First Primary Program!!!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Primary program.  Today was the first Primary program this branch has ever had.  We had twelve children there....only one missing.  (Three of those come from non-member families).   Before the program started I talked for a few minutes about how the Primary works.  I think it was interesting to them that everywhere in the world we have the same sharing time lesson.  Children everywhere today in their Primary were having a lesson on the importance of prayer and correct way to address Heavenly Father.  The kids did very well in the program.  Wish I could have taken a picture.  Of course I could have used Kathy Strawn and Lessa Bridges to spice it up a little.  It did add a little “flavor” when we used a translator also.  One of the guys from our English class came to visit.  It was so wonderful to see him there.  We have formed tender bonds of friendship that will last forever.

Stake Conference.  Thank you so much President Van Orden for giving us the URL so we could watch and listen to the meeting this AM.  What a wonderful experience.  It is an amazing thing to be half way around the world and to see and hear people we love.  It was a tender time for us to be in fellowship with old friends.  As the camera moved around the room we would say, “Hey look there are the Clarkes.  Do you see Lisa Weight?  Hey, there is Jason Smedley.”... and the list went on.  We too, felt the spirit of of the wonderful new stake presidency.  We will all miss President VO.

Time Flies.  It is amazing that one year ago (on the 21st) we spoke  in Sacrament meeting and left for our mission.   More and more we realize how much the church needs senior couples.  So many I have talked with want to go on missions but are nervous about what they may be expected to do.  What these places need is people who have had some experience ... knowing what a Relief Society, a Primary, Priesthood should look like.  I wish I was better at music and I wish I knew Creole.... but what they really need is just people with some experience.   We would encourage any who have a desire to work towards it as soon as possible.    We know that every mission and every assignment within a mission will be completely different.  Mike and I have had some pre-conceived notions and have had to set them aside.  We never know what we will be asked to do.  But we have been amazed that our talents (few as they may be) are used to accomplish specific work needed here.  We take no glory, just are grateful to be a part of the work.

One Example.

Last Sunday evening our mission president called and said someone in our hospital needed a blessing.  A couple from Texas came for a vacation and the wife had a heart attack.  They were both fairly new converts.  She called her home teacher in Texas and said she wanted two things..... her name put on the temple prayer list and a blessing.   Her home teacher found out the mission, the mission president and made the call.  Isn’t the church amazing?  We were able to go on Monday morning and help with the blessing.  We visited them several times before she was medivaced out of here and we have some new, very dear friends.  We were hoping they could not leave for several more days so they could come to church and be a part of our little branch.  It would not surprise me to see them back here one day.  (When she got back t the US, she had two stints put in as she had a total blockage in one of her arteries).

Home in the bushes.

This evening we delivered some food to a man who lives in the bushes.  Usually we take the food to the road and call him to come out.  Tonight I asked if we could come and see his house.  He said that would be fine.  We walked about 100 feet though stickers, rocks, and heavy bushes.  (It is no wonder Immigration has never found him).  There is no way to describe his house....but I will try.   It is a very heavily wooded area with a winding path and I felt I was hiking in bush Alaska....except I was sweating.  (When we finished I had to pull stickers out all over my skirt.)  His house was made of very old (lots of holes) plywood....maybe 8’ by 8’, and only about 5' tall.   The top was plywood too and it was all covered with black garbage bags.  He did have a door, of sorts, and a mattress inside.  Besides the mattress, there was probably two feet of floor space on one side.  That was the extent of it.  He had places for cooking outside.  He had one plastic chair outside.  He had a few buckets and other necessities. ( I wonder where he goes to the bathroom).  He has to carry water from somewhere else.  I tried to take a picture of it but there was too much brush so you can not really see what it looks like.  Some of these come to the church on Saturday to take a shower and wash their clothes with water from the church.  They come to church with ironed, clean clothes.  I am so thankful to know them.  They make me want to be better with all the privileges I have been given.

Missionary work

When we first came missionary work was hopping.  I know the elders are discouraged because we have not had a baptism in almost two months.  It is hard to explain, and I am not sure I understand, what is happening.  We blame it on immigration.... but the country here is economically depressed and everyone here is having a hard time. People are leaving the island in droves.  I also think Satan is working over time as other churches are starting to send out anti-mormon literature.  We pray about it constantly and know the Lord is in charge!

We love you all and are very grateful for your friendship and support.  We know the church is true and are thankful to be working, as are you, to teach the truths that make people happy and families forever.  Hurrah for Israel !

Love,

Elder and Sister Herbert

Huge cockroach....I know it is blurry....but you cannot imagine how painful it was for me to take this.

 Aprive's home in the bushes.

Giant stick bug.....reminds me of Homestead

Young Women activity....decorating cupcakes

 Blessing at the hospital....great experience.

Our cute little primary.

Just to the kids...

Dear Scott, Jess, Aimee, Kaleb, Erin, and Jason,

Every week (almost), I write a letter to everyone telling them about our adventures.  This week I am just writing you.  I think of you and pray for each of you each day.  At the first of our mission I was trying to write in my journal each day so I would not forget my feelings and experiences.  But often I would be discouraged and would not want to record that to read later.  Very often my discouragement came from my own inadequacies so I did not want to hash and rehash those same feelings.  So I got lazy and started just using my weekly letter for my journal.  Consequently, I do forget and am not always able to recapture the experience a week later.

Last week in church your dad and I sang with the other missionaries.  Later that day the elders were saying how well it went.  I had to tell them that if the spirit was gone, it was my fault.  All I could think of during the song is how I wished someone had a camera and would take a picture of your father singing in church.  I know that no one would believe it and I would love to have that picture for posterity.

We have enjoyed working with this new Jamaican missionary.  He is such a good sport and works hard.  Every time he eats with us, it is a new experience for him.  He had never had lasagna, enchiladas, pumpkin pie, banana cream pie, or today I made cream puffs....just so he could try them.  He says he now wants to start a pastry shop in jamaica when he gets home.  When he went out to eat with the Ockeys he tried sushi and had a steak for the first time.

No one knows here that we are leaving for Jamaica.  (To be honest, we don’t know when that will be either.)  But we are hustling trying to get some projects completed.  There is not ONE person in this branch that can lead music, so I am using the last few minutes of Relief Society to teach all the sisters.  We FINALLY got a visiting teaching roster made up after being here for almost a year..  We are having the Primary Program next week...first one they have ever had.  We are hoping to have air-conditioning in, sooner than later, which will make a huge difference in our meetings.  The old mission president said that progress here would be in millimeters... and we feel that we can see some success.  However, when we first came there was a baptism almost every week.  Now we have not had one for over a month.  We blame that on to immigration.

There was another boat that came with illegal Haitians.  It make trouble for all Haitians on the island.  Now immigration will be out harassing all those that are here now.  If 200 came on the boat, they will raid until they have at least 200 to send home.  The real crooks are the boat captains who charge exorbitant amounts and feed these people with lies about opportunities and jobs available here.  Some have been told that they can see the lights of Miami from our island, others that they can take a bus and get to America.  They come with nothing.  It is just too hard to understand.  It also means that  people will be afraid and will not come to the church.  We thought about starting English class again, but now that the boat came, we don’t dare.

Our neighbors have gone back to England for a few weeks.  We are very excited because that means there will be no dogs barking.  They are putting their dogs in a kennel so we will be able to sleep through the night.  The husband has a real drinking problem and we have had some (scary, for me, annoying for your dad), experiences with him drunk.  We would hear him crying, falling in the bushes, yelling at his wife, moaning.... always in the middle of the night, and waking us up.  so for two weeks we are looking forward to quiet nights.

Most of our mission I have gotten up early and walked for an hour.  Recently I have re-hurt my knee several times.  I quit walking for a week and then tried to start again slowly as to build it up.  However it continues to be very swollen and sore.  I don’t know if walking hurts it more or not.  I hate to just quit....believe me, I have gained enough weight and wish I could exercise.  I am afraid I am heading for a knee replacement.  

Scott, I have thought of you every day and hope your knee and leg heals up the way you need it to.  I pray for Kaleb on his hunting trip.  Jason continues to be in our prayers also.  Thank you Jess, for helping Scott and for teaching your beautiful children.  I hope Aimee and Erin are enjoying this time together.  I am so glad the cousins can form bonds.  We are anxious to have Scott/Jess and family come up with Erin/ Jason family, so all the cousins can all be together.  There is no way I can express my great love and admiration..... and appreciation for the good choices you make and the way you teach your children.  Each of you bring more joy than I can express.  Just want you to know, that I know the church is true. 
Love you very much.....   Mom and Dad

Another Miracle

Dear Family and Friends,
This has been a good week......full of ups and downs that seem to fill our days.  I do think this is getting less emotional as we go along.  I hope we are not getting “harder,” but perhaps we are getting used to the feelings that come with the successes and heartaches of missionary life.  Maybe we are able to take it less personal.  Mike constantly reminds me that this is the Lord’s work, not ours.  Heavenly Father is very aware of our little branch and wants to bless us with all the blessings available.   Spent a lot of time visiting members who don’t get to come to church often, for various reasons.  Many are getting more and more discouraged with island life, where there is no work, and constant harassment.  We hope they are taught and strengthened so they can go home and be stronger and better to help their country get back on it’s feet and to strengthen the church there.

As I visited with members that live in conditions that we normally can’t imagine or accept, I felt the love of Heavenly Father and the Savior.  I know they are very special to Him.  I also know they will be judged differently than we who have the opportunities and blessings of our country.  (Remind me not to complain when I get home).    We, who have the freedom and opportunities, also have the responsibilities.

We have worked and worked with one of our favorite people named Lucien.  We want him to get baptized before we leave here.  I am not sure why he is holding out.  One reason is that he only works only one day a week....Sunday.  He says he would come to church if he could.  With the language barrier, I am not sure exactly where he stands.  We sure like him though and pray for him to change.

Another miracle occurred this week.  We have tried to help a few of our members get the PEF (Perpetual Education Fund), but found it is not available in this country.  However an anonymous donor has agreed to fund Claud’s education.  It will make the difference between a mediocre existence and a chance to better many in his family.  He is so excited he can not sleep at night!  The tuition for the university in Haiti is only $2,500.00 (American dollars) a year.  Not a lot by our standards, but unreachable by theirs.  We in the US do not understand that education is really NOT available to most people here.  He will be leaving to go back to Haiti in November.  He will probably leave his family here in Providenciales, as he says Haiti is not a good place for them at this point.  We are so blessed to be a part of  this miracle.   (Just a comment about money.....I have NEVER felt money was an important part of our salvation, and it is not!  But when I see the good money can do for these people, I wish we had put more emphasis on making and saving money so we could help these people.  The donors in this and other cases of charity, have made so much difference in the lives of so many.)

The PEF  is available in Haiti, so at least one other man, is seriously thinking about going back to Haiti just to see if he can qualify there.  He is a hard worker and a wonderful member who I think will follow through.  I guess I should not be surprised that there are very strict rules and procedures that go along with the funds and some who apply do not get the money they need.   It is an amazing opportunity for those who can make it work for them.

We have a new young couple who moved here from England. They are here for a year working in an autism clinic.  The branch really needs them and I think they will be a great boon to the members here.

We went to dinner with the Ockeys Saturday night.  They treated us to the most expensive restaurant on the island.  Mike had a huge ribeye steak.  He was in heaven.  He has not had a steak like that for, probably, many years.  He was a happy camper.  I enjoyed it too.  They passed out cold towels which was a huge relief to the stifling heat.  This may be the last visit we have with them on this island.  We have loved the association and friendship developed.

The first picture is a sunset taken from the top of our church.  The second is a sunrise walk on the beach.  The third and fourth are at dinner with the Ockeys.

We love you all very much.
Elder and Sister Herbert