July 7th- Yeah it's hot but we preaching' cause we ought!

Excellent week. It flew by like you wouldn't believe, but we got a lot done. 

Started out the week with our meeting for the district and zone leaders in the capital, but this time it was with our new pres. President Corbitt is the man. He really knows how to run this show. Just in the way he talks and explains himself, it's as if you're in the presence of a seventy or some other general athourity. Our once laywer, and dean for USV, now sits here with us and in truth his spanish could easily be mistaken for that of a latin. I'm feeling good with our new President, he's got a lot of great goals and we've already seen some big changes with the mission.

Later in the week, we got to head over to the temple and help out the youth with confirmations. It was my first trip downstairs and I was surprised how big that tank was. This temple's a whole lot bigger than I thought it was. It's always awesome when we get time to go to the temple. You leave standing just a little taller.

And to finish the week we had an intercambio with an area that was having some trouble in their companionship. The Elder with the.. I don't want to say ''problem'', but the Elder with just a little more attitude, came over with me and Elder Palacios and Elder Lasso went out there. It was a great intercambio and I think the Ego Elder left with a different attitude than before.

We moved churches due to a remodel on our old building. But This new place that we'll be in is just a big 2 story sauna. Theres no fans, windows (on the second story), and little ventalation between rooms. So basically it's just a 3 hour visit to feel the burning fire of the spirit in your heart, and feel the burning fire of summertime mixed with the humidity of rain we usually get in the morningtime. 

Woo hoo. 

But we had a lot of investigators at church (7). and as of right now, we have 7 dates for baptism with the same people. Hope we'll get to teach them all a little more so they can understand and choose for them selves in they want to baptize.

Thats about all this week. Theres probably a lot more, but I just can't focus right now. But we'll see what the week brings us

Love you, Love your letters, and remember to be happy. 

It is a choice

Have an awesome week

Elder Tate

foto 1 - us

foto 2 - el templo

foto 3 - new find: limónsillo. you just suck it. very addictive

June 30th-Oh estooooy, Quemado

Where's a good place to start. 

Our zone is the coolest.

Just the honest truth.. Last night we had a total of 16 other people from 4 different zones that wanted to attend our ''Pizzona''. We through together a zone activity today and it just rocked. Everyone came! We played a good couple hours of soccer, ate our pizza like nobody's business -- 6 slices per person. and finished with coca cola floats. Everything about today was a success. and after today, without being prideful, it's clear that hainamosa is the zone the be in. And everybody knows it.

But the week was just a wonderful, sweaty, hot, sunburnt week. It's fair to say we've gained the title of the Michael Jackson missionaries. Our teaching pool is pure teenagers and younger kids (like 10-12). Last night we successfully taught a house of 10 smiley kids who Jesus is and why it's good to go to church. I'm not sure how we swung that, but all of them want to go this next sunday.

Speaking of next sunday, we have been informed that the Ward Los 

Solares has been evicted (persay) due to remodeling on the building. So, we're be in a little house of a member that definitely will no accommadate our congregation of a whopping 95-100 members. I'm interested to see how it's gonna play out. 

Also, this thursady we're got the bus thats taking us to the temple. ElderPalacios and Lasso have two new converts that are going for their first time. If i'm not mistaken, we'll get to go in and help with baptisms. First time of the mish. I'm stoked.

Amazing encounter of the week. We past by a less active Hermana who is just the sweetest old lady married to the most loving and happy husband. We had mentioned, or I had mentioned that we wanted to have a family night with them and make the Habichuelas con dulce. (google it). Come to find out, she misunderstood and made a whole pot JUST FOR US. So we feasted and feasted, and then she i'm not joking , filled up a bubba keg of the beans so we could have some for later... SCORE

This past district/zone meeting thing. It fell to me to direct. and I want to share the scripture I shared with the group with you guys. It's a slamming get yourself excited for the gospel kind of scripture:

22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

 23 Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!

What have we got to lose? Why are we holding back? This is our time. We are all sons and daughters of the all powerful, we are here to futher his work. It's time to ask ourselves if we really are doing all that we can. We've got Christ's coming to prepare. It's our time, right now to bear testimony of his live giving and life changing gospel. The responsibility falls on us. 

Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

Lets do this, there's no better time to start than right now

Love you like bear cares for it's cubs

Elder Tate

foto 1 - Carambolas baby (aka Starfruit)

foto 2 - Activity

foto 3 - The intrinsic trio 

June 23rd-

Where's the energy?

This week crazzy. With a capital K. Got to the new area tuesday, and boom. Just like that, I'm now the babysitter of 30+ needy missionaries. I got to know ALOT of the zone this week. Between meeting with our stake president, scooting from area to area to conduct baptismal/companionship interviews, and rushing back to cover our own area. Flat out this week has worn me out .

But.

I want to use this second paragraph to introduce my two companions. Meet Elder Lasso: He's a seasoned missionary of 23 months, from Panama, and has served in just about every area in the mission (or at least every zone), knows the answer to ANY if not ALL gospel related questions. Get this, 1) He's 28, and 2) this fella has already been married! (before he was baptized) He's only a convert of 5 years, but PAPA, this guy knows how to teach. Lets throw the mission aside, Elder Lasso just knows. He knows how to get inside of the head of the investigator to ask appropriate questions to trigger thoughts that obviously the person we're teaching has never asked before. What a guy.

OK. with that hefty introduction, I¨could go on longer to introduce Elder Palacios-- 

Elder Palacios, aka ''El Profet'' is just a rockstar. He's sitting on the bench of 21 months, the most diligent guy I have every come across since I've been out here. He's from Mexican roots but fits right in with the Dominican crowd. I've been with him a week and we're already best friends. They call him the phophet because he honestly is going to be the first prohpet from Mexico. He is, like Lasso, a rediculously good teacher.

Theres a reason these two are ZL's, they're got it all figured out. But as for me, I'm just busy learning. Learning this huge zone, trying to image my new companions, and help this zone keep it's animo. Honestly its like trying to get a drink from a big ole firehose. I just need to find a nice in-ground pool, and i'll drink it that way. 

I love hearing how the time passes for all of you, thanks for all you do. 

Have a super week

Elder Tate

foto 1: Lasso with impaired vision, with Palacios taking a dive

foto 2: New find, its called Kaiwia. Mm. Its amazing

foto 3: Meet double-banana banana

June 16th-¡Buenas Nuevas!‏

What a roller-coaster week it's been.

I have a lot to say, and no real good way to say it. 

Over the course of the week, we noticed we've been up and down and all around our area. I'm sure, easy, we're walking more that 7.. 8 miles a day. Walk walk walk walk. But now, we're working so much more efficiently. We now have all our investigators planned out on the grid. We realized we have been running from appt to appt and we spend a lot more time walking with time we should be using teaching. So, now we fixed that bug which means we're walking less, and our numbers and gotten way better at the same time. 

We're smart.

Our 4 young'ns are now 3. Byron dropped us even after he flat out said the Book of Mormon has to be true. And that Joseph was the prophet who translated it. We're gonna let him stew for awhile. I know he'll come around. But our other 3 boys are just outstanding. I wish I could tell you about the stories that our pal, Junior has been telling us. He's just incredible. I'm super stoked for their baptisms. They have no problems and will have their interviews this saturday.

We've been working a lot more with references that before. Since we started up our 'Predicad Mi Evangelio' (PMG) Class, we have just been raking in golden investigators who are completing commintments and a few even came to church this week. When Elder Ventura and I got to this area, it was deemed the worst in the whole zone if not the mission. With nothing in the area book, we started from stratch and turned that bad reputation around. Now it's thriving and there just a lot more energy back in the ward. 

But as for me, I'm sitting here typing this letter just a little excited to share for whats about to change with all that. . 

So.. we've got transfers tomorrow. And well, okay I'll just tell you it how it happened.

So there we were, sitting in a cita with a less active guy and his mom. Everythings just totally normal. When I got the buzz in my pocket. Said 'What the..? Nobody calls us in the morning..' Pulled the phone out of my pocket and it was the PRESIDENT!! That never happens! Then my compa reminded me that the president calls the saturday before transfers for leadership positions. I was like 'Oh shoot!!!'. Then with my now dry mouth and tense hands, said 'alo presidente!'. Then he asked if he could talk to Elder Tate. I told him yes, then he asked if I 

Would serve as Zone Leader in Hainamosa.

WHAT THE WHAT???

I told him yes, or I think I said yes. And then hung up the phone. Right after I was just.. Ah!! I was bouncing on my feet, just talking like a crazy person. I have no idea how this call came to me. Wish you could have seen it.

I'll be the youngest ZL in all the Mission along with another good friend thats from my same group who'll be in the zone where I was born in La Romana. But Man, this is a momma big zone. 34 missionaries, with 4 districts, and it's about an hour-sh outside of the capital. I'll be with Elder Palasio and Elder Lasso. Elder Lasso is finishing his mission this transfer (hence the trio) and I'll be in his place once he goes. But, me..? I'm just Elder Tate. I'm on the bench of 9 months. Nothing about this makes any sense. But who the Lord calls the Lord prepares. I just a little apprehensive about how all this is gonna down. But I'm ready. Lets do this. 

Theres a scripture in Ether:

 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them theirweakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

 29 And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith;

 

''Oh Lord, thy righteous will we done.''

I hope the Lord will strengthen me in my weaknesses and help me fufill this calling to the max.

Love you all, pray for you -- 

Elder Tate

foto 1 - rad little bug

foto 2 - la zona

foto 3 - say hi to the little piggies 

 

June 9th- Subject as been subjected

Ah.. and so the time has come to collect a whole week and try and pound it out in a short poorly-planned out email.

Here goes!

Today was such a blast, we had the despedida for Presidente and Hermana Hernadez today. Our final ''See you Later!!'' day, and we celebrated American style with a barbaque worthy of kings. Felt so great to reunite with the big ole stacked hamburger with doritos, a hotdog, RELISH and pretty much whatever else fits.. once more. We played a good rato of soccer, threw water balloons with beach towells, and said our final goodbyes. And just like that it was time to return home, wet, sun-burned, full, and with sore feet. 

But thats how we like it.

The week, as usual, went quite fast. Trying to think - Right now, we're working a lot with these young'ins. We're teaching a group of pals that Bryan (Who baptized about two months ago) showed us 2 weeks back. One is called ''El Topo'' or Junior, and one is named Byron. They and two other younger pals all have the same date to baptize. We're shootin for 28 of June, Junior and one of the other friends, Jeremy will arrive at baptism no problem. But Byron and Harol, we're not as sure. It's honestly just so refreshing to teach these guys, they're all sucked into the lessons and have awesome questions and are all suprisingly interested in religion for how young they are. Pray with us for them, like most current and ex-missionaries know, the first baptismal date is the easiest to fall. So we're pulling for them, and hope all four can be baptized this next transfer.

Next transfer..

Is gonna be 8 WEEKS. Just imagine. Because our new prez comes this months we're gonna have a shorter transfer this time so the new prez can settle down and get to know the mission a little more. I'm excited to see what might change with the new translado.

But we also had the baptism of a tender little guy, Jordan, last saturday. We're working and trying to help their dad start coming to church, with not much success. I'll see if the memory works today. Put the picture up. I bought a new one, but its trash. The little mini memory cards I buy don't function worth beans. 

But nah, thats the week in a nut shell. Hopefully I'll have some awesome miracle or something a little more interesting for next time. But I wanna leave you guys with a little thought that hit me earlier this week. 

Imagine if you woke up tomorrow and had only the things you gave thanks to God the night before. 

Put me in my thinking zone.

With all the love of the DR

Elder Tate

And--alomost forgot!

 (Shout out to Elder Abbott Kenniwick Washington's newest AP whoop!)

foto 1: Bautismo

foto 2: El rio isabel that runs right through our area

June 2nd- It's Gonna Be Quick

Don't have super ton of time this afternoon to write. Wanted to fill you in that Jordan was not baptized last tuesday, because he fell sick with a nasty bug called chic con gulla, we postponed for the morrow. But Andry was infact baptized, such an awesome ser vice, I got to share some closing thoughts before we ended the whole thing, one ex-bishop dude after it was all done and we were taking down chairs told me non that if I could invite that kind of spirit in spanish- that he wouldn't believe how it would would have sounded in my native tongue. Make me feel a little more motivated. Good service.

Also the day of the service I found myself reading a litttle from Alma, that I felt went hand in hand with the work we're doing here, in all the world, as missionaries.

Alma 31:19-35.

19 Now it came to pass that after Alma and his brethren and hissons had heard these prayers, they were astonished beyond allmeasure.

 20 For behold, every man did go forth and offer up these sameprayers.

 21 Now the place was called by them Rameumptom, which, beinginterpreted, is the holy stand.

 22 Now, from this stand they did offer up, every man, theselfsame prayer unto God, thanking their God that they werechosen of him, and that he did not lead them away after thetradition of their brethren, and that their hearts were not stolenaway to believe in things to come, which they knew nothing about.

 23 Now, after the people had all offered up thanks after thismanner, they returned to their homes, never speaking of theirGod again until they had assembled themselves together again tothe holy stand, to offer up thanks after their manner.

 24 Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved; for he sawthat they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw thattheir hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon allmanner of fine goods.

 25 Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were lifted up unto greatboasting, in their pride.

 26 And he lifted up his voice to heaven, and cried, saying: O, howlong, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that thy servants shall dwell herebelow in the flesh, to behold such gross wickedness among thechildren of men?

 27 Behold, O God, they cry unto thee, and yet their hearts areswallowed up in their pride. Behold, O God, they cry unto theewith their mouths, while they are puffed up, even to greatness,with the vain things of the world.

 28 Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, and their ringlets, andtheir bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their preciousthings which they are ornamented with; and behold, their heartsare set upon them, and yet they cry unto thee and say—We thankthee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while othersshall perish.

 29 Yea, and they say that thou hast made it known unto themthat there shall be no Christ.

 30 O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickednessand infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt thou giveme strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I aminfirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul.

 31 O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfortmy soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may havestrength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions whichshall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people.

 32 O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success,and also my fellow laborers who are with me—yea, Ammon, andAaron, and Omner, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, and also mytwo sons—yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wiltthou comfort their souls in Christ.

 33 Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, thatthey may bear their afflictions which shall come upon thembecause of the iniquities of this people.

 34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success inbringing them again unto thee in Christ.

 35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them areour brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdomthat we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.

What a great example for us as missionaries

Longer and more sincere next week. 

Love you

Elder Tate