HELLO PORTMORE

This was one of the most exhausting weeks of my mission. Going from driving for 14 months of my mission, to walking almost non-stop has been rough. I was not physically prepared for this transition... haha I also didn't know what to expect when they said we would be whitewashing. Well, we literally are starting from scratch. The sisters before us didn't leave us with any investigators or much direction for things, but I got this. This has been such a funny, exciting adventure. 

I'll start from last week Monday and then go through the week because so much has happened. 

Monday: Said goodbye to the Hudson clan. I am going to miss them so much. We had a fun family home evening with them. Overall, I just love Junction with my whole heart, and it was hard to leave.

Tuesday: Had to go to Spanish Town with Sister Christensen because we are both training new sisters. We had a meeting with President Brown and the AP's. I had to give a spiritual thought. I was really just not feeling it, so I don't remember what I said. All I know was it was a thought, I'm not sure if it was spiritual or not, ahha. President Brown took all the missionaries who are training out to get pizza. Then Sister Christensen and I went back to our companions. I finished packing and inwardly crying, before bigging up myself. 

Wednesday: Transfers. I was about to puke. I was really nervous. Well, I have been assigned to train Sister Lewis! She is 19, from Enoch Utah, and my greenie! She is sweet, and quirky, so it has been fun getting to know her and stuff. I also love seeing the culture shock in her eyes. The sister training leaders drove us to Portmore to our apartment. Dang, it is disgusting. I'll go more into details later. Anyways, to try to be a good trainer, I sat her down and we started planning for the rest of the day. Then, we went out and started doing missionary work. I of course had no idea where we were going... We found a really great member who lives near us, Sister Anderson and her husband. Sister Anderson is a returned missionary. She served in Atlanta Georgia. She is full of life and so fun. 

Thursday: Oh man. We walked for miles... Up and down. I begged water from so many people haha. It was great though. I don't actually remember a thing we did, but hey, we survived.

Friday: We had super planning. Ergh. It's really hard to super plan without knowledge of the area and the people. But, we did it! Sister Lewis and I got to know each other really well. We went to an activity at the church. I think Sister Lewis was so happy to be there. We met the Elders in our district, and some more members.

Saturday: More walking. More getting lost. More of finding less actives and members. I've been using a map that the previous sisters drew, but it's confusing haha. This area has lots of neighborhoods, so its super flat which is nice. It makes walking a bit easier. 

Sunday: CHURCH WAS AMAZING. I have been in Junction for 7 months, and I forgot what a normal functioning ward is like. The spirit was so strong. There were so many recent converts, and investigators, and the people were so amazing. I am already in love with the Portmore Ward. There is SOOOOO much work to do here. There are so many great leaders. No wonder they became a ward. 

So, walking isn't terrible. It's so hot and humid, but there is a strong wind from the ocean, which makes it bearable. I just kept thinking in my head, "Jesus had to walk. Alma and the sons of Mosiah had to walk. Paul had to walk. Moses had to walk. Moroni had to walk. So I need to never complain about walking." We have been able to talk to SOOO many people. One guy we talked to even showed up to church! (He was an hour late, but hey, HE CAME). Everyone works during the day here, so it is hard to fill up the day, but we will make it work somehow. People actually have an income, so they can make it! And it is so easy to get a taxi here. There are hundreds on the road. It only cost about 1 dollar US to get to church. (100 Jamaican dollars). The members here, I love. I have heard so many amazing conversion stories from people, and I love it. 

This is the craziest adventure I've been on, on my mission. I realize how I have grown so much. I feel confident, even though I have no idea where I am going. It is easy for me to talk with the people and get personal. I really feel like I'm able to understand and connect with them, even if we have had such different lives. I really feel like these last four months of my mission will be my time to shine and do my best. 

Our apartment's bathroom is broken, so yuck. It is really awful. Lets hope it gets fixed today. Sister Lewis had to sit next to a drunk guy in a taxi. He told her all about his ex-girlfriend. I was laughing. It is hot as hell here, but hopefully all the sweating will take off weight. haha When we got into a taxi the other day, I immediately struck up a conversation with the driver. He said he appreciated me, because he has carried the sisters before, and they never spoke with him. He is interested to learn more about the Gospel, and he seems really concerned about where his soul is going after this life. 

I LOVE THIS GOSPEL.

Moroni 9:6 

RESPECT,

Sista Pet

Hudson Boys Are Gangsters!

The Best People Ever!

hahaha

Confusing Map!

How All Taxi Drivers Hold Money

My New House

Sister Lewis

Sister Llewellyn's Guitar
Artwork by ME!

Sister Vance Made Me Pancakes For My Last Day

Sister Wolff Is Off To The Bahamas!

GOODBYE JUNCTION

There were two things I did not want to do this next transfer.

The first was, I didn't want to go to Portmore (the only reason for this is because it is really hot there), and the second thing was, I didn't want to train.

Guess what?

I am whitewash training, in PORTMORE. 

(That means no current investigators. That means being stressed out. That means not knowing the members... They are taking the two current sisters out and moving them elsewhere.)

Oh, and did I forget to mention, I'm no longer driving. I'm walking. 

God really has a sense of humor...

But, all is well. I have prayed about it, and felt a confirmation that this is where I need to go and what I need to do. Good thing about Portmore is that it has a big WARD! It's no longer a branch. It is part of the Stake. I'm nervous, of course. I couldn't eat all day Saturday, because when I heard the news my belly started to hurt. I can do this. I can train a new missionary, I've done that before. Twice. I can walk, no problem. I can handle the heat, and I can do my absolute best.

My goal for this transfer. Absolutely NO COMPLAINING. Not like I've complained before, but I want this new sister not to be discouraged about walking and her trainer having no idea where she is going... Haha I guess it will be an adventure. All I know is Portmore is about 10-15 degrees warmer, so I might be a sweaty mess, all the time. Hey, lets look on the bright side, walking and sweating will mean weight loss! Also, I'll get really tan. (Of course it will be a farmers tan, but oh well). 

Apparently the world cup is going on. Everyone is watching it here. They are obsessed with it. Flags everywhere, you can always hear it playing and people shouting. Also, at KFC, we got a free world cup, drinking cup. It has a really good looking footballer on it, so we all drink out of it all the time. ahha

I had to say a lot of goodbyes. It was sad. I didn't want to. At all. I'm really going to miss Junction. It was amazing. I thought it was the refiners fire of my mission, but I am discovering, that I will not get a break from difficulties, ever. haha I really love these people. With my whole heart. I will always have St. Elizabeth in my heart. This side of the island is so beautiful and the people are amazing. I always tell everyone here that someday I'll live here. (Probably not, but I love it that much haha).

I was saying bye to our investigator Percy, and he gave Sister Barlow and I the greatest compliment. He told us that he has met hundreds of tourists in his life, (He did taxi service for tourists), and he knows lots of church going people from Jamiaca, but he has never met anyone who is as Christian as we are. He says we are the strongest people he knows. He also said he can barely believe it, but he knows we are honest and true to our beliefs and that there is, "something different about us." I hope I can always live that way. There is something different. We have the true and everlasting Gospel. It makes a big difference. He isn't getting baptized anytime soon, but I know that a seed was planted there. 

This next week will be an adventure. I'm leaving on Wednesday, so pray for me. Pray for my safety. Pray I get a good companion, haha. I love you all.

I'm going to miss getting free mangoes and watermelons.

Goodbye Junction. Hello Portmore!

-Sister Pitt

GOODBYE JUNCTION!

Braiding the Billy Goats Beard

Demar Is A Butthead

HaHa

Hello!

SURPRISE!

Happy Birthday Lily!

I'm Going To Miss Lily!

Khaydia!

King Chek

Love You Sister Barlow!

Sister Thomas!

Some Sweet Investigators!

The Collins Family!

The Junction Sisters!

The View Off Our Porch

Typical Site In Junction!
I'm Going To Miss This Place

June 9, 2014 - WEEK 61

This week was good. Went by in the blink of an eye, like every single week. I'm here emailing, and all of a sudden I'm here again... Weird. Time is just so strange for a missionary. Because you do so much in a week, it goes fast. Tomorrow I'm at 14 months. What?! 0.o I have been forgetting what America is like. I may have culture shock going back home...

Oh, so I ate Mexican food this last week. My first time actually eating cilantro in 14 months. I was on a tradeoff in Kingston and I begged Sister Hudson to take me there. haha I was so happy. It was delicious. Like, it was actually legit Mexican food. On the tradeoff we had to drop some new sisters going to the MTC off at the airport. IT WAS SO WEIRD TO BE THERE. I started getting nervous hot flashes, and freaking out. I was like, "I'm not supposed to be here for another four months! Let's leave!" Oh boy. I promise the day I leave this place, I will be an emotional wreck. I love my mission. I love Jamaica.

I'm super nervous for transfer calls this coming Saturday. I'm nervous because it determines my last 4 months of my mission. Seeing my track record of being in areas for a long time, I doubt they would transfer me after this next one. I'm excited to start a new area. I'm so sad to leave this one. I love it. I love the people. If I had to choose where to live in Jamaica, St. Elizabeth would be where I would pick. It is so beautiful and lovely. The people are awesome. It's kind of difficult to be in the same area for a long time, you start to move slower, because you are used to everything. I am trying my hardest to keeping pushing forward. One more week. I'm going to make the most of it!

Here in Jamaica they have so many different ways of saying things. If someone does something completely out of the ordinary and it upsets you, you would say, "You are OUT OF ORDER!" or "TOO RUDE."

It's been getting really hot. A few nights ago, I woke up at 2 am, sweating. I pretty much drenched my self at the sink and stood in front of a fan for 20 minutes. It is boiling... Thank heavens Junction isn't as hot as Kingston, because I was DYING in Kingston. It was miserable. The humidity is so high. I have a feeling my next area is going to be really hot. We will see.

Yes, there is a new stake in Jamaica! Elder Holland was here this last weekend. I didn't get to see him, or participate at all. I'm about 3 hours away, and in a branch that isn't part of the stake. Boo hooo...... I am so happy for Jamaica though. Apparently lots of people who served missions here in the past, came back. The stake president is Chinese. I think that is funny. I don't know why. (He speaks fluent patios).

Oh, I have been loving studying the Gospel during my mission. I have learned so much from the scriptures and words of modern prophets and apostles. This last week I started the Book of Ether, in the Book of Mormon. Chapter 6 had a great impact on me. The context of the chapter is that the Jaredites built some barges to cross the ocean to the promised land. The barges where covered, and I imagine they were shaped like an almond. The brother of Jared finds a way to get light in the barges. He takes some stones, and asks the Lord to touch the stones. Long story short, the Lord touches the stone, and they have light while they are in the barges. Anyways, these barges didn't have steering, they didn't have anything to catch wind, they simply set out in them, across the waters, trusting that the Lord would lead them to the promised land. I bet it was really scary to be in those barges. You couldn't see where you were going, at all. For an entire year, they sat in darkness with minimum light, being tossed to and fro on the sea. All they probably could do was call on God for deliverance. They didn't have control of the situation at all. The Lord truly was testing their faithfulness. I bet lots of murmuring arose, I bet there was contention. I bet there were times when they were frightened. Still, they praised the Lord in this uncertain situation. Once they reached the promised land they shed tears of joy because of the tender mercies of the Lord. 

Our journey through life is a lot like the Jaredites journey across the ocean to the promised land. There are times of calm, and times of storms. If we are faithful and trust in God, He will deliver us to our "promised land." Funny enough the storms were there to get them to where they were going. The winds and the waves were probably ferocious, but without winds and waves, they would have stayed still, never moving forward. Likewise, our trials help us receive celestial glory. We have to have experiences of good and bad in order to be exalted on high. My mission has had many storms. I'm not a perfect missionary. Sometimes I feel like I'm in darkness. But, I know, if I call upon God, he will guide in the midst of my emotional and spiritual storms.

I truly love this Gospel. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It is divine. It is from God. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that he has redeemed our souls from everlasting destruction, as long as we TRUST in him. 

Lots of Love and Aloha,

Sister Pitt

ABIGAIL!

Found This On Our Investigators Phone! Haha!

Getting My Hair Done!

Cool Mural!

I Call It Heaven!

JAMEXICAN!

Lisa And Jade!

Odanes Hand Compared To Sister Barlows!

ON A MISSION!

Sheaquan

Sister Austin Made This For Me!

The Junction Sisters!

June, 2, 2014 - WEEK 60!

A lot has happened this week. I probably won't go into detail of all things, but let's just say our investigator was being beat up by his drunk uncle, so he stabbed his uncle and now he (our investigator) is in jail... The usual.

This isn't going to be the longest email ever, but it will have to do. It was a trying week. We faced many difficulties and disappointments. I was being spiritually tested, thats for sure. There were some very special moments, though. First of all, I had an interview with President Brown. We talked for about an hour. It was great. I got to ask him some questions about the Gospel that I've been thinking about lately. I've been pondering a lot on the sacrament and the renewal of covenants. I guess I was just curious if when we partake of the sacrament, we renew ALL our covenants. (Specifically our Temple covenants). I was also curious about if we will ever know in this life if we will go to the celestial kingdom. Like, will we receive a spiritual witness? I got my questions answered. He also told me about my improvement as a missionary, and how I have set an example to many Sisters in the mission. I wasn't expecting praise or anything, but it was welcomed, especially because of the hardships this week. 

I also asked Elder Vance to give me a blessing. It was beautiful. I think the reason I asked for a blessing is because I wanted a confirmation from Heavenly Father telling me that I am doing good. It just is so hard not to see much success. But, when Elder Vance spoke through the power of the priesthood, saying, "Heavenly Father is pleased with you, and you are worthy in His eyes," I felt a spirit of peace in my heart. I am so self critical. The hardest person to forgive and accept, is myself. I don't know why I struggle so much in that area. It has improved a lot, but every once in a while it is difficult. I guess as a missionary everyone says, "If you are obedient and work hard, blessings will come." They need to add,"But you may never see those blessings, by the way..." haha It's difficult, but it is something I would never trade for the world. I have loved every moment of this mission. 

I only have about 4 months left. I am excited for what it brings. Even if I don't see outward "success," I have been really feeling the inward. It is a beautiful thing to recognize the spirit and live the Gospel. It is a blessing to realize the blessings I do have. This truly is a wonderful life we have been giving. This life is one of sorrow and joy, but like the scriptures say, if we never had sorrow, we would never know that sweet, redeeming joy. 

Something I learned this week:

We must seek earnestly the riches of eternity.

Respect,

Sister Caressa Ann Pitt

King Check Is His Name

Hello!

Love The Ocean

Great Bay

Daddy! Found Your Boat!

Cake For Sister Rampersad

We Surprised Sister Rampersad!

Happy Birthday to Sister Rampersad!

FLOURED!

My Favorite Lady!

I Miss Photography!

FOUR EYES!

Obama

The Cow Kissed Her Hand!

Yo! Whatsup!