Elder Sackley goes to the West Indies: week 16

Bonjour!

This week reminded me of why I love being a missionary so much. It was the best way a man can start off his 19th year of life. First I will tell a funny story:

So Tuesday Elder Smith and I were in companionship study and we are had to call another Elder to get a member's contact info. That's when Elder Smith noticed something crawling across his shoulder. He instinctively freaked out and screamed very loud and high and flung it off. A baby iguana had climbed up his chair up his back and was just resting on his shoulder. We have been trying to catch iguanas for a long time but they are sooo fast. So we cornered the sucker and after lots of screaming, and a couple tears we wrangled him. We were very content with our catch as we sat back down to call the Elder. That is when we noticed just outside our door, yet another Iguana was laying nonchalantly! Elder Smith snuck past it with a bucket and I did my best hockey impersonation. I took a broom and smacked the sucker right into the bucket. He was not too happy with us, but we got him! And then lightning struck for a third time. A mama iguana must of had babies on our porch because another little guy was laying on our railing. With some persuasive words I got it to jump into the bucket. We quickly taught the lessons and converted them. They actually liked us. But seeing it is against mission rules we released them after a while, sad we had to let them go. It felt like the kids left the nest.

We had our first baptism this week! His name is Smith Carrenan, and he is Haitian and 27 years old.

Here is his conversion story:

Elder Smith and I were headed to go meet with a guy named Peterson we had contacted earlier in the week. We got there and Peterson could not meet with us then but his cousin Smith could talk for just a minute. We had a very quick Book of Mormon lesson with Smith and then agreed to come back later in the week. They were intrested but as they put it - "we just want to learn how your church works". We came back later hoping it would be more than that..and seriously all they wanted to know was the organization of the church. They asked about Apostles, the Quorum of the 70...just bizzare random questions. We left the second lesson just kind of rolling our eyes, as we didn't feel too hopeful about the whole thing. But, we set a return appointment and invited them to read and come to church.

That Sunday was fast Sunday. And we were fasting with the particular reason of finding someone who would be ready for baptism. We had 4 investigators in mind and as we rode our bikes to all their houses that morning, we had no luck with any of them! No one wanted to or would come to church. I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting very frustrated and just confused. I knew God was trying to tell me something but I didn't know what. I sat there for a while with my face in my hands and finally I sat up and leaned back in the chair. I looked down the row behind me and there he was. Smith looking right back at me smiling! It was like a ton of bricks falling on me- the answer to our fast was looking right at me.

The next time we visited smith the whole lesson changed. He was so eager to learn more, and he loved it. We worked with him all the way to his baptism but the more we taught him, the more we realized Smith was really teaching us. He was so happy all the time and was always so eager to learn. He was baptized on Saturday by a recent convert named Dorval. After the baptism, Smith asked a missionary to give him the Holy Ghost the next day.

The morning of his confirmation Elder Smith looked at me and said that I would be giving the blessing. I have given one blessing my whole life in english in a tiny quite room in the MTC. This was the confirmation of my first baptism in front of a congregation of 100 in french. I don't think I have ever been so nervous in my life. I went up to the front of the congregation, took a deep breath and opened my mouth and... I cant tell you what I said. I can't remember it at all. I remember starting and than sitting back down. Afterwards Elder Smith told me that I had spoken flawless french and had told Smith everything he needed to know.

I am very grateful that Heavenly Father brought us Smith and I feel privileged he let me be there to see his conversion. I am thankful for the promise of trusting the lord enough to open my mouth and he will fill it with the words i need to say. I feel privileged to tell everyone that Smith Carrenan is a new member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

Love,

Elder Logan Robert Sackley