Baptisms!

"Saturday was really good. Sylvester was a little nervous at first but after he was baptized he was grinning ear to ear.  He definitely had the light of Christ in his eyes after he was dunked.  Afterwards we took pictures and went to the cultural hall and the missionaries did a musical number.  It was really powerful.  As they let the congregation bear their testimonies I got up and shared mine.  I can definitely say this mission thing is growing on me."

"Anil's baptism was really great. The Spirit was very strong and the program was super powerful.  We had an investigator show up to the baptism as well.  I was able to do the Confirmation in church and give him the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  Anil is being taught the New Member Lessons now and absolutely loves the Doctrine and Covenants."

So proud of these young men...ALL of them!

Testimony

My testimony is growing everyday of my mission.  I'm having a great time teaching and it's actually one of the best things I like to do.  The spirit I feel is pretty amazing...

I know that this is the Restored Church of Jesus Christ.  I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and that he sent us here to succeed and not to fail.  He is always there for us in our time of need and it is up to us to put forth the effort and go to Him first.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the Word and Work of God.  I love everything about this gospel and I absolutely love being a disciple of Christ in the West Indies.  I may not get a bunch of baptisms like the missionaries in Guyana but I know that people have been prepared for me to find them in Trinidad.  I have to be diligent and obey with exactness to experience these miracles set aside from God for my own personal Conversion.  As I teach about the messages that Christ has given us to teach, with out a doubt in my mind I know that God lives and he is with us all along the way guiding us back so that we can live with our Father in Heaven Eternally!  My Calling gives me Authority...my Authority Gives me Power...I am a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I love my job of bringing lost souls back to our Father.  I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is Real and the healing power that comes with it is extremely powerful.  As we live what we learn our faith is constantly increasing.  I know that my testimony is still growing and I know that as we try our best God will do the rest.  My prayers are for the people so that they can find their way back to our shepherd, savior and redeemer.  If anyone is thinking about serving a mission - DO IT!  I can't believe the things I've learned and the things I'm soon to learn.  I love my Heavenly Father and I Know that I'm supposed to be here in The Caribbean.  Even though it's really Warm down here I Love it!

Welcome Elder McClain

Hey everyone...the first few weeks of the transfer were kinda hard.  New comp...new way of planning and teaching.  But I'm getting better now.  Elder McClain is a great missionary.  He works hard and is an amazing teacher.  I'm trying to learn everything I can from him because he has loads of good ideas that can benefit me in the Lord's work he has trusted me to do.

I always thought missions were knocking on doors and getting them slammed in your face.  But really in my case it's calling into windows outside the gate and getting rejected my having the people tell you they can't listen because they are cooking or sweeping.  Then when we offer to help out of the kindness of our hearts, they say 'no you are in your nice clothes you can't help me spray off my car out in the rain'... yes they wash their car in the rain.

We went to President Gould's house...he is the Port of Spain Stake President.  We taught about faith and how everyone can improve their faith.  They afterwards fed us Pig Tail...uuh it was actually really good...haha...It's like one of the weirdest best tasting foods down here.

We have a couple of baptisms coming up!  Sylvester and Anil. Missionary Work is really hard but also rewarding when your investigator is getting it and keeping commitments.  Well I love everyone so much and I thank you for all the support...it helps a lot.

Elder Hill

Zone Conference and Transfer Week

Hey Everyone!
The work is getting better. Missionary work is super tough and super satisfying.  Zone conference was great.  It was really fun to be fed and have all the missionaries in Trinidad there. We're going to be focusing on member referrals.  

Saturday, Elder Gibson and I planned a youth activity with Pres. Sookram (the Branch President) and it was a really fun thing.  We had skits for the 5 youth that came then played 'dress the missionary' and then took them contacting.  We took Imron, the boy that the sisters were teaching, and who was baptized when I first got here.  He took the lead on 'calling-in' to the houses and then testified what he knew was true. He wanted me to teach the Restoration so I just started to talk...words started to flow...especially when I was talking about Joseph.  I felt so warm and tingly and I just knew that what I was saying was true. I struggled to know the truth about Joseph Smith before my mission. I was really never quite sure.  But at that moment there was no doubt in my mind that it was true.  It was a great experience for me and my testimony of the Restoration.

Elders Gibson, Hill, and Ferrin at Zone Conference

Well, I will be staying here in the Chag...Elder Gibson is being transferred to Barbados to be a zone leader.  I will finish training with Elder McClain who is coming from Guyana and will be the new district leader here.  The past few days have been slow.  For some reason we have had all of our appointments fall through this week so it has been a lot of walking.  At church Sunday, we had 5 less actives come and it was awesome to see.

Elder Ferrin and I went on trade-offs and we were black magic cursed.  It was a really weird experience.  The guy that did it to us was a members' brother. We were teaching him a lesson about the importance of church.  His brother came in and started cursing and carrying on.  The spirit immediately left.  After that one of the members told us not to come over for awhile.  Crazy!

I'm sure next week will be filled with more crazy adventures. I've heard good things about Elder McClain.    I love and miss you all!
Elder Hill

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

Trinidad!

SLC Airport - On Our Way!

Aaron’s district had to leave for the airport early Tuesday morning at 3:00 am.  He called us at about 6 am and we talked briefly before they boarded for their 4-hour flight to Houston.  It was so good to hear his voice!  He had a long lay-over in Houston and was able to talk to brothers and sisters, then a 5-hour flight to Trinidad, landing in Port of Spain at 10 pm their time.  It was fun to watch the flight throughout the day on flightaware.com.  We knew the moment he landed!

   "Hey Everyone!  I'M IN TRINIDAD!  The flight was really long.  When we landed in Port of Spain, it was like hitting a brick wall of moisture and heat.  The pilot told us it was 85° and 90% humidity...I instantly started to sweat, it was so freaking hot!  President Mehr picked us up at the airport with his 2 a.p.'s. (assistants to the president). It was about a 30 min drive to where we're staying because the mission home didn't have enough room for 20 missionaries. Five other missionaries came from the DR  MTC. We got up early Thursday and the owners made us eggs and pancakes.  It was really good.  We then went to the mission office for orientation where we received our second call...I am assigned to the area of Chaguanas (ch pronounced sh), Trinidad.  I hung out at the mission home for about 4 hours waiting for my comp, Elder Gibson, who was flying in from St. Martin.


   “When it rains here, it POURS!  It rained all day Saturday.  My comp and I are blanking the area so we have no idea where to go and who to teach.  Trini’s talk really really really fast!!!  I can’t understand a word.  I’m starting to catch a few things but I usually ask E. Gibson what they said (Best Two Years style ha ha). Last night we were teaching a guy named Josiah at a member’s house.  Sister Cummings made some food called dashin leaves, rice, fish, and pepper mango.  The rice and dashin and fish were really good, but pepper mango…uh no :)               
   Money here is TT (Trinidad and Tobago dollars) so if I buy something for 30TT then it’s 5 dollars USA.  It’s 10TT per hour here at the internet café. 
   I’m doing good.  I love you guys and hope to hear from everyone on Mother’s Day! 

 I love you,  

        Elder Hill

Two Weeks at the MTC

Missionaries spend most of their time at the MTC going to classes, meetings, and devotionals to help them be prepared to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people around the world.  It is hard to be away from home and loved ones, but it is such a faith and testimony building experience.  They really learn to rely on the Lord for help and comfort.        

Walker and Aaron

Elder Hill has felt the Spirit teaching him about faith.     "I have prayed for a way that I can express my faith to God.  A sister came into our class and asked me to give her a blessing.  As I gave her the blessing, I felt so warm; I can't remember what I said besides that the Lord knows what is best for her at this time.  Funny how the Lord works when we're least expecting it!  It was a real testimony builder to me."

One of the two districts going to the WIM

He especially drew strength from the devotionals. They were privileged to have Elder Richard G. Scott come.    "He gave us a blessing of peace and comfort and said that we are here for a reason...the Lord is hastening his work.  He talked about prayer and how we don't always receive answers immediately.  We need to have patience and trust that He will answer them in some way. Wow!  That's what I needed to hear.  When the sister giving the prayer started to walk to the pulpit, Elder Scott jumped up again and said, "I haven't finished!"  He then went on for another 5 minutes saying that our calls were inspired from the Lord and that He wouldn't give us something we couldn't do.  He then stated that God gives us things to succeed in...not to fail at. Powerful!"

Farewell!

After a busy week of last minute details, the day finally arrived to go to the MTC.  There were many mixed emotions as we said our quick goodbyes and squeezed in one more hug. We know the Lord protects and blesses his missionaries and their families. We love you,   Elder Hill!  We look forward to hearing all about your experiences and adventures!

Since President Monson's missionary age change announcement, the number of missionaries arriving at the MTC each week has more than doubled. Close to 700 arrived on the same day as Aaron...about 100 every 15 minutes.  I have been asked why we send our youth away for 18 months to 2 years.  As a mother, this is one of the most heart-wrenching and hardest things I've ever done.  But it is also one of the most wonderful.  There is no other time in their life when they can go and totally concentrate all of their efforts on being a disciple of Jesus Christ -Matthew 28:19. As they share the good news of the restored gospel with all who will listen, their own faith and testimony is being strengthened and refined.  When you have something in your life that brings you so much joy and happiness, you want to share it with everyone!  Even though it's hard, it is so worth it!

Waiting And Preparing

Five months to prepare and have fun with friends.  Yes, there was plenty of studying too!

Practicing those cooking skills :)

Last minute fun with friends at the Color Fest

Costa Vida one more time!