Mon, Mar 28, 2011
Hey Fam,
Nassau is great. Elder Brockbank and I flew here on Wednesday. We replaced the sister missionaries that were here before so I'm whitewashing again. There is a senior couple here - the Ockeys - and they are way cool. The branch here is big. there are about 600 people on the role but about 100 are active. plenty of work to do. the branch is solid though. we actully have a functioning branch presidency and elders quorum and everything else. we even have a branch mission leader! I'm excited to get some things rolling.
I feel like I got a whole new mission call. Nassau is so modern. It feels like I'm back in america. My apartment is so nice. it even has carpet, ceiling fans, hot water, couches, and a weight bench!! We have a car here so I'm learning to drive again but on the left side of the road. There are a lot of Haitian immigrants here looking for work. They are very humble and receptive to the gospel. probably half the branch is Haitian. Now I have to start learning Creole. We started teaching a few Hatians already using one of the members as a translator. It's fun.
It is so weird being back here as a missionary. It's pretty awesome though. I'm totally excited. Elder Brockbank is really good.
Well, later.
Elder Kartchner
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Transfer!
Mon, Mar 21, 2011
So, it's official. I'm off to the Bahamas on Wednesday. I leave highgate tomorrow and go into Kingston. It's always weird leaving an area because you're sad to go but excited for something new. The branch here is doing well - much better than when I first got here. The average church attendance has gone from 15-20 to 30-35. We've reactivated several of our priesthood and have extended callings to several of the members (when I got here almost no one had callings and there wasn't any priesthood to speak of besides the branch president). It's been an awesome learning experience. I just hope the next missionaries keep it going.
Elder Ferrin will be staying in Highgate and Elder Luke (the one from Yuma that's cousins with Aunt Donna) will be taking my place. My new companion will be Elder Brockbank. He's fairly new so I don't really know him yet. I'm excited for nassau. It should be awesome. I'm going to miss my mountain view though- nassau is totally flat. Rumor has it that the apartment there even has carpet!
I don't know my address yet. I should know by next week.
Love you lots. Later
Elder Kartchner
So, it's official. I'm off to the Bahamas on Wednesday. I leave highgate tomorrow and go into Kingston. It's always weird leaving an area because you're sad to go but excited for something new. The branch here is doing well - much better than when I first got here. The average church attendance has gone from 15-20 to 30-35. We've reactivated several of our priesthood and have extended callings to several of the members (when I got here almost no one had callings and there wasn't any priesthood to speak of besides the branch president). It's been an awesome learning experience. I just hope the next missionaries keep it going.
Elder Ferrin will be staying in Highgate and Elder Luke (the one from Yuma that's cousins with Aunt Donna) will be taking my place. My new companion will be Elder Brockbank. He's fairly new so I don't really know him yet. I'm excited for nassau. It should be awesome. I'm going to miss my mountain view though- nassau is totally flat. Rumor has it that the apartment there even has carpet!
I don't know my address yet. I should know by next week.
Love you lots. Later
Elder Kartchner
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Howdy
Mon, Mar 14, 2011
Hey Fam,
It's been a good week. We had our baptism on Saturday. It was fun. After a short service at the church, 11 of us piled into the branch president's mini-van and drove down to the ocean at Robin's Bay. It is an awesome place. Very beautiuful with the ocean and the view of Blue Mountain Peak in the distance. Anyway, her name is Gabbrielle Granston. She's 11 and we were able to get her father to baptize her which was good.
We got her confirmed in church yesterday. Also at church we had 2 of our investigator families show up at church. (the only problem is neither of them are married). It was a good day at church though. We had over 30 people there and about 1/3 of them were our investigators. yeah. It was the most investigators I've ever had at church. We have several solid investigators right now that I think are going to do really well.
The only problem is that I have a feeling that I'll be moving next week. I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure that I'll be moving to Nassau, Bahamas. Cool, huh? It's been exactly 2 years since I've been there. I'll be sad to leave highgate though. At any rate don't send any packages until I get official word. I think the elders off Jamaica have a different mailing address. I'll let you know for sure as it comes.
So, yeah, It's been fun. Love you lots.
Elder Kartchner
Hey Fam,
It's been a good week. We had our baptism on Saturday. It was fun. After a short service at the church, 11 of us piled into the branch president's mini-van and drove down to the ocean at Robin's Bay. It is an awesome place. Very beautiuful with the ocean and the view of Blue Mountain Peak in the distance. Anyway, her name is Gabbrielle Granston. She's 11 and we were able to get her father to baptize her which was good.
We got her confirmed in church yesterday. Also at church we had 2 of our investigator families show up at church. (the only problem is neither of them are married). It was a good day at church though. We had over 30 people there and about 1/3 of them were our investigators. yeah. It was the most investigators I've ever had at church. We have several solid investigators right now that I think are going to do really well.
The only problem is that I have a feeling that I'll be moving next week. I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure that I'll be moving to Nassau, Bahamas. Cool, huh? It's been exactly 2 years since I've been there. I'll be sad to leave highgate though. At any rate don't send any packages until I get official word. I think the elders off Jamaica have a different mailing address. I'll let you know for sure as it comes.
So, yeah, It's been fun. Love you lots.
Elder Kartchner
Monday, March 7, 2011
Howdy!
Mon, Mar 7, 2011
Hey Fam,
Broken-hearted does not adequately express my sincere regret for missing the historic ball. I was so planning on going this year too. I thought you would at least have the decency to let me know ahead of time so I could have made arrangements to be there. Oh, well. Maybe next year.
Everything's going pretty well here in highgate. We had a good testimony meeting yesterday with about 30 people. Most of the people with new callings are doing very well. Things are running a little smoother each week. we had an investigator show up at church that I've never met before. One of the branch members, Sis Dryden, is a very good member missionary. she met this guy on the street the other day and invited him to church. He made up his mind to come and Sunday morning he walked over a mile taxied the rest of the way just to visit. His name is Micheal and he is way good and we should be meeting with him later this week. Just goes to show how effective members can be at missionary work. Most of the time, we missionaries can meet with someone for weeks and they still won't come to church.
We ended up not having our baptism this last week. It got postponed till this next saturday. Our other baptism that was originally scheduled for this saturday might have to be postponed as well because the girl's step-mom doesn't think she's ready. We also have a 10 yr old girl who wants to be baptized but her mom, a less-active member, won't let her. It's Jamaican culture not to baptize until you are 12 or even much older just to be sure you know what you are doing. Things are going good, though. We have several solid investigators we are working with.
Love you lots. later
Elder Kartchner
Hey Fam,
Broken-hearted does not adequately express my sincere regret for missing the historic ball. I was so planning on going this year too. I thought you would at least have the decency to let me know ahead of time so I could have made arrangements to be there. Oh, well. Maybe next year.
Everything's going pretty well here in highgate. We had a good testimony meeting yesterday with about 30 people. Most of the people with new callings are doing very well. Things are running a little smoother each week. we had an investigator show up at church that I've never met before. One of the branch members, Sis Dryden, is a very good member missionary. she met this guy on the street the other day and invited him to church. He made up his mind to come and Sunday morning he walked over a mile taxied the rest of the way just to visit. His name is Micheal and he is way good and we should be meeting with him later this week. Just goes to show how effective members can be at missionary work. Most of the time, we missionaries can meet with someone for weeks and they still won't come to church.
We ended up not having our baptism this last week. It got postponed till this next saturday. Our other baptism that was originally scheduled for this saturday might have to be postponed as well because the girl's step-mom doesn't think she's ready. We also have a 10 yr old girl who wants to be baptized but her mom, a less-active member, won't let her. It's Jamaican culture not to baptize until you are 12 or even much older just to be sure you know what you are doing. Things are going good, though. We have several solid investigators we are working with.
Love you lots. later
Elder Kartchner
Monday, February 28, 2011
Happy Monday!
Hey Fam,
Wow, those pictures look cool - a little too cool. It almost snowed here the other day too...well not really but I almost felt like wearing a long sleeve shirt in the morning.
Been another good week although a little crazy. We've been working hard and hopefully smarter and we're starting to see some results. As of right now we have a baptism scheduled for every saturday in march. If all goes well, we should have our first one this saturday. We're just hoping and praying that they all go through. Now that we have the branch somewhat in order we can focus more on our missionary work. Things are going well. I'm learning a lot from Elder Ferrin.
As far as things I need, I could use speeder-bike and a jet-pack but that's about it. Pictures are also good. For most everything else it is easier and cheaper to just get it here. everything you send has to go through customs and we have to pay duty on it. As far as branch materials, we have too much already for our little building and branch, but thanks.
Well, hope things go well. love you all.
Elder Kartchner
Wow, those pictures look cool - a little too cool. It almost snowed here the other day too...well not really but I almost felt like wearing a long sleeve shirt in the morning.
Been another good week although a little crazy. We've been working hard and hopefully smarter and we're starting to see some results. As of right now we have a baptism scheduled for every saturday in march. If all goes well, we should have our first one this saturday. We're just hoping and praying that they all go through. Now that we have the branch somewhat in order we can focus more on our missionary work. Things are going well. I'm learning a lot from Elder Ferrin.
As far as things I need, I could use speeder-bike and a jet-pack but that's about it. Pictures are also good. For most everything else it is easier and cheaper to just get it here. everything you send has to go through customs and we have to pay duty on it. As far as branch materials, we have too much already for our little building and branch, but thanks.
Well, hope things go well. love you all.
Elder Kartchner
Monday, February 21, 2011
Pics
1. our branch 2 weeks ago
2. another sunrise
3. Elder Conder with a giant banana spider on his face
4. Another sunrise
5. Me and my half of the jack fruit.
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