Wow, it sounds like you had a really busy week mom! Glad you had fun having a bunch of crazy college kids at your house this weekend. I'm glad you and Ryan liked your birthday letters. I figured it was the least I could do for birthdays, since I can't do much. So, I found out that for every package I receive, they take the cost for shipping from Florida to here out of my mission fund account. So that's why I've been kind of low on money. I didn't get your package in time for Valentine's Day. Hopefully I'll get it next week though. I think it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks for a package to get to me.
So I'm just gonna get down to business really quick here. Last night was the night that we receive calls for transfers! It's always really exciting - puts some spice into the week. Anyways - I'm staying here in Monte Plata again . . . I'm not gonna lie, I was really hoping to get out for reasons I will now explain.
1) After more than three months here, only two people in the town call me by my name. Everyone has trouble saying McBride - so now, they just gave up and I fell like it makes a barrier between me and the members.
2) Monte Plata is a really small place. I'm getting a little claustrophobic. When this transfer is done, I will have spent 25 percent of my mission here.
3) Sometimes I feel like the area is dying around me and there is nothing I can do about it. I'm working m hardest, but our numbers are falling fast. I'm hoping for three baptisms this transfer instead of 10.
4) There are MAJOR problems with the branch here. It is barely functioning.
But, I will perservere hasta el fin. In my mind I thought it was time for a transfer, but obviously the Lord didn't feel the same. So, It's time to re-sync my will with the Lord's and get working again. My new companion is named Elder Sloan. The only thing I know about his is that he is American and some gangsters gave him a concussion and stole all his stuff a few transfers ago because he resisted. Elder Vargas is going to be a Zone Leader in capitol with my trainer! That was kind of weird to find out. Transfers officially are on Tuesday, so I will write more about my new companion next week.
Yesterday I gave my first talk in sacrament meeting here. The branch president wouldn't give me a topic, so I spoke about patience. The people here get angry really fast for dumb reasons sometimes, so I figured it would be a good topic. Seemed to go well . . .
So today, I'm going to the President's house again for lunch! I'm pretty pumped for that. Sister Antivillo is a pretty good cook. Plus their house is a super nice penthouse downtown with air conditioning! Yes - for all you who ask. It is ridiculously hot and sweaty here . . . always.
So I would talk about my investigators now, but we are a little lacking on those right now. OH! But I found out that Julio (the old guy I baptized) was not 65, but actually 78! Ya, pretty nuts - he's old enough to be my grandpa!
Oh, shout out to Gilbert 3rd Ward! I received my Christmas package yesterday - and yes, that hot sauce is my favorite! Good job Alex, I've used it on everything I've eaten since. So that's all for now. Wish me luck starting anew here in Monte Plata!
Love, Elder McBride
The bedroom
The bathroom
Kitchen
Our dryer :)
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