New Area - New Companion!!

Well, here I am in Trinidad! Sister Herrick and her temp, Sister Lewis picked me up from the airport and then we dropped Sister Lewis off at her home in Port of Spain. She is 17, is the only member of her family, and has only been baptized for about a year, but she still chose to give 3 months to serve a mini mission. I really admire her and all the other local people who have done similarly over the years. After dropping her off we stopped by the mission office before making our way over to our area in San Fernando. Our apartment is a big change from my last one. It is very...quaint. lol. No, it is small, but it has everything we really need, a kitchen, a bedroom with a table for studies and a bunkbed to sleep on, and a small bathroom. We also have a washer and dryer outside our apartment which is nice. Our landlord is really nice and makes sure we are safe and taken care of. The elders have been staying in this apartment for years now, so if they can do it so can we! lol. I'm already used to it. 

 Our first few days of work here have been great. There are struggles, but it is refreshing to have a new place and new people to work with and around. I love the members here that I have met so far. They are so sweet. Church yesterday was fun because the Young women did their Young Women in Excellence program during sacrament meeting. They gave talks and testimonies and sang some musical numbers. It was really special. We also had a great investigator at church. She is the biggest sweetheart. Sister Herrick and Sister Lewis met her a week or so ago, and had only taught her once when I got here. So we taught her again on Wednesday, and I already love her. She is very prepared to hear this gospel. I think she loved church and she mentioned how impressed she was with how welcome the members made her feel. She already said that she would be back next week. 

 Sister Herrick is a fantastic companion. She is so loving and fun, but also hardworking. She is great with people and loves to talk to everyone. We are getting along really well, and I know we will work well togother. She has been out for about 9 months now, so she is about half way through her mission. She is great!

I miss the beauty of the island life, but Trinidad has its own beauty. It is nice to be in a little more developed country. So far I have tried two different types of roti, doubles, and what they call palouri. They are all good, but some have a bit too much spice for my liking. My stomach isn't used to it and neither are my taste buds! But I'll acclimate. Members feed us more here than in St. Vincent. We will be eating our first Thanksgiving at the mission home this afternoon after going caroling with all the missionaries. Then on Thanksgiving day we were invited to the Bishop's mother-in-law's house for dinner. She also lets the missionaries skype at her house on Christmas! :) Our bishop is an american who as an RM married a girl from Trinidad who came to study in the states. They got married and then ended up moving here so he could work for her family's company. They are a sweet family with two kids ages 9 and 11. I love and am thankful for you all! And wish you all a happy Thanksgiving!

Sister Bratt

Last Week in St Vincent - Transferring to Trinidad

I'll start with the biggest news first. We got our transfer calls on Saturday and....I'm going to Trinidad! I will miss the people here with all my heart. I will be serving in a city called San Fernando. I don't know much about it, but my Zone leader here served there, and he said he loved it. He wants to go back before his mission is up. It is the second biggest city in Trinidad I think about 45 minutes from Port of Spain where the mission home is. My new companion's name is Sister Herrick. I met her briefly when I was leaving Trinidad to come to St. Vincent. She was in Trinidad for her first two transfers and then Barbados. Now she is back in Trinidad, but in a different area. She has been there for one transfer with a temp missionary. The area was just opened to Sisters, and she seems to be loving it (according to the APs). I look forward to the new experience and to working with a new Sister that has been here for some time so that I can continue to learn and grow as a missionary. I will miss Sister Bennie. She is nervous about taking over the area, but she will do great and she will have an awesome companion, Sister Taylor, who has been on her mission longer than all the sisters in the mission. It was hard saying goodbye to everyone this week, and I still have a few more goodbyes to come, but I know it is for the best. 

Today we went to Bequia! I'm glad I got to go before I leave St. Vincent. It was a fun experience. It is a beautiful island. I took lots of pictures, but I don't know if they will all load this week. We went "over-seas," as they say here, on the ferry to Bequia. It is an hour ride, and when we got there we took some "taxi's," trucks with seats and roofs built in, around the island. They took us to an old fort, a turtle sanctuary, and a beach with lots of conch shells. It was a fun day, but tiring as well. 

I was sort of hoping to stay here in St Vincent for Christmas, but if the Lord needs me in Trinidad, then there must be a reason. So I will happily go. I hope you have a great week!

I love you all,

Sister Bratt

(Editor's note: Sister Bratt sent a lot of pics of the people of St Vincent who she loves and will miss dearly. I am not sure about posting their pics on this blog without permission. Will check first.)

Recovered & Feeling the Christmas Spirit

This week was much better. I was back to my normal self and have made a full recovery. We worked all week, but took it slow at first, coming in if I was tired. I kept hydrated and am feeling as good as new.  We worked diligently and trusted in the Lord to lead us to new people to teach this week and were thus able to find some great people. I look forward to continuing to teach them and will let you know if any of them progress.

I am starting to get really into the Christmas spirit. Today we went to Sandy Bay again to visit our Branch president and his wife. They served their mission in Sister Bennie's branch and he was her branch president for a while there as well, so they wanted her to come see their place. On the drive there and back (it takes about an hour on really windy roads) we listened to Christmas music. We have also been singing Christmas hymns in district meeting the past few weeks. I don't know where I will be for Christmas. Transfers are a week from this Wednesday so I could be moved. Even though I would love to stay here where I know and love the members and missionaries, I will go where the Lord wants me to go.

I hope you are all doing well, the work is progressing according to our faith and diligence, so we are pressing forward.

I love you all!

Sister Bratt   

Dengue Fever

Wow, this week was very eventful. I am doing a lot better, and will most likely get back to work this week, but there were a few bumps in the road to recovery. On Thursday I woke up with my hands itching and hurting, so I went to the doctor. She had me go get another blood test to compare with the other one, and there were complications. I don't know what caused it for sure, I was most likely dehydrated, but I ended up fainting and convulsing for a minute after they drew my blood. So the doctor sent me to the hospital to get an IV to re-hydrate me and we sat for about 5 hours waiting before I got hooked up to one. The hospital isn't very efficient, and I truly hope to avoid another trip there. After being at the hospital for 7 hours they told me the results of my blood test showed low platelets or something and they wanted to keep me over night, but Sister Bird wouldn't leave me there, so we signed a waiver and left. I have been fine since, just taking it easy and relaxing. But the next day the doctor called and said the the blood test showed that I had dengue fever. I guess that is what caused both the fever and the rash. Everything is clearing up now though, and I feel almost as good as new.

I hope everything there is going well. I love you, and miss you lots!

Love, 

Sister Bratt