(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

(6/29/15) Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves‏

So this week while starting a lesson, during the opening prayer, the door the fridge in the kitchen fell flat on the ground. I just have to remind myself sometimes that that is not normal at home.

Ok, this week was very very great! We put a few fechas with some progressing investigators, but only one of the 3 was able to come to church, so we'll see how their progress comes along in the next two weeks. We have about 15 who come regularly with us to church, but about 8 of them are all under the age of 16 and its a real battle to try and get their parents to come and support so that we can baptize families and not soley youth with no parental support. Blah.

I went on an exchange this week to a little town of cows and military buffs. It's called San Isidro. It was one of the only areas that I never passed by when I was here last year. It's real odd, everyone in the place has some position in the air force or is a sargeant in something. Which also means they are all required to be married, to pay taxes, and they all recieve a pention after 30 years of active duty. I felt like I was teaching people from back at home, they were all very well to do people with garages and fridges full of food, and one house even had air conditioning! Everything I saw while out there (except the cows) was very foreign my idea of the DR. It was almost comforting to me to go back and sit in the white lawn chairs everyone uses and just talk about your everyday dominican chercha.

I've been having a lot of pivotal moments recently that I wish I could some how record and play over and over again. My companion is the most a dominicanaso I have ever met, or in other words he's out of this world funny; sometimes I just take a minute to process what he says, and I can't not laugh. For example the other day I said referring to another Elder in the house, Elder Blount, who is also a very dark moreno. I'm gonna translate this and just picture like you were there with me. I say, hey obama! (referring to elder blount who is in the other room), and his companion, Elder Zamora, yelled back and called me racist. Then my companion comes in and says, '' Its not racist to call him names like Will Smith or Barrack Obama, because they are men of money, but if he were to have called out Nelson Mandela or Mandigo it would be something different!! Hahaha! He's the best!

I've been plowing through the book of mormon this week, in my afternoon hammock study sessions have put a big dent into Alma, I'm already talking about the big wars and I think I'll be able to finish before the end of July! Read along with me, I dare you.

Shout out to Weston and Zane who finish their missions this and next week. Its crazy to think that 2 years have gone so fast, but not for Elder Tate! We're still sweating and dropping baptismal dates and taking 3 showers a day til the buzzer rings!!

Love yall

Elder Tate

cow pasture

grub

3 lb mangoe

(6/22/15) Building up Zion While Babies are Cryin'

T'was a fantastic week in the blazing oven I call home. We had a baptism, and a greeeeat stake conference. Gave me a lot of good insight on how to be a missionary long after the mission. but I'll get to that later!

So I bought a hammock the week before I came to this area, which was a very delayed decision to make. If it could turn back the hands of time, I would have bought one my first week of the mission. There is nothing better than after the morning proselyting than a fresh shower and reading church magazines in a hammock. We've got a nice side room that catching the afternoon breeze and puts me in my xen. Ahh.. It's a beautiful life.

We have been bustin our buns with the family I wrote about last time, Diomedes and Mariela. They have all the desire to be baptized, but cringe at the idea of having to get married to do it. It is very frustrating and hard for me to understand how someone can have 3 kids and 13 years living with a person who you will not accept as your wife. It's a real road-block for their progression right now. We passed by last night with our bishop and thursday with the relief society president, but to no avail. It seems like we just need to keep praying and trust in the Lord's timing. 

Yanediz Montero was baptized by Elder Peña on saturday right before the adult session of stake conference. It was a beautiful service and very very reverent : )

Ha! And then Elder Martinez (the visiting area seventy) picked Elder Peña and I up while we were walking to church on sunday. Who can say they've ever sat in the car of a a general athourity?? Now you can say, Elder Tate has! They called a new stake presidency and gave most of the time for the old leaders to say good bye and allowed the new president and his counsellors including their wives to share as well. The now former stake president and his wife were called to be the first pair of non-proslyting missionaries in Cuba! They are not allowed to even wear plaques, but if they are letting mormons in the country the next step will be to open it for the missionary work. How cool is that gonna be!

Man it's weird to have so many friends finishing their missions! It scares me to think that I'll be right after them. But until then, we're still bustin out buns and coming home tired sweaty and thats the beeeeest way to go.

Have a super week

love

Elder Tate

1) baptism

2) da campo

3) teaco bell

(6/15/15) It's Real Hot and I've Got a Red Nose

We have a great week, a baptismal interview on saturday, and she passed! On Friday it's our turn for interviews with the President, we'll have stake conference this week with a bunch of other additional meetings friday and saturday night. Big baptism on saturday with about 10 others from our stake that are going to baptize. And we just bought a bunch of groceries to start eating real food again! Woo hoo, it's going to be a killer week.

Today we had a zone activity! We played kick-ball and even the hermanas all participated. It¨s funny because they banned zone activities for a time and the last actual ´´get the zone together and have an activity´´ activity was when I was in hainamosa a year ago haha. It was fun because I had a little secret: I knew there would be a time when activities would be permitted again so I stashed away some 200 waterballons in my suitcase, and today me and a chum elder, elder Zamora, after we were done with kickball brought out a gatorage cooler filled to the top with waterballoons we had prepared before everyone got there. HA! And so we brought it out as though it was punch for everyone to drink, set up the table, lined up the cups and everything! Then when everyone was close and gathered together, threw the lid off to the side and it was war. because they were really old balloons, they kinda all just exploded when you threw them, but it was a fun little ending thats for sure. haha we're such niños.

We're working hard with a couple we are teaching to get married, they're named Diomedes and Marilaney and even though they have 12 years of being married, they are still hesitant about ''tying the knot''. A dominican tradition that I will never understand. I still feel it in me that they will still get married, but we'll see how these next few visits play out. They have 3 small children or 11, 8 and 6. and yesterday was their 3rd time at church. So it's make it or break it right now. I hope they find answers in stake conference and saturday at the other baptisms. Pray for em!

We got like 4 solid references last week so we'll see how they do, and if they are in this.

Wish us luck!

Go to the temple this week.

See yall

Elder Tate

(6/8//15) A Great Day in the Neighborhood

I´m almost at a week in the new area, and in all honestly it's felt like 3 days! I'm in Villa Liberacion in my favorite zone I've served in: Hainamosa! It's an area I've done a pair of exchanges in when I was the zone leader about a year ago, and it hasn't changed a bit! It's was more green than my last area, and I love just breathing in that clean campo freshness. It really is easy to forget that this is a really beautiful place. It's just something about walking in dirt roads, sitting in the little houses made of cast off material. And the pure simplicity of it all is really kind of enchanting.

My new companion's name is Elder Peña. He's from Barahona where the best plantaines in the DR are from. He's such a hoot! I've never actually had a dominican companion before but I'm loving it. He is about a 250 lb moreno who, when i'm with him, never seem to find a moment where theres silence. He's real talkative and very animated for the work. We're gonna get a long just fine.

It is kind of weird going in to a ward where I've met already the bigger portion of it's leaders and know a few converts (because I was the one that interviewed them), it's like I already served here or something! We meet in the stake center that is about a 35 minute walk from where we live. It really is about time this ward gets a chapel built a little more closer to home. It's a thriving ward with the biggest amount of references given per month in the mission, so that's gotta count for something. We even had a baptism on my first week being here! I just hope the time doesn't go as fast as I think it's going to.. It's hard to know that this is where is where it's all gonna finish.

BUT, we do have some real heat that been following us around, I'm starting to look like a 8 on the tan scale, and I'm looking foward to getting even darker. It was sweet though, even though it was a sprinklin rain on the way to church we had like 14 investigators show up. I don't even know all of them yet, so I just smile and tell them thanks for coming.

It was sweet, so this last sunday was fast and testimony meeting so I thought I should go and share something to introduce myself. Right before I was about to get up, a huge downpour just unleashed its wrath upon the church and I though we were gonna die. But like all storms here they come and go in like a minute and by the time church was over you could barely even tell that it had been raining. I'll see if I can't get some pictures to introduce you to my new companion and the other two I'm living with.

I love you all and really appreciate the letters!

Talk to yall soon

Elder Tate

1) baptism

2) google translate it for a laugh

(6/1/15) I eat some leaves, I eat some bugs, I use my hand.. to wipe my tears‏

Super great week. Just packed with moments that should have been better recorded in my journal.

Had a birthday on wednesday, got to share it with some good friends and a good Dominican supper: mashed plantaines (mangú), fried egg over yuca, and fried salami. It´s enough to make a strong man out of anyone. Then we had a cake that Francis and Jordana had bought us. It was just about the most perfect birthday you could have on a mission.

We also had an area seventy, Elder Zivic from Argentina, come and visit us this week. It was kind of wierd, but I got a call from one of the assistants on thursday (the day before he was to address us), and said he need my help to go pick up lunch for the office as they were having a meeting and could not leave. So another Elder who was the last AP arranged a quick comp exchange and with the keys to president´s car in hand we went and picked up their lunch. Could easily me the most random errand I´ve ever done, but I got to shake his hand and sit in while they ate their food.

The conference was just awesome. I have a whole bunch of notes in my agenda, but he spoke mostly of the 7 common mistakes we make as missionaries. And it was funny to see how easy it is occaisionaly to fall into the habit of making them. He spoke for a solid hour and a half which felt to me more like a 30 minute talk because of how interesting it was. Seeing that Elder Perry has passed, I could really see a lot of the current and past Carribbean area seventy taking his spot. We´ll have to see how it plays out.

With our eternal investigator Jordana, we hit another possible baptism. That was the topic in the gospel principles class and I talked with her after and she seemed more than pleased with the idea of her being baptized. We´ll go by her tonight for one last time.

Cause - Me voy!

I got the call, I´ll be heading out tomorrow morning. I´m going back to one of my old zones, to an area called Villa Liberación. I was the zone leader the last time I was there, now I´m gonna stay my last two transfers and a jr companion haha. I´m very content with the area and my new companion. he´s a 2 buck 50 lb smiley Dominican. He´ll be my first Dominican companion and I´ll be with two other Elders who were both trained from the same group as my kid, Elder Graff.

It´s absolutely nuts to think this is my last area. I´m sad to go, but after this, I´m not even sure what to think! I can´t even imagine the idea of coming home. The sound of it is absolutely absurd. I´m putting the machine into overdrive. These last 2 transfers are gonna be my finest. It´s a full on sprint to the finish. Here goes

Vayan con Dios!

Elder Tate

1) da cake

2) elder jeffers climbed our church´s mangoe tree and got me like 20 mangoes!

3) mmmm

(5/25/15) TODAY I AM WRITING IN ALL CAPS

DUE TO THE LACK OF OPERATING AND FAST COMPUTERS IN MY AREA< I GOT STUCK WITH THE ONE THAT WRITES WiTh THE LETTERS ALMOST ALL CAPITALIZED> BEAR wITH ME>

We SPENT THE DaY CLEANING< REaDING> THEN WE ThOUGHT WE"D GO OUT AND Do SoMETHiNG> so wE asked peRmissIon tO gO eAT AT WENDYS> IT WAS A LOW END WENDY"S AND THE ORANGE JUICE I GOT WAS ALMOST AS CLEAR AS WATER>> A WASTE OF MONEY< BUT WE DID RUN INTO SOME MISSIONARIES FROM THE WEST MISSION AND FOUND OUT WE"D ALL BE SEEING EACHOTHER REAL SOON BECAUSE EVERYONE THAT GOES ON A MISSION ENDS UP STUDYING IN UTAH HAHA> ITS LIKE WE WERE TALKING TO PEOPLE FROM A DIFFERENT PLANET < WE WERE BOTH SO INTERESTED IN WHAT EACH OTHERS MISSIONS WERE LIKE> ITS CRAZY SOMETIMES TO THINK OF ALL THE THINGS WE"VE GOTTA DO AS MISSIONARIES> I"M JUST SO USED TO THINKING AS ONE SOMETIMES I FORGET I USED TO BE ABLE WATCH DISNEY MOVIES AND GO PLACES WITH OUT ASKING FOR PERMISSION> HAHA I"M GONNA PROBABLY BE CALLING MY MOM ASKING FOR PERMISISON TO GO PLACES WHEN I FINISH THE MISSION> THAT"D BE FUNNY

WE HAD A GREAT ACTIVITY ON SATURDAY WHERE WE PLAYED ""MINUTE TO WIN IT"" AND NEARLY ALL THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT FRIENDS TO THE ACTIVITY MADE IT TO CHURCH THE NEXT DAY AS WELL> THATS A PLUS> WE PLAYED FUN GAMES LIKE CHANGE INTO MISISONARY CLOTHES (sorry I got too sick of it I just went and changed computers), a bunch of team centered games, and eating contests, malta morena chugs, and it was an okay turn out. We were about to divide into 5 teams of 8 or 9 so all in all it was a success!

We brought a group of rough looking 18, 19, 19 , 20, and 22 year olds with us to church. It was awsome, they filled up their own row! We were turning heads on the way to church:Just two guys in ties and a bunch of really tall real ganster looking young guys walking the streets is not seen here i'll tell you that. But they all came, most of them were sleeping through the doctorine classes, but they said they wanted to come again next week!

With our group of boys and with all that came because of the activity the day prior, we had a total of 21new young people that were in our priesthood block, and all of them were there for the first time! Wild, huh?

We're still trying hard with two or three investigators that are ready ready for a baptismal date. We're trying to be patient but it's hard when they themselves know they want to do it and don't because of family members or because of what other people say about the church. Satan is real keen i'll say that much.

Well, we'll see how this weeks goes, It's the last week for this transfer and I feel split on staying or going, so I won't guess this time. Oh, and wednesday I'll be 20. You don't do that everyday. I wish I could go out and do something daring and cool while I-m still a teeneager, but I feel I did enough stupid things before the mission to cover these two years as well hahaha.

Wish me luck! I'm gonna try and make a birthday cake. I'll send a picture.

Oh, and shout out to GRANDMA. She's gonna turn 60 on wednesday too. Love you grandma.

Elder Tate

foto 1) activity

foto 2) activity

foto 3) this fruit tastes like bread. no lie

(5/18/15) HOT

We're writing in a different internet cafe and lucky us it was the one with the rugrat 13 year olds that are bouncing around over an out-dated xbox game. My focus span is like a 2 out of 10 right now, so bear with me. 

Good week. We've gotta go to the doctor for Elder Jeffers here in a little bit, so we're gonna take off from here and take the bus to be there by 4.30. Today in the morning we went and watched a baseball game in the dique oldest baseball stadium in the DR. I'd believe it too, it was.. definitely old haha. But with our coconut waters and bag full of mangoes, all us white guys sitting up high in an empty stadium we kinda looked like a couple young baseball scouts. So that was cool.

Yesterday we left with an old geezer named  Martin. He took us to lot of less active members and a bunch of his friends to go share the gospel with them. I really wanna share some of the conversation starters he used to get us in some of the places we visited yesterday.

he said> Hey! We're here to talk about the word of Nephi, let's get some chairs and visit for a minute.

another> The adventistas talke about parables? All lies! The only true parable are these missionaries!

and the last> (this one we were already sitting down with two older women) This old grandma is far past crazy, you tell her platano (plantiane) and she's tell ya yuca! 

Those we a couple i jotted down, but it was the most interesting couple hours i've ever spent sharing the gospel. 

Before we split, I gotta tell you about this very interesting contact we did this last week. We we trying to contact a reference from one of our recent converts, but he wasn't there. So we got talking with his neighbor and I noticed his big old gallo in the back and made some small talk. After seeing that we weren't out to kill him or his family he inffvited us in and to sit down. We met his wife, Maria, and thier two small daughters. And this was just a normal contact, but lately we've starting off with more listening, and just a few ''inviter questions'' I want to call them . But the wife after a minute or two told us that she knew we were sent by God to teach them something. And her husband spoke up too and said it's been quite a while since they've made time for God in their family. We're gonna pass by tomorrow with one of the bishop's counsellors. I'll let you know how it goes. 

Love ya a real lot, just not enought to put my memory in these sketchy computers we're on right now. 

Talk to you next week!

I'm looking foward to what these last few transfers have in store for me. I've still got a lot of work to do

Elder Tate

(5/11/15) Ya lo sabe

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, 

when we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory!!!

it was a week that ended great! I got to see all you! It's odd to see so many of you all growing up. Kristen's huge, Parker's going on a mission.. Jenn's graduating, Justin's tall enough to dunk. It freaks me out. I love it but at the same time I wish I could just steal an hour and warp myself to eat some of thsoe chicken croissants yall were eating yesterday. That sounded soo good.

But, as always, after skyping I'm walking with recharged batteries, and I'm ready to just work my buns off till I actually put that croissant in my mouth for real. 

This week was good, Just in these past few days I hurt for some of our recent converts who are going through some trials. It's almost like they needed to be baptized at this point in their life so they could rely on what they now know to get them through it. I wish I could explain it further, but for now they just need your prayers and more time to get through it.

We went out to eat on thursday. it was elder Aplanalp's birthday so we convinced the assistants to take us out to somewhere special. It's at this beach/restuarant right by the division of the west and east mission, but luck divided the mission like two blocks behind where this cool place is at. So.. Thats probably where I'm gonna be eating for my birthday too. It was a great day.

Thats about all the worthwhile news, just a lot of contacting and visiting church members to strenghten the ward and pull out some new references to visit and bring to church. 

Siempre la dicha es.. Pa Adelante!!

Have a good week, listen to some of the conference talks a second time. You're always learn something you didn't catch the first time

Cuidense

Elder Tate

1)family in orem

2)family in barcelona! 

3)pinya colada

(5/4/15) Bon To Bia!!‏

I learned that little phrase this week, it means what's up in papiamento.

Lets see waht we can do to sum up this week in a 10 minute memory recall cram sesh. They usually turn out this way so here goes--

Mercedes got batized by Elder Jeffers on Friday, and like 35 people showed up! That swhat's up. I've never seen that kind of turn out on my mission. I don't even think there was that many people at my baptism. haha. She got up and bore her testimony yesterday and started to tear up. It was good to see the change she's made. It's something you'll never get tired of seeing. 

We went to the gym with Francis today and he is just praying like mad for his wife to get on board. We did a fast with the family in hopes that Jordana would ask for her answer to baptism. Elder Jeffers and I were already fasting, but we asked if she would start the fast. She gave a wonderful prayer and asked for an answer. We reunited the next day and sharer a lot from D&C 6 where it talks about how if we ask for knowlege god will speak peace to our hearts. She understood and just fell back to that she still doesn't feel prepared. After battling and preparing and studying for weeks to help her realize her answers, we're gonna just let her be and hope she will soon make her choice. It's real sad and heartbreaking to see it go this way. Everyone comes in their own time I guess. 

We're doing pretty good on time. One more quick story..

We were accidentally contacting the other day, i think it was in the morning on saturday. And we were nothing less than guided messengers that morning. Accidentally because we were in search of a less active the bishop gave us last sunday. So there we were, climbing the stairs of a tall apartment building and once we reached the fifth floor tried knocking the door. It was obviously the wrong house because of the size of the family and the age of the woman who we saw inside. Feeling more in a rush we started to excuse the interruption and move on with our search but she friendly asked us if we were lost. We explained who we were and asekd if she had a minute for a quick message. She gladly accepted and sat us down with her and her 3 little children. We has just been instructed in zone conference how to ask heaven sent questions to get to the root of our investigators problems. As we listened to her and looked her deep in the eyes, i could perceive that something wasnt' right. I asked her: How are things between you and your husband (who was not present with us). She immediately broke down and we sat in silence for a minute. She explained that she had prayer the night prior for someone to come to help her and her family. Saying that she didn't want to continue down the path she was going, and desperately pleaded for heaven's help. And then that's when i asked the follow-up question, I asked: Do you feel like we are the one's God has sent to help you. She only continued crying and nodded with a quiet ''si''. I felt so good leaving, knowing that we were the instruments in the Lord's hands. Pray for her and her family. They're the family Garcia, and we're headed over there tomorrow with the bishop for our first lesson. I feel real good with them and hope they progress.

to finish-- We got to go to the temple the other day. It was five stars

Love yall, I hope you are studying these past conference talks. They're sweet.

AH!! What's is life!!! This week is mother day, We are gonna skype like its 1999.  Can't Wait.

Los Quiero

Elder Tate

foto 1) our zone at the temple

foto 2) mercedes

foto 3) mercedes tank angle

foto 4) our house + president

foto 5) subway today

foto 6) i can has afroo