Letter number 52!

What a week for my Missionary Son.  He is ready for this challenge, but has asked me to pray for him to NOT stress out with his calling as Zone Leader.  I hope he will have a great companionship with Elder Dayton as well.  They are both hard-working missionaries and I believe they will do well together.  

The Heat in Martinique seems to be epic...can you imagine walking for miles in the heat and humidity in a tie...a lot of endurance and patience are required to do that day after day.  Jake's Dad, served his mission in Puerto Rico and has told us so many stories of sweating bucket and bucket...so I laugh to think that now Jake is experiencing that same type of situation.  

I have begun reading "The Infinite Atonement"  this is Jake's favorite book he's read since being on his mission.  I find it very intense, and may need to read it twice to fully comprehend it's meaning. I invite anyone who has the desire to join me.  

Please write hand-written letters to Jake if you can, and at least an email from time to time to show your support.  Thank you all for all you've done for my missionary Son.

So, 

TRANSFER WEEK! I love transfers it is like the most exciting week ever, you are all trying to figure out all of the calls and President always leaves around just enough information for us to pile together and make good guesses until he blows our mind with revelation. 

I've acctually had my transfer call since Zone Conference. It turns out I will be leaving Lamentin Martinique!  I have been transfered to Fort de France to be on foot with Elder Dayton!  As a  side note,  I have been called to be a Zone Leader.  I am way super excited out of my mind.  I think this could be some of my favorite transfers of my mission. 

As normal this last week we went out and worked hard,  really working on becoming "preach my gospel" missionaires, and just had a great week.  The sun becomes hotter and hotter,  and I believe that it will probably only become hotter till it explodes.  You would have said that my dad sweats more than me before my mission,  but I think the tides have changed and it is really myself who sweats more.  I think I sweat buckets, buckets, buckets..... but it is all good. 

The highlight of the week was the miricle member lesson that we had with the wife of the branch president.  We went to go teach "G" at the church and she was there because he was in a meeting.  We talked about callings and missionary work and priesthood blessings and he accepted to receive a blessing to help him stop smoking.  It was a killer lesson, and when he gets back from vacation in France he will definitely be baptized. 

I love you all and I hope that you are studying the gospel daily making it become a larger part of your life. There is only forward and backward,  I hope you have chosen the first of the two.  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God, and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world.  I love him very much,  and also his father, our Father..... who is only a prayer away.

God Speed,

Elder Lewis

Walking from one island to another at low tide...so cool.

Jake and Elder Bodily on P-day in Martinique

Just Chill'n in Paradise

Letter 51....Over the Hump!

This was one of those letters that started out breaking my heart and then filling it with joy.  Jake's understanding of this journey through life is so fulfilling.


It seems as though just yesterday I was doing this. 

The last five days have been probably some of the longest days of my mission.  We were really put to the test as everything fell through, all apointments, transportation, and energy. I dont think I have ever really understood what the pioneers felt like until this week.  It was blazing hot and because of the fact that things kept not working out never left us off our feet.  I  think I walked a couple of marathons....! 

But all is well, we had a sweet lesson with our investigator G, who is in the prosses of stopping smoking.  He was supposed to stop last Monday but he didnt quite make it.  Nevertheless, the Lord was merciful and gave us a wonderful lesson with him where we talked about coming unto Christ and being perfected in him. Because  that the true way to repent,  to improve and to draw closer to God.  As we come to Christ and put aside all sin,  his grace becomes sufficient for us and we may be perfected in him. 

Also,  after a bit of a long day I decided to do some imagery scripture reading.  Just really thinking about the situation and putting myself in their shoes.  I chose the famous D&C 121 and 122. As I started to read 121 I restared and imgined the terrible conditions of liberty jail..... cramped, wet, cold, no good food, sometimes poison, not just for days... but for months. Now if I was in there I think I would be in a very not agreeable mood. Very humbling that is for sure. But as I restarted I thought of the sorrow my sould would have in proclaiming "oh God where art thou? and where is thy pavillion which doth cover thine hiding place" ... what a soul wretching cry. Then after I imagined a pause, and the perfectly piercing voice of the Lord saying "my son, peace be unto thy soul" what a merciful father. Who would speak peace,  perfect instilling peace to his sons anguished soul.  I can only imagine the love that Joseph felt in that moment,  and as pure knowledge, revelation, flowed into his mind. 

The rest of the night there was a great spirit with me, and as I went to pray I  remebered to be thankful not for things but in things. 

I love you all, and i thank you for the support that you give me. 

Member from Guadeloupe 

Jake on the plane to Guadeloupe for Zone Conference

"Central Air" Caribbean Style

Letter Number 50! One year and 50 Blog Posts. Unbelievable!

My 50th posting of Jake's letters from "The West Indies French Speaking Mission."  It is really amazing to think that 12 months have come and gone.  I have cherished being the Mother of a missionary.  I have loved posting every blog.  While working on the posts, I have the opportunity to re-read his letters and many times I learn more about the gospel or about Jake as I quietly sit here and ponder on his words and his service.  Today the words pertaining to asking for help from Heavenly Father in prayer, and how we will be shown what gifts we need from our Father in Heaven.  His words were an answer to a trial I've been dealing with for a while, and I need to really ask for the spiritual gift to understand how to deal with my situation.  

I'm sure the next year will fly by...but on this beautiful Sabbath Morning I wish Jake were upstairs hanging out with his sister getting ready for church and that I could watch him devour his Sunday  Meal the way he always does...with Gusto. I love him and miss him, but I share him at this time with his Heavenly Father, and I pray that his service will touch the lives of those he comes in contact with.  That they can know the peace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as I do.  For this reason,  all Mother's of Missionaries send their Children out for 18 to 24 months willingly.


So there is really no news. 

Sauf : except...,

 ( I looked this up for all of us. It means Except.  Jake writes like he thinks...that's all I can offer you.  He is highly intelligent, but writes as thoughts enter his brain. I love it, because I can imagine having a conversation with him.)

I HIT MY ONE YEAR MARK!

........and also 

WE FLEW TO GWADA FOR ZONE CONFERENCE.

But other than that there is really no  great news.. at zone conference we spoke about how through the stregthening power of the atonement (grace) we receive spiritual gifts that render us more godlike and purify us from sin. That was a great topîc and I learned a lot about how it is our job to ask our Heavenly Father to reveal to us what gifts we need, in discussing with him in prayer why we need them.  Then asking for, developing,  and receiving power beyond our own to help us through the trials of life.  It was super good.  We also talked about Godly sorrow and that was fantastic.  Watching our leaders teach through the power of the Holy Ghost  is always an incredible experience. 

In other news, our area is doing pretty good, still lots of walking but we have found some new people who have great out looks and are willing to read the Book of Mormon. That is the key, finding those who are willing to act on our message.  In reality it is only those who receive us and those who are prepared to come closer to God.  I find a lot of peace now and before my mission in knowing that the ressurection is real.  That Christ does live, and that through him we CAN become like he and his father.  I find an added bonus that we keep the family unit in the eternities. 

I love you all deeply,

Elder Lewis

Questions from Mom

What is Martinique like compared to Guadeloupe?

 

Here in martinique it is more south so it is hot and humid.  Man i can sweat a lot,  it is pretty crazy. 

Can you believe Blake Hartley is leaving on his mission soon?
That is exciting about blake getting out on a mission it is alwas interesting  to see your friends go out. Liz leaves for Scotland in October and Morgan for Texas in September crazy sauce. 

Did you get the letters from the Activity Day Girls?

 

Yeah i did a long time ago i just forgot to tell you! thanks so much for that! what  a great time you must have  had.

The Four Man pushup....got a video of this little exercise.  Might have to try it. ha ha 

Jake opening his Hump Day box....who would ever think a 19 year-old would be excited to receive shoe insoles.  His face says it all.  I love that smile. 

Basketball on P-day...Looks Hot!

Letters 48 & 49....HUMP DAY

I can hardly believe that it has been one year since we said goodbye to Jake at the MTC.  I felt so secure to leave him in the spiritual guardianship of the MTC.  I will forever remember the amazing spirit surrounding that building.  Our last 24 hours with our Son was amazing.  We told him everything in our hearts we could think of.  I know this year will go fast, and we will be giving him a huge hug...however I miss his happiness around the house.  He is a great example of how to be positive.  What an adventure his mission has been so far, I am grateful for his safety and happiness and pray daily all stays well.



Bon Après Midi Les Gares, 

It is me again calling out from Lamantin Martinique, i'm pretty sure that there is very few people on this list that pronounce lamantin right... but whatever!  This week was great, we were sitting on a bus and the bus was starting to get packed, this old guy who was really loud yelled "what do you belive in exactly" so in the quietest way we could we gave him a articles of faith card, with wich he took out his glasses slowly and started to read. first one: ok ok second one: "NOW WAIT A MINUTE,IT WAS EVE THAT SINNED!!  " he went on to explain this totally unrelevant story of how it is actually Eves fault, he missed the idea... but we got everyones attention, unfortunately we had to get off the bus to go to a sweet lesson but we are sure that he continuned reading the little card, I think he probably had a good time doing it also! 

We decided to get bikes, which still entails a lot of walking but will be better for our transportations in the end, sometimes we miss a bus, and you can either walk two hours or wait another hour for the next bus.But with bikes, it is going to be sweet! 

I'm  loving life down here in Martinique, had some great experiances that have been written sucsessfully in my journal! 

I  love you all,

Bonne Semaine

Elder Lewis

The New Bikes....which will save Jake's feet and his Mom hopes won't kill him.

This week was pack full of craziness! 

First off we got bikes! Then we rode the bikes and everyone was super interested in our bikes, we decied to paint the bikes and scratch them up so they dont get stollen... after buying said bikes... the power whent out... and it turned back on for the other missionaires... but not for those in lamantin;; it stayed darkkk, and there were no fans in our way of not sweating to death, so we had kind of a crazy week going back and forth between sleeping at the others appartaments and working in our area, it was nuts! 

One of our progressing investigators is doing really well, his name is Gael pronounced gile, and he is french, he has come to church for about a year now and now he is almost completely done with smoking! It is incredible to see the change in his life as he stops this thing that keeps him from feeling the spirit alot stronger!  It is cool to help these people come closer to God and keep his commandments. 

This weekend we fasted as an entire mission, all the missionaries and all the members possible, it was very powerful.  We felt a great spirit as we came to chruch this last Sunday and interacted with the members. afterwords we all shared a meal and talked about missionary work it was awesome:)

I'm attaching a photo of a quote from the infinite atonement, it talks about something that i had never though of before, if you have time you should give it a look, it put the love that God has for me and all his children really in perspective.

I love you all

Don't forget it

Elder Lewis

Baptism in the Ocean!

Jake Opening His Hump Day Package