Dustin's June 19 Letter

2012 June 19

Dear everyone!

Thanks a ton for all the e-mails that were sent this week!!! It took me just less than an hour to do the zone record and read my e-mails. Thanks Mom, William, Grandma, James and Audra, Jordan, and Riah! I wish to always receive messages from all. This week we just happened to have to do other things and it took up some of our personal internet time.

My week as gone well. Elder Flores went home to Bolivia on Tuesday and my new companion, Elder Chaves got here later that day. He is from Costa Rica is 22 years old and has 17 months on the mission. We teach well together and will be able to accomplish much in this transfer. He comes from being in the Jungle for 13 months.

Sorry for not writing anything yesterday. The computer said that my e-mail account was expired and I couldn´t send anything. Now everything is fine. I will write more next week.

I love you!

Elder Dustin Divis

Dustin's June 11 Letter

2012 June 11

Dear Mom,

This week went well. We went bowling for P-day and I saw Elder Kepner for the first time since the CCM where we were companions! We had our monthly Zone leader conference and we were instructed on how to better lead the zone. On Thursday I did an interview for a lady that was preparing to be baptized with her daughter on Saturday. I won`t share confidential info. She has a great testimony of the restored gospel, of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson. She understood and was willing to complete with all the commandments... except tithing, one of the key ones. She was set on the fact that in her situation it was impossible. I taught about the law of tithing and left her with a commitment to read and pray in order to understand and be able to pay a full tithe. She did not seem too happy. I thought within myself that she was not ready and would not be able to be baptized this Saturday but something touched my heart and whispered to me that she would be ready. So I made an appointment to visit her and the family Saturday morning to verify this impression. For two days I was going over in my mind the decision to pass her interview. I read many scriptures on baptismal requirements and also doctrine that proved that the sin of not paying a full tithe would fall on my head for allowing, as a representative of Jesus Christ, this woman to make a covenant with God knowing she would not complete it. I was worried. We went and visited her on Saturday and those subtle impressions were confirmed. She had read, pondered, talked about with her daughter and a member friend happened to visit her and she had prayed. She is more than willing to pay her tithing always. She and her daughter were baptized on Saturday! Many other thing also happened this week but there`s not enough time.

Transfers have arrived! My companion goes home to Bolivia tomorrow and my new companion will be Elder Chavez from Costa Rica. Tell you more next week. The gospel is so true and the may the Holy Spirit guide.

Love,

Elder Dustin Divis

Dustin's June 4 Letter

2012 June 4

Dear Mom,

My week went great! The Diaz Lavy family got baptized on Saturday and confirmed yesterday. The Dad is Cliver, mom Florita, and their three daughters Blanca, Briget, and Celeste. The Diaz Casteñeda family fellowshipped them and have been a great help. Brother Alex Diaz is the elder`s quorum pres. and his wife Nila is one of the Relief Society counselors. The whole family gave their testimonies after being baptized and they all spoke with the tongue of angels (see 2 Nephi 32) The dad gave his testimony that he was in it til the end and that he will never go back into his worldly ways. He used to smoke 5 packs a day and drink every weekend and was not the best dad. He is now fully repented and has received a remission of his sin for the grace of God and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Sunday at church he ask me where he could find the donation envelopes in order to pay his tithing. I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!! We are doing all we can so that another family can receive the sacred ordnance of baptism.

My companion will be going home in one week. We have made the goal to do twice as many contacts as usual and have more divisions (Splits) than ever. Cause you`ve gotta go out with a bang! Thanks for all your love and support. I have learned many things here and I know I wouldn´t have been able to do so if it wasn´t for the solid base that I was given as a child and young man. I know God lives and that His son gave his life for you and me and all living creature of the family of Adam. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He is my strength, my life, my light, and my God. May God speed the right!

Love,

Elder Dustin Divis

Dustin's May 28 Letter

2012 May 28

Dear Mom,

My week started off good but then turned out great. Friday, Saturday and Sunday is when our week started picking up. Everdina got confirmed yesterday, and the Family Diaz Lavy came to church and will be baptized and confirmed this Saturday. We are teaching 3 other families that are preparing for baptism. I love being part of this great work! Last night we found an amazing family that reminds me a lot of the family Rafael that got baptized in my last area; which means they were prepared by God to receive the restored gospel in this time. My companion and I just have to do are best and depend on the Holy Ghost. The zone finished this month with 8 baptisms and 2 families baptized, which is better than the last 4 months of this year. June should be even better because we already have 8 baptismal dates and we should be able to help others so that they can enter into the Kingdom of God.

One elder ended his mission this week and went to Bolivia on Wednesday and another got sent to his mission in Mexico but on Friday the elder that hurt his knee came back. So, for now we have three elders that are in charge of 3 wards. In two week all should be back to normal.

Thanks for the picture and the inspiring quotes! I always like to SEE how things are going now how the family is. When is James´ and Audra`s baby due? I can`t think of much else to write. Hope my e-mail isn`t too boring :) I love you and hope you enjoy the holiday.

Love,

Elder Dustin Divis

Dustin's May 21 Letter

Dear Mom,

Congratulations on 30 years of eternal covenant marriage!!! Thanks for being the best parents ever!

My week went well. The whole week has been super busy running from one place to another, making maps for the zone, preparing and having zone conference with president, taking elders to immigrations, buying new telephones, filling up a baptismal fount when there wasn`t any water etc. The good thing is that all got done on time and how it should have. So I`m happy :) The family Diaz that got married last week all came to church with their three kids and they loved it! They (Dad, Mom and daughter) will be baptized on June 2nd!! We are preparing other 2 families for marriage and baptism and working hard with the other family that got married. Time is flying by faster than ever and I kinda wish it would slow down a little.

I continue to learn many things every day and I know that my learning has only but begun. I know without a doubt we are in the truth and light of Christ. We are subject to this life and through Him we will "come off conquerors". Keep up the good work and may God speed the right!

Love,

Elder Dustin Divis

 Baptism in the zone. In the baptismal interview he asked that I could baptize him then decided it was better if Elder Lazaro did it but wanted me to be a witness.

Our baptism. Everdina Espinosa Cardoso

Zona Tahuantinsuyo

Dustin's May 14 Letter

2012 May 14

Hey,

It was great to be able to talk to the family yesterday. You all confirmed my fears that I can`t speak English, or at least that I have a Spanish accent when I talk. I hope it doesn`t stick for too long but I will definitely keep practicing and learning Spanish for the rest of my life.

We only got to talk 35 min. because the first card only lasted for 15 min. We`ll make up those five minutes later. I love hearing William talk about his mission! It makes me so proud to know that he is serving the Lord :) Trissa sounds like all is going well and that she`s excited to go to Hawaii (everyone is!) From the pics that I`ve seen Gavin is getting pretty big and it will be great to spend time with Trissa, John and Gavin. Laura and family are doing great and I hope the best for them. Thanks Jordan for your patience with me. I`m sure you`ll have fun making fun of me while I still cannot speak well. I deserve it. I never got to say happy mother`s day to Riah or Audra so... HAPPY MOTHER`S DAY!!!! ... yesterday. James, I enjoyed talking in Spanish with you. We`ll probably have to talk a lot afterwards especially in crowded places so less people will understand us. I am sure if we spoke with a lot of slang from Venezuela and Peru nobody would understand even if they spoke Spanish.

I know Dad wanted most of the time for you Mom and I hope you got the time you needed and that you enjoyed the short phone call. I am truly grateful for all your support, love, and prayers! As I stated in my talk yesterday if it wasn`t for you I probably wouldn`t be here where I am today. Thanks Mom!!! To make up for the time you couldn't talk on Sunday I will spend extra time with you when we see each other again. That`s a promise.

This week for me went well. There were a lot of challenges but in the end two couples got married thanks to the many miracles. Money, rings, transportation, desire, and faith where all granted in the right places at the right time. Next month with a few more miracles they will be baptized as families and be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!!!!! We also will have a baptism this Sunday, Evy Espinosa. She was so happy to hear the gospel. Her father abandoned her as child and a year later her mother passed away. She is now living with her aunt and cousin, who are members of the Church. This week will be full. We have a zone conference with pres. the baptism, another activity, a service project, and many people to find and teach.

Thanks for everything and thanks to everyone. I love you all and I`m praying for you.

Love,

Elder Dustin Divis

My companion the newly wedds and I

Dustin's May 7 Letter

2012 May 7
Dear Mom,
Thanks for the pictures! The weather here is cooling down a bit. At night and in the early morning it is a little brisk and ``winter`` is coming. I`ll probably have to start using a sweeter next month. I am so excited that Cameron is getting married! and I`ll be there! It would be cool to see a picture of Cameron and the lucky lady to get to know my future cousin-in-law.
I don`t remember if I wished you happy birthday mom, but in case I forgot to tell you ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I also send birthday wishes to Jordan :) 24 years old, wow.
My week was loaded! As you know this week were transfers. 3 elders left the zone and we now have 3 new elders. Elder Castro from Mexico, Elder Ojeda from Bolivia and Elder Hernandez from Guatemala. They are great missionaries. On transfers day there where two Zone Leaders that were headed to the Jungle but we always have a Zone Leader Council the first Wednesday of every month so instead of sending them to the Jungle for half a day they sent the two Z/L with us, which helped out a ton. On top of it all it was a holiday here. We found and taught a ton of people! Wednesday we had the Zone Leader Council from 8am till 6pm and we learned a ton from president! After the council we visited some families with member and they`re preparing for marriage and baptism. Thursday was normal and we had 2 baptismal interviews and the same on Friday. Two families are preparing for marriage this week and baptism the end of the month. Right now one of the families called me and told me to call them in 30 min. Hope it`s to hear the good news about their marriage papers! On Saturday we finally got in contact with Claudelina (the sister that got baptized but not confirmed) She had been in the Hospital for 4 days and didn`t want to let you leave. Her family didn`t want her to keep coming to church. Sister Claudelina makes me laugh though :) she didn`t tell the doctor that she was submerged in cold water but that she took a cold shower and that`s how she got sick and she had so much faith that she is fine now. We also were praying and fasting for her and on Saturday we gave her Health blessing (don`t remember if that`s how you say that in English) Saturday she got confirmed and is as happy and healthy as ever :) I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!!! My time is up but I love you all! Love you Mom!
Love,
Elder Dustin Divis