This week has been a long one with Thanksgiving and
Independence Day in Barbados! But it was also a great week for so many reasons.
Surprisingly, we had all traditional
food on Thanksgiving because a family that is from America fed all the
missionaries. I ATE SO MUCH it would scare
people but it really wouldn’t be a surprise because of all the weight I have
been gained. Most of it is muscle which
is super awesome. I have gained ten
pounds and I eat like a cow. It frustrates Elder Miller because I eat all our
food!
Barbados Independence day wasn’t too special. We had an activity with about 40 people, half
missionaries and half members of the church.
It was interesting to get some Bajan cooking like Coucou and Mac Pie but
it was still food so I ate it all!!!
Also this week Elder Martinez of the Seventy came to Barbados
for a church conference and spoke to us missionaries too. It was awesome! He talked about so many
things but just getting to hear his testimony that he has of the Savior was
great. It just gives you such a sense of
peace and comfort. That’s what the
gospel does, it gives you a peace and comfort we all want but for some reason,
we try to find it in other places but nothing will work as well as the gospel.
We also have a baptism for a lady named Martha. She is my most favorite person in the world.
I get in trouble because I just sit and
gaf (talk) with her forever because she is just so funny. She reminds me a lot of
Grandma! She is 80 years old and is getting baptized on the 5th of
December, just like my cousin Kacie! I
will tell Martha that she is getting baptized the same day as Kacie and she
will think that’s awesome! We are so
excited for her! She is amazing. She calls us all the time to ask us what she
needs to do. She is so excited to become
a member of this amazing church because she said it makes her fake eye and her
barely working eye work better and also because it brings her that same peace I
was talking about earlier. You will get to see pictures of her next week.
I just found out I am an uncle! I am so excited, I was tearing up sitting in
the Library because I was sad that I don’t get to see her but I know she is
awesome! I also was tearing up because I
know that she is a daughter of God and Heavenly Father has a plan for her. We go
out and teach this plan to people and it just reminds me of one thing. This
little girl is a miracle and there are going to be many miracles in her
lifetime, but the one miracle that I hope she will always hold dear is that
Jesus Christ died for HER! FOR HER, personally. He died for all of us personally
and it gives me that sense of hope for myself and also for that baby girl that everything
will work out. I already love that little girl so much I can’t wait to see her
on Christmas!
I got my Christmas package this week and there were so
many awesome things! We already broke the whoopee cushion but we also set up a
finger football tournament and its pretty intense! We leave our goal post up
all day! Also the tree and the tiny nativity set are set up in our front room. It’s
getting really Trunky (homesick) in my apartment. We are all really excited to
be able to call home on Christmas!
Oh shoot, I almost forgot! In Zone Conference the other
day, all the missionaries in Barbados got together so we could have a little
training and to be able to talk about our areas personally. Apparently our Zone Leaders assign talks
to two missionaries to talk during the conference and they never told me that I
was one of them! When my name was called
to go up and speak, I almost pooped! (At least he would have been able to check
off “Pooped my pants”) But it came to
show me the power of the spirit and speaking by the spirit and why having the
Holy Ghost with you all the time is so important. I got up there and just talked about things I
had never thought about and how when Jesus spoke with authority and how the
people were so inspired and touched by his words (Mathew 7:29). And how Jesus Christ taught with love and he
spoke with love in his voice. Scribes memorized and taught but Jesus Christ
used the spirit and taught with love. SO
to you all, if you go about whatever you are doing with love, it can really
change how people perceive you and listen to you and just love you back. Jesus Christ is the greatest teacher of all
time and I just hope to learn a thing or two from him.
Well another week has gone by, I just started realizing
how much I miss baseball and sports but I am also starting to realize how
amazing this experience is. Even with all the homesickness, disappointment and
everything, and as hard as it is, it all gets better with the love of my
Heavenly Father and the comfort from the Holy Ghost when I am teaching someone
about Jesus Christ. I miss everyone
soooo much but I’m not coming home any time soon because Heavenly Father needs
me here and I will do anything to feel his love always!
Love you all so very much Elder(Uncle) Fokken
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