Extending The Tiny Branches

Saludo familia! 

This week was great! or as they say in DR, this week was heavy! 

Each additional week that I serve in Fantino has gotten better and better. The Lord is truly working hard with us as we give our all to serve his children. 

This past sunday we had 8 future members (investigators) and 11 less active members at church! For Fantino and our tiny branch, this is the most they have ever had in a really long time! I have never seen our branch building so packed and filled with families and friends. I literally could not stop smiling the entire time because the spirit was strong and everyone was so happy to be at church! We are also preparing a couple families for baptism and they were also able to attend church, which was great! 

One family has been really strong since we have been teaching them. Polo (dad), charro (mom), Blady (15 yr old son) and Leandro (12 yr old son). This family lives in the country country( double for emphasis) in a small shaq (see what I did there?) held together with random pieces of tin and wood. There are two rooms in the house and they cook with a fire every day. We found them through their son Blady who we were teaching with another family (his best friend) who, of course, happens to be distant cousins of mine. When we realized that Blady was progressing faster than this other family of cousin's we decided to open our hearts and share with his family too. Since DAY ONE they have attended general conference, church and almost every activity. They have a real love for the gospel, their Savior Jesus Christ, and for one another as a family. They have a baptismal date for November 30th and they are really excited to make this covenant as a family! I know that this GOSPEL of Jesus Christ truly changes lives and that every human being need it's blessings and happiness. 

As a missionary I have been able to see my own people change as they feel the presence and power of God. I know that I am working in the Lords work and that the Master truly works with his servants as they do His will! Through all of these experiences I have been blessed to be here in D.R and I am truly happy as I follow the example of Jesus Christ! My mission has not been easy and life never really is. I know that as I continually strive to become a better Disciple of Christ, I will need to go through tough times to grow and understand his life.

I love you all and hope to talk to you soon!

 

 

Siempre con amor,

Elder Rincon

P.S. The pictures are the before and after of yesterday's lunch! This land is feeding me like a jungle king!

Muy Espanol!

Saludo! Como estan!

Yo quiero mucho hablar en espanol porque es empecando llegar a ser dificil hablar en ingles!
 Fantino is great! The Lord continues to bless this area of his vineyard as we work as one to strengthen his children. I have a baptism next Saturday and were preparing two families of distant cousins on the Almanzar side for baptism. (Carlos, a 30 year cousin who was a reference of the president of our branch has a baptism scheduled for this next Saturday and the family names of my cousins are (Jose-Smerline Almanzar) and (Miguelina-Juan Pablo Almanzar).

It has been crazy living so close to family and I meet a new cousin about once every three days contacting and talking to new people. It feels like I have an unlimited supply of cousins.

General Conference this past weekend was A M A Z I N G! I watched, sung every hymn, laughed, cried and took 15 pages of notes all by myself in the bishops office because I'm the only person in Fantino that watched conference in English. The spirit was so powerful and I was able to receive revelation through the Lords servants for the families I am teaching and for the less active members I am trying reactivate. My testimony was strengthened ten fold as I continue down the road of conversion. I am literally so happy in Fantino and its really hard not to smile when I'm surrounded by platano's, loud merengue-bachata music and the love of my Savior Jesus Christ.

Hope to hear from all of you soon!
I pray and think about you all daily.

Siempre Con Amor,

Elder Rincon

Families are Forever

What's up Everybody! 

I hope and pray all is well. I am doing great and loving my area!  

First off this week...family talk! This past week my district had exchanges. All of my district met in up Cotui and switched companions, one with another. I was exchanged with a missionary in cotui 2! My new companion for the day was Elder Espinoza from Provo, who arrived in DR the same day as I and doesn’t speak any Spanish. So, for a whole day Elder Espinoza and I walked around Cotui, met with tons of less active members, ate Dominican food, taught lessons and OH YEAH! I met about 50 other family members! So before we started the day with all of our lessons and visits, we stopped by my Tia Nenas house for a visit. I love stopping by Tia Nenas house to see her and all of my other cousins house because they always have so much love to give me and my companion. After we visited with all of my Almanzar Family, Maritza (the daughter of Miraldi who is the sister of my Grandma), began introducing me to the Rincon side of my family, which was just 3 blocks down the street. This part was crazy! As we were walking down the street on the way to my cousins houses I met and hugged about 15 other cousins who all gave me tons of love.  The first Rincon house I visited was the brother of myGrandpa “Papito” AKA  “Papi” in DR. I met my Tio and a lot of other cousins but I can’t remember his name because I met so many family members but he is one of the oldest. It was so special to finally meet other Rincon family and they all embraced as if they have known me my entire life and raised me!  He lives in the house were my Grandpa was born in which happens to be right next to the house my dad was born in. It was unreal to be in the houses of were so many generations of my family have lived. One of the greatest moments with this Tio was right before we left. He mustered up all of the strength in his body to stand up and give me a minute long hug! (he is a 90 yrs old and blind so the whole time during the hug I was showing him how tall I am by placing my nose on the top of his head).

I then visited the older sister of my Grandpa and his other brother Victoriano (who looks exactly like my Grandpa). Literally I met so many family members and they each embraced me in their love.  It is crazy to me that I’m actually a missionary in the DR and have the opportunity to meet and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of family members. I know that the Lord has a special plan for all of his children and I am starting to figure out mine. I love all of my family everywhere and know that blessings and happiness are possible for all who accept and live the Gospel. Hope to hear from each of you soon!

Siempre con Amor,

Elder Rincon

Family Reunion

Saludo! Wassup! 

This week was crazy! I am feeling great! (Thanks to saychelles essential oils) AND I have a crazy farmers tan! I am exhausted every night! I have been eating platanoes for breakfast and lunch every day! And my spanish is coming along great! (I'm still working on my Dominican Accent because everyone is able to communicate with me but they all know that I am from a different country because my accent is different).

 

So my companion and I are continuing to go hard everyday and this past sunday we had THE MOST investigators ever attend church. We are starting to see miracles in the lives of the people here as they put their faith in Jesus Christ and apply His gospel in their lives. Also this past sunday I was able to finally meet my prima Nelly Almanzar and her husband Juan Rodriguez. Literally the entire sunday at church I was smiling as I sat next to my family during class and listened to their talks during sacrament meeting (they each gave great talks in our sacrement meeting).

 

Also, I just got back from eating lunch with Nelly and all of their family in Cotui. I also met twenty other Almanzars in Cotui that live right next door to Nelly. It's C R A Z Y how much family I have! I only met about thirty Almanzars cousins but the whole time they were telling me how I need to meet all of my other family down the street. Here are the names of the Cousins I was hanging out with today (Tia Nena, Nelly Almazar and her two kids, Nancy Almanzar and her kids, Cali Almanzar, Miraldi Almanzar who is the sister of my Grandma Emilia, her Daughter Mitza and a lot more).  It was so special to meet and talk with my family. They all have so much love for me and we talked as if we have known each other forever. We showed pictures, told stories, laughed, hugged, exchanged numbers, ate dominican food, and made arrangements to meet other cousins including my Rincon family. It was so special and I felt like I was back home chilling with my family. Everyone looked kind of like me and the craziest part was the sister of my grandma abuelita looked exactly like abuelita and titi mari.

 

I love my family so much and I know that they love me. 

I miss my family so much, but I know that I am doing the work of the Lord. 

My testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ continues to grow everyday as I pray and do all I can to strengthen the testimony of the people around me.

 

Siempre con Amor, 

Elder Rincon

 

P.S. I am receiving everyones letters except from Miami People!

Barefoot B-Boys & Family Connections

So I realize that my grammer in my letters has been rough, but I only have 30 minutes to tell the people I love most about all of the amazing experiences I had this week and I never have time to double check anything. First off, thanks for all of the Love I have been feeling from the letters. They literally bring so much joy into my heart when I read your words and can basically picture you guys talking to me. 

I also realize that I haven't really told you much about where I live and what my day to day schedule is. 

So! 

Right now, my companion and I live in the town Fantino and we live in the neighborhood Chinchilini. I was always told that Cotui (the town where all my family is from and lives) is the country, but after living in Fantino for three weeks, Cotui is like a large city compared to Fantino. I'm livin that country D.R lifestyle. My apartment is pretty ghetto, but compared to the houses and shacks around me, I have more than enough For my needs. I am completely surrounded by platanos, yuca, rice and beans, loud merengue music, dominican barbers,animals  and more platanoes. So you know I am having a great time! If you want more details you can probs just google it.

Every week that I have on my mission has been really special and I have loved this area. All of the other missionaries say that Fantino is a really hard area but my companion and I are having alot of success finding and teaching people. One person that we have been teaching is Carlos. He is always reading, asking questions and wanting to grow closer to his savior Jesus Christ. Every lesson that we have with Carlos has been really powerful and we all have been able to feel the testifying power of the Holy Spirit. He is a great Investigator and my companion and I pray daily that we will be able to continue his grow his testinomy of Jesus Christ and His Gopel. 

Other news: 

My Spanish is getting on point and I teach a lot of the lessons. Everybody thinks that I'm Dominican untill they hear me talk for a while and don't hear my accent...than they ask me where I'm from...sooo basically right now I'm trying to work on my Dominican accent. But other than that, the language is really coming.

Today I was able to play basketball at a park down the street from my house and there were tons of little kids (ten to 12) playing ball on another court. After a couple of minutes of me shooting around, some of them asked if they could play with me...and after a couple more minutes, we had a full game of Five vs. Five. It was crazy how good these little kids were! I was basically playing a bunch of Mio´s (my young cousin in Miami). All of the kids were barefoot and in busted t-shirts, while I was wearing my Adidas and dry fit clothes. It was a lot of fun and I may or may not have lost to these little kids...you'll probs just have to ask them. 

It´s crazy to me how everyone I see reminds of my family in the States. And a lot of them actually ARE my family. Yesterday I met the Husband of my cousin Nelly Almanzar. He told me all about the tons of family I have in Cotui (where they live) and about my grandparents in New York. I have also been in touch with Nelly these past couple of days and she is great. I have only met her husband in real life but next P Day, I plan on going to Cotui and visiting all of my cousins that haven't visited...who OF COURSE happen to live right next to the chapel in Cotui. I'm sure they will have a bunch of amazing stories to share with me and I am hoping they will also have a bunch of platanoes to share with me too.

I have literally been loving it here in my country and everyday I feel more at home. It is really hard to be away from all of my family and friends, but I know that I am doing the Lord's work every day and that inspires me to get up every morning at 6.30 am and not stop working untill 10.30 at night. I have never worked so hard in my life and given all of my time to build up the Lords Kingdom. My Savior Jesus Christ strengthens me every day and he is causing miracles to happen here in the lives of the people. I am honored to simply be an instrument in His hands. I love my Mission and I love all of you so much. Hope to hear from all of you soon.

P.S. Please tell Omari and Miami Fam to show me some Love.

Siempre con Amor,

Elder Rincon