One year down! LOTS of pictures!

Hello!

The word hump reminds me of that Brian Regan skit "The humps good, right Brian?" "Oh the humps good dad. Its a happy hump, i love the hump, Im the hump boy! Im riding the hump to Disneyworld!!" Well I am the hump boy indeed and the hump day was fantastic. Being on our fruit, salad, turkey, tuna, and corn flakes diet, we didn't go out to eat (plus everything here is pretty stinkin' expensive) but we couldn't resist the Carmel shake at Wendy's. It was pretty awesome. 

Yes, not being the new guy is AWESOME. I still feel like the new guy at times though. We tried something different for finding yesterday and both my companion and I felt like the new guys. Bro. D told us about this big independence day parade  going on downtown and suggested that we show our faces down there, because true, when we walk down the road, everyones eyes get locked on our name tags (its pretty funny). We are going to have an open forum this summer, hopefully by the end of this month, so we had fliers already made up. We just changed a few things around and instead of the Open forum being the focus point, we had Sunday church be the focus point. Its a coold flier. On the top it has the church's name, then spread down about 6 lines it has the questions "What is the Book of Mormon? Do we have a living prophet? Is there one true church?" Then it invites people to church, directions, and our phone numbers. We did them up four to a page so they were nice size, handed out 90 of those and 20 Restoration pamphlets and talked to SOOO many people. It was very effective and worth our time. 

Nassau is definitly a treat when it comes to temporal possessions. Any kind of restaraunt, nice house, hot water, washer and dryer, AC, car, good roads, educated people, its different from Jamaica for sure. Its much harder to see people here because everyone has a job and says that after 5 works best for them. So far Nassau has made me appreciate what I have. It's pretty easy to get used to having nice stuff, and Im defenetly taking advantage of it while im here (it would be silly not to) but Highgate left quite the impression on my character and had me realizing how much we don't really need to survive. Bucket showers, Cup Noodles, and a good companion- all you need to make a tough area not so bad. 

This week was pretty good. We had the year mark burning of the shirt, and it was Elder Worley's birthday yesterday. I spoke in Sacrament meeting and before I started I said "A little business before we begin. It's Elder Worley's 20th birthday today and he told me he likes to be pinched and poked- so let him have it after Sacrament meeting". We got a good chuckle out of that one. Bro. S, a missionary who just returned from the West Indies mission spoke too and shared some of his mission experiences. I hope to have some cool stories like that when I'm finished. He shared one where Elder Coleman of the Area Presidency at the time came over for a Zone Conference and it was sweltering hot because no one had a key to the branch presidents office to turn it on. They had to wait half an hour for someone to come with a key, and Elder Smith had the impression to just put the car key into the lock of the office door. He ignored it the first two times, but the third he did, and sure enough it opened right up! Pretty legit I would say.

We had a little scare this week, remember that golden lady we met at wendys? Well one thing we always see in the scriptures and missionary work- Satan always opposes righteous decisions and works double time to put doubt into the hearts of people. Even G who was baptised yesterday (I forgot to mention her last week), Saturday night she was just so scared she would mess up and fall away, but her closing prayers was remarkable. By the end she was sobbing thanking Heavenly Father for keeping her strong and leading her to the truth and we were just in awe at the faith she has. She's a rockstar. SO converted to the gospel. She tells us the day before her baptism "I've been telling everyone at work  that Im getting baptised tomorow and inviting them to come!!" She's amazing. The picture of me and the little kids are some of her grandkids. She's why we are out here! 

I can't wait to see some of the pics you are talking about! 4th of July was awesome here. We got permission to go see the fireworks at Atlantis (also know as the coolest resort probably in the world- you will see the pictures) and it was hands down the best fireworks show I will ever see in my life time... well I take that back, it was good, but it looked like a candle stick compared to the Newman Lake show with the Bise family/ward get together :) It was pretty awesome. 

We met a lot of people this week and are pretty much contacting the whole week. There is a temple trip so much of the branch and one of our investigators (he's a members son) are going. That is so exciting for them! We need to increase our teaching pool or our days are going to be looooong after we have the next two people baptised. Things are going great though :) I don't think we got any part of that storm, it  was raining pretty good last week but that was it. It's been wicked hot here too. 

Thinking about Dallas and Rachel's wedding cracks me up. Remember when Dad put his hand in water before shaking hands and then pretended like he was blind? Cracks me up every time. I promise there will be no three piece suits at my reception- swim trunks and sunglasses only with me and pops on the grill cookin up some nice food. None of this stand in line stuff or wear a tie stuff. Beach bum wedding reception Caribbean style. 

When I get back we will be workout buddies again! That will be fun. I dropped two pounds this week- probably put it back on with the D's Sunday feast... minor details though. Everyone is growing up! Justin and Josh leaving soon? Has everyone still been gettign their calls to Brazil? That blows me away how many missionaries are getting called there. Some places the work is just going bazurk. Saw a thing on LDS.org about the West Africa mission- that place has a temple!! Ya! Things we would do to get a stake, let alone a temple. Put your shoulder to the wheel push a long! 

Well momma thanks for the awesome emails. I love reading about all the happenings of the family and the homefront every Monday. I love you! im gonna send pics now so buckle up!

Elder Romney

first week in the Bahamas

Hey momma!!

Don't even worry about reminding me I only have a year left, some missionaries get all outta wack about talking about home, talking about home is something we do A LOT out here haha Pretty exciting though! This next couples weeks are gonna be full of fun things worth celebrating. Fourth of July, my year mark, Elder Worley's birthday, Zone Conference, Elder Worley's 11 month mark, we will be  celebrating all month! 

THE BAHAMAS! Oh my, so many things to say. My flight was supposed to leave Kingston at 12, we got ther eat about 7:30 because Elder Grays flight to Cayman was cruising out at 9ish, so me and Elder Stubbs (who is now in Turks and Cacios with Elder Nelson) kicked it in the airport, got some BK breakfast, and waited for our flight to miami. It was late coming in, I don't think we left until about 1ish. I love flying! It's so legit. It was a good flight, nothing crazy, but flying into Miami... GOD BLESS AMERICA. Holy smokes, I couldn't stop smiling. It was weird to see cards driving on the other side of the road, I kept waiting for them to crash or something. We landed in late, like 3:30, and I was supposed to start boarding my plane at 3:35 ALL the way on the other end of the airport. We have to go through customs again, so I threw a quick goodbye to Elder Stubbs and bolted to through customs, picked up my bags, checked them again, and cooked all the way to the other side of the airport out to a bus on the tarmac and made 10 minutes before the bus was about to leave. Safe to say I could've been Usain Bolt in a race that day, and I even had my guitar on my back. On the flight to Nassau I sat next to a French girl and a French couple and thought of Robbie. The thought was "How in the world does he understand was these people are saying." He's gonna have one goofy accent when he gets home thats for sure.

 It was raining when we got into Nassau, but still about 85 degrees. I felt so out of place (and still do) going from the straight amazon jungle of highgate, not having running water and a building in the basement of a tiny little complex, to coming off the plane and having Elder Worley ask where I want to go to eat... meaning there is more options than just cook shop or Cup Noodles at the house. Pretty legit. Elder Worley is my new companion. He's from Logan, UT and is the man. We were friends in the mission before he left, and so once again, I've lucked out on having the COOLEST companions on my mission thus far. He's awesome, super good at soccer. He played for Utah State for a year before he came out, his Dad was actually in Spokane last week (as he just found out emailing his crew just now), its going to be an awesome time here in Nassau. 

Life here is SO much different that in Jamaica. Nassau is only 7 miles in width but feels HUGE. Downtown is nuts, so many nice hotels like the Hilton and Sherriden, there is a lot of construction happening, they have super fancy stores like Rolex, Gucci, etc. Tons of places to eat, shop, its definetly a tourist town. The best part about it though.... McDonalds. We've hit it up probably three times in the 6 days I've been here. And Wendys, oh sweet sweet Wendys. We quickly realized that we are going to be 700 pounds if we continue to succumb to the promptings of the half pounder with cheese and a carmel shake, so we bought a bunch of fruit and salad stuff, some protien powder (which was ridiculously expensive but probably still cheaper that having you send some out and then me paying the duty on it, everything is expensive here because no one pays an income tax so everything that is shipped in, which is EVERYTHING, has a 85% duty slapped on it. But we because friends with the  manager of the GNC here so he gives us a 20% discount on anything) we have a weight bench and weights in out house, we run every other morning on the beach as the sun rises... life is pretty good. Our house is so nice! Central AC, AC units in all the rooms for the added chill, our own washer AND dryer, two bathrooms, a kitchen, two couches and a recliner, CARPET. It reminds me of Gram and Grandpa Bruces house, just on one floor though. Pretty fantastic. During the day its tough to see people, and since everyone is at work, knocking doors during the day is pretty unproductive (but it must be done anyway). I knocked my first door this week, it was a weird feeling knocking a door instead of yelling at a gate. 

I've already had the COOLEST experience here and its been 6 days. Right when we got off the plane we went straight to Wendy's to eat. We almost went to a different one (because there are like 5 Wendy's on the island, my mind as blow upon receiving that information) but turned around and went to this certain Wendy's. We were just about done eating out meal, sitting back shooting the breeze, and a lady at the table next to us says "Excuse me, Im sorry to interupt, but I've always wondered what you guys do. I see you walking around but I've never known what it is exactly you do. One of you gave me a little blue book mayn years ago and I loved it, so what is it you do?" We explained that we were missionaries and stuff and shes just gushing about how much she loves the work we do and yadayadayada, so we ask her if we can come visit her this week. She gives us directions to her casa  (and we have no idea where she is talking about, Elder Worley's only been here 6 weeks and there are enough roads to cover half the Atlantic if you streched them out) btu we got her number and left it at that. Saturday we got lost for about an hour trying to find her house, turns out Elder Worley knew exactly where it was the whole time (out directional skills are pretty bad, even with the map). We got to her house about two, expecting just to get to know her a little bit and see what she was all about.... not even close. This lady (she's 36) is golden. EVERY word that came out of her mouth or every question she had and every concern about church was perfect. "I just want the truth." "Why are there so many churches and one God?" "How can every church use the Bible but have there be so much confusion?" 2 and a half hours later, we have this awesome friend who is dying to understand the gospel and who's bringing her Aunt, Sister, and two neighbors over this week so they can all hear about this great message that Christ's original church we read about in the Bible is back on the Earth with a Prophet and 12 Apostles leading and guiding the people. Probably one of the coolest experiences I've had thus far on the mish. Super solid. 

Church here is awesome too. There is close to 85-100 members that come out every Sunday, and this Sunday there were about 25 tourists. Talking to tourists is so cool! We met the brother of the Offensive Coordinator of the Seahawks yesterday.  The people are really nice, we have a meal calander! Ya! A "Feed the missionaries" meal calendar! Crazy! Every sunday we have a nice meal with an American family who lives here named the Ds. Bro. D is the FUNNIEST guy I've ever met. I had to strategically plan when to take a drink of my juice so I didn't do it while or right before he was about to say something because everything that comes out of that guys mouth is hilarious and I was afraid of showering the table with juice coming out my noise. It was awesome, they are pretty great. I'm so excited for the next months coming up.

One thing that has been different is people asking me about my name. Just about everyone we meet asks me if I'm related to Mitt. Three or four people on Saturday after I had walked past them flagged us down to ask. Everyone at church asked, and there is a lady in the branch who I guess is super into American Politics and is a die hard Mitt fan, so much so she is flying to Utah to be apart of the election or to see him speak or something (and she's not an American citizen). She bore her testimony about me and Mitt and how proud she was that I was in the branch and stuff... it made me feel a little uncomfortable, but from the looks of how things are going its something that I'll need to get used to. Bro. D was saying that I should really know how exactly I am related to him so when people ask I can go back and start in the beggining when Miles Romney joined the church and turn it right into an opportunity to share the gospel. They got on wikipedia and family search and printed off a tree from wikipedia about the Romney family, and it didnt have the Junius Romney line so I added it in and discovered that Mitt's father George is Junius Stowel's 1st cousin. I think thats right, I have the paper at home. But when people ask Im gonna try to turn it into a chance to share the gospel. I think that will be a good way to make the most of that situation. 

You guys are so busy! I love the pictures you sent, for some reason I cant get the video's to open, its a pretty out dated computer Im using, but im gonna see If I can throw them on my hard drive and watch them on a more updated computer somewhere. Summer is an indexing machine! Good work Mummer! Sounds like the garden is moving along- I can't remember, is it harvest time or replanting time? The weather never changed here so I can't guage when we would plant or harvest or anything like that. It will be so cool to go to it in person and see all the progess that has come along since I left. Time keeps moving no matter where you are at, a nugget of knowledge from Elder Romney.

Well Momma, keep up the good work. Im with ya on the struggle to fight the fat. All of a sudden my options when from fried chicken and rice and peas to any food I want and Im gonna have to buckle down if I don't wanna look like Papa Dudly from Harry Potter. Thankfully they have baby carrots here! I've been snacking on those things like a champ. Baby carrots, lots of fruit in the mornings, a good salad with some egg and tuna on it, and lifting to tone (not bulk up), im hoping to combat the typical missionary body. When I get back, Im gonna swim so much, remembering back to the couple times I did when we would go to the gym, I dont know why I put up such a fight about it haha IT's such a good workout! Then when I think of you swimming lap after lap after lap, I realized that my mom could whoop my butt in a workout contest  haha So keep it up! 

Well I Iove you! Have a great week and 4th of July! Blow something up for me! I love you!

Elder Romney 

Jackson's new address

Jackson is now in Nassau, Bahamas.  If you want to send something to him you can send letters and packages to this address: Elder Jackson Romney
                                        13 Graham Avenue
                                         Nassau, Bahamas


If you want to send important things, Fed Ex, DHL or UPS is the way to go as the Jackson will have to go pick it up.  Just know that he will have to pay duty on whatever you send, so don't send stuff that is expensive.

Heading to Bahamas!

Hey!

So, what a week! We got transfer calls Saturday, Im leaving tomorrow at noon to go to the bahamas. Our last Sunday President Hendricks came out again to talk to the branch, I hope it does the trick and calls them to action- Highgate was an experience for sure but I wouldn't trade it for anything, I learned more about the gospel in this transfer than I have all of my mission, and people say that when you go off island you learn the most out of any area of your mission... Im excited to keep learning! 

We still don't have water, so we showered this morning in Linstead. I tell ya, learning to appreciate the little things is one thing a mission does. Water, electricity, hot water even, washing machiene, all fantastic luxuries of life we take for granted. 

Not to put a damper on this email, but remember I told you about mom and grandma? Mom died last night in the hospital. We got a call this morning from grandma so we went over before we left. She is hanging in there. It was such a blessing though, she was soooo misserable. We visited her this last week and she didn't know where she was and wanted to go home, we couldn't understand her speech or anything, pretty sad :( BUT she's doing jumping jacks now and enjoying herself so thank Heavenly Father for that. Her kiddo's are doing alright, I think they will stay with grandma until they figure out what to do. 

Well thats about it for this week, not a whole lotta action but next week will be exciting! First email from the Bahamas!! Can't wait to send you pictures! I love you!!!

Jackson 

Cold in Jamaica?

Hey!

Here we are back in Ocho Rios on yet another p-day. This time we are coming back from Montego Bay- I can now say I've seen every area but one on the island! We hung out with Elder Ostburg and his trainee Elder Famui there, it was pretty legit. Mo bay is so stinkin big!! But they have a 5 star pizza hut which was absolutly fantastic and kickin' it with E. Ostberg for a last time before he goes home was totally worth it. He's gonna play the bass for us when we get home! haha 

My stomach problemo's are pretty much handled. We've been eating cheap, trying to budget for big stuff like Mo Bay trips and gas for the truck. Cup of Noodles are the meal of choice these days. We were without water until Friday again, but we've had it steady since which is a huge blessing in that the water at the church is still wonky. It's a Jamaica wide problem. There are people in Negril who haven't had water for 6 months- bonkers. 2 weeks was a good enough experience for me to appreciate it. I'm such a Nancy- we got up early this morning to head to Mo Bay and after a shower I was so cold my gums were hurting. I jumped back into bed to try and warm up, looked at the thermomoter on my clock and it was 73 degrees this morning- The last time I was in 73 degree weather was back home!! Seriously, I don't know what I'm gonna do about winter, even summer time. Maybe I'll bring back the turtle neck sweater... rocking out on stage in a turtle neck, I'm sure the ladies will love that. 

I can't believe school is already done! I remember when I got out here school was just starting and everyone was so excited for all their classes and teachers, now Haley is graduated and still a genius, Summer is gonna be a Sophomore and still a genius, and only two B's for Mac?? Yo- BOY genius. Good thing they will be making lots of money so they can support my band on tour ;) Just kidding... at least half kidding.... Haley has a $2500 scholarship??? Dang, that's whats up. How much is it for a semester at EWU? Last I heard before I came out it was like 6 G's or something like that. 

This week was another experience to remember. Something awesome that happened was that we have now four members who say if the branch closes they will be in Ochi every Sunday- better than last week! We are sure they will- super strong testimonies in the gospel, not just coming to church to come to church. Pretty rad when you can find people who are truly converted to the gospel. Other good news I found out today is that the converts I helped teach are still active in Junciton and Sav! Junction had a baptism Saturday of a girl who we were teaching. She was ice cold when we first got there, but slowly warmed up and accepted to take the lessons- found it was true and was baptised saturday. She's a cousin to M, N, R, and Elder G who's on his mission out here. The gospel is taking over that yard!! 

 

Yes, I remember well when me and Robbie had our crazy plans to move out- thing that got me was how much mula I would be losing and the family time I'd be loosing too. When pop's laid it all out it was like "how ya gonna pay for a phone, car, gas, rent, utilities, food, tv, and save for your mission, plus when you're laying in a cold bed because you can't pay the electricity bill, you're hungry because you used your money to pay for gas, me and Mac will be sitting on a nice leather couch throwing back some NB's watching a hockey game on a huge TV with the whole family there to kick it with... how's that gonna work out?" That was enough for me haha Crazy kids- to all you children out there (children = pre-mission) enjoy every second with the family and everything your parents provide for you! Trust me- when you're sick to your stomach from some bad chicken and you don't have running water or your mom to make you feel better- you'll understand haha Im jelous Haley gets her own room! Something I will never have. Honestly, I loved the freedom you and pop's gave me. If I wanted to go to Robbie's and kick it or go to a concert or go somewhere after work, you guys never had a problem with it and that was really cool. You made it easy to keep a curfew because I knew if I kept the rules, I would get to do more stuff- Alma 2:41- Consider the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments. It's the way to go!  I always loved when you and pop's wanted to hangout with me, because true- you guys are pretty stinkin' cool to hangout with. Whenever I talk about my concert attending, motorcycle riding, movie watching, kick it on the couch and quote Brian Regan, 43 year old parents, people are pretty jealous- as they should be! 

I think Im gonna get a hammock for college instead of a bed- it just make more sense.They sell some sweet knit rope rasta coloured ones here- might snap one before I head home. I bet dad is loving that thing though!! Summer time in a hammock, sounds pretty nice. 

Dr. Kacey?? Atta bwoy! Thats so sick. I'll be driving over there to have him check out my pearly whites. Time is pretty crazy- sometimes it feels like it is soooo sloooow but at the same time back home everything is moving at normal pace. Perty crazy.

Im so excited for your race!! I'll be thinking about you running and swimming and biking your lil heart out on saturday! What time does it start?? what are you wanting to finish in?? Im so stoked for you!!! You've got a cheerleader over here! Make sure pops takes lots of pictures!

Well momma I love you. Thank you for your prayers and the families prayers- they are what carry us through sometimes!! 

Love Elder Romney 

No water?

Yo!

AHHHHHHH i miss family gatherings!! Seriously, I have been thinking about it and its so true how when you get older your family becomes your best friends and the people you wanna hangout with. Cant wait to get in on that action again! You guys all look great, thats so exciting that Haley graduated (not that it was a surprise- if I could graduate, Haley better be able to graduate!) All the little cousins are getting so old! Caitlin looks so cute! I just wanna pick her up and give her a zurburt. Soon Haley will be in college, that is nutso. My companion is registering for school this month. It's made my mind start tinkering with the idea of where I wanna go. He was saying that there are priority deadlines that are almost a year before school starts first pick at classes or something- can't forget about that! Don't wanna end up hosed outta school because I forgot about a deadline. That would sound to much like my last quarter at SCC, and no, I don't want that again :) My comp. goes home in 15 weeks (yes, its down to weeks) and in two weeks he's stoked to be able to say that he has less weeks than I've been out months haha SO it goes, I hit my year mark in like three weeks! Crazy, eh? 

Since I've been out here I realize what you mean when you're always trying to find foods that go well with your body and things. I don't do it as much as you obviously but having to find things that don't wreck your stomach while you're out teaching.. crucial lol I've found that corned beef is only 120 calories and has 14 grams of protien per can, and if you cook it with ketchup in the pan wit a little pepper sauce it tastes like a ghetto sloppy joe- pretty tasty. 

This week in Highgate was an experience as well. The government here isn't as on top of things as back home and there are many people that haven't had running water for quite sometime. It's a good thing we have a truck to help our members get water- two families especially, grandma and mom (mom by the way looks a lot better, we visit her in the hospital about 2-3 times a week) and then a family of 8 havent had water. We rolled up to visit this family to have a lesson and right as we pulled up they were fresh outta water. We loaded all the bins and went and filled them at the church. We were outta water from Sunday to friday this week... its been a sticky week haha We showered at the church one day, then it got all plugged up so we went to Port Antonio early for district meeting and showered there, then we just didnt shower because all the water we had we needed for the toilet because we both had a bad case of runny belly this week. Water came back Friday and Saturday and was gone again yesterday. We showered in Porty this morning because we had a combined zone p-day in ochi. It's so crazy how much a difference running water makes. We are outta water again today and hopfully it wont be gone for too long. 

This week we instituted home and visiting teaching, a fireside every Wednesday, interview night with the Branch president and weekly saturday church cleaning. Made up a bunch of nice forms on the computer for all of them, did the home teaching and visiting teaching lists, weekly calander, we are praying our guts out that the branch will act. It's not looking so good. They asked for 2 months, its been over half way now and not a change has been made. Mad props to Abinidi- that guy is a stud. 

One thing I've learned so far this transfer is how to recieve the answers God has for me. That scripture "Ask and ye shall receive", I've always thought that you can only ask certain things to God or that only things pertaining to church stuff, but I'm here to tell you that is not true. You can litterally ask anything. If you have the faith and the desire to understand and know, you can get an answer that is as clear as day. They come from the scriptures. A habit I've started to try and get into is when I have a question to ask Heavenly Father I ask it, then turn to my scriptures. Everytime I've done this, I have receive the answer I needed. An example would be when (without telling each other) my companion and I prayed to know what we could shre with the members to that it would hit home for them. When I turned to my scriptures I opened right up to the story of the Brother of Jared and Elder Baird opened up a number of scriptures about faith and how if we don't do what Heavenly Father commands we aren't accepted of Him. It was nuts,  our lesson plans have been taylor fitted to the situations and people we meet. Cool huh. 

Well Ill be sending pictures and the song a bit later when we get back to highgate! I finally got the song that we recorded so ill send it in an email and you can listen to your boy in a Jamrock studio singing about the mission! I Love you momma!!

Jackson

Hey fam!

We've come down with a lil sickness but will it away so we don't have to stay in our tiny little house all day. That would drive both of us bonkers. Im glad everyone is feeling better there though. 

This week was something else. We had an experience that was pretty eye opening. There is a family here who has been less active for a while, its a grandma, her daughter, and her three kids. One of the kids is a member, but both grandma and mom have cancer. Grandma's is in remmision but was really bad this time last year. Mom's is taking over her body right now. It's cervical cancer and she has a tumon the size of a CD in her stomach and its rubbing against her pelvis and puts her in so much pain. We go over there and the first time we meet her she asks us to write a letter on her behlaf to the hospital to give her morphine... "Morphine? Thats what they gave the guy in Saving Private Ryan right before he died!" Yeah, lots of pain. 

She ended up being able to get some and it helped for a little but she's been waiting to get into the hospital in Kingston so she can have a 2nd round of radiation and chemo. She didn't respond well to the first round, but there werent any beds open in any hospitals around. We gave her a blessing last week and she had the promise that if she read her scriptures when the pain was the worse, it would be relieved. Came back a few days later and she said she's been reading and feeling much less pain. That was last week. 

This week Friday we were eating dinner and Grandma calls us and asks if we can come to the house right away because Mom has to go to the hospital. We drive down there and there were a couple nice peace corps ladies there that were gonna drive her to the hospital. We were the muscle of the operation, carrying her from the house, down the hill into the waiting car. It was one of those situations that just runs through your mind because you don't know if this lady is gonna live or not. She had some serious bleeding the day before and lost a lot of blood, and she was completely limp and helpless, still conscience though. We put her in the car and went back to the house and gave Grandma a blessing. I gave her the blessing, and in it all I wanted to do was say that Mom was going to be ok and make it through, but the Spirit restrained me from doing so and guided me to assure the comforts that would accompany grandma and the grandkids if mom passed. it was the worst feeling in the world.Grandma is so stressed out, but the blessing said that she (grandma) has done all she could to care for her family and that now it was time for the Lord to take care of her and her family. We left that small little house knowing that what was said is what was directed by the Spirit, but sealing someone up to the Lord is just an indescribable experience. We went and visited mom in the hospital yesterday and she is looking better, pretty hopped up on pain killers but looked happy and much better.  

I will never forget Highgate. It's kinda like a football game. You try one play and it doesn't work, so you try something different after studying it out, watching film, and practicing. I've had 11 month's of practice and my companion 21 months, and finding a way to motivate people to act has been our challenge. Took the first week just to befriend everyone, get to know them, understand their situation, and in this 2nd week we hunkered down and spoke very plainly and simply. Week 3 we're going to have to up the ante because we still haven't seen a change in nearly anyone. There are three members who we have seen a slight change for the better. One described their feelings as Alma when he saw and angel and decided to change. It was the first time someone has cried in a lesson on my mission, but we werent sure if they were tears of change or self pity. After asking a few questions, it was more of the fact that the person felt they wouldn't be able to get to church in Ochi every sunday. This week we are going to focus on Faith. Faith faith faith. Because faith leads to action. And if everyone continues not to act, this branch will be closed. We invited people to visit one less active family this week, we are hoping for the best! 

It's so funny how even when in the tough times in life, you find a way to get through it. Highgate is an experience, but we are having a blast. Whats the point of being somewhere if you aren't going to find a way to make it enjoyable? I'm having a hoot and a half over here :) 

Only three weeks till your big race!! That is so sweet! Im so excited for you, where is it again? I forgot. Is it the 1/2 iron tri you did a couple years ago? 

It blows my mind that haley is 18 this week and graduating. Seriously. WEIRD! That means its been two years since I graduated... ALSO WEIRD. Elder Baird is signing up for classes for school when he gets home, it almost feels like im going home too haha Not quite! Still got a few more people to meet out here before I can head on back to the Pacific Northwest. Speaking of school, he was saying that I need to find out when the priority deadlines are for the schools I want to apply to because they are pretty early in the year. He was registered in December of last year for school in October of this year. We gotta keep that in mind. 

I love the picture of Danny and JET! I am SO pumped to have etheopian cousins- my honorary Jamaicanness wont stick out as much anymore! I can see it know, me, Jet, and Danny, kicking' it old school, chattin' about Africa and Jamaica and the good ol' days haha 

Thanks for the pointers about lifting. We are gonna start cooking more at home so I will be buying tuna and beans and salad and such. We got a nice recipe for chili from Sis. Smith in the office which we are stoked for. I totally forgot that cookbook at home that I got for my mission!! GRr! haha 

The house looks so good! As do your glasses lol Those crack me up, I've got a pair of welding goggles that I wear as sunglasses, usually on P-days. Pretty fashionable. 

Well I love you guys! Be sure to send pictures of the grad and things!!! 

Elder Romney 

I

J's 20th bday!

Hey! 

It kinda creeps me out that I'm 20 too!! I taught Sunday school yesterday and the lesson was about King Noah Vs. King Benjamin and I was saying how I wanna raise boys like King Benjamin, not King Noah, so I had to open with "Im only 19 and don't have any kids as yet.. wait, I'm 20 now, can't get away with still being a teenager" haha My birthday was the craziest story ever and most triumphant indeed. Hear this: 

For this to make sense, you gotta understand the Jamaican wives tale about the mongoose. If you are driving your car and a mongoose comes out on the street and crosses all the way, you will have good luck for that day. If the mongoose comes out on the street and turns back, bad luck will follow. Elder McLeod lived by this in Junction and whenever a mongoose would come on the street we'd slam the brakes and yell and the mongoose to go across haha SO Saturday morning we are heading out to the church to help do a deep clean of the building and as we are driving there, not one, but TWO mongooses cross the street! Two of them! We are super stoked, wondering what our good fortune would be for that day. Get to the church, clean it up, it took forever because we washed all the chairs and everything... for only having 15 people come to church we have enough chairs to seat stake conference, but we got it done and head home. Haven't had any stroke of luck yet, Elder Baird bought some cough medicine and we didn't realize it was drowsy... so he knocked out for a couple minutes, not good luck, then we were asked to speak in church the next day, not good luck, things just weren't looking lucky. We get a call from a member and we go help her out. By this time its dinner and we head out to Port Maria (about a 15 minute drive) to grab some KFC for birthday dinner. We are about to order, litterally, im walking to the cash register, and we get a call. It's Elder Baird's landlord from Cayman. He's in Ochi and wants to take us out to dinner.... YES! GOOD LUCK! We bolt outta KFC and now are faced with the phone call to ask for permission to drive out to Ochi for dinner. We call Elder Kraus, the AP, no answer. We call our Zone Leaders, no answer. We are about to call Pres. and Elder Kraus calls us back. We tell wa gwaan and without even thinking twice he's like "Heck yeah, go have fun!" SECOND MONGOOSE!! :) So Saturday night we enjoyed a fancy dinner of jerk fish and chips, and jerk conch fish. It was SO good. When I get home, Pryors is gonna have to consider adding Jamaican jerk fish to the menu. That would be so good! It was an awesome birthday indeed :) I did get Grams package! I thought I emailed her saying thank you, but yes, I got both packages and Elder Baird and I are enjoying the tasty goods of both. 

Thats a bust you guys are all sick! Elder Baird has had a nasty cough since we got here too. 

Yes, we are busy beavers over here.This week was dedicated to getting to know everyone and where they lived, Elder Karchener came out and showed us where a bunch of people live which was awesome so we are getting the ball rolling. We made a spread sheet of the days and times of the week for every member to sign their name 3 times a week to come and share a message- its kinda sad because they all say they want the branch to stay open, but then are "too busy" to meet with us to help them. So we packed the list around yesterday and visited a few members and were pretty persistent about it. It's frustrating sometimes but we are getting along. We will have a little more structure to our days now which will be awesome. President Hendricks came out to church yesterday and pretty much layed down the law. If you don't change, the branch will be closed. Hopefully it lit a fire in the members to act and not be acted upon. Yes, Elder Baird and I were sent here to help save this branch, but it's like no one really believes it will be closed. It's been on the chopping block for about two years and gets saved, then goes down, then up, then down, so members have been hearing about this for quite sometime. If it wasn't for the Branch President asking for two more months, it would be closed already. President Hendricks is a boss! He just spit it straight and thats what the branch needed. We are gonna have to be pretty bold with people too, but thats how it goes! We're still having a lot of fun. 

The house looks so much different!! Seriously, I'm not gonna even recognize it when I get back. You guys are doing awesome! And the farm too! I remember when we were so excited about getting the fencing and putting it up, now you've got fancy sheds and fancy wheel chair runways for drag racing wheelchairs... at least thats what I would do in my wheel chair.  And I'm wicked jelous you got to go see Lindsey Buckingham!! What a show that must've been. Hope you guys bought a T-shirt! Can't go to a show without getting the shirt! 

Funny, your lesson mom,  was on the Anti-Nephi- Lehies... I prepared my talk about them too. Didn't end up giving it because Pres. spoke, which was fine by me, but it was all about how they kept their covenants and were blessed. It's a little known fact that 'anti' actually comes from the egyptian word 'enti'  meaning 'one of'. Yep, call me Cliff (Claven of Cheers), I can't take credit for that one though, Elder Baird told me. 

I can't believe haley is graduating... She will only have one year of school left when I get home! AHHH! STOP GROWING UP HALEY! haha Does that weird you and Dad out that you have a boy who's 20, a girl who's going to college, a girl who is learning to drive, and one who will soon be going to stake dances soon? Weirds me out a ton! :) The few people I've shown pictures too of you guys, they always think mom is my sister. When I tell them, noooo thats my momma, they flip and say "She looks so young!!" haha 

I can't wait to see pics of Jet and Daniel! Also, I am SOOO pumped they are naming him Jet. Seriously, thats a wish come true. "Don't mess with me, Jet Lee is my cousin" HA! Sounds good already. 

This week should be good. OH! Other big news. We are getting a gym membership! Yep, by the end of the month of June im gonna be a cut and lean human being. They have elipticals, tredmills, a bench press, and some other stuff. It's no YMCA, but good enough to build some muscle back. Im really excited for that. Now we can swap workout's again! Im gonna try doing a workout elder baird told me about. The first week you do 4 sets of 12 on all your lifts, to build strength back, then two weeks in a row you do 5 sets of 5 to bulk up, then 4 sets of 12 to finish the month. What do you think about that? Any momma knowledge behind that? I have one month to get as fit, trim, and slim and put the guns back on. Suggestions please :) We've lost weight walking again, always a blessing to be out of a car but to have one for coming to Ochi on P-days, because thats where we are again today haha It's such a cool little city! 

Well I love you! Tell everyone to get better for me, and give them a kiss! Unless they are sick, then just give them knuckles or something.

Love You!

Elder Romney

First week in Highgate and 20th bday on Saturday!

Hey!

Oh my goodness you guys sound like you had so much fun!! Looks like nice enough weather for a half marathon too, eh? That's so awesome you guys did it. 

Highgate. Yes, there is plenty of work to be done but we haven't been sure where to start. We've called President Hendricks twice now to get a better understanding of our goal while we are here and we have a good grasp of it now. Basically we need to get everyone to live the gospel and help build their testimony so that if the branch does close, they will drive to Ocho Rios for church. 

We actually have a truck, Elder Randle hooked it up and Elder Baird (my companion) and Elder Kraus (the other assistant) asked Pres. if we could have the spare and he said no problem. We walk during the days though, limited miles plus we are trying to get in some sort of shape besides round. The past few days have been dedicated to finding where members and Less Actives live. Like a typical whitewash, we have been very, very lost for most of it. We got lost in the truck last week trying to find a member's house and when we told them the tiny little road we were on (you'll see the pics) the member's daughter flipped out because I guess thats where people get chopped up... came back safe and sound, though and now know where NOT to go! haha This parish is virtually violence free, I've never felt safer, which is good. We are keeping our heads up, it's defintely not hopeless. We've seen some drive in a few less actives so far to come back to church and that's awesome to see. Put your shoulder to the wheel push along! 

The branch is small. We had 17 people in sacrament meeting, Elder Baird was asked to teach sunday school two minutes before class started, and we don't know where the priesthood went the third hour because it was just us, our teacher, and one member. It was a very weird Sunday- much room for improvement but we can do it. Everyone in the branch has only been baptised for a couple years so there is much learning to do and we are up for it. We went through the branch directory and called every member and less active member in it to set up times to see them. We've got a few appointments now which will be nice. Elder Karchner (our Zone Leader) served here about a year ago and knows where everyone lives so the Zone Leaders are coming down Wednesday to show us around- a huge help!! With such a short time to do so much, we don't mind one bit asking for some help. That's something I'm getting better at... I'm not so hard headed as I was back home. Thank goodness, eh? :)

It's beautiful though!! The views are pretty incredible. I thought Junction was bush, no sir! Highgate takes it when it comes to bushiness. I'll send the pics. Nights are noisy with the sounds of crickets and bugs chirping away, its pretty legit. I feel like I'm in Jurrasic Park or something! We were driving out to see a less active and we had to stop and take pictures because it was just so jungley... I wanna see pictures of what Shane's area looks like and compare the absolute Amazon of Jamrock to the real thing!!

I got to see Elder Stuart (an uncle's cousin) on Wednesday!! It was pretty cool- I think we met when we were little kids, when Summer had a crush on Cowboy Jake haha When he said he was from Woodruff it all clicked. He's way cool, his trainer is Elder Montegomery, a cowboy from southern Idaho- they will get along just great. He's in Old Harbour so he will be doing trade off's in Maypen. Pretty sweet!!

Mummer is sick??? I hope she wasn't sick for her birthday! That would be no fun. My tummy is alright. MY diet hasn't been the best... need to start eating better. I killed a loaf of bread, and a jar of PB and J in 3 days, along with two cans of corned beef... but it will be getting better, promise! Good news though, I am styling nice new socks, spitting delicious seeds, all with pearly white teeth because I got my package!!! Thank you guys so much!! I love everything in it. I'm rocking my SICK nucks shirt right now walking around through Ochi. Seriously, you still take good care of me from all the way over there. Thank you :) We are in Ochi right now, came up to check it out with the zone leaders and oh my, Ochi is pretty sick. The North Coast Highway is what makes me giddy- perfect road all the way following the coast line from here out to MoBay. Motorcycle ride when I get off the mish anyone? I think so!!

Elder Baird and I get along great. He's the man- even at 1:30AM when we both got up to use the bathroom he cracked some joke saying "Fancy meeting you here". Hilarious. 

Hey when you have your half ironman, that will be the end of the transfer! You've got one transfer momma, you can do it! ;) 

Bishop Payne??? That's pretty cool! I guess ill be reporting to him then, thats so awesome. Thats quite the line up in the bishopric, probably kinda weird to not see Bishop J up there! 

That's crazy Malea danced with Elder Hoffman (now just Joseph)! haha That is a really small world. Nuts if he married someone we knew! 

Well I'm gonna send the picture in a bit. I love you guys and thanks again for the b-day package!! It totally made my week! Starting off Highgate with a fresh stash of seeds is just what Elder Baird and I needed :)