Another Transfer Down!

Hola Family,

How is everything going? Well things are going quite... interesting here in trinidad... So this week, they actually decided to move transfers up a couple of days because of some things that are going on in Guyana, so on tuesday we got our transfer calls! Well, I am staying in Siparia again, but I am with an Elder named Elder Bracken. He is on his 3rd transfer, and is quite an interesting fellow. He is like 26 years old, and doesnt really like being told what to do by a 19 year old. It has been difficult, but I am sure it will get better. I also got called to be the district leader, but that is a small thing. Well this week was pretty good. Right now, we are still working with alot of the same people, but this week we were not able to see mary at all. She was working all week, so that was a little bit disappointing. We were also able to find some pretty awesome people too. Last week, we tracted into a lady named Kizzy. She had never met with missionaries before, but had seen them around. We shared about the book of mormon with them, and it went really well. When we went back this week, we shared the restoration with her and her 2 kids. They are really cool, and I am really excited about them. So this week, on Thursday, we had a District meeting at the mission home, and had the opportunity to learn from President Gamiette and his Assistants. It was amazing! We learned alot about Faith and Repentance, and how that is really what we need to be teaching with everyone that we teach, whether it is less active members, active members, or investigators. It was an awesome meeting, and the spirit was so strong there, and it has really helped me to look at the way that I am teaching. When we really look at it though, everything that we teach and even believe, leads back to faith and repentance. As a mission, we have set a goal for 99+1 baptisms in December. To be honest it is going to be alot of work, especially because in the west indies, December is usually the slowest month of the year when it comest to baptisms. From what I have heard, people just run for their rum, instead of wanting to hear about the gospel. I do know that the goal that we have set is reachable though, and I am excited to see miracles happen over the next coming weeks to make it happen. On Friday, Elder Rodney and I went on a trade off with the Assistants. It was a really good day, and we were really able to learn alot. On Saturday, Elder Bracken came to siparia, and then on Saturday night, we had our branch christmas party. It was great, and I am really beginning to love the members here in Siparia! The party was really good, and after the little program, they fed us a delicious dinner. We had a really good turn out, but I think alot of the members decided that they were going to come to the christmas party on saturday night instead of church on Sunday morning, because at church, we only had about half of the people that we had there the night before! Sometimes I just dont know what to do with these people! Well thats about all that happened here in Trinidad this week. It sounds like you guys had a great week at home. Mom, I cannot believe you got an Iphone also! It seems like you guys are just getting younger, not older! Hahaha I am glad to hear that you had a wonderful birthday though. It sounds like you really got spoiled. Oh I almost forgot! This week, I got a boil, in a very bad place! It was horrible, lets just say that I have not been able to sit down comfortably for a couple of days now, it is starting to get better now though. Well, I hope you guys had a wonderful thanksgiving, because while you were eating turkey, I was eating burger king! I better get going though, I love you all and I am so greatful for all the love and support that you show towards me!

Love you tons,

Elder Gines

Pictures of our Christmas Party, Elder Rodney and me, and My tie burning ceremony. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey Family,

How is everything going back at home? The work is going great here in Siparia and I am LOVING it! This week was really hard, and we are still struggling with everything that has been going on here, specifically the lack of support from the members. We are working through it though. So the story of the week is from Sunday Morning. Usually we wake up and get ready for church, and then go wait out on the road for a taxi to pick us up. It is usually a little bit difficult for us to catch travel so we try to get out there pretty early. Well, we were standing out there for probably 15 minutes or so with no luck, until a grey van pulled up, I could see through the wind shield that it was a family that was wearing white shirts like they were headed for church, and when I looked closer I realized that it was President Gamiette, and his whole family. Haha It was a shocker! Well we hopped in the car and drove with them, He asked us about the work, and we told him that it was a little bit slow, but that our sacrament attendance is going up. Now this week, we have been working really hard, trying to strengthen the branch so that we will be able to comfortably bring investigators to church. To be honest as we went throughout the week, it didnt really feel like we were seeing much success. When we got to church, we were the only people there besides the branch president and one of his councelors. Well slowely but surely the church started to fill up. Last week, we had an attendance of 27, which we were very happy about, so this week, we were hoping to at least top that. Well, people just kept coming and coming! It was amazing!!! A couple of the families that we visited this week came to church, and almost all of the chairs were full. We had 42 people there!!! I could not believe it! After church we were really excited, and really niether of us could believe what had really just happened! The only bad part was that we werent able to get any investigators there, but it was okay. This week, we met with Mary a couple of times, and were able to watch prophet of the restoration with her. I love that movie, even though I have seen it about 50 times! She got stuck at her sisters house on saturday though so she wasnt able to make it to church. Then Yesterday for P-Day, the senior couples through a Thanksgiving dinner for all the missionaries in trinidad! It was amazing and we had alot of fun, I still cant believe how much I ate though! Well, I am sorry this email is so short, and that I wasnt able to email yesterday, but I need to get to work today. I am glad to hear that Taylor is home, but I really cannot believe it! Tell him to shoot me an email or a letter soon! It sounds like you are doing great and enjoying life, maybe even a little bit too much with all these vacations you are taking! Well, mom, its finally here, you are going to be 50 just now! That is half way to 100 you know! I love you all and I am so greatful for the love and support that you guys give to me. Keep the emails and letters coming!

Love,
Elder Gines

Hey Fam!!

Hey Family and Friends,

 

How is everything going? Well things are going pretty good here in Siparia, and I am still loving it! We had an interesting week, full of hard work and LOTS of sweat, but in the end, it was all worth it. On Tuesday, we met with our investigator Mary. Lately we havent been too sure about her, so we really just wanted to figure out what was going on. She explained to us that she has been meeting with Jehovahs Witnesses in the past and lately they have started to come back. Meeting with so many different people, teaching different things has been really hard and pretty confusing for her, so she had made the decision that she was just going to stop meeting with all of us. Haha well I think I have told you this before, but Mary is really moving and progressing pretty slowely, and I have been working with her ever since I have been in Siparia, so going into the lesson we werent really sure what to do. The lesson went great though, and she felt the spirit very strong. She told us that she would be at church on sunday, and that she was going to recommit herself to find out if this is really true. Well our week went on pretty normally, doing alot of finding, and to be honest facing alot of rejection. It was really tough, but we just kept on working hard, and doing all that we could to find people that were prepared. On Thursday, we found a lady named Joanne. She invited us in, and we started to share the message of the restoration with her. It was a really powerful lesson, and the spirit was definitely there helping us. We are supposed to meet with her again tomorrow so we will have to see how it goes. Then on Friday night we went to see one of our recent converts, who just happens to be less active. I hadnt been able to meet with him at all yet, and I had only met him once. When we got there we sat down, and had a really good lesson with him. He is a really humble man, and has a very strong desire to gain a greater knowledge of the scriptures. When Elder Rodney and I left the appointment we both felt really good about it. We are going to try and continue working with him so that he can hold a calling in the church, because right now this branch needs all the help they can get! This week in my studies I have really been focusing on 3 Nephi Chapter 11. It is a really powerful chapter, and I think it might be my new favorite part of the book. The Nephites werent able to recognize christ, and it has really made me think about how hard we have to work in this life in order to be a true follower of christ. Well on sunday, our rewards finally came. After one of the hardest weeks I have had out here, the lord rewarded us and brought many people to church, including Mary! I was so excited to see her there, and I know that she really enjoyed it. Well, that was about it for the week out here in the West Indies, and it sounds like you had a pretty crazy week back at home. Oh, and I hit my 7 month mark yesterday! It amazes me how fast time flies! Anyways, It sounds like you guys are doing great and enjoying life. I am loving my mission and I really wouldnt want to be anywhere else right now! The joy that comes from spreading the gospel is unreal and I am greatful for the opportunity that I have to learn and grow!

 

Love you tons,

Elder Gines

Soakin in the tropical sun!!!!

Hey Family,

How is everything going? It sounds like you guys had a great week back at home. Our week here was pretty good, and we worked really hard! We are really struggling with getting people to church though and at times it can be a little bit discouraging. We had a great week though and we did, ALOT of finding! On thursday I went on a trade off with Elder Watchman here in Siparia, and Elder Rodney went to San Fernando for the day. It was a lot of fun serving with him again, and we had a great day together. I don't mean to rub it in or anything, but it has been SOOOOO hot lately! At times I wonder if I will be able to handle it for a year and a half more, and then I think about how cold it is getting back at home and somehow it doesnt seem as hot anymore! Well its crazy to say, but christmas is right around the corner! Can you believe it? I cant at all! To me it still feels like it is july or something, but then I look at my calendar.. The good news for this week was we were able to finally see Clayton and he is doing really good. We hadnt seen him for almost 3 weeks, and I was starting to think that he got a hold of some anti or something, but it turned out he was just really busy. We had a really good lesson with him about The Book of Mormon, and the spirit was very strong. Last week, I started to read The Book of Mormon over again and this time highlight everywhere that it mentions christ in any form. Well I have only reached  1 Nephi chapter 15 and It is amazing to me how much it talks, and testifies of Jesus Christ. All throughout my life, I have always heard of how strong of a witness of christ it really is, but for the first time in my life, I have been able to see it for myself, and it is incredible! As I have been reading it, I have had such a strong impression, that there is no way this book could not be true, I just wish that everyone could feel that way! Well it sounds like things are going great! Dad, Wow, I am impressed with all those ducks, it looks like we are going to have to start calling you Rex the duck slayer... Hahaha it looks like you are having a great time and the blind looks incredible!!! Mom, It sounds like you are doing great also! I hope that you start feeling better, and I will make sure to keep you in my prayers! Mel and John, Haha send me some pictures of your house already, come on! Jk, but really! It sounds like you guys are doing great! I hope the kids are making new friends and having a great time! Ang and Scott, my prediction is another boy!!! And his name shall be Daniel... I really hope that everything goes smooth with your house! Paige, It sounds like you are doing great also. Thanks for the email! I am only a little bit fat, so dont worry! And Jason, You got to baptize jaedin?! That is so awesome. Dont worry, it took me 2 tries on my first baptism also! I love hearing about your swim meets! Keep on working hard and preparing for your mission! Well I better get going, I am going to send some pictures, maybe some of my 6 month tie ceremony, and we will just have to see what else I have on the camera. The church is true, and I know that with all that I have!

I love you all,
Elder Gines

Happy Halloween!!! .... And Merry Christmas!!!

Hey Family,

 

How is everything going? First of all, I would just like to say thank you for the letters, I was shocked when I got to the mission office this morning and I had 5 letters waiting for me! Mom, I got the pictures that you sent along with the letters that you and dad wrote at snow basin, it was wonderful and I really enjoyed it. I Also got a letter from both grandma gines and grandma and grandpa page. It was really good to hear from all of you. So I am sure that you are thinking why in the heck did I say merry christmas, but I have to say that the people here in the west indies start playing christmas music even earlier than utahns! I am enjoying it though. It sounds like the halloween party was a success, and I wish I could have been there, but hey I only have one more halloween left on my mission, CRAZY! This week was an interesting one. We worked really hard, but still just didnt see the success that we were hoping for, although there were a couple of things that went great. So the whole time I have been in Siparia, we have been working with a lady named mary, for some reason, we could always see something in her, but she would never come to church. Ha she always told us that she will come when she knows that it is where god wants her. Well a couple of weeks ago, she FINALLY came! We have been working with her alot ever since then, and she is doing awesome! Another problem that we were having with her, is that she does not want to be rushed into anything, so we always had a hard time getting her to accept a date for baptism. Well when we met with her this week, we had a really great lesson. The spirit was so strong, and just by looking at her you could tell that she was feeling something special. She accepted a date for sometime between the 12 and the 19 of november, which was a huge step for her. We were also able to find a couple of other people that we are really excited about. There are some members, and we have been working with that gave us a referal to work with their son and his wife, we met with them, and the lesson went really well as well. We are still working with clayton, but he has been really hard to meet with lately. I am worried that something happened because he hasnt really seemed the same as he used to be. It is crazy to me how fast time flies, tomorrow it is going to be november! Mom, to answer your question, Not having a change of seasons is really wierd, but I love it at the same time! It feels like it makes it easier to lose track of time, but I am not sure, ha I really cant remember what it was like to have 4 seasons. Has it snowed much there yet? Haha That is definitely one thing that I dont miss! Dad, thanks for the letter again, It sounds like you are doing great! I am glad to hear that the duck club is working out! I love hearing about the lessons that you teach, and the crazy thing is, we had  the exact same lesson here, haha clear out in the bush in a tiny island in the carribean! Although I am sure yours was much better! Mom, How are you feeling? Is the change of the seasons still effecting your fibro? Did you ever send me back that other SD card that I sent home? Could you keep on sending the pictures also? Keep on studying all you can, the new testament is full of amazing doctorine! Mel and John, It sounds like you guys are doing great! That is exciting that you are finally moving into your house! Send me some pictures of it sometime. The kids look like they are doing great! Ang and Scott, I am glad to hear that you are feeling better. Those pictures of corbin are so dang cute! Thanks for the email! Paige, Wow you are in love... I am happy for you though! and oh man, that is wierd!!!! (I hope you know what I am talking about, if not just read the email you sent me and you can figure it out!) Jason, It sounds like you are doing great! Swim meets start this week? I am sure you are going to do great this year, especially because you have a girl to cheer you on!!!! Hahaha Jk JK! Well, I love you all and I am so greatful for all the support and love that you show towards me. I can feel all of your prayers, and dont forget to keep them coming! The church is true, and we are so blessed to be able to be born into this knowledge that we have!

 

I love you tons,

Elder Gines

Crazy Week!

Hey Fam,

How is everything going? Well I just wanted to let you know that I am OKAY!!! I am so sorry that I didnt have time to email last week, but it was a pretty crazy day! Well, I have a new companion, but I stayed in Siparia. His name is Elder Rodney, and he is from Guyana. So far we have had alot of fun together, and have been working really hard. This week was a little bit tough to be honest. We have done ALOT of tracting, but have not seen the success that we are hoping to see, but we are not getting discouraged! We are still working with Clayton, but he has been really busy this week, and we were not able to see him. It was a little bit disappointing, but we are planning on seeing him tonight. Right now the branch in siparia is really weak, and more than anything we are trying to strengthen the members that we have coming to church. So how is everything going back at home? How was St. George? And San Fransisco? Haha I cannot believe how much you guys are travelling! It is making me jealous! Well, everything is going great here and I am loving it! I am sorry this email is so short, but I will take some time and send some seperate emails!

 

I hope Everything is going great! 

 

Love you tons!

Elder GInes

How about General Conference!

Hey Family,

 

How is everything going? Things are going great here in Siparia and I am loving it! This week was probably our best week of this transfer, and we were able to see alot of success! So lately we have been having a difficult time finding new investigators, and one of the really big problems here in Trinidad is that people like their rum too much and are not willing to change and really dont care about the important things in life. So instead of just looking for anyone to teach, we have been looking for the people who are ready to progress, and accept the gospel of jesus christ. Well to be honest, it seems like finding those people is like finding a needle in a hay stack!!! One of the things that has been on my mind lately is how can I find the people who are ready, in a country that is filled with so much wickedness. I have come to a conclusion though, we must work until we cant work any more, and then and only then, will the lord guide us to these people! So that is what I have been trying to do! We have been picking a street, and talking to everyone that lives on it, I am not going to lie, at times that is really hard for me, but I am getting better at it! In our finding this week, we found a couple of really cool, and really humble people. One man was named Shewin. He is probably about 30 years old, and has alot of tatoos. I called into his house, and he immediately came out and invited us up. We were able to share the message of the restoration with him, and it went great. He is a doctor, so that means that sometimes he works days at a time, so we havent been able to meet with him since, but we will meet with him some more this week. Some of the other people that we found were Herman, Marissa, Michelle, and Tamiesha. Oh and guess what??????!!!!!!!!!!! I finally saw some monkeys! I was so excited and entertained! Temiesha, the lady that we found, actually has one in a cage in the front of her house, and right across the street, I was calling into a house, and all of the sudden a monkey came crawling out on the roof! It was one of the greatest moments of my life. We are still working with clayton, and are trying to help him to progress. He came to one session of General Conference, so hopefully he liked it. We will find out either tonight or tomorrow. Well you know how everyone always tells you how general conferences on your mission are so great? Its so true! I cannot believe what I have been missing out on by not watching every session every year! It was so good to hear from the lords servants on EXACTLY what we need to hear. It was so powerful, you can just feel the spirit with every word that they speak. On Saturday, we found out that the branch would be watching General Conference, on a computer monitor, in our branch presidents office, so we decided that we would go to San Fernando and watch it on the projector. When we got there, we found out that the power was out, so we actually missed the first hour! It was so frustrating. Then we found out that we wouldnt be able to watch the priesthood session until sunday morning because our missionary curfew, and conference didnt end until 10:00 pm here. On sunday we decided to stay in Siparia, and watch it in the branch presidents office. There were 15 people there (including us) for the first session, and for the second session, it was only us two, and our Elders quorum president. Haha it was disappointing. People here, and all over the world, just dont understand the significance of General Conference. Well thats about it for the week. It sounds like you guys are doing well at home, and I wish I would have been there for the family golf tournament. There are only a couple of golf courses here, and I am hoping to play one of them one of these days. Dad, I am sure you will get plenty of ducks this year, I am glad that luther had a good day on the opener. Mom, I hope you start feeling better, and I would give anything to go to all three of those temples in one day right now! Mel and John, that is exciting about your house, I hope everything is going good. Angie, I really hope you start feeling better also, I will keep you in my prayers. Paige, haha get married already! JKJKJKJKJK! And Jason, keep on having fun, let me know how the hunting goes, and send me some pictures! Thanks for the email too! Well I better get going, I love you all and can feel of your love and support. The church is true, and there really is no greater work than this one that I am doing right now!

 

Love,

Elder Gines