YALLAHS - Week 3

   August 17, 2015
        " We're finally here in JAMAICA". Thirteen missionaries  all!!  First night was at the mission home and I've finally met our Mission president, Pres. Brown. He is a very humble and  spiritual man. We had our first personal interview. And he shared with me a very simple but profound principle for our future success as missionaries..." Give your will to the Lord and He will give His". I need to remember that when I feel a little homesick.
      So, it is very humid and hot here. When you guys see a pig, that's me. Because I am sweating like one. It's really like I ran to the school to weld, did that for an hour, then ran to Maverick in my welding coveralls. It's dripping off my face!

                           We had transfer meeting on Wednesday the 12th in Spanish Town. My first companion is Elder McGregor who's been out a little over a year. He is from Jamaica, from Old Harbor and has been a very good trainer. The area I'm in is called Yallahs, on the east side of Jamaica. It is very, very poor over here. I am so grateful for clean food. By the way, thank you so much for the cookies mom, they are super delicious when we get home for the night. These past couple of days have been quiet busy. We've mostly visited less actives. There seem to be a lot here. They are quite friendly, which is quite nice. A lot of them ask me if I'm Chinese or Japanese. :P Only one has correctly guessed that I'm Filipino, well, half Filipino.

  

  Oh yeah, so Elder McGregor is a true trooper. The branch out here is super tiny and there are very few priesthood holders, so he is the Branch President. And I am the branch clerk! So any tips are appreciated!

  The food is pretty good, goat is quite fatty. But rice and beans are not bad at all.

 

 

 

Elder Numbers and Elder McGregor ( on the right )

 

The Church in Yallahs

 

 

 

 

 

 

He SURVIVED !!!! First Letter/email from the MTC - Week 2

July 29, 2015
        "Oh, my goodness!! This day was quite fast-paced since we said our goodbyes.  MTC life was sooooo hectic. I felt like a bag being tossed everywhere. From the time that I said my goodbyes , to being hauled for registration and getting our name tags, meeting our companion, getting our room assignments, whew! I felt dizzy.  My companion is Elder Riding, a quiet and friendly guy from Rexburg, Idaho. We had the chance of having some members as investigators and assessed their discussions with us. It was quite intimidating with some of the seasoned missionaries and their testimonies. But one of the missionaries bore a very inspiring one that implied to us not to be afraid to bear our own testimonies.  It was quite a day!!!

Aug. 6, 2015
   "The first few days were pretty stressful. Once asked by our instructor how we were feeling the first couple of days, we replied unanimously.." We were freaking out!!! LOL .  We've taught 6 discussions so far and have done well. At the TRC ( Teaching Resource Center) volunteer members come as our investigators. The food here is waaay better than cafeteria food from school. I've gained like 4 pounds..lol. , not a lot I know, but still more than I usually do in a week. Finally got my shot. And I was able to give a priesthood blessing to my companion because he hates needles ! We'll be leaving on Tuesday for Jamaica. There are 8 missionaries from my district that would be going to Jamaica as well.  It's happening so fast. There's a lot to learn all at once but I am grateful for everything that I've been learning from here.