Awesome Week!

This past week was super awesome! We had Zone Conference on Wednesday...I loved it and it was exactly what I needed to boost my spirits and have a greater love and appreciation for the Lord's work.  I have had a really great week and i also received a partial transfer call.  I was told directly from Pres. Mehr that I will be leaving Chaguanas, but he can't tell me where I'm going!

Saturday we had a service project for some of the members that are bed ridden in our branch. It was way fun but super dirty and itchy.  I look like a boss using the weed whacker!

Anil had a great time at the YSA overnight camp. His testimony is really growing.  He has given us a referral. He also came with us when we taught a lesson to a less-active. As we go with members, it brings a sense of fellowship and someone to trust. As they see the missionaries, they remember how they felt when they were learning and how they felt at the waters of baptism.  They remember the song of redeeming love!

Another beautiful Caribbean sunset! 

So here's what my day is like:  I wake up at 6:30 and exercise (go running with comp), shower, then it's study time at 8:00 am. We study until 10 and we're out the door! We pack our day pretty full and we hope we get fed; most of the time we don't but we take breaks and get snacks. yummy, yummy brownies are my favorite!   Yesterday I ate a new type of food...it's called Sawine (Sa-wine). It is a Muslim food and it tastes a little like mom's rice, cinnamon, and sugar but it's noodles instead...kinda weird but good.

Today we traveled down to San Fernando to play sports with the South and Central Zones.  We played American football.  It was a lot of fun...and since I probably won't see most of the elders again on my mission, I enjoyed it a lot!

I don't really have time to tell you all of the miracles I'm experiencing out here in the mission field.  I'm writing in my journal every night, and haven't missed a day.  Aren't you proud mother dearest ;)     Well, I'm out of time. I love you all very, very much.  I always look forward to Mondays so that I can hear your voices...well, in my head! 

Elder Hill

A KISS FOR YOU ALL!

Graduated Greenie

We are working hard every day!  I'm not in the training period anymore so we are going out at 10:00 now. Maybe that's why the first few days of the week seemed longer - I had an extra 2 hours of proselyting time. After everything fell through on Saturday, we went back to the apartment and prayed for guidance. I asked Heavenly Father if this is what he wanted to have happen today and i felt so much peace i fell asleep on my knees for like 40 min haha. I was so tired and sick of walking.

Some of the things that are really hard is when you are feeling the spirit and your companion is feeling the spirit and your investigator is definitely feeling the spirit and you invite them to be baptized and thy say no, i don't want to leave Pastor C---'s Church...that makes me vex boy!  It's also really hard to teach Hindus and Muslims, which is most of the population.  

I'm really starting to love what i'm doing out here.  The people are really nice and it took me a while to adjust but I love the feeling i get when someone accepts the message and humbles their self and repents and gets baptized and completely changes their ways.

I love everyone so much and their encouragement and support for me being out here serving our Lord and Savior.  I have learned a lot to trust in my Father in Heaven because he knows what I'm experiencing and he knows how i feel.  I love him so much and i know that i'm doing the right thing no matter how hard or stressful at the time, it's helping me grow.

Love, Elder Hill

Laughing is a great stress reliever!

PICTURES !!

Went to the hospital for a heat rash on my face.  The Dermatologist said it is fairly common here with foreigners because they aren't used to the humidity and climate.  It was really itchy and puffy enough that I couldn't open my mouth real well.  They gave me an IV of hydro-cortisone and a minor steroid/antihistamine for the swelling and discomfort.

           

       



                                 Preach Unto Every Creature   ;)

Visiting Sylvester

Elders McClain and Hill

                San Fernando Hike

Rainy Season...

Hey Everyone - Elder Hill here in the Rainy city of Chaguanas!  It's the rainy season and it's been raining a lot...it's crazy how hard it rains!  We put our stuff in plastic bags and then in our book bags because everything gets wet.

6 inches of rain in the gutter after 5 minutes of rain!

There are 2 seasons in the West Indies: Rainy... June through December (averaging 8-10" a month), and Dry: January - May (2-4" a month) with 80% humidity all year long.  Low temps are in the 70's and highs in the 80's...the humidity makes it feel much warmer!

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