STILL TEACHING REMA, LOTS OF SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES HERE & WORKING WITH INVESTIGATORS KIM AND ZACHARY

So, I'll be quick today, but I'm alive and well... mostly! aha

Rema is okay... the lesson went well. We're still going to be teaching him. It's just tough because his wife is so nice, but she is very apprehensive to religion and won't learn about it like Rema, so she's not very supportive and it is hindering his progress. But we'll continue working with him because I love him.

As far as service here goes... we cut bush... paint... move bricks... mix cement... lots of stuff (: It's a perk of serving in 3rd world countries. At least I think it's a perk because I enjoy service.

Aaaaalsssooooo Kim is a new investigator that I just really like. (: I think she will progress well but she's been sick :/ Another guy we've been teaching is named Zachary, and he's super cool, too. 19 year old guy. We've actually taught him everything, and he comes to church with us, and all the members know him. He believes the Book of Mormon, reads it everyday, and has a testimony of the restoration and Joseph Smith, but he says he just doesn't feel ready for baptism. Which is understandable, but I'm not sure what to do to help him be ready at this point, and I don't want to seem like I'm pushing him or forcing him or anything. So yeah, but I have a lot of faith that he is ready and will realize it soon (:

I forgot to send these pictures! We went to a wildlife reserve on P-day. It was pretty sweet.

SERVICE WITH ZIGGY AND SERVICE AT THE HYLANDS HOUSE

Service with Ziggy, our branch mission leader. Good guy, aha! With before and after pictures.

BEFORE

AFTER

So, Rema might be dropping us. We'll see how that goes tonight and hopefully find out why. He called yesterday and said he doesn't want to meet anymore, but I asked if we could talk to him in person. It happens time and time again where I put so much effort into a person, come to love who they are and do all I can to help them, and they just stop.

Other than that, it has bee a good week. Lots of service! (As you can see from the pictures, and I love service, so that was fun. We are teaching this new lady named Kim, who honestly is super promising, but we've only had 2 lessons with her, so I'll let you know how that goes (:

Love,

Elder Mikesell Chase... Chase the Elder Mikesell. That's like a sentence. Wow.

Service at the Hyland's house.

I'm an artist.

AMAZING PRIESTHOOD BLESSING WITH REMA

So, first off! I'm emailing on a crappy "smart" phone this week, so it's really hard to type, but I'll do my best!

Rema! What an experience. We went by his house Sunday morning as planned to take the bus to church with him, and his wife, Kellyann, answered the door to tell us that Rema had gotten home from work at 2am in the morning and was feeling terribly sick. Now, I've been in the Caribbean long enough to know that people will come up with all sorts of lame excuses to get out of a commitment, but I thought for sure Rema wasn't one of those people, and I just knew he was coming to church this week. Not just because he told me, but because the Spirit confirmed it to me when he said it. So, I asked if I could come inside and see him, and sure enough he was not faking. He was sick. But I knew he was supposed to come to church, so Elder Mills anointed him with oil and I sealed the anointing with a blessing. Now, my personality is one that wanted to say, "He really is sick. Let him sleep and heal." But the Spirit is a lot more bold than that, and in the blessing I told him to basically get out of bed and go to the Lord's church. Afterwards when it was me speaking and not the Spirit as much anymore, I told him to offer a personal prayer asking God what he should do.

Aha, so he did and a minute later he was up putting on his button up shirt. Still sick though. He was pale and had a lot of snot and a headache... Just not a good time. But by the time we actually reached the church building, he was back to himself again. He stayed for Sacrament meeting, felt the Spirit and had a good time. There's so much that I learned from that experience, but I'll just say I'm grateful that the Lord is on my side. Cause Satan is a jerk and really good at what he does. But I'm on the winning team, so it feels good (:

I'm going to throw this phone against the wall if I type anymore, though. Sorry!

I love you and thank you for your prayers. They helped Rema get out of bed yesterday (:

Love,
Chase

DISTRICT LEADER AND ZONE LEADER OF A NEW ZONE

I'm doing well! Rema is doing amazing! We've had a few great lessons with him to prepare him for the 4th of February. I can't wait. He PROMISED "rain or shine" that he would be at church this Sunday, and I know he will be, so I'm just really excited. Ummm. other than that... teaching has been rough. I have a new companion, Elder Mills. Plus, I went from "no responsibility other than myself" to being a District Leader and a Zone Leader at the same time over a brand new zone. So, that's my life right now. (:

Jeff is awesome. He's a 50 year old member with a few special needs who goes out with the missionaries 6 or 7 days of the week. All day. No one really knows for sure why he does it, but the old mission president had a name tag printed for him just because he was with the missionaries so much. He doesn't really teach, but it actually does help to have a local bike around with us all the time. People usually like us more.

The holidays were good. Christmas was good.. New Years was sweet because our branch had a New Years party that was really fun (:

Have a good week! I love you!

Love,

Elder Chase