31 December 2013

When we first arrived, there was one other couple in the mission, and they were going home soon.  They were the Fullers.  They were the Mission Office couple.  We didn't get to know them very well.

One of our first days in the mission, I was talking, in the temple, with one of the Presidency of the Area, Elder Cornish and was lamenting that we were the only senior couple missionaries in this mission, except the Mission President.  I commented that there were about 40 couple in the Santo Domingo Mission, many serving in the temple, and so many others.   He replied, "You have a blessing, being the only couple there.  Your influence can be so much greater, and touch so many more lives since you are the only couple." I learned a lesson.

Last Summer, another couple who was originally assigned to Santo Domingo, arrived to be the second couple in this mission.  Their name is Elder and Sister Wegener.  They are assigned over the Perpetual Education Fund, as well as the Employment side of the mission.  We have grown to love these people.  They really supported us in our robbery, even helped us in acquiring a new computer. They come from Salt Lake, Pepperwood area in Sandy.

The next couple to come was the Fagerstens.  They told the church they didn't want to be an office couple.  They were assigned to a city, La Vega.  In the La Vega area, there are branches, not wards, thus they need the help to strengthen the area to become a stake rather than a district.  So, that is what they are doing.  We have grown to love them also.  These two come from Iowa.

The final arrival of senior missionaries are Elder and Sister Carroll.  They have been assigned to work in the office.  They take care of coordination of things with Salt Lake, the affairs of the mission, and everything else the Mission President needs. They are also a great couple.  This couple comes from Salt Lake Area.

We have grown to love these couples.  They are helping in specific needs of the mission. We all have our own responsibilities and once in a while get together for activities.

As our time grows close, it is sad to relate that Salt Lake  has not called our replacements yet.  They report that it is hard to find couple that speaks Spanish, willing to come down here.  The Institute waited about 18 months senior couple-less before we arrived.  Who knows how long it will take before another Institute couple is called, and arrives here.

25 December 2013

We had the great privilege of being the agents for The Partridge Family Christmas Project this year.  Rather than give gifts to each other, our children sent money to the DR for Christmas.  We gave them a list of ideas and they decided which ones they wanted to help with.  Thanks to Missy for spearheading it all and being in charge of the donations.  Here’s how their generous offerings blessed the lives of some wonderful people in the Dominican Republic this year.

This is Carolina and Omar.  Several months ago, they’re 3 children ages 5, 4 and 18 months were tragically burned to death in a fire in their apartment.  They had left the children alone and locked into their apartment.  It was heart-wrenching.  Since this terrible tragedy, Omar and Carolina were married and Carolina got baptized.  They are anxiously awaiting the time when they can go to the Temple and be sealed to their children.  That's a picture of our family they are holding. 

Omar has some wood-working skills and he has been visiting the Self-Reliance Center here in our building.  He has the dream of starting his own business.  The Wegeners (the PEF missionary couple serving here) have been encouraging him and making a business plan.  Here are some samples of his work.    

With some start-up capital from our family and others, he can now buy sheets of mahogany and other needed supplies.  He has access to some tools.  He's getting orders already and now he has to be taught how to keep intact the start-up fund for repairing or replacing tools and buying supplies.  It's a challenging concept for him but it's the only way he'll be successful in the long-run.  We’re very hopeful that he can with time have a little business that will provide for him and his wife and future children.    

There is no Bishop’s Storehouse in Santiago.   With so many people out of work, there is a great need for a storehouse.  Fast offering funds are limited and the charge to minister to the needs of so many in need is daunting to these very young and new-in-the-church ward and stake leaders.  One Bishop stated his own little storehouse in his ward with donations from members and others.  We shopped for rice, beans, pasta, fish, milk, flour, sugar, oatmeal, etc. and took this to the Bishop.   He was so pleased!  His Relief Society President distributed it immediately to the needy members of their ward.  One day they will figure out how this program really works!

This is 3-year-old Daniro.  He is one of 75 children of 40 families who live in a work camp for sugar cane harvesting.  In the Domincan Republic there are privately owned sugar cane plantations where Haitian workers live and work long hours and they have next to nothing.  We drove to one of these “bateys” (bahtay) this past week.  We  purchased some little toys to give to the children for Christmas.




  






Several other senior couples from Santo Domingo participated along with the Wegener’s daughters who were visiting for Christmas.  They brought with them hygiene kits, newborn kits and school kits as well.  These pictures tell this story better than anything. 

Here the children are lined up to receive their gift packages.  The school teacher (she comes every day from a nearby town and volunteers to teach) organized them by ages.  They sang us a song and we sang Silent Night to them.

Here's there little school.  3 tiny rooms.  They just got a black board this year.

Sweet little ones.  They were so happy to get something for themselves!




 










I fell in love with little Daniro, above.  It took me a long time to get him to smile but it finally happened.  Videos to prove it!  (They'll be available in DropBox soon)

This one had no trouble smiling.  She loved her bear!

The new mom's got newborn kits for their babies.

Elder Partridge won this one's heart.












They live in the most humble circumstances.  There little casas have little or no furniture.

It's not unusual to see women sweeping their dirt floors and porches.





Elder Partridge and Elder Leavitt got to know this 64-year-old man, Mateo.  He has been working in this batey for 10 years.  He's been in the bateys for 32 years.  He works 10 hours a day during the cutting season and earns 25 cents a day.

He washes his clothes in this little stream where the children bathe and also drink this water.  Thankfully they recently built several outhouses for them but until a year ago, they had no place to "go" but in these bushes.

This is sugar cane.  Next time you enjoy the taste of sugar, maybe say a prayer of gratitude that you can buy it so easily.  During the off-season, the mothers here have to decide between clean water and food for their children. The  missionary couples from Santo Domingo were able to put together boxes of rice and beans and oil for each family.  

This was a Christmas long-to-be-remembered.  It has made us pause and think of our abundance and be grateful for so many blessings.  Heavenly Father loves these Haitian people and they are doing their best to make a life here under very difficult circumstances.  We were grateful to be able to offer a little relief for a time....

We were able to be used as His hands because of our wonderful children, their sacrifice, and this wonderful Christmas Season.  THANKS.

18 December 2013

This coming Friday, the semester is over.  We were privileged to teach the following classes this past semester:  Prophets of the Church, Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Mormon, Choir, a Devotional with teachings from conference talks, and an investigator class.  On Friday, the Institute Choir is going to present a Christmas musical program.  Bonnie's choir has worked hard and she hopes they'll be ready!  It's been an uphill battle for sure.  All the Institute is invited, the local wards, and all the Missionaries can bring investigators and less actives.  We will try to find someone to record the whole program.







It is a joy to teach classes of the Scriptures.  And to get musical sound out of these Young Adults is nothing short of a miracle.



So sorry, but it was ME who took the picture of Sister P teaching and I guess my eyes were out of focus, but she is a wonderful teacher, touching the lives of many.

We have some time off after the semester ends.  We will be visiting missionaries, visiting sites, and being with some of the other senior couples, going to the temple, and preparing for the next semester.  Our director has already told us what we will be teaching:  Bonnie will teach music directing, chorus, and I will teach the four gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Doctrine and Covenants, and of course we will both be teaching a devotional again.  But all of these courses will be only eight weeks, or half the time of a normal semester.

We both are excited about the coming shortened semester, the classes we will be teaching, the opportunity of continuing to serve the Mission President, the full time missionaries and of course our journey home in a couple of months.

The other day we were down town, purchasing something and this dude came rushing up to us and said, "You need to come and see my store, across the street."  I told him we didn't have the time and were in a hurry.  He said,  "I will give you some free marijuana and a free cigar!!!"  It was tempting, but I refused.  Then he said,  "Come and get it and give it to your friends!"  Again, I had to be restrained, but did turn him down.  But free????

By the way, what is marijuana? 

13 December 2013

There have been many blessings coming from our year-long program of visiting children in the Dominican Republic to celebrate the birthdays of our grand children.  We were invited to a wedding.  I was able to baptize a young man.  We were invited to other activities coming from members who had children who had birthdays the same time  as our nietos. (grand kids!)

 Mayelin Altagracia Gonzales Aragones  is her name, that is a mouthful, but I did remember it until I said it in the baptism prayer.  Miracle.  Beyond that, I am old and forget oh, what's her name....  ;)


Well, last Saturday, I was blessed again to baptize another young girl turning eight.  We celebrated Ashley's birthday by presenting her  gifts, chocolate, and visits for her birthday.  It was a joy to do so.  When we were called to work in the Education System of the church, I really thought there would be no baptism opportunities, but I was mistaken.  I have had to borrow white baptism clothing each time.

What a joy it is to enter the waters of baptism and use my Priesthood to baptize these kids.

4 December 2013 A Visit from Missy and Jacob

Well, it's time to blog about our "excursion" with Missy and Jacob.  (Missionaries don't take vacations.)  My apologies for sending this the day after the first big snow in Utah.  It's not my intention to rub your noses in that cold, wet stuff....well...not much!




The arrival.  Oh my heart!  They looked so good.  There's 40 lbs. less of Jacob than when we left.  Nice, Jacob.  You look great!  And Missy's lost her baby Brigham weight.  You look superb as well!

 

 We took them to meet our angel friends, the Wegeners, from Sandy.

Arrival at Lifestyles Vacation (whoops...Excursion) Resort.  Couldn't wait to get our first piña colada (sin gasoline!)

Riding the shuttle...life is hard...  

 

Ooh yes, those chocolate and carmel drizzled crepes were this good!  Nice one, Missy! 

Sunset in Paradise...

Comfortable Grandpa?

Having fun...wish you were here!

We're really missionaries, we promise!

Our ocean therapy...just what the doctor ordered!

Check out that stud-muffin Jacob!

Missy and Jacob finding treasures as they snorkel.

Enjoying a little walk at Ocean World.  More of that to come in my next blog!

It really is paradise!

Don't work too hard having fun in the sun!

Jacob did work hard digging up these conchas in the sand in 3 feet of water.

These cute little guys (yes Bec, they are cute!) really do walk sideways.  I love their eyes!

To church in Puerto Plata.  A good Sabbath.

We did have to say goodbye to our Island Paradise...

 

Stark contrast...not far from the luxury resort, the reality of the poverty here hits you hard.

But the people are happy and content with their simple life.  What a beautiful setting.

On our way home...nearly collided head-on with a car passing in our lane...no where to go but into a ditch or over a big rock instead.  Destroyed the undercarriage of our car. 

While waiting for the tow truck, Miss and I took pictures of a lovely little neighborhood nearby.

Cute and yellow....very sunshiny!

All good things must come to an end...:(

The week flew by and now they fly....parting is sweet sorrow!