Did not receive an email on Monday, September 18th. The boys have had an interesting week. They have slept in 5 different locations this week and had to get up at 4:30 a.m. twice this week. They have struggled getting into WIFI areas so they were not able to email. Eric did have and MRI done on his shoulder on September 18th in Kingston, Jamaica to see why it is causing him a lot of pain.
All 6 Elder's flew back to the Bahamas on September 20, 2017. Another hurricane is coming - Maria is this hurricanes name and she could possibly hit the Bahamas but they are not sure at this time where she will go for sure. They have returned in time to possibly be hit by this hurricane since Irma did not hit the Bahamas.
TRANSCRIBED RECORDING:
September 21, 2017 - Thursday
Last Week in Jamaica - Back to Nassau
Hello Everybody!
It has been
a long time since you’ve heard my voice.
I haven’t done a voice recording for like two weeks. Apologies! Last week was a zone p-day in Mandeville and
so Elder Christensen and I, being in Junction, went to that. It was way fun.
Played some American football, lightning, and a bunch of fun activities with
that zone. Other than that, I can’t
remember why I didn’t send a recording the week before. I’m sorry! Now I’ll tell you all about this week and a
little bit of the previous week.
So we have
just been chilling. Elder Christensen
and I have been doing missionary work all over Junction. A highlight from last week was we got to
teach one of Elder Christensen’s former investigators named Tashai. She’s a super cool lady and has a few
kids. She gave us some water and just
before we were going to teach the lesson but that water was nasty! I had to filter it through my teeth and I
decided I wasn’t going to drink this anymore so I just dashed it out. It probably would have given me giardia so
it’s probably good that we threw it away.
Everything was good other than that.
Tashai was awesome. We read The
Book of Mormon and prayed. Then we
committed her to come to church but she said she had to go with her
cousins. Not a very good excuse. Elder Christensen and I actually found our
purpose in Junction and it was way cool.
We have been going around and doing service for everybody and being
friendly. We have tried to do our best
with the missionary work. Elder Smith,
one night, was talking and he said, “I’ve just felt so relaxed and tension
released as you two are here. Even
though you haven’t done a ton of specific things that have eased my burden,
there have been certain things that have helped me that you have no idea how
much you’ve helped.” It made me feel
good because Elder Smith has so much on his plate. He’s training Elder Edwards, he’s the branch
president, and he’s trying to balance missionary work. He’s finishing his mission next transfer so I
don’t blame him at all. He is just
awesome and a really good missionary.
He’s such a stud. It’s been a
privilege living around him and Elder Edwards.
Elder Edwards is Jamaican. He’s a
boss! I love being around him. I don’t know if I have any pictures with him
but I’ll get some pictures.
This week
we did some service. Here’s a cool story
about service that we did. We were just
chilling, walking up the road getting ready to go to MLC because it was Thursday. Thursday we were going to go with the Santa
Cruz zone leaders and stay the night at their house and ride with them to
Kingston and have MLC. We were so
excited. What ended up happening is: we
went to MLC and on the way back up the road to have lunch and comp study to
prepare for MLC, we saw some guys trying to lift a truck. It was an old beat-up truck and they were
trying to lift the frame off of the axels and stuff. They couldn’t do it. So I asked them, “can we help you?” I thought they were going to say back, “Naw
man. Ya’ gud. We don’ wan’ ta dirtee up ya white shirt” like they always
do. But they didn’t. They were like, “Ya’ you can ‘elp us!” So me
and Elder Christensen dropped our bags and we just heaved that sucker. It was awesome! Elder Christensen and I had “gains from the
Lord” for a couple of seconds and lifted this huge truck. It was basically me and him. So these Jamaicans were like, “Yo! These
white men strong!” It was just sick! We
were pumped out of our minds. So they
asked where our church was. We then told
them where we lived and they said they lived in Mandeville. We then told them that we had a church in Mandeville
too, and they said they’d seen it before and that they would have to come and
visit sometime. We didn’t force the
gospel on them or anything. They just
asked us about who we are and where our church is, as simple as that. We didn’t throw a pamphlet at them or give
them a Book of Mormon. We were just good
examples like Jesus Christ, and we moved on.
MLC was killer. We talked on
having joy and also how missionary work can be more unique and we can build
trust with members through our talents. For
example: playing basketball with an investigator or if we want referrals from
members, instead of going to their house and sharing a scripture, what Elder
Christensen and I have planned for the zone is to go and be chill with these
members. But, we have to understand our
missionary purpose and work hard to do all that we can.
Saturday we
had to stay inside in Junction. We came
home for lunch. We had been out all
morning and got back around 1:00 and there were gunshots all around the
house. Junction is usually not like
that. It’s one of the most peaceful
places in all of Jamaica. We stayed
inside the rest of the day. Elder Smith
and I just lifted weights and stuff.
Other than that it was a normal day.
Sunday was
nice. Elder Christensen and I taught
gospel principles. It was more like
gospel doctrine actually. Talked about
the doctrine and covenants. Later we had
interviews with President Peterson now that I remember. That was awesome. In fact, I brought up my shoulder and how I’m
kind of injured. I brought that up with
President, long story short.
We had zone conference on
Monday. We talked about how we can build
trust with members through being real with them by learning what they like to
do and going to do it with them. Then
they can invite their friends to do these things with us. That way we can share the gospel, instead of
just street contacting and ways like that.
We were way excited. The
assistants presented, we presented, also our district leaders off-island: Elder
Jensen and Elder Houston, presented about love and charity and building
trust. So it was a meshed thing. Afterwards, Elder Christensen and I had
district leader training with Elder Jensen and Elder Houston. Since we are usually all off-island we don’t
get to be around each other. So with us
now being on the island of Jamaica we can work together. Being in Junction has been awesome. We’ve seen some red dirt roads and all that
kind of stuff. I’ve been very grateful
to be here. We are ready to go back and
we should be going back sometime this week.
We are supposed to leave tomorrow but because of Hurricane Maria is also
that way, president won’t be sending us for a few more days just to be
safe. With my shoulder issue President
sent me to get an x-ray here in Kingston.
My collarbone was broken last time they checked it. Elder Christensen gave me a blessing in
Nassau but apparently my collarbone is no longer broken. So that’s a miracle that I’m seeing. That’s incredible. They’re going to have me get an MRI just to
see if it’s something with a ligament or a muscle. I’m just praying that it’s a sprained
shoulder or something or a pulled muscle.
Then three or four weeks go by of taking it easy and I should be able to
lift and do what I always do. I won’t
have to worry anymore. So that is nice
to hear.
This week I
have been built on when we serve others they are going to feel the radiance of
our spirit if we are just like Jesus Christ.
It’s simple as that. They’ll see
the spirit in our lives and they’ll want that spirit in their lives. So instead of us forcing the gospel on them,
it just comes natural. They ask why we
do these things and who we are. That is
what I’ve seen. I’ve been reading a lot
in the New Testament and a little bit in the Pearl of Great Price seeing what
God did for us through the creation, and why Adam transgressed and why we are
here. I’m really grateful for what I’ve
learned on my mission and these tender mercies.
Continually building upon Jesus Christ is all we have to do. As you all build on Jesus Christ you’ll have
good lives as well. I love you all and I
hope you have a great week. I’m grateful
I got to talk to you again. Everything
is good. I’m healthy as can be, just
have to go to the doctor and get everything figured out. Then we should be going back to Nassau here
soon. Hopefully my next voice recording
will be in Nassau. Right now, Jamaica me
yard! So big up ya’selves.
Manna’s and respekt
9/14/2017
Say hello to my little friend-
Serving in Junction, Jamaica while waiting for Hurricane Irma to pass. They were flown back to Jamaica on Sept. 6, 2017 and will return to Nassau, Bahamas as soon as the hurricane passes.
Some wicked pomegranates with Elder Christensen in the hills of Junction, Jamaica 9/14/2017
←Soursop back in Junction 9/16/2017
Saw a Rolls Royce at the airport - on our way back to Nassau, Bahamas 9/20/2017
He sent this selfie on 9/21/2017 after he returned to Nassau - he didn't want mom mad at him because he didn't email her on Sept. 18th
Back to eating healthy!! Not Jamaican food - that's for sure! 9/21/2017
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