Sunday, February 5, 2017

Our special event this week was being able to spend parts of two days with Elder and Sister Zivic. Elder Zivic is an Area Authority serving as Second Counselor in the Area Presidency. One of his areas of responsibility is welfare, so we had the opportunity to be trained by him back in August/September when we were in the Dominican Republic for a week. The Zivics are from Argentina but now reside in the DR. They travel throughout the Caribbean Area teaching, training, and counseling with leaders, missionaries, and saints to strengthen individuals, families, and the Church.

Thursday, we attended MLC (Mission Leadership Council) at the Mission Home as we have in the past. We also were in charge of serving the luncheon. It’s fortunate the timing of the MLCs has fallen on weeks that we weren’t traveling elsewhere on the island. During the meeting we received inspirational messages from Elder Zivic and Sister Zivic, President and Sister Pearson, the APs (Assistants to the President), the ZLs (Zone Leaders), and the STLs (Sister Trainer Leaders). A special delight for all of us was hearing Sister Zivic share stories about their individual backgrounds in the Church including the conversion stories of their parents and grandparents who immigrated from Europe, their courtship and early married life, their family, and their life as a busy General Authority and wife. They are amazing people with so much to offer in all aspects of life. Like us, they are parents and grandparents who miss their children and grandchildren and truly appreciate their constant support.

On Friday, we were back at the Mission Home for a special meeting with the Zivics, the Pearsons, and the other senior missionaries. The other three missionary couples live outside of Kingston now, two in Mandeville and one in Old Harbour, so we don’t get to see them very often. We spent a wonderful morning together under the direction of Elder Zivic who facilitated an in depth discussion of the doctrines and principles taught in the account of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. (Joseph Smith-History) Once again, Buddy and I were in charge of the luncheon served before the Zivics had to leave for the airport. We look forward to meeting with Elder Zivic again this summer when we’ll go back to the DR for training.

We have been waiting since November to receive a shipment of 5 new generators to replace the ones donated during Hurricane Matthew. Finally, we got the call they had arrived. Several strapping young elders helped us unload the generators from our truck to store in the emergency container. Hopefully, it’s like carrying an umbrella; now that we have them, we won’t need them.

Sometimes during the week, we have occasion to be at the Mission Office around lunch time. Just down the street there is a food van every day, and we like the food they sell. These "streateries" are common here much like in the states. This one has different things each day - although almost always jerk chicken/rice & peas. The times we've been there they've had various kinds of soup - for example oxtail (haven't tried that one yet), salt fish and akee (nope not that either), chow mein (very good), macaroni and cheese, salads, and bbq chicken or pork.  

  

Today we drove to Junction to attend church meetings. Junction is located about 2 hours away near the south western coastline. We received a warm and friendly welcome and made some new eternal friends. The branch is very small but is growing because of the hard work of the elders and members in sharing the gospel. They meet in a rented office space above a shopping plaza. The biggest room where Sacrament Meeting was held was actually full today; they even had to bring in additional chairs. One of the young missionaries serves as the Branch President; we could tell he’s loved and appreciated. We now have only two more branches - Hopeton and Santa Cruz - to visit for Sunday meetings, and then we will have attended all the wards and branches in Jamaica at least once.

This next week we’ll be on the road again going to Savanna-La-Mar, Montego Bay, Linstead, and maybe Ocho Rios for project visits. We’re beginning to know these roads very well. The drives are always beautiful, though not always smooth. We load up our cooler with “healthy” snacks and drinks so we don’t have to stop for these things, and of course we’ve noted where the nice restroom stops are. To pass the time, we usually listen to audio versions of the scriptures, talks from General Conference, articles from the Ensign or other offerings from the Gospel Library app, or a good book we’ve downloaded. I used to tease that after we retired we should do some long-haul truck driving to see new sites. Well, I guess I kinda’ got my wish, but I never dreamed it’d be in Jamaica!

Until next week…

2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord...