A Very Rainy Week

Good Afternoon,

We had a wonderful week.  It rained almost every day this week and we have been soaked to the bone.  We don't dry off very quickly here.  Must be rainy season and we love it because it makes it more of an adventure.

We discovered that our investigator, Angela, has two turtles.  We had fun playing with them when we went over for her birthday.

While contacting we found a Hindu lady who invited us to her house and fed us Aloo (potato roti stuff).  The best part was when we asked if anyone else would like to join us she called into the house and...out came her pet parrot.  She told it to sit on the chair and it did.  It sat there for the whole lesson.

One day we were trying to contact a referral and the lady wasn't home so we went to the neighbors' house.  We found a great family who are strong in their church.  We followed the promptings of the Holy Ghost and gave them each a copy of the Book of Mormon.  They were very excited and said they would read it.

The highlight of the week is Angela came to church as well as a lot of the less actives we have been working with.

Elections are today.  We will be happy when they are over because the traffic and loud music will decrease.  We haven't been able to wear red, yellow, or green because those are the colors of political parties.

Miracle Story:  We taught our investigator Angela (we love her a lot) the Word of Wisdom.  She said she loved coffee and couldn't give it up (this was last week).  When we went by her on Wednesday for her birthday she said that she decided she wanted to follow the Word of Wisdom and prayed that the temptation would be taken from her.  When she woke up that morning she didn't even want to touch the coffee.  We have checked up on her and she still hasn't had any.  Heavenly Father helped her stop.  That is just one of the miracles we have seen happen to her and her family.

I love this gospel and being a missionary.  It is the greatest thing in the world.

Love,

Sister Shirts

Earthquake, Bed Bugs And A French Speaking Sister

Good Afternoon,

Our car problems have continued.  We noticed that one of the tires is always low no matter how much air we put in so we went to get if fixed.  It turns out there were four small holes and the air was leaking out.  While it was getting fixed we got stuck with an old car that used to be the Elders and it smelled really bad and made noises every time we turned.  It was bad.  A few days after we got our car back we were getting supplies.  We went to open the trunk...it didn't open.  Now we have to get into the trunk through the back seat.

We had the opportunity to take care of a Sister from Guadeloupe who will be serving her mission in a different country.  It was an adventure because she only spoke French.  Let's just say we used a lot of hand signals and talked slowly for a few days.  The cool part is we got to sit in while she was set apart.  President Mehr gave the blessing in English while Sister Mehr translated it into French so she could understand.  The spirit was very strong.

One night we came in and planned for the next day (the usual).  As we were getting ready for bed there was a vibrating noise and the house felt like it was moving.  I asked Sister Edmonds "why is our house shaking?" and she said "it's an earthquake get in the doorway!!!"  We stayed there until the shaking stopped.  It was a small earthquake and we were shocked at first but we were laughing about it for the rest of the night.

I love working with Sister Edmonds.  She is a very hard worker and we are getting a lot of work done here in Trinidad.  We put in very full days here in my area.  We begin proselyting at ten and come in at 9:30 at night.  Often we don't get time to sit down and eat (unless people feed us) so we pack our food.  I love it.  I enjoy the hard work because I know that it will pay off.  Through diligence and exact obedience miracles happen.  We are enjoying our time together here in Trinidad doing the Lord's work.  President Mehr said that our combination is strengthening the people here a lot.

It turns out we have bed bugs and we have been getting bit at night.  No worries.  The Monsons came and washed all of our bedding in hot water at their apartment, dried it, and sprayed our furniture.  Our bedding is nice and clean now.

Spiritual experience:  On Friday we were very discouraged because we haven't been able to get members out to lessons no matter what we tried.  Either they would cancel or the investigator would.  We have been trying to get members out with us for weeks.  We had read in the Book of Mormon that day about the power of fasting and prayer and decided that is what we would do.  Starting Saturday at lunch we fasted for member present lessons, member referrals, and a few other things.  That day we had two member present lessons, four other lessons and three less active lessons for a grand total of nine lessons.  I have never taught that many lessons in one day on my mission.  The spirit was very strong in every lesson and it is all because of Heavenly Father.  It was the best day on my mission so far.  Fasting and prayer brings miracles.

Thanks for everything,

Sister Shirts

Transfer Week! Staying In Curepe, Trinidad

Good Morning,

Great news.  I am staying in Curepe with Sister Edmonds who has been called as the new Sister Trainer Leader over Trinidad, Tobago, and Grenada.  That means I get to do a lot of exchanges.  Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to Sister Lewis yesterday, but she will be serving another mini mission in San Fernando, Trinidad with Sister Herrick.  They will be opening the area for Sisters.

I tried some new food this week and had some favorites.  Of course we had doubles on Saturday from Franco.  I have had Suck-a-bag (like thin ice cream in a bag that you suck out), a lot of roti, trini corned beef, and pig tail.  One of the members is going to start teaching us how to cook.  I also tried peilou (don't know how to spell it) at Franco's house which was delicious.

Funny story:  The same day we had exchanges we also had apartment checks.  The Monsons came over and left like they normally do and we went out to our first appointment.  They were not home so I asked Sister Lewis to call their cell phone.  Sister Lewis said she didn't have the phone.  I checked my bag...I didn't have the phone and neither did Sister Jewell.  We pretty much ran home to find it and looked everywhere.  It wasn't there.  We tore the apartment apart and searched the car... no phone.  Finally we went to the owner of the apartment and asked if we could borrow her phone to call ours.  Guess who answered our phone... the Monsons.  Sister Monson accidentally stole our phone and we didn't have it for the rest of the day because they were doing apartment checks in Port of Spain.  It was funny and led to a crazy day because we couldn't call anyone to remind them or set up appointments for the day.

I hope everyone enjoyed conference.  My favorite talk was the one about spiritual endurance and strengthening your testimony.  One of the best ways to strengthen your testimony is to share it.  In this light I have a request:

Please mail your testimony of the Book of Mormon to me on a piece of paper that I can tape inside a soft cover copy of the Book of Mormon.  It doesn't have to be extravagant, just a simple testimony would be wonderful.  I know that it will help investigators have a greater desire to read from it.

I would also like to remind you of the challenge Elder Ballard extended to all members:  Reach out to one person between now and Christmas and invite them to hear the gospel.  Read the talk again.  It was amazing.

Thanks for everything,

Sister Shirts

Roti

Suck A Bag

Trini Corned Beef

Eating Trini Corned Beef

Franco the Doubles Man

Sister Lewis, Sister Edmonds, Sister Shirts eating doubles

Sister Edmonds, Sister Lewis, Sister Shirts Watched Conference at the Churck

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