week #20 -kingston

Hey fam,

This week was better than the last one.  Don't worry.  We are still struggling with investigators.  We talk to people, but they don't keep their appointments.  We work a lot with the members in our area and have a good relationship with the bishop.  Sometimes things are tough so that we can learn lessons, not because we are doing anything wrong. 
I am working hard and I know things will pick up soon enough.  When we don't have anything to do, we go and find on the streets.  Many people work during the days and there tends not to be a whole lot of people out, but we do all we can.

You think Sis. Hamilton has a heavy accent?  Haha.  She is about as proper as it gets. Unnu nah gwaan fi undastand nah 'eavy accent.  (You won't be able to understand a heavy accent.) It takes some time to get down.  I can't blame you.  We usually do service for Sister Hamilton, or anyone else that asks.  Generally this happens once a week or so.

I ran into an insane rasta this week. Not the first time that has happened, but ask me about it when I get home.  I will have stories to tell.  I have not told you all of them for your sakes.  Haha.

Wednesday was great.  After District Meeting we went to KFC.  One of our new investigators saw us as we were locking up our bikes and handed us $2000 for lunch.  I was dumbfounded.  It made my day.  It paid for the four of us and really increased the troops' morale.

This weekend was the church open house.  On Friday night, we went to the church and helped clean and set up.  Each different auxillary had its' own room.  My art was in high demand.  I ran about with a box of chalk and designed the chalkboards of anyone that asked.  I did a lot of typography of words like "young men" and "Melchizedek Priesthood" in chalk.  I would have gotten a picture, but president Brown has asked us not to carry our cameras on us unless we have a specific reason too.  That is why I don't get too many pics now a days.  The open house was a success.  It cleared up so many misconceptions that people have about the church.  It would have been good if we could have gotten more people there, but we will focus on that next time.  The open house was put on by the stake.  Elder Beck and I gave five minute presentations in the sacrament hall.  We discussed our belief in Christ, his Atonement, and watched the church's most recent Easter video. Everything went great.

We will be helping out the salvation army with shoes tomorrow for most of the day. We will be sizing people's feet and getting them what they need over in Waterloo.  Most of the Kingston district missionaries should be there. It will be fun.

Elder Meacham and I are going with Downtown (Davis and Johnson) out to Port Royal and Fort Rocky today.  I have never been out to Port Royal, so we are going to explore it.  It is a tiny town.  Fort Rocky is the place we went to to play capture the flag a ways back.  We are going to run and jump and climb all over the abandoned ruins.  It should be fun! I am excited to do some more running and jumping and climbing.  Don't worry, I will be safe. I should have some pictures for you next week.

I forgot to answer your question about dying in Kingston. If I do die here, (finish his mission) it will be fine.  Kingston is great, and I would be ok with that.  I would like to go somewhere else and get to know one last area before I leave, but we will see. I have one transfer left, so there is a chance I will leave. I will know in a few weeks.

I love you all!  Take care,
Love, Elder Pullan

The following was in an email to Derek: Thanks Dad. I am getting to the bitter sweet end of things. I am really excited to see everyone, but it is going to pierce my heart to leave my island. I will not be returning home at the end of my mission, I will be leaving it. Again.

week #19 - Kingston

Hello everyone! 

Just another week here in Kingston!  

I did a lot of missionary work this week.  Things are still really slow, and we had to drop a few of our investigators.  We don't get all that many member referrals, and many of the people we find will set an appointment, but will not keep it. Things are a little rough, but they will get better.  We just have to keep seeking those that are prepared and make sure that we are following the spirit.  If we do that, we cannot go wrong.  

I have not gotten the box to the Hamilton's yet.  We did not see them last week. We will get it to them this week for sure.  

I am currently looking at architectural programs. BYU has no architectural program, and I think I am going to be an architect. I think it is too late to apply to other schools for this coming year though. Any advice? 

It is great that Bryson is coming here. He is going to have the best mission ever!  It will not be a Hawaii mission or tea and crumpets, but if you want stories to tell, this place has more than enough potential. He will do just fine.  

Nothing too big happened this week. I will let you know when something does. 

It sounds like you had a hectic week with prom and easter. It looks like it went great though.  Matthew is beginning to look like a man.  Everyone looks so old. 

I am excited to see you all soon!

I love you all,

Love, Elder Pullan

week #18 - Kingston

OBAMA DAYA.  Thats right. Mr. President came down this week. Everyone loved it. We (being Americans) heard plenty about it this week.  I guess he gave 70 million to Jamaican schools OR something?  Great.  Where is that money coming from?  But, enough with the politics. I have never been much of one for politics anyway.

This week was average.  Teaching people, a few rainstorms, no investigators at church.  That is the way it goes sometimes.  We did get called on Wednesday morning by the bishop to help out with a funeral at the church.  We went and I got to mess around on the piano for a while. I love the piano. Now that I understand chords and music because of the guitar, the piano is a lot more fun.  Maybe I will pick it back up and teach myself when I get home.  We will see if I have the time for it.  

We will probably have to drop a lot of our investigators this week. We have tried to talk to quite a few people, but most of them have not been interested enough to set a time to meet with us.  I am sure it will pick up this week though.  I am not worried.

Hmmm... Well, that is my week for you. Nothing too exciting.  Sorry.  Nothing new this week.  Cutting weeds with machets is fun for the first bit.  It continues to be good until your hands blister up. Then it is not so fun.

Nathan- I am excited to get your letter. I will look for it. If you want some patois, try yazeeme. (yah-zee-me).  It means "you see me?" It is generally hypothetical way of asking someone if they understand after you explain something.  Yazeeme?

Lydia- Thanks for the email. I hope you get your letter from Sophie tomorrow too. That sounds like fun.

Spring break looked great! I hope you all enjoyed it.
I love you all.

Love, Elder Pullan

week #17 -Kingston

Hello Fam, 

Conference was great this weekend!  I enjoyed it so much.  It always seems to fly by so fast. I was able to learn so much from the speakers.  I received a lot of revelation for myself.  I started by thinking up some questions I felt I needed guidance on about a week before the conference.  I gave them some thought and did my best to answer them myself.  I prayed about them.  I prayed that I might be able to hear our Heavenly Father's words for me through conference.  I prayed that the spirit would guide me and that I might be sensitive to it.  I fasted on the day of the conference.  It worked!  I have a testimony that God does speak to us through his prophets.  It is not so much about what they say, but what we hear. The Holy Ghost brings out the things there for us.  I am so grateful for the guidance I received.  Check out D&C 1:38.  It talks a bit about this. 

The week was good.  A little on the slow side with the whole Easter season.  Easter is a big deal here.  Everyone gets work off and does nothing.  On Easter Monday, people watch the "Jesus shows" that they put on tv all day.  From what I have heard, most of them are pretty graphic.  We watched the "Testimony of John the Beloved" on the new church bible videos with one of our members yesterday.  She was relieved that it was not so graphic.  It was very accurate as far as my historical knowledge goes.  I would highly recommend it.  It puts the atonement in perspective (well, better perspective).

We went over to the Hamilton's for an easter get together yesterday.  We had a cultural celebration with all of the Boulevard missionaries, and  few friends, and the family across the street from them.  We cooked hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire, and discussed each of our cultures.  We had a mash of Jamaicans from different areas on the island, a South African, a couple of Utahns and a Canadian.  I played and sang "White Blank Page" by Mumford and Sons on the guitar for my act.  A few other people sang, and brother Hamilton got out his drum and put on some Jamaican ring games.  It was a fun night. 

I have been doing well.  I hope you all loved conference as much as I did.  Make some changes based on what you learned!

Have a great spring break.  I love you all. 

Elder Pullan

We went croc hunting again this morning.
No luck, but a good time!  Me, swenson, and meacham.
Swenson goes home in two days. 

swenson, beck and evans

Swenson, Meachem and Pulsipher in the gulley.

week # 15 & 16 - Kingston

Monday, March 30

Hello Fam, 

This week has been pretty good.  We had zone conference on Tuesday.  Elder Martinez of the Seventy came to address us.  He is a great teacher.  He teaches so simply that you cannot misunderstand.  He talked a lot about being effective in our work.  We had pizza for lunch, then watched Meet the Mormons.  It made for a great day.  It was awesome to see some of my friends and old companions that are serving in other areas.  

The signs of conversion that we look for in people is in the simple things they do.  Do they come to church?  Do they read their scriptures daily?  Do they pray? Other than these things, you can feel the light in them.  There is a feeling around someone that is becoming converted.  Seeing the before and after is so cool.  They are always happy and have that light about them.  

We were able to have a pretty effective week as far as lessons and teaching went. We have been working with our members a lot lately.  That is the most effective way to do this work.  

Elder Mecham and I got chased by a rainstorm today.  Many people here have zinc on their roofs.  When rain hits zinc, it gets loud.  Elder Mecham and I could hear and see the storm coming from a mile away.  We managed to evade it for a bit, but eventually got caught.  It rained hard for about two hours.  We were soaked and a bit cold for the rest of the day.  I love the rain though, so I am not going to complain.  

I am excited for conference this weekend.  I love to hear the words of the Prophets.  The guidance that they give is from God, and it is priceless.  We need to do everything we can to listen, learn, and apply what we learn in each session. This will lead to safety.  There is a great story in Acts 28? about Paul sailing on a ship to Rome as a prisoner.  It is a great illustration of why we need to follow the prophet.  Take a look at it! 

Sis. Hamilton showed me the video of me chopping that she sent you. I am glad you enjoyed it. There is actually a lot of technique to that. You will have to give it a try when I get home.  

I love you all!

Love, Elder Pullan

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Monday, March 23 

Hey Fam, 

This week has been pretty good.  I don't have to much to say for it, but it has been good. We have put a lot more focus on working with our members this week.  It has been pretty effective.  

Sis. F is back on track for baptism now.  She set her own date and is now working towards the 11th of next month.  She came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it.  I am really looking hard for signs of conversion now.  I don't want to baptize anyone that is not converted to the gospel.  She seems to be back on track and doing well though.  I am so excited for her.  

We took a new convert, Sis. M, teaching with us this week. I love her so much (in a perfectly appropriate way.  You will know what I mean when you have a convert.  Haha). She is awesome.  

We had a cottage meeting over on Sis. W's roof last Saturday evening.  We had a lot of people there (the member to investigator ratio was not the best) but as a first try, it went well.  We watched the restoration movie and had a short testimony meeting.  We had some pepsi and chips as a snack.  Everyone that came really enjoyed it.  It was great.  The members here are fantastic.  

The smoke has cleared up a lot, although the fires are still burning.  They actually started another fire last week to keep di ting bunnin.  I am sure that if people knew who was causing the fires, most people would start a mob and beat them to death.  I am not kidding.  They would.  It is a risky thing for them to be doing.  

I started writing a song this week.  It is one of my first attempts, but I like it.  It is not done yet.  I will show you one a dem days deh.  Soon come.  

I am glad that you are all doing well. Keep up all the good work. 

Stay safe. Remember who you are. You know the drill. 

Love, Elder Pullan

Working in Hamilton's yard with the machete.

Sis. Hamilton

The garden area after clearing it out.

A note to Rachel re: the church in Jamaica

Hi Rachel,

To answer your questions- There is no temple in JA. There will be one day, but the church is going to need to do some growing first. Jamaica has about 5,000 members, many of which are less active or inactive. That being said, there are also many fantastic strong members here that make up the backbone of the church. The church is growing here, and still has a long way to go, but it has been cool to see all of the changes that have taken place over the past two years. Jamaica now has its first stake. 

The nearest temples are in Panama and the Dominican Republic. The church has a program that allows members that need to go for their first time to go for next to nothing.  Temple trips happen semi-annually.  It has been cool to see people go to the temple and come back, just full of light.  I love the people here.  They are incredible. 

As for new members being retained in church, it depends on the person, but I think we do pretty good with retention nowadays. 

Love, Daniel 

week #14 - Kingston

Hello Fam! 

This week has been an intersting one. The landfill over near Seaview Gardens in South Kingston caught fire this week. Apparently this happens every year. People will light the dump on fire so that they can make jobs for themselves. The company that owns the dump has to pay a lot of people to help them put it out. Kingston has been smokey all week. Everything smells like burning plastic. The smoke usually cleared up by the mid afternoon, but it would settle in the mornings. We had to close all of our windows, and even stay in for an extra hour one morning because of it. Like I said, it has been an interesting week.  

The fire is out, and all the smoke seems to be clearing up now. As for the rest of this week, we did a lot of missionary work. Elder Mecham and I have been working hard. We found a lot of people to teach, but most of the appointments we set with them fell through. We still had a good week overall though.  

Sis. F is doing ok. We think she may have some issues, so I am not sure how that will go. I will keep you updated.  

I broke a spoke on my bike and had to go to the bike man to get it fixed. His name is Bike Man Belly. He does a pretty good job. That is about all that comes to mind for the week. Everything has been good though. I am really enjoying the time I have here. I love Kingston.  

Take care. I love you all!

Love, Elder Pullan