Elder McKay CrandallPuerto Rico San Juan East 6-10
Elder Crandall was transferred to Barbados in February. He is in the southern part of the island in one of the 11 Parishes called St. Phillip. The Island's population is 280,000, covers about 166 square miles and is mostly flat. The official language is English and 95% of the population are Christian. I believe there are 4 sets of missionaries on the island including a senior couple. Elder McKay loves it there and figures he will stay to the end of his mission. His only disappointment is that he wasn't able to go back to using Spanish, but occasionally gets the opportunity. Elder McKay's mission is one of those the church will be combining with other missions the first of July. After he leaves, Barbados will be in an entirely different mission. He is teaching quite of few people and every Sunday they have several investigators attending church. He loves the country, people and the work in Barbados
Elder Skyler ThiotNew York New York South Mission 7-10?
Elder Thiot is so excited for Easter and General Conference coming this weekend. He said that Sundays are typically hectic for Missionaries and he is so looking forward to being able to feast upon the words from the Prophets and General Authorities. Elder Sky has been witness to a season of miracles in the NYNY South Mission. The past 7 weekends have all included baptisms. The Jamaica Ward has 4 companionships of Missionaries. The enthusiasm and great spirit of the Jamaica New York Ward is contagious. New members are inviting friends and family to come and drink from the living waters of the Gospel. The ward meets on the second floor of a food court in the middle of Jamaica Center. They have nearly outgrown the space. On Sunday, the Stake President announced in PEC meeting that plans are in the works for a Jamaica Chapel. “They are going to build a brand new 5 story chapel 2 blocks over on top of a parking lot. We are all way excited to have a real chapel that has a baptismal font. The only problem...it won’t be open til 2012. Yikes on bikes”. “After a long winter here, the weather is looking to de-thaw and change into spring. It’s a freaking exciting time to be a missionary, no where else I would rather be.”
Elder Jacob ReadingCalifornia Carlsbad Mission 7-10
Elder Reading said “Well I had another great week! I really like my companion! Its really fun! We are still teaching a lot as well! We have several committed to baptism in April. I went to the San Diego temple! It was great! I did another endowment session! I can almost get myself through the veil! I was SOOO close this time!”
Elder Jacob is still in the same area as a District Leader. His letters are shorter he says because of the additional responsibilities he has. Elder Jacob loves to play basketball on P-day and has been inviting 2 young men that were recently baptized to participate. One has committed to go on a mission when he becomes old enough. He loves the Mission and the work. Things like March Madness which was a big part of his interest this time of year is not even mentioned in his letters. He says he can see the end coming but vows to work hard to the end. The Lord still has much work for him to do.
Elder Christopher MartinSanto Domingo West Dominican Republic 1-11
Elder Martin was asked by his dad what a p-day was like on his mission. Here is his reply: "So, you wanna know what happens on the common day of a missionary in the DR. OK. Well, you're supposed to wash clothes on Monday on p-day, but the electric power goes off for long periods of time and we have 4 missionaries with one washing machine that is tiny. Its spins the clothes with water and soap that you throw in and after you throw it in a tube that rings out all the water but doesn't dry it completely. up You hang it up on a clothes line. This you do when there's light (electric power). You don't have water here unless there's light also. When there's light we always fill big buckets of water . . . [There's] no air conditioning so we use fans (both to cool down and [shew] away mosquitoes). When the light leaves, I light up a mosquito coil and open windows so that we have a goods nights' sleep. My comp was smart and brought a mosquito net. . . . We use internet at an internet center. Nobody has internet in their own house. A barber cuts our hair for like 3 dollars. I love the DR. Its very awesome!!" Elder Martin is serving in Las Coabas. His companion is from St. George, Utah. Elder Christopher reports that he has finally purchased a mosquito net. Elder Martin and his companion continue to be blessed with many baptisms.
Elder Adrian EthertonIdaho Boise Mission 8-11
Elder Etherton will be transferred this week, he has been in Kuna since September. He will miss the people there in Melba and Kuna. He has made many good friends that I am sure he will never forget. He has been very busy teaching, and baptizing. He was able to find a less active member, who is deaf. And with the ASL training he has had, he was able to meet with him. They had some great conversations. What a wonderful blessing! Elder Etherton is looking forward to doing the Lords work in his new area. He is thankful to Heavenly Father for this mission and all that he is learning.
Elder Joseph CalcoteGeorgia Atlanta Mission 10-11
Elder Calcote is pleased to be staying with his companion through the most recent transfers. There have been some changes in their districts so they are coordinating who is doing what in their mission. He enjoys transfer meetings and said that the spirit of 120ish excited missionaries is really neat. He and his companion, Elder Miller, have been teaching new investigators and assisting in the local soup kitchen.
From his latest email: “I just love sharing the new things I learn about. 2 Corinthians 5:5-7: 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. The word earnest, in the Bible Dictionary means: A pledge or security. The word thus translated is a commercial term denoting the deposit paid by a buyer on entering into an agreement for the purchase of anything. As used by Paul it means that the Lord gives us his Holy Spirit in this life as a foretaste of the joy of eternal life. The Spirit is also the Lord’s surety that he will fulfill his promise to give eternal life to the faithful. There you have it, the Spirit is a taste of Eternal Life. I really liked that”. His mom is really proud of him and appreciates the support of the 4th Ward.
Elder Andrew SantiagoUtah Ogden Mission 1-12
Elder Santiago has been busy since arriving in Utah Ogden Mission. He is now with his second companion and the work is going well. He reported that while his first companion was 6'10", he was as quiet as he was tall. It took a couple of weeks before they started to bond, and as with any companionship, there has to be a system. They found one that worked. As Elder Santiago reports, "...Elder Malinka and I have started to bond, and he said he hasn't been able to do that with anyone yet on his mission. So to put it in my words "I'm Just That AWSOME!!!" ;-) We teach A LOT! We have a pretty good system, Elder Malinka is the scripture chaser and I talk about 65% of the lesson. Which I like! That way I can relate to and understand our Investigators. :) It is working for us! We are in an area that is really good. We have teaching appointments every night." As for food and dinner appointments? Other than Tuesday they are fed every night. Some times twice. He reports that, "You just can't say no to a member or an Investigator".He is with a new companion and reports that everything is great and they are getting along great! How could it not be, since arriving in the Roy/Kanesville area (where he and his comp are responsible for two stakes and 18 wards) he has participated in seven baptisms, and performed two of them. Nothing provides peace and alleviates thoughts of home like baptisms. He has attached pictures of a young girl named Destiny and her family. He was able to baptize her this Last week. She was the second Baptism he performed since arriving. On a funny note, he has been given a new nickname, the missionaries have started calling him " The Closer"! He says that while that is a little funny, they have been very fortunate and blessed. Everyone he has been involved in teaching is either still being taught or they have already been baptized! The member are excited because that is more than the two previous years in the two Stakes they cover combined. He says. "It is an awesome Mission". They speak in church once or twice each Sunday, and when they are done the members race to the stand to schedule time for them to teach their friends...and then the members go with them to teach. We noticed a couple of interesting charges in the bank account the other day from McKay Dee Hospital. We were able to reach a member that keeps us updated on Elder Santiago's activities, who informed us that a little accident during a basketball game on P-day had left him with a few stitches over his left eyebrow. That is the extent of the details, though his friend indicated that he was already turning it into a positive when he meeting people. Oh for the days of football and helmets!
President and Sister Martin & AdamCalifornia San Fernando Mission 7-12
President and Sister Martin recently had President L. Whitney Clayton of the Seventy visit our mission. We had all but eight missionaries present in the San Fernando Stake Center. The four Elders in Ridgecrest and the four Sisters in Bishop were excused (much to their disappointment), because of the distance they would need to travel. It was wonderful to be taught by he and his wife. Our theme this past Zone Conference was "Expect Miracles." Sister Clayton told us “If you don’t see miracles, you’re not looking.” President Clayton taught us that to have more baptisms, after a lesson we must help the head of the house to his (or her) knees and ask them to pray right there if the things taught (about the Restoration, Joseph Smith being a prophet, the truth of Book of Mormon, etc.) are true. With the spirit already there, the answers are easy to get. Our missionaries are trying this with great success!
We are just finishing another round of interviews. Sister Martin is inventorying "Earthquake Bags." She is trying to make sure that each missionary has theirs and sleeps with it by the bed with a pair of sturdy shoes.
Adam is still enjoying participation in Church Basketball. The Newhall First Ward has suffered only one loss. It was in an area tournament this past Friday. They lost by two points in overtime. We are undefeated at the Stake level. He is doing well. He even likes the Dodgers (baseball) now.
