"week 2 in Old Harbour and i gotta say im takin a likin to it...its treatin me good so far!"

"back on the ol steel horse"

Heeeelllllllloooooo La la la! haha name that show.... Elder Randle would know...

Well here i am in a little border town internet cafe sittin on what seems like a 5 gallon bucket sweatin and crowded like a bunch.. a bunch of... well you can finish that if ya want... 

Well week 2 in Old Harbour and i gotta say im takin a likin to it. The area is really nice its flat so it makes ridin the bike easy. The members are awesome so its treatin me good so far!

Well Lets see here lets start with the serious business first and then we will have the funny story at the end!! 

It was a good one!!

We have had a lot of success this week The week started off really well we were busy and runnin around like crazy so that made the time fly by! We have a couple investigators that are doing really well. Sanjay is a members friend and he is coming along great you can tell that he has a huge desire to be baptized and do whats right. We met a girl Monday night near to our house and she was saying how she used to run and hide when she would see the missionaries coming but she said i really want to know what your all about. We had a lesson with her and she was just soakin it all in and the we gave her a book of mormon and she was like yes i have been wanting to read this. So i have a lot of hope for her. We are working with a couple others that are doing well as well. Im the district leader so i have to teach the District Meeting every week in May pen to the other Elder Montgomery and Elder Adamson. But ya for missionary work things are going really going good! 

Now for the funny story... So it was Wednesday night and we had a dinner appointment at Sister Irvings house. Well we got there and she was running a little behind so we rode over to the tire shop to air up Elder Barkers tire. on the way back to her house we got a call.. Elder Barker answered and said Sister Grant wants us to come and give her kid a blessing he is sick.... Ok well she lives across town can it wait or do we have time to run over before dinner? He said well lets go So we flew down to her house on the way Elder Barkers tire went flat right as we pull up so we go to the door. He says which one is sick? She has triplets.. She looked confused and right away i was like oh great... she said what? He said which one needs the blessing? NO not blessing...
The repellent that you promised i asked if you would be by the area to drop off the repellent...
Him Nah unda stand wuh she a say a true di patuah... and once again they say this is an English speaking mission?? hahaha He will soon pick up on it! haha so he had to push his bike all the way back to town i was riding behind him just laughing i thought it was funny..  But any how that was really funny! 

Anyhow things are good I love you all!!

Love Stetson 

"Sister Whirlpool....an ol gritty cowboy and a paramedic Brit."

Mi deh Gwon Easy yuh zee mi 

Elder conder and his creative ness

Well another week has come and gone! With Transfers it has been crazy especially the first part of the week Elder Conder and i had to go to Negril and fetch Elder Engebrect so that was a drive and a half and then we finished up our last days together at a couple dinner appointments and saying bye to some people. On wednesday we headed down to Spanish Town where we all met up. 

Sav and negril and us on the day before transfers

It was a small transfer due to the fact that all the new missionaries got caught up in Texas because of a tornando. But we got all switched up i got to go up to Linstead to drop some missionaries off up there so that was a blast i was just hoping to see someone i knew walking down the road but that never happened. Then we got here to Old Harbour which i dont really know how to explain it... Its a small town but its pretty nice we have a really nice house here that we just moved into so thats nice and Sister Whirlpool is back on laundry duty so i dont have to pay anyone to wash my clothes anymore. But pretty much for the week we have been just going around and im meeting all the members and Investigators and so forth so thats how the week has been.

me and whats his name... went blank

 But it has been good one. The members here are very nice. The branch is about the size of Santa Cruz about 40 average attend a week. We went and visited a member and she was saying that she had to give a talk on Sunday but she had the flu and asked if we could call the Branch President and let him know she wouldnt be able to speak... This was Saturday evening.. So Elder Barker called him up and said but dont worry the new missionary is here so he can speak.. totally threw me under the bus. So there i was Sunday morning First speaker... ha but all i had to do was introduce my self and share my testimony! We got a call from Elder Mccreedy and Elder Engebrect this morning and they were all your companionship is the most contrast companionship in the mission we have an ol gritty cowboy and a paramedic Brit. haha it was funny! Yes Elder Barker is from England so its been an experience trying to learn the Brittish language and i thought Jamaicans were hard to understand... But any how thats about it for the week!! Well i love you all!!!

 Love Stetson

"still kickin it in Flippin flip flops.."

(Sister Warren and her daughter Amoy)

Well where should i start.... 

This week has been really good. Seems like it was forever ago i cant remember all that happened. We all know for the weekend it was Conference. It was awesome! crazy to think my last conference on my mission. Well saturday i got a call... Transfer calls that is! Im going to be going to my last area. Wednesday im being transfered to Old Harbour to serve with Elder Barker. He is still new been out 1 transfer. I have never been to Old harbour so i have no idea what it is like but i guess i will soon find out. Elder Randle is the New assistant. It was a fun week over the phone talking to each other we would just keep playing jokes on each other about who was going to be going to Kingston and he would always say if its not you who is it?? and i would always say its you! well i was right! Im excited for him lucky dog he'll get to go out to cayman again. maybe i'll slip in his carry on haha! But anyhow as for everything else things are going good still kickin it in Flippin flip flops.. i have to go to the doctor tomorrow to have them look at it again so that should be my last time! We have also got a couple of investigators that are doing really good. Patsy has a baptism date for the 14th of April and Kadian is still doing good she was at every session of conference so that was way cool! 

(members of the branch)

But im am super sad to leave this branch. I have loved every sunday that i have been here some of the most spiritual times on my mission. the members here though small in numbers they are amazing!! But anyhow thats about all that i can recall!!

 I love you all

 Stetson

"Elder Conder caught me as i was going down.....Some Beach"

 "helping a lady hang some clothes" 

"warmin up next to a pot of rice and peas" 

Well this week has been really good! Wednesday we were in Hopeton on a tradeoff with Elder Weldon and Elder Ostrin. So we spent wednesday in Hopeton and then drove back late that night. Then on Thursday we went out and saw Kadian had a really good lesson with her and then came back into town ate and then i had to go to the doctor for my toe... Story Below about that... then the rest of Thursday we were in the house because of the toe. Friday was another trip to the doctor and some service for Sister Osbourne and then Friday night activity.

"choppin a members yard" 

 Saturday was awesome. We taught some really good lessons with most of our progressing investigators. And Sunday was just amazing i love fast Sundays here. I was sittin next to Brother Clayton and i wrote him a note that said if you go up i'll go up.... well after awhile he got up and i was thankful that he did because i really wanted to go up. I talked about how President Ackerman called me up one sunday to bear my testimony and before that i had never done it. Nervous as all get out i bore a testimony of what i knew to be true which was about Prayer. I talked about the opportunities that we all have to do things and how they can strengthen our Faith. Im so thankful that he called me up that day. At first i was ticked off but looking back i feel that it was something i needed to do! the last person to bear her testimony was Safiya she is an investigator who after finding out she could go up she went up and bore her testimony it was an amazing experience! Church was just amazing. though it be a tiny Branch in the middle of no where i have had some of my most spiritual experiences within the walls of that liitle building! Things are going great! Im thankful for a good friend.. Elder Randle hes always there when i need him! I wish he wasnt so far away but who knows maybe we will get lucky and serve together again. Your never alone when ya got Pals!  anyhow i love you all and am thankful for everything! For anyone who reads this and is debating going on a mission i just want to say GO! lay everything else aside and GO!  

 I love ya all! love stetson
"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." 

"takin a siesta" 

 Well I got my Ingrown toenail removed....... And that ain't the half of it.....

Well the funny Story of the week is that i have had an ingrown toenail for a while had it removed once already but it didnt work right so i had to have it taken out again. Well Thursday was the day that i had to go in after being on antibiotics for the week... Well We go in and they get it all numbed up. Man those shots hurt so bad. I was all worked up over the whole ordeal it was hot in the room felt like i was at a vet shack. Well the doctor comes in and throws on the gloves and then he goes at it the whole time i was singin the song... Some Beach... I could just feel the pressure f him pryin the nail up. Then about 3 seconds later he says you can look at it now. Looks good. They wrap me all up and then i hop off the table and i just keep thinking i need some fresh air its to muggy in here. So i go to the front desk pay the lady and then she was all well come back tommorow and make sure to keep it dry. i stood up straight and was all whoozy then Elder Conder looks out side and its pouring rain and says how we gonna keep it dry when its pouring rain?....Some Beach...

 "Gotta keep the toe dry"

  Thats the last thing i remember i went out right then and there Elder Conder caught me as i was going down. woke up on the floor looked around and then remembered where i was. They took me into the back room and laid me down for awhile until i came to and after about 20 minutes went home and Sister Hendricks told us to stay in for the rest of the day. So that was pretty crazy!

"Livin in Jamaica watch what it will make ya!"

 I Read a quote the other day that says

 A smooth path might get you there faster, but a rough trail teaches you more. 

You know if that aint the truth.. We had some awesome times though. I had the opportunity to go on a trade off/split with Negril. Elder Conder stayed in Sav la mar. It was really good i learned a bunch from the experience! It was Elder Ngubane who is from south Africa and Elder Engebrect and Elder Mcleod. They had been having a hard time finding a Recent convert and didnt know where she was. Her family wasnt saying anything about it or anything. So i took Elder Mcleod from Sav and we went up there and he had served there already and knows her really good. Well we found her and we had an awesome lesson with her. As we taught her we could tell something was wrong she was just down about something... We encouraged her to come to institute that night. well she showed up talked with the Branch President and that was all we seen of her that night. The next day before we left back to sav we stopped by to see her! Her countenance had changed she was just happy and smiling! She said i feel like a burden has been lifted! She expressed her thanks for us coming and finding her and i was thanking God for the opportunity that we had to help her i was happy! I have had a lot of experiences lately that truly confirm Alma's words Alma 29:9 i know that which the Lord hath commanded me and i glory in it. I do not glory of myself but i glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me yea and this is my glory that perhaps i may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance and this is my JOY!!  As i walked away from that lesson i was so happy that i had that opportunity to be on a trade off in Negril and had the thought to take Elder Mcleod with us so we didnt have to make 2 trips back to Negril it just all played out perfect! And just to reiterate that quote we learn from our mistakes and just keep pushing on and as we do that i have learned that we can make it through anything!! These experiences i have had would never of happened if i wouldnt of came!  Livin in Jamaica watch what it will make ya!  Thanks for all the support from everyone!!! i Love you all!!!

 Stetson

hello good morning!!! Dads trip sounds like fun haha... And that dang horse i was for sure dad woulda sold her already lol.... but hey i have to go to the doctor again my stupid toe that i had worked on got infected again so ya im flip floppin it up again!!  i dont know whats going on so i may have to use my home card im runnin low on money so just so ya know. my appt its today. i have a number that im supposed to be in line for but it was taking to long so we have to go back and hopefully they arent past #22 lol but anyhow my time is up!

 love ya have a good week!!!  

"Im so thankful that i came on a mission its the best thing ever."

Z WEEK...Well another week gone....Where did it go?  

Well this week has been really good. we are working with some people that have huge potential and every time we go and see them we have awesome lessons with them so thats always good! Wednesday i had to teach District meeting and gotta give thanks to bertha for that one she sent me a talk out of the ensign and it really hit home to me so i thought that maybe others could benefit from it so i based my lesson off of it. Turned out really good!  Thanks Breht!! Then after that we went on a trade off with the assistants it was really good. Then that night Ochie aka Elder Randle and Karthner came down from Mo Bay and spent the night at our house so we had 6 people in our house that night. the next morning we all headed to kingston for ZLC

 its so much fun driving with Elder Randle It dont matter whose in front we just drive like were 1 haha we had it on speaker phone and we were acting like we were pilots to jets .. when i would pass i would let him know he was clear he would always yell out Boggie on the left. Hes a good wing man thats for sure Elder Randle is awesome.  

One of my Best friends and its not just going to be while we are here in Jamaica but for life!!! Oh and we were talking Mom we need you to make us some bunk beds he may be stayin with us for a while.... just sayin. But anyhow the week was awesome just had some good times. church was really good as well. Didnt have anyone at Sacrament meeting investigators that is but after it was over some showed up. We are having a baptism not this Saturday but next Saturday so thats awesome! But things are going great Cant tell you all enough how thankful i am for everything you do for me! Im so thankful that i came on a mission its the best thing ever. i have met some awesome people and have served with awesome people as well! Chase Peterson AKA Pete was number one then Elder Randle AKA Wing man i can see us right now in jets like on Behind enemy lines headed right for each other then at the last second turning sideways and skimming by each other haha anyhow back at the ranch.. I forgot about Trenten Dale one of my favorite companions and then Elder Poulsen hes a star We hit it off like we had known each other for ever it was awesome!!! And all the others have been good to me as well!

 But anyways i Love you all Love Stetson 

...i am absolutely having a blast!...im lovin it!!

Well this week was awesome! 

had such a good week. things are going great we have met a few new people and i am absolutely having a blast! This week flew by. We went on a trade off with Mandeville Elders on thursday and when we were on it i was like dang its thursday and then it just seemed like everything was in fast forward! I went with Elder Nugent his grandpa was the first Jamaican baptized here in Jamaica. Elder Nugent is from some where in Utah but he is a star one of the best out here and he is still fairly young in the mission but is awesome i learned so much from him.

 Church was awesome as well. It was fast and Testimony week This branch is amazing i have been in some bigger branches Like Linstead and Cayman and Kingston but here in Santa cruz i have had some of the best Sundays. I was sitting there expecting to have a good number of investigators there and when only one showed up i was just bummed but as the meeting went on 4 more showed up and they all loved it. Shada and Keva and Charmaine and Camille and Kadian all came Charmaine was a girl Elder Ostberg and i met right in fromt of the church we have tried and tried to see her but it just never worked well out of the blue she shows up and absolutely loved church it was just so awesome to see the members take them all in and make them feel comfortable. It really makes the difference! We have also had one of the best lessons this week with a lady named Safiya some missionaries met her and then she said they never called back or came back. but im thankful they saved her number in the phone we just called it up and she agreed to have us come over and at first i was just like well this isnt going to be good but it turned out to be awesome! She just kept saying how good she felt and how she was on the search for the truth it was just awesome. Cant really explain it! But anyhow things are great and im lovin it!! 

I love you all have a wonderful week!!

Stetson

"....looking for some good things to come!"

Well lets see here 

This week was pretty Hectic really! Monday we spent the day in Sav for Pday and then we headed back here. Met up with the assistants and gave them Elder Taylor. He is headed off to Freeport Bahamas. Tuesday we went around and Elder Ostberg told everyone good bye. Then wednesday we headed into Spanish town for transfer day. It was a big transfer. We got 5 new missionaries in the mission and on of them is being trained by the other Elder Montgomery but what was funny is that i was just sitting there and they asked him who his trainer was and he said Elder Montgomery and pointed to me and i walked up like i was his companion and then i said well Im the wrong Elder Montgomery and then pointed to the other one haha it was funny! But it was good to see everyone again. Once we got everything all packed up we headed out Elder Randle had to follow us up to get a missionary in Mandeville when we were on the Highway a car passed us and then boom his back tire blew out he went all over the road it was nuts i was just like he is going to flip but he handled it just spun around a few time so that was crazy! But we only made it to Sav that night we had 11 people sleeping in that house it was packed. and then the next morning we continued on to Negril and dropped some other missionaries off then thats where we split was with elder Randle and his posse. But we didnt get back to our area until Thursday night. it seemed as if i had been driving for days! Elder Conder cant drive he got in a wreck so he lost his driving privileges so i have to drive everyday now. But that was the first part of the week! Now for the remainder of the week it was good! We had some good lessons on Saturday with people so that was awesome! we had to give talks Sunday in church It was really good i spoke on Testimony and how to strengthen it once we receive it! but church was awesome we had alot of visitors 5 investigators and a couple other people that had been invited by friends. After church we went and saw Mr. Higgins had a super good lesson with him just really good! So im excited to be serving with Elder Conder he is awesome so looking for some good things to come! anyways thats about all for the week!  I love you all!!!

Love, Stetson  

"This weekend has been really amazing!!!"

Well another week has come and gone. they just keep flying by i swear. we had to drive to sav la mar which is an hour and a half drive then we went and ate and we are now just emailing.. we have to take elder taylor back to santa cruz with us he is going to the bahamas tomorrow so thats why were here. This week was awesome it was such a good week! I will start on wednesday just because monday and Tuesday not to much happened.

 After district meeting on Wednesday we headed to Sav we were going to go on a trade off with them. I brought Elder Taylor and Elder Weir to Santa Cruz with me and Elder Ostberg stayed in Sav with Elder Romney. (They are in a 3 person companionship) Well we got back to santa and it was raining so we sat for a while called some people but everyone blew us out. So we decided to go finding just parked at the church and headed out from there. It was a good experience for Elder Weir he is brand new. So we got to do some finding with him. we talked to some people that just weren't to interested. Everytime Elder Taylor would say alright Elder Weir this ones yours referring to the person walking towards us and he would say no no you this time and Elder Taylor would just say were going to look really weird standing here if you dont talk lol.  Then there was a lady that was walking so Elder Weir pulled the same trick on him this ones yours so the lady walks by Elder Taylor says hello the lady says hi but just keeps walking so Elder Taylor is determined to talk to her so he Starts walking after her and says hey we want to talk to you... About what? Church... lol it was hilarious turns out to be a way nice lady we talked to her about Church and our message she was shocked when i showed her the Book of Mormon said she had never heard of it i read a verse to her and she totally understood it which was a shock to me!! She is an accountant and she was all well how about i meet you here at the church tomorrow during my lunch.. So it was way cool. She was to busy though the next day we went to the church and called and she was all ya i'll be there in 20 minutes well then she called back and said she was still with a client and couldn't leave so that was a bummer. We then walked around to finish out the night and found a couple other really cool people so it was a good trade off! We had to take Elder Weir to Hopeton to meet President Hendricks so he could take him to kingston for a meeting for his passport stuff he is supposed to be in florida serving right now but his papers haven't gone through as yet. But the trade off was awesome Elder Taylor is awesome he is the one that has family in Burley and Oakley he used to work on the farms in the summer up there for his Grandpa. Anyhow Thursday night when elder Ostberg and i got back together we went and saw Alex he is 18 really cool guy! Had an awesome lesson with him and it went almost perfect! Then Friday we had some good lessons as well one with Shanique and the other with Kadian both just really good. Then saturday was the same in the morning we taught Alex and then Stacy and then went to Keva and had really a really good one with her as well. Then after that we went to Mandeville for the Saturday session of District Conference Man that was awesome Elder Anderson from the area Presidency was there and He and President Hendricks gave awesome talks! Then Sunday we went to May pen for the sunday session another awesome one and when we came back we went and taught Monique she is probably one of the most sincere investigators i have taught just really wants to know if what we teach is true and has a strong desire to be baptized!! its awesome!! We taught her about the plan of Salvation it was just awesome! Then we went to a less-active members and watched Elder Hollands talk from the Priesthood session of general conference. Then we just bore testimony it was really cool! Its true what Elder Anderson spoke about on Saturday he said that desires reflect our behavior and when we feel the Holy Ghost our desires change and that is when we change and it was just awesome to see that working in that less- actives life already! so This weekend has been really amazing!!! 

Well Transfer time again... Elder Ostberg is going to Spanish Town to be Zone Leader and i am getting Elder Conder. Im excited Elder Randle served with him and he is one of his favorite companions so im excited about transfers!! But anyhow thats all for this week!!! 

love you all Stetson   

"Im so thankful for that blessing!!"

Well another week gone.. crazy... i was laying in my bed the other night and was talking to Elder Ostberg and was just like dang its already Sunday.. The week flew by!

It has been an alright week! Started off good. We met some really cool people on Tuesday met and 18 year old kid named Alex who seems really promising turns out we are teaching his whole family! Well his Mom, brothers, and sister his dad is in Canada but still its cool! It was super hot that day though just like walking in to an oven for a couple hours then right after that we had to take a honey extractor up to Russells to bro. Russell. And of course it had to start pouring rain... Well i got soaked just me i was putting the extractor back in the truck because someone else needed it in Mandeville well a guy helped me put it in the back of the truck then runs like a scared kitten to get out of the rain so i strapped it down and got soaked.. Well the next morning i woke up with a sore throat and it just kept getting worse i could barely swallow. The Smiths stopped by for a apartment check after our district meeting and i asked Elder Smith for a blessing. then we went to a couple of lessons and Elder Ostberg had to do all the talking i tried to say some but it was to painful. so we called sister Hendricks and she told me to go home and take some meds and get it bed. I had a fever of 100.4 i was burnin up. but the next morning i was feeling a hundred times better!! Im so thankful for that blessing!! We stayed in half the day Thursday and then we went back at it for the evening went and taught Alex and his family they are awesome! i was still scratchy but it went good. Then Friday we helped the Whiteheads take some pigs to some people they had like 12 in a crate in their truck and we had 6 in burlap bags in the back of ours haha it was hilarious i felt like a total red neck. when we got the pigs there they were panting and foaming at the mouth so we hauled them down to the pen and the told Brother Russell to get them some water. He was all no you cant give them water you have to let them cool off before you give them water or else they will freeze and die... Then he said you know its like your horses you let them stand and cool off for a while before you give them water... The you give them some oats and some Dragon Stout and then water... I was like what the world is this guy talking about when my horse is thirsty he drinks... and also Brother Russell my horse obeys the word of wisdom.. he wants the promises that the word of wisdom offers lol it was hilarious he just went on and on he is so full of it lol. The rest of the day was just Hectic we saw Alex again and got halfway through our lesson and he had to leave and go to work. then We went and saw Anna-kaye and her little sister is crazy just wouldnt be quiet during the lesson kept spitting water all over and it just ticked me off so Friday wasn't good. Saturday was similar most everyone we had planned to see blew us out so that sucked. And Sunday Church was awesome i have had some of the most spiritual meetings here in Santa Cruz. Just really good talks given and Sister Osbourne does an awesome job at teaching Sunday school. and well Priesthood is good when someone other than the teacher teaches.. But we didnt have any investigators at church so that was a bummer. But we had a good night we went and saw Lorett and her family and Monique focused alot on Monique because she hadn't been there the last time we taught the restoration. It was a good lesson. she shared some really cool spiritual experiences with us she seems really promising! and then we went and saw the Claytons Bro. Clayton is going to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood   next sunday and its District conference so thats awesome!!! our Melchizedek Priesthood is going to double woohoo! So thats awesome!! anyhow everything is going pretty good here! Its nice and hot but all is well!! 

Well i love you all!!

Love Stetson