Me voy a yaguate

This was a good week.  This Saturday we had our baptisms! As always, some fell through, but we still had 4! It was very special for all of us. There were 9 in total! That's a lot!! It was so awesome because 3 of ours were sisters, Ismenia, Julissa, and Lesly. Now their entire family are members. That was very special because they were all there! The other, Lindsay, is a little girl who turned 8, and wanted me to baptize her! Her mom was there and it was awesome for them. I had to baptize her like 4 times though because her toes kept poking out of the water! She was crying because she was nervous but you know how an 8 yr old thinks. The next day she wanted me to confirm her as well! I've never done that, but it was cool!

Another miracle of this week! We were with Miguel again, and we talked about the law of chastity. He said, after sitting there for a minute, So I have to get married so I can keep the commandments and get baptized?" We told him yes, and this is what he said. "Okay then, my wife (everyone calls their significant other "wife") doesn't live here right now, but I'm going to call her right now and propose, do you guys have minutes on your phone?" SO we gave him our phone and he called her! She said yes over the phone! They do have like 17 years being "husband and wife" so you know! It was a very very cool experience! He is like the most "Golden" investigator we've had! 

So I'm finally moving areas! I don't wanna leave 'cause we have like 6 more baptisms for April but it's the life of a missionary! I'm going to an area called Yaguate in San Cristobal! It's in the south where there isn't anything! My companion is named Elder Sosa, but I have no idea who he is. We'll find out tomorrow! It's weird that I'm leaving, but the Lord needs me somewhere else!

It was an awesome week!!!

Love you all! Remember to send me photos!

Semana Santa

Happy Easter all!

Hope everything is going well! This week is a big thing here in the DR! Well basically in all of Latin America. It's a week long celebration of Easter I guess.

This week is very special. First of all, we are having a baptismal service on Saturday. We will be baptizing Leslie, Julisa, Ismenia, Beba, Andres, and Maria AltaGracia. It's just such a good feeling knowing that these people are changing their lives to follow Christ. Just... wow.

One of the miracles of the week we had, (I'm gonna start calling them that) was our experience with Andres. We were at his house talking to him about his baptism, and he was expressing his doubts. He wasn't sure if he wanted to get baptized. My companion explained to him that if he really wants an answer to see if he wants to get baptized he needed to pray that night for an answer. The thought came to my mind to say, (in Spanish of course) "well, Andres, we're going to say that prayer right now. And then tonight as well." My comp was like... "oh! um okay!" So we prayed... on our knees he pleaded to God to give him an answer. After the prayer, nobody said anything, not even moved... We sat on our knees for about 2 minutes. It was very very spiritual.

I'm very excited for this week :) Hope everyone has a good one!

PS Here's a picture of me with my zone at the temple here!
-- 

Elder Bryson Larkin

*("Holy Week." In Spanish-speaking countries, the Easter holiday is referred to as Semana Santa, and celebrations last for a full week)

(last week at the Santo Domingo Temple trip)

It was really awesome! I love the temple so much. Every time I feel the great spirit that's inside and I just know that's where I wanna be. Forever. [ W/ my wife (; ]

Knock knock. Who's there? THE MORMONS!

Having had aching feet, an aching back, being sweaty 24/7, eating nothing but rice, beans, and spaghetti for the past 6 months I can tell you... I feel right at home.

"The work will progress with or without us Elders, so why don't we help out?" 

This week I've learned that there are people out there just waiting for the Gospel to reach them, we just have to find them. Knocking on somebody's door that you don't know, trying to talk about Jesus Christ and his teachings at first, is somewhat daunting. But after a while it becomes fun to see who comes to the door! A sweet old lady who will give you juice? Or maybe a catholic who says, "I'm catholic" and says they can't listen to you. OR OR OR a family who has been prepared by the spirit, who are genuinely interested and will one day get baptized. This is something we do every day and it's becoming a treat. Finding the "Gold" our mission President calls it. How are we supposed to share the gospel with people if we don't have anyone to share it with?

We've been finding more and more of these golden investigators and it's really exciting! They will all probably get baptized in the upcoming months but I might not be here to see it! It's totally okay though! The life of a missionary! I'm going to leave my first area at the end of this month. I've been here for 6 already and that's a long time to be in an area! Pretty crazy!

This week has been awesome! We just got back from the Colonial Zone in the East part of the country. It's basically where EVERYTHING started in the Americas. It's where Columbus landed. The first street, the first University, the first Cathedral! And it's all older than anything in the US. Weird to think about! 

Have a great week everyone! Love y'all!

Elder Larkin

ps. I have A BUNCH of pictures on my dropbox if you'd like to see them btw.

(statue of Columbus with Elder Rodelo)

"Forgive me Father for I have sinned"

(an eternal fire)

(and a couple pictures from a Family Home Evening we had! Fun :) 

Yes, Rodelo likes tortillas! hahahaaha