A Birthday Full Of Miracles

Good Afternoon,

Thanks for the birthday wishes.  I had a great birthday.  I got up and showered and when I came out the Sisters threw cotton balls at me and sang happy birthday.  Then I opened up my birthday package and we played with the gifts, since right after I showered, the water shut off and the others couldn't shower.  We had a miracle day and Sister Edmonds and Sister Lewis planned a surprise birthday dinner at Franco's (the doubles investigator) which was delicious.

We had a pet named Clifford.  He is a lizard that appeared in our apartment for a few days and then he disappeared.  Hopefully he isn't in our clothes, food, or shoes.

It was a miracle fast Sunday because we were able to get an investigator (Angela) to come to church.  I will make a bullet list of some of the miracles that had to happen for her to come.

1.  She was home when we went to pick her up.
2.  We asked her to come with us but she said she had too much work and her husband would be upset if she went.  She finally let us help her work even though she wasn't coming.
3.  While we were cleaning she said "call my husband I am going to church".  She called and we all prayed in our hearts and he was fine with her leaving.
4.  She called her step father (Franco with the doubles stand) and asked if it was okay if she cooked when she got back.  He told her he would cook for her.
5.  We were able to get yer young son ready to go.
6.  While on the maxi she only had $100.  We didn't have change, no one on the maxi had change, the driver didn't have change.  Once again we said a prayer in our hearts and she found a $20 in her purse.
7.  We were very late leaving her house and we were on a maxi and we prayed in our hearts once again that we would make it in time for the sacrament.  We got there just as they were starting the sacrament hymn.

Like I said, blessing fast Sunday.

We went for our doubles run on Saturday to Franco's stand.  I ate 2 1/2 doubles and they were very good.  I also tried chicken foot at Franco and Angela's.  Franco cooks the best food here and has the best pepper.

Love,

Sister Shirts

Welcome Home Party

Happy Birthday Sign and Sister Lewis

Chicken Foot Soup

This Is How To Eat Chicken Feet - With Your Hands

Giant Cactus

This Is The Chapel Decorated For A Young Single Aduly Activity (the chapel is used for many things besides Sacrament Meeting)

Sunrise This Morning

Sunrise This Morning

So Glad To Be Back

Good Morning Everyone,

I am glad to be back in Trinidad with Sister Edmonds and guess what?  I am in a trio with Sister Lewis.  she is one of the temporary missionaries who was with Sister Edmonds while I was home and she will be with us for the rest of the transfer.  She is 16 and has a really strong testimony.  I love working with her and she brings the spirit so much.

I am driving now.  Sister Edmonds kindly forces me to drive with all the craziness.  It really isn't that bad, we just drive slow.  I haven't crashed the car or killed us yet so that is a good sign.

We decided that we really don't like driving and we don't get to meet as many people when we are driving so we are pretty much ditching the car unless we need to drive far away.  We have been catching Maxi and walking a lot more and we have found some great people to teach.

We have been experimenting with our contacting methods.  Sister Lewis is such a great missionary that she tried to contact a guy walking down the street while we were stopped at a stoplight through the car window.  She also tried to contact a KFC (they really love fried chicken there) delivery driver (on a motorcycle) from the car window but he drove away.  The best is when we were walking and there was this old guy in the back of the truck.  Right when she started to talk the guy drove away but she gave him a Plan of Salvation book.  Yesterday we were contacting and this drunk guy on a bike came up to us and started asking questions.  He had a bottle of beer in one hand and was trying to steer with the other.  Sister Edmonds gave him a Word of Wisdom book.  He reminded me of a rasta Jack Sparrow by the way he was talking and riding his bike.

Sister Edmonds started teaching a man named Franco while I was gone.  We became best friends when he told me he owns a doubles stand.  On Saturday for our morning exercise we ran to his doubles stand and he gave us free delicious doubles.  He also feeds us almost every time we go over there.  Last time he fed us goat and roti which was really good.  He is an amazing cook.  He always brings out the pepper for me.

The success of the week is the Singh and Persaud family.  A few weeks before I left we had tracted into a young boy named Kevin.  We went back a week later and he wasn't home but his sister was so we had a lesson with her and told her she was a daughter of God.  After I went home Sister Edmonds was able to make contact again and teach the whole family.  They are really cool and they love reading the Book of Mormon.  The mother carries it with her everywhere and they recognize that same spirit they feel when we come can be felt as they read from the Book of Mormon.

Funny story:  Let's start by saying there are homes in Trinidad that are very humble.  While we were in a lesson with the family I was just talking and a cockroach ran across the floor.  Sister Edmonds and Sister Lewis freaked out and I just sat there.  It ran underneath the furniture in another room and we continued the lesson.  About 15 minutes later something flew into the room.  It was the same cockroach.  Sister Lewis ran outside the house and wouldn't come back in until it was gone.  We also saw a few mice and lizards in the house.

Thanks for all the support while I was home and for the prayers.  I am very happy here in Trinidad as I am now able to continue to do the Lord's work.

Love,

Sister Shirts

I will send pictures next week.  I ran out of time today.

Post Op Gallbladder Surgery

I had the gallbladder surgery and all went well. I also had the check up with the surgeon and my incisions are healing quickly. I haven't felt the same pain I felt since the surgery so they must have fixed the problem. The surgeon said my gallbladder was bad for my age and that I shouldn't have any problems with it now. The day of the surgery I walked a mile. I was off the pain medication in less than 48 hours. By day three I was walking around five to six miles. I have been increasing my walking daily and I am back up to missionary standard. I have been blessed so much during the healing process. I have healed very quickly. I was cleared by the surgeon on Monday and cleared by the missionary department on Tuesday.

Even better news: We just got an email from the Stake President with my travel information. I am leaving bright and early Monday morning. My flight leaves at 6:50 am and arrives in Trinidad at around 8:00 pm. I am traveling through Houston and I have a layover for a few hours.

I am excited to go back to Trinidad and resume my mission. It has been nice being home, but I have been ready to get back to work the day I came back. Being at home was hard because my mind and heart have been on my mission. I suppose I just love being a missionary too much! 

Thanks for all the support while I have been home. I really needed it.

Sister Shirts

After surgery with my awesome compression socks

After the HIDA...

Went in for a HIDA scan today and found out it is definitely my gallbladder. They injected radioactive tracers and my gallbladder was supposed to show up within an hour. It didn't, so they injected me with a small dose of morphine to get it to show up. The doctor said it needs to come out and hopefully I can get the surgery this week so I can get back to work in the West Indies quickly. 

At zone conference President Mehr talked about being patient in times of trial. The people in this scripture were righteous but they still had to go through trials. The important part is their attitude. 

Mosiah 24:15 says:

"And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."

Just a reminder of who is in charge and that if we submit cheerfully and with patience, the Lord will strengthen us in our trials. We are given experiences to make us stronger and to build us up. Even though it seems hard not to do things our way, sometimes we need to step back and see what the Lord's way is. It is the way that will work.

Sister Shirts

HIDA scan