Hard at work mostly

This week was another week filled with the unusual. On Monday we started the week off with a Zone activity at our house. Hermana Borup made pulled pork tacos and cake. There was a lot of both. Missionaries like both. For the activity part of things, the missionaries started a dominos tournament but they never finished it. They underestimated how long it takes to finish a game. Dominos is the number one pastime in the DR. EVERY NIGHT you can walk down ANY street and there will be people playing dominos, Guaranteed! Usually men my age or older but sometimes it's women or younger men. It's a team sport with two on a team and can get very intense. The missionaries were a little less intense. I think when the Zone leaders saw that they weren't going to win they decided it was taking too long. The eating was more important anyway.

Tuesday morning transfers started. This time there was a new twist (new twists are normal around here). All missionaries that were being transferred and their companions came into the Capital to one location for a transfer meeting. The missionaries from the South met in 3 different locations starting in Azua. Busses were here waiting to bring all the missionaries to the transfer chapel in the Capital. Our job was to make sure all the missionaries that needed to be on the busses got on the busses in each location. In each of the 3 locations, one companionship just barely made it in time. We were given instructions to leave if they didn't make it. I'm glad we didn't have to leave anyone (they would have had to pay for a bus on their own). Once in the Capital, the assistants held a transfer meeting. In the transfer meeting, Two Stake presidents gave talks on missionary work, the assistants taught about some rules and President spoke. The meeting was closed and then transfers were announced by Zone. Half of the missionaries knew they were going somewhere but they didn't know where or with who and the other half of the missionaries knew they would stay in their area but they didn't know who was going to be their new companion. They also announced who would be training, who would be new District Leaders and who would be new Zone Leaders (to be honest that was a little awkward to me, announcing callings with everyone cheering).

When our zone was called up Hermana Borup and I (knowing we weren't getting transferred or our companionship changed) didn't go up. But we were called up after the rest of the zone was there. As we walked up the missionaries gave us a big cheer and it felt really good in a prideful kind of way. The assistants thought they were funny when they announced that we would be changing companions with the President and his wife. They meant to say I would be companions with President Santos and Hermana Borup with Hermana Santo but they got that mixed up. OOps!

The best part of transfers was getting to go to the Temple and spending time with the missionaries that were going home. Because the transfers were changed the missionaries that left had an extra day before their plane home left. Along with the Buhlers we took them to the Historic district and out to eat a couple fo times. It is really fun to see how totally tired and totally happy missionaries are when they finish their service. I've said it many times, it's hard being a missionary.

When we first arrived here (The DR) we were told o take some time and see some of the different sights in the country. This week we took a few days to see the beach and the all-inclusive buffet at a resort in La Romana (a city about an hour east of Santo Domingo). We had a great time together. We swam and relaxed and talked about how we could do better as we finish our last 6 months. We might need one more of these retreats before we go home (just saying).

On our way back to Azua we stopped at La Caleta, our favorite beach. Through Facebook several months ago we asked friends to send used goggles that we could give out to children at this beach. BY the time we got them at Christmas, the weather was cooler (only 80-85 instead for 85-90 like now) and there were a lot fewer kids at the beach. We thought we would get around 10 or 20 pairs be we ended up with 36. We have been waiting for the crowds to increase so Saturday was our day. When we got there-there were only about 8 kids. Hermana Borup offered a pair to one of them and soon the others found out. Within about 30 minutes they were all gone with some that didn't get any. We have no idea where they came from or how they found out but it was really fun seeing how excited the kids were.

As we have been thinking on how we can make a difference in the lives of people here I remembered something President Nelson said in Africa.

“We preach tithing to the poor people of the world because the poor people of the world have had cycles of poverty, generation after generation,” he said. “That same poverty continues from one generation to another, until people pay their tithing.”

I read something someone posted on facebook about how out of touch our church leaders are to say something so ridiculous. When I read it, I knew they were words from a Prophet. AS I have been pondering it came to me that we need to make this part of our message to members and non-members alike. Exercising faith is the big challenge for people around the world and it is true here also. There is not a better way to demonstrate faith than by paying tithing. The promises from paying tithing are clear and powerful. I love that we have a Prophet of God and that by following him we will be blessed. No one tells poor people to pay tithing unless you're crazy in the eyes of the world or you are the Prophet of God.

Have a great week. We miss you all and love you.

Your friends

Hermana Y Elder Borup

Zone activity

More Zone Activity

I think I am the best selfy taker!

The Borups The Buhlers and Hermana White. (remember her, she was part of our origanal lice party,) She's lice free and headed home

La Caleta and goggles

A little baseball in a vacant lot in Padre las Casas

La Caleta before the google give away

La Caleta and goggles

On our way to find the mysterious waterfall

proof we found it. It's called Salto Grande

more proof

It was supposed to be a 15-minute easy walk. We crossed the river about 10 times and it took 50 minutes.

More from Salto Grande. It's starting to get dark. we thought we had more time.

Clearly my best side

Country side near Azua, on a bike ride.

In little village near Azua

Sister Villarina was in our Ward for a few months when I was Bishop. She lives in Puerto Rico. Her Stake was visiting the Temple and we just ran into her.