(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.