Lots

Dear Family and Friends,

Please don't feel like you need to plow through all the following. I write things for my journal and don't do much to "fix it up" for others to read. Often the daily things we do don't seem very spiritual. We actually have some very spiritual moments almost every day. But most of our days are a lot like your days..... filled with things that must be done. I think the secret in life is to make spiritual experiences out of all things that we must do. (Or maybe to recognize the spiritual blessings that come to each of us every day). Anyway, we are fine. The days go quickly. I love the days that are very busy and get anxious when there is wasted time. So here is some of what is happening here.

Police Report. The mission office called and wanted us to get a police report for Elder Davies. His Jamaica visa needed to be renewed and since he has been here for more than 6 months he needs a police report from the Turks and Caicos Islands. We went and learned we needed to make our own copies of his work permit, passport, and a $10.00 postal stamp. (No place has copier to make their own copies. We need to go to the church to make all copies for any government job). We brought the needed copies and the stamp and they gave us the police report to mail ourselves. We asked, “What was the $10.00 stamp for?” The police lady looked at the other 4 ladies in the office. Not one of them knew what the $10.00 stamp was for. “I don’t know... it is just my job to put the stamp on the report.” We then went over to DHL and spent $41.00 to ship the postcard sized report to Jamaica. We just shake our heads.

My Turks and Caicos driver’s license. November 22 was our break-in when my wallet was taken. Since that time I have been working to get a local license. There are too many stories to tell in this long process. I have come to know each of these people almost on an intimate level. I may resort to making brownies or other non-monetary bribe to get the completed license. Three weeks ago all was finally all finished, picture taken, and fees paid. “Come back in two weeks,” they said. “Why two weeks?” I asked. “It takes that long to process the paperwork” was the reply. Two weeks later I came to pick it up and they said to come back in three days. In three days they said come back the next week. When I returned again, they took time to look up my name. “It won’t be ready for two weeks,” the nicelady said. I questioned..... “It has been 3 weeks already, what is the hold-up?” They kindly explained to me that it needed to be approved by the director and he has been very busy. So goes the saga. Life on the Turks and Caicos.

Elder’s Birthday.. Monday was Elder Bruough’s birthday. They came over early to wash their clothes. We had chocolate chip pancakes and I cut their hair. Because it was P-Day they played basketball later. Sister Kernan took them out to eat and then they came back for cake at the church. His mother had paid big bucks to have a package sent but was not here on time. (It came the next day). The next day he was sick...throwing up. (I worried it was the cake!) Elder Herbert needed Elder Davies to work with him on the computer so I stayed at the Elder’s apartment with Elder Brough while Elder Davis and Elder Herbert went to the church to figure out a broken down MLS. (The church program that keeps track of all the members). We were not sure that was really ok for me to stay with the elder alone...but we could not reach the President and had to make a decision. It turned out fine.

February 10. Went visiting with Natalie Morrisett tonight. The two non-members we had planned to see were not home so we went visiting teaching to Sister Kernan. We had a prayer and gave a little lesson. Being a new member Natalie has never been visiting teaching before. Part of our job is to teach these amazing people how things are to be done in the church. So I get to visit all the time and call it my job. She is wonderful. I hope Mike and I can go to the temple with them when the time comes.

Walking Every morning I go on a good walk. The sun comes up at 6:45AM and it is too hot. So I try to get as far as I can before then. It is just too hot in the sun. There is only one main hi-way through the town, and no good place to walk on it. Most of the roads off the main road are just dirt roads. I stay as much as I can on the busy roads. I weighed tonight at a ladies house and found I had gained 10 pounds since coming. I think walking has made me GAIN weight. I had better quit! Mike likes to walk later in the day....but I just can’t handle the heat.

Haiti We don’t hear too much on the news anymore, but it is certainly not over for the people here on the island. Mike sent around a paper to find members who lost immediate family members in the earthquake. 17 of our 50+ men had lost either mother, father, sisters, brothers, or children. Virtually everyone has some extended family members who died or were missing. All the churches on the island here are fasting with Haiti for 3 days starting tomorrow, Friday, February 12th. The mission here had a special fast last week so we are not participating.

We love you all very much. Thank you for your continued prayers and kind notes. I will send pictures next week.

Elder and Sister Herbert