Day Of Service

Thank you to the senior missionary couple's blog for the following information about the International Day of Service for the West Indies Mission in Tobago....

On November 2, 2013 the branch members of Tobago assembled at Lambeau Beach in Helping Hands Vests to clean up the debris that washes ashore from the millions of square miles of open water. Members of all ages worked for 2 hours and gathered 80 bags of trash along a stretch of beach about 1/3 of a mile long. Working together helped form strong bonds of friendship. The Helping Hands volunteers were treated to a breakfast of sandwiches, fry bake, coconut bake, cheese paste, sausage and treats which were brought by members of the Tobago Branch.

Elder Hill

Showers of Blessings

Hey Every one! 

I'm doing well in Tobago...Except I have had a pretty bad cold all week! I have a lot of head and chest congestion and one day I had to stay inside because when I would stand up it felt like my head was going to explode and I also had a fever. It really sucked but now I'm doing good and just have the sniffles. It's not really fun being sick and also doing missionary work at the same time. It is really draining. Although I did get some good nap time because that's what the mission doctor told me to do...Sleep! It was the best Gift I could receive at the time! Oh boy did it feel so amazing to get some extra sleep!

I was able to give quite a few blessings this week. They were all very good experiences for me and I wrote them all in my journal. It still amazes me to be an instrument in the Lords hands. I absolutely love that feeling of love and appreciation when I do something right. My testimony has grown so much in the powers of the priesthood since I have been on Tobago.

C---- is doing great but didn't come to church yesterday so we have to push his date back a week...but that's a small thing! We taught him last night and had a good lesson with him about the Plan of Salvation and how families can be together. It was a really great lesson and the spirit was really strong! He accepts everyting we teach which makes it really cool and awesome! Were going back over on Wednesday, to teach The Plan in full detail! It will be a good lesson I'm sure.

Another awesome baptism in the ocean -- while it was raining! What a blessing to be 'Clean'!

BuMp Day!

Hey everyone!! I just celebrated my 6 month mark!! It really does seem just like yesterday I was getting kicked out the door and told to not look back. But I'm glad I did it and It has been a lot of fun and a great change for me. I have grown a lot in the past six months. I feel like a completely different person and I'm excited to see how much I've grown when I make it back to the states. 

I survived a 6.1 earthquake! It was actually freaking awesome! We were talking on the phone Friday night at around 10:15 pm (so 8:15 pm your time). As I was talking to E. Reyes in Chaguanas, we hear "oh my gosh do you feel the earthquake?"...we're like no...then it wasn't 10 seconds, and our apartment starts shaking. We start screaming and I start looking for something to climb under... then it ended! It was pretty crazy and has been quite interesting talking to everyone and hearing their story. No damage was done surprisingly but it was a pretty cool experience. Quite the way to wrap up 6 months - right?

(Earthquake was off the coast of Venezuala; about 50 miles west of Port of Spain, Trinidad)

General Conference

General Conference. I loved all of the talks and for some reason I really enjoyed sitting on my bum for 10 hours...haha. I'm proud to say I never fell asleep and I was pretty proud of myself. President Mehr gave us a challenge to listen to the spirit as we watched conference. I took the challenge and when I was listening to what the Lord wanted me to hear, I was amazed on what I was receiving. After every talk I just felt like they were all talking to me and that I was being edified by the spirit. I loved all the talks, I didn't have a favorite, because they all touched me in a very special, and spiritual way. I did realize something very scary though. My thought was that Satan will be working double time and putting it into overdrive, on bringing souls into misery. I really want you all to focus on the teaching of the past conference so that you will be strengthened and you won't be caught in Satan's grasp. Robert D. Hales even said that we need to listen and then study the teachings after so we won't fall hard.

Elder Petersen and Elder Hill reserved seats for their fathers at the Priesthood Session. Since they were able to watch it live, their dads truly were with them in spirit.

Ocean Baptisms!

 Things here in Tobago are looking up....After 7 months, finally a baptism! Elder Linton had to pull her back because the first time she didn't go all the way under. She came out of the water screaming, 'Mommy'.

Elder Peterson and Elder Hill

   

     

Our evening baptism was scheduled for about the same time as the sunset. I was asked to do the baptism...I was very excited and pretty nervous. It was a great experience. I felt the spirit really strong all day and it was just great to feel Heavenly Fathers love for me for so long. I know I am in the right place at the right time doing what God has intended for me to do...finding my buddies and bringing them in to the fold.

The less active family I have been praying and fasting for came to church! The mom asked for some scriptures so they can start having daily scripture reading. Another member I was fasting for came to church and stayed for the whole block; he also wanted some scriptures. My testimony of fasting has definitely changed and will never be the same again. I love fasting and I can't wait till next month. We also had 48 at church and 18 Priesthood holders - 6 Melchizedek! That's really good for this area.

I'm pretty excited for General Conference this Saturday and Sunday! We get to watch it live here and so that makes it even better!

Studying On The Beach

We have a car! It really helps a lot because most of the members live outside of our walking distance and so it will boost some rcla (recent convert/less active) lessons. Having a car it makes our job so much easier and we don't have to stand and wait for a taxi for 2 hours.

This morning we woke up and went and did studying on the beach in a secluded area where we do baptisms (Back Bay - by Mt. Irving). It was a lot of fun and it was really beautiful. It was a lot of fun to see all the crabs and 'ting'... haha. It is actually a Leather Back Turtle egg laying ground in July when all the turtles are laying their eggs. Pretty sweet! 

    

We had a cool story with a member that hadn't been to church in a few months. He served in this mission a few years ago and then went less active when he got home. We shared the john tanner story with him about tithes. It really touched his heart and he opened up to us. He told us that he thought the missionaries hated him because they weren't coming by...Elder Petersen got the prompting to do service a few times last week and he didn't know we were the ones doing it. He started to get really emotional when I told him we were the ones helping him with building his addition to his home. After the lesson he told us he was going to come to church and that he wants to be a member missionary. Really neat story about reactivation. He has come to church 3 weeks in a row now and he went up to Branch President Linton and told him that he wanted a calling in the church... Now he is the new Branch Clerk... And to think if Elder Petersen and I wouldn't have done service, he would still be having a grudge against us and we wouldn't have a clerk now.

We have really been working hard here in Tobago and can actually see the miracles that are happening here! I love the people so so much here and I have only met just a few in a three week period. I feel my Heavenly Father's love so much every time I talk to someone... I just feel that need of being kind and gentle to everyone. I am really going to miss the people here when it's my time to leave. I'm going to cry when I leave this place... for some reason I've bonded here better with the members and the people... I know that this is where God wants me. 

I'm going to finish with my testimony...I have really received a personal witness of these things. I know that God lives and that he is watching over us every second of every day. I know that love is a major part of what kept Jesus Christ going. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that as we read it, it will help us gain that testimony that we so desire or want to have. I know that this Gospel is the only way we can find our true self and make it back to live with our Eternal Heavenly Father. I know that this work at my fingertips is so, so important and that making it to the Temple is super important. You don't really miss something until it's gone...and i can tell you I miss the Temple so badly! I know that God knows us personally and that if we just ask for his help we shall receive it. I know these things to be true..This is my personal witness.

Love you all!
Elder Hill

Pruning The Lord's Vineyard in Tobago

    I  just want to tell everyone that I am very grateful for all of your support in helping me to decide to go on a mission. I really wasn't wanting to and didn't see the point of going. I hope that I can change into the man that God has intended me to be and I am truly grateful for the decision i was encouraged to make. I love the people i'm serving... The love i'm talking about is the type of love God has for everyone of his children. Charity. I have been doing a lot of study on Charity and how we can increase it. There are lots of different ways we can and it is a life long process. 

    I feel that i have been blessed as a person, because now that i'm in Tobago and i see white people everyday, i'm almost scared to be around them... i know, who would have thought! But Overall I'm truly grateful for the decision i made to turn my papers in and have enough faith to go on a mission for the Lord... pruning his vineyard and putting new grafts into the limbs of the fruitful trees. (Jacob 5) I really love that story and i hope you all can go read it and tell me what you think. I promise you that as you do the Lord will teach you and you will be able to relate it to something in your life.

Beautiful Island of Tobago

Well Everyone, I landed safely on the small island off of Trinidad, called Tobago....We were flying in a big twin prop and it was really awesome! It was only a 20 min flight and i talked to a really neat lady on the plane. She was on a connecting flight to Manchester England and so she had a Trini/British accent and it was actually pretty fun to listen to her talk. I taught her the restoration and she was like that was so wonderful. I invited her to pray about what i shared when she got a moment and to also read about the Restoration booklet i was going to leave with her..she flat out told me no... because she's Roman Catholic. (What a stonch ol' lady! haha)  Didn't talk much after that.

Tobago Church

Well E. and S. Linton picked me up from the Airport and i love them to death. They were actually in Chaguanas for a time just when i got there, then they traded places with the Blacks, another senior couple that was in Tobago for a time but then came to Trinidad. I loved the Lintons so much in Chaguanas, they were like my 'you guys' only real far away from home. They dropped me off at the Apartment and I met Elder Peterson. The apt. is right on the mountain side of Scarborough, overlooking the Atlantic ocean. It is absolutely breath taking. The Water is Beautiful. O yeah, it's got A/C baby! It's way nice and really cool. No fans needed.

 

Nice Apartment (sunny and no window bars)

 
We will be getting a car on Friday. And so it will help a lot because most of the members live outside of our walking distance. We had a branch party on Friday and it went well. Thirty members showed up and it was tons of fun.. I participated in the pudding eating contest with Sister Linton. I pretty much won hands down... two gulps and it was gone. She got it all on her face - i got it all in my mouth... ;)  

Sister Linton and Elder Hill

Egg Toss Game

Snapshot of Trinidad and Tobago

English is the official language of this island nation, however Trinidadian creole and Tobagonian creole (both English-based creoles) are commonly spoken on the two islands. Most of the population lives on the island of Trinidad. While the majority of the population is Christian (around 60%), there are also significant populations of Hindus (about 18% of the population) and Muslims (about 5% of the population). Calypso, rapso, steelpan, soca, chutney, and parang music all originated in Trinidad and Tobago. Carnival is an important cultural event in Trinidad and Tobago, accompanied by parades, floats, live music, and elaborate costumes (though missionaries should stay probably stay away from the festivities)! Competitions between different musical groups also form part of the celebrations. Cricket and soccer are the two most popular sports, though rugby and basketball are also somewhat popular. Fried bake is a popular type of dumpling that is served with fish and steamed vegetables. Callaloo, a spicy vegetable stew, is commonly served with starchy foods such as cassava or plantains. Macaroni pie, a baked macaroni, egg, and cheese dish, is also popular. A wide variety of seafood, including shark, is also eaten. Several types of tropical fruits, as well as ice cream and sno-cones are also popular snack items.

More about Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies Mission

...More Trinidad ....More Tobago

Farewell Chaguanas

Well everyone, I'm leaving Trinidad and I'm going to Tobago!  Island life at last!  There are only two elders and two sisters and a senior couple.  Everyone wants to go to there. I leave Wednesday morning at 7:00 am and will be taken to the airport with the other missionaries that are leaving the mainland, then hop on a flight (LIAT Airlines ... liat stands for late in all terminals..haha).  I will be picked up by Elder and Sister Linton in Tobago and taken to our apartment to drop my stuff off.  E. McClain said he served there and loved it; he also said the apartment has A/C....Oh Ya!  

   A cool experience I had today...like an hour ago. Well it was raining so hard...like the pics i sent of the rain a couple weeks ago...but worse. This Sisters called and told us that their tire had just popped and that they were pulled over but they didn't know how to change it. It was fairly close to our apartment so we caught travel down there. E. McClain told me he didn't know how to change a tire so he was hoping that i knew how. Boy oh boy was i happy that i paid attention to my father dearest while we worked on changing oil and car stuff together. So we got there and sure enough their tire was flat. I got their jack out of the trunk and it was a tiny little piece of junk thing...I was like great! what the heck is this...then they had a wrench. I took and loosened the bolts and lifted the jack carefully because it wasn't very sturdy. I got the nuts off and the tire wouldn't budge. I was getting so angry and frustrated over some dumb little thing. I stood up and threw the wrench on the ground and sweat was streaming off my face, it was hot and i realized the rain stopped and was sunny just where we were. The Lord was making it comfortable for us to change the tire. I struggled for 20 min trying to get the tire off...rusted on. Sis Jex, being herself, said let's say a prayer for the rust to be softened...I was like psh..that's not going to work. We knelt down and said a prayer. It was a very humble prayer she gave and then she closed. As she prayed, a thought came into my head. Same tool, other end and pry...i was like uhh ok. So i stuck the tool in and twisted and pried. It slid off like butter and the rust didn't even interfere! It was amazing. 
   
   It was a very powerful experience i had and will never forget that when we are frustrated and need help the best person to turn to is Jesus Christ and Our Heavenly Father! The love i have for the Lord is growing so much every day. The gratitude for the Atonement i have is such that i can not simply express in words. I have really been trying hard to lose myself in the work and not look back. As we left, the sisters thanked us and we started to walk to catch a ride back to our apartment...right when we got in a car, it started to poor rain and i just thought, wow! The Lord knew how long that it would take and i was just a tool he used me for. I am so glad that i knew a little bit about cars because if i didn't, the sisters would have been stranded for some time.

Well, thanks for all your letters. I love everyone a ton and you are in my thoughts and prayers!  Much love from Trinidad and soon to be Tobago!

Elder Hill