HOLA! I have officially arrived in the Dominican Republic. There is so little time and so much to write and my mind is spinning with a mix of Spanish and English, so hopefully this comes out comprehensible. It has been so great being here. I absolutely love my mission President, President Corbitt. He is sharp, witty, kind, wise, and so personable. My trainer, Hermana Frias, is wonderful and I love her with all of my heart. She is a native Dominican, but she also knows a lot of English so not only do I get to hear native Dominican (which, by the way, is very different from the Spanish I used to know), but I can also ask for clarification in English. This alone is so wonderful. I am in an apartment with my trainer and two other Hermanas from Honduras, whom I love as well, Hermanas Carpio and Alonzo. Being here has been an adventure. It is not uncommon to see dogs, chickens, or goats in the streets. We live in an area that I would best describe as some kind of suburb. It isn´t city, but definitely not the country either. This week we were having companionship study, and we came across a scripture that said hope, faith, charity, and love qualify us for the work. That hit me so hard. It is those four things that qualify us, not our intelligence, our charisma, or anything else. These are the most important things, and, really, they help to increase our other talents and abilities as well. If we have faith in the Savior to help us and we have the hope that we will be able to become better than we are, then we will. As we exercise charity and love, our inner selves will grow and increase, and blessings, talents, and abilities will follow. The Lord knows. A lot of things about being a missionary are a bit uncomfortable. Almost the whole mission exists outside of a regular comfort zone. Yet, it is only outside of our comfort zones that we are able to grow. Growth does not exist in comfort zones. God sent us here for that precise reason. Our comfort zone of the Pre Earth Life was not sufficient for our growth, and so, God sent us to this Earth, where we would experience difficulties. Things that make us uncomfortable. Things that help us grow. I thank God for every uncomfortable, difficult moment. It is through these that I have found growth. I love you all. I appreciate your letters and apologize that I often am not able to respond. I do appreciate them and I read them, yet often our time is so limited. I love you all. I know that God lives. I know that this is the true gospel. Love, 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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