Letter Number 46 Good-bye Guadeloupe HELLO Martinique!

My heart is heavy with the news of Jake's transfer call to Martinique.  He will be leaving his best buddies and investigators who are close to baptism.  He will be leaving just as they open the new meeting house the Missionaries have worked so hard to fix up for the congregation.  I know this is mission life, but I know my Son well enough to know he will be torn up as he leaves his beloved Guadeloupe. I have been to Martinique and it is beautiful.  He will love his companion and his new mission life here as well, it will just be an adjustment for him.  He will make new friends and meet new people who respond to the message he is there to present.  It will be fine. But in my heart...I know this will take a little time for this wonderful missionary to adjust and get his new normal on.


Welp, all good things have an end I guess, except for exaltation that one is pretty much just eternal, but in the mean time I received a transfer to Lamantin, Martinique to be with elder Bodily! I'm going to be on FOOT and by the end I might just amputate them also, but it will be great. 

my address will be changed

elder jake evan lewis

residance Aigue Marine 

Bat. A3 Appt. 7 

Rue dorsale

97200

Martinique (fr) 

Pretty crazy right? I didn't see that one coming. 

I am pretty sad that I will be leaving Basse Terre here in two days and will be missing the opening of the group this next Sunday but I am confidant in the will of the Lord for me.

On another note,  I will be coming back to Gwada for a couple days for Zone Conference in July, That will be sweet!!  If you sent any letters or stuffs I will get them there.

On another note again, on Saturday we had a huge Polynesian day! There were a few tahitian missionaries and some members who put it on for all the members in Guadeloupe. It was sweet!! We ate tons of food that was cooked in a tahitian oven;  and you just dig a giant pit make a fire with rocks put the food in, put a tarp and cover it with sand till there is no smoke.  It is super crazy good.  We left it for like four hours and then opened it up and ate.,

 It was a great miracle for all of the members in Basse Terre because there were many investigators and inactives who came. The event was huge and this paragraph doesn't do it justice. But yeah. There were games and food and sun, I might of got a giant sunburn. 

For  p-day today we went to the "beach of deshaies" which was also the first p-day that I had on Guadeloupe.

I'm pretty sad to see all my good friends here go.... but I am ready to make some new ones. 

also.....i might of bought  a lava lava and be wearing it around the house from now on;)

Love You All

Elder Lewis

Questions from Mom:

What was the "worst thing you ate this week?"

worst thing eeaten!!! there is a fruit connected to cashews!! look it up!! it is the most nastiest thing ever!!

best thing, a fresh pinneapple juice with fresh kiwi also:)

Jake's last P-day with his District! Jake spends it where it all started....same beach.  

Washing Dishes with Brother Duflot

Jake and Sister Hamel

Letter Number 45....Almost to Hump Day!

Where has the time gone?  We are almost at the year mark.  Elder Lewis has had such a positive experience on his mission so far, and as I follow the progress of other Missionaries around the world on the Facebook Missionary Mommas site, I am so grateful the Jake is doing so well.  I am especially grateful for the good health he has experienced so far.  I am LESS enthused by the photo of my Son holding a 3 foot long machete they are using to cut and eat their coconuts with.  Not to mention OTHER interesting activities!!!!! I am rolling my eyes here.  Yes, they really are 19 and 20 year old boys.




What a wonderful week in paradise! 

.........side note, us and the elders chased and tried to kill a giant iguana.  It got away due to a quick move in a distracting moment. 

In other news iI was studying about the Atonement and Elder Callister explains that he had infinite power which came from the Godlike qualities that he possessed.

It was these qualities that gave him this power. Sooo I was studying it and I realized that when we are trying to become more Christ like we are literately increasing in not only stature with God but we are gaining power. Our authority changes and becomes power. It is like in Jacob 4:6 when he talks about how their faith became unshakable as they searched the proprieties. 

In other news again, this week was pretty boss, I had an exchange that I did with Elder Elhert who is now in

Capesterre and it was super awesome, when we went over to A's house that night and he asked him to look him in the eyes and say "i will stop smoking" except it was more like Je vais arretter de fumer but that is not too important. He calls us now when ever he is having problems and we remind him of the promise of the Holy Ghost after baptism and that is enough. 

The Atonement is real and powerful, I see it every day all of its infinite qualities influencing my life. It is really incredible the way it has changed and shaped my life,  and also the lives of many others here and all over the world.

"truly incredible!"

Love You All

Elder Lewis

The famous Bokit

Letter Number 44

Jake had a wonderful week, it sounds as though he attended a mini-conference that was very influential and powerful for him.  It is always inspiring to be taught by wonderful teachers who light the fire within you to change for the better.

Rebonjour,

This week was absolutely fantastical.  I'll start with a couple really cool things that happened to us.  First of all on Wednesday we were at Elder Gammiettes house doing service.  He is a Seventy of the 4th quaurm, so already being pretty sweet experience just chilling with a Seventy doing yard work, the next day for the commemoration of the Priesthood we were going to go hike this 6 kilometer hike in the forest, and he wanted to set up a bunch of markers and stuff but he didnt have much time so he asked us to go run the trail with him. (remember this is a seventy) so we did! We ran 8 elders and him and we talked about leadership and how we much we should constantly surround our weakest memebers with the most love, often slowing down our own speedy progression to help them so that they can make it to the end too. 

We also had a part where one person is blindfolded and the other has to guide him over all of the roots and mud and not off the cliffs.  It was super cool the way he related to new members and missionaries. He told us that it is like we are in the light already used to our surroundings and that we have to slow down and guide them step by step holding them even with our arms around them. it was also compared to Christ and how he is always there next to us. He guides us and takes us by the hand even carrying us sometimes accross obstacles. 

We also talked about introspection and how we set goals durring the week and on Sunday when we haven't accomplished them we take the sacrament to re-charge our batteries. It gives us that extra hope and encouragement to keeping going and continually improve. It was incredibly awesome the way that he taught,  full of questions and light and knowledge.  I hope that I can continue in the light to be able to feel and be guided by the spirit like he is.  And even more.

On Saturday night I had a meeting with President Eclaire who is the second counselor in the Missionary  Presidency and he spoke about faith exhorting us to search for more and more faith so that we are pushed to repent so that we can receive a remission  of our sins and in the end so we can  have the spirit to be with us every moment of every day to an extent that people will reconize and ask us what is the difference. 

All of this is made possible by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  As I study  this, the greatest event that ever has happened on the earth, and the most important, I am again and again brought into awe in thinking of the mercy and justice of our God, even our Father in heaven. I know that as we draw near unto him he will draw near unto us, I have experianced it, and it is the most wonderful thing  I can even imagine. 

On sunday we did splits with two of our strongest members in Basse Terre, we went arround to many of the investigators and the inactive members inviting and encouraging them to come to the church in Basse Terre this next week! 

I love you all,

Elder Lewis

Questions from Mom?

What was your most inspirational moment from this week?

The Lord always waits for us to do our part, because he is "bound when we do what he says but when we do not we have no promise" 82:10

It is like the brother of jared principle. the Lord guided him in everyting and when he needed light he said " what will ye that i shall do" so he moltens the rocks, asks the Lord to touch them and his faith was great enough to pierce the veil. 

How is your investigator A doing with his smoking?

Hmm thanks for fasting for him.  His date is the 21st of this month, he needs probably to stop smoking this week or we will have to push it back.

We met a man that smokes 350 cigares in a week. he fed us lunch on saturday and is reading teh book of mormon

What was the best food you ate?

We ate yellow fin tuna with him, delish

Jake on Spits...in Heaven because he is riding a bike! Giving us the old "stink eye"

Jake titled this picture "Hey it turns out I can cook!"  I say "Hey it looks like you can EAT!" HA HA

Letters 42 & 43.....!

This letter is probably my most favorite letter Jake has ever written.  I love how he has inspired me to talk to Heavenly Father...reminding us all that he is there waiting.  I know this to be true, but sometimes I get casual in my prayers and communication with my Father in Heaven.  It is very exciting to see how with the help of Heavenly Father a man can be able to quit smoking.  I will pray for A today and hope he continues to be strong.



Soo, this is the moment at the end of the week where I try to think up all the great and wondrous things that happened and I  often look at the screen and pull a blank... hahaha but this last week was super great, we had three investigators at church, A, he came and he loved it so much, he participated a whole bunch in the investigators class and he was super happy after the matter, this week he is getting medical help to detoxify his body from all the smoking he was doing and he is down to less than 10 cigarettes a day. Pretty great stuff.  We go over there every two days to share spiritual messages with him and fortify him.  What a great guy.

I love too see the way that the priesthood is given to men for the benefit of others. The deep feeling of the Holy Spirit that enters into your heart when you lay your hands on someones head is incredible and humbling.  I know that it is truly God's power and authority restored on the Earth today. I love you all very deeply. 

Heavenly Father is only a prayer away, commune with him, he is waiting.

Elder Lewis 

Letter 43

Bienvenue à ma vie,

Elle est belle, ce que je fais, est precher, et recevoir la joie, je ne peux pas immaginer autre chose a ce moment

But in other words, things are looking up here in Basse Terre Gaudalope, or Basté Gwada, if you speak  a little Creole, 

This week was fantastic and full of miracles that I just simply dont have time to write about, but I will tell you about the normal stuff, so A is doing really well, last Sunday he  only smoked three, and he is working towards his date of the 21 of June, he wasnt able to come to church because it was mothers day and his ride let his wife take the car in the morning. That is a problem that won't exsist when we are in our cozy little group here in Basse Terre the 8th. Most of our investigators can walk and those who can't will be much more willing to drive! That will be the life. 

I recently found a renewed love of the Book of Mormon, I found an english copy that a missionary from a long time ago marked up underlining all major doctrine found within and annotating it. inspired me to do the same, but I am going to read the infinite atonement and under line all the scriptures from there in a copy. im super excited for that. i  am pretty sure that i could personal study for half of the day and share what I learned with eveyone for the other half. 

Kembé Red

Elder Lewis

Letter 41...and the Mothers Day Skype! Wooohoooo.

I begin by telling you that the "Mothers Day Skype" was the best.  To physically see my Son and to listen to his voice was priceless.  He looks amazing.  He is so filled with light and love.  To the other Mother's in his District, he introduced us to your children and they are all amazing and kind.  This District and Zone seems to really love one another and are trying to get along.  Not every one of these kids are the same, so melding their lives on a regular basis is probably a little hard at times.  This scenario  set them up well for the rest of their lives, with roommates at college and later in marriage.

Jake loves his mission.  He loves the constant study of the gospel and the people.  Of course he loves "The West Indies"....who wouldn't. Living in Guadeloupe is like living in paradise.

As you all know it was Mothers Day yesterday and I got to skype with my fam bam and I am very happy at this moment in time. I think the coolest thing to see on your mission is how your family is blessed by your service.  Now that is a great blessing.  I feel like every prayer that I have said for my family has be realized over these last ten months.  Also saturady was my ten month mark.  It was super crazy to think about, it seems like yesterday and forever ago that I started. It is kind of just my life right now.  This is where I am,  this is what is happening. My life is one round of extreme happiness here in the mission field.  Wth all extremes there is always opposites also.  But they all work together for the greater good. 

I love meeting new people and hearing their different answers to their prayers as they pray to find a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know he lives. I know he is my savior. 

Avec Amour

Elder Lewis

 ...........Always Looking So Happy

Mothers Day Skype 2014

 The District

 Jake and His Great Friend Elder C

TheTroisieme Chute de Carbet 

Letter Number 40

A great letter from Jake on the progressing of the Church space they are preparing for the Saints in that area, and the work they are having with the investigators in that area.  

The opening of this meeting place will be so nice for the members there, the drive to the other side of the island is far and the road is not great, so this will save them time. I think the physical service work the missionaries do is probably quite therapeutic.

Shout out to my brother in law Shane for his birthday today, CINCO DE SHANE.

So in other news..... this week was totally just another wonderful week here in beautiful Basseterre Gwada, it is a pretty amazing place. We got our transfer calls, looks like I'll be staying here as district leader with Elder Sims. He is from Texas if I forgot to tell you that six weeks ago.

We did all sorts of great stuff this week, one of our investigators A.. he is going well on the dimmunation of ciggirettes. I think I just created a word. haha but also we had a great experience with this this lady and her daughter.  We taught them about genealogy and then we came back and taught them the restoration; came back again and they had prayed of course and when I asked them what their answer meant for them the one girl said " that means all the other churches are in error" and I was like "perfect answer"  they  were not able to come to church but they will be progressing towards baptism here soon. 

We spênt half a day working on the chruch. That was awesome..talk about establishing a church by your hand D&C 31:7. The church should open this week or the next.  It is set up so it can become a full branch one day. and then we build... there is a land already bought in Basseeterre for them to build a church, pretty sweet!

Hiked another beautiful waterfall this week. 

I really am happy here

Have a great week my friends and family, 

Elder Lewis

Letter Number 39

I was just thinking about what feelings I had for the blog today.  The blog has become a bit of a journal for me and a journal of Jake's mission.  I have been missing his presence a lot lately, and I am extremely excited to speak to him on Mother's Day.  I feel so at peace with what his mission is about...bringing people unto Christ, helping them find happiness in the fullness of the gospel. I also feel as if Jake's life and all who dedicate their time for a mission will be forever changed for the better.  The sacrifice of time, talents, and the following of the rules hones these dedicated Young forever.  I truly wish that I had served a mission and hope to serve with Lance when we retire.  I love these amazing places Jake is able to adventure to on P-day, I'm sure it gives him the peace he needs to work hard during the week.  



Just kidding, it is never just another Monday here on Gwada, we went and hiked the third waterfall of carbet and that was super sweet!  It was nice to hike up and just get into the rainforest and have the peace and silence around you. Except for when you meet people from France everywhere.....  ahhaha but that isnt that weird!

In other news we had a wonderful Zone Conference and it was so super awesome, we talked about planning and all the great things about inspired planning and why we do it and some member work. It was super great, kind of a weird transfer having Zone Conference and General Conference in the same month, they were like events that just messed up our schedual a lot, the place where we meet for those is and hour to two away.  It can take sooo long sometimes. crazy! also we had a great week to go with that. 

One of our investigators ( A   ) has dimminished smoking by a whole ton, and he should be doing himself baptism this next month sometime ( se faire baptiser for those of you who speak french) , as are a couple others, but I am out of time for today! 

Love you all dearly, 

Thanks for the support,

Elder Lewis

Questions from Mom:

What did you discuss at your Zone Conference?

We talked alot about prayers and how one time a guy wittnessed the prayer of Joseph Smith his personal ones, and he said it was like a man speaking to another man. He said that it was as if Heavenly Father was right in front of him.

We need to think of specific questions for our Heavenly Father, the brother of Jared thought about the stones, got them, molded them and then asked him to touch them with his finger and the veil was taken from his eyes.

What are is your Mission President and his wife like?

President Mehr is just full of light and truth, you feel like you are speaking with the Most high servant of the Lord, it is edifying

Sister Mehr is super relaxed and super funny, but she is also like Pres Mehr.

What was the best thing you ate this week?

this last week....... i am not even sure. one time i ate swordfish... that was way delishious