HaPpY BiRtHdAy To Me!

The best conversation this last week:

Indian man: Are you Jehovah Witnesses?

Us: No, we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day... 

Indian man: AH! The Mormons, ah yes, I know about you.

Us: Oh, okay, cool, what do you know?

Indian man: You regard Joseph Smith as your prophet, correct?

Us: Why, yes we do!

Indian man: And he received the Urim and Thummim, correct?

Us: .....Yes.....

Indian man: What if I told you that I possess the Urim and Thummim?

Us:..... Um.....

Indian man: Let me get it for you.

Us: Okay?

Indian man: (Really excited) Ah! I tricked you! Joseph Smith couldn't correctly explain the Urim and Thummim, but they were in his eyes. He described it as stones, because nobody would understand that they were in his eyes! LOOK, they are in my eyes as well. (Opens his eyes really wide).

Us: (Trying not to laugh) Wow!

Then he proceeded to lecture us for thirty minutes about energy, about how weed cleanses your mind and how milk cleanses your body, he talked about how we are in the "alpha" age, he went on and on, doing crazy voices and jumping up and down. Someone has been smoking a little TOO much ganja, if you know what I mean...

ANYWAYS:

Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday dear MEEEE, happy birthday to ME! I'm 21... I was sitting and thinking about life and realized that if the prophet didn't change the mission age, I would still be at home. But instead, I'm halfway done with my mission. Weird. 

This week was a great week. We got a lot accomplished. The week began by having a fireside at the Hudson's home. It was a literal fireside. We made a bonfire, and roasted jerked hot dogs. Yum! We danced around the fire and reenacted that scene from Finding Nemo, "The RING OF FIRE! Shark bait Ooahaha!" Yeah, sometimes I still act like I'm a 12 year old, I just really don't want to grow up. I guess 21 backwards is 12. The next day we decided to serve our branch president, because his office was a mess. We cleaned up the whole thing and organized everything. We also put up a bunch of signs saying clever things (the picture will be included in this email). He was so appreciative of it, because he has a lot on his plate and he has no time for things like that. He is going to school, serving as a branch president, looking for a wife... ahha 

There is this weird trend here in Jamaica called, "bleaching." It is this skin bleach that they put on to make themselves lighter. I think it's really messed up that they do this, but it's a style for most people. Anyways, whenever someone asks me where I am from, I will say, "Jamaica!" They usually say, "No your not!" And then I will say, "Yes! I just bleached a lot..." They usually end up laughing quite a bit and I have been able to make a few friends this way. Jamaicans love people who can crack a joke. I'm not saying I'm hilarious or anything, but here in Jamaica you can't be a stiff, know-it-all. They can see right through you. If you are genuine, and really open up to them, they will LOVE you. 

We started teaching a few new people this week. Junction struggles, because of past missionaries and other problems, but it is moving forward. Slowly but surely. I laugh whenever I read, "The field is white already to harvest." No way, the scripture should be more like, "The field is rocky and you have to break up the ground and clear the land, then you can plant the seeds. Maybe after a few years you will harvest, depending on the weather and how much help you get." Haha, I'm joking, I seriously love this place. Junction is amazing. It's almost near impossible to get people to church, but hey, I am still doing my job! That is all that matters. If I am obedient, positive and work hard, I can consider myself a successful missionary. If I give up and lose faith, that is when I am not fulfilling my purpose. I have really learned that your attitude makes all the difference. 

Yesterday, we had a appointment that fell through. "She wasn't home." AKA She was hiding behind some bush or something, but that's okay! We decided to go to the Collins house to uplift and inspire them, and lo and behold, Michael (an investigator who is really promising was there!) Who would have thunk. The spirit led us to him. We were able to have a good lesson and figure out his concerns. Brother Collins testified of the truthfulness of this Gospel. It was awesome. At the end Michael said, "The Lord brought you here, didn't He?" I nodded. I can't say that he will progress, but hey, like I said, we are clearing the land, hopefully planting seeds, so that one day, the seed of faith will take root and grow into a tree. 

We are teaching Tashana's husband (she has been a member for a year). SO part member family, woot! He is great. They are the funniest couple. Tashana is probably 6 feet 3 inches tall, extremely black and thick. Kevin, her husband is about 5 feet 6 inches and light brown. They are the funniest couple, but I am happy we are teaching him. He is a slow learner, and can't read, but honestly, he needs to be involved in the gospel. And Tashana could really help him. They need to get closer to the Lord and in turn they will grow closer together. He has a baptismal date for February 22nd, so hopefully all things will work out. All according to the Lords timing, of course.

Well, that is all for this week. I don't have any birthday pictures yet, because we are having a birthday party for me this evening. :) I will get you pictures of that next week. Also, there is an Elder that I used to serve around in Linstead, who got hit by a car, he had to get brain surgery, but he is doing well. Please pray for the safety of all the missionaries around the world! Also, pray for me. I'm not trying to solicit prayers, but I need them. haha

Love you all!

Sister Pitt

Beautiful Sunset In Jamaica

Chillin!

Living It Up In Jamaica

Bon Fire At The Hudsons

Martha Is So Cute!

Thank You Kristin For The Ring!
I Love It!

What We Put On President Gayles Desk

Mannish Water????

"10...9...8...7...6....5...4...3...2...1!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

The above quotation is not how my New Years went. 

My New Years Eve was more like...

"Zzzzzzzz."

I think I forgot to mention transfers and everything last week. SO, Sister Tominey went to the Cayman Islands, and she is there whitewashing with another sister. I miss her! Sister Collier and I are still together, but we received SISTER RAMPERSAD! She is awesome. She is from Trinidad (which is part of the Caribbean, it is near Venezuela). To me, she doesn't sound like she has an accent, she sounds American, and pretty much acts American. Maybe I'm just so used to thick patios. She is half Indian half Spanish. She also loves the movie Kung Pow, so automatic friends. haha You better believe I've been quoting it with her. "Weoweoweoweeee!" 

This week seemed like a ridiculously long week. I don't know what the deal was. Sometimes time goes so fast, sometimes you feel like you are going to die because it's going so slow. But, this week I'm 9 months out. What... Half my mission? This is a joke right? I still remember the first night I flew into Kingston, and we drove through downtown, and I thought I was going to die because it was so sketchy looking. Now I'm used to all of this. Crazy man.

This last week some good stuff happened. On New Years Day, we had a meal appointment. I tried mannish water for the first time. Now, when I heard mannish water, the first thing I thought was a pool full of good looking manly men. BUT that is not what it is. Mannish water is goat head soup. AH! I wanted to die. First of all, goat is nasty enough, but lets eat the head instead. In order to make it, they roast the head, then grind it up and put it in the soup. I saw some nasty stuff floating around in there, but I drank it. Afterwards I had the song, 'We Are The Champions,' stuck in my head. I might have also done a little Rocky Balboa celebration dance, because I thought I wasn't going to be able to drink it. Oh, so while we were there drinking the soup, the lady who fed us, is a nonmember (grandmother of a recent convert) and she had a little party going on in her yard. She had a huge sound system blasting reggae music and a bunch of drunk old men were dancing to it. It was dinner and a show. Quite entertaining. 

Did quite a bit of service this week. We helped out at this green house and moved bags of red dirt onto the tables. They are planting lots of orange trees in them, and companies buy them. Anyways, one of our investigators works there, and wanted us to come help. It was hard work man. I got red dirt everywhere, and my wrists were killing me. (Oh, if I am using 'man' at the end of sentences, it's not on purpose. Jamaicans always do it, and it has been rubbing off on me. Sister Rampersad also says it, and I'm around her 24/7. I'm always saying, "yah man," now. But not like how a Jamaican actually says it.) Another service we did was washing some girls hair. It's a lot different washing black girls hair, than it is to wash a whitey's hair, but I love it. I got to braid it as well. It was so fun. The girls were so cute and funny. Often times we help people hand wash their clothes. Thank heavens for washing machines.

The time I felt the spirit most this last week was when we were visiting an excommunicated member. We mainly go to her house to visit her less active children, but we give them all a little spiritual thought together. Anyways, the woman really opened up about how she feels and what not. She feels ashamed, angry, insignificant, and so forth. My heart ached for her. What she did is not something you cannot excuse, she made mistakes, but she is still a daughter of God. I really felt Heavenly Fathers love for her. We testified of the Atonement. We told her about Jesus Christ, and about how when we make mistakes, we have to face the consequences, but Jesus Christ is willing to help us out of the stickiest of situations. Something the mission has really helped me see is how imperfect all of God's children are. Sometimes I can't believe we chose to be here in a fallen world, but we did, and now we have to just have faith for a better place. Everybody makes mistakes, but thankfully we can turn to repentance in our darkest days. I don't know if this sister will ever return to the church, I really hope and pray she will. She has a lot of changing to do, but I know it's possible. I just know that my greatest source of happiness is in this church and through my knowledge of the Savior, I can't imagine what it would be like to be away from it. I would be miserable. 

Because it's a new year, 2014, I decided to take time to reflect on 2013, and really think about what goals I have for this year. 2013 was a fantastic year. I have grown so much. (And not just in weight har har har.) I have learned more here than school has ever taught me. I have felt pain, sorrow, and a whole lot of joy. I have had some crappy times, and some fantastic times. It's a roller coaster of emotions. My goals for this year:

1. Follow the promptings of the spirit. Sometimes I get a thought to do something, but I push it out, thinking I have more important things to do, or I can't fit it in the schedule. I need to be more mindful of those thoughts, and act on them. I hear if you get them, and you don't act, they will come to you less. I don't want to loose the companionship of the spirit. Especially as a missionary. 

2. Patience. I need to develop this even more. I still find myself getting frustrated in the littlest insignificant circumstances. I need to stop doing that. I need to just take a breather and realize that everything is in God's timing. I am not in control of anything, but myself. 

I guess those are my main two. I have already failed at them... But that is the thing about resolutions and goals, you can't expect to be perfect automatically, it's something that you have to continually work on until you become perfect at it. 

I love you family. I love you friends. The work is good. The people here are kind of crazy... Okay, really crazy, but I love them. I know the Gospel can fix anyone's problems. I hope that we will soon find someone who will recognize that and accept it. Till then, we will just keep working hard, and praying. 

Respect Man,

Sister Pitt

P.S. I also have a goal to loose the weight I gained... Hello veggies everyday. haha

I Hope It Doesn't Karate Kick Me!

Fully Loaded Pizza! Yum!

Greenhouse We Helped In

Red Dirt!

 

Me Made Her A Troll Doll!

Dunking Her Head

 

She Is The Cutest!

Washing Hair!

Posing On A Swing!

Sister Rampersad

Sister Collier

A New Year Is Upon Us!

Christmas in Jamaica was awesome! We baked cookies, gave them out to everyone we saw. I ate a HUGE amount of food. We had 6 meal appointments in 3 days. I never want to eat, ever again. We sang songs, we laughed, we cried. We had a jolly good time. The senior couple the Vance's are great and they made Christmas 10 million times better. We skyped, I loved that. Family, I love you so much. It was so good to see your beautiful faces. 

The best part of Christmas was the closeness I felt with Christ this year. I mean, every year I hear, "Christmas isn't about the presents or decorations, it's about Jesus." But, this year, it really was all about Jesus Christ. On Christmas Eve, the Vance's fed us and then we had a little spiritual devotional. We watched a video of Jesus Christ's life, and it pierced my heart. I felt the spirit so strongly this year, and I just know that Christ came, lived and then died for us. AND now he lives again. I just want to tell everyone this good news. I want everyone to realize that Heavenly Father loves them so much that he sent Jesus Christ as a baby into this world. In Luke 18:10 it says, "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost." We are all lost, and we need saving. I just want to praise Jesus forever because of all he has done for me personally, and everyone, everywhere. 

Well, a new year is upon us. I am quite excited. A new start. Time to be better, work harder, and think more about Christ. Heavenly Father lives. He sent His Son to this world. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. The Book of Mormon is true. Amen.

Love,

Sister Pitt

Christmas Eve Feast!

We Love The Vances!

Christmas Treats!

YUMMY!

Jimmy Came!

Christmas In Jamaica!

Hawaiian Haystacks For Christmas Dinner!

Meal #3

Meal #6

Look Mom!
I Made Spanish Rice and Enchiladas!

Cuties!

I Love Them All!

Look At All The Green Onions!

Oral And Rohan Are Awesome!

Our Decorations!

Roasting Marshmallows!

Prettiest Tree and Prettiest Girls!

Santa Made It To Jamaica!

The Cool Way To Get Around Jamaica!

With Their Christmas Toys!

IT'S CHRISTMAS MON!

Christmas in Jamaica: Palm trees, rasta men trying to sell you things, sorrell, rice and gungu peas, fried chicken, reggae Christmas songs blasting from cars, so much traffic, poorly decorated Christmas trees, children who don't believe in Santa, off key 'Silent Night', a few people wearing Santa hats, and so much more. Despite the differences between here and America, I still feel that familiar Christmas spirit in my heart.

This last week was fantastic. First of all we had a missionary Christmas party. It was just with my current Zone, because the mission president decided to separate them this year. So, I gave each companionship a candy lei. (My mission president says, "Thank you Sister Pitt's mom!") Anyways, it was great. I am finally used to Jamaican food, so I loved what they made us. It was ONOLICIOUS. Barbecue fried chicken. We got to eat, get presents, watch a skit and video, and have a testimony meeting.

Oh, yes, so the Jamaica Christmas Devotional... What to say. So they were broadcasting it to all the parishes here in Jamaica as well as the rest of the world, but sadly they have terrible technicians, and it didn't really work. So, I didn't even get to watch it. My companions were in the devotional, so I stayed in Junction on a trade-off with Sister Walker again. I was really bummed I didn't get to watch it. BUT, I was there for the branch Christmas party, and that was fun. We basically just ate food and talked. Not that many people came, but that's okay. Oh speaking of the branch, I LOVE the branch president for Junction. He is about 25 years old, just got back from his mission. He is so funny, and he understands how difficult it is to work with branch leaders. He is extremely blunt and doesn't take peoples crap. I don't know, he just cracks me up. 

A Jamaican Christmas tradition is to paint their houses. Oh, and their rocks. We did service for six hours this last week. We painted peoples rocks in their yard. (Hey Grandpa Pitt, if you want your rocks painted, I'm a professional now). We were laughing about it. We also painted a persons house. It was actually really fun. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is.... painting a persons house, apparently.

Ohkay, so basically, I'm so excited for Christmas. Mainly to skype home, but also because the AMAZING new senior couple in our apartment complex is having us over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for food! We are also eating at another persons house, a real Jamaican Christmas meal.  

Now for my little Christmas thought, because I am a missionary.

At the missionary Christmas party, President and Sister Brown dressed up as Joseph and Mary. They were looking for a place to stay and they acted out going to a bunch of inns and no where had a place to stay. At first it was really funny, because the missionaries were the innkeepers, and they were like, "No room! Go away." or "Should have rethought having a baby on a night like this." After a while, I actually started to get really sad, because Sister Brown, who was acting like Mary started to cry, and President Brown who was Joseph looked desperate to find his wife a place to stay. The room got really intense as each innkeeper denied the mother of Christ. This little skit made me really think. How many times in our lives are we like the innkeepers, not making room for Jesus Christ? How many times do we put worldly desires first, instead of the desires of our Savior? We need to make room for Christ. We need to give him every inch of our heart and soul. 

Oh, I love the Christmas season. I love it because of traditions, I love it because of food, but mainly I love it because I get to really ponder the amazing event of the baby born in Bethlehem. I may be over 5,000 miles away from home, but that is okay. I love being here in Jamaica. I love serving others. I love helping people learn more about Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas everyone! 

JOY TO THE WORLD!

-Sister Caressa Ann Pitt

A GREAT Day In Mandeville!

I Got To Teach These Folks! LOVE Them!

A HUGE Papaya!

I NEED A Haircut!

Our District Bought Us CHOCOLATE!

President And Sister Brown With Leis

Thank You!

The Christmas Tree I Made!

The District

The Hudson Boys

The Hudsons!

I Just Love Jamaican Babies!

The Ice Cream Man!