Hardest Thing I've Ever Loved To Do

The title of this email is a song by Nashville Tribute band. It talks about a mission and how it's the hardest thing he loved to do. I am in complete agreeance. 

The mission is the hardest thing I've ever loved to do. It is full of trials and afflictions, but in the end it is always worth it. Samaná just so happens to be filled with extra trials and afflictions. Man has this week been a hard one. 

We have been working super hard and inviting so many people to be baptized. Although we have been rejected there have been a few to accept. The hard part for all these people is going to church. 

I won't lie it wouldn't be very motivating to show up to a church that has 5 members. It's so sad that there are many members in Samaná and NONE of them care to go to church. 

Yesterday was interesting. At 10:00 we start sacrament meeting. When it was 10:25 there were 3 people. Elder Sorensen, me, and a member named Augustín. Luckily by the end we had 9 people. 2 of them being investigators. It was a cool thing to see that even when we are a small group of people everything happens the same. The sacrament, the talks, and the hymns. 

It was a little disappointing that our friends on date didn't come to church. It’s hard working so hard during the week to see nobody progress, but I know God has a plan. 

A positive from this week was Wednesday. We went to a place called Sanchez and had a great lesson with some members out there and the 3 kids who haven't been baptized yet. They all have a date for the 29th, but due to rain they didn’t come to church yesterday so we might have to move the date :( but Sanchez is an hour away by bus from Samaná so we went in the morning and we were there during lunch and everything. The member made us rice and beans and chicken with sweet plantains and it was super good. Afterwards we played 3 rounds of Uno with them and I won 3 times straight. That's the highlight of the week lol. 

Although Samaná is the hardest area I've had, I'm growing to love it. I admire the faith of the few active members. Strengthens my testimony a lot! 

Hope you have a good week! 

Elder Wilde