Letter and Pictures - Week 95

Dear Family,

It's been a wonderful week! We had Zone Conference and it was wonderful. It was spiritual and uplifting. I took away many things from it about member work and reasons/blessings for attending church. We taught Natasia again this week and it was an incredible lesson. We came back to finish teaching the plan of salvation with Bro. Lennox and she had been studying and preparing herself for it. She wrote down a list of questions that she had and we went through them. One question she asked about her infant daughter who passed away and we shared Moroni 8 and another scripture from D&C that brought her a lot of peace and comfort and the spirit filled the room. We invited her to be baptized on a specific date. She said she is not ready right now but that she wants to be ready and baptized. We invited her to pray about it and when a good day to prepare herself for. She said the most beautiful personal and heartfelt prayer at the end. She was asking Heavenly Father not only to know when to be baptized but also for help and said that she was grateful for sending us to teach her and that she wants to continue on this path in her life. It was great. She came to church this week too! She came with her little daughter Ronella who is absolutely adorable. We also had lady named Clarissa who we started teaching this week come with two of her children, Christopher(24) and Chrissy(25). We started teaching them and they were so intrigued by the book of mormon and already began reading it. They don't like the church they currently attend and are looking for another. They are awesome. There were 19 at church this week. Much better than last week. We didn't teach Kimisha this week. She has been sick. Nandy also is sick and busy this coming week so we will see her next week. We've also been doing a lot of contacting and we've found many more wonderful people who are interested in what we are sharing. It's been a great week. I love you all! Keep doing good! I can't believe Kaylee is graduating! Crazy! Have a great week!

Love,
Elder King

1 & 2 - Some views from our area!

3 & 4 - We found the land of the Ewoks!!! They do exist!

(It definitely, most positively, absolutely 100%, is not actually a ropes course in the middle of the jungle)

5 - We hiked a short hike to the Seven Sisters Water Fall

More pics from the water fall :) It was fun!

Letter Home - Week 94

Dear Family,

I'm glad the funeral service for Grandma went well and was beautiful and spiritually uplifting. She will be missed. It's been such a great time here in Grenada already. I love it. It's been great to get to know all the wonderful members here. They all have such good hearts and beautiful testimonies. There are about 15 members in the group here in Grenville and four of us Elders cover the area up here. It's absolutely beautiful here too. I can tell I'm going to enjoy my time here with Elder Mikolyski. He is from South Jordan. He has 3 brothers and one sister. He came on his mission one transfer after me with Elder Whipple. This week we've hit the ground running and have been working hard. We didn't take too long to get to know the area and get settled in to our apartment and then from there we just started talking to everyone we could about the gospel. We've already met some amazing people to begin teaching. One is named Nandy. She has a young daughter and when we met her we started talking to her about families and she was so interested and curious to know more about how her family could be together through priesthood ordinances and covenants. She is friends with one of the members here and wants to come to church next week. We also met a YSA named Kimisha who has started reading in the book of mormon. When we came back to follow up she said she really wants to know more about Joseph Smith and so we showed her where she could watch the restoration video and gave her a restoration pamphlet. We also decided to meet and greet our neighbors and we found out that we have some really cool neighbors. Our landlord, Radix, is one of them and we really want to start teaching him. He is such a great guy. We went out one morning and we found that he had washed our car for us. It was super nice. We also met another lady named Natasia who we introduced the book of mormon to. After sharing a couple versus she asked a question of her soul of what happens after we die. We used the book of mormon to answer her question. We shared Alma 11 and testified of the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and that we will all live again. She said she felt her faith grow as we shared that with her. She is excited to read the book of mormon. We spent some time this week also looking for a new church building because the current one is a small apartment building and because of increased numbers in attendance. We were able to find several possible locations for it. The other Elders, Elder Hendricks and Elder Johnson, are awesome missionaries and it's great to serve around them. They had a baptism this week and it was awesome. We are looking to really help this group grow. We believe and feel that it will. I love you all! I will see you all next week at 7:00pm my time or 5:00pm your time! 

Love, 

Elder King

Letter Home - Week 93

Dear Family,

I'm glad the funeral service for Grandma went well and was beautiful and spiritually uplifting. She will be missed. It's been such a great time here in Grenada already. I love it. It's been great to get to know all the wonderful members here. They all have such good hearts and beautiful testimonies. There are about 15 members in the group here in Grenville and four of us Elders cover the area up here. It's absolutely beautiful here too. I can tell I'm going to enjoy my time here with Elder Mikolyski. He is from South Jordan. He has 3 brothers and one sister. He came on his mission one transfer after me with Elder Whipple. This week we've hit the ground running and have been working hard. We didn't take too long to get to know the area and get settled in to our apartment and then from there we just started talking to everyone we could about the gospel. We've already met some amazing people to begin teaching. One is named Nandy. She has a young daughter and when we met her we started talking to her about families and she was so interested and curious to know more about how her family could be together through priesthood ordinances and covenants. She is friends with one of the members here and wants to come to church next week. We also met a YSA named Kimisha who has started reading in the book of mormon. When we came back to follow up she said she really wants to know more about Joseph Smith and so we showed her where she could watch the restoration video and gave her a restoration pamphlet. We also decided to meet and greet our neighbors and we found out that we have some really cool neighbors. Our landlord, Radix, is one of them and we really want to start teaching him. He is such a great guy. We went out one morning and we found that he had washed our car for us. It was super nice. We also met another lady named Natasia who we introduced the book of mormon to. After sharing a couple versus she asked a question of her soul of what happens after we die. We used the book of mormon to answer her question. We shared Alma 11 and testified of the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and that we will all live again. She said she felt her faith grow as we shared that with her. She is excited to read the book of mormon. We spent some time this week also looking for a new church building because the current one is a small apartment building and because of increased numbers in attendance. We were able to find several possible locations for it. The other Elders, Elder Hendricks and Elder Johnson, are awesome missionaries and it's great to serve around them. They had a baptism this week and it was awesome. We are looking to really help this group grow. We believe and feel that it will. I love you all! I will see you all next week at 7:00pm my time or 5:00pm your time! 

Love, 

Elder King

Letter and Pictures - Week 92

Dear family,

     A lot has happened this week out here and back home as well. I'm glad that Kaylee really had a good time on her Choir Tour. Where she went looks just awesome. When I went to California with Vivint we took a trip to San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge, I believe the same Aquarium, and the same bay with all the seals. It is a really cool place and it looks like from the photos she had the time of her life. That's awesome news to hear. I was sad to hear of the news of Grandma King's passing. She was a blessed woman with great faith and love for the Lord. I have many great memories of her that I will cherish forever. After I received the news I said a prayer and a great sense of peace and comfort came over me. As I prayed memories of her came to me and I gratefully thanked Heavenly Father for the goodness of her life and the time I had with her. I am grateful for the gospel and the testimony I have of God's great plan for us. I know where she is. I know she is now free from her burden of pain. I know she is in a happier place. I know I will see her again. I wish I could be there for the funeral but I send my love to her and each of you.

     After receiving that news I received my transfer call. It's been great to serve with Elder Anderson for these two transfers. A lot of good memories were made. We worked hard and had a lot of fun serving the Lord. It's hard saying goodbye to him and all the wonderful people that we've been able to work with. I'm forever changed by my time here in Barbados. I'm very grateful for it. Elder Anderson was called to be the new zone leader with Elder George here in the Rendezvous area while I am called back to Grenada to open up another area in Grenville with the group that is there. I will be with an Elder named Elder Mikolyski from Salt Lake Valley, Utah.  I am excited for Grenada. Elder Mikolyski and I will work hard to build up the group there. It will be my last area and my last companion on my mission.

     We had a good week this week. Kelvin overcame his bad experience and came to church anyway and he loved it. He almost didn't come and he almost didn't let us teach him this week because of how bad and terrible he felt but he had an encounter with the Sister missionaries after church on his way home that uplifted him and helped him through it. We also called him before church this week because he still wasn't sure if he was going to come but after the call the spirit prompted him to prepare just in case he decides to go and so he did and then one of his family members asked if he wanted a ride to church and he took that as his answer and came. He asked more good questions at church but this time the responses were much more positive and helpful. It was combined 3rd hour because of the 5th Sunday so their were experienced members responding. The teacher last week was a recent convert who taught because the teacher wasn't there. He didn't understand that what he was doing was hurtful to Kelvin. 

     We also had a new investigator named Kenwin come with his younger cousin Denico(9). We recently started teaching them along with Denico's brother Tashawn(14). They loved it and were so glad they came. They said that for sure they will be back next week and also bring more of their family. He also has gotten into the book of mormon (1 Nephi 8) and prayed about it and received an answer that it is true! We set a date with him this week too. We are excited about him. 

     There was another cool experience we had where we came to teach a new investigator named Barbara for the first time to find that she had read all of the book of 1 Nephi. It was incredible. She had many questions about it and she kept asking herself as she was reading if this book is true? When we came back for the lesson we were able to help her understand the story and that she must pray about the book of mormon. She said she would. 

    The Sobers brought a family member to church this week. He is Thelma's brother and he was so impressed by the service and absolutely loved it. When he went back home he watched the full length restoration video and the Only a Stonecutter video and was taken back by the great faith shown. He was also looking through their scriptures and was very interested in the gospel. He is from Florida and the Sobers have been telling him all about the church and so when he came down to visit he had to come and visit the church as well. He is going to find the nearest church near him when he goes back home and visit the church there. It was awesome. 

     All the recent converts came and are strong. I'm going to miss them all very much. I'm going to miss this area too but I'm very grateful for the time I was given to serve here in Barbados. The past few days I have been saying goodbye to everyone and it is tough. I love them all very much.

     I leave my testimony that I know this church and gospel is true. My testimony has grown so much after serving here in Barbados. I've had so many special spiritual experiences that makes me certain of the precious truths of the gospel. I love you all very much. Stay strong!

Love,

Elder King

Saying goodbye to Lorraine and Alex

Saying goodbye to Elder Neil and Sister Jones

Saying goodbye to Kelvin

District dinner at the Yearwoods one last time :)

More flat tire problems haha

Kenwin and Denico who came to church!

Saying goodbye to Bro. Branford who comes teaching with us all the time

Saying goodbye to Jarad who also comes out with us a lot

Patrick also came to church for all three hours

Saying goodbye to Bro. Carmichael who is a good man and comes out with us teaching

Saying goodbye to Bro. Sampson who is a real character and will brighten anyone's day plus he come out with us a lot too

I love and will miss them all!!

Sometimes I make peanut butter and nutella pancakes for lunch but when I do... I don't make a mess like Elder Anderson ;) hahaha

Sis. Ulanda Alcott who is working her way back into activity

Saying goodbye to Jalisa Gison

Saying goodbye to the great Spaulding Family :)

Me and Ashton Spaulding

Me and Callahan Spaulding

Sariah Waldron is a member we home taught and she will be putting her papers in soon

Bro. Alleyne who is a great help in the work and referred us to go and teach Junika!

Sis. Daniel is such a strong, fun, and faithful member

Elder Dixon who is leaving to St. Lucia, Sis. Daniel and her mother Sis. Branker who we also home taught

Bro. Matthew who served a mission is Utah a long time ago, likes to run, and comes out teaching with us 

Sis. Oliverre who is a strong member 

Saying goodbye to Adrian

My last lesson with Patrick

Saying goodbye to Enrico

This is Tashawn and Denico who are Kenwin's cousins. 

District dinner with some of the Sister's Recent Converts

Elder Anderson made me some food :) haha

The Assistants (Elder Kuru and Elder Dixon) and Elder Anderson and I went golfing last Pday :) Tons of fun with my mission brothers! On one of the holes which was a par 4 I drove it all the way to the green :) We played best ball and it was just a good time

Letter and Pictures - Week 91

My dear family,

     After the final week of preparation Lorraine was baptized! It was a beautiful service and she was very happy. A lot of members came out to support her. Two star members gave powerful, spiritual talks. It was just a great day. Elder Anderson was the one to perform the baptism. It was his first time ever performing a baptism and he enjoyed. It made him really happy. I was the one who confirmed her. It was a little stressful because she was running late waiting on a van. Thankfully she answered her phone and we knew she was coming. She got there during the sacrament and was confirmed right after. Lorraine was blessed to be a light and example to her family. She truly does radiate light and will be a blessing to them. She thanked us sincerely for bringing her the gospel. She is happy and we are too.

    Kelvin came to church too but for him sadly it wasn't an enjoyable experience. During gospel principles he asked a question about his concern about God. It brought up some fiery discussion where the teacher singled him out and railed on him. It made him feel so bad and his heart was pounding when he got out of the class. We talked with him after to help him understand the situation and help him feel better. It was bad. It made Kelvin feel like not coming back. A good thing though is that he stayed for the 3rd hour even though he had something else going on. We are going to visit him to talk with him more about it and work through it. He has a lot of doubts and concerns but I've never seen anyone put so much effort as he does in studying and trying to learn and understand as he does. He is great. As he continues his faith will grow and he will be able to overcome those doubts and concerns and it will make him strong to withstand anything in life that comes at him. 

     This week we dropped Meredith. She wasn't progressing and she herself felt she wan't ready at this time. That was tough but it's how it is to be. God is mindful of her and will send other missionaries to her when she is ready. We are being patient with Patrick as he has been reading more and he committed himself to be at church next week for the entire service. We are trying to help him gain a testimony. We text him each day to remind him to read and pray and it's been helping him to be more consistent. We found a few new investigators this week that seem to have potential. All our recent converts are doing well. 

     I know that God, our Heavenly Father, has perfect love for each and every one of us His precious children. He watches over us. He reaches out to us. He cares for us. All because He loves us. No matter what we do His love is simply always there. God is good and if we incline our hearts to Him we can feast upon His needed and wanted love. I love you all. This gospel is true.

Love,

Elder King

Us after Lorraine passed her interview :) and photos of us, Lorraine and her daughter Alex