April 20, 2015

Hello everyone!!!

Okay let's just get into it today.

A cool little stairway we found while walking.

Last Monday I started teaching Sister Peynado how to drive. She has been in walking areas her whole mission (13 months) so she is pretty excited to be in a car (that makes one of us). I pulled into this huge empty field and took the passengers seat. Oh my goodness. I can see why mom always left the driving lessons to dad. Even though we were in this empty field I was still terrified we were going to crash. I don't know if I have told you, but if you crash a mission vehicle then driving privileges are taken away and you have to walk.  I CANNOT WALK THIS AREA. It takes like 15 minutes to drive to our closest appointment, so I don't even want to imagine walking. Anyways, even after a 40 minute lesson Sister Peynado improved a lot. We haven't had another lesson since, I think I am subconsciously putting it off as much as I can.

Sister Peynado's Pooh Bear strapped in for a ride.

I have such a love-hate relationship with that truck. I mean it still terrifies me to drive it every day, but then again I am literally in love with the air conditioning. On Friday night we were leaving from the church and the battery died. It was pretty late at night (okay so 8:30 is late for us) and we had no way to get home. We called the Hardy's and Elder Hardy came to our rescue again. I am so grateful for the Hardy's. We didn't make it home until around 10 (missionary curfew is 9:30....ahhh sooo disobedient).

Port Antonio

Later on Monday I was sitting on our veranda writing some letters. As I was sitting there this man came over and started talking to me.  His name is Lincoln and he lives right next door to us (well, if you call across a banana plantation right next door...). He told me that his 3 year old son had been killed in an automobile accident about 2 years ago. He said that he was having a hard time getting over it, and that he was ready to make some changes in his life. Our appointment for 6:30 had fallen through so I asked him if we could see him that night. We had a lesson with him right in the middle of his banana field. It felt so adventurous.  So pretty much Lincoln is struggling with quite a few addictions.  Throughout the past few years he has turned away from God, and hasn't prayed for a long time. We shared our purpose and talked a little bit about the Plan of Salvation. We invited him to pray and ask Heavenly Father if he would ever see his son again. We met with him the next morning. This time we met with him right next to his chicken coop. Actually they are classified as fowls and t they are mean. He fights them for a living, which he says is completely legal.... lol, I have to say I liked the banana field better. He said that he had tried to pray the night before, but it was really hard for him. He recognizes that change is a process though and told us he is still trying. We taught more of the Plan of Salvation and invited him to continue praying. So that was Tuesday, and we tried to meet with him a few other times throughout the week, but he was busy. I was kind of losing hope in him since he kept blowing us off, but then he stopped by Sunday morning. He asked us if we could help him write an apology letter to his baby mother. It was pretty cool because he is starting to recognize where he needs to make changes in his life. Even changes that we haven't even invited him to make. We gave him an addiction recovery booklet and invited him to start to study it. This gospel is so cool.

Kissing turtles in the craft market.

So our zone leaders have challenged us to find at least 3 males or 3 families to teach every day. EVERY DAY?? Jamaica really needs more males and families in the church, but women here are just more open to the gospel. It's true. That is just how it is. Well, we were making setting goals and making plans (if you know Preach my Gospel you can laugh at my cliche missionary language) to find male and families. We decided our best bet was to target males that will lead us to their families. We thought about where we could meet so many men and the only places we could think of were bars and shops. Jamaica has a bar and a shop on every corner and there are always 5 or 6 men sitting in front of them. There have got to be a few that are prepared for the gospel....right?? Lol. I will have to tell you how it goes.

Also, Lauren finally had her baby so YAYAYAYAAYAYAYAYAYAAYAYA!!! I AM AN AUNTIE. It is probably the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me. I mean everyone keeps sending me pictures and telling me how adorable she is, but it doesn't even feel real. It probably wont feel real until I meet her in person.

Well, I love you all so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so much.

Love,
Sister Auntie Tuttle

Kim's comment:  I received a video in my email today from someone visiting Ocho Rios and wanted to post it!