Week 85--Trinidad

Week 1--Elder Griffiths

Hello family,

  Well, It was a little interesting coming to a new country this week, but I really like it so far. The ward is really cool, and I really like the people that we are teaching. We are working on helping everyone to understand that we are there to help them to follow Christ by being baptized. We were very excited to have Ralph's baptism on Saturday and his confirmation on Sunday. That was just a really cool experience, and he is so excited to be able to serve a mission.

  I really like being with Elder Griffith so far. I haven't served around him for about a year, and it's really cool to see how we are working together very well. I love his desire to always be out working.

  I have a testimony of having a desire no matter where you are serving. Of course, I do miss being in Bel Air, but as I was studying my scriptures this week, I came across a scripture this week. It says,"And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search [for] them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers." As I read it, I felt prompted to put the word "for" in the place that it is. I loved that promise. As long as we are willing to search for our fellow brothers and sisters, the Lord will help us to prosper in whatever land we serve.

  My spiritual experience goes along with my testimony. Yesterday, we went out during the day, and we worked hard, and in the evening, we had an appointment with a less active member of our ward. When we went there, it turns out that he wanted us to visit his neighbor across the street. This neighbor had actually been invited by this member to the devotional with Elder Soares, and he went. After going there, he said he felt a comforting feeling, and he wanted to learn more about the church. Last night, he expressed his desire to be able to know and go in God's way. As we taught him the Restoration last night, he loved it, and he felt like Joseph Smith was just like him. We invited him to prepare himself to be baptized on March 30, and he accepted! I am so excited to work more with this, our brother. I know there are plenty of people just like him here.

 I'm loving it here. Thank you for your prayers. I hope all of you have a wonderful week! My camera is still being silly. Hopefully, I can figure something out. I'll probably try to call next week. It won't work out this week, but I love you so much!

Love,

 Elder Hanni

Trinidad!!

Josh was transferred to Trinidad today.  Sister Williams posted a picture of him and Elder Curtis on Facebook, letting us know that he had made it safely. We sure love our missionary and we sure love the senior couples who post pictures of our favorite missionary. 

Pictures, Pictures, and more Pictures

These pictures were taken from the blog of Josh's mission president and his wife.  They are from last July 2018 to February 2019.  We love seeing our missionary!

They are in order from newest to oldest!

Elder Andrews, Elder Hanni, and Onessa

What a beautiful baptism this was.  Onessa is the first one in her family to be baptized.  She is 19 and is a wonderful example to her two younger sisters and her mom who are also taking the lessons.  They all attended the baptism.  Elder Griffeth's mom was there and she bore her testimony about how her children joined before she did and they were examples for her so it was perfect.  She also expressed the joy and peace it has brought into their family and how the truthfulness of the restored gospel has permeated their lives and brought them closer to the Savior Jesus Christ. (written by Sister Baird)

Elder Morgan and Elder Hanni

Week 84-- Bel Air, Guyana

Week 6--Elder Andrews

Hello family
 I have loved being in Bel Air so much. I am really sad to leave, but this area is doing amazing. Darlene and Avana got baptized on Saturday, and on Sunday they were confirmed. Also on Sunday, one of our recent converts who is preparing to go on a mission rode all the way to one of our investigators and brought him to church. It was awesome.

  I have loved being with Elder Andrews so much. I am going to miss being his companion. I have learned so much from him, and I have always felt good serving with him. Thank you for the opportunity to serve with this wonderful missionary.

  I have a testimony of never giving up. Sister Darlene at the beginning of the week did not want to be baptized, but as we kept firm that she was ready, she prayed for herself and asked Heavenly Father what she needed to do. She told us that she had a thought come into her head that she didn't need any more time, that now is the time that the Lord has given her to change her life. So she decided to be baptized. I know that that was an answer to many prayers, and I am so grateful for the decision she has made.

  A spiritual experience I had this week was with our investigator Sinclair. He's going to be baptized in two weeks, and what has been a spiritual experience for me is just how much he talks about his baptism. He's excited for it, and he is committed to that day. I love teaching people like him. I am so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to teach him.

 My camera is being weird, so I didn't try today to send a picture, but the baptism was nice. I'll send it when I can. I love all of you so much. Have a wonderful week!

Love,
 Elder Hanni

Week 83-- Bel Air, Guyana

Week 5--Elder Andrews

Hello Family,

We are doing great in Bel Air. We were so happy to be able to find some new amazing people. We had two people whom we found during the week who came to church for the first time. The one sister apparently shared her testimony in Relief Society and said that she wanted to become a member of the church that day. We are excited to find even more people.

 Elder Andrews is a great companion. He has a very powerful way of building relationships with those that we are teaching. I am really grateful to be able to learn from his example and to work with him every day.

 I have a testimony of following up with people. Elder Andrews and I set a goal this week to follow up with our investigators every day. So far, as we have been trying it out, we've been able to help our investigators feel the Spirit more often, and we've been able to discover some concerns people have before we even go and teach them. It has been very interesting to do that, and I can't believe I haven't really tried it as much as I should have before on my mission. We are excited to continue trying it out.

 A spiritual experience I had this week was just in talking on the phone with one of our investigators. We were following up with his Book of Mormon reading, and he said it was going good and that his aunt, who is a member of the church in Canada had called him earlier that day and was going through the Gospel Principles book with him. It just made me smile to hear that. Another spiritual experience we had this week was in going out teaching with our recent convert, Ronaldo. He is so excited for the gospel, and he loves riding his bike with us to go teaching. He is so excited to go on a mission.

Well, I hope you have a great week! I love you so much!

Love,
Elder Hanni