February 23, 2015

Where to begin? Where to begin?

This week has been crazy and it has just flown by! Seriously, I can't believe I am sitting here again writing another letter!

With all my little kiddies

So on Monday I finally got the Valentines package (I loved it so so much). There were a bunch of Valentine cards in it and I just had no idea what to do with all of them. I decided I was going to make a Valentine for every person in Anna-Kay's yard. We went to Anna-Kay's house and I had her name everyone in the yard. Okay so you may be thinking 10-15 people, right? Oh no, I made up over 50 valentines! I bought some sweeties (Jamaican for candy) to attach and wrote each persons name on the card. You should have seen it. I had all of the Valentines categorized in alphabetical order and separated in bags. lol it was great. I passed some of them out on Wednesday night and left the rest with Anna-Kay. I just love all those people so much!

We had zone meeting in Mandeville on Wednesday. 3 cheers for another bus ride to Mandeville (so much sarcasm). Wednesday was Ash Wednesday which apparently is recognized as a real holiday here, So it took forever to fill the bus. Good news was that there was no one on the road so we got there really quickly.  We talked about how to get our investigators to church. Nothing really that I haven't been studying lately. We did talk about the importance of bearing testimony and sharing personal experience. That is when the spirit is the strongest and when investigators are most likely to understand the importance.

A little rasta boy and his brother. They are adorable.

Well, I have been putting this off, but I guess I better tell you. Transfer calls came on Saturday morning......I am being transferred to........OCHO RIOS!!!! Did you ever think this day would come?? I didn't and let me tell you, I was not ready for it. As soon as the sister training leaders said I would be leaving May Pen tears came to my eyes. Sister Dill is staying in May Pen and she will be training. We both cried all morning. We haven't had enough time together. I HAVEN'T EATEN ENOUGH OF HER FRIED CHICKEN!! Every where we went on Saturday I started crying. I mean not a lot of crying, just a few tears, that is until we saw Anna-Kay. I was having a really hard time saying it to her, but once I did we all cried. I AM GOING TO MISS THESE PEOPLE SOOOO MUCH.  When I was leaving home I just could not wait to be done saying goodbyes. My eyes were swollen and red and my nose was raw. I was just ready to get out into the field and be done with goodbyes. I cannot tell you how silly I was to think that. Leaving May Pen feels almost like leaving my home home. There has been less crying, but this is still hard!  These people have become family. I love them so much! They have changed me and made me better.

BUT good news is I am going to Ochi. Let me tell you a little bit about what everyone tells me about Ocho Rios....TOURIST SPOT. Everyone tells me I will be seeing a lot more white people...That will be weird. White people in May Pen are very rare and every time there is one you can spot them from a mile away. Anyways, Ochi is right by the ocean, Sooo yayayaya for that. Bad news is that I will be driving a truck (seriously, my worst nightmare!). I am so terrified to drive here. Everything is opposite. The wheel is on the right side and they drive on the left side. Confusing enough??? I don't know we will see how it goes.

Well I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week. Thanks for all the prayers!!
I love you! I love you! I love you!!
Love,
Sister Tuttle
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

February 16, 2015

Great news: I GOT MY VAL DAY PACKAGE TODAY!!!!! And it was only 2 days late!

Cuties

More good news: I think my home sickness is dying down a little bit... I didn't even cry as I opened the package. Believe it or not, I am growing up (just a little bit).

Even more good news: My new mission card came! My district leader forgot to bring it to me today, but at least it is in May Pen!!!

YAYAYAYAYAYAAYAYA!! So much good news!!!

Lizard eggs that were in our mail box

So this week has been really hard (especially with Munchie leaving), but it has been full of laughs. That's what I love about Sister Dill, we are always laughing! The laughs started last Monday as we were walking to a less actives house. It was dark and we were just walking down the street when all of a sudden I feel something hit me in the head. I start freaking out and laughing at the same time, and Sister Dill has no idea what is going on. When I finally caught my breath I told her that a bird just pooped on my face. A BIRD POOPED ON MY FACE. Luckily sister dill had tissues in her bag. Oh man, we laughed and laughed.

My Jamaican Sistas

Because Sister Dill and I are struggling with investigators we have been teaching a lot of less actives lately. Sister _____ is a less active that was baptized just over a year ago. We went to her house Sunday after church to have a lesson. I asked her why she hadn't come to church, and she gave me some excuse (there are so many I can't even remember the one she gave). I pointed out to her that she hasn't been to church for the past six weeks. She got defensive and tried to tell me that she had come within the past few weeks. When I was able to kindly list the things that have been going on in the branch lately(district conference, Caribbean conference) she changed the subject. These people don't realize how long they have been away from church. They keep telling themselves "it hasn't been that long, I will go next week" but something always comes up. Church attendance is the thing that all of the people we teach are struggling with. Seriously, I think Stephano and Allisa are the only people can always count on to be at church.

Pretty sunrise

We have two investigators that are pretty close to baptism. Lisa and Ray. Their only problem is church attendance. Last week when President Brown was here he suggested that Sister Dill and I go up to Ray's house early Sunday morning and wake him up for church. We did it last week so of course he was on time. He told us he was going to come on time on his own this week, but he never showed up. As for Lisa she had to go to a baby christening so she didn't come to church either. I guess we are just not teaching Sabbath day right. These people just don't understand the importance of church attendance!  We are having a zone meeting on revelation through church attendance on Wednesday so hopefully we will learn some new teaching ideas.

Sister Horrnet enjoying her banana chips

When Sister Rampersad and I were together we were teaching this girl Renaye. A few weeks before Sister Rampersad left Renaye got a job in Kingston and was gone all day every day. It was sad, I always loved teaching Renaye. She is adorable and hilarious! Last week her work transferred her into May Pen so we get to start teaching her again! I am so happy!

How many missionaries does it take to open the church gate??

So even through our many afflictions we can see God guiding us (I think Nephi said something like that, He is such a good guy).

All is well and this week is going to be great!

Lol at the Elders trying to open the broken gate with their own strength

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxo

Love,
Sister Tuttle

February 9, 2015

Hello!!!!!

Good morning! I hope you are all enjoying this lovely February morning!
Oh and............HAPPY FOUR MONTH MARK!!!
Wasn't I just saying happy three month mark just yesterday?? That went quickly!

We found this short cut and it led us to this!

So this week has been pretty average. I am sorry, it was just average. That's it. Okay no I will try to round up some stories to tell you....

T wearing my dino stickers as earings

Okay, this week has been filled with a bunch of non-comfirmists (I just made up that word. It means someone who won't confirm their appointment). There have been quite a few days where I have felt that we have ABSOLUTELY no one to see. I was becoming overwhelmed and discouraged. There came a point that I just wanted to go back to the apartment and crawl back in bed and never come out, BUT I DIDN'T.  I just kept walking in the blazing sun praying for the strength. The Lord is giving me the strength I can tell you that. I would never be able to do this without him.

My replacement star! I love it!!!

So, this weird sensation has been coming over me the past week. Actually it is more of a lack of sensation. When I first got here I would remind myself I was in Jamaica and it was so exciting! Now all of a sudden it just seems so normal. It is so weird. This place actually feels like home (never as much as home home feels, but it still feels like home). As much as this place drives me crazy I love it so much. I am so comfortable walking these streets now! I love all of the people we pass every day, I love our investigators, I love the members, I just love everyone!!! Even in it's filth I love May Pen.

Last day out with the munchsters

Friday night to Saturday we had trade-offs with the sister training leaders. Sister Dill went to Mandeville and I stayed in May Pen. It was pretty average.....

Munchie left for the MTC last night! I can not even tell you how torn up I am about it! I just kept telling her not to go. I know I am terrible and selfish! I just want to keep her here all to myself!!! She is going to be the best missionary ever though and I just hope I will be able to serve around her at some point in our missions!

Right before Munchie left!

Sister Dill and I often have conversations about race. We usually discuss how we just cannot even understand why people have to be treated differently because of their skin color. I just cannot make sense of it in my head. Last night it strayed from black and white to Asians. We talked about how Jamaicans call any type of Asian person Mr. Chin. Goodness the conversation was hilarious. She said to me,

"Jamaicans don't call all Asian people Mr.Chin because they are racist.... only because they are lazy." Lazy??

I saw this kitty on the beach the other day... lol just kidding! I just think it is adorable!

Well I love you SOOO much!!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Oh and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!
Enjoy a caramel apple for me:)

Love,
Sister Tuttle

The water pressure was ridiculously low the other day. Let's just say it takes a long time to shower!

February 2, 2015

Happy Groundhog day!!! Did the groundhog see his shadow?

I just love it when this happens!

So everywhere we go people are telling us about these huge snow storms in the states. Is that just a rumor because none of you have said anything about it to me... Well if the snow is not in Utah, the cold weather is somewhere up there because the cool breeze is hitting us, and it is SO NICE!! It has been rainy all week and I have actually been cold. Cold? Did you think I would ever say that word while in May Pen? I surely did not, but it is true. Of course I have adjusted to such an exent that my new "cold" is like 77 degrees. LOL. I am loving the cool weather though, I am actually wearing one of my cardigans right now. I love it. I hope it stays like this for the rest of forever.

Lol! I was freezing!!!

So this week has flown by! Actually this whole month has! Can you believe it is February?

Anyways, on Wednesday we had Zone meeting in Mandeville again. 3 Cheers for the dreadful hour long bus ride. It felt good to get out of May Pen though. The senior couple over this side of the island spoke to us about temple blessings. It was really nice. They shared a bunch of personal stories about their experiences with the temple. They showed a bunch of pictures of their family. It made me miss seeing the temple up on the hill everyday. Also, I am extremely jealous of those missions with temples in their boundaries. Those missionaries don't even know how lucky they are. Speaking of temples, we had the Caribbean Conference on Sunday and all the speakers spoke on the temple. Elder Holland talked about how there are 3 places that we can receive temple blessings. Can you guess the 3 places? Okay I'll tell you...
1. The temple (I hope you got that one)
2. Our homes
3. Church buildings
President Packer talked about the protection  and spiritual guidance we can receive as a result of making the temple a priority. It was really spiritual and it made me excited for general conference!

So February is Jamaican apple season, and let me tell you we are already reaping the blessings of that! A Jamaican apple is very different from an American apple. It is a lot softer and it just has a big pit in the middle.  It kinda tastes like a big sweet radish. Does that make it sound delicious? If not, then just know that it is delicious. We made apple juice with them the other day and I ate like 5 yesterday. Best thing ever.

Jamaican Apple

Remember the drama in December? Well, it is pretty much over, but I learned something very important from that whole situation.  I learned from that experience it was that even when people are rude and disrespectful, it is essential to continue to be kind to them. I realized this the other day with Nicolas (the laughing rasta man). The other day we saw him and I asked him if he would be willing to make a star to replace the one I lost from my plan of salvation puzzle (remember he carves stuff for a living). He said of course, and he won't let me pay him for it. Anyways, I left my puzzle with him and he says it will be done tomorrow!! YAYAYAYA!!

Pretty coconut trees

Sister Dill and I have been finding a lot of new investigators recently *blessings* So we have been teaching a lot of "Our purpose" lessons and Restoration lessons lately. An "Our Purpose" is when we just sit down with the person and tell them what we do as missionaries. We tell them that this gospel is centered around the teachings of Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us. We let them know that their conversion will be up to them and the effort they put into it. This lesson helps us as missionaries gauge the interest of this new investigator.

Anthony 

We taught an "Our Purpose" lesson to a man named Clark on Thursday night. He is a 23 year old guy that spends all his time working as a security guard. He told us that he has been praying for a change in his life. He wants something better for his life (prepared much??). Because he works so much, church attendance is probably going to be a problem. I invited him to pray specifically for the Lord to provide a way for him to come to church. I asked him if he had the faith that God could do that for him and he said "yes, of course!". We only get to see him on Thursdays, but I can't wait to see him again!

Waiting out the rain (I was the only one with an umbrella, and it was POURING!!)

I am consistently being humbled. Those times when I feel like I am FINALLY starting to understand Patois, we go to an investigator's house and I can't understand a word they say. IT'S SO FRUSTRATING!!!! I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THEM!!! I am understanding more than when I first got here, but it is still hard.

Munchie goes into the Dominican Republic MTC February 11th *unstoppable tears* I am seriously going to miss that girl so much! I just hope we serve around each other later in our missions!

Sister Greeves

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you with all my heart!!
Love,
Sister Tuttle
xoxoxoxo

January 26, 2015

BFF's

Good night, Good night (Doesn't matter what time of day, you just say it)

UUGGGGHHH!!!!

My dried flower collection

monkeys

While I was going through this week it didn't seem that frustrating, but now that I am looking back at it.... It was pretty bad.

Can you spot the monkey child?

First of all I realized I lost my mission card. Every month the mission puts money on our mission cards, and every month I take my card out ONE TIME and take all the money off of it. I realized it was gone on Saturday, which means it has most likely been missing for almost a month. I am pretty sure it wasn't stolen because who would take the time to open my bag, open my wallet, take my card (and not the cash) and put it all back...no one, that's who. Anyways, I am pretty sure that when I went to take money out I grabbed my money and not my card. So now I have to live off Sister Dill for the next two weeks until my new card comes (and it is $15 US to replace). UGGGHHHH!!!!

Anyone for cow skin or liver???? MMMMMMM......*the highest level of sarcasm*

I also lost the star to my plan of salvation puzzle:( I am really upset about it.

Next, taking over an area is stressful!!! So stressful that it was affecting my sleep. I was just so worried about seeing enough people and having good numbers and just everything. The pressure has eased up a little bit, but my I am still not sleeping very well. Man, the mission just tears you down, it is hard.

So last week Dad sent me a picture of Aubrey and her walking stick with the wheel at the end. I just wanted to show you that Utah children are the same as Jamaican children. 

LOL

Remember when I told you that we taught a lesson to a Rasta man named Nickolas? Well, we didn't really plan on ever seeing him again, but he kept calling us. Every time he would tell us he was ready for a change in his life, so we set up a time to meet with him again. So we walk all the way up to Box Common (40 minute walk) in the blazing sun to meet with this guy because he says he is ready to change. We get up there and he invites us into his yard and there he is preparing his blunt. HE WAS JUST ABOUT TO SMOKE SOME WEED!!! Seriously? He knew we were coming. Anyways that's not even the bad part... So we start teaching him the restoration and he just starts laughing at everything we say. Oh man, it was hard. I didn't know what to do. So we were kinda trying to wrap up the lesson and he starts telling us that we as woman have no freedom in this church since we cannot be prophets....Anyways, I can tell you that we will not be having anymore lessons with that man.

Cane

Last of my complaining, I think I am gaining weight. I mean I can't know for sure because I live in Jamaica and I have no scale, but I am pretty sure. HOW? How is it possible that I run every morning, walk around for 5 hours every day, eat decent dinners and I am STILL gaining weight????? HOW? UGGGGHHHHH!

Blessings

Other than that this week has been pretty good. The other night Sister Dill, Munchie and I were walking down the road and about 10 feet in front of us there was this older man. His back was turned, but he turns around and sees us. He yells WHITEY! and just starts charging for me. I just took off running and I just see Munchie pass me running as fast as she could. When we reached the bottom of the road I look back and see Sister Dill walk calmly behind us to catch up. When we were all back together we just started laughing so hard. I was laughing so hard that my stomach was hurting and I couldn't breath. LOL just when I thought I was getting used to this place another crazy comes out to prove me wrong.

They work for the plums, I take pictures and eat them.

Cow Liver

Well I love you all! Thanks for all the support and prayers! I could not do this without you!
Love,
Sister Tuttle

January 19, 2015

Sister Mashabela and Sister Madden.

Whagwan?
(Now you say, Mi daya)

First of all, I have to tell you that I received a package from Grandma Tuttle. Do you know what was in that package? Chocolate chip cookies and rice crispy treats. Best. Package. Ever. They were so delicious, and I wanted to eat them all myself, but don't worry I shared them the other sisters:)

Spending the day with Sister Coleman.

So Tuesday was Sister Rampersad's last day in Jamaica (she will spend the rest of her mission in Cayman). We spent the day visiting investigators and saying goodbye. It was weird, it felt like I was the one leaving, but I am glad I wasn't (I really don't care to pack up all my stuff any time soon lol). Wednesday was transfer meeting. I really wanted to go because I wanted to see other missionaries and also the new missionaries coming in. They didn't let me go though:( They dropped me off in race track with the other sisters where I was to wait for my new companion. It was actually really fun though. It was nice to be out of May Pen for a few days, also I just really like the other sisters in our district. Sister Coleman made me chicken back and rice and star fruit juice. It was delicious!

Star fruit (Sister Coleman made juice with it...Delicious!)

SISTER DILL!!! (Notice our matching outfits..companions that match together, stay together.)

Sister Dill came from Nassau into Jamaica Thursday night. Oh my goodness. I love that girl! She cooks, she cleans, she laughs, she teaches, she doesn't complain, she has great style (we have already accidentally matched two days in a row). ALL IS WELL!!!

Matching Skirts!!!

Cooly twisty cactus.

Around the time Sister Rampersad was about to leave for Cayman the work slowed a lot. We were having trouble finding new investigators and our investigators that we had were not progressing. Frustrating. The work has picked up a lot within the past few days though. I am not saying that Sister Rampersad and I were not working because man, we were working! I am saying that I think the Lord knows when a change is about to happen. He knows when to put people in our path.  I don't think He wanted us to find new investigators and then force them to go through a change of missionaries. I mean of course missionaries are always changing, but at least we know we have 6 weeks of consistency, and 6 weeks to find and teach those prepared people!

Did you realize when you sent this stocking that I have the exact outfit?

So yes, everything is good. The work is good. The people are good. My companion is good. God is good. I am good!

Have a wonderful week!!
Love, Sister Tuttle

January 12, 2015

Hi! Hello! Hi! (Everyone does that in Jamaica to get peoples attention)

I forced Sister Rampersad to take a picture with me.

That is why she is fake crying.

CAN YOU BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN IN JAMAICA FOR 3 MONTHS.  Transfers fell upon us on Saturday *dramatic introduction drum beating in the background* My training is over and the time has come for Sister Rampersad to go her merry way to the Cayman Islands! My new companion will be Sister Dill. She is a 35 year old Jamaican. I guess the Lord knows I need older companions for some reason. I will meet her Wednesday at transfer meeting. Oh and I will be staying in May Pen *3 cheers for a few more months of blasted hot weather and smelly streets*

Wendy and Sister Rampersad

On Friday Sister Rampersad and I had to do a last minute split with the Sister Training Leaders. Let me explain. Every transfer (6 weeks) the Sister Training Leaders are supposed to go on trade offs (a full 24 hours) with all the sisters in their area. For some reason they always look over Sister Rampersad and me, so I have not done a trade off yet. Anyways, Thursday night they called us and said they would be coming the next day to study with us and then we would go out and teach for the rest of the day. Every Friday we have something called, Super Planning. We plan for all our investigators, recent converts and less actives and it takes FOREVER!! Seriously, 3 hours of planning. We thought they would do super planning for their area while we did ours, but.....no. They sat and watched our 3 hour planning session. Awkward. Then I had to take one of the Sister Training Leaders out and Sister Rampersad had to take the other one. It was a bit stressful to have someone judging my teaching and evaluating how well I knew the area. In the end it was good, and I feel ready to take over the area.

Remember that field picture I sent home a few weeks ago...

well they burned it and it looks like this now.

This is what Jamaicans call a pear.

Yesterday, when we were sitting in gospel principles class our branch president, President Watson, called Sister Rampersad and me out. When we were out of the class he gave us these adorable Rasta bracelets with our names on them. Oh my goodness! I was so happy! I was just so incredibly touched that he had done something so thoughtful for us. I love the people here.

Love these kids

Little Abby stole my watch

Mom, to answer your questions about transfers and my release date. This Wednesday will be the end of my second transfer. I think sisters have around 12 transfers. My 18 month mark is April 19 2015 but the transfer falls a few days later on the 22nd or 23rd. Now, and I say this with as much love as possible, just because you have this information it does not give you the right to constantly remind me how much time I have left. 

I love you!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you have a fan {stache} tic week *Insert mustache emoji*
Love,
Sister Tuttle