30 may 2010

How is everyone? We hope that the Memorial weekend is good to all of
you. We want to hear your fish stories as long as they aren't too
exaggerated. We will miss visiting the cemeteries and honoring those
who have given so much so that we can have such a good life. Becky
Reader sent a touching forward about veterans and one of the pictures
that touched me the most was of a parade with a military corps with
the flag marching down the street and the only person standing to
honor them was a gray haired man in a wheelchair. We have been
blessed with a wonderful family including those who came before and
those who are here now!

We have had quite a week. We have learned a lot and have so much
appreciated the young Elders who are teaching us how to navigate on
the computer. It is definitely like the little girl mother would tell
me about. "When she was good she was very very good and when she was
bad she was horrible." When we get it right on the computer it is
amazing and when we don't.......@#^?! We have enjoyed getting to
know those who work in the office on a regular basis, Sister Ellison
who does all the travel and is the mission nurse, the Assistants to
the President and the office Elders. The office Elders are Elder
Morris and Elder Miles and they are very good. We will have to start
calling the "M&M Elders". We have also survived transfers and that
was an experience. When everyone is out of the air and in the right
country, it is a time for celebrating. It is also a very busy time in
the office with missionaries arriving from the MTCs and missionaries
returning home, the new and the old. We had wonderful reunions with
those with whom we have served in St. Vincent. We met the Risenmays
who are here to tour with their missionary and fly home with him. It
was fun to brag about their son to them. He was a very hard-working
Elder and had a great companion; they really tromped the hills in
Calliaqua. The numbers in Calliaqua are a witness of their dedication
and steadfastness. Elder Gilley walked his shoes right off! There is
a picture on the blog of the Elders' shoes left at the front door of
our apartment and Elder Gilley's are the ones that are falling apart.
We also heard from Elder Findlay on Wednesday that the Willliams
family was baptized that morning. We have talked about Morel several
times and she is the best. So, Wilson, Morel and Delano (9) were all
baptized, a wonderful white day at the beach. Morel was one of the
first investigators we met in St. Vincent. It was a wonderful
experience to watch and support them through getting married, having a
baby, waiting for Wilson to be ready and baptism. Now the goal is the
Temple! These are the names of the Elders who have taught and
encouraged them: Elders, Vaea, Moala, Vi, Risenmay, Gilley, White,
Morris, and Prince. Never give up! Shake it off and step up! We
also connected with the Elders from Suriname who are Dutch. It was
fun to listen to them talk and I wanted so bad to have them call
Anneke Marshall. (Mission rules,,,No way!) Elder Swart told me about
his family and how much they have been blessed while he has been on
his mission. His mother had been excommunicated and is now rebaptized
and going to the temple every week. His two brothers were making bad
choices and they went to Utah to live with extended family and are now
doing great and looking forward to serving missions when they are old
enough. We are going to have some wonderful experiences here in the
office with so many coming and going all the time. President
Gammiette and his family are in Tobago this weekend and he is
participating in a triathalon. He runs everyday and swims most, very
fit fella! The Lusters, they were in the office before us, are now in
Tobago. Elder and Sister Hymas finished their mission this week and
they were serving in Tobago. Elder Hymas served as a counselor in the
mission presidency for a lot of their mission and was very dynamic and
will be missed. He helped with our transition here in the office
before going home. Their youngest son is serving his mission at the
same time and will return home in another month. They are foot loose
as they sold everything before coming on their mission and have faith
that they will be blessed in finding a home for their son to come
home to. We have been staying in a bed and breakfast for two weeks.
Breakfasts were great but we are glad to finally be in the apartment
where we will be living. Great to have a place to cook and wash etc.
It is a comfortable, small refuge for us to kick off our shoes and
relax. I enjoyed unpacking more than I ever have, and Elder Wheeler
is making fun of my nesting ablilities. Well, Elder Wheeler is done
with his project here at the office so we are going to find office
supplies on our Pday. We don't have internet at our apartment until
Tuesday.