Puerto Plata

Well it finally happened... I was transferred from Nibaje! Now I am sitting in a much more humid, and remarkably hotter (if that was even possible) internet center in Puerto Plata. This is a tourist town, and with reason. It is BEAUTIFUL! I finally saw the ocean today. I´ve been living on an island for over 9 months now and haven´t seen the ocean for over 8. haha. I´m really excited because as soon as I saw the first postcard of this place I told the assistants that I wanted to serve here...and here I am! My new companion is from Tahiti and I can´t say her last name. Hermana Tuahivaatetonohiti. I call her Hermana Tuah. I met her on her first day in the mission and was the one who took her out to place her first Book of Mormon. She seems really sweet and like a hard worker so I am excited for what this area has in store for us!

We had a few cool experiences this last week. Eslodia gave us 2 references last week and they are both AMAZING! One of them is a man named Yordi. He just got out of jail and Eslodia thought that this might be a good time to share the gospel with him. When we went to get to know him he told us that he has read the Book of Mormon before and really felt the spirit and that´s why he accepted her inviation to meet with us. The other is the lady who styles her hair, Evelin. She has met with a lot of different religions and says that she is honestly searching for a religion that has answers that are better than "you can´t explain all the things of God." She is quite an interesting lady and studies before the lesson and then listens attentively during. When we went yesterday she had read the restoration pamphlet and had a question about God and Christ having different bodies. We explained what we believed about the nature of the trinity and her only response was, "it makes perfect sense." I am sure that she will progress a lot and probably be baptized soon. 

It is a little hard to leave Nibaje right as we are starting to see such wonderful progress in the ward and in the area but I am also excited that another missionary will be able to see the fruits of all the hard work.  One of the perks of being in the ward with the assistants is that I´ve known for a few days that I was going to come to Puerto Plata. I was able to start packing and managed to fit everything back into 2 suitcases and a backpack. The literally is a miracle after 8.5 months in one house collecting treasures. I was also able to say goodbye to a lot of the members which was nice. Usually you find out about transfers the day before and have to get everything ready really fast which leaves little time to say goodbye to people. I passed by the members that have become like family to me and I think it was then that it started to hit me that I´d kind of be starting the mission over. I am excited to be here and work hard and gain new friendships here but it definitely was not easy to leave an area that has become my home.

 

I learned a lot from my time in Nibaje. There were many days when I wondered why the Lord chose to leave me there for so long. It is a hard area and there is just not much progress to be seen. The president warned me when he put me there that it was really difficult and during my time there we talked a lot about it as well. He says it is the ward that he has tried to train the most and really help the leaders and members but the one that is probably progressing the least. Nevertheless, there were many lessons to be learned there. I learned that complaining is a waste of time and excuses are for the lazy and weak of faith. If you have that faith and a positive attitude and then work HARD you will see miracles. It is all about your faith and your dedication. I´ve learned a lot of patience and love for other people. I also learned how to keep going especially when it is tough. And not just to keep going, but to keep working...with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength. So I learned and grew a lot and now I am excited and ready for this new adventure.
 

Well everyone, I know that the Lord loves us. He is working miracles in our lives and is anxiously waiting to bless us if we will just exercise our faith and be anxiously engaged in a good cause. Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Hermana Ewell

Puerto Plata

Hermana Tuahivaatetonohiti (I call her Hermana Tuah) and Hermana Ewell