A Mission for Our Church: Things We Are Thankful For

Some of the things we are thankful for

A leg that does not hurt:

I stepped on a dog Thursday night in the dark, and he turned around and bit me on my leg. (I would bite someone who stepped on me too!). I felt so bad for the owner because they are the kindness and most wonderful people. (They are so poor and there is no such thing as insurance for this kind of thing in Jamaica). Because it was so dark, I could not see how bad the bite was until I got home. I knew it was bleeding and was actually glad because I felt the bite was cleaned out by the time I got home. I washed it as well as I could, with soap and the cold running water in our bath tub, covered it with band aids, and did not think too much more about it. By Saturday night by leg was swollen and red, I had a fever, and I was quite frightened. I really do not feel comfortable going to a doctor here. Someday if you ask me, I will tell you of my miracle, but today I woke up and everything was ok. The wound was not red, my leg was not sore, my fever was gone, and I was able to do everything required. Tender mercies!

Relief Society Sisters:

I went to a Relief Society visiting Teaching Seminar and ONE lady showed up. But the undaunted RS President waited them out. About 7 ladies came 50 minutes late for a different pie making activity. She just started our meeting 50 minutes late and we had a wonderful, spiritual, meeting with the 7 (actually 10 by the time it was over) ladies. We laughed and talked and learned from each other, as women of the church all over the world. What a great experience to know that rich or poor, black or white, old and young, we need one another, and depend on one another to fill our needs. Women need women!

Safety and Amazing young missionaries

Jamaica is a very interesting place, not unlike many places in the world. It is filled with drugs, poverty, vigilantes, gangs, and violence. Most of the time we feel very safe. I think of these young elders and sisters and the places they go on their bicycles and am amazed. I think of my own children and their experiences in the gettos on their missions, and Erin in Ecuador, my nieces and nephews who served valiant missions, and know the Lord watches out for those that serve Him.

Cooler Weather

It has cooled down immensely these last few weeks. It is about 80º every day and we don’t feel like we are going to die from the heat. Sorry Alaskan friends and family, I know that is a low blow! I think we have forgotten what snow feels like. We will have a rude awakening when we get home.

Other Senior Couples and a beautiful island

Last Saturday we took the departing senior couple up to Stawberry Hill, 2500 feet up the mountain. Now that they are gone, we are the senior, senior couple. It was so beautiful. It always amazes me how such poverty and desperation exists on the same island as such beauty. We had lunch and enjoyed the fellowship of wonderful people. We have made such dear friends of these senior couples, from all over the states, who have come to serve.

P-Days

Monday we went to Port Royal, the same from pirate days. It was once considered one of the richest and most wicked city on the earth. It was home to some of the most notorious pirates in history. Henry Morgan, Black Beard, Jack Sparrow are a few that came with their loot to trade and relax. It seems the Lord has His ways of dealing with those people some times. In 1692 there was an earthquake and half of the city fell in the ocean. It continued to rain and flood until most all the inhabitants were either killed or left the island. At one time, Admiral Horatio Nelson commanded Fort Charles, the British Fort, located at Port Royal. It claimed to have over 140 cannons which served to protect Jamaica from foreign invasion. Today is serves as a most interesting museum. On a spiritual note Elder Flake placed a copy of the Book of Mormon to the tour guide.

Busy Days

Most days are spent with a list of names that need to be found and visited. It is hard to describe the joy when we finally get to see some of those we look for. Day after day we are hot and sweaty, tired and grouchy, and love it when the end of the day comes. Then we go back home, write up what we have done, and love every minute of it! It is quite the experience to find people with no address, no street signs, layers and layers of homes with seemingly little organization. Between dodging pot hole, people, bicycles, animals, reckless drivers, beggars, and food stands, Mike is exhausted after a day on the road.

Humanitarian Service

Our Humanitarian senior couple has proposed an exciting self reliance project and it has been approved by the church. They will be recieving $400,000 to provide projects for some of the poorest in Jamaica. (Not just members of the church!) It is really a cool thing. The people had a choice between goats, chickens, or gardens. They will be given everything they need to make a successful project. It has very stringent guidelines. For instance they must complete training and serve others as they set up their projects. There are several ways to “Pay Back” what they get. They will have to be totally responsible after it is set up. We hope they get it going before we leave so we can see some the of the progress. It is such an amazing thing the church does...it does not just “give” things away, but arranges it so the recipients have to step up to achieve their own goals.

All our dear family and friends

We love you all so much and are grateful for your prayers and support. We hope your Thanksgiving week is filled with love of family and appreciation of life and liberty.

Ocho Rios.... a famous tourist place