Fun With Friends

It seems like I just wrote this blog a day or two ago. Oh, wait it was yesterday. Mainly because we had some guest, Jim and Margo Ferrin, and decided to put it off until I had some more time. It was an amazing treat to have them here with us. IN a weird sort of way it has helped us to appreciate our mission more. They are great friends with great testimonies of the restored gospel and the importance of missionary work. Jim Served a mission a 19-year-old in Guatemala. We've known them a long time and it was fun to share some of our experiences with them. We really did a little of everything while they were here and even tried something new. 

While they were here we got to share a P-day. It started off by taking a copule of Elders and a couple of Hermanas to the Waterfall that we hiked to a few weeks ago. Because we have a strict rule of not letting missionaries ride in the bed of the truck, Hermana Borup and Jim and Margo got to ride in the back. It's about 40 minutes each way with about 1/2 of it on dirt roads. They got to see the crazy driving from a very Dominican point of view. After the Waterfall, we decided to take them to one of  our favorite local beaches, Playa Blanca. That didn't turn out so good playa Blanca was playa apestoso. It turns out that there is a seaweed called sargassum that is a problem throughout the Caribbean. Playa Blanca was full of it! It was about 20 feet wide and about 2 feet deep in some places. It was smelly (apestoso) from the rot. After trying to ignore the smell we decided to try the other side of our bay, about 30-minute drive. It was a good call. The beach was clean and the water was smooth. So the Ferrins got to at least swim a little.

One of the highlights of the Ferrins visit was our hotdog activity for Monday night. We bought 100 hotdogs and had a bar-b-que in front of our house. We gave the hotdogs to our neighbors as they passed by. We tied up a sheet in our carport and showed church movies projected onto the sheet. People here eat hotdogs with a bun like we do but the more popular way is to put them on a stick with some catchup and mayonnaise.  We used the stick method. We were a little worried that we had too many hotdogs (one of us was worried, the other (me) wasn't). It took about 30 minutes for the hotdogs to be given out. Word got out and soon there was a crowd. The missionaries form our branch helped us out and were getting referrals while passing out hotdogs. It went like this: "Here's a hotdog. Can we come a teach you about the restored gospel?". As it turns out we're going to do it again with 200 hotdogs next time.

The main highlight of the Ferrins visit was introducing them to some of the families we have made friends with here in Azua. Some we just stopped by and said Hi and others we shared a message with. Margo had a purse full of candy and Jim could share his testimony in Spanish, both were sweat and welcomed. AS we took the Ferrins back to the airport Margo said something that really made us feel good. SHe said they really enjoyed their visit and it was way better than she had expected. I don't know why that made us feel so good. Maybe it was a little bit of a stamp of approval from good friends. Margo is usually upbeat and positive so for her to say that was a cherry on top of their visit. SO ends our only visit from our only friends!

I am finding many opportunities for me to practice Physical Therapy here. Way more than I have for many years combined. We even get to play doctor at times. This week we had our share of practicing medicine. Isidoro our 92-year-old new member that we are helping get stronger to walk better developed an infection in his hurt leg.  There was a large infection that looked like an erupting boil, and he was feeling weak and sick. It made us worried that he had an infection in his hip. We made a couple calls to doctor friends and decided to buy him some antibiotics. He has been taking them for about a week now and he is much better. Walking better and feeling better in general. Another family that we visit the mother is pregnant and has had swollen and sore wrists and ankles. We have been trying to help her with prenatal vitamins and making some meals for them. Any suggestions are welcome. One of the young adults in our ward was involved in an accident with his motorcycle. He almost died due to some heart complications. He ended up having surgery on his broken femur and will need to start strengthening his leg.

We are constantly amazed at how hard life can be for many people here. Hermana Borup describes it as camping. Camping is fun for about a week but that is when that is all you are doing. Life goes on here, like getting sick and pregnant, and your camping at the same time. An example of this was when I went to give a ride to church to one of the Haitian families. They weren't quite ready when we got there. A couple of the kids were still in the canal across the dirt road finishing their baths. They walked across the dirt road to get their church clothes on. When they were ready they looked great, just like any, no better than our kids looked when we took them to church.

Another theme of the past few weeks has been helping people live the law of chastity by helping them get married. Ramon and Ernistina who live in Padre Las Casas are a great couple that have been a little resistant to getting married. We told them that we know of someone that can help them with the expense. They looked at each other and said: "sure we love each other". So this week we took their papers to the government office and set a date for them to get married for next Tuesday. The big expense of getting married seems to be the biggest roadblock. We are always happy to help with that.

Well as you can see the work goes on here in Azua, even with visiting friends. In fact. we think the work was accelerated because of the Ferrin's visit. Thanks for everyone's support. We love you and miss you but know we are where we need to be.

Have another great week.
Your Firends
Hermana Y Elder Borup

I just left my phone in the care for 20 seconds.

On his way to be lunch, still alive.

Sargassum on the beach. There is an infestation of this stuff throughout the Caribbean. This is actually a very small amount compared to other beaches.

Hermanas in the Pueblo Ariba Branch had a baptism this week.

We gave a ride to church to a family that lives in the countryside. This is their kitchen

Still in the Countryside, On the left are the houses on the right is a canal that is also the bathtub.

Another trip to the waterfall with Elders and Hermanas and the Ferrins

Getting ready for our hotdog activity

A visit with Manuel from our branch. We wish there was a way to get him an electric wheelchair. 

Giving out hotdogs in our neighborhood with a church video going on in the background.

Hermana Borup having fun with some new friends. 

This is perhaps the best lightswitch EVER! when the syringe is closed the wires are connected and the light goes on.