Preparation Day Activity to Bequia

I love these missionaries!!  We were all thrilled to see one of the Grenadine Islands of St. Vincent, Bequia.  It was a short one hour boat ride to get there.  We all enjoyed the sun and watching the flying fish, dive bombing birds, and the jumping dolphin.  Front to back, Sister Aitiria, our newest elder, Elder Tulikikakau from Tonga (we call him Elder T), Elder Lawenitotoka (Elder L), Sister Layton, me and Elder Anderson.  Elder Anderson has been battling migraine headaches, but despite his headaches, he is always so upbeat and happy.   

Elder Hendry....going home in a few days, Elder Sabin, Elder Lindsey (sorry you can only see the top of his head), Sister Layton and Aitiria, and Elder Anderson.

Open air taxi.....a pick up truck with benches in the back and a canopy cover....a fun way to see the island.

 Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary...started by Orton King after he retired in 1995 and decided that someone needed to do something to save the endangered Hawksbill turtles.  There were tanks full of different sizes of turtles from babies to the large one that some held below.  

Sister Aitiria found that the turtle was pretty heavy.  

Elder Tulikihakau wanted to show us some of his skills learned in Tonga....climbing the coconut tree.

 It seems that every island has many fortresses built long ago to defend themselves from invasion.
A quick boat ride back and everyone was rejuvenated and ready to start another week of spreading the restored gospel.

Helping with Taraji

Here is Janelle.  The director and founder of "Taraji."  Taraji means hope in African and her non-profit organization helps families all over the Caribbean.  Today the missionaries volunteered to help with distributing school shoes to children in St. Vincent.  Janelle is an amazing up-beat happy, giving person, who is a delight to work with.  

 Sister Moses and Sister Grant from the Kingstown Branch were also there to help.  

Each child as they came were assigned a volunteer to help them get the right shoes.  Elder Goddard is pictured with one of the children he helped, trying on the shoes to get the right fit.  

 Elder Hendry, Elder Dancan and Elder Mitchell

 Everything for a non-profit organization has to be well documented.  Taking a picture is part of the documentation.

More missionary helpers: Elder Sabin and Elder Lindsey

 This is Janelle's husband, Ron.  He is a great support to his wife and all her projects.  

 Sister Aitiria was at the front desk writing down all the vital information from each person who came.  Elder Dancan and Elder Goddard.....photo bombing!

After the each got a pair of shoes, they were given some school supplies.  I got picked to hand out the backpacks.  

Calliaqua YW Activity

The missionaries joined the Calliaqua Branch YW activity cleaning up the beach. 

Gemark, a recent convert. 

 YW President Sister Charles and the one YW there...Keshana.

 Sister Bowen, also a recent convert.

 Me, Sister Layton, Elder Anderson and Zone Leader Elder Merrell.

 Elder Lawenitotoka

 Sister Aitiria, Keshana, and Micron (member one year).

Changes While We Were Gone

We were gone for 8 days and in that time Elder Cox left and was made an Assistant to the President.  Elder Hodgkinson, Elder Brown, Elder Evans and Sister Giles left for home.  Although we lost 5 missionaries we only got three new ones.  Sister Aitiria with her new companion, Sister Layton, fresh from the MTC.  We are losing Sister Aitiria next transfer in 6 weeks.  She will be returning home to Kiribati.  

 Elder Hendry (far right) will go home in two weeks, but he is ready to train his new companion Elder Lindsey (left) also right from the MTC.   Elder Sabin in the middle has been serving for about three months.   These three will be a trio for two weeks until Elder Hendry goes home on September 1st.

 We lost 2 elders a few weeks ago, so we now have three apartments that are empty.  Elder Goddard and I spent hours cleaning up the empty apartments and will give the 6 garbage bags of shirts, ties, and pants to members here who are in need.  We cleaned up a lot of clutter so that the new missionaries coming in will have space for their things and will not find drawers that are completely full of old missionary left behind stuff.  Elder Goddard is my hero because he cleaned all the fridges, stoves and floors around those appliances.  Gross!!!

We did want to take a picture of some well worn hard-working missionary shoes that gave their all to the very end. :)

Mid-Mission, A Week of Family Time

The grandkids were so excited to show us some of their new skills.  

 Silly B

 Sisters

 A visit to Thanksgiving Point's new museum.

Fun just being together.  

We had a craft day for Jamie, Brighton and Eden, but I didn't remember to take pictures.  

Tribute To Richard's Mom

Tribute to an Amazing Lady
Raised as an only child, she was adored by her parents.
She married right out of high school and raised 5 wonderful children while taking care of her husband who was ill most of their married life.
She was incredibly talented.....sewing, painting, gardening, floral arranging, quilting and decorating.
She cared for her parents during their last years of life.
She was creative in making money using her talents.
She was always active in the church and served wherever called.
She was always kind and loving.
Her last years of life were difficult because of dementia.  She no longer recognized her children or could complete a sentence.  But, the last memory her daughters have of her is her love of singing.  She sang for an hour before surgery, every word of every song they sang from the hymns and Primary Children's songs.
She was the epitome of an always well dressed, gracious, classy lady.
We will miss you.  We know you are in a far better place with those who were anxiously awaiting your arrival.
Thank You!

 A display of some of her talents  

Tender Mercies
We know the Lord was showing forth his love to us with many Tender Mercies.
We were able to come home from our mission and get there before she passed.  Airplane flights just fell into place.
Kristi, Mark and Brendon were in Utah from Indiana for Mark's Dad's wedding.
Rachelle and Stockton were in Utah from San Diego to see Kristi while she was here and the rest of the family and friends.
Richard, Rachelle's husband, happened to be on a job that he could work from home and was able to drive up for the funeral.
We arrived at the airport on Sunday and all the family was there to meet us.
We were able to spend a week with the kids and grandkids halfway through our mission, going to soccer games, a picnic at the park, some crafting and shopping.
I was home at the same time my dear friend Janie's Dad passed away and was able to visit with her.
I was able to get the many things that I needed for the mission that I could not get in St. Vincent or Tobago.
I was able to see my Dad and my brothers and sisters and families.
We had the opportunity to speak in our ward about our mission so far.
On the way back, we were finally able to see the Barbados Mission Home.
Many tender mercies.

 Here are some pictures of the family together for the funeral. Brothers... Jared and Jeff

Monique, Stockton and Rachelle

Cher, Richard, Carol, David, and Jan

Cousins.......Jamie and Brighton

Stockton

Jessica and Jonah 

 Jordan, who played, "Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning" beautifully!!

Logan

 Jacob

 Eden