Hey guys!
CRAZY WEEK. I am finally in Guyana (got here yesterday morning) and I am ok. St. Maarten was pretty awesome, and we were told we would be there til wednesday, But the next day they called us to tell Elder Wright and I that we were leaving the next day. So Saturday afternoon we flew to Trinidad, passing through Barbados, and stayed the night with President at the Mission Home. Yesterday at 4 we woke up and got ready and flew here. They put me with an elder from St. Vincent, who is going to train, but his companion doesn't show up til Wednesday, so I am here til then. Wednesday I get to move in with Elder Wright and kinda open an area with the rest of the Guadeloupe Elders. Apparently it Baptizes alot, so that will be cool. Most likley I'll be here til April 1st, so I don't think it is worth it to send anything here, so just wait til I have further information. I am pretty sure that because I have a Prefecture rendez vous I'll be OK to go back. Its really cool down here though, Its almost like a whole different mission. The people here are really humble. I don't know too much about it yet, but I will keep you posted.
Mom: I hope you had a good visit!
Dad: I will keep you posted about the Camera thing, I might want to buy one here if I can find one. I hope I answered all of your questions!
Steph: I have to write you a HUGE letter, but I don't know how the post works around here... I will try my best.
Susan: I saw the Larsons Yesterday, I will try to talk to them again before they go home Friday!!!
Grandma and Grandpa: I LOVE YOU
Thats about all the time I have this morning, but I will TTYL
Peace,
Elder Ison
Monday, February 23, 2009
Oh how I love my sleep.... :-P and food, haha
Dear Friends and Family,
Thank-you so much for the excellent Birthday wishes! :) It's been such a busy week, let me tell you.
Monday evening we went to see Bella. She's such a sweet lady. She loves to study the gospel :) We spoke to her about baptism and the Law of Chastity. It was a good lesson. Then in the evening we had Singles Home Evening. We taught the lesson, and we talked a bit about Patriarchal blessings. It was really good. Then we played a really fun game, that was some combination of pictionary and charades using famous people. I always love when we have chances to play games.
Tuesday in the morning my Birthday package came. Thanks! I loved it! I especially love the little jewelry box and the necklace. It was beautiful. In the morning on Tuesday we did a lot of finding. Then in the afternoon we went to see a woman who I call Sister Y. because I can't pronounce her name, haha. We taught her children. They're really cute, but it was a bit awkward because the mom didn't join in the lesson. Then we went to see a woman we found last week named Sarah. Her 9 year old daughter, Dorothy, was there. It was a really good lesson. Sarah agreed to read and pray. I'm actually really excited about them. I think they have a lot of potential. Then in the evening we saw Baetsi, Linda, and Mark. We taught them the Word of Wisdom and they committed to live it. Baetsi had to give up her tea, but the kids had no problem. :) I love them! Then when we came home I made the cake that you sent me. Mmmm, haha, but I got all ready for Wednesday to take to district meeting.
So on Tuesday in the morning we had District meeting. I'm excited about my new district. I think it will be good. There's an Elder Cardon there who wants to ask Grandma and Grandpa if they've ever been to a Riverton Municple Orchestra Concert (or something like that), because he's a member of it :) Then in the evening we went to the Fowles for dinner. They're a family originally from Provo, Utah. It was great. They have three adorable little daughters.
Thursday in the morning we went to see Tom again. He was full of questions, as always, but it wasn't a bad lesson. Then we did planning, and in the afternoon we saw Sister Yetunde (Sister Y. :) ) and the kids. We found out that her brother is actually a member of the church, but he's inactive. We also explained a bit more about our purpose, and how we'd like her to come to church and join in the lessons, so it was good to work to sort that out. Then we went and saw Abenaa. I also got to meet her two daughters. They are so precious. They are moving to Kingston on 1 March 2009! It's so soon. Lisa, the older daughter, was crying because she was scared to move to a new school. But by the end of the appointment with a bit of convincing from Abenaa and us she was feeling much better. They are so cute. Then we had correlation with the Stevensons, and it was good, although I was feeling rather ill, but luckily then we got to go home, and I got to go to bed :) .
I felt much better when I woke up Friday mroning and we went to Brother Beasley's and we brought Suresh with us. It was a really good lesson, and we taught Suresh about Family History. Then in the evening we went and saw a recent convert named Brother Conteh. He's really good! :) Then we went with the Stevenson's to see Baetsi and the kids. It was a really good lesson on following the prophet, and Baetsi said she hadn't had tea allllll day. It was so exciting.
Saturday we saw two new investigators: Nadine and Daniel. I love new investigators :) Nadine is from the Congo, and she has 4 ADORABLE children. She has great faith in Christ, and agreed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Daniel is from Zimbabwe, and we saw him with his daughter Isabelle. Isabelle seemed a bit skeptical, but Daniel seemed open. It was a good morning :) Then in the evening we did some finding.
Sunday was great, as usual. I LOVE Sundays. They're my favourite. Baetsi wasn't feeling well so she couldn't come, it was pretty devastating. Mfundo came to church again, so that was exciting. So did Bella. Also, this woman walked in off the street she said her name was Esperanza, and she was looking for a local church. She's from Spain. It was so exciting. We explained briefly about our church and the Book of Mormon. She loved it and said she would come next week :) Then after church we went to see the Mizen family. Brother Mizen is a funny man, so that was good. Then we went to see Joice again. Her poor daughter, Yolanda, is not feeling very well. I love Joice, she is so cute, and I hope we can help her come to church. Then we went to see Bella, and spoke about the Word of Wisdom. After that we went to see Mfundo. It was really good to see him. He seems very confused by all the different churches, but I hope that he will read and pray and feel the spirit.
So that's my week. It's been a really good one, and a VERY busy one. But I sleep well at night. :)
Mom- It sounds like you have had an amazing week. Give everyone my love!
Dad- How are all the boys!? Haha. Sounds like you are busy. Say hello to Quince for me. Thanks so much for everything you do!
Nathan- Yay, mommy's coming home! I love you!
Elder Ison- I'm so glad you got my letter! I didn't know if you would get it with everything going on! Let me know what address to write you at now, once you know. :)
Uncle Curt, Aunt Joan, and Emily- Thank-you so much for the Birthday card(s) :) I did get both.
Everyone Else- I love you all!
Love,
Sister Ison
Thank-you so much for the excellent Birthday wishes! :) It's been such a busy week, let me tell you.
Monday evening we went to see Bella. She's such a sweet lady. She loves to study the gospel :) We spoke to her about baptism and the Law of Chastity. It was a good lesson. Then in the evening we had Singles Home Evening. We taught the lesson, and we talked a bit about Patriarchal blessings. It was really good. Then we played a really fun game, that was some combination of pictionary and charades using famous people. I always love when we have chances to play games.
Tuesday in the morning my Birthday package came. Thanks! I loved it! I especially love the little jewelry box and the necklace. It was beautiful. In the morning on Tuesday we did a lot of finding. Then in the afternoon we went to see a woman who I call Sister Y. because I can't pronounce her name, haha. We taught her children. They're really cute, but it was a bit awkward because the mom didn't join in the lesson. Then we went to see a woman we found last week named Sarah. Her 9 year old daughter, Dorothy, was there. It was a really good lesson. Sarah agreed to read and pray. I'm actually really excited about them. I think they have a lot of potential. Then in the evening we saw Baetsi, Linda, and Mark. We taught them the Word of Wisdom and they committed to live it. Baetsi had to give up her tea, but the kids had no problem. :) I love them! Then when we came home I made the cake that you sent me. Mmmm, haha, but I got all ready for Wednesday to take to district meeting.
So on Tuesday in the morning we had District meeting. I'm excited about my new district. I think it will be good. There's an Elder Cardon there who wants to ask Grandma and Grandpa if they've ever been to a Riverton Municple Orchestra Concert (or something like that), because he's a member of it :) Then in the evening we went to the Fowles for dinner. They're a family originally from Provo, Utah. It was great. They have three adorable little daughters.
Thursday in the morning we went to see Tom again. He was full of questions, as always, but it wasn't a bad lesson. Then we did planning, and in the afternoon we saw Sister Yetunde (Sister Y. :) ) and the kids. We found out that her brother is actually a member of the church, but he's inactive. We also explained a bit more about our purpose, and how we'd like her to come to church and join in the lessons, so it was good to work to sort that out. Then we went and saw Abenaa. I also got to meet her two daughters. They are so precious. They are moving to Kingston on 1 March 2009! It's so soon. Lisa, the older daughter, was crying because she was scared to move to a new school. But by the end of the appointment with a bit of convincing from Abenaa and us she was feeling much better. They are so cute. Then we had correlation with the Stevensons, and it was good, although I was feeling rather ill, but luckily then we got to go home, and I got to go to bed :) .
I felt much better when I woke up Friday mroning and we went to Brother Beasley's and we brought Suresh with us. It was a really good lesson, and we taught Suresh about Family History. Then in the evening we went and saw a recent convert named Brother Conteh. He's really good! :) Then we went with the Stevenson's to see Baetsi and the kids. It was a really good lesson on following the prophet, and Baetsi said she hadn't had tea allllll day. It was so exciting.
Saturday we saw two new investigators: Nadine and Daniel. I love new investigators :) Nadine is from the Congo, and she has 4 ADORABLE children. She has great faith in Christ, and agreed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Daniel is from Zimbabwe, and we saw him with his daughter Isabelle. Isabelle seemed a bit skeptical, but Daniel seemed open. It was a good morning :) Then in the evening we did some finding.
Sunday was great, as usual. I LOVE Sundays. They're my favourite. Baetsi wasn't feeling well so she couldn't come, it was pretty devastating. Mfundo came to church again, so that was exciting. So did Bella. Also, this woman walked in off the street she said her name was Esperanza, and she was looking for a local church. She's from Spain. It was so exciting. We explained briefly about our church and the Book of Mormon. She loved it and said she would come next week :) Then after church we went to see the Mizen family. Brother Mizen is a funny man, so that was good. Then we went to see Joice again. Her poor daughter, Yolanda, is not feeling very well. I love Joice, she is so cute, and I hope we can help her come to church. Then we went to see Bella, and spoke about the Word of Wisdom. After that we went to see Mfundo. It was really good to see him. He seems very confused by all the different churches, but I hope that he will read and pray and feel the spirit.
So that's my week. It's been a really good one, and a VERY busy one. But I sleep well at night. :)
Mom- It sounds like you have had an amazing week. Give everyone my love!
Dad- How are all the boys!? Haha. Sounds like you are busy. Say hello to Quince for me. Thanks so much for everything you do!
Nathan- Yay, mommy's coming home! I love you!
Elder Ison- I'm so glad you got my letter! I didn't know if you would get it with everything going on! Let me know what address to write you at now, once you know. :)
Uncle Curt, Aunt Joan, and Emily- Thank-you so much for the Birthday card(s) :) I did get both.
Everyone Else- I love you all!
Love,
Sister Ison
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Red Alert!
Wow, rough week. Sorry my emails have been so sucky lately. SOOO much is happening and I get overwhelmed trying to get it all down. This week started out normal and we were doing really well in Basse-Terre then on Wednesday we got a call that we were moving up to Lamentin for safety, so we left our area and went to work in someone elses. That was really weird and kinda rough because all we could do is tract. We were finally getting everything down and organized when, Monday we got the call that we are being evacuated. Our entire P-day was spent packing up our suitcases. We have been promised to be able to return, so that is cool. We got all packed and were on standby the rest of the day and told to stay inside. We got a call in the evening telling us to get up at 4:30 and meet at the Collings to go to the airport so that is what we did, but due to the strike, our flight was delayed til 4:30, so we were at the airport yesterday for roughly 11 hours. we finally made it here (St. Martin) and are on standby til we can get a flight to Guyana. I guess all the elders are going to a really high baptising area down there and thats exciting, but I am getting kind of tired of not knowing whats going on and being rushed all over. I can't wait til everything is all figured out and calms down and goes back to normal. St Martin is great though. It has lots of american food and other stuff so we have been pigging out. Apparently the strike is escalating pretty quickly in Guadeloupe now, so it is a good thing we aren't there. I am really exhausted right now, and, sorry Dad, I don't have a cool success story this week, unless you count the fact that I am ok and everything is under control. Speaking English is really messing with my mind though! I better go now, but I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Mom: Send Everone my love and give Grandma and Grandpa an extra big hug for me!
Dad: I dunno if I'll ever get legal, not that it really matters anymore! Whatever though, I think I'm OK with an appointment.
Boys: Keep up the good work!
Sister Ison: Strong cat, Really mean, Underfed. Thanks for the letter.
Everybody else: LOVE!
Elder Ison
Mom: Send Everone my love and give Grandma and Grandpa an extra big hug for me!
Dad: I dunno if I'll ever get legal, not that it really matters anymore! Whatever though, I think I'm OK with an appointment.
Boys: Keep up the good work!
Sister Ison: Strong cat, Really mean, Underfed. Thanks for the letter.
Everybody else: LOVE!
Elder Ison
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Guadeloupe and Martinque Elders
Dear Parents,
President Robison
Due to the disruptions of day to day living in Martinique and Guadeloupe, we have temporarily transferred all elders serving on these islands to neighboring islands.
In St. Maarten, we will be served by Elders Catherine, Vogel, Anihia, Maihota, Gray, and Neff, and Julian.
In St. Lucia, we have Elders Procter and West.
Elders Tycksen and McIntosh serve in Grenada.
And in Guyana, we have our missionary couple, the Collings, along with Elders Snow, Ison, Jones, Kelley, Roberts, and Wright.
Your sons are safe. The strikes did turn violent, but the elders were relocated prior to anything that could have caused them problems. Guadeloupe has virtually been shut down for 5 weeks and Martinique is following suit. The elders will be transferred back to these islands once a sense of normalcy returns.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions. Each will be e-mailing you with their new addresses.
Sincerely, your brother,
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