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