Hello from Martinique!

The simplest thing to say is that I don't know how to describe what being here is like, but I'll do my best. :)

The flight out to Martinique from Trinidad was a lot of fun because I got to ride a propeller plane, which I've never done before. It took off at 5:30 and I got to Martinique around 9:45. Elder and Sister Jenkins, the senior couple, picked me up and took me down to Fort-de-France to meet Elder Miyasaki and get moved in. I spent a little while moving in, we had lunch (fried chicken and french fries) and then Elder Miyasaki took me over to Ducos to do some contacting. We went to an appartment complex and knocked on doors for about 3 hours and actually had two lessons just by people being interested and letting us in! I didn't understand a lot of what was said because the people have an accent and speak super fast, but I understood Elder Miyasaki, so I was able to bear my testimony both times and explain a couple things. Most of the people are quite friendly although most of the people who answer the door don't really want to hear our message. 

After contacting we went to dinner with Elders Russel and Sosa, who share our appartment in Fort-de-France, to Soeur Jean-de-Dieu's house (we call her Yva). Yva is an older member who loves the missionaries. She has us over for lunch every Sunday after church and feeds us SO MUCH FOOD!!!! Yesterday I made the mistake of telling her that I wanted to eat everything (meaning that I wanted to TRY everything), and she just kept loading my plate with food throughout the meal. It was really good, but I was full to bursting when we left.

Wednesday night I was actually feeling extremely overwhelmed because I was really tired, I was in a completely new country, and I didn't understand any of the French. That was a really hard evening, but once I'd gotten a good night's rest I felt a lot better. I still don't understand all that much, but I can usually follow along in the lessons by listening to Elder Miyasaki and jumping in when I have a comment. And I'm learning to understand a lot more.

We haven't done as much work this week as we've wanted to because we are in the process of moving into a house down in Trois Rivières because our actual area is the whole southern part of Martinique. If you look at the map of martinique and find Lamentin (it's somewhere below Fort-de-France) and draw a line straight across the map to Le Vauclin, everything below it is our area. We're just living in Fort-de-France right now because we didn't have a house yet. But they just finished up getting a house for us, and we've been buying stuff and moving it down there for the last few days. It's an actual house because we're going to need to be able to hold church there. I don't know how soon we'll be starting meetings, but it'll probably be during this transfer. 

By the way, because we have such a huge area, we actually have a car! I was expecting to be on foot or using the bus, but we have a car to get around. And it's actually a really nice car! There was a weird situation about the rules the church has about the kind of cars we can buy and what fuel they use and the kinds of cars actually for sale here, so we got something called a Yaris. Mostly we drive with the windows down to save gas.
Speaking of windows, our appartment doesn't have ANY air conditioning! Most houses and appartments here don't. It's not too bad really, but you need to appreciate how lucky you are to have air conditioning for the whole house. We are extremely lucky becuase our house in Trois Rivieres has air conditioning just for the bedroom. And we're still not sure if we'll use it or not.

And speaking of what we have or don't have, the members here have incredibly strong faith! Just being to one sacrament meeting where I couldn't understand most of what was said was enough to feel the spirit they invited and the love they have for each other and everyone else.

I'll have to finish this up next week because I'm about out of time.

I have no idea how I'll be able to keep you updated with everything that happens here because it is so incredible to be here.

I hope everybody's happy and well!

I love you!

Elder Johnston

Here we are the first day in Trinadad.  This is the group of arriving missionaries!

Hey Family!

So when we got into Trinidad last night they told us that the place our flight plans said we would be going were not necessarily the places we are going... It had said that Elders Christensen and Drennan are going to Guadaloupe and Elder Wade and I are going to Martinique, but we got our real assignments this morning when we met with President Mehr. As it turns out, I'm still going to Martinique and by the same flight I told you about earlier, but all the other French speaking Elders are going to Guadaloupe. I'm going to be trained by Elder Miyasaki, who is from Hawaii and is beginning his third transfer here. Together we are going to be opening a brand new area! President Mehr told me that we'd be holding Sacrament Meeting in our apartment and no missionaries have ever been in that area of Martinique before. So I'll have my work cut out for me. :) I'll meet Elder Miyasaki tomorrow morning when I fly into Martinique.

The flight from Houston to Trinidad was really great! I got to do some scripture study and found some really great verses including 2 Nephi 10:20, which talks about keeping our heads held high because the Lord has sent us to that land and he will bless us as we work. It also mentioned that it is an isle of the sea, which was very fitting.

I wish I could have gotten a picture, but flying into Trinidad after dark last night was among the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It looked like piles of gems heaped up underneath us reflecting the lights. 

Last night we spent the night in a Bed and Breakfast that was extremely nice. I think we'll be spending the night there again tonight, but after that we'll be in our new areas. I can't wait to send you pictures of this place! It is an amazingly beautiful island.

Speaking of pictures, this is a picture of all the missionaries who came with us to the West Indies yesterday. Most of them came from the MTC with us, but three of them came from the Dominican Republic MTC and one was returning to the mission after being home for a while. We also met the APs, who are extremely cool! Today we're being taught about a bunch of stuff by the APs, a few senior couples, and President and Sister Mehr.

I'll have to get off now, but I will email again on Monday, which is our P-day!

Have a great week!

Love, 

Elder Johnston