Wherein Landen is almost 20!

December 31, 2018

Thanks for the Birthday wishes!!! I hope you all have a great new years eve/day! Glad everyone survived the sledding trip, and I hope that everything is going well. That's funny that it was Emerson that biffed it this time cause he was the one that knocked the wind out of me last time, jaja. 

There's not really much to say, I just talked to you all a few days ago. Pres. Mohr and his wife just left after spending a few days on the island, it was fun to have them here, they brought the package down that you sent! Thanks for the food, and the vial too!!  Also tell grandma thanks for the support as well!  It will help me to buy a new watch (mine finally broke after all this time) :(. 

 Love you all though, hope you all have a great week!

Elder Bailey

Wherein Landen gets his CHRISTMAS CALL HOME!

December 24, 2018

     Awesome, I'll probably call at around 5pm our time here which should be close to 2 pm Idaho time.  Man!!!! your trunking me out with Christmas traditions from back home, those cardboard forts, Christmas nights and cinnamon roll breakfasts are the greatest!!!  But you should be happy to know we've been trying to keep alive some traditions here as well! 

      The week started off well enough with us reading the Christmas story from Luke to our students in the English class. They didn't understand it all too well since it was in English, but they learned a lot and we had a good time. Then a few days after we had our scripture class with all of the members and I low-key forced upon them our family tradition of acting out the nativity together..so we did! They enjoyed that as well, and we felt a cool spirit with them all. We also got them to help us film a 'Christmas Video Card' for us, so I'll be sure to share that with you guys so you all can see it too. (*Can't get it to work, but it is on FB and Insta).

     Then later on in the week we had a branch Christmas party.  We got the group in Portsmouth to take a bus down to Roseau and with the whole branch together we threw an awesome barbecue. Lots of food, a great Christmas spirit and Christmas message, and friends and family all around. After that we had the following day an amazing Special sacrament meeting service. Elder Mancilla and I spoke about Christmas and the Message of Christ to the world. 

     We have some good plans to celebrate Christmas and Christmas eve.  We've got a hike planned with a couple single adults from the branch and we got invited to a lunch with one of the families, then of course talking to you guys will be the best part of it all!  I hope you can all enjoy Christmas and the spirit of hope and salvation that Christ can bring into our lives as we remember His birth and the Light He brought into this world. This week in the "Light the World" initiative we are all to Light our individual faith. Let the Light of Christ enter your heart.  Search out his teachings in his scriptures, search out his personal counsel in prayer and seek out his Light in every way you can. 

    

      We can all grow "firmer and firmer in our Faith" as we give our hearts over to him (Helaman 3:35), so let's all take advantage of this wonderful Christmas season and take time to grow closer to our Savior. 

       Merry Christmas to all, and to all a "see you tomorrow"!!!!

Elder Bailey

ps. yeah- I'm not sure on what I will be doing when I get home. I don't plan on going back to school til the fall, so I will be looking for a job. The site would be cool, I'm also considering focusing my education towards an MBA in the future so I was thinking of checking with Tom or the Cousins at Grandpa's office to see if they would need an extra hand around the office over the summer as well and get some part-time experience in business. But I would definitely still be interested in applying to the Site! So we'll talk more about that tomorrow.

December 25, 2018

We loved Skyping with Landen for a special Christmas treat. (Video and transcription below of his testimony to us). 

 

TRANSCRIPT from the video clip we took of Landen (I don't think I am getting it to upload yet)...

“It’s helped me a lot to come to appreciate really the home that I grew up in, with you guys teaching us the gospel our whole lives. And growing up with good practices. Growing up with good things that we’ve done our whole lives. I’m really grateful for that. Like, for seeing all of the stuff that other people don’t have and for all of the things that I DID have, I guess it’s something that I’ll always be grateful for – especially just that knowledge of the gospel.

I know there is a story that I kind of remember that I think Mom told me, that when I was a little kid I came out of our Catholic preschool into our Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Sunday school (primary) and I like knew everything already, because I’d already been taught it before. And that’s kind of how I feel like in a lot of situations here – where we are like going through hard times and struggles and I already know how to handle it and how to get through it, because I learned it at home, I learned it from you guys, or I learned it from somewhere else in the mission already.

So, I’m very blessed, very happy with where I’m at right now. Very excited for the future to see what’s going to happen. Definitely I know that this gospel is true – that is something that will never change! Truth is eternal and truth is definite, and no matter how much people want to try to prove it wrong or force it away, it’s not going to change. It’s the way it is because that is the way that God wants it to be. Um – it was super cool actually, a couple months ago to see President Nelson as well, as he came and visited Puerto Rico, and just all the changes he’s been making (while I am) on my mission, I feel like the Church isn’t even going to be the same as it was when I left, because of all the new things going on with the new changes! But it is just a more sure sign that the Church really has been restored. It’s not just a different Church or anything, but it is really being led by God. It is being led by Him, and He is the guy in charge and He is doing what He wants with it. And I am super excited to be a big part of it as it moves forward and as the Kingdom is built even more!”

Wherein Landen Explains Cockfighting to Us!

December 17, 2018

     Haha, yeah, cockfighting, good stuff! Puerto Rico would be destroyed worse than before if they banned that stuff. I can't even tell you how many fights I've seen and cock-fighting training yards. People here will literally breed those things to be the most aggressive. Then they'll tie little razor blades onto their legs and send them into the ring to fight to the death. It's crazy stuff, prolly should be illegal, but its such a big part of the culture that it would def still continue on even if they banned it. 

     Yeah we heard about the church announcement! Thats super exciting! That should mean Lane will be ordained a teacher like next month then, right?? Crazy to think that he was barely baptized when I left and now he'll be a teacher.  And both Miles and Emerson will be baptized too! January will be an exiting month for the Family! Btw, tell Lane happy birthday for me! I know I'm late, but its better than nothing! 

     Things in Dominica have been pretty chill. We had some super great lessons thins week. One with a Family named the Sanford Family. They have been studying with us for a while now and have been coming to church a bunch. They are indigenous descendants to the island and are a really tight family. Well anyways, this week they were taught and accepted the Word of Wisdom.  The father has struggled with some issues with that law in the past, so it was good that he was willing to accept the challenge to live it. Pray for them - they are a great family!

    We also had a visit this week from the Caribbean facilities manager (from Puerto Rico). his name is Bro. Nieves. He works for the church managing all of the chapels on the islands, and he came to renew the contract in the Chapel in Roseau. Since we are the only reliable members with a car on the island, we had to pick him up and hang out with him all day! I learned a lot about the facilities management part of the church which was very interesting. He also came out to teach with us, so it was super fun. He also gossiped a little with us about the new temple in Puerto Rico (because of his position he knows basically everything about it) and while he wasn't allowed to give us any specific details, he did tell us some stuff, and it looks like the groundbreaking for the temple will happen before I finish my mission! Then, because of how small it is, it will prolly take less than 2 years to finish building and dedicate!  He didn't give any set dates but predicted a dedication before the end of 2020. so that is going to be super exciting and a lot sooner than most people expected it. 

      That's about it going on here. I will try to let you know around what time we will be Skyping home so that you guys will know. Other than that, I love you all! have a great week and a very Merry Christmas!!!!

Elder Bailey

Wherein Landen Shares his Awesome Christmas Spirit!

December 10, 2018 

     That's exciting for Emerson! Baptism is something super exciting! I gave a talk about baptism and the priesthood this last Sunday, and learned a lot (I hope those who heard the talk learned a lot as well).  But that's a real special moment for him, I'm excited!  Will Maelynn be home in time for the baptism? How long is she planning on staying in Mexico?

     Yes, we will be able to Skype home, basically at what ever time of day works best for you guys. It's just us two on the island - so there is no need to fight over the computer for a time, and even so the other one of us can just use our smartphone for the call, so its super chill. We Skype into our district meetings every week, so we know it works and there will be no problem. I did not get the package though, or any mail from anyone if anything was sent. the next visit we will have from the mission presidency isn't until the 29th, and I don't know if they'll be checking a bag so might not have room for any packages, but if anything I'll get it in April when I go back to Puerto Rico. So no rush, all chill.

     This week was very interesting for Dominica. Nothing amazing to see in all of the numbers or in the progress of the area, but I personally was able to grow and progress spiritually a lot. Especially in my studies. I have been studying a lot out of the Book of Mormon and Preach my Gospel. This week I was able to read through the Book of Helaman and through the majority of PMG Chapter six (Christ like attributes). It was touching to be able to read about the prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite of Christs' birth. 

     One of the most difficult things that we ran into this week were all of the bah-humbugs towards the Christmas Spirit. We went around to all of the members this week and even to quite a few non-members sharing the Christmas #lighttheworld videos and pass along cards and just lighting the world everywhere we went in general. And the majority of people gave us a lot of rejection and contention- making claims that Christmas was a pagan Holiday and that true Christians wouldn't celebrate it. They said a lot more than that but that's the basic gist of it and I can't even tell you how many people we heard that from.  I started to get concerned every time we pulled out the phone to show the video cause it could potentially start into something every time we did. So it helped a lot personally to be able to read through Samuel's prophecy, that the night before Christs' birth, the sky would be lit up and many marvelous wonders would occur that would cause the people to be amazed, confirming to me in my mind that Christmas is a time to celebrate. 

    Samuel told us, even the Heavens put up lights and new stars to celebrate that wonderful Birth. The Scriptures, both the Book of Mormon and the Bible would not make such an emphasis on His birth if it wasn't so important!  Adam, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Nephi, Jacob, Samuel, and many other prophets saw and gave account of that birth, as well as many more in the New testament. It wouldn't be such a big part of all christian doctrine if Christians weren't meant to celebrate it. We are supposed to celebrate!  And as the Hymn says: Rejoice! the Lord is Come! Yes, its true, he wasn't actually born in December, and yes, it has become a very commercialized event that people abuse, But that does not mean we should stop celebrating it! If anything it means even more that we need to celebrate Christmas and rejoice for what it truly means, because God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. He was the Gift of Light that God gave to the world and by celebrating that gift and that birth we can show our gratitude to our creator for offering us an opportunity of salvation. Boycotting Christmas will not stop the commercialism, it will only stop the blessing. It is not a pagan Holiday, it is a holiday to celebrate the One true God of Israel. That is why Me and My companion are going to Light up this Island with the Christmas spirit this Season. Because I Believe, and I am grateful for that gift given long ago. So I will express that by helping others to feel the same light that has shone upon my soul from Him.

    Sorry, that was a bit of a ramble, but that is how I feel and that is my testimony. 

I do love the Christmas season, and I do love the Lord. I hope everyone back home is as excited as I am for this Christmas, its gonna be great! I love all of you guys as well, Please do all you can to 'Light your Community' this week, and shine forth the light of Christ to everyone in Idaho!

Love, Elder Bailey 


('tis is a lot, but we went to: Emerald lake, Jakos steps, and Scotts head (where the Atlantic meets the Caribean) we did that last hike already dressed in pros and our car got stuck halfway up, thus the pictures! 

Wherein Landen Learns a Little Creole.

December 3, 2018

    Sounds Like a fun week, dad! I remember back forever and a half ago when me and you went out to South Dakota too to go antelope hunting with your brothers and dad. On the way back you let me tryout driving the old civic stick shift. I hope Marks driving through the Wyoming roads this trip was a lot better than mine so many years back. If there is one thing that I have learned how to do on my mission is is to be a better driver (and lots of other things too, but that is one of them). So far I've driven everything from a Corolla to a Rav4 to a Tacoma, thousands of miles, through trafficked highways in California and San Juan to country back roads in Puerto Rico and Dominica - with the steering wheel on both sides of the car and driving on both sides of the road - through some pretty crazy conditions. 

    This week on the Dominica roads, we trusted a map that we shouldn't have which took us down a road that still has not been completely reconstructed since the hurricane, and there were parts where the road was just wide enough to squeeze our Rav 4 by with a cliff going straight down on our left and another going straight up on our right!  Some crazy stuff... but sometimes when I'm thinking about all of the crazy situations I've learned to drive in and to handle, I think back to that SD trip when I was a little lad in appreciation of all that I've learned since then, both in driving a car and in all other things. 

    We saw some amazing blessings this week as well as some big disappointments. One experience for example: Last Sunday 2 of the Haitian children that have been coming to our English class Showed up at church with out us even inviting them, and they seemed to enjoy it a lot. The following day, The older one of the 2 brothers (Esaie- 17y.o. and Ezekiel 12y.o.) came up to me at the end of English class and told me "I want you, Mwen Vle Baptize" which I didn't completely understand, but then he typed it into his google translate and repeated it back to me in Enlgish: "I want to be Baptized, I want you." So then I tried to respond to him, but I don't speak Creole, so I typed back into his google translate: "we can help you with that". We then proceeded to set up an appointment, get his address and phone number and everything. 

     The next day we went over for the appointment and taught him and his brother, the best we could with our limited Creole, but helped them set a baptismal date with a simple as it can get invitation: "Ou vle baptize?" "You want baptize?" and they accepted and we showed them a calendar to decide on the date.           Then we invited them to play soccer with us on Wednesday and we had a great fellow-shipping game of soccer with them and a bunch of other children!  By the end of the game we had set 2 appointments with different youth from around Portsmouth to visit and teach them and their families.  (Come to find out that these youths' parents don't speak English either and we had a lot of Creole learning this week). Thursday tho we taught these 2 brothers again and used a Creole gospel principles book to help them to understand the apostasy, restoration and book of Mormon - and it worked great! They were super excited for their baptism. Then on Friday, they texted us and told us they are moving a half-hour car ride away from the church, and don't have money for a bus in to town. 

   So like I said: Huge Miracle, and little disappointments -which we will conquer and move on from!  

     All around tho, things are going well. Exciting to hear about Jakobs' mission call! When does he leave? I'm Glad to hear everything is going well back home, I hope that by now mom has already put up all of the Christmas decorations and that she is only allowing Christmas music to be played around the house, and that you guys are enjoying everyday new treats coming in from neighbor gifts!

    Lots of Love from Dominica!

Elder Bailey