April 18, 2016 Goodbye Jamaica!

Popsicles

To all the beautiful people who have followed my journey,

This past week was a week of lasts. My last district meeting, my last super plan (THANK GOODNESS), my last Sunday. There is a small part of me that knows I am going to miss being a missionary. I try to ignore it for the most part.

The best Elders in this mission!

Today all the departing missionaries had to go to a self reliance program. It was.... Well, I don't really know what to say. It was long and full of a lot of information. Also, the marriage talk made me a little uncomfortable #missionaryprobs

The longer you look at this picture the better it gets.

These past 18 months have changed my life. To say I am grateful for the opportunity Heavenly Father has given me, cannot even begin to cover how I feel. I love Jamaica. I love the Bahamas. These people have change me forever. I love this gospel with all my heart.

This guy always gives me jokes as I walk by. I am going to miss him.

The Dill sisters.

I can't wait to see you all on Thursday. Actually see you in real life. IN PERSON. I have so many stories to tell and so many hugs to give.

For the last time from Jamaica,
I love you all!!
Love,
Sister Tuttle.
Bless up

April 11, 2016

Hikes yo

I sketched out this letter on the top of a mountain in Jamaica.

The mountains of Jamaica make me happy

Blue Mountain doesn't feel like the Jamaica I know. It is so quiet and peaceful. No loud music. No yelling or singing. Just the breeze in the trees. So clean and so crisp. Words cannot describe the beauty in the colors or the cool mist on the mountain. It is just an experience that I have tried to keep in my mind. It has always been a dream of mine to hike Blue Mountain. I never thought it would actually happen as a missionary. But as they say, "dreams do come true".

WATERFALLLLSSS

Best P-day in Kingston!!!

This past week was a good one. From Monday to Tuesday we had trade-offs with the Portmore STL's. I picked coconuts, ate mangos and just talked. I was grateful for the trade-off and even better is the fact that we made it home without taking any wrong buses.

Picking Coconuts

Trade offs with Sister Dasha

Do you remember me writing about Veron?? Well, just a refresher, Sister Maenetja and I found her and started teaching her a while ago, but she actually lived outside of our area. We gave her over to the elders where she lived. She got baptized on Saturday. We got special permission from President Brown to travel to the area and go to her baptism. I was beyond happy for her. Plus it was nice to be able to tell her that I will text her in the next few weeks. I am so excited to talk to the people from my mission. There are just so many people I love here and in the Bahamas.

Vernon's baptism in Spanish Town

3 cheers for Vernon!!!

So much happened this past week. Love letters. Testimonies. Conversion. Laughs. Sun burns. On and on. Don't worry, I wrote it all down in my journal so I can tell all my stories when I get home.

She is seriously my best friend.

Mango season

Mickalya

Tanya and friends

Hair Salon

My other best friend

Travis was back for a few days. I love Travis and Sarah. They give me jokes and make me happy!

This is Clayton. He is not even our investigator. We are just friends.

He says he is famous. I took a picture just in case.

I love you all so much and I am absolutely dying to see you.
Love and blessings,
Sister Tuttle

April 4, 2016

Whenever p-days are on Tuesday it makes the rest of the week go really fast. It also makes me feel like I have even less to tell you all about.

We had zone meeting on Wednesday. That was my last zone meeting.

Thursday morning we did service for a member. Sister Maenetja and I hand washed for a couple hours. I had taken off my watch to wash not thinking about how white my skin was under my watch and how bright the sun was in the sky. I walked away with a hilarious red stripe across my wrist.

Saturday and Sunday were GENERAL CONFERENCE. Or as Jaxon calls it, missionary Christmas. My mission has changed my perspective on general conference. Before my mission it was a nice excuse to come home from school and hang out with my family. Since I haven't been able to come home and watch general conference for the past 18 months, I have learned to love it for a different reason. I love hearing from our church leaders. They truly are called of God. I was talking to an elder and he said, "There is no way you can sit through 8 hours of general conference and not know that this church is true". I agree. For some reason I found myself reflecting on last year this time. I was with Sister Thompson in Ochi. I went into the conference thinking, "how am I going to be a missionary for the next year?" I went into this one thinking, "oh my goodness, I only have a few days left. What am I doing with my life???" It was really nice though. I am looking forward to rereading the talks.

President Brown called us yesterday after conference and told Sister Maenetja that she had a death in her family back home. That must be so hard.

I am sorry this is short. Soon I will be talking to you all in real life telling you my thrilling mission stories. Be excited.

I love you all so much!!
Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Sister Tuttle

March 29, 2016

Wah gwan mi general,

Happy (late) Easter. Yesterday was Easter Monday (whatever that is... Probably just an excuse to have a day off work). I was sitting in church on Sunday talking to this member. I asked her if she felt like it was Easter. She told me yes and asked me if I felt like it was Easter. I told her not really, because it just felt like any other day. She asked me what Easter at home feels like. Easter egg hunts, candy, Easter basket, family, dinner.... She pulled out a little chocolate and gave it to me. She said, "I can't give you everything else, but here is an Easter Sweet."

Pweety Picture

Anna-kay came and visited me on Sunday. She brought me a nice big piece of home made cake. Have I ever told you how much I love Anna-kay?? And I love her for so much more than her home-made cake. She is genuinely one of my best fiends in Jamaica. She said she might come visit me one more time before I leave (I only have 3 more Sundays :O) I told her if I didn't see her in the next few weeks, I would text her when I get home. Weird, but awesome.

Marcel came to Boulevard Ward on Sunday as well. He is another one of my best friends here. May Pen just produces best friends. Anyways, he just got his call to the Belgium Netherlands Mission. He is going to the Provo MTC so I will be able to send him things before he leaves!!

On Saturday we watched the General Woman's meeting. It was really nice. I am planning to study King Benjamin's sermon in Mosiah. Apparently we need to serve more!! I am looking forward to General Conference on Saturday and Sunday.

The work in this area is.... I guess you could say, moving forward. It could be better, but Alma says that we should be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto us. Alma 29. And I am grateful. I love Jamaica and I am grateful for the time I have to be here. And trust me, mango season is coming on and I am determined to eat as many as I possibly can before I leave.

I finished the Book of Mormon again this past week. I read from one of the little blue copies and as I read I marked whenever it talked about a step from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I wrote my testimony in the front and gave it away. I wanted to read it one more time before my mission finishes, but I'm not sure I'll make it.

Well, that's all!
I love you all sooo much
Bless up yuhself.
Love,
Sister Tuttle

Travis and Sarah

My new look

Our ackee tree

My camera 

mash up

Ianna's hair

Sandy

March 21, 2016

You can call me Rapunzel. 

Oh what a week. I was talking to our district leader on the phone last night and he was asking how my week was. I told him it was boring and nothing really happened. We kept talking and I started telling stories from the week (I love telling stories). After we chatted for awhile I realized the week wasn't as boring as I thought.

We started teaching this man named Charles. He is Hindu, but has knowledge of Christianity. We always have our lessons with him at this members house. Her name is Sister Taylor and I love her so much. Every time we go to her house she gives us cold juice and a sandwich or biscuits. She is so sweet. So anyways, we have been teaching Charles at Sister Taylor's house for the past 2 weeks. On Friday evening Sister Taylor called us and said she had some sad news for us. She said that Charles had stopped by her house and given back all the books we had given him. Sister Taylor was heartbroken. When we talked to her on Sunday she said after he left she just cried and asked Heavenly Father to soften his heart. You see what I am talking about? So sweet. Well, I called him on Saturday to see what was going on and the conversation was so normal. We talked for a little bit and then he asked me if we were still meeting on Tuesday. That is not exactly what I expected to hear from a person who had just given back all his books. I just went along with it and I guess we will just see what happens tomorrow.

We received 2 referrals from a strong member of the ward. It's a man and his wife and they are OLD. I am telling you! Most of our lessons turn to the kind of medication they are on or if not that they are talking about how much they miss their old car Betsy. Betsy had the most comfortable seats. Lol we are still working on how we can teach them effectively.

The other day we went to have a lesson with this lady we had met on the road last week. We got to her house and sat down. Right as we were beginning the lesson her nephew walked by. I asked him if he would like to join the lesson. Most people say no, but he said yes. We got to talking and we found out that he had seen a lot of death in his life. His father, his best friend and most recently his step-father. You will never guess what lesson we had planned for the lady... PLAN OF SALVATION. God is real. Oh my goodness! The lesson was awesome. He came for part of church yesterday and we should be seeing him today.

Something horrible started happening to me this past week. I can't remember where we were or what we were doing, but I remember felling a sense of attachment. I am getting used to this place and these people and do you know what that leads to??? ATTACHMENT. Now you might be thinking "well, Sister Tuttle that is good. That is supposed to happen." But do you know what comes along with attachment? Heartbreak. Well, I still have a few weeks so I guess I will just enjoy it while it lasts.

This past week was Champs. Champs is one of the biggest events of the year in Jamaica. It is a track meet where all the big high schools come into Kingston and race at the stadium. They put it on TV and pretty much everyone and their dog is watching. Jamaicans love excitement and they go all out to support their team. I would love to be here for the olympics, but then again I am glad that I get to go home and watch them straight through. Plus, now I get to cheer for 3 countries! Jamaica, Bahamas and America. YAYAYA

Well, I love you.
Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Sister Tuttle

Guess which name tag I wear every day. 

March 14, 2016

Hi my name is Sister Tuttle. I forgot my name tag.

Well, I have to say, I still don't know if I had the Zika Virus, BUT I definitely had something. On Tuesday the rash set in. It literally covered my entire body. The rash pretty much felt like thousands of tiny pins pricking my skin all over. IT was especially painful in the sun. There was this moment on Tuesday that I had a major break down. We had no one to see and the sun was so hot. The tears just started streaming down my face. I sat down on the road under a tree and just cried. I wanted to cry harder than I did, but I held it in. TO be honest, I think I was crying for more than just a rash. When I was done crying we got up and continued walking down the road. Just a few houses down this adorable English woman called us over and told us that her daughter is a member of the church. She invited us into her house. She gave us cold drinks and chocolate cake. Also, it just so happened that she was a retired nurse. I showed her my rash and she sent me with some cream to rub on my skin. I rubbed it on my skin for the next few nights and the rash was gone by Friday.

Twinzies

On Thursday the church historian, Brother Turley, came from Utah to learn about the church in Jamaica. Missionaries from the Kingston zone were invited to a special meeting in the morning. It was AWESOME! He did a presentation about church history and then he did a question and answer. He bore a powerful testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. All I have to say is that I know it is true as well. Also, I want to go to the church history museum when I get home. It sounds awesome. Thursday was also incredible because I got to see Sister Lynn!!! YAYAYA We got to sit and talk and eat lunch together and talk. I realized that I feel better when I am around other missionaries. It even puts me in a better mood for the rest of the day. Plus this time I was smarter and I took a picture with her. When we walked out of the church President Watson was there. He was my branch president in May Pen and pretty much one of my favorite men in Jamaica.  We were able to chat for a few minutes and I told him I would add him as a friend on facebook in a few weeks :)

My bff Sister Lynn. Also, please note my foot tan line.

President Watson...and his twin nieces.

People in the neighborhood call them hot and cold iron. One has coolie coolie water running in it. We sit on the cold one for our lessons with one of our investigators. People often cross the gully on the pipes.

On Saturday we were standing in line at the ATM. While we were waiting I had an art student draw something in my planner. He drew an eye and told me no one had ever asked him to draw something for them. I also talked to this doctor from India. He told me that he grew up with a non-christian background, but because of some recent circumstances, he started believing in God. He had some questions about us as missionaries and also what we taught. He invited us to his office and we taught him the Restoration. As we taught he took notes. At the end of the lesson he told us that in the next few days he would be leaving for India for a month. We gave him information for the Gospel Library app and told him about the Book of Mormon.

Hair Salon

The other day our district leader call and told us that President Brown felt that he needed to tell all the missionaries in the Kingston zone to check their fire alarms. Let's just say that I have been carrying around my USB and filled SD cards every day. lol lol

Blue eyed baby

I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week.
Love,
Sister Tuttle