Diego, the infamous, agile, and spunky 69-year-old, got baptized on Saturday! His sister's grandson, Jonhyro, turned 8 this month so they got to get baptized together. Diego was so cute the day of his baptism. He was so happy and just glowing, even if it doesn't seem like it in the pictures, just trust me. He was even happier the day of his confirmation and couldn't stop the tears from flowing to tell the one giving the blessing what his full name was. He told us after church that he felt out of this world and just so good the day of his baptism. It's been so cool to see the Spirit touch his heart and to see him change. Go, Diego, go!
We went to the Bishop's house this week for Family Home Evening and they have a violin!! I got to play it really fast and it made my heart so happy. Oh I've missed that instrument. This week Hermana Perez and I directed a conversation in the Zone about the power of our faith in Christ and the promis he gives us if we ask for something in faith that is good: "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you." -Alma 7:26 Do we realize how powerful this promise is? Whatever we ask that is good, so long as we have faith, it shall be given to us. The Lord has made us that promise. There are many enemies to our faith, and as we recognize them and cast them out, we see the hand of God in our lives. |2 Behold and lo, mine eyes are upon you, and the heavens and the earth are in mine hands, and the riches of eternity are mine to give. 3 Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold, verily I say unto you there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive. 10 And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble,the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual." -Doctrine and Covenants 67:2-3,10 As we cast out fear and ask the Father in faith, we see Him work miracles. The Lord wants to bless us. He wants to hear us humbly ask him in faith for good blessings and miracles in our life. As a loving father, He is glad as we prosper in every aspect of our life and yearns for our success. I am so glad I'm on a mission. I love this time I have been given to serve the Lord. I know that He is our Redeemer and Savior. I know that God lives and that He loves us. Love, Hermana Shaw
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What even happened this week. I am drawing such a blank. Well on Wednesday we went to the capital for Consejo. It was awesome, as usual. Diego is going to get baptized this Saturday! Go, Diego, go! His date was originally for the 30th, but he's ready and has all the lessons, so we talked about it with him and now he's getting baptized on the 23rd. We are finding more families to teach and that makes us HAPPY. We are praying to find more and more and more. The Lord is hastening the work here in the Dominican Republic. One of the families we found is with a single father and his four kids. We contacted him but couldn't teach him that day (there was no 18+ year-old woman around) so we left him a pamphlet about the Restoration and set an appointment. He gave us an incredible impression and we left so happy. Later we passed his house again and he was like "Hermanas! Wait! Wait!" We were scared for a second, thinking he would cancel on us or say he didn't want us to return. He approached us and said, "Hey can I have another pamphlet? My son took the other one, and I still have to read the last page with the definitions." Hermana Perez and I gave a sigh of relief and handed him one. Not a lot of people read their pamphlets here, let alone read until the definitions! Let's just say we're excited for our next appointment with him and his cute family. As we exercise faith in Christ, there is no room to fear. Whatsoever we ask in his name, that is good, shall be given unto us. And so, why fear? Ask, doubting nothing. The Lord shall provide. In His time and in His way, he shall provide. Yet we must have the faith to ask. I love you all. May the Lord be with you. Hermanita Shaw It took us like 18 tries to get a good jumping picture. Worth it. We are always so tired. #missionlyfe On the way to the capital for Consejo de Lideres. Early morning bus rides baby.
Hermana Shaw and Hermana Perez are sitting in a member's house, Isabel, with her brother Diego, who's taking the missionary lessons and is 69 years old. Hermana Shaw asks Diego where his Book of Mormon and tithing pamphlet are. Diego stands up, sprints to the other side of the room, climbs on top of the washer, grabs a post, scales the wall of the house, gets on top of the wall, and hops down on the other side of the wall to gather his things, all in the blink of an eye. Ladies and gentlemen- meet Diego. He's probably the most agile 69-year old man I know.
Oh man. Diego. He is so great. Apart from the acrobatics, there were also some waterworks that same night. His testimony has grown so much since we've started teaching him and he has definitely changed. He's happier now and is so excited to get baptized. Diego has taught me an important lesson. He has taken lessons from the missionaries before and has gone to church and church activities every once in a while throughout the years. Yet it wasn't until now that he decided to really read the scriptures, get his own testimony, and let the gospel work inside of him to bring changes about. It's so interesting because we can be surrounded by the Spirit, but if we don't let him touch our heart, we will never change. We must let him in and allow him to change us. Diego has finally done that, and the change is evident. He's happier. He's kinder. He's more sensitive to the touch of the Holy Ghost. Wednesday I got to go to Hato Mayor for an intercambio with HERMANA JUCHAU, my old MTC companion! It was so cool to be reunited and work in her area with her for a day. We had a good time up in the beautiful Hato Mayor. Oh so maybe you remember Anthony, the 14-year old, self-motivated and determined investigator? We were teaching him my whole 3 transfers I spent in Nuevo Amanecer, and right before I left, we put a baptismal date with him. Well, he got baptized a couple weeks ago! It was so cool to hear that from the Hermanas that are now in Nuevo Amanecer. Anthony is such a good kid. The Lord is blessing us and the entire mission. I am so grateful to be a part of this work. Through Him, all is possible. We are finding more people to teach and are so excited for what's to come. Miracles are happening throughout the mission. As we let the Spirit touch our hearts, we find ourselves changing. And within that change, we find peace and happiness. I am so grateful for the way God has changed me through His gospel. Keep shining, Hermana Shaw It was a beautiful sunny day in the Dominican Republic when Hermana Perez and Hermana Shaw left to their wonderful fellow friend and recent convert's house, Manila, so that they could all journey to the Sunday morning conference session together. They arrived at Manila's house, a bit short on time, but with faith in their hearts that they would arrive on time. As they waited, Manila finished getting ready. When she was done, they could feel the weight of time coming down closer and were relieved to be on their way. They cruised (quite rapidly) to the Stake Center, with a baseball field filling the right expanse and a natural field of grass and trees filling the left. Along they went, happily awaiting the talks of the church's inspired leaders when - THWAP. The car made a great noise and began to limp along the side of the road, gradually slowing down to a stop. Manila exited the car and observed that a part of the tire had come off. She called a taxi. They waited. It didn't come. A man came to reprove them for stopping in the middle of the road. The taxi still didn't come. Someone suggested they say a prayer. With cars and motors zipping by, fields on both sides, Hermana Perez, Hermana Shaw, and Manila huddled in prayer to ask the Lord for some help in their tricky situation. Three minutes later a man approached them and asked them where they were going. He offered them a ride. And as they walked to his car, he revealed to them that he was a member of the church who lived in a town an hour away. He had decided last-minute to take the very road on which the missionaries and the member were stranded. And because of that last-minute decision, they were all able to make it to the conference safely.
I testify that the influence of the Holy Ghost is real. If we listen and let Him guide us, we see miracles and tender mercies. The promise we receive to have the gift of the Holy Ghost after our baptisms is real. We have that privilege, so long as we are worthy for it. The Lord looks out for His children. His tender mercies can be found, every day of our lives. For three days straight in my journal I only wrote, "Today we walked a lot." That description is sufficient for half of our week. Apart from that, we still saw many tender mercies and miracles. Diego is still preparing to get baptized on the 30th. We finally saw Sabrina again after such a long time. She is still so excited to get baptized and has sacrificed so much in the process of getting married. It is a long and difficult one, with a lot of financial stress, but her faith is strong and her hope is bright. She wants so badly to enter into that covenant with her Father in Heaven. She is a great example to me of fierce and courageous faith. General Conference was so amazing. I was hit so hard with the power and truth of the restored gospel as we sat in the sessions. Thanks to the Restoration, we have a prophet to guide us. We have an amazing opportunity to listen to the twelve apostles. I loved the many talks about the temple. The importance of the temple is great. As missionaries and as members, we have a divine responsibility to help others to not only get baptized but to one day enter into the temple. I know that God lives. I know that He loves us. I know that His son, Jesus Christ, atoned for our sins. What a wonderful privilege we have to use that atonement every day and become closer to our divine potentials. I love you all! Look for those tender mercies. Men are that they might have joy. Hermana Shaw Pictures: Us at General Conference We celebrated Hermana Rosario's birthday today with a little lunch in our apartment |
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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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