Buenas!

It´s been a pretty crazy week. We have two investigators that are pregnant, and this week they finally "dieron a luz." On Thursday we stopped by Jazmin´s house to see how she´s doing, and she and the baby are doing great. They named her Miriam and she´s adorable. It´s so hard not to pick up those sweet angels and feel their pure spirits. I love holding new born babies because they have come straight from the Lord´s presence, and they are so pure and innocent. It was fun to see her. That night, we stopped by Berta and Wilson´s to see how she was doing. She had a sweet, healthy little baby girl, but Berta was really really sick. Her husband Wilson said that she needed 5 pints of blood. I spent the whole night trying to think of what I could do to help, because she was really suffering, and they couldn´t afford to receive medical care. The next morning, my companion mentioned that missionaries can give blood, so I spent the entire day on the phone with the office missionaries and the missionaries in my zone. I found two missionaries with A positive blood, and they said they were willing to donate. We had to go to La Vega, because there isn´t anywhere to donate blood in Jarabacoa, but Berta refused to take a bus to La Vega, because she thought she would die. So we called all of the missionaries with cars, and no one was able to take us on Saturday. Saturday night, we got a hold of Elder Fagersten, and he told us that he was willing to come pick us up Monday morning and take us to the hospital. We he came Monday morning, Berta did not want to go, because the people in the hospital did take very good care of her the first time she went. But the medical care is free there, and we knew that we could donate blood, so we finally got her to go. We spent all morning trying to get her registered and Elder Fagersten rounded up missionaries to donate (we found out that women can´t give blood, so he found all of the elders with 0 positive). Two of the elders were able to donate, so we had two pints waiting for Berta. Once she was finally submitted into the hospital, they nurses told us that she was really bad, and that she would have died if she hadn´t come. They sent her to get a sonogram, and took her to the ICU. Elder Fagersten arranged for some sisters in his branch to stay the night with Berta, while he took us and Wilson back up to Jarabacoa. On Tuesday, he called us and told us that they did a histerectomy, and that she´s really weak right now. But I´m so grateful for the help of the missionaries and especially Elder Fagersten. He´s been so willing to help us and he´s gone out of his way to make sure everything is taken care of for this suffering lady. He called us a few minutes ago to let us know that she is recovery from sugery. It´s been a stressful week, but it all worked out, and now we are praying that she makes a full recovery. Please keep her in your prayers.

This Sunday, we had to many less actives, recent converts, and investigators come to church. The Vasquez family came, Marcos, the Valnors, Sandi and his family, Tony, Hilari, and Luis. We had 15 people that we´re working with. I gave a talk about faith, and as I was speaking, I felt so happy as I was looking across the cogregation at all of the people who are coming unto Christ and all of the wonderful members I have come to know and love. I´m so grateful to be here, and to have spent so much time with this incredible branch. My joy was full.

I´m so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the wonderful opportunity I have to share the gospel. The gospel changes lives. Share it. Everyone needs the blessings of the gospel. Never forget how blessed you are to be a part of the Lord´s church. Thank you for all your love and support.

Hermana Jorden