A Visit to San Juan

Another great week. But first I need to explain that this blog is for the week ending on July 1st. We were out of town Sunday and Monday night and then i got a little sick (nothing serious) and I couldn't find time to write anything until now. And this will be short. One of the fun things e did this week was meet with one of the districts in the Barahona Zone. We gave a lesson on some of the things we feel are important when you teach investigators about faith. I think it went well. We did it mostly in Spanish.

Saturday was a great day for being a missionary. We had two Baptisms for two people we had helped along the path. One is 9 years old and the other is 91. The 9 year old was baptized by his father who has only held the priesthood for a couple of months. It was a great experience to see his family look up to him, especially his son. Danny, his wife, gave a talk in the service. The other Baptism was Isidoro who I have talked about before. Hermana Borup and I see him a few to several times a week and help him strengthen his leg. The day before the baptism we visited him and he said he felt like he should change his mind, that he wasn't well enough yet. As soon as the Hermanas that are teaching him found out they were there in an instant. We left and they worked with him and helped him over come his fears. The next day when we went to pick him up he decided again that he shouldn't do it. I got the Hermanas on the phone and he decided to go through with it. HE was ready. His testimony is strong. We helped him change into white clothing and helped him into the church. I dressed in white to help him down into the font. It all turned out great. He's a wonderful man that understands the importance of this sacred ordinance. 

We ended our week with a trip to San Juan District. I was invited to share with the Branch Presidents my thoughts on helping a Ward or Branch become a missionary minded Branch. I had spent a lot of time learning the Spanish to give this in Spanish. ON the way to San juan we found out that our gas gauge is broken and we ran out of gas. After a ride from a nice guy on a motorcycle to and from the nearest gas station, we were about 1 hour late.  I started sharing my thoughts in to the Branch Presidents but felt rushed and uneasy. I gave up n the Spanish and Asked Elder Cure (from Colombia) to translate for me. It turned out better because I could not really express my thoughts with the emotion I feel about this subject because of my limitations of the language. When I spoke in English they could feel my emotion and hear the words in Spanish and emotion from Elder Cure. I felt a little disappointed that I didn't use the Spanish I was practicing, but I realize now that it's not about my Spanish it's about the message. I think they heard it in the best possible way given the circumstances. 

I will be posting this weeks blog in the next day or two. You see why when that one comes out. We continue to love the work and love the people here. 

Your friends
Hermana Y Elder Borup


A little fun and games before the baptism
Always a great day, Baptism day
Why is that Shell moving?
Elders Paolo and Orosco walking by a Flamboyant tree.
We visited one of the districts in Barahona
This is a much better picture of the district
Neftali had his girlfriend visit from Mexico. He met her through a friend from his mission. After her week here and a year of long distance courting they are engaged. She is going to move here.
This statue of Jesus is on the edge of a sketchy looking neighborhood. He looks like he is holding his hands up to tell people to "stop, don't come in here"
Isidoro (91 years old) was baptized this week. I was there to keep him steady.
Dariel from Nizau, he wanted me to take a picture to show the elders he is reading his scriptures.
That's Dariel in that chicken suit. He made it from paper mache and plastic bags.
Elder Encarnacion harvesting coconuts from a members tree.
I just liked the name of this Cafeteria. 
We see this truck around town a lot. You don't need to worry about cleaning the windshields.
Santiago, a new convert, Baptized his son.

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