Kicked in Door

Another new experience. We picked up the elders at 10 AM on Wednesday morning and took them to the church. When we drove up Mike noticed the door frame had been broken. When we went to check we saw the the door to the clerks office had been kicked in. All of us had visions of the computer stolen. The elders had their bikes stored in there and that is where all the food is kept. As we studied what was there it seemed all that was taken was two cases of Gatoraid. We could not believe it. It seems like it was one person, on foot, and that is all he (or she, I guess) could carry. I have no idea what would cause someone to break in a church, kick in a door and steal two cases of Gatoraid. It actually had someone’s name on it as it had been left for a certain young man in our ward. The police came and took fingerprints, but we have little hope of finding out who did this. Here is my hope. I hope it was someone who came in with someone else and noticed it. I just don’t want it to be a member. I doubt we will ever know....but I don’t want to start worrying about the honesty of the members. I love them so.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers about Lemorin last week. He has decided to return to Haiti on December 20. Mike and I worry that when he goes, many in the bight will go with him. He is such a binding force in our branch. We worry that many others will go with him.

One of the members (Ralph Joseph) came to English class and Institute on Thursday night. We had not seen him here for a long time so were thrilled to talk to him. Turns out he has no place to live....just goes form one friends house to another....no job and no food. We convinced him to visit with President Otin (our branch president). He asked if we would come in with him and talk. There is such a language barrier here. We convinced him to take a Creole speaking brother in and they visited today. He told me he hadn’t eaten and has no food. I gave him some cans of soup which we had purchased for just this reason. He left with several people from the bight. They have a special brotherhood there and seem to take care of each other. The poor taking care of the poor. Another of our Sisters had not eaten in two days and was sick today. It is hard for me to understand why they stay here. Haiti must be worse.

It looks like Erin and her two little ones will come and visit us soon. We are looking forward to that.

It my mother’s birthday today. If she were alive she would be 90 years old. I miss her.

Here is a picture of all the men singing, “I am a child of God.” This was my English Class last Thursday night. I think this link will work if you want to hear them on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHTb7BBZ7dc

We had 5 baptisms today. The elders have worked so hard this week to make it happen. The first three weeks we were here there was a baptism every week but we have not had one for three weeks now. So to have 5 today was wonderful.

We love each of you so very much. Thank you for your prayers.

One of the things Mike and I have a hard time with is....the “haves” and the “have nots”. We drive down the road and on the right side is this resort and ohter mansions. On the left you drive up this broken up excuse for a road, and there is extreme poverty surrounding you. It is very hard to take pictures of their houses as they are very sensitive about that.