Dear Ya'll
Goodness, there are so many things that happen in one week!
I'm right now in my 6th (and final) week at the CCM. ya'll gotta catch up
WEEK 3
We walked down to the nearby University to practice contacting
with real people in Spanish! My companion and I would go up to a random person
and ask them to read 1 verse in the Book of Mormon. And that's all it takes.
The Book of Mormon is so powerful and brings such a spirit. I didn't even know
what they were reading or what they were saying about it. I just know the
Spirit touched them because when we asked if we could send missionaries to
their home to give a copy of the book, many said yes. we wrote down their
address and phone number and made a referral for the Missionaries in the Santo
Domingo West Mission.
WEEK 4
One week later we did it again. But this time Hermana Henry and I split up. She
went with one of our teachers and I went with Hermana Diaz: a Native Spanish
Speaker! So after each contact (where I had no idea what anybody was saying).
Hermana Diaz could explain to me how they really felt. It was amazing how much
one verse could affect a person. The first woman explained she was on her way
form the hospital, where she was visiting her daughter who had cancer. She was
comforted by whatever scripture it was she read. And she begged us to pray for
her daughter. she agreed to meet with missionaries. Another man we talked to
felt we were "sent from God." And many other people we talked to said
they wanted to read more. It was so cool! We took down their information for
the West Missionaries.
WEEK 5
This week we went beyond the University. We went to work!
Everyone in my district got to go on exchanges with missionaries in the Santo
Domingo West Mission. So Friday afternoon, I spent the day with Hermana Watt
and Hermana Castro. I finally got a realistic feel of what this country and
people are like. The sisters I was with were actually spending the day meeting
and teaching all of the people my district had contracted at the university. We
taught them about the Book of Mormon and it was so neat, and I actually
understood 50% of what was being said! Whoo! After teaching some University
contacts (all of which were amazing stories, but I don't have time for details)
We went to visit Eddy. He is a sweet man who was baptized a few weeks ago. We
had a lesson in the doorway of his little shop.
throughout the lesson neighbors would gather behind us and
talk. But I had no idea what they were saying and the other sisters were
ignoring them, so I too focused on Eddy. I don't know much of what he said, but
I could see light and joy in his eyes every time he look at or held his Book of
Mormon. He was so happy and childlike.
After we left Eddy, the sisters explained that his wife was
really mad at him for being baptized, and she hates missionaries. So every time
they have a lesson with him, she gathers the neighbors to mock us in front of
him. (I thought of 1 Nephi 8:27)
It made me so sad, but I could see the faith in Eddy's old,
dirty face. His wife is angry at him, his neighbors laugh at him, and he
doesn't even really understand what the missionaries are trying to teach him.
But he loves his Book of Mormon, and he knows it's true.
I know the Book of Mormon is true.
Go read it. It is powerful.
I love you all so much! Tell me about your lives and
Christmas and New Years and what not
With faith and sunshine,
Hermana Pollard ☀
