2nd Transfer: Week 3 ~ Crab Hunting!

Hey mom! I loved seeing the pictures of you and everyone going on that amazing hike. I cannot believe how BIG Lauren has gotten.. she looks just like I did when I was little.. I can't believe it. Looks like I'm looking in the mirror! She is so cute. Her blonde hair is getting blonder. How cute! I am glad you guys had fun. I almost cried just seeing all of you, I miss you guys a lot. Some times it feels like the days are going real slow because I get home sick but don't worry I won't be coming home. I signed up for this and I'm going to finish. Don't get me wrong I love Jamaica and my investigators but it gets rough and hard some times. Well mom this week we had a great week. Our little branch is growing through missionary work. We are doing our best. All the members just love missionaries.. more so than the leaders of the branch which is not good. We always have to talk to them about sustaining their leaders.

This is S that we handed over to the Elders. We felt that he was only picturing me and Sister B as friends so we decided to hand him over. Hopefully they can help him in some way.We have been teaching this guy named R (he was a referral from the N family). We taught him 2 lessons and he called us the next day saying that he prayed about his baptismal date (that we extended to him) and he said that he wants to be baptized. So we have been working with him. His baptismal date is actually this Sunday but I am going to extend it one more week so we can get all the lessons in. I love R! He is in his 30's and he has the best spirit I swear. Always smiling and laughing and he already loves our church. I teared up when he called our phone telling us that he wants to be baptized! Heavenly Father really works miracles in others lives. It is a privilege that Heavenly Father has trusted us to find R because he was truly ready to hear this gospel. We have really been teaching with the spirit. I have started to recognize how the spirit works and it has been such a blessing. Another miracle that has happened in his life after these 2 lessons is that he was addicted to smoking. Yesterday he came up to me and Sister B and said that he no longer has the desire to smoke :) I am just so happy for him!

Searching for crabs

Last night we went to the N families house and R was there (so we could teach him) and we ended up going crab hunting at night! It was a blast! I took some pictures so I will send them to you. R is the one holding the crab (the one who will be getting baptized either this Sunday or next) and the boys are M and M...part of the Nelson family:)The N's live down near the ocean.. but up a little hill. crabs are all over the streets at night so that's when it is best to go crab hunting. The crabs are HUGE here. Some that we found were bigger than the one you see R holding. And yes! I was

scared! cause they are fast. I walked in the path of one but couldn't see cause it was pitch black outside. ( we have no street lights except like a couple). So it was interesting.The funny thing about that night was that the family was saying " we are catching a lot of crabs! its because the missionaries are blessing us" and they would continue to say "lets say another prayer" haha. They find them in the walls, and then we went into the Bush and found a ton in the Bush (which is in the forest). We are literally surrounded by coconut trees and all kinds of plants. So they hide in the forest and we go out with the machetes and look for them. In R's picture if you look closely you will see him holding the machete under his armpit. lol! He is a funny man. (Did they wear shoes?) They had sandals on. But I think they took them off at some points. They used the machetes to stop the crab then they stomped on the crab to keep it from running away. Then they picked up the crab by their claws and then dropped them in the bag. It was funny. One pinched poor M's foot! haha!!I am not sure if we have crabs here like they do there. I haven't seen any anyway but I haven't gone searching for them so I don't know. It was such a good night! We are actually going to be having crab curry soup tonight....with the crab claw.. gross. But hopefully it will be good. We will see. I will take a picture of the food I will be eating for Family Home evening tonight. I can now say that we caught our own food! (Had Sister B gone before?) No that was new to her to :) It was fun last night. I am glad the pictures turned out good. Hopefully I don't look dead in them because of me not wearing makeup. This is my first time revealing my face to the world. But oh well I don't care. I am just having fun and enjoying my time. That's the least of my concerns.

It is a privilege to be called to serve here in Jamaica. Another thing is that it is almost hurricane season!! and it has been down pouring all week. It has been insane! it was flooding everywhere. When we would go up mountains it was like going up a flowing river. It was crazy. It is real nice to have the truck back finally but we don't have any gas in it and we have no money to even give it gas. I swear if its not one thing its another. My sickness has gotten better. Oh and by the way, tell dad I bought a fan:). It was 40 dollars. Me and Sister B were so flipping excited ! They are powerful fans and we are excited for tonight so we both can be cold for once :) The fan definitely makes a difference! I hate spending a ton of money because we are broke and everything is expensive here and I need the money for food. I will try and call President B and see if he could send us a little bit of cash for gas for the truck. Hopefully he will say yes :(

An amazing family

This is the wonderful Sister N's family and their beautiful home! Sister N's home is just one room. They have a teenage son as well. They only have 2 beds in that house so they all sleep in there together. They cook their food in a pit over fire. Pretty sad but they are a blessed family. Sister N used to be a less active and then we started to go and see them (almost twice a week) and now they are coming to church every Sunday and are having family home evening! We are going to start having family home evenings with them beginning today so I am excited! We don't know what we are teaching for FHE but the spirit will guide us. He always does. I am thinking about using my picture book though and sharing a good story that has a

The kitchen

good spiritual message with it. But whatever we choose it will be great :) I will give the kids the bracelets you sent :) I told them to find a scripture that they like and read it to me then I will give them a bracelet :) They will love them. This is Z and their kitchen! i told her to pretend like she was cooking some thing. haha! She is a good sport :) But believe it or not, that house is actually a better home than some I have seen. We teach in other homes that are worse than that. But now you can see how the poverty here is bad. That is how the houses are for almost

every person that we go and see and teach. :) But it is okay. You see M's house in the back? Her house is like living in a mansion in Jamaica. She is blessed to have that home but even inside her home she does not have much. She only has curtains as doors. Something funny that I want to share is that every time I go and use a bathroom at a members or even investigators home you don't use the handle to flush. They have a bucket of water right next to you. You pick up the bucket and pour it in the toilet bowl and it flushes down the pipe.It's kind of fun.The N family lives about  and we will be having Family Home evening with

Me and M

them as well. They are a recent convert family so we have been working with them. They (N's and N's) are 2 amazing families. (I mentioned her initial culture shock) Yes mom.. you can see how my culture shock was bad. Trust me.. when I saw what I had go through my first night in Jamaica I wanted to come home. My first night I was in so much shock to see how they live here. I cried real bad my first night. It is just horrible to see families in the worst circumstances. But now I just see how they are blessed. Yeah they don't have much but by being with their families and working together that, to me, is the most important thing. It really strengthens their family. What you see in M B... that's only in the tourist areas.. then you go out of them and it is just terrible.

We also have been teaching this guy named A. He is smoking and we think he is not keeping the Law of Chastity. E is a member and she is starting to not come to church much anymore. We are working with A and E and they say every time we leave they feel good. But then the week goes on and Satan gets a hold of them again and they forget the feeling that they felt during our lesson. So that's what is hard for them. I sent you the pictures by the way so check your junk mail :) Oh and I keep forgetting to take a picture of my house. Sorry mom!

Its been so exciting to see our labors actually helping families. We found the less actives through the records that we found in a box in our house that hasn't been looked at by most of the missionaries who worked here. So through prayer we found the names that stuck out to us and contacted them and now we are reactivating:)We also reactivated this less active man, Brother J. He has a heart condition and our first lesson was with him at the hospital and he ended up coming to church. Everyone hadn't seen him in 4 years! They were all happy to see him again and we are now teaching him and reactivating him as well. Its been a wonderful experience to help here. Did you get my pictures I sent ?

Some thing that I learned is that with investigators having a good member fellow shipper is the way to go. It really does help them feel welcome at church and helps them to progress as well. So whenever a missionary asks you to come out to a lesson with them the Lord is really trusting you and knows that you can help that investigator feel welcomed and help them progress. So be good member missionaries there. Just like the General Authorities say...yes we have a lot of missionaries out in the world and there are a lot of members in the church now across the world. But that's still not enough! We all need to come together to hasten the Lords work. So help out all you can:)

Oh some thing that I want to share is that this branch is finally taking off! We now have priesthood holders who are members doing the sacrament now. It used to be the missionaries but now we have young men and worthy priesthood holders doing the sacrament. Most of the priesthood holders (who bless the sacrament here) we taught how to read. We had to work with them and they had to go over and over the prayers throughout the week to finally get it. And now they finally bless the sacrament! :)

In my mission most of the members and even investigators can't read so we have been trying to teach most of them. We teach them by reading the Book of Mormon there. We read it to them and teach them. Then in the lesson we have them read. We teach them only one verse at a time then we give them a Book of Mormon CD and have them read and follow along. Then we go back and follow up on their reading and teach them what it is saying. Me and Sister B both have gotten so good at that. The Holy Ghost really has to teach us and tell us what to say for us to even help the people here.

So the next transfer is in 3 weeks.. I am so nervous. I know that Sister B will be getting transferred. She has been here for 6 months. She will bless another area :) . I am going to be so sad! but I know the Lord has another good companion for me and she will be great to. Sister B is convinced me and her were friends in the Pre-Existence. lol she cracks me up! I bet she is right though. Every time the elders here in our zone and district call us to see how things are going, me and Sister B do something goofy to where the elders are like "I like to hear the unity of your companionship" HAHA. We laugh so hard. I think we are the closest companionship they have seen. I swear me and her are the same. We love missionary work and we work so hard.

(I mentioned her climbing up a tree when she gets thirsty) Me climbing up a coconut tree in a skirt? NOSA. That won't be happenin. I will be calling Brother W to get me a coconut. :)

(What does that mean?) Means no way. haha! sorry . Habit

How are you guys mom?! It was good to see you guys in the pictures. It cracked me up to see Lauren's cake and of course she would be eating the frosting. She is definitely my sister:) lol. By the way I got her little dresses.. and a bracelet. I hope they will fit. They are stretchy dresses. and I'm thinking the smaller one she can wear as a shirt with some pants or some thing. But Those sizes are how small the kids are here. Lauren is looking older in the pictures and its nice to see you guys going to the lake all the time now, I bet you just LOOOOVVVEEEE that don't you mom? haha!

I am glad that all of you are doing good.. I pray for you guys every night. I have been having dreams with some of you guys in them. Its annoying! Because all it is doing is just making me even more home sick. So I just have to keep praying and focus on the work. And in no time.. I will be home :)

Oh by the way I didn't have the chance to talk to President L about pen pal or donations because we didn't have a meeting he was very busy yesterday. So this Sunday I will talk to him about that.

We have been listening to the CD's that you sent. We jam out to them all the time. Thanks for sending them! Seriously with out music we would die.. or we would just end up listening to the reggae and dance hall that's always playing outside......which is not good.

I would be really sad to leave this area but excited for a new experience. I know I will be here  for at least 2 or 3 months. But I don't know we will see. I am really scared to take over this area and teach my new companion the ways in this area..we do cover the largest area in the mission. It's a big responsibility. Me taking over this area and teaching my companion how we do things and where things are scare me.. but It will be a good learning experience. Oh man.

But anyway mom my time is up on the computer. I love all of you and hope you all will be well and healthy! BYE FAMILY LOVE YOU!!

2nd Transfer: Week 2 ~ First (and hopefully only) Sickness

I got to chat with Mackenzie again yesterday. We both look forward to that each week:). So things make a little more sense I put some explanations in italics.

Best Friends

That's crazy !! He (President B) called you. That's awesome. Isn't he awesome? I just love him and yes he knows I love the people here in Jamaica. I'm glad you got to talk to him! (He sounds American ~ no accent) He lives in Jamaica and is an example to all of Jamaica. He goes on t.v. and talks about the church here. He doesn't speak in patois. He does sound american :) When me and Sister B were in an interview with him after zone conference on Tuesday (we are the only sisters in our zone), he pointed at me and said "at some point in your mission here you will be a Sister Training Leader". Sister B and I looked at each other and I am like.. what in the world NOOOO! Too much work goes into that. I asked Sister B if that's common for all the sisters at one point to be an STL and she said no! So.... uh oh we will see. That will definitely help me learn a ton.. but anyway we will see. I hope I don't leave the Jamaica Island, but Sister B said "if your parents have to

Rasta Man burning trash behind our house. He is my friend:)
He helped kill our lizards. He is hilarious.

get a police form for president then you will be going off island". So if Prez ever e-mails you asking for a police form thing then let me know so I can be prepared to leave Jamaica, but as for now I hope that will never happen :) As for the shoes thing (I've offered to donate shoes) I will definitely ask President L about that and we will do it in a secret way. As for this week we didn't get to do much.. I was sick all weekend. I had to go to the doctor on Friday because I thought I was getting an ear infection. Come to find out I had a Big White Sore in my throat that was affecting my ear every time I swallowed so they gave me a lot of meds to take. Sister B told me we couldn't go proselyting til today, cause I needed my rest. It was a great break but also very boring. We are so happy to go out again to proselyte. I just love the mission. I am getting a little homesick, I will try to not let it get to me though. I have

Sister Training Leader Meeting

had dreams all week about you guys and some nights they are bad and some nights they are good dreams but its been freaking me out. So I am glad to know all of you are doing good.. Satan is really trying to break me apart. He is working on me and Sister B hard lately... ugh but don't worry everything is great! I love everything and everyone here so I just keep doing the work! :)
(Concerning life decisions/prayer) Just put your trust in the Lord. He always knows best, better than we do. We just have to be patient. That is something he has taught me so far in this area.. is to be patient and to humble myself. I have learned those 2 things in these 2 months. I sent you a ton of pictures for you to put on my blog! So enjoy :) They are the rest from my camera. I will take more pictures this week. Of the taxis and of my house in stuff :) I get my truck back this Thursday!!!! Oh my Lanta

So hungry!

we are so excited. We are actually getting a brand new truck! I am scared to drive it.. I don't want to get a new truck :( I'm gonna wreck it. I will be driving like a snail but everyone here are bad drivers so they will probably run into us.

This pic is of Sister B trying to get down some fruit called Tambrine. She be hungry! I can not eat it plain, only good with sugar I heard from a lot of people here. So I will try to eat it with sugar next time. I LOVE MY MISSION woohoo :) (She wants the YW in Jamaica to have support. I suggested pen pals) I can talk to President L and the young women president about pen pals (whenever he gets a young women president) and we can set some thing up. I'm sure your activity day girls would love that! as well as these wonderful young girls here.. we only have about 1 active young woman here so far and she is the daughter of Sister R who has cancer. She is a sweet heart. We also have some young women that 

Jamaican Money

 will come in. We are working on helping them have the desire to come to young women so they can be strengthened. That will help them want to come every Sunday. So we are working with the girls and I will let you know :) That's a great idea mom! Yesterday at church we got some tourists.. just one little couple from SLC... they were a cute couple. Sister R is not doing good... President L told us to prepare her for the spirit world?! Oh my goodness we could not believe what came out of his mouth! but anyway.. I feel bad for her family its going to be so sad when she passes.. i love her to death!

Montego Bay 

Oh yeah Elder Holland is coming! I want to meet him so freaking bad.. but we can't go.. cause the new stake isn't in our area.... gosh dang it. Me and Sister B have to go and sneak in!! hahaha only if we could.. he is my favorite!!! I just love Elder Holland.. and its his first time in Jamaica!! I want to experience it :( dang elders who get to go and see him.. oh well.. I will just talk to President B about how it was when he met him. I don't think we have anything coming up except this Friday we all are going to clean the church....us and the church members.....that's about it. By the way dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Love you, I'm glad to have you as a father :)

Oh how I want to get in!

(I mentioned us hiding and visiting while she's there) Oh yeah you all would get caught so fast! hahaha! but anyway.. it is very beautiful here that's for sure. Some days I just want to jump in that ocean. well I don't know when this computer is going to shut off on me.. but.... its freaking me out and I don't want to get cut off without saying I love you. so If i don't reply back you know why just know I am doing good and that I love you all :)

Driving, on our way to Montego Bay. Like our view? Talk about tourist area. They have that place looking good there! But our streets here look nothing like that.

Streets of Montego Bay

There is nothing else that I can think of right now that you can put in my box.. just my medication! don't forget my medication please. and.. yeah that's about it. I love you and thank you for sending me the box i am excited to receive it! Tell dad happy birthday for me!!

My computer got shut off and I just had to pay extra 50 for 30 extra minutes.. so just to tell you that I love you and always pray for you . I miss you all and tell Adam that I love him and am glad that he is doing better, tell Brittany I love her... I hope she is doing okay in SLC still.. and tell Chandler I said I am glad that he is loving college out in Idaho. I still don't know what I am going to do after I come home from this mission.. I hope by the time I leave I know what to do.

M is so cute! I love her. You will meet her one day.

That makes me laugh to know that all of you went to the lake! Dad would go all day everyday if he could. hahaha! and tell Lauren I love her and am so happy that she gets to go to the lake. Tell her I miss her and all of my siblings. Tell dad I said Happy Birthday!! I love my dad. and I love you mom! I am glad all of you are doing well, I miss all of you ..and am happy you all are healthy and doing good. Well I should go now but I will talk to President L about pen pal and donations and I will take more pictures this week and send them to you next time :) Tell everyone who asks bout me that I miss them and I am loving Jamaica. I am doing good so you don't need to worry. Well mom I love you and stay strong! love you! stay safe my family :) I gotta go :) Bye!!

2nd Transfer: Week 1 ~ First Drink From A Coconut!:)

Koi Pond

Hey Mom! So I feel like such a horrible daughter, I forgot to tell you Happy Mothers Day! You are the best mother and I am so happy I was put into this family. Heavenly Father knew you could deal with me that's why he picked you and dad to be my parents. Mom you are my best friend I tell Sister B that all the time. You really are I love you so much and am so very thankful for what you do for our family. Tell dad happy early birthday! and tell him how much I love him and am so thankful to have him for a father. I hope I didn't offend him by asking about work, I am just curious cause I am excited to see where I will be coming home to! Hopefully            

Too funny!

somewhere awesome and somewhere where it will fit Lauren. I love you all and was so happy to talk with you all on Skype. It was hard to say good-bye but I had to be pulled away to get back to work. So for the box you can just put little snacks. That is hilarious that all of you are sending me stickers! The kids will love them! Thank the family for me. Also with the accent, of course I can't really tell because I am with Sister B all the time. So If I sounded different its because of my companion and

Their Book of Mormon Stand

the people that we teach. I have gotten into the language here. I just love it! Well I will send you some more pictures! and with the young women thing, me and Sister B are working hard with the Branch President here. He is trying to get young womens going. These people/girls.. I love them all. I am sending you pictures by the

I love skittles!

way so you should already have some. I've sent you quite a few already. I haven't sent you all the pictures I have taken here so far because it takes forever for this computer to load them.I thought these pics were funny because it said don't go in with the fish? Seriously who would want to swim in there? hahahaha! This is a picture of their Book of Mormon stand that they set up on the street. All four missionaries were there along with the senior couple. They got 38 perspective investigators! Very exciting!  
Oh and the things I bought for you here I will try and send them when I get the truck back. Snacks...hummm yes Skittles..

Me and Sister H

 lots of skittles. I love skittles so much since I have been here. You sent me skittles in my greenie box I was so happy :). This is my bedroom. It was a hot day...and more mac n cheese...yes lots and some more broccoli and cheese rice a roni (only that kind). Can you give us a big bag full of those suckers with the tootsie roll inside?! They are called Tootsie pops or something? We would love some of those! We love suckers haha :) Some thing I forgot to tell you is that our water here goes on and off. So some days when I take a shower there's only like a little drip and it takes me forever to wash off.  Tell dad that we don't have to memorize scriptures but we do have to memorize 8 fundamentals, Christlike attributes, Joseph Smith experience and some thing else i forgot. We are planning to take her back to Jamaica when she gets home ~ you all will come to Jamaica and meet all of the church members :) I am excited to show you all around! We will be getting new sister missionaries so maybe I will train one! That would be a lot of fun :)

YUM!

We were up in LH seeing Brother

W and I was thirsty so he climbed up the coconut tree, got me down a coconut, cracked the top with a machete and gave me a straw. I started to drink :) and was no longer thirsty. 

Bag Juice

Bag juice is just fruit juice. Its really yum. My fav. flavor is tropical one. It is 20 dollars for bag juice :) and i am addicted! FYI: Nephi and I about died when she said that "caprisun" cost $20.00. However, when I had time to think I realized that she meant Jamaican money. The equivalent in American money is $0.23. A quarter sounds much better!

(I told her that Lauren saw a microscopic spider and was scared to death) ~ hahaha!! Poor Lauren. She is getting cuter and cuter by the minute! Her hair is getting so long and she is getting so big. I miss her! She makes me laugh. Well mom just in case this computer shuts down I love you and am so happy i got to see you and the family yesterday. Tell everyone I am doing great and to pray for me and my companion!! Love you all! :)  (We end several times during a conversation in case her computer shuts off)

Banana Spider

Montego Bay

Here is a pic driving to Montego Bay to pick up Sister B from the airport after her temple trip. These are the better looking houses. Not what we see in our area :) I'm glad you like the pictures! Yes I will take pictures of my investigators at their house and I will take a picture of our house. I would have taken a pic of it today but it was pouring rain outside today. Like POURING. It was insane so we stayed in today. So I will take more pictures and send them to you :) Well mom it was good talking to you I will be getting off soon and I don't want it shutting off without me telling you goodbye. so Love you and thank you for sending me packages. you are the best! love you and stay safe :) and tell dad that I sent him an e-mail too. BYE My Family Love you :) I am off to go get pizza with the elders now! woot woot love you mom and tell everyone else I love them to bye!

There is a lady in Mackenzie's branch who is dying of colon cancer. She is in extreme pain and cries out for help. Mackenzie and her companion have helped her and her heart aches for her and her children. The majority of women in Jamaica are single mothers. As of late, Sister R's sister is caring for her. I asked Mackenzie what her name is so we could put her name in the temple. We hope that her pain can be relieved as she passes through the remainder of her time here on this earth. Please pray for her and her children. So sad......

C R is her name :) LOVE YOU MOMMMM and ALL OF MY FAMILYYY . STAY SAFE MON!! hahaha :) Thanks for the prayers!

Mother's Day Skype Call....So Wonderful!!

Yesterday Mackenzie got to Skype with us for Mother's Day! We weren't sure what she would be able to do so we were thrilled to know we could actually see her as we chatted. The first thing we noticed was her shiny, sweaty little face:). The bright colored house was in the background with her companion sitting on a couch talking to her parents over the phone. She was wearing a bright colored shirt that she had bought there and Jamaican bracelets on her wrists that are so Mackenzie. She looked so cute! and she is already starting to get an accent. I was so surprised! I think it's because she has a Jamaican companion so she literally listens to it day in and day out. She was so embarrassed when we brought it to her attention. She looked absolutely wonderful and while she shared an hour full of great times and hardships we felt of her love for her mission. She expressed it over and over. Even though she can't sleep at night because it's too hot, she lives with every bug under the sun, looks at extreme poverty every day, and is starving she says she's never been happier. She has immersed herself in the Lord's work and was so proud to show her Dad her flagged, marked up scriptures. I wasn't able to get any good pictures because I was so caught up in the moment that I wasn't thinking clearly on how to do that. So that's my only regret. Other than that, it was a perfect call and we were so excited and thrilled to see her. How grateful I am that she's there learning things that will benefit her life forever. She's an inspiration.

Already hoping to hear from her today:)

1st Transfer: Week 6 ~ My First Baptism! and Skype!

The Falls

So this week was crazy.... as you know we went to the Sister Training Leader Meeting. Well as I was driving there I got into a bit of an accident in Kingston. So many crazy roads. I was turning left down a road to get to Kingston and there was a sign that said "Do Not Enter". So immediately I put it into reverse and since we have a huge truck that we drive, I could not see the little car behind me and I bumped into him. It wasn't a bad dent but of course once you damage some thing they are going to find every little thing that is wrong with their car and have the church pay for it. It was very rough.. I had to contact the office Elders and AP Elders. It was very upsetting for me. My FIRST ACCIDENT. I have never gotten into a car wreck before.. ugh...it was such a horrible night for me. Then of course they had to talk to President B. I love President B he is very comforting and so nice but when we got back home we got a call from the office elders and they told us that I will be suspended from driving for 3 weeks and President B wants us to walk for those 3 weeks. Since we have the biggest area that we have to cover in the whole mission and only me and Sister B covers it.. we have to taxi all over the place.. and its expensive.. I don't think President B understands all the areas that we sisters cover.. its very discouraging. So I will be talking to Prez about that today. As for all of the truck problems me and Sister B came to the conclusion that we are just meant to walk, that there is someone out there ready to hear the gospel and we have been passing them all the time while driving the truck and the only way to find them is by walking. So..... through faith in Heavenly Father we have been working very hard and walking and taking taxi's all over the place. Its okay though. The funny thing about taxi's here is that when you think you don't have enough room to fit someone else in the car.... they find room and they climb on in.. some of them even end up going in the back of the car with no seats. They pack the taxi's up full of people. One time I was so squished that I was literally on my companion. hahaha! Its hilarious.

The Sister Training leader meeting was good and we learned a lot. We skyped with the off island sisters. By the way the sisters are dominating this mission. Only sisters are off island except one companionship of elders in Nassau.

We didn't go see S yesterday (even though I love her). She is hard because she loves us being over (she does our hair in stuff) but she doesn't really listen to the lessons.. I mean she listens but there are so many personal things going on with her right now that she dismisses it and tells us about her personal problems.. so then we try to help her with those as well as bringing in some doctrine into the lesson. So we try hard with her.

Brother G before being baptized 

But anyway, as you know we had a baptism yesterday. Brother G got baptized!! When he came out of the water he said "I feel so happy and so light" it was amazing. His family came out to support him and it was an awesome experience. Now he is looking forward to getting sealed to his fiance next June. He is in his 70's. He is so humble and I am so glad he made the decision to be baptized so that now he can live with his Heavenly Father again. I love Brother G. He is also considered as "my baptism" because I have taught him longer than the other sister who taught him before. So that was my first baptism and it was a great experience. 

Brother G wanted Elder H to baptize him so this is Elder H with the younger boys walking to the sea. The young boys just love him!

The family that you see walking is R and T with their little girl K. They are the most wonderful family you would ever meet. They were Pentecostal but missionaries worked hard teaching them and now they are wonderful members of the church.

An amazing and very stalwart family!

Sister B, Brother G and Sister J

Sisters J and B with Brother G and
 his fiance, P(on the right of Brother G) 

As we went into Fast and Testimony Meeting yesterday a wonderful woman whose name is S ( I just love her) went up to bare her testimony. She began to say "I love this gospel with all of my heart, even when I do not have the best house or do not have much I feel like the richest person in the world." That really touched me.. I began to tear up because these people literally have nothing..... But yet they are willing to come to church every Sunday and partake of the sacrament.. some of them walk from far but most take taxi's. It is amazing to me. We are really hastening the work here. This is the hardest area in Jamaica I have been told.. and me and Sister B and the elders have been working our booties off and it is paying off. Elder H who has been out forever ,and is actually getting transferred out tomorrow morning (but is leaving for home in like 4 months), said in all the areas that he has covered out on his mission, this has been the hardest area and that this is the first place he would bring his family because this is the area where he has grown the most. I agree with him, It is so hard but I tell you what.. we have received so many blessings and have seen miracles as we have been working and loving the people here. I love it. But that was my week..it was good. Later on today we are going to be having a going away party for Elder H and we are having Jerk (Chicken parts with jerk which is a different sauce they put on it) and just hanging out together. Its really sad. We are all going to miss him. He has helped the young men immensely here. Now almost all the young men have received the Aaronic Priesthood. Our recent convert Brother H has received the Priesthood as well and is now blessing the sacrament. How amazing is that?! We don't have 50 active members that come to church yet but still it is growing with some amazing converts. Through our faith we can make this work hasten here. They said that when we have 50 active members then we can get our own building for the church. That's our goal, even the members are helping us missionaries hasten the work here. We love the members and the members love us. We are just one big happy family. Being out on a mission is the happiest I have ever been my whole life. Yes its hard but its wonderful. You get to see the Lords work happen right in front of you. Its a privilege to be his instrument in Jamaica. well Mom enough talking I just had a good week. I miss you all so much and love you all. 

(I mentioned to her that by sharing the gospel with someone she is planting the seed) That's the thing here...its very hard to plant that seed. We are walking now in this country which is very hard also. Guys always go "PSSST" really loud that means they want your attention and its hard to teach a man without him trying to flirt with you. Its annoying I swear I never thought getting this attention would ever annoy me but as a missionary its hard work and we have no time to play around. But we try to get it through their heads. We are going through a very discouraging time right now. Because we are walking our numbers have dropped. We are unable to go and see most of our people since they live almost an hour away on the west and on the east. So its hard.. and we can't walk there..it would take all day to even reach them. But I will be talking to prez today. Some thing that I have learned out here on my mission is that you cannot give up trying.

(I asked her if she has done service projects lately) Everyday is service for me..doing the work. We will wash and clean outside of others houses but nope we haven't had any service opportunities lately because of the truck situation. We stayed pretty busy with traveling to Kingston in things. The elders are building the outhouse and that is coming along great. The lady that they are helping build the outhouse for, built her own house. There are some wood parts where she didn't have a saw so its uneven but she sounds like an awesome lady.

(Our little Lauren can have an attitude:)) Lauren is another Mackenzie that is for sure. That little terd needs to learn the gospel. That cute little celestial being. I have been praying for dad to get a job as well. That is hilarious how Lauren knew she needed to pray for that!! I bet dad was rolling. I love you and I miss all of you. I am glad you all are doing good, dad says that you will be heading off to the Lake again hahaha I know you are "excited" about that mom :) Well I love you all and I get to Skype with you this Mothers day on Sunday. The senior couple said I can come over there and Skype on their laptop, and then they are gonna feed us (FINALLY we get food!) I am excited to see you.. I will be getting on Skype after 4 o clock here. I don't know the difference of times from here and America so you can figure that out lol but yeah I will be on after 4 o clock so make sure to be in tune! Could I have your Skype name or e-mail so I can Skype you this Sunday? That would be great.. also the skirts that we bought from that chicken store (She remembered the name later...Dirt Cheap:)) you can send to me. They are not too short so when you have the time could you send the rest of my skirts to me? I am losing weight and my clothes are getting baggier. But its okay..the Jamaicans here are fattening me up. Last night Sister D (Brother G's future wife) made us dinner and she said she is going to fatten me up. And let me tell you.. the Jamaican food will fatten you up. Sister B is trying to not be Maga (not be skinny) so she is trying to eat all she can. I am excited to Skype with you and see my family this Sunday!! If its not 4 then it will be a little later but make sure to stay logged in. I need your Skype info.

(I asked if she had gotten a sunburn yet) Nope I am not sunburned..I got a little one but it turned into a tan so its not too bad. Lotion is working good. Tell Lauren I love her and I am excited to Skype and see my family Woohoooo!! You get to meet the missionaries.

But anywayyyyy, my mission is going good. Well my time is about up I love you mom and I am glad to know my family is doing good. I can not wait to see you on Sunday!! WOOOOHOOO! okay bye !! Love you all:)