The New Year

Where do I start? So much happens so fast around here and most seems like it is of value to others and the strengthening of the members. We did take a short trip last week because it was a holiday and most of the area employees and leaders were on vacation. Santo Domingo is on the south end of the island so we decided to go to the north end and see something besides the city. It was fun. We went with the Atkinsons who are the humanitarian missionaries and the Kilgores who are the medical support. Dr. Kilgore is the area Doctor who takes care of the sick missionaries and clears potential ones to serve. It is a busy job and he does have some stories to tell about it all. The Atkinsons works with the local leaders of the church, government organizations, and other churches and charitable organizations on projects to benefit the quality of life for others. The church does so much more than I had ever known. They build clean water facilities, provide equipment for hospitals and wheelchairs for the needy (there are many needs because with nationalized medicine, if you severely break a leg and it needs an operation and pins it will cost the individual personally, but they will cut it off for free, which is the only option for most), agricultural development, literacy, and housing to name just a few. Many projects are huge. On our trip we met some of the local leaders as the Atkinsons had scheduled two appointments along our way. Getting away from the office and meeting the people also gives us an understanding of the work we do.
Back to the trip we went through Santiago and then up to Puerto Plata. We stayed near the beach and enjoyed the sun, friends, and a trip up into the mountains for a view. We came home New Years Eve and did not leave to hear the celebrations anywhere, although the noise in the city did wake us at midnight.

We went to Juan Dolio beach for a few hours on New Years Day with 1o other missionaries. The best part of the day was that the temple opened for a special session. I will remember 1-1-11 for this very reason. It was the first time Ed and I participated as workers in the temple. It was a learning experience but very spiritual. There was a family from Guyana that had sacrificed much and traveled far to get here and be sealed. They had planned to attend many times for the week they were here and the temple was closed Friday, Saturday for the holiday and of course the regular closure on Sunday and Monday. They were sealed on Thursday and were able to do work on Saturday, when the Temple presidency asked for volunteers for a special session, and Tuesday before their departure Wednesday morning. We also had 5 here from Haiti. We had 25 in the session counting a few other visitors and workers. It was nice to have an English session. This language thing is trickier than you think. Most sessions are Spanish with headsets for English and French but at times with Haiti people here it is French or if it is Jamaica or Guyana then it is English. Very interesting dynamics.

On Sunday we had a beautiful day. (Weatherwise every day is beautiful here.) I had the courage to share my testimony in Spanish. It was a good experience for me, not sure if I was understood but most are kind. We had the family from Guyana join us for dinner. They were so full of faith and love. There story is inspiring. I taped their story on Monday to archive for the Church History Department. He is a branch president in Georgetown. She is of Indian (that is from India) descent, and has a Cinderella story that is more Cinderella than the original. Their daughter is thirteen. She is loved greatly and in return she loves her parents and appreciates their goodness.

Monday night for FHE we had a farewell open house for two couples leaving. The Hendricks are the President and wife of the CCE (MTC) upstairs and the Johnsons are the office couple in the Santo Domingo West Mission. They each had the opportunity to share their testimonies and experiences from their mission and it was a tender parting.

This week President Vinas returned from vacation and we have all been working long and hard. On Wednesday we worked in the temple after putting in a day at the office and on Thursday I had a meeting until 7:30 p.m. and we put in a twelve hour day. It is busy here but where we live is comfortable and we are working hard. Ed's Spanish has come back well and converses most of the day in Spanish in the office and on the phone. I, on the other hand, am still working on it and struggling.