Week 35 - Jamaica Mon!! "...two ways to age in this world."

HEEEEYYYY Mon!!!

So the other day we were tracting these apartments, and saw a bunch of people trying to move stuff so we offered to help. THEY WERE JAMAICAN. Didn't know that until they started speaking. Seriously the best day ever.

Me: Do ya'll need any help?

Richardo (Jamaican #1): Yes...

Me: (blank stare)

Richardo: you ok?

Me: Yes... are you? *little people in brain start panicking* (his accent
was too freaking cool to function, and no one actually lets us help when we
ask.)

Brotha Gregory Jones (Jamaican #2): Ahh.. Latter-Day Saints, ya?

Me: Yeah! How did you know?

Gregory: I see your name tag mon... There are a lot of you in Jamaica, they
are all the same as you.

Richardo: No one offers to help like that

Gregory: They are all the same all over the world 💚

Me: We are all brothers and sisters right?

Gregory: Respect

Richardo: Ya mon.. oh! Sorry.. we call everyone mon (😂)

I seriously died, I was so happy. Sister Wright and I found ourselves
hanging out with about 20 Jamaicans for the next hour, just moving all of
their stuff between these three apartments. They come here to work, because
the economy in Jamaica is so poor. They told us how much they love "their
rock," but how terrible conditions are. All the women sounded just like
Calypso from Pirates.. I know, that probably makes me sound like a very
uncultured western American.. But you know how much I love Calypso. It was
seriously one of my favorite experiences of the mission so far.

Mom was at their "Rock"?!

Chontal (Calypso): You much visit our rock, you will love it there.

Little did I know, my mom was visiting their "Rock"!

Gregory walked us to our car when all the moving was done. He told us he
had a wife and 4 children back in Jamaica, which was shocking because he
looked no older than 25! When he told us he was 42, we asked what kept him
looking so young. He left us with this wisdom:

"There are two ways to age in this world. From the inside out, or the outside in. If you let wickedness and evil live inside of you, you deteriorate from the inside out. When your heart is pure you do not age. Everything we do here on earth is because the Almighty allowed us to. If He treated us the way we treat Him, none of us would be here. God be with you."

I gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday, about how the light of Christ is what sets the truth apart from the counterfeits of the world. It made me think of what Brotha Jones had said, about the Latter-Day Saints being the same all over the world. True, we were wearing tags. But He also mentioned
that he recognized who we were because of the way we offered to help. Because of the way we treated them.

I love the words of our Living Prophet Thomas S. Monson:

My brothers and sisters, our opportunities to shine surround us each day,

in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. As we follow the example of the

Savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light in the lives of others,

whether they be our own family members and friends, our co-workers, mere

acquaintances, or total strangers.

To each of you, I say that you are a son or daughter of our Heavenly

Father. You have come from His presence to live on this earth for a season,

to reflect the Savior’s love and teachings, and to bravely let your light

shine for all to see. When that season on earth has ended, if you have done

your part, yours will be the glorious blessing of returning to live with

Him forever.

How reassuring are the Savior’s words: “I am the light of the world: he

that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Of Him I testify. He is our Savior and Redeemer, our Advocate with the Father. 

He is our Exemplar and our strength. He is “the light which shineth in darkness.”

That each of us within the sound of my voice may pledge to follow Him, thus

becoming a shining light to the world, is my prayer in His holy name, even

Jesus Christ the Lord, amen. (Be an Example and a Light, Oct. Conference

2015)

I love you all! And miss you like crazy. Xoxo Sis Smith

This is a spider the Elders found in their apartment. We had a funeral for
it. I know... missionaries are messed up.

Merica

Walmart is saving our companionship