Trinidad is great, it's not too different from St. Maarten. The biggest differences are that we drive on the wrong side of the road, they don't have frozen burritos, there aren't really any white people, and I have a dryer, a car, and an air conditioner. I'm getting use to the A/C but I still freeze every night!
We are teaching a lady named Jermine and it looks like she'll get baptized next Saturday! She is 25 year old and from here in Trinidad (most of the people are, I've only met 3 that aren't from here).
We are also teaching a guy named Curtis and his oldest daughter who is about 20. They read the Book of Mormon together because he doesn't read very well. He was completely drunk when we met him but he hasn't had a drink since then. He says he is going to change his life and turn to Jesus. He wants to get baptized this week but we told him he has to wait for a couple weeks. He has some strong motivation though because his family all walked out on him because he drinks too much. He figures if he changes they will come back.
I'm in the Curepe Ward, it's nice but kind of small. We have a nice little primary, probably about 15 kids. We have lots of young men but only a couple of young women. At church we only teach a recent convert class during Sunday School.
My companion, Elder Romney, is from Alpine. He's cool but slightly psychotic! He's been in the office 6 weeks longer than me. It's a little bit weird being so close to the mission president. I get to see a totally different side of him here. Everything runs through me and then to President. I get to talk to him a lot everyday. Elder Romney and I have dubbed ourselves the Assistant/Assistants to the President (AAP or double AP's!)
The assistants and President left yesterday on President's last zone conference tour. (President Robison leaves on June 29th). It was weird that the apartment was so empty this morning. It's a big apartment and it's perfect for 4 people but for 2... The AP's will be back Monday.
I kind of had a birthday party. It was at the bishop's house on Monday night because his birthday was on Sunday too. He turned 70 though.
The scripture of the week is D&C 81:5-6.
P.S. My birthday was my half way mark in my mission and one year from today I will be home! Don't worry, I'm not thinking too much about that. You have to come out swinging at the start of the second half and keep going strong or else you'll lose!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago Facts
For Jonathan's birthday I thought I would give you some information on his new location, Trinidad and Tobago.
Flag -
Capital City - Port of Spain (Jon lives near here)
Government - Parliamentary Republic
President - George Maxwell Richards
Prime Minister - Patrick Manning
Currency - Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Ethnic groups - Africans, Indians, Venezuelans, Spaniards, French Creoles, Portuguese, Chinese, Britons, Lebanese, Syrians, Caribs, and Italians.
Official Language - English, but the main spoken language is a dialect which reflects the Spanish, Indian, African, and European heritage of the nation and is spoken by all Trinidadians regardless of ethnicity.
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state (a chain or cluster of islands) in the southern Caribbean, which is northeast of the South American country of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. It shares maritime boundaries with other nations including: Barbados to the northeast, Guyana to the southeast, and Venezuela to the south and west. The country covers an area of 1,980 square miles and consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous smaller landforms. Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the main islands. Tobago is much smaller and comprises about 6% of the total area and 4% of the population. It lies outside of the hurricane belt.
Unlike most of the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago's economy is primarily industrial-based, with an emphasis on petroleum and petrochemicals. It is the wealthiest independent Caribbean country, boasting a high standard of living and high literacy rates. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy of Tobago, and the island remains a favorite destination for many European tourists and is often referred to as "the jewel of the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago as a whole does not rely heavily on tourism as a source of revenue.
Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its pre-Lenten festival known as Carnival and as the birthplace of steelpan, calypso & soca (musical styles), and limbo.
Click here for steel pan music on YouTube.
History:
Both Trinidad and Tobago were originally settled the by Amerindians of South American origin. Trinidad was first settled at least 7,000 years ago, making it the earliest-settled part of the Caribbean. At the time of European contact Trinidad was occupied by various groups.
Christopher Columbus encountered the island of Trinidad on July 31, 1498. He named Trinidad after the Holy Trinity. Columbus reported seeing Tobago, which he named Bella Forma, but he did not land on the island.
Trinidad:
In the 1700s, Trinidad belonged as an island province to the vice royalty of New Spain along with modern Mexico and Central America. Trinidad in this period was still mostly forest and was populated by a few Spaniards with their handful of slaves and a few thousand Amerindians.
In the 1780's Trinidad was considered underpopulated so a Frenchman living in Grenada was able to obtain a "Cédula de Población" from the Spanish King Charles III. This law granted free lands in Trinidad to Roman Catholic foreign settlers and their slaves who were willing to swear allegiance to the Spanish king. The land grant was thirty two acres for each man, woman and child and half of that for each slave. As a result, Scots, Irish, German, Italian, and English families arrived. The population of Port of Spain increased from under 3,000 to 10,422 in five years and the inhabitants in 1797 consisted of mixed-races, Spaniards, Africans, French republican soldiers, retired pirates, and French nobility.
General Sir Ralph Abercromby and his squadron sailed through the Bocas and anchored off the coast. The Spanish Governor Chacon decided to capitulate without fighting. Trinidad became a British crown colony, with a French-speaking population and Spanish laws. This led to an influx of settlers from England and the British colonies of the Eastern Caribbean. After the abolition of slavery and the collapse of the French planters' cane economy, the 'French Creole' planters and the peasant population of mixed Spanish-Amerindians turned to cocoa cultivation. Although originally a sugar colony, cocoa dominated the economy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. After the collapse of the cocoa crop (due to disease and the Great Depression) petroleum increasingly came to dominate the economy. The Depression and the rise of the oil economy led to changes in the social structure. By the 1950s oil had become a staple in Trinidad's export market and was responsible for a growing middle-class.
Tobago:
The Dutch and Courlanders (from modern-day Latvia) had established themselves in Tobago in the 16th and 17th centuries and produced tobacco and cotton. Tobago changed hands between the British, French, Dutch, and Courlanders. Britain consolidated its hold on both Trinidad and Tobago during the Napoleonic Wars, and they were combined into the colony of Trinidad and Tobago in 1889. As a result of colonial struggles, Amerindian, Spanish, French, and English names are all common in the country. African slaves and Chinese, Indian, and free African indentured labourers, as well as Portuguese supplied labour in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Emigration from Barbados and the other Lesser Antilles, Venezuela, Syria, and Lebanon also impacted on the ethnic make-up of the country.
Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation from the United Kingdom in 1962. American military bases in Chaguaramas and Cumuto in Trinidad during World War II profoundly changed the character of society. Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most prosperous and stable democratic nations in the Caribbean.
Flag -
Capital City - Port of Spain (Jon lives near here)
Government - Parliamentary Republic
President - George Maxwell Richards
Prime Minister - Patrick Manning
Currency - Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Ethnic groups - Africans, Indians, Venezuelans, Spaniards, French Creoles, Portuguese, Chinese, Britons, Lebanese, Syrians, Caribs, and Italians.
Official Language - English, but the main spoken language is a dialect which reflects the Spanish, Indian, African, and European heritage of the nation and is spoken by all Trinidadians regardless of ethnicity.
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state (a chain or cluster of islands) in the southern Caribbean, which is northeast of the South American country of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. It shares maritime boundaries with other nations including: Barbados to the northeast, Guyana to the southeast, and Venezuela to the south and west. The country covers an area of 1,980 square miles and consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous smaller landforms. Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the main islands. Tobago is much smaller and comprises about 6% of the total area and 4% of the population. It lies outside of the hurricane belt.
Unlike most of the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago's economy is primarily industrial-based, with an emphasis on petroleum and petrochemicals. It is the wealthiest independent Caribbean country, boasting a high standard of living and high literacy rates. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy of Tobago, and the island remains a favorite destination for many European tourists and is often referred to as "the jewel of the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago as a whole does not rely heavily on tourism as a source of revenue.
Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its pre-Lenten festival known as Carnival and as the birthplace of steelpan, calypso & soca (musical styles), and limbo.
Click here for steel pan music on YouTube.
History:
Both Trinidad and Tobago were originally settled the by Amerindians of South American origin. Trinidad was first settled at least 7,000 years ago, making it the earliest-settled part of the Caribbean. At the time of European contact Trinidad was occupied by various groups.
Christopher Columbus encountered the island of Trinidad on July 31, 1498. He named Trinidad after the Holy Trinity. Columbus reported seeing Tobago, which he named Bella Forma, but he did not land on the island.
Trinidad:
In the 1700s, Trinidad belonged as an island province to the vice royalty of New Spain along with modern Mexico and Central America. Trinidad in this period was still mostly forest and was populated by a few Spaniards with their handful of slaves and a few thousand Amerindians.
In the 1780's Trinidad was considered underpopulated so a Frenchman living in Grenada was able to obtain a "Cédula de Población" from the Spanish King Charles III. This law granted free lands in Trinidad to Roman Catholic foreign settlers and their slaves who were willing to swear allegiance to the Spanish king. The land grant was thirty two acres for each man, woman and child and half of that for each slave. As a result, Scots, Irish, German, Italian, and English families arrived. The population of Port of Spain increased from under 3,000 to 10,422 in five years and the inhabitants in 1797 consisted of mixed-races, Spaniards, Africans, French republican soldiers, retired pirates, and French nobility.
General Sir Ralph Abercromby and his squadron sailed through the Bocas and anchored off the coast. The Spanish Governor Chacon decided to capitulate without fighting. Trinidad became a British crown colony, with a French-speaking population and Spanish laws. This led to an influx of settlers from England and the British colonies of the Eastern Caribbean. After the abolition of slavery and the collapse of the French planters' cane economy, the 'French Creole' planters and the peasant population of mixed Spanish-Amerindians turned to cocoa cultivation. Although originally a sugar colony, cocoa dominated the economy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. After the collapse of the cocoa crop (due to disease and the Great Depression) petroleum increasingly came to dominate the economy. The Depression and the rise of the oil economy led to changes in the social structure. By the 1950s oil had become a staple in Trinidad's export market and was responsible for a growing middle-class.
Tobago:
The Dutch and Courlanders (from modern-day Latvia) had established themselves in Tobago in the 16th and 17th centuries and produced tobacco and cotton. Tobago changed hands between the British, French, Dutch, and Courlanders. Britain consolidated its hold on both Trinidad and Tobago during the Napoleonic Wars, and they were combined into the colony of Trinidad and Tobago in 1889. As a result of colonial struggles, Amerindian, Spanish, French, and English names are all common in the country. African slaves and Chinese, Indian, and free African indentured labourers, as well as Portuguese supplied labour in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Emigration from Barbados and the other Lesser Antilles, Venezuela, Syria, and Lebanon also impacted on the ethnic make-up of the country.
Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation from the United Kingdom in 1962. American military bases in Chaguaramas and Cumuto in Trinidad during World War II profoundly changed the character of society. Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most prosperous and stable democratic nations in the Caribbean.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
It's too stinking cold!
Well, it was a pretty interesting week. I started driving the big old mission van on Sunday. That has been an experience to say the least! For one, we drive on the left side of the road and secondly I didn't know how to drive a stick-shift! That was definately a learning curve. I only stalled it twice and now I drive it like I've been doing it forever. We had one really close call last night though. We were flying along about 75 KMH and a guy pulled out in front of us. Luckily it was a 3 lane road! There was a car in the turning lane though so I ended up swerving to the farthest right lane (the on-coming traffic lane) to avoid the wreck. No one was coming so no harm done and we went on our way. People here are terrible drivers.
Things are going okay here in Trinidad. Other than being bad drivers, the majority of the people are pretty humble and seem willing to make the necessary changes to get baptized. The trick is just finding the ones that are willing to do that.
The only problem that I had in getting here to Trinidad was a 70 dollar visa waiver. I didn't have that much on me so I was very relieved when another Elder came walking into the customs room with some extra money on him!
My new companion is named Elder Romney. He is a little shorter than I am but that doesn't mean that he is any less sarcastic than I am. We get along really well which is a good thing because we will most likely be together for at least 3 months. He's a lot like me to be honest. (I know... that's a scary thought).
I live in a place called San Juan, the actual town is called El Socorro (in Northwest Trinidad). We have a nice apartment that has 2 bedrooms, a large bathroom, a large kitchen and a magical device known as a dryer. I did a load of laundry this morning before studies and my shirt was ready to wear when we were done! It was also soft. I can't wait to do my darks tonight!!!
The air conditioning in our apartment is killer. We sleep with it on 23 degrees (which is about 74 to you guys) and it's too stinking cold! It's fun to be with the assistants though. It's nice to see that someone has worse hours than we do!
The only new food is called doubles. I haven't actually tried them yet but I don't know a single Elder that doesn't like them. I'll let you know how they are soon (hopefully). The 2 members that have fed us so far are both Guyanese so that food has been the same.
I am in the Curepe Ward (said cure-ep) which is really weird. We aren't allowed to do anything because everything has to depend on the members. I love it. It's a freedom that I had totally forgotten about!
Working in the office hasn't been too bad. We mostly just type up baptism reports and do projects for President Robison. We basically do anything that the Assistants don't want to do! I had to work with a guy in Salt Lake the other day to help set up a video conference between President Robison and Elder Bednar. I was pretty stressed when it wasn't working about 10 minutes before it was supposed to start! In the end, all went well and President loves having me here. We went over to the mission home today to change cars (because we had to help move a washing machine) and we hadn't been inside for 10 seconds before he said that he had something for me to look at. Apparently his mouse wasn't working and he wanted me to fix it. I managed to do that and he was very pleased.
That's pretty much all that is new. The scripture of the week is Alma 32:21&27.
P.S. Today I received the letter that you sent on the 13th. That amazed me! I've also received one from G&G Olson.
Things are going okay here in Trinidad. Other than being bad drivers, the majority of the people are pretty humble and seem willing to make the necessary changes to get baptized. The trick is just finding the ones that are willing to do that.
The only problem that I had in getting here to Trinidad was a 70 dollar visa waiver. I didn't have that much on me so I was very relieved when another Elder came walking into the customs room with some extra money on him!
My new companion is named Elder Romney. He is a little shorter than I am but that doesn't mean that he is any less sarcastic than I am. We get along really well which is a good thing because we will most likely be together for at least 3 months. He's a lot like me to be honest. (I know... that's a scary thought).
I live in a place called San Juan, the actual town is called El Socorro (in Northwest Trinidad). We have a nice apartment that has 2 bedrooms, a large bathroom, a large kitchen and a magical device known as a dryer. I did a load of laundry this morning before studies and my shirt was ready to wear when we were done! It was also soft. I can't wait to do my darks tonight!!!
The air conditioning in our apartment is killer. We sleep with it on 23 degrees (which is about 74 to you guys) and it's too stinking cold! It's fun to be with the assistants though. It's nice to see that someone has worse hours than we do!
The only new food is called doubles. I haven't actually tried them yet but I don't know a single Elder that doesn't like them. I'll let you know how they are soon (hopefully). The 2 members that have fed us so far are both Guyanese so that food has been the same.
I am in the Curepe Ward (said cure-ep) which is really weird. We aren't allowed to do anything because everything has to depend on the members. I love it. It's a freedom that I had totally forgotten about!
Working in the office hasn't been too bad. We mostly just type up baptism reports and do projects for President Robison. We basically do anything that the Assistants don't want to do! I had to work with a guy in Salt Lake the other day to help set up a video conference between President Robison and Elder Bednar. I was pretty stressed when it wasn't working about 10 minutes before it was supposed to start! In the end, all went well and President loves having me here. We went over to the mission home today to change cars (because we had to help move a washing machine) and we hadn't been inside for 10 seconds before he said that he had something for me to look at. Apparently his mouse wasn't working and he wanted me to fix it. I managed to do that and he was very pleased.
That's pretty much all that is new. The scripture of the week is Alma 32:21&27.
P.S. Today I received the letter that you sent on the 13th. That amazed me! I've also received one from G&G Olson.
Monday, May 11, 2009
The baptism of Lucois Jacquet!
Yesterday we were able to talk with Jonathan for Mother's Day. He and his companion were invited to dinner at the home of one of the medical students living on St. Maarten. We talked to him through their computer. We were actually able to see him and he was able to see us because we talked to him on Skype! Technology is great! These are a few pictures we "captured" during our conversation:
Jonathan said that they did not have the baptism on Saturday that they were planning. But he was really excited because they did have a baptism yesterday! They had an interesting experience before the baptism. When they arrived at the church they found that someone had left the font on and there was about 2 inches of water on the floor all through the building! They spent 45 minutes sweeping the water out!
Top: Sweeping out the flood.
Bottom: The Branch President and others helping.
Jonathan also told us that he will be traveling to Trinidad on Wednesday. He and his new companion, Elder Romney, will be working in the office. He also said that we will not receive an email from him next Monday because while he is serving in the office his p-day will be on Wednesday. All the baptism reports from the week come to the office on Monday and need to be processed. So, beginning next week we will be updating the blog on Wednesdays.
Jonathan and Elder Romney will be sharing an apartment with 2 of the assistants to the president. The funny thing is that one of the assistants is Elder Hamilton, Jonathan's trainer, and the other is Elder Romney's trainer!
We read this note from Jonathan's companion on the mission website and thought we would add it to today's update because it explains how they found the man Jonathan baptized yesterday.
"Elder Kelly – St Maarten
This week, we were really getting frustrated about not having anyone good to teach, and we had dropped most of our investigators for not progressing. So, we decided to have a special fast to ask for the Lord's help in finding people. That same day, we found some amazing people. A humble family of 3, a great younger guy, and another potential priesthood holder who was so excited to hear our message, that the first question that he asked us was "How would I become a member of your church?" ;-) The Lord really does hear and answer our prayers when we show a little faith!"
Here is today's email:
The baptism of Lucois Jacquet! He is from Haiti.
In the office I will be doing a lot of baptism records and odd jobs (computer stuff). We will be in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 10 AM until 3 PM. Before 10 AM is study time. After 3 PM we will track and teach. My only full proselyting days will be Saturdays because Fridays are planning and district meetings and Sunday is always church. One good thing is that baptisms are faster on Trinidad that here. I am apparently walking in to a great baptism next week.
Here is the quote that dad wanted "A testimony is a personal witness or knowledge of the truth's of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ given by inspiration from the Holy Ghost."
The scripture of the week is Mosiah 3:17.
Jonathan said that they did not have the baptism on Saturday that they were planning. But he was really excited because they did have a baptism yesterday! They had an interesting experience before the baptism. When they arrived at the church they found that someone had left the font on and there was about 2 inches of water on the floor all through the building! They spent 45 minutes sweeping the water out!
Top: Sweeping out the flood.Bottom: The Branch President and others helping.
Jonathan also told us that he will be traveling to Trinidad on Wednesday. He and his new companion, Elder Romney, will be working in the office. He also said that we will not receive an email from him next Monday because while he is serving in the office his p-day will be on Wednesday. All the baptism reports from the week come to the office on Monday and need to be processed. So, beginning next week we will be updating the blog on Wednesdays.
Jonathan and Elder Romney will be sharing an apartment with 2 of the assistants to the president. The funny thing is that one of the assistants is Elder Hamilton, Jonathan's trainer, and the other is Elder Romney's trainer!
We read this note from Jonathan's companion on the mission website and thought we would add it to today's update because it explains how they found the man Jonathan baptized yesterday.
"Elder Kelly – St Maarten
This week, we were really getting frustrated about not having anyone good to teach, and we had dropped most of our investigators for not progressing. So, we decided to have a special fast to ask for the Lord's help in finding people. That same day, we found some amazing people. A humble family of 3, a great younger guy, and another potential priesthood holder who was so excited to hear our message, that the first question that he asked us was "How would I become a member of your church?" ;-) The Lord really does hear and answer our prayers when we show a little faith!"
Here is today's email:
The baptism of Lucois Jacquet! He is from Haiti.In the office I will be doing a lot of baptism records and odd jobs (computer stuff). We will be in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 10 AM until 3 PM. Before 10 AM is study time. After 3 PM we will track and teach. My only full proselyting days will be Saturdays because Fridays are planning and district meetings and Sunday is always church. One good thing is that baptisms are faster on Trinidad that here. I am apparently walking in to a great baptism next week.
Here is the quote that dad wanted "A testimony is a personal witness or knowledge of the truth's of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ given by inspiration from the Holy Ghost."
The scripture of the week is Mosiah 3:17.
Monday, May 4, 2009
We have a baptism set for this Saturday.
This picture was taken by Sister Robison at Zone Conference on Thursday.
The St. Maarten missionaries: Elders Kelly, Larson, Vogel, and Sylvester.
These are two pictures that Jonathan took on Guadeloupe last week:
Guadeloupe was fun, all we did was eat, tract, and teach in French.
I am doing good. We have a baptism set for this Saturday. Hopefully all goes well and I'll be sending you a picture of it next week. Her name is Nurly (I'm not exactly sure how to spell it). She is 15 years old and from Haiti and absolutely loves coming to church. Her mom got baptized in Haiti about 11 years ago. We are teaching a guy named Lucois (also from Haiti) that could be baptized next Monday if we get permission right before I leave the island.
While I'm thinking about it, President told me about the upcoming transfer. It turns out that I will finally be leaving and I'm going to an apartment to live with Elder Hamilton again (my trainer, he will not be my companion though). I will also have my own car so I'm going to get fat. I will be living with air conditioning which is probably going to be the death of me!!! I hate being cold now. Every time I'm in AC I get all stuffed up. If you haven't figured it out yet I will be going to Trinidad to start my new life as an office elder (big surprise eh?). That will be interesting. So, since I'm leaving the French side of the mission and going back to where I'm supposed to be, I will no longer have to speak French. I guess I will get to be best friends with President until he goes home. He wants me to be there for the switch in 7 weeks when the new mission president comes so I'll probably be there for 4 months minimum. Blah.
Anyway, the scripture of the week is 3 Nephi 13: 5-8. I like it.
The St. Maarten missionaries: Elders Kelly, Larson, Vogel, and Sylvester.These are two pictures that Jonathan took on Guadeloupe last week:
Guadeloupe was fun, all we did was eat, tract, and teach in French.
I am doing good. We have a baptism set for this Saturday. Hopefully all goes well and I'll be sending you a picture of it next week. Her name is Nurly (I'm not exactly sure how to spell it). She is 15 years old and from Haiti and absolutely loves coming to church. Her mom got baptized in Haiti about 11 years ago. We are teaching a guy named Lucois (also from Haiti) that could be baptized next Monday if we get permission right before I leave the island.
While I'm thinking about it, President told me about the upcoming transfer. It turns out that I will finally be leaving and I'm going to an apartment to live with Elder Hamilton again (my trainer, he will not be my companion though). I will also have my own car so I'm going to get fat. I will be living with air conditioning which is probably going to be the death of me!!! I hate being cold now. Every time I'm in AC I get all stuffed up. If you haven't figured it out yet I will be going to Trinidad to start my new life as an office elder (big surprise eh?). That will be interesting. So, since I'm leaving the French side of the mission and going back to where I'm supposed to be, I will no longer have to speak French. I guess I will get to be best friends with President until he goes home. He wants me to be there for the switch in 7 weeks when the new mission president comes so I'll probably be there for 4 months minimum. Blah.
Anyway, the scripture of the week is 3 Nephi 13: 5-8. I like it.
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