Wendy's!!!

Hey Family,
  
This has been a pretty good week I guess.  Nothing too exciting happened, but it was a good time!  Our proselyting area is really, really huge, so this past week, we spent a decent amount of time exploring it.  It actually ended up being really fun, and we found a whole bunch of cool stuff!  Bávaro is a huge tourist area and so tons of Dominicans move over here to find jobs in the hotels.  Because there wasn't a church within a good two hours of here before, there were a lot of members who went inactive.  While exploring, we get approached by inactive members all day - wanting to go back to church, which is really cool!  We had a couple that showed up to church, but the house is in a weird place in a guarded neighborhood, so it is not easily accessed . . . but I think we have enough inactives over here to fill up the chapel 100 times over.  So, we will continue trying to help spread the word that the church is here now.
  
Another highlight of the exploring is that we found two awesome shopping/totally American malls that have some great stuff!  So different than where I have served so far.  One of them has a Hard Rock Cafe (which we can't go to) and a Tony Roma's, and the other one has a . . . Wendy's!!!  There are only 2 Wendy's in the country, and the other is in the West mission.  Nobody knew before, that there was a Wendy's here, but now we know exactly where it is and we can enjoy Frosties whenever we are in that part of the area :)!
  
Alvin came to church again this week which was really cool!  He lives kind of far away in this little beach town, so we were only able to go over there to teach him once this week - but the lesson went really well.  He smokes and I am pretty sure that if he smokes, he drinks as well - but those things won't really be a big problem to take care of if he really has faith.  His cousin, the inactive Ward Mission Leader took him to church on his motorcycle and stayed for one of the classes (which was an awesome improvement), but had to take off before Sacrament Meeting to get to work.  So, we will see if we can convince him to stay for the important part next time.
  
 I am kind of getting used to directing and presiding in the meetings.  At first, I was pretty weirded out to be honest, but now, it doesn't really phase me and I am starting to get kind of good at making up on the spot talks when there is extra time to fill :).  Although it is pretty tough, I can tell that this is helping me for my future church service.  A blessing in disguise, I guess.
  
You asked what I meant when I said that the area was too tempting and so other missionaries can't come and visit or anything.  What I meant was is just kind of everything:  pool, beach, girls, clubs, hotels, blowing all of your money, and pretty much all of that jazz.  You also asked why we can't eat at member's homes, and it is because that the president has a rule that we can't because he thinks it is a waste of time.
  
Thanks for the money you sent.  We weren't able to go today to the Manatee park, but we still have the plans to do it.  This area is super expensive and we don't receive any extra money, so I might need a little extra financial support while I am out here.  Yes, we can to to Tony Romas!  I was thinking of trying to do it for my birthday, but that will be a lot of money - so I understand if it isn't plausible.  Sorry, I forgot to get the pic of our house. Take care and I love all of you!

Love, Elder McBride

Cool missionary birthday presents:  Zebra pens, Ties from Pomeroy's (this area is rich and sometimes I feel a little trashy with my 5th gen. missionary ties), Perfect Push-ups, a Yoga book (so I can learn some things), shirts, food, etc.

Me and Elder Timmreck in front of the ward mission leaders house on a fishing dock

Our Tile Ping Pong Court

More from Bávaro

Dear Family,
    
First, to answer questions:
  
 Q:  Did the President call you and set you apart before you left?  I understand that the branch pres. informally gave you more duties, but you were already called and set apart - right?  And also, is your companion 2nd counselor - and if he is not - then what does he do while you do all of your duties?
 A:  Since I am already called and ordained as a missionary, I didn't need to be set apart again to be the first counselor.  I simply act as the first counselor and take all of the duties.  My companion is the president of the Elder's Quorum - so I am the only counselor.
    
Q:  Can you explain a little more about your house and maybe send a pic of it?  Dad thought that one of the pics you sent was your house and I thought it was just a pic that you sent of a fancy house.  What is it like to have church there?  I can't even imagine the situation.  Can you describe it to me.
A:  No, I didn't send a pic of our house yet.  But I will be sure to do that this upcoming week, sorry.  Our house is two stories.  The main part of the church, like the sacrament room is downstairs and it is honestly really nice and works well for us.  Then, upstairs is the bishop's office, our bedroom, and the main room connected with the kitchen that we use for the elder's quorum and the investigator class.  We live in that room for the week, and then when Sunday comes around, we just cram everything into the bedroom.  Oh, also we have a swimming pool on the roof to use for baptisms! - which is pretty cool I guess . . . except that we can't really us it . . . but oh well!:)
    
Q:  Since the president told you he was gonna send you to the islands and then didn't - were you disappointed? Did you know any of the missionaries that got sent there?
A: Umm.  I wasn't too bummed to not go to the islands because I am a people person and like to hang out with other missionaries.  But, I would have liked air conditioning and a car for sure like they have over there.  I am kind of in another country here though.  My area and my house is COMPLETELY off limits to other missionaries in the mission.  P-Days and everything.  Nobody can visit us because it is to temptaciolicious :)  Yes, Elder Carrols from Mesa High in my first district got sent over there to Aruba.
  
Q:  Does the new calling cut into your missionary work a lot? You said you have a huge area.  How do you get back and forth to all the places that you have to go?
A:  No, so far the new calling hasn't cut too much into the missionary work.  It takes a some time, but not too much.  I usually just do lunch really fast so I can take care of those kinds of things.  Our area is ginormous - so we either use the help of the members with cars or motorcycles, or we hitch hike.  I know that sounds a little sketchy, but it is a completely normal way of transportation here.  Everyone is really nice in that regard.
    
So this week was pretty good as far as the work in Bávaro goes.  There were really no progressing investigators at all when I came in, so we have been working a ton with the members to try to get references - which has been working really well.  We had 2 people at church, which normally for my past numbers would be pretty bad.  But here, I was satisfied with it.  One of the investigators is a way cool guy named Alvin.  He is probably like 23 years old, and he just moved into the small beach town of Cabeza del Toro with his cousin.  His cousin is actually our in-active ward mission leader . . . hopefully we will be able to hit two birds with one stone by baptizing him and re-activating his cuz - but, we are still in the pretty early stages to be able to tell.  OH!!  And two families that I found in my last area are getting married and baptized in these next few weeks, which is really cool!
    
My companion and I are getting along really well so far.  We are working really hard, and playing really hard as well!  Elder Timmreck is a pretty big ping pong enthusiast like I am.  One of his friends sent him out a net and paddles to play with.  We got kind of inventive because we don't really have a table to use.  We set it up on the ground and we call it "tile tennis" and it is super fun!  It is kind of a cross between ping pong and real tennis, I guess.  We line the floor with our abundance of church chairs and our jump ropes and get really into it!  We also have a community basketball court a few streets from our house.  We bought a basketball and have been playing every morning, which has been really good for my out of shape self!
    
That is really cool to hear that everyone is pretty much all just about on their missions!  Tell Trevor I'm excited for him and to hold on a little bit longer!  It's hard to have to wait so long.  I have really seen the blessings out here.  Maybe I am not the oldest or wisest, but that doesn't matter.  Do you know when Jake McGlothin reports to the MTC?
    
Umm, the boots aren't really necessary anymore and the odds that I will get sent to an area without paved roads again are pretty slim, because there are only a handful in the mission.  I would love one or two more white shirts and I will make a list this next week of cool birthday wishes!
    
Well, I better start on my letter to President Antivillo.  I love you all and will talk to you later!

Love, Elder McBride

p.s.  Grandpa's missionary letters?  Cool! It would be awesome if you cold send me some copies or something for my birthday :)    

Crazy Week in Bávaro!

Dear Family,
    
It has been a crazy, but awesome week here in Bávaro!  Wow.  I am not even really sure where to start first.  My companion I guess . . . Elder Timmreck is a straight up awesome missionary!  He is full-blooded Columbian, but is totally American.  He lived in Columbia until he was about 9, and then his mom left his inactive dad and went to Utah.  There she met some guy and they moved to Alaska for the military.  So, he lived most of his life in Fairbanks, Alaska.  He only went to the MTC for three weeks, then straight out to the field - so his spanish is really good, but not perfect.  Our spanish is probably close to the same, but his accent is a little bit better.  He has two transfers now, but with only one companion and one area, so he has a lot to learn, but he has a great desire to work hard and we are doing it!
    
So, the Branch is pretty interesting I guess.  The meeting place is a house that we the missionaries actually live in!  The only one like that in the mission - so I guess that is kind of cool, but our personal space kind of gets invaded.  I can't complain too much about that because it is a super nice place.  The Branch President has throat cancer really bad and can barely even speak - let alone leave the house.  He actually hasn't even been able to come to church for a few months, so his job is all left up to the First Counselor in the Branch Presidency . . . Me . . . A few days ago we visited him in his home and he informally gave me the Branch.  He told me of my responsibilities, what I need to do, and told me that the Branch is now in my hands.  Now I do tithing, I preside and direct the meetings, assign the talks and take care of pretty much everyone in the Branch because there really isn't anyone else to do it.  There are about 25 active members in the Branch, and everyone lives far away.  We cover Veron, Punta Cana, Bávaro, Friusa, and pretty much every other place in the province of Altagracia - except for the city of Higuey.  Higuey is the where the only other missionaries are.  Actually my old companion Elder Rich is there.  We kind of share the responsibilities of District Leader and interview each others baptisms.  Basically . . . a lot of changes!
    
So, like I said, the area is really big and the members are very spread out.  Because the area is like that, the missionary before me NEVER used the members, ever.  That is kind of my strong point, and I was stressing out the first part of the week because I didn't know how I was going to work.  But I decided that it didn't matter - that we were going to visit EVERY member in their home and the Lord has blessed us beyond what I could have ever imagined.  The members have given like 10 references in the 6 days that I have been here.  They only received about 5 in the past 3 months.  I KNOW that the Lord has been preparing people in this area.  Everyone may tell me that this is not a baptizing area, but the Lord doesn't make exceptions.  If I work my absolute hardest and smartest here, I will see at least 6 baptisms here, because that is the inspiration that Elder Vínas from the 70 received for the WHOLE mission . . . not just the good baptizing areas.  Now . . . we just have to see if we can pull of the miracle.
    
The area is ridiculously rich.  Money everywhere, resorts, beaches, Burger Kings, - power 24/7 :) , and all the bells and whistles.  During transfers, President Antivillo pulled me aside and told me that he had 5 people picked out to go to the islands, and I was one of them.  But, at the last minute, he decided to put me in Bávaro.  He said this place is twice as hard as the islands due to the branch responsibilities and the amount of land to cover without a car.  I still am not quite sure why the Lord sent me out here.  It is a little overwhelming, but I trust Him.
    
I also have to write President Antivillo a fatty e-mail about what is going here.  Take care and have a good week!


Love, Elder McBride

Brito & Raquel's family (Raquel was working)

A huge moth that tried to eat us!

Sweet Water Park in Punta Cana

Crazy nice house

Big Changes . . .

Dear Family,
    
Yes, Matt emailed me and told me about some changes of his.  He seems to be having a great time and I can't believe that he has already hit a year!  It's crazy talk!  Time has flown by, but it also kind of seems like a long time since I have been home...
    
So, transfer calls came this morning!  The new call Bávaro (sp?)  It's the tropical paradise on the East tip of the island...full of white sand beaches, sparkling waters and enchanting views.  Lounge under the shade of a stunning palm, while sipping on your ice cold pína colada...jk - But really, I am going to Bávaro - the furtherest possible area on the entire island.  It is near Punta Cana.  My new companion is pretty brand spanking new with just 6 weeks in the field I believe.  American.  Oh, and we will be the only missionaries in the whole city.  The area only has been open for a few weeks, so I will almost be starting from scratch.  I am kind of overwhelmed, and not quite sure what to think...the reason everyone thought I was going to the islands is because in my interview, president said, "Elder McBride, we need more elders like you.  elders that I can trust and send far away and know that they are doing a good job", and other things like that.  The area I heard, is about 6 hours bus ride from the Capitol, so I guess I won't be seeing any other missionaries for a while.  I have only really heard rumors of the place though, because it is so new.  It is supposed to be a super rich, vacation destination for a lot of people.  I have met quite a few Dominicans who travel in to work in the resorts, but can't afford to live there.  This place is going to be so much different than the mission I have known so far that I don't really know what to expect.  It is supposed to be super expensive, and I don't thank that I will be getting a money increase.  So, I will have to learn how to live a little more providently.  It looks like I am destined to serve in the Santo Domingo Mission and never serve in Santo Domingo.  This should be quite the transfer.
    
Yes, I am sad to leave Valiente because I have really come to love this place, but the excitement of tackling this new assignment, almost alone - kind of overwhelms and overshadows that a little bit.  I probably won't see near as many baptisms there as I have seen here, so that will be a little disappointing too, but I'll live.  I have seen more than my fair share so far.
    
Sorry, I am going to cut this e-mail here.  The computers are super slow today and I still need to write the e-mail to the home ward...but I will be sure to give a good description of the area next week!  Take care.

Elder McBride