Week 88 - September 30, 2024

Hey, everyone, it's been a while since I last sent an email, although it hasn't felt like it has.  Time has just been flying by, and I'm starting to near the end of this great adventure.  But more of that later, let's go over what has happened in the month of September. 

I would say this last transfer that ended last Thursday was the best transfer I've had on my mission in terms of performance. Elder Mumford and I worked super hard, and we also really made sure to not just be busy, but effective.  I'm very happy with how we did last transfer.  Instead of just 10 new people a week, we applied a new finding strategy and then we were able to find above 20 people a week.  We also were able to get 14 people to church for their first time, but the problem we're seeing now is just that although we can get them to come to church, the hard part is getting them to stay.  All those 14 people only went once and then lost the desire to go again.  So, we're really trying to help church be more enjoyable for the visitors. 

We also had a baptism!  It was the little sister of Darlenny, who got baptized in the river the transfer before.  Her name is Ruth Ester, and she's crazy, but we're really happy to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ bless another person.

 

As of last Thursday, I'm starting my third transfer in Maimon, Elder Mumford finished his mission and went home (very sad), and I'm now with my third comp here.  His name is Elder Hayes, and he's from Georgia.  A man of few words, but his words sure can be powerful.  I'm excited to see what we end up getting done this transfer, and I'm really anxious to keep the momentum going that me and Mumford started. 

As I said, this great adventure is starting to come to a close. I'm in my second to last transfer, and I'll be home right before Christmas.  I feel like time has just flown, and after all the ups and downs and everything I've learned, it's hard to explain how I feel about it all coming to an end so soon.  I feel excited to see what life has for me on the other side, but also anxious because I'm not sure what life has for me on the other side. One thing's for sure, I'm really going to try to make these last couple months the best.  I definitely want to go out on a high note. 

Keep me and the work in your prayers, I promise they're working, and I'm still praying for all of you!  Thanks to those who supported me this far, I couldn't have done this without you.  Love y'all, and I'll try to send another email a bit sooner!

I must go -Elder Barlow

Weeks 82, 83, and 84 - August 26, 2024

Hey, everyone, its Elder Barlow again.  This past month has just flown by, and it's been pretty crazy.  We've been working super hard as usual and been making a lot of progress here in Maimon.

I finished up the transfer with Elder Burrows, and it was an overall pretty good transfer.  We met and taught a lot of people, and we ended up having a baptism, too, which was such an amazing experience (mostly).  We baptized a young lady named Darlenny, and it was just amazing to see how baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost has changed her life. She was baptized a couple weeks ago, but the changes I've seen in her character and countenance is just so awesome. 

Let me tell you how the baptism itself went though. 

It was August 8, and we started the day early in the church to get the baptismal font filled and everything else in order.  We start filling the font and it just takes forever because there was no power.  By the time we're done having lunch in the chapel, the water stops coming out with the font only barely half full. We call a member over to help us figure the power out, and we also bought a water truck for a bunch of money to "fill" the cistern under the church, but even after that it still wasn't enough.  At like 5, we go back to the house to get our proselytizing gear and head out, as we had basically decided to postpone the baptism to the next week.  

As we were leaving the house, I had the impression to go back and get the baptismal clothing for Darlenny.  Even though we planned to postpone the baptism, we went back and got the clothes, then went to the church to drop them off there.  Once we got there, other members had arrived for the baptism, and we realized we forgot to let the rest of the branch know that we planned to postpone it.  It worked out though, because the members convinced us to do the baptism anyway, but in the river behind Darlenny's house.  We run over to Darlenny's house, their whole family is there and ready, and we walk down to the river together just as the sun is going down.  My comp does the baptism, which was just so awesome, then we go back to her house to compete the other half. 

 

The lot fell on me to confirm her a member, and even though at first I was a little nervous, the fear soon left me.  As I placed my hands on her head and confirmed her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ, I could feel so strongly the presence of the Holy Spirit, and felt a lot more things I think are maybe too sacred to share here. After a couple more weeks, I've seen that after receiving the Holy Ghost, Darlenny has received this great confidence in herself, and participates a lot more in lessons.  Before the baptism, she was super quiet and soft spoken, but it's crazy to see the changes she has done, as well as the brighter countenance she has. 

After this experience, my testimony grew immensely in two things.  The first was that this church, and the work it carries out, are true.  I have felt it, and I have seen the change the gospel brings to the lives of the people who follow it with all their heart.  I also know now that great things, and things that change us, don't usually come until after hard work and long days.  If you want to change, and if you want to see progress and even miracles, you gotta grind, and put the work in.  That stuff doesn't come for free or even after just a bit of work.  You gotta grind.

So that's cool, but I also got a new comp about a week and a half ago, Elder Mumford.  He originally comes from the East mission, and even though he's in his last transfer, he's down to work super hard to help us get a lot of good momentum in Maimon.  He got here on a Thursday, and by last Sunday, we went from 9 to 22 new people found.  This last week we found another 20 people, and we're excited to go again this week. Maimon's popping off now, and I'm sure Darlenny won't be the last baptism I see here. 

Oh yeah, also a missionary, Joshua, got home and we went to his homecoming party which was awesome. Making me think a lot about my homecoming in 4 months.....

I've been loving the mission these last couple months.  I'm in a lot better place mentally and spiritually, and I've learned a lot here in Maimon.  Excited to spend a lot more time here! Thanks all for the support and prayers, and I'll talk to you "next" week!

I must go -Elder Barlow

Weeks 79, 80, and 81 - July 30, 2024

 Hey, everyone, almost didn't get this email out, but here it is.  I feel like I have a lot to talk about because it's been a very interesting three weeks. 

My comp Elder Burrows (his name is funny because Burro in Spanish is donkey lol) and I have been working pretty dang hard here in Maimon.  The area is beautiful, as I've said before, but the branch here has some issues with attendance. We've been trying to find the balance between finding new people to teach and visiting the members consistently to make sure they don't go inactive.  We're still working on that.  Another thing that's interesting that one must take into account is that, even though we're in the new North Mission, me and my comp come from different missions originally.  This means he has different ideas in the work--some good, others not as much.  We're trying to find a balance with that as well. 

Sometimes we like to go down to a little bus stop town known as Piedra Blanca- or White Rock- located right in between Santo Domingo the capital, Bonao the district center, and Maimon.  This little town is also part of the area and we've been going down there once a week and let me tell you, every time we've been it's been such an adventure.  We go just to talk to references that we get from social media, which are many.  Since there's no church building down there and most of the people there don't have the means to make the 20-minute drive to the church, we don't spend too much time finding new people there.  But it's always fun to visit that place, I love it there. 

Anyway, to wrap it all up.  We've been working hard here to help the area progress, but I still feel like there's definitely room to improve and better ways to use our time.  I have a lot of hope for the area and a lot of faith in its progress, but it won't be easy.  But as my dad always tells me- if it were easy everyone would do it, right?  Thanks, everyone, for the love and support, keep praying for me (I promise the prayers are working), and of course I'm praying for you all as well.  Until next time!

I must go -Elder Barlow

Letter from Elder Barlow's New Mission President - July 19, 2024

Dear Brother and Sister Barlow, 

We are excited to have Elder Barlow in the NEW Dominican Republic Santo Domingo North Mission with us. We have been traveling the mission conducting interviews with all our missionaries, participating in zone conferences, district councils and we have loved getting to know each one of them. Thank you for raising a missionary ready to help gather Israel in the Dominican Republic (Isaiah 18:2,7). 

 

We have had three children serve missions and understand some of the feelings you may have during your missionary’s service. Our children became more converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and found great joy in serving others throughout the world. We hope to help your missionary become closer to our Savior and point others to Him as well. President Russell M. Nelson has stated the gathering of Israel “is the most important thing taking place on earth today.” As your missionary participates in this great cause, we hope your entire family recognizes the tender mercies of the Lord.

 

Friends and family may send letters and packages to the following address via DHL, FedEx, LDSXpress, and DomEx.

 

[Missionary Name]

Calle Manganagua #16

Mirador, Manganagua

Santo Domingo

Dominican Republic 10138

 

If you have questions or concerns, please contact our mission secretary, Hermana Jennifer Hughes, jenniferhughes@missionary.org.  Additionally, we encourage you to visit our mission facebook page, “Missionaries of the DR Santo Domingo North Mission 2024-2027.” Sister Stroud does a great job of updating pictures on a regular basis. 

 

We are grateful to be part of this great work of gathering Israel. We have already felt the tender mercies from our Father in Heaven and we have witnessed miracles that our missionaries have been a part of.  It is a choice blessing to serve with your missionary.

 

President Darold Stroud

Sister Mayte Stroud

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

Dominican Republic Santo Domingo North Mission

Week 78 - July 8, 2024

 What's up, everyone?!  Got some big news coming your way, so grab some popcorn and check this out.  Also, don't miss the Google photos album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tihiSziTbydZFL4M6

Last Thursday, the very 4th of July, I experienced a miracle.  A real-life miracle.  This miracle actually comes directly from the scriptures, so we're gonna start with a scripture.  In the Book of Mormon, there's a part where Alma, a disciple of Christ and a leader over a large group of people, was taken captive along with his people by another bad group of people, the Lamanites.  These people put tasks and really hard trials on Alma and his people, but they had faith, and got through their trials.  The scripture tells us: 

12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him (because they were beat when they were heard praying); and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. 

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. 

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

This was after their much praying and crying unto the Lord daily, both out loud and in their minds.  It also says they were not only visited but delivered from their trials. 

19 And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their taskmasters were in a profound sleep. 

20 And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day, they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness. 

21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God.

Brothers and sisters, I confirm the veracity of this scripture with my own experience.  My last area was really really tough for me.  I battled with a lot of self-doubt and even hatred, I didn't see any progress in the work, people hated us, didn't want anything to do with us, and much more.  I do, however, remember vividly multiple nights where God visited me with His spirit, and He did, in reality, help me through my afflictions. As for the miracle, well, it's exactly what happened to Alma here.  Last Thursday, on the 4th of July, on the very day we celebrate freedom, I was delivered to a valley.  A valley in the center of the island called Maimón.  This place is nothing if not absolutely beautiful.  It is the land of God.  Every day I have found myself looking at the great, green mountains that surround the area and thanking God for being so good and thanking Him "because he had been merciful unto [me], and eased [my] burdens, and had delivered [me] out of bondage." Maimón is my miracle and connecting it with the scriptures and Alma and his people's experience, this area is a testament to me that God truly knows me, and is truly watching me, that he appreciates me and my efforts, and most importantly, that he "remembers the covenant that I have made with Him."

I know now with a certainty that God really is with us IN our trials, and really does listen to our prayers.  I also know that blessings come in His time, not ours.  Although that sometimes is hard (it was for me), I know that God truly is ready and waiting to bless us greatly.  I am so ready to work even harder than I did before, and to push myself and devote myself even more to the work. That's about it, though for this week, and I'll keep you guys updated for baptisms and other miracles I'm sure I'll end up seeing. 

I must go (to bed it's really late) -Elder Barlow