The Spirit is strong all the time, and I learn so much through it everyday. We watched the MTC devotional that Elder Cookie Monster talked about--the one with cookie monster--which is just a brief little metaphor in a REALLY powerful talk about the character of Christ. Elder Bednar talks about how the character of Christ is to turn outward towards others in service and compassion, and the character of the natural-man is to turn inward in selfishness. He used some poignant examples of Christ's charity that aren't super obvious. He talked about about becoming truly converted to Christ is living the way He did, consistently. As a district, we had a discussion about applying the talk to our lives, and the humility was really palpable. It was a very spiritual discussion. We are trying harder every day to truly focus on the work and forget ourselves. Because we have a habit of going off on tangents during study time, we've decided to sit together at lunch and talk about our interests our experiences so that study time can be used for what it is supposed to be. That devotional was really humbling, we all felt we needed to apply the atonement and make changes.
Anyway, we practice talking and teaching a lot. The CCM is actually a place where families from far away can stay while the come to the temple, so on several occasions we've gone over to the temple and just talked with the people and practiced bearing our testimonies. The people are super nice. They talk slowly, help with words we're struggling with, but are also really encouraging and tell how well we have done. Also the kids. I LOVE THE KIDS. On P-Days we get to go to the temple for about 4 hours, and today we did sealings! No one in our district had done sealings before, and that was really cool.
I am becoming more and more comfortable with teaching our 'investigators'. Hermana Hardy and I have had some really great lessons. We don't speak Spanish amazingly, but you can feel the Spirit, and that is what converts. Elder Bednar talked about how he asks new converts all over the world what it was like being taught by the missionaries, and the almost universally say that it was the most bizarre experience they had ever had, and it was initially hard to figure out what they were talking about. But they invited the missionaries back because of what they felt. I am learning more and more about how I don't teach people, the Spirit teaches, and I facilitate that. I am not a bold person in general, but I know now that I can tell people boldly that I know I was called by God to share with them His restored gospel. It's awesome :)
A couple days ago we left the CCM/temple grounds for the first time and walked to the store. It's like a Dominican Wal-Mart. It was nice, to see just a little more of the city. On the way back, we were super sweaty though, and it was maybe a 10 minute walk. Preview of things to come!
Herman Hardy and I have been given the music directors assignment. This means we plan the hymns and assign the chorister and piano playing jobs for every meeting, and organize the musical numbers for sacrament meeting and live devotionals. Also, the Haitian missionaries just arrived, and so we have to pick hymns that are in both the Spanish and French hymn books. We have to try to involve them as much as possible, because they are only here two weeks and Presidente Freestone wants there stay to be an involved one. It's easy for them to be isolated because no one speaks French or is in the process of learning it. The Haitian missionaries are the only ones who can proselyte in Haiti, so they will be going back to their country when they are done, except for one, who was called to serve in the Ivory Coast.
Our Spanish speakers and the missionaries who have been here longest left for the field early Tuesday morning. I was sad to see them go, but it is wonderful they get to begin the work. The new missionaries came in last night, so now my group has the seniority.
Things are great, the maestros are hilarious, and care about us and the work so much. Hermano Fernandez loves my district so much, and we love him, it's ridiculous. Seriously, he sees us in the halls and suddenly it's "HERMANO FERNANDEZ!!!!!" Hermano Rodriguez was avada kedavra-ing Hermano Martinez the other day, and that was awesome (most of them are awesome nerds). We got to meet Hermano Ramirez's wife and son the other day! Hermana Ramirez is pregnant, and Hermano Ramirez is so proud! I love being friends with my district. I love talking about the gospel with them. They are 18 and 19 and have IMPRESSIVE knowledge of scripture and doctrine,more than I do.
I love being here, and know that it is what I am supposed to be doing. Yo se que la iglesia de Jesucristo es restaurdo hoy, y Padre Celestial tiene un plan para nosotros. Jesucristo es mi Salvador y Redentor, y a traves Su Expiación yo y ustedes poder regresar con El. Yo se que Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial , y El conoce todos sus hijos. En el nombre de Jesucristo, amen. I have a testimony of many other things, but my time is running out. I love you all, and pray for you. I pray here, more than I have in my life before! Do everything you can to bring the Spirit into your lives, and enjoy that blessing.Love,
Hermana Jennings
Anyway, we practice talking and teaching a lot. The CCM is actually a place where families from far away can stay while the come to the temple, so on several occasions we've gone over to the temple and just talked with the people and practiced bearing our testimonies. The people are super nice. They talk slowly, help with words we're struggling with, but are also really encouraging and tell how well we have done. Also the kids. I LOVE THE KIDS. On P-Days we get to go to the temple for about 4 hours, and today we did sealings! No one in our district had done sealings before, and that was really cool.
I am becoming more and more comfortable with teaching our 'investigators'. Hermana Hardy and I have had some really great lessons. We don't speak Spanish amazingly, but you can feel the Spirit, and that is what converts. Elder Bednar talked about how he asks new converts all over the world what it was like being taught by the missionaries, and the almost universally say that it was the most bizarre experience they had ever had, and it was initially hard to figure out what they were talking about. But they invited the missionaries back because of what they felt. I am learning more and more about how I don't teach people, the Spirit teaches, and I facilitate that. I am not a bold person in general, but I know now that I can tell people boldly that I know I was called by God to share with them His restored gospel. It's awesome :)
A couple days ago we left the CCM/temple grounds for the first time and walked to the store. It's like a Dominican Wal-Mart. It was nice, to see just a little more of the city. On the way back, we were super sweaty though, and it was maybe a 10 minute walk. Preview of things to come!
Herman Hardy and I have been given the music directors assignment. This means we plan the hymns and assign the chorister and piano playing jobs for every meeting, and organize the musical numbers for sacrament meeting and live devotionals. Also, the Haitian missionaries just arrived, and so we have to pick hymns that are in both the Spanish and French hymn books. We have to try to involve them as much as possible, because they are only here two weeks and Presidente Freestone wants there stay to be an involved one. It's easy for them to be isolated because no one speaks French or is in the process of learning it. The Haitian missionaries are the only ones who can proselyte in Haiti, so they will be going back to their country when they are done, except for one, who was called to serve in the Ivory Coast.
Our Spanish speakers and the missionaries who have been here longest left for the field early Tuesday morning. I was sad to see them go, but it is wonderful they get to begin the work. The new missionaries came in last night, so now my group has the seniority.
Things are great, the maestros are hilarious, and care about us and the work so much. Hermano Fernandez loves my district so much, and we love him, it's ridiculous. Seriously, he sees us in the halls and suddenly it's "HERMANO FERNANDEZ!!!!!" Hermano Rodriguez was avada kedavra-ing Hermano Martinez the other day, and that was awesome (most of them are awesome nerds). We got to meet Hermano Ramirez's wife and son the other day! Hermana Ramirez is pregnant, and Hermano Ramirez is so proud! I love being friends with my district. I love talking about the gospel with them. They are 18 and 19 and have IMPRESSIVE knowledge of scripture and doctrine,more than I do.
I love being here, and know that it is what I am supposed to be doing. Yo se que la iglesia de Jesucristo es restaurdo hoy, y Padre Celestial tiene un plan para nosotros. Jesucristo es mi Salvador y Redentor, y a traves Su Expiación yo y ustedes poder regresar con El. Yo se que Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial , y El conoce todos sus hijos. En el nombre de Jesucristo, amen. I have a testimony of many other things, but my time is running out. I love you all, and pray for you. I pray here, more than I have in my life before! Do everything you can to bring the Spirit into your lives, and enjoy that blessing.Love,
Hermana Jennings