Trini Hitchhikers

Hi Everyone. I realized today that I have stopped thinking that I'm on a mission and have just started living. Unfortunately, this is making everything go by a lot faster - maybe I should revert to thinking I'm on a mission to slow it all down. I'm going to baptize Ann this week! She and her family are great and every time we're at their house she ALWAYS cooks for us, in fact I think it offends her if we don't have time to eat. So we just have a standing appointment around 7 so we can eat and then teach.

My new companion, Elder Williamson is nice. He is from Wanesbrough PA. I don't know where that is in relation to where we lived. He is really smart with computers and technology, and we seem to be getting along well.

I'm sorry that I can't give you the address for our apartment for you to send items here, mostly because mail here is not like the US. There is no delivery, you need to go pick it up at the TT post office (tt = Trinidad and Tobago) and to do that you need to purchase a drop bag. So the only way to get mail to me is through the mission office. I get mail about every other week or so because the Zone Leaders will go pick it up for us. We walk almost everywhere - OUR AREA IS HUGE! Its from Prince's Town to Miaro (the eastern coast of the island) check it out on a map. We hitch rides to different places, you just put your hand out to stop people. If you want to be a taxi driver in Trinidad all you have to do is get a license plate that starts with an "H" and you can pick anyone up. Everyone else does anyway and we pay them 3ttd (.50c us).

The branch was reorganized the other day - we have new branch and elders quorum presidencies now! A man I baptized last month received the Aaronic priesthood, and he asked me if I would do it. So I did and ordained him to the office of a priest. I'm going to give him my line of authority tomorrow when I see him.

Im glad you got my package. Hope you enjoy the pictures, and send it back with some pictures you put on there if you can. Don't worry about candy, I don't really need it and it will make the package heavy.Things are fine, I don't know what else you want me to say, if any of you have questions send them and i'll answer them for you. 1836! p.s. I know who Harry Potter marries!

How to Open a Coconut

This weeks been crazy!No the hurricane didn't hit Trinidad, actually I didn't know that there was a hurricane till I read your email. I did however see a really cool lightning storm one night - literally every 5 seconds there would be a flash. I guess that was the hurricane. Everyone here says that Trinidad has never been hit by one. They say that God is a Trini because it's a beautiful country, and nothing bad happens here (earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes etc...)

The other day I opened my first coconut and ate it! We had a cutlass we were using and it was going slow. A guy took pity on us crackers and came over, grabbed a cinder block, smashed it 5 times on the top, ripped it open and then sliced the husk away from the nut. Voila. Then you drink the milk, which is really, really good - it has almost an almond-y taste to it. Now that iIve seen it done, I'm pretty sure I could duplicate it.

Another funny story, last night we visited family where everyone is a member except the father - he can't stop smoking Marijuana. Anyway, all the men were really drunk and high, and we were trying to teach them. And one man who was really bad was singing these penicostle hymns and clapping and shouting Hallelujah! Then he sat down and started telling me how much he respected me, then he gave me a foot massage! Haha it was so funny and sad at the same time. Another day one man called us out and bought us coconuts from a stand and was telling us that he wanted us to take him back to Canada even though we kept telling him that we were from America. He was pretty high.

I sent the packages last Monday, you might get them in a week. Sorry FedEx is far away in another city, and costs a lot. I'm going to buy a ukelele (u know the little guitar thing) One man we're teaching has written books with great island songs and I was playing them when we were at his house. It's so much fun I'm really excited to get one. So everything is going well. I get a new companion this week, Elder Williamson, I've met him before and he's a really nice guy. 1836!

TGI Fridays...In Trinidad?!

So things are going well with me. Today we went to Gulf City, it's a mall here in Trinidad, and I was able to get a card reader so I will send some pics soon. I don't have any right now because I sent my card in a parcel that is going to Marissa. I finally sent it today after carrying it around for a week. I couldn't find a place to send it! Today, some of the elders and I went to TGI Fridays for some real food - and it was goooood.

The work is going well, There is a GREAT couple named Raj and Ann Narine who will be baptized soon. They are really nice. Every time I go over she has to make food for us to eat. I'm REALLY glad she is a good cook. We eat a lot of rice and beans and roti which is a stew that you eat with pita bread. My companion Elder Lindberg is going home to Simi Valley next week - I think he knows the Pinkstons. He totally looks like Nephi but with tan lines. I've really enjoyed having him as my companion. 1836!

Sucess Stories

We got a call from a women who had a pass along card and said, "I want to join your church". She is very poor and lives far away. She came to church last Sunday, and told us she was passing through on the way to the hospital to be with her 3 month old son who has a hole in his heart. We are going to keep teaching and see what happens.

One man Nolen we contacted seems to be almost to golden, every commitment we leave he does. He is smart, and understands what we are saying. He is intellectually converted, and will soon be spiritually. He said, "Would I be correct in saying the the Church of Jesus Christ of... is the only true church on the earth?"... "then I want to join it!"