SOON COME!

I know you are probably expecting some profound, amazing email this week, because it is my last one, but nope. I don't have a lot to say. This was one of the most disgusting weeks of my mission because I contracted that mosquito virus going around called chikingunya. I was bedridden for almost THREE days. My fever was at 103. My whole body was in pain. I had a really ugly rash. I was miserable. I did not want to end my mission this way. But, nothing like a virus to make you reach your weight loss goals.... haha

Anyways, I am so anxious/nervous. It's been hard to sleep and eat. I am not sure if it's because of the sickness I had, or because I'm coming home. I am so sad to leave Jamaica. I cried at church. I keep just looking at everything and everyone, trying to soak every moment in. 

I am so grateful for everything that has happened on my mission. My soul has been changed for the better. I have learned so much. I will leave part of my heart here in Jamaica. 

Well, as Paul wrote, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith..."

My fight and course isn't really finished. I still have a lifetime of gospel living, but as far as my 18 month mission goes, I am done. Tomorrow is transfers and then Thursday, I'm home. 

SOON COME!

-Sista Pett

ONLY 10 MORE DAYS!!!!!

So here in Jamaica a very popular fashion trend is wearing a silver or gold linked chain. Everyone has one. Doesn't matter who the person is, almost everyone will wear it. Male or female, old or young, Christian or not, almost everyone has one. They may not wear it everyday, but sometimes they do. I've always noticed it, but the Elders pointed it out a few weeks ago, so it came to my attention more. Sometimes people will wear two chains at a time, and we started rating our days on a scale of chains. If it's a good day, we might say, "It's a five chains day". Conference weekend was an 8 chains weekend. Somedays are more like two chains days, which are not bad, but just sort of regular. This last week was a 10 CHAINZ WEEK. (Z for emphasis of the amazingness of it).

First of all, PATRICK GOT BAPTIZED! It was absolutely amazing. It was a very spiritual experience for him. I just can't believe it all went through. I was so nervous this entire last week. It was almost too good to be true, but not saying it didn't come without intense struggle, because it did. I won't go into detail, because I'll just tell my family about it when I get home, but let's just say I have never prayed harder for a person my entire life. I had faith that Heavenly Father would make it happen, if it was His will, but of course the devil likes to put doubts and fears in my mind. The morning of Patrick's baptism, I felt inspired to write him a letter of encouragement. When he showed up to the church Sunday morning, he was nervous. I was prompted to give him the letter before he was baptized. Originally, I was just going to wait until after. While he read it, he smiled and said it made him feel more confident that he could do this. The thing I appreciate most about Patrick is he understands how serious of a commitment baptism is. He was scared, because he knew that if he followed through with it, he will have to endure to the end, for the rest of his life. Patrick asked a recent convert, Orane (soon to be missionary) to baptize him. He also had many of the young adults in the ward participate in giving talks or prayers, because we did our best to fellowship him with people. The ward members love him, so that is a plus. After he was welcomed to the ward, Patrick bore a testimony. It was so well thought out. He explained that his whole life he has been the sheep among wolves. He was always different than all his friends, and the feeling that he gets at our Church, he feels like family. Wow. Amazing. Another recent convert who was baptized less than a year ago was able to confirm him a member and give him the Holy Ghost. It was amazing. I really hope and pray Patrick will always remember the feelings he felt at his baptism for the rest of his life. 

Sister Lewis was a great strength to me this week. I had so many worries and stress coming down on me. I kept thinking of going home, of Patrick, of my mission. She just kept saying, everything will be alright, and every time she said that, it turned out alright. So when things looked bleak, I would say, "Sister Lewis, if you tell me everything will be alright, I'll believe you." Haha, she has grown SOOOO much spiritually and as a missionary. I am so proud of her and I have full confidence for her to take over the area. She has doubts in herself, but her faith is strong, I really love her, a lot.

10 more days left as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 10 more days of Jamaica. 10 more days of sharing the Gospel full time. Only 10 more days. Sigh. I still feel like I have SO much more to learn. I'm glad that progression is continuous and I don't have to worry about regressing, because I know what I have to do to keep on the path of righteousness. I was thinking about my mission ending, and I was thinking deeply about what if I only had 10 more days to live. 

What kinds of things would I want to do? 

What would be the most important thing I could tell people? 

All I know is I would want to share my testimony with the world:

God lives. Jesus is my savior and redeemer. Through Christ, I can return to live in the presence of my Father in Heaven. I know with all my soul that the Gospel is true. It is all reality. It isn't a fairytale we share with people to just improve their lives. This can help them, of course, but this is serious. This is salvation. This is eternal happiness. This is living forever with God in the celestial kingdom for eternity. Life is not fleeting, it has no end. It isn't meant to be mundane or have no purpose. Life on this earth is given to us to progress and prepare. Life in eternity is given to us to become as our Heavenly Father is. This beautiful truth sustains me. My faith isn't in flesh or in worldly things, my faith is my God and my Christ who will help me become an eternal being. 

Love,

Sister Pitt

Patrick Was Baptized!

We Love Patrick!

Patrick And Orane

Priesthood Brothers!

My CUTE Companion!

Trying To Get A Dread But It Didn't Work!

COMPANIONS!!!

Cutest Little Shop Ever!

FAITH!

The Battle of Sister Pitt
And The Huge Flying Moth!

This Man Stands Here Every Day For Hours

Good And Better And Best

Conference was amazing. As usual. I learned so very much! I also have so many things I need to apply to my life when I get home. This conference really made me think about who Heavenly Father wants me to become, and what I need to do in my life. I still don't have all the details of my "five year plan," and I doubt I will ever be the kind of person that makes a five year plan. (Or any kind of plan for that matter.) I guess I just do what I feel the spirit is telling me to do. The mission age change was unexpected. I didn't plan to leave on my mission till I was 21. There are just some things you can't plan for. But look how it has blessed me! I don't know what I'm going to study in school. I don't know who I'm going to marry, or where I'll live in my life. But, if I just do what is right when the spirit directs, I know I'll be blessed. My mission is a testimony of that. I loved the talk about making a decision between good and better and best. Good thing all of my options seem to be between those three options. I just have to pray each day for guidance. I think it's not really about what you do in life, but who you become. If I become successful or not, it doesn't really matter if I didn't improve my spirit and my character. 

This last week was stressful. All sorts of thoughts and feelings have been coming down on me. Thoughts of inadequacy, thoughts of going home, thoughts of worrying about investigators, thoughts of doubt, thoughts of not caring anymore, thoughts of caring too much, thoughts of sadness, thoughts of gratitude. I guess I am thinking way too much. I should probably think less and just focus on the spirit. Honestly, I give the best advice, I wish I'd listen to myself. 

I taught Sister Lewis how to drive stick shift! She is a pro already. Well, almost. She picked it up really fast. Driving in Jamaica is just so different. You have to watch out for crazy buses, goats, dogs, people, potholes, insane taxi drivers, big dips in the road, and even the occasional stray football that is kicked from a child who decided to chase after it. It is high stress, but I love it. 

All is well with Patrick. We had a very spiritual lesson. He enjoyed conference. I just hope he will be ready by Sunday. All my prayers will be towards him this coming week. We are still working to the 12th. I hope and have faith.

Overall, I don't have a lot to report. Seems like the weeks are going by faster and faster. I am just going to enjoy every bit of the Jamaica I love before I leave. I will enjoy jerk chicken, listening to patios, sharing the gospel, and more. 

I love you all,

Sister Pitt

In Between Conference!

Ackee Salt Fish And Roasted Bread Fruit

I'm Terrible!

Welcome To Jamaica!

YUM!

"Live The Gospel JOYFULLY"!

"You can count the number of seeds in an apple, but you can't count the number of apples in a seed."

This week was nice. It was hectic. Lot's happened. We had Zone Meeting. We had Trade-Off's with the Sister Training Leaders. We had a birthday party at the church for a girl named Alexa. We watched the General Womens Conference. President Brown told me to start making my five year plan. I laughed. I learned a lot.

First of all, trade-offs were fun. I went to Kingston with Sister Austin. It was so fun. We go home at the same time so we were just like, "Argarbargal..." haha When I was in Kingston we stayed up till midnight, with the other two sisters who live in the house. We were just laying in bed talking and talking. Mainly laughing. It was a really funny night. I haven't stayed up past 10:30 for probably a year, so it was draining the next day. I had some caffeine, but once that wore off I was dead. I have been on tradeoffs to Kingston three times my whole mission, and every time I've gone we went to see this family of members who I just love so much. Last time I saw them I told them I would come back before I left, and look here, I did! They are the Clark's, and they are so awesome!

I had to bear my testimony at Zone Meeting. All the missionaries who are leaving at the end of the transfer had too. It was so weird, because my whole mission I have been listening to others who were going home do that, and it always seemed so far away. Sigh.

Tender mercy of the week. Gobrena sent me a letter from Linstead. She is so sweet. She was talking about how when I left, I left a hole that no other missionary has been able to fill. She said she is so thankful for me, and how I helped change her life for the better. It really was nice, because I had a few dissapointing moments this week. 

Patrick is good, but he is unsure if he is ready to make this big change in his life. I have been praying and fasting for him. I am worried, but I think I have been selfish about the whole thing. I just wanted to see him baptized before I left, but I would rather him do it because he knows this is true. I want him to recieve his own spiritual witness. I know he will become a member of this church one day, whether that day is soon, a year from now, or twenty years from now. Who knows, maybe a miracle will happen.

I have a few more favorite scriptures.

Alma 37:44 = I love this one because it simply says if we give heed to the words of Christ, we will have ETERNAL BLISS. You don't see that phrase in the scriptures except in that verse. It was so unique and it stood out to me so much. It's so simple. If you read and follow Christ's teaching, you will be happy. 

D&C 64:33 = "Be not weary in well doing, for ye are laying a foundation of a great work..." I guess sometimes I get discouraged, especailly looking back on my mission and worrying if I did everything I was supposed too. I have no regrets, but sometimes I think, "What if there was somthing I missed..." This leads to the quote that I put in the beginning of the email. We will never know how much good we do until we reach the next life. Abinadi wasn't aware that his testimony converted Alma until probably after his death. 

I loved Womens Conference. I can't wait to go back to the temple!

I'm going to miss Jamiacan food. 

I had dreams about missionary work this week. Weird.

I have avoided the mosquito disease.

Pray for me.

I love the song in the hymn book, "O My Father". It is so deep.

"Live the Gospel JOYFULLY!" -Uchtdorf

Love you all,

Sister Pitt

I LOVE The Clarks!

THANK YOU Sister Woolf!
I Finally Got It!

Best Soda EVER!

Friendly Neighborhood

I LOVE This Painting!

In "The Boulevard" House
I Added MY Name!

Out Beautiful Alexa Brown Is 19 Years Old

Our Little Rasta Leperchan At Church

Our Neighbor Church

Pouring Rain!

Sister Austin and I

 

This Picture is SO Hilarious

SISTER POWER

Elder Fowkes, My Linstead Brother

Us And Elder Beckford

VERY Tall Elder

ONE MORE MONTH!!!

I had a very interesting experience this last week that left me thinking. A man that we talk to occasionally in passing continually invites us to the church that he attends. We told him that it would be impossible for us to come on Sunday because the time conflicts with our church. He is very persistent and invited us to the Wednesday night worship. I didn't know what denomination his church was, until we got there. It was a Pentecostal sect, and let me tell you, it was very different than anything I'm used to. In fact, I have always heard about what goes on in those churches, but it is so different to actually be there. The man told everyone we were coming, and all the members had their eyes on us. It began by everyone standing up, and praying at the same time. Different prayers. Very loud, prayers. Lots of shouts and "hallelujahs." Many of the people had their eyes closed and their hands in the air. (By the way, everything I say is not exaggerated. In fact it is probably toned down compared to the actual scene). It was chaotic. So much was happening at the same time, I had to control myself from laughing, because of how uncomfortable I felt in this situation. Then they sang a song together. I don't remember what it said, but it repeated "Jesus!" over and over again. It was so loud, so different from Mo-Tab. (They were really good singers though. haha) Then they handed everyone out a nine page paper full of a written prayer. A small quiet looking woman got up and took the microphone. (Yes, they had speakers, which I don't think they needed at all, because they were so loud). I didn't think this petite woman had it in her, but she proceeded to shout and scream out all nine pages, BACK AND FRONT, of the written prayer. And everyone shouted it with her. The best part was there was this kid that fell asleep during all of this. I was like, "What?! How can he sleep during all of this?!" Anyways, after the crazy written prayer, they went back to all praying at the same time. Except this time it was more intense. It started off kinda slower, and then climaxed. My heart was racing and I literally felt like I was choking. I almost wanted to just run out of there because it was too weird for me to handle. Many people started making erratic movements all over the place and they started to speak in a gibberish language. I just stood there next to Sister Lewis smiling because I didn't know what else to do. (By the way, my heart went out to Sister Lewis, because if I was having culture shock after 17 months, I don't even know what she was experiencing at that moment. haha) Not much more happened, plus we had to leave because of curfew, but it was something I will never forget, for the rest of my life. 

I am very glad I went. I am glad I got to see what I saw. This explains so much about the difficulties of converting people to the Gospel here in Jamaica. They are used to loud expressions of worship. I bet they feel uncomfortable when they come to our church. The culture has such a huge impact on these people. I feel like I understand better where they are coming from. It explains a lot about even the members of the church who after feeling the spirit, were converted to our church. They made a huge change, a dramatic change from what they were used to. That must have taken a lot of faith. I have been thinking about the whole experience since Wednesday, and I even had dreams about it. Like I said, I will never forget that church we went too. It has change my perspective on so many things, and has built my testimony of the true and restored Church even more. 

Patrick is still doing great. He is in the middle of 2 Nephi. I'm so happy for him. He came to church, again. He loves it. The members are doing well at including him. I really think he feels a lot of love from them, and from us. He is such a smart, unique young man. He is not like any of the other young men we meet here in Jamaica. He has a lot of faith, and he doesn't even realize it. I think the thing he loves about the church is that you are able to talk things out, and learn. He is just doing so well. I pray everything works out with him. 

Something I have really learned through the course of my mission is the idea that it is not enough to just go on a mission. Just going on a mission will not get you a place in the Celestial kingdom. It is the way you serve and give your heart to God that will help you receive your eternal reward, and what you do AFTER the mission. Likewise, it is not just enough to be a member of the church. Just being a member means nothing if your whole soul is not in it. Heavenly Father expects consecration. We covenant with Him that we will give our all. When we stand before our Maker, we not only will be judged of the things we avoided doing (breaking the law of chastity or word of wisdom, etc..) , but we will be judged of the things that we did not do. If we could have helped someone, and we didn't, we will stand accountable. We must do all we can. I have also learned that we will feel inadequate. We will ALWAYS feel inadequate doing the Lord's work. We will always feel like there is more we can do, but if we just do our best and pray for strength, we can produce a miracle. I pray that my whole life will be dedicated to serving my Father in Heaven. 

I love you all,

Sister Pitt

BOOK OF MORMON

Found Sister Wallace in Mega Mart!

I LOVE The Colorful Houses In Jamaica!

I Love This Ice Cream Cart!

Me And The Artist Of The Mural!

Sister Lewis Hates Pictures

Love Christlike Love

Did I eat fried chicken for breakfast? Oh yes, yes I did.

This week was GREAT. So many wonderful things happened. First off, Patrick is doing so well. SO WELL. I am amazed by his progress in just one week. We had a great lesson with him about the priesthood and baptism. We commited him to be baptized on October 12th. HE ACCEPTED, without hesitation. Most people you have to kind of talk them into it or wait on them. He got extrememly emotional, and almost cried towards the end of the lesson. He is already almost done with 1st Nephi in the Book of Mormon. That is what has amazed me the most, is his reading comprehension of the scriptures. Many people don't really understand what is going on, and he even struggled at first, but we told him to pray everytime he reads, and now he is telling us the stories. He thinks Laman and Lemuel are so dumb. He thinks Nephi is amazing. AH, yay. Anyways, we lent him the Jospeh Smith movie, and he LOVED it. We were able to go over the plan of salvation, and he related everything in the movie to the lesson. He was really worried about not being able to make it to church yesterday, because he had to take his mom to the airport, but he came, ON TIME. He said that he knows that God wants him to be there, that is why the time didn't conflict. He just loved church. He says he feels at home. Amazing. Miracle. Happy dance time. I don't want to get to excited and jinx anything, but I really have faith that all things will work out. Even if it's not the way I want it to work out. I just am praying continually. 

There are so many members here in Portmore I love. We are helping three young men prepare to go on their missions. One of them is waiting on his call. Another just finished his papers, and the third is working on them. They are all amazing and will be fantastic misisonaries. There is Emile, Sean, and Orane. Orane is a convert of about less than a year, so he has to wait till his year mark to leave, which isn't far away. They are extrememly focused and truly love the Gospel. They are not worldly or vain, they are humble and have strong testimonies. I truly believe that it is more of a sacrifice for Jamaicans to go on missions than most of us who have been in the church for a long time. They don't have a lot of money, they don't have family and friend support, they get ridiculed and mocked for their decisions, and they face many difficulties. But, I think they are better prepared than I was for my mission. I look up to them so much. 

A family of investigators cooked us Sunday dinner. They went ALL out. They made us a table, they cooked a ton of food, and had dessert for us. I was so appreciative of their effort. Especially because they barely know us! Their kids are all so cute, and I just love them. I would love them even if they didn't cook us food. It is so cool to be a missionary and feel christlike love for people. It's so hard to explain what it feels like, but it's non-judgemental and pure. The love I feel for all of our investigators, less actives and members is real. It truly breaks my heart when I see that they are unhappy or made a wrong decision. I am grateful I had this opprotunity to learn to love, to really love. Not just say "I love you," but to MEAN it and feel it. 

I think everyday for the rest of my life, I will thank God for sending me to Jamaica. I have learned so much. I couldn't have learned what I've learned anywhere else. I have been humbled, and even at times brought really low, but Heavenly Father truly has risen me up each time. I can honestly say that I have experienced that "mighty change of heart," that the scriptures speak of. I am more converted. I still have so much to change, because the "natural woman" comes out every once in a while, but I know that as I work on it each day, one day I will be able to stand before my Maker and be confident that I did my absolute best.

The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is REAL and TRUE. 

Love,

Sister Pitt

First Member To Join In Portmore

Burning Trash

Drew This For Papa Rasta, Our Friend

Escuse The Naked Women

Fried Chicken, Plantain, Breadfruit, Yum!

Cutees!

I Love Them!

Our Awesome Investigators

They Are AWESOME!

So Creative!

 

I Think This Is Jesus!

NICHELLA

Our Three Potential Missionaries!

Rainbow After The Storm!

Some Of The Young Single Adults

Isn't She Darling

Taking A Picture Of Taking A Picture

This Is Called "Lion Palm"
All The Rastas Do It