I Spy... La Basilica 9/10/12

Dear Family and Friends This week I took a few pictures of the Catholic Basilica to show you what its like working under they eye of sauron. Just kidding, but my point is that its huge. Today we went to play basketball with another zone and the church had a KETTLER PING PONG TABLE!!! But the net was ripped to shreds and the paddles were locked in the library. I suppose God has a sense of humor. On a more spiritual note I have found my purpose, or at least one of them, here in Higuey. Since the last time I wrote, I was able to have quite a few long discussions with my good friend elder Allen, on the roof of our house. The mission and life in general have been kinda hard on him, he hasn´t had as much success as he deserves. We had a heart to heart and I was able to courageously bear my testimony to him. I felt the spirit so strong on that roof, and I know without a doubt the Lord sent me to comfort him. We´ve also had a lot of people contacting us. We just walk around and people get placed in our path. An 18 year old named Chani contacted us in the street and wants to be baptized. Less active members find us in the street and say they want to come back to church. Ward Missionaries find us in the street and take us to references. It is nuts. I have had more people flag me down to talk to me in one week than in my entire mission. So anyways, Elder Hubbard and I are working hard. We have broken the area up into subsections with colors so that we plan things that are close together. We made a sign up sheet for the members to leave with us and help us teach. I was thinking about that a lot this week, i mean the importance of member present lessons and the different roles we play. The missionaries are called to teach, and help the investigators through the repentance process, much like a bishop. But the members need to testify, and be a friend. The testimony of the native members of the ward has much more worth and effect than that of the missionaries. I was also thinking about the proper way to spread the gospel. I`ll give two examples and let you decide which feels right. 1. Hey I was talking to the missionaries of my church the other day and they gave me this pamphlet and told me to give it to someone. So I thought about you and that maybe you would be interested. Would you read it and come to church with me? 2. My friend, we have known each other for awhile now and you are really important to me. I trust you and think of you as family. There is something in my life that gives me a lot of happiness, and peace, especially in these troubled times. I just wouldn`t feel right, in fact I would feel quite selfish, if I didn`t share with my best friend the secret to my happiness. Its my church, and I would really like to invite you to sit with my family and feel the difference that I feel when I learn about the Savior Jesus Christ. People don`t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. I love you all. I`m not perfect, and am very very aware of my need for the savior. But I love all of my friends like family, down to the very fiber of my soul. I hope those that know me can see past my imperfections and see the love that I have for them, how quickly I would forgive and forget, and that I would do anything for them if they just asked. Cuídense Elder Nichols