"Visiting" Experiences

Had many “visiting” experiences this week.  More wild driving and many people invited back to church.  We saw several in Portmore and in Spanish Town.  When we get home we are so grateful that we arrived home safe.  More driving scares than people problems.  After an afternoon of visiting,  both of us feel great and are exhausted.  There is often tears of joy and/or regret.   We invite them all to come to church.  One of the biggest problems to church activity is transportation.  Many do not have money for a bus or a taxi.   I take good notes about our visits, otherwise they all melt together and I forget details.  

 We visited one lady yesterday that says she can’t come because she has a 17 year old, handicapped son and can not take him anywhere.  Their home is dark and dreary and it made me so sad.  In the US there would be a bus to pick him up and take him to school, giving her a break and helping him to learn.  She was such a sweet lady.  Even other RS sisters can not travel to her home to take some of the burden.  She is one of the many that have heavy loads.

We love you and are thankful for your influence in our lives.

Love,  Elder and Sister Herbert

Sister Price showing me her banana tree

 Oshane and Sister Osborn helping us find our way

A grandma babysitting.  (What I will be doing in a few months, I might add!)

Spanish Town Elders and Oshane 

Great Day!!

Went to Portmore meetings.  Before the opening prayer there were 19 people in the chapel.  Before the sacrament there were 30.  Before the closing prayer there were over 60 people in attendance.  (There is a lot of work to do!)   I taught the “Law of Chastity” to the Gospel Essentials class.  After all the meetings we went with the elders visiting.  We had 16 names to try and find.  We learned 2 had moved many years before.......   So their names have been sitting in the branch records for a very long time.  No one had gone to find them.  Out of the 16, we only found 4 home.  (We contacted  5 others but could not see them today.)  Each of the 4 that we visited were very warm and open to us.  One said that ours was only the third visit by a church member he has had in the 10 years he has lived in his home.  We talked to three of them about going to the temple.  Seeing those four people (and contacting the others) took us 6 hours.  We came home exhausted and thrilled with our experiences.  What a grand time.... to invite people to come back to church.  I know not everyone jumps with excitement when they see us, but it is still a wonderful opportunity to request that our brothers and sisters come home.  One of the inactive men we saw during the week was there today at the Sunday meetings.  Mike requested he visit with the mission president, which he is excited to do.  It was clear he was happy to be there and so thrilled to begin his way back to activity.

I wish I could paint you an accurate picture of the people and places here.  The poverty abounds....( however nothing is as bad as our dear friends in Providenciales).  Of course some live better than others, but many houses are joined together, woven in a maze of tin.  The streets that run by their homes are really just dirt allies.  It amazes me how the elders ride bikes all over.  They go into areas that would scare their mothers to death.  There is awful crime.  We are very careful and know the Lord protects us.  Even in the poorest areas, most homes have high metal fences and gates with big padlocks for security.  One funny thing is that here, as well as in the Turks, they see the white shirts and name tags and think we are the FBI, or CIA or “Men in Black”.  Everyone we have talked to has been very polite and helpful to us.  

There are so many potholes that most senior couples have had several flat tires.  Many of the extreme potholes are due to the unseasonably heavy rains.  We are amazed that there are not more accidents than there are.  As far as we can tell, there are no rules to drive by.  Tonight we learned that we are going to get a brand new Mitsubishi, Lancer to drive for a few months.  It is really Sister Hendrick’s (mission president’s wife) car.  She does not want to drive here and they are short some cars so we will drive hers for a while.  It is a very fancy car, and to be totally honest, we are not very excited.  There are so many opportunities to ruin a nice car.  I was just getting so I could drive the other one around, with it’s many scrapes and scratches.  I do NOT want to be the one to put the first marks.

We laughed so hard at a member’s story to us last week.  He told us he had gone somewhere in the states.  He did not want to hurt our feelings but he said, “I just can’t tell all you white people apart.”  If I made a statement like that in the states, it might not be politically correct and some might be offended.  We thought it was great fun!

New Lanser on the “road”.  We bottomed out several times.  (Mike was not happy!)

Elder and Sister Herbert in Spanish Town

 A Spanish Town road

New Experience

Went visiting tonight in Spanish Town.  Went to one house, a Sister Chang. First of all we felt lucky to be there alive.  The streets are no wider than our alleys and it is like playing dodge ball with the oncoming cars and the potholes.   It is scary enough in the daylight but in the night it is treacherous.  After we got to the house we were ushered through the house to her bedroom where she and her two adult member daughters were enjoying a few words together.  After a few minutes of visiting, we heard yelling in the kitchen and the mother and daughters ran in where her two grown brothers were arguing over a girlfriend.  I would have thought nothing of it but the ladies were very upset so it made us know it was serious.  One of the sisters literally pulled and pushed her brother into the room where we were and locked the door from the outside.  He stood on her bed to a high cupboard and pulled down a miniature machete (they called it a “cutless” and it was about 15 inches long).  He came and pounded on the door yelling that he was going to kill him and several other things, much of which we did not understand.  He finally found some keys and went out a back door and around to the front.  I guess a neighbor had pulled the other brother into his house and locked him in.  They use these huge padlocks to secured the metal fences that surround and protect their houses.  After a few minutes the ladies came back in to where we were.  They were so upset and embarrassed.  The mother is just starting to come back to church.  I hope this will not hinder her progress.  She said the one son will be calm in the morning, but she is not sure what will happen with the other brother.  Poor woman....can’t imagine.  Elder Herbert asked if at any point I felt threatened and the truth was neither of us did.  I only felt sadness that they were so angry with each other and that a mother must endure that pain from her sons.  

Temple

Tonight we challenged three people to make any effort needed to go to the temple.  At least one wanted to go so very badly.  It would be wonderful to have several people ready to go to the temple before we left.  One lady has been a member for 24 years.  She was baptized in 1986 and has never been to the temple.  The church has a fund to help first-time temple goers pay their way to the temple.  I am not sure if it is available in the states, but for those in the Caribbean, it is a great blessing.  Most that we talk to have never heard of it though.  The people here usually go to the Panama temple.  The Dominican Republic is much closer.  The problem is that there are no direct flights from here to the DR and all flights go through Miami.  You must have a Visa to enter the states....even if just getting on another plane for DR.  Most here do not have Visas so it is easier to go to Panama.  Wish we could take the opportunity to go to both before we left the Caribbean.

Rats and other wild animals

The other night there was this huge rat running across our counter top in the kitchen.  (OK.  So it was a baby teeny, tiny mouse, but when a wild, ferocious, man eating, rodent comes through your kitchen, let’s see how you describe it!)  Mike got the fly swatter (thank goodness for my protector) and shooed him away.  We have since put down rat poison, but I think he was too afraid to come back.

Lunch with the senior couples at Port Royal

First Walk

I drove all by myself to the Flakes this AM.  First time.  Today was a holiday so there was little traffic on the road which made it easier.  We walked for a full hour and enjoyed the cool  morning air.   It was the first good walk since we came to Jamaica. 

Beautiful, green countyside

 Lover’s Leap drop off with ocean

 Lover’s Leap

Singles

Went to church in Spanish Town 1.  PEC meeting at 8:30 AM and church at 9:30.  As we left the PEC meeting the Branch President  told us we were speaking.  The elders had informed us that he wanted us to bear our testimonies, but he had actually wanted us to speak.  Anyway, I think it went well.  Sunday School and Relief Society went very well and then we went visiting with Sister Whitehorn.  Later that evening we went over to Flake’s and planned the Single Adults.

Troy.....Single adult dance instruction

 Holky Polky

Out of Order

Went to District meeting this AM with President Hendricks.  He introduced us to President Deans (who is the district president) and there were a few of the district councilmen there.  We were introduced and President H gave them a short version of his vision of a Stake that would take the place of the district.  He wants us to work with the potential Temple members...those who have not taken their endowments...those who do not pay a full tithe.  One big problem is that people move all over this island, and the records are soooo out of order.  In one branch they have over 600 members on their roll but only 50 come to church.  They had listed 135 high priessts.  What we found out was that they did not know how to put them in the "Prospective Elders"....so they used the “High Priest” category to put the names there.  Funny

Trip to Junction

The Shaffermeyers called us and asked us if we wanted to take a trip with them.  They had to go to pay for a plumbing order.  So we left at about 11 AM and drove to Mandaville and on to Junction, paid the bill, and on the Lover’s Leap.  We ate at Burger King in Mandaville on the way down and had ice cream form Devon’s on the way home.  We got home about 7 PM.  It was a wonderful day and so fun.  We were in the mountains making it much cooler.  We had such fun with the Shaffermeyers.  They are a riot! 

Jamaica Me CRAZY?

(If 5 is my favorite number then 10-10-10 must be 6 times better than my favorite!)

Short Version

Busy week....enjoying Kingston....crazy drivers.....spaghetti streets..... rain every day .....loving interacting with senior couples.....missing the Turks and Caicos terribly.....new apartment....new assignment......eating too much.....miss walking.

One week in Kingston

For the first few days we were at the mission home, enjoying the spirit and love there.  The day we got to Kingston there were 7 new elders coming into the mission field.  We enjoyed everything about them.  Loved sharing conference with them.  Then on Monday they went out to their various assignments and 9 new elders and 2 sisters came to the mission home because their mission was over and they were on their way home.  We had a wonderful dinner and testimony meeting and then they were on the planes and going home on Tuesday.  Funny side note.  One of the new elders....first day in the field on Tuesday..... a thirteen year old kid pulled a knife and held it to his stomach.  (Did not cut him!)  The elder took him in a head lock, secured the knife,  and told him to never bother the elders again.  I think that is a story he won’t tell his mom until he gets home.  Scott had some stories like that which he did not share until he was back in Alaska.

Money:  84 to 1....with 17.5% tax

We use Jamaican money here and it is a trick getting used to it.  I went to the store yesterday and spent over $15,000.00 Jamaican dollars..... which is about $180.00 US.  It just looks better if you say $180.00.  They do use pennies here but they are really worthless.  Think of it.... it takes 84 Jamaican pennies to equal one of ours.  It was so expensive to live in the Turks and Caicos.  We think this will be a lot cheaper...thank goodness.

Senior Couples

It is really different to be here where we can interact with the senior couples.  Where we were before we had little contact.  We went to the airport to pick up a new couple from southern California.... the Smiths.  For those of you who know Darryl (Bishop) Smith from Anchorage, it is his TWIN SISTER!   She is a fireball.   Then Diane Clayton met another couple in the Phoenix airport on their way to serve in the Jamaica mission. They are here now.   Another fairly new couple is related to a couple we met in the MTC.   The church makes the world a much smaller place.  (We haven’t found anyone related to the Ramptons yet, but if they were here, I am sure they would recognize someone.)

Driving...  The only thing I can compare it to is China.  People are crazy!  Yet in their own way they are very considerate and let people in.  But I am always gasping and closing my eyes while in the front seat.  I did drive yesterday and all went well.... but Mike was having a hard time keeping his mouth shut, I could tell.  One of the problems is that the roads wind around and around and there are very few street signs.  There are some major roads which help  find our way and I can’t believe how quickly Mike picks up directions.  He has a feel for the layout already.

New Assignment

We have been given two branches in which to work, Portmore and Spanish Town 1.  I hope we can find and influence those the Lord will have us touch.   This week has been like a vacation and we are ready for work.

Rain

At least once a day for the last week we have had rain.  Sometimes a torrential rainfall.  The week before we came, there was extensive flood damage in Kingston because of the rain.  Houses fell into the gullies, property just falling into crevices.  They only know of 12 dead, but lots more are still missing.  I don’t think they will ever really know, because there is no way to count them.  These are just the ones reported.   I wonder if there is not a lot more damage from the rainstorm last night.  It is like you turn on the shower and go outside.

Our Apartment

We found, what we thought, was a very nice apartment and moved in on Thursday.  There is so much we have discovered after moving in that we are unhappy about.  But it will work great for the last 5 months.  It is still a one bedroom, which is all we need, and is much bigger than the one in Providenciales.

We love and miss each of you.

Elder and Sister Herbert

Picking us up from the airport in the rain

Conference in the Mission Home....Look like conference at home?

 Present from our kids....We love them

 The Smiths.... Darryl Smith’s twin Sister

Our new apartment

 Our car for now, a Nissan Tida  ....we get a new truck soon!

Leaving Turks and Caicos

I know this is a l-o-n-g letter.  If you don’t have time to read it, enjoy the pictures.  Just had so much to say.  I know I left a lot out because I have not written in a while..... and so much going on.

Leaving

Sitting in the Turks and Caicos Airport waiting.  The flight was 1 1/2 hours late.  (Why would anything be different as we leave this island?)  It has been almost 2 weeks since I wrote in my journal so I know I will forget so many important things.  We have known for over two months that we would probably be leaving here and going to Jamaica. Every week for the last 5 weeks, the mission office has said it would only be a week or two.   We were asked not to say anything and to just be patient while they got all the immigration paperwork done so we could go into Jamaica legally.   So we did not start a new English class, or push any of the programs that we knew would not continue when we left.  It has been hard waiting and not knowing.  We really did not know for SURE until yesterday when they called and told us they had reservations.    For about 3 days they said we would leave this weekend........

Chaloutte

Chaloutte is a Haitian man (probably in his 40’s).  His wife and two children live in Haiti and he is here trying to earn money to send home.  He has not had any work that I know of.  Sometimes he has been without food for several days before he would come and talk to the missionaries and we would get him a little bit to hold him over until the branch president could get him more.  He has been a member for about 4 months and is so faithful.  He is at church every week, always there to help clean the church, comes to all family nights, institute, and volleyball.  Just a very nice person.....one I want to remember.  When he found out we were going, he got in our car and just cried like a baby.  I am not sure if he was crying because he loves us or if he is just worried about food.  He has called several times to say good-bye.  He is a good man.  The Haitian people we have met are so humble....easily entreated.

Fast and Testimony Meeting

Sunday the branch president asked Mike and I to bear our testimonies as it would be our last time there.  The emotions were so strong.  One young (23 year old)  man broke down and could not finish his testimony because his feelings were so overwhelming.  He has not always been real active...mostly because he lives so far away from the church and has no way to get there.  He is planning on going on a mission soon and we are so excited for him.  He will be the first missionary sent from Turks and Caicos!  We have seen so much change and will worry about each of them as we worry about our own family.

Hit and Run

This island has been a series of emotional events....both bad and good.  I know the good outweighs all, and in the end that is all I remember, but that does not erase the emotion in the bad times.  Thursday, September 30, we were driving and a man tried to pass.  Seeing the oncoming car he cut back into our lane scraping our front right panel.  His car actually got the worst end of it.  Mike tried to follow him, blinking his lights to get him to stop.  We followed him until we had the license plate number, make of car, etc., then we just let him go.  After all, what were we going to do?  Anyway, we filed a police report.  They do not have an accurate registration system so there is no real way to find the car.  Chalk it up to one last experience on the island!  Oops...have to add one more little irritant.  After the car accident we went to get money out of the bank and my debit card won’t work...says there is no record of my card on file.  I know it is just some little glitch, but the frustration of being in a foreign country without access to our money in the bank is a little scary.  I am sure it will work out....just one more thing!

Cleaning the House

Even though we have stayed in this little tiny cottage, I guess I forgot how much work it is to clean a years worth of dirt.  Thought I had it all organized and laid out, but in the end, we were rushed but got it all done.  I think every muscle I have is sore.  I hate this getting old thing..........

Elders

It was really hard to leave them.  On this little island we get pretty close to the Elders.  I know they love us and will miss us and the meals we provide.....but they were so excited to get our car when we left, that it outweighed any bad for them.  They have been on foot for months, and to get a car is very exciting for them.  I think it will help the missionary work.  Elder Johnson is a Jamaican .....great missionary, only a member for about 4 years, very dedicated, can’t wait to see him again before we leave.  Elder Packard, from Colorado, a hard worker, learning Creole, smart.   We will miss him too. We have worked with some of the greatest elders in the church.

One by one

This is a church of individual members, each important, each unique.  Claude is ready to go to the temple.  He took the temple prep class (from Mike).  He is leaving for Haiti to go to school and wants to go to the temple before he lives again in Haiti.  He said it is very hard there and he needs the blessings of the temple.  To go to the temple for the first time, one must be interviewed by the Stake President (if one lives in a stake) or the mission president (if you live in a mission, like here).  President Hendricks made a special trip to Turks and Caicos from Jamaica, to conduct an interview so he could have a recommend before he left.  That in and of itself is amazing.  When we knew the president was coming we arranged for a Priesthood Leadership Training meeting with him.  We called around and visited for two weeks to make sure all the men knew about it and arranged their schedules to come.  Well there was a storm and he did not make it on the island until about 10 PM that night....3 hours after the priesthood training session began.  Thank goodness President Ockey came from Bahamas for the meeting, and they were able to carry on without the president.  We had Claude wait at the church, after the meeting, until the president arrived.  We took President Hendricks to the church where he had a wonderful interview with Claude.  Then we took him to the motel by about 11:30PM.  Then picked them us at 6:20 the next morning to get on the flight to leave.  I don’t know if we can blame everything bad in this life on Satan, but I do think that he is very sad that Claude wants the temple blessings so bad.

Relief Society

They had a Relief Society meeting the other night to tell me good-bye.  It was the perfect blend of talking, eating and visiting.  No matter where in the world you go, you will find women who love to visit and who need each other.   We laughed and cried as we watched pictures of our mission and remembered this last year.  I can’t imagine that I will ever love a group of people (other than my children and family) like I have loved them.  When I think of the heat, the work, the meetings, the frustrations, they all melt away knowing of these eternal bonds.  

Out to dinner

A tourist couple from Indiana was here last week and took us and the elders out to eat.  Their last name is Rockwood and he is the stake president of the Cincinnati, Ohio Stake.  They are wonderful people and we such a delightful time with them.  So smart, we learned so much from them (She went to Harvard!)  .  We have met so many wonderful people that come as tourist and leave a mark on our island, and on me personally.

Scorpion

Thursday I had a bowl of sudsy water in the kitchen sink and I looked among the dishes in the sink and there was a scorpion trying to get out of the sink.  It was about 3”long.   I wish I had the presence of mind to get a camera.... but I just screamed.  Elder Herbert was not there to “save” me, so I had to kill it all by myself.  Was so afraid to turn anything over or to do any more dishes for a while.  I think it must of crawled up the drain.  

We love you all so very much.  Elder and Sister Herbert

Pictures 1 and 2 are more members and their homes in the bushes

Saying goodbye to Nancy Mondelus.  Precious, precious story.

 Silly missionaries

 All the cats that Mike can not feed any more

Relief Society....Turks and Caicos Style

 Saying good-bye to the island