(8/17/15) Ya tu lo Sabes‏

I took my plaque off a minute ago and took some time to study it out. Where it's been, what it's seen, the names that are on it, etc. If that plaque could talk, it would have been saying a lot of things right now. But now that plaque is worn, it's beaten by the sun, the rain, sweat and non-stop work for the past two years. Some of the names are starting to fade and the once bright white letters are now dirty and yellow. 

But nevermind that it's scratched and smudged, nevermind that it has been mocked and rejected, and nevermind the battle I put on everyday wearing that little black badge – what it represents is true and it has changed me to my very soul. I couldn't imagine starting up life again without the knowledge I now have and experiences I've seen in the mission. I've labored, strived, smiled, cried, grown and now that it's over and I've crossed the finish line I can with a sincere heart say that I'm leaving with no regrets. I haven't messed around with this time, I haven't been a burden for my companions and I really feel that I've given it my all these past two years. What I'm feeling right now doesn't exist in any person except for a person who has developed such a desire and drive to move this work forward. 

I've been able to meet a lot of missionaries here; we all wear the same clothes, we all have the same rules, house situation, climate, etc. However, I think that what I'm feeling right now has nothing to do with any of that. I came here to find a change in me. And I think I have found it. I have indeed found the real me. Right now. Right here in this moment, I am the happiest I have ever ever been. Ever.

I don't complain about much, I find myself being more tolerant and patient with people. Little things that used to bother me don't get the same reaction as before. I feel as though the problems I face come and go with ease. These blessings are things I know could only come from God. It's after going through the hardest of times that you make the bestest of friends. Just because I know I feel happy and content does not mean that I have not seen times of darkness. These friends I've made I know are going to last a lifetime. People who are nothing like me, yet It's like I never want to stop knowing more about them. And one friend I've really come to know better and really learned to trust is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There have been times in my mission when I didn't have anyone else to speak with, no one who would really listen to what I had to say. I remember times when I have said: '' well, that's it, I'm leaving this one up to you..'' and like he said in John 14:18 '' I will come to you, I will not leave you comfortless'' I can say that upon calling on him he has come to me, and I have come to know his voice. It's his peace that calms my fears and turns my stubborn doubts into an anchored faith and a resilient testimony. The mission has given all this to me. And all the time, people think that it's the missionary that does all the giving!

 I'm very blessed to be able to share the joy of the gospel with so many people I love and adore, and especially with those I still have yet to meet (i.e. wife, future children) 

When you see me you're going see that I'm the same person. I still am going to like a lot of the same things. I'm still the same nutty me. I'm still gonna dress a little funny and probably still dance like a fool to whatever music is playing around me. Still going to snowboard in the winter and road trip in the summers.But I've changed. I'm a different person because of this. You are going to see what I mean because I've seen it. When we humble ourselves before the Lord and just lay it all on the table. All our sins, our pride, fears, doubts, it is then and only then that he can begin to work a change within us. The Atonement has power to heal the wounded soul. The Atonement has healed me and helped me perhaps more that the people who I taught and baptized during these two years. 

I know because the spirit has made me at one with the truth. The truth of this restored gospel through the chosen prophet Joseph Smith is only the start. I know that what we believe is true. And I know there are still many more testimonies to be born and found before the Lord at its grand end says, '' It is enough, it is finished.'' 

I am eternally grateful for what the Lord has made of me,

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen.

See yall tomorrow!

(8/10/15) Where Did The Time Go?

It's down to a week and I still am as busy as ever! I can't wait because this week is going to be EVEN BUSIER! Not sure how, but after writing down all the last minute meetings and interviews and dinners with President and not to mention this week is our ward's ''Mission Week'' of which us, the missionaries, are completly in charge of. I have not idea how all this if gonna fit into one tiny week. But here goes!

 cut my own hair for the second time last night. I'm probably gonna just keep doing it cause it's look's pretty good!

This week the unfortunate seemed to be following us on every corner. We have as of now 1 that is interviewed and ready for her baptism this Saturday. Our zone leader was late so we interviewed one of the three (Yamali) and she passed but did not make it to church. Then our zone leaders came back later in the night to interview the remaining two, Maciel and Ulisses. Maciel passed and is on track for this saturday. Ulisses slipped up and drank a little cup of coffee that was offering to him earlier that day so he'll take a fecha later this month. 

It was a week to just remember that people accept the gospel on God's time, and not Elder Tate's time. Because if it was on my time, the whole island would be baptized by now and we'd probably have something what peter had when 2,000 people were all baptized on the day of the pentecost haha.

I'll probably have a little more time next week to really seal the deal and fill you in on this, my last and most busy week of the mission.

Wish me luck!

Elder Tate 

1) blisters with blisters

2) lunch with the buds

3) Aplanalp

(8/3/15) It's Like a Donkey Talking About Ears!

Aye aye aye.. You guys are all so trunky! All yall telling me to work hard cause the days are going fast.. I've got schlops of time. 2 weeks is plently. It's funny, I've been telling myself my whole mission: maybe it'll sink in when I have 18 months. When I passed 18 months I told myself I'd feel real when I had 20 months. When I passed the 20 month mark, I said '' It's gotta just be something you feel when you're in your last transfer.. Meanwhile on my second to last week of the mission, I'm telling myself, '' It's gonna come when I'm a few days short.. I'm not really sure time works the same after you've spent so much time baking in the sun. I guess I'll let you know if it happens this week.

And how the last week went!

Last week we were bouncing around pretty much everywhere. We had some presentation thing for our zone, thursday, about the proper way to count and recieve references. Apparently I've been doing it wrong my whole mission, and they decide to correct me NOW in my vejez. Haha! That was a fun day, cause the AP's let me drive the van to go get pizza! Kinda impossible how it actually happened, but I'll just explain it to you when we're all around the family room drinking hot chocolate one day.

We done macheted or as they say it here 'chappiado'' a huge front patio the other day which gave me to biggest juiciest blister of my life, and also me the oppurtunity to learn a new word: ampoya (blister). I also tried a trick I've seen mexicans do, and I'm here to back them up on this one. If you're out working in the yard and the suns real hot, put a tshirt over your whole head as it serve for sun protection and a sweat wrag. Pretty smart eh?

We are really feeling ansty about some of the fechas we've got going for the 15. They were 7 at first, last sunday it turned into realistically 5, and now 2 have more or less flaked out due to lack of church assistance. So.. we're gonna pass by to see as to why these certain investigators of ours didn't come sunday. The 3 are solid and have a great spirit about them, but still. To be baptized, you've gotta go to church. That's a given.

Well, the guy running the internet cafe just put on Play that Funky Music by James Brown, so I'm pretty much just sitting here trying not to sing along.. Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you dieeee

We were gonna go to some sa weeet caves today but my companion convienently developed a hemorrhiod 2 days ago, so we went to the doctor instead. But then we got so ice cream so it was a good day.

Don't worry too much about me. I'm still just same ole Elder Tate. 

I would advise yall to pray for patience, but everyone knows he who prays for patience recieves trials.. I'll let you decide.

Love love love

Elder Tate

foto 1) Chappiadores

foto 2) potatoe sized zapote

foto 3) issse creeeam!

(7/27/15) hot sun, finding cool shells and other missionary adventures‏

This week was an apply sun-screen week for me, and I still find some way to always return home with a nose as red as the crayola crayon.

We went back to that restaurant on the beach for one last time. It is definitely for rich bumbs who like to throw away their money and eat lunch in suits and dresses?? Who does that? But, spite the fortune is costs to eat there, it does come with a prestine view and smell of dem purty waves. I want to live by the beach some day.

We had the week where the progressing progressed, and the rest done stayed the same. We had about 4 of the 7 fechas make it to church, and its critical right now cause their interview's next saturday! It's never easy to see people you come to be such great friends stop progressing in the gospel. It's almost awkward in a way to try and keep the same excitement in lessons when they choose to not keep commitments. We're still gonna love em just the same and pray they can make the choices to help them make it to the 15th.

And cause I can't ever remember all the crazy stuff that goes on in this crazy place, I'm just gonna bounce around:

On sunday the DR celebrated father's day.

I made cookies for our district last thursday.

I gave myself a haircut, tuesday.

I bought another machete today.

And got completely soaked by a surprise wave right before we boarded the bus to go home. Whoo hoo!

That's all for now! 

Love you all!

Alma 26:27-31

Elder Tate

1) puckerin

2) manso

3) comp

(7/20/15) No bees no honey no work no money‏

Ya!!ª Santo sancocho de huesos, it's MONDAY! I can't tell you how much we've done this week, it's all mixed into a big blur to me. A good kind of blur, don't worry :)

Ok, I'm writing under the influence of Justin Bieber right now, so forgive if this is choppy haha. We started the week combining the two areas into one which has given us only in a weeks time big fruits. We were able to leave with our second counsellor to the bishop on friday and we set four baptismal dates, and one more who said yes but doesnt want to commit to a date. So thats now 7 dates we have put for the 15th of August (my last saturday in the dr..) Among them - Jamali a mother of 3 who is bouncing off the walls with the idea of getting baptized, Maria Illuminada who came for the first time to chuch this last sunday, Maciel who has been taking seminary for a year and a half , she's on fire. And we're going to baptize 3 different generations of a family: The grandma was baptized last month, and her daughter and that daughter's daughter accepted a date for the 15th, Then the daughter of the relief society gal has accepted another fecha for the 15th as well. She's feeling the spirit and I'm putting a bunch of church music on a memory right now so she can have church music to listen to on Sundays. And if our old-timer who reminds me of the ideal grandpa, Ulisses, decides to accept the fecha that makes 7 who will be baptized on the same day. We're excited and are busting our buns to get these investigators with member friends and having each attend the activities during the week. 

It really is true how they say '' you reap what you sow ''. This last week in the weekly planning, I expressed my desire to, now more than ever, live 100% (with both zeros) obedient. We're been doing our best to suck the most out of every day, and even when we arrive home at 9:50 and we're buns tired, we'll make sure that we get to bed on time. I know the Lord is blessing us because of our exact obedience. I can't explain it any other way. We had a day where: everyone was home to recieve us, had read the assigned reading, and had inspired questions! Then ALL of them showed up to church; we broke my record of investigators at church yesterday, 15 people showed up! That doesn't just happen! I know it's cause we're doing our best to keep mission rules. 

Speak of keeping mission rules, we went to some super cool caves todday. I called President and asked if we could go, and he said '' With most missionaries I'd say no, but I know you're not going to swim so go for it!'' haha. It was real neat, It's called Tres Ojos and its 3 different caves just plopped on the side of the interstate, we got some real cool pictures out of it. I see if I can't attach some to show you.

All in all we're feeling way good, Elder Blount and I, and we're just anxious to get these investigators covenanted. 

Love you all like a pig in slop

Elder Tate

foto 1) cheesy 

foto 2) bluuue

foto 3) sunflower swag

(7/13/15)Doors, we be knocking. Groovy ties, we be rocking‏

Well here goes.

My last transfer.

he feels calm and ready, knees weak, arms are heavy, he's nervous but he's got purpose, his mind is ready. It's time to get the best out of Elder Tate, let's do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I stay here in my same area (gracias a dios), our two areas are getting sucked together as one big area, about the size of two normal stakes back home. It's gonna be lots of walking and lots of planning our visits so they all stay more or less close together. Elder Peña and Elder Zamora are both going away, and then the house will be quiet, peaceful house of two. That's a rather strange thought for me. HA! And do you remember Elder Graff? My trainee? Sorry , I'm bouncing topics a little, he's going to be a zone leader in Santo Domingo. He got put a zone leader with the same time I had too. He's gonna do great.

Our investigator that was supposed to get baptized this saturday backed out last minute as she gave us some very belated news that she works at a club from time to time, and that they called her back to work and she needs the money. We're gonna keep praying that she can find other work and make these decisions for herself. 

I'm really gonna miss Elder Peñá though, he has made me laugh more in these past 6 weeks than any other companion, no scratch that, PERSON I've even gotten to meet. He's taught me to just keep your head up and pass the time doing things like replacing the Dora theme song with domincan slang, talk another hour or so about how much dora is a bad example to today's rising generation. He's got the imagination of a 6 year old with the body of a 35 year old bodyguard. I only wish you all spoke spanish to meet more people like Elder Peña.

I really am feeling content with where I am in the mission, we have a lot of progress on both sides of the area and are hoping to see a few more baptisms and a lot more sun in the next few weeks, 

Sorry the letter's short, I'll make up for it by photobombing you with what we've been up to the last few weeks.

Con tierno amor,

Elder Tate!

1) la zona

2) Elder Peña and I

3) Elders Zamora, Peña, Blount (new companion) a,d ME

4) shell Jesus

5) candid hammock

6) ridin side saddle

7) family night 

8) donut party

9) sardined

(7/16/15) An Attitude of Gratitude

I've been listening repeatedly this week the talk from President Monson entitled 'An Attitude of Gratitude'. He really makes you understand that theres so much you have to be greatful for, and you really only need to take the time to find it. At least that what the talk has been telling me as each week we keep inching and inching closer to the finish line. I invite you all to read it.

The mission in itself is a constant adventure. All who have had the priviledge to wear the plaque and swallow the fear to preach the gospel will understand that there really is nothing like missionary service. It's a fun feeling laying down in your bed at night and asking yourself where the day went. I can't ever stop telling myself ''I swear the days didn't go this fast when I was at home..'' Like the scripture in Matt 24:22 talks about the days being shortened. THAT. That is honetly my whole idea of the mission.

This week wasn't full of rocking out to Journey or watching the sky light up with fireworks be we did our part to celebrate by making big momma cheeseburgers. They turned out far better than we had expected and we only set the kicthen on fire once! Cause of a rookie mistake by Elder Blount when he let the grease catch and it went up fa-lammming! We have a lot of fun in our house haha

We are taking the investigator elevator up and little by little some are getting off earlier than we want, but 1 of the 3 fechas we put for the 18th is still golden, her name's Deseere - she's the daughter of a counsellor to the relief society and just with us she's showed an interest to be baptized. We'll get her interviewed Saturday and hopefully she can make it to our temple trip the following week!

It's been raining a lot this past week. For example, today on our way back from buying vintage machetes at the hatian market, a pool about the size of seven peaks dumped itself on the streets where we were walking and magically it stops right when we get on the bus to go home. Like always. It can fall just like snapping your fingers and turns off the same way. It's insane. 

I'm trying to think of worthwhile things to share, but all I can think about is my empty stomach and the sack of mangoes I have at home waiting to be consumed. Sorry, I'll do better next week!

Dios Les Bendiga

Elder Tate

foto 1) hammock selfie

foto 2) fun in the bathroom

foto 3) hamburger time