WEEK 31

Happy Halloween everyone!!

This last week was pretty normal week, no cool stories or anything like that. The only things were zone conference and Divali. So this zone conference talked about or purpose as a missionaries and how we should always try to improve. It was a good meeting! We had a recent convert come and he bore his testimony and told us how he felt as he made changes to his life to become baptized. It was a really nice conversion story and it really made me think of being a missionary. This is a great calling we have to invite and help others come unto Christ. We are not just teaching and telling what we know but we are truly changing lives out here. That's probably one of the greatest experiences to see here on the mission. 

the next thing is Divali. Its a Hindu holiday and of course it's celebrated big down here. But as missionaries this holiday only consist of food, (7 curry), lighting Deyas, seeing a bunch of lights, kinda like Christmas lights, food, fireworks, and food. haha so it was a really good day to experience and be apart of to see how the culture is for other people. They go all out too, making helicopters out of bamboo, and making arches of lights, they are really crafty down here.

Other thing is we finally saw Dwain!!!! We caught him home when he had a day off. I'm hoping to continue to teach him again and help him be baptized. The only concern is I hope he still has that desire to help him feel that happiness again it's gunna take some prayer and faith. Cuz I know he knows it's true, he just needs to show his faith. But I'm really excited to work with him again!!

Have a Great Halloween! go scare someone for me haha, love ya all.

Hey Mom!!

haha so I enjoyed your pics they were pretty funny! looks like your in the Halloween spirit. And I'm actually dressing up as an FBI agent haha;) black pants, black tie.. but I'm  doing good! health is good, I email at an email shop haha it's like a gaming/email place.

And you should ask the Hunsaker's about sending packages. cuz Mckay gets a lot and he said it was cheap, and they always get here. so maybe check that out haha

And that's pretty funny dad pulled the gun on the missionaries hahah that's a funny experience for them! 

but all is well glad everyone is doing good.. talk to ya next week, love ya all!!

have a great Halloween!!! 

love elder c bastian

no pics this week.. my camera is being dummmbbbbbb

WEEK 30

Wuamday Everyone!

That's slang down here! This week was pretty much an ordinary week. For pday last week we went to this giant hindu statue and went out on the temple in the sea. It was pretty cool to see those things, I got to see a pretty cool sunset too! I've been learning a lot about different religions cuz that's all Trinidad is, is different religions. so I got to learn a lot of hindu and muslim stuff. It's pretty interesting to learn about different beliefs. But we had district meeting and that was a pretty good learning experience haha, we learned about christlike atts. and it made me realize how much I can work on those things. Like charity, faith, patience, etc. but I had an exchange with an Elder from Ecuador. It was a really good exchange. I learned a lot from him. The lessons we had were super spiritual!! And also we were able to participate in a child of record baptism. he just turned 8 couple weeks ago but we were pretty involved in it. We would also go teach the family and keep helping them so it was nice being apart of it. Also I've really been seeing a great difference with Neil (investigator I've been teaching for 5 months now) he is really changing, he is quiting smoking, came to church yesterday, been reading the book of mormon a lot, he is really wanting to change and develop a better testimony. It's a cool experience to see the changes in people when they start acting on the faith that they have and use that faith to motivate them. He will probably be baptism next month sometime.

But that's all for this week! have a day!

Hey Mom!

That's exciting with everything back at home! That's awesome you got to go to Red Lobster haha I wish I could've gone! And tell your gpa Stacy hi and bye for me haha. That's cool you are getting your hair cut by Brodie's mom haha tell her thanks for the email , I really appreciated it . and I'm planning on writing one soon. But the mountains are getting so nice now! It's like 100 degrees here so I'm really missing that snow haha. That's a really cool necklace thing Jennie made! I bet you really like that! 

And everything is holding up pretty good! (Like my clothes etc) I haven't really had to buy anything really yet haha. and I'll send a pic of the shirt I got for my bday next week! I'm planning on buying something cool when I get a chance too. And they actually sell Eggo waffles down here! I haven't bought them yet but I'm really tempted too! 

And did Trev steal my scripture for the church plaque thing??? that little bugger! That's awesome to see how great he's doing tho!

But thanks for everything mom!! I appreciate everything so much!! you da best for sho! love ya! and have a great week!

Love Elder C Bastian

Pic of Hanuman Hinu Statue

Pic with our 8 year old that got baptised

Temple in the Sea!

Me and my companion enjoying the sunset! I love this place!

WEEK 29

Hey Everyone!!

Not an eventful week but it was a pretty good one! So since we are covering 5 areas (cuz Trinidad is kicking missionary's out cuz of work permits) we are in the south zone now! Which is pretty great they are pretty great missionaries. You might know one.. his name is Elder Hunsaker hahaha he is my district leader now. Which is pretty great, I get to see him every Tuesday now. But this week is a learning experience for my companion and me. We are working together now which is good. Our lessons are improving and the holy ghost is definitely helping us out. We contacted a really nice family. It's a family of seven people haha so can you imagine that baptism! They are a great family and I'm praying as we continue to work with them they can progress towards those waters of baptism! Also a few weeks ago I contacted this lady and every week since she's been coming to church but we haven't got the chance to teach her yet cuz she is always busy, soooo hopefully we can see her haha.

But some may have known, but it was my birthday this week. Not a teenager now ... strange... but it was pretty good, my comp baked a cake and had a pretty good day. We didn't get to do anything to fun haha just missionary work.  But thanks for all the birthday wishes and love all you! Have a day! 

Love Elder Colton Bastian

Note to Mom:

Hey Mom! I'll keep this short cuz I need to write people back haha but that's cool that gpa got a deer! It looks like a pretty good one! Too bad they didn't get the elk tho! I bet those adventures were pretty fun! Also I got a shirt for my bday haha I wasn't able to get anything else. Maybe this week I will get something cool! That's cool Austin is almost off! And tell your dad hi for me!!!!!!!! and also sorry for not writing back to him and Julie, I willl try to soon! 

But thanks for all you do and for the birthday wishes!! You two are the best and I appreciate everything!

strive for greatness!

Love Elder C Bastian

My birthday breakfast! Yumm

Birthday cake from my companion Elder Cook

Blowing away my teen years haha

Package address (my companion just received his package)

Some Senoiri 

WEEK 28

Hey!!!

Thank you for the birthday wishes! It's weird I'm 20 now! I don't like the sounds of me not being a teenager now haha. Well I heard about the hurricane, and that's crazy all those places got hit. Luckily it didn't come in Trinidad, we only got rain that's about it. But we started a new transfer and guess what I'm still in Couva! It's awesome I love it, and my new companion is named Elder Hayden Cook. He's a pretty good missionary. We have to get used to each other tho haha. We are a little different but that's why it takes time. Our teaching together is kinda off so we have to get our companionship unity on line or else it's gunna be a long transfer. But that's something we will be able to work on. I'm the driver now so it's pretty fun driving opposite on the roads and everything, and our area got even bigger! We are covering all of central Trinidad, that's usually 5 different areas for 5 sets of missionaries but we are covering all of it. But it's really interesting to see how trinis's are. We were at a shop and the guy stole some stuff and ran out of the shop, I was right in the middle of everything. I wasn't able to stop him tho but they did catch him. But then the same day we saw this random guy go give this homeless guy some money and helped him so it was really nice to see how there are really good people in the world, you just have to look through the bad to see the good sometimes. But that's about it for the week. scriptures- 2 nephi 2, 2 nephi 2:11,27, 1 nephi 20:10

Hey Mom!!

 Thank you for the birthday wish! I am sooo old I don't like it haha and don't worry for feeling bad for not giving me anything, I don't need that much anyway. But I will try to buy something cool haha.  

Thanks for letting Brodie know you still had the texts, that's real nice of you! I bet she wasn't happy at all about that so thanks for making her feel better! And I want to go hunting so bad!!! I hope they get something real good! 

And Dwain is still working so idk if he'll be able to get off any time soon:/ but we do have one planned for November 5 for Antonio! 

But sorry my email is so short this week!!!

But thanks for all you do! Thanks for the good emails too and pics and quotes. I'll talk with ya next week! love ya tons!

You da best! -Elder Colton Bastian

Tell Brit and Trev sorry I couldn't write but tell them thank you for the birthday wishes!!!!

And please tell Grandma and Grandpa thank you for the birthday card!!! I wasn't able to write her today! 

Elder Perez luggage broke

Saying goodbye to a great friend, Elder Perez

Birthday card from my Grandparents, Thank You and this is the address for letters

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