week #2 - Linstead

Hi fam-

This week has been a good one. I went on my first trade off, taught my first district meeting, and had an interview with President Brown. Everything went well. I have a great district. They are motivated and willing to participate. I taught about recognizing the spirit, the importance of first impressions, and member missionary work. In my interview with President Brown, he trained me on how the missionaries, the branch mission leader, and the branch council are supposed to coordinate. Most places in Jamaica have a problem with this, and I have a lot of work ahead of me in order to figure it out. Once everything is working as it should, the work is going to  progress very quickly.

Friday was Labor day here in Jamaica. Unlike American labor day, where we all go and play, Jamaican labor day is a day to work. It is the day that you have to get that one project that you have been waiting all year to do done. We went out to Knollis and helped one of our investigators out. We picked up trash and cleaned gutters while he did some welding on a broken guard rail. He is a very community focused guy, so he loves doing stuff like that. After we finished, we went around the back of his house and picked jelly coconuts. They were very sweet ones. We cut them open with our machets and had a feast. It started to rain hard a little after that, so we sat in his van for a while to wait it out. It ended up being a great opportunity to be seen in the community. Hopefully some new investigators will come out of it.

It has rained almost every day this week here. Linstead is notorious for the rain, and the rainy season has just started again. I love it though. It keeps things nice and cold. I did get a chance to see the market. I dont think it is quite as grand as it may have been in the fifties. It is honestly kind of grimy. Sorry to disappoint. We have been working with a lot of the families in our area so that we can begin to teach their friends with them. That is the way that member missionary works. It is the way that will lead to the most success. We are patiently awaiting results now. 

I love the gospel. I know that it is true, and that everyone will be happy as the obey its principles and ordinances. Stay strong in the faith my friends.

It sounds like the kids had a great last week of school. Are you excited for summer? You did great on the pacer test lydia! I remember doing it myself. Field day sounds like a lot of fun.  Unu enjoy ya field dee bwoy? (Some jamaican for you.)  When people ask whats up say "m'daya mon" . It means "my day here", or I'm here, everything is good. Another one is "er ting criss".  That means everything is cool. 

Have a great week everyone. Travel safe. Summer is almost here!

Love, Daniel.

In the cave at Mo Bay - Nathan wanted another picture

Beautiful Linstead

week #1 Linstead

What is to be said for this week? I am not really sure. It has been a good one. It went pretty fast due to all of the meetings we had. We taught a lot of people. We are trying to improve the work here and begin to work with members' friends... We got to go into Kingston all day on thursday. The Spanish Town Zone Leaders came by and picked us up in the morning, so we didn't have to taxi. We went to the Constant Springs chapel and participated in a great zone conference. It focused a lot on improving our teaching skills and making good impressions on people. Kingston is a great city. I always love to travel through there. 

Linstead is nice. It rains a lot here. There is always heavy fog in the mornings. It reminds me a lot of Washington. I really miss Washington. 

I have a lot of work to do here. My new position as District Leader has not been too bad. I will have to teach my first meeting on Wednesday. Wish me luck!

It sounds like you all had a wonderful week. Dance shows, talent shows, hikes, potential boyfriends, funerals, travel, and dinosaurs! Wow. I hope you are all doing well. Are there any big summer plans, other than the boyscout camp?

I love you all! Love, Elder Pullan

The missionaries in the picture are (L to R)

Dalley, Pullan, Bateman, S. Nelson, Pace, Packer, Tualatamalellagi

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   My shoe worn out in service

week #18 -Montego Bay (and a transfer!)

hey fam!

Crazy ting  t'gwaan dis week.   

Big news! Transfer calls were this week. It was extremely unexpected that I would be leaving. In almost ALL cases, you will come to an area, get to know it with your first companion there, then you will introduce the area to your second companion before you leave. Elder Hall got here one transfer before I did. Elder Hall will be staying here. I will be going to Linstead this Wednesday to be the district leader. Linstead also happens to be in the boundaries of the new stake, so I will be the first district leader of the Linstead Ward. I will have responsibility for receiving revelation on how to progress the work and help the district. I will be working with the six members of my district on a very intimate level. When they have questions, they turn first to me. I will have responsibility to counsel them, teach them for an hour and a half once a week, go on trade offs, do baptismal interviews, and take care of them. That is going to be a big change. Not to mention the fact that I will be mothering my companion (that means I will be his second companion, he just finished being trained) and I will be filling the shoes of Elder Famuii, a past Zone Leader and AP who just went home. Wow. That is a lot of responsibility. I am very excited for the opportunity to learn and grow there. 

This week was really good. Last P-day, we hiked through a gully and discovered a cave. We are going to go explore it today. It is a massive cavern full of bats.  Really cool. I will send some pictures. 

We haven't been able to meet with Bro. W yet. He got called into work last time we were set up with him. We will be calling him again today to try to set up. 

We met a Cuban man at church on sunday. He said he had a friend that was a member, so he decided to come. He likes the church's focus on families, and he is very willing to learn. We should be meeting with him on Tuesday.

I am really sad to leave mo bay.  I love it here.  I have met some of my best friends here. It is fun and beautiful. I am needed elsewhere though. I will be leaving on Wednesday morning. I have started packing. I hate packing. 

Dad- do you have any advice for me as I move into this position?

I would like to bear my testimony that the Lord sends us where he needs us. With this unusual transfer call, I have no doubt that I am needed in Linstead. I don't know why, but I am. 

Not much else has really happened this week. Just hard work.

I love you guys. I will skype sometime in the afternoon next week. I dont know when because I am not in Linstead yet. Just stay close to the phone, computer, and email after church.

I will see you next week!

Love, Daniel.

(Mom's note: Here is a link to a song, "Linstead Market", which popularized the market in Linstead in 1956 -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDqe3iYkUuU .  I am also attaching a link to an article about Linstead - http://www.visitjamaica.com/linstead .)

Rastafari!

Rooftop, trade-off with Elder Christensen

The baptism

Ummm...

The skylight at the back of the cave. 
It is showing up sideways, by the way.