Elder and Sister Partridge's Mission : 8 October 2012

Conference was wonderful. You should have heard the gasp when the prophet lowered the age to serve a mission. It will immediately increase the number of elders and sisters we have in the field. We need it. There is so much work to do here that the full timers can't get to it. Wish there was something the prophet could do to increase the number of OLDER missionaries.

Saturday, I missed watching Priesthood session with the boys, and then scrambling for chicken. Traditions are the thing that make this a bit hard, knowing that we cannot participate in traditions for a short time. Between sessions, we again ran to one of the stores, as we do most often. Our day for preparation is just going and purchasing things we need. One day perhaps we shall go and see places, but not yet. (The two pictures about P day were with our director, thus nothing from us on P days yet.)

Anyway, between sessions, we entered a store, and there were FIVE men with guns holding them, menacingly, showing everyone that their fingers were on the trigger. It was quite interesting. We looked around and they were emptying an ATM, and that took FIVE men with those long guns, about the length of a baseball bat. ( I think they are sawed off shotguns, nice huh?) Of course we did not say we were there to rob a bank, hijack the plane, nor anything like that, we just quietly entered the store, expecting to hear gun fire at our back, not directed at our back, but who knows.

I would hate to comment on conference for I would have to write a long time about what impressed me, and where we need to lengthen our stride, have courage, faith, and go for it. Loved so many speakers, especially Elder Holland's one about fishing, fishers of men, and the events surrounding that.

No ROUS's have entered our house yet. We do pay a lady to iron my shirts, but it is a donation, for it is helping her out. We eat a SMOOTHIE (I love this movie, or something like that) (I'd love a smoothie) almost every day, full of the good fruit here. We are drinking water more now, since we purchased a water cooler. That makes us much better healthy, stronger, jump small buildings with a small bounce, etc, but we "run" a bit more often.

I am so proud of Bon, for she is teaching a class in directing and struggles so, but consider that she has been here a bit less than four weeks, and she is teaching a class in Spanish, and the kids are learning. WOW. She is making great progress, thanks to prayers in her behalf. I get to teach one, but today it was added upon, thus I shall get to teach three classes, and Bon two, one in English, anyway, possibly teach in English in the coming weeks. My Spanish is coming, but when these natives get going, they speak the speed of a supersonic jet, not being able to understand almost anything, they drop s's and other parts of words and I just cannot understand them too often. Consider teaching a class, asking questions and having to say, good comment, but what did you say?

This is my beautiful companion!!

We miss all of you, but are enjoying ourselves here in the DR. I talked with a young lady tonight who said she is putting in her papers for being a missionary, and she looks to B and me as her surrogate parents. Her parents are not members, and she hopes for a miracle for her parents to accept her decision to serve as a missionary. She is excited. These kids down here are so dedicated, doing all they can do, and loving the Lord even when they do not have the support of their family. What a glorious opportunity we have to be here. Thanks everyone for prayers, your support, and your concerns.