Week 58: Being diligent really blessed us!

Group September 18, 2017

Hello once again!

Last P-Day was actually really fun so I will tell you what we did. We got the people from my district together and the zone leaders and we went and played baseball! It turned out super fun even though it was 90 degrees out. We hit a couple home runs and then we got out of there and went home. Yes, I did wear sunscreen this time so I didn't get fried. 

On Tuesday, I had a leaders meeting to go to and we talked about how the zone is going to progress. We have a couple things planned and new ideas on how to use the Book of Mormon. It was a pretty good meeting and then all of the us leaders went to eat lunch after. In the afternoon, well lets say it wasn{t the best. All of our appointments where falling through and contacting wasn{t working, till the end of the day. We went to our friends, Virgina and Ramons house and they had a couple references there waiting for us! The lesson went super good because we watched the restoration video. We felt the spirit super strong and invited the two of them to baptism! Being diligent that day really blessed us!

Wednesday was a lot like Tuesday. In the biggining of the day we had NO luck. School started here a week or two ago so that is probably the problem because the parents are out picking them up. The at 4 we had a great lesson with a new guy named Walter. He came to church on Sunday with a friend and we went and passed by his house on Sunday also. Wednesday we had a great lesson with him at a members house. The member helped out so much in the lesson when we taught the restoration and then we invited him to baptism on the 21 of October. That night we also taught the son of one of our investigators who knows a lot about the church and invited him to prepare with his mom to be baptized on the same day as her, which is the 14^th of October. The day turned out very good there at the end!

Thursday morning we had district meeting and that went very well. My district was able to invite a lot more people to baptism this last week. After that we came home for lunch but later that day we had interviews with our mission president and his wife. They came right to our house sence it wasn{t to far of a drive for him. It went very well and I got some new information about the mission. He is a great mission president! His wife also is very helpful! That night we had the movie night and even got two references from it!

Friday was a good day because one we got our money! Second is because we had a member leave with us all day! We had some very good lessons that day. We have been reading a lot from the Liahona with the people we teach. We use the prophets talk and also the article, 10 minuets a day. They are both VERY good! We had a good meeting with our ward mission leader too, and got everything planned for the baptism next Saturday.

Saturday was a fun start because we helped a member move. After that we had a baptism interview for Ramon. He passed with flying colors! After lunch we had English class by sister Buhler then we went to Virginias house because she has a lot of references for us. We went and contacted them all and they arn{t to shabby! We finished the night with the big activity of the Buhlers with young single adults and we brought Virginias daughter and another family member.

Sunday wasn{t terrible but very tiring. We had a good turn out at church and in the afternoon we had some pretty good appointments but lets just say we need a P-DAY.

Well that’s all I have for you this week so take care and never forget to do the small things, because those sometimes are what make the big differences.

Love,

Elder Wolfe

Barahona, Dominican Republic

Week 57: What Hurricane? Really?

Group September 11, 2017

Well the week started amazing! Tuesday consisted of good appointments in the morning and afternoon then at night we went to hermana Virginias house. It was her birthday and we gave her a gift. We also taught Ramon, preparing him for his baptism the 23rd of this month. We did find out that Virginias husband wants to be baptized but wants to change Jobs first because he has to lie a lot at work to his clients and doesn´t feel right doing it, so he wants to change his life and start again but it will take some time to change Jobs. He is the director of a very big organization in the government. After we taught them though we drove to a good food place where they bought us dinner. I thought it was my birthday to be honest haha!

Wednesday was not good to be honest. These types of days are bound to happen, but we didn´t have very good lesson or any new people to teach. It was very slow because we where thinking about this hurricane that was supposably going to come. 

Thursday was a very slow day but was pretty nice. We were not allowed to leave the house due to Hurricane Irma but nothing even happened here! Not even rain! That was very odd but we played a lot of card games and board games here at the house with some other Elders from another área.

Friday was a very productive day. We had a meeting with our Ward misión leader in the morning that was very effective. In the afternoon, we did splits with two members. We taught a total of 13 lessons that day between the two of us. It went very well! Virginias nephew, Ramon, invite some of his friends to come to seminary with him and the church then invited him to prepare for baptism with him! Very cool to see that he already has references for us!

Saturday was amazing because in the morning, Pervis, the husband of Virginia, took me and my companion to go see a near by motocross track. It was cool because it is literally on the beach but very small and the jumps are tiny. He then drove usa round in his car to go see other very cool places I haven´t seen before. He also showed us 3 references of people he would like us to teach. It was probably the best morning I have had in the misión and after that we went to a store like office depot and bought some real nice pens! You ain´t a missionary with out a good pen! Every Saturday we have English class that is taught by the senior couple. It is a very helpful class for us to be honest. We had a good turno ut with 3 investigators. After that we went to the baptism of the sister missionaries. My companion did the baptism for them sense I did the last one. After that we went back to the senior couples house for the Young sing adult activity they always do. Web ring our investigators so they can get to know more members of the church. It was a very solid Saturday!

Sunday also went very well. We had a great turn out at church & the spouse of Virginia went once again! The lessons where very good on the priesthood and also about always learning more. We had a member bring a friend to church that may be able to really progress. He has a very good life story and would be a great help in the Lords church. After church hermana Virginia fed us lunch and we all sat down together at their table with them and to be honest, it felt like I was part of that family. They are the closest people I have to parents here in the DR. They are always looking out for me too and if we need anything we can count on them! After them we went and visited a couple people but then we had meeting to finish the day off. 

Overall, another week that felt like 1 day! The misión is a amazing thing and I like the way the Lord is helping me change! Obedience and sacrifice really does bring MIRACLES!

Love,

Elder Wolfe

Barahona, Dominican Republic

The Missing Week 56: Convert Fire!

Group September 4, 2017

Sorry I didn´t write you guys last week. Things where a Little difficult. I am going to putt he two weeks together for you all.

To start, we had a very powerful lesson on Tuesday with Virgina and her spouse. We talked also with her nephew who is going to be baptized on the 23rd of September. We brought two members and we talked a lot about the role of the Book of Mormon and the Plan of Salvation. The husband, Pervis, said that he knows he needs to be baptized after his nephew Ramon. Very awesome night and then they took us home in their car! That never happens here in this country! 

The best thing that happened on Wednesday was that a member living here from South Africa invited us 4 missionaries over. He speaks English but can´t speak Spanish quite yet. He is such a nice guy and has really good inputs on the scriptures. He fed us Indian food and then took us home. Thursday was pretty slow but its always fun because every Thursday night we have movie night at the church. We watched How to Train a Dragon. 

Friday was normal and Saturday we taught English class this week because Hermana Buhler, a senior couple, couldn´t make it here to teach it. We also had a very good lesson with a less active. Something I have noticed and is the reason for why there in more less actives is because when a sister or a brother doesn´t come to church more then 2 times no one goes and visits them to help them in their difficulties. They just talk about it then do nothing so we will try to help them change that. The way of peoples minds here is way different then the states. 

Sunday went great because Virginia and Pervis and Ramona ll made it to church together. Ramon, the nephew, was telling us that he feels like he needs to prepare to serve a misión. He is 15 and not baptized, yet he wants to serve one and always goes to seminary now! He is going to be a very good convert and help many more lives!

On Saturday I also did my first baptism interview. It went very well and the man in very prepared and ready to go! It will be next Saturday.

The misión is a blast as always and has helped me learn SO much! Just remember to complete your calling to the máximum and the Lord will bless you all!

Love,

Elder Wolfe

Barahona, Dominican Republic

Hurricane Irma Update

Saturday, 9 September 2017

Dear Parents,

Hurricane Irma has passed us and we are all fine.  The storm went farther north of us than they first predicted.  The result was that we experienced a tropical storm and not the effects of a hurricane.  We are very grateful for all of the prayers on our behalf.  All the missionaries are safe and sound and we are already back to work.

 

Queridos Padres,

Queremos comunicarles que el Huracán Irma ya pasó por la Republica Dominicana y todos nos encontramos bien. La tormenta paso hacia el norte del país como lo habían predicho. Por lo que los únicos efectos que pasaron en nuestra misión fueron lluvias y vientos. Gracias por todas sus oraciones, todos los misioneros se encuentran a salvo y ahora esta cada uno en sus áreas predicando. 

 

Queridos pais,

Queremos informá-lo de que o furacão Irma já passou pela República Dominicana e estamos todos bem. A tempestade se moveu para o norte como eles haviam predito. Portanto, os únicos efeitos que aconteceram em nossa missão foram as chuvas e os ventos. Obrigado por todas as suas orações, todos os missionários estão seguros e agora todos estão em suas áreas de pregação.

Sincerely,

President José M. Santos

Misión Santo Domingo Oeste

República Dominicana

Week 56: Hurricane Irma Prep

Jeff contacted us this week via Hangouts & answered our letters, but never got around to sending his group email.  The internet cut out.  The mission president instructed them expect a big storm, but not a direct hit from the hurricane.  They had to get 2 weeks worth of water and non-perishable food for their house.  Here is the letter to the parents from President Santos.

Dear parents and leaders,

As many of you are aware, the Caribbean is expecting a hurricane. We are taking all the precautions necessary for the safety of all of your sons and daughters.  Our area is said to not be in the red zone. As of now, we are expecting rain and stormy weather.

We had a meeting with all the mission leaders and have prepared them to execute emergency plans. We provided them with all the tools and information necessary to be prepared should the storm affect their area. We have notified all missionaries that they need to have nonperishable food and water for the duration of 2 weeks minimum. We have informed them that any extra expenses at this time will be reimbursed. Certain sets of missionaries have been relocated to safer areas to avoid the harsher areas of the storm. They will be staying with other missionaries in a more secure area. Leaders are in charge of calling their assigned missionaries every certain period of time. Bishops and Stake presidents are also aware of the situation and will be attentive to the wellbeing of the missionaries serving in their areas.

Please know that we are doing everything in our power to keep our missionaries safe. I will follow up on their safety as soon as the storm passes. We would appreciate your prayers, as usual. Your missionaries will be communicating with you on their normal preparation day.

Sincerely,

President Santos

Santo Domingo West Mission, Dominican Republic

We're just praying for everyones safety.  I imagine Jeff is thrilled for the storm.  He has a great love for Mother Nature in all her wrath & glory.  I just hope he doesn't do anything crazy.  He is a 19 year old boy who loves to be outside.

Stacey

Week 55: Virginia is Baptized! Being obedient brings many blessings!

Group August 28, 2017   

This was another great week for me. Yesterday I was so dead of energy because of working so hard during the week! It makes the weeks go by way fast also! We had a baptism this Saturday that went great. The whole family came to see and I think little by little they too will come unto Christ. That was the best part of the week to see all the family at the baptism and the Dad at church. The mission president even came to see the end of the baptism. We have been finding a lot and using the members too. It is the best way to be a missionary is through the members even though it is easier to do it solo. 

My comp is amazing with excitement to work hard so that is what we are doing. Being obedient brings many blessings! We are starting to read the Book of Mormon as a mission right now and to finish in December. That is thirteen chapters a week if you guys would like to join us.

The district is doing great and I learned some new things at a conference we had on Wednesday. I had to get up at 5:15am to get there on time and we finished working at 9:30pm at night haha! Very long day! Well I don´t have much to say to be honest. The weeks are bluring so I don’t remember much! The mission is a blast and working hard and being obedient makes it even better! 

Love 

Elder Wolfe

Week 54: Virginia's Upcoming Baptism! A lot of the times the easy choice is not always what is correct!

Group

Well a new companion, same area, new assignments and some very big news this week. It was a pretty good start to the week, working hard with my new companion from Utah. He actually got here to the country the same time I did. We are trying to find a lot of new people & also learn new ways to teach. 

We are going to have a baptism next week. Its sister Virginia who is 53 years old. She is a amazing lady that the Lord has prepared for us. She is going to help so much in building the true church of God! She wants that all of her family is baptized & has been praying for that help.  On Friday we finally got the chance to sit them all down and teach them the restoration. The following day they came to two of the activities. We have had some very good lessons lately with the spirit so strong! I really do think it is for faith and obedience. The Lord has guided us on what to say and teach and we are helping the people come unto Christ. Sister Virginia passed her baptism interview & will baptized next Saturday by me. 

It is so amazing to see people change there lives to follow Christ. When ever we have problems in life we just have to remember it is God trying to help us be better so we can live with him again. A lot of the times the easy choice is not always what is correct, but if we choose the right we will always be blessed. The email is going to be a little shorter today but better then nothing I always say! 

Elder Wolfe