Week 59: San Jaun de Maguana: Five transfers in one area!

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well this week is transfers but I am staying in San Juan for a fifth time. This is actually pretty strange to go 5 in an area, but it has happened to me twice. By the time I reach 16 months here in the mission, I will have served in only 2 areas. Kind of crazy.

So what’s up with the girl Jake is dating? Is it serious or not? Is she a returned missionary? These are important questions.

This was a really great week. Thursday was an extremely cool day. I woke up at 5:00am and got ready. Then the zone leaders, Elder C and I left for Azua, which is about an hour and a half away from San Juan and about two and half hours from the capital. Anyway, we got there about eight in the morning for a special training for the district leaders. It was a super spiritual training and we looked at how we can be better district leaders and better help the members of our district. They suggested this really cool idea that we look at the missionaries in our district as investigators. Then we need to try to discern the needs of each member of our district. It was a really cool idea. We talked a lot about district meetings and about Captain Moroni. It was fantastic! 

Later that night I went with Elder C to his area and we had a really cool experience. We were going to a member’s house, but as we got close we heard a bunch of screaming and fighting so we decided it was probably a bad time. But as we were walking away, we both felt the impression that we should go back. So we went and knocked on the door. The member answered, but looked pretty upset. She invited us in we sang a hymn with her. It’s called Mas Santidad Da Me (More Holiness Give Me). Anyway, I really love it. We sang that and then Elder C looked at me for the scripture and I started talking about Alma chapter 7 when it talks about Jesus. It’s probably the scripture that has caused the most spiritual experiences here on the mission. It almost always brings tears to my eyes. I didn’t even know this woman and I started sharing this scripture and she started crying. She tried to hide it at first but then after a while she admitted defeat and started crying pretty hard. The spirit was super strong and I started crying a bit too, but nobody judge, it was a powerful moment. 

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according 

to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Anyway that was my week. It was a very good week with lots of adventures.

Love,

Elder Stark 

Week 58: San Jaun de Maguana: WHY???

Dear family,

Hey I sent a few more photos you might kill me for, especially the one with the spider, but I had to do it.  I've had a super good week. We have been working really hard to strengthen this area and this branch. It’s been pretty great and we are starting to see a difference. We are going to keep going and prepare this area to be super strong!

I had an interesting experience this week. I actually had to go into the sister’s apartment in my district and give one of them a blessing. It was really weird because she was in her pj's and stuff. Normally we are super careful not to be in any inappropriate situations with the sisters and here I was in their house while she was in pj's and I felt super uncomfortable, but it was a really good experience.

The other story this week happened when we went to a less active family’s house and there were two youth who are super inventive.  It was awesome because they made me this thing to put over my camera flash to turn it into a black light. So needless to say I drew on myself in highlighter and took some pictures.

Also, this week I was at a p-day activity just playing sports at the branch building in the sister’s district and these two girls from the other branch saluted me with a kiss on the cheek. I just froze because I had no idea what to do. It’s only happened to me a few other times, but it was funny because a few members and the hermanas started laughing at my facial expression. Apparently it was super awkward; typical Dominican missionary story. 

But anyway this week was super awesome as well because my district got 3 baptisms. I was super proud of them. We are all working really hard and I feel like I'm getting more comfortable being a district leader. It’s pretty fun apart from all the numbers and stuff like that.

I think dad that you should tell the kids preparing to serve a mission to start reading the scriptures with the mind of an investigator, looking for how to explain points of doctrine and reviewing chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel. I think that would help them.  I am planning on taking you all to the Santo Domingo temple when you come! You will love it!!

I love you so much I cant wait for the day to see you again but for right now I've got to work! The field is white and ready to harvest I love you so much! 

Elder Stark

Week 57 San Juan de Maguana: We found a tarantula the size of my face!

Dear Mom and Dad,

I’m glad you guys had a good week. I sent tons of photos this week and I hope you like them. I had a pretty great p-day. We just cleaned the house and then played Monopoly. I actually won with only 3 properties. It was pretty funny because the Latinos were all getting pretty upset. But yeah, this week was super good. We had a lot of good lessons. There was one day when we had a super spiritual lesson. I was talking to a ward member who was a returned missionary, but was excommunicated and then re-baptized. Anyway, he is super active but doesn’t have the priesthood yet. He has been having a lot of problems with his daughter being rebellious and stuff, so we were over there and he asked us to give her a blessing.  We happily did it and the Spirit was super strong. Then later, we shared how the Atonement is for everybody and how Jesus can help us overcome any challenge that we face. It was a very powerful moment and it actually brought me to tears! It was very special and afterwards the dad gave me a huge hug and was crying as well. Very spiritual moment. We also had over 30 lessons this week. And on Sunday we found a tarantula the size of my face.

Dad, to answer your questions:

1. What I would tell the youth is that my mission is the time of my life where I have grown the most. Just becoming a better person everyday, and that I feel like the mission has completely changed the course of my life. Not that I was going down a bad path, but it has completely changed what I want out of life and how I feel about the gospel in my life.

2. Well as a district leader, I really don’t do much. I have to watch out for the sisters and make sure they get home on time each night. Then every Tuesday, I have a meeting and talk about the investigators and then yeah, apart from that. I just have to set a good example. I’m not sure if I’m a good leader, but I try my best.

Anyway, I love you mom and dad and hope that you are having a good day! I miss you tons. 

Love,

Elder Stark

Week 56 San Juan de Maguana: I am being safe and having a great time

Hey mom and dad,

 So this week was pretty amazing.  We had two p-days here because we actually had New Year’s Day as a p-day also. It can be a little dangerous here in the Dominican Republic on New Year’s Day so we didn’t do missionary work. But nothing happened and it was a good day. We had all the elders in the zone at our house and we made some good food and ate it on the rooftop. It was a lot of fun! Then we stayed up to see the fireworks. It was pretty cool and we just sat around and talked a bunch until way late. Then the next day we got up and went for a big, long hike to some waterfalls. It was a lot of fun hanging out at these waterfalls and it was quite the adventure. I’ll send pictures next week, but it was great fun. The rest of the week we have been working really hard with the less active members in my area. But I just want you to know that I am being safe and having a great time here in the DR and I am working hard. I love you mom!

Elder Stark