30 June 2013

It's me again.  A few things...

You know how you've seen in movies (never seen this in real life) how people have on their desks little sandboxes with a little rake for therapy.  Whenever you're stressed, just start raking.  We'll, I've discovered my own "sandbox" in the car when we're driving to and from the Institute.  I play with the Rubik's Cube.  Now most of our kids are pretty good at it but I have to tell you that they'll be amazed at how fast I am these days.  I don't look up to see the near-accidents we have daily, I just concentrate on that cube...my sandbox.  And Bill loves that there's very little screaming going on....nice!

His therapy is pilates in the park.  Good job Elder P!


Miguelina, the Institute secretary who recently moved to New York found some good therapy for us one day.  Popping bubble wrap!  Great stuff.  I did a little video.  Coming soon to a drop box near you.  And walking in the park is always therapy for both of us.  


Bucket showers.  Not too bad especially in the summer when the tap water is...pardon the expression...pee warm.  And when I remember to put a pot of water on the stove the night before our big bang power outage (there was a mighty explosion recently at 6 am...woke us right up!) then I even have nice warm water for the bucket bath.  It's not so bad.

Here's a photo of our favorite newspaper saleswoman on the street. Her name is Josephina and it's a joy to see her every morning on our way to work.  

She stops and visits with us when the light is red.   She loves that I take her picture and wants to see herself every time.  I printed one at PriceSmart and gave it to her.  The Dominicans love to have their pictures taken.  They are NOT camera shy!  We gave her a little bag of cookies this morning and told her we'd like to bring her to church one Sunday.  She smiled and said, "Un dia."  One day. We'll keep inviting her.  I guess you'd call it "drive-by" missionary work!

 




Here's my BOM in English class which is wonderful!  One of my purposes in being here is to help the students learn English.  Whew! 

And joyfully, I get to do what I love best.  Lead the choir!  My little fledgling group is growing and learning to sing in harmony!  No small miracle!  And they're learning to sing in English too!  Elder Russel M. Nelson will be so happy.  He wants the young people in the DR to learn "The language of the restoration!"

Here's Elder Partridge doing what he loves best, also...teaching the investigators.  the full-time missionaries love him! 

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My turn:  The other day, Marcos Breton, our director was sitting in his office, trying to figure out who was going to teach a class for one of our teachers who was on vacation.  I took the opportunity to tell him that he was a great teacher.  He said thanks.  Then he said that "someone" had to teach Carlos's class, looking at me with a smile.  I said that he could teach it since he was had taught it before.  It was a class on "Heroes of the Book of Mormon."  I said that we I was already teaching five classes this week.  I said, "You are Director of this Institute."  He said that he had to study, and has other classes.  I told him he knew the history, and didn't have to study.  He said that he did have to study.   Then he said, "Elder, you know the history, in fact YOU ARE THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH."

He was referring to the history we have of Edward Partridge.  He never lets us forget that.

This is Bill's Church History Class.  What a great teacher he is!

A word about Daniel.  He's on the back row in the green shirt.  He's such a wonderful young man.  He taught our Devotional in English for us when we went on our anniversary outing.  His subject was "Waiting Upon the Lord."  Things didn't work out for him to go to Santo Domingo for work (I'm secretly very glad because I love having him in my choir!) but because of his faith and prayers and devotion to the Lord, I KNOW a way will be provided for him to reach his goals.  For now he is faithfully waiting upon the Lord.  A good lesson for all of us! 

23 June 2013

The other day, we drove into a gas station.  I rolled down my window and asked the attendant to fill the tank up.  He tried to speak in English, so I humored him and spoke in English.  As the pump was filling my empty tank, I saw this dude with a rifle.  I asked this guy, "Why does he carry a rifle around?"  He acted dumbfounded and I knew he didn't understand.  "Why does that guy carry around a pistol?" He smiled and understood.  "He protects you."  he replied.  Then he smiled and said, "Don't worry, he don't shoot."  All my  concerns disappeared.  

15 June 2013 Anniversary Post

One year ago, we were waiting for our mission call.  Now we are in a foreign country, celebrating our anniversary.  We went on a weekend outing to Cabarete...on the beach of course.  (Sister Partridge's first choice.)

  Can't get enough of that ocean!

We're being serenaded with "Besame Mucho."
Very romantic.















The Happy Couple...41 years!

We ate at a quaint little restaurant right on the beach.

Can it get any better than this? 

Here's our waiter...6'9" Robert Hernandez.  The Yankees signed him to pitch...$350,000...but just before the season started, he tore up his right shoulder.  Surgery....$1,000,000.  Bye-bye contract, hello waiting tables in Cabarete for pesos and sending money to his mother in Santo Domningo to pay for her rent.  What a sweeet boy!  We gave him his first tip ever! :)  

Ol' blue eyes...looking mighty fetching in his blue Dominican Hawaiian shirt.

Kite boarding - a beautiful but very dangerous sport.  So fun to watch!  Look for drop box videos coming soon...incredible!

Our hotel was nice-looking on the outside but pretty old and run-down inside...kind of like us! It's all in the "illusion."  A common Dominican thing.  But no matter.  We loved it!

Families leaving church on their motos in Puerto Plata.

Tis the season for framboyanes or royal poincianas. These trees are spectacular and in bloom everywhere.  Bright orange reddish flowers.  Very flamboyant!  Also like us!

Back to work now.  It was a lovely little break.  Such a blessing!   

14 June 2013

In 39 days, I finished the Book of Mormon again.  Time to start over according to our Book of Mormon prophet.  It is such a privilege to teach the Book of Mormon to these students.  I started last semester teaching the first half of the book.  I am now in the second half of the book.  Bonnie is teaching the first half of the Book of Mormon in English.  There are many kids who take her class, wanting more of the Book of Mormon, and more practice for English. It is a wonderful experience for her, and she is beaming as she prepares, and as she teaches it.

Some days in the classroom, I spend the whole 90 minutes speaking, discussing, asking questions on one or two verses, like Alma 13.  Yesterday, I spent much   of the time with Helaman 10 and 12.  There is such wisdom, counsel, and enlightenment in the Book of Mormon.

As I continue to read this book, I get a very strong urge to talk with some of my  heros, like Teancum, Moroni-general,  Moroni-last Nephite, Mormon, Lehi-the general, Nephi/Lehi of Helaman's book, Jacob, Sam-Nephi's brother, Ammon, Enos, Nephi's wife (the first one), (No, not the first wife, but the first Nephi) Alma, both  of them, Mosiah, Jared and his brother, etc.  I am sure they could add to the stories we already have of them.

When I teach the investigators on a myriad of subjects, I always bear witness of the Book of Mormon, how much I love it, a few of Joseph Smith's statements about it, and tell them they can get a copy from the  missionaries.

It continues to be amazing to me the added insights I get each time I read it.  It is sort of like peeling away a layer at a time, and each time I read it, there is another hidden layer that I did not see the last time I read it.

It continues to give me answers to prayers, questions, direction what I should do, what I should teach, and so many other things.  I continue to collect data, ideas, and future books and/or stories I shall write about it one day.

I always tell the kids I teach that it is my favorite book.  Anyone who knows me very well, knows of my deep, special feelings for this marvelous book.  Thanks, Father.

10 June 2013

Thursday Morning.  Sister Partridge and I were scheduled to teach a Gospel Principles class, (in Spanish.)   In the past three weeks, we have had only very little attendance.  This was June 6.  No one was there so we started the class, singing a hymn and offering a prayer and then Sister P started teaching an empty classroom.  We started at 10.  About 10:20, a young girl entered and sat down.  The  subject was: The Church of Jesus Christ in Ancient Times.

My turn.  I wanted to practice my Spanish which is why we were going ahead with no students.  When Berlyn came in, I just reviewed quickly what I had started and continued. I talked about what the church looked like in Jesus's time and a little about the apostasy and then the need for a restoration.  We read some scriptures, I read some lines from the lesson and then I bore a short testimony that I KNEW what I had been teaching was true.  That felt very good.  I turned the time back to Bill.  As I listened to Elder P. teach I was grateful again for his powerful teaching and how the Spanish just pours out of his mouth!  And as he started to write the name Thomas S, Monson on the board and testify that he was the Prophet of God today, the truth of those words just flooded over me.  It was wonderful.  A simple thing, watching his name being printed on the whiteboard...but a truly powerful witness from the Holy Ghost to my soul that it was true.  I love being a missionary!  

ME:  When I asked her if she had ever heard of Joseph Smith and she said no, I was amazed.  So, we had a real "live" investigator.  I started explaining the first vision, complimenting  mom's explanation about the church in early times, showing that they had twelve apostles and we have twelve today, we have a prophet, etc.  She was eating it in.  It was like being on a mission when I was young again and teaching those who knew not the truth.  We finished the lesson and then asked her about her family.  She comes from a city a distance from this one.  She said that her mother wanted to know about our church.  We said the next time her mother comes to town we would introduce them both to the missionaries and get them the lessons.  She was so humble, interested, and understood the key points. what a joy to teach someone so interested.  

It was fun teaching an investigator with   my eternal companion.  The JOYS of a mission....

Here's the Duval family we had dinner with on the Dominican Mother's Day.  

Another of our non-member students.  Robert Junior.  We're hoping to see him baptised soon.

Here we are at last Thursday's Hawaii's party at the Institute.  We dressed in Hawaiian garb.  The kids loved it!  And we actually danced for 30 seconds...together!  Wahoo!

3 June 2013 HUMP DAY -- HALF WAY

NINE MONTHS.  The school year.  The time a woman is pregnant.  Beginning of Fall to end of Spring.  Start of our mission to half way point.   June 3, 2013.  School teachers, a pregnant woman, mothers of schoolers.  Few would agree with me that the previous nine months have flown by. I am sure the next nine months will fly by even faster. 

We waited and anxiously anticipated the privilege of coming on a mission for many months/years.  Through many miracles, we are serving our Father in Heaven in the Dominican Republic.  Bonnie's passion of music, and my passion for teaching, these two passions that we have are heavily involved in our mission.  Father has been so good to us to call us to this mission.  

Here is my list of the joys of our mission:  Involvement with the youth of the Church, teaching the gospel daily, especially the Book of Mormon, living on a Tropical Island, visiting the beach often, getting to know and love each  other more and more each day, seeing the light of Christ in the eyes of so many each day, witnessing the growth of these special young kids, working with the full time missionaries, witnessing the results of President Monson's news of October 2012 conference concerning missionaries, watching miracles happen in the lives of loved ones who are helping support us through many means, Etc.

Andres, one of our guards - love that accordian!

I am so proud of my beautiful companion. She is learning to converse in Spanish, and is teaching in Spanish, and bearing her testimony in Spanish.   There are so many of these young adults who love her and appreciate her continuous smile.  She is getting better keeping me straight and in line.  I am so appreciative that the president won't send us transfers.

In nine months, the joy of teaching has been magnified for me.  I have taught almost every day since coming here, except the vacation days, and weekends.  When I am teaching I feel the Holy Ghost telling me what to say.  When I am preparing lessons, I get divine help.  Often as I am teaching, I receive a whisper telling me to forgo a prepared section of the lesson and place emphasis on another part of the lesson.  The joy, my passion of teaching, is amplified 100 fold when serving as His representative.  I am here sharing, teaching, testifying of the things these kids need.  It is a joy to be used as His instrument in teaching His gospel in His way.

And I have seen and bear witness of the students learning, growing, "seeing" in a different light, and progressing in their testimony, not because of me, but because this is His work and I am privileged to do it with my eternal companion.  What a joy.  Nine  months will come and go too rapidly. 

We are living our dream!!!

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Hump Day!

Wow, how time doth fly when you’re having fun!  A few ramdom thoughts about our half-way mark.

There’s so many things I love about our 3^rd world here.  The colors for example.  The colors they wear, the colors of the cement buildings, the colors of the every blooming thing…glorious! 

Our loving students.  They just can’t stop hugging us.  It’s definitely part of their culture and being the natural hugger  (ya think?) that I am, it’s no problem for me.  Poor Dad has to withhold where the girls are concerned but some of them just hug him anyway.  And the boys love to hug him up, too.  It’s way cute! 

The Gospel light in our student’s eyes.  They’re on fire with their love of the Gospel and they have brightly burning testimonies.  The returned missionaries still have it and the ones preparing to go now have it in abundance.  It’s a joy to be around them.  They are happy in the midst of their sometimes difficult circumstances.  They delight in the smallest things, a game of “bitilla” for example.  Think baseball with a broom stick and rubber caps from 5 gal water jugs.

Music!  A huge gift for me!  Violin lessons every week with Sister Douglas.  Amazing.  I’m learning Adagio in G minor by Giazotto (I know, it meant nothing to me either)  Can’t wait to try out my new techniques on something I recognize like “O Divine Redeemer!”  And I’m teaching the students in our Institute choir (which blossomed this semester from 12 to 26!) to sing several Primary songs…If the Savior Stood Beside Me and I Know Heavenly Father Loves me…in Spanish.  And we’re attempting Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of Homeward Bound in English.  Quite the undertaking but I’m telling you, the kids love this song and we’re going to do a bang-up job performing it for Institute Graduation in August.  I just need to pray in another accomplished pianist for the 4-hand piano accompaniment. J  My sweet Elder Stratford who’s been a life-saver is going home in July.  I can’t prevail upon him to extend…dang.

Walking with Billy.  The other day we were slogging around our 5k loop at the PUCMM, the catholic college which we call “The Pookamyma.”  We were gaining ground on a group of men ahead of us and I whispered, “Put it in hyper drive darlin’” so we lengthened our shuffle and blew right past them!  It was awesome!  

Oh, and Spanish!  I’m finally starting to understand some of the stuff I learned in the MTC…it’s making more sense to me.   And I was actually speaking Spanish in a dream recently.  A breakthrough!

Our “sunshine visits.”  When we’re on a break from Institute, we try to visit some of the sister missionaries that might need a goodwill visit and maybe lunch.  Sister Johansen begged us to come cheer her up.  “I feel a depression coming on.”  McDonald’s did the trick! J  (She's adorable...one of the new Sister Assistants.)

The best of all is that Elder Partridge and I still love each other.  

  

We laugh every day an shed lots of tears of gratitude together for the privilege of being here, serving the Lord, doing our little part in building His Kingdom!

The ever-dignified and illustrious Sister Douglas...she started it!

One last note…I “lost” one of my tank tops between our bedroom and the laundry room this morning…had it in my hand on the way to the washing machine…it’s not there, not in the laundry basket, not hung up again on a hanger in the closet…searched the apartment again and then wonder of wonder, I found it in the kitchen garbage.  I’m not to be trusted with anything anymore.  That garbage angel of mine must be getting tired of coming to my rescue.

Life is good  J