Sunday, September 18, 2016

We continue to enjoy the beauty of Jamaica and especially the wonderful people. They are so friendly and helpful.

This week our travels involved going to Port Antonio by way of another mountainous road.  Port Antonio is on the northern coast, so we drove up through the middle of the island once again but on a different road. The scenery was gorgeous, but the road had almost constant switch backs and was very narrow and a bit rough in places. I commented that it was a good thing neither of us get car sick.  (Laura, Heather, Kaylee, and all the others who do get car sick, you would NOT have enjoyed the ride!) We saw a huge banana plantation and a botanical garden on the way; maybe we'll be able to visit these in the future.

We were surprised to find the LDS Meetinghouse right on the coastline road. The young elder who serves as the Branch President, Elder Rowley, and his companion, Elder Wood, greeted us as well as several branch and community members.  Many hands made quick work of assembling the 100 school kits that will be so useful to elementary students. This project is a combined effort with an NGO (non-governmental organization) called Triumphant Outreach Ministries. It was great to interact with these fine people and to see this project nearing completion.  The kits were to be distributed on Saturday. 

It had been raining in the mountains, so the drive back was all the more challenging even needing to dodge a rock slide that had closed off our lane in one place. Many of the streets back in Kingston were flooded, but we made it home just fine. 

  

  

Immunization is one of the major humanitarian initiatives of the Church—the others being: clean water, emergency response, food production, neonatal resuscitation training, vision care, and wheelchairs. The Church has contributed millions of dollars to help provide funding for immunization supplies such as vaccines and syringes. Our part as Welfare Services Missionaries in this initiative is to receive requests from medical clinics for vaccines, pick up the vaccines from the Health Department, and then deliver them in coolers quickly back to the clinics. We attempted this on Friday, but unfortunately the GPS sent us on a bit of a wild goose chase resulting in our missing the open hours of the Health Department. We will take care of that first thing Monday morning. 

Mandeville Meetinghouse

Sunday - we drove 1 1/2 hours west of Kingston to visit the Mandeville Branch. We didn't know ahead of time that the office couple, the Browns, and the newly arrived senior missionary couple, the Gotfredsons, would be there also. It was great to meet and welcome the new couple to Jamaica. They will be serving as Member Leadership Support missionaries beginning with an assignment in May Pen. There was quite a stir as the office elder (who also serves in the Mission Presidency) presented large white envelopes to two young sisters - their mission calls.  One sister is called to serve in the Trinidad Port of Spain Mission (learning Dutch), and the other in Cape Verde Praia Mission (learning Portuguese). We are so excited for these sisters. Their willingness to leave their families, step into the total unknown, and learn new languages shows their amazing faith, their love of the Lord, and their desire to share the message of the Gospel. 

Sunday, September 11, 2016

We have been busy this past week or so learning more about the computer programs we are to use to keep track of projects and finances and finding our way around Kingston and other parts of the island. As Buddy says, it's a steep learning curve, but we're making progress.

We had great success purchasing supplies for 100 school kits for a project for elementary age students  in Port Antonio. We were able to find everything we needed in just two stops; pretty amazing. We are so appreciative of all the detailed notes and directions Elder and Sister Summers - the previous Welfare Services Missionaries - left for us. We are now coordinating with the Port Antonio branch leaders and community members to plan a time to assemble the kits.  We're excited to be able to see the culmination of this worthy project.

This last Friday and Saturday we travelled up to the northern coast of the island. On the way we stopped in Linstead to follow up on an ongoing improvements project at a preschool. We were able to meet the wonderful, dedicated principal, Sister Jennifer Walker, and learn firsthand what progress has been made and what is left to be done. There are great needs at this little school, and we are grateful to be a small part of the humanitarian effort of the Church for this community. 

Even the preschoolers 
wear school uniforms. Adorable!

A portion of the project was helping to provide
tables and desks like these.

Our drive up through the middle of Jamaica was quite interesting!  There is a new tollway that recently opened, and we were on it for part of the drive, but most of the time we were on less developed roads. It was pouring for most of the trip, but the scenery was beautiful. We were definitely in a rain forest environment. The roads were very narrow in some places, and particularly the one lane bridge we encountered was fun for Buddy to negotiate.  (I don't think I'll ever drive here - we'll see.) 

After our visit in Linstead, we continued on to Falmouth on the north coast.  We were meeting the mission president and his wife and two other senior missionary couples for dinner and a short boat tour of the Luminous Lagoon. The hotel, restaurant, and attraction is called Glistening Waters. (Google it.) After a lovely dinner and once it was dark, we went on the boat tour of the bay. We were told this is one of only four places in the world where this phenomenon occurs. As the water is disturbed either by the movement of the boat or by dragging your hand in the water, you can see a beautiful glow. It is because there are millions of tiny bioluminescent creatures called dinoflagelattes. It was really cool. We didn't know ahead of time they would let people get off the boat to swim in the water, but we enjoyed watching others swimming around in this almost eerie glow. I imagine Buddy will want to swim if/when we go there again. We understand that it's particularly spectacular when it's raining because each drop of rain disturbs the water causing the glow. Unfortunately for us, the rain stopped just about 30 minutes before dark. 

We booked a room at the nice, yet very reasonable Glistening Waters hotel since we were going on to Montego Bay the next day for another project visit. The others all drove back to their homes. It was a great evening.

Saturday, we continued east along the coast line enjoying the beautiful view of the ocean. We passed through several small towns. Here on Saturdays, throngs of people gather in the streets to sell or purchase all kinds of things. So again, it took some of Buddy's expert, fancy driving to make it through some of the crowds and narrow streets. 

We arrived at the LDS Montego Bay Branch meetinghouse and met the Branch President, Wilbert Buchanan. We were delighted to meet him. We had heard what a wonderful man he is, to which we quickly agreed as we could feel his dedication to the Lord. He has only been a member for four years and is giving his all to service in the Kingdom. We visited with him just getting to know one another, and then he shared some ideas for possible humanitarian projects in the community. He then accompanied us to visit a parish infirmary. This is a government facility for men and women who are in various stages of ill health who have no other place to go. We met with the Matron who we could tell is very dedicated to these people. We toured the facility and quickly recognized the need for humanitarian aid. We plan to propose a project to assist with some improvements. This will be our first time to originate and propose a project. This is what we were sent here to do. 

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Dominican Republic Missionary Training Center, 

Temple Patron Housing,  and Church Offices

Friday morning, September 2nd, we went to the MTC/Area Offices building so Buddy could be seen by Dr. Mason, the mission doctor.  Buddy had developed a cough like mine and what looked to us like conjunctivitis in his eyes. Luckily, the doctor was able to give him some medication. We enjoyed meeting and talking for a few minutes with the doctor. He definitely has huge responsibilities. We continue to be marvel at the dedication and faithful service of everyone we meet.  

About noon, Elder and Sister Aitken drove us to the airport so we could catch our flight back to Jamaica. We so appreciate their helping us so much during our visit to the DR. They are new and are also learning all the facets of their assignment. They have multiple responsibilities, and we think they're doing an exceptional job. We love them already. 

Our flight to Miami was delayed, so once again it meant that we might miss our connection to Jamaica. We hurried as fast as we could, but the immigration and customs procedures always take awhile. We got to the gate, but they had just closed the door and wouldn't let us on the plane. Fortunately, American Airlines took responsibility and gave us vouchers for a hotel and for food and rebooked us on a flight on Saturday. We were worried about the flights on Saturday because they were sold out, but we were placed on the stand-by list. 

Our hotel definitely wasn't one of the best we've stayed in, but not the worst either. We arose early to get back to the airport and luckily made it on the flight with no problem.

We arrived back in Jamaica Saturday afternoon and made it through immigration and customs once again with no problems. We're getting better at this international travel thing. 

We got out to the truck, and the BATTERY WAS DEAD! We just had to laugh. Evidently, we had left an interior light on. Grrrrr. Buddy was able to get some of the parking area men to help him get the truck started, and finally we were on our way "home."  

It felt good to be back in familiar surroundings. We commented that we can't believe this feels like home already. We're thankful for that. 

Sunday, September 4th, we attended the Constant Spring Ward here in Kingston. We actually live in this ward's boundaries, but because of our traveling around the island on many Sundays, we most likely will not attend here that often. We loved the people right away and felt right at home. 

August 24 - September 1, 2016

The highlight of the past 11 days was our trip to the Dominican Republic for a Welfare Services training seminar. We had a wonderful experience being in yet another foreign country. We're getting better at all the immigration and customs procedures. We flew into Miami and then on to Santo Domingo, DR.

This building located in the temple complex houses the Missionary Training Center and Area Presidency offices. There is also housing for families who have traveled here to attend the temple.

Santo Domingo Temple

We were able to attend the temple as a group one of the evenings. 

In attendance with us at the seminar were: 
Area Welfare Services Manager, Elder Julio Acosta
Area Welfare Services Specialists, Elder and Sister Aitkens
Dominican Republic Welfare Services missionaries, Elder and Sister Benedict
Barbados Welfare Services missionaries, Elder and Sister
Dominican Republic Welfare Services missionaries,    Elder and Sister
Haiti Welfare Services Specialist and Bishops Storehouse Manager, Berthony Theodore

Monday was a travel day, and then we started the week Tuesday by meeting with President Zivic, First Counselor in the Area Presidency. He gave us great words of council and advice using the scriptures to teach the doctrinal principles of our charge of relieving suffering and caring for the poor and needy regardless of nationality or religion. 

Our new dear friend, Berthony Theodore, from Haiti.

Using translators for English to Spanish and
Spanish to English.

This is at the Area Offices which is located in another part of the city. We had translators for Spanish to English and vice versa. We were impressed with the technology used to make this seminar such a success. 

Lunch at a very nice restaurant right on the beach. 

Colonial Zone

We ventured out on our own the last afternoon in Santo Domingo to take a train ride tour of the Colonial Zone. This and the picture below are of two of the many very old cathedrals in the area.

"The Colonial Zone is both an important historical site and a vibrant neighborhood that is currently experiencing a cultural and economic renaissance. Founded in 1498, the Santo Domingo Colonial Zone is the oldest European settlement in the New World. In 1990, the entire area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site." 

(http://www.santodomingotourism.com)

                                               

Statue of Christopher Columbus

This statue of Christopher Columbus is in one of the main courtyards of the Colonial Zone. Notice the pigeons. There were absolutely hundreds in this courtyard area. We enjoyed watching children running through the are and feeding the birds. The pigeons would come sit right on their hands and heads. 

Views of the beautiful shoreline. The water was a brilliant blue. 

A few thoughts from the seminar/training this week:

• President Zivic taught us the natural man moves in a horizontal way only communicating with the five senses. If we incorporate the sixth sense - the one that allows us to communicate with heaven - our movement becomes vertical.

• It's good to be seen doing good, but it's not good to do good to be seen.

• We don't do humanitarian work to convert; we do this work to share the love of Heavenly Father for all his children and to relieve suffering and care for the poor and needy of all nationalities and religions.