We went on splits with missionaries in the Santo Domingo East (I think) mission. We are going again tomorrow, and I have high hopes, because last week was a bit underwhelming. The investigators of my companion Hermana Adams, were not at home, so we went contacting a bit and that was pretty brief. Because she is new to that district, we got lost for a while, but then at the end, we visited a member's home and I got to practice sharing a brief message. The member's name is Michele, and she is an amazing woman. Her husband teaches English and served in the Santiago mission! They have a small son and a 2 year old daughter, who was super smart and adorable. She kept pointing at the Restoration pamphlet and saying, "Jesucristo!" And talking about all the pictures inside it. I let her keep the pamphlet :) Any way, I shared a scripture with Michele, Alma 7:11-13, which I love because it is about every aspect of the Atonement, how Jesus saves us from death, sin, and suffered so that he can understand ALL of our pains. It was pretty cool, because Hermana Adams had planed on sharing that scripture with her investigator, and when I asked Michele what she felt about it, she talked about how it was shared with her when a couple of missionaries knocked on her door years ago. She talked about how much comfort it gives her, because when she lost two of her young children, it was her faith in Jesus Christ that carried her through the sorrow. She said that little by little, the burden of those losses has been lightened through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. She was an amazing example, and I am very glad that I got to learn from her that day.
The city was VERY interesting. First of all: the guagas (I think that's how it's spelled). Those are the taxis. To get back to their district, we took a taxi-van with our sisters in the field and that was an adventure. Hermana Francis said that they will pack 30 people in a 4 row van. Also they drive with the door open. I was practically falling out of the van, luckily Hermana Harris had me from behind, and was like "I WILL NOT LET YOU FALL." Hermana Hoko, saw us drive by while her group was hailing a taxi, and she said the look on my face was hilarious. Also, the drivers here make Californians look mild-mannered.
We started in a part of the city that was high-end. Very narrow streets, but cute apartments. The sisters live in a very cute house, near the end of that area. Also, the business district, looks American. They have TGI Fridays and Krispy Kreme there, it was weird. And then we walked to were the appointments were, and it was low-income. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. Tight alleys, with homes down them, and the people spill out into the streets. Food vendors are every where, but we are not supposed to buy from them for health reasons. Hermana Hardy's companion did, she bought her some fruit called lemonsilla, that was very good. They are small, with a large pit, and the fruit is this sticky, sweet stuff around it. Elder Bowes said it was like eating an eyeball. But it was a very delicious eyeball.
On Tuesday, the area President spoke to us, Elder Cornish. He has talked at General Conference before, so has Elder Zivic from a couple of weeks ago. Elder Cornish has a son with Down Syndrome, that works here in the Santo Domingo temple. I adore him! His name is Reed, and he is so happy, and smiley, and asks how I'm doing. We played volleyball with him today, he's great. Anyway, Elder Cornish's devotional was VERY good. It was a lot about the call as a missionary, not surprising, but it was very powerful. We watched a clip of Elder Bednar's story about the friend who bought a 4x4 truck. When he went up into the mountains to haul fire wood it got stuck in the snow. He loaded up the wood anyway, and he was able to get out because the load allowed for traction. Elder Cornish talked about how our burdens as missionaries are what saves us. It is not a hindrance, it is the purpose of our work. He said we have been called along with the quorum of the 12 and the quorums of the 70 into the fellowship of the load-bearers. Our load is made up of souls. He said, "If you are exactly, consistently obedient, you may have the privilege of bearing the souls of God's children." (something close to that, I don't have the notes with me). Every day I try to prepare myself to do that. It's really hard, but that is the nature of the Lord's work.
Today is my last P-Day in the CCM, and Sunday will be my last Sabbath in the CCM. I love Sundays, I will be sad to see those go. I am nervous about the field, but anxious to get started. Next time I write will be 2 Mondays from now, I think. I will be sad to leave people behind, but I am so excited to love new people in Santiago. Today was also the last day to go to the temple for at least 6 months, so I'm sad about that too. We did sealings again today, and Hermana Bauyon had family names with her. She was sealed in behalf of her grandmother to her great-grandparents, and the Spirit was so sweet. I am looking forward to doing temple work for my own relatives when I get home.
Love to you all, and may God be with you,
Hermana Jennings
The city was VERY interesting. First of all: the guagas (I think that's how it's spelled). Those are the taxis. To get back to their district, we took a taxi-van with our sisters in the field and that was an adventure. Hermana Francis said that they will pack 30 people in a 4 row van. Also they drive with the door open. I was practically falling out of the van, luckily Hermana Harris had me from behind, and was like "I WILL NOT LET YOU FALL." Hermana Hoko, saw us drive by while her group was hailing a taxi, and she said the look on my face was hilarious. Also, the drivers here make Californians look mild-mannered.
We started in a part of the city that was high-end. Very narrow streets, but cute apartments. The sisters live in a very cute house, near the end of that area. Also, the business district, looks American. They have TGI Fridays and Krispy Kreme there, it was weird. And then we walked to were the appointments were, and it was low-income. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. Tight alleys, with homes down them, and the people spill out into the streets. Food vendors are every where, but we are not supposed to buy from them for health reasons. Hermana Hardy's companion did, she bought her some fruit called lemonsilla, that was very good. They are small, with a large pit, and the fruit is this sticky, sweet stuff around it. Elder Bowes said it was like eating an eyeball. But it was a very delicious eyeball.
On Tuesday, the area President spoke to us, Elder Cornish. He has talked at General Conference before, so has Elder Zivic from a couple of weeks ago. Elder Cornish has a son with Down Syndrome, that works here in the Santo Domingo temple. I adore him! His name is Reed, and he is so happy, and smiley, and asks how I'm doing. We played volleyball with him today, he's great. Anyway, Elder Cornish's devotional was VERY good. It was a lot about the call as a missionary, not surprising, but it was very powerful. We watched a clip of Elder Bednar's story about the friend who bought a 4x4 truck. When he went up into the mountains to haul fire wood it got stuck in the snow. He loaded up the wood anyway, and he was able to get out because the load allowed for traction. Elder Cornish talked about how our burdens as missionaries are what saves us. It is not a hindrance, it is the purpose of our work. He said we have been called along with the quorum of the 12 and the quorums of the 70 into the fellowship of the load-bearers. Our load is made up of souls. He said, "If you are exactly, consistently obedient, you may have the privilege of bearing the souls of God's children." (something close to that, I don't have the notes with me). Every day I try to prepare myself to do that. It's really hard, but that is the nature of the Lord's work.
Today is my last P-Day in the CCM, and Sunday will be my last Sabbath in the CCM. I love Sundays, I will be sad to see those go. I am nervous about the field, but anxious to get started. Next time I write will be 2 Mondays from now, I think. I will be sad to leave people behind, but I am so excited to love new people in Santiago. Today was also the last day to go to the temple for at least 6 months, so I'm sad about that too. We did sealings again today, and Hermana Bauyon had family names with her. She was sealed in behalf of her grandmother to her great-grandparents, and the Spirit was so sweet. I am looking forward to doing temple work for my own relatives when I get home.
Love to you all, and may God be with you,
Hermana Jennings