This week was a good last week. It's strange to feel the words "last week" leaving my fingertips.
Last P-Day was amazing... Hermana Barreda and I got special permission to do an intercambio and we went to visit my first area where I also trained Hna Barreda in my third transfer. We got to visit Apolinar and Ana Cubilete, which brought back so many good memories. Sadly others we wanted to visit had moved and there wasn't a lot of time, but I was able to see Maiky and Maicol, the first people I taught that got baptized in the field, on our way home. I love these people. I am going to miss my Dominican friends. Saturday I had my last temple trip with the other missionaries that are leaving then rushed home to make it just in time for Rafael's baptism, which started at 5. It was beautiful. It was so heart warming to see his family bear testimony that God answers prayers in his own time. They have been praying for over ten years that the day would come when Rafael would decide to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. He finally decided to take that step, and now he and his wife are preparing to enter the temple in a year to be sealed for time and all eternity. I know that this is the work of the Lord. I feel so many things right now that this journey is ending. I am excited for the future and what is to come yet I will miss my Dominican family so much. The mission was a very special experience. My testimony has grown so much in this restored gospel. I have been faced with difficult questions and rejection but it has only strengthened my faith. I know that this is the church of Jesus Christ. I know that God loves us. He wants the best for us. He offers us hope. It is through Him that we can overcome whatever temptation or affliction. We already overcame the adversary before we came to this Earth, and we can do it again here. I love you all, Keep shining, I'll see you soon, Hermana Shaw
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We don't have much time to be on the computer today so this will be brief.
This week was good! Our whole District came to our area to contact on Saturday and find people because of what happened with all our investigators the week before. We also went to the Elder's area and helped them out. Their area was definitely different than the ones I've been in. Dirt road... cows... fields... it was cool. Yesterday we went to go visit a joven we had contacted the day before. Her mom came out and answered the door in a not so welcoming way. She told us that she didn't need our lessons and accused us of believing in some things that weren't true. I testified to her and cleared up some of her false perceptions, giving a brief introduction to the restoration. Her attitude changed and she let us in. We taught her, her husband, and her daughter The Restoration and they listened attentively, asking questions. The Spirit was strong. Everyone said they would read, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon and that they would prepare for baptism if they received their answer. That moment was such a testimony builder for me and reminded me to be courageous in my testimony of Jesus. When people have false perceptions of us, we must patiently explain and testify of the truth. If we do so, we open doors and allow them to accept the restored gospel. Rafael's getting baptized this Saturday!! I'm so excited. His family has been waiting for this day for over 10 years. He and his wife have become dear friends to us :) I know that the church is true. This is the church of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for this time that has been given to me to preach the restored gospel. I still haven't processed the fact that it's coming to an end. I think I'm going to be here forever. I love you all, Keep shining, Can't wait to see you all, Hermana Shaw Wednesday was my last Consejo de Lideres. Ah. I bore my last testimony, along with the Sisters and Elders that are leaving with me at the end of transfer. It was surreal. Honestly I never was able to process it. I still don´t feel like the mission is coming to an end. Hermana Carpio, Stoker, Juchau, and I sang a special musical number (attached below).
We are starting this week with a practically empty planner. We either dropped or were dropped by so many of our investigators this week. Quite honestly this week was a bit heart wrenching. Families... progressing investigators... telling us that they didn´t want to hear more. The Lord must have something great in store, and He´s just making room for it. We just need to exercise greater faith and keep looking. He will work wonders. ¨..man doth not comprehend all the things with the Lord can comprehend,¨ (Mosiah 4:9) He has a greater plan. Greater than any of us could ever imagine. I know that He lives and that He loves us. This is His church, restored on the earth. I love you all, Keep shining, Hermana Shaw Well for my birthday we woke up at 4:00 am and travelled to Gazcue (aka the mission office) for an amazing Zone Conference with half the mission. The conference was absolutely amazing. At the end they had the missionaries that are leaving this transfer bear their testimonies. Honestly I didn´t know what to say at first... I still don´t believe that I´m going home. There´s still so much to do! President Corbitt talked about exceptional faith in Christ (as always) and how it helps us to see as God does. He sees all.. past, present, future. And exercising exceptional faith (aka seeing promised blessings as present blessings, having a faith so strong that it´s as if the promise already came to pass) helps us to see more as He sees.
Last night we had an amazing lesson with our neighbor that lives upstairs. To our surprise she told us that the missionaries had never visited her before. She already had a Book of Mormon and told us she had read parts of it. I am totally drawing a blank about all this week. But it was good. We are trying so hard to do this work as the Savior would... talking with everyone, listening to what they have to say, teaching clearly. I feel the Spirit testify to me as we teach as the Savior would. This is His work. We are His instruments. And it is wonderful! I love you all! Keep shining! Hermana Shaw |
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Letters: Sophia Shaw Santo Domingo East MIssion SDQ 4102, 2250 NW 114th Ave. Miami, FL 33172-3652 Packages: Sophia Shaw AP-000914 8540 NW 66th St. Miami, FL 33195 - 2698 lds.org mormon.org Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East MissionArchives
February 2017
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