(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)