2-10-15

QUE LO QUE!

Okay first I want to say HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE GAVIN MAN! Ï hope you have a fantastic one! I´m sending him a little letter in the mail. Sorry it´s coming late! Things are fantastic in Bonao. My companion and I are still as crazy as ever, and loving every moment here. This week we had a zone meeting and I didn´t get any of your packages or letters sniff sniff, but I know it´s coming. I did however get a letter from one of my old companions at the CCM. We were just talking about the crazy experiences we´ve had thus far. 

I told her that the two motto´s that I´m sticking to while on my mission is 1. to expect the unexpected or expect what you don´t want to happen to happen. Let me give you an example of this. Ahem I told you my biggest fear at the beginning was losing my luggage on the plane and getting put into a trio on the mission. And all of that happened day 1. After that my trainer left me in the middle of my training, leaving me to an area I didn´t know. And my second motto is President really is inspired on where he needs us and who we need to be with, so just be patient and you´ll figure out they why´s soon enough. Sometimes I feel like I´m not going to make it out of here alive! Just kidding, but I´ve grown sooo much from this roller coaster ride and it´s definitely been fun. 

Okay a little about my investigators, so one of the family´s that is progressing was suppose to go to church with us, but the husbands mom got sick and they had to drive up to Constanza  to help her. Boo! So hopefully they´ll get to come this week. 

We also had a Noche de Hogar as a ward at a members house. You´re going to like this Casey. We were in the middle of playing a game that involved closing our eyes and I didn´t want to play the game after I looked up and found directly above my head a roach on the wall. All I could think of is 1. Lindsey yelling ¨La cucaracha¨ and 2. Casey singing that obnoxious made up song of his ¨everybody in the roach pit all eyes on us¨to that brittney Spears song. Lets just say that if I felt anything touch me while my eyes were closed I was going to book it out of that house. 

And lastly, to answer your questions this is what I´ve been eating down here...They looovvvee la bandera which is rice, beans, and meat. This is pretty much their life. They also do empanadas which are the bomb. They do have those nasty sardines, but I´ve been blessed to dodge those bullets on multiple occasions, Quipe, they make arroz on leche which is like rice pudding, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this fruit that I´m for certain they don´t have in the states called Chinola. So flippin good. They have a yummy thing called San cocho I don´t know if that´s even spelled right but it´s like a soup that they like throw in like a whole chicken or meat with bones and everything that´s pretty good, Habechuela which is like beans. And that´s pretty much all I can think of for now. 

Okay Hope all is well and love you tons! I´ll keep you posted on those packages!

Love

Hermana Van Woerkom

 I forgot to mention this month is the month of Carnival. And let me just tell you that it´s nothing like the movie RIO from Disney. It´s like some devil worship thing that people do every sunday. This picture is hilarious BECAUSE we are headed to La Vega for a Conferencia de Zona and La Vega is the number 2 world wide from what my companion said when it comes to the Carnival festival. This picture is all the set up for carnival and off to the left you can´t really see it, but there´s a fence and that´s where this small white church building is. Literally they built carnival all around our church building in La Vega. What apostasy right. And I´ll send you a picture too there´s a picture of Satan looking down at the church building parking lot that Hermana Santana and I took a picture with. Funny huh_

 

2-4-14

Hola familia!

This weeks been crazy, but fun! First off it was Hermana Santana's Birthday so I HAD to do something special. The first picture is evidence of what we did. Yes, I bought a little bottle of bubbly to celebrate the big 21! Of course it was the sweet bubbly of soda. It was pretty embarrassing buying it at the colmado, asking for the non-acoholic grape juice! 

Things are progressing a little in Bonao! We've been meeting with our investigators and have two families that have said they've prayed about it and know the church is true. Something cool that happened is one of our investigators is blind and at the beginning when we've been teacher her she had really bad depression. Since we've been meeting with her she's a lot more happier. She always wants us to visit every day and wants to know more and more about the gospel. Since she can't read we were going to put an order for the CD's of the BOM and Himnos on tape. The next day Hermana Santana got a package from her mom for her Birthday that had the CD's on tape! It's was a little tender mercy because she hadn't even asked her mom or said anything to her family about them. 

We also had a special broadcast specifically for the Carribbean given by Elder Holland, Elder Packer, and some other important people that I can't remember right now. IT. WAS. AMAZING. They had translators for Elder Packer and Elder Holland. But at the very end of Elder Hollands talk he bore his testimony in Spanish. It was so amazing and so powerful to hear his testimony in a language he doesn't know and is uncomfortable with speaking. It just shows that it's the spirit that's felt not the words that are said. He's also coming on a tour of the Carribbean areas in March so I'm hoping he stops by this neck of the woods!

Well I hope everything is going well. Its so nice seeing pictures of my cute little nicece and nephew (a.k.a Kins and G-money). So START SENDING PICTURES OF THE OTHER TATER TOTS! 

Here's my mission address for letters you've been asking for : SDQ 8013, POBOX 025725, Miami, FL 33102 5725 and packages: SDQ 8013 2250 NW 114th Ave Unit 1A Miami, FL  33172 3652

Love you all! 

Hermana Van Woerkom

A week behind 1-28-15

Hola Familia,

I'm going to make this letter short so I can send as many pic's as possible. The area is really opening up more and so are the members. They've been feeding us a lot more which is a good and bad thing. Sometimes I get super sick lol. Our investigators are also growing in the gospel as well and it's been really cool seeing them grow. We asked one of our family's that I LOVE if they would countinue reading and pray to know if the church was true. And the wife said, "Well I believe it's true, it makes sense". I was so happy and excited that I forgot my inflatable baptismal font. Next time though. haha just kidding, but it's been a LOT better here in Bonao. 

Here are some pictures from our waterfalls activity and our little Hermana's sleepover we had with Bonao 2, the sisters in our zone. Love you all and thanks for the letters. 

con amor,

Hermana Van Woerkom 

 

My area

1- 21-15

Hola familia!

Que lo que?! Things are going good in Bonao! I'm suprised at how much I know the area than I thought I did and my companion is SO SWEET! She's been helping me a ton with my spanish and has been helping with the members here as well. They've been a lot more open and inviting now that they have a dominican missionary in the ward. We have had a tought time with some of our investigators. We visited one of the ladies that came to our ward on Sunday and she's told us that she's not interested in joining any chuch, but likes to hear about the gospel. So we are starting from scratch again with finding people, but I know there are those out there that are ready. We just have to find them in the mass of Catholic people. The baby that one of our members in our ward had, passed away this week. It was really sad to see, it's amazing to see their testimony stronger from this experience and knowing family's are forever. That experience has really made me reflect on my family and the love I have for ya'll and the testimony I have knowing that I'll see all of my family after this life as well.
 First off, mom and dad that is so cool you found more names from our family to do in the temple. I miss getting that opportunity to go every week at the MTC! Here's a picture from what we did this P-day. We got to go to the waterfalls that are close to our area. I'll have to send more pictures later, but here's just one of my companion and the sisters in our zone. It's been so good hearing ya'll and what you've been doing!

Week 1-14-15

Hola familia!

BIG NEWS! Transfers were this week and......drum roll please.....my mommy left me :(. She's new in Santiago as an Hermana Leader.....and as for me....drum roll.....I'm still in Bonao! I'm excited, but extremely nervous at the same time. My companion and I were both shocked when we heard she was leaving. I guess it's not very common to have your trainer leave in the middle of your training. My new companion is Hermana Santana. She is from the DR in Santo Domingo. She does know quite a bit of English (such a blessing). She has 1 more transfer after that before she heads home. And we have 2 Elders in our district from Peru, so yeah I'm the only American. I'll definitely be learning the language much faster. I'm excited and EXTREMELY nervous at the same time. I don't really know the area that well or the people. I'm hoping this will be an opportunity for the members to help us out.  Thanks for the cute pictures of Charlotte. Love that little girl! Sorry about the pictures, for some reason they aren't sending so it's taking a while. I'm trying to find another way to send them to you. 

Anyway news about the area. One of the members had her baby this past week. She went to the clinic here and had to have a C-section and then from there the baby was rush to the hospital in Santo Domingo because he had a hole in his spine/back and then the next day had surgery. They are doing well and will hopefully continue to do so. 

We also have 2 new investigators that came to church this past Sunday! They said they had a good experience and were able to meet and connect with some of the members there. The work is continuing to progress in Bonao. 

Thanks for all you thoughts and prayers! Keep sending them my way! I think and pray for ya'll every night!

Love

Hermana Van Woerkom

 

1-7-15

Hola 2015!

How's is everything?! This week has been crazy! First we got to go out to a nursing home in our area and help out. We  got to sing and help with some other tasks like shaving and trimming nails. The Elderly there were pretty hilarious and fun to be around. One of the guys had a "child leash" on because he was known to hit people, as my companion found out while we were there. She was the first to take a blow to the arm. But, they were just amazing sweet people. 

Okay so they don't really celebrate Christmas, but when it comes to New Years Eve and New Years day is when people bring on the partying. We tried to go grocery shopping on the day we got our apoyo and all the stores were closed lol. And then a couple days after New Years they have a day of the Three Kings and that's when they give our presents. But, it's not like the states. You just give a small gift to someone. It's kinda nice to see. 

The hairs growing people lol. Slowly, but surely I know you all were worried :)

We also had our 5 week reunion yesterday and I was able to see my old MTC District. It was fun getting to see them and hear how they are all doing. And in two days we will have a Hermana's meeting with the President and his wife so that'll be a cool experience as well. \

Things are going slowly, but surely in Bonao. We are finding more people to teach and have found a couple families! Keep ya posted!

Sorry for the Short letter I'll make sure to write more next week!

Love

Hermana Van Woerkom

Wow! It's almost 2015! Where has the time gone?!

It was so nice seeing everyone for Christmas! You all look so amazing in your hoodies and sweat pants and sweaters. I am definitely envious! People are wearing their sweaters too in this 80 degree weather as I'm sweatin' like a sinner in church! Well after skyping we went to a Christmas Eve dinner at a members house and it was super yummy! We had fresh fruit, rice, chicken, empanadas, and this plantain dessert. Then Christmas day we did what we do best....shared the gospel! A lot of people were home, just cause they don't really celebrate Christmas like they do in the U.S. It's more like being with your family, listening to LOUD music, and drinking. But we had a lot of appointments which was nice. I don't have a lot to write this week. Sorry! I got to talk to ya'll and pretty much told you everything that's happened haha. I'll send more pictures though. 

Today, we went to two salons. The salons here are literally like a milking barn, get in and get out. But the trick is, is you have to find an empty seat before you can get your hair done. So people are cutting in line and its crazy. So the first salon we waited for 4 hours....so we left and went to this other one and waited for 3. While I'm waiting for my hair cut I see this lady that's cutting our hair pull out this big beer bottle and helped herself to 5 red solo cups full of beer until she got to my hair. And guess what happened next?! I asked to get like an 1 1/2 inches off....But I can't really say inches because they don't use inches here. So I just pointed with my hand and said, "Un chin chin"....and she cut it....about 4 inches of it...Lets just say with the first snip of the scissors I felt how short she cut it. Don't worry I cried on the inside like a winner. I might send pictures next week of my new style of hair. It's maybe like a 1/2 inch below my sholders, so yeah just to give ya'll an idea. 

So the works is slowly progressing here. We have an investigator that is working towards baptism, but hasn't finished the lessons just yet. And she's moving to Santo Domingo the end of January :( She's amazing though and I'm sure her baptism will be just as special there and the members will be very supportive and friendly. 

Well I hope all is well!

Love 

Hermana Van Woerkom