Hey familia!
Hows it going?
I have been in the hospital for the past two days. But don't worry cause it wasn't for me, my companion had stomach pains for the past three days, so I took him to the clinic and it turns out that his intestines are inflamed and his kidneys were infected. Who would've thunk? We just left the hospital, and he is a lot better now, but it reminded me of the time that I had a parasite while I was here in Fantino about two months go and I forgot to tell you guys about my funny/sketchy hospital experiences. Anyways, other than the past two days in the hospital with my comp., everything had been really great. These first few weeks with my new companion Elder Christensen ( aka mi hijo) has been really special. I have been able to help learn spanish, how to live in D.R. and how to be a true representative of Jesus Christ. It truly has been a great responsibility, training a brand new missionary from Utah, but the Lord has blessed us with every step of faith that have taken. As of today, we have three weeks together. and I have about 6 and half months in Fantino. Training a new missionary takes about 3 months, so ill probably be here in Fantino, my first area, for about 9 months. 9 months is a really long time in one area for a missionary, but I loved being super close to my Cotui family, helping this branch strengthen and grow in numbers, and it has been really special to be there for all of the families that I have helped enter into the waters of baptism. I am really happy and here are a quick three stories to help you understand little bit more about my life here:
Funny (Chistoso): So we checked into the hospital at 8 o clock yesterday morning. After hours of analysis, ultrasounds and waiting, the doctor tells us that my companion well have to stay overnight so that, they can continue to give him antibiotics so that his inflammation goes down and and his infection gets killed. at about 5 p.m we got settled in our new room for the night we realize that we haven't eaten anything all day and were starving. We also didn't have phone connection because the phone towers were being prepared. We decided to get one of the hospital workers to go on a food run for us. We ordered a medium pizza and a bunch of bread and juice. While we were waiting for the food, we asked a bunch of nurses if the knew if my companion was allowed to eat food with his stomach condition and the all said yes. Two hours later the food arrived and he brought us a huge Dominican pizza and tons of other goods. We sit down, get ready to eat, and right before we start the doctor walks in. She tells us that my companion is not aloud to eat anything and that I should not allow him eat any of the food we bought it would make his stomach a lot worse. Saddened, yet laughing because of the timing of the doctor and the food, my companion was forced to watch me all night as I ate all of the food and the medium pizza throughout the night, for if he ate anything he would have messed his stomach up worse. I was forced to eat all of the food alone, as I sacrificed my stomach so that the stomach of my companion would be able heel. It was really funny!
Spiritual: Every day this week has been really spiritual, but two Mondays ago, was really special, for I got to go to Cotui for a district meeting and eat lunch with all of my Almanzar family. After we had eaten lunch and they given us whatever out stomachs desired, I realized that we had a little bit of time before we headed back to Fantino to visit the house were my Dad was Born. We walked a few blocks down my Tia Nenas house and and stopped at the house on the left where my dad was born. We greeted my other uncles and aunts and talked for a little while. It wasn't until I started testifying of the reason I was in D.R serving the Lord and how much my father had wanted me to be there serving, that I realized exactly what I was doing and where I was. We were talking right outside of the House were my Dad, Sonny Dejesus Rincon was born and I was serving a mission as a Representative of Jesus Christ, Preaching the Gospel to my family in the D.R. As I began to ponder these exact thoughts in my head, as I have in instances before, my emotions caught hold of me. As I walked into the Birth Home of my Father, my heart was filled with such joy and love that I could not contain it within my soul. Crying, I looked at what appeared to be such a beautiful house. Never in my mission have I felt so close to my Heavenly and earthly father than I did at that moment.
I know that I am in the D.R because the Lord has called me through his modern day Prophet. I know that I have been called to represent the Lord Jesus Christ and preach his gospel to all here in D.R. I know that his gospel is a huge plan of happiness which doesn't end with physical death. This gospel has blessed my own life personally and that of my family eternally. I have been given a special witness of the Divinity and truthfulness of this gospel by The Holy Spirit of God. For this reason I dedicate these two years to giving all others the chance to receive this same witness and blessings that I have received throughout my life. I love my saviour and I know that he Lives. I also testify that my earthly father lives and there is life after our earthly experience. I am truly happy because god always blesses his servants and their families. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Siempre Con Amor,
Elder Rincon
