Sunday, September 24, 2017

We suspect our busy schedule these days is because we are now in our second year and have learned our responsibilities pretty thoroughly. We now spend less time learning and figuring things out and more time DOING. We were walking; now we're running!

The demands on our time and effort certainly don't equate with the intensity of the activities at the Area offices in the Dominican Republic as a result of the devastation from the hurricanes in many parts of the Caribbean. Those affected are in our prayers. We are extremely grateful that Jamaica was spared any of the direct hits. We did have quite a bit of rain which caused some flooding in low-lying areas, but overall everything seems to be under control. We had a meeting with the Red Cross this last week, and they mentioned how very busy they have been handling the needs after the flooding. For now, there isn't a need for us to respond. We have been working hard, though, to get kitchen and cleaning kits assembled to put in the container. We want to have 20 of each. We have 10 of each done and placed in the container and have started purchasing the items for the next batch. 

  

  

We had a wonderful meeting with some of the leaders of the Red Cross here in Kingston this week and were able to take a tour of one of the areas where they store relief supplies. Our 40 foot container can't compare and shouldn't even try, but it is a comfort to know we have it.  

We had a wonderful Handing Over Ceremony this week at a community preschool/kindergarten where we recently finished a small project. It was an extremely hot morning, but the shade of awnings and an occasional breeze made it bearable. The little children were remarkably good about sitting in their chairs in the shade of a big almond tree during the whole program. They sang the cutest song of gratitude for us. We doubt you can pick up many of the words, but they're saying thank you for each donated item - refrigerator, microwave, pressure cooker, etc. 

  

All the children wanted to do the typical Jamaican "thumbs" handshake.

           

Master of Ceremonies,                           School Board Chairman

        "Smiles on faces take us to happy places."   

               

Representatives from the community government

"Like the Good Samaritan, we do not pass to the other side of the road." 

 

     School Principal                  Head Cook in front of the 

                                            shiny new refrigerator

 Every town in Jamaica has a clock tower. 

We took a trip to Santa Cruz (southwest) on Saturday for a follow-up meeting with the Member Welfare Group in the branch. 

It is always so hot in Santa Cruz, but over time we have learned ways to compensate. We take frozen partially-filled bottles of water and then add more water to them as needed. We also sometimes take a frozen washcloth or two. We do remember it being a little cooler in December and January, so we're looking forward to a little relief, but really the temperature stays about the same year-round. No doubt about it - we are in the tropics of the Caribbean on a beautiful tropical island. 

We caught this beautiful sunset in Negril about 2 weeks ago. 

Tomorrow, we have an outing planned with the other senior missionaries to go to Port Royal the home of the real pirates of the Caribbean. It is very close to Kingston - just out on a peninsula past the airport

We drove out here last year, but this historic town isn't as developed as we thought it might be. We found out later we hadn't gone into the best parts. There is an old fort - Fort Charles and a museum. We'll share our experience next post. We're looking forward to visiting with our friends while lunching at a well-known seafood restaurant. A new Self Reliance missionary couple arrived just this week, so this will give us all a chance to get to know them.

Buddy's turn:

In priesthood meeting today, we studied the April 2017 General Conference talk by Elder Neil A. Anderson, "Overcoming the World." I recommend it in its entirety to you all for consideration. The following is an excerpt from the talk that really resonated with me.

Those of the world have difficulty with accountability to God—like a child who parties in his parents’ home while they are out of town, enjoying the ruckus, refusing to think about the consequences when the parents return 24 hours later. 

The world is more interested in indulging the natural man than in subduing him.

Overcoming the world is not a global invasion but a private, personal battle, requiring hand-to-hand combat with our own internal foes.

Overcoming the world means treasuring the greatest commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." 

The Christian writer C. S. Lewis described it this way: “Christ says ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You.’”

Overcoming the world is keeping our promises to God—our baptismal and temple covenants and our oath of faithfulness to our eternal companion. Overcoming the world leads us humbly to the sacrament table each week, asking for forgiveness and pledging to “remember him and keep his commandments,” that we “may always have his Spirit to be with [us].”

Our love for the Sabbath day does not end when the chapel doors close behind us but instead opens the doors to a beautiful day of resting from routine tasks, studying, praying, and reaching out to family and others who need our attention. Instead of breathing a sigh of relief when church is over and frantically running in search of a television before the football game begins, let our focus remain on the Savior and upon His holy day.

The world is incessantly pulled by a flood of enticing and seductive voices.

Overcoming the world is trusting in the one voice that warns, comforts, enlightens, and brings peace “not as the world giveth.”

Until next week...

All our love.