I want to take a minute to talk about one of our investigators, Goffery. Goffery is the baby-father of Sister Salmon's pregnant belly. Sister Salmon has been a member of the church since 2007, held callings, and has been active since. She has a genuine testimony that this is the ONLY true church. Goffery is one of the first people I met with when I arrived in Linstead. He had visited several times with Elder Hall and his last companion before me, but there hadn't been much progress. When I first met Goffery, I wasn't impressed with him. I could tell that the only reason he agreed to meet with us is because his baby-mother was making him. He had no interest in us. He wasn't ever engaged in the lesson. Always really quiet and withdrawn. He has changed SO MUCH. I love Goffery now. He's a GREAT man and will be a GREAT father. A few weeks ago we challenged him to pray. He wouldn't pray in front of us, but he said he'd pray on his own. We meet with him 3 times a week and he progressed EVERY TIME until he started praying with us there! His prayers are genuine and sincere. He prays for our safety and well being. He loves to pray. He wakes Sister Salmon up in the morning and initiates family prayer. He is now a kind and outgoing guy, where before he was so withdrawn. He can't be baptized until they get legally married, and he can't get married until he gets another copy of his lost birth certificate, and he can't get that until he gets money, and he doesn't get much money. They're very poor. They live in a 10'X10' shack with zinc shingles roofing, but they are a happy people.
The 6 of us missionaries serving in the Linstead Ward taught 3rd hour last week. Bishop Richardson and the 6 of us talked about the importance of member missionary work. After Bishop pumping everybody up, and after the missionaries pumping everybody up, we go ZERO referrals. Frustrating. Almost discouraging. But definitely frustrating. The church in Jamaica is not growing very fast. Missionary work in Jamaica opened the same year that missionary work opened in Haiti. Jamaica got their first stake last year. Haiti has multiple stakes and a temple is under construction. Member missionary work is a big deal in Haiti. We're trying to emphasize that here too. Elder Martinez of the seventy and Elder Cornish of the seventy (presiding over the Caribbean missions) have told the missionaries here that this is the most obedient mission they've seen. We've got hard working elders and sisters, but (for the most part) Jamaicans would rather hear about Jesus from a Jamaican rather than some white guy. Member missionary work is important. I encourage EVERYONE back home to spread the gospel to those who need it.... and EVERYONE needs it!! At zone conference a few weeks ago, Elder Martinez of the seventy presided. He told us about the church in Cuba. Obviously there are no missionaries in Cuba, and he told us that he hopes that the church NEVER send missionaries to Cuba because of the member missionary work there. The church is growing in Cuba, and it is 100% done by the members. You do not have to wear a nametag to be a missionary!! I encourage everyone to share the gospel with someone not of our faith.
Like I said earlier, the 6 of us elders thought that our member missionary lesson was a waste time, but then Goffery has stepped up to be the best member missionary in the ward..... and he's not even a member! We're are now teaching 4 other people because of him! 4!!! 2 of them are on date for baptism next month, and the other 2 seem really interested.
I've loved seeing the progression in Goffery. He loves praying. He loves church. He loves being a missionary.
We've also had quite the setback though. Sabastian was on date for Aug. 30th. He pushed back his date because he didn't think he was ready. He was worthy and had a testimony, but he wanted to get over his anger problem first though. Just as things seemed to be clearing up, and we were hoping he'd get baptized soon, we got bad news yesterday. This morning Sabstian moved. He moved a long ways away where we won't be able to meet with him, and there is no church near him. He's dirt poor and can't afford to taxi, and he can't wheelchair to church anymore because he lives miles and miles away. That's rough. It's been really hard on Elder Hall because he's been teaching Sabastian since last transfer. Hope he can continue to read and pray, and maybe one day he will enter the waters of baptism.
Also..... BYU won!!! I think the hardest part of the mission so far has been the ZERO-CONTACT with ESPN. Hahahaha, but seriously this weekend was driving me nuts not knowing how the game went. I'm glad to have hear that BYU won in exciting fashion, but I'm heartbroken to hear that Taysom will have his 3rd straight season ending injury.
Life in Jamaica is good though. This is The Lord's work, and I'm glad to be a part of it.
Elder Ritchie
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