Dear Dad,
Yeah, everyone is talking about the new temple down here too. about a year and a half ago elder Anderson came down to the island and basically told all of the members that they would not be receiving a temple until more members started coming to church and more started paying tithing, after one brother asked him why PR didn't have a temple yet, Elder Anderson responded that it was because there were not 350 worthy priesthood holders to work in the temple, and until they got them, a temple was not even a thought!
And then we all got hit by a hurricane 6 months later and 700,000 Puerto Ricans left the island. A lot of active members among them, leaving us, even a year later, with really low attendance at the churches. So the records show that there are 23,000 baptized members in Puerto Rico, but only 2,000 come to church every week. Basically I tell you that because, even though it has been the dream of every Puerto Rican member to get a temple for the last 20+ years, at this point in time it was the last place any and everybody thought he was going to mention, just cause the Island does not seem ready or able to support a temple right now.
But I guess President Nelson saw something different, a brighter future than anyone thought would have been possible for the Island. When he announced it, we were all in the Stake center. Everybody dead silent and listening to all of the new temples announced. When he said Puerto Rico, everybody started whooping and cheering and clapping. First time I've ever whooped and cheered and clapped inside of a chapel during an official meeting! But everyone was so happy and loud that nobody even heard him announce the Utah temple! After the meeting closed, everyone, still in tears, started to hug and laugh and cry! Everyone is so excited and happy, but also aware, at least the leaders, of the huge task in front of us to prepare the Island for the new temple. cause like I explained, honestly right now the members on this Island are not able to support it. and all of the bishops/stake presidents/elder quorum presidents are going to be busy ministering and reactivating to bring back these lost families that need to help support the temple project. Meanwhile for the missionaries: we are going to be busy with the tasks given us by general authorities. Elder Anderson in that same visit 18 months ago told all of the missionaries that we needed to and were able to double baptisms. More recently last month Elder Gonzalez (area president) told us that we have the capability to triple them. And honestly in order to get the Island ready to support a temple of the Lord, we are going to need to triple them. So yes, emotions and excitement are high, and they are fueling us to take on with courage and faith the task we now all have before us.
Dear Mom,
Yeah!!!! Conference was super good! thanks for all your notes Mom! I took a pic, Ill have to read through them later.... Hope all is well back home! I'm doing well here, super excited for the temple, sent dad a pretty long letter with some thoughts on it so I hope you can share! Everything is going great down here! Thank you so much for the Package! Lots and Lots and Lots of love from the cool Caribbean!
Elder Bailey
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