Happy Easter Week!

Mon, Apr 18, 2011
Hey Fam. How's life? sounds like everythings going great. the bahamas are treating me well. I'm emailing you today from an internet cafe down by the cruise ship docks.

I figured i'd start off by answering your questions.

How are your investigators doing?
We have a couple of solid investigators right now. Mylande is doing way good- reading her book of mormon 30 min a day. she finishes her college finals this week so she should be more available soon. she's been coming to church for a couple months now and she has some good member support. her baptism is scheduled for May 1. Thomas is another really solid guy. he's 18. the sister missionaries before us started to teach him in January and really liked it but had to move to the island of andros for work. over the last couple months he's been flying back to Nassau every couple weeks just to go to church. He finally made the decision about 2 weeks ago to give up his job there and move back to nassau just so he could join the church. He finally found a job here so he's here for good. He's also scheduled to be baptized May 1.

How much of the regular church programs exist in your branch?
This branch is pretty legit. it's probably the most functioning branch in our mission. we actually have functioning auxilleries and such. This week we, along with the branch mission leader, are putting on an branch Easter activity on Friday for fellowshipping our recent converts, less-active's and investigators. It should be pretty cool. we're doing a walk-through in the church of the last week of the Saviors life. We'll have each room represent a day and show what he did and talk about it's importance and such.

Are the branch leadership locals? From the Bahamas or elsewhere?
The leadership is pretty much all locals. we have some good returned missionaries that provide the core. we also have a few families from the states/England that live/work here in Nassau.

What kinds of things do you do on PrepDay?
Well, mostly we've been spending our time with the senior couple, the Ockeys, that live next door. They are way cool and she is a way good cook. Today we're planning to go out to Paradise Island and take a look around Atlantis and Cabbage Beach and such. Should be fun.

Any cool foods or other cultural stuff?
The bahamas is pretty lame when it comes to culture stuff. It's not near as exciting as Jamaica. It's mostly just a mix between their old British heritage and their modern American neighbors. There are a lot of Haitians around, though so I've got to try some good Haitian food. It's pretty close to Jamaican food- rice, beans, and chicken - just with different spices.

Anything I could send you that would be helpful to you or others?
As far as other stuff, I think we're doing just fine. I can't think of anything. I can get just about anything in Nassau.

How often do you see someone from the mission office?
It's not very often we get to see anyone but the senior couple next door. This week, though we are having zone conference here so Pres. Hendricks, the assistants, and the elders from Freeport and Turks and Caicos are all coming on Thursday and spending the night at our place. should be fun.

How many missionaries serve in the Bahamas? Any other places besides Nassau?
We are the only missionaries in Nassau. There is one set in Freeport, Bahamas, One set in Turks and Caicos, and One set in Grand Cayman. besides that everyone else is in Jamaica.

Well, got to go. have a great week.
Elder Kartchner

Oh, another interesting tid-bit is that we do our district meeting (which is for everyone not in Jamaica) every week over skype. I had to teach this last week. It was a bit weird teaching over the internet but it was cool.