Spanish Town - 1

pic 1 - Linstead District

pic 2 - Goodbye to Mama Davis and Papa Rasta (Pay no attention to what is in his left hand)

It was hard leaving Linstead but I'm excited for this new transfer. Wednesday was transfer day and I am now serving with Elder Patrick from North Ogden, UT in Spanish Town. Spanish Town is relatively close to Linstead, but very different. Linstead is very bush, green, and rains a lot. Spanish Town is very hot and rains a lot less than Linstead. Not as pretty as Linstead, but there's a lot less mosquitoes and the showers aren't ice cold anymore. Spanish Town is one of the larger areas in Jamaica. 

There are 2 healthy wards here. Three companionships in Spanish Town 1st Ward (where I'm serving) and two companionships in 2nd Ward. Elder Patrick get along great and we have some great missionaries serving here. Every M/Tu/Th/Sat. we all get up at 5:15 and work out with all the elders and some of the young men preparing for missions. Monday is american football, Tues/Thurs is basketball. Saturday is football (soccer), and A LOT of neighbors come for that one. Really loving Spanish Town so far.

Right now Elder Patrick and I have several solid investigators. Adrian is the 11 year old son of a recently reactivated sister in the ward. He has an older brother serving a mission in the Dominican Republic right now. Adrian will be getting baptized this upcoming Saturday.

Mario and Michelle are a 20 yr. old couple with a 1 yr. old baby. They've been together for 6 years, have a child, live together, and aren't married. Michelle seems more motivated than Mario right now. She reads, prays, and asks great questions. We'll be teaching the Law of Chastity this week, and we're excited to work with them towards marriage and baptism.

Afat is a man we met while walking in his scheme. We scheduled a return appointment with him for Sunday afternoon. Yesterday morning I called to confirm the appointment, then I invited him to church. Even though it was on such short notice, Afat walked the 2+ miles to church and arrived 30 minutes early. He enjoyed it, and our lesson with him in the evening went great as well.

Elder Ritchie

Linstead - 18

Elder Chappell and I looking fly with our matching Christmas ties!

 Stake Conference / My Last Sunday with Sister Ulanda Davis and fam

Stake Conference / My Last Sunday with Sister Shantel Segree

Christmas lights in Kingston for Stake Conference

Transfer calls were last Saturday, and I was hoping I'd be staying in Linstead with Elder Chappell for another transfer, but I'll be moving to Spanish Town this Wednesday. Linstead has been great and I'd love to stay here, but I'm excited to be serving in Spanish Town soon.

This past week we've had several investigators really start to love the Book of Mormon. Fabian and Camelia have been reading consistently. Camelia is loving the Book of Mormon. She is marking the book and retaining very well. They even helped us teach another investigator about the Book of Mormon.

Mark, another investigator, is also progressing quickly. He listened in on a Book of Mormon lesson with another investigator a few weeks ago, but we were finally able to visit with him this past week. He knows the Restoration pamphlet, Introduction to the BoM, and Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith like the back of his hand. He has his doubts and concerns, but is willing and eager to be open, sincere, and pray about these things.

Linstead has been great, and I'm really excited for this area that I've been serving in. These next couple transfers should be seeing some baptisms.

Elder Ritchie

pic 1 - Stake Conference / My Last Sunday with Sister Ulanda Davis and fam

pic 2 - Stake Conference / My Last Sunday with Sister Shantel Segree

Linstead -17

 Elder Me in the Tru-Juice orange fields

Leading up to this past week, our transfer had been going great, but this week was a bit rough. We've been teaching several people these past few weeks who are turning out to be not as elect as we thought them to be. Although it's been frustrating at times, this has been a very necessary week to sift through our new investigators and find those who are prepared and willing to accept and live the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Denise, one of our top progressing investigators who will be baptized this December, attended church in Spanish Town with her daughter who is also being taught there.

Fabian and Camelia couldn't make it to church this week because they were at a funeral. We had a great lesson with them last night though. They are committed and serious. We're really excited for them.

We've had several other investigators commit to coming to church this past week, but as 10 o'clock rolled by, no one came. At 10:45/ish a sister in the ward came up to me and told me that 3 young men (20/ish years old) were outside the chapel asking for me. Our investigator Shavane came and brought 2 of his friends. They all came in looking 'fresh'. White designer jeans, low-buttoned polo, converse, cane rows into a bun, too much cologne. Looking real 'fly'. The members did a GREAT job of making them feel welcome. We have another lesson with him coming up, and they'll be at church again next week. Shavane is very gifted physically (49 sec. 400m) but struggles intellectually (can't read well). He's a slow learner, but very sincere. We're very excited to continue to teach him.

We've also met several really promising potentials this week. We're excited to meet with them in these next few days.

Elder James Bryson Ritchie

pic 1 - Lightning storm

pic 2 - Elder Me in the Tru-Juice orange fields

pic 3 - Our taxi driver with his rum tucked near his seat

Linstead - 16

pic 1 - Elder Chappel and I with Fabian, Camelia, and Fabian's younger sister yesterday after church for lunch. They taught us how to make fried chicken, rice and peas, and carrot juice.

This past week has been great, but, unfortunately, our mission is now putting a hard restriction on email time. I will likely not be able to respond to many emails like I've been able to, but please continue to keep me updated with letters and pictures. I'm so grateful for all of you that take an interest in me, and I apologize ahead of time if I'm unable to respond to your email.

I don't have much time now, but this week really has been great. This week we had 4 investigators at church and with more on date for baptism. Elder Chappell and I have set high goals for this week, and we'll work hard to achieve them.

I'll make sure to have a better email this next week.

Love,

Elder Ritchie