Week 31/32

Hola! Cómo están? I hope all is well, and I am sorry for not sending an email last week, I started it but then forgot to finish and send it. Anyways, here's my last 2 weeks

On Sunday, I found out that I was going to get transferred to Las Matas, which is a very small town about 40 minutes from the Haitian border. 

I spent most of Monday packing, but we had a service project with Tony, which was a lot of fun. We helped him paint a house, and that all went pretty well. 

On Tuesday we spent most of the day saying goodbye to all the members. That was really sad because I had been there for 5 months and they became super good friends. That is one of the hard parts about the mission. You get used to changing really fast. 

Wednesday was transfers, so we woke up at 6 and left at 8 for the capital. The guagua driver was not very pleased with how heavy our suitcases were. Once we got to the capital some people helped us off the guagua and told us they could help us get to the church. We said okay and then when we got there they said it would cost 350 pesos. I thought that was a little expensive for a 3 min car ride considering that for Villa to the capital is 1 hour and only costs 100. At the church we waited for the bus to come that would take us to the south and that was fun. Finally the bus came and we set off for las matas. Overall the drive was cool, it was really cool seeing pretty much the whole mission. It honestly looks way different than I would have thought but its really cool. 

Now I dont remember what we did for any of the other days and so I'll just put important stuff  

On Sunday we went to church and there's about 35 people in our branch and so it's pretty small and the members are fairly old. The same 3 people have been rotating through branch president and so that was interesting. 

Our guagua (bus) hit a chicken and it blew up. 

The area over all is very pretty, it's all dirt roads and so thats lit. 

I'm really close to the Haitian border and so I'm hoping to find someone to trade me for Haitian money.

One of our members was wearing a AYSO soccer jersey and so that was awesome I sadly didn't bring any of mine but when I asked her where she got it she say at the Haitian market. 

Speaking of the Haitian market every Wednesday and Saturday there is market where all the Haitians come and sell a bunch of cool stuff. I'm pretty sure a lot of it is donated stuff that people from America gave to Haiti and that's how the AYSO shirt got here. 

We were walking to another lesson when a group of people called us over. They told us that they wanted to learn and they loved the message. While we were teaching we shared a verse from the Bible and all the sudden they take out a white Bible that is in English. It was pretty cool and at the end of the lesson they gave it to me. 

Apprrently here they eat green mangoes before they're even ripe. People always give them to us but they're not very good. 

Carnival is starting and so recently there has been a bunch of kids dressed up in trash bags walking around with whips. It's pretty weird and they're kinda scary looking. 

Spiritual thought: Since moving to my new area I've noticed the people here are much much poorer. Although since coming to the country I've become accustomed to it I was thinking the other day that a lot of these people are way poorer than I thought. They often live in tin houses that are smaller than trailer park homes. They also have 10+ people living there. They don't have a lot of food and they don't have any earthy possessions. The kids dont really have toys to play with or clothes to wear. They are dirty, scraped and bruised. They are also happy. This week I've noticed that in spite of their contition the people are some of the happiest and nicest people I've met. I've pondered on the question why and I came to a conclusion that the reason why they are happy is because they are grateful for everything they have and they have faith in God. They have found the secret to being happy Is through believing in God and in their families. They always thank God for what they have although it isnt much. Instead of looking to the world for happiness they turn to God and family and find the true happiness that is always found there. I testify that God loves us and regardless of out situation we can find joy in Him. He is our Father in heaven and He sent His son Jesus Christ to die and suffer for us so that we can find happiness in Him. I know these things are true in the name of Jesus Christ amen. 

Have a great week!
Elder Jonah Greer