Jan 27th-- Still Sweating

Last night, I had this dream. In it, our assistant to the president was driving us around downtown Santo Domingo.. All of a sudden, he pulls into COSTO. Later, I found myself scanning the cereal isle and picked up the biggest bag of Waffle Crisp I had ever seen and held it in my hands. This was the happiest discovery of my life and I wanted to share the news with all my friends. Later in that same dream, I remember I was swimming at this glorious beach with buckets of Koolaids and Cactus Coolers on ice ready to be CONSUMED.. The next thing I remember, I'm awake lying in my bed, with my mouth watering, and realizing that I miss my American food. 

Ah....

This week was surpirisingly very eventful. I have an intercambio with Elder Pierre once more in El Seybo. Wayyy up in the mountains. I love it up there, everyone is always so humble and ready to head what we have to share. Then on friday we took the 2 hour gua gua to the capital for a meeting for Bodily's training, and there was PIZZA. And this time I was ready this time. Last time I left my Cholula at home. Ah.. SO GOOD. Work wise, I was a somewhat slow week. Because I was gone for what seemed like half the week, we didn't get as many lessons in as usual. But something extremely uncommon happened yesterday at church..

So we arrived and were sitting in our first class (preisthood), and I saw a fellow I had not seen before sitting in the corner. Shook his hand and all that as found out his name was Vilme. Nothing that out of the ordinary. Then I got sitting with him during third hour which is sacrament. Realized he really likes to sing, and loves to read along with the speakers in the scriptures. I thought ''cool, he likes church''. So we get talking, find out he lives solo, from Haiti, and has really no family in the area. So I ask if it'd be alright if we swing by later to get to know him a little more and share a small message. Much later, while at his house, we find out that he has had a Book of Mormon for the past four years from some sister missionaries who found him in La Romana. And over the years, he has visited many churches and has decided that he wants to be baptized in this church because it's the only one he feels peace in.

So.. We put a fecha. We put the goal for the 15th of Feb for his baptism! Whooo! And more, we hadd two other young kids (9 and 11) who said they wanted to be baptized as well. We are going to work with all of them as much as we can. The younger two have the fecha for the 8th of Feb. But it's just really exciting to put 3 dates down for these happy people to be baptized. 

But for all those cold and shivering at home. Here's a thought I heard from a conference talk this week. I believe it was Elder Andersen. He said: Often times we become sad and start feeling sorry for ourselves because we forget our eternal Identity and Purpose. We as all literal sons and daughter of a God up above who have infinite love and power. If we stop and really think about that, it should definitely change the way we look at things. I know none of us are perfect in this world, but we are loved by one who is. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but keep that in your thoughts when you feel insignificant or not up to par. Love you guys more than you know. I'm grateful for your continued support as many of our friends and family are out serving the Lord on missions. 

Va con Dios!

Isaiah 40:31

Elder Tate