Flood

We continue our work here in Azua, trying to do what we can to help build the Lord's kingdom. Most of our time is spent between helping the missionaries, (rides, illness, needs for their houses) visiting and teaching less active members and visiting and teaching investigators and now do a few physical therapy visits. Once in a while, we get a break or two to go for a bike ride or study language and scriptures (sometimes on the beach). 

This week there was a zone conference for all of the zones in the South part of the mission, which includes 3 zones (about 50 missionaries). I think the best part of zone conference is seeing how much the missionaries love to get together. There is a real spirit of comradery. It's hard being a missionary. It's hard living with the same person that you didn't choose to live with. It's hard working long days and getting up and doing the same thing over again. It's hard being away from family and living in a hard place. Something magic happens when the missionaries get together and share testimony and stories of triumph and disappointment. They get recharged and it recharged us as well.

 Our most unexpected experience this week started out to be a simple study time at the beach. We had a couple of hours before we had our next appointment so we went to the beach to read since our power was off (which happened every afternoon this week). On our way down to the beach we saw 3 boys walking toward the beach and offered them a ride. They went to the same beach we usually go to. When we were ready to go we asked them if they wanted a ride back. They were happy to not have to walk the 4-5 miles back. To get to and from the beach there is a river that you drive through. It's no big deal because it is never more than a few inches deep. ON our way back, we got to where the river crossing is a noticed several motorcycles and people on each side of the river. The river was deep and brown. There was a truck stopped that was a little bigger than the truck we drive. I told the driver of the truck that I would fallow him if he went. He didn't look too excited, so we waited. 

After about 15 minutes a small little SUV came up to the river and just went across. So the guy with the bigger truck loaded a motorcycle in the back and added a bunch of people and off he went. I still didn't fill real comfortable but I told him I would go if he went and missionaries shouldn't lie. We loaded up with a motorcycle and a bunch of people and off we went. As I got to the other side there were about 10 young adults filming it with there phones, so I rolled down the window and told them "ün milagro!" I think it added to there video quality. After we unloaded the motorcycle and knowing there were more motorcycles on the other side that need to cross in order to get home, I asked the young boys if we should go back and help. They were all up for it, so we turned around and got back to the other side. This time we loaded up two motorcycles and filled up with people. I greeted the people on the other side with a big smile and shouted "Milagro dos!". We turned around and did it again. "milagro tres!". Since there were a couple more motorcycles left on the beach side of the river we decided to do it again. "Milagro cuatro!" Solo Tengo Cuarto Milagros!"

The best part about this experience was watching how everyone was helping each other. There was one man that worked at a restaurant on the beach side of the river that just parked over there and helped everyone load their motorcycles. He also walked across a couple of times before we decided it was safe to drive. Everyone seemed to just wait their turn and pitched in to help others. Of said many times about how we love the people here because the always seem to be so willing to help. I've wondered if it just because we are obvious foreigners and would people do the same for someone that is not a foreigner. The answer is yes. We love the people here and love the example that they are of loving their neighbor. We'll never be the same. I want to be a better neighbor. 

Enjoy the photos. We miss you all and hope you have a great week.

Yur friends,

Hermana Y Elder Borup

Last fall before we moved to Azua we rode our bikes to a small village called Paralta. This week we got the chance to do it again.

We love this man. He's 91 and fell 2 weeks ago. He had a cast on for a couple of weeks until I told him since he didn't have a fracture he didn't need a cast. When we came back a few weeks later his cast was gone. We visit and walk with him almost every day.

3 Zones at zone conference

Escarlin at her HighSchool graduation

If you zoom in you'll see she is carrying presents in one hand and a cake in the other. 

When I delivered a washing machine to these Elders I took them up to the top of the mountain and introduced them to the lady I drove home from the hospital las week.

After we found out it was probably safe the truck in front of us loaded up with people and a motorcycle. Motorcycles don't do well in deep water.

Going back to get more stranded people and motorcycles.

Full inside and out. 2 motorcycles  and a few men in the back and more inside.

Getting ready to unload

Unloading on the fourth and final trip

We saw these boys walking about halfway to the beach so we offered a ride. They finished at the beach about the same time we did, so we gave them a ride home. They helped us load and unload the motorcycles.

I think their mom might be mad at me. Ice cream little kids and hot days (90) are not the neatest thing. By the way, he likes Chicharonnes more than Ice Cream.

If you look at her dress, those spots aren't supposed to be there. 

Hermana Borup, with a spot on her dress, taking a picture of the messy kids eating ice cream 

one more look at happiness on a hot day.