Moca Moca

Well, this was the week that Elder Corder and I have been dreading for the last transfer, Cambios! I was thoroughly convinced that I was going to be pulled out of here. But after much prayer, and fasting I guess the Lord heard the cries of two of his servants. Yesterday at our transfer meeting I was freaking out, it almost felt like the pre game of high school football. I just couldn't really picture myself in another area with not first helping a few AWESOME people enter the waters of baptism. Anyways when the zone leaders told us that I WASN'T leaving I felt the spirit take a hold of me. And on top of that we sang my favorite hymn, Grand Eres Tu. Lets just say that I couldn't hold it in and by the 3rd verse and I started crying like a child. I am soo excited for this transfer. ESPECIALLY because  BERIN is going to get baptized. I love this guy soooo much. We went to visit him last Friday. I have been stressing out about him these past few weeks - due to his work he hasn't been able to come to church. He had asked to get Sundays off from work and it turns out they they other gave him Sundays off for the holidays. Basically long story short, he quit his job to go to church every week and to get baptized. He is such a baller. I might even have him meet mom and dad on Christmas.

Well, I really don't have anytime and I still need to write president so I want you all to know that I am doing well, and igual aca not a lot out of the ordinary has passed. So just take my word for it that all is well. 

About two weeks ago I decided that I wanted to read and study the New Testament in Spanish. On Saturday I was studying a little in the afternoon when I read the parable of the 10 Virgins. I really love the parable and it can be applied to sooo many situations. However, I read in the footnotes that took me to DyC 33 vs 17. I would like to share it with you all, it reads 17 Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having yourlamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom

As the Lord teaches us here in this modern we need to keep our testimonies strengthened and be prepared at all times. I love the Lord and all the blessing He has given me. I know that we need to be consecrated and converted to the gospel of cristo. No one is perfect and we can all improve en eso. I know this time of year which, even though we should always reflect on our savior, this is a time when should comart mas in the family. I am sorry this email has been soo terrible, I just have soooo little time and couldn't prepare myself!

Love you all!

Elder Blake

 PS Don't say ANYTHING about the new star wars movie

 

I bought ninja turtle fabric and had some dude make me a tie.

 

These are my ninja turtle pants that the same dude made. In total I paid 20 bucjets for the fabric and the work, on both the pants and tie

 

Poco Tiempo

Dear Family and Friends. 

I read through my last weeks letter and I am sorry that I wrote half of it in Spanish, that was not my intention. I will try my hardest not to this week!

I have basically nooooo time but I would like to touch on something very briefly. This week I have been thinking a lot of my own personal conversion. I told my companion yesterday basically that even though I have a very strong testimony of the gospel and the power of this work. I feel a lot happier, BUT I still feel like I am the same Elder Blake who bordered that plane in Miami fifteen months ago. It doesn't bother me but I guess I thought the personal change would but something more, I guess juerastic. (I honestly don't know how to spell anymore I'm sorry). Julia here - translation=drastic.  But through the many emails I have received in response to emails I realize that maybe this living the gospel obediently has shaped and molded me into a true servant de Cristo. Yesterday as I was doing my personal study I came a across a scripture in Ezkiel 36 vs 26 y 27 that I had marked many months ago. It reads      26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

I have felt that my efforts of trying to live the gospel and developiong my charity is giving me this new heart and spirit. I testify of the blessings of this gospel and I wish I had enough time to write of all the miracles the lord has permitted me to see in this past week. 

 Con Mucho Amor 

Elder Blake

Carlos, (from elder thalers area) was baptisied this week.

Messing with Elder Thaler

Finnna go teach!

Una Semana Bien Divertida

Wehhhhpaaaaa! (My favorite dominican domincan greeting)

My companion and I have this game we play in the streets. All the cool old people who sit around and play dominoes all day long, will usually say WEEEHHHHPAAA! and give this awesome slight fist wave if you say weehhhpa first. If the person weeehhhpas back and does the fist wave you get to tap the other person on the head. It seems quite silly but it's quite fun. 

 

Elder Corder and I are killing our area. We lead the zone in numbers every week and we are on an awesome spiritual ride. However hay traslados en dos semanas (transfers in two weeks) and I think I'm outta here. The office elders told me they put me on a list of missionaries who they think could take over for them, but I would hate that. Haha pray for me!!

I don't have much to report on. Even though I wasn't home for the Thanksgiving, I had a wonderful day. We made Mexican tortillas and mashed potatoes; it wasn't very traditional. haha. I'm sorry to hear about the Raiders, but it sounds like a hard fought game.

I don't have much time but this week awesome killer. We have an awesome investigator names Edinson. He is 22 years old and recibió una respuesta de que jose smith fue un profeta de dios. SOOOO DOPE. He came to church on Sunday and then he invited us to teach him in his house and to get to know his family. Their shack house burned down a a few months ago and they REALLY live in poverty. However, his family is a testament that money and happiness have little to no correlation. I have never met a family so upbeat and receptive to the gospel of Jesucristo. We are going to put dates with his parents and brother. And if all goes well, Edinson will get baptized in two weeks. Amo a ser misionero!

I can't think of any scriptures sepesically that I read this week. I came straight from a zone activity and mi mente esta en el aire!

I love you all and I hope that you have a great week.

Elder Blake

Dear Family and Friends,

 This week was absolutely killer. I honestly cannot understand just as to how fast time flies by here in the DR. I guess when you're doing something you love with those you love time really lets itself go!! 

I have soooo much to report on that I don't know where to really start, I guess I could say that I still have not heard a single thing about the church policy change here. No one has mentioned it nor known about it until either I or my companion bring it up. 

On Thursday I had to go to Santo Domingo to Renovar mi visa. I went down with Elder Thaler and we left our Greenie comps behind in our areas to go ham! Elder Corder got kicked in the butt with the gift of tounges and was able to answers all questions or doubts that our investigadores had. He is such a stud and has been my best companion by far. On Thursday night we had to stay in Santiago to wake up early and take a bus to Santo Domingo. My CCM comp and buddy Elder Oldroyd who is our mission secretary hooked up Elder Thaler and I and we were able to sleep in his house. The most rewarding part our my trip was being able to leave on intercambios with Oldroyd because we wanted to see just how much we had progressed in the past year. It was a very cool experience teaching with him after such a long time.

On Saturday we had two baptisms: Freddy y Carlos, two brothers who have been investigating the church for the last 5 months. These kids are awesome. When my last comp left I decided to stop teaching the family just to see if Freddy and Carlos would still come to church. They stuck faithfully and have come to church every Sunday on their own since June. All that runs through my head is that these kids are Lincoln's and Noah's ages (9 and 15). It really pulls on my heart strings when I think about the situation that these two young men are in, but I know that they will keep on faithfully in the church. Anyway, their parents haven't ever really progressed. The father is pretty lazy and the mother is very catholic. But Cecilia, the mother was able to come to church for the baptism and after the service our ward mission leader invited her to bear her testimony. Her boys and I started to tear up. It was a very touching experience.

To finish I would like to leave a scripture that I read yesterday in Omni. It's not everyday that someone quotes Omni but I love how he invites us to come unto Christ. It reads 26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

I know that coming unto Christ is what truly brings us joy in our lives. It seems soo difficult at times to live the gospel of Christ but the rewards are many. It has hit me just how simple missionary work is and how satisfying it can be if we do it with all the energy our of soul. I know that I have become a better person coming unto Christ. However he requires that we offer our WHOLE souls unto him, not just a part. We are not perfect but through the gifts and merit of the atonement of Christ we can be glorifed. 

We deep fried oreos, pb n js, pop tarts last night btw, it was honestly really gross.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

El Sacrifico

Family and Friends,

This has been about the most monstrous weeks of my mission. I would say that Elder Corder and I grinded it out and we were very blatantly able to see the blessing of from the Lord for our sacrifice and service. We were able to teach 36 lessons, have 9 investigatores in church and put 6 baptismal dates for December. I was astonished when investigators who we had not thought would progress walked into sacrament meeting. I know that these fruits came from really putting the Lord and his work before ourselves. I have been humbled and refined by the Lord and love the work that He has called me to do. 1st Nefi 20 verse 10.

I would like to give just a few of the many amazing spiritual experiences that we had. Last Tuesday while waiting for an investigator to come home I felt a very strong impression to sit down next to a guy named Alejandro and just talk. As soon as we sat down and started talking he opened up at how hard his life had been for the past few years. He is a really smart and capable guy but hasn't been able to land a steady job. As we began to testify of the plan of salvation his cousin named Edinson came over and we felt inspired to ask he was could teach them a little bit. We started the lesson and the spirit has filled the room, we talked about what our purpose in life is and the importance of living the gospel of jesucristo. After the lesson Edinson looked very perplexed and asked us what he would have to do to be baptized. We testified of this sacred ordinance and that it was for all people who are willing to repent and humble themselves. We invited them to church and we put a date for the 12th of December. Honestly, these kind of experiences aren't too uncommon here, but what happens is that the people are sometimes too lazy to act on the spiritual impressions that they feel. However we invited them to church and out of nowhere Edinson walked into the chapel on his own at about 9:30. Casi tenia lagrimas en mis ojos por eso. 

Another miracle that we had was our lesson with Berling about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. I was very concerned these past few weeks as his baptismal date fell through because he had to start working every other Sunday. We set up an appointment to talk about the Sabbath day. As we testified and promised him of the blessings he accepted the challenge to ask his boss if he could change his Sunday shift. After the lesson he told us that we had to teach him the scriptures about the Sabbath day so that he could share them with his boss and help him also keep the Sabbath day holy. Haha he's such a thug. The next day he called us and told us that his boss was willing and open to let him change his shift so that he would be able to go to church on Sunday...soooo dope!

All in all this has been one of the most spiritual weeks of my mission, and I think I have found the formula to have success in my mission and in life. We need to be obidiente, dedicated and be willing to SACRIFICE. This week Elder Corder and I have been leaving at 9:30 after our comp study to teach and to talk with everyone, and we have been leaving an hour earlier in the afternoon to be able to teach more people. We have come home everyday SOO TIRED but it has been soo very worth it. I know that I am willing to sacrifice because of the love I feel for every single person I meet here no matter how rude or ignorant they might be to us. This week I have thought a lot about John 15 verse 13 that reads 

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Although Elder Corder and I are not laying down our lives, in a way we our sacrificing a greater portion of ourselves that of which the mission and the Lord requires. It has been very humbling to receive these blessings from the Lord. I know that this is the true church of Christ. I know that God is unchanging and that he knows better than his billions of children what brings us happiness. I love being a missionary for the church of jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias. 

Until next week! Elder Blake

 

Elder Corder and I with the matching Padre y Hijo ties we made

On a see saw with elder thaler

 

Amebas beard lol

Halloween in the DR

Captain Blake

The most GHETTO zoo of all time. No habia mas personas. And if we wanted too we could have hoped in the lion cage.

Wicked close to this fierce ostrich

Ether 12:27

Dear familia y amigos, this week I was finally able to get back up on my feet!  We had transfers today and my best buddy Elder Thaler (who lives with elder corder and I) is now training! This past week we had jokingly been hoping that Elder Thaler would train an American. Elder Hawks rolled up this morning at about 11 and he is a STUD. I know that these next six weeks are going to be LEGENDARY. I couldn't be more excited.  We are going to go hard!!!

To get back on track, this Friday I was able to leave the house and get to work! However, this week has been really rough and showed me that the Lord humbles the prideful.

Let me explain, On Friday we had planned Berlins baptisimal interview and he is SOOOO prepared for baptism. He has a testimony, he is living the gospel and wants to serve a mission, aka a golden investigator. However in the past 5 days a chain of events has stumped me and just has me and Elder Corder questioning ourselves and the Lord why. To start things off Friday Berlin wasn't home and he called us to tell us that his dad wants him to hold off on baptism so that he can investigate the church a little bit as well (all in all this was a silver lining because now we can try to teach them both) But it was just hard at the last minute. Second, his boss changed his work so that he will have to work all day Sunday, every other Sunday, to see that he will never be able to attend frequently. However he says he is going to talk to his boss to see if he can switch his schedule. And finally his cousin was murdered on Monday by two muggers about 5 minutes away from his house. All in all things have gone down hill this past week with Berlin. I still believe firmly that the Lord will provide a way and just requires that we give a little more effort and demonstrate a little more faith. Pero nada voy a seguir para adelante!

Also having to stay home sick for a week was a very humbling experience, I was able for many hours to sit and study the Book of Mormon. I have been able to find and analyze soo many things that I haven't previously understood. Basically I love the Book of Mormon and the example of Nefi.

In this situation, I have been able to reflect a lot on Ether 12:27, which has been my favorite scripture since I was a deacon.  However I know that the Lord requires his servants to be humble and repentant. I have a new-found love and desire for the Lord and his work. I love being a missionary and doing what the Lord wants me to do.

Amo el evangelio de jesucristo y se que lo que estoy haciendo es lo mejor. No quiero estoy en un otro lugar con niguna otra persona. Amo mi salvador y la expiación. Se que el libro de mormon es el libro mas corecto de todos los libros.

Bueno ya se fue el tiempo!

Hasta la próxima semana! 

Elder Blake

A house full of americans! from the left to right (Elder Thaler one of my best buddies, Hawks thalers kids, Corder my kid y Yo)

Worst week of my life!

October 28th, 2015

Brigham: Online!

This has been a very hard week. I have been diagnosed with dengue AND amebas. I havent been able to leave my apartment for 6 days.

 

Julia:  Oh my goodness!!!! WHAT??? What is the prognosis?? Are you getting the care you need???? Aren't amoebas really hard to get rid of? I haven't ever heard of dengue.

Are you going to get 100% better????

 

Brigham:

Dengue is an illness past by mosquitoes a lot like chicangunya and malaria. I had a 104 fever for 3 days straight and it just hurt to move any part of my body, especially my head. Thankfully i feel a lot better now but ill still be in my house until Friday with out being able to leave and proselyte. Have you ever heard of having amoebas in your stomach before?? 

But yeah Im taking some super killer meds for the amebas but ill be good!! On the plus side i have a SWEET beard right now.

 

Jonathan:  Dang - I'm very sorry!!
What is dengue??  Amoebas like stomach bugs. What are your symptoms.  Treatments and outlook?

 

Julia:  Oh my crud!!! Please make sure you are getting enough CLEAN water and food!! I am so so sorry you've been practically dead and I'm home worrying about stupid things in my life. 

I want to fly down there are take care of you!! Have Elder Corder send pics of you with your beard.  

Brigham: I have pictures on my camera but my camera is at home.

I don't know a lot about dengue but its not fun!! Just look it up on the internet!!

Mom, how are you doing??

 

Jonathan:  Has your fever broken??

So like a really bad flu - you've had. When I left Colombia they gave me some pills (I guess it's meds) that basically did a cleanse of my gut and intestines.  Don't remember details but seemed like it just flushed things out good. Do you have a mission doctor that's from the US that you can consult with??

 

Brigham:  My fever Broke yesterday. But yeah its basically a really bad flu that sometimes comes with some other pretty wicked symptoms after the fever breaks, tal como un rash etc. But we have a mission nurse. (Hermana Grange) I have been on her radar since Saturday but she walked my through what I should be doing and such. 

She paid me a visit yesterday and took a picture of my beard and said that I was going to make her weekly blog. I don't know what it is but Ill ask her for it the next time I talk to her.

 

Julia:  So you haven't seen a doctor??????

You are out of the house today. I initially thought your first email said you were in your apartment. I will look them up. Can I PLEASE contact the mission doctor?? Do you have an email for him or anyone that does? 

 

Jonathan:

I just read about it online.  Mosquito borne virus.  Glad your fever has broken!!  That's good.   Not a lot you can do for it except ride it out.  Says take acetaminophen (NOT aspirin) 

Going forward lather up in mosquito repellent!!!!

Ask your mission nurse what to do for the amoebas.   Hopefully it's not too bad.  Most of my time in Colombia is felt like I had "Rock gut". 

As long as its a good doctor -no witch doctors or voodoo crud 

 if your mission nurse is from the US you're probably in good hands - hopefully she's experienced for the tropics.

 

Brigham:  Yeah Hermana Grange is the best. She bought me gatorade and I am drinking a lot of water! I can't really eat much though.These things are really common here and I wont have any complications. I am taking some medicine and just resting.

BTW I left our house to come write but the internet center is right around the corner. 

 Yes Hermana Grange is from Oregon and shes awesome. She works harder than ANYONE! I dont know how you can contacty her right now but when I talk to her ill get her info.

However I am gonna have to go lie down, love ya sooo much!

Elder Blake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wayyyyy

Wayyyy this week has been SOOOO awesome. It has honestly been flying by sooo fast that I can't even beleive it. I live in a house of four with Elder Thaler (we lived in the same room in the MTC) and he's one of my greatest friends of all time. We are both going to BYU after the mission and everynight we talk at how amazing the mission is and how sad we will be to finish. However, I'm living everyday as if it were my last!! But it's sad, thinking in the prespective of the mission that we are on the downward slope. As much as I love and miss everyone there is NOTHING like being on the Lord's errand!

This Week Elder Corder and I KILLED it. We had one of our best weeks yet and we felt very guided by the Spirit. It was a week that required a lot of faith because we had to drop Leo y Maria and a few other investigators, however, the Lord has provided the way so that other prepared people have the chance to recibir el evangelio restaurado. For example, a month ago Elder Corder contacted a DOPE family and just because we have been soo pressed for time we hadn't been able to go back until this week. We went back and they had read the whole phamplet and prayed (that is RARE here in the DR). We will be going back to on Friday and we are going to put some dates with them.

I think my happinest moment was with our investigators Berling (he's a spritual stud) and Juan Shira. 

Berling is on the fast track to baptisim for the 31st and he is sooo pumped. His older sister is now participating in the lessons and in Berling's words 'our words are now convincing her' but we really know that it's the Holy Ghost!! They both promised to come to church this week.

Juan Shira is a recent convert's son and he was a HUGE thug. One night as we were sharing with the family I asked him if he wanted to share with us and he did! Anway, we testified of the blessing of the gospel of Jesucristo and he has turned his life 180 degrees these past two weeks. His mother told us that he has stopped drinking and leaving at night...huge steps!!

I know that this is the work of the Lord and that the Holy Spirit can help us divinely if we try to be obidiente at all times. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of god. One of my favorite scpritures is in Mosiah 23 vs 21 and 22. I don't have time to find it but I hope y'all can look it up!

Love you all! nos vemos!

Elder Blake

This week has been amazingly spiritual. Elder Corder and I got down and dirty and killed ourselves in the service of the Lord. It was a hard week because we have seen such little fruit. On Sunday we were expecting to have a great turn out of investigators but between having Stake Conference in another church building and just classic excuses no one showed up. It was a little rough but kind of a huge wake up call for me and Elder Corder because we gottta work harder or just work in the Lord's way.

We read a scripture during our companionship study that we are now ponderizing. It reads: 

18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.

 19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come;wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

Even though I have read the Book of Mormon twice on my mission and a hand full of times before. This scripture really penetrated me yesterday as we read it read it together for our personal study. It's funny to me just to think how self-centered I can be, and how the gospel of Jesucristo is for ALL MEN. It was an amazing reminder to me that I have the ultimate opportunity to share the gospel and change the lives of los mocanos. I know that we receive a testimony after diligent study and prayer. I love the Lord and his work. I have seen and felt the mysteries of God literally being poured over me in personal revelation. I wish I had more time to go into detail but I gotta sign off and go preach!

I love you all!!!!

Elder Blake

Elder Tippits and I at the 2 week Trainers Meeting.
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Elder Corder and I

Drinking Malta Morena

General Conference

Wayyyyyy Que lo Que mi amada familia y amigos.

This week has FLOWN by in all aspects, and General Conference was absolutely killer. Before, it always seemed that I would count down the clock for the sessions to be over, but these past three conferences in the mission have been completely opposite. I was able to learn a lot and confirm many doubts that I had as well.

This week Elder Corder had his first little break down about Spanish. Even though he is wicked smart he just let a few little things get to him and was visually discouraged. I talked some sense into him and after about 10 minutes he was rockin and rollin once again. I basically just told him that the only person who wants him to be discouraged is satan, and if he was putting in his part,God is obligated to return the blessings. It turned into a really great moment and our relationship grew a lot. Honestly, Elder Corder has been an answer to my prayers and a truly great friend. I think we will be life long buds.

This week has been HARD. I have been pondering a lot about why because these past 10 weeks have been the hardest in the mission even though these have been the weeks when I have tried my absolute hardest to be obediente. Literally Elder Corder and I do everything that we are supposed to and them some.  Sadly, all of our stud investigators just kind of all had obstacles as for why they couldn't go to General Conference. It broke my heart because it seemed that there were talks that were WRITTEN for them!! Especially Leo y Maria and Berling!! I love the mission but when people don't progress a little part of me dies inside. But I guess that's a good thing because it really shows me just how important the gospel of Jesucristo is to me. However, I know that God has something great planted in our path.

I wish I could really express the emotions that I am feeling right now. However, I think those who really know me will know how important this work is to me and our Father in Heaven. I love you all sooo much and I hope the best for everyone this week.

God bless the USA, BYU and the Raiders!

Elder Blake

 

This is Berling, and 19 year old stud who HAD a baptisimal date for the 24th. He didnt go to church this week so we have to push it back. Pray for him!!

I dont know why its soo hard to find waffle crisp but I found it here and it made my Pday, I ate the whole box in less than 24 hours.

Elder Corder far left, Elder Thaler (my best friend here thank the heavens that he lives in the house with us) y yo). We lost power last night at 10:30 and it was wayyyy to hot to sleep without a fan, sooo we took our mattresses outside on the balcony. However it was still wicked hot and impossible to fall asleep haha.

 

Best week in a longggg time

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been without a doubt one of the best weeks of my mission. It's truly mind boggling just how fast time flies by. As of right now, I hope that my mission never ends because it is such an amazingly spiritual experience. Who else can really say that their purpose and job 24/7 is to help others find true happiness in their lives? Esto si es algo maravilloso! A few days a go I woke up from a dream at 3am, where I was sent home from my mission and I was only allowed to return on TWO condiciones. 1. If I were to LOVE everyone as Christ loves and 2. to be 100 percent obiendte. As of this dream my desire to work and served the Lord has sky rocketed.

This week, Elder Corder has taught me sooooo much. My kid came SOOO well prepared in all aspects. His ability to teach is phenomenal, his knowledge of the scriptures is uncanny and his attitude is impeccable. Basically we just hit the ground running and now we are changing the world. Not to mention that he is very witty and funny and brightens any dampening situation. Basically Elder Corder was an answer to my prayers. Anyways let me give a few highlights of this week.

This week, we decided to give Leo y Maria one final chance (they haven't come to church yet and kind of stopped progressing. However they're basically my family here. I LOVE them soo much.) One Saturday we went to talk about faith and works. The lesson became very spiritual and they came to realize that they needed to act on the impressions of the Spirit that they have felt. By the end of the lessons the whole family was crying and I was as well. They had a commitment for that morning however, they promised to come to conference on Saturday and Sunday, I know its gonna change their lives!! Pray for Leo, Maria, Angie, Wendy y Lilly! They're such an amazing family.

On Thursday, we went to Berling's house. This kid is a STUD. He went to church for the first time 2 weeks ago and he LOVED it. On Thursday after talking about Jose Smith he asked me, Elder Blake I read Moroni 10 3 through 5 and after  I prayed and felt something really different, something that I have NEVER felt before. I was SOOO pumped!! We testified of the fruits of the Spirit and he recognized that it was an answer from God. We hadn't really been thinking about picking a baptismal date, but he told us that he wanted to be baptized and be a missionary. Pray for Berling so that he will be ready for the 24th of Octubre! 

Anyways this week has been very spiritual. As many know I have a slight case of ADD which has made it really hard for me on my mission to teach effectively. I sometimes just go all over the place. However, with Elder Corder, EVERYTHING we have taught so clearly and effectively. Even as I'm teaching I just think, 'Wow! this all makes soo much sense now'. I love the DR sooo much and the chance I have to serve the Lord. I hope that we can all be member missionaries para llevar a cabo la inmortalidad y la vida eterna de los hombres!

Les queiro mas que sepan!

Elder Blake

1st Nefi 17 vs 13

Wayyyyy mi querdida familia y amigos.

This has been an awesome week. I am wicked short on time for all but I hope I'll be able to address a few of the highlights of this week. However, as normal, the heat has been killer! I think it's safe to say that I sweat about a gallon a day. Haha khaki pants were really a bad idea because it shows sweat easily...let's just say that if you're not careful it can be very embarrassing!

As I have written for the past few months, this week was the big week....Richard's Baptism. I left the church in a taxi at 5 and got to La Vega at 5 30. I saw the true beauty of the DR that I haven't been able to see; I honestly can't describe the beauty, but it was exactly how I imagine the Garden of Eden would be. I'll be saving up to come back and see the true colors of la Republica. In La Vega, I was able to catch up with Frieny, Melvin and Cesar (Cesar is the menos activo who is going to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood this up coming district conference). Dang visiting everyone I love in La Vega made me wicked sad. But I don't want to be negative!1!

As for the baptism itself, I felt as if a huge burden was lifted as I baptized Richard. After the ordinance he began to tear up and testify that he truly felt the remission of his sins. It was such a powerful confirmation to my own testimony.

This week I began to read the Book of Mormon again. I am reading and marking any instance that menciones the gospel of Jesucristo: Aka, Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost and endurance. Their really is such a richness that one can receive to studying and applying the BoM. I was reading today in 1 nefi 17 when the Lord commands Nefi to go and build a boat. It says:

         13 And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

I know that it's really the Lord who leads us if we do everything within our power to obey his commandments. Thankfully, he hasn't commanded me to build a boat, but I know that He expects great things of us. I have felt His presence with me and have received many confirmations of His love for me and His children here in the DR.

Love Elder Blake