A Baptism brings joy...and pictures

It has been an amazing week. We got a baptism, we're getting all kinds of referrals from our recent converts and we're getting the ball rolling with all the members here. I think my spanish may be slipping a tidge but we put the goal as a companionship this next transfer to just speak spanish. My comp wants to dominate it, I want to get it back. I like the plan. I have too long without a spanish comp and I don't like it.

So, it's been a pretty good week, like I said. We got Radhamez baptized and he's been just thrilled, I think he may get a temporary job at the park that the church owns here in Bonao. It's a pretty little property that wards come to from all over the country and the carribean. We got to go there today and it really is just awesome. I had been there before, but since then they've put in a water slide (which of course we didn't get to use, but it was pretty sweet looking anyway), and I think we may be going back in a couple weeks. We ended up just playing ping pong because it rained about the whole time, but we enjoyed that a ton.

It's been raining a ton here, like daily for a while. It's Bonao, so that's expected, but I'm getting tired of the smell of mold each time I peel off my shoes at night. It smells like a locker room in our apartment. We try and contain it, but it's just.. well that's a little gross I'll stop talking about that for a bit.

So I'm FINALLY going to send pictures to make up for the briefness of this letter. But, just know I'm in good shape here and working so hard I just completely lose track of time. Everything is just hourly. I don't even look at calenders anymore unless it's to set a baptismal date or schedule a meeting. The mission is getting intense.

Tomorrow we have a training meeting with the assistents and president, so that should be good. My comp and I are getting along great. He cracks me up, reminds me of matt a lot in his humor. Except with an accent.

Well, you were right about another door opening after a few shutting. We have some seriously great investigators, a lot that we've found just in this week. Frank, this 18 year old youth, is just awesome. He's got so much energy. We met him about 3 weeks ago, but he left for Christmas vacation, so he finally came back and he picked up right where he left off. He's just golden. And Humberto is also progressing well. So we should be getting a couple more before all is said and done in Bonao (hopefully...).

Here's the pictures. Oh, and to answer your question, there was just one ward here in Bonao before, and it was part of the La Vega stake, but now there are 2 branches and it is a district. I think that's because there are just TONS of less actives everywhere. The world is just going to crap and unfortunately a lot of the members are being brought with it. It's sad, but we're trying to work with them as well.

I love you two, hope you're well and safe, eating your fine habanero jerky and enjoying life.

Until next week...not a second wasted.

"I love the mission......."

Hey family,

Woooow what a week. Ok, first of all I'll tell you the bad news. Lily and keli, the couple that was going to get married and baptised and lived happily ever after, told us this last week that they didn't want to continue.. It hurt. To add insult to injury, two more investigators also told us that they didn't want to continue for different reasons, either work or their psycho mother, but it's been tough on the work desire.

The one thing that's really kept us going strong (among a few other things) is a man named Radamez. As we have worked with him, he has progessively gotten more and more open with us. Here's his story.. He is 61 years old, always lived a great life, and had his wife and his family there and a pretty great house, but really felt pretty empty inside and unsatisfied with worldly things. About ten months ago he lost his job, and with it his wife and somehow in the process just about everything he owned.. But he did have at least a fridge (more like a mini fridge), a fan, an old tv, and a dvd player. Well, since we've started teaching him EVERYTHING has broken, even the fan. This man has nothing. He doesn't even have things to eat a lot of times. A company he worked for (he's an electro-mechanic) owes him about 2000 dollars, but refuses to pay. He just can't get a break. But, despite all this, he has always worn a smile each and every time we go and teach him. He has a baptismal date on Saturday and a super powerful testimony because he truly has been humbled. He doesn't have much, but he has the gospel.

Last friday we went and gave him a meal of chicken and yuca, this potato like like root that grows here. He said he hadn't eaten for a while.. I don't know how long that was, but I can imagine he had been a while without food. It warmed my heart to see his mostly toothless smile as he saw the food.

I love the mission so much, it seriously makes me near to tears thinking about this man. I have grown to love him so much.

A good little funny story as well that had my comp and I laughing for a while.. We have a really hick investigator that is always willing to share but always super uninterested in the lessons.. His grandson comes outside just before a lesson on sunday and is crying because he thinks his baby chicken is dying. Guillermo tries to comfort him by resucitating the chick with mouth to mouth (which by the way is actually the reason it's dying at this point) then he sets the chicken on the ground and it starts walking really wabbly as if it has rubber legs. It's seriously not near as funny unless you were there, but try and picture it.

And that beef jerky sounds just wonderful. I really thought the one you sent me was great, slackhouse, but if you believe this Ed's is the greatest thing ever I trust you. I can't wait.

I miss you two. Radamez, the investigator, is getting baptized this Saturday. I am pumped. He's truly converted though, that's what really matters.

Love you two. I'll keep working hard. Today is the first good bit of rest I've gotten in 3 weeks, and it felt just wonderful.

Be safe, be good, see you in just oer 8 months,

till next week, not a second wasted,

Elder C. Rufus Sweeney

Just a quick note...

Ok, this may be a shortish letter. It seems like every time we go to santiago my letters are ridiculously short, and super undetailled, but here´s a summary of the week;

-we found the second counselor, Humberto. He´s amazing. He prayed about the restoration (to know if it was true) until his knees were bruised. He has now become a great example to me.

-I bought more brownies in Santiago. We should be eating pretty well after all this transfer :)

-My comp and I get along great. He is the man. I don´t know if I´ve ever worked harder in my life in anything. We lack sleep at times, but something keeps me moving along... The unseen force of the hand of the Lord I suppose, but it´s amazing.

- We set two more baptismal dates, one with Humberto and one with a man named Ericson, who´s also pretty amazing (I´m thinking young men´s leader.. cross your fingers)

Annnnnd.. I think that´s all the big news this week.

I am so glad to hear about Romney. Hahahaha pathetic.. I don´t care how you slice it, a win is a win, he can start talking trash when Obama and Romney square off. I´ll be there to help the Romney cause.

I loved your letter. Glad to see Manu doing well. He´s an old family friend now. He´s great it sounds like. I´d like to meet up with him at BYU if I can one day, we´ll see if it happens.

I´m sorry this is brief. I´ll be writing more next week (I put lots of spaces to make it look longer), but I think all my teams are winning their bowls. That´s great news.

Love you two. Play golf for me, please. It´s something I´ve missed more than ever these last few days. Hit an extra couple putts for me, pretend it´s a putt off, and let me win. Cool? Cool. We´ll see you guys in a few months.

Till next week, not a second wasted (and wearing my Christmas golf tie),


Elder C. Rufus Sweeney

More Christmas musings.....

I loved your letter. Ha even though I just talked to you Sunday you still sent just as much as usual. It seems like we didn't actually get all that much real communication in.. Like the good meaningful stuff until like the last 20 minutes. It was a massive commotion in the house, which was exactly how I like it. Seeing everyone was so cool. All the kids are GIANT! I am still just stunned.. and it's only been a year and 3! Wow. That just blows my mind.

My new comp is the man. It's not easy training 24 weeks straight, especially in the same area, but we're pushing each other so it's been great. Here in Bonao we still have the same usual investigators, and the others we're sort of cycling through.. It's a little tough here at times because everyone will have you in. That's never the problem.. It's just getting them to make commitments. You already pretty much knew that though.

Oh one interesting thing is that one of our investigators, Roberto, actually lived in England for like 9 years, so he's taken a real liking to my comp and now is doing us favors like giving us rides to the super market and back in his SUV (still not sure how he can afford an SUV, he's not wealthy by any means), and he's going to make a meal for us tonight. But, we don't just take advantage of him as it seems, he actually wants to put his life in order and expressed to us last night that he would like to be baptized.. We'll see where it goes.

I am really happy. Honestly it's been so great lately. The zone leaders are both americans as well so we get to do a lot of activities with them. We played a ton of ping pong with them today for p-day. Later on just my comp and I went to La Sirena and shopped, also buying lunch. It was just what we needed, rice, baked chicken and mashed potatoes with melted cheese on top.. almost an american meal...

That brings me to the next thing.. I don't want to look at a plate of rice for a LOOOOOOONG time when I get back.

I love you two. I enjoyed hearing from you so much. Best Christmas present by far...

Wow, just 9 more months,

Till next week, not a second wasted,

Elder C. Rufus Sweeney

Pictures!!!!

Good News and Bad News....

So what´s the bad news, you´re asking? Well basically just the fact that I couldn't write you yesterday. And the good news? There's a lot of that. I have lots of pictures for you! I finally found someone with a connection. Yesterday we went up to Constanza to climb a mountain (which I am STILL just EXHAUSTED from), and got back latish, so I didn't have time to write. So now I'm writing you today. It was so amazing, and actually legitimately cold. I have to say, the Elders in my district, Elder Fleurima (yes, if that sounds familiar it should, it's the brother of the hatian comp I had a couple months ago) and Elder Ruiz are just awesome. We had a blast climbing up to the peak where the divino niño is, and taking pictures along the way. I have to say, the hike itself was really tough. I am definitely not in the shape I was at the house. As fun as it was, I am feeling it today. My comp and I could barely get out of bed. And, we were a little broke from the trip (it's a little expensive to travel to Constanza, and it wasn't reemborsable yesterday), but it's all good because apoyo arrives tomorrow, so I'll get along just fine.

And what else on the good news front? Well, let me just say I'm staying in Bonao 2 more transfers. Yes, I got another call from President last Friday and I will be training another new missionary right here en la ciudad de Dios. I am really pumped and all, but training is tough. I will liken having to train 4 transfers unto a steak dinner.. It is as though someone served me a huge steak dinner, baked potato, salad and Dr. Pepper and I loved every bite, stuffing myself to the brim.. Then having them bring me another plate of the same thing and having me eat that too. I felt so great about Elder Johnson, thought everything was just perfect and complete, and that I'd be leaving Bonao and going to another city for new adventures and a new comp.. But that's not what the Lord had in mind. And so I prayed... I prayed like I haven't prayed for a long time for strength to regain my super energy level like that when Elder Johnson got here.. And I feel really great. I feel like I'm ready.

This go around I am going to do some things differently. Instead of trying to load up the new missionary with everything all at once, I will take advantage of the full 12 weeks with him and make him feel comfortable. He will be here right around Christmas time, which is tough enough as it is, and so I will make a special effort to make him feel comfortable at that time. Make him a nice dinner and such. If you could send me a good, easy recipe for cinnamon rolls that wouldn't involve a mixer (and I don't know if they have frozen bread here...) that would be awesome! I want to coordinate that with the Zone Leaders also.

I loved hearing that Grandpa's surgery went so well, but the fact that his memory is going so fast is so strange. And sad. It'll be a miracle if he recognizes me when he gets back.

And that's the biggest news. Oh and we've got 2 baptisms this saturday. Fernando, a young man of 22 years and Hansel, a little kid of 10 years that lives with a family who are all members. That's gonna be the house I eat at on Christmas Eve.

My comp and I are pumped about that baptism. I'll be taking lots of pics of that too and try and send them asap, but for now this is all you're getting... BWA HAHAHAHA

Be safe, I love you two. Tell Grampa Rufus I love him too, if he remembers me it may mean more. And of course tell Grandma and Grandpa Scott hey and I love them too. Hope they're still there. And Grandma Sweeney, I love her too. Jeez I'm so lucky all my grandparents are still around.

Well, I'm gonna get ready. My new kid comes by next Wednesday, and I still have a couple things I want to do with my first born in the wilderness before we part.

I'll let you know how my next son is when I meet him.

Till next week, now a second wasted,

Elder C. Rufus Sweeney

Miracles in Bonao

This story is.. is just straight up embarrassing. With such a good start to the season, my Sooners have dishonored me. A loss to OSU is ok every once in a while, but a massacre.. that's just unacceptable. Well, I hope those OSU fans will wallow in their win for a year, because it'll be short lived. Next year, when I'm there, OU will come back hungrier than ever.

Nah, I'm really not that distraught. The worst thing for me is the fact that my picture uploader thing won't work. I may need something... I don't know though, I think I'll just buy another. Don't worry about that. Just focus on your assignments, the CD and white shirts.

Ok.. This week.. There's been a lot that's happened so get ready. First of all, Fernando, the one that's been great through thick and thin. He went to church and while there bore his testimony, so sweet and so powerful. He was so shaky after getting done. He said he'd been searching long and hard, gone to many churches, but none were the one for him until he found ours. Then, we had an activity later that evening and he brought a friend as a reference. His baptism is the 17th, we're so happy.

Now, Lily and Kelly. That is such a great couple. This last week we passed by and Lily had prayed and asked. She had always been the one sort of halfway in it but hesitant... But she had a dream about God, and then woke up just absolutely sure. Then, Kelly also got a confirming witness when he prayed and asked. They went to church again and we passed by on Monday, and we had the law of chastity planned. We had left them a pamphlet about it and I didn't expect them to have read it yet, but when we passed by they practically committed themselved to get married, telling us that they had prayed about it together and felt that it was the right thing to do. Then, Tuesday, they had 2 of their friends over and we shared with them, and they both committed to go to church. Lily and Kelly have a marriage date the 30th of January and a baptismal date the 6th of January. I may be leaving by then (transfers are the 21st), but I know my comp will help them get it done.

It's so sweet to see the people we are working with progress, and finally see progression here in the city of Bonao. It IS possible. For instance, and you already know I don't believe in coincidence, but a zone leader and I, Elder Cromwell, were in an exchange and we studied about having the faith to know that people are waiting for us. We talked about how, if missionaries don't have faith that they're out there, THEY WON'T BE! DUH! And so, sure enough, the first contact, a young man who honestly didn't even look like he'd have any interest, talked to us about how he didn't know about which church was right, even though it clearly says that Christ just left one church. One. Not 49209 Christian churches, just ONE church. And so, I found out what it was like to have a convert after the first contact. He said when he prays he gets a certain feeling, and he was getting that feeling again as he was talking to us. It honestly makes me tear up thinking about it. He was so prepared. He lives in Bonao 2 unfortunately, but it really was such a cool experience.

Let's see.. Oh did you guys catch the Christmas devotional? Just wondering, because the video they played was really.. just.. gorgeous. It was in Elder Eyering's talk. Watch it. The cinematography was just so perfect.

I hope all is well there. Enjoy the cold. I am.. Well I did monday. We went up to constanza monday, it was nice and chilly, just like it should be in December. Actually, it was absolutely perfect weather for me. Probably high 50's, just a touch of sun. The mountain views made it just marvellous. Honestly I want to bring you guys up there. I'm hoping we can make a trip there so you guys can see it. We'll try and fit that in.

Thinking about being in single digits is just... wow. Scary. I had a dream the other night.. can't remember if I told you about it already.. about being home already. I had a cake waiting for me downstairs that said "happy six days home". I was confused but really happy. I actually don't ever remember seeing you in my dream. Ha.. I do miss you guys tons though, really.

Speaking of that, if you could send me a 2012 calender, that would be amazing. I would like to see the end. Ha man you talk about trunky. In a good way, of course. I won't think about it until the 30th of September though, promise.

Well, today we had yet another thanksgiving/christmas dinner thanks to Elder Shapiro. Well.. Thanks to his mom. He got a package this last week and he's going home next thursday (a little early because of Christmas travel beings so crazy and all). This time complete with cranberries and pumpkin pie! It really was amazing. He tried to make homemade ice cream as well but it really just kind of turned into cold, sweet soup. It was delicious though.

Only 2 1/2 weeks until I talk to you guys again!

I love you two. Be safe, and don't eat anything off the floor (as they say here). I am proud of you two, and your spanish speaking abilities dad! Haha

Have a great week, almost there....

Till next week, ni un segundo perdido,

Elder C. Rufus Sweeney