HI!!! Well this week was wonderful!

To answer your questions:

1 When we tract we really like to get to know the person a little and also jump right into teaching so we do short doctrinal statements and then ask inspired questions and tell them about what we feel prompted to say.. Usually something about prophets and all the different churches!

2. Today we’ve actually had a relaxing P-day!!!! We’ve just been liming really. I am actually sick right now with a cold and not feeling too well.

3. Yes please, people here sound so different. But I am used to it already. They have totes dif lingo. And they speak Patwa here a lot!!!

4. In our branch we have about 50! It’s is better. We are still doing our best.

Ok so our investigators are just plugging along! We didn’t get anyone to church on sunday!!! 🙁 But it’s ok next week for sure!!!

We are teaching this great young man J. and he loves the booklets we leave him and now the Book of Mormon! We are excited to keep teaching him 🙂 Oh! and we teach the 1st vision A TON! At least twice a day 🙂 It’s the best.

As for everything else we are working hard still trying to find our people who will progress. There are miracles happening here in this area. I am so grateful to be a missionary. Thanks for all the support and love.

Sorry this is short there are some malfunctions going on today!

We’ve been using Mormon Messages and trying to liven up all the lessons and it’s been going well. If there is a visual that you could think of I’d love it if you sent that too!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! The church is true! Love, Sister Emily

I am glad to hear that everyone’s week was bomb.com.

My week was just the best!! As usual 😉 So we had some crazy things happen this week.

It sounds like every one of you is doing wonderful things and staying busy.

To answer your question: During the week we stay in our area. We do travel around the island though. The whole island is hilly. It is very pretty here. This place is great. I’m so blessed.

Something sad is that Bro R. from my last area dropped them after I left……. 🙁 I guess it was because I was not there anymore.. It made me sad. Things got pretty bad before and after I left.

BUT AS FOR HERE: Things are going well 🙂 We have a baptism this Sat. Her name is K. she is a member referral. And is so wonderful.

We are working very closely with the members here.

We are trying to help a lot of people to have a change of heart. I’m starting to realize how crucial this change of heart is for everyone. EVERYONE.

Funnies: The other day someone said to us ” well it says in the bible you can’t serve God and Mormon….” HAHAHA that’s a new one. Last time I saw it, it said you can’t serve God and Mammon.

This man we taught was trying to bash with us and we wouldn’t so he said we needed to be more well versed with the scriptures so he gave us a nice booklet.

Anyway this week Sister S. and I built a blanket fort and we also were sick half of this week but we drank some bush tea (it’s not against WOW(Word of Wisdom) and we got better. The best part was when we went out teaching,  while we were in the lessons the spirit was able to comfort us and make us feeel better so we wouldn’t feel sick. It was awesome 🙂

Sist S. and I gave talks in church yesterday! It was nice and we are helping the branch. We did a make over to the basement, where we meet. We got it all cleaned up for the investigators class. And we are getting a young women’s class set up and just started Personal Progress!!!!! WE ARE EXCITED!!!!!!!!

Today we had a Zone activity it was so fun!

This email is all over the place………….. Ha sorry.

We are helping a lot of the youth that we are working with to keep their standards and to respect themselves and others… That can be a big prob here.

Cool and Spiritual Story: So P. one of the amazing people we are working with, he got offended and it got rough. But we felt prompted to stop by his house and offer to help and just let him know that we cared. We had a lesson this week on the recognizing the spirit and he told us all how he feels the spirit has been teaching him, and he said that he knew that we were messengers for Christ, and that he was so grateful that we stopped by.

Anyway some lessons I have learned this week are to always have hope in people. To put myself in other peoples shoes. And last but not least TO SUCK IT UP AND DRY YOUR EYES 😉 Haha

Yesterday I had a thinking day. Just one of those days where you think about things you have learned, and things you have been through, and things you should be learning. I read the talk by Henry B. Eyring Mountains to climb and it made me smile. I am so grateful for the trials and lessons I learn as a missionary. I seriously cannot picture my life if I had not chosen to serve a mission. I love talking to Sister S. we have the best deep conversations just about everything. She is a real gem and I love her. We talk a lot about our lives and love learning from each other.

I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and his Atoning sacrifice for me. I was reading from Jesus the Christ and it filled my heart with love and admiration.

I know that my Redeemer lives. I am grateful for the scriptures, I have learned to rely on them and they are a great support and friend to me.

Anyway all is well here! I love life and the gospel and everything in between. Thanks to all the wonderful people in my life.

I love you all and hope you have a great week.

XOXO

Love forever and always, Sister Emily 🙂

Tell Gram I love her bad and give her a big hug for me 🙂

So this week was really nice. We taught so many people and are meeting such lovely folks. Sister S. and I are like dynamite… We get work done boy!

Sunday was Sister S.’s b-day and we were fasting so I could not make her breakfast but I made some signs and gave her a few little gifts! She is so cute. We had a great day at church.

I don’t know if I told you but our branch needs some help! It’s such a cute disfunctional sort of thing. Hahaha yesterday in fast and testimony meeting this lady got up to bear her testimony and then just burst out into song… It was wonderful. And another guy started talking about how we shouldn’t call children “kids” because that means small goat or something… Needless to say, it’s never a dull moment.

Saint L. is growing on me like a fungus in an athletes hot shoe…. (that was gross I know) (but I needed a visual… I am missionary, come on) The people here are the best!!! It’s starting to feel more like home although I still miss my family in my last area! It’s alright.

We have found many people and we will soon have 2 baptisms. We are working SO hard. Like borderline too hard. But we really want to get everything in line 🙂 I know this time in St. L. will continue to be such a blessing.

I am starting to realize how different I am than I used to be.. Not in a bad way I just am changed for the better.

I am really sorry I have not sent pictures in a long time. The circumstances are not the best! But I will strive to send some real soon.

I have learned so much this week and felt the spirit very strong as we’ve been teaching the 1st lesson so much of the restoration. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. And mom and dad I am grateful for the magnificent parents that you are. You really are the best!

Anyway I love you mama bear! You are so sweet and kind. Have a wonderful week and I will talk to you real soon.

Daddy: I am so sorry about gramps. I just love you and hope you are alright. I wish I could be there to cry with you all… I mean lets get real I am like an expert cryer 😉 Anyway love you pops!

Tell everyone hi for me! Also never forget how blessed each and every one of us are. We have so much to thankful for. Someone always has it worse than us.. Like a lot of the people here hardly have anything but they are still so wonderful.

Anyway life is great. I love you all so much. Tell everyone hi and that I love them.

Love always, Sister Emily

Oh I am glad you got to see a picture! She is a doll. Me and her are like peas and carrots.

1. She has been out for 3 transfers. So she came out with Sister H.!

2. Sister C. trained Sister S. and they were together for 3 trans. just like Sister H. and I! So basically we just swapped daughters and islands!

3. She’s been out for 4 and half months.

4. The people here are WONNERFUL!!!!!!!! They grow closer to my heart every day. I am not going to lie, it was really hard to leave all of the people from B’dos. But the people here are so great and feel like fam already.

5. The branch, is very small. The people are so sweet. Sister S. and I have big big plans for this cute island. There have been disobedient/less than effective missionaries here in the past so there are trust probs and stuff like that. We are kinda starting from scratch with everything so it’ll be challenging but SO FUN! And worth it!

6. There has normally been 2 sets of missionaries here. But when I came in they blanked another set of elders… So now we have six!! 🙂

7. I have seen them twice since I have been here… So basically hardly ever.

8. I have learned that life can always always be worse and someone always has it worse off then you. I have learned so much in these short weeks. The people here hardly have anything and I just want to give all that I have to them!! I “accidentally” gave away my watch the other day… Hahah it’s alright 🙂

I have learned to LOVE LOVE LOVE And to be yourself always and people will love you. Just like the Stake President told me. 🙂

Sister S. and I have been working our behinds right off!!!!!!!! This week we set HIGH goals and reached every single one. The best week in numbers I have ever had. Hard work and goal setting takes you a long long way 🙂

Although we have had just about every miss fortune possible..

Hahah our water has gone out completely and then partially. One of your investigators yelled at us and got super offended and that set off the Branch Pres. who was helping us teach that man. There have been so many crazy tings appen.

We are finding lots of great people and trying to find those who are prepared.

I love the people here so much already though seriously.

And I got my wish! I wanted to be in an adventuristic mission and it is happening even more so this transfer!!! LIFE IS GREAT.

Anyway!!! Sounds like all is well for you all 🙂

I am so proud of my cute Sar bear! She will be a great missionary!

Ok so something cool is that before my mission if I had a bad or stressful day I would whip out Bob Marley and listen to Three little birds, and multiple times on my mission where I was stressed or worried somehow I end up hearing that song… Tender mercy from the Lord in a funny way….??… I think yes!

Anyway ereybody I know this is the true church on the earth today. It is my light and my joy and I am so grateful for it 🙂

Have a great week I love you all! Look unto the lord in every thought, doubt not fear not.

Love always, Seester Emily 🙂

Ok so to start I will answer all questions…..

St. L. is so wonderful. I love it here so bad. This week was SOOOOOO crazy. It was SO hard to leave B’dos my home 🙁

My flight went really well. I got here in the afternoon on Wed. I met Sister S. who is the cutest, sweetest girl!!!!!!! We are very similar and I love her a ton already. But we had a rough first day. The lessons went well but the people were so sad that Sister C. was gone. It was difficult to go from a place where you know everything and everyone loves you then go to a place where you do not know anything and no one wants you! But everything is falling into place. Right off the plane they had me drive…. The driving is dif here…… I scraped the side of the brand new car on a random brick wall thing, I STARTED JUST BAWLING. It was a little bit of lemon juice in a paper cut.. ;( 🙂

But all is well. Things are looking up. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: I love Sis. S. She is so much fun and we work so well together. We are both happy and outgoing and fun 🙂 The people here are so nice and I am getting to know everything better. We are basically blanking the area because they switched the boundaries of where we work! It has been fun. THE OTHER DAY WE got 7 new investigators in one day!!!! Talk about awesome!!!!!! 🙂

My comp is so great! We will do great things together!

The branch is fun! Tons of youth…. About 60 members. Church is still a little disfunctional but we will do our best to help with that.

The truth is I really miss B’dos quite a bit still but I know I will love it here just as much 🙂 The missionaries I am serving with are so much fun. We had a great Zone Activity this morn!

This will be such a wonderful transfer and I am so happy to be here. I know the gospel is true.

Hahaha on sunday the BP(Branch President) asked me to give a talk right before sacrament started so I just whipped something up. It went nicely!!!

I have just been getting to know the area and people but so far I love it a lot!

I will send pictures soon and tell you more and more. This week has just been super wild but we’ll see how everything goes for sure.

Well I love all of you so very much!!! I hope you have a great week. I will talk to you soon but just know I am safe, happy and loving life as a missionary as usual 🙂

The church is true!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU!!!!!! Sister Emily

Emily with Al Fox -Pre mission pic

Hello my wonderful family!! How are you all?? Sounds like everything is just lovely at home 🙂

Well this week was wild and a half. We were SO busy and still are so I might have to be not as talky as usual because I have lots of chores to do and I need to pack……………………..…………………………………………………………………………… That’s right I am leaving my beautiful home of Barbados and I am going to…….. *drum roll please* ST. LUCIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am really excited in case you couldn’t tell 😉 It’ll be so great. I am going to be switching with Sister C. (the one I came in with and served around before) she is coming to be with Sister H. and I am going to be with Sister S. her trainee!!! It will be a blast! I have heard great things about Sister S. and I know Sister C. will continue to help Sister H. and love her like I do. I am really sad at the same time. There have been many tears and smiles. Yesterday at church reminded of when I left home. Seriously it was a bit too much attention for my liking. But it was fun I don’t think it really has hit me yet. Prolly when I get on the plane. I am so excited to be with Sis. S., I heard we are very similar so that’ll be fun 🙂 But these past few days we have been trying to see everybody and saying goodbye. I am tired of goodbyes and stuff but I know I will see these people again even if it’s not in this mortal life. I will miss this place bad bad bad. It feels a little like leaving home again, I seriously love everyone so much!

Other than that, a few of our progressing investigators have dropped us this week.. It has been sad and hard. BUT through it all I know they will eventually except the gospel. Whether in this life or the next! And Brother R. is still doing so well 🙂 He will be baptized in a couple of weeks! I am sad I will miss it but it’s alright.

Oh also!!!!!!!!!!! Last Monday after I emailed (not to scare you mom)…. But we went to a place called Sam Lords Castle and our car got broken into. Actually the other set of sisters car. Somebody chucked a giant rock through their window and stole both Sister H. and Sister H.’s bags!!!!!!!!! They lost EVERYTHING. debit cards, scriptures, planners, money, I.D. It was so bad. But we have figured everything out now. It was pretty sketch.

I had the chance to bear my testimony yesterday for my last sunday and it was a special experience. I loved looking out on all these people that I love so much. Look at their cute faces and see their sweet spirits that have blessed me and helped me to strennghten my testimony in the last 9 months. It has been such a blessing. I am so grateful to be a missionary and for the things I learn and the people I meet. Barbados will always have a special place in my heart. And I am also very excited and ready to go work hard and have the time of my life in St. Lucia. I know that is where the Lord needs me and I feel comfort when I think about it.

I am also so glad that I was able to serve with Sister H., I am going to miss my “daughter” BAD! She has helped me to see things from a very different light and I have been able to lead our Barbados area in a way I wouldn’t have been able to any other way. I have been blessed by her love and also I feel well prepared for the future in many aspects!

Alright well just know that I love you all so very much. I hope you have a wonderful week, I know I will. I will write you next week with all of the details about St. Lucia and Sister S. and everything 🙂 Love you!!!! Keep on keepin’ on. Christ lives and loves us and carries us through everything.

Love always, Sister Emily (future resident of St. Lucia boyyyyyyy) YEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

Read your scriptures, say fervent prayers and all that good stuff.

I am glad to hear all about how your week went. It’s sounds wonderful 🙂

Ok so… (side note) Sorry if I haven’t been putting enough detail and experiences in my emails! I will try and do better. There is just SO much going on I can’t put it all into words.

So Sister K. is doing very well. We went by this week and when we got to her house she had been memorizing the Relief Society Declaration we do everysunday! And she has been reading a lot. But at the same time it has been a challenge, she has been reading anti-mormon things online. So I guess she had googled Mormons and Joseph Smith and came across all kinds of awful things! SO she has been a little hung up on those things… But other than that she is doing really well. We redirected her search to the church websites so she can have accurate information.

A spiritual experience we had with her when we were there, we showed her the Mormon message of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talking about Joseph Smith and the BOM (Book of Mormon). It was powerful. And I really could see her doubts melting away, if only for a few minutes. The spirit is really so wonderful. It’s so important to feel this way. Satan is working hard on her, but I know she will be ok.

G. is doing really well. Still searching for a place to stay so he can move out of the pastor ladies house. He wants to be baptized on Feb. 9th the date we had set but he won’t be able to make it to church 3 times before then and that’s the requirement… So he’ll probably be baptized the 1st week of next transfer when I probs won’t be here. Oh everything in the world is trying to stop him from moving forward as well.

J…………………..………. CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were so happy. We walked her to a place where she could be picked up by a member. She really enjoyed church and said she wants to come next week and also bring someone! She is gaining a strong testimony of the BOM. She is very logical, and that’s the cool thing is the gospel just makes sense!!!

K.: We call him Brother R. and HE LOVES IT! He came to church yesterday too!!!!!!!!!!! It was the best. So he has been feeling surrounded by evil on this island, but really we found out it’s just where he is staying. He came to church and he told us “I felt the spirit so strong” He even recognized it! He said he felt like everyone loved him and only felt happiness and peace while he was there. We had a really spirit filled lesson last night after church. He wants to keep coming and is excited to be baptized on March 1st!!! He loves learning and he had already read next weeks lesson for sunday when we got there last night. He has quite a few concerns but they seem to fade away the more he feels the spirit and gains a testimony 🙂

AWWWWWWWWWWWW…. I love these people all so much. In case you couldn’t tell. My heart belongs here.

I have been so blessed and continue to be. The Lord has a hand in each one of our lives. We all need to be tested to the core and show the Lord where our desires truly are.

Oh this week we have been doing lots of Puppet Shows for a drug awareness week and stuff! It has been fun and many missionary opportunities come from it!

Also Sister K. gave us a whole bunch of clothes this week, it was so nice.

Oh something funny that happened this week is that Sister H. and I got locked out of our apartment (I honestly do not remember if I told you this already but if I did I will tell you again and just pretend that it’s funny….) So we go out exercising in the morn and I have this habit of locking the door when going in and out of the house (I prolly got that from you ma;) Anyway so I occasionally accidentally lock us out of the apartment! SO it happened the other morn and our land lord was not home to open the door so we went around looking for a window that might be open. Well the bathroom window was open (keep in mind the bathroom window is like MAYBE a foot wide and tall. So Sister H. and I naturally decide we are going to somehow squeeze through this window head first and not die…. Long story short we ended up finding our land lord and going through the front door like normal people. IT WAS GREAT!

This week has been wild and so wonderful.

Mom: I am glad to hear you are doing well! I also love the Holy Ghost it’s amazing to feel the difference of when he is there and when he is not. Thanks for your example and cute mommy self. I love you forever and beyond.

Oh Sister H. started driving this week… Speaking of the Holy Ghost, I have been relying on the comforter part of him…. 😉 But really I prolly feel like you did when I first started driving.

Anyway!! That is all for this week….. Not really but I can’t write anymore because of time and such! But I love you all very much and hope you have a blessed week. Be good and keep on keepin’ on! The church is true, we are so blessed! I’m out.

Love, Sister Em dog da big cheese Nan 🙂

Well ya know, I am doing really well. I AM SO HAPPY. I love life. I love being a missionary. I love my people out here. I love the hot sunshine. I love the gospel. I love learning. I love the scriptures. Let’s face it I am just so blessed and stinkin’ jolly!

So to answer your questions….. Yes. I do have doctrinal questions sometimes and I usually ask one of my leaders but when President M. is here I do ask him questions and he helps a lot! He is very intelligent and can teach me a lot.

Oh man yes I feel and know that my knowledge of the gospel has grown SO much. I was just thinking about that this week. Speaking of which, Sister W. and I were discussing this book written by Tad R. Callister, called the Infinite Atonement. IT IS SO INTERESTING AND WONDERFUL. I have learned a lot about the Plan of Salvation from it. I sincerely feel like I hardly knew anything before my mission. Welp good thing I am here then 🙂

I learned that the world basically goes through the same things we do and that before when Adam and Eve were in the Garden before the Fall happened that the earth was near God. (BY Kolob) And then when they Fell so did the earth and now this is where earth will stay for a time. ANYWAY deep stuff I tell you.

We have a pretty small branch but mostly there are enough people to each have a calling 🙂

Ahhhh… I am excited to hear about what all happens wiff all these new babies! CUTE!!!!!

Ok so this week was just great! Sister H. and I are working hard and finding success. I love she lots. She makes me laugh, she has grown so so so much. I feel like a proud mom.

Ok so this week Sister K. (our investigator) was able to get work off and come to church. It was solid. She loved church is gaining such a strong testimony.

This transfer is already half over! It is flying by too fast. Where does the time even go? I wish there was more time to teach and study because I love reading and learning but I love the people and teaching. There should be more hours in the day.

Sister H. is starting to drive soon, we have to get her comfortable with dat because it’s like a 100% chance that I am leaving this coming transfer… Wah. But I guess it’s time after spending 9 months here!!

Also can you email me some of the pictures from Ri and Jannys wedding!? I never got to see them. 🙂 TANK YOU!!!

Alright well I am sorry I don’t get to write everyone back but you are all wonderful. I enjoyed what you wrote and you can just picture what I would have written back..

Get feeling better Kels and Janny say hi to the baby for me. Al keep being a stud. And mom and dad I love you a lot.

Have a great week. God be with you. Stay excellent erybody!

Lots of love, Sister Emily 🙂

Ok so if I am hearing correctly it sounds like all is well mostly.

I am excited to hear about Liz and all that good stuff. And sad to hear about grandpops. I will def keep him in my prayers.

Alright alright, getting down to the nitty gritty. This week was………………….. AWESOME!

Ok so first off we had Zone Conference this week. On tuesday. It was THE BEST. I got to see a lot of missionaries I have served with in the past and it was so good to hear from President M. I love him and Sister M. I learned a lot. They talked a lot about teaching in the language of the people.. As in teaching according to each need individually. We all learned about the trials that we go through and the things we learn. He taught us a lot of doctrine and helped us to understand the Plan of Salvation. He said we will all be tested to the core. And at this point in our lives we will welcome it because we will understand things we need to learn and that it is preparation for the life to come. We practiced our teaching skills and it was all around wonderful.

Everything was just gravy.

Wednesday we had interviews with President M. I had almost memorized my whole chapter… 3 Nephi 14 but I was still trying to get the last couple verses.. President M didn’t mind he was very kind about it. I had a solid interview with him. He did some role plays with me and told me how proud he was, and grateful for my hard work… Awwwwww 🙂 I thanked me for loving and training Sister H. properly. Then after that we went with Sister M. to get lunch for us all. And then Sister H. and I ate with the 2 of them. We then took Sister M. out teaching and it went really well. I LOVE Sister M. She helped us to figure out and teach to the investigators concerns.

Saturday we had met with this man J. and his friend M. At first they were both skeptical of us and had heard bad things about mormons. Then they just opened right up. I know it was the spirit. At the end they were so interested and understood what we taught! They both really wanted a Book of Mormon 🙂 It was a cool experience. They kept saying Sister (Emily) I have not seen you without a smile on your face this whole time… WHY are you so happy? Then I was able to bear my testimony. It was wonderful.

One of our people we are working with G. who is planning to be baptized on Feb 9th. We found out that the house that he lives in is actually this lady who is a Pastor and he is her deacon and she is providing a place for him to stay for that reason. So to baptized he’ll have to find a place to stay and everything. It has been a real challenge for us and him. He spoke to the Pastor lady and she flipped out on he…. sorry, him (my bajan’s coming out) And so now he looking for a place to stay so he can leave his deacon duties there and be baptized by someone who holds the priesthood authority. Talk about being tested to the core! He has grown so much along with his testimony. He said once he is able to he will leave so he can come to church and be baptized. So we’ve been praying hard. I know the Lord will help him.

We also met this cute fam that we are starting to teach. They are looking for the truth and a place to raise their family in 🙂

At church on Sunday we were expecting at least 3 people there and only one came… But wait what a blessing that one came 🙂 And we’ll hope for more next week!

Anyway not much more for this week!

Mommy: Tell everyone hello for me 🙂 Thanks for taking care of everything while I am gone. I really appreciate you a lot. And I am sorry about your lack of sunshine… I am soaking in PLENTY for you 😉 Tell Liz I love her and good luck! She will be amazing. I love you mommy bear. I hope you had a good winter solstice! 😉 Have a good week. Thanks for your letters of encouragement.

I love you all and want you to know that you are great!

The Church is true.

God bless you.