Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips

Hey guys! I'm glad you had a good week, I know I did. Tara, our baptismal date for last week, kind of ran away from home, so her baptism will have to be postponed. The good news is she is presently back home and has committed to us that she will not run away again. We also have been working with this kid named Bhola, who is a member of a part member family the Woods visit fairly often. We are trying to see if we can't get him baptized before they leave. Elder Owens is great. We get along really well and he is a fantastic missionary. This weeks planning session "by the book" went really well. It really helped me to see how badly we need new investigators. We have been trying harder to find cool people ever since. My Testimony is getting stronger by the day. I have been reading in Jesus the Christ in my spare time, and especially this week have had the opportunity to pause and reflect on our saviors sacrifice for us. It is, for me, a great blessing that Grandpa passed away so close to Easter, when the blessings of the resurrection are on most everyone's mind. It is really cool that you get to see Elder Bunker. I hope you told him hi for me. Make sure you give Grandma extra hugs for me. She is such a trooper and I love her so much. I am sad I had to miss the funeral, but I am glad it was nice. His obituary was awesome, definitely Grandpa. Well, I gotta go. I love you guys and will talk to you next week!!!

Happy Easter

Dear Friends and Family,The church is true! I'm so grateful for the strength and comfort of the gospel.Monday evening we went to see Bela. She's having a hard time. We just talked to her about enduring trials. She's going to need a lot of support right now. Then we went to see Justian at the chapel. We taught him about Fasting and he agreed to do it. He's funny. Then we had family home evening. I love it so much. It really is inspired :)Tuesday was Zone Conference and it was really good. It really strengthened me and helped me think about how I can be a better missionary. Then afterwards we had interviews. It was good to talk with President. I'm still amazed at Grandpa's goodness, and that he gave a Patriarchal blessing just last week. I'm so grateful for the comfort of the gospel. I also found out that my release date is 3 September 2009. Crazy.Wednesday morning we went to see Nikki. It was really good. She's such an amazing woman. Then we went and saw Rebecca. We talked about the Word of Wisdom. She already is living it :) Then in the evening we went to see Bela, and the Muir's came with us and Brother Muir gave her a blessing. It was really nice.Thursday we did our planning. We also saw Justian, and he had Nicholas and Micheal with him again. We talked about obedience. It was good.Friday was a great day. We went to see a new investigator named Asha, and Vinod and Shency also joined in. They're from India and they're Christian Orthodox. We brought Suresh with us, and it was a really good lesson. Suresh is great :). Then we went to see Rebecca and we met her brother-in-law David. He's a member, and he's super nice. He's from Portugal, and he hasn't been to church since he moved to this country, but he's ready to come back. It's really exciting. He'll be a good support for Rebecca. Then we went to see Justian. We taught him about the importance of daily prayer and scripture study. He's doing well, working hard. He's still got a ways to go, but he'll make it.Saturday was another good day. We went to see the Polish family, and John was home, so we had a good lesson. I'm extra excited because there's an American couple in Chelmsford that speak Polish, and they're going to come teaching with us next week! It's exciting. Other than that, we did a lot of finding on Saturday, but it was good.Yesterday was great! I love Easter. I especially loved having fast and testimony meeting on Easter. It was soooo good. Sister Andersen and I taught the Gospel Principles class because the Stevenson's are still in America. We just read from the New Testament about Jesus Christ's life and atonement. It was really good. At least I enjoyed it :) Then in Relief Society we had a lesson about overcoming adversity. This whole week actually I've felt like I've been able to see in a lot of people how they deal with their sadness, trial, and adversity, and I've been more aware than ever of how the gospel is the only way to come through these things unscarred. I'm so grateful for the gospel. I love my family for all that they teach me about love, and I want to be with them forever. The gospel is full of love and life. It's the greatest! Then Sunday evening we saw a man named Kwame. We actually just met him on Saturday and he invited us back. Sister Robertson came with us, and it was a really good lesson! He said that he's come in contact with our church twice before, and when we came he thought, 'This is the third time! I'd better do something about it.' He's from Ghana and he has great faith. He wants to be baptized, and we set his date for 16 May 2009. He drinks alcohol occasionally, but when we started teaching he just said, "Is it against your religion to drink alcohol?" We said yes, and he committed to give it up right then and there. It's pretty cool. He also was like, "Why are there so many churches if there is only one God!?" He was really confused by it, and when we taught him about the Great Apostasy he was so excited. He said, "I had a question and you answered it. I am eternally indebted to you." He also thinks I have beautiful handwriting. He loves America as well. He's funny. We're excited about him :)So it was a good week :) oh and Happy Easter everyone!Mom- I'm glad that Grandma is doing okay. I was worried about her. I can't imagine how hard it must be for her. I think it's hilarious that Danny is serving in Hillary and Denny's ward! That's great!Dad- The funeral sounds absolutely beautiful. I'm sad I couldn't be there, but I'm glad I'm here as well. I know it's helped me so much to remain focused on the plan that God has for each of us.Nathan- That's so fun that you got to see your cousins! I love you!Elder Ison- Thanks for your testimony. So much for not crying in the middle of an Internet Cafe :-P Oh, and Happy Birthday and Happy Easter!Everyone- I love you so much. I hope you all had a happy Easter!Love,Sister Ison

Even so in Christ, shall all be made alive

Hey guys!

First off, I want to let you all know how much I love you. You guys are the best family anyone could ever ask for. When President Robison called me this morning to tell me about Grandpa, I can't say that I wasn't surprised. As I listened to the words of General Conference, I almost couldn't help but feel that they were preparing me for this. I am grateful for that. I know that I am going to miss that great man so much, but I know that the Lord is making good use of him on the other side. He was such a great example to me of how a Father and a Grandfather should love his children. It's no wonder to me that he was called to be a Patriarch in the church. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to do that report on him, and to learn a little more about his life. He was definitely one of my Hero's, and I am grateful to God for being born into his posterity, and for the blessing of spending time with him in this life. I find comfort in the plan of salvation and the knowledge that he led a good life. Make sure Grandma knows how much I love her and how much I am praying for her. Everything I love about Grandpa is in her too. They were, to me, the perfect example of love and support, and I want her to know that she is an inspiration in my life. Tell everyone how much I love them and that they are all in my prayers too. I know that this is a hard time for everyone, and I am grateful that they are still around. I gotta stop now before I start crying in the middle of this cyber-cafe.
Anyways, This week was a good one, mostly spent getting acquainted with everyone and orienting myself. We worked with the recent converts a lot, and even set a date with the daughter who didn't get baptized last week. This week will probably be a finding week, but I am hoping that the members will take Elder Perry's words to heart, because that would definitely make our lives easier! The Members here, like in every area I've been in, are awesome, but it is different considering that half of them are American! My studies have definitely been helpful, I have been reading through the finding chapter in PMG and reading through my scriptures trying to figure out what would help my investigators the most. Conference was amazing and strengthened my testimony about the church again. I hope to be able to apply what I learned to the work here in Grenada. This week we had been working a lot with the Johnsons, the family that was baptized last week. Their daughter told us that she didn't feel ready yet. We didn't get to see her a lot this week either, because she stayed at a friends for most of the week. We went over Saturday to invite them to Conference and Tara was home, so we asked her to come too. She came to the Sunday morning session and later that evening we went to see her again. We asked her if she would be baptized this coming weekend and she said yes. We told her that if she followed the prophets counsel to study diligently, pray fervently, and live righteously, that she would be blessed for it and be ready to start on the path to eternal life this weekend.

I want to bear my testimony about the church now. I know that its true. This mission I am on has changed my life. I am grateful for the knowledge of the plan of salvation, and for the Saviors Atonement in my life. I have seen the fruits of the Church throughout my life, and how great a blessing it has been to my family, but I guess I didn't realize it til now. I love you guys so much, and thank you for your love and support.
I love you guys

Elder Ison

P.S. My address is:

Elder Ison c/o The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
PO Box 3804
Lagoon Rd, St. George's
Grenada, West Indies

It really is a sad and happy day.

Dear Friends and Family,
President Foulger called me this morning to give me the news that Grandpa had passed away. It is sad, but I am so grateful for the knowledge we have that we can see him again. It really is amazing. And this conference, and this entire week have been so amazing, I know Heavenly Father is showing his tender mercies.
Tuesday we had district meeting. We have a new senior couple in our district. It's so exciting. They are Elder and Sister Ricks, from Rexburg Idaho. And yes, they are related to the "Ricks" of Ricks College. :) They are really sweet and I'm excited to serve around them. Also we have a new district leader. Elder Smith is his name. He's from Tonga, and he's awesome Elder VanNiederhausern is still here (I think I spell his name different every time... haha... I just don't know). I love our district. It's great! Then after district meeting we went to see Justin and we taught him the first half of the plan of salvation. It was really good. He never ceases to amaze me. He is making sooooo many changes in his life. He wants to do what is right and follow his heart. I love it! Then (as if the day couldn't get any better) we went to see a woman named Rebecca for the first time. We met her last week OYMing. We introduced that Book of Mormon and she said she knew who we were because some of her family were members. We gave our "conditional" commitment, and asked her to be baptized when she knew it was true, and she told us that she already knew it was true, that she wasn't ready before but that she was ready to accept God in her life now, especially for her little one year old daughter Chanelle (who, by the way, is adorable). It was a great lesson, and she's going to be baptized on 9 May 2009. Then in the evening we went to visit a sweet old woman named Edna, who is blind. It was nice to visit with her.
Wednesday was a crazy day.... let's just say that we got to practice Elder Wirthlin's counsel to learn to laugh. We went out OYMing in the morning and then came home to have lunch. Then when we left the house I left the keys on the table and got us locked out! We didn't know what to do, but then I remembered that there was a set of spare keys on the table next to the door, so I thought that if we had some sort of wire hanger thing we might be able to reach them through the post box. Well we walked to a corner shop but they didn't have any wire hangers. so we just bought some plastic curtains... because they were wrapped around a plastic stick, to see if we might be able to open the door somehow. Well, we took it home and stuck our hand in the post box, and we were able to knock everything off the table out of the way and see the keys, but then we still couldn't figure out what to do. So we called the Stevenson's children (because the Stevenson's have gone to America) and explained the situation and asked for a wire hanger. We got one, but we just couldn't reach the key with it. By this point one of our neighbors saw us and came to help. After very many struggles and trying several ideas he was finally able to get the keys. It was a miracle. So we got the keys, and we went to put them in the door, and they didn't work! We were shocked. what were these keys for then? So we went and knocked on our neighbor's door and asked her if there was any way we could get into our back garden from her garden. She was able to lift up the fence and let us into our garden, but the key wouldn't work for the back door either. We had exhausted all our options, so we called the office. They gave us the number for our landlord, and we were able to get a spare key from her. Oh man, it was so simple. haha, I learned an important lesson. Call the office first. :-P Oh well, we had some good laughs. It was just a weird day all together. Obama is in the country. While we were walking to the Stevenson's a pigeon ran into the shop we were walking past. While we were tracting a woman invited us back in an hour and when we came back, an entirely different family answered the door and said that no one Polish (the woman was polish) ever lived there. It was fun though. In the evening we went to Gloria's house and had dinner. It was a good way to end a strange day.
Thursday morning we did our planning and then we went to see Justin. When we got there, not only was Justin there, but so was Nicholas, Ahmed, and Micheal, three of his friends. They wanted to see his church. Sister Robertson came teaching with us, and it was a really good lesson. We taught them the Restoration and answered some of their questions about what Justin was doing. It was great. Then in the evening it was really interesting because we went to see Bela, and her eye was all red and bloodshot. Then she told us that she couldn't see anything out of her right eye! Apparently her eye suddenly started hemorrhaging, and she can't see anything at all. It was sad, but she's hanging in there. It's crazy how fast life can change.
Friday afternoon we saw Justin again. Seriously, he never ceases to amaze me. He's doing so well. Then we went to see Brother Conteh. He's so nice. He is doing good member missionary work as well. Then in the evening we went to see Baetsi, Linda and Mark. We're hoping to get Linda to mutual Tuesday night.
Saturday was a great day. In the morning we decided to stop by Nikki's house, because we hadn't been able to get a hold of her by phone. She was home, but she was on her way to the Post office. So we traveled with her, and got to catch up with her, and set an appointment with her for Wednesday. She is so sweet. Then we had Fish n' Chips for lunch (to celebrate conference). We then got to go to conference in the evening. It was the Saturday morning session and it was absolutely perfect! Especially for Justin (He was there). It was amazing. I really could feel the spirit. I was just so happy. Justin really enjoyed it was well. Oh man, I can't even begin to say how amazing it was and share everything I learned. Sunday was equally amazing. I especially was excited when Quentin L.Cook spoke about the London Buses. Because I had to ride on one of those buses and it made me so mad. It's amazing how they can address so many concerns in one conference! Throughout the conference i just kept thinking about how they never said things were getting better, but that we would make it through the hard times. Oh man, it was just sooo good. They also spoke quite a bit about respect. Man, did I mention that I LOVED conference! :) Also, things that made Sunday extra-ly awesome:
1. Elder Smith, Elder VanNeiderhausen, and their investigator Luke, made us lunch, AND Elder Smith did the dishes.
2. I got a parcel from Simon, full of sweets, and most excitingly, a letter! He's getting married to Nina for time and all eternity in August!
3. Justin came and so did his friend Micheal! They both really enjoyed it, and Micheal decided he wants to learn more.
It was just a happy happy day. Also, we had been sad, because Rebecca told us that she was coming, and then didn't show up, but we got to talk to her, and she actually just got lost. And while we're sad she got lost, we are happy that she was at least trying to come! I'm so excited about her.
I know that Heavenly Father loves and watches over his children, and even though I miss Grandpa very much already, I know that he is in a place where he can rest. I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and his many tender mercies.

I'm completely out of time... I'll try and write some letters this week.

Give everyone my love.

Love,
Sister Ison