A Mission for Our Church: Good Week, Bad Week

Dear Family and Friends,

Good week! Bad week! More good than bad so at least in the right direction!

The government is up to it’s old tricks and it causes a multitude of emotion. Friday and Saturday they had road blocks all around the island. They picked up over 200 Jitnys (the illegal taxis that people get around the island) and impounded the cars. We are not sure what they will do with the cars. We are hoping they will give them back but there is no TV or radio stations here to find the news. Right now transportation is at a stand-still. Those who have jobs can’t get there, and there were few able to get to the church today. In the same time period 175 people were picked up and jailed, waiting for deportation. No members that we knew of. Many people just sit tight and don’t move around a lot. The police/immigration authorities go into subdivisions and get people out of their homes to take. Many of our members who live in the bushes are safer, because the police don’t usually go through the bushes looking for individuals, they go where there are more numbers.

It seems to us there is a huge difference between our problems of illegal immigration in the United States and the immigration problems here. Perhaps I am just looking at it from a different perspective, but it sure seems different to me. A white real estate agent told me a story that happened not long ago. The police entered this lady’s home. The lady was legal and had proper papers but the police were asking about her 42” TV. They were accusing her of stealing it and said they were going to take it. She hurried and called her boss who came right over. When the police heard her talking on the phone, they left. By the time the boss came the police were gone, but they would have taken her TV if it were not for her white boss. I’m sure not all are corrupt but many here are afraid of police or immigration....even Haitains that are legal.

The missionary work is very slow lately. No one wants to come out of their house to learn or discuss anything right now. There seems to be a distrust that is difficult to overcome. Only 7 came to English class on Thursday which is a huge drop in numbers.

But on a positive note...and there are many positive notes...we have some great members that are learning and growing stronger every day. Our elders are pro-active and hard workers. Some that are recent converts study so hard, try to learn, and want to help the missionaries in every way possible. Ruben (our one week old convert) came to me and told me thanks for all I do. He gave me such great compliments. I could not help but be so thankful to be here serving these amazing people. I could name many that are learning English so quickly and are translating for the elders. As they listen (and translate) the lessons over and over, it sinks deep into their souls. We have great hopes for them. I continue to be amazed with Michael (Pierre Osnor is his real name!) as he is at the church every day, learning, growing, serving!

We went out to see the Manassa sisters and DJonny today. They are fairly recent converts that live in an abandoned structure that was started as someone’s home. They found plywood and remnants of carpet and mattresses which serve as a home. I have no idea where they get food but they greeted us with big smiles and appreciated the prayer that we left. They want to come on Sunday but now, more than ever, it is hard for them to get the 10 miles to the church. Surely we will be judged differently according to our abilities and circumstances. I learn much more than I teach.

I laughed at Claude today. We were looking at the ocean and commented at how beautiful it is. He said, “I don’t understand something about white people”. (That was so funny because he was putting all white people in a category..... something we as white people get in trouble for if we do that to another race). “Why do they think this is such a beautiful place”? We really laughed out loud. It isso beautiful here. But he sees it from a different perspective. He associates this island with a lot of pain, and has a hard time separating the beauty of the island and the things which have happened to him. I wish he could come and see the beautiful mountains in Alaska. (I think he would be cold!) Maybe some day he can.

President and Sister Ockey were here for the weekend (which is always a treat). He completed the first, ever, annual audit. They found one $.86 error which was corrected on the spot. I think Mike was relieved to have that work out so well. We continue to work on several projects to finish the church. We still do not have air conditioning in most of the building. It is so very hot and we just sweat and sweat. All the projects here go though the mission in Jamaica, then Puerto Rico for approval, then money from Dominican Republic. When projects go through 4 countries, it seems to take forever to complete. The worst for me is that there has never been a woman’s bathroom that has running water at our building. When a woman wants to use the bathroom, she has to use the little one in the primary or use the men’s. Weird! We have learned this is all part of the growing pains of starting a new branch in this little country. Millimeters ..... that is how we measure growth.

We love you all so much. We are happy. We love hearing from you and know you are doing great things wherever you are. To our dear teacher friends, have a good “back to school” week. We miss you and the camaraderie we felt working with you all those years.

Have a great week.

Love,

Elder and Sister Herbert

Gerland, Me, and Natalie.