There are a lot of people here that just like to hear a message about Jesus but don´t want to act on this or hear our message. So it´s easy to find people to talk to but trying to get them to keep commitments and move forward is near impossible. We have one investigator, Alex, that is actually doing well. He is also a reference of the elders. They contacted him about 6 months ago and then never followed up. He saw Elder Wilkinson on the street a few weeks ago, told him off for never coming back, and now we´re teaching him! It´s refreshing to have someone that actually wants to learn about the gospel and do something about it too. Alex has a baptismal date but I think we´re going to need to push it back because he keeps leaving town and hasn´t gone to church yet. But he has been reading the Book of Mormon and is always so prepared for our lessons. He also came to institute this week and a ward activity and is working to give up coffee. It´s refreshing to at least have one person that is progressing. I hope that we can get some of the others to start progressing as well.
We have found 4 different families to teach which is a miracle! The only problem is that none of them are married and therefore none can get baptized until we marry them. But the kids are all really excited about the church and I´m hoping they can help us convert their parents. I love going and visiting these investigators because of their kids. They all run up and give us hugs and talk about their week and how they´ve been reading in their ¨stories of the Book of Mormon¨book with pictures. We had one of the little girls invite us to her birthday party next week which I thought was sweet. We also had one family, and another part of a family in church this week. So they´re making progress! We´ll get them married and then baptized so that these sweet kids can grow up with the gospel!
The English class has been a great way to get some more people to listen to our message. This week we had more people come and a lot of parents want their kids to learn English so we are finding more families this way too. I like to teach because it´s something I know how to do and I feel like I´m helping the country a bit. Many of the adults we encounter can´t read or write and don´t know their age, etc. It makes it a little hard to extend commitments because they can´t read to follow up or anything like this so we have to adapt our teaching style to fit their needs. Even my companion asks me how to spell things a lot of the time because the accent here is so crazy that she knows she doesn´t say things right but doesn´t know what the right way is. At first I thought it was a little comical that she was asking me but now I realize how unfortunate that is.
Adventures in the culture this week! I was SUPER sick wednesday night and thursday after eating with a member on Tuesday. We were doing service and she offered to make us lunch. She asked what I would like and I told her I´d just eat some rice and beans. She was not satisfied with this and set out to make an extra vegetable for me. I watched her move the chicken off the wooden cutting board and proceed to cut eggplant with the same knife on the same board without washing her hands. But I knew that she was making something especially for me so when it was ready I ate it and prayed that I´d be ok. Wednesday night we had to go back to the house early because there are no bathrooms to use out in the field and I needed a bathroom very often if you catch my drift. Thursday I was super dizzy and had the worst stomach cramps but was able to walk and so we proceeded as usual. Never a dull moment here in the DR! One other interesting thing I ate this week...my companion made this drink and it was actually really good. Then she told me that it is rice, water, and pineapple rinds blended together (not the fruit, just the skin). I won´t deny that it tasted delicious...but I also got sick from this as well. haha.
I´m also working on getting over my need for personal space. I didn´t realize I had a problem with this until I came here. The women get mad at you if you don´t greet them with a hug and kiss on the cheek. It is kind to put your arm around someone stroke their hair. Many times in church I´ll be sitting there and feel someone playing with my hair or a member just put their arm around me. It has definitely been an adjustment but I just try to remind myself that they are just being loving.
The mission is great! Some days are a little less productive than others. For example yesterday we walked for 2.5 hours trying to find someone to teach. Every single one of our appointments and back up plans fell through. Eventually we resorted to contacting and were able to teach 1 lesson. 1 the whole day. But I try to never have a bad attitude. During that time I just realized that the Lord is teaching me more patience and to have faith that there are people we can teach. And when our investigators don´t keep their commitments I just picture how awesome they would be as a member of the church. Even the ones that argue with us a bit, I think of how strong they would be as a member arguing in favor of the gospel. Everyone we encounter was one of the valiant once. They have already chosen the Lord over Satan once and I believe they can do it again. With enough time and the spirit, their hearts can be touched and they can come to Christ once more.
I love you all! The church is true, our Heavenly Father loves us and knows so so much!
Hermana Ewell
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