Pic 1 - Suprise Thanksgiving dinner with several of the branch members.
Pic 2 - Elder Mackey after his bike slipped into a mud hole
Pic 3 - Me and the rat that kept getting into the kitchen
Monday, November 29, 2010
Happy Monday after Thanksgiving!
Mon, Nov 29, 2010
We had another good week. We've been working hard and have a few solid investigators. I had the best Thanksgiving ever. It started out like any old day but in the afternoon it began to rain hard. We were wondering what we should do because all our appointments fell through. I called a guy we had met the day before. He said he couldn't meet with us because he was planting so I asked if we could help. It was a lot of fun. we got to play in the mud while planting shoots of calalloo and pokchoy. While we worked we told him the story of another farmer named Joseph Smith. It went great. His name is Brother Richards. he is a great guy with a family and works hard to support them on his little farm. I am really excited to work with him and his family. Afterward we went home and showered and hurried down to the church for another good lesson with another investigator. The branch president picked us up after that and drove us up to a member's house for an even better lesson with a great investigator named Sister Swearing. While we were there a car full of branch members showed up with a ton of food. Jamaica doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, but we did. It was great.
Yesterday we had good Sunday meetings. We were missing a lot of people but it was still good. Sister Swearing came. The teachers were missing for gospel principles class and elders quorum so I ended up teaching both.
I finally got my birthday package the other day. Thanks for all the stuff. My bike really appreciates the new handles and bag and my legs are pretty sore from jump roping so much. I've also been sporting around my new shiny red tie but no one seems to care. Oh well. The peanut butter is much appreciated. They do have it here but it is expensive. Oh, and thanks for the shorts as well as the notes from the Mathesons. On the same day I got my birthday card, and a letter from Bishop Trejo and the Sitts sisters. I've never had so much mail in my life.
Thanks for all you do. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
We had another good week. We've been working hard and have a few solid investigators. I had the best Thanksgiving ever. It started out like any old day but in the afternoon it began to rain hard. We were wondering what we should do because all our appointments fell through. I called a guy we had met the day before. He said he couldn't meet with us because he was planting so I asked if we could help. It was a lot of fun. we got to play in the mud while planting shoots of calalloo and pokchoy. While we worked we told him the story of another farmer named Joseph Smith. It went great. His name is Brother Richards. he is a great guy with a family and works hard to support them on his little farm. I am really excited to work with him and his family. Afterward we went home and showered and hurried down to the church for another good lesson with another investigator. The branch president picked us up after that and drove us up to a member's house for an even better lesson with a great investigator named Sister Swearing. While we were there a car full of branch members showed up with a ton of food. Jamaica doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, but we did. It was great.
Yesterday we had good Sunday meetings. We were missing a lot of people but it was still good. Sister Swearing came. The teachers were missing for gospel principles class and elders quorum so I ended up teaching both.
I finally got my birthday package the other day. Thanks for all the stuff. My bike really appreciates the new handles and bag and my legs are pretty sore from jump roping so much. I've also been sporting around my new shiny red tie but no one seems to care. Oh well. The peanut butter is much appreciated. They do have it here but it is expensive. Oh, and thanks for the shorts as well as the notes from the Mathesons. On the same day I got my birthday card, and a letter from Bishop Trejo and the Sitts sisters. I've never had so much mail in my life.
Thanks for all you do. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
Monday, November 22, 2010
Hope you feel loved
Mon, Nov 22, 2010
We had another good week. We didnt get to teach quite as much as last week but it was still good. Unfortunately the Grove family went back to New York. Hopefully they attend the church and find the missionaries there. Almost everyone of our other solid investigators ended up dropping us this week for one reason or another. After working with them it was really hard to see them become apathetic. But, who said missionary work was supposed to be easy. I guess I'll just have to work harder. Right now we're working on rebuilding our teaching pool.
We had good church meetings yesterday. Elder Mackey and I were the speakers. I spoke on member missionary work. I shared how doing missionary work is part of fulfilling our baptismal covenant of taking his name upon us, always remembering him, and keeping his commandments. I focused most of my talk, however, on practical ways for members to help with missionary work. I think it went well.
This past week they had a temple trip for the members in Jamaica. They flew to Panama on Wednesday and got back Saturday. Three people from the branch went - The branch president and his wife, along with Brother Thomas, who is the 1st counselor in the branch presidency. Brother Thomas has only been a member for a year and a half and was going for the first time. It was awesome to see the difference in his countenance when he got back. I wish I could go to the temple again.
Well, Happy thanksgiving. They don't celebrate it here so you'll have to eat extra for me. I haven't got my birthday package yet, but hope to soon.
Thanks for all the emails and prayers and such. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
We had another good week. We didnt get to teach quite as much as last week but it was still good. Unfortunately the Grove family went back to New York. Hopefully they attend the church and find the missionaries there. Almost everyone of our other solid investigators ended up dropping us this week for one reason or another. After working with them it was really hard to see them become apathetic. But, who said missionary work was supposed to be easy. I guess I'll just have to work harder. Right now we're working on rebuilding our teaching pool.
We had good church meetings yesterday. Elder Mackey and I were the speakers. I spoke on member missionary work. I shared how doing missionary work is part of fulfilling our baptismal covenant of taking his name upon us, always remembering him, and keeping his commandments. I focused most of my talk, however, on practical ways for members to help with missionary work. I think it went well.
This past week they had a temple trip for the members in Jamaica. They flew to Panama on Wednesday and got back Saturday. Three people from the branch went - The branch president and his wife, along with Brother Thomas, who is the 1st counselor in the branch presidency. Brother Thomas has only been a member for a year and a half and was going for the first time. It was awesome to see the difference in his countenance when he got back. I wish I could go to the temple again.
Well, Happy thanksgiving. They don't celebrate it here so you'll have to eat extra for me. I haven't got my birthday package yet, but hope to soon.
Thanks for all the emails and prayers and such. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
Monday, November 15, 2010
Hey Fam
Mon, Nov 15, 2010
Things are going great. This week Elder Mackey and I have been working really hard to be totally obedient and to teach as much as possible. It was by far the best week I've had so far on my mission. We've been blessed in being able to find a lot of good investigators. We have a new problem of not having enough time in a day to see every one we want to. Not that I'm complaining or anything. We started out the week strong talking to everyone. By the end of the week it seemed like everyone started coming to us, stopping us and asking us what we were all about. Yesterday we had good church meetings. We didn't have much in the way of investigators there but we had a lot of less-active come. There was over 50 people there and there was barely enough room for everyone.
We've been meeting with this really great family, the Groves. We met the mom, Jennifer Groves, in Juici Patties (Jamaican fast food place) a week or two ago when she came up and introduced herself to us and told us she wanted to meet with us. She is Jamaican born but lives in New York most of the time. Anyway, we finally got to meet with her this last week. It is a 30 minute bike ride out to their place, but it was worth it. She told us how she is very strong Baptist but over the last few years she keeps running into these mormons. She said that a month or so ago she talked to one lady at the eye doctor and somehow it came up that she was LDS. Jennifer said she noticed all this and told one of her friends in Kingston that she keeps meeting all these mormons. Her friend then told her that she was a mormon too. her response then was, "what? why didn't you tell me? I've known you all these years. Why didn't you tell me?" As she told that story I was thinking about all the people that we know and talk to. Do they know what we believe? Do we let it come up in conversation that we are LDS? Anyway, we've been meeting with Jennifer and her son and daughter and they are doing great. Unfortunately, they are probably heading back to New York soon, but we helped them find a church close to where they live by looking online. It will be some lucky missionaries in New York that get that referral.
We have several other great investigators. We set a baptismal date with Wayne Palmer. We met a guy named Imoin that is really intersted and has started to read the Book of Mormon. He said he has a group of friends that have been going around to different churches looking for the right one so hopefully we'll get to meet with them too. We also met a couple that met with missionaries about a year ago that seem pretty good. There are several others as well. It just goes to show what a little obedience and hard work can do.
We got transfer calls this morning. Elder Mackey and I are staying in old Harbour for another transfer. It was a big relief. I am really excited to work with all our new investigators.
Thanks for all you do. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
Things are going great. This week Elder Mackey and I have been working really hard to be totally obedient and to teach as much as possible. It was by far the best week I've had so far on my mission. We've been blessed in being able to find a lot of good investigators. We have a new problem of not having enough time in a day to see every one we want to. Not that I'm complaining or anything. We started out the week strong talking to everyone. By the end of the week it seemed like everyone started coming to us, stopping us and asking us what we were all about. Yesterday we had good church meetings. We didn't have much in the way of investigators there but we had a lot of less-active come. There was over 50 people there and there was barely enough room for everyone.
We've been meeting with this really great family, the Groves. We met the mom, Jennifer Groves, in Juici Patties (Jamaican fast food place) a week or two ago when she came up and introduced herself to us and told us she wanted to meet with us. She is Jamaican born but lives in New York most of the time. Anyway, we finally got to meet with her this last week. It is a 30 minute bike ride out to their place, but it was worth it. She told us how she is very strong Baptist but over the last few years she keeps running into these mormons. She said that a month or so ago she talked to one lady at the eye doctor and somehow it came up that she was LDS. Jennifer said she noticed all this and told one of her friends in Kingston that she keeps meeting all these mormons. Her friend then told her that she was a mormon too. her response then was, "what? why didn't you tell me? I've known you all these years. Why didn't you tell me?" As she told that story I was thinking about all the people that we know and talk to. Do they know what we believe? Do we let it come up in conversation that we are LDS? Anyway, we've been meeting with Jennifer and her son and daughter and they are doing great. Unfortunately, they are probably heading back to New York soon, but we helped them find a church close to where they live by looking online. It will be some lucky missionaries in New York that get that referral.
We have several other great investigators. We set a baptismal date with Wayne Palmer. We met a guy named Imoin that is really intersted and has started to read the Book of Mormon. He said he has a group of friends that have been going around to different churches looking for the right one so hopefully we'll get to meet with them too. We also met a couple that met with missionaries about a year ago that seem pretty good. There are several others as well. It just goes to show what a little obedience and hard work can do.
We got transfer calls this morning. Elder Mackey and I are staying in old Harbour for another transfer. It was a big relief. I am really excited to work with all our new investigators.
Thanks for all you do. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
Monday, November 8, 2010
Hey Fam
Mon, Nov 8, 2010
Well, I have to say that was the lamest hurricane I've ever been through. Earlier in the week Hurricane Tomas lost some of its strength and became a tropical storm. It was predicted to hit the east side of the island and for it to rain for several days. Instead it barely missed Jamaica to the east and hit haiti and cuba instead. I feel bad for Haiti. they've just had a cholera outbreak and now a hurricane. Anyway we kept waiting and waiting for the rain and wind to come, but it never did. It was pretty anti-climatic. We could see the huge dark clouds to the east of us but we hardly got a drop. It was pretty fun though going around and helping people get ready for the big storm that never came. We got to do a bit of service helping people tie down their roofs and such. Ever since the storm passed we've seen a change in weather. There has been a cool breeze blowing for the last couple days. The last few nights have been pretty cold. Last night we got our first freeze. It got below 75! I woke up this morning and it was 74 and I was so excited I almost fell over. Winter must be on its way.
The whole excitement about the storm slowed down our missionary efforts a bit but we'll soon be back up to speed. We have several good investigators right now so things are going well. We taught Wayne Palmer the other night some more about the Book of Mormon. He had read the intro and the testimonies so he was sharing with us what he learned. It really hit home to him and me just how important the book is. It was pretty awesome. I am really excited for him although he missed church this week.
Thanks for all you do. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
Well, I have to say that was the lamest hurricane I've ever been through. Earlier in the week Hurricane Tomas lost some of its strength and became a tropical storm. It was predicted to hit the east side of the island and for it to rain for several days. Instead it barely missed Jamaica to the east and hit haiti and cuba instead. I feel bad for Haiti. they've just had a cholera outbreak and now a hurricane. Anyway we kept waiting and waiting for the rain and wind to come, but it never did. It was pretty anti-climatic. We could see the huge dark clouds to the east of us but we hardly got a drop. It was pretty fun though going around and helping people get ready for the big storm that never came. We got to do a bit of service helping people tie down their roofs and such. Ever since the storm passed we've seen a change in weather. There has been a cool breeze blowing for the last couple days. The last few nights have been pretty cold. Last night we got our first freeze. It got below 75! I woke up this morning and it was 74 and I was so excited I almost fell over. Winter must be on its way.
The whole excitement about the storm slowed down our missionary efforts a bit but we'll soon be back up to speed. We have several good investigators right now so things are going well. We taught Wayne Palmer the other night some more about the Book of Mormon. He had read the intro and the testimonies so he was sharing with us what he learned. It really hit home to him and me just how important the book is. It was pretty awesome. I am really excited for him although he missed church this week.
Thanks for all you do. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
Monday, November 1, 2010
Happy Birthday to Me
Mon, Nov 1, 2010
So, We had a good week. This past Wednesday we went to Kingston for zone conference. President Hendricks talked a lot about obedience and the need to baptize truly converted people. We have a big problem with baptizing people and then they never show up again. Because of this, Elder Mackey and I spent most of our time this last week contacting inactive members of the branch. We are also still working with this Wayne Palmer. He is doing really well and he came to church yesterday and really liked it. We also had two other investigators at church that were invited by members and several less-active people showed up as well. On Saturday we went and talked to the branch president about calling some branch missionaries and getting a member missionary effort organized. The problem has been that all the solid members already have several callings but we told him that we were willing to work with anyone - active or not. We figure that calling an inactive member as a branch missionary just gives us more of an excuse to work with them. We'll have to see how it all plays out but I'm excited for it.
Well, yesterday our discussion for 5th sunday was a new one for me. We talked about hurricane preparedness and emergency plans and such. Apparently Hurricane Tomas is heading our way and could possibly hit Jamaica by Thursday. It could make for an interesting week. We'll have to pick a little extra food - non perishables and such - for the week. Don't worry though, we live on the 2nd floor on the top of a hill so it's not like we're exposed to the wind at all.
Thanks for all the emails and birthday wishes. Hopefully I'll get my package sometime this month. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
So, We had a good week. This past Wednesday we went to Kingston for zone conference. President Hendricks talked a lot about obedience and the need to baptize truly converted people. We have a big problem with baptizing people and then they never show up again. Because of this, Elder Mackey and I spent most of our time this last week contacting inactive members of the branch. We are also still working with this Wayne Palmer. He is doing really well and he came to church yesterday and really liked it. We also had two other investigators at church that were invited by members and several less-active people showed up as well. On Saturday we went and talked to the branch president about calling some branch missionaries and getting a member missionary effort organized. The problem has been that all the solid members already have several callings but we told him that we were willing to work with anyone - active or not. We figure that calling an inactive member as a branch missionary just gives us more of an excuse to work with them. We'll have to see how it all plays out but I'm excited for it.
Well, yesterday our discussion for 5th sunday was a new one for me. We talked about hurricane preparedness and emergency plans and such. Apparently Hurricane Tomas is heading our way and could possibly hit Jamaica by Thursday. It could make for an interesting week. We'll have to pick a little extra food - non perishables and such - for the week. Don't worry though, we live on the 2nd floor on the top of a hill so it's not like we're exposed to the wind at all.
Thanks for all the emails and birthday wishes. Hopefully I'll get my package sometime this month. Love you all.
Elder Kartchner
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