So many meetings this week. Wednesday was Consejo de Lideres with Elder Martinez, from the Area Presidency. Thursday was Conferencia de Zona with Presidente Corbitt. Friday was District Meeting. My goodness. Meetings. They're good though. And it's nice to live in Gazcue because the mission offices are just down the street! So travel is easy.
We have been working hard here in Gazcue and talking with everyone. It's good. We are very busy yet praying hard to see more fruits from our labors. As we do our part and exercise our faith, I know we will see them (the fruits) soon. This is the Lord's work, not ours. As we help God in His purpose to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, we see miracles and we see lives change, in our own included. Who will you share this great joy with today? I love you all, Hermana Shaw Photo - Leadership Counsel. The Zone Leaders, us (the hermana leaders), and the security counsel sisters, all came to represent the Santo Domingo Zone with PINK. Believe it or not, it was the Zone Leaders' idea.
0 Comments
Thanks to The Bishop of her last area who sent a link to the musical number, "Hie to Kolab". She sings and plays the violin while The Bishop's son, Nelson Familia, plays the piano. https://youtu.be/2Ot9AfP3NoM
On Tuesday I arrived in Gazcue, Santo Domingo and met up with my new companion, Hermana Burrell, from Utah. She is sugar sweet and this is her last transfer of the mission. We live with two other sisters, one of which is Hermana Frias, my very first companion and trainer!! It is so awesome to be in the same house with her again. She's so fun and it feels good to be with an old friend. Gazcue is in Santo Domingo and is a pretty well off area. There are parts that remind me deeply of Europe and beautiful ruins scattered throughout it. Gazcue has a reputation for being a hard area. But I refuse to believe it. As Hermana Frias says, "There are no hard areas, only people with little faith." I believe that. We are going to see miracles! Friday night the whole zone came to our area to visit old investigators from the Area Book and make some contacts. We all united as a zone to find people to teach, especially families, in these two areas that make up Gazcue. It was a good moment of unity for the zone. On Saturday Yoselin got baptized, this adorable lady who the sisters were teaching before. She is a light to all around her. Being in Gazcue has plenty of perks. I get to go running in the morning, we eat with members three times a week, there are lots of cool things to explore, and sometimes it feels like you're walking the streets of Italy or Spain. I'm excited to see what this area has in store! I love you all! Hermana Shaw Today we roamed Gazcue for P-day. There are some pretty cool ruins here. Sometimes I feel like I'm in Europe again when I walk the streets. Yoselin is this adorable lady who got baptized on Saturday! I only got here last week but it's been awesome getting to know her.
Monday. P-day. The sacred day of rest for all missionaries. Hermana Perez and Hermana Shaw return home and notice that they keys are nowhere to be found. They dump their stuff out and check again. Nothing. P-day is already nearing it's end and they are anxious to go out and work, yet by the time the landlord comes to help them, it's already late. The landlord can't help them. They stay the night in Villa Verde with the other sisters. The next day, the blessed Hermana Manila helps them find someone to come pick their lock. Once again, Manila saves the day. Saturday night we received transfer calls. I'm leaving the area and heading for Gascue, which is in Santo Domingo, the capital. I'm going to be with Hermana Burrell, an American. Here I come city life! Benjamin in La Romana treated me well. Here it often smells sweet because of the sugar factory and when it does, there are occasional pieces of ash falling from the sky. The train passes by several times a day and, if we are in the house, it's often difficult to hear one another so I just end up harmonizing to the toot of the horn. Bye train. Bye ash. Bye sweet sugar smell. We have a family we are teaching that is so great. I'm really going to miss them. On Saturday we went to go get a member, Isabel, to come with us because Benjamin is a single father with three sons, and we knew his daughter wouldn't be there. As we left from Isabel's house, it started to sprinkle. Not within five minutes, it started to pour. Hard. WIthin minutes we were soaked from head to toe. We walked quickly for about a half hour in that downpour. and there wasn't one part of us that wasn't wet. As we arrived at Benjamin's street and turned the corner (with his house still quite a ways away), the rain started pelting at us, opposite of the direction we were walking, like little bullets striking three determined, unperturbed soldiers. When we arrived at Benjamin's house he was shocked. He thought we wouldn't come. He said, "If there's no light, the sisters find a car. If there's a flood, they find a boat. Nothing stops you guys, does it?" I believe that diligence and hard work are essential to this work. The Lord has a great vision and who are we to not do everything we can to help him fulfill it? We must give our all to him and exercise our faith by doing the hard thing. Shout out to all the wonderful mothers who did the hard thing and chose to dedicate their time to raising a family, especially my wonderful mother. Love you mom :) Shine on, Hermana Shaw Benjamin and his three sons came to church for the first time last Sunday! I'm going to miss them so much. Us, after the lesson with Benjamin. We are still soaked from head to toe. The District Locked out of the house
Monday. P-day. The sacred day of rest for all missionaries. Hermana Perez and I were chilling in the apartment, She's taking a nap as I caught up writing in my journal. The phone rung. I answered it. The AP's were on the other end, telling me that Hermana Perez and I were going to be in a trio, that we were going to meet up with our new companion in 2 hours, and that we were going to be working in both areas until further notice. Another sister had received her Visa and left for her mission in Florida, so Hermana Jean would have been left without a companion.
That call turned our week into a very fun adventure as we joined Hermana Jean, an adorable sister from Haiti, in order to form our little trio. The majority of the week was spent traveling from one place to another as we dedicated one day to our area, one day to hers, and so on. Ever night we returned to Hermana Jean's area because the apartment there has enough beds for us all. Honestly it was so enjoyable being in the trio :). We had a lot of fun together and were able to still get a lot done and have some really good lessons. There is a boy, Tijo, that only speaks Creole that has been attending our church in Benjamin, but lives in Villa Verde. Thanks to the trio we were able to find him since we were working in both areas and start teaching him. And thanks to Hermana Jean, who speaks four languages - Spanish, French, Creole, and English - it was all possible! Hermana Perez and I would teach our parts of the lesson, and Hermana Jean would translate for us. Trio blessings <3 On Saturday we had another Noche Blanca where six people in the stake got baptized. It was a beautiful service and we, the missionaries, performed a special musical number. There was a man who got baptized that, for medical problems, couldn't submerse himself completely in the water until the third time when two more men entered the font to help him keep his legs down. After the ordenance, our mission president spoke of the importance of complete immersion, and why it was necessary that he be submersed three times in the water. He explained that it is because, just as we must completely submerse ourselves in the water, we must completely give ourselves to God. There are often times where we want so badly to give ourselves to God, yet we can not do it alone. We find that the help of our fellow men and brothers is what allows us to submerse completely, to become more fully a disciple of Christ. We can not afford to hold our arm above the water and consider ourselves fully converted to Christ. Rather, we must give our all to Him and fully submerse ourselves in the water. We are teaching a family right now that is amazing and so close to my heart. Benjamin is a single father with four children and he has the best questions ever. They are so hard sometimes but they have helped me to study better and he has real intent, so all the questions are okay. We are praying that he recognizes the importance of really praying and recognizing the Spirit and his answer. He wants to know more than anyone I've met on my mission. I know that God lives and loves us. I know that He answers our prayers. I know that as we seek to have the Spirit in our lives, He will guide us. I love you all, Hermana Shaw 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 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
So this past week was "Semana Santa." In the DR this means a few traditions: Kiddy pools in the street, beans with sugar (habichuelas con dulce), and it also means that nearly everyone is gone on vacation to the beach or the river. It was amazingly quiet this week and that meant a lot of walking for us because almost nobody was home. Despite it all we got to visit quite a few members and get to know them better and we still managed to find a few new people that seem really awesome. This week was also a week of food-related miracles. So last week I checked my mission credit card and it turns out I was given 1/3 of the normal amount... This meant that we had to be really wise with how we spent our money and it meant that food was going to be tricky. However, that Sunday the bishop had us over for lunch (we normally don't eat with members too often) AND, without knowing the situation we were in, his wife gave us a bag of plantains, eggs, avocado, and juice. It was honestly an answer to prayer and gave us another day where we didn't have to worry. The next day as Hermana Perez and I were leaving the house, we saw Hermana Schmidt and her family driving up... and guess what they delivered?? A bunch of gluten free mixes for us! That ended up saving us another day because we were able to make pancakes since we already had eggs and oil. Ah. Thank you Schmidt family! THEN another food miracle happened: The Faulkners invited us over to eat on Sunday and, as I said, we hardly eat with members here. I'm pretty sure the Lord takes care of us missionaries. Diego is preparing to get baptized in April. Go Diego go! Sabrina is still working on getting married. It is so hard to find her because of her job but she still has so much excitement for her baptism. Nayua finally showed up to church which made us SO happy! She's the cutest 13 year old ever. She understands so well all the lessons and participates in Young Women's as if she was born in the church. I love her. Pictures: Hermana Schmidt passed by on Thursday to say goodbye. GF treats from the Schmidt Family! Me and my new companion, Hermana Perez I love you guys. Look for the miracles in your lives. They happen every day. Hermana Shaw |
Write me! I would love to hear from you! :)
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
|