MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY FAMILY

This was on Christmas Day trying to Skype with everyone. My connection was super bad and kept freezing and signing me out. So I called my President and asked if we could set it up for the next day at the mission home, he kindly said YES! So I was only able to talk with my brother in Mexico for a second but was able to talk with the rest of my family the day after Christmas. To inform my parents of this.....my kind church member let me call home and share the news! What a blessing to be able to do that. I thanked them and wished them great blessings and Happy Holidays.

The day after Christmas Skype Call

It worked.....I can see you!

Hey wait......where is Britney?

YES.....she's on here too!

After talking about my experiences with my family and catching up it was time........

I don't want to but it's time to say goodbye.....

I will share more with all of you next week.

One Love-Elder Colton Bastian

WEEK 38

LETTER FROM COLT'S MOM:

So Elder Colton Bastian has been busy and he said so sorry for not writing this week, he sent pictures instead and will be explaining them to us on CHRISTMAS DAY! That's when I get to see my boy's face and hear his voice! One HAPPY momma coming up!! The first two pictures are from their Christmas party with the President and his wife......THANK YOU Brodie for tagging me in them :)

Oh and let me know if you have any questions for him in the comments and I will be happy to ask...

At the Mission Home trying to let us know that Monday won't be their p-day

Trinidad Missionaries at the Mission Home for the Christmas Party

The 1.4 pound package finally made it after $100+ shipping.  So glad it made it before Christmas. GREAT things come in small packages, HIS TASTE of HOME all in a stocking!

Me and my companion Elder Steed

"Hey I think your on the wrong side...haha

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!!
REMEMBER TO TRUE MEANING! 

Message for Monday

Merry Christmas!!!

We are having a little party at the mission home today so I'll be emailing tomorrow!! So don't worry haha

love you all!!

WEEK 37

Hey everyone!!

This week was pretty great! We had zone meeting this week at the mission home and they talked a lot about obedience. It was good, it's a greeat reminder to always stay obedient especially the little things. As we stay obedient as missionaries we will see the great blessings that come from it. 

Also I was able to experience an earthquake here!!! I heard it was like a 6.2 but I'm sure if that was a lie but it was a big one tho I could feel the ground shaking and the chair I was sitting on was moving it was a cool experience! haha

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 rocked Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday evening sending people into the streets and throwing items of the shelves of some stores and supermarkets.

This last week two people in Couva got baptized!! I started teaching Antonio and Ariel too. I even extended the date to them when I was there. So I was able to see them get baptized, even tho I don't serve there anymore, I was able to help them a lot to baptism so it was a great experience to see them baptize and change.

We did service and I'm getting pretty good at mixing concrete now haha I've done it so many times now but it's always a good time when I get to do that! The ward also put on a show Saturday for Christmas it was a really nice play. It was about the birth of Christ and they did a good job of acting it out.

Other than that not too much happened haha it's getting closer and closer to Christmas and I can't wait. Even tho there is no snow and it's about 80 degrees everyday I can see a little of the Christmas spirit here. haha some people are putting lights up so that's always great to see.

Continue to remember what Christmas is all about and the meaning behind it. This time of the year is great, especially as we help others during this time. Show the Christmas love.

have a great week!

one love!

Elder Colton Bastian

PEACE OUT!

SIDE CONVERSATION BETWEEN ME AND MOM:

ME: So I got the Skye info so that good!! idk what I'll be able too on the time of day.. I'm not sure what the day will be like, I will try to let you know tho. I should get the package this week then! So thank you so much for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It sounds like you have been having fun! There's a movie called magnificent 7 I bet dad would want to watch that haha and that's cool you went to see Keelie!

MOM: What is up with that earthquake??? That's scary

ME: It was cool haha you should look it up

MOM: It says the last time having an earthquake at this magnitude was back in 1997. YOU WERE 1 and it was 6.2 dang!!!

ME: And ask gma if she knows a Nebeker that served here on mission not too long ago

MOM: Ok I will

WEEK 36

Hello everyone!

This week was a pretty good week. For starters Esther and Sophia, the two investigators we had got baptized this week! It was a great experience, you can already see how happy they are and how the gospel has brought that happiness to their lives. Esther expressed how before she went down into the water she felt the holy ghost and how she knew that the decision she was making was the right one and true one. So it was great being apart of that!

That was the highlight of the week, along with that I was able to hang out with Elder Hunsaker for the day. My companion had a meeting so Hunsaker and I went proselyting and finding so it was pretty fun for the day. Also, Wednesday, Steed and I went to Point Fortin and while we were trying to find people to teach , we  were calling into the houses and we came across like a really rich neighborhood. We were walking by this hotel suite type thing and the lady calls us in. So we were able to experience the high life. It was soo nice in there, there was a monkey too. haha so I was able to pet a monkey. So that was really cool.

Sorry these pics are blurry

But Christmas is coming up! It's a great time of the year, always remember what this holiday is really celebrating, cuz that's the greatest gift we all were able to get! 

It's really different not seeing snow here hah so I sure miss that. But I miss and love ya all. Have all a great week!

Elder C Bastian

WEEK 35

Hey Everyone!   Happy late Thanksgiving!

This was a pretty good week! This area I am in is really awesome, it is so prepared for the gospel in these people's lives. We have been meeting a ton of people that have great potential. This week I went on an exchange with Elder Tobierre, he's from St. Lucia. But I went back to my old area which was weird cuz I told everyone bye already, but it was great, that was only for a day. But Elder Steed and I went down to Point Fortin, we go down every week to try strengthening them down there.

I had Thanksgiving here in Trinidad. We went to bishops house cuz he had family from the states down here. So we had turkey and stuffing and all that. Only thing is it was trini style haha defiantly not the same haha it was good tho. I sure did an American thanksgiving that's for sure!

But the mission has been focusing more on baptism lately, shooting for that "white Christmas". so my comp and I have been working hard for that. We are having a baptism this Friday with Esther and Sophia. They are awesome and super excited for the gospel, so I'm grateful to be part of that! Also we have been working with some other investigators who have dates for the 31st they are really prepared and it's great being able to teach them!

I'm grateful to be serving here and experiencing everything that I am! I'm loving the mission and being able to help others come closer to Him. I am also super grateful for all of you back home! I'm thankful for my friends and my family, and all the support I have back home. thank you all so much. I do love and miss all of you!

-mosiah 27:36-37

#light the world

Elder Colton Matthew Bastian

COOL BIRD

MY NAME IN COMPANIONS BACK HAHA I DID IT WITH A RULER AND YES HE WANTED IT DONE (HE HAS SENSITIVE SKIN)

MY APARTMENT

AND UPSTAIRS - OWN STUDY ROOM

BEDROOM - AND YES MINE IS THE ONE WITH THE BED MADE!

2 BATHROOMS AND A WALK IN CLOSET

I'd say we are a little spoiled this go around.

WEEK 34

Hey Everyone!

This week has been super busy! I don't have too much time today, but I am in Princes town now! It's an awesome place I love it here. I miss Couva but it's great here. It's the place of all hills and hills so that's pretty cool, luckily we are driving still. But I'm with Elder Steed and he is from Canada, Alberta so he's pretty cool. This is his last transfer on his mission so I will be his last companion so we are going to work super hard this transfer to find the success. But this area is so prepared for the gospel which is awesome! I'm excited to work with the people here. We have a baptism already lined up for this weekend so I'm excited for that. But so far it's great. The ward is a lot bigger than Couva. There is about 100 people at sacrament! Oh we are teaching a family from the Congo.. it's in Africa.

Butttt this week was transfers but we also had zone conference. We had our thanksgiving dinner before the conference so I was able to have some turkey and stuffing and the good stuuff so that was sweet! We then was able to hear from the area seventy in this area and that is President Gonzalas. It was really nice hearing him and the advice for us. We are focusing on teaching repentance and baptizing converts so that's the plans! I'm excited for this transfer and I've already been having a lot of spiritual experience so many I can't write them all. But I do know that this gospel is true and as we live it, it will bring that happiness to us and our lives!!

That's all for now but I love ya all! 

be better than you were yesterday!

love elder c bastian!

Me and Elder Hunsaker

Elder Jay Birch from Pocatello, went to Highland High School

Elder Bastian and last companion

Building growing plants on roof

WEEK 33

Transfer this Wednesday to Prince Town....

Hey everyone!!

This week was a pretty good week! And also it was transfer week. So I'm finally moving away from Couva which is bitter sweet news for me! I have gotten really close to the members and people here. Spending 6 months here you start really creating friendships with the people and it's like my little home here. But I am excited to have a new experience in my next place. I'll be going to Princes Town here in Trinidad. It sounds like a great place and I'm excited to go. It's more south than I was before in Trinidad. So you could probs find it on the map. I'll be serving with Elder Steed, he is the one from Canada, the one I went on exchange with so It'll be pretty fun! other than transfers not much else has happened. I had to say a lot of goodbyes this last week which wasn't fun haha I hate saying goodbyes. 

But on Sunday I told bishop in Couva that I was leaving and he decided to announce it during sacrament meeting. When he did everyone looked at me haha they seemed pretty sad about it, but bishop he asked if I could give a final talk like 5 min before sacrament. So I said yes of course but I had absolutely nothing planned. So I went up there and pretty much winged it haha I ended up talking for like 15 min tho without any notes, just using my head. It was a good talk, I talked on something I read from a liahona and then helaman 5:12. So it's cool how since being a missionary you're able to do stuff like that now and I know that talk didn't just come from me but came from the holy ghost. I couldn't do it without it that's for sure. But that was a really neat experience! I'm glad I'm able to learn so much and be able to share with others now about what I have learned. So that's about it for this last week. One thing that's a bummer is I'm leaving all those I had baptismal dates with set so that stinks but I know that the missionaries will continue to help them along.

miss and love all ya! helaman 5:12

From the Trinidad Elder

Idaho is famous here!

Wendy's drive-thru tunnel

Pic of me and an Investigator

Gran Couva Tree

Hey mom!! 

So I have another story you could share if you want too haha this morning I was buying doubles (trindad meal with chana and roti type thing) idk haha google it,, but as we were eating and buying some this drunk lady came up to us and was like are you mormons?  (in the drunkest voice you can think of ) she was holding a beer and everything  and smoking and the funny thing is she was trying to give me a hug the whole time haha it was pretty funny.

Anyway this week was good! Thanks for the pics! And I hope you could guess what was happening in the pics I sent you haha and that's cool you are sending me a gift:) idk what I want just yet... I'll think it over this week and I'll send you it next Monday if that's fine.

And I'm sorry to hear that about you gma.. I know for sure tho that she is doing well tho in the life to come. I know it might be pretty tough right now but always remember that you will see her again and get to be with her. You know I'm not good at telling people or comforting but I know she's doing well. I hope you have a great flight to Ohio tho! Tell everyone I said hi. that'll be nice seeing everyone there again!

And final thing i guess is ... dem boys tho!! Dallas is killing it that's awesome! And I'll definitely be watching for the super moon!

I hope you and dad have a great week and a safe one too!

I miss ya and love ya! 

Elder Trinidad

helaman 5:12

WEEK 32

Hey everyone!!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! I can't believe its already November! Time sure goes by fast, seeing pics from home everyone is growing up and is getting older haha that's so weird to see. But this last week was a pretty good week. It was pretty eventful. We had a lot of fall through with appointments which is always a bummer but we used that time to go find people to teach and we met a lot of cool people, some are really ready for the gospel. But we've been getting some head quarters referrals from Utah so you know that's pretty important to go contact them. If not they get on your case haha but we met one and he's been wanting a book of moron for 10 years now and already knows about it. All this time he didn't know there were missionaries here. But it was cool to get that to him. We had another referral from an investigator and with Trini directions they are not very good so we knew it would be tough finding but as I was driving I listened to a prompting and it told me to stop , so I did, and we got out tried one house it wasn't it but the house right by it was it ! And this lady is really sick and really prepared for this gospel so that was a great experience as I listened to that still small voice. 

We also had an exchange so Elder Steed (Canadian) he is a really cool guy, I would hang out with him after the mission, we talked about hunting the whole time haha. 

We also had a national day of service so we went to the children's home and cleaned the place up for all the little kids, like power washing cutting grass, painting, anything you could think of we did haha and the whole ward pretty much came out to help so it was really great helping those that really need it. Also the church made a video of it so I think it will be either in the magazine or on the website so look for that! haha I'm pretty famous in it. 

Also we had a baptism but it was a children of record so it wasn't a convert baptism. But I did teach the little boy a lot, trying to get him ready for baptism so I was happy I was able to do that and be apart of the baptism.

That's about it. Have a great week everyone! love ya all

Elder C Bastian 

Hey Mom!

I'm gunna try sending pics for this email if that's alright haha I have a lot to send and so little time. But 7 curry is a Hindu dish they eat when they are having prayers (someone dying or celebration) but it consist of roti and curried stuff

But you're the best and I love ya! I hope you have a great week!!

Love from Elder Bastian 1

Here's the rest of the pics for this week:

Always shake it out before entering, DANG!

Spiders down here are HUGE!

Trick or Treat! My FBI costume, Happy Halloween!

My birthday shirt from Trinidad

He's a comedian!

"Hello, fam and friends BAUCK, Elder Bastian is the coolest!"

Look how little

Made from sticks and bamboo