November 10, 2014 - Hi Everyone!

So to start off we had transfers and we now have 2 new missionaries in the house. One from Peru and the other from Utah. It is a good change and we seem to get along pretty well. I am happy to have that change. The house seems to be more spiritual which is good. It isn´t always easy to stay focused but we do our best!

I am working to find the good balance of having fun but being as obedient as possible. Lately that has been a little bit hard but I keep working at it.

Today we played some baseball, though I just played catch really. My comp always wants to play so I just go with the flow. Then I got a nice nap. I also got some Passion Fruit juice. That is very good and we get juice a couple times a week now. I also found some cookies and cream powder soy milk which I have fallen in love with! So good (regular milk doesn´t last here really).

So on Saturday the Branch President´s 8 year old son was baptized. I was asked to participate in the conformation which was the first time for me here in the DR (I got to participate once with Alex Cheney´s baptism I remember!)

The Pimentel Family came to church and yesterday we reviewed what it takes to be baptized so now they know what they need to focus on. They feel good in church and we are going to keep helping them and doing our best so they can feel the blessings of the Lord. Miguel a 25 yr old single adult came to church. He is reading the Book of Mormon and we see potential for him if he truly wants to change is life. We are hoping he can make Dec. 6th with his church assistance and a true conversion and testimony. The Pimentel family we are working for the 13th or 14th of December if possible.

We also have the Fam Encarnacion. The mom came to church for like 1 and a half hours which was good. That was the first time. Supposedly the dad was on the way, but he had a problem. We pray next week they can make it and he can truly feel a desire. We are planning on watching the Joseph Smith video with both families this week. Half now, half later. We are excited for that, so they can have stronger testimonies or receive them.

On Saturday we also made dinner for Marilin and Jose Luis as a service. I made my pasta with salami and onion and garlic and potatoes with sweetened condensed milk as the sauce. It looked good.

We had fast Sunday which went well. Hno Marion (dad of Pimentel Fam) said he wanted to get up to share but didn´t know if he could but he said next time he will! That would have been so cool, but next time!

Too bad RSL lost big. Tough luck. Also too bad the Utes couldn´t pull off a big upset. Sounds like they had a good chance. Well gotta keep playing hard!

I can´t believe how quick the time is passing wow. It is weird. Days like weeks, weeks like days!

I am happy to be in the same area, as we have some great investigators. It isn´t always easy but it is good. I hope to keep helping people come unto Christ!

I am close to finishing Jesus the Christ. Only 4 chapters left! Wow that is crazy!

W o the W is holgazán which means lazy (more or less)

I hope everyone is doing well, especially all of my missionary buddies and their respective families. Be safe everyone!

I believe that is all so I hope that I got to questions and such!

Love,

Elder Chez Green

November 3, 2014 - Stake Conference and Miracles

Hi Family!

Well the miracle is that the Pimentel Family made it to Stake Conference. Barely, but they made it! Wahoo. We told them to meet us at 8:30 at the church but there was no power the whole night. We called at 8 20 and they weren´t answering so we decided to go to their house. Turns out their phone wasn't charged so they didn´t get up on time! Ah so we were stressing a little that the bus was going to leave us! But they hurried and got ready which turned out great! And we all got on the bus right at 9 when it was supposed to leave. Whew! And it was a good conference. They got to meet Pres. Corbitt and the Stake President as well. An Area 70 also talked named Elder Acosta from the DR. It was a fun conference. The night before we had some youth investigators come to the youth-adult session which was awesome!

The highlight with the family is that they truly enjoyed the conference and Hno Marino (the dad) said he is reading the Book of Mormon everyday because he likes it a lot. They have a lot of questions but we are working with them to put a goal for baptism. They need to get married still though.  Their kids are participating a little as well, though the dad is for sure the most excited about it all which is good. We are way excited for them.

The mission is going well. There are a lot of ups and downs lately and it sure isn´t always easy, but we are very happy about the family we are working with. The other family is not progressing as well. Their daughters and son came to the night session but the parents don´t seem to have made a good decision yet. We will keep working with them though. As for other investigators we have some, but they still need to show more of a desire.

As for the transfers, I am staying with my comp again which I somewhat assumed. Pres. also asked me to be District Leader again.

Too bad the Utes football lost. Darn but sounds very close. Awesome that the bball and football teams are both ranked! Way cool go Utah!

Too bad RSL only got a tie. Sounds like they dominated pretty well.

Awesome that the whole family will be getting visits this holiday season. I hope you all enjoy it!

Really those are the highlights from the week.

Oh funny story is that we met a guy on the road who started talking to us and telling us that after the Second coming only the Russians and Chinese will be left. It was interesting but I guess that is his opinion.

There are a lot of Characters here for sure. Well life is good. Not easy but good. Today I took a long nap because on Saturday we couldn´t sleep because it was so hot and there were no fans. But its all going better now!

I love you all. Hello to family, friends and all the ward members!

Love,

Elder Chez Green

Youth Activity, Package, Baseball

October 27, 2014 - A double, an RBI, Stolen base and a Run Scored

Yep you guessed it, those are my stats from today! 6 missionaries came over and we went and played some baseball with all the Dominican kids. It was super fun and I know my comp was in heaven. I think we ended up tying them but it was so much fun! I played first base and feel as though I contributed well. I am not a big baseball guy but I truly enjoyed it so hey. Glad to have my glove thanks again!

This week we had an activity that turned out really well. It was crazy and everyone ended up dirty at the end but we had 4 investigators show up and 4 less actives. There was a message and then games and if you answered wrong you got shaving cream in the face. Also a search for candy with your mouth in a pile of flour! I used my jolly ranchers as the prize. Thanks for sending the odds and ends candy. For a minute I thought someone took my candy but now I see it was just odds n ends haha.

So I got a package from the Mortimer's and a huge thanks to them for that! Way cool and a lot of stuff I wanted, like UNO and Beef Jerky and the precious Granola Bars. Who knew that Granola Bars here are so expensive so they are like gold! Great stuff! Thanks a million to them! And the great note that helped a ton!

I also got the talks from Am on General Conference! Wahoo! Thanks a million Am. I loved all of them and was happy to read them again. I am also reading Jesus the Christ and I am on page like 450! I am reading it super fast but enjoying it. It is helping me understand the bible way better!

Transfers are next week but I am pretty sure that I will stay here with E. Aplanalp. He is a good guy. He loves the Giants and is happy they are winning. I will keep being happy. That is the important part!

We had the Pimentel Family at church! All 5 of them! Wahoo. But the tough thing is they aren´t married yet. Neither is the Encrnación family and only their 2 daughters made it to church this week again. We are going to keep working hard and we have hope for them! We have some less actives we are working with and other people who are either just starting or people we are going to drop for a while.

Awesome that Utah won in the last seconds. Beating USC wahoo! Great to hear RSL is in safe. Against LA will be a blast! We can do it! Also great to hear that the Utah basketball is going well!

Thanks for being a great family. I love you all and I hope we can all be together forever!

Awesome Shantaye went to Husky Howl as the Power Puff Girls. Grandma´s party sounds great! Way cool.

Be safe everyone! I think that is everything for now!

W o W is ñapa which is DR Spanish. It is like bonus. So if you want them to top off your drink for free you just sya ñapa!

Well be safe all! lots of love

--

Love,

Elder Chez Green

October 20, 2014 - Hello All!

I hope all is well. I was just playing some UNO and eating some fried chicken. This morning we played a little baseball (catch and took some ground balls). My comp was in heaven I believe which is good. I had fun as well and I am happy to have the glove!

Yes I got my package, thank you so much! I am very grateful for the stuff especially the socks! Thanks for the glove and the Thai sauces. I was running low but I am all set now!

I am feeling better. I was just a little down after some things that happened but I am feeling better now. Thanks for asking everyone though.  We are still working with one family that seems interested. We are hopeful that they can come to church next week! The father read most of the pamphlet we read to them so we are excited for them. I feel good about them, I just pray they are ready to make a decision. They are the family Pimentel. 4 kids (one doesn´t live with them) and their parents. We don´t know if they are married though.

Luis David gave a talk on Sunday and it was really good. It was about baptism I was happy about that! He did a great job. He is ready to get or has the Priesthood now. I am looking forward to that! He has also invited his cousin to come to church with him which is awesome!

I really miss Thailand and Thai food. Sometimes I smell stuff here and it reminds me of that great place! Ahh good times.

On Sunday I gave the lesson in Priesthood but there were only 2 attendants plus the missionaries. That was a little sad.The class was on Joseph Fielding Smith´s teachings book. They have that in English right? We are working hard but the branch needs a lot of help. We always offer our help but we don´t know exactly what is needed but we will keep working with them!

Hna Marilin came to church which was great. She is having a lot of financial problems with her family and with her pregnancy. But she keeps being firm and strong. We really want to help her but it is hard. I am not sure exactly what we can do now besides wait and be patience because I don´t think she will be able to get married anytime soon sadly.

I hope RSL can get a streak going to make the playoffs running! Awesome that the Utes won again! Boo ya keep it up. We need to get a bowl game and do well in the PAC 12. Awesome the bball team looks good too!

My comp says hello to all of the family!

The pancakes we make were out of a mix but now we do from scratch. My comp usually does them though.

I have been enjoying the clouds and sky and rainbows lately. I am trying to find joy in the little things!

Well I think that is all. W o W is adios which is goodbye! Take care all!

--

Love,

Elder Chez Green

October 13, 2014 - Wahoo! Playoffs!

So I saw RSL is officially in. Even without a lot of starters! Wahoo. I am wearing my RSL shirt to celebrate! Today I even got to play a little soccer. Boo yah. I was remembering the glory days from RHFC! 7 straight wahoo!

So anyways this week has had a lot of ups and downs. I fought a little bit of depression you might say but I have also been super blessed. So I just keep working hard!

So mom we ask the sister to cook for us when needed still!

WoW is jactar which means to boast. It is from the Book of Mormon!

So this week we found a new family. Last night actually. I hope they can progress and make the right decision! We have been working with a lot of people that aren´t keeping their commitments so we will keep looking for more. Little by little we go. We are talking to almost everyone we see in order to have success. I am enjoying the work though it is very hard as well!

This week was Fast Sunday and that was super great. We had a good meeting and some youth came to church which was cool. We are also working with a 19 year old less active and we talked to him about his patriarchal blessing, so I hope he can get it to help him be active and go on a mission!

The tough thing here is the Branch Pres. works a lot and he misses Sunday meetings a lot. The Branch has a lot of work to do!

Well the work keeps going. I am not sure what else happened this week. My comp loves pancakes so we make a lot of those for breakfast. All is well here!

The Internet guy is dancing right now ha-ha. Ah the DR. We have met some crazy people (it sounds mean but its true) lately. They were screaming stuff at us and what not, but I just laugh. I am talking more English because my comp is learning but all is well. I love you all and pray for each of you! Be Safe

Tell my friends and the ward hi please!

Lots of love!

Love,

Elder Chez Green

October 6, 2014 - Conference was just GREAT!

Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed conference as much as I did! Even though I got most of it in Spanish. We got to see Saturday morning for an hour in English but then the WiFI fell so we only got to see that one in English. The rest were in Spanish. It was hard but good as well. Harder for my comp than me! The part that stunk is on Sunday afternoon the internet fell and we missed most of the prophet´s message. But it was super good I would say I am a happy camper!

So I loved all the talks. Way cool they were in their native tongues as well! I loved Elder Huge Martinez´s talk because of that. He spoke very well and it was cool to say that I know him. It helped me relate even more to his talk and I felt the Spirit very strongly for that one, as well as others!

I loved the talk by E. Bednar and the one by Jorg Klebinant! Jorg´s talk was great with the 6 points that I loved! He was bold and great! All were great and helped answer some questions and make me better when I apply them!

I like how Tad R. Callister talked about the importance of dedicating time to our family. That is big! That was a big theme, family and how parents can help their kids, like family prayer and study and family home evening! I liked Tad´s talk because it reminded me of the oldies song ¨Little boy blue and the Man on the Moon¨ and how that song is sad but good. We don´t want to be like that though haha.

Elder Nelson gave a great testimony of the prophet, which was another theme (prophets called of God today). They also talked about the Sacrament.

I loved E. Andersen´s example of putting on our air mask first, and that was an example I shared at the beginning of my mission in San Pedro. It was cool to see it applied in conference!

This week I also found a favorite scripture in Jacob 3 verse 1. ¨...Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions and he will please your cause...¨

Very powerful and I love it so much! The Book of Mormon is great and true! Of that I know!

This week I met an Italian guy on a bus and invited him to the church page as he was on vacation. I got to talk about Italy with him with a couple Italian words, and he spoke to me in Italian slash Spanish. It was cool though!

I got the package from the Mesa park YW. Thanks a ton! It was super great and arrived just in time for conference! Wahoo!!

Today we played some soccer and cleaned the house. Now we are emailing then we will rest a little before teaching! We are still searching for families to teach. We have some but we hope they will keep progressing. We have had trouble lately with getting people to church, and only 1 investigator came to conference because it is like 25 min away walking.

Bummer RSL lost but way to go Utes. RSL will keep trucking along and make the playoffs. I have faith!

Well W of W is babosa which is snail here. My comp likes to fake fist bump people then make it look like a snail. It is pretty funny. Some people get mad, and others just laugh. I like it. We always try to be happy and joke around to get to know people! He is learning quickly, though sometimes it is very hard. All is well in the ¨Old Ship Zion¨ as our Prophet said!

Be safe. Lots of love to all!

--

Love,

Elder Chez Green