Barbados, it's been real

Sister Bennion and I at Bathsheba Beach

 Well, after a full six weeks in Barbados, I am being transferred to The Big Island, Trinidad. I am going to be with Sister Hendricks, who is in Tobago right now. I will be leaving for Trinidad on Wednesday, so more news next week. I am sad to be leaving Sister Bennion and everything here so soon, but if Trinidad is where the Lord wants me, then Trinidad is where I will go. Sister Bennion is going to be training another sister from Kiribati; she's pretty nervous, because this sister probably does not speak English very well.

One of our zone leaders, Elder Free, went into the hospital this week with severe pain, and they thought at first it was because he was eating to much greasy food, but then changed it to a heart problem! They thought he was going to have to go back to the US (with only three months left on his mission) and get a pacemaker (!!!). Then the doctor changed the diagnosis to an enlarged heart, which is slightly less serious. He's in Trinidad right now getting a second opinion. His parents were going to come and pick him up at the end of his mission so that he could tour around, and because his brother also served in the West Indies Mission, but if he has to go home I don't know if that will still happen.

On Friday, one of our investigators invited us to a "crusade," where one church invites anyone who wants to come in to a gathering. There was a "prophetess" visiting from the States. Basically, they might as well have called in karaoke night, because they just played a lot of Jesus-songs from YouTube. We had to leave right as the lady was going up to share the word, but honestly, I don't think we missed much: she felt like she needed drums to get the message across. Everyone was really getting into it, and the music was nice (if SUPER loud), but it was kind of weird, to be honest.

Also, there was a drug awareness meeting/devotional last night that was held at another one of our chapels, and they asked me to play for it. They wanted 'Onward, Christian Soldiers' and 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' neither of which I know. After a lot of praying, the first song went pretty well, but I completely flubbed the closing hymn. Oh well, everyone kept on singing anyway :) It was an interesting meeting. I'm not sure why they were holding it on a Sunday in our chapel, because that made it feel weird, but it was good stuff.

Our investigator Richie has been trying to quit smoking. He has been smoking since he was 12 (!!!), and he says that the one time he quit for six months was the best time of his life. Sister Bennion and I and another member fasted with him Saturday and Sunday. Richie is very sincere in his desires to become a better person and give up any bad habits he has, so we were really happy that he was able to fast with us. He slept most of the time, but I'm sure it still counts :) I'm sad I won't be here for his baptism (because I'm sure he will be baptised, just now), but Sister Bennion will keep me updated.

Barbados has been great. It is so beautiful here. This morning, we went and visited Bathsheba, which is a beach on the East Coast. It was so pretty. We also visited the Andromeda Gardens nearby. I will send pictures :) I had hoped to get a little more time in this place, at least one more transfer, but I will email you next week from Trinidad. It's going to be great ;)'

Love, Sister Aida Tibbitts

Chefette is like the Bajan MacDonald's.

Bathsheba Beach