Elder Shintaku - 10/24/22

I am finally writing an email because of all the heat I've been getting lately for my time off the grid and my lack of writing home. But I guess now is a better time than ever to catch everyone up on what's been going on here in the Dominican Republic. 

I really enjoyed my last area in Don Gregorio. It is a small fishing town right next to the beach and a river so I was loving that. Our house had a nice beach view and we lived next to a lake also. During my 4 1/2 months there I got to make a lot of friends and really get to know everyone in the town. Kids would be yelling my name as I walked the streets. Which is one of the coolest things about missionary work. During my time there I got to baptize 2 youths that are preparing to go to the temple they are both super awesome. I also went down to the beach a couple of times to watch the waves and the surfers there it was so sick. I learned so much about learning to live with the people I get to serve every day. 

But like all things in life I was up for a change. They sent me from the beachfront up into the mountains just outside of the capital. Now I'm in an area called Pedro Brand. It's really different than the other 2 areas I've been in just because there is so much more stuff. Because I'm closer to the capital there are more businesses, food, and activities to do. I'm really enjoying my time with my companion Elder Schafer. He's from Idaho he's also a really good cook so that's nice. We've been really working hard here to help families start attending church and learning about the restored gospel. So I'll write another email later on about how that goes. 

For now thanks to everyone that prays for me and supports me I wouldn't be able to do so much good without all of your prayers. I hope your families and lives are blessed and everyone can feel the presence of God working in their lives every day.

This is a scripture I really like 

Alma 16:15-17

15 And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more who had been chosen for the work, to preach the word throughout all the land. And the establishment of the church became general throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the people of the Nephites.

16 And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming—

17 That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God.

And some dope photos