Elder Bryson Ritchie's Adventures in Jamaica: Montego Bay

This week was easily the most productive week of my mission. Elder Jones and I taught 37 investigator lessons (19 member presents, 18 'others'). We have 6 investigators with a baptism date, and we had 7 investigators at church (2 were late). We've been diligent and effective with all of our time. This is also impressive considering we didn't even proselyte on Thursday (we woke up at 4am and drove to Kingston for Pres/Sis Pearson's first MLC; didn't get back until 9pm). We were very pleased with our efforts, and we know the Lord was as well. We made a conscious effort to make the most of every minute we had available. An average week is somewhere in the 14-20 range, and we had been getting 24-26 the whole transfer. We really wanted to break that 30 barrier, and through our diligence and effectiveness we were finally able to. We shouldn't ever drop under 30 again. Although it feels 'satisfying' to a missionary to teach a lot of lessons, it's much more satisfying to see our investigators come to church. We're working with some great people right now that I want to write a bit about....

Audrei. Audrei continues to benefit from her faith! Every week some new miracle occurs in here life, and it's continued. For weeks Audrei has had to leave here home at 6:30 and walk/walk/walk to the 'square' where she can get a taxi to make it to church at 10. Although it's difficult for Audrei (she's larger) and she hates walking (she's larger) she's done this week after week after week. Well luckily for her, her nephew got a car and would be able to take Audrei AND HER KIDS to church for a cheaper price AND at a better hour. Audrei was thrilled! Unfortunately, as we saw her on Saturday she said that she had a quarrel with that side of the family. "Well what happened?" "Ugghhh... well.... I called them satanic, so um yeah hahaha." We had been praying that she'd still be able to make it to church, and Sunday morning she called and said that she wasn't going to be able to make it. We were pretty bummed. As we sat in the sacrament hall before church started we saw Audrei and two of the kids walk in. Our jaws dropped. Turns out that a taxi just happened to drive right in front of her house. That never happens. She lives way out in the bush of Yorkland. Truly another miracle.

Deserene. We received a referral from the Laie, Hawaii Visitor's Center. Deserene for Paradise-Norwood, Montego Bay, Jamaica visited the Temple Grounds and wanted the missionaries to visit her. "How did you feel at the temple?" "You don't even need to ask! I felt like I was at the promised land!" Deserene is in a very different state than some of our other investigators, such as Audrei. Deserene drives a car. She has money (trip to Hawaii). She has her own salon. Because she drives, we're fortunate enough to have our lessons at the church, where she can again feel the Spirit. She's eating it all up right now. She loved church. Has great fellowship already. Feels at home. "I've been looking for the truth for a long time. I think I've found it. I'm DEFINITELY coming back."

Earl. Remember Earl? Earl is our Rasta investigator. The one who prayed "in the name of Joseph Smith amen." (We've fixed that). Earl doesn't have much 'cheese' (he calls money 'cheese'), but he showed his faith in coming to church. We finished teaching the Plan of Salvation to him after church. We brought in Bro. Badley to the lesson. Great fellowshipper. Bro. Badley is a recent convert of the Sisters, and he too is a Rasta. Earl and Bro. Badley look and act like the same person. Dreadlocks and nasty facial hair. The lesson was great (and hilarious) they spoke to each other in their own Rasta language, full of patwa and deep Rasta groans. Earl really loved it and is set on coming back.

This past Sunday was branch conference and was the most spiritually powerful sacrament meeting I've had in Jamaica. We had a member of the Mission Presidency speak, his wife, and Pres. Buchanan (branch president). They all talked about Temples. Obviously great for Deserene, and everyone else really enjoyed it. Great Sabbath Day.

I did have one more thought from church yesterday:

Only in Jamaica do 3 of the 7 investigators at church have dreadlocks.

Likkle more,

Elder Ritchie

Pic 1 - Figured no one probably knows what breadfruit is. Breadfruit is delicious. It's huge and grows on a .... breadfruit tree. It's been roasted, then skinned, and I just fried some.