Transfers: My first Latino Companion
2 messages

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Ryan Mecham <ryan.mecham@myldsmail.net>	Mon, Feb 24, 2014 at 10:22 AM
To: Ali Deveraux <ali.deveraux@gmail.com>, Amanda Larsen <adnama.Larsen@gmail.com>, "ashley.mecham" <ashley.mecham@myldsmail.net>, Austin Mecham <austin.mecham89@gmail.com>, Dallan Knudsen <dallan.knudsen@myldsmail.net>, Isaac Hillman <jackhillman939@gmail.com>, Jake Larsen <jdlarsen95@yahoo.com>, Kess Kirkham <kesskirkham@gmail.com>, Ronald Mecham <alittlerandr16@gmail.com>
Well, Looks like I´m done with my training now. This last week was my last week being trained. It was also the slowest week of my mission. I knew Elder Weinmuller would be leaving Espaillat because he already has 5 transfers here. The resulting knowledge of imminent change and the necessity of waiting to find out, resulted in a very long week. Here are the results: Elder Weinmuller is going to Curacao (the islands woo O.o) He will be learning Papiamento. I will be staying here in Espaillat, AND receiving mi padrastro, Elder Maya. He is from Mexico. Which is really all I know about him (I won´t meet him until tomorrow). So Elder Weinmuller left this afternoon, so until I receive my new companion I will be in a trio with the zone leaders. I don´t have to pack, win. I´m not going to lie, it feels kind of weird. I am however super excited to learn a lot of spanish with my new companion. The church is true. Nos Vemos, Elder Mecham

More Blessings in the Espaillat Ward

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Ryan Mecham	2:26 PM (13 minutes ago)
to Ali, Amanda, ashley.mecham, Austin, Dallan, Isaac, Jake, Kess, me

Mis queridos amigos y familia,

This week we had what we like to call a baptism. Well actually here it is called a bautismo, but that is adjacent to the point. Maximo has now, at long last, been baptized (Pictures to follow). He has followed his wife, Katy (whom we baptized earlier this year), into the waters of baptism and they are now preparing to be sealed in the temple. He will be an excellent addition to the ward and an aid in strengthening Zion. Did I mention that I love seeing baptisms? Well I do.

There is only one slight disadvantage to the recent spree of baptizms... our teaching pool is empty. We have some new investigators that are showing some interest. Don't all stand up and cheer at once. I like teaching new people though, I have decided that every I will picture every new investigator's baptism as we begin teaching them. I especially like doing that with contacts, which are some of the hardest lessons to teach. It really helps me keep focussed on our purpose, which is not just to come talk to them about Jesus; rather, to invite them to come unto him... through, eventually, baptism.

I am still so new in the mission field and I have so much to learn. With transfers just around the corner I start to wonder if I have learned what the Lord wanted me to learn from my trainer, and what I will learn from my next companion.

Time really does fly on the mission.

We shall speak again....

Likely within the next week.

or 2

Elder Mecham.

It was the best of times, it was the... [best] of times.

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Ryan Mecham	Feb 10 (7 days ago)
to Ali, Amanda, ashley.mecham, Austin, Dallan, Isaac, Jake, Kess, me

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas,

This week has been great! We were finally able to baptize Yerilaisis. We also have Maximo`s baptism planned for this Saturday the 15th. (hence the double best of times) I am so excited to see so many baptisms so early in my mission -- although, to be completely honest, they were all ready to be baptized when I got here. There is such an awesome spirit that is brought to everyone, including the members, when we have a baptism. President Hernandez was able to attend the baptism of Yerilaisis, which was really cool. 

I really do love my mission. It has provided me with the opportunity to really apply what I have been learning since primary. I love my mission (to borrow the words of JFK) not because it is easy, but because it is hard. These past three and a half months have provided me with an un-paralleled opportunity to learn and to grow spiritually; one that was unavailable before. I have prayed harder, studied harder, and trusted more fully in the Lord than ever before. That is only the tip of the tip of the iceberg of blessings that have come so far in my mission. I haven`t even mentioned the real important part... The blessing I have, as a full time missionary, to bring this message of love and hope to all the world. I know this is the Lords work. I know this is His church. I know it is true.

I hope to hear from you all soon,

Elder Mecham

Bienvenidos al República Dominicana

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Ryan Mecham	Feb 3
to Ali, Amanda, ashley.mecham, Austin, Dallan, Isaac, Jake, Kess, me

¡Bienvenidos Todos!

This weeks letter is brought to you by the letter 'G', because it is the letter I have the hardest time pronouncing.

This week has been just peachy... well... they don´t really have peaches here... This week has been just Chinola-y. For those of you new to the program: a chinola is a small citrus fruit that is, for all intents and purposes, basically an orange. Ahh the fruit in this country... this week I have tried 3 new fruit. Granadillo, Zapote, y Chinola. I can`t really describe them... so I`m just going to recomend you all to my good friend wikipedia.

ENTONCES: On to the good stuff. This week we were going to have the baptism of Yerilaisis. Sadly, she got really sick on Friday/Saturday. As a result, we were unable to have the baptism. Here is the best part: I still get to look forward to her baptism! So ya... baptism.... what else? Did I mention it rains a lot here? Well it does... BUT I love the rain so no hay problema.

Th- th- tha- tha- tha- th- THATS all folks!

This message has been made possible by our sponser:

Mechas D`Mecham - We keep your candles burning bright.

Content for this message has been provided by our contributers:

Elder Mecham

El Elder Mecham

Un señor, Algo con fe, Un Confirmación

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Ryan Mecham	Jan 27
to Ali, Amanda, ashley.mecham, Austin, Dallan, Isaac, Jake, Kess, me

MIRA!

This week has been so awesome! We truly are here to bless these peoples lives... Katy was confirmed on Sunday, but guess who was there? ELDER ZIVIC! That`s right, there was a seventy at our ward on Sunday. I know that doen´t sound too crazy, but really, it is. Katy is a fairly well known, and VERY strong willed person... She has given us a lot of references. Although I kind of feel like some of them just listen to us more because they fear her than actually want to hear from us. Whatever gets us in the door, I guess.

In related news, we were in a lesson with Maximo the other day... and he finally set a baptismal date. He shall be baptisethed on the 22nd of February.

ALSO, we are teaching our first family! It is super exciting! Marriage isn´t a huge priority here in the DR, culturally. As a result, 90 percent of the people we teach aren`t married. So it was a huge blessing to find a family that has a married father and mother. I can`t wait to see them sealed in the temple for time and all eternity.

To answer your question: No mother, the DR is not a crazy sewage filled death trap. YES, there is a fair amount of crazy people... YES there is some sewage and garbage in the street (although garbage piles are a regular occurance, being as that is where/how the sanitation workers collect it)... and YES I have had a few sketchy gua gua rides. But no, never all three together.

       Flooding is a real danger here though. It rained a fair amount this week, not nearly enough to have to waid through five feet of water, but I could have gotten more than my knees wet. I hate to disapoint, but maybe my mission isn´t as crazy some. OR maybe I am just not an excellent story teller. (I tend to lean toward the latter).

CON ALGO (AMOR)

Elder Mecham