August 30, 2010...send food!!!

hey hey hey everything is good here its crazy hot and always rains everyday ive been here it has rained. i dont need new shirts i sweat off pounds everyday i think. we get fed almost everynight by some different members except for fri and sat we cook us a fancy dinner when we have to make it ourselves we take 2 pieces of bread spread something we call peanut butter on one slice then some strawberry jam on the other slice and thats what we eat like every meal haha except breakfast we make egg sandwiches which im already sick of. i could use some sweddish fish and some of the watermelons and mike and ikes and twixs and kit kats oh and barbs carmels maybe some tortillas to i dont think they have them here make a list of everything you send and put it in the package so i know if customs stole anything.i think i can buy shoes here when these ones get worn out deoderant i can buy here toothpaste and soap to so no worries well thats if they put money in my bank yet. im gonna tak 20 u.s and get it transferred to jamaican money. dad i havent seen any horses i here there isnt very many only some by ohco rhios or something like that and they mainly race them. thats funny that kid saw me at the mtc walking around in my cowboy boots haha. you better keep using spit. your supposed to finish him up for me so when i get back i have a good horse. me and my compainon are doing good we get along good we are going to set a baptism date with a kid tonight for sept 11 he is so excited he said he got answers to his prayers and he came to church yesterday. all his friends are members so that helps we gave him a book of mormon last night so hopefully he keeps doing good. i gave a little girl a blessing yesterday i was so scared she was sick and she was crying the whole time i was blessing her and we took our hands off and she quit crying before we left she was up running around way cool experience well i got to go now im gonna try to send some pictures today if i have time well love you all stetson

Email From Jamaica

 i made it to Jamaica its crazy here its really dirty you could call it i dont want to wear sandles thats for sure haha but im up in Linstead which is in the mountains my new companion/trainer is Elder Peterson from Morgan Utah he is cool i was worried about getting an un cool trainer know what i mean. its really hot here though im always sweating we walked eveywhere yesterday it was pretty cool we walked with a jamaican and he showed us a short cut through the jungle it was crazy it was just like being up in the mountains. but nothing like the Idaho mountains thats for sure. they talk really weird i cant understand what they say most of the time. i got a bag juice yesterday and this little boy came up to me and wanted it so i gave it to him he was cute but he slapped me when i shook his hand to leave. i couldnt believe it lil stinker. they drive like crazy people here. you think utah is bad lol honkin all the time going like 60 mph all over the place its crazy. 


Lauren

Selling bag juice to thirsty persons outside the Kingston Ice Factory,

on Harbour Street, in downtown Kingston.

Nothing quite as good when you're hot and hungry as a half frozen bag juice and a boiled corn on the cob!

1st Email from JAMAICA-mon

KINGSTON JAMAICA

 hey everyone its day 3 here in jamaica it crazy here i got off the plane and it was like so hot like humid we drove to the mission pres. house which is really nice. they made us dinner and everything and we got to get a tour of Kingston... its no vacation thats for sure we were in the ghetto it was so crazy the way they live down here is crazy they drive like a bunch of maniachs honken all the time and stuff but we got our transfers and im up in Linstead with Elder Peterson he is way cool he is from morgan utah linstead is up in the mountains up in the bush which is jungle we walked through it to go visit some members yesterday it was crazy its so thick. its way hot here like non stop sweating our house is pretty nice im not complaining thats for sure. but every thing is going good so far the people up here are nicer than in Kingston. everyone in kingston askes for money and is smokin ganja and you cant understand a word they say. a guy walked up to us on sunday when i was in kingston and said answer me this he said something that i couldnt understand at all so i just sat there and looked at him and looked at elder Gardner and said what did he say and he said just say no he was busting up laughing. its so hard to under stand them sometimes. but i like it alot better in linstead. my compaion is really cool so thats good i was worried about the whole companion deal but i got a good one. other than that all is good up here. we are gonna go grocery shoppin after our internet time is up. the reason i looked chubby in the pictures is because they feed ya like they are gettin you ready for slaughter they want you to gain a bunch of weight before you leave. but i think its all gone now we walked a long ways yesterday and all the sweating i did im sure i lost 4 pounds. i dont have to buy a bike they had one here for me i just got to get some things to repair it. new tube and stuff so thats good. well i gotta go love you all Stetson 
(I couldn't resist...he hasn't sent me a picture of his bike yet...but wouldn't he love this one?..ha ha!)

Ist Email from Mission President

The picture was taken at the mission home.

In front is Sister Israelsen. From left to right, Elder Randle, Elder Ostberg, President Hendricks

and Elder Montgomery.

Dear Brother and Sister Montgomery,
We are happy to let you know your son arrived safely in Kingston, Jamaica. He is in good spirits and arrived anxious to become involved in the great work being done here. When he arrived we met him at the airport and brought him to the mission home where he spent his first two nights. We helped him with banking and immigration matters and then provided training and orientation.

He was interviewed and met his trainer, Elder Peterson. They then went to their area where they began the work he came here to do. Your son will be serving in Linstead. As parents we can appreciate your concern for him and his welfare and felt you would like to know he is safe and doing fine.

We want to thank you for raising such a fine son and for your support for him while he is here. Your support for the next few weeks while he may experience some homesickness will be very important. The work is really beginning to blossom here in Jamaica and the people are warm and friendly. We are confident he will have a special experience. We can assure you we will do everything we can to help him grow and develop and are confident his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ will increase. Through his mission experiences he will draw closer to our Savior. We are so grateful to have him here.

We will appreciate your continued support. Please feel free to contact us if we can be of assistance.

Gratefully,
President and Sister Hendricks

Pictures From The MTC

Elder Egbert and Elder Montgomery

Elder Montgomery with his companion Elder Ware

The Jamaica Kingston bound Elders (Montgomery, Randle & Ostberg)

Elder Montgomery at his best!

                      

August 19, 2010 1st EMAIL from MTC... "Time is tickin'"

hey i just got on my email for the first time woohoo im nervous about the flight but the other 2 elders that are flying with me are really helping they are like there is nothing to worry about its fun they say so we will see. that is crazy that brian had to walk to his area thats really cool actually its getting close though i have only one more day here gee where did time go it seems like i just unpacked and now im packing again. i got almost everything packed today. um the sept 23 titket they said its just a way to show the jamaica govt that you have a way out if you need to get out or something.. thats what elder randle said but anyways everything is gettin better i can finally sleep good here and i already have to leave its crazy. brother laubaugh one of my teachers he really kicks us in the but he is such a powerful teacher he was saying stuff that just made everyone want to work harder and do there best its been really rainy here today but now its sunny weird weather well i have to read some more emails and time is tickin love you all

August 17, 2010

Hello...............I am really dreading the mail system im Jamaica. I hope it's good. Because I don't know how I'll make it without all the mail support. It's the best. We talked to a guy who went to Jamaica on his mission. He said it was way fun. He said they are really good people and if they are interested in what you are telling them they will talk to you so you can understand them. But if they aren't they will ramble on and you can't understand anything they are saying. He also said they are really Christian people, good people. They respect religious people and they won't hurt you. They will rob you but won't hurt you. Crazy! I'm kindof scared to get there. It's coming quick! He said he had some people break into his house and steal alot of stuff. But he said the way you live down there now is better that when he was there. So it will be interesting. Well I can't think of anything else. Oh, what if you melted MIKE and IKES and dipped apples in it like candied apples? Would that work? Random question, I know. Well its bed time. Love you all
Love Elder Montgomery

August 15, 2010

Hey, well it is Sunday night and almost time for bed. They say I can email whoever I want when I get to Jamaica. That's pretty nice, huh? I have either 6 days or 8. I should get my flight plans tommorrow.  I've gained weight! uh oh One pound..Yep one pound. I should have gotten the 16.5 shirts. Hmmm I dunno everything is going good and I really miss Idaho. This Utah stuff is boring. No stars like Idaho. But I don't have much longer here so that's good. I'm getting nervous for my flight though. But it will be okay. I'll write you tomorrow if I get time. Love you all Stetson

August 12, 2010

Hey Dad! Haven't written you personally so I thought I would. You're the best one to talk to because you've been here and been through this. The first 4 days were good and bad...seemed like forever. Long, long days but a week has gone by and the days seem like weeks, and the weeks seem like days. Funny how that works. Yes, all my clothes still fit! My companion and I run every time we have gym. My companion is a cool kid we joke around alot so it is fun. My mission contains some or all of the Bahama Islands. How cool is that!  We leave for Jamaica the 21st of August. Anyways, I'll talk to you soon. Love Elder Stetson Montgomery

August 10,2010

Hello Mom and Dad,
Hope you are doing good! I'm doing good here! It's Tuesday night. We get new missionaries tomorrow, crazy to think it's already been a week, huh. The first couple of days were pretty rough...going into Sunday night I was kind of depressed. Our roommates told me that me and my companion Elder Ware were, from what they could tell, the weakest companionship in the district. I about cried. That really put us down hard. I could tell it really hurt my companion. He was acting really down so you could say. I know how he felt. It was torture. But we had a fireside that night and the guy that spoke was talking about our purpose as missionaries. I hate to say this but I was asking myself, what are you doing here Stetson, why are you wasting your time, what's the purpose? But, let me tell you that spirit was so strong there, we sang that song the Armys of  Helaman, you know that one.. we are as the Armys of Helaman, we have been taught in our youth and we will be the Lords missionaries to bring the world his truth... well, they changed the lyrics from we will be the Lord's missionaries to...We are the Lords missionaries. The feeling I had was crazy. After that we watched a movie about missionaries and how they do the the work out in the field. And during that showing I felt the spirit so strong it was  like I was getting shocked by a hot fence. I was just buzzing it was the craziest feeling I've ever felt. That is how I got my answer why I am here and that's to bring the joy of Christ to the people of Jamaica. That assured me and I know now why I am supposed to be here. Monday went way better I could tell Elder Ware was ready to take on the challenge too and we had a good day! But the joy came today when we had a TRC (teaching resource center). That's when we go and teach a volunteer investigator. We taught an old lady that was said to be Catholic. We went into it without a game plan, not knowing what we were going to talk about. Then Elder Ware asked me what we were going to teach. I said, we will know by the spirit so make sure you have an awesome opening prayer to invite it. We talked to her and went through the 1st lesson. It was awesome for our first real/fake investigator because they are usually already a member. It went way good. I'm starting to get the hang of it here. It's been Fun! One thing I am getting sick, send medicine! PRONTO! I think it's because I had to get my blood drawn for my visa and it made me a little weak. WooHoo I didn't pass out!  But everything is looking good and we are scheduled to leave for Jamaica on August 21st not the 24th. So Saturday the 21st I get to call home from the airport but they usually leave like at 3 in the morning. But that's all I know until I get my travel plans next week some time.  Anyways to answer some questions you have. We have 4 roomates, 2 companionships to a room. There are two other Elders going to Jamaica Elder Randall and Elder Osberg  and one sister, Sister Israelsen. They are all in my district with me. Elder Ware is going to Phoenix, Arizona. Other than that all is good. I sit around in my shorts and cowboy boots and walk around our floor at night...good thing I brought them. I love you all, good night, see you soon.
Love Elder Montgomery

Letter 8/6/10

Dear Family,
WOW, What a crazy 3 days...they seem to go by really slow. The food is good. Good fruit and drinks. They say don't drink the orange juice...it has side effects. But anyway my P-day is on Thursdays. Just to get that straight. Me and Elder Ware taught our first lesson today. ugh It was nerve racking you could say. Our teacher noticed we were nervous so he said a prayer. He is such a good teacher. Bro Winder (sp?) is his name. And our other teacher is Sis Thomas she is nice. Anyways about our 1st lesson. We taught some sisters in our district they were way good "fake" investigators. Really gospel smart...WOW! Elder Ware and I run when we have gym time. We run around the campus just to kind of get away...relax you could say. Tell everyone hello. I'm trying my best to keep up on writing. 

I love you all, Elder Stetson Montgomery
P.S. Bai this is the place to find you a B-Friend


-Leanne

1st Letter Sent Home From the MTC

Aug. 4, 2010
Mom this letter is mostly for you. I sit here in my room as my roommates unpack. This place is crazy and I want to come home....ha ha gotcha didn't I. Honestly the spirit is so strong here, it is unreal. WOW.. to see all these missionaries there was 339 new ones just today, goodness! There are three others going to Jamaica, two are my companions now and I got a kid going to Phoenix Arizona for my companion also. He is a good kid. Redhead but good kid ha ha. He is way shy and I'm trying everything to get him to open up. He is getting better. Anyhow, there are eight Elders counting me and Elder Ware "my companion" all of them are going to Phoenix and one sister missonary is going to Jamaica too. Like I said the spirit is so strong here. It's amazing! It has been a busy day, WOW! Been way hard to introduce myself as Elder Montgomery, gee.  I'm wore out and going to try to go to bed early...Love you all. My district leader didn't get our mail today so I didn't get anything tonight, bummer. Talk to you soon ... the count down is on.
Love Elder Stetson Montgomery


-Leanne

I will go... I will do... the things the Lord commands!

Newspaper Article

To see Stetson's mission article in the Times News, click here!


-Leanne