Buenos dias!

It´s been a wonderful week in Bonao! Hot as always, but things are going well. Yesterday we had a zone conference with a few other zones. I got to see Hermana Clove, Hermana Zegarra, and I got to say goodbye to the Fagerstens before they leave tomorrow. It was so fun! And it was a great conference. Hermana Douglas always teaches great capacitaciones (I have no idea how to say that in English-we usually just say it with an English accent haha). She talked about our personal relationship with the Savior and how we can become conductors of power while we teach. She talked about the importance of loving the people here. It really touched me and I´m trying to put those things into practice.

Last Monday in our disctrict meeting, Hermana Barnes said something interesting. She talked about how it´s during the really hard days that the miracles come. I thought that was funny because when I have a bad day, it´s usually just a bad day. haha But this Monday, I worked so hard to study and prepare for the lessons in the morning, and I just felt so spiritually prepared for the day. But we couldn´t find anyone that afternoon. We went to every house of every investigator and less active that we teach, and we couldn´t find anyone. We had just passed by the last house that we could think of, when we passed by a lady from church. I haven´t been here long enough to meet all of the members, so I had assumed that she is a member, and so did my compànion. But we talked to her for a little while, and found out that she isn´t a member, she´s been to church twice with her brother, the elders aren´t visiting her, and she lives in our area! It was a tender mercy. The Lord placed her in our path, and she is so ready. We are so excited to start teaching her. She is really interested in family history and she´s been working with one of the sisters in the branch to find information about her grandfather. She just might be golden! We´re so excited to start teaching her this week. 

Last week while I was on intercambios with Hermana Bates, we had passed by the houses of all of our appointments, and no one was home. I wasn´t sure who else to visit, but then I remembered that there was an investigator nearby that I had never met. Hermana Seenaraine had contacted him before I came, and we hadn´t been able to find him while I´ve been here. I thought that we could stop by to visit him, but I felt that might be weird because I´ve never met him. But the Spirit told me to visit him. So we went to his house and shared a message with him and his wife. It was a really great lesson, and I could tell that they appreciated the message we shared about families. So we planned to visit them again last night. Sandra and Lorena came with us to teach, and we were able to teach them and their three kids. It was such a wonderful lesson, and they were sincerely interested and willing to learn. I felt so much love for this family, and I know that they can progress. It was a really special night, and I really felt the power of our message. I know that if they do their part and seek with real intent, the Lord will reveal the truth unto them and their lives are going to change. 

Last night as I was walking with Sandra, she told me that she was surprised that I´m from the U.S. She said she thought I must be from Spain because I speak Spanish so well. I was feeling pretty good and starting thinking "Wow, I´m really starting to blend in and be a Dominican. This is great." And then later that night, Lorena said to me "Hermana Jorden, you are SO gringa!" haha I guess not. 

I love you all so much! I hope you have a great week and a wonderful Mother´s Day! Love, Hermana Jorden