Wednesday, January 22nd 2014: 2 References!

Hey!
I hope that everybody has been doing well! I have been really happy this week and still kickin it in Fantino! This week was really special and I was able see a lot of cool miracles as my companion and I continue to be exactly obedient in all that we do.

Spiritual Update:

Some of the mission goals that my companion and I have made for this new year involve focusing on families and striving to work more with the members. As a missionary of the Lord Jesus Christ, one of the ways that we are able to find more families and help the members serve in the work of the Lord is through references. References are friends, family or other people that we know who are interested the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a servant of the Lord my purpose is to invite all to come unto Christ and his restored Gospel including members, investigators and all others who are near me. One way that I fulfill my purpose is by talking to everyone! and I mean everyone; in the tiny little taxi cars when I'm squished between three huge Dominicans, while I'm playing basketball on Prep Day or in the gym and especially when I'm walking hot in the streets of Fantino! This week my companion and I focused a lot more on this part of the work and we had some amazing experiences. An amazing situation came about while I was in one of the tiny taxi cars that we have to take to go to Cotui for all of our meetings. (In these tiny cars we cram four grown people in the back and four grown people in the front. This is in, like, a 1950 Camry. As I squished into this tiny car, I began to talk to a man who was also headed to Cotui! As we began to get to know him, I discovered that he personally knows all of my Rincon family in Cotui and my Grandparents in NY and my father! As we kept talking, I was able to share with him a little bit about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Blessing that come from its fullness. He ensured us that he would be going to church on Sunday and would love to talk with us more. 

Also! This past Sunday we were walking and, as always, smiling and saying hi to everyone that was in the range of our voice. As we passed by one house, the lady screamed out to us, "Hey! I'm doing great but how come you guys never come to my house to share the Gospel? I love to read the bible and I would love to learn more...when can you guys come back?" As we paused, realized what she told us and began to share with her our testimonies and understandings of the gospel, her face lite up and we were able to put a date to return and continue teaching her. 

This past couple weeks we have been working with members a lot more as we have strengthened and invited all to come unto Christ and remember their baptismal covenants and personal responsibilities. After 5 months without a single reference we finally received two references this week who are prepared to hear and learn about this amazing restored Gospel. As I have continued to work hard, Fantino has continued to progress and I have continued to be super happy as I witness the fruits of my labors. I am really happy and feel beyond blessed with the love and confidence my Savior has for me to represent him on a daily basis. I am pumped to receive and train a new missionary this next transfer and continue working hard in the Lords vineyard. 

 

Love and miss all of you! 

Please write me something this week and I hope to hear from all of you soon. 

Keep going strong familia! 

Siempre Con Amor, 

Elder Rincon

January 15th 2014

Hey Family!

It seems like I will not be able to write you guys for real for the second week in a row. Which makes me sad because there is so much I want to tell you all but I never have any time! a little update from this week is that we have another baptism this next week on the 25th of two kids, who's names are Erica (age13) and Sammy (age 11). They are two amazing kids that have strong testimonies and a great desire to follow Jesus Christ! Unfortunately they have gone through a lot in their little lives for their mother (who is less active) left the family and their dad(less active has been fighting with alcoholism for the past couple years. the dad also really wants his kids to be baptized and stay strong in the path of God but is the worst example they have. we have been working really hard to prepare them for this sacred covenant. we just need to make sure that they will be strong enough to fight for the truth and testify to all of the light and knowledge the lord has blessed them with (aka endure to the end). also my zone had our personal meetings with President Douglas this past Thurs. and he feels that there is till a lot work to be done in Fantino. he told me after praying about it he feels that Fantino needs me right now and that after I end with my companion this February 13(when my comp. ends his mission) that he feels that I will probably train a brand new missionary for another three months. this means training a greenie how to be a proper representative of Jesus Christ. what a privilege and honor that I will be humbled to accept. also I'm really happy in the service of the lord and I pray for all of you guys on the daily. I hope this next week the lord will bless me with more time.

Thanks and love you guys soooooooooooo much! Stay strong!

Siempre con Amor,

Elder Rincon

January 8th 2014: Success & Happiness

Saychelle, his older sister, was able to chat with him for a few minutes this week but his writing time was cut short because he wanted to have more time to meet with this newly baptized family! 

This second photo is Elder Rincon having lunch with his grandmothers family in Cotui. We love him!

January 2nd 2013: Feliz Ano Nuevo y Feliz Navidad

Saludo!

I hope that everyone had a merry Christmas and a Happy new year! My Christmas was really special because I was able to talk with my family and eat tons of Dominican food! My companion and i went to three different house for Christmas dinner. Also my new years was fun because I got to eat even more Dominican food and my apartment was completely surrounded by a huge Dominican party. All of our neighbors were blasting (bachata and merengue) from 6 huge speakers and 3 different cars until 7 am. So we didn't sleep very well and may or may not have been dancing through the night solo in our apartment (sacrifices of a missionary). But foreal its crazy how different the holidays are without your immediate family. Definitely missed being crazy with my brother, sisters, Mom, cousins, aunts and uncles. but I know with surety of the blessings that go to my family in the U.S and all of the families here in D.R from my full time service to the Lord (Matthew 19:29). Overall I have had an amazing 2 weeks as I have continued to work hard, love the people and try my best to do the will of the Lord here in D.R.

Update:

So I just completed my third transfer in the mission field and have exactly 5 months and 2 weeks in the service of the Lord as a full time missionary! Time has flown by. I am almost 1/4th done with my two years and I feel as If I just started the other day! Soo.. with this last transfer I have been assigned to stay in Fantino and will now have the pleasure of ending the mission of my companion Elder Carassco as he ends his two years this Feb. Most likely I will be in fantino for another 3 to 4 months as I end with Elder Carassco and train a new missionary the area. I was really excited with the news as I have baptismal dates  for this month and I have truly loved to see Fantino grow spiritually and in size of the branch as the Lord continues to bless us with success!

Spiritual:

This past Sunday was really special and emotional as I was able to see the capacity of our little branch double in size as it was filled with members, less active members and investigators that we have been working real hard to strengthen. I was filled with this pure joy and happiness the entire day I was blessed to see the fruits of my labors and above all witness the change in the lives of others when the apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ into their continually! In this past month, my family in Miami has been amazing example of this change. I was able to talk with my Miami family for Christmas and the brief moment I was able to feel this great change that takes place in the lives of all that accept and live this perfect plan of Happiness of Father in heaven has given us! This amazing plan is designed to turn all who were bad or good into great children of God! I testify that this Gospel is a great plan of happiness as I felt this happiness in my Life everyday as I have lived its teachings and helped others to do the same. I love having this great responsibility and privileged to share this Gospel with all those who are willing to open the hearts and grow closer God. Amazing Weeks in the work of the Lord. I love you all and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for all of the letters and love!

Siempre con Amor,
Elder Rincon

December 19th 2013: Uplifting Scriptures *Jose is always teaching us*

First off a funny story! This week has been really fun; I was able to go paintballing, paint a house, go on exchanges with my american friend Elder Espinoza in cotui and have lunch with a bunch of our family in cotui!

Soo about one week ago we were passing by an old ladys house named Mommaton and were really good friends and always help with things in her house. Anyways, everytime we pass by her house we always chant her name really loud and she always yells something back at us and its really funny! Ex: Mommaton!, Mommaton! Mommaton! reply: Haaaayyy! Mi Hiiiiiijooos Como estan! Hace mucha tiempo! Venga aca!

Then we go over and talk to her about what we can do to help her! This time she needed help with a ghetto plastic tube that was funneling water into her house and had a couple leeks! I happily went over to the pipe, in my tie and church clothes and tryied to stabalize the pipe with a rupper rope thing. As I began to fix it, the pipes became unconnected and I start to spay water all over me! As I backed up to get out of the way of the water, so that I wouldnt be completely soaked, Mommaton, being the funny old dominican lady she is asked me if I was scared and then began to try to fix it herself! as we were both trying to fix it while getting soaked in water. We pleaded with her to turn off the water spout bc it would be alot easier to fix, but she just kept repeating. EX;  Mommaton apagala her: Que No! us: Mommaton! Apagala! Her: Que no!. We repeated this like five times as we were soaked in water and then we finally turned off and fixed it simply. It was really funny and we still laugh with her about every time we pass by!

Difficulty:

Fantino has continued to have success as we work hard to reactivate, Find  and strenghthen the Lords lost children here in Fantino. Some of the Dificulties in this area, is that the members in this branch dont like to work in the lords work at all. It is really hard to leave with members for lessons and we havent recieved a single reference in two months. It is really hard to know how much more success is possible for this town and not see the progress as the members refuse to work hard to progress the work of Salvation of souls here in Fantino. A big part of the work here is to  strenghthen the liders here spiritually, reactivate the hundreds of less active members who have forgotten their baptisimal covenants and above lead and do everything by example. Literally as missionaries here, we are obligated to lead in every aspect of the gospel and within the church. Despite these difficulties we have continued to progress and I have felt the Lords loving touch in all that I do!

It has also still really hard to cope with fact that my Dad has passed on. I know that all of us our coping with this unexpected loss in our own ways, and I want so bad to be there for each of you guys as we cry tears of joy, anxiety, happiness,sadness and laughter together, But the Lord has testified to me everyday of thes the past five months and countless times throughout my life that he needs me to be serving him fulltime as His representative! Although it is hard to look at photos at our father or read emails from him that he sent me or medidate about all of the speciel personal times we had together. I am able to feel my saviors love, the love of hevaenly and earthly father and be really happy all the time. I know that the same is possible for all of you guys If we truly use the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives.  Alma (7:11-12)

Spiritual:

It is literally impossible to pick one spiritual moment as a missioionary because my life as a Representative of jesus Christ is filled with hourly spiritual experiences but, this past week I was truly touched in a testimony meeting that we had between a hundred of the missionaries that are in our zone and the neighboring three zones! I was able to feel and be strenghthenend by other testimonies and bare my own testimony to help strenghthen others. One scripture from this meeting has stuck in my mind since in Matthew 19:29 (read this scripture). I know that we all will receive countless blessings for the our sacrifice for the Lord and As dad told me in his last email to me (I am proud to be your son and we are recieving the fruits of your labor) I know that the lord will continue to bless our family as we follow him and help All others to do the same (that includes all of our family).

Another really special miracle occured this past as we gave a priesthood blessing to a sister who had broken her foot and needed a cast for 4 weeks. As we gave her blessing of health and felt the stong spirit of the Lord guide our thoughts and words, we testified that the lord would heal her according to her faith and that he would provide away that she could take care of her two small children. As we returned back to her house two days later. She was walking around the house normal and told us how she had put her faith in the Lord, in his priesthood and has not felt pain in her ankle since. She also tour of the cast and continued to provide for her family.

Power of the priesthood!

I love being a missionary! I love my family SOOOOOOOOOO much and think about each of you daily! I pray for you daily and work in the lords vineyard with all my heart, might, mind and strenghth so that other families will have the oppurtunity to be brought unto the same light and knowledge that we have! I know why I am in the DR! I know where my Dad is! I know that we can will all live again with him if we stay firm in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and active in his one true church upon the face of the earth! I know he loves me and each of you! I feel his love and recognize his blessings everyday I am blessed with! In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Scripture that help me on the daily! Please read these!

D&C 138 AND D&C 121:6-7 AND D&C 122:7-9

IMPORTANT: This next wed, Christmas day we get to sykpe or google plus  for awhile so I need everyone to be ready to pick up the phone and set up computer stuff christmas day! I am so excited to see all of you again! Love you soo much! Thanks for all of the emails and packages!

siempre con amor,

Elder Rincon

December 11th 2013: really short weekly letter bc i had to so many things i had to do today and i ran out of time

hey sorry everyone!!! 

i love you all sooooooo much! and i want to send pictures and send each of you the personal letters that i hand wrote but the internet, power and computers is too slow and isn't allowing me! thank you DR! But i want each of you to know how happy i am in my life! i literally cant stop smiling all day because i feel a pure love and happiness in my heart that makes me feel this obligation to share it with everyone! time for testimony! i am so thankful for my savior Jesus Christ who has blessed me with his perfect gospel and church to bring my family a pure joy that lasts for all eternity! i am privileged to have the most amazing family in the world! i am privileged to be a representative of Jesus Christ for 2 years! i am privileged to to have a powerful testimony of my Heavenly Fathers plan for me in my life and for my family! i know where my father is! i know that i can live with him again forever! i testify that the gospel of Jesus Christ and his church are true! we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

 

dont forget i get to skype on christmas day! please send me the info i need to make this christmas the best ever! i love you all so much! thanks for all the love!

 

siempre con amor

 

elder rincon

December 4th 2013: Priviledged and Humbled

Wow! This week has been so amazing!

Family Albrincole:

This family has been golden and so special these entire two months that we have been teaching them! Every lesson, they immediately apply the gospel into their lives and fully live the commandments of God! They always attend church, activities and service projects! We have been preparing them for baptism the entire month of November! I have never felt so strong that this family was prepared to make a covenant with Heavenly Father! This past weekend was there baptism and Confirmation! Throughout Both of these amazingly spiritual experiences I felt a marvelous peace, warmth and happiness as  My heavenly Father and Earthly Father smiled down on this Family! They are now members of the Lords church and all three of the men in their family hold his holy priesthood authority. All who witnessed this miraculous step in the lives of this family was able to feel a joy and happiness that only comes from the Lords Work and Glory! This family literally lives in a tiny wooden_ metal shack and they insisted on feeding lunch and Dinner almost everyday this week! This past Sunday which was fast and testimony meeting the father Polo bore his testimony after receiving the Holy Spirit as a constant companion and being ordained as a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints! It was so powerful and touching to witness a man change his entire Life for his family and God to testify of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his Church! The spirit overcame almost all who listened as we cried tears of Joy for this amazing family and the path they have chosen!!

I have never Felt so privileged in all of my life to have the opportunity to be used as tool in the Lords Hand in his work as he continues to transform the lives of The Families here in Fantino! The Lord has been working really hard with us as we have strived to do his will and has been blessing the Lives of every family and person that has accepted and lived his words. All things all possible in Christ who strengthens us!

I know many people have been worried about me here in DR! But I have truly never been so happy in my entire Life to be Here in DR as a representative of Jesus Christ! He has strengthened me everyday and I have his Love, my Heavenly Father love, my earthly fathers love and the Love of my family everyday! I know that the Lord needs me here in DR and that my Dad wants here more than anything else in the world! I feel his presence with me daily and although I miss him so much, I am more than satisfied with my knowledge of where he is and what he is doing! I work my hardest everyday to bring others unto this same knowledge of their heavenly Father and his plan of happiness for each one of his special children! I Know where my father is, I know what my Heavenly Father wants me to do and I am assured of his plan for me everyday I testify of him! I love you all so and I am so thankful for your support! They truly help me soo much every week!

Hope to hear from you soon (don't forget we get to skype on christmas)! Sorry no pics this week I forgot my camera! Ill make sure to send some next Wed.!

Siempre con amor 

Elder Rincon

 

PS if you are wondering what you can send me to help me out, please send me things for my companion like ties or anything with love! He doesn't have any support from his family and hasn't received a single thing from anybody in 1 year and 9 months! Anything would help him out and make his experience that much better. You could send church conference videos, church music, ties, shoes, candy or anything! Thanks again my People! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!