooker or two.
Whatever works.
That was the cleanest pig I have ever seen. He's on his way to a street butcher. 
Our Branch President helping in the kitchen at the Young Adult Activity.
A great Young Adult activity for the 4 Districts in our Mission. It looked like everyone was having a great time. And of course, there was Bachata.
Hanging out at the YSA (JAS) Activity
I rode my bike to this beach about a month ago on a Monday and no one was there. This a Monday also just happened to be a holiday. 
Some content pigs.
This baby loved Hermana Borup but he wasn't too sure about me. 
5-day old puppies 
Missionaries do like dogs
More Puppy love
This was an air compressor. There is a hose with lots of patched holes and a very old regulator attached to the end.
Doing a little fishing
I caught this on a handline. This man was baptized yesterday. It really wasn't cold, about 85.
Same fish different guy. I think this is called a cero
A few hours with a handline.
Putting the boat away
What a great mother. 5 kids and leading the way.
3 baptizers and 3 going to be baptized
Here is the couple that got married last week. We've had a great time with them. 
Not sure where they were going but that shirt is from one of the LDS branches. There was a lot of people in the back of that truck. 
I little pictures for their moms

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