Elder Woestman in the Dominican Republic

Monday, October 18th 2010

2010-10-19T00:02:00.000-04:00

I did finally get the money mom sent down through Western Union and I bought some way cool stuff with it. I'm way excited to come home. I never got Bro Weidner's letter about giving a talk when I get back, but I got mom's message, so I will plan on it. He wants me to talk on the Articles of Faith - hum . . . . . . .

I am pretty sure I won't be able to use the internet my last Monday here to email, so this will be my last time using the internet till I get home. Next Monday I will be going through a "how to get back into the world" training thing. But otherwise I'm still working and things are going way great. My companion from my last area just wrote me and told me that he baptized the two families we were teaching over there and wanted to know why I didn't come - since I was the one that taught them everything. And it look like that's what is going to happen to me again. We are teaching two families right now. But I will be gone before they are ready to be baptized. But hey, I started it, right. Well - I have got to go, see you all soon.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman.

Tuesday, October 5th 2010

2010-10-05T10:47:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone. This is Andy's mom. Below is Andy's letter from this week. We were able to communicate online yesterday trying to work out a way to get him some money. I had just sent him a debit card because his earlier one expired. Not confident that he would ever actually get the debit card, I sent it through the regular postal service anyway. And to my surprise, he actually did receive it, only to have it eaten/stolen at a fake ATM machine. So - we worked out a way to send him some cash through his Mission President. He only has 22 days left before he heads home and wants to buy some gifts/souvenirs. Andy will arrive back home on Wednesday night, October 27th. Dan and his family, and Anna will be in town to see him. After a short time here, he will head out to Denver and Seattle to visit with Maria and Robert and their families for a week. Then after Christmas Andy will head back to BYU-Idaho to start back to college. Thanks for your support, it has been a blessing to him and to us - we appreciate your prayers and your concerns. -Lots of Love, Laura

ANDY'S LETTER:
So - Mom, you asked me about the condition of my clothes. I don't really have any clothes besides church clothes. The clothes I brought for p-days are torn up bad - I super glued them together so they will last my last few weeks. My white shirts look so bad, and my garments are horrible. So the thing is, I don't really have anything to bring home to say the truth. I mean I don't own anything. I want to buy some clothes here because they're cheap and yea - some gifts. I could probably fit it all in one bag of luggage. So I'm not too worried about space. But now to my week;
So the week was pretty awesome, and why you might ask? Well it was general conference weekend. O-Yea! So that just made everything awesome. But besides that we went on an exchange Wednesday and that was way fun. We also had another special transfer, so now we have a new missionary in the zone. But he is not really new at all because he was the first kid I trained. :P, which is awesome. I love that kid so much. Also we received 3 referrals this week. One is an awesome family. So things are progressing really well in the investigator section. I just hope that they are already married. Why is it that nobody is ever married? But yea that was my week. I hope every one else had an awesome week.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, September 27th 2010

2010-09-28T16:46:00.001-04:00

O-yea. I am super excited that I have a dentist appointment scheduled right after I get back home. lol. And new garments will be great - mine are dingy and raggedy. I don't actually think that I have gotten bigger because my weight is the same as it always has been. I mean there is no actual way that I could become fat walking all around all day in the scorching sun. So I would say that my waist is still the same and my shirt size is still the same. But now to my week.

So the week was pretty normal. Nothing super crazy happened. I am slowly but surely making really good friends with the ward members. So hopefully things will get better reference wise, and they will start helping us find people. Although this whole country still just cracks me up some times. For example. we ate at the stake president's house Sunday for lunch. My companion was talking to the stake president about boring stuff so I went and started talking with his wife and two of his daughters. And we hit it off way good and some how got started on movies and this new movie called Avatar. She was telling me how the main actress is a Dominican and she asked me if I have ever seen her. I said no because I had never seen the movie. And she was like "WHAT! You have never seen the movie?" Then she went down in her voice and said. ¨I have it over there¨ lol, like she wanted to watch it with me right then and there. The stake presidents wife! lol. But I playfully yelled at her. It always cracks me up how Dominicans know that we aren't allowed doing all these things but they still always try to get you to do them. And it's not because they want you to do something bad. It's because they want you to stay in their house longer and talk with them. lol.

We also had two baptisms this weekend. They were the brother and sister of a member, so that was cool. But otherwise the week wasn't too bad. We still aren't doing very good with contacting houses at all. But that's why I am trying to focus on the members giving us references. And that was my week.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, September 20th 2010

2010-09-20T20:30:00.000-04:00

So this has been definitely an interesting week, but it seems like the time is flying by. I only have 5 weeks left and I'll be home. But, as for my week, I am in Villa Aura, as a Zone Leader and the capital is not treating me very well at all. The people here are mean. We go out and contact people and they don't want to talk at us. It's crazy. I haven't had a door slammed in my face my whole
mission, but now I can't say that anymore. I think it is all because I am in a really rich area. So the people most of the times are just maids that we contact. It's lame. So we only taught 2 people of all the people we made appointments with this week that were new. crazy crazy crazy. But hey things are going well. Sorry this is short - mom, you sent some really long emails. Talk to you
later.
-Elder Woestman

Monday, September 13th 2010

2010-09-13T16:22:00.001-04:00

So this week was not very interesting but still had lots of results mission work wise. We have been teaching this young couple this week that has one kid that is like 1 and a half years old. And it's kind of weird because the dad is younger than me. lol. Man I'm old. But they are way sweet. The wife is the daughter of a pastor, but her dad left her and her mom a long time ago. She is way smart and it is way fun to talk with her because she asks great questions. But sadly I am leaving my area tomorrow. I am being transferred Las Caobas, Via Aura. as a Zone Leader. So that's where I will end my mission. This is officially my last transfer in the mission. So yesterday I said bye to everyone I know and all my baptisms. Tonight I am going to have a family home evening night with my branch president's family and the young couple that we have been teaching, and the fiancée of a guy in the ward and his family. So it's going to be a way sweet night. I already made cookies for it. But the week wasn't all that interesting besides me leaving for the capital. Which is good. You can tell Grandma W that it is not my fault that she hasn't gotten any mail because I actually wrote her like 5 weeks ago. The thing is that I don't think the mail is working any more - just normal for the government mail around here. But yea that was my week.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, September 6, 2010

2010-09-06T19:26:00.001-04:00

There have been some problems with some of the missionaries this week - but my week was way good besides that. I spent the whole week in the capital, from Tuesday to Friday night being trained on a new way of teaching. And it was awesome. They actually taught us what the real purpose of teaching is about and how to teach people by the Spirit. It's kind of hard to explain everything that they taught us but it was all about learning how to teach people, not lessons. We now have to pray with everybody kneeling. Which I have only done on special occasions before, mostly just because nobody else ever did it and because the houses here lots of times don't have floors. They're kind of just made of dirt and concrete. But hey. I planned on wearing some holes into the knees of my pants before I came home. Otherwise we are just being a lot more patient with our teaching. Not just moving on with anything until the person we are teaching really understands what he has to obey and do once he gets baptized. But yea that was my week. This coming week every morning I have to teach my zone everything we learned at the training in the capital. That's about it for now.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, August 30th 2010

2010-08-30T17:22:00.001-04:00

So to start out this letter I guess I should tell you that the conference with Elder Vinas rocked hard core. Thursday was the district fireside with him. and we were able to bring three families to the fire side. It was so awesome. Sadly though none of them are married and we are still struggling to get them married. Why is it that men never want to get married? It's stupid. Then Friday was the zone conference, and it rocked as well. We had our lil' interview with Elder Vinas before the conference and it has been confirmed - he is a human being. And it was all kind of weird to be honest because my mission president was in the interview and I always thought of my mission president as old and wise. But next to Elder Vinas he literally looked a heck of a lot younger and seemed a lil besides himself. He was the same confident mission Pres. that I had always known - but hey it was way cool. We talked a lot about my zone and I told him about the problems we had and everything. My zone doesn't have any major problems though, because my zone just rocks and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Tomorrow through Saturday I will be going to the capital for four days. It's going to be crazy. Every zone leader and District leader will be there. Gotta run, will fill you in later - but hey that was my week.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, August 23rd 2010

2010-08-23T16:17:00.001-04:00

Thursday the AP´s should be coming down from Santa Domingo because Elder Viñas, who is in the 70s, is coming here for a conference with the people here of Barahona. And the even cooler part is that I get to have a one on one interview with him Friday morning to talk about the mission work because I am a Zone leader. So I am way excited for that and a lil nervous. But I'll tell you more about that next week after it actually happens. I don't want to get ahead of myself.

So this week was way good. My first full week this transfer without something crazy happening. Today was way cool. For p-day I bought a huge tarp to make a slip-n-slide for the zone activity -which was way sweet. Everyone loved it. Plus the work is going really well right now. We have four people lined up that we are teaching to get baptized. Other than that life is pretty much the same as normal. The past couple of weeks we have been working a lot with our new ward missionaries, which is kind of rough because almost all of them are under the age of 17. lol. But that's how things work here because once you turn 18 you get a "real" calling. lol. But we have been working with them a lot and things have been going way good. They work their butts off and are reactivating tons of people. And - yea that was my week.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, August 16th 2010

2010-08-17T08:46:00.001-04:00

Hi:
So I'm feeling a lot better. Mom - I won't let them do surgery or anything. And a rock came out Friday, and that hurt a lot. But now I'm perfectly fine. I was out and working Tuesday. So the whole kidney stone thing is hopefully over - although I doubt it, because my sonogram says that I have some still in my left kidney. But we will see how things go. I'm pretty sure I'll live though. But this week was way sweet. Friday my companion and I set up this sweet activity in the house of a member where we watched the restoration video. And it was only for the young men, because we are teaching the son of a member and trying to hook him up with some member kids so he can have more friends. It turned out great. Then Saturday we had another activity for our investigators who are older. We watched the same video but afterwards key members stood up and bore their testimonies of the gospel and it was way sweet. One of the investigators that we brought, named Elisa, loved it. She said that there was nobody that could ever keep her from getting baptised and going to church. But the problem with her is that she is married and her husband gets out of jail Wednesday (after being there for three years), so we will see how that goes. Today , Monday, we played basketball as a Zone. and it was way fun. But yea, that was pretty much my week.
Love You, Elder Woestman

Monday, August 9th 2010

2010-08-09T20:10:00.001-04:00

Well - you won't believe the trouble I have been going through these past couple of days. lol. Now that I think about it, its kind of funny. But basically I have been in the hospital again, but this time they actually brought me out of the backwoods country area and into the capital. So now I officially know what's been going on with me. It turns out I have kidney stones, yeaaaaaaa. But I'm OK. It all started Saturdays evening after I ate a milkshake. Apparently milkshakes aren't good to eat if you have kidney stones, but I promised a member kid I would buy him one. So, why not me one too right. Well after that we went to an investigator's house and I wasn't feeling good at all. So I made my companion end it in the middle of the lesson. We walked down the street and I just started throwing my guts out. And I just lost all my strength. Well, kudos for the member kid because he was nice enough to run to the church and tell the president what was going on so he could come pick me up in his van. But in the mean time I was throwing up with all of the neighbors circling around saying how the white missionary was dying. Well the president came and they took me to the hospital. I lost all feelings of my lips and hands and pretty much went hysterical. That's when they pocked me with some needle to calm me down and take away the pain, because e it hurt really bad. But my branch here rocks. A member lady was holding my hand through out the whole thing. But let me tell you something - kidney stones are not fun!!! So they sent me home around 10 PM but then at 2 AM it came back and I went back to the hospital. From there the mission president had me sent to the capital, because the hospital where I'm at really isn't a hospital. It's really just a clinic. It was in the hospital in Santo Domingo that they found out that I had kidney stones. The other hospital was guessing colon infection. lol. But now it's Monday and I just got back to good old Barahona with some pain pills and something to help the rocks leave a little smoother. Basically I was told I am going to have to suck it up and be a man. lol. But luckily the biggest one is already out. And - yea that was my week.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, August 2nd

2010-08-03T15:16:00.000-04:00

So this week was pretty awesome. I really worked my companion (lol), but yea he is now on his way home. So this week was way good. We had five baptisms this past weekend - and they were all way good. Two of them were 8 year olds whose families are members and just had their birthdays. But the others were ours. So that was way exciting. Also its going to be transfer day tomorrow and I'm staying put. Elder C is my new companion. He is cool. He was in my group of Dominicans that were in the CCM with me. So this will be a fun transfer. Also I just became a "grandpa" in the mission - one of the kids I trained is training now and the cool thing is that he is training in my zone. So I'll be his zone leader. So that's going to be sweet. My time's short because it was house cleaning day and I have to go get ready for a family home evening night.

Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday - July 26th 2010

2010-08-01T17:03:00.001-04:00

I got lots of birthday cards, thank you and I love you. I got one from pretty much everybody.

So this week was pretty rainy - I'm not going to lie. It was pouring down rain three to four days straight. So now my shoes pretty much smell like rotten cabbage or pigs. You can take your choice, but hey what's new there? Wednesday we went to Neyba, which is a good two hours from our house, in a small van packed with like twenty people. It was way fun. There we bought our people lunch. Their living situation kind of stinks bad over there. They haven't had electricity for 8 weeks. They just got it this morning so now they're happy, but I don't envy them at all. Friday we had an intercombio with one of my district leaders. He is a way good guy. But it rained on us so we got soaked - and got to teach all wet. Good fun. This is my companions last week so I just hope that we still have a productive week. Wish me luck.
Love, Elder Woestman

Monday, July 19th 2010

2010-07-19T20:59:00.000-04:00

So - I hear that transfers have changed to every 60 days in Cincinnati. The length of my transfers have not changed. They are still just for 6 weeks, but who knows, maybe they will change some day. Hopefully not till I leave though, because I kind of like my 6 week transfer schedule.
The past week was pretty tranquil. In fact I'd say that it was the best week that I have had during this entire transfer when it comes to just going smoothly. Tuesday we got our two new missionaries in that replaced the other two. They are way good missionaries. I knew one from before and the other one is way cool. Friday we did an exchange and I got to leave with a brand new missionary who has just been out for three weeks. It was way fun. He didn't know any Spanish what so ever but it was way fun. And then today for P-day we had a BBQ. That was a way blast. But yea that was my week. Truth be told this was a way hard week. My companion goes home in two weeks - and it's definitely getting harder and harder to keep him going.
- Elder Woestman

Monday, July 12th 2010

2010-07-12T22:15:00.001-04:00

Soooo, this week was pretty sweet. Yesterday we had a missionary that wanted to go home and I can almost understand why. The missionaries he lives with pretty much are "sucky" missionaries - and, well, he blew up and decided to start packing his bags because he wanted to go home. So Sunday night we went to a member's house and she taught me how to make fish. Sweet right, now I know how to make a killer fish. But while we were eating we get a phone call from one of the missionaries who lived in the same house as the one that wanted to go home. We asked him if we could call him back because we were in the middle of something, and he said yea. He didn't say anything about the kid packing his bags. uhggg. So a half hour later we call him back, because we were just thinking that he was calling to report that they were all in the house right. Well he told us that this Elder was packing his bags to leave and was basically almost done now. So that was kind of frustrating because he should of said that the first time he called. So we call up the APs and call a taxi to head over there and pick the kid up to come sleep over at our house where we would hopefully fix things, since most likely there was a fight. So we get there and the other three missionaries are just messing around. I head over to the room where the elder is packing and he is just balling his eyes out. So I give him a hug and talk to him while my companion called up the president. We finally ended up getting a hold of the president, but not through his phone but by calling his wife and then she handed her phone over to him. It was ridiculous. Well the pres. talked to the elder that I had already calmed down and he was fine by then. The president told him that he was going to receive a new companion and the others were leaving as well and being replaced. So yea - crazy. Then we took a taxi back to the house and got to bed around 12:30 in the morning. But that wasn't all that happened Sunday. . . .

So Sunday during church our baptism that we had Saturday didn't show up. Well that's a definite no no. So I talked to his neighbor and it turns out that he was at his grandma's house watching some kids up in the freaking mountain, out in the boonies (lol) because his grandma got sent to the hospital and was super sick. So I went with the 1st counselor in his big dump truck (which he had at church) to go get him. lol. First we had to go to his house to get directions to his grandmas house, and from there we ended up having to follow this nice guy on a motorcycle up the mountain so he could show us where he lived. lol. But we got to a point where the dump truck couldn't go up any further because it was to big. So my companion and I had to get out and run behind the motorcycle the rest of the way because we aren't about to get on one of them. We finally got there and my baptism wasn't there (lol) but his mom was. So through his mom we got a phone number and called him - he was at the hospital. Well - luckily his brother walked in just as I called and he could leave without leaving his grandma alone. CRAZY. So - I ran back to the dump truck and we head back to church. Luckily sacrament meeting is last here, so he got back in time to receive the Holy Ghost. lol. It was one awesome day. Which then takes me back to Saturday. . . . Saturday we had a baptism. and it was way sweet. and basically the rest of the week was pretty much normal.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, July 5th 2010

2010-07-05T15:30:00.001-04:00

Pioneer trek week? Have fun. I'm not to sure how you are all going to do, but I hope it will be a great experience. But, now to my week: It was way good. Nothing like crazy happened. Tuesday we did an intercombio with some other missionaries in our zone. Then Wednesday we did an intercombio with the APs. which is always fun. And then Thursday we had our zone conference with the president. That was way nice because it was done with our zone only, so we didn't have to take a long bus ride to have it. I think it's because my zone is so big now.

Lets see here what else. Well we also had two elders with parasites that were stuck in their house with diarrhea. . . . and then we had an elder that was stuck in the hospital with dengue. yuk!. but they are all OK right now. And that was like basically my week. We played baseball today and I am soooooo tired. But hey.

Happy 4th, Elder Woestman

Monday, June 28th 2010

2010-06-28T18:08:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone:

What to talk about. . . . Tuesday was transfer day. So Monday night we had 7 people sleeping in our house that is really only made for two. It wasn't that great for those missionaries because they had to sleep on the ground. But hey, such is life. Then we woke up to take showers Tuesday and the water left so we didn't all get to take showers. lol. Some had to leave to their next areas smelly. Then Tuesday we received missionaries and sent out missionaries at three different times: one time bright and early at 6am, one time at 1pm, and one at 5pm. And when we picked up the missionaries at 5pm it was pouring down raining, so we got soaked along with all their luggage while waiting for a taxi to come and send them off to their area. All in all . . . it was just to crazy of a day to explain.

Wednesday we went to the capital for the zone leader concilio [meeting]. and that was way good. But we didn't really get home 'till around 6pm, so basically we only got to pass by our investigators that got baptized Saturday. Then Thursday we held a zone meeting with the zone. I don't know if I told you but we now have 24 missionaries in my zone and we are the biggest zone in the mission as of right now - area wise that is. It takes 3 and a half hours to get from one side of my zone to the other, and I have to do it by bus. You'd think they would get me a car or at least a bike, but of course that would never happen (haha) but I have basically figured out that when you are a zone leader over 24 missionaries, everyone has problems. lol. One of the houses in my zone has been out of water and light for 3 weeks. And this was one of the new areas that I received, so we had no clue. We sent two new missionaries out there; a new missionary and his trainer. And when they got there they called us up and said that there wasn't any light and water. So I called up the old zone leaders of that area and they said that that house hasn't had light for three weeks. CRAZY. So I talked to the office and they should have everything fixed today. And that's just the tip of the ice burg. It's crazy down here now.

But Saturday we had 2 baptisms which was nice. And we have another one for this Saturday that's coming, so I'm way excited. Plus today we played basketball and it was way fun. and my face is pretty much beat red now (haha) but that's the life of a missionary that's just having way too much fun.

Love You,
Elder Woestman

Monday, June 21st 2010

2010-06-22T10:32:00.000-04:00

Well I would love to sit and chat but I really don't have time right now. Tomorrow is transfer day, and I have 8 new missionaries coming into my zone, and 7 coming into my zone to sleep tonight to go out tomorrow to the capital. So basically life is pretty crazy. And basically my zone has doubled in size and then some since I started here last transfer. I started with ten, then I got 6 more half way through, and now I am receiving 8 more. So we are 24 strong now. But that's not all, we also have another whole new area that's like an hour and a half away from where I live. :P. so the zone hasn't just doubled in missionary's but in size. So say a prayer for me because I am going to be needing a lot of guidance to figure out how we can organize all this out.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

P.S. Dad, I love you, you are the best dad ever - and Happy Father's Day.

Monday, June 14th 2010

2010-06-14T20:04:00.000-04:00

Hey everybody!!
Soooo. The week was pretty much awesome.

Tuesday nothing really happened, but Wednesday we did this sweet activity at the church that I set up. The theme was the "Restoration", and we had four members talk about different things; one talked about prophets, another Jesus, another Joseph Smith's First Vision, and another about the Book of Mormon. And then as the missionaries we did small activities after each short message. For prophets we blind-folded a girl and had somebody act as a prophet and set up obstacles and stuff that the prophet had to guide her through. For the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ we did a thing with the lights and had people try to read the scriptures with the lights off - meaning that without a prophet or apostles we can't fully comprehend the scriptures. We showed the 1st Vision on video. We had a big question and answer thing at the end. Tons of people came. We had a little under 50 people that weren't members that showed up for the activity. We had so many people that we had to go buy more food. :P. so that was sweet. And - out of that we received 10 referrals - which is just amazing.

On Thursday we did an intercombio with another companionship, but I stayed in my area. And then Saturday was another crazy day. So Saturday we had a birthday in the zone. Because birthdays are always rough in the mission I made him a birthday cake. We snuck up to his house in the morning. and knocked on the door, and who was there? Just the 2 best zone leaders in the world with a birthday cake. :P. It was a pretty emotional moment. The kid almost cried, but luckily I caught it all on video. So I will never forget. But that wasn't the best part, so there are 4 missionaries in my house now right - and there is a problem that we have. We don't have a microwave to pop popcorn. So for the longest time we have been talking about taking the microwave from another set of missionaries in the zone. So . . . . right after the "Great Cake Birthday Celebration" we went and pulled off the "Great Microwave Heist". We sent up the other two missionary's first. They pulled the four missionaries in that house in one of the back rooms all slick like. Then the other two of us snuck up, walked into the kitchen, snatched the microwave, and ran out. In about three seconds flat. And then from the top of the street we called a taxi and went home. In the mean time, our other two missionaries left the house letting the other 4 missionaries see them leave with their hands empty. bo-ha-ha-ha. The other missionaries didn't even know their microwave was gone for another two hours - but we had the whole thing planned. We had talked to the APs. So they still think that some guy walked into their house from the street and stole their microwave and not us. lol. It was great. But sadly we forgot to take a video of that. Then Sunday was good. and then today we went to the top of a mountain to take some sweet pictures of Barahona and the ocean.

Till next week, Elder Woestman

Monday, June 7, 2010

2010-06-07T20:52:00.000-04:00

Well, to tell you the truth nothing really happened this week. But let me see if I can remember some things. So Tuesday we went on an exchange with some other missionaries and I went up to Batey, which is another area in my zone. The whole day that I was there it was raining sooooo bad - so I was soaked the whole day. When we taught people we sat down on the ground or in plastic chairs (lol) because I was soaked. Some people may of asked me why I didn't have an umbrella. Well, I would of had an umbrella if I was in my own area by my own house. And since we can't look at the news and it was all sun shine in the morning, there was no way to know. But that wasn't bad - it was just fun. The bad thing was that I have been getting an ingrown toe nail. So when it rained I had wet socks and wet feet the whole day. Which didn't help my toe at all.

So today, which is Monday, I went to the doctors and got my ingrown toe nail cut out. fun fun fun. So my foot hurts pretty bad right now, and it's still kind of bleeding, because I haven't gone home because the Internet center is far away from the house - but on the way from the hospital. But yea, that was seriously the only thing that happened this week. sorry. Hopefully next week will be more interesting.

Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, May 31st

2010-05-31T20:22:00.001-04:00

So this week was pretty crazy. So Tuesday we got to go to the temple, o-yea, which was awesome but the taxi drive was just crazy. We got to the capital and found a taxi and jump right in, thinking that everyone knows where the Mormon temple is. Well - not this guy. He must of been new. He took us up till we were ten blocks from the temple and said he couldn't get any closer because we ran into a street that was going the other way and it would take too long to loop back around. Well we told him to loop around or we wouldn't pay him. lol. Well, that was a bad idea because he just drove into the three lanes of one way traffic, put on his emergency lights, and started driving backwards, and yelling out his window "hey lady - can't you see I'm driving backwards here with my emergency lights on!!"¨ lol. Well - 6 blocks later and after almost dying 10 times we just decided to jump out and walk the next four blocks to get to the temple. lol. It was pretty hilarious though.
Wednesday was yet another crazy day. We got a phone call from the APs early in the day, at like 10:00, telling us that we were going to receive 6 more missionaries in my area. So we just jumped from 10 to 16 in one day - which is crazy. So we had to get all the new people into their houses and stuff. The only bad thing is that there is only like one area that could really have more than two missionaries in it, and that would be my area. But hey the president knows best. We are going to be rocking out over here in Barahona though.
Then what else happened this week. . . . . well the rest of the week till Saturday we spent showing the missionaries around. and then Saturday we had a baptism. o-yea! But before that we got caught in a bloody ran storm. We had to ask this guy on a motorcycle that just happened to be driving by to help us cross over this river that just happened to be blocking our way to our next appointment. And he was nice enough to do it.
Then we had the baptism.
Today we played basketball, and it was in the rain that we played because it has been raining all day. lame. Oh and I also took a shower today out in the ran on the roof because the lights and water left. So it just had to be done. I'm just roughing it.
See ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, May 24th 2010

2010-05-24T21:46:00.001-04:00

So Aunt Sally passed away. Wow, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say, I have no real words of encouragement. I'm mostly sorry that I'm not there to help out with Grandma and Uncle Jimmers. Tell them I love them please, and I would of been there, but I couldn't, which is the worst part - not knowing what is going on and only being able to pray is hard.

As for my week, basically it wasn't half bad. We had the zone conference Friday with the president and it was ok. Not very interesting though. It was basically an older couple from the office lecturing at the missionary's that waste the money they get from the mission. So it was a long talk on that. Then there was a long talk on hygiene. And then a talk that the APs gave about becoming too comfortable in one's area and not working very hard. They were all necessary talks, but not that interesting because I'm basically one of the only missionaries that obeys the rules. Which is sad but sadly how the world works. It's amazing how many kids go on missions for the only reason that there parents made them, or they had nothing else to do, or it's expected of them. Then they come on the mission and don't work. I'm seeing more and more how that is as a Zone Leader, because now I have to deal with all of them. But my Zone's improving a lot.

Now to the crazy story of the week: So basically I got my phone stolen by a ten yr old kid and a 5 yr old kid. lol. They caught me off guard. lol. but luckily I was able to catch up to them and get it back. It was pretty ridiculous, lol. but yea that was my week.
- Elder Woestman

Monday, May 17th 2010

2010-05-17T20:45:00.000-04:00

So the week wasn't that interesting, just crazy because it was the start of a new transfer. So basically, Sunday we got transfer calls and I am still in Barahona. But I have a new companion and he is way cool. But that just meant that Monday I was stuck in the house all day while my companion packed. yea. And then Tuesday was crazy. I had to wake up at 5:00 to get to a bus stop with my old companion and two other missionaries to send them off and get my new companion. So I send them off and have to get my companions luggage from another area because he is from my zone so he just meet me at the bus stop, and then we went to his house to got his luggage after wards. From there we took a taxi back to my house. Then we had to head up at 10 to pick up two more missionaries from the bus stop for two new missionaries coming into my zone, and then send them off with their new companions to their areas. Then back to the house. At 1 we had to pick up one more new missionary and send him off with his companion, and then at 2 we had to head out to work like normal. Let's just say I was dead tired when that day ended.

Then Tuesday we had a Zone Leader's meeting in the capital. So once again I had to wake up at 5 and head to the bus stop. One four hour bus ride later we headed to the meeting. The meeting was good - a bunch of new stuff on how we have to do the new transfer. (Which is secret. haha) After that the rest of the week was pretty normal. Except for Sunday. Sunday was election day here and we had to be in the house by 6. But, I got sick early in the morning. So I spent the whole day in a hospital with an IV stuck into me. That was no fun, especially because I was in a third world country's hospital and it didn't look very clean. But it turns out luckly that it wasn't my apendix that was hurting which I thought. I just recieved my first parasite. lol. But yea that was my week.
Till next week,
Elder Woestman

Monday, May 10th 2010

2010-05-10T15:52:00.000-04:00

Sunday was Mother's Day, so I got to call home. Nothing happened this week that I didn't tell my family. So for all of you readers of my blog out there, I am very sorry, but I think I am just going to go buy some ties. lol. later. :P
Elder Woestman

Monday, May 3rd 2010

2010-05-03T14:09:00.000-04:00

Hi:
Saturday was the best day of the week - we had a baptism - and she is amazing. Her name is Vielka, and there was like a million people at the baptism as well - which was sweet (you know, support network). And the cool part of it all was on Sunday. When Vielka stood up and bore her testimony in fast and testimony meeting, saying how she knows the church is true and how grateful she is for the missionaries and how they have made her home a place of love and peace. O-Yea! so that's when it rocks to be a missionary!
Friday was way crazy. We had to do four baptism interviews, and all the interviews were in different places so we didnt even get to work at all in our area Friday because we were too busy doing interviews. I talked to the president about that and we are going to try to fix that for the next time.
Thursday we had interviews with the president that went way good, but my companion almost died. First of all, he was walking and a motorcycle almost hit him. But then he found out why the motorcycle was driving so fast. Right afterwords a guy with a shotgun came out shooting from around the corner. My companion was running. Luckily I wasn't anywhere close to him at that moment in his life. I was in Enrequillo relaxing on the beach. lol. Ok not really but we were on an intercombio and I was in a different area. And that area rocks! The missionaries' house is right next to the beach. I fell asleep that night with the sound of the surf crashing into the shore - it was awesome. However, that area was no fun to work in because half of it is in the mountains. And in order to get up there you have to climb these stairs - and there are soooo many of them. They're like the "Lord of the Rings" stairs of Mordor. But, yea, that was Thursday.
The rest of the week was pretty normal. Have a great week.
-Elder Woestman

Monday, April 26th 2010

2010-04-26T19:21:00.000-04:00

So this week was a little crazy. Friday I almost got my hand cut off by some drunk guy with a machete. I was walking down the street, on an intercombio with a missionary in my Zone, and this drunk guy stopped us on the side of the street. I had my book of Mormon in my hand, and the guy was like "this isn't a bible! Give me that book", and he tried taking my book. Well I just tried to walk away without giving him my book. So he pulled out a machete from his pants and told me to give him the book. When I tried giving it to him he swung at my arm almost cutting off my hand. So, scared to death, I threw the book at him and started walking the other way. Well then the drunk guy's brother came out and started yelling at him. So the drunk guy came running back after us to give us my book. My companion took the book because I didn't even want to go near him and we left. After that I have come to realize how important to me my arm is - and how much it would suck to loose it, but yea, that was the most interesting thing that happened this week.

Also in the mission field we are having problems with missionaries using the phones too much and abusing their internet privileges. So now every companionship has a time limit for use the phone to call other missionaries. It's a little sad but has to be done.

That was the week. Next Saturday we should have one baptism. One fell through because she didn't go to church but the other one is still going to get baptized this Saturday. o-yea! But that's it.

Elder Woestman

Tuesday, April 20th 2010

2010-04-21T10:49:00.000-04:00

I was unable to write you all yesterday because I had a meeting with the mission president in the capital. All the Zone leaders had to head up there, which was kind of lame because I didn't get a p-day. And I had to ride in a bus for 8 hours once again to get to and from the meeting - but what can a man do. And this letter may be a little small because I have another meeting in like 30 minutes.

So the week was pretty awesome. We have found two amazing investigators - finally - and they both came to church Sunday. It was awesome. And after church we took them to the baptismal font and I asked one if she wanted to get baptized. She said she felt ready to be baptized the first moment we knocked on the door. Haaaaaaa, so that was awesome. And the other one accepted a baptismal date as well. So they will be getting baptized on the 1st of May. Which is awesome! But yea the rest of the week wasn't that interesting. . . yesterday for the conference we talked about this seminar that the Pres. had with his area authorities. It was basically about how we had to work with the book of Mormon and with members and stuff. It wasn't really all that new of stuff, but it cleared up quite a bit of questions that a lot of us have been having about how to use the Book Of Mormon correctly. But yea - that was pretty much my week.

Elder Woestman

Monday, April 12, 2010

2010-04-12T17:20:00.000-04:00

So Barahona is basically one of the coolest places in the world. My branch is the bomb. At least it has been showing how "bombalishes" it is these past few weeks. We had 2 more baptisms this week, and the mission leader set up everything again -. which was basically amazing. AND it's freaking cold here every night because I'm right by the beach and I LOVE IT. I'll have to take some pics and send them to my mom to post. It makes me just want to jump right in there and go swimming since it also gets way hot during the days.

But now to my week. So Monday night we did a family home evening night and it was sweet. It was with one of my first baptisms of the the first week. Then Tuesday we got a surprise visit by the APs, and it went way good. They wanted to do an intercombio with us. So they went to the district meeting that we had to go to for one of the districts in my zone - and I'm going to have to say that that was by far the worst district meeting I have ever been to. lol. So afterward I had to talk with the district leader and set up a few basic rules. We will see how it goes. I will call him tonight to remind him of everything before tomorrow. Then after that we ate and left with the APs. And it went really well, our APs rock. They work their butts off.

Then lets see here. . . .Wednesday we had a long day. We had a million lessons set up because we left with the APs and we weren't expecting to have four people working in our area Tuesday. So we contacted a bunch of new people and set up a bunch of new lessons, so Wednesday we taught 12 lessons (ya!) which was way good. Then Thursday we had our Zone Conference with the President and I gave a little talk on the importance of using the Book Of Mormon and how we can use it to find the people that the spirit has prepared to become members of the church. I didn't think it was half bad, but I kind of got stage fright. I didn't think I ever had a problem with talking in front of people but my leg just wouldn't stop shaking. Oh-well. And then lets see. . . . Friday was a normal day. Saturday we had two more baptisms. And that was my week. Awesome!

Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, April 5th 2010

2010-04-05T20:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I am now a zone leader. Monday night I said bye to everyone in my old area and got photos with them and everything. Then Tuesday bright and early in the morning I headed to the transfer chapel - where I had to wait two hours. Then I had to go to the bus station, and because we got to the bus station late we had to wait there for three more hours to get a bus. But after all of that I finally was able to get a bus to my new area - Barahona. The bus ride took 4 hrs. lol. but I occupied my time pretty well I thought. I slept for the first two hours. lol. but then I woke up and became a missionary again. I was sitting next to a teenage girl so I started talking to her. I noticed at the beginning of the bus ride that she was read, which is a little unusual because not very many people read here, especially not for fun. So I started talking to her about her book, then I brought up the Book of Mormon that I happened to have on my lap the whole bus ride. I told her all about how awesome of a book it is. And then she started talking about the after life. So I taught her the Plan of Salvation as well. And it was a way good way to pass the time in the long bus ride. Before she got off I gave her my Book of Mormon and she promised to read it. So who knows...... maybe one day down the road another missionary will find her and she will get baptized. A man can only hope right.
When I got to my new area my companion was waiting for me. He is a missionary that I have meet before. He was in my zone when I was in Bani. He is a good guy, but he can't walk very fast which is kind of a little rough because I am a fast-paced type of guy. But o-well. I got to Barahona at 6 at night. We went to the house, I dropped off my stuff, and then we headed right back out to visit the key investigators that we have. Then we went back home. On Wednesday we had to head to the capital again for a zone leader meeting with the president, so we had to wake up early and take the four hour bus ride to the capital again - way fun. But the meeting was good. I learned a little bit and then we had to take the bus all the way back home again. And we were late once again to the bus station. So we didn't get a bus till 3:45 and then we didn't get home till like 8. It was a way boring day. Plus we had two other elders sleep at our house with us that night because they couldn't get to their area because it was so late.
Then Thursday was our first full day. We started it off with my first zone meeting as zone leader - and it was good, We basically just copied everything Pres. Almonte told us and told it to them. Then we did a bunch of contacts and a few lessons. On Friday we taught all of our lessons and did the baptism interviews for our two baptisms that we had Saturday. Then Saturday we had two baptisms - but they weren't really my baptisms because I didn't teach them anything. lol. They were the other guys who's spot I took. But that was still cool. Also Saturday we got to watch the afternoon general conference session. But the bad thing was that I had to watch it in Spanish. The pres. gave a new rule saying that all missionaries had to watch it in Spanish. And I'm not going to lie. It was not a good general conference for me. I could understand just fine. It was just hard for me to stay concentrated. And Sunday was the same.
Now that I have a week in my area I can see that I have much work to do because even with my limited time, I was still able to manage to get better numbers than everyone else in my zone for the week. And I say I and not we because my companion is kind of a bum. I always thought that ZLs were supposed to be better missionary's, but this guy is one complaining slow fool. So pray to give me patience please.
Elder Woestman

Monday March 29th 2010

2010-03-29T16:04:00.000-04:00

So how is it going. I am just going to start with my week.
Yesterday we received transfer calls and I am leaving my area. I am going to Barrahona and I am going to be a Zone Leader in Barrahona. When I got the call I was told that I am going up in the world. But in my opinion being a trainer is still the best. And although I have already trained three missionary's I can't lie. I was kind of hoping for another one. lol. But I guess a man has to move on. Elder Bednar said that God gives you a position until you feel comfortable and then he takes you away from it and makes you feel uncomfortable again so that you can learn and grow in a new area - and I see how that works. I think I know who my new companion is. I know his name, but there are like three Elders with that last name. But it should be fun. It's way in the campo and I hear it's super hot too. o-ya. lol. But basically this week was pretty normal all in all. It was the last week that I was with my kid so I made him make all the decisions the whole week. We didn't do to bad at all. The numbers were like cut in half from last week, but hey he is learning right. lol. but basically yea. nothing crazy happened.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday, March 22nd 2010

2010-03-23T09:15:00.000-04:00

Hi Everybody:
So this Saturday we had a baptism. The girlfriend of a member got baptized. It took us forever to teach her everything and then to get her to quit her job, but she is now finally baptized. Yesterday, which was Sunday, I almost died again. It seems to be happening more and more now that I think about it - these near death experiences. But what happened was that we were in a member's house eating dinner when a girl came running in saying that there was a fight going on outside. So Gisela walked out there and I followed her and then when she got to the road, because we were in a back alleyway sort of thing, she turned around right away and ran back to the house telling us to get in the house. Some guy was wasted waving a gun around. So we had to wait in the house for a while for things to cool down. But things would probably only get worse, right. So we made up the decision to leave and with a prayer in our hearts walked really fast through the streets till we got to our house and all ended up really fine. lol. The funny part was my companion's face the whole time - lol - poor kid. I don't think he has ever been through anything like that in his life. Now - what else. So Tuesday we had interviews with the president. He said that I would be finally leaving my area. I have been in the same house for 9 months and I feel like it is time to see new places. But the bad thing is that my bishop said that he was going to call the president to make me stay for another transfer because he doesn't want to loose us. But I don't think that will work.
That's all that really happened this week - you know; work, work, work, and a lil bit of sleep. lol.
Love Ya,
Elder Woestman

Monday, March 15th 2010

2010-03-18T10:19:00.000-04:00

So this week was pretty decent. Actually, way-dang sweet would be more like the correct word usage. All because we had 13 investigators go to church, and now I am not talking about kids or anything either. Those 13 people are all 18 yrs and older. It was awesome. But basically we have had many people that we have been teaching for a long time without any success at getting them to go to church. So throughout the week we talked to all of them and basically told them that we couldn't pass by their houses anymore unless they came to church because as missionaries we have to focus on people that will take our teachings more seriously. My companion and I basically started contacting like crazy thinking that we were never going to talk to those investigators again. Well . . . what ended up happening was that they all came to church Sunday and now we have a "million" people that we have to keep teaching. Which could be way good, because it will keep us busy and maybe we can baptize them. But we will see as the week goes on. But yea, that was basically my week - saving marriages seemed to be the focus of the week though. Also we set up a baptism for Saturday so hopefully that will go through smoothly.

Keeping in touch, Elder Woestman

Monday, March 8th 2010

2010-03-09T09:50:00.000-05:00

So the week was pretty sweet, but not very interesting at all. Nothing really crazy happened, but it was good. Tuesday was district meeting day. Wednesday we had an intercombio with the Zone Leaders and it was way good. It was a basic day but the ZLs are sweet. A day of much wisdom stealing. I'm not usually around people that have more time than me in the mission so that was nice. And these ZLs are going home in 4 weeks.
Thursday we had a great lesson with this one guy. Basically we have been teaching this family but the dad was never there and didn't really want to talk to us. Well, we finally caught him in his house and convinced him to listen to us. After talking to him he committed to say family prayers every day and he even came to church Sunday - so score! That was awesome.
And then Friday we had another sweet investigator guy that we were able to talk to. He read everything we asked him, but this time it looks like it will be the mom that could be a problem. Usually it's the other way around. But we can work with it. Then Saturday we had a reactivation thing at a less-active member's house. It was basically a family home evening night with tons of members. We like to "attack" our people with love hereto bring them back to church. It's pretty much a great idea.
Today we went to the botanical gardens and got to meet up with a bunch of greengo tourists. lol. Plus, I got to translate for a bunch of them, because they were absolutely lost. lol. and yea that was my week.

Love, Elder Woestman

Monday, March 1st 2010

2010-03-01T19:44:00.000-05:00

So this week was pretty crazy. It started out like pretty much every other week, but it was unlike any other week. So first of all I started this week with one companion and I ended this week once again with a different companion - the same companion that I trained and then got taken away from me after 5 weeks because the President wanted him in the office. So after 3 weeks I now have him again as my companion - and I am finishing training him. lol. But now I will explain the HOW this came to pass. So it all started Tuesday. It was a pretty normal Tuesday. We had our district meeting, and then we went out after lunch. But right as I sat down for the first lesson the phone rang. Now I usually don’t pick up the phone. I just turn it off, but since it was the beginning of the lesson - and when I looked at it and realized the APs were calling, I thought it might be best to pick it up. They ended up saying that we had to go back to the house because they were going to come and pick up my companion - and that he had to prepare an extra pair of clothes because he was going to spend the night at the office. So - last week they took out my last companion I was training, but was put into the office, from the office and put him in another area. So we figured that my present companion would be called in to work in the office because they were the only two that knew how to do the baptism stuff on the computers. So . . . after my companion left I had an intercombio with an elder which was way awesome because he was my first Zone Leader (so we had a blast together). Then Wednesday rolled around and we headed to the office to pick up my new companion. So we got there, and we were about to leave when Pres. Almonte walked into the office. Now I’m thinking that he didn’t know that my companion had came to the office. Because he did not appear very happy. And he didn’t know all the stuff that my companion was there to help out with. The office missionary has been in the office for like 6 months except he only really did stuff with the houses. But right after the Pres. yelled at him he turned to my companion and said that in 2 days he was going to come to the office and in two days I was going to receive my new companion – one I had before – one I really like and the rest is history. The next day which was the Thursday, after a zone conference, the APs came to the house and dropped off my new companion and my old companion left. But what is still super sweet is that Saturday we had 2 baptisms, and they were the first baptisms of my new companion. So I was still able to give somebody I trained his first baptism.

Elder Woestman

Monday - February 22nd 2010

2010-02-22T15:54:00.001-05:00

So my week definitely has had a change for the good. The last week wasn’t too hot for me because I was stuck in a rough place as a district leader and a companion. I had to make some decisions, and I didn’t like at all how the last week went. So Monday night I pulled everybody in my house (which is 3 other missionaries) one by one up on the roof and we all had a special interview. lol. But it went really well. If there was one thing that I think I have learned from arguing with my little brother Ben, it was how to get people to believe in everything I was doing, and that it was really best for everyone. lol. Even if I really had no clue what I was doing. lol.

The week was way good after I had those interviews, because the house really changed afterwards. Everybody is now working together to bring the Spirit together. And, as long as everyone is working to uplift each other, we can’t fall right. Tuesday was a pretty normal day, except that it was transfer day. But nobody in the house changed, but we already knew that from Sunday night. Even though everybody Sunday night was hoping that they would be able to leave their companion. lol. We are horrible.

Then Wednesday we had a zone meeting. It was good. I got to meet up with my old trainee elder who had moved to the office. He is awesome because I have been looking for a tape player to tape my mission life right. But the one I was going to get for Christmas got stolen in transit. So, he found one in the streets for like 5 bucks, and bought it for me. He is awesome. But then he also told me about how he got in trouble the Monday before last, because there was a missionary going home that was living in his house. And the members threw a party for him so he ended up getting home late and the President got angry. He told me that he might be leaving the office because the President said he couldn't have bad missionaries in the office. And that’s what ended up happening. But he isn’t like that, he is just not a very strong person in the mission yet. I told the President that he took him away too early. But hey, the pres knows best right. But then the funny thing is that he is now in the zone of Boni (lol) - and Boni is basically my "family meeting spot". Everybody I have served with spends time in Boni. And at this moment I have two elders I trained in Boni. Even my trainer in the mission is there.

But Thursday - well the APs showed up and decided to do a surprise intercombio [mission companion splits] with us to check up on our teaching and everything. They have been doing that. But of course I was stupid. Or let’s just say I wasn’t acting very wisely, because we taught one lesson with one of the APs (the other AP went with the other missionaries in my house) and afterwards I told him that he was teaching bad. Which was true, but I guess I probably shouldn't of said that (lol) but the thing was that there are rules when you go on intercombios. They are written in the “Preach My Gospel” manual. The manual says that if you go on an intercombio into somebody else’s area you are not there to teach but to testify. So I asked the AP if he was there to teach us how to teach and he said no he was just there on a regular intercombio. So I told him that if he could only testify then it would be better because he doesn’t know my investigators or anything. Well something happened that I didn’t expect at all. The AP almost started crying. So then the whole day was just awkward - if you know what I mean. So yea. It was kind of ridiculous. But I fixed it all by the time the day ended with him (or so I thought). Then the next morning the APs called and said that they wanted to do another quick intercombio with us Friday. So we went to the church a little before three to be there when they got there, and their truck came rolling up. But the crazy thing was that they were not in their truck. Pres. Almonte was in the truck. ahhhhhhh. lol. So he told us to jump in and we went to our first lesson - and it was a way good lesson. The president definitely knows his stuff. The lady we went to teach had a question about the Tower of Babel and the President just gave her the sweetest explanation of the Tower of Babel I have ever heard in my life. lol. Afterwards he looked at my companion and I and said that he felt a great spirit with us both. o-yea. lol. So, yea that was my week.

Oh - also Saturday I had another baptism. So that was way good too. However, the lady decided to take a deep breath when she was under the water though, so that wasn’t very good but hey…. And then our first counselor in our Ward had a baby Friday and that was announced Sunday, so we went and visited him Sunday after church and gave his family the sacrament. So that was cool. But yea, that was my week.

Keep Smiling,
Elder Woestman

Monday - February 8th 2010

2010-02-08T19:27:00.000-05:00

What a crazy week!! This week started out like any other normal week. Monday we did the sweetest Family Home Evening night in the world. We went over to Basilia's house (not like you know who she is) - but she and her family are investigating. And she rocks. She is the one that has a daughter that we just found out has TB. Which I don't know much about but I hear it kills - which is no good. But she is getting treatments and is supposedly getting better. So please pray that that keeps up. The night was the best; we watched the movie "Together Forever" - which I feel is a really good movie. Even if it is not meant for people that live in a third world country, because everything in that movie looks so nice. Plus they eat like Thanksgiving every dinner that they showed in that movie. I kept thinking in my head that that is not really what its like in America - but it really is. But she and her family loved it. And we also made sweet brownies. So that was great fun.

Tuesday we had interviews with the president. And then that's when the week just went all down hill. In that interview the president told me that my companion and I had to go to the office the next day. Then Wednesday the president stuck my companion in the office and now I am with another companion. And I'm kind of really upset because my companion was the best companion that I have had in my whole mission. And I didn't just get any other companion. The president pulled me into his office and sat me down - and basically my companion almost got sent home and now I am re-training a different missionary that goes home in 6 months - who has been a total "bucket" and I am suppose to teach him how to be a man. So this is basically the most important thing I can do on my mission, the president said. Because this will affect my companion's life forever. What a responsibility!

But yea that was my week. So, now I have been waking up way early to make my companion pancakes so he will wake up on time, and a bunch of other things, but hey....
Love You,
Elder Woestman.

Monday - February 1, 2010

2010-02-01T20:17:00.000-05:00

So first thing is first. We have this old guy in my ward down here that is probably one of the funniest old people in this world. And it's all because he talks with this shaky groggy voice - lol - and he totally acts like the basic old guy. But we were teaching him and his daughter, and right before we left he gave us candy. lol. But my companion kind of looked at it, and because the old guy thinks my companion doesn't know Spanish he said (while using huge hand signals) "that's something that you eat." It was so funny. But maybe I'm just out of it because it doesn't really sound that funny on paper. But trust me, it was funny.

Now to something more interesting. So I was living in the same house as Elder "E" who I trained and Elder "H" who I am training right now. But Elder E. left us and went to Ocoa. Which is basically the best place in the whole mission to live. It is the only place in the mission that actually gets below 60 degrees and they have a hot water heater! How sweet is that. So yea, we were just a big happy family living together and now one of my "kids" has gone to rich-vill. lol. What else.... so also we had 7 investigators go to church Sunday. That was awesome. This one lady we are teaching is probably one of the coolest lady's ever. I don't think I have ever seen her frown and she definitely has a reason to. She has a daughter that has some sort of lung disease. But yet she still looks on the bright side of everything. Sunday she asked me what she had to do to be a member. So hopefully that will all go well. I'm really excited for her.

And this week we have also been teaching a lot of Haitians. So I have been trying to work on my Creole; which is not an easy language at all. It's a mix of French and different African languages - and it's not coming very easily. But I kind of just want to learn how to read it is all. So I'm working on that.

Last event of the week: Well one of the guys in my house called up the president and wanted to go home. So Saturday night I talked to him for like 2 hours on the top of our neighbors house. It was great fun - but not really. It was a great experience though. But yea, that was my week.

Elder Woestman

Monday, January 25th 2010

2010-01-25T19:11:00.000-05:00

So this week was something I would call freaking awesome. Yea something like that - and I will start with Wednesday. Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the 12 apostles came and talked to a small group of missionaries from the east and west missions in the Dominican Republic and I was in that small group, front row baby. And it was awesome. A little not what I expected seeing, being the first time in my life ever seeing an apostle up close and in person. And I half expected the sky to rain fire and an angel to come or something like that. lol. But unluckily - it didn't happen, but it was still an awesome experience. He did a question and answer session with us. And at the end I got to shake his hand. At first I was thinking that I would never wash my hand again, but then when I woke up the next morning I took a shower and with out thinking washed my hand. But yea, that was my Wednesday. Now to the following days of the week. Well actually nothing else really happened this week besides Friday. Friday we had an activity where we invited all of our investigators to the Church to watch the "Restoration" video. That was pretty sweet. We popped pop corn and made juice and afterwards we did a spiritual message about Joseph smith. So that was good,but yea that was my week.
Elder Woestman

Monday - January 18th 2010

2010-01-18T18:07:00.000-05:00

In response to my mom's question - I actually know all about the earthquake in Haiti, probably more than you guys. That's all anybody talks about here. And I have investigators who have had family members die over there. It's kind of messed up and sad. The earthquake happened Tuesday. And yes, I felt it. But I am OK.

As far as my experience goes, my companion and I were teaching, or more or less trying to convince this inactive brother to go back to church when it struck. I was sitting on a bed with my companion because there wasn't any seats besides the one the other guy was sitting on - when all of a sudden everything started being distorted around me. At first I thought it was my companion moving the bed, but it stopped, so we just continued. But then it happened again and I wasn't sure what was happening, but after like 10 seconds it stopped. Now I have never been in an earthquake before so I had no clue what one felt like, but now I can never say that anymore, right. After the second time the guy's wife came running in telling us that there was just an earthquake in Haiti and that their biggest hospital was destroyed. And that was how I heard about the earthquake in Haiti - and how I had my first experience with an earthquake. It was pretty uneventful for me but I would never want to be a Haitian as of right now. We have this investigator that we are teaching that is from Haiti and he, as of right now, has lost a grandpa and they can't find 8 of his brothers and cousins. Which probably means they are dead, they just haven't been identified. Which is really sad.

Other than that, my week was really good. My companion and I are really getting to know our new area and all the members are pretty sweet. Also Friday we had a really good activity at the church. We did a BBQ and we were able to get 11 of our investigators to go to church - which was dang sweet. We played games and everything. Then we also ran into these four Jehovah Witnesses that we started teaching, and they are sweet. 3 of them practically memorized the booklet that we gave them which doesn't happen everyday. So I hope our teaching them goes good. Till next week. . . .
Elder Woestman

Monday, January 11th 2010

2010-01-11T20:01:00.000-05:00

So I now have my new companion and he is The Man. He is half Chinese and whenever we walk around all the little kids always yell "chino" at him But he is sweet. He has black hair. In high school while he wasn't on the chess teem, he always went to the chess practices and, he is a computer hacker. Pretty much the biggest nerd ever. And I think that is why we are getting along sooo well. lol. I'm just made to be good friends with nerds and he is a way righteous guy. But the week was sweet. We worked hard but nothing really super interesting happened. Tuesday was transfer day and that's when I meet my new companion. And that day we had nothing planned in my area because everything was new. We have a white washed area, meaning basically the other missionaries have left us nothing to work with in our area. But we hit the ground running. We found the mission leader and his son showed us a bunch of members and then another member took us around to a bunch more. So the first day we were able to meet a ton of members and less actives. Then Wednesday we painted a lady's house that we set up the day before, which was awesome that we got hooked up with that service opportunity at the very beginning. Hopefully that gives the members some more confidence in how hard we want to work so they will let us teach their friends. Then Thursday we spent the whole day contacting and teaching. Friday we did the same and I did some baptismal interviews, because I am also the district leader as well as training. Which is a little bit harder but all good. Sunday we had two dinner appointments. lol. My companion wanted to kill me at the end for making him eat so much. It was hilarious. But yea, that was my week .
Stay Warm Up There,
Elder Woestman

Monday, January 4th 2010

2010-01-04T23:05:00.000-05:00

So I was walking around the other day and I saw this guy. He is a member of the church, goes to church every Sunday, and I have been to his house and all, but never really inside of it. It's a pretty small house but everybody's house is small here. So, he told me to come to his house the next day. So we went over there, but we got there early. He is usually ready for us, but when I got there he wasn't there and the door was open. So I figured he was in the back, which he was but I almost cried from the site that I saw. He has a sister that lives with him. And his sister was on the bed, the one and only bed that they had. He was on the concrete floor curled up in a ball using a piece of a mattress as a pillow and a towel as a blanket. He is first of all probably the most humble guy I have ever meet and just seeing that moves a man. It makes me want to be a better person.

But now to the rest of my week. So this week was really good. We have some really good people investigating and getting ready to get baptized. We have these three kids, 16 and 17 years of age, that are going to get baptized this Saturday and they are awesome. They live right next to each other and help each other out to do everything - to read, to go to church, to do everything. And I am really excited for them. Then we ran into this inactive family and started teaching them and a few of the other people living in the house. We got them to go to church this Sunday with their whole family. And we were able to set baptismal dates for the younger siblings of the family that haven't been baptized. They are going to get baptized on the 23 of this month. We are still teaching a family that is going to get married this coming week and then baptized the following - hopefully. They are progressing really well. But the sad thing is that tomorrow is transfer day. I am going to be leaving my area so my companion is going to have to finish teaching them. But the good thing is that I am only moving to the area right next to mine so I will be able to go to the baptisms. And the way dang awesome thing is that I am going to train again. So that will be the third person that I will be training. So that will be way fun. I've pretty much spent 3 months being trained, 3 months not, and 9 months is what I will have after this missionary is trained. I love training new missionaries. They are so ready to step it up with me. Old missionaries are just lame and don't want to work. They just want to play and mess around. But yea - two more missionaries got sent home as well this week. That seems to be happening more and more these days. But the week was sweet.

For the 31st we were stuck in the house. So we stayed up till midnight and then watched the fire works that were going off all over the place for a while then we went to bed. I'm really excited for this coming week.
Love You,
Elder Woestman

Monday - December 28th 2009

2009-12-30T13:28:00.001-05:00

It was great to talk to the whole Fam Friday - Christmas Day, so I don't really know what to say this week. So the week was dang sweet. First of all, we eat three, I repeat three, dinners on Christmas Eve. Because Christmas Eve is where the party is at in the Dominican Republic. We didn't work on the 24th or the 25th. Well, we did - but we only were allowed to pass by members and stuff. But Christmas Eve we woke up at 5 in the morning to hand out some bags of food to ten poorer members in the ward. It was way fun. We did some knock and runs - so when the people opened up the door they didn't see us, they just saw a bag full of food. It was better that way too. lol. Because it turns out that not many people are awake at 5 in the morning and most don't like to be at that. lol.
Last Tuesday my companion and I were walking and we saw these two nuns trying with all their might to lift up this rolling gate that fell of its track. It was kind of funny, but luckily those nuns just happened to have their friendly neighborhood missionaries walking by to help them. lol. So we picked it up and put it back on its track and fixed it for them. I wanted to try to set up a time to go back and teach them but they live in one of those monastery things with a bunch of other nuns. And i didn't want to get eaten by some nuns. (ha you gotta love nuns.)
Yea that was pretty much my week. Christmas Eve we eat a lot and Christmas we called the fam and played ping-pong. And I have come to realize that being a missionary stuck in a house for a day makes pretty much one boring day. I mean I love to play dominoes just as much as the next guy, but truly, it is not something I like to much right now.
Love Ya,
Elder Woestman

Monday, December 21st 2009

2009-12-21T12:45:00.001-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!
So this week was sweet. Monday we did this family home evening night where we made cookies right but it was horrible. People in this country don't use their ovens - at least not to cook that is. They just use them for storage. So when we had to use the oven we opened it up and there were pans in there filled with rat poop. Disgusting!!! So we took out all of those pans and cleaned them. And then we put the cookies in. Well after like five minutes the whole house started smelling like rat poop. lol. It was a pretty amazing smell. lol. But the good news was that the cookies still tasted good. I was surprised that they still wanted to eat them, because i wasn't feeling like eating any cookies from that oven! lol.
Tuesday was a pretty normal day. We went out with this kid named Jose, and it was good. Normal. But Wednesday was a dang good day. So Wednesday we passed by a lady named Carminia. She is about 38 years old and she lives with her husband and 5 kids. When we went to her house Wednesday she told me how she received an answer to her prayers and wants to be baptized. o-ya. So we passed by again Saturday to talk with her husband. We talked to them about the plan of salvation and the importance of eternal families and marriage. And it went way good. The whole family went to church Sunday. It was probably the best part of my week. So I truly hope that they continue doing really good and get baptized - the whole family. Then Friday we had our Christmas dinner as a ward. Me and my companion probably made the "best potatoes ever" once again, and it was way good. The young men and young women did this dance thing. The young men did a break dancing thing and the young women did some line dancing thing. They were both way cool - not very coordinated - lol - but way cool. And that was about my week. Super excited to talk to the family on the 25th.
Happy Holidays,
Elder Woestman

Monday, December 14th, 2009

2009-12-15T00:11:00.001-05:00

So the week was crazy. Monday we made some cookies which weren't too bad. All the Dominicans said I put too much sugar in them, but to me that just made them more awesome. Then Tuesday we all got to go to the temple, which is always awesome. But this time was exceptionally sweet because my whole mission family was there at the temple. I haven't talked to the first Elder I trained for like ever. When I saw him sitting there I could tell he was having a rough time. So I talked to him a lot. And, as well my trainer in the mission was there. He is still the tall goof that I knew and love. But that wasn't all, because after the temple we got to go to the president's house and eat a Christmas dinner over there. The food was The Bomb!!! I almost got sick because I eat too much and I wanted to eat more. lol. The bad news was that we didn't get back to our area till 4 and we had people to teach starting at 2. But, we were able to teach or at least talk to everyone. We just had to run.
Wednesday we had district meeting but besides that nothing really happened or at least I don't think so. I have a feeling that tons of things happened this week, I just can't remember. Oh well. Thursday lol. Thursday did not work at all the way we planned. lol. So there is this member kid that is like 17 that never wants to got out and teach with us. So in order to get him to go with us we told him that we were going to teach a whole bunch of good looking girls around his age and we needed his help. lol. So Wednesday we set up a bunch of lessons with girls. And then we went to this kids house and he was totally ready and was looking way nice. I was kind of surprised but not really at the same time, because he is that type of kid. Then we went out to teach, but it was funny because none of the girls that we had set up were home, so we weren't able to teach a single one. lol. Which was bad but funny. But he still said he was going to go with us again this week. Friday nothing really happened and Saturday we taught this sweet Jamaican guy. He was way cool. Sunday we had five investigators at church. The week was a little rough but all in all pretty good.
Love you,
Elder Woestman

Monday, December 7th 2009

2009-12-07T23:32:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone:
So this week was way dang sweet. Monday night we had a family home evening night with a member, and it was awesome. She had everybody there that she could get that was a member of her family and she had some neighbors too. We did a sweet lesson but it was her testimony at the end that really made the night sweet. So we are now teaching her friend, her sister, and her nephew. Awesome. And then Tuesday we went out with Willie, one of my baptisms but nothing really interesting happened. Wednesday nothing really happened as well. But - Thursday the craziest thing happened. So we were teaching at these apartments at the edge of our area and this lady called us up. I had no clue who she was. She said that she was from Salt Lake City and needed our help. So we left and headed to the other side of our area to find her. It turns out that she is some lady that is having some problems with her husband and she wanted us to help. Her husband was beating her and stuff. So we took her to the bishop's house and he talked to her. She ended up sleeping at his house one night and i don't know what happened to her but I'm pretty sure she is ok. And then Saturday we had a baptism and Sunday was church.
Today we went out and did this service project at the "dedication grounds". We cleaned up the whole area were the Dominican Republic was dedicated for the gospel. And . . . that was my week.
Elder Woestman

Monday November 30th 2009

2009-11-30T17:09:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone;
I am just going to talk randomly about this week because I'm not thinking much happened this week but maybe I will remember things as I start writing. So, this Saturday we had another baptism. And it was awesome. Everybody and anybody went to the baptism. We had almost every women in the whole church go to the baptism. Boo-ya!! And the girl that got baptized is named Violeta. We are teaching her whole family but the thing is that her parents can't get baptized yet because they aren't married. But we are working on it. It is way hard to get paper work in this country. Nothing is organized.
Thanksgiving almost passed by without me even knowing. It wasn't till 8:00 at night that our mission leader, who is American, told us that it was Thanksgiving. My companion and I just looked at each other and were like; "Shoot! We missed Thanksgiving." So we went out and bought ourselves Domino's pizza - two huge family size ones, and eat them. It was sweet. Not really like Thanksgiving but still sweet.
Today for p-day we had a Thanksgiving dinner as a zone. And I must say that my mashed potato making skills are improving. lol. I pretty much make the sweetest mashed potatoes ever now. Friday we had zone conference with the President, and that wasn't bad at all. That was the week basically - nothing really to interesting. Hopefully everything will go a little smoother this week, because it was little hectic this last week.
Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!
Elder Woestman

Monday, November 23rd 2009

2009-11-23T17:04:00.000-05:00

So Mom – the package you sent down with a friend got stolen?!?!?! What bad luck do I have? lol. Oh well, I guess it is the thought that counts, but it probably would of been better if you told me that there was nothing but sox inside of it because then I wouldn't of felt bad about it.
So my week was pretty interesting I guess. It all started Tuesday when I went to go teach this member’s two friends. We will call them Friend #1 and Friend #2.. But only Friend #1 showed up and he showed up with a whacked up story. So it turns out that last Saturday Friend #2, was at the church playing basketball with Elmerts, the member kid, and Elmerts’ sister. Friend #2 and Elmerts’ sister got a little too friendly at church, but the crazy thing is that this girl is the girlfriend of Friend #1. So obviously there is a big problem. Now Friend #1 wants nothing with the church and Friend #2 doesn't want to show his face at church again because of what he did. All cause of some stupid girl. . . and they were both dang good investigators as well. We will see if I can turn them around with some time.
Then Thursday we had our interviews with the president, they were nice and fast, because that’s how they are if there are no problems. And he also gave us permission to go to Semma – which is a taylor store, or a place to buy fabric. So my companion and I are going down there to buy some pant taylor and get some pants made. I’m dang excited for that, and then Friday I did my first baptism interview. I was sooo nervous. I was afraid that I might let somebody get baptized that wasn't really ready and I spent and hour and a half doing the interview, and I didn’t even know it. lol.
Saturday the other two missionaries had a big disagreement and one called the APs and so they came over and they had a big talk. My companion and I grabbed some orange soda, sat at the top of the stairs, and listened to the whole thing and it was pretty intense. The one missionary even started crying, probably better than any movie you could ever watch. But it left us counting our blessing on how good we are getting along and everything. lol. And yea, that was my week. Another nice week of crazy mission drama.
Elder Woestman

Monday, November 16th 2009

2009-11-16T18:56:00.000-05:00

So this week was pretty sweet. I’ll start it off with Wednesday. So Wednesday we went to the super market to get our food for the week, right. Well, we found these what looked like hamburger patties and they were dang cheaper than regular ground beef. Soak Score. So we bought them in place of ground beef. Well, when we went home that day to make lunch we immediately went to the patties to eat some hamburgers for lunch. I started frying them up but the thing was that after like five minutes you’d expect them to start cooking, right? Well they were still blood red. And 20 minutes later they were still blood red, just cooked blood red. So the plan was to just give it to the dogs out side. Well my companion decided that he wasn’t afraid of it and was going to eat it - which was stupid. Thursday I got a phone call from him at the hospital office and I had to go talk to the doctor and sign him out. They think he may have parasites. But I guess that just makes me lucky for not eating it.
This week was the best week number wise for us, but the worst week success wise. We had 12 people committed to go to church Sunday, but only 5 went to church. We even stopped by 6 houses, but not even one of the people we passed by would answer their door and were therefore probably sleeping. But hey, that’s about it, and I have to go. Have a great week.
Elder Woestman

Monday, Nov 9th 2009

2009-11-09T15:23:00.000-05:00

So my week was just awesome. We had a lot of success this week. It started out with a sweet family home evening night that we did Monday. We made enchiladas with one of my baptisms. And then Tuesday we went out with another one of my baptism Willy, for the first time - and that was awesome. He was way good. We taught one of his cousins. Later that night we did another family home evening night and after words Willy did a bunch of magic for the people we were teaching. They all loved it. And, Willy loved the day so much - it was a blast. He is way excited to leave with us again tomorrow. And I am too because that day was the most successful day we had all last week
The rest of the week was pretty normal. We actually have a bunch of new people that we are teaching. We got four referrals this week, three Sunday and one Thursday. That’s way awesome because referrals are the best way to go by far. One of them is a boyfriend of a member and they are thinking about getting married. Two of them are friends of one of my baptisms. And another is this sister-in-law of this member guy that moved into the ward from Brooklyn. And he knows English, which is always sweet. Oh and Saturday we ran into these two guys in the super market who were from Jersey and they spoke perfect English. It was crazy. I kept on getting confused because I wanted to speak to them in Spanish but they were talking to me in perfect English. I ended up speaking probably the worst English ever in front of them. Oh and I totally forgot. I also got interviewed by this one girl who needed to interview a native English speaker. So that was fun. I did that Wednesday. But all in all the week was way sweet.
-Elder Woestman

Monday, Nov 2nd 2009

2009-11-02T15:47:00.000-05:00

So Halloween was just crazy for me, because I almost got moved out of my area. So basically I almost got specifically transferred out of my area because of this girl in my ward that my last companion and I reactivated. Basically, she gave me a note and told me not to read till I got home. Which I did just because I thought it was something like she had a problem or wanted me to give something to someone. But it turns out it was a love note. And basically on the back of it, it had two hearts, one of which was broken. On the bottom it said ' Te quiero mi Dulce Bebe ' . So you can start laughing at me now if you want. Everybody else in the house did, because for one, that's not even spelled correctly. Dominicans don't know how to spell. And two, that means “do you want me candy baby”. So I had to call up the AP's and tell them about it and the only reason why I am not being specifically transferred is because they trust me. I told them I could handle it. And, they don't want to separate me and my kid or start the area over with two new companions. So I got pretty lucky there. But yea that was my Halloween. Pretty much ridiculous.
The rest of the week wasn’t too bad. We have been working with this family to get the parents married, and we finally got a date with them for the 14 of this month to get married. That is dang sweet.
And also we found this in-active guy named Juan who we got to go to church Sunday. We have almost all new people that we are teaching these days. We had our capital conference with the President Thursday. He gave a long speech about holding on too long to people that just aren’t going to progress. He said even if we convince them to get baptized that doesn’t mean they will stay active. Oh – and Wednesday one of my baptisms went to the Temple, which was awesome because now he has twice as much energy as before and he wants to start doing family history work. (But I think that’s only because the person that does that in our ward is this girl that he likes. lol.) But yea that was my week. Work, work, work with a little bit of craziness.
Elder Woestman

Monday, October 26th

2009-10-26T18:13:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone:
This week was a little interesting; Tuesday was pretty much a normal day. But Wednesday is where it all stated, so Wednesday one of our investigator's girl friend moved out of his house. Finally! She took his computer though. But that just shows his determination to get baptized, he kicked out his girl and lost his computer. He is the man.
Thursday was kind of a crazy day. So in the middle of the day one of the guys who I baptized and who was helping us with an investigator, told us that this investigator we were going to see got sent to prison for trying to rob two girls at some college. So it turns out that he was not going to be able to get baptized like we wanted Saturday because he has to spend three months in jail. I would never have guessed that he was capable of doing such a thing. He just seemed to smart. On Friday we had the interviews of the other two people that got baptized. And then Saturday we had our baptisms. That was awesome. My companion got to baptize his first person - and he only had to do it twice unlike my 4 times that I had to do for my first baptism. lol.
Sunday I had to make up a lesson for the investigator class because our mission leader was sick and didn't tell anybody. But it was all good. We talked about the war in heaven and how God chose Jesus Christ as our Savior. All in all it was good, and then we went out and worked. It was a pretty sweet week, but the crazy thing was that we had a special transfer in our house last night. One of the Elders left so we have a threesome today - the Elder should be receiving his new companion in like twenty minutes. But yea that was my week.
Elder Woestman

Monday, October 19th 2009

2009-10-19T17:55:00.000-04:00

Hay mom, I know you are getting cold up there, but it’s extremely hot here. I don’t know if you would like having to wake up in the middle of the night because the power went out and its soo hot that you are sweating so you have to stick your head in a bucket of water to cool it off (there is no other way to get back to sleep). lol. But I'm not complaining. God actually blessed me with a good attitude with this ghetto way of living. I actually love it. lol.
So this week was Awesome! It all started with Tuesday. So Tuesday I got my kid (my new companion to train). He is the man! We got to the transfer chapel and the President gave me an envelope with his name and picture. The picture was black and white. So when they come I was looking for him, but didn’t really recognize him because he had red hair. lol. But he is way cool. He is 6ft 3in. He is a pilot. His dad is a crop duster. He is kind of just a big goof, but he is my big goof and I love him. He knows a surprisingly good amount of Spanish. He still has a lot to learn but he has a good word selection. So when we got home we unpacked him and I showed him the area book. Then we headed straight to work because that’s how I like to role. During our first few lessons he didn’t talk much. So I started thinking that I was not all that great at this training thing - that I was going at it all wrong. So then we did some contacts. I taught him how to contact and he became a little more confident. Then we started hitting up my key investigators (my key investigators are sweet). So while I was teaching I had them talk real slow and I talked slow and then I had him start every topic. I told him the topic in English and basically what he should say and he went at it. And then I cleaned it up after wards. So the lessons were a little longer than usual but they were helping him a lot I think. Then we went out and visited the bishop and some other members. All in all, I thought the first day was really good.
On Wednesday we basically did the same thing. I made him steak and potatoes for lunch though. I know sweet, right. lol. But the most important thing was that my companion made his first baptismal date that night. o-ya. And then Thursday we went out with this member named Ivan who knows English. So that was really nice because he was able to help my companion out a bunch just by talking with him. Then Saturday was a good day - until that night. I talked to this girl named Elizabeth who has been cutting her wrists. I had to explain to her how stupid that is, that there is still hope in life, and that there is no need to kill herself. But after that she pretty much told me about all of her problems and we had a good talk. Hopefully she will get better soon. I’m thinking she will.
Sunday we had 5 investigators at church and the primary did one of those sacrament meeting things that they do sometimes. lol. I forget what that would be called - and then today we played basketball. All in all it wasn’t too bad of a week.
Love You,
Elder Woestman

Monday, October 13th 2009

2009-10-13T07:45:00.001-04:00

Where to start? It was such a crazy week. lol. No, not really. It was actually a boring week because everyone got sick in my house except me. I am going to start with Wednesday. So Wednesday we were contacting these apartments when it started pouring down raining like a freaking water fall. And these apartments are like motels because the doors are open to the outside. So we were hiding under these stairs when we got this phone call from the other missionaries that we are living with and it turns out they are home sick. But need us to try to do an intercombio so they can visit some people. So we were just hiding underneath these stairs looking at the rain and after looking at each other we said screw it. Because every missionary knows that your future wife gets hotter every time you get soaked in the rain while you work right. lol. So we started walking and literally after three steps in the rain I was soaked. lol. Luckily we had our stuff in plastic bags inside our backpacks. So we got to walk in the rain for a mile back to our house. Then we changed and waited for the rain to stop. My companion stayed behind while a different elder and I finished the day. So getting stuck in the rain just made my day, because I love getting wet. It feels soooo good.

Then Thursday I went out for a half day with my companion because he got sick too. So everyone was sick. Saturday I went out with Elder Small because his companion and mine were sick. We got to do this family home evening which was sweet. We made them cookies and everything. It was with this less active member named Migalina who isn’t really less active anymore now that we got to her. The last time we talked to her she showed us this study journal that she made and is writing in and called us her angels. lol. But we taught her and her four kids and like 8 other neighborhood kids. That was probably the best family home evening I have had yet, just because of all those kids. They were all trying to answer the questions and sound sophisticated just so they could get a cookie. lol. It was awesome. And then Saturday we had this meeting where we were told that we were going to have a concert in the church Sunday and we had to invite all of the people. So we dropped all our plans for the day and handed out invitations to everyone and anyone. I went by every single person that I have taught since I have been here in Cristo Rey. And it took forever. I think my legs almost fell off. lol. But it was nice because there were clouds covering up the sun the whole day, so it wasn’t even hot. Then Sunday we had church and the activity. At the concert I had this 14 year old girl hitting on me. So I actually had to change seats after awhile just to get away from her. It was messed up.

Today we played ball at the church and I tried learning how to do a back flip. Elder Potter knows how and was spotting me. I can sort of do it, but it still needs a lot of work. And now to the best announcement of the whole week: I got my phone call and I will be training again. This new missionary is an American, and when I got the phone call Pres Almonte didn’t know how to say his name. We will see. I’ll get him tomorrow bright and early at 7:00. And I will be staying right here in Cristo Rey.
Love You,
Elder Woestman

Monday, October 5th 2009

2009-10-05T16:43:00.000-04:00

So mom , tell dad that I am not a district leader any more. I haven’t been since I left Nizao, and I’m not a trainer again yet either. I don’t even know for sure if I am going to be a trainer again. Transfers are next week and I will find out then. The president just told me that I was going to be a trainer again in the interviews that we have in the middle of every transfer. But, I will find out next Monday. But, now to my week.
So Monday night we taught a family home evening at a member’s house and discussed the importance of conference with them. It was sweet. We gave everyone a scripture and had them stand up and act like the prophet and explain the scripture to everyone else. And then we taught this lady named Morena. She is way cool. We have been teaching her all week. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she read 3 Nephi 11 but the thing is that she is having problems receiving an answer to her prayers. So we told her to continue reading and praying. And it all comes in due time. But she is progressing real well. She couldn’t go to conference though.
Tuesday we passed by an old investigator who has a brother who is a member to see how he is doing and he told us he wants to get baptized- which is awesome. So we sat a date and told him if he goes to church the next two Sundays we can baptize him. O-yea.
Then Wednesday we had a little intercombio because a member kid got kicked out of school cause his hair was too long. So one of the Elders switched companions with me and he cut his hair because he knows how.
On Thursday we started teaching Yandy who is a friend of Awilda, one of my baptisms. He is way awesome. He went to every single session of conference besides the priesthood session. He as well will be getting baptized in two weeks.
Friday, we set up another baptismal date with Elmerts who is the brother of another member. He is way sweet. And we also got a reference from a less active member to teach her husband. So we will see how that goes. And then there was conference which rocked. We weren’t able to watch the first two Saturday sessions because we weren’t allowed. We had to work, but we were able to watch priesthood and the Sunday sessions. And I just love conference. I would have to say that my favorite one was the one of Elder D. Todd Christoferson (if that is how you spell it). lol. But yea that was my week.
Have a great week too.
Elder Woestman

Monday, September 28th 2009

2009-09-28T20:34:00.001-04:00

Dang, another baby, Robert and Doranda - That’s just awesome!
So this week wasn’t really all that interesting, but then again it kind of was. So I’ll first talk about my girl attack of the week. So Tuesday while we were walking to Rosemart´s house we ran into Stephanie who is the sister of an old investigator. She walked up to me and straight up put her arms around my neck and tried to kiss me. Out of no where! I had to ripe her hands off me and then I threw this little member kid at her who was with us and just booked it through this crowd of people to Mama Rosa´s house. It was kind of ridiculous. But besides that Tuesday was good. I just know now never to go near that girl again.
Wednesday I made everybody waffles for breakfast. I’m pretty much a waffle master and that waffle maker was probably the best thing you have ever bought me mom. No lie. We had district meeting. I gave a talk on obedience and we talked about patience and stuff. And I also had an intercombio with Elder Small, which went way good. We had some fun.
Thursday was just a normal day. Friday we did the papers for Awilda and her daughter to get baptized. And Saturday we had 2 baptisms. O-Ya. lol. It was awesome. We had to do it at another chapel though, because there was this Relief Society Conference and she wanted to go to it so we just did her baptism over there so she could go to that too. That was dang good.
Then Sunday we had 12 people go to church and one inactive member. Which was soooo sweet. And then today we went to the botanical gardens for our P-Day activity. It was gorgeous. We got to ride the train and everything, it was way good fun. And yea, that was my week.
- Elder Woestman

Monday, September 21st 2009

2009-09-22T14:33:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone:

My week was sweet. Wednesday we had this sweet-as-heck family home evening night with a part member family. It was awesome. We watched the restoration video and we made them cookies. The cookies were amazing. We made them home made Oreo cookies, and then we played this water game. You get a cup full of water and a spoon, then think of a fruit, and walk around asking people to tell you a fruit, and if they say your fruit you throw water at them. It was awesome. It got so out of hand. It turned into a full on-water fight. The grandma was even in on it. lol. When we left the kids were running around out side throwing buckets of water at each other. lol. But yea that was sweet. And then Thursday we had interviews with the Pres. and they were good. He talked to me about how I am going to be a father again [a trainer of a new missionary]. Yea, I’m sooo excited. It’s not official because things can always change but he said I am going to train again after the next transfer. So I’m way excited for that.

And then we had an intercombio that same day. It was a good intercombio. I went out with Elder Potter on his side of town and we busted out a good amount of lessons. I had to go to the bathroom though in the middle of walking around so we ran to a member’s house, right. Well I go to the bathroom but they don’t have toilet paper. So I call out to them and they brought back to me a bucket of water. Can you believe that? A bucket of water. So I had to wipe my butt with my hand and a bucket of water. And I thought this country couldn’t get anymore ghetto. lol. So yea, that was an experience.

Friday and Saturday were pretty normal days. We just worked, worked, worked. Sunday we had 7 people at church, which was good. And then today we played basketball and had a milk shake and enchilada party. It was just awesome. And yea, that was my week.
Take Care, Elder Woestman

Monday, September 14th 2009

2009-09-15T09:32:00.001-04:00

So, lets see here what to write about. I will start with all the crazy non missionary stuff that happened this week and I will start with today. So today we went and played soccer. It was sweet. There were only six of us and my team kicked trash but it was still good fun. lol. The teams were a little unfair but that’s how it worked. The new people didn’t know that I played indoor soccer during high school so they weren’t expecting my sweet soccer skills (lol). My companion talked my district leader [DL] onto this ant hill, right, and my DL got eaten by ants. He has like 50 ant bites all over his arm. It is ridiculous. It looks like he had some sort of allergic reaction. I have never seen ants do such things. But he is ok. His arm looks funny though.
Sunday we had a conference and it was way good. We had four TV’s hooked up at the church and one of them was outside and had tons of seats in front of it. There were tons of people. And we had 7 investigators go to church, talk about awesome. Then Friday we had a fire works show go off in front of our house. That was way sweet. And lets see here. I had an intercombio with my DL and it was good. That was Wednesday. Ummmm, what else. I have two people set up to get baptized Saturday. I’m way excited: A mother named Awilda and her 12 yr old daughter. And yea my new companion is sweet. He kind of has an anger problem and complains a lot. lol. But besides that everything is good. lol. Its funny. And he doesn’t like to speak Spanish. so I hope my Spanish doesn’t go down while I’m with him. I’m pretty sure I will be ok with the Spanish though. Spanish isn’t a problem these days. I haven’t had a single person tell me they didn’t understand me this whole week. So that’s way awesome. But yea, that was my week.
Be Good,
Elder Woestman

Monday, September 7th 2009

2009-09-08T09:14:00.001-04:00

So this week was really good. I got my new companion Tuesday. His name is Elder Thorup. He is a skinny kid who was a paramedic before the mission. How cool is that right! He has some sweet disgusting stories - kind of like Ben’s stories at the dinner table about his days working for the veterinarian. But these are with real people.
But let’s see. The week has been really hot. I have been showering like 3 times every day just because I have been sweating sooo much. But Thursday we had our zone conference and a guy from the Seventies came to talk to us. It was good, but Pres. Almonte was way better. He made me feel like the worst missionary in the world but yet I still felt like I could be the best if I just gave a little more effort. Those are skills that I need.
Friday we thought we weren’t going to have our baptism because we couldn’t find the mom of our investigator to get her signature - but talk about revelation: The APs called us up and told us to try one more time at like 8 at night. So we go and who do we find . . but the mom. So we had the interview right there and we had the baptism Saturday. It was a little hard to get everything organized with so little time, but we got it all worked out. And then Sunday we had 10 people at church. That was sweet. And we have another baptism set up for Saturday. But, we have conference next week so we will see if that goes through. Those have always been hard weekends to get baptisms going. And - that was my week.
Love,
Elder Woestman

Monday, August 31, 2009

2009-09-01T14:36:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone:
Well this week, let’s see. I forgot my journal at the house, but I guess I will start out with how awesome we did this week. It was crazy. We taught 36 lessons with a member. Which is amazing. We had members go out with us almost every day. We missed one day with a member, but still, that was just awesome. And lets see here, Tuesday is transfer day which is tomorrow. I will be getting this new companion who is American. So that's going to be weird because he has less time than me and I’m told he doesn't know much Spanish. So I’m going to be the one leading with the Spanish now. That should be an adventure. I’m scared though, I’m pretty good with my Spanish - but I’m way excited because I’m told that he will work hard if I work hard - like he is really tranquil. So that's awesome.
But yea we had 7 investigators at church. One is going to get baptized Saturday. Finally a baptism. It’s been taking to long to get this place moving, but I feel the success coming. Tuesday we started working at these apartment buildings. There are like fifty of them right next to each other. The missionaries haven’t worked there for a long time it seems like. They’re right on the side of our area down in this gully. So we were working down there all week and we were having lots of success. And there are so many apartments that we will probably be working down there for a good amount of time. We have this one new investigator who we asked if she was living with her parents. She said her mom died. So I told her she could be with her mom again and she just looked at me and said “impossible”. I just smiled inside. We taught her part of the Plan of Salvation and she was all into it. So I’m hoping that will go good.
We had three girls go to church all by them selves. We didn't even think they were going to come but they did. So that was sweet. And we have a bunch of other new people too. So this week should be action packed as well. But yea that was my week.
Elder Woestman

Monday, August 24th 2009

2009-08-24T17:50:00.001-04:00

So first of all, I don’t really know what to say about grandpa’s dying. It kind of feels like its not even real because I’m so far away and because I wasn’t even there for any of it. Man, I just feel like I missed a lot and I can’t do anything about it. Grandma and Mom, I love you.
Monday we had our interviews with the president and he basically boched every one. but I guess boche isn’t a word you would understand, so “yelled at everyone” would work because the missionaries are lazy that I’m with. But because of it, the week went a whole lot better. We worked a whole lot harder. Still not at the point I want to be but we are definitely doing better. We had 5 people at church Sunday. One of them is named Willy. He is 24 and he has stopped drinking and is working on kicking his girl out of his house because he doesn’t want to marry her and they don’t have kids. So that’s way exciting. And then there is Mayalin. She is an all-star. She just rips right threw everything we give her and asks for more. She is awesome. Then there is Nana and her kids. She is a humble lady with two kids, but the thing is we have to talk to her husband and we haven’t been able to get to him yet.
Today for p-day we played some baseball. It was good. We did some Dominican against American action and of course we got our butts kicked. We won the first game but the second two they just trashed us. But it was perfect because when we finished playing we got to our house and it started poring down rain. And since we didn’t have electricity and running water because of that, we showered up on the roof (haha). That’s always good fun.
School started down here so there are three kids that usually go out with us now can’t. We are working to get members to go out with us now. We only had like 20 some odd lessons with a member this week. lame.
Let’s see what else . . . . There is this girl who is stalking me. She keeps screaming about how she wants my blue eyes every time I see her in the street. Its kind of annoying, but when you got eyes like this what can you say right lol. Besides all that, we have just been working - the usual you know. It is raining a lot these days though. I walk around with an umbrella these days. And mom I don’t use the one you gave me. I lost that one, I’m sorry, but I don’t think it would have really worked anyways. It rains a lot and can get dang windy at the same time. So I have this big heavy duty one. It’s nice.
But hey – that’s about it.
Elder Woestman

Monday - August 17th 2009

2009-08-17T22:50:00.001-04:00

Well Tuesday it rained all day. We went out with a member but we just all got soaked and it didn't seem like it was going to be a very productive day. lol. But we ended up teaching 8 lessons with that member. Which was dang good. I guess rainy days are the best days. We have this way sweet investigator named Juan. He is just way awesome; reading everything and praying. I don’t understand some people. Why don’t they just pray? The way of religion is really easy. We don’t try to trick people. I mean I just teach them and ask them to pray about what they read. God will give you all the answers you need if you just ask him with a little bit of faith. It’s just amazing how many people tell me that God doesn't talk to people any more. It’s just stupid. And then they won’t just ask Him if the church is true. But hey, some people just don’t want to know right.

Thursday it rained even worst than Tuesday. We ran into this lady who said that everyone was going to heaven no matter what they did, everyone was going to the same place. I almost blew up on her, because if that was true why the heck would Jesus tell his apostles to spread the gospel. But I didn’t blow up on her. I just let her talk and then we left. lol. Crazy fun.

Friday I had an intercombio and went out with a different Elder. Now here is an elder that is the definition of lazy. He has 7 months in the mission but doesn’t know any Spanish still. It was really hard to teach with him, because he didn’t even try to teach. He just gave it all to me to do. It was a bad day, but it makes one count his blessings.

Then Saturday we ran into this really cool kid (he isn’t really a kid - he is twenty) but he has a great desire. He says that he knew some missionaries before that were really good to him. So we taught him and he went to church Sunday. And - that was my week.
Love You
Elder Woestman

2009-08-10T20:02:00.000-04:00

NOTE FROM LAURA: I called the missionary department in Salt Lake City to find out more about the stopping of pouch mail - there IS STILL POUCH MAIL - going in and coming out. So if you have been writing him - you still can. There was a misunderstanding between Salt Lake and the DR Mission Office.

Hi Everyone:
So this week wasn’t that bad at all. I’m still working my butt off to get my companion going - not only my companion but one of the other missionaries too. We are improving - long way to go but improving. So we will have a baptism Saturday. I haven’t had to work this hard to get a baptism. Before they were just falling in my lap. Now I’m in the capital and people are just way more prideful.
But Tuesday was super sweet. We slept on the roof. You know; a “little companion bonding time“. Plus the power went out so our fans didn’t work and it was really hot inside. We were telling scary stories to each other. I feel asleep scared. I’m a big chicken. So we spent every day this week with a member, and we taught 28 lessons with a member this week. How crazy is that. That’s the highest my companion has ever gotten on his mission. Raising-up the bar.
Wednesday was a super interesting day. We ran into a lady who had a question about the bible. But it turned out that she just wanted to fight with us. But I was patient with her. My companion wanted to argue with her, but I held him back. We just listened to her yell at us for half an hour. You could feel something devilish about her. When she was talking to us her lips were twitching. But hey, what can you do? At the end I bore my testimony and we booked it out of there. lol. But, it makes me wonder what would ever push someone to fight about the words of God. Because I’m definitely thinking not God himself.
But hey, Thursday was a pretty regular day. I’m getting to know the streets a whole lot better and I’m working really hard to teach my companion English. I find he is easier to get along with when I am teaching him English. lol. I am also gaining a huge testimony on service. Before when I would ask people if I could help them, they would say no. Now I just walk right up and clean their dishes or grab their broom or clothes and just do it. I thinks it's better that way. lol. I like it that way. They don’t have to make a decision. I’m just going to serve.
We had three people at church Sunday. We went to see 8 people Sunday morning and all said they would go to church. But only one out of that 8 actually came. lame. One I thought was a really cool family too.
Oh - so I also got proposed to Friday. Forgot about that. She told me she would wait a whole year and two months too. Every time she sees me she tells me "1 yr and 2 months". It’s kind of freaky. And then today we played on a slip-n-slide and played some b-ball for p-day. It was good fun. That was my week.
Love You
Elder Woestman

Monday - August 3rd 2009

2009-08-04T10:05:00.000-04:00

So, first things first: They don’t have pouch mail anymore and I don’t know what to do. I just tried to give my APs some mail to send and they said the Church cancelled the pouch system. It’s only for important documents now.

So I’m in the capital and it is not that far inland, but I’m not as close as I was. That’s for sure. My town isn’t that dangerous actually. Well, at least not for the missionaries. They respect us. So we do work at night. And Mom - I didn’t get sick from my companions. This week has been a real hard week, but way rewarding. So, they told me I would be living with three other missionaries that are bums. Well, they were just laying around. Tuesday night I stayed up with one of the elders till after 2:00 in the morning just talking- and he definitely needed someone to talk to. I have to give much thanks to my Father in Heaven for blessing me that night with the patience and energy just to listen. And then for the words that were given to me to say to him, because mostly I just know a lot more about him and I know how to help him now. And - my companion is turning around too. Thursday he did his personal study. It was in his pajamas - but it’s still better than not doing it at all. I feel really comfortable with these people though. Probably because two of them are Americans and they understand me. But the missionary work – I’m definitely still working on. My companion was just a chicken with his head cut off the first two days of the week. But I finally was able to start jumping in and things are going way smoother. We had 8 investigators go to church this week, which is way better than the 0 of last week. And we have 5 people committed to get baptized. So the work is moving. And I was able to meet a lot more of the members this week. So, I set up days for them to go out with us this week. We won’t be teaching with young men and women this week like we did last week, because my companion I guess only taught with children before. So let’s just say changes are happening.

Today, which is our p-day by the way, we had our zone conference. It lasted for ever. This morning nobody in the house knew how to get there so we took a taxi. That took a good amount of money and then the conference didn’t end till 1:30. Then we had to eat there. And, because my zone is the zone of the APs, we had to clean up afterwards. We didn’t get home till 3:00pm. So I’m typing really fast to get out on time. lol. So the week was good.
Love You,
Elder Woestman

Monday July 27th 2009

2009-07-28T09:13:00.000-04:00

Well how do I explain this week? So we had transfers Tuesday and it was a really long day. A little bit sad too. I had to say good bye to my APs in the campo because they are both going home. But I saw one of the other Americans in my group. I haven’t seen him since the MTC. So that was crazy cool. I have a new companion. I am his step dad - his second companion and he still has a lot to learn. But, hey work, work, work, right. We are living with two other Americans and they are both really cool. So Tuesday I’m riding in the car with the APs and the first thing that they tell me when its just me and them, is that they are my ZLs (zone leaders) as well, which is cool I guess. But then they tell me that my kid is lazy and that the other two missionaries are wasting they’re missions away as well. And that I was called to my area to make a change. So I’m just thinking “wow - ok, so this should be a fun adventure“. But the thing is that when I got there one Elder was sick. And then my companion got sick Friday and had a fever of 103.6, so we haven’t been working. We checked up on a few investigators Sunday night.

So life has been really slow and boring this week. Plus I just feel like I am going to have a real rough time in front of me. I’m not too excited because I feel like I am going to be stuck in the middle of a lot of bickering. Pray for me. But hey I’m tired.
Love Ya,
Elder Woestman

Monday, July 20th 2009

2009-07-20T15:15:00.000-04:00

Well, I will be getting transferred this Tuesday. I am going to Cristobal. It is some area in the capital city where I am told it is the most dangerous area in the mission. And that you can't contact at night because it’s too dangerous. So that should be fun. lol. But this week was really good. We had one baptism. His name is Aneury. He is 28 yrs old and I have been working with him for a long time. It was really exciting and awesome to be able to baptize him. But a little girl that was investigating the church, and we were teaching her and her sister, died Tuesday. Wednesday we went to her funeral. It was a really sad day. Her body looked like a stuff doll. And I didn't like it at all. I pretty much cried like a baby. Wednesday we also had dumplings, which was kind of like stroganoff. I’ve never had it before but it was pretty good. A member made it for us. Friday we had our interview with Aneury and Saturday we had the baptism. Nothing crazy happened this week. Oh - and my new companion’s name is Sanchez. He is Dominican. I’ll be with Dominicans my entire mission.
Love You
ELder Woestman

Monday, July 13th 2009

2009-07-13T20:58:00.000-04:00

Well this will be a little short because I am in a location that has really bad electricity right now, so I am typing really fast. Ok - so Tuesday we had interviews with the president of the mission, Pres. Almonte, and that was really good. I should be leaving my area in 1 week. I don’t know where I am going but that will be an adventure. Thursday I had an intercombio with Elder Akana. That was nice. It was nice to be with an American, understand perfectly what he is saying, and joke around with him - and have him understand sarcasm. That’s a problem with Dominicans; there is no sarcasm. But Elder Akana has changed a lot this transfer. He is with his second companion and that is always the hardest because nobody is like your trainer, right. And then Friday we went to the temple. Talk about awesome. Then Saturday we had two baptisms. But Sunday just went crazy. One of our baptisms came to church but didn’t want to be confirmed a member because he did not feel like he was worthy. Well, I didn’t know if he was even allowed to get confirmed. So I talked to the branch pres and he said he would talk to him and that he would have to be baptized again. But then later that day I received a call from Pres. Almonte. It turns out you can’t baptize someone and have them not get confirmed. So Pres. Almonte is going to have an interview with the kid. It was just a crazy hectic day. I got a good long lecture over the cell phone. So yea, that was fun (lol) but not really. And yea, that was my week. There was a lot more I had to say but I have to go.
Love You,
Elder Woestman

Monday, July 6th 2009

2009-07-06T18:19:00.001-04:00

Hello Everybody;

Well, I will start out with Tuesday. Tuesday we had an intercombio with the Zone Leaders. and I got to go to Bani and be with Elder Alberts. He is a really cool guy. He teaches really weird though. Like we do contacts to set up lessons right, well when he does his contact he gets really serious and bears his testimony. It’s a really good way to do a contact I guess, but it’s just not my way. lol. I like to get to know the person a little as well- with a smile. lol. But he taught me a lot and helped me create a good study plan for my language study. It’s kind of hard to focus on studying the language when you are training a new missionary that knows Spanish. But now that my kid’s more down with things, I’m going to restart working on my Spanish more.

Thursday we had a meeting with the Assistants to the President and learned how to do our area books better. It turns out that I had no clue how to do my area book. Well, I only knew 20 percent of the things that I needed to do. So dang, I’m going to work on that now too.

Our baptism got postponed until this Saturday because we just couldn’t teach them all of things they need to know last week. These people both work and their schedules clash - and they want to get baptized together. So hopefully this week it will happen. We also built a tienda [shop, tent, awning] for an investigator Saturday. And its a sweet tienda if I do say so myself. We didn’t build it build it. We just did the inside. The building was already there. But ya, tu sabes. That was my week. Work, work, work.
Elder Woestman

June 29th 2009

2009-07-05T15:23:00.000-04:00

This week was definitely a long hard week, but it went by really fast. Tuesday we had a zone conference which was really good. I have been learning a lot about family history work. We are focusing a lot on that these days. Basically the whole conference was about family history work and how we need to get our baptisms to the temple as fast as possible. We also talked about lessons with members. Our president is the man! He has been pushing us to get more and more members involved in teaching lessons, and I have been getting more and more members involved. Before I only got like 9 "member present lessons" a week. But now I plan all my lessons with members. I got 25 this week. Things are definitely progressing. Wednesday I received 16 referrals and then I was able to contact 9 of them throughout the week with a member. We visited one lady last night and she was awesome. The work is just pushing hard, but we will see how things go with time.

Thursday I gave a man a blessing that had cancer. He has been doing really bad. When I laid my hands on his head I blessed him to be comforted for his pain would be short - And then he died that day. It was really weird. I didn’t like it.

Then Friday we did the papers for a girl, who is 17, to get baptized. But we found out later in the day that her brother forged the signature of her dad. So we went to talk to the dad to get his signature because she is under age. The father was not nice at all. He is hard core and said his daughter couldn’t get baptized until she was 18 and then it would be her decision. But we will see how that goes. I don’t think we are going to have to wait till she turns 18 because we are starting to teach him the lessons.

We didn’t have our baptism this week but we are working. Sunday was really good. I gave a talk on families at church and we got four new investigators. And that was my week.
Love You
Elder Woestman

Monday, June 22, 2009

2009-06-22T20:03:00.000-04:00

Well first things first. I didn’t write a letter last week because I was in the capital all day getting checked out by the doctor of the mission over there. I got sun poisoning Saturday and had a bad fever Saturday night. Then Sunday at church everybody thought that I had some strange sickness called “sarapion” that I guess you can die from, because I had red dots all over my body. I was thinking that I had an allergic reaction to something, but everyone was telling me how I was going to die. So I called up the wife of the Mission President and set something up to visit a doctor that is in the city closest to me. But when I went there Monday morning the lady had no clue what I had. She said I was perfectly healthy except I had red dots all over my body. So I’m firmly convinced Dominican doctors don’t know anything, because I was still thinking allergic reaction. So I went to the capital to visit the American doctor for the missionaries and he told me that I was having an allergic reaction to the sun. He gave me some powerful drugs, said to use sunscreen, and to take it easy for a while. But the thing was that by the time I got to him I was already feeling fine. I received a blessing of health in the morning and by the afternoon I was like; “why am I in the capital? Let me get back home. I have to work.” So I obeyed all the advise of the doctor except for the take it easy part. lol. How does a missionary take it easy? I just don’t know. lol.
We had another baptism Saturday. And we should have 2 more this Saturday. I have no reason to doubt that. But the President has been praying again. lol. We have been having tons of meetings as of late about everything we need to do. As of right now lessons without a member are not counted anymore in our numbers that we turn in to the Pres. and we need to get 30 lessons with members every week. We have been holding a bunch of meetings with the members telling them about how we need referrals because the pres. says that we need to get 10 referrals every week. So things have been a little loco. And we have been working a lot with the members. We got 23 member present during lessons this last week. That’s not quite 30 but we are working on it.
Right now we live about an hour and twenty minutes from the Santo Domingo temple via a bus. The bus trip costs 180 pesos (which is like $6). Getting new members to the temple is my number one priority after they get baptized these days. I try to get them to the temple doing baptisms the Tuesday a week after their baptism. Most of these people don’t really have the money, so I have been spending the money to get my baptisms to the temple their first time. And when somebody reads the Book of Mormon all the way through, I buy them a triple and a small hymn book too. That is only like 3 bucks. I know God will bless me with a good job when I get home to make up for the money that I spend on my mission to help these people.
But yea . . . work, work, work. . . . and that was my week.
Love You,
Elder Woestman

Monday June 8th 2009

2009-06-10T13:53:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone:

Tuesday we started out with a fast. There is a girl who is one of my baptisms whose parents haven’t been letting her go to church the past two weeks. So I told her that if she fasted her parents would turn around and that I would fast with her. And guess what. So she was praying and crying at the same time on her bed Sunday because she wanted to go to church. Her mom came up and said she could go to church because she has seen the change in her attitude and how much the church really means to her. She got to go to church. How cool is that. And we have been teaching this kid who thinks he is gay. On Sunday we found him with his hair cut and wearing guy clothes and not acting so gay. So that was actually way sweet. He still has a long way to go. Getting the hair cut is just the first step. He is 14 by the way. If he was older I probably wouldn’t have talked to him in the first place.

I have made a decision to not drink anymore juice or pop. It’s really hard but I am slowly turning around. lol.

Saturday we had two baptisms and it was amazing. I sang a musical number with two other missionaries. Can you believe that!?!. Me singing!! lol. Luckily everybody here doesn’t know how to sing and they actually think that I do know how. lol. But what was really awesome was that one of my old baptisms who is 19 has been helping me with these two baptisms. He was the one that baptized them AND he really helped a lot with teaching them. In reality I don’t think it would have been nearly as easy without him. One of their parents was having doubts and he just talked to her one night without us and the next day she was more than happy to have her kid get baptized in the church. Then Sunday we found all of the older young men together making milk shakes. So I was able to drink my first mango milkshake and it was the best mango milkshake I’ve ever had in my life. It was way good.

My dad asked me about my prayers, but they are going good. Someone suggested I wake up 15 min early every day and use that time to pray. So, I have been doing that and that really changes the day. And my companion knows I love him. And I train my kid through PME. We role play. We read. And I work his butt off. That’s pretty much my goal - for him to have problems with his feet when he is done working with me. My spiritual experiences aren’t really that huge nor interesting. So far I have sent three people from the hospital back to their houses with no more problems within 24 hours of blessing them. One with dangue fever. But what I have mostly seen is the way that the Spirit can change the actions of people. How simple reading and praying can leave behind all the bad things of the world. Every baptism is a spiritual experience. It doesn’t matter what I do that is good. It seems like the more righteous I try to become the more I realize how unrighteous I am. And the more good I try to do, the more there is that needs to be done.

Love You
Elder Woestman

Monday June 1st 2009

2009-06-02T12:19:00.001-04:00

This week was just a really successful week. I can’t really remember what happened this week though. It’s kind of all a blur and I left my journal at the house. I know I’m bad, but lets see.

Well Tuesday we had our interviews with the Mission President and that was good. It was the shortest one I’v been in yet. Kind of just asking me about my area and how my companion is…. stuff like that. Wednesday we had an intercombio and I went over to don gregorio [I don’t know what that is – according to my Spanish dictionary gregario means “herd instinct” – sorry, maybe Christine Erskine can comment on that - Laura] with Elder Akana. It was awesome good fun. But I realized a lot of things that I do differently than them. Elder Akana is knew too, so it was nice to see the way that his dad [trainer] taught him and the way I’m teaching my kid [companion]. I think my way is better. lol. Plus I noticed that I was teaching Spanish that was really awesome. When you are with someone that speaks perfect Spanish you never actually speak perfectly. And they are always correcting you, which is what I like. But when your with someone that doesn’t really know Spanish and everyone is depending on you and you notice how smooth everything is still going, your feel really good.

Saturday we didn´t have any baptisms but we are having for sure 2 this Saturday so that is cool. Sunday we had 8 investigators at church. But one of my old baptisms wasn’t at church, so we went to go look for her and it turns out her mom said the night before she wasn’t allowed to go to church anymore. If she did she was going to have to live some where else. How crazy is that right? But that’s not even what is crazy. She started praying all night and her mom saw this. So the next day her mother told her that she has seen how much she has changed for better in the church and could go to church. But by then church was over. How sweet is that, right. And then today, we went to the water fall in Ocoa again. It was way fun. And that was my week.
Love You,
Elder Woestman

Monday May 25th 2009

2009-05-26T07:18:00.000-04:00

Well to start off my week was just awesome and I will tell you why. So we got attacked by a tropical storm Wednesday and I was stuck in the middle of it. There were rushing rivers of water going though the roads. Things were flying everywhere. I had to dodge a flying baby doll that tried to take away my life. It was just ridiculously awesome. And I got soaked.

When we got home I took my tie and squeezed out like a gallon of water. No lie. Then we had to plug up the bottom of one door because the house was flooding. Oh it was good fun. And now we can’t shut the back door because the water warped the wood. So we are going to have to talk to somebody about that. lol. But . . . we are getting a cistern which will hold water. That’s in progress. By Friday that should be finished and then by Saturday we should have water all the time.

We had a baptism Saturday. That went really good. I’m trying to start up a choir with the young women here but it isn’t going very good. They don’t know how to sing and the member lady I turned it over to isn’t really working with them. So that’s lame. But I’m trying.

Sunday we had 11 investigators at church. They are going to divide our branch into 2 at the next stake conference, so that’s exciting. Yea, the work is just going awesome. I’ve been in the same area for like ever it seems. I’ve taught and I know almost everybody in this town, half of them by name. And some how I still have people to teach. It’s awesome.
Love you, Elder Woestman

Monday - May 18th 2009

2009-05-18T16:46:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone:
Tuesday was a really interesting day. We got locked in a store. lol. While we were teaching this guy in a store that he worked in, another guy that worked there left and locked the store (lol) and that left us locked in the store. lol. We had to jump over a wall into a pen of goats and then we had to jump a 10 ft wall to get out of the place the goats were in because that door was locked too. It was good fun. lol. And these two ladies in the house across the street saw us and were just watching me like I was some robber or something. It was so funny. So I went over there and talked to them a little. I loved it.
Then Wednesday I had an intercombio with the ZL´s and I ended up being with my “dad of the mission”. So that was way good fun, working Nizau old school style. But the funniest thing happened. So at the beginning of every lesson we sing a hymn. Well, we started to sing a hymn with this lady, but this lady sang so bad - and I mean bad - that we just started laughing. I couldn’t help it. My companion laughed so I laughed. Then we stopped, but then one of us would laugh again, so we both just kept cracking up. And the whole time the lady was still singing. She wasn’t even fazed. lol. Luckily she still loves me. lol. Oh man it was so funny. lol.
And then Thursday we lost electricity. We talked to the electric people Friday and we got that back on by the end of the day. Saturday we baptized another guy who is 19. o yea sacerdocio [priesthood] or Melchizedek priesthood age. lol. Sunday was just kind of a long day and today so far it’s been raining. But good news - the owners of our house are building us a cistern. or something underground that holds water, so when that is finished we will have water all the time. How sweet is that!!!
Love Ya,
Elder Woestman

Monday May 11th 2009

2009-05-12T07:10:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone:
So this week was pretty dang good. Monday we had 1 family home evening set up and I made cookies for the family - or I should say we made the cookies together as the activity. It was sweet. We got in a little flour fight. I included all the little kids in the making of the cookies. And we eat more of the dough than we actually used to make the cookies. I’m such a bad example. lol. Then my companion taught a lesson to the family while I finished the cookies. It was a night full of craziness, which is the way I love my life. And the best part about it was that I didn’t have to buy the ingredients. This family was rich, so they even had a good stove. It was crazy. It’s been a while since I have been in a nice house. But lets see here….
Tuesday we had our district meeting, it was good. Nothing too interesting happened Tuesday though. Miercoles [Wednesday] we had a zone conference and all the zones in the campo area (outside the capital) were at the conference. Our president talked a lot about family history work. We have a new thing going down. We are now teaching our investigators about family history work for the temple before they get baptized. And that’s kind of really hard because we aren’t allowed teaching them about it. We have to bring a member with us, then after the lesson leave them with our investigator and he teaches about family history. But I’m in the way outskirts of civilization. We don’t even have an internet shop. Not many members know how to do family history work. In fact only one person in my area really knows. But its still sweet. And at the conference they feed us lunch which is always good.
Thursday and Friday we just worked, worked, worked. And Saturday we had another baptism. We were supposed to have two baptisms but it went down to one because one lady admitted to still having an alcohol problem. So I don’t know when she will get baptized now. Just depends when she feels like putting God in front of alcohol.
Sunday we only had 4 new investigators go to church and some older ones. We should have another baptism this weekend. And Sunday I was able to call my family. Yea family. That was really nice, although Ben’s life seems to be the most interesting. And yea, that was my week.
Love Ya, Elder Woestman

Monday May 4th 2009

2009-05-05T06:37:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone:
This week I received my kid. And as of right now I am a trainer. So my kid’s name is Elder Fondeur. He is Dominican but has French blood in him. He is 24 yrs old. A stocky, “Al Giordino” type of guy for all of you Dirk Pitt fans. (DAD!). He is a good guy. He got baptized 2 yrs and four months ago. And I’d have to say he is an interesting character. He certainly loves talking about how good he is at stuff. He was a boxer and before his mission, he studied and became a certified chef. This is kind of funny, because he doesn’t look like a chef. He was a “tigre” before his conversion into the church - meaning he was a gangster. He has tattoos and huge scars and stuff. But he is a hard worker, he does everything I say and he cooks awesome food. I can't think of a better type of person to train. But he is like all Dominicans. He doesn't like to talk about his faults or how he is doing stuff wrong. But I already know how to deal with that from my last companion, he is awesome.
Tuesday was transfer day. We just worked really hard all week trying to put a good work ethic in my companion. But from what I’ve seen he already has it. We ended up pushing our baptisms back a week. So now we have 2 baptisms this weekend.
This Sunday was sweet. We got three inactives to go back to church and two of them are males so if they stay active we only need one more male and we can split the branch and turn our district into a stake. So that’s kind of exciting. Today, Monday, we played some backyard baseball. It was sweet. I hit more home runs than I did not by times two. It was awesome. Our bat was a leg to one of those small tables in the churches. And the ball was a “ghetto- torn up” ball, but it was sweet fun. And yea that was my week
love you,
Elder Woestman

Monday - April 27th 2009

2009-04-27T17:14:00.001-04:00

This was actually a really interesting week between everything that happened. Nothing really super exciting - but a little more interesting than usual. I got a phone call from the Mission President last Monday, right when I was about to finish sending letters. You won’t believe what happened. I am going to be a trainer - I am going to train a new missionary and I only have been out 6 months. I am going to receive this kid tomorrow. He will be a Dominican. It’s a little crazy. I don’t remember his name. Nor do I know what he looks like. And I’m kind of a little nervous about that. Not a lot but a little. I mean who wouldn’t be? Right? So that’s cool.
Anyways, Tuesday was a pretty normal day. But miercoles [Wednesday] was the interesting day. So in the morning we had a zone conference with the AP´s. That was really good. They actually told us that we were doing awesome and were one of the best Zones in the mission. So that’s exciting to know. They also talked about how to better our district meetings. But Wednesday night was the more interesting part. So my companion and I got in a fight. But it was weirder than weird, because I don’t know exactly what I said to him that started it, but it started out with him throwing a chair at the wall…. then screaming…. and walking around hitting things. After I calmed him down, he ended up telling me he was sorry and how bad his life was. Then he started crying. He told me about his life for two hours, while crying through the whole thing. I didn’t understand it all, because he wasn’t speaking very clearly at this time. But I pretty much heard every bad thing that has been going through his life since he was probably ten. So, I know a lot about my companion now. And then I gave him a hug and put him to bed. Literally, he was holding on to me and I walked him to his bed. It was a really weird experience, and it was late. It lasted forever. So I don’t really know how to explain it. And yea, that was my Wednesday night. Thursday morning was a little awkward, but that was only to be expected.
Thursday and Friday were pretty normal. Saturday I had another baptism. Her name is Lillian. She is 34 and really cool. But the thing was that I kind of baptized my phone as well as her. lol. So that night I went to a friend’s store and he fixed my phone for free. Oh-yea!! It’s nice to know and be friends with everyone in a city. So I didn’t even have to tell the AP´s or anything and feel like an idiot in front of them. Sunday we had 10 investigators go to church, and we should be having at least two baptisms this coming Saturday. So that’s exciting that I’ll get to start out my kid with two baptisms. And that was my week.
Love ya,
Elder Woestman

Monday April 20th 2009

2009-04-20T15:59:00.000-04:00

So this week was interesting. Tuesday I had my interview with the president for the transfer and he told me I was going to stay in Nizau for another 6 weeks. I don’t know for sure though, that’s just what he hinted at. But that’s cool.
So we have a really sweet investigator. Her name is Lillian and we gave her a Book of Mormon on Tuesday. In four days she read 20 chapters. How crazy is that. You may not think that it is too crazy but it is, because people here can’t read. But she read 20 chapters and remembered everything she read. She was talking about the dream of Nephi and the two churches, the one of the devil and the one of the lamb. So she is awesome. And then this week we had an elder sick in my district. So my companion and I have been going on intercombios with them all the rest of the week. We were taking turns staying with the sick elder and doing both areas.
But now Saturday was a crazy day. So in the morning we watched the restoration video with Lillian, our sweet investigator, but she didn’t have a remote to change the language from English to Spanish. So then I had to translate the whole movie for her. It was crazy hard, but it was also really sweet that I could do that. It told me how much I have progressed and need to be grateful for. Then I went up to Don-Gregorio to do an intercombio. And the day was crazy because we both had a million things to do. So we were running the whole day. Then I got some beans and rice to eat, in a container, to eat at the house but then at the end of the day I tripped and fell and scrapped up my arm and my container of rice flew up in the air so I scrambled to go get it. I caught it because I’m lucky like that. lol. Then these two ladies just started laughing at me. It was good fun. lol. But then there was this huge cool looking dog. So I went up to pet the dog and the dog jumped up and knocked the food out of my hand and eats it all. It was just not my day. I was just never meant to eat my food. lol.
We also started working in a new area called Santana which we have to take a bus to. We have 14 new investigators over there and we just went out one afternoon. So I’m excited to see how things well go over there this next week. But - yea that was my week. There are some more pictures on the blog.
Love You
Elder Woestman

Monday - April 13th 2009

2009-04-14T09:16:00.001-04:00

Oh my goodness, where to start… so first of all I will start with today because I remember today. So we went on a scavenger hunt this Monday for P-Day. It was hilarious. I put a few photos up on the blog from the scavenger hunt because some things we had to take pictures of. So, I’m just going crazy on this scavenger hunt. We have to like find gangster duds, chicks in the ice cream store, a banana truck, just a bunch of random things right - and one of them was to find a crazy loco guy. Well, we found this bum that looked pretty messed up. So I go to get a picture of him AND HE STARTS SPASING ON ME! I freaked out. He was punching random nothings in the air and I was right behind him. I just fall on the ground and run and started laughing my head off. But I did get a picture of him – it’s just far away. And - he is not to be confused with the picture of the guy eating the garbage either. No. For that is another guy. But the picture of me and the gangster guy is my favorite. When I found him he was trying to stick his daughter of 12 yrs into the dumpster across the street. But now he is like a good friend and he speaks English. At the end of the little scavenger hunt we added everything up and my “keepo soo” won. We just rock.
Sunday was just a way good day but also a way bummer day as well. It was a bummer because none of my investigators that were going to get baptized this next Saturday came to church. It was awesome though because 2 of my most important future baptisms came to church. They are going to get baptized the next Saturday after this one. And - I say my important ones because they are not kids. I love kids, but we always have a lot of kids that want to get baptized. The best baptisms are the people at least over 16. The two I’m talking about are a guy of 50 and a lady of 40 and she has 2 kids that are going to get baptized too - 16 and 17. So that’s sweeter than sweet.
Saturday we had another baptism and then the week was just crazy because it was the week of Easter. Everybody was off school and work. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday was just awesome - then things just went down hill. Nobody wanted to talk to us. Everybody started drinking, so that was not cool. But we still did good. Wednesday when I did the district meeting I finally did my interviews that I’ve been wanting to do with all my missionaries. The interviews went way good. Then the AP´s came and taught us how to do our daily planning more effectively.
We also moved into a new house Tuesday. Our new house is huge. It has three bedrooms and two baths. And there are only two of us. It’s way dang clean! The first four days that we were in our new house we didn’t have electricity or water. So that was fun. I had to take showers with the gallon jugs of water. We eat lunch together Friday and I kicked everyone’s butt in dominoes. Oh-ya. But yea, that was my week. Keeps me busy.
Love You
Elder Woestman

Monday, April 6th 2009

2009-04-06T22:41:00.001-04:00

So hey:
My week was pretty sweet. Monday I had a really cool experience. I bought a cake for this investigator for his birthday. We called up his friend to get us in the house when he wasn´t there and we waited for him with candles lit and everything. It was really exciting right…… but then he walks in and he sees the cake and does nothing. He was like amazed and the whole environment got really awkward. So I start cutting the cake, but he is still not talking. Then he starts talking to me and he was holding back tears. He started telling me how nobody had ever bought him a cake before on his birthday and it was way moving. I almost cried too and the whole thing got even more awkward -but it was way cool. It’s amazing how much a cake can do for someone.
Tuesday I had an intercombio with the Zone Leaders and it was good. I was with my “grandpa in the mission” Elder Johnson. We worked it hard and it felt good. My Dominican companion is kind of lazy, and I’m not being very patient with it. lol. So it was nice to work hard and also not to be in charge for a change. lol.
Then Wednesday was the district meeting. It was good and then on Thursday we gave a blessing to a really sick lady and she was up and running around the next day! Blessings are so weird. I don’t even know how to describe blessings, because I can’t even remember what I say in them. But this was my first blessing in Spanish that I gave myself. So it was really cool.
Then Friday Elder Akana, who is a new missionary in my district, had his first Dominican girl ask him to marry him. She was 40. lol. And then I got kind of sick Friday and I’ve been kind of sick all weekend but this weekend was just sweet. I am fully in love with general conference. It was awesome. We slept over at the Zone Leaders’ house and just partied all night (the way missionaries can), lol, which was basically playing Phase 10. lol. But naw, I committed 8 people to baptism. And we are having one this weekend. So that’s exciting. General conference just ruined my baptisms though because investigators have to go to church twice in a row before they can be baptized. And if conference wouldn’t of been in Boni, which is a 40 min bus ride from Nizao, my investigators would have gone and I would have had 2 baptisms this weekend and 5 the next. Oh well. Conference still rocked, but hey, that was my week.
Love You
Elder Woestman

Monday March 30th 2009

2009-03-30T19:39:00.001-04:00

Well this week was crazy and a little depressing. So Tuesday I had my first district meeting and I started it. Had it all planned out. Then the AP´s called and said they were coming to my district meeting and to wait for them. So of course I was then nervous. So they came and were all like taking notes, looking as if my eternal salvation all depended on the notes they were taking. lol. They were pretty intimidating and I don’t know why either. But, I still thought my first district meeting was awesome. I focused our district meeting on bringing reverence to the sacrament meeting and specifically during the sacrament. I set out the plan of how we were going to teach key families and leaders about how important the sacrament is and commit them to pray through the whole passing and blessing of the sacrament. But, then to my surprise the AP´s [assistants to the mission president] got up and talked about the same thing. They expounded on my lesson and set up something called a “cosecha” with us - which is a “reaping of the harvest” or so I believe. And they said that we needed to get all the priesthood holders 16 years old and up and teach them about the importance of the “santa cena” [Holy Sacrament] Friday night. Then Saturday they were going to come out. Every missionary with 1 or 2 members was going to go out and all together we were going to visit every member in the branch in one hour, about the importance of the “santa cena” and commit them to pray through the whole thing. It was really cool and really exciting to think about. So my district worked hard on gathering the people for Friday. We had 20 people show up which was almost all of them that could. We taught them all about the importance of the “santa cena” and about what we were going to do Saturday. But then Saturday only the president of the rama [branch] and 3 other people showed up. And the AP´s were an hour and a half late. And we weren’t able to do the “cosecha”. I was pretty up set. Especially with the AP´s, because I spent lots of time with that and because of it only two of my 9 investigators showed up for church since I didn’t have time to remind them about church Saturday because I was stuck in the church building.
But I did do a baptism Saturday and it was good. His whole family showed up and they aren’t members so maybe we’ll get to teach his family with time. Wednesday we had our zone conference. It was my first Zone conference that I actually understood. So that was good. But I also realized that it wasn’t very organized at all. The president wanted to talk about our numbers - like always, focusing on our baptisms. But it was basically a couple missionaries arguing with him about his ideas. Then the other missionaries were all bearing their testimonies about his ideas. We only talked about 3 things in 2 and a half hours: committing our investigators to get baptized after sacrament meeting, using members more in our lessons, and baptize more people. So I thought that was actually kind of funny. But yea that was my week. Not to interesting. Just working. lol.
Elder Woestman

Monday March 23rd 2009

2009-03-23T16:05:00.000-04:00

Hi:
I finally got the package from the family and everything is good here, but I am in a rush. So my letter may be a little shorter
Everything freak’n happened this week. First of all, Tuesday there were transfers and my trainer is no more in my life. Well, he is in my life but not as my trainer. He is my Zone leader now. So that’s kind of cool. But now I have a Dominican as a companion so that’s freak’n awesome. But he is definitely way different than me. For one he doesn’t eat. Like literally. Only bread. It’s weird and I don’t know what to do for lunch. lol. But it's all good.
Then Thursday I received a phone call and I am now a District leader. So that is awesome. But I kind of have a lot of responsibility - and we got two more missionaries Thursday in Don Gregorio, which is part of my district. So we helped move them into their house Thursday.
Saturday we didn’t have any baptisms. But Sunday we talked to our investigators and we should have one next Saturday and two more the Saturday afterwards. But yea, my mind’s going crazy. I have too many things to do these days. I’m not just that kid that doesn’t have to do anything anymore. But hey :)
Love You
Elder Woestman

Monday, March 9th 2009

2009-03-10T06:59:00.001-04:00

Hey.

My dad asked me what my companion is like and a little about where I live. Well, my companion is 6 ft tall, has kind of funky teeth, and isn't the cleanest person - not like house-wise but like person wise. I never touch him because he wears the same shirt twice before he washes it and picks his nose and stuff. Other than that he is a pretty good guy. He has no problems with working hard and only speaks Spanish to me so I can't complain too much. I live in Nizao of Baní. It isn't a super poor area. It is full of lower middle class people with poor people and a few famous baseball players are from here. Every Saturday there is a party at the park in the center of the city. There are colmados all over the place which is where we get food. Colmados are like small family stores with the basics. Some are bigger than others. But yea, that's my town. just a small little place.

So Tuesday was a pretty normal day. Nothing super exciting happened. Wednesday my companion went to the capital to go to the dentist because he broke one of his teeth. So I was on an intercombio with Elder Guzman Wednesday. It was awesome because I was the senior companion since we were in Nizao. So besides having to speak Spanish more than usual, I also decided what we did all day and we worked! I worked Guzman hard. We ran and hit up everybody who was anybody. We taught 9 lessons to investigators, 4 with a member present, 5 predicad mi Evangelio lessons, and did a million relompagos - which are lightning visits - meaning we jump in, say hi and offer a pray to old investigators. It was sweet.

We didn't have water for 4 days this week. So I took showers with bad water from a thing in the back yard then rinsed with clean water from huge jugs that we buy to drink. It was no fun but made me truly grateful when the water came back. Thursday we had interviews with the President and that was sweet. My companion is leaving me in two Wednesdays and I am receiving a Latino for a companion. Oh ya! I am excited, and we baptized two more people Saturday. On Sunday the President came to our church and told everybody how he was going to split the ward because we have so many people now. He is sending two more missionaries in next week. So I'm excited because life is crazy and the work is crazy. So life rocks and people are getting baptized - so life's even better. So Saturday we baptized two people. One was the daughter of an investigator family we have who the parents haven't been able to be baptized because of problems with papers and stuff for marriage. But their 8 yr old daughter was baptized and I baptized her. The other person is a friend of the girl we baptized last week. But when I baptized this girl my pants ripped because she was so small and I had to bend down so far that my paints ripped and now have a huge hole. But nobody realized except for me and nobody still knows. But now I have to sow up my pants before my companion finds out and laughs at me. So that was fun. Sorry my letter is small this week. I have to run. We spent all day in Ocoa at the waterfalls there and now I have no time to write my letters, but I'll talk about that next week.
love you
Elder Woestman

Monday March 2nd 2009

2009-03-02T22:47:00.001-05:00

First of all, I love the members in my ward. There is this one girl named Yoellisa who came to a lesson that we taught Claritsa this past week. Claritsa got baptized Saturday, but I will talk about that in a little bit . The lesson was awesome because we, being American guys and not knowing anything about women clothes and the words for them in Spanish, Yoellisa was able to help us with teaching the Law of Chastity. And she was awesome. She was telling them everything wrong with their clothes, comparing them to scriptures, and everything. Claritsa and her friends were just like “dang”, I want to be as sweet and modest as this girl”. In fact - now that I think about it we didn't even teach anything. She basically talked the whole time, which was fine with me because she was awesome. Later we also taught a 30 yr old guy the Law of Chastity and it turns out that he has 6 girlfriends. Three of which are married and he sleeps with them all. How messed up is that!?!. And apparently that’s just how he thinks it is. He just can't catch the fact that what he is doing is wrong because he says the ladies want it more than him. Luckily he is said he is going to slowly dump them because he doesn't want to get beat up by an angry husband for one.
But now to the baptisms this weekend: So we had some crazy obstacles this weekend. First off there was a festival to honor chickens Friday. What’s up with that?! It’s like a national holiday. There was a parade of people dancing in chicken outfits to some crazy music. It was pretty hilarious, but no good because all the roads were closed down and the district leaders could not get to us to do the interviews for our baptisms. So we had to move those to Saturday. Then on Saturday we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off ourselves, trying to find a close enough relative to sign one of our investigators baptism papers so he could get baptized because he is only 17. Finally, we found his evangelical grandma who we convinced to sign it for him. That was pretty funny. Then Saturday we had our 3 baptisms. Luz, who is an older lady, was baptized by her husband who is also old and almost died - he could barely pull her back up. We almost had to jump in and save them both. lol.
Tuesday we found out that we can't listen to music of any kind, not even church music. I’m going to have to turn my I-pod and speakers and then pick them up at the end of my mission. But I can live with that.
Saturday right before the baptisms my companion and I were interviewed by the AP's. and I am not aloud to speak English anymore. So that’s been interesting because my companion and I don't communicate very well - he doesn't speak English ether anymore. That was my week. I’m doing freaking awesome. Life could only be a little better if I had a bike. lol.
Love you,
Elder Woestman

Monday - Feb 23rd 2009

2009-02-23T17:01:00.000-05:00

Hi:
   So Monday we had a "noche de hogar" which is family home evening and it was the craziest one we have ever had. I don´t even know how to explain it. Everybody there was just crazy. Like there was this little girl that kept on screaming and saying she lost something and then would look under the couch. She looked under the couch like 50 times. lol. And this lady and kid kept punching each other. I don´t know how to describe it. lol. There was just no order. But Monday was still sweet because we watched Carlito practice with his team at the baseball field. And I wrote letters. And we played some basketball and cleaned the house some. But, now to Tuesday; so we had a Zone Conference Tuesday. That was sweet because we went to Azua - my first area and i got to see a lot of the old Zone. We even got cake at the end, but the Mission President said that everybody is going to be staying in their areas for one more transfer at least. So I'm going to be in Nizao for one more transfer after this. Which is nice to know. Wednesday was just a normal day teaching the gospel stuff. I'll talk about my investigators at the end of this letter. Thursday we had a surprise house inspection by the Zone Leader's. lol. It was no good. Apparently our house is not very clean. But it wasn't bad either. They weren't mad at us or anything, because they kept saying that the Spirit in our house was awesome - we just need to clean it. I thought that was a little funny because I was fasting that day.
Then on Friday we got to go to the temple because we meet our zone goals. So that was sweet. I love the temple, but the day flew by. We woke up early to be picked up by a bus full of just missionaries. We got to the capital at like 10, went through the temple and got back to the apartment by 1. Then we were out by 2:30 working again. So it was like a normal day except the temple was thrown in there some how. lol.
   Saturday I thought I was going to die. It was late at night and we were walking in a deserted part of town with some pretty ghetto houses heading to another area were we had an appointment. While we were walking I heard growling behind us - like two cats going at it hard core. So I didn't think much of it since that happens. But then the sound got closer so i look behind me and there is this figure running at us growling. So I am like "WHAT THE" and then this kid runs underneath a light and he was loco. First of all he was naked. His teeth were all messed up and he was growling like he had rabies or something. I thought he was going to try to attack us, but he stopped once he got into the light and does this sideways walk/slide thing back into the darkness in between two houses. My skin was literally crawling. This kid sounded and looked that freaky. So yea. I was pretty much watching my back all night when we were walking to our appointments. I am glad that's over. That kid freaks me out just writing about him.
   But now to the best part of the week - Sunday. So we had 14 investigators come to church and we have definitely 3 people getting baptized. And if we get the papers so this one family can be married, we will have 6-7 baptisms this week. How awesome is that! I am so excited for Saturday. We had so many investigators that we had to stick the children investigators in regular classes and we were kicked out of the investigator class that we usually attend (because there was not room for us). So that was exciting.
   I taught piano lessons again. Which I find hilarious because I have no clue how to play the piano.
Cloudia is going to be baptized the week after this coming Saturday. So, we are finally starting to get rolling here in Nizao. But the best part is that President Almonte. who is the mission president, is visiting our branch Sunday and he is going to see maybe 6 people confirmed with the Holy Ghost, and be like "dang these kids are sweet". lol. but yea that was my week.
love you,
Elder Woestman

Monday February 16th 2009

2009-02-16T14:57:00.001-05:00

So this week was a pretty dang-good week. It all started on Tuesday when I was able to go on an intercombio with the Zone Leaders (ZL's). I love intercombios with the ZL´s. They are always a huge learning experience, but this time I went out with this Elder named Guzman, who looks Chinese but is in fact Mexican - and he will tell you he is Mexican if he even thinks you have any doubts. lol. But it was awesome because I was forced to speak Spanish and because of how the people treated me. First, right away he told me to speak louder because I was saying things correctly just not with enough confidence, because when people here see a greengo and if you mess up just once, they turn theirs ears off to you. They think, 'this kid doesn´t know Spanish' even if you do. So I was pretty much screaming the whole day. And Guzman spoke to me in Spanish the whole day. So it was weird and awesome because at the end of the day my mind was clicked into Spanish and I could understand what people were saying ten times better than I have during my whole mission. It was awesome!. So intercombios just rock. And - to top it off the ZL´s have hot water. So I was able to take a hot shower, and it was so awesome that I took a hot shower twice. lol. But, yea, now to Wednesday.
So Wednesday I was still feeling the power of Spanish within me from being out with Guzman all the day before. My companion was sick, so I made all the contacts in the morning which was awesome. and then we eat lunch at this member's house named Carlito. Now this guy is one sweet guy and he has the coolest job in the world. All he does is coach and play baseball. And he doesn´t just coach people here. During training season he goes to professional baseball teams in the states and trains professional baseball players. He is a way cool member. and we eat tacos at his house, and I'd have to say they were the best tacos ever. Everything was homemade - even the shell. It was amazing. After that, we made some more contacts and ran into this less active family that was talking to another family and the other family had a Book of Mormon. So what does that mean? Well - it means we found a golden family with friends in the church that are now taking the discussions. And we are reactivating the less active family. That's doublely awesome.
Now Thursday - this was a crazy interesting day because we have been teaching this guy who is making good enough progress but today he told us he had a dream about the spirit prison 11 yrs ago. and then goes off into this thing of how 2 yrs ago a dead guy walked into his room and told him that some guy was going to die and 2 weeks later that guy died. And he said if we didn´t believe him we could ask his cousin because he called his cousin right after the dead guy visited him - and he knew him. lol. So yea, now I don´t know how to take that investigator. Later that night there were some kids playing ball at the church that weren´t members. and they weren´t really kids because they were the same age as us, but we decided to play a quick game of ball with them to build up the rep with the little ones. lol. and we kicked their butts. 22-12!!. And we even gave them ten points at the beginning. Oh-ya!
Friday was sweet because we set a date for a family to get married since nobody in the Dominican is actually married by the law. They are working on the papers for that, so that is super exciting. Saturday was a pretty normal day - nothing special besides the party at the park was exceptionally red because of it being Valentine's Day and all. Then Sunday, so we had 9 investigators go to church. Except Angel didn´t go. But we should have at least one baptism this weekend, so that's good. And the most messed up thing happened to me. Something I would never have thought would happened to me - a bird pooped on my head! It's true! I was in the middle of teaching about life before death to this lady and bird poop came flying out of the sky and landed on my head. I must of been saying something wrong. lol. Oh well - that was my week. It was a pretty good one.
- Elder Woestman

Monday February 9th 2009

2009-02-11T17:56:00.001-05:00

So this week wasn´t interesting at all, but I still wouldn´t consider it a bad week at all. Sunday we had 5 investigators go to church. We should have 4 baptisms this week but actually will probably only have one because there is a youth conference sort of thing going down Saturday and we want our investigators to go to that that are of the right age because that should be a really good experience for them. Lets see, they finished painting our house. Oh - and Wednesday we ran to the beach and I read from the Ensign which was awesome. There is nothing like the sound of the beach; waves crashing and birds chirping . . . and there I am underneath a coconut tree reading the Ensign. That's what I call an awesome experience.
So we also meet this really cool member and went to his house. This guy trains baseball players. He goes up to America and goes from team to team and trains professional baseball players. He is sweet. He has his own baseball field in his backyard. and is making us tacos miercoles - so that's sweet. What else.... we meet this lady that works for the Peace Corp. and she is working on a latrine project. A lot of houses don´t have bathrooms. Also, it was transfer week last week so I meet the new people in my district this week. We have 2 sister missionaries in our district now. We played basketball today for P-Day but hey it wasn´t to bad. But ya that's it. Not too much is going down
Sincerely,
Elder Woestman

February 2nd 2009

2009-02-03T20:23:00.001-05:00

This week we found the sweetest investigator ever. His name is Angel and he is what we would classify as an escogido, or a chosen one. He rocks. He is the first investigator that I have had that read everything we asked him to the first time we asked him. Usually it takes at least 2 visits, but he has been reading everything when he is supposed to and came to church on Sunday. He is awesome. He is 16 and will be a great help to the Young Men's program down here.
   We had 3 investigators at Church Sunday. Which is pretty good. Our one family couldn't come though cause they had some sort of family reunion or something. lame. But yea, we also had a baptism Saturday, and it was awesome cause the water wasn't working at the church so Laflaca, who got baptized, was able to get baptized in the ocean. how awesome is that. i wish i was baptized in the ocean. I wish I was the one to baptize her, but we had a member do it which is better in the long run.
    Now for the funny experience of the week. So we were teaching this lady and at the end we asked her to say the pray and she said OK. So we all bow our heads but she doesn't talk so we figure she is saying it to herself, which a lot of people we teach for the first time do, even though we teach them how to pray. But ten minutes go by and she lays her head on a table next to her. Then five min. go by and I say "hermana" which is sister in Spanish and she wakes up. Yep, she was asleep. lol. I think she thought that we were saying it or something but, it was pretty funny. I slid it off like it was supposed to happen but I just died laughing once I walked out that door. lol. This week was just awesome. We had so many investigators that we had to run to try to get to the next ones on time cause we would take to long in our other lessons. I love that feeling. And, if all goes well we should have 4 baptisms in 2 weeks, maybe 5, and that would just be amazing. 4 in one Saturday.
   Love you lots, Elder Woestman

Monday Jan 26th 2009

2009-01-27T15:50:00.000-05:00

So this week was a good week. We went on an intercombio Tuesday, so I spent the whole day Tuesday with a Dominican missionary and I didn´t really understand half of what he was saying. lol. But hey, I did my best and I learned a lot none the less. We lost our water too at the beginning of the week. So we were out of electricity for 3 days and out of water for 2. Got to love the Dominican Republic. lol. So, hey mom, thanks a ton for the mosquito net, because without the fans working at night my companion was eaten alive - but I was perfectly fine Oh, and one thing that I always love is when I stick my tongue out at little kids and they do it back. That always makes me laugh. Of course it's cute and half of them have really bad teeth. lol.
So we have been working with quite a few people this week. We have three baptismal dates set up and one for this weekend. The one for this weekend is for a 17 yr old girl who's mom is a member so that's good. That means she will stay active. Her name is Laflaca. The names here are so different than the names in America. And we have been teaching this baseball player's wife and the duds name is Vladamir Guerrero. He plays for the Angels, whoever he is. In the middle of our lesson we were teaching her and her kid threw up all over the place while she is holding him. It was like some water gusher. I don't know how to describe it but I didn't know little kids could hold that much in their stomachs. lol. Sunday we had a conference that was broadcast from Jamaica. It was only for the Caribbean. But it was awesome. Pres. Eyring was there and Pres Bednar. There were some pretty sweet talks, but the funny thing was that we had to go to Boni to watch this conference which is the bigger city near us. And we fit the whole ward in one school bus. lol. There were kids sitting on kids sitting on adults. People standing in the aisle. I was sitting on a speaker for the radio in the back and it was hilariously packed and really uncomfortable. My companion got a picture of it. lol. But we still had 3 investigators go to church,so that was awesome. That's all i really have for this week though.
Love ya
Elder Woestman

Monday January 19th 2008

2009-01-20T10:04:00.001-05:00

    So this week has definitely been a different week for me. I cleaned the fridge which was all moldy, so that was good. Now we can stick food in there. We also cleaned most of the kitchen too. Life in Nizao isn't too bad. There is this guy named Chemi. and he is the Elders Quorum president. He is one interesting character! He has been out with us twice already and wants to go out with us every other day of the week. I don't know how I think about that (lol), but he is a cool guy and everybody in Nizao knows who he is. Chemi has been a member of the church for 5 years. He got in a motor accident and messed up his legs and arms some and now walks with a cane. But this doesn't faze this guy. He is hard core. He walked around everywhere with us. He showed us a bunch of the members, a bunch of interested people, and 1 investigator family. Chemi is super smart, and Ibelieve he loves to bible bash because he set up a time with this kid to talk to his pastor about the scriptures. But he is cool.
We have 1 family, 2 young women. and 1 older women, 1 old married couple, and 1 30year old man investigating the Church. So, this week was pretty productive. We had 5 investigators go to church Sunday which is awesome!. And we have just been working our butts off. We have already been invited to have dinner with 2 families this week, so I'm excited for that. My Spanish is better here, probably just because now I feel like I can start anew - being a little more out going. So that's good.
    One of the branch presidency members told us to watch out for the members though. He said they love to gossip and all though they may be nice, if they don't like you they will try to get you to do bad things. I don't know exactly what that means but I'm committed to keep the rules, and everybody seems to like us.
    When we first got to Nizao a lady came up to our door and said there was a sick girl in the hospital that has dengay and she needed a blessing. So I told her that we wwould be at the hospital in 10 minutes. My companion started to freak out because he had never given a blessing before. I told him to go pray by himself and I did too. Then when we were done I told him to say a pray with me. Then I said a prayer with him too. I was really feeling the Spirit, it was a bit over whelming. I wanted to raise this girl out of her bed and have no trace of her disease left in her. but my companion was still iffy (which was sad). We got to the hospital which was the worst hospital I've ever seen. IT looked like those ones that you see in Africa, but we went in. Her whole family was there. She had a fever and could barely talk. We give her a blessing. I have no clue what my companion said and I truly wasn't even trying to pay attention because I was praying my hardest the whole way through it. We finished and then left, went shopping, and then went contacting. The next day the lady that came to our door before found us and told us that right after we left the girl sat up and started eating and was doing a lot better. I am so grateful that God was able to use us to bless that girl in her time of need. That was an awesome experience. That's it the rest is just basic everyday working stuff
   Love you,
Elder Woestman

Tuesday Jan 13th 2009

2009-01-13T14:16:00.001-05:00

   This week has been a crazy awesome and frustrating week. I will start with Tuesday. So Tuesday I had my first Zone conference with the president. I didn´t learn much because it was all in Spanish. lol. But I was complimented on my sweet teaching skills by the president, who said that everybody should try to personalize their lessons like me. In the conference every companionship had to teach the first lesson and I busted out the picture of my family which I keep in my scriptures to emphasize how much I want to return to God and live with my family forever and he loved it. Also I was able to talk with the president, who then turned around and told my companion to never speak English again so that I will learn faster. Over the week I have learned a lot. It's awesome.
    Thursday we asked Freddy, the kid we've been teaching, who he wants to baptize him and he picked me. Which was surprising because I don't talk nearly as much as my companion. So that was sweet!!! and I baptized him on Saturday. It was awesome. It was us, the branch pres, and like 30 little kids under the age of 15. lol. It was pretty hectic, but now Freddy is baptized.
   You will never believe what happened on Sunday. We had 9 investigators at church! It was awesome. 3 whole families. I was so excited but now I'm getting to the frustrating part of this week. I didn´t email you yesterday because yesterday I was specifically transferred with my companion to the Boni - Nizao area of the mission. Monday we went to the waterfalls and I have some sweet pics that i will email you next week, when we got back the AP´s were at the Zone Leader´s house telling us that we had to pack up and leave because we were being specifically transferred. That was like 2:30. So we get to our house and had to pack and shower super fast, and get all our stuff in the AP´s truck by 3:30. We arrived in our new residency at Boní around 5:00 and what do we find: a sink full of dirty dishes that are all stuck together, a fridge that is all mold (I don´t know what we are going to do with that), a stove without gas, and no electricity or food. And that's not the upsetting part. What's upsetting is that one of the missionaries that took our spot in Azua was living here but had to be switched with us because he was messing around with girls in the ward. So now everybody in Boni isn´t to happy with the missionaries. He gets my 3 families and could mess it up, while we are stuck again in yet another foreign area with no help, a horrible area book, and having to starting all over. Oh well, God is just trying to make me the best I guess and there is no way I will let him down. We were able to give a blessing to a sick lady with dangay fever this morning though, so that was cool. And we had a district meeting today so I meet everybody in my district which is also my Zone. lol. But yea, that's my week. Later
   Love,
Elder Woestman

Monday, January 5th 2009

2009-01-05T17:31:00.001-05:00

This week wasn't too bad at first. We celebrated New Years at the Zone Leader's house, which was sweet. It was a big sleep over and I learned how to play dominoes. It was way cool. And I went on an "intercombio" with the Zone Leaders which was sweet. I can now make contacts by myself thanks to one of the Zone Leader's and I found out that my companion does everything wrong. Plus he isn't doing things in the new correct way that the Mission President set in action 2 weeks before I came back. So, the Zone Leaders talked to him and we had a meeting today with the President, so hopefully he will change his ways - or at least teach me Spanish. This week was not very successful missionary wise. Nobody came to church besides Freddy and his sister so that's sad. And we are going to have to drop a lot of our investigators. But I don't have much to say. I did have a longer letter but the power went out and I lost it just when I was about to end it. I'm doing good.
Love you
Elder Woestman

Monday, Dec 22nd 2008

2009-01-05T17:26:00.001-05:00

Hey. So you are probably having lots of fun this Christmas week. Tell me all about it when it is over.
So this weekend was fun. We taught some real good lessons and one family that we are teaching I am sure is going to get baptized. But the life of a missionary is full of ups and downs. Over the weekend we committed 11 investigators to go to church. I was super excited for Sunday and to see how many people would come to church - really only expecting 5 to come - but to my disappointment none of them came. Out of 11 people none of them came to church like they said they would. It was a sad morning, but it wasn´t too bad. Nobody actually came to church that was a member till almost 30 min after it was supposed to start. So i guess if the investigators would have came on time they would have been the only ones there with us. My branch is kind of bad like that. At church I let this girl use my Book of Mormon and she found a picture of the family in the front, so now half of the branch knows what my family looks like, because it was circulated through out all the left side of the sacrament hall before I got it back. So yea, that's crazy. But hey, this kid named Fredy is going to get baptized in two weeks. We just have to wait for him to go to church one more time basically. And Martin and his family want to get baptized except they slept in this Sunday so we have to wait 3 more week for them to get baptized because they have to go to church at least twice before they can be baptised.
Today - which is Monday and p-day - we played ball in the morning with a bunch of member kids. It was loco. Dominicans play crazy basketball, but they do have some dang sweet outdoor courts. The court we played in was total concrete, even the backboard. And the court was spray painted all sweet. It was fun. Today for our zone activity we played ultimate Frisbee and soccer. It was way fun. My zone is pretty much the sweetest zone ever. We have some pretty cool zone leaders in my opinion. But, yea that's about it.
I'll keep working hard
Elder Woestman

December 18th 2008

2008-12-18T13:47:00.001-05:00

   So I am leaving the CCM tomorrow, which is 4 days earlier than I am supposed to leave. They boosted me up. Everybody else in my district is leaving Wednesday. It is just crazy. So my mission president doesn't speak any English so my CCM (MTC) president told me to have fun with my interview, because it is going to be all in espanol. I'm not ready for this, but I am definitely excited to jump in and be a real missionary. I'm becoming lazy and fat. lol.
   So Saturday we went to the university to teach and we were talking to these two Dominican girls and they thought I was 26. How crazy is that? I swear, it's the hair cut that I got Friday. (The guy that did my hair literally cut it too a razor and cut some of my hair back and it was way short.) My maestro told me that it was because of how mature I am now that I have been out for two months. I liked that answer and I'm going to keep telling myself that. Anyways, since I found out that I'm leaving early, everybody has been telling me what we are going to do once we get done from our missions. One missionary has a sweet old car that he is going to let me drive. Another is going to take me to this lake with like 5 waterfalls as long as I take him snow boarding. And a bunch of others just want me to find them wives - and I told them I'd do my best. Otherwise, it's just been study, study, study. I'm leaving early and I still have to pack. Love you all.
   Elder Woestman
.

December 11th 2008

2008-12-11T09:05:00.000-05:00

Hi:
So this week was sweet. One of our district goals this week was to love the Latinos in everything. So they aren't very good at basketball. Which is disappointing, because I was really hoping that we could get some good games going down. Anyway, gym has been pretty awesome though. lol.
We went to the University twice in the past week. We had the whole north mission come down for some orientation meeting of some kind and to go to the temple. The CCM [missionary training center] was packed with people and missionaries. So when they had their meetings, we got to go to the University. It was awesome, except school is out for Christmas break. Which is so weird. It's so hot but yet it is really close to Christmas time. If nobody told me, this Christmas would pass by with out me even knowing. But i didn't get to see Mikiana again this week because school was out which is no good cause now I will never know if she is reading the Book of Mormon that I gave her. Hopefully I'll see her again while I'm out tracting, which is in just 10 days. So excited....
My Spanish is getting so much better. I can sort of understand people now. lol. It's loco, but I give all the credit to the Holy Spirit cause I know how bad I am at Spanish. Some times I say things and it takes me a couple seconds to realize what I just said. But that's about it. No real crazy sweet stories. Just studying hard and doing my best to be righteous. Love ya. Bye.

December 4th 2008

2008-12-04T10:15:00.001-05:00

Can I explain how awesome the CCM is in one email. I think not. But I will try. Saturday was way awesome. We went to the university to practise English and proselyte as much as possible. And guess who I saw again - Mickiana. It was awesome. The last time we talked, we just said; "hey, what's your phone number", because of how little Spanish we knew, but this time I sat down right next to her and handed her a Book of Mormon, bearing my testimony the best I could in really bad Spanish and committed her to read it. It was awesome. That could be my first baptism. But we are not allowed to do that while we are in the CCM and I don't know if I'll ever see her again after. Oh well. It was awesome though.
Other than that it hasn't been to interesting here. We are receiving the Latino missionaries this week so things are going to be way more hectic but fun. My spanish is definitely improving even if it is still really bad. And lets see.... Oh yes, yesterday an iron fell on one of my companions head. Luckily he will not be needing any stitches of any kind. Oh, and so 2 days ago, i think it was Monday, my district leader and I did our "prank of the week" on the teachers. Just to spice life up a little and to keep the district laughing so they don't get sick of each other. My districts becoming weird. Contention is starting to rise in our district. So me and another elder hid inside the window behind the curtains. (Which was extremely hard all by itself considering that the ledge for the window was only sticking out like an inch and we had to keep our butts from sticking out so far so that the teacher wouldn't see us.) But as soon as he came close to that window we jumped on top of him and he almost punched me in the face he was so scared - luckily he didn't. But that is about it. Talk to you next week. Love ya, bye.

Thursday Nov 27th 2008

2008-11-29T17:59:00.001-05:00

So I don't remember were I left off but I'll just start. Saturday my district went to the university to practice Spanish and proselyte. And guess what companionship got the most phone numbers from people cause they wanted to talk to the missionaries.That's right - it was yours truly! My companionship! We got 8 phone numbers in a space of 45 min. The next closest of all three districts was 6. So we are beasts. One of the lady's was so interested. She was talking about how her nephew was talking to the missionaries and how she has Mormon missionaries living in her apartment complex but how she has never talked to any before. And then her pregnant friend came over and she was just chatting away about Joseph Smith and catching up her friend. It was awesome. So that was a real good experience. And I found it ten times easier to talk to girls. They smile. Guys just gave us evil glares until we talked to them. Then they were nicer. Tuesday we went to the store and there is one thing that i found out. It is not cheaper to buy anything here in the Dominican!!! Anything that's not made here is twice as expensive. It's lame, but o well. There isn't much else going on right now. We are heading to the museum in a little bit so I'll probably write you later tonight to tell you about that.

Thursday Nov 20th 2008

2008-11-29T16:54:00.001-05:00

First of all thanks for all the up dates. I love the Dominican Republic. It's awesome. I haven't been out of the CCM yet but the CCM building (or MTC in English) is way nice. It is literally right next to the temple. A stones throw away. For we are inside the walled off area for the temple. Talk about awesombroso - which is espanol for awesome except espanol doesn't have awesome in there vocabulary so we made it up. Anyways, we get to walk around the temple all the time and there are little lizards/gechos everywhere. It's way bonito(beautiful). My companeros are way cool guys. One is Samoan and he gets excited about the funniest things and i love him for that. But he snores like a freight train. It's horrible. He makes a million different noises a night. Luckily though he gives 1 minute breaks every 10 min, so you have to try to fall asleep in one of those not as loud time periods. lol. My other companero, cause we are a threesome, is from Utah and an all around good guy. He works hard and is better at spanish than me so that's nice. He doesn't snore, or if he does and I just can't hear him over the other Elder.
So far I am still just studying super hard with the espanol. My district gets to go to the university Saturday to try and place some pamphlets and what not. So I'm way excited for that. The only thing that I'm struggling with at this point is the language but that's only expected, right. I am pushing though. We have three different teachers and they are all totally different teachers. And what makes it even better is that I can only understand half of what they're saying when they speak slow. When they speak to each other I'm totally lost. But that's still better than half of the other Elders in my district which is good. The temple here is awesome. I just finished a session in there and in some areas you can tell it's not made for tall people. Which is kind of funny but it was gorgeous on the inside. The paintings were like nothing I've ever seen. So all in all I'm doing pretty good. Pray that I sleep well, learn espanol faster, and don't do anything stupid. Which reminds me; one of my districts jobs is to change the water jugs for the water dispensers. So one day after doing that my district leader and I came up with a brilliant idea. People here are way good hearted and joke around all the time so we decided to stack the empty water jugs and lean them up against District 2's door. It was hilarious. The teacher comes in - we start the lesson - and then we hear the jugs go crashing. 3 seconds later a teacher opens the door and goes "who did that?" My district leader raised his hand and the teacher just said; "you almost killed me" and then left. Our teacher just started laughing and then we did too. It was so funny. We then had to go clean up the jugs but it was priceless. That's it. Oh - and the currency exchange if anybody is interested is35 pasos to a dollar.
love ya lots
Elder Woestman

I've Arrived - Nov 14th 2008

2008-11-29T12:50:00.001-05:00

So, I have 3 min to tell you that i arrived safly at the Dominican
Repbublic MTC and that I didn't lose any of my luggage and I'm ok. My
MTC president is awesome as well as his wife. O - and tell me if you
have the pouch mail address and if you do please send it to everyone.
and don't send me anything for christmas just send me the money.
love you
bye
Elder Woestman

November 10, 2008

2008-11-29T12:45:00.001-05:00

Note from MOM:
Andy leaves for the Dominican Republic tomorrow. All mail to him now
needs to go through the "pouch mail" system. For those of you who
have been using the www.dearelder.com site, you can still use that
for free. Just change the location: when you use the drop down tab
to select his mission location choose "Dominican Republic MTC" for
the next 6 weeks. If you prefer regular mail – his address is:
Elder Andrew Woestman
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0150
Remember that you can only send post cards or one page letters folded into
three panels and taped at the top.
Thanks for being interested in and supportive of Andy. – Laura Woestman

1/10/08
Hi:
So first of all I didn't get a letter today. I think I'm going to
melt. I need letters. lol. OK, so mom I don't know if its possible
but can you get back on my laptop and please send me more. Send me
the picture of the family making funny faces at Anna's wedding.
please. Have Ben look on my facebook account to find other pictures
that I have. If you could get that to me by Wednesday then please do
it. I am leaving at 3:00 in the morning on Thursday the 13th. Thank
you.
I did get the tent, ties, belt, etc. I bought a new bible, and I
got the chocolate chip cookies, the brownies, and the nachos and
cheese from Dan. Thank you for I am one loved man because of those
brownies. lol.
So MTC life rocks. Not much has happened since I emailed you last.
Lets see. Um, I'm learning a lot of Espanola. And, I'm memorizing a
lot of scriptures. Did you know that if you memorize a verse in the
scriptures everyday on your mission that by the end you will have
something comparable to photographic memory? Well, just so you know
I have been doing that. I
have part of the introduction memorized. The good stuff that is. I
have 1 Nephi 1:1-9 memorized and a bunch of other random good
scriptures that I find in my daily reading that I've liked so, O YA,
I'm going to have a photographic memory.
But, ya that's about it. Nothing huge going down in the MTC. Just
way excited to get to the Dominican on Thursday. Later.
-Andy

November 3rd, 2008

2008-11-29T12:03:00.001-05:00

The past week and a half has been long and amazing and I have to know that God is my Heavenly Father and He loves me and has set forth a plan to allow me to return to him. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and brother. I know that he atoned for my sins in the garden of Gethsemane. I know for a fact that the repentance process works and because of Christs atonement that I am forgiven

from my past transgressions. I know with all my heart that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and in the year 1820 he saw God the father and his son Jesus Christ. who commanded him to restore Christ's church on this earth. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Book of Mormon is a true book containing the fulness of the everlasting gospel, was translated by Joseph Smith through the power of God, there is nothing in this world or the world above that could shake this testimony. For I have had a confirmation in my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is the true gospel on this earth. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Monday October 27th 2008

2008-10-27T18:28:00.000-04:00

Hey whats up. So - I am at the MTC in Provo Utah and the first 5 days have been really hard work. All we do is eat study, eat, study, eat, study. It's crazy. My mind is going dead and if it wasn't for this preparation day (p-day), i would still be dead but i feel nice and refreshed now. I am amazed by how much Spanish I am understanding. I can't speak it very well but I am understanding really well. So thanks Christine for your sweet tutoring skills.
The first day Leanne and Lauren came to see me and took pictures. My companion is a decent enough guy. He is a little interesting and he is having a tough time with being away from his family. He hasn't gotten a single letter yet from his fam and he gets upset every time I get a letter and he doesn't. Which is like every day so far. Thank you family.
So Dan, those two letters you sent got to me, and Maria that binder you and Russ made for me is awesome. It has everything I need and it rocks, and my companion loves it even more cause he really isn't very good with giving discussions. He didn't study at all before he got here. At least i don't think so.
My district of elders that I am in class with rock hard core. And Anna, your twin and friend that has the same birthday as you is one of my teachers. His name is Elder Parma and you know him from college. You told me about him before. Both my teachers are really good. But hey, my companion and I are the only ones that are going to the Dominican Republic in my whole zone, and we have our own room which is made for 4 people which is way awesome.
So demands. I left all my ties home and I will need those. And my one other belt. They should be in my small carry on bag which is in the top of my closet. I need those please. Thank you. Keep sending letters fam. I only have 30 mins to write a letter then the computer shuts off automatically, and i can't get back on.
Love you all, andy