LETTERS FROM HOME

Hello Friends and Family,

Sorry I haven’t sent around letters from my favorite missionaries lately.  We went to the island of Tobago to visit Elder and Sister Linton for two weeks and I’m just starting to get back into the swing of things.  

So this last week was a good one....  the weather was a lot nicer and I don´t know, but Hna. Zubeldia and I were just super happy...  I don’t know why but this week was just a good one.  This is the last week of transfers (so crazy how time flies).  I think I´ll be in this area for the next one... I´m a little nervous that Hna. Zubeldia will leave because I still feel sooooo new and my Spanish is like gargling nails but I know that whatever happens is supposed to happen.

We went on exchanges this week and that was a nice time!  I was also with Sister missionaries from Honduras and Peru for New Years!  We basically just ate a lot of food... I enjoyed it.  It´s fun getting to know all these people from all over the world but also sad because the chance of me seeing lots of them after the mission is pretty slim.... boo.  But I´ve been finding my inner-latino lately so that`s fun!

We have some solid investigators and I see miricles every day.... it´s the best!  Like two days ago we were walking and Hermana Zubelia was like "I want to knock at this house" and I was like “Buenos"... well we knocked on it and this cute way pregnant lady opened the door….She said that she has one more month but I think that little booger is coming today!  Anyway, we were talking and her husband came in who was just in a car accident and he said how the night before she was crying over how their lives were going and they prayed to have some help….And then we came to the door.  Heavenly Father really has a hand in our lives...  I´m so excited for the day when I can look at my life and see all of Heavenly Fathers hand prints.  I think most of the time we don´t see what's really happening, what Heavenly Father has really done, what we are really doing, how our actions affect people, and how our obedience to Heavenly Father protects us.  You know the story of Jesus walking on the water when Peter tries and he starts pretty good then he just falls.  I find it interesting how Jesus tells him he has little faith.... Because to me he had a ton of faith to start walking on the water but the truth is we all need more faith.... Why do we ever doubt Heavenly Father?  Why would we ever let ourselves follow anyone else?  I don´t know but we all do it.  I love how all Heavenly Father wants is obedient children.... sorry this was kind of a ramble and typing my thoughts feels like smudging chocolate cake on the screen but I want ya’ll to know that obedience is the easiest and happiest way to live.... just do it!

Well I love you freaks!  Happy Birthday to Sarah Men on the 12th ... love you!  And congrats to everyone who is engaged!...  But a special thank you to all the friends who are not engaged or married.... hold to the rod!

XO Hemana Pinnock

WEST INDIES MISSION

DECEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

Kingstown, St. Vincent
Elder Salima and Elder Brown
• • •
A couple months ago, these elders received a referral from
Brother Adams, a member of the Branch Presidency. Brother Adams had a close friend, Brother Roberts, who he had been sharing the Gospel with for years without much success. Finally, this man's heart was softened after he was hospitalized for about a week. In the hospital he started to read the Book of Mormon and absolutely loved it! The elders
began teaching him and his family. He and his girlfriend were married and baptized about two weeks later with
their son! Brother Adams trusted these missionaries and this family will be a great addition to the branch.

Garden Park, Guyana
Elder Egbert and Elder Brown
• • •
These elders shared the Restoration movie with an active member family and asked who they knew who would be ready for the gospel. They were referred to a less active
member, Sister Miller, whom they began to teach. At first she was not very interested, but after an inspired question she really opened up with all her concerns and feelings. They assured her that keeping the baptismal covenant would help her with her problems. As she began to be
more active in church her three children followed and asked what they needed to do to be baptized. They then started working with the children who progressed very quickly and were baptized soon after!

Cayenne, French Guyana
Elder Call and Elder Miyasaki
• • •
Elder Miyasaki and I were contacting in town. I felt we should contact in an apartment building above a Chinese restaurant. Amazingly the door to the stairs was open, which is hard to find in the city. As we took the first steps up the stairs inside, a Brazilian on a scooter ran in after us and asked if we were the Elders. He told us that he had family in Brazil and that he talked to the sister missionaries there and wanted to be baptized, but didn't have enough lessons before he left.  When he got to French Guyana, he couldn't find the church and has been looking for it since! He also has a cousin who is on a mission in Brazil!  We wrote down his information and he came to church the next day!  

Uitkijk, Suriname
Elder Helm and Elder Jenkins
• • •
On Christmas night we got a mystery text. Someone we had contacted I guess took us seriously enough and prayed about Joseph Smith. And got an answer. We contacted him last transfer and he gave us a phone number and we hadn't seen him since.  But we asked him to read the restoration pamphlet we gave him and to pray about it. He prayed and
knows that its true! That was awesome! His name is Feliciano, and we thought he was gone forever! But we have a return appointment now for this coming Saturday! Yes!

Black Rock, Barbados
Elder Gibson and Elder Hendry
• • •
Elder Gibson and Elder Hendry were taking care of some senior couple duties in the Oistins area. Elder Hendry felt
inspired to contact a man. He lived in Black Rock but had no phone so the elders could not contact him again. But he showed up at church the following week! Because these elders were willing to follow the Spirit and were worthy of its promptings they were blessed to help this man find the
gospel and be baptized on December 21st!

Phillipsburg, St. Maarten
Sister Crompton and Sister Tia
• • •
Nicole is the mother of a missionary who is serving in Haiti right now. Her son had been teaching her the gospel for
quite some time, and after he left on his mission, she
began to take the lessons seriously.  She talked to him on Christmas and didn't tell him that she was getting baptized because she wanted it to be a surprise for him! She was baptized two days later. We can truly see how much families are blessed when missionaries are serving.

Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
Sister Hawkes and Sister Stahle
• • •
The sisters had scheduled an appointment with a new
investigator and had invited a member to teach with them. They went to the appointment a little early to make sure the investigator was there but she wasn't home! They said a quick heartfelt prayer and ran from house to house looking for someone to teach with the member who would be there
in fifteen minutes. The second house they called into Matild came out. The sisters asked if they could come back in ten minutes and she said yes. They came back with their member and had an incredibly spiritual lesson.  Matild came to church the next day and quickly set a baptismal date. She
said that she knew the message was true during the first lesson because the spirit testified to her that they were messengers of Jesus Christ. She really was prepared by the Lord!

San Fernando, Trinidad
Elder Oleson and Elder Harding
• • •
Anthony Jones entered the waters of baptism within 4 weeks of meeting him. He was so prepared. He is always the first
one to church and WALKS to church from his house which is an hour away.