(3-30-15) Mis ojos ya perciben la gran gloria de Señor!!‏

Due to the fact we only have access to absolute junk computers, I've lost like 30 minutes of my write time, and it's deciding to not let me use my camera memory to peg photos either. So, I'll try and recap the happenings of the week

This was a super week for Maria Auxiliadora. A Baptism, confirmation, a visit from the Temple President and his wife, and to cool us down a sudden roaring thunder that came outta no where to break the month and half long drought we've been having. 

Like I say.. It's been a super week.

We were able to baptize Francis; Jordana says she still needs a little time to decide. But she introduced us to her folks last night along with one of her sisters. And I feel that her family approves of us and can't argue with the spirit we felt in the visit either. I'll give her two weeks and she'll be ready.

Haha two weeks because like yall know we's gonna have some general conferencing coming our way, and then for our stake we're having some more conferencing at STAKE conference. Our area president is comin to address us and after hearing those monster general athourities speak we're supposing that she's gonna be bout ready to seal the deal. Lets pray

But it was sweet, when we were teaching the family a couple weeks back out in the gardens of the Temple, President Flake and his wife came out for night time walk and I called them over so they could meet the family. We got talking and he (pres. flake) promised that he would be there for the confirmation of them both. AND HE CAME! It was the first time a temple president had ever came to this ward since it's existed. He was able to confirm Francis and it was the cherry on top to the whole weekend.

 Ima see if my companion can send me his pictures somehow.

Oh, and Mercedes interviewed along with Francis and Jordana last tueday (they all passed), but like jordana she too backed out last minute to make sure that some future employment she is looking for will not make her work on sundays.So she's waiting for the call from the country club out in san pedro to give her the green flag before her baptism. It's rough to hear, and I know it a tricky way that satan likes play with our investigators thoughts. But with constant visits and lots of prayer, I feeel these people are ready to make the jump!

But this week is gonna be pretty crazzzy. This week is ''Semana Santa'' or holy week for the gringos. And if it's anything like the semana santa in Capotillo where I was last year, we're not gonna be able to teach all the much and nearly everyone you talk to is hammered like the nail that shot through dad's hand. The people throw out pools and loud music, and make this devine pot of gold called Havicuelas con dulce (Sweet beans). If we're still friends after my mission I'll make it for you. I promise.

It's a fun time for the people, but a nightmare for a missionary.

But wish us luck, Happy general conferencing!

Elder Tate

Foto 1 Baptism

Foto 2 Confirmation day

Foto 23492735345 Confirmation day

(3/23/15) Whatwhat. It's Monday Already.

Lets see if we can´t whip another one of these. It doesn´t feel that long ago since I was scrappin together the latest acontecimientos of Maria Auxiliadora!! We had a lot of fun though. We´re wrapping up a lot with 3 of our investigators getting them all ready for their interviews and baptisms this week.

Mercedes is no prob. She´s convinced that she´s marrying herself with god haha. She loves the church and always brings a little notebook wherever she goes to note new things she learns. She also was able to make it to a bell concert some jovenes of Santo Domingo put on. It was the final ´umph´ moment for her to feel that she had made the correct decision to be baptized.

Francis and Jordana on the other hand have a little bit more interesting of a story. Francis is solid on his decision, he´s a go. But Jordana has expressed she feels its all a little to fast. She says that, but we know its just because her momma is evangelica and doesn´t approve of our church for nothing. So last night we brought our ex-area seventy and he gave her a few sharp and crystal clear invitations to do before saturday comes. She knows its true and absolutely loves the church. Just gotta drop you fear of man and walk with faith. We´re gonna interview Mercedes and Francis tomorrow, and we´ll have to see it´s her time. If not, as long as she keeps coming to church, I know her answers gonna come.

Yesterday in church I was invited to give a talk; I decided to talk about how we might take the most advantage out of this upcoming general conference (that makes more sense in spanish haha). But it went well, nobody was sleeping so that´s gotta mean something! I really feel a lot more comfortable behind the pulpit than befoer the mission. It´s just.. you know, normal now.

Like always I know I´m missing a million things, but know I love you and your prayers are what keep me going.

Elder Tate

foto 1 - Mercedes

foto 2 - Got nicked

foto 3 - Johnny Rockets

(3/16/15) La vida es un carnaval‏

My life is so great. I just love the animo I´ve got these days. I know it sounds nuts to say that when we´re putting up with a strong heat, walking pretty much all day, just talking to strangers.. But, I dunno, It´s just something about being a missionary. It´s a time you really just to know yourself. And god. I can really say these past 18 months or so have been time well spent for me, and I hope I can keep the umph going for these last few months.

We had a super great missionary conference meeting day in the capital, thursaday. We had 3 members of the seventy with us (Elder Zane got to hear E. Holland in Mision Oeste.. so I guess they thought having 3 seventy would = 1 apostle haha), Elder Clayton, Martinez, Cornish, and their wives. It was sweet to see the whole misson all together in one room, I´ve never seen that in my mission til now. We were instructed on how to handle stress, the recipe that makes a miracle missionary, and a lot of other things I have written down in my journal. A real great conference indeed.

My new companion is BEST. Elder Aplanalp and I have agreed he's the most humble person either of us have ever met. And he's got a sweet conversion story. He's Elder Jeffers, 26, from St Kitts and Neves, has about 16 months as a member and is the only missionary serving in the world from his country. And I get to be his trainer! We get along just great, he's got a ways to go on the language, but we study and he's learning more every day. I'll tell you more about him as the transfer goes on.

We've got a solid line-up in Santo Domingo Zone. Got to reunite with Elder Graff, and like I said, Elder Aplanalp is Maria Auxiliadora B so we live in the same house. I'¡m just loving it, we been eating like kings these days. We've been eatin Pizza, baked pasta, MEATLOAF, Baked potatoes.. I tell ya what, we're doing al ittle bit more that alright in our house. It's been a great change for me.

Our FAMILY!! We took them to the temple last night with another young couple from the ward. We taught the super strong lesson on eternal families, and they really want to be able to make it inside there someday. We were able to pass by with our Bishop last monday and we put the fecha for the 28th, the husbands all for it, and the wife is too.. sorta. She says yes, but theres something that tells us she still wants more time. I hope this week we can tie up all the loose ends and clear up any more doubts they have. They're such great people and just need to take the leap of faith. They share the baptismal date for another older señora, Mercedes, next saturday. PRAY FOR THEM.

Well thats all for now, we´s gotta head out for a family night we're doing with Mercedes with the other elders of the area.

My spriritual advice for today is to never forget that happiness is a choice, you can choose to surround yourselft with teh things that bring you real happiness i.e.; good friends, family, great music, a hike, a long drive in the mountans, fishing, scriptures etc. Remember that ´´Men are that they might have joy ´´.

Love love love you guys

Elder Tate

 heard micheal's getting married?? Never thought I´d see the day.. haha jk Congrats brotha! Daina´s a lucky gal!

foto 1 - 2/4 hijos

foto 2 - Pizza

foto 3 - La futura Familia Eterna

(3/9/15) '' It has to be true, you guys are white! All angels are white!!"

 wish I would have brought my old planner, I had tons of funny quotes that people said during this last transfer. I think theres a few more I can remember off the top of my head

One day we were doing a practice interview with one of our investigators for baptism and we got to the part about the word of wisdom and drinkink tea and stuff. We asked: '' Do you have any problems with té (tea) '' and he said '' Actually, yes. I do. I always use té. .'' followed by a moment of silence, '' Every day I tell people ' Yo te dije! ' (I told you!). '' Then we all laughed. You also use te to say you. You probably don't get that whitty joke but it left me and my companion just smiling and laughing the whole morning.. 

what else.. Oh! There was this nutso hindú, india herb-lady who always offers us wierd spiced drinks and weird flans and tarts. But one day she told us (and swears by it) that we needed to try her spaghetti batidas. Its like a chocolate shake with nothing other than cooked spaghetti noodles as the base. I was just waiting til she let it go quiet and would say she was joking or something, but she was 100% serious. Maybe she'll actually make it for us one of these days. A spaghetti milkshake. Who'da thought?

Oh yeah, along with that whole transfers thing!

I'm getting a new companion. He's from the Bahamas, six foot 3 (at least), has about 2 months in the mission and the name on his plaque is Elder Jeffers. I'm excited to see what he's like, he's from the same group as Elder Martinez/Rapalo, so I'll be finishing his training. He seems sweet. Got tatoos that come up above his collar and looks like a total gangster, so it looks like we we won't be getting jumped it any time soon. It's nice to know I've got another tall companion to watch my back. 

We have 3 fechas that are semi-for sure. One is an older señora named Mercedes, she's going under 95% for sure. She just needs to kick coffee for good. Then our married couple, we're going over there tonight with the bishop and his wife. We invited them to be baptized the other week and the husband was all over it, but the wife was still hesitant. They've got 3 weeks consecutive at church, their kids love primary, we even caught her singing ''follow the prophet'' while she was cooking the other day. She's just got miedo to make the commitment. We've been fasting and prayin like mad that she'll come along, I guess it's just me wanting to push them off the cliff again. 

So, the hope is that next time I write you, I'll have news with a solid baptismal date for the family.

anything else.. I'm probably missing a million things, guess you're gonna have to just work with that and seek the rest through revelation.

AH! AND.. AND.... Elder Graff is coming to the Santo Domingo zone! along with another chum, Elder Aplanalp (Jenn actually in in a math class with his sister). And Elder Aplanalp is gonna be living in my house. How sweet is that!?? Pretty much all my buddies from my last zone just follwed me here. whoo whoop!

Con cariño

Elder Tate

foto 1 - Francis and Jordana (the two little squirts were in the other room)

foto 2 - us

foto 3 - A cool new fruit, totally forgot the name.. Eguero? something like that

(3/2/15) Cuenta y verás. Cuantas bendiciones de Jesus tendrás...‏

It's true though, how many thing's we've got to be grateful for. Here, I'll slap down ten:

 1) You've got the gospel

 2) You're healthy

 3) You've got an eternal family

 4) You've got a full belly - or you're not far from having one

 5) You sleep in a house, in a bed.

 6) Theres still people checking up on you to see how you are

 7) You're free.

 8) You've got a lot of fun hobbies

 9) You're reading a letter from a missionary
10) You've got a real good-lookin' smile to help make someone's day

I've been thinking about all the many ways my Father in Heaven has been blessing me. When you drop your current situation and look a little further out, we're extremely blessed. I really am grateful for the things that God has given me, and for the thing's he's still got in his basket of blessings to send down to me. It's a real neat thought, but it's true. Think bout them blessing more often!

The week was about the same as it has been in weeks past. We're still working with all the same progressing investigators. . and they are still all progressing but lack the same thing as before. It's a lot like cliff jumping - You talk about doing it.. You want to do it.. You're worried about what it's gonna be like.. But no matter how much you talk about it, or say how fun it's gonna be. It doesn't mean anything unless you actually jump. Just go baby! I know for sure that Francis and Jordana, among others, are gonna get baptized, it's just when. 

In church this week we had a handful of people, all of them greatly benefited from the sacramental service, and especially in the Gospel Principles class. This week we talked about modern profets and the importance they have in the true church of God. For Jordana it was exactly what she needed to hear. She's had doubts and is just waiting for a confirmation. But something that does not need confirming is that their kids just looove church. So they take advantage of the free babysitting and learn a truck-load every time they come. 

I really wanna just nudge them slowly and help them all go cliff jumping ;)

Also, this week was the week of Carnival. It's a wild thing here in the capital and it goes all week long. Everyone wears florescent body paint or just plain black (don't laugh, they just are more black with the paint on haha) and run around with drums or a real weird instrument called a güira 

and'll just cause a rukkus. All the little girls wear dresses with colors from the nations flag. And with murengue playing on every coner, I've gotta say it's really quite a sight. And they even finished the week off with a firework show - and to me I think it was up there with the stadium of fire. I was really impressed!

Other than that, we spent the day in the Conde (in spanish its more like cone day). But it was a fun day, with a little rain, and pizza for lunch. Yum yum. Sorry my letters lately have be lame. I'll see if I can't think a little harder for the next one.

Catch ya later. Love you all!

Elder Tate

foto 1 - fizza day

foto 2 - my new ancient island creatures 

foto 3 - say hello to the meat hangers. 

(2/23/15) Share the Gospel- and Life's Good!

Had a rather interesting week just now. I'll start with the end. 

Woweee, it was a great saturday. My zone leader and I took a trip down to the zone of crashing waves and soaked to the bone we finally arrived in Boca Chica. Noahs flood was following us all the way from SD, but we made in one piece!

It was so sweet to see Elder Graff again, he's a real homie. He was able to baptize Maria De La Cruz and wow, it was an amazing baptism. She was without a doubt prepared by the Lord to be baptized. It was like the cherry on top for her to have us come by for the baptism. She was crying during the whole thing, and wouldn't stop smiling after she left the water. I could go on, but man: FRUITS OF THE LABOR.

We had 8 of out investigators in church. They'll come, read, ask great questions. But just shy out of the idea to put a date for baptism. I know a handful of them are ready. Like the family we're teaching that's ALREADY MARRIED, I mean come on.. Just take that next step. But you can't make these kind of decisions for other people. Listen to this poem I found in one of my old journals this week:

Know this, that every soul is free

to choose his life and what he'll be.

For this eternal truth is given;

that God will force no man to heaven.

He'll call, persuade, direct aright

and bless with wisdom, love and light,

In nameless ways be good and kind

But never force the human mind.

Freedom and reasonmake us men

Take these away, what are we then?

Mere animals, and just as well

The beasts may think of heaven or hell

William C Clegg

It's true though. We're just waiting on them to accept that what we are teaching is true or it isn't. I feel good knowing that we have been sent with more authority and power to teach this message than any other person walking on this island. It's helpful to know we have the Lord on our side, as long as we keep our efforts up to level 10, the Lord will bless us. I hope you can this week remember the many ways Jesus Christ has blessed your life. As a missionary it comes as I humble myself and accept what trials and opportunities to serve he has provided me. The blessings and realization of ''Why does it have to be so hard?'' usually comes later. 

I love you guys a lot, thanks for helping the work of salvation grow. 

Les Quiero

Elder Tate

foto 1 - baptism

foto 2 - old pal and my replacement

foto 2 - una granada (pomegranate)

(2/16/15) [9 hundred 25 thousand 600 minutes] x 2‏

a.k.a. - A Mission!

It's neat to be able to see the mission through a few different perspectives. I've been privileged to have been with fantastic missionaries during my time in the mission, and a few who maybe don't see the worth of these 2 years like I do. But, it really has made me appreciate all of the excellent missionaries I've had the opportunity to serve with so far. Just a thought I had this week.

THIS WEEK I've been educating my soul like never before. I've been devouring ''Jesus the Christ'' by James E.Talmage. Since tuesday last week I've read to chapter 32 (400 pages in), its rocking my world. I've heard it said that one way the spirit works through us is by giving us the desire to study, for example with how I've not been able to give this chunky book a rest. Its sweet reading and really understanding a lot about how Christ lived and how I ought to be living as one of his missionaries. I can't tell you how much I've been having little 'ahhh so that's why..' moments this past week.

Go read it!

In our area, we have unos pocos that are progressing. We were hoping for a lot more. But, the elect have been showing their true colors these past weeks. We have a family of 5..6? That made their second appearance at church this past sunday. Edras and Ani are both Hatian and are living without dominican documentation or rings on their fingers. We're hoping for a miracle. B/c if really any gov't official finds them (as far as I know), they get shipped back to Haiti. It's a wierd situation because he works for a university.. Kinda think they'd check to see if he was a citizen before hiring him, but nah! El es que sabe!! They're doing great as far as progress in testimony goes, and their kids as well. It's just we're not quite sure what the next step is gonna be to help them get married.

Then theres an additional family, The Family Marizar - We are headed their way tonight. We'll pass by with a truly excellent couple from our ward, Hmo/Hma Casto. Hermano Castro was a member of the area seventy back in 2001 (when the limits of the carribean reached all the way up into Georgia and Florida!) This is going to be a dynamite lesson for sure. The husband in 100% in this. He wants to be baptized and has attended church twice now. We're just hoping we can clear up some doubts the wife has about the Book of Mormon tonight. They could be melted down and made into statues of Buddah they're so golden: Married, 2 young kids, has work off sundays.. Let's just say we have high hopes for this family.

If theres something I missed, it will without fail be recorded in heaven.

Ahh! waaait!! As of the 14th of February Maria De La Cruz is a married woman, and I will be attending her baptism this upcoming satuday and Elder Graff will be baptizing. Soooo pumped. Be thinking of us this saturday!

Ya tu sabe
Elder Tate

foto 1 - pica pollo after soccer

foto 2 - first mangoes of 2015

foto 3 - my gym (you lift it til you're tired.. which for me is NEVER)

(2/9/15) Today is P-Day!

What a week! It's been a week I've liked for a few reasons: 

-I started each day with a different fruit in my cereal

-I read 220+ pages of the book of mormon and finished!

-I have been sleeping excellently 

and

-Today marks the first day on my second try at 'Jesus the Christ'

(I made it about 100 pages in last time and lost steam)

So it's been a great week! This week Elder Rapalo and I have been busy. We've been contacting all that accept us. We've been able to meet a lot of very interesting and interested people. There's the upper part of our area which is all sidewalks and houses with garages (don't get too excited they're not the same as at home) and a lot of closed doors, and then our bottom area called 'Guacupita' that is straight up gotham city after 6 pm. You can't walk down there at night nor think about carrying a camera, money or really anything but your scriptures. Unless you wanna die. 

The upper part is quite interesting, the people there really only sleep there. They leave teh house in the morning for work and come back late at night and turn out the lights. And most of those who are home grunge at the idea of having people coming into their house uninvited. It's something I'm not used to seeing here, it's kinda something that left me straching my head haha but we manage.

We are still fecha-less. We have certain individuals who are prime baptismal dates. But they just flake out on our citas and church. It's rough but you're gonna have ta accept agency. They're coming this week I just know it.

Other than that, we passed the day, Elder Lopez (the one from el salvador) and I walkin the town. Elder Rapalo and Elder Henriquez stayed en casa. We walked from basically the temple to our house in Maria Auxiliadora and back. Thats like 5 miles! But it was cool we walked to see some historical stuff and a little section of the beach that's in our zone. Pretty average day, but the best part is always talking with you guys.

Sure do love you, keep the mission work in your prayers!

Con tierno amor,

Elder Tate

1) The new addition to the Tate family - Elder Rapalo

2) The subs

3) The waves

(2/2/15) Dirty Streets and Loud Music

This was my first week in my second time being in the capital. I'm living nice and cozy in my second story apartment with my companion Elder Rapalo, who's from honduras and 2 other latin elders - one from panama and the other is el salvadoranean. It's been a really big change for me.

The area is just about the same as my old one here, capotillo. and has a thriving with potential. The streets feel all cold, and uninviting in some parts. Theres a lot more loud music and homeless people down under the bridge, which is normal. I dunno, it's just a different feel than most other zones in the mission.

We've been able to find a big part of the old elder's investigators, but as it usually goes blanking an area we've spent most of our time contacting and just trying to not get ourselves lost around town.

Part of the big change is due to my new companion. He's a convert of 3 years, 20 years old and doesn't have much interest in an american trainer nor being trained if we're being honest. But I think I deserve this test of patience. It's just weird coming off from being with zone leaders and pumped up missionaries for the past 8 months and then serving with someone who usually we're trying to help out in zone. I keep finding myself saying, ''Give me patience, now!''

Too bad it doesn't actually work that way, but we'll persevere.

Today I relieved stress and passed the day in the biggest mall we've got here in the DR. It's called Sambil. It's been almost a year since I've been there and they added a few more golden nuggets.. Theres now a Krispy-Kreme, a Johnny Rockets (it even had the old-time 50's juke box and nice holstered leather bar seats), and then boom. Subway. That's what I had for lunch. They are way more chincy here and hardly give you any meat, but man that chicken bacon ranch with that sweet onion sauce was about a 1 and a half overdue.

Fun pday, it was good to get out of my head and talk with some old friends in the mission.

Hope you all have a great week!

Elder Tate

oh btw --

Great news!!! Elder Graff called me on sunday after a conference we had for the whole Caribbean to let me know that Maria.. remember Maria?? She's getting married! So I called for permission to go and see the baptism and the marraige. If it all works out she'll be baptized by the end of the month. Super pumped.  

(1/26/15) Every Rose Has It's Thorns

ust like every elder one day gets transferred. 

I´m sad. I got the call. I´m gonna be saying goodbye to some real tight friends and members I´ve met in my short stay here. These past months have been like flipping pages in a book. Bam bam bam and boom you just finished up with a handful a transfers. It was sweet to be with Elder Graff, and Buehner. E. Graff, he´s a dang good missionary and has learned a truckload in only 4.. 5 months. And Elder Bean boy. Man, me and that cowboy are gonna be pals for the decades. I really am with the whole ´´theres no good in good-bye ´´.

I´m going back to the Santo Domingo zone, to María Auxiliadora (right by where I was in Capotillo) I have been released of my leader duties and have been asked to train a new missionary fresh and new out of the womb of the MTC. It will be his loving father and caregiver for the next little while and I´m estatic because he´s for sure a latin. I hope it´s mexico so he can make a bunch of tortillas and guacamole with me. 

It´s going to be real hard saying goodbye to Maria. She has changed her life 360 degrees around. or.. 180 degrees? around. And has all of her papers to be married as of saturday. It was such a tender moment to have her presend with all the sisters of the relief society and to hear all of their conversion stories because hers is a combination every one of theres. She´s left coffee/alcohol, quit gambling, visited church for the first time in her life, and read the book of mormon all the way up to alma in about 4 weeks. That. does. not. happen. Out of all the people I´ve baptized on my mission she has left the most things to be where she´s at and she´s completely happy. I was priviledged to have been able to find her only a few short weeks ago and help her come back to our father in heaven. That´s really what its all about. I´m excited for my new zone and new oppurtunities to find and teach. Time to hit some pavement, It´s a good change from this hot and humid beach weather anyway.

Ah! and my first kid I had in the mission, E Bodily? Remember him? He got called and is going to be the Zone Leader out in ARUBA!. How sweet!! He´ll probably finish his mission out in the holland islands!. I pretty much saw every single change possible in that guy too. The mission in just too rad. 

see yalls in the city!

elder tate

foto 1 my district 

foto 2 me and my bishop

foto 3 elder tate

(1/20/15) Gonnnnna Be Quick......

We´re writing a day later than usual because me and Elder Bean boy were waiting out a senior missionary who was in route with our new gas tank. So.. forgive me and I´m making up for it now during lunch.

The week went by flying as it used to doing. We had the grand priviledge of vistiting the temple. It was neat to see a new temple movie that is apparently already 8 or 9 months old. but I enjoyed that session very much and feel I guess you could say, recharged and with new ''animo''.

I will say that this week brings a new transfer. . And i can´t tell you where I`m going. BECAUSE! I won´t know til sunday. jaja I bet you thought I already knew. But naw it's fine. I honestly have not a clue on who´s leaving or going. I said last time that it was rare for zone leaders to stay together for 3 transfers but I wouldn´t say it´s impossible that we stay for a fourth. We we just have to see.

We have just one investigator that made measurable progress during the week, Maria. Why? You´d ask? Because we dropped by the 37 discs of the book of mormon on tape and she´s already finishing 2 nefi last time we stopped by (saturday). She has but a goal to be married on the 31 of this month. she is solid and a big snow ball and is really just waiting for papers to come so she can marry and baptize. I´m really excited for her.

Well sorry it was so short but heres some pictures to make up for the lost updates :/

With a big fat hug

Elder Tate

foto 2 - some flag

foto 3 - the rest of the flag

foto 4 - the companion

Photos Round Two

(1/12/15) El tiempo pasa volando‏

Well here we are again, me sitting in a chair in front of this computer screen to try and whip out an email of what's new. But I still just find myself scratching my head wondering where all the time even goes. . 

We had a fun tuesday/wednesday full of fun zone leader stuff. It's not exactly what I call a fun day, but Elder Buehner and I have kind of just accepted that we have to go to these 5-6 hour meetings every now and then. But it ended way better than usual, Everyone was packing up their things for the big conference table and President goes and says: Oh yeah! by the way, we've planned a temple trip for this next week, so make sure you have your missionaries bring names to do the endowment! It might sound like, okay cool. . temple. I see temples everyday. But out here man, It's better than christmas. I love seeing that temple, It's my guarentee that the day is gonna rock. So that's why we're writing real early today, they cut our pday short so we could take the morning out tomorrow and attend the morning session. 

Elder Graff and I have been having heaps of investigators with us at church these days. But for some odd reason, not one of them are ready for baptism. They all need marraige or have some other minor thing that prevents them. But we have seen the light turn on I guess you could say in some of them this week. We have 2 investigators (families) that are already in mosiah, the mothers have been reading like mad. They're for sure gonna make it to some water, they just need to resolve those little problemitas and figure a date. Just more prayer and time thats all.

But yesterday we had a family night that is something worth mentioning. It was at the house of the couple who had recently married and the husband is already solid in the church. He turned on the 100% chance of crying movie '' The testaments ''. Which was a good move because his wife has real doubts about the book of mormon and was raised with deep catholic roots, so to hear that this church has 'another bible'  souded real odd to her from the beginning. But as were finished the movie, this awesome spirit entered the room and made everyone real emotional. Even she was tearing up and went for tissues. It's sweet to, like I say, see that light turn on for people. It  makes me feel lke we're really doing our job when we can get those kind of experiences for our investigators. I love it and wish that all those who call us nuts and tell us to go back to our country could feel what we do. I know the Church is true true true. I'm a changed person because of this mission and I know I've got the time I do to change lives and help people return to god. It's a real neat thing to see someone accept this message and change their life. Know you don't need a plaque to open you mouth and share the gospel. I used to think you did haha. I love you all and hope all is well back at home.

Have a fantastic day,

Elder Tate

(1/6/15) Hay que semana‏

Y ahora vino el tiempo que esperábamos: 2015 - La Maravilla! 

It's odd to think of myself entering my third year being a missionary. 2013 feels not all that long ago. I´m saying hello to my time wake-up call. 2015 is gonna be a big one but will consist of actually finishing the mission too. What a wierd wierd thing to think. 

This last week was rather interesting. Here, in the land of presidente bottles, we had another 3 holidays this week: New years eve/day and yesterday, Día de los Reyes (hence the late letter. .). All of which leave the morning streets cluttered in styraphome cups and clanky glass bottles. But as the song says ''Carry on, carry on carry ooooooon!!!!'' Its cool to actually be able to salute people in the street now and not have them almost fall out of their chair as they wave because of how drunk they are. It´s something I´ll never get tired of watching. 

We've had some momma big success this last week. Two of our families we've been teaching have decided to get married; usually that doesn´t sound that monumental, but here that´s legendary. I will never figure out why, but not one soul here is a married soul. They prefer to live life free of commitments (especially marriage). SO, this was great news for 2 strapping-young missionaries like us. 

One gal, Maria, has been going to church for a pair of months now has declared testimony. We let her sit so long because she was one of the families that lacked marriage. Haha it makes me laugh though the way she told us, it was kinda neat. We asked her how she liked church, then she went though this long extensive story to compare here testimony to a big roble tree she used to live by in silvau. She explained that the roble tree first grows its roots deep deeeeep into the earth, and secures it´s foundation before it ever thinks about shooting up tall and looking strong to the outside world. It was really special to wittness her growth in these past weeks, she finished with her explaination how like the roble tree she will now never fall, through cyclone, tsunamis, and strong riffs, she will stay firm and set in where she stands is what she said. It was real neat to see that light turn on in her and left us all teary-eyed and lemme say that room was so warm and full of the spirit we could have been sitting in the celestial room and I wouldn´t have known the difference . Something special for everyone who was there. Something I´ll never forget.

Wishing you a happy new year and a slushy snowboarding season,

Love yaa

Elder Tate

(pictures next time)

(12/29/14) Meeeeeeeery Navidad!

Oh man. what a weird week it's been for me. I've been so mixed up on days this week. But I guess it was for some goon reasons. It's weird to say that it was my last christmas out here on the mission, but it's all sitting well. We spent christmas with about 5 families this year anyways so it's pretty much like you were all there anyway. Just you were all black and were all speaking spanish haha ;)

Our christmas eve was a dance show. Our politition (I'm hoping that's spelled right) bishop guy personally hosted an all-night kareoke bash that lasting till the wee hours of the morn. So we just propped our chairs up on the roof, reminiscing on past christmases while we danced the exotic sounds of muerenge combined with the occasional katy perry that got slipped into the mix. Real fun night.

But, sad thing is it left the whole block sleeping that next morning. . The morning we had told the members that we were gonna drop by to use their computers to skype. So, with pleasure I personally woke them all up to then begin my bi-annual skpe call with you guys. It was real cool to see how much you've all grown up. I'll still deny and deny again that I have a spanish accent. what you don't recognize is that I still live with 3 other americans who all SPEAK ENGLISH. haha but you can think what you will.

We interviewed a large part of our zone 1 on 1 just to see how they've been after skyping home. They all take is in different ways, kinda weird. For some it's like a re-dedication to the mission, for others it's like their lives just ended and start feeling slow and bogged-down. Either way you take it, families are still forever. Then after our meeting the cool-guy office elders brought me a small wheel barrow of packages. FIVE U.S. PAID FOR AND SHIPPED PACKAGES. Yalls are crazy, but thanks for thinking of me, and sharing a little christmas joy with the forgotten elder in the carribean. I sure do love you guys and pray for you like you don't even know. And lucky for you guys, my camera decided to stop acting up and so here's some of what we did in the week. 

Love love love 

Elder Tate

foto 1 - A service we did for a couple that got married today

foto 2 - skyyyype

foto 3 - you guys

4-the local neighborhood kids all drinking wine. 

5 - the lot (one came the week before)

6 - the trainee/future assistant

(12/22/14) Bienvenido, Dia de pavo! Aquí no podemos ni comer

jaja.  I wish I could share your excitement for thurday, but I'm gonna have to take a raincheck again this year. Ask me in another 53 thursdays and I'm totally game. haha

I was telling bre that too many things have been happening these days to recount. We've been trying to refill out teaching pool as we've had nearly all of our baptismal dates who decide to give us the raincheck on their decision to baptize. So we've been meeting a ton of real neat people. Sometimes you just have to find someone in their home environment to see what level of crazy they actually reach. It's such a fun way to get to know someone: sitting down on their floor as they blatantly tell you their plans on suceding Ozama Ben Ladin as the next master-mind terrorist of the world.  #misionerodominicano

Oh, and some real cool guys from the cincinatti reds d-leauge team showed up at church yesterday and invited us to watch them play today. It was real neat to set foot back in the united states even for just a few hours. It's just this huuuge complex way out in the boonies; these guys have absolute georgeous fields and 5 star living quarters. And play some excellent baseball. Ha, and one of the recruiters even had the new iphone 6, and he let me hold it. Fun day out in the sun. We always have a good time, us 4 sunburned greengoes out on a misison to conquer the world.

But we got a neat text last night from the ap's telling us that we're going to the captial to learn more about this new program called '' Él es la Dádiva '' that we're going to learn a lot more about wednesday. I guess they want us to use this new program thing to help our investigators and members help make Jesus Christ more a part of their christmas holiday. 

I've gotta say, I'm getting real excited for christmas. I'm gonna try and start every day of december off with scripture study focused on Christ's life and hopefully, when comes christmas day, learn and really understand the true meaning of christmas. You all should join with me!

I love you guys and really love your constant support while we're out serving the Lord

Con amor como siempre :: 

Elder Tate

(12/15/14) Nutty For Christmas

We spent the week frantically taking buses to and from the captial. It was on the bus, off the bus. Pay money, sit crammed in with the nexts season's participants of biggest loser. But we got to watch the ocean sunrise twice what was pretty cool.We had our zone conference on wednesday and friday. Our president of the area seventy, E. Cornish, came to speak and instruct the mission on how to use the new 'el es la dádiva' program. We spent all day wednesday as a zone there, and then all day friday with the zone leaders and sister training leaders. You could definitely say I am fully capacitated and ready to spead some christmas cheer.

We have a bapstim coming this saturday. Hey name is Claritza Placencia but prefers just Elisa. She was one of two fechas we had going for this saturday, but Alfredo (remember him? whose sister passed away after the blessing) had some work conflicts and wasn't able to get the church assistance he needs in order to be baptized. He needs a little more time to recieve a real answer before he gets baptized anyway. But we're real excited, E. Graff is going to effect the ordinance and he will be one of 10 other people baptizing for the stake 'noche blanca' we're gonna have. 

Turns out *que drumroll* IMA STAYIN!!! So glad, I'm not done here. There some 2 or 3 families that we're pushing for to accept baptism. We've been doing so much preparation for christmas and it would be a big ole waste if all the fun got cut short. So, here goes the third transfer here, and E. Buehner's fourth. I'd imagine me staying another transfer too, because I doubt that they'd white wash zone leaders a second time, that's be crazy talk.

Looking foward to seeing your beautiful faces in what 10 days? 11 days? Haha whose counting!

love yalls 

Elder Tate

(12/8/14) Waaaaalkin' with book of mormons in ya hand‏!

I wish to share a little song real fast.

 

To the tune of winter wonderland:

 

All day long

we're inspiried;

as we read,

and hear the choir. .

 

Got a rhythm inside, 

I'm sweating with pride

walkin while theres no snow BACK IN UTAH!!!!!!!

 

Hahaha I laugh at everyone. 50 degrees and breezy??! In December? Ouch, winter really let yall down this year. It only makes me gitty because that means the next winter it's gonna dump. And then it will be - POWDER FOR THE PEOPLE! As for our climate, it's a chilling 79 degrees all-day-long here, and all I own are short sleeve white shirts. I hope you enjoy you snowless streets and bare mountains a little longer! :D Cheers for my last winter ever without snow.

 

But thats not really what the seasons all about. Elder Graff and I have been singing christmas songs like door-to-door carolers for about 2 months now. Everyone loooooves christmas here and started way back in october. The make the neatest decorations out of whatever they have handy: Milk boxes, bottles, grocery sacks. And they have it on every street! With all this christmas spirit we'll be passing out those little red cards with the christmas message and video like it was our job. haha funny joke. but it's rather unfortunate, unlucky I guess you could say because almost no one we visit has computers or the means to look up the video. And when they do, the page never seems to work. Nonetheless we've been passing ''The Gift'' as it's called to everyone and their dog here in Boca Chica. 

 

It saddens me to know that all of our baptsimal dates that are going for the 20th (at a stake christmas baptism program) are put for the saturday after transfers. I'm really pulling for a Boca Chica Christmas this year. I just hope the Lord is as well. We'll find out on this saturday who goes and who stays. It's real unlikely that they'll keep E. Buehner and I together as Zone Leaders for 3 straight transfers, but who know we'll have to wait an see. 

 

But now more than ever is the time to give what we have to others. I have been studying like mad Christ's mission and his ministry here on the earth out of the new testament. And I've learned this week that besides his infinite amount of charity, something Jesus always was able to do was leave EVERY situation with a positive attitude. He always made any hard or difficult situation calm and peaceful. Why don't we try a little more the be patient with our friends this christmas. 

 

Have a (put in your own word here) week!

 

Pray for patience, peace and snow,

Elder Tate

 

(12/1/14) Give Thanks and FEAST!

Not left with a heap-load of time today. We're as busy as ever trying to organize december stake missionary activities. We're meeting with the mission and stake president tomorrow to smooth out all the sweet details. But from what we've got laid down so far, it's looking preety good.

But I'll see if my little thanksgiving story we be enough to make you guys a little jealous. So the feast was actually feasts (with an 's'). We had fun starting off with a little zone get together pot luck feast. We had Zone Conference and after, because every one brought their food assignments, we had a meal worthy of kings. Mashed potatoes, brownies, stuffing.. all that. Then turkey day round two was spent at home quarters. We came back from church and went to work: I'll just tell you right now. The all-time best meal I have ever taken part of thus far in my mission. Absolutely Incredible. We combined (elder buehner and I) our packages and it was a hands down, 5 star thanksgiving.

Man, theres just nothing like having a pumpkin spice bread, steaming hot from the oven fill up your apartment add to the holiday magic. 

Jealous? Haha well I tried. This week has been work and work and work. It was hard to see our hard days we put in only bring 2 individuals to church. We were sure that from the 10 we had members pass before church to get, por lo menos 5 would be able to come. I guess that's something I'm never going to get used to on the mission. It's heartbreaking to have people accept the gospel but refuse to act and live it. 

We are working hard, E. Graff and I have agreed that we're putting each day in to the max. It feels good to come home each night knowing we did our very best work.

Have an awesome first week of December. And look at this sweeeeeet video the church made @ christmas.mormon.org. It's pretty awesome.

Love love love

Elder Tate

foto 1 - feast #1

foto 2 - feast #2 ariel angle

foto 3 - the chums 

Photos Round Two:

foto 1 - day one with e. Graff

foto 2 - nights on the grind

foto 3 - can't even remember when this was