Wednesday 26 December 2012
It was a pretty quiet week between Christmas and New
Years. We worked on our PEF lists trying
to find which participants would benefit most from our contact and we tweaked
our Job Seeking Seminar yet again. But
mostly it was pretty quiet. One day we
drove with the Larsens up to visit the Brown family. I have mentioned this family before. This is a note I sent to Elder Roberts in
DR:
“Elder Roberts,
I don't know when you will be having your meeting to give
the spiritual thought, but I thought of an inspirational story I would like to
share with you. We have a couple of
sisters here in Jamaica who are part of a really remarkable family. I don't know the facts exactly but
approximately 11-12 years ago their mother was murdered. There were six daughters left to be raised by
the father. The oldest was about 10-11
and the youngest about 3-4. The parents
had been sealed in the temple so the younger 3 girls were born in the
covenant. The girls are now 23-14 years
of age and about two or three years ago their father also passed away. He has obviously trained them well. They are wonderful girls, as you can guess
they are anxious to go to the temple where the older three girls can be sealed
to their parents and family. They live
on their own in a very modest apartment.
The oldest sister works and the next two are PEF participants--I think
one of them also works part time. But
these girls have stayed current on their payments and are now both on auto
debit.
All in all this is an outstanding family. They never miss meetings or any activities,
or service projects, or seminary, or institute--and this is saying something as
we went to their home the other day and they have to walk at least half a mile
on a very steep mountain road to catch the first of two buses to get them to
the church. When Scriptures were given
away by the Area Presidency, I think for continuous reading of the Book of
Mormon, two of the girls received scriptures.
Their apartment looks like any LDS home with pictures of the Savior, the
Temple, plaques for academic achievement, and Family Home Evening art on the
walls.
I have not gotten their permission to share this story with
anyone but if you would like to share it without names I think it would be
okay. For your information only, the
Participants are Shirlette and Tonnie Brown.
Thankfully they have good Priesthood leaders who look out
for this wonderful family.”
Youngest to oldest: Rachell, Alexie, Elizabeth, Tonnie, Shirlette, Ruth-Ann.
From in front of the Brown's apartment. Houses way down below and mountains in the distance--since we are on the top of this one!
I just inserted this note to save writing it again. But in any case they are a great inspiration
to me.
I forgot to mention that this apartment is located on top of
a high and very steep and rugged mountain on the outskirts of Kingston. It is the same mountain the Dakins live on
but the Brown’s apartment is higher and the road to their apartment is
extremely steep—we had to use 4 wheel drive and it is very narrow, rutted and
full of switch-backs. The steepest part
they have to walk because even taxies will not go up it. There are actually several apartments up
there. I have not figured out why people
live up here except that the views are wonderful and the rent is cheap. Locals call it “The Hill”—for Red Hill not even
a mountain.
When we left the Browns we drove to Spanish Town and had pizza
at the only Pizza Hut in the area. They
share a building with Kentucky Fried Chicken so Bob had chicken instead of
pizza, but the Larsens think this is the best pizza in Jamaica. One good benefit of the trip was discovering
a new/better way to get to the Spanish Town chapel where we have to go again
the next two weeks for our Jobs seminar.
On the way to Spanish Town there are two little burro drawn
carts almost every time we go—not the day I was not driving however –I hope to
get a good picture of one of these quaint little carts before we leave. It sort of tells a story of its own as it
drives slowly along the very fast and often very crowded highway. If the burros are not pulling the cart they
are grazing in the meridian of the highway.
On Friday we thought we would like an outing so we called
the Smiths to see if they wanted to take us on a hike they have told us
about—they didn’t answer their phone so we called the Murdocks to see if they
were interested in driving to Ocho Rios with us. They were, so we planned it. I knew the Larsens had piano lessons but
called just in case. They wanted to go
but couldn't. In the meantime the Smiths
called and I had to tell them we made different plans. Saturday morning the Murdocks called to say
they were both unwell and could not go.
So I called Smiths again. He had
a blessing to give (he is the Patriarch for the Church on the Island) and would
not be available until after noon but they wanted to show us their hike and go
to Hope Garden. So I called the Larsens
back and they wanted to join us as their lessons would be over. I forgot to mention that I actually called
the Evans first if they wanted to do something but they had to drive to Yallahs
where he is the Branch President because one of his families needed some food.
So anyway, we gathered up the Larsens and Smiths and I drove up another hill
where they walk near their house (steep and windy but not near as rough) then we
went to Hope Garden and walked around.
It is a lovely old English garden that apparently they are trying to
restore so it is quite lovely but not quite like England yet. Then we stopped at the store and got some
chicken and went to the Smiths for dinner.
The Evans live in the same complex and they were now back from Yallahs
so they joined us for dinner. Then we
played a card game that was very long and said good-night and headed for
home. Very nice day.
View of Kingston from on top of the hill the
Smiths walk near their apartment.
Some of the houses on top of this hill--obviously there is a lot of money in Jamaica that most of the people we know don't have! Love the colors!
Flowers and plants in Hope Garden, Kingston
Great sculpture in the garden.
Smiths, Larsens, and Bob.
Sunday was at Spanish Town again. I really like these little seminars because
we get to meet some really good Jamaican people. This group was actually quite small so we
were able to interact quite a bit. I
have mentioned before about the Jamaicans sense of personal space—I have
noticed something similar with time. If
they need personal attention it does not matter that there may be 10 other
people that you are trying to deal with.
I have seen this other places but it seems so Jamaican here—sort of like
the way they drive—“I will push in and it is okay if there are 10 cars trying
to make the same turn—because it is okay with everyone else if I do it.”
The main thing we have the participants do is make out a
“mini resume’ it takes a few minutes and then we told them I would type it up
for them and bring it next week. This
one woman handed me her form and said, “what is your email address, I am going
to email you my resume and you can make up the mini from it and type it up for
me.” Her email said “I have attached my resume for you to make my mini as
promised” I thought that was a little
pushy but I decided It was not worth offending her or hurting her feelings—so I
read her resume and typed her mini for her—no big deal.
Monday evening we went to the Mission Home for our New Year
Eve party/dinner. The Hendricks arrived
just before we started eating. They had
been in Guantanamo Bay reorganizing one of the 2 branches of the Church there
(there is also a “Group” of about 18-20 also organized there). We had a nice time played a game and talked
and planned our first monthly outings before the Smiths leave in May. Pres Hendricks is pretty loose about planning
for meetings he said the Zone Conference would be on the 16, 17, or 18. So I called him and if I could vote for the
date I wanted he said I could but it wouldn't make any difference (he can be
blunt). I told him I voted for the 16 as
the 18 is our anniversary and we are planning to go to Montego Bay and have invited
the Larsens to go with us. He said don’t
change your plans. I said we didn't want
to miss Zone Conference and he said again firmly “don’t change your
plans.” So hopefully we will go to Zone
Conference, drive to Montego Bay for a couple of days, get back in time for District
Conference on Sat and Sunday, and our Job Seminar In Kingston Branch on Sunday
too hopefully.
We stopped at the District New Years Eve party held at the
Constant Spring Meeting house on our way home.
It was about 10:00 and there were tons of people there of all ages from
babies to some elderly people. The
little kids were in the middle of a Musical Chairs game when we arrived the
winners were two little girls about 9 and 6.
Then they had another Musical Chairs game for the adults which was cute
also. We saw many people from all of the
branches we have visited—it is really fun to know so many people now. I am doing pretty well keeping track of them
by name but last night I told this woman I was happy to meet her and she said
you met me already—I was embarrassed but joked with her that it wasn't fair
because “you girls change your hair all the time!” The women around us laughed –because it is
true!
The kids playing Musical Chairs--the two little girls tied to win.
The crowd in the cultural hall--there were many people downstairs as well playing games I think.
The theme was celebrating Jamaica's 50th year of independence from England--thus the green, black and yellow.
We got home a little after 11 and went out on the upstairs
balcony and hall and watched the fireworks from down on the water. There was also a nice loud party at the club
which is just through the block from us and very loud! I think they have their stage outside and the
speakers are loud enough to almost shake the windows. We had a little trouble going to sleep but
when I woke before 4:00 I realized it was quiet—nice.
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