Pics!

 

Roti at a prayers.

 

Petting a goat.

 

Spider Time - 28 September 2015

Dear Family,

We came home one night to find a HUGE SPIDER on the ceiling above Sister Leishman's bed. It was seriously bigger than my hand. Yes, there was a lot of screaming. Yes, I smashed the living heck out of it. It was a great experience. Trinidad has some big bugs in it, especially at rainy season time.

We went to go visit one of our investigators after district meeting on Tuesday and he basically told us that he is not interesting in converting from Hinduism. He's a great guy who reads from the Book of Mormon and "believes it is true," but he has decided that we basically teach the same thing so it doesn't really matter. Yeah. So, we were sad about that, but we've seen some progress in a few other of our investigators. One of the hardest things from people to understand is the priesthood and that there is only one true church, but a young woman named Emily got it one time: "So, if my pastor doesn't have this power, he doesn't have the authority to baptize me?" No ma'am. That was a miracle for true. We were also stopped on the street by a man who wanted us to teach his daughters. They don't seem very interested, but he and his mom have been taking the lessons. Like Sister Leishman says, when one door closes, two more open. It was pretty cool.

Hey Mom, I thought you might like this: One of our investigators has a cross that has six birthstones on it. I know you like birthstones, so I thought you would like that :)

Have a great week! I am so excited for General Conference. Look out for those you could invite to view it, because you never know whose prayers you could answer.

Love, Sister Aida Tibbitts

I De Princess, You De Frog - 21 September 2015

Dear Family,

I've had some interesting moments this week. For one thing, this morning we helped one of our investigators do her dishes and sweep her floor, and then went and helped two guys clean a house they will be renting out. It was lots of fun!

It's also been raining a lot this week. That's not too much of a problem because we have a car, but Trinidadians are afraid of the rain so it's tough to see them when cats and dogs are coming down. We went to try and find a less-active yesterday. She told us not to come because her yard was flooded, but I thought since she can make it in and out, how flooded can it be? Um, pretty flooded. I felt like I was in The Princess and the Frog, walking through a swamp with sheep and cranes everywhere. But we found her, and luckily I decided to wear my Keens (water-shoes) that day!

While visiting an investigator, Bony, he invited us to help his wife peel shrimp. It was super-nasty, because you have to pull off their heads and blood comes squirting out, and you have to peel their exoskeleton off. They look like roaches, so I was freaked out the whole time. But hey, all these things will give me experience, eh? :D

We had a pretty amazing thing happen the other night: Sister Leishman had cut her foot shaving, so she had a big bandaid on it. Everyone was asking her what was wrong with it, and praying for her foot. That night, she took the bandaid off to go shower . . . and the cut was gone. She said it was a pretty deep cut too, and it had simply vanished. There wasn't even blood on the bandage. So, we freaked out about that for a bit, but I think that's just a testimony of the power of prayer. Dudes, prayer works.

I have officially been away for 10 months! That's not much of a milestone, but I'll celebrate what I can get. One of our zone leaders is going home on Thursday, so he gave a talk yesterday; it was amazing. He talked about how he had changed completely on his mission. He had gone past the point of simply not sinning, and then something happened that caused him to forget himself and go to work. He realized that he was simply nothing compared to the Lord, that his heart was broken and his spirit contrite, and that's when everything---the lessons, the scriptures, prayers---started making sense. I realized that I don't need to be a perfect missionary, because sometimes I get stressed out thinking about everything I need to do and work on wondering what I need to focus on, but that I just need to change. I need to realize that I am nothing without Jesus Christ and allow that to change me. Easier said than done, but I guess realizing that is the first step, ent?

I hope everything is well with all yuh. I like hearing from you guys too, even if I don't have a lot of time to respond. Love you all,

Sister Aida Tibbitts

Cast Done! - 7 September 2015

Exciting news! I had a great day Friday. We went to the doctor . . .

. . . and got my cast off! Yay!

Zone Conf, MLC, Stake Conf - 7 September 2015

Anyway, it's been a great week. Zone Conference, MLC, and Stake Conference.

At zone conference, we had Elder Martinez from the Seventy and his wife. He talked about the worth of a soul. In MLC the next day, his wife lead a roleplay with four of the zone leaders in teaching about how to correct disobedient behavior, and he talked to us about how to be unanimous in our councils, including ward council. He showed us D&C 107:27-31, which is really good for learning how to be united. Basically, we just need Christlike attributes.

Stake conference was broadcast from Port of Spain to Couva. That basically meant we couldn't hear half of it, but the parts we did hear were really good. President and Sister Egbert talked about the Atonement. A young man talked about the importance of working towards the temple. Sometimes I wonder, if we hadn't had a temple so close to where we lived, would I have made the sacrifice that a lot of people here have to make? It humbles you a bit.

Also, random fact, but yesterday and today are the 12th anniversaries of my own baptism and confirmation :)

Love, Sister Aida Tibbitts

Zone Conference!

 

Selfie with Sheep.

 

Missionary work like a boss.

 

 

Red or Yellow? - 2 September 2015

Dear Family,

Sorry I am writing late; Monday was Trinidad's Independance Day, so they switched our P-Day. It was a pretty chill holiday, not many people on the roads. Election Day is next week, though, so there have been a lot of rallies. That is a lot more fun than at home: they will have a huge truck with speakers BLASTING LOUD MUSIC and people dancing around it. They have two main parties just like in the States. We managed to get hold of some merchandise from both parties, so I'll bring it home as a souvenir :)

It has been an exciting week: we met a cool guy named Rohan last week. He owns a car shop, so we went over Monday to help him sand a car so it can be painted. It was a lot more work then you might think. The primer has to be sprayed on and sanded off several times before it is actually painted. Rohan is very prepared to hear the gospel. He says that he is blessed to have us over, and he said that if he knew the Book of Mormon was true, he would definitely get baptized.

Last week I went on a shadow of the Point Fortin sisters, Sister Graziano and Sister Tongi. We climbed up a steep hill to see an investigator, and then Sister Tongi carried me back down. On Saturday, we went back down to Point for the baptism of an investigator that Sister Galea'i had taught. It was in the sea, with a storm rolling in, so it was really cool :D

Some other cool things: we went by an investigator named Antonio the other night, and about six of his friends were over playing cards. At first we were thinking that maybe this wasn't a good idea, but when we sat down the guys asked some very sincere questions and enjoyed talking about the Restoration. They were cool guys. We have also been having a lot of success in seeking referrals from members; I don't know what it is, but they have just been giving them to us. And the people they refer us to are very prepared people, too. Basically, we are having a good time here in Couva. I really love it here.

Zone Conference is tomorrow. Elder Hugo Martinez from the Seventy is going to be talking to us. On Friday is Missionary Leadership Conference, which I am going to because I am an STL. So, it's going to be an exciting week!

Good news: I might be getting my cast off tomorrow!

Have a great week, love Sister Aida Tibbitts

 

Sister Tongi carrying me down the hill.

 

Service, Please! - 24 August 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

So, you know how the missionaries and home teachers and thing ask if they can do something for you? Please, just let them help you. We've been trying to find service all week and everyone just says, "No, we're fine. All of our dishes are clean." Just let us help you!

We did help some random guy wash his car. That was fun. I sprayed everyone. I mean, it is kind of hard to control the hose when you're balancing on one leg ;D And we helped a family that is moving to clean their new apartment. Well, I say new: there was like 40 years of cigarette smoke on the walls. But, it was cool.

Things tried this week: scorpion pepper, reportedly the second-hottest pepper in the world. I only tried a tiny dab and was coughing for quite some time. And Sister Chanka was tossing it on like ketchup! Also, sawine, which is a Muslim dessert. It is noodles in sweetened condensed milk with raisins and cherries and thing. I thought it was good, but Sisters Galea'i and Lapides didn't like it.

Also learned a lesson on the importance of the Spirit this week: We went to teach a Muslim man named Refeeze. He was nice enough, but for some reason we were just having the hardest time teaching him. Poor Sister Lapides was struggling to keep it going, but the rest of us were just receiving NO inspiration. It was like the Spirit was stopping our utterance. I don't know what it was . . . maybe he was not ready for the gospel. So, if you receive not the Spirit, you shall not teach, and also you CANNOT teach. I feel like as I have tried really hard to be sensitive to the Spirit, I have felt Him more. Seek Him.

Scripture of the week: Alma 28:13-14. How can we help lessen this inequality among men?

Hope you have a great week!

Love, Sister Aida Tibbitts