Mother's Day

We were able to skype with Aaron on Mother's Day. Technology is amazing!  Everyone came over and we bombarded him with lots of questions. The 40 minutes went by way too fast and didn't seem long enough, but it was so good to see him happy and well.

Whenever Aaron says the week has gone by fast, we know that he is busy.  The first month in Chaguanas has been quite an adjustment getting used to a different place, culture, climate, people, language...oh and of course the food!  Roti (similar to tortillas) served with various fillings.  Goat meat...in his words "shouldn't be edible. It's so tough and tastes like lawn clippings, haha."  Smalta - he describes as a Caribbean molasses drink that he had to choke down.  Chicken livers - 'gross'...and last but not least - Chicken Feet! "Oh-my-gosh! Nastiest feeling in the world! Looks like an alien hand."  (He does say that Elder Gibson is a good cook :)

Working Hard in Chaguanas

"Wow...the week has gone by really fast!  The members are starting to trust us, and we are starting to get dinner appointments. I am starting to understand the Trini language...haha it's super hard because it's pretty broken....wah sa bi naw (what's up boy now). Our branch in Chaguanas has like 30 active members and 200 in-active members; that is what we are focusing on so that it's easier to get referrals.  President and Sister Mehr told us the first day that this is one of the hardest missions to get baptisms and confirmations...I bring on the challenge!"

About my area:  We have the south and the sisters have the north because they have a car. Most of the people have nice cars and phones but really poor houses.  There's a bar on every corner...they love to drink down here.  Our apartment was super dirty when we first got here.  When we walk in the door, we have the sink and desks for studying/eating.  Then there is a mud room, bathroom, and bedroom. There is no ac, just a fan.  We have a washer and dryer...the first time we used the washer it flooded and we had to spend an hour and a half mopping!  The water isn't safe to drink...we have filters.  It's like a 5-10 minute walk to church in an old apartment building on the top level.  Instead of knocking on doors, we "call in" to houses from the street because most of them have gates.  

Looking out our window

"We went to Maracas Bay - it was super pretty! It's home of the famous 'Bake-n-Shark' (battered and deep fried shark in a piece of fry bread)...  It was yummy!"

P-Day at Maracas Bay