I'm not sure where to start this week. When we started the week we felt like we weren't going to have much to do. It ended up being a very busy week. One of the best parts of being a missionary here in Azua is getting to know the young missionaries. They are amazing. The lead, they teach, they find, they love and they do it with a smile. This week we had a Zone activity at our house. We played some games, had bar-b-qued hamburgers and hotdogs and watched a Disney movie. The zone leaders planned it all. We just made some food.
We also had transfers this week which for us meant a trip to Santo Domingo. For us, it just means a bunch of running around. Back and forth to the airport and to training meetings. This transfer was a little different though. Up until now, I have been doing some of the duties of the financial secretary. This transfer President called tow young Elders to work in the office. ONe was called as the new Financial secretary. This will be a good thing for me and a great thing for the financial future of the mission. The new Elder is very sharp. I spent most of a day teaching him how to do the job. I felt like it seemed easy to him.
One way we have felt that we can make a difference is by strengthening families. Getting them married and helping them get stronger by going to the Temple if they are already married. This week we had a wedding. Hermana Borup and I were witnesses. We really love this family. They have 5 kids. He is a fisherman. (I've never met a fisherman I didn't like) They just always have a smile. She told us that it has always been a dream of hers to get married and have a dress and a ring. It all happened this week.
ON the other end of the spectrum. We got a call from a one of the house with 4 Hermanas. 3 of them had lice. I say had because Hermana Borup went over to their house and helped pick the lice out of their hair while I washed their sheets and towels. Nothing like a lice party to brighten up your week. You might think that I had the easy job. Well, nothing is as easy as it seems here. We have power problems in Azua. When we want to run the washing machine we can't have the refrigerator on. When we want to run the dryer we can't have the washer or air conditioner or the oven on. This may not sound like much of a problem but figuring this out took some real detective work. I will spare you the details. Just to let you know some of the problem. When you measure the voltage at the 110-volt plugs it is a little over 70. Does that matter? I think it does.
On Thursday we found out that our good friends, that joined the church when we first got here had a death in the family. Her father who was just cleared health wise for a knee operation suddenly died of a heart attack. He was 73 and the doctor just told him he a was going to live a long time. It's so hard to lose a parent but even harder when it is so sudden. We went to the capitol to visit with them and try to give some comfort. This is going to be hard for them.
Hermana Borup gave a talk in church today. She spoke about our commision as missionaries to invite others to come to Christ. She explained how this commision is for all members of the church. The best part was that she did it all in perfect Spanish. At least as far as I am concerned.
Along with our wedding this week we are able to visit some other families the missionaries are teaching and help teach and invite those families to repent and come to Christ by getting married so they can then get baptized. One of the families just happened to have her dad there. As we taught her we found out her father was not married either and has been living with her mother for over 30 years. He accepted the challenge to get married also. I guess after 30 years you have a pretty good idea if it's going to work or not. He made an appointment to lesson to the discussions as well.
We love this work. The language is still hard but a smile and some hand gestures and a few well-placed words help us to invite others to come to Christ. There really is joy when we move our lives toward Him.
Have a great week. We will.
Your friends
Comments
Post a Comment