January 20, 2014 - Hey Fam Bam!

Hey family!

So this week there was a lot more service and translating. We didn´t have a full day of work until Saturday which was kind of hard. We need to contact a lot of our investigators to see what is what now but no biggy. It is still all good! I am happy to be with E. Valencia and we are enjoying it. I have started to teach him English in the nights just by speaking it to him. He wants to learn and has a lot of knowledge of it. He can understand a lot but has fear to talk so I am working on it with him. I am also teaching him how to play basketball because we have the church across the street and keys to get the hoop out. We are starting to play every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. It is fun.

So I got letters from Dad with the pictures! Thank you so much for that! I gave them to the respective people and Edward´s family loved them! He was so excited to have it and said he needs to get a frame to put it up. I was happy to hear that! I also got the Christmas letter from Grandma and Grandpa! That was a great one and I was happy to get it. I also received a letter from Aunt Theo which was super amazing! She is such a great Aunt!

This week we also went to the Capital. E Valencia had an appointment there. I also received my package this week! Thank you Mom and Dad! It was perfect and I am so grateful for that. All of the stuff I needed or will need in the future. The Utah cups were a great idea and a lot of handkerchiefs so I can try to deal with this heat here. Thank you for that! I am also grateful for the Thai sauce! It brings back good memories and especially a good flavor! Thanks for the Family History stories Mom I will try to start reading them. I read the one in the manila folder that was two pages about Grandpa´s family. That is a great story but a little crazy all that they went through. Wow! I gave one cup to E. Valencia to convert him as a Utah fan! Thank you again for the package!

So the week like I said was a little difficult but we had 3 investigators in Sacrament meeting. We are working with Edward´s mom to see what is what and how we can help. She has a lot of things on her plate but we will keep trying with her. We also had a lot of less actives at church which was nice. All of the members here keep saying that we work a lot. It is a very nice compliment. The Pres. of the Branch talks about that a lot as well. I think he really appreciates all that we are working on to help this Branch grow.

So today has been a great P day! Maybe the best yet for me! It was because we got up early and now all my clothes are washed. (We hauled buckets from the church to wash our clothes like normal still. It´s good exercise.) I like clean clothes and the house is as clean as we can get it in the time we have. Today I got to play soccer! Wahoo it has been a while and it was way fun. We played our Zone San Pedro vs La Romana another zone that is near by. I enjoyed it so much. I am pretty out of shape but I am in shape compared to most of the missionaries. I like that. We played a lot and I got sun burned even with sun screen on. The sun here in the DR is super strong! I scored 3 goals today as well! It is very disorganized but fun to play. Nothing like my RHFC team but I enjoy it. Soccer is still my passion!

After that we got Esquimas which is like an Otter pop. There are vendors all over that just walk around selling it. The flavors are so good and way better than otter pops. It is 5 pesos for one so it isn´t too bad. Then we went to Coque (hamburger place) with the AP´s. Right now there are 3 because they are training one and the other leaves in Feb. That was great because it was just us 5. We got to know them a little better and they are all great guys! One of them, E. Monroy from Guatemala is way good at soccer. He played at the highest level in Futsal in Guatemala but he sacrificed it all for the mission for now. He has a great story and it is way inspiring to me. I enjoyed getting to know the AP´s a lot. E. Rivera is leaving and is from Honduras. He is super nice and always shows a lot of love to the Elders. The new elder is E. Sima from Mexico. He is way cool too and getting trained right now. It was way fun.

Word of the Week is bulto which means side bag here in the DR. There is another word for it in normal Spanish but I can´t remember it. I have also learned a lot of body parts and some medical terms because of translating.

Congrats Dad on the free Pitpass for a race! That is so sweet! Awesome that Mom gave a talk! I like this idea of Bishop Mortimer´s. That is so cool! If you can, will you send a copy of Mom´s talk to me? Pretty please?

Awesome sports updates from everyone! I am glad the Utes are doing so well! That makes me happy! If you can send a pocket protector that would be great! I use a piece of plastic to protect my shirts right now. Thanks for the email mom! I love you all!

It takes us about an hour to get to the capital then we walk for 20 minutes to the CCM or take a little taxi. It is so tiring to go but it is part of it all. Traveling isn´t easy.

Well that is all for now. The time is all gone! See yá'll later! or talk to you later. I think that was everything! Love you all!

Love,

Elder Chez Green

January 15, 2014 - Èllo Lovelies!

Hello all of you out there!

I am just sending an email on my modified P day since I didn´t get to take one on Monday! Sorry for the wait but hey we are chatting it up now so I think it is good. Like I said before, I am staying here in Primavera en San Pedro de Macoris with Elder Valencia! I am enjoying it out here and happy to be with Elder Valencia for 1 more transfer! He has taught me a lot and we get along really well! I am happy that we can work harder in this area and I am looking forward to all of the fun we will have this transfer. We set goals and I am going to be working hard to teach him English. We also want some baptisms if that is the Lord´s will, which would be awesome too. We want to reactivate a lot of less actives as well. We have a lot of work ahead of us but our plan is in place and we are ready to go!

Am congrats on being on Live TV! That is so cool! I hope all went well. I didn´t see that until now so I am not sure if I should keep praying but you are always in my prayers. That goes for all my family, extended as well! I hope everyone is safe and doing well!

So we/I have been translating out in a clinic for the Students and Doctors from New York this week as well. We went Monday and yesterday to do it. It is fun but also very tiring and very different work from what I am used to by now. Changing from English to Spanish fast is not easy and there are a lot of questions and words that don´t translate very well but I am learning a lot. The only problem is we aren´t working much in our area. After 6 o´clock on the days of service and not more than that. It is good though and I have gone to the clinic to help 4 times now and I expect to go more this week. Then it ends on Friday and it will be back to normal. My comp and I are also going to the Capital which should be good!

So I got a Christmas card from the Baich family! Thank them from me please! That was very nice of them! I hope all of the ward is doing well and please send my love and support to all of them. Especially the Young Men!

Today we went to the restaurant by our house called Papi Chimi again. It has good shakes that are pretty cheap and the food is good. It is Dominican food but I enjoy it a lot. Rice and beans with ground beef or chicken. They also have good sandwiches. We go there every week it seems like now.

Today we also went shopping at Jumbo. I enjoy going to the big super market because it reminds me of home a little bit. They have a lot of food and most of everything you could want. I don´t buy a lot because it is expensive but I enjoy looking. I have started buying apples there because they are pretty good. They are about $1.25 for an apple. Is that a lot or pretty good? They are normal size. Just curious. I also bought pop tarts today because I had some mission money I could use. I am using a budget and teaching my companion about them too. He is enjoying that.

So my comp and I played Mancala today! Do you guys remember that game? It is super fun! Where you have pieces and round little holes you have to move back and forth. I think Danny gave it to us from the Philippines or something. Anyways we played that and it was fun. It reminded me of home a little. There is a good family home evening idea for you all! Play it and think of me ha-ha.

Our house is better now. I am happy with it because we keep it clean and livable. We have talked about looking for another house so we will work on it in the coming week or so but moving is also such a hassle so we will see.

Word of the day is mueca which is the DR Slang of making a funny face. Real Spanish is Hacer un mohin I believe but here it is mueca. Oh the DR Spanish!

I did know I would get a new mission President thanks mom for the info! Crazy that Jay and Kevin get new ones too! We will all be experiencing big changes in the coming months. Fun times! I love that scripture thank you tons Mom! D and C 100 5 through 8 is a great one! My health is pretty much better. A little cough here and there but I think it is more the air than anything. I did use Vicks and my cold medicine which helped.

On Sundays we go to the meeting for the ward counsel early in the morning then Priesthood is first. After we teach a Preach my Gospel class which is what the Pres. of the Mission wants in all of the wards and branches. We just finished that and we try to get references and they need 5 in the course to graduate but it is hard. I just finished reading the whole Gospel Principles book all the way through. That was pretty cool! I really enjoy that part. I was also reading in Preach My Gospel about Enduring to the End and how it is so important to all of us. The power of Repentance is real and we should use the Atonement everyday. Great stuff I wish I could expound more!

Well that is all I believe! I love you all! Keep your heads up! And just keep swimming, just keep swimming! 42 I Sherman Wallaby Way Sidney!

Finding Nemo Quote ha-ha sorry. I think it is mostly right! I don´t get to quote movies with many people because no one knows them like our family and Jay do. Oh well it is probably better that way.

Love you all!

Elder Chez Green

New Year's Eve & Paco Taco Restaurant

January 7, 2014 - Hi All!

Hey Everyone!

So a change of P-day means the email is a day late but never late than never! I have a lot to talk about and a lot to address so let's get started!

Well first congrats on the foreign exchange student! That is way cool we are going to have one back in Utah. Keeping the tradition going! I hope all is well there!

Okay so we have water right now still which is nice. We just have to use the pump every 2 or 3 days to fill up our tank and the water is only from the street to our house from 12 to 4 everyday so we have to fill up our tank in that time. Then when it is out, it is out. So that is what we are doing as of right now.

The only tough thing now is that our toilet has stopped functioning but is still leaking ha-ha but we are alright we just have to flush it with a bucket of water. No biggy there but there is always something ya know.

So New Year's was good and we had a dinner with the Pres of the Branch and his family. It was delicious. We had chicken pork apples grapes empanadas and sweets. I enjoyed it a lot and especially the empanadas. Those are so delicious here!

So I got Am´s letter for Christmas. Thank you so much for that! It was great! Made me smile and laugh!

So the service yesterday was in our area and I think that is why the Mission president asked us to do it along with two other Americans. We went to a really poor area where there were students and doctors waiting with a lot of supplies and the people lined up to get looked at. We were delegated as the translators. It was really fun and I enjoyed it a lot. A little nerve racking but not much because the Hispanic people don´t know any doctor terms and neither do I. I felt really good helping all of these people! It was really enjoyable and I had a smile on my face the whole time. The universities were from upstate New York and I met a lot of cool people who were willing to sacrifice their time to help these people! I love that and it is one reason I am a missionary here. I also enjoyed it because I felt like I was on House the TV show! That is true how doctors need to investigate what the problem is. I enjoyed that part of it a lot and it reminded me of always watching House with Mom and all of those great memories! I love you Mom!

So the other awesome thing we did today was we went to Paco Taco which is the only Mexican place here in San Pedro! That was delicious and I am still full as of right now! It was actually pretty Mexican which I was happy about. It is pretty expensive for here but back in the states it was like 15 dollars for a fajita drink and a taco. I am glad we went in case one or both of us leave this area next week! Transfers are coming quick!

The New Year's was pretty loud but I don´t have trouble sleeping thankfully! I am happy for that! I just hit the bed and usually sleep through the night. I got a cold this week but no biggy. Word of the Week is gripe which means a cold (actually means flu but everyone uses it as the common cold). I keep on working though because it isn´t too bad. I didn´t stay up for it that is for sure ha-ha.

That is great Shantaye had a party at the house and a sleepover! Sounds fun! Awesome the Utes are doing well in Bball! I love to see that! I am happy to hear about the NFL Playoffs and the bowl games and that all is well. Funny story of the stolen one shoe Damian and Dad! I like that ha-ha.

They fly the packages form Florida to the DR with a certain company. I am not sure on more details than that.

The toilet leaks from the house and the floor and we don´t know where else but no biggy! All is well! Congrats on the calling Mom! Team teaching with Nicole sounds way awesome! I am glad you got to see the Hobbit part 2 as well Mom! Awesome on the call ups for our three RSL guys! Boo ya lets get the Cup go USA!!!

Well I can´t think of anything else really. All is well. We will see if I leave or stay. I am working hard with the investigators here but it isn´t super easy. The difficulty is getting them to church. We had some in the classes this Sunday but they had to leave. Oh well we will keep going! No worries there! I love you all. Thanks for all the emails I hope I replied to about everything! I always try to do my best but an hour always passes quickly! Love you!

Love,

Elder Chez Green