WEEK 27

Hey Mom!!

Little about my week! It was really interesting this week, like really interesting haha we had to stay inside for a couple days cuz I ended up getting sick....with Zika... so it was no bueno. But I'm doing good now! Healthy as a horse haha but since I was in we weren't able to go out as much but when we did go out we had powerful lessons! So it's really good! This week we got our transfer calls to tell us if we are staying or going. So I'll be in Couva once again for at least 6 more weeks. Which is great cuz I'm enjoying Couva a lot! My heart is definitely here with the people and the area. But I am getting a new companion, my new one is named Elder Cook. From the sound of it he is a real solid missionary, excited to work with him. My last companionship was really fun so can't wait to see how this goes. General conference was really good. My favorites was Russell M Nelson with his talking about how Joy is Christ , also with the one that said "boys be ambitious" they were really good. We really do find joy as we have Christ in our lives and as we stay motivated and brave in our everyday life we can see and find that joy life does bring.

Scripture for the day 1 nephi 17: 3, 13-14

Hey Mom and Dad that's awesome you enjoyed general conference! I liked the talks that you pointed out too. They were way good, it's cool to be able to hear from them! Definitely you can tell they are up there for a reason. That's awesome to hear round up went well! It feels like it was yesterday I was up there riding. haha boy I sure do wish I could ride again. The pics were sweet. I'll send a bunch of pics to you today don't worry!

Continue to do great and strive for the best! You two are awesome and listen to Trev cuz he knows what he's talking about haha 

Miss and love ya guys! you're the best!

Love Elder Colton Bastian

Here goes the first one.........

Burning of my 6th month flag!!!!!!

Zika Virus has got me like......ugh

Why why why

This won't keep me down!!!Well maybe just one more day

I made it through and I am healthy as a horse, time to get back to work!!!!!!!!

WEEK 26

Hey Mom!

This week was a pretty good weeek! By the end of this week I will be on my mission for 6 months!! That's so crazy haha it has gone by fast now that I think about it! I only have 3/4 of my mission left so I really want to use every time I have to bring others unto Him cuz  I won't get this chance ever again. But I'm really liking my mission so far and I can't wait to see the next 18 months have in store for me. But this week I went on an exchange with Elder Jay Birch, he is from poky and went to Highland High School, he's pretty cool so that exchange was fun. On it I had cow heel soup haha yep it was actually not that bad at all it just felt weird eating. But this week we really saw investigators pop out of no where and they all are ready for the gospel in their lives. So really cool to see those tender mercies we receive and how prayer rally does work! We have been seeing more at sacrament and investigators that are really working towards the waters of baptism. We have one investigator who is moving and is suppose to be baptized on the 8th so we were worried she wouldn't be taught or could make it to church but then she told us that every Saturday she is going to stay with her son so she can go to church and be taught. So to see the dedication of people and when they find the truth it's awesome to see that they are willing to do their best! So that was a really cool experience for me. We also did service which was a blast. we mixed cement and casted it out. It was like 1000F so you could imagine how sweaty I was hahaha it was so hot. But that sums up my week! Miss yall and love ya!

That's awesome you and dad did so great on your talks!! I bet it was awesome so good job! I wish I could be there to hear it haha, but thanks for all the pics!!! And the pics Gpa and Lytton had also! They were sweet! I really appreciated them since I can't get packages like Trev that makes up for it haha. The football team is looking pretty sanzy looking and looking like they are doing good! Makes me miss those days. haha also could you get me Colby Brown's email???  

Well I hope you and dad have a great week! Nice desk by the way and I can't wait till next week! Love ya both and keep striving for the best!

Matthew 19:26 Matthew 21:22

Love Elder Colton Bastian 

I tried sending pics but it wouldn't let me so I'll send them next week:(

****GOOD THING I (MOM) HAVE BRODIE ON MY SIDE AND SENT ME PICS OF THIS WEEK!!!***  COLTON IS IN TIME OUT WITH ME...HAHAHA

WEEK 25

Hey Maaaah

This week was a pretty good week! We had our zone meeting which was really nice, got to learn all about working with the member that we have and our recent converts. Which is really important cuz we are the ones that help strengthen them and help them continue to endure to the end. As they continue to gain the testimony that they have they will be solid members. We set two more baptismal dates this week as well. So planning on having one on the 8th and two on the 22nd. So I'm looking forward to those days. I'm praying they will continue to feel the spirit in their lives. We had a great turn out for Sacrament, we had 4 investigators at church! That rarely happens! It's pretty tough getting people out to church, they either have to travel to church, or they have no motivation haha but we are working with them and finding solutions to help them! So I can't complain at all. I'm grateful I get to be here and help those that haven't found the light in their life to find it, and seeing the change in their life as they do find it. It's one of the best feelings you could get! A scripture I sure do like is

1 nephi 4:6.. it's awesome. As we go out in our life is important to know that the spirit will help guide us no matter what even if you don't have any idea. The spirit will be there! We just have to stop and listen!  Also on a side note, we had sports day today so all the missions in Trinidad got together and we played sports. And at the end all the missions had a long race maybe like as long as a football field and I got in 2nd!! Only a Jamaican beat me so I'm like 2nd fastest in the mission haha no big deal or anything. But always continue to have faith and trust in our heavenly father. He will always be there as we have that trust!

Where you at on your reading? I just got done with it and now I'm starting over haha 

But thanks for the pics they were great! And I'm happy to see everything going so well! Continue to have fun this week, can't wait to hear from you next week! Love you Mom and Dad!

Love Elder Colton Bastian!

SPORT'S DAY

WEEK 24

Hey Mom!

     So this weeek was just an ordinary week. haha not too much exciting things happened. We were able to go on splits this week to accomplish more, (splits are when more than one companionship will be in the same area.) So I was able to go with Elder Thompson again so that was pretty fun, it was like we never separated haha. but we were able to see more people this week so that was really nice! We had some pretty great experiences while contacting and meeting new people! The area we have been in lately while contacting is pretty hard cuz people don't open their doors..haha but this week we saw a lot of success, people were willing to listen and they were wanting us to come back. So that's pretty sweet to be able to come back and teach them! That was great to see the change in that. But other than that it was just a good week of teaching and finding people.

     Thanks for all those pics! That's exactly what I wanted. Thanks a bunch! Could you send the one of senior night baseball, and me running the ball in football. Then I won't ask anymore for right now haha

     That's awesome Trev is enjoying it so much! He has a nice room! That's great to hear from him! His letters are pretty good too haha

I miss that cat so much haha I trained him well ;)

     And how come Syd picked my number? Or is that what they gave her? That's funny haha and at least it's getting represented!!!

     That's awesome MV is doing a lot better in football! I wish Doug was my coach And when I talked to you last we went to Pricemart (like Costco) and got a bunch of food, a lot of random stuff. I eat a lot of beef patties, rice, eggs, bread, that's like my diet so far.

     But I wish I could call too but I'm happy to see everyone doing so great! And I like the challenge Trev left haha I'm going to add on to that! Also where are you at on your reading? haha it was great hearing from you! Can't wait to hear about next week! I love you both and continue to work hard. You will really see the blessings as you do so! Take care!

Love- Elder Colton Bastian

*****NO PICS THIS WEEK....SORRY*****

WEEK 23

 Hey Mom!


      So my week was pretty interesting! It was full of ups and downs. The downs were we kept having people fall thru with our appointments with people. They were either busy or didn't want to see us that day. But the ups were pretty sweeet! The first was with this less active person we have been teaching trying to get her reactivated. Before Sunday she was saying she couldn't make it to church cuz she didn't have enough money to catch travel but I told her that some way our heavenly father will provide. And sure enough he did provide, she made it to church and when we taught her this last Tuesday, she told me thank you for giving her that hope and reassuring that she will be able to make it! So that was really awesome and her testimony is so strong too so that was a neat experience! Also we were having a pretty bad day but then in one of our appointments we set a baptismal date for one of our investigators. It wasn't planned to set it but we felt like she was ready so we set it and it was pretty spiritual in the lesson and she accepted! So that's amazing. Then last night we went and taught this member and her grandson became really interested in listening to us and he has never sat in lessons before so we were asking him questions and he said he has a desire to be baptized and at the end of the lesson he asked for us a Book of Mormon! It was really awesome! So it was really nice seeing that the ups were greater than the downs. So as we are going through the day and it's not going very well, if we remember to keep pushing through and have that diligence and trust that we will make it through, we will! And we will see the great things that come from it as we do! It's all about the attitude we have on things as well, if we go through everything with a great attitude we will appreciate things a lot more in our lives!

      That's awesome Trev is doing so amazing, it sounds like he is loving it so far! He is looking at it with a great attitude haha and that's awesome! I hope everything at home is all fine and dandy! And I love and miss everyone and I hope you two have a great week! Also I can't describe how much I miss football right now! haha

      Also could you send pics of me at the farm or of the farm or on a horse or stuff like that! Steve our investigator wants to see the ranch life haha

 Love you all! Take care!

 -Elder Colton Bastian

RANDOM CRAB

Look Gma I found your sign! ;)

WEEK 22

 Hello Mom!!!


How are you doing?? Trev is gone that's so awesome, Can't believe we are serving at the same time now! He left in style tho haha jeez he's lookin good tho. Hope he doesn't get robbed haha;) I'm kidding he won't. That was a great move on the Taco Bell part. That sure makes me jealous! It sounds so good right now! and that sting ray didn't have much of a different taste haha but it was good! The weather has been super hot lately but now it's raining and raining which I like cuz it cools the place down a bit haha. But yea that's our Chevy Cruze we drive around. pretty ent? ent means right btw in trini slang haha.


But with Trev gone now what are you going to do? haha since Brit's in Oregon now?!?!? that's crazy I haven't got an email about that yet haha and that's awesome with Dad's  promotion! That's awesome to hear how everyone is doing! Send pics of Trev when he sends some cuz idk if he will send me any haha. That's awesome with the MV football! I'm missing football so much right now! I wish Doug coached our team!


But that's awesome to hear how everyone is doing! And have you started the challenge yet? haha you could finish real easy! And how long have I been out? I thought it was only 5 months? haha

**Mom wrote: If you count the weeks it's 22 weeks which is 5 months 2 weeks cuz some months have an extra week in them!!!!!!**

But I hope you two have a great week and I love ya both and I can't wait to hear from you next week!

Now about my week! So a new transfer has begun! So Couva for 6 more weeks! I'm excited cuz it's a great area! It's bigger now cuz some missionaries left here so we have to cover three areas now so a lot more work and trying to see everyone. It'll be good tho! But had some fun experiences this week. I played some Muslims in basketball which was a blast! We kicked butt of course;) but Muslims are pretty nice and cool down here tho haha. Also in a lesson we were having these little kids that go crazy and they are usually loud every time we go there but this time we went they were more settled down this time and at the end of the lesson I got the two kids to pray at the end! It was way cool cuz they usually would never. One was 7 and the other 4. It was cool to see the spirit work with them!

We are also in a lesson with some progressing investigators they threw out anti Mormon stuff at us. Which was a bummer cuz before we were having great lessons but we answered their questions and they understood they can't just believe everything they see. And of course Tia got baptized!! It was awesome..she is awesome and is excited about the gospel. It's great to see a person change and gain that closeness with them!! so that was a highlight of the week!

Until Next week..

Love Elder Colton Bastian

WEEK 21

Hey Mom!

I bet you guys are freaking out with Trev leaving! Cuz I know I am! That was fast, I can't believe he heads to the MTC tomorrow! That's awesome....look at all the money you'll be saving now hahaha

But a little about my week.. this week was pretty good! We did service which was great, cuz I love doing service and working! This week we just painted somebody's cement wall in front of their house. It was hot tho! I got a lot of sun where I was still white at. Also this week was our transfer call. So Wednesday is when we start a new transfer... luckily I'm still staying in Couva! Which I'm happy about cuz Couva is soo awesome! Elder Hanks and I will be crushing it again! It's been pretty fun working with him. We have tons of fun and always joking around... but serious when we need to be of course. But it's been a blast being with him! And also we are preparing for our baptism this Saturday for Tia. We are pretty excited for that and will let you know how it goes. We went to a small waterfall thing today as a zone activity too. It was fun and will send pics!

So I know you'll be focused on Trev this week and busy so I'll make it short;) but yea thanks for sending the scripture..... but have fun this week even tho Trev will be gone. Maybe that will make it a lot less stressful now haha but I do have a challenge for you and Dad... I've been reading the Book of Mormon a lot lately and seeing how great it is to read with other people so I challenge you and Dad to read the whole Book of Mormon before I come home! Will you accept or decline the challenge? Are you up for it? haha but the Book of Mormon is really great and it's awesome once you get into the story line of it.

Have fun this week! I'll talk to you next week!

Love and miss ya! Good luck with everything with Trev!

Love Elder Colton Bastian

Can't get more breathtaking!

The best way to cool down!

This is cool!

Found Protein!

Kinda feels like home up in the mountains

My prayers are answered!!!

Good thing I sleep with my mouth shut...hahaha

Adding another to the collection!

Part of the crew at our Zone Activity

Awesome

New Book!

How awesome is this??

Holy...in our kitchen?? REALLY

Feeling Blessed

Service...helping paint

Hey found Aviators...YES!!!!

Feeling on top of the world

BEAUTIFUL

WEEK 20

Hey Mom!

     This last week was pretty good! We had some pretty good lessons with some people! It's definitely a learning experience every week! Which is pretty cool. Dwain is still working so it's really hard to see him! Hopefully he will figure that out. He is so ready for baptism , he just needs to be dunked already hahaha. We also have been teaching this younger girl named Tia. She is awesome! She understands so well and reads all the time and is progressing like a champ. She is planned to get baptized August 27th so that's coming up pretty soon! I'm pretty excited about that! We have some other people progressing as well but no baptism dates yet! Every week is a learning experience and a fun experience so hopefully I'll be able to share them all with you in the future! We went to Gran Couva which is pretty much the bush in Trinidad, meaning the jungle. And it was so sweet. There's hills and we went adventuring through it to see waterfalls and all sorts of stuff! I'll send a bunch of pics of that! Also we have been doing service a lot lately it seems like, which has been fun. A less active member gave us curried sting ray which was good! 

     Thanks for the info of the stuff haha! I'm glad to hear of the week you guys had! And is that really how you spell Sesame St.? hahaha and I can't believe Trev leaves next week!!!!! I bet you are freaking out haha that's so crazy and that has came so fast! That's awesome his talk went good and Costa Vida for lunch wow luckys!!! He's gonna do awesome out here. I wonder how his mission is gonna be I heard the Trinidad mission is one of the hardest on the earth! So no wonder it's been tough hahah

     But I have a favor for you. I sent a scripture home to you like the first few emails when I was in Guyana. it's in D&C but I can't remember the verses. Could you send that to me? Also if you do ever send a package and if u send pics with that, could you send that one of me playing football. Like the one with me running the ball, shoving the guy to the ground haha 

     Have a great week tho! It's awesome when I get to email home so I can't wait to hear from u next week! and I miss all ya and love all ya too! Have a great week and stay strong! love you mom! -elder colton bastian


2 years- carly barlow
That is a song, also the computer is being really annoying so I'll have to send pics next week!!

WEEK 19

hey mom!!

So first I'll  tell you about my week! It was pretty boring as well. It was kinda a tougher week, not a whole lot of people wanted to listen and our lessons were kinda low, at least low enough where I don't want them to be. But the only thing that I have to is work harder and keep pushing through, this week will be good I can already tell! We did service this week. We went to a member's home and she wanted us to move some dirt, so we were like oh yea easy, so we went on a nice day and it turned out the dirt pile was as tall as me and we had to spread it out over a big area. Annnnddd the dirt was mud and clay so it was pretty fun as you can image. It was soo hot I had to have sweat off 10 lbs haha and blisters all over my hand but we got her done. And it turned out to be pretty fun! We of course find service where ever we go, that's what I like to do, just helping brighten somebody's day by helping them.

Also we have a really cool investigator, she really wants to be baptized and knows that the Book of Mormon is true. So that's really neat. We are teaching her a lot and trying to help her come closer to this gospel. that's about it for the week that I can remember!

But I'm sorry to hear it's been a quiet week! that's awesome you got to go to Keith Urban tho! I bet that was fun! I'm sorry to hear about your gma. I hope and pray everything is alright. Just keep staying strong mom! just keep having that faith that everything will workout to the best. cuz I know it will! Just always have trust in our heavenly father!

But I got an email about the skype thing? don't know whats that about? Also how much does a prosthetic leg cost in the US? An investigator wants to know. Also how's the Olympics going? 

I've been trying to workout more and more cuz I think I'm getting chub and I don't want that so we've been running everyday and taking protein. So I had a thought of making protein pancakes which was pretty good haha I figured you could tell trev that.

Also I was thinking, when you were baptized did you see missionaries? And if so were you pretty hard on them or easy? And why did you get baptized? Just something to think about, haha I was just wondering about it.

But I love and miss you a ton! Keep being the best Mom there is! I'm grateful to have a Mom like you in my life! you da best! I'll talk to ya next week!

love ya! -elder colton bastian

Trinidad City

WEEK 18

Hey Mom!!

    It was a holiday yesterday so I couldn't email! They have holidays like crazy down here. but anyway it was a pretty good week! Dwain didn't get baptized this week cuz of work again.. but we are still working hard for it, hopefully he can get off. Nothing too exciting happened this week. We had zone conference, I think McKay sent pics home of it. 

    We learned about love and charity. It was a really good meeting and how we can show more and charity in our lives and towards others. Moroni 7:45-48  As we show charity and love to everyone we can really feel more love as we learn the love that Christ and heavenly father has for us. cuz love is the greatest commandment there is. Matthew 22: 36-40. 

    It's been 4 months too!!! I almost forgot about that! It's crazy it's speeding up faster and faster. I really want to make the best of it here. But Saturday rained like crazy!!! It was flooding and couldn't even see cuz there was so much rain. But it flooded in some areas and we decided to help people cuz they were getting stuck in the water. So we got outside with water up to our knees and started pushing cars haha. It was pretty fun. I'll send pics of it. Other than that it was pretty quiet here

but yes I do have a/c in my apartment haha without that I would die. I'm glad to hear everyone is doing good! Trev will be gone soon. I can't believe Ammon and Styrling will be gone, they will do great. I'm happy I got to here from you and I hope you still are doing great!

    I love you mom and keep doing great! I can't wait till next week to hear more from you. 

miss and love ya

Elder Colton Bastian

This is gonna hurt

Good thing he is driving more now and not having to bike it!

sorry this was so short