Island Flora

We have been impressed with and have enjoyed the beauty of the assortment of flowers here on the

 island.  These gorgeous flowers seem to blossom all year long.  There are always beautiful flowers everywhere.

We don't know the names but thought we would post some pictures anyway as a reminder of the colors of this beautiful place.  Enjoy!

I think this is Ginger

Love the pink and lavender colors.  Favorites!

Hibiscus

A few varieties around the Santo Domingo Temple

Los LLanos Branch

Our senior missionary friends (East Mission office couple), Elder Ron and Sister Loretta Smith (Los Llanos Branch President), sent us a recent email which we wanted to post to our blogspot.  

Elder and Sister Smith 

It is so inspiring to us because we have participated in their service projects and know their experience. We thought you'd all enjoy it also.  These are their words:

Dear Friends,

I would be ungrateful if I did not take some time and thank you for the assistance you have given to support our branch and members.  While it would be easy to come home discouraged from the branch each week, we have chosen instead to enumerate the miracles we have observed.  Each week there are many new miracles from local members receiving the priesthood and administering the sacrament every Sunday instead of the missionaries, to women wearing dresses to church, to the baptism of a 65-year-old Haitian who had a dream that he needed to attend our branch and ask for a blessing for the healing a painful leg.  He walks a couple of miles each way each Sunday to attend church even though he does not understand anything being said.  While he was being taught, another Haitian translated for him.  That translator later baptized him, confirmed him, and ordained him a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood, so he could take family names to the temple and do baptisms for the dead.  We could go on and on about the other miracles.  This week has been particularly special and your contributions have been a huge part of making it so.  The assistance you have provided has been a large part of the miracles we participated in this week.  

New Missionaries:  Jorge Rodriquez and Jael Martinez

In January, two of our 40 branch members received their mission calls.  Both were called to the San Juan, Puerto Rico Mission.  Last Thursday, another branch member received his call to serve in Monterrey Mexico West mission, despite a tremendous fear of being called to Mexico.  Last Saturday, our two missionaries going to PR and the mother and aunt of one of them were part of a group of 31 branch members who came to the temple.  Each missionary took out their individual endowments in the company of other branch members.  Fourteen participated in baptisms including our newly baptized Haitian, and the rest stayed around the temple to enjoy the Spirit of the temple.  Sunday was the farewell for the two missionaries.  They were well prepared, spoke appropriately and stayed on topic. In the congregation were many non-members who have expressed interest in hearing more from the missionaries.  Should these men join the church, they could provide some much needed leadership to the branch.  One non-member father and mother asked to meet with me a few months ago and expressed a desire to help support their son on his mission.  They left me with 350 pesos ($7.75 US) for his support.  We also found out that these missionaries will be assigned to our mission while they wait for their US VISAs.  

Entering the MTC with their families

On Tuesday, we were able to participate in the setting apart of these young men as missionaries and on Weds, I had the opportunity of bringing them to the MTC!  Your assistance has been a blessing to these young men in helping them prepare to serve.  We do not comprehend the sacrifice it is for them to serve.  I observed one faithful, Dominican missionary serving in our branch whose belt loops were made of miscellaneous odd pieces of fabric sewn in the appropriate locations.  The seams of his pants were sewn with what appeared to be a strand of twine from a gunny sack.

I want to thank you for your sacrifices, love, and support.  These, too, have been part of our numerous miracles.  THANK YOU!

San Francisco de Marcoris Cacao Plantation

On Saturday April 30, 2016, Elder and Sister Duke organized a day trip to a Cacao (Cocoa) Plantation near San Francisco de Marcoris, about 150 miles directly north of Santo Domingo.

If you love chocolate, this is the place--chocolate heaven!  And it was!!  After a two plus hour drive from the City through rural, rich green valleys and miles and miles of rice paddies, we arrived at the impeccably clean, bustling city of San Francisco de Marcoris.






Continuing two miles outside of the city limits we arrived at a cacao plantation--one of the major cocoa production areas for not only the DR but for the world.    For four hours, our group of 12 leisurely strolled through the cocao orchards being educated (in Spanish) by our Dominican tour guide about the variety of  red, yellow, green and brown football-shaped cocoa pods and  how they get into your favorite candy bar.

We learned the time process of planting trees, grafting new plants to get "the best chocolate,"growing, ripening, harvesting, drying and preparation for cocoa and chocolate production and the exporting to the world.

Cracking open a ripe cocoa pod right there in the middle of the orchard, we tasted the white "slimy"coating of the cocoa bean (looks disgusting but actually tastes pretty good, but not like chocolate...... ) Then our guide explained how the bean is dried and turns dark brown to become cocoa to make powder with various percentages of concentrations.

I particularly love the slightly bitter, 70 % chocolate used to make extra dark chocolate (100% cocoa is way too strong!).  The hands-on demonstration of "pounding" the beans and participating in chocolate powder- mixing was great fun and educational.  A great lunch of egg-plant lasagna, salad, rice mixed with gandules. soft drinks and of course chocolate  made for a very nice get away for the day.  

Costanza, Vegetables and the Waterfall

We were invited three weeks ago on a Saturday morning to explore the agricultural region of the Dominican Region--Costanza.  Near this beautiful city, "nestled in the mountains,"is the famous waterfall- Salto de Aguas Blancas. http://guiaconstanza.com/gc_atractivos/salto-aguas-blancas

From Santo Domingo, we carpooled about three hours northwest into the

lush, green, "ag" country for an all-day cultural adventure.  Leaving the main freeway that connects Santo Domingo with the second largest city on the island, Santiago, we drove a winding, switch-backed road--gaining 7,000 feet of elevation--to the verdant farming  community Costanza.

Our group of 12 senior missionaries (Francis, Walters, from Santiago and Park, Duke and Fuller from S.D) scheduled a Daihatsu "tour truck" to drive around the mountain area viewing the massive acres of vegetables of every kind (potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, tomatoes, etc.) and to deliver us to our ultimate destination--the Salto de Aguas waterfall.    What was so unique was the steepness of the sides of mountains on which oxen-furrowed farming takes place and how every available space has been used to grow a majority of the vegetables for the entire country.

We stopped to admire the vistas, the well manicured rows of crops, the native foliage and the natural beauty.  It was easy to recognize the garlic fields from the strong pungent smell.  The ride in the back of the "equipment truck" to the 100 foot waterfall was very eventful.  The extremely pothole-filled dirt road coupled with minimum quality shock-absorbers made for a very rollicking, "yeehaw" ride; a ride that we will not soon forget since they didn't supply seat belts with the "home made" passenger seats,  For over an hour going and an hour plus returning, we "rocked and rolled", holding on to each other and a few times to the overhead roll bar for dear life.  We now know what riding a bare back bronco in a rodeo feels like.   We all laughed at each other A LOT

having more fun than senior citizens are really suppose to have.  Didn't take much to entertain us tho.' I enjoyed this experience and would do it again in a minute.

Arriving at the waterfall, our expectations were definitely satisfied. Gorgeous! amazing! and spectacular! were our thoughts.  The pool of water below the waterfall was so clear but chilling cold. I tested the water temperature...definitely stimulating.  Feeling like I was on a Venture scout hike, I so wanted to jump in though from the rock ledge close by and cool off but didn't bring my suit.

A few picture moments, sharing our sack lunch with the tour guides, and spending this time with good friends and "my best friend" made for an exceptionally educational and memorable day.

This moment gave us an appreciation for the size and variety of food needed to support the people of this country and the amazing beauty of this part of the world.   Randy

Big class, big miracles

We have had the most amazing experience recently.  One of our Pathway students, Julio O'gando, was recently called to be the branch president of the Valiente Branch, about 15 miles east of Santo Domingo.  He asked Peggy and me if we would teach an English class in his little branch.  There were suppose to be 15 students and the first Saturday morning at 8:30 am there were 46 students.  We found out that Julio had passed out flyers in the neighborhood inviting youth from 8 to 18 to attend.

English Class Valiente Branch

The second week we were very surprised AND overwhelmed when we walked into his branch building after a 25-minute drive from our apartment in the city to find 114 students. Wow!!! Luckily the full time Elders, along with a couple other adults who could speak English, were there to assist as we divided the groups to make three smaller class sizes.  The students were fun and amazing.  Several can speak a few phrases in English but most had to be introduced to very basic words and phrases. Writing on the portable whiteboard, we started with "Hola = Hello and Hi."  The group in unison repeated, "Bienvenidos al clase de Ingles" = Welcome to English class,"  "Good morning,"  "How are you?"  I am fine."  "I want to learn English"  The whole group would say loudly, "What is your name?" and then each student would stand and say, "My name is _______."   The 40 handouts showing the English alphabet, vowels, letter sounds were not enough!  We had to make more copies.  We had so much fun. The kids laughed and had a good time taking notes and speaking.   Talking with the full time missionaries, "...we will easily get 15-20 new contacts from this and there will be parents and students that will be baptized. which will help this branch grow."

We are so happy to be involved in this program.  It is a little over whelming at times but what better way to help people improve their lives.  When we look into the eyes of the youth here--the teens and the younger ones--they are so angelic, so energetic and enthusiastic.  We know that this is what we are suppose to do, even if it does interrupt our preparation day for the next week.  We love it and are blessed with special feelings of love and thanksgiving for the Lord's children in this part of the world. This experience is a highlight!  Randy

Randy and Branch President Julio O'gando  

It's so uplifting to help people change their lives by such small and simple things as giving a couple of hours a week to teach them English. Julio told us that a week ago on Sunday, after the first English class, their church attendance grew to 140! The normal size of a "branch" here is 15-40. I'm not sure, but Julio's branch isn't any bigger than that. They didn't have chairs or space for everyone. Julio is such a faithful and dedicated person. I love him so much. He's such a great example to me. He is concerned for these people and truly loves each and everyone of them. You can see why we get a large number out to learn English. They are hungry for knowledge and the "spirit" which is there. They voted to stay each week for four hours! Julio and his friend are teaching them values and motivation also.
We have worried that we don't have enough material to teach them, but when I think about it, of course the Lord will provide! He loves these youth and He's not going to let them just drift away when they are hungry. He fed 5,000, why not 100 or 150?

We haven't mentioned the other miracle that's going on in Julio's branch. When they called him as branch president, he told me that no one in his branch that could play the piano and there wasn't anyone who could teach "someone."  I knew of a foundation that supplies piano keyboards to students that are willing to learn well enough to play easy hymns (for Sacrament Meeting) and teach someone else. It's a little more complicated than that, but you get the idea. I knew that Sister Bentley, my friend and fellow missionary, was teaching a few students at the institute, and offering them these keyboards through this foundation. I was hoping she could take on one more student for a couple of months before she left to go home in June. So. I gave Julio her number. Whoops! No one could afford to come into the city and take lessons, so she agreed to go out to Julio's branch. Of course, when she got there, there were fifteen youth waiting for her to give them a lesson.

Sister Bentley Teaching Piano to Aura Diaz

She now has several students also. Saturday, she was there at the same time as us. The building was jam packed with youth!  She has borrowed a keyboard and now has two to teach on. Her husband, Steve is also teaching. We are praying that someone will take their place when they have to leave. Talk about living by faith! The Lord provides because of people like Julio and the people in these areas that want to feel the love of the Lord in their lives. It's interesting that it's through the children that the Lord is able to reach into these places. They are innocent and willing to learn.
I forgot to mention that there were a few adults there this last Saturday. They are curious and know that what their children are doing is "good".
There is nothing in this world as satisfying as serving the Lord and His children.
 Love you all, Peggy

  

United in Christ--A Special Moment

We have to write about this experience.  It was simple, powerful and memorable!  Several weeks ago the senior missionaries were treated to a special talk by President Ahmad and Sister Jayne Corbitt, the president of the Santo Domingo East Mission.

The Corbitt's are very spiritual, energetic, and entertaining! They told their background stories about how she lived in a "religious" community in New Jersey and he, in Philidelphia in the "projects." They told how both came to know that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  President Corbitt, being from the African-American culture and a family of ten children, grew up in a home with love and strong values.  His parents, especially his mother, wanted the best for their family so they finally moved from the "projects and their negative influence" in Philly.  For a long time in his parents life, although holding to their Christian values, they followed the philosophies of Malcom X and Elijah Muhammad and were considered to be Muslims.  As a result, he (Ahmad) and about seven of his siblings have Arabic names.  He joked, after returning to Christianity and the LDS faith, that his last brother received the Bible name, "Matthew." Everyone laughed. Sister Corbitt talked of her youth in a strict religious community based upon the tribes of Israel and how it shaped her beliefs.  Their stories were fascinating, entertaining and uplifting.

President Corbitt served a youth mission to Puerto Rico. He was a very successful trial attorney, which provided his background to serve as the Church Public Relations Director in the New York City region, prior to being called as mission president.  Sister Corbitt has a background in special education but spent much of her time as a mom raising four children.  They met on a temple trip to Washington D.C. as young adults.

They told amazing stories of introducing the Church to leaders of nations and dignitaries who came to New York for meetings of the United Nations and other international events held in Manhattan.  They worked closely with the First Presidency to make these public relations events positive for opening future doors for sharing the gospel, humanitarian efforts, helping people and growing the Church.  The exclamation point for Randy was President Corbitt relating his account of the First Presidency asking him to write the essay:  Race and the Priesthood--one of the 11 gospel doctrine essays available in our Gospel Doctrine and Institute lessons.  President Corbitt started to cry when he told that in his research he had an intimate interview with Elder L.Tom Perry, the last living apostle present with President Kimball, when the priesthood revelation was given. Elder Perry said, "...the revelation is true! "  We were stunned by the Spirit in the meeting and both commented and agreed that it was a once in a lifetime meeting.   We were blessed for being in attendance.

It is amazing to us how the gospel brings so many unique children of our Father in Heaven together, united by the cause of Christ.  President and Sister Corbitt are amazing people and have incredible spirits.  Our prediction:  He will be  a generally authority in the future! Stay tuned...

In His Service

Two service projects have kept us busy recently.  First, the Caribbean Area Public Relations missionaries, Elder and Sister Fuller from Moab, Utah, have been involved in promoting a special good values program for youth called Mis Normas or My Rules.

Mis Normas is patterned after the Strength of Youth for LDS youth providing advice about many subjects like honesty, good language, and modest dress, etc.  The program was approved by the Vice President of the Dominican Republic government and sponsored by the Church.  A large traveling display of large boards on easels, inter-active videos on Ipads and handout brochures delivered this inspired program for youth 8-18 at libraries, schools, etc.

Over a two month period, 10,000 small brochures had to be manually Z folded and given away.  We had an opportunity to lead many of the students in the Institute in folding over 6,000 of the brochures.   This project was a lot of work but the Institute students were happy to participate in this worthwhile youth improvement project.

Another service project was recording English phrases for the Fundamental Values (Funval) training program.  I was asked by the Director Basilio Guzman to record a list of common phrases in my "native English" voice so the Dominican students in training could hear the pronunciation of words and phrases by a native speaker and improve their English training.

There were over 20 pages of phrases with 30 phrases per page.  After several retakes and getting used to hearing my voice, I finally got the routine down and was able to complete the project.  Basilio was thrilled.  He copied the phrases into the student's online training program and many told me it was a welcomed addition for their computer-based language training.  I was excited to be able to assist. This was a simple but good project.  It's  really rewarding and fun to be involved in other missionaries and friends' projects. Randy

Counting my blessings.

It's Monday night, May 2, 2016 and I just got home from Clase de Español. We have FHE every Monday, except tonight. Our family is taking off and doing their own individual FHE. So, I'm doing some blogging, which I'm so far behind on that I can't remember what's been going on.

Looking down into the zip line canyon

Our daughter and son in law, Angela and Doug spent a week with us and went home one week ago today. We had so much fun with them! We went to a beautiful resort called Punta Cana. It was at an all inclusive hotel and amazingly beautiful. We went on an excursion to the jungle where rode a zip line. We went on 12 of them and it was so much fun! Some were steeper and faster than others and some were longer. It was absolutely gorgeous flying through the jungle above the trees. We spent time on the beach and Randy did some snorkeling (which wasn't very good), but it was a great getaway!

   We also spent a few days with them here in Santo Domingo. We took them with is to the institute and to one of our classes there. Then we went to FUNVAL (our class where we teach institute, US culture and a little English to students learning to work in an American call center). The teachers had arranged for all four of us to do "mock interviews" with the  guys. So after my Book of Mormon class, we went up into a room and they brought the students into us. We had certain questions that we asked them. It was for them to practice so they wouldn't be so nervous when they start interviewing for real. We gave them each five minutes. I think Doug and Angela enjoyed it. They really saw why we love our FUNVAL guys. These young men are so motivated and so spiritual. Angela and Doug were surprised when we walked in and they stood up and clapped. They really appreciate everything  you do. Even the ones who have graduated still hug me when they see me. They are like having 30-40 grandsons. You worry about them, pray for them, and just love them so much. 😉

Good news!  When we went to Funval on Tuesday May 3rd we were informed that half of our Fuunval class had been hired!  Yea!  We are happy that they are getting jobs but sad because we will miss them.  We will see them again on June 25th, Graduation Day.


   Anyway, it was so nice to be with our daughter and son in law. They are such good people and
they've helped and supported us so much. They take care of the house and yard and help Kathy (our
friend that lives in our house) when she needs it. They are so busy with six children and work and church assignments that I feel guilty. We couldn't be here doing this mission without them. I'm so grateful for them. 

 One of my students that I've talked about before is Aura Paola Diaz.  She is an amazing young woman. When we first came to the DR, she couldn't speak a single word of English. She came to our English class and we taught her some basics. She hasn't been able to come to class this past semester because of her school schedule. She just keeps practicing on her own and can now communicate quite well. About a month ago I introduced her to my friend, Kris, (another senior missionary) who is teaching basic piano skills. In a month Aura has advanced to playing the hymns from the easy hymnal. Kris says she's ready to play for sacrament meeting. Aura goes to her church every chance she gets to practice piano. She also practices at the institute whenever she can. She's only 18 and wants to do everything! I   believe, if anyone can, it's Aura. Last night another senior missionary couple that work in public relations, were setting up a display and they met Aura. She volunteered to help them with their presentation! She takes four or five classes at the University and several institute classes. She travels into the city from Boca Chica, which is about 30 miles away, on a bus and a "public" car. It's expensive for her, so on the days she has college classes, she comes early and stays all day at the institute between her classes. She started working on her missionary papers right after she turned 18. That way she can have all the medical and dental things done so she can apply as soon as possible. She won't turn 19 until November. She is going to be one "amazing" missionary.  I can't wait until that day! I love Aura.
 
This week there are no institute classes because we are between semesters, but there are University classes, so we have all the students in the institute building studying and socializing. It's a great opportunity to be with them. We will still have FUNVAL on Tuesday and Wednesday and Pathway on Thursday though. Each program has different schedules. It's nice to have it a little slower so we can spend more time with the students.  (Practice our Spanish with them)
   We really love it here.  We love the students and the people we work with. We love the other senior
missionaries so much! Our closest neighbors, the Bentleys are leaving in six weeks.

Steve and Kris Bentley 

They are the Area IT  missionaries.  They are good friends and Randy and I will miss them both a lot. I borrow everything from her. But it's their friendship that Randy and I will both miss.
   Well, I've spent enough time telling you all about my temporary family here in Santo Domingo. Life is interesting and Heavenly Father blesses us with so many different opportunities to grow and to
 love other people.
   Won't the after life be great when all the people that have crossed our paths come back into our lives again? Love and miss you all. Peggy