January 4, 2012

Only 20 months left!!

Hey,

Puerto Rico has been great. The weather is still hot, and it doesn't rain much, it's been pretty dry lately. They don't use tortillas here, I've only had them when we buy them at home but I have had flan a few times. They make a really good dessert called tembleque, I don't know how to describe it, but maybe you can look it up. That and arroz con dulce, (a dessert made out of rice with sweet stuff) but the food is really good, we're always well fed. Man, Wyatt's just driving everyone in the ward out of town, what's he teaching them? That's too bad that I won't see Mikelson when I get home. New Year's is crazy here. In Puerto Rico they celebrate Three kings day sometime early in January so from Christmas to Three kings is just one big party, and on new year's eve they go crazy with the fireworks. They told us we had to be inside by 6 that night, either at home or at an appointment, so the Rosario family invited us over to their house. We ate dinner there and after we played Monopoly with their son that just got home from the Salt Lake City mission. That was a lot of fun, it reminded me of playing Monopoly at home on new years eve. So things have been fun, we're going to have a big mission activity for three kings sometime this week. Dad's talk sounded great, I wish I could have been there to hear it.

Everything has been going well with the investigators, Angel is coming along. He's learning a lot and understands really well, but we're just praying to know what to say that will help him feel that need to pray to know the Book of Mormon is true. We asked Alex to come over with us so he can share his experience with prayer. We hope that will be good for him. It's good to hear everything is going well. I love you

Elder Duclos

December 28, 2011

Hey,

It was great talking to everyone on Christmas. I'm glad everyone is doing well, but I still haven't gotten my machete. I've been anticipating that. We've been eating candy for pretty much every meal, so that's been pretty typical of the days after Christmas. Everyone liked the Canadian chocolate. The weirdest thing I have eaten in Puerto Rico was blood sausage. They make it a lot at Christmastime, and I only ate it once, but it was nasty. I ate it at the Rosario's house right before we called. We went from one food appointment over to their house where they had food for us, so I was already really full but I just had to get it down so I could call. It was pretty bad. The rest of the food is really good though. It's mostly just beans and rice but there's a lot of bananas too. I like it.

We've been finding a lot of people recently. I told you about Elizabeth's baptism, that was really cool. We sat with them at church the next day. The 11 year old son, Kevin already has a really strong testimony. He was reading along with all the scriptures in sacrament meeting and everything. I gave them both CTR rings that I got from Karie and they loved them,  thanks! Angel went to their baptism and their confirmation on Sunday, so we're hoping that will get him excited about taking the same step in his life. Last night we were over at Alex and Eugenia's house and Alex was talking about how he's been preparing to share the gospel with his children that live in Puerto Rico, he said one of his daughters was really curious about everything and he said he knows that now that he knows this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that he has a responsibility to share it with his family. It's so exciting to see someone so converted to the gospel. So we will be following up on them. We also found a new young family, Jose Villagran. We've taught them twice now and they have a lot of interest in the Book of Mormon. So everything has been really exciting with the work here. We're hoping to get a baptismal date for Angel for the 11th of January (because there's nothing else going on that day). So pray for him, please.

I love you all, I hope everything is good, and I'll talk to you next week

Elder Duclos

December 21, 2011

Hey!

I'm still not quite sure how the call will work out on Christmas. We still haven't found anywhere that we'll be able to skype so the most likely situation is that we'll all go over to a member's house to use the phone there. I've been excited to hear from everyone. The Christmas program in Caguas was this past Sunday, it was really cool, and there were a lot of people there. There was a part with a bunch of little kids on the stage and they had a few of us go stand in front to make sure none of them fell, so I even got to be a part of it. We did great. Transfers are today, we don't have many changes though. One elder finished his mission and his companion was transferred, so there are only four of us in the apartment now. The other companionship works in Aguas Buenas so we're the only two elders in Caguas. We have a lot more area to cover now, so that's pretty exciting. Everything has been going well here. The sisters in our district have a baptism tomorrow for a lady named Elizabeth and her kids. Elder Griffin and I were the ones that found her so it's exciting to see that. I'll cut this a little short because we'll talk on Sunday, and I'm going to write the letter to the ward. I love you and I'm excited for the phone call

Elder Duclos

December 7, 2011

Hey,

Today has been pretty great. President Viñas, the Caribbean area
president came and talked to the whole mission. They told us that
visits like this don't happen very often but we've been praying and
fasting a lot for help in reaching some goals we've made as a mission.
President Víñas was in his office the other day and he just got the
impression that he needed to come here to help us increase our faith,
so he emailed president and set up the appointment. It was definitely
an answer to our prayers. We woke up at 5 to make it to the meeting on
time, and his talk was really good, but not what I expected. He talked
about how faith is accepting the Lord's will and timing, and if we
make goals and work our hardest at them, then it's up to the Lord to
give us success, according to the agency of the people. It was a
really cool talk and really motivating.

Things have been pretty good in Caguas too. We've been finding some
people to teach. We started teaching Angel, who was a reference from
the sisters. He understands that it would mean a big change in his
life if he was baptized, so he's been a little hesitant. We also met
Robert, who believes really firmly in the Bible, and said that he was
looking for a church whose teachings were in harmony with the Bible so
we taught him about the restoration and how the doctrine we teach is
the pure doctrine of Jesus Christ, the same that he and the prophets
throughout history have taught and he seemed really excited. We
brought Alex Burgos, the recent convert, with us to a lesson and they
got along well with each other.

I'm glad to hear about Evan's call. I hope he gets it today, you'll
have to let me know asap as possible where he's going. The
missionaries in Utah probably don't appreciate the dinner appointments
like they should. One of the members here has a son on a mission in
Utah, Elder Rosario, but they didn't know what city he was in. He's on
his last transfer anyway, so he'll be leaving within the next two
weeks or so. Anyway, things are going well here, and I'm still happy.

I love you,

Elder Duclos



Thanks for the Costco membership, I'll go pick up my card. It may not
be today, usually we only go to Costco at the beginning of the month.
I don't think I need anything else though. Thanks for everything

Elder Duclo

November 30, 2011

Hey,

I have heard that on Christmas we can choose either to skype or to call home, but I don't know anything more than that, so I'll let you know when I know more. Also, I had a question about Costco cards. We have been using one Elder's costco card to do our shopping every month, but he's moving out, so I was just wondering what it would take to get added to your account, or if it would be better to just get one myself, or if it wasn't worth the trouble at all.

I haven't been getting too homesick, even during thanksgiving. I do miss everyone a lot, and all of the traditions and the cold weather but I've still been able to keep my focus and use all those good memories to motivate me to share that with everyone.

I love you, thanks for everything you do

Elder Duclos

November 22, 2011, Caguas

Hey,

It's still hot here, even on the day before Thanksgiving. Today we're emailing last because we had a turkey bowl with all the elders in the zone. It was a lot of fun. We have a few appointments for tomorrow. We're going somewhere for lunch, and we have an appointment with both the Gonzalez family and the Rosarios (they are in Aguas Buenas, a different zone, but he's the mission leader for their branch and he invited all of us over). So we should be taken care of. It's still weird to be wearing short sleeves though. 

Things were pretty good this week. We had Zone Conference on Friday and that was awesome. President was there, and we learned a lot of really good things to help our area and zone. He told us about when the area was dedicated for the preaching of the gospel that it happened in the Caguas chapel, where we meet. The general authority who was giving the prayer (I can't remember who it was) said in the prayer that government officials would take notice of what was happening with the Church and they'd have an interest in it. That was over 30 years ago and just recently that has happened. There was a conference or something on peace, and the stake president was invited to talk and to share about the church. There is also an activity put on by the church throughout the island, in all the stake centers called the Christmas extravaganza. It's going to be a kind of concert with choirs and soloists and all kinds of stuff, but the Caguas city government heard about it and decided to help put it on, so instead of being held in the Caguas stake center, they're having it at a giant city pavilion that holds up to 10,000 people, and the city is going to be announcing it all week. It's pretty exciting to hear, and it will be an awesome opportunity to share the gospel with a lot of people here in Caguas.Braylin's baptism was really good. I have some pictures, but I might not get a chance to upload them today. We went by Irelsi's house and had another good lesson on faith, and how important faith is in gaining a testimony. We used Alma 32, where it compares faith to a seed, and we told her we could tell she'd planted the seed but that it was up to her to keep the commitments we invete her to make so she can have a perfect knowledge that this is the church of Jesus Christ on the earth. It was good. 

Anyway, I hope Thanksgiving is good, know that we're being taken care of over here. I love you 

Elder Duclos

November 15, 2011 Caguas

Hello,

Wow, it seems like yesterday was P day, the weeks go by so fast out here. But there is also so much going on. We had to stop going to Alex's house. He just hasn't been keeping any commitments. It was hard because he loves it when we come over and we always have spiritual lessons, but he's just not willing to do what's necessary to gain his own testimony. We'll keep stopping by every once in awhile though. Sister Gonzalez's dad has been good. We go over every Monday for Family home evening and teach him. This Monday was the day his son left for the MTC in Utah, so he was kind of sad but I really think that's where his interest is coming from. We taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ -  faith repentance baptism receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. It was a really good lesson and we could tell he had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. Brailyn's baptism was moved from today to tomorrow because the youth are having an activity tonight that they want him to go to with his brother. So tomorrow he'll be baptized and so will Eugenia, whose husband was baptized a few weeks ago on the same day as Randy, Brailyn's brother. The zone leaders have been teaching Eugenia and yesterday one of them, Elder Wardell, went out with us so we passed by her house. It was a good lesson, we just finished up teaching all of the commandments, she was a little unsure about being baptized on Thursday, and wanted to move it to Saturday or next week so we said we could change the date but we invited her to pray about it. Later that night she called and said she'd gotten her answer and that Thursday was the day. That was awesome. So they'll be baptized tomorrow. Elder Griffin and I also have another investigator, I don't think I've mentioned her before. Her name is Irelsi, we found her knocking on doors. Right after we met her, we were talking about how much the Plan of Salvation would help her. Right before we went by again, we were planning what to teach and we decided just to teach the restoration. So we got there and got to know her a little bit and started the lesson and every question she had had to do with the plan of salvation, so we switched and taught her the plan of salvation. It was really good, she always has a lot of questions, and understands everything really well, and she's read everything we've left her to read. She says she still doesn't know that this is the one true church of Jesus Christ but she is also on her way to find that out. We've gone by three times now, with three different members of the ward and four different missionaries (because of exchanges). Yesterday we went by and talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was probably the best lesson I've had on the mission. We started out and she'd read from the beginning of the Book of Mormon, she had a bunch of questions about the testimony of Joseph Smith in there and about Nephi and Lehi. Then we taught about Jesus Christ and we testified that He knows her personally and that He has felt everything she has ever gone through in her life and that it's by coming to Him that we can be completely clean from our sins. It was really powerful and she's coming to the baptism tomorrow night and church on Sunday. The member who was with us yesterday offered to give her a ride and everything. Members help so much with missionary work. When we have members at lessons to share their testimonies and to get to know the investigators, it makes them so much better. So do everything you can to be involved in missionary work. 

So even though it feels like P day was yesterday there has been a lot going on. People still keep telling me I look like their relatives. Last night a family said I look like their cousin's husband, and the other day we were at Randy and Brailyn's house and they were looking up pictures of Harry Potter on Google, because they said I look like him. Elders are moving in and out of our apartment, they're reopening an area nearby so some elders were living here and are now leaving, so that's been kind of crazy. Also, it's really cool that Steve served in Caguas. I've asked a few people about Miri Flores, but nobody has recognized the name, and they do always use straws to drink from cans here. I've always been sure to use one, thanks Bekah. 

Anyways, that's what's been happening around here. Everything is good and we're doing well. The church is still true.

I love you

Elder Duclos

November 2, 2011 Caguas

Hey!

I'm glad to hear things are starting to get back to normal at home. I'm so glad Elise is home now, and I hope everything is okay with Holly. I'm so thankful for the eternal perspective we have because of the gospel. So many people here don't want to hear what we have to say because they already believe in Jesus Christ, but it's such a blessing to have the fulness of the gospel, to know Heavenly Father's plan for us, and what we need to do to follow it. That's why missionary work is so important, and everything going on at home has really strengthened my testimony of that. It's awesome to hear about Joseph, Hunter and Evan getting ready to go out. I'm excited to find out where Joseph is going, so let me know asap as possible. Its really cool that Hunter is going to the Dominican Republic. We have met quite a few Dominicans here, and they're all good people. and good cooks.

Things have been going well here. I think I told you about Sister Gonzalez's dad the other week. We had family night at their house again on Monday, and he's been reading the Book of Mormon. We had a lesson on it and how it can be a blessing in our lives, and next week we're going to teach him about the Plan of Salvation. They keep saying I look like his son, who is leaving on his mission to Honduras in a few days. I don't know what it is about the way I look but it seems like everyone in Puerto Rico has a son on grandson that looks exactly like me. We've been working hard here, and everything is going really well. We have some goals to strengthen the ward in Caguas, so please pray for the church here. The stake president made the goal to split the Caguas ward into two wards by the end of year so we are working really hard to make that happen. We will need a miracle. Last week was the primary program, and it was really good to see that. It good to see how blessed those kids were to have the gospel in their lives, and to havng of growing up in the church.

Anyways, everthing is going really well, and the church is stilll true.

I love you, 

Elder Duclos

October 19, 2011 Grandma D's Birthday

Hey,

It's been a really good week! We have some really solid investigators that we've been teaching. Alex, the guy we found on the first day, is progressing really well. We had a lesson with a ward member the other night and we taught him the Plan of Salvation. It was really powerful to be able to teach him what his potential is as a son of Heavenly Father, that God set up this whole plan so that he could obtain that potential and that we were there for that reason, to invite him to take the necessary steps that lead toward the Celestial Kingdom. That was really rewarding to watch him learn that because we knew it was something new for him but he accepted it and knew it was true. We have also been teaching Nelson, who is a pretty young kid. We've taught him a few times and he is always really willing to learn and make appointments for us to come back. We had an appointment with him yesterday but he didn't answer the door, we were worried but he called later and said it was because he was sick and he asked if we could come Thursday, so that was a good sign. On Monday we had Family Home Evening with the Gonzales family. The parents were both born in Puerto Rico but they moved to New York and started their family there and just moved in here recently, so the kids all speak English and are learning Spanish. Anyway, we taught the lesson, we taught about missionary work and how they can share the Gospel with their friends and family. One thing we didn't expect was that Sister Gonzales's dad was there, who wasn't a member, but he seemed interested and even participated in some of the practices. At the end we had everyone choose a pass along card to give out during the week and then we gave the family a Book of Mormon to give out too. When we did that the dad said, "hey can I have that, my daughter has been wanting me to read it" so we gave it to him and marked 3 Nephi 11 for him to read. After that, Sister Gonzales said her dad had met a lot of missionaries before and had never even talked to them, but this time he was interested. That was really cool to see.

Puerto Rico has been pretty cool. It's still really hot here. There are some weird things, like restaurants only ever serve Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, 7 Up and Fanta. I don't know why but it seems like that's just what all the Puerto Ricans like. Also in my apartment there's a bidet, but I still have not used it. Also, some people will sell these things called limbers from their houses, they're like popsicles but they're just in a little plastic cup, and they're really good. They also have a sandwich here called a tripleta. It's a huge sandwich with chunks of ham and chicken and all kinds of stuff. I got one the other day when I was on splits with my district leader, and that was probably the best thing I've eaten here. Anyways, I hope everything is going well at home, I love you and I'll talk to you later. The Church is true

Elder Duclos

Pictures From September 7 to October 5, 2011

October 5, 2011

Hey,

 

Things have been awesome here this week. General Conference was really great. I got to watch all the sessions at the stake center and they had it in English for the missionaries and English speaking members, so that was nice. I loved the talk about the Book of Mormon, I can't remember who gave it, but I'm going to use the example of the dots and lines in lessons. I was also really excited that they said the choir from the preisthood session were from Pleasant Grove. I think I saw a few people from the ward, and President Gleason. Christian Hansen said he'd be in it so I was watching for him, but never saw him. It was really cool knowing that everyone back home was watching the same thing I was, just like Dad said. I thought of everyone there and mom making cinnamon rolls, and it made me really thankful that I have such an awesome family. Next conference I'll be sure to look for starburst jelly beans.

 

Elder Griffin is from Provo, he played baseball. He really is a hard worker, he's new to this area too and the other elders didn't leave any progressing investigators so we do a lot of contacting. It's pretty cool though. We focus on finding families so we can build the Church here in Puerto Rico, because it's still relatively new. We have picked up a few investigators now, and that has been really cool. The other elders are all from the US except one from the Dominican Republic. His name is Elder Geronimo and he's really funny. Whenever I see him I yell Geronimo! and think of War of the Buttons. Our typical day is to wake up at 6:30, exercise for 30 minutes, then get ready. At 8 we have personal study and at 9 we have companionship study. After companionship study we go to the plaza for language study, we pretty much just contact for language study because the best way to learn is to talk with the native speakers. Then we come back for the other hour of companionship study, the in field training for the first 12 weeks. After that we eat lunch and go out. Usually we pick a few neighborhoods to go knock doors and we just get to work. We live about a 10 minute bike ride from our area so we just ride over and go contact. We go to any appointments we've made and then come back home by 9.

 

We found one investigator, Alex contacting on our very first day in Caguas and we made an appointment to go back last Monday. We didn't have a long time to teach him but we taught him about baptism and how it is such an important step in following Jesus Christ. Part of the in field training is that the new missionary is in charge of extending baptismal invitations so we testified to him about the importance of baptism and the Spirit was really strong and I asked him if he'd follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized and he said yes! That was so exciting. I could hardly believe it when he agreed. I actually asked him again because I wanted to be sure. So we set a date for the first Saturday in November. I'm so excited for him, he is really cool. He lives with his sister and daughter so we really hope they'll come listen too. We are going back today to teach about the restoration. The Zone leaders were contacting in a store and they found a family that lives in our area so we are going to go by their house today too. They said they were really cool and very receptive so that's really exciting.

 

Anyways Puerto Rico is great. I am learning so much, we are having a lot of fun and working hard and we've had some great success too. Pray for us and our investigators and everyone here in Puerto Rico. I love you, the church is true.

 

Elder Duclos