Livin Dominican: 18 came

Each week gets better here in Conani. We were blessed with so many great experiences this week. First of all...Sara and Alberto accepted a marriage date! We invited them last week to pray about when they should get married and challenged them to set a date. This week when we went to visit them they told us that by October 11 they are going to be married. They are still waiting to get the papers for the states but they said that with or without the papers they will get married in 4 months. Afterward we talked a little more about the family and the Law of Chastity and it was one of the most spiritual lessons I´ve had on my mission. They both expressed how that greater commitment can be an example for their kids and they know they´ll be blessed for their obedience. It was wonderful and I hope I´m stlil here in October to see it all happen.

We also started teaching a 21 year old girl who has been coming to church for quite some time now. We didn´t realize she wasn´t a member until another member told us we should teach her! Her name is Drianilis and she has a date for June 28. She is wonderful to teach. When we go we leave a chapter in the book of Mormon to read with 3 key questions that she needs to answer. She answers so well and always has such great questions and comments to add. She is also really familiar with the bible and it is fun to teach someone so educated.

We had some great opportunities this week to help serve the elders in our branch as well. One of them is from Santo Domingo and finishes the mission in 2 weeks. Friday he received a call that his dad had suffered a heart attack and stroke and was in the hospital dying. They were able to go visit him on Sunday. It has been incredible to watch this elder stay so focused on the work despite everything else going on. If I was so close to being done I think I might just go home. But he has kept going strong. We´ve done our best to be a good support system right now and it makes me grateful to see the hermandad (brotherhood) that there is in the church. It doesn´t matter where we are from or what we are doing or who we are...there is a family there in the church and you know you can rely on them.

The best thing this week was we had 11 investigators and 7 less actives at church on Sunday! 18 people! I could hardly believe it. That is the wonderful advantage to teaching families. We were able to have many people that have been struggling to come to church or who refuse to come that miraculously showed up this week. I hope that this will continue.

Carmen is going to be baptized on Saturday and I am so excited to see her become a member! Things are giong wonderfully here in Conani. I love my area and the people we are teaching, I love the branch, and I love my companion.

Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Ewell