It's been a great week. Today has been our Preparation Day, so we went to the temple and also went on a tour. We saw the oldest church in this hemisphere, the home of Christopher Columbus's son, and some other things, with pictures enclosed. The highlight of my week was when they let us out of the temple grounds (the CCM is on temple grounds) and we walked to the Santo Domingo University. Then they set us loose on the poor unsuspecting students. For two hours we got to practice making contacts. The people here are so nice, and were more than happy to talk to us and let us practice our spanish with them. I was so afraid at first, but I was surprised that we could understand a large majority of what was said. They were all shocked when we told them we had only been studying spanish for 4 weeks.
The classroom is a little bit frustrating for me, because they threw all the kids together, regardless of where they were in their spanish studies. Also, we have 2 elders that are going on english speaking missions, so for 3 weeks all the meetings are in english, then we get latin missionaries and make the switch. It's pretty much up to me to create a lesson plan for my companion and I, and make sure we are learning something new each day. The teachers here don't know what we did or didn't learn in Provo, and have been starting at square one. I'm sure its helpful for others though, and it causes me to be a little more proactive, instead of waiting for the teachers. They are more of coaches I guess.
I've had quite a few interesting spiritual experiences as well. For instance, we watched a video of Elder Holland speaking to the Provo missionaries about a year ago. At the end he talked about the last chapter of John, in which the Savior has died, and the apostles (I literally just typed apóstales and had to delete) went back to the only thing they really new how to do, which was fish. The whole night they don't catch a single thing, and then the Savior comes on the shore (but they don't know its him) and tells them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. They catch so many fish that they can't haul in the net, and John immediately says "it's him" and Peter just jumps overboard. Eventually after they eat and what not Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loves Him, and if so, then to feed His sheep. Elder Holland put it this way "I've already asked you to cast down your nets and follow me once, and now I'm doing it again. Don't make me do it a third time. If you TRULY love me then feed my sheep. You can't turn around and go back to life the way it was before"
When I heard these words I swear it felt like Elder Holland was right there in the room speaking as if it was just a Personal Priesthood Interview with him and I. Those words went straight to my heart and I was flooded with the spirit. I have been praying every night as hard and intent as I can, telling the Lord I love him right before I close. So when he said that I just knew it was meant for me.
Not to mention that my bishop had in a sense already told me to "cast down my nets" a few months ago, and I kind of gave up, a bit like Peter and the apostles. Hearing Elder Holland was a bit like a chastisement from the Lord, and reminded me of my duty. My nets are gone forever. I can't turn back.
I've also been trying really hard to teach from my heart, and listen to what the spirit wants me to say, not just what I want to say. There is no specific right answer for a specific question. And I'm trying to do it in spanish. Its so hard though. It's like I'm fine tuning one radio station with my right hand, and another with my left hand, trying to get them both to sync up and be clear. But every so often, when I get them synced up, it just flows. The words just come, the testimony is from my heart, and its such a powerful feeling. I'll admit I'm a cry baby.
That's all for this week I believe,
P.S. I'm not getting any dear elders, so if you are using that then make sure you are picking the Dominican MTC and not the Provo one.
Love you guys,
Elder Nichols
