Letter Number 18...........Where Does Happiness Come From?

Being schooled by an 18 year old boy........awesome and humbling.  With each letter from Jake, his companion, and his good friend Carsen I am encouraged to try harder and be better.  Jake encourages us to GIVE EVERYTHING.  For me this week, very very good timing.  We need to be serving each other every day.  I know I can do more and so I repent of not doing enough and like the missionaries say......GO TO WORK!



I am so happy!
Also, every lesson that we taught with a member to an investigator, the investigator took and kept their engagement,  including comming to church!!! For the first time this transfer we had 4 investigators at chruch!! Also, referrals that came from members, two of them who were super shut off to the whole idea of the gospel in their lives were super receptive and one said she would read the Book of Mormon entierly in less than a week. She was athiest and in the first lesson was super closed off. 
Also, every lesson that we taught with a member to an investigator, the investigator took and kept their engagement,  including comming to church!!! For the first time this transfer we had 4 investigators at chruch!! Also, referrals that came from members, two of them who were super shut off to the whole idea of the gospel in their lives were super receptive and one said she would read the Book of Mormon entierly in less than a week. She was athiest and in the first lesson was super closed off. 

I can't descibe it or deny it, the only thing I can do to explain it is to say that obiedience. brings. blessings.

This week was a week of miracles. ELder Tolman and I have had a goal to be exactly obedient to the very point with nothing out of line.This week we achived it. It wasn't that there wasn't mistakes here or there but we always desired to do more and more to achive this goal. The last three days of this week were absolutly incredible. The windows of heaven were opened and at every moment we had strength and power. The first day we noticed it only a little, but by the third day we could see the different ways that people were reacting to us. They could not deny the things we said. It was indescribable. 

I found that trials come into our lives truely as Moroni says "to make us humble" and then after that I promise that the Lord will send blessings. There will always be peace and happiness with this message. The Book of Mormon is the word of the living God, It was saved for this day because it was applicable to us. The Church of Jesus Christ is restored to the earth, abiding by its precepts will bring you more happiness and joy in your life than I can even begin to describe. 

Give everything!  Love everyone,

Love you all,

Elder Lewis

Questions From Mom:

1. Are you happy?

I am super happy and life is just dandy on all sides of the world! we're being super obiedient, and people can tell, the windows of heaven are open and giving us blessings.

2. Remember to be grateful for the wonderful Family you have.

I know i have the best family! we are super great! 

3. Do you know how Carsen is doing?

Yes, i talked with him every weeek, he will do good, he is a strong kid. (Carsen is his friend who is currently serving in the Philippines.)

4. Will you be moving with this transfer?

I'm staying with Elder Tolman this transfer.

love you!! 

son 

Ahoy there!

Two Fine Servants of the Lord!

Letter number 17 ......and a note from the Senior Missionary Couple leaving Jakes Mission which warmed my heart!

I was privileged to received a letter from the Senior Missionary couple who served in Jakes mission.......this is a brag but I was so happy to hear what she said about Jake.  I do wish I had a magic viewing glass to be able to observe him serving these during this time. I know how amazing he is because of the help he gave me after his Father's accident so this wasn't a surprise, just gratifying. 

 Jake sounds so mature....I am going to try to take my fasts more seriously.  In every letter Jake talks about the power in fasting. With the Holidays approaching he seems happy and not homesick at all, that is a great blessing as a Mother.  I am so glad he seems well adjusted!  Love his earnestness.



So this week was just totally awesome, we only got to work three days which sucks, but we had zone conference and it was really amazing.

we talked about so many super important things that I will probably not write, but we also talked about exaltation. I had never thought about how much we need to do to truely receive exaltation. We need to become better and repent more frequently. We also talked about the sacrament, and how when we take the sacrement we show our outward apearence of inward repentance. Man my spelling has gotten really bad. 

We are all super pumped up this week because of zone conference! I think I will probably stay on Guadeloupe because I am still waiting for my first year visa verification but transfercalls are on Saturday.

Fasting is so powerful. We fasted with the districts presidents familly this last week and they all went out and shared the gospel with their friends and now they have three referals for us. Member work is the way to go.

Anyways, love you all,

Elder Lewis

Questions from Mom:

1.When You Say "NO ONE was at church do you mean it was just you and your companion?

no just no investigators showed up. there were quite a few people because we went to the big building in abymes for fast sunday. 

2. What is a typical church day like there?

at our small group we ahve pricipals of the gosple and also the sacrament. just two hours, but at abymes we have all three meettins like normal. 

3. Do you have any baptisms planned that will take place in a waterfall?

we are working hard but our investigators are not comming to church so their dates continue to move. and it is their choice, a lot like to do it in the font at the big church, it is in the same room as the kitchen. 

4. Did you ever get the envelope I sent? DONT SEND ANYTHING TO THE MISSION HOME it will take a very long long time to get to me if you send it there and it may never. other missionaries have to bring it from there because there isnt really a mail system in trinnidad. send it always all things to the island that i am on. i did get you halloween letter just last tuesday! im sending you a letter this week i hope

5. Are you eating any meat other than cold cuts?

also four, we buy food that is buyable, we planed to ahve a hundred euros for our last week and we bought some porkchops and nicer food. we do eat well, just yes, alot of carbs. french people have bread with everything!!

love you bunchs mom thanks a ton:)

son

Dear Families of Guadeloupe Missionaries,

Elder Bennion and I completed our 23 month mission on the 6^th of November.  As we took off from Pointe a Pitre airport in Guadeloupe, it felt surreal….there will always be things to do, tasks unfinished.  The mission awaits a Senior Couple to replace us on Guadeloupe.  That is true for all 3 of the French parts of the mission:  Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana.  For now, the missionaries will be picking up their mail at our apartment mailbox so you can send everything to that same address.  In early December, a young couple, both returned missionaries, and both French speaking will live in our apartment and help with some of the duties, particularly in the immigration area.  They will be there until a full time couple arrives.

We have loved serving the Lord with your sons and daughters.  Oh, how we will miss them.  Serving together on Guadeloupe has forged such a precious bond of friendship. We all love the people, the culture, the feeling that comes from the Lord as we are seeking to bless his children.  It has been the crowning experience of a lifetime of service in the Church. 

Elder Lewis is a prince.  We just love Elder Lewis.  He is working with the Zone Leader and so he sees a lot of the ups and downs of the work.  There are plenty of administrative things to which his companion must attend and Elder Lewis is a fabulous companion.  He has a can do attitude and he is so willing to work hard and learn and love the people he serves, including his fellow missionaries.  His French is really coming and he is “all in” as a missionary on Guadeloupe!  You would be so proud of him.  I just wish there was a magic window that would allow you to see how amazing he is.  It is hard work and takes real commitment.  I often think of what other young men that are his age are doing with their lives at this time and I marvel at these missionaries who obediently and faithfully do all that they are asked to do!  It is such a privilege to have served with your son!

Have a great holiday season!

Sister Bennion

Letter number 16........time marches on!

Jake is sharing miracles with us every week.  I've been pondering on how often we are blessed by a miracle and we say it's good luck, or that everything worked out etc. I am trying to give the Lord credit for all things in my life.  I see the happiness this connection this principle brings Jake and I want to feel that connection to Heavenly Father and that peace and happiness as well.  Please write to Jake or take the time to send a card or fun thought during the holiday season.


Gwada is the Creole spelling for Guadalope.

So this week was just freaking great, we were really focussing  on trying to be obedient and diligent at the same time. We saw lots of good results come from it. We still didnt have any body come to church this week, but five people committed, and another one still holds a baptisimal date of teh 30th. The work on guadalope is really progressing, there are three or four other baptisms comming up these next couple of weekends. Super Great.

The miracle of the week was...  one of the elders filled up a car with the wrong kind of gas, then drove 400 yards.... they pulled over and realized what they had done, called me, who had the phone, because the zone leaders were on exchange in Capes Terre.  I drove over to Baie Mahault with Elder Maoni to get a member who was a mechanic.  We took 4 hours using the little pump that turns on when you turn the key. It was a looooongg day, but it all worked out and the Lord blessed the car that it would start again and we were able to pump out the last remaining of unleaded gas out of the car until the diesel all came through. 

Other than that, this week was fast Sunday and what a great fast Sunday it was. We always go to the big building in Abymes for it, and it was just so happy and there were tons of people everywhere and I was just smiling like the whole day.  24 hour fasts here are hard, but the spirit that comes is incredible. 

Love you all,

ELder Lewis

Questions from Mom:

Not that you're not handsome but have you gotten a hair cut?

1 Yes  I just got one, it was super long and if it wasn't crazy I would have liked to keep it, except for the sides, those were killing me.

When will Your next transfer be?

2 It will be the 21st, I will  hear in a week or so my call and what my mailing address is.

Are there any  missionaries who need help with Christmas?

3 No, we are all well supported out here.

Do you miss swimming?

4. Occasionally when we talk about it, but we are so busy that it is hard to think about other things than the work

How often do you get to see the ocean?

5. Most days yes, and it is beautiful.

You can see the mops there, Jake and his companion have been getting the new apartments ready for the new elder.  The view is stunning!

A pensive pose by the thoughtful Elder Lewis.....miss his humor.

A typical meal......there is very little meat to be had, just cold cuts.

Happy to see people work out in Guadaloupe

Must be a delicious desert.......Isabelle say "gross"

Love you Elder Lewis

Letter number 15

I've been thinking a lot about obedience, and the blessings this principle of discipline can bring into our lives.....this week I'm going to try to be exactly obedient and see what magic can happen in my life.  

To see Jake use the knowledge his Dad gave him to help another on his mission was very gratifying...parenting can be a grind and these paydays are really nice.  

It sounds as though he and his companion are incredibly busy helping these new Elders out! Sounds great.



Bonjour cher frère et sœur, 

This week we acctually didnt do too much because we had lots of things to do for helping other missionaries move and stuff.  This weeks focus was on excact obedience and getting all of our studies done. it is something that is hard for us because we always have to run errands for the zone and the schedule is just crazy.

This week was different, we wanted to say that we did everything we possibly could, and we did this last week. It was great, the spirit was with us and we were guided by the Lord many times throughout the week. For example, we were helping out the senior couple over on the Island of Basse Terre and we couldnt drive all the way back to Morne a L'eau  just to turn around to go to meetings in Abymes. We gave some bike elders a ride and while studying in the car, we got a call from the sisters who are on bikes and their chain broke. because my dad is awesome and taught me alot about bikes I was like "I GOT THIS! I CAN FIX IT!" So we went and we helped them out and I found the tools to put it all back togeather. On Saturday we were going through the Grande Fondes and Elder Tolman said hey why dont you say ca va to soeur louisaint? I called her and the first thing I say is do you need help? She did in Moule, so we drove over there and picked up a bed for her from the house of one of her referals. It was super good, we got to intorduce ourselves to them. 

Also, I  was on exchange for part of sunday with Elder Peterson who just got here, a man answered the door  and could only speak Guadaloupian and Haitian Creole. The Lord blessed me and i was able to speak and to understand for 10 minutes and set up a return appointment.

Love you all!

Dieu soit avec toi jusqu'au revoir,

Elder Lewis

Jake's been eating a lot of avocados 

Jake's mailing address!

Mailing Address:

Elder Jake Lewis

Elder and Soeur Bennion

Residence Les Paletuviers

Bat A Appt. 17

Moudong Sud

97122 Baie Mahault

Guadeloupe

West Indies

 Sr. Bennion

The Postage is $1.10

Email Address:

lewis.jake@mylds.net

Letter number 14

I personally love and feel uplifted by the letters where Jake involves us in his Mission experiences.  As a Family we are praying for missionary experiences and I hope you will do this as well.  It's hard to believe that we are approaching the Christmas season without Jake, but how amazing it will be for him to be serving the Savior during the Holiday season; no focus whatsoever on the things of this world.  Enjoy this letter......he's on fire.


Wow,  this place is just beyond beautiful. if it is not concrete it is green, or some other bizzare tropical color. This week was just full of great things, that I will probably forget to write about. The important thing is we had 15 people at church sunday! the sad thing is.... none of them were investigators...

Working with the members is different. there are lots of times where you work with them and these crazy awesome spirituel expiriances happen, but contacting gives you so much more of a good feeling. The Lord is really showing us how to work better with the members, how to call them, how to take care of them and their spirituel needs  and how to help them help their friends find the peace and joy of the gosple in their lives. It is kind of weird how much we see each member here. because there are only about 20 maximum in all of Morne à L'eau Moule Vieulle borg and Anse Bretrand so you can see them once or twice a week. The great thing is they are super helpful at teaching others and helping others keep commitments. 

So on sunday we had a pretty cool expiriance. we went to this old contact of ours who whas a temoin de jehova  and taught him the restoration. First wierd thing, he was from Dominica and we spoke in english. second wierd thing, we spoke boldly simply and with the spirit, there was no contention in the room. (that never happens with temoins, they really like to fight) we explained each scripture percisely and spoke very poilitely. at every corner we could have had an oppertunity for contention to enter the room but we just kept on teaching simply. they have these books called, what the Bible really teaches, and this other small yellow one. they use these often to try and disprove  and argue with all sorts of different religions. as we taught the restoration and as elder tolman was reciting the first vision, i  felt the spirit super strong and thought to myself "there is no way that this isn't true". in that moment, i knew with out doubt that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. that he spoke with Heavenly father and Jesus Christ face to face and he was called by them to be a prophet. I know that the book of mormon is the word of god.  It was a really cool expiriance for me. walking away from that lesson there was a bit of sadness for the people we had just taught they had been taught so much false doctrine that in their hearts they could not accept that anything else was true. 

Also we stopped by one of our old investegators house, (name of investigator) and she was like "hey were have you been? i thought you were coming three Fridays ago?" It turns out we some how missed and appointment with her and she had lost our number along the way. she showed that she has a desire to act now and i think she will keep her engagement to pray about the restoration.

Sometimes it is really funny seeing the looks people give you when you first teach the loi de chastité.  because some of them have no idea what the word chastity even means. one guy was like "what do you mean you have never slept with your girlfriend?" his name is (name of investigator), and we are also teaching his brother. 

I found out that i am really not very good at basket ball not to my suprise. and soccor im maybe a little bit good. but we play it every Saturday now so i imagine that i will become better. 

had an oppertunity to attened with a member, the last of the 9 day in home death prayers for Catholics. it was probably the weirdest thing i have ever done or listened too. compacted by the fact that it was two hours of all sorts of french and Guadaloupian Creole. they opened up the floor for us  at one point and we stood and taught out of alma 40 about the state of the body between death and resurection. no one questioned us and we got a few investigators out of it. it gave them all a little peace i think.

Welp. the work here is good. the Lord is truly hastening it. I see miracles everyday and if you look for them they are always there. 

Love you all,

Elder Lewis 

Questions from Mom

Did you get my letter and package?

Yes,  i did get your letter! i got it right after i sent my letter last tuesday! sorry aobut that, we were moving in a group of missionaries in saint rose and it took way to long! 

I set tons of pictures!! sorry i didn't do it for a couple weeks but i will do better!!! 

Are you working out?
 we are kind of making a new workout plan. i think we are going to sart running a bit. and sat. we play basketball most Mondays we play soccer.

How big Guadeloupe?

No,  there are many cities,  it is the second biggest island in the west indies. second to gigantor trinidad. it takes 3 or 4 hours to drive across guadalope. there are 450000 people who live here!! 

Is it raining a lot?

We just got out of the rainy season so it rained all day yesterday for the first time in like 3 weeks.

How are the sheets working out, and do you need a new pillow.

Sheets work great, the pillows are just left at appartments and they suffice no need to send one. I

sleep like a rock no matter what. 

Love you tons!!

Au Revoir,

Son Jake

Lucky Number 13

I feel blessed to read how amazingly well Jake is doing in the Mission field.  I really believe that when you serve you are happy.  Happy missionaries make happy missionary Moms.


Bonjour à tous,

What an amazing week of missionary work. This week was a week full of seeing the lord guide us as we tried to work more with the members. even though transfer weeks suffer a little bit because all of the errands we have to run on the island, this week was really blessed.  

Looking back on the days we see the way that the Lord guided us in very simple ways. First off, we had bassically no success in contacting or working without members, this was a blessing. now that the Lord has made a proclamation that member missionary work is the most productive and effective work (world wide broadcast in june) he really expects for us to step up and use the members. For instance, we went contacting on sunday for two hours, we had one new investigator that will probably become less interested. then we went to teach a member family, and right before we left the mother turned to us and said, you know, i think some of my neighbors are ready for the gosple, boom we had to recieved cordenées and we went with her to go and make contact with them.

On saturday we had alot of unplanned appointments, we knew they would probably fall through but, we went to a members house, had a good lesson, then elder tolman forgot his nametag, so we drove back though town. on the way back though town we recieved a phone call from a inactive who we were trying to get ahold of. she saw us pass by her and then guided us to her house in the grande fonds, which is like a maze of crazy unmaked roads in these huge rain forest covered hills. then after giving her a blessing we got a call from the senior couples saying they needed help transporting all of the new appliances  to the new sector in sainte rose. which side note: has the nicest house in the mission. we filled up our creepy stalker van full of appliances. after that we went and did a missionary council with soeur louisaint about the five Cordonées that she gave us. 

Also we set up two baptismal dates with the pilial brothers johnathan and garry. They read their scriptures and pray but they still haven't made the step of coming to church. 

All of our days were blessed tremedously this week.

In other news, one of the transfering missionaries was able to bring me a package from trinnidad from my aunt sheryl who was there for some kind of nurse humanitarian thing? it was somthing like that:) but thank you for all the letters that i was abgle to receive from that.

In other news, if you want to send me a package or letter, send it to guadalope the senior couple address. it is on my blog at jakelewiswestindies.blogspot.com

if you send it to trinnidad it can take up to 12 weeks to come here, and if it is too large may never come... so send it to guadalope, or wherever i am on french side, the mail here is very reliable.

Je vous aime,

Elder Lewis

Questions from Mom:

Have you been playing the Piano for the Branch?

we acctually dont have a piano for our little group in mourne a leau but it is good anyways. i am super dissapointed in myself for quitting the piano...

What are you doing for P-day?

yesterday for pday we played socccor and frisbee and stuff but then the rest of the day we had to go move in sainte rose to their appartment and then pick up people for a mission wide emergency transfer. 

Send More Pictures!!!

sorry for the pictures... i will sent more next week!

Do You Ever Miss Us?

it is weird to think how much you can miss me because there is not to many moments i can think of you during the week. a little at night and lots on pdays. emailing makes me a little longing for home but it is not bad. 

How is the Language coming?

language is going really well, when i need more the lord blesses me with the gift of tounges and i speak very fluidly. i am understanding and in turn speaking alot more:) 

Love you bunches!!