March 17, 2010

Well to start things off, happy St. Patrick's day! if your not wearing green pinch yourselves for me because as you know its physically impossible for me to do that to you guys right now! haha well i hope you guys are having a great time and a spring break!! right now it is really crazy in the streets right now! its what they call the Carnival! look it up on the Internet, everyone dresses up in masks and costumes and its a very huge Carnival! its so awesome i was not able to see it last year, but its so cool! all the kids have whips and just whip them loud. i had a member make me one as a reminder of the Carnival, its cool and I'm learning how to whip! they call them fuertes here in the DR.

This week was very good! we baptized Pamela, the sister of Jean Carlos who we baptized like a month ago. it was very special and i had the honors of doing it, well like i always do haha. We try to get a member to do the baptisms but they all want me to do it and no one else, its like i have a special glow around me and everyone wants me to do the baptism! but that's ok with me because i love doing them, the spirit is always strong.

This week is Zone Conference and President Viñez, President of the Carribe, will be there to talk to us! I'm super excited and cant wait to here what amazing things he has to say.

I had an intercambio with a fairly new missionary on Monday, and at night we ate pizza, and i tried to do the prayer in English and.........lets just say it was sad and i started to read the scrips in English only so i can get my English back, i don't want to look like a fool on my homecoming talk.

Today the whole zone went to go climb the mountain at the beach again but me and my comp decided not to so we could rest, clean, and rest some more haha. Were working super hard so we need a break. I cant believe next Wednesday is the last regular pday until transfers on the 30th, that means only 3 left to go. Weird haha. oh i was wanting to know, how is the planning on the trip here to pick me up.....thought about it yet.

Mom the title of your email said where a green tie, i will do that but it will be for like one hour haha after pday we have a meeting then play basketball, so maybe i will use one tomorrow to, a late celebration. How is Utah, is it cold, i hate the cold! its weird i always say that but something inside me wants to go to BYU, haha but that wont ever happen, i don't think i could get in with a 3.4 average. but who knows.

Wow sounds like your getting better Josh! i really hope that you start walking soon, watch tons of March Madness for me and remember, GO TAR HEELS!! and SUN DEVILS!! Dad how is the best Bishop ever doing?....need any more advice with things or any questions...just let me know and you know I'm always here. Have you played golf lately....man you don't know how bad i miss it. I want to play with you the day after i get home on my favorite course....can you guess what it is....yes you guessed it! LAS SENDAS! we got a deal......

Well i better end! i miss you guys and hope you have a great Spring Break. i know that Jesus lives and that he is the Christ, read and pray everyday and you will be happier and have success in all you do!

love Elder Westergard

Well this week was really fun! Elder Miranda and i taught many good lessons and we found tons of new investigators! actually we received 16 references this week!! and we had a good experience to.....walking on a dirt road just after it was raining, some old guy was trying to push with one hand through the road in a wheelchair, so we pushed him to his house and taught his family, it was really amazing and it made my testimony of service increase.

So mom i feel your pain with the rain. last week the rain started when i was emailing you guys and it didn't stop until 2 days ago, i didn't see the sun for 5 straight days and it was sooooo cold! i never have been that cold on a tropical island. so ya i was like, come back sun....then it came back and i was like, go away sun!! haha so ya it was good though because today we played softball with the zone, but the cool thing is that the missionaries in Villa Vasquez live next door to a guy that plays AAA for the Diamondbacks!!! it was awesome and he played with us, almost all his hits went way over the wall. I took pics with him in his Diamondback cloths and he let me put on his under armor Diamondbacks sweater to take a picture. He speaks English so we all talked to him for awhile, it was really fun and we ended up beating his team in the extra inning with a home run, 17-16! it was a really fun day, i got a little sun though, I'm kind of red haha.

Then we all went to go buy lunch, la bandera!!! which is rice, beans and chicken. then we took a little rest and now we are here using Internet.

Wow its already spring break there.....time goes so fast. that's sweet that mom and Jakelle are going to Utah, eat some haystacks for me OK!

Well i know that this church is true with all my heart. there is no doubt in my mind! the book of Mormon is true, and Joseph Smith was the prophet and still is of the restoration of the only true gospel in the world! Jesus lives, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

Elder Jesse Westergard

Wow i cant believe that's it is already March! and that its March Madness again, GO NORTH CAROLINA and ASU! well the bummer of my week was just reading that Mesa High lost in the quarter finals to St. Mary's. I'm really bummed, but ill be home next year to see that good black kid again and win state.

This last week we continued to break the zone goals of lessons taught and stuff, were working super hard. Sunday was a great day, we had 5 investigators at church and my two baptisms, two 16 year olds, got the priesthood, so it was awesome to see the fruits of my labors progressing you know!

On Monday we had our district conference and it was pretty good, i was feeling kind of sick and stuff and that night i didn't sleep, so it was hard for me to pay attention, but I'm good now. yesterday we had to travel down to Navarrete for our interviews with President Lee. My interview was great simple and short haha so thats always a good sign, i think. but the bus ride always stinks, 2 hours on a bus so 4 hours all together and today is Santiago pday so we came even farther, 2 and a half hours haha so 5 hours all together, but its worth it, i saw lots of friends in the mission today and ate pizza and hung out, now were at Internet and its in Santiago so its fast haha that's what i love, i don't think i ever be in the city, i want to so bad!!!!

So me and my comp are having a great time, and last week we played basketball on Wednesday night and it was like....wow! they made a new rule that i cant be on the same team as my comp because we will always win haha. so its cool, were playing tonight after the long bus ride back.

Well it sounds like all of you are doing good! wow that's so awesome that there is a Tia Rosas now where Fazzolies was, good trade off i think. that's good that the Suns are winning now, even though they are like way behind right....

So Dad you are going to talk about the Apostasy and the Restoration tonight....my favorite things to teach haha. so ya i love teaching those 2 things. I use an example in Apostasy, i tell the people that Jesus formed his church, which i compare to a mirror, which has 4 nails in it to hold it up, prophets and apostles, authority, revelation, and scriptures. when Jesus and his apostles died there was only 1 nail left, scriptures, and the people ended up changing them so they weren't the exact truth, so that nail got taken out. and without nails the mirror will fall and shatter in many pieces. but the people wanted to know the truth but couldn't find it, Amos 8 7-11 i think, so they each took a little piece of the mirror and formed there own church without authority and the whole truth, or the whole mirror, that's why there are so many churches in this world, then in 1820 Joseph had his vision and ya you know the rest.... but people tend to understand the example really good haha. I have many others to for all topics.

Well i better go, i need to get back to Dajabon and ball it up. I love you all very much! have a great week and remember, if you want to talk to your Father in Heaven, pray! and if you want to hear his voice, read the scriptures!!

love Elder Westergard

Hey sorry family that this letter is really late getting to you and really short. We went in to the city, Santiago, today because my comp had to go see the mission doctor, so we traveled along way and just got back! this week was such a great week, and what made it better was you guys telling me that Clayton is going on his mission! you don't know how happy i was when i heard that, I'm so proud of him and what he is doing.

This last week we did alot of finding because we pretty much baptized everyone else, and these new people are going to get baptized too. We had 3 more baptisms this week! it was so awesome, and about 6 more planned this transfer. Elder Miranda is such a great elder! he has been out for 6 months today, so were working hard, yes i said I'm working hard even though i only got 5 months left......wow.

I cant even describe all the blessings I'm receiving here in the mission, working hard and being obedient has changed my life. honestly i asked a new missionary today to trade me time so i could have 2 more years here, I'm not lying haha. this place is my home.

Well it sounds like all there is trying to get better with Josh and his knee, Dads hurt calf, and Mom on the couch, sorry about all that stuff, it really stinks. Josh get better and your in my prayers, hopefully you can play ball or golf when i get home.

wow so Tiger came out in public today huh?? that's a start, i hope he comes back soon, i don't know what i would do without that man on tv to watch all the time!

Well its really late and i got to get over to the church activity and dominate basketball with my companion. I know that the church is true and Thomas s. Monson is the living prophet on the earth today. The Book of Mormon has changed my life and the way i act, let it do the same for you too! i know your receiving blessings for my service here and also family friends, the Eslers. Ilove you guys so much, remember what a smart man told me...when your on your knees, you can not fall (DAD, i love you)

Love, Elder Westergard

Family Members of Both Baptisms

Flor and Me

My wonderful new tie!!!

Albany and Me

Elder Fuch's and my Sweet tie.

Elder Fuch's and Me

Wow I'm so happy that i am still here and did not leave!!! i got a missionary that was already in my zone, Elder Miranda, he's Dominican and is really cool. He loves basketball and is really good to, were going to play together tonight at the activity and not lose haha, waste everyone! this is his 4th transfer and hes excited to work, so lets pray its a good 6 weeks and not like.....well you know.

So ya like you know I'm really excited that I'm here for these 3 baptisms we have this Saturday, it seems like I'm baptizing the whole world here haha, i have been here 3 months and this is numbers 7,8, and 9 in this city. crazy huh?? so I'm so excited and pumped to work this transfer.

Well our 2 baptisms went down last week, Albany and Flor got baptized, it was really sweet and a great spiritual experience. I love seeing people coming into the church, i cant ever explain to them the love i feel for them. I wore a brand new tie to the baptism that you will see a picture of and it will only go on the days of baptisms, cause i want it for when i go home on my homecoming, mom you will love it!!

Oh ya, haha so i like pulled a muscle or tendon or something important in the shin and foot playing kickball after the baptism haha, it hurts so bad to walk, but you know, pain to me is nothing anymore haha, just thought you should know haha.

Not much else has been going on this week, just good work! but it sounds like all of you guys are doing good, well besides Josh and his surgery. Don't worry bro, your in my prayers love you! ok!!! Jakelle what did i tell you??? your a Westergard, its like expected from you since birth to be good at what you like, and not only did you make cheer, but VARSITY!! and advanced dance! way to go sis, i cant say i taught you that stuff haha but your carrying on the Mesa High varsity spirit me and your other bros. had! hey definitely we will talk Spanish when i get home, if you want you can write me to in Spanish, you know to practice.

I hope you all had a good Valentines Day, i kind of forgot about it cause it was just like another day here of work, but i hope you guys got good things, Josh got a valentine yet?? mom i got the newsletter thank you so much, it was very good! all of us friends are getting so old.....well me and Tate are haha everyone else has like a year, but they are getting there.

Sorry my letter is really short but nothing to exciting, except the baptisms, went on. I hope you all have a fun week watching the Olympics and almost march madness and stuff like that i miss. Hey what went down with the all star game? how did Nash and Stat do? well i love you all and your in my prayers. cuidense mucho, adios!

Elder Jesse Westergard

Hi family! i cant believe that's its already a new week! the time seems to be flying over my head and i don't know where its going, its like i just hit my 6 months left yesterday but its already like halfway through February(5.5 months) isn that weird?? Well the big news of the week is....yes you guessed it, Sister Eslers baptism, you don't know how happy i am that she got baptized, i have been wanting to say SISTER for long time to her haha even though i just call them mom and dad like you guys and Clayton my brother and Camille my sister. Sister Elser wrote me along with Craig Esler and said some words that could not hold back the tears, it was some of the most powerful things i have read. and i know Claytons dad is getting super blessed and will some day join his family and have the opportunity to be sealed to them for time and all eternity. It made my week and to see the pictures, ill never forget it.

This last week was amazing, we had zone conference, then district conference here in Dajabon the next 2 days after, so 3 days in a row listening to President Lee. It was amazing and the spirit strong! on Sunday he talked about the Book of Mormon, and with power and conviction in front of 3 branches and my investigators straight up said, holding up the Book of Mormon, "THERE IS NO SALVATION WITHOUT THIS BOOK!" the room filled with the spirit and it was amazing. On Saturday we have 2 more baptisms, Albany and Flor, Albany is the sister of the girl i baptized that i taught from Esperanza remember? and Flor is the girlfriend of an inactive that started to come back. They are like 18 years old, both of them. Then next week we have 2 more, 2 young men of 16 years with a firm desire to serve missions, they are best friends and go to seminary all the time, i hope I'm still here next week and don't get transferred, i honestly think ill cry if i leave, cause we still got like 8 more dates. so were being really blessed for all our hard work and obedience.

So speaking about that, Wednesday is transfers and i talked to my best friend, AP, at zone conference and he told me its almost positive ill be training a new gringo who knows jack squat. I really hope so it would be so fun. those calls come in Friday night, so we will see. I hope it happens and i stay here.

Today was super fun, we had the zone get together for the last pday of the transfer and we all went to the church to play games and hang out. We played U-no, a sweet card game that's called"warriors of the promised land" its like a Book of Mormon card game, so cough cough mom that's would be cool to have haha hint hint in my next package your sending me! but that's if you want to buy it for me. we also had chess, played basketball, and Frisbee golf! it was cool, then we cooked at the church, rice and chicken. fun day.

Sounds like everything in the U.S. of A is great, even though you told me my favorite team in the NFL lost the Superbowl, what a bummer, well they will be there next year and i will be to!! sounds like that commercial with Howard and James was pretty funny and Larry Bird. haha i laughed reading that. So Jakelle your trying out for cheer at MESA HIGH?? you will make it and you want to know why?? your last name is westergard, none of us boys have been cut from nottin over there, so your all good, the teachers will love you to, just tell them you know me.

Hey good luck Josh, ill be praying for you and your surgery that everything will be OK, so don't worry! you got a missionary prayer on your side! so everyone have a safe week and a great valentines day! love you all so much! ill let you know how transfers are next week, ps i only have 4 more left. weird???? yes!

Elder Westergard

Been out 1 year and 6 months - Slump Day!

Peace from the Shoe Rock ( it really does look like a shoe)

Burn them pants 1 year 6 months

Pizza and Coke for 1 yr. & 6 mon.

Marina Jean Carlos Baptism

Pose at the Beach (love this picture)

Members of the Branch and Baptism Family

Wow this week was so great! i love teaching the gospel, its so fun! we taught 30 plus lessons again and had 2 baptisms, marina(20 year old girl) and Jean Carlos (13 year old boy). i have never felt so blessed for trying to be 100% obedient and working my tail off. i feel so much happier every day and have more energy, bring it on last 6 months!! Elder Stroud told me something that helped me so much(my ZL) that your last 6 months reflects your first 1 and 6 months of the mission, and your last 6 months affects the rest of your life. I'm trying so hard to make it the best part of my life so i can be richly blessed for after the mission, i told Jared ill need it because i will probably be lost after the mission haha since the only life i know is high school and the mission, and i have grown up way past high school so i don't know how life is haha but I'm not going to worry, just focus on the mission. I read something in a church clip we have in the house about Joseph smith, i loved it so much! it said something like, my life has no significance to me, except lose it for the cause of this great work!! how amazing is that?? it boosted my animo way high and i find myself working my tail off and setting dates like crazy. We have about 8 dates and 7 for this month, i just hope i stay here and don't leave on the 17th, i love this area with all my heart, and the people even more.

Zone conference was amazing on Monday! Elder Stroud (ZL) ripped on obedience, and it all started with the problem you know about with my comp. He did such a great job, the thing he said that impacted me the most was when he said, if you want to live with Satan, don't do anything, put away your scriptures and just sit there, its that easy. now if you want to get nothing out of your mission, sit in your house all day and be disobedient, its that easy to be a fracaso (ask Josh or Jared, forgot the English word). it was so `powerful and gave me even more animo for this work.

Then i also read a scripture that wow! helped even more....Matthew 19:29 says.... and everyone that has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sister, or father, or mother, or wife(in a missionary case..girlfriend) or children, or lands for my names sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life!.....doest that just give you the greatest feeling, i know it did for me, so dont worry mom, i got plenty of experiences to share when i get home.

Well on Friday we have zone conference again, felt like 2 weeks ago since last one, and Saturday and Sunday we have district conference here in Dajabon and Montecristi. so that's 3 days in a row i get to listen to President Lee, I'm so excited. its amazing that by doing what pres. lee tells us even though its different than Pres. Thomas, i have come to love him and gain a good relationship and trust him. hes a great man and his testimony is like a giant.

Tonight were playing basketball at the activity in the church so that will be fun like always. Winner stays on, its 3 on 3, and last week we started and ended without losing haha. it was fun.

Well sounds like everything there is nice and cold, or rainy. that really stinks. way to go Jakelle on your talk, I'm so proud of you, remember to always be an example to your friends at all times and do what is right around them, you never know what will happen or if people will want to be baptized by your example. I'm so happy right now to know my example has brought 3 amazing people (pretty much second family) into the true Church of Christ. i honestly think its a big reason I'm here, if i wasn't here they probably would not be baptized, so be an example always Jakelle, especially as you enter high school ok?? read the Book of Mormon every night and morning, no matter if your busy with school. i promise you will do better in school if you do that, and pray.

So i better end i have to get ready for the activity in an hour. Mom i want you to take photos of the baptism and send them to me ok?? thanks!! take care and be safe this week. I love you all and will talk to you next week!

love Elder Westergard

ps. mom I'm trying to put photos up but the computer is super slow, ill try again. sorry for the delay of pics