Bullocks of Lake Oswego

Our last preparation day with the elders was very special for us. We've loved the elders so much and now we miss not being there to look out for them.

At the end of our luncheon, we began to close down our apartment. Here's what it looked like after half of our furniture was given away.

From Jan2010

A few days later I found our zone leader, Elder Nielson, asleep on the job.

From Jan2010

Goodbye to the branch...

A couple of days before we left Point Fortin, the branch held a surprise going away party for us. It was held in a meeting format where whoever wanted to go to the pulpit and say something nice about us could take a turn. It was a special night for us and we felt very loved and appreciated.

After we were all fed dinner, we posed for these group photos.

Notice someone is in my spot...our branch president, Pres. Mohammed.

From Jan2010

I had to show each of these shots because Elder Lang, who is on the far left, put on a real show in each one.

From Jan2010

The morning we left, the two elders we served with every day, Elders Baxter and Lang, fixed us waffles and hash browns in their apartment. What a treat it was for two old missionaries on their way home to be fussed over by our two good missionary buddies.

I can't believe you are in a serious pose, Elder Lang! There's got to be a first for everything.

From Jan2010

But, not in this one!

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Nor in this one!

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I've gotten pretty good at setting my camera and running to jump in the picture before the shutter snaps!

We really miss all those days we served with these missionaries in Point Fortin, Trinidad...and the 20 months we served in Guyana, South America.

I guess we'll have to serve another mission in a couple of more years! It's the best.

Memories from Trinidad

2010-03-10T01:12:00.033-04:00

We immediately fell in love with the "doubles". Small stands selling these homemade little treats are all over the island of Trinidad. Anyone that wants to sell them just picks a spot on the street, puts up a small homemade sign and starts selling them.

This one is half eaten, unfortunately. I'd like to eat a couple of them right now!

From 10-9-09

We ate lots of them (me especially) and ate them just any time of the day...even for breakfast. I'd always order two and ask for a little pepper sauce. They were filled with garbanzo beans prepared in a sauce and were very messy to eat.

The tiny napkin they supplied with the doubles was never enough to clean up all my messy fingers at the end of eating them.

Besides eating lots of doubles the last 3 1/2 months we were in the West Indies, we served as missionaries on the island of Trinidad. We were transferred there from Guyana after most of us missionaries were expelled from there at the end of September 2009.

We quickly discovered that the Trinis spoke really fast and drove even faster. We loved them, as we did the Guyanese.

Here's a little look around the little town we lived in, Point Fortin, which is far away from the big city life of Port of Spain, the capitol of Trinidad.

Here's three photos of the main streets in town.

From Drop Box

This was the main street and notice our "turtle man" camped out on his usual perch watching the world go by.

It was raining when I snapped this photo and he is protecting himself from the rain with something like a piece of a plastic tablecloth? Is that what it looks like to you?

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One of the nicer homes in town. Everyone seemed to have power to their homes.

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This one is a little more typical of the houses in the village we lived in.

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I loved how picturesque the chickens, bushes and clothes on the line were together. I made Burt stop the car to snap this photo. He doesn't agree to do that very often!

From 12-2009

The beach was 5 minutes from our apartment and that's where we held our baptismal services.

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Here are pictures of two of the three baptisms held in our branch while we served in Trinidad.

Anthony, before his baptism...

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Kevin's baptism...

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The girls liked him...especially the Branch President's daughter, Sherry, who was wearing the bright blue shirt.

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We noticed that lots of the Trini men let their hair grow...even more than the men in Guyana, I think. I saw one man with his hair almost to his knees.

While in trinidad we helped with lots of the cooking for the special conferences held in the mission home.

Here are all the zone leaders whose tummies we tantalized and filled at the zone leader's council! The President and his wife are in the picture, also.

From 12-2009

Elder Bullock, Elder Scott and I were all sung to for our birthdays at the zone leaders council after dinner. So, here we are with our big birthday smiles!

From 12-2009

Every Sunday we invited members from our small branch of 30 persons for lunch after church. These are some of the young people who have just eaten some of my homemade pizza.

From Jan2010

I kind of got into the picture thing and made them do all kinds of posing as if they were cheerleaders doing pyramids. They thought I was a wee bit crazy but they loved it...especially the one boy, Kevin, who had just been baptized a month before.

From Jan2010

We went on many of the teaching appointments with the elders that lived in our village. We loved teaching with them. They were the smart ones that knew the lessons and where all the important scriptures were and we just had lots of life's experiences to share.

Here's pictures of us teaching with the elders...

This lady never was baptized. When we would come to teach her, she would keep muttering over and over to herself that there couldn't possibly be baptisms for the dead.

From Jan2010

A Christmas FHE with a family ...

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And a little fishing game as part of the lesson.

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We loved teaching the Austin family. It looks like someone is trying to catch butterflies...with her mouth!

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The two daughters, Maureen and Mellissa, were baptized last year and we're still anxiously awaiting the baptism of their good parents. Three year old Andre was in bed and missed out on the photo opportunity.

From Jan2010

Here is Elder Bullock, with Elder Lang on his left and Elder Baxter on his right as we were about to leave the Austin's home the last time we met with them.

From Jan2010

The Austins told us their neighbor next door had died last year just 3 days after being bit by a snake. The snake was bit him right near the Austin's house and had gotten away. You can bet that every time we went to their house I was checking the ground for snakes.

This is Kathie Ann and her two daughters, Kris Ann and Blessed. The elders met with Kathie Ann, along with us, the whole time we were in Trinidad. By the time we left she had read 1/2 way through the Book of Mormon. We were thrilled to hear that she was baptized last week.

From Jan2010

Here we are on our way to meet with Kathie Ann at her house.

From 10-9-09

Once again, here is Nigel Frank, who was baptized not long after we arrived in Trinidad. His name should be Angel Frank because he is such a good good man. We love him so much! When we went to leave Trinidad, he thanked us for teaching him and went on to say that nobody had ever taught him anything before.

From 10-9-09

Elder Cotton shaved Frank's head and face 2 days after he was baptized and now he looks like a real gentleman!

From Drop Box

Every few weeks we visited the mission office. Here's a blurry photo of some of those who worked there every day...(but not us, of course!)

From Jan2010

Who's the goofy couple?

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"Wow, our mission is almost finished and we'll be going home!"

From Jan2010

Usually, when we took the 1 1/2-2 hour trip north to the mission office, we'd visit with our special friends, Elder and Sister Palmer. Sister Palmer was my cooking buddy and we cooked lots of big meals together for the various mission conferences.

From Jan2010

A Real Christmas Feast

2010-03-09T20:03:00.034-04:00

We've been home from our mission since January 19th so it is about time I finished telling about the last days of our mission. I can't skip any of it because every day was a treasure for us.

I'll start by finishing off Christmas Day. After spending the a.m. with our zone of elders at the orphanage, the missionaries from all over Trinidad gathered for a Christmas feast at the mission home. That means there were about 60-70 there, including Pres. Gamiette's 5 children. Yes, that was a real feast.

Here's a few photos from the afternoon...

Off came the shoes as the elders arrived at the mission home...following the custom of the West Indies. I'm wondering where the rest of the shoes are. Hmmm....

From 12-2009

In the backyard, I began to give haircuts to the elders and ended up giving about 6 as we waited to be fed. Can you hear our stomachs growling? Elder Josiah Jones is in the hot seat waiting for me to get started. He looks like he's scowling at my 2 skirts I'm about to drape over his shoulders and lap to keep all the hair clippings off his clothes. Ha ha, he looked pretty funny draped in flowers.

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Out on the grass, the many of the elders tried to beat Pres. Gamiette at his game...table tennis. I think they all came up just a little short on points!

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Pres. Gamiette's youngest daughter, Amy, danced between the set tables, mesmerized by the Christmas lights on the tree as she waited for her dinner.

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Meanwhile, Elder Bullock shared a little more of his "old timer wisdom" with the young elders.

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After a scrumptious dinner of ham, funeral potatoes, homemade rolls, salads and French pastry made by Sister Gamiette, we all began to gather for our after-dinner program.

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Here's a closer look at the whole group, moving across the room from left to right.
In the front row you'll notice the President's 3 darling daughters. He has two sons, also, that look just like him. The President is sitting on the floor, looking not much older that the young elders.

Who is the madman seated on the piano bench? Hmm, I think it's Elder Olsen. He goes a little crazy when he gets anywhere near a piano!

From 12-2009

Sister McIntosh is on the front row...you'll see more photos later in this blog of Elder McIntosh.

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Elder Huntsman, you'd better be saving those kisses for next fall at BYU. Knowing you, you'll be wanting lots of them, then.

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Some group numbers by the elders.

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And there's that mad man, Elder Olsen, again.

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Then, a few elders were asked to show their special tricks. What is that blurry ball in the middle of the photo? It's someone doing a backflip from a standing position...

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And here he is, looking as if he hadn't just done something stupendous...Elder Ence!

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Then, Elder Bullock was asked to show "his stuff" with his little black wheel. You can see it on the floor. So, off came his shoes and socks.

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And here he gets ready to roll the wheel out in front of him from a standing position.

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And there he goes, down almost to the floor and back to a standing position.

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Well, what do you know...he still has the touch...at 73 years young!

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President Gamiette jumped up and said, "Let me try that!" Well, he almost made it ...until he plopped down on the floor.

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Sister Mimi wasn't to be outdone. Elder Scott was cheering for her and down she plopped on the floor, also!

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More songs.

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Christmas morning at the Orphanage

2009-12-31T15:27:00.013-04:00

From 12-2009

It was 10:00 am when the 14 elders and 4 senior missionaries serving in the So. Trinidad Zone knocked on the door of the Hope Center Orphanage. I had made an appointment for us to visit the children with a program and presents on Christmas morning.

The most important part of our program would be a reinactment of the nativity by the children. Afterall, what is Christmas without acting out the birth of Jesus Christ with the help of some children?

From 12-2009

When we arrived. the 17 children were barely out of bed. They were still dressed in their pj's, and the woman in charge stated, "We have to bathe them all, first."

Hmm, we weren't too excited to wait for 17 baths because we had another appointment at 1 pm at the mission home for Christmas dinner with all the missionaries serving in Trinidad. The mission home was nearly an hour from the orphanage.

They hustled to get the children all dressed. One by one they combed all the girls' hair (most were girls)and finally we were ready for our show to begin in the large play area at the back of the orphanage. The children were seated on three benches in the shade and the show began.

First we introduced ourselves.

From 12-2009

What about our variety of Christmas headgear?

Elders Winenreid, Jarvis, Gaddy, and Beeson...

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Elders Carter, Lang, and Cornwall...

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Elders Nielsen, Bullock, Baxter and Morris...

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Elders Morris (again?), Jones and Clark...

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Elder and Sister Morton...

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And, Elder and Sister Bullock!

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We sang a few songs, did a few skits (such as the Ugliest Man), and then we were ready to dress the children in costumes to act out the nativity.

Each set of 4 elders were assigned to dress either the angels, wisemen, shepherds or Mary and Joseph. Here goes the dressing them in their costumes...

Elder Baxter helping Mary.

From 12-2009

Mary...

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Elder Lang helping Joseph...

From Drop Box

Joseph...

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The angels... (dressed in pillow cases from my apt.)

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The wisemen... (Do you like the way we used my skirts?)

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Is that the wisemen, again?

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The shepherds...(wearing

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towels, of course!)

Shepherds up close!

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And Michael who didn't want to wear a costume...

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The show begins with Joseph and Mary riding the donkey (Elder Jones).

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They've made it to the stable...Mary is still pregnant...there are a few "animals" with them in the stable.

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And Jesus was born! Everyone was happy, even the donkey!

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What do you think about all this, Joseph?

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The angels sang the announcement of his birth to the shepherds, who were watching their flocks from the slide.

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They took their "sheep" with them and followed the star as they looked for the baby Jesus.

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The "cows" in the stable helped to make a little room for the shepherds when they arrived.

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Isn't the baby Jesus darling?

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Here come the wisemen...

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Those wisemen had a long way to travel as they followed the star.

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Ah! They finally made it.

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They kneel at his feet.

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Then, smile for the camera.

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Can you tell how much the children are enjoying this? Especially Joseph!

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I'm not sure the 3 "cows" are enjoying it as much! Hey, I didn't know cows could stand on their hind legs only.

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The show ends with a final picture of the whole cast...children and elders. I'm not sure how Mary got tucked in and behind and a little out of view. Oh, well...

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Now for a look at the children after we gave them each 2 gifts. They ranged in age from 6 years to 17 years. Most were girls. Some of them were sisters.

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Bench 1...

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Bench 2...

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Bench 3...

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We had a very sweet visit at the orphanage. The children were responsive to us and we were happy to help them to have a happy Christmas memory.

There are lots of orphanages in both Guyana and Trinidad. The one we went to was only one of three that I visited this year in my search for our Christmas Day orphanage visit.

A Temple Christmas

2009-12-29T19:14:00.017-04:00

From 12-2009

While many were hustling from store to store looking for just the right gift for their loved ones, Elder Bullock and I were in the temple with some of our beloved saints from Guyana.

When we were expelled from Guyana last October 28, 2009 by the Guyanese government, there were some saints whom we were still trying to help get to the temple. We promised them we would meet them in the Trinidad airport December 17th and fly with them to the Dominican Republic to spend a week with them there at the temple.

When Elder Bullock and I entered the airport, our Guyanese saints had been watching for us and the look of delight on their faces when they saw us arrive made us feel warm and wonderful. We hugged them all and the children treated us as if we were their grandparents.

From 12-2009

The group of Guyanese saints consisted of the 6 members of the Apple family, John, Nona and their four children; Radicka, and Rowena, both single mothers of 3.

The airport was decorated for Christmas and they were excited to have their photos taken.

Paloma, Matthew and Kevin Apple...

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Radicka...

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Rowena...

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We arrived after 1 am to the temple housing after a full day of flying...Guyana to Trinidad; Trinidad to Panama; and Panama to the Dominican Republic.

The next morning early we guided the Guyanese adults to the temple for their first visit to a temple.

From 12-2009

About noon the Apple family was sealed. It was a very precious moment to watch while the 6 of them knelt together around the altar. I snapped a quick picture in my mind that I hope to keep forever. Here are some pics of their family. Notice how happy they all look...knowing that they have the promise of being an eternal family if they keep the commandments of God.

The Apple family at the temple door...

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Here they are later on the temple grounds...

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Brother and Sister Apple...do they looked excited to be at the temple? Nona is so excited she is giving John a love punch to his chest!

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Here they are as we were leaving for church at a Spanish-speaking branch on Sunday. Can you tell it is raining?

From 12-2009

The Apples live in Bushlot which is a very rural part of Guyana. The Bushlot Branch was one of the branches we served in while we were missionaries in Guyana. Here are a couple of pictures of the house they were living in before we left there.

From Drop Box

Notice the pile of lumber in front of the house. They were given the rights to the lumber of a house that Bro. Apple subsequently had to tear down. He took all the lumber to build his family their own home. It was a short distance away from this house and somewhat larger. Neither house has electricity or piped water.

Elders Lebaron and McNeal took us over there. A few neighbor boys joined them in the photo.

From Drop Box

Brother Apple works in Georgetown all week and comes home to Bushlot on the weekend. They were baptized almost two years ago when we first came to Guyana. Here's a photo of their ocean baptism that we attended.

Their quick wedding so they could be baptized...

From Drop Box

The whole family dressed for their wedding in clothes Nona had made...

From Drop Box

Just before their baptism... a few cousins joined in the pic...

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Nona, John, and oldest daughter, Sasha, walking out into the deeper water...

From Drop Box

What a great blessing it was for us to be present at both their baptism and the sealing of their family in the temple. We love this great family.

From 12-2009

Rowena...

From 12-2009

Rowena lives in Georgetown, Guyana. She is the travel agent who arranged for all our airplane tickets for both our temple trips. I had only met her in Guyana once. When I ordered these last tickets through her, I received an email back from her asking if she could come with us on the temple trip. Of course, I wrote her back, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" We loved having her with us. She had a very strong testimony that was good for all of us.

Radicka lives in New Amsterdam, Guyana, which is about 1 1/2 hours east of Georgetown, the captitol of Guyana. New Amsterdam is just one of many villages that are in a semi rural setting. We lived in New Amsterdam and she was our Relief Society President. She was baptized 10 years ago and was one of the first members baptized in this part of Guyana. When she was baptized, there were only 5 members attending the meetings. Wow!

In the the housing facility for the temple patrons, there are two big kitchens where they are able to cook their meals. The missionary training center that is located upstairs also uses these kitchens so the patrons just have to be sure they do their cooking when the missionaries aren't eating.

Mealtime for our group was always a fun gathering time where they cooked together as one big family. We lazy Americans didn't bring anything to cook. We planned on eating "out", but they kept fixing things for us to eat.

From 12-2009

Rowena (on the left) and Radicka's ancestors are from India. The Apples are Ameridians which means they are Native Americans...or Lamanites. The ancestors of most of the people who now live in Guyana are East Indians (from India), Blacks (from Africa), and Ameridians. And of course, many of them are a mixture of these different races, such as Rowena.

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Check out the cute little round Ameridian/Lamanite faces of the Apple children.

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Bro. and Sis. Apple did most of the cooking. It looks like they've finished the dishes and are ready for fun!

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A little laundry room fun!

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On Monday we made a little walking visit to oldest part of Santo Domingo. We checked out an old fort and they loved taking photos on the....hmmm...you'll see what!

Radicka...

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Rowena...

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and Roberta...

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Can you believe we (I mean me) were able to make it up onto this old tank?

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Elder Bullock, is that you?

From Drop Box

Birds, birds...

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And more birds!

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We visited the oldest cathedral in the West Indies. The ceiling is made to resemble palm branches. It was pretty cool!

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A little look at one of the pretty stained glass windows...

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Here's the only Santa we could find in the Dominican Republic. Too bad the security guards chased us away before our whole group could get in the picture with him. I wanted to sit on his lap!

From the look on everyone's faces you might be able to tell that I snapped the photo as the guard was ordering us to leave!

From 12-2009

Goodbyes

2009-12-29T19:02:00.005-04:00

Goodbye to two of our special elders...

Elder Blake Jones (There are about 5 Elder Jones in our mission)

Are we looking pretty tan? It's Christmas and it's always hot. We sleep with no blankets and only a bottom sheet.

From 12-2009

Elder Westover and Elder Jones went home 3 days before Christmas. Here's our goodbye luncheon.

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One more shot of the four of us... They both arrived in the mission field the same time we did. We served with them for many moons in Guyana.

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Cowboy Santas

2009-12-29T18:41:00.011-04:00

Meet the two elders we are now serving with:

Elder Baxter...

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And Elder Lang.

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Our rendition of "Rudolph" was the show stopper of the Pt. Fortin Branch Christmas program...I promise you so!

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Lots of Cooking!

2009-12-29T18:27:00.003-04:00

We weren't zone leaders so the only way we could get invited to the zone leader's conference was to be the cooks!

Here we are just arriving with an ice bag full of chicken and fixings for their Friday's meals.

We thought mmaybe things would taste better if we wore our Christmas cowboy hats.

From 12-2009

All the zone leaders with President and Sister Gamiette.

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If the previous pic is too big for your computer, here it is smaller.

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Three December birthdays, Elder Scott, Elder Bullock and I.

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Shark and Bake

2009-12-29T17:54:00.004-04:00

Maracas beach in the north of Trinidad serves Shark and Bake. It's yummy and you "build" it yourself. For my birthday we spent the afternoon there with Elder and Sister Palmer. Can you tell how excited I was to eat some?

From 12-2009

I was thinking, "Why are there so many choices of sauces?"

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I finally decided!

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Who has the biggest mouth?

Elder Palmer?

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Elder Bullock?

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Or me?

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Here's Maracas beach!

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Check out the rainbow....

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And the California girl, who luvvvvvvvs a dip in the ocean!

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Turtle Man

2009-12-29T17:34:00.007-04:00

Here is Turtle Man. That's what we call him. He lives on the streets of our village. This is the specific spot on Main Street that he seems to like best. He sits there most of the time and watches the world happen around him.

From 12-2009

His "house" and possessions are always with him. All his belongings are compartmentalized in little bags that are hanging from him...some in front, lots on the sides, but most in back.

Here's a closer look at him. Notice he's protecting himself from the rain with some type of umbrells covering and has the stub of a cigarette hanging from his lips.

From 12-2009

Here's a side view so you can see the pack he carries on his back. When he's ready to sleep, he just leans back a bit against the bags of his possessions on his back, which become his back rest and he closes his eyes.

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How big is really big?

2009-12-29T16:44:00.006-04:00

How big is really big when you are talking about shoes?

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Wow! I look like I'm wearing clown shoes!

I suggested that Elder _____ and I change shoes. I won't mention his name so that I might protect the innocent but here's his photo.

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It was preparation day and we decided to take a little ride to the beach with our 4 Point Fortin elders. Let me introduce them to you.

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Left to right: Elders Powers, Vance, Jones and Lang.

I think Elder Lang has been in Point too long. He is beginning to show signs of craziness!

Here's a peek at the beach.

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What happened to the boat?

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Elder Jones, did someone just tell a joke?

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Elder Jones, is this how much you love being a missionary!

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Elder Vance, looks like you're having some deep, deep thoughts.

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The 4 of them disappeared from our view and later appeared with this photo on their camera. I'm glad we didn't try to follow them!

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On the drive home, I made Elder Bullock slam on his brakes so I could take a quick pic of one of my favorite views...a colorful wash on the line along with some chickens.

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I can't believe he stopped. Elder Bullock is learning all kinds of new tricks as a missionary.

The next day Elders Powers and Vance were transferred and here is our goodbye as we dropped them off.

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Elders Cotton-Betteridge and Weiderhold are the other two in the pic with us.

All duded up!

2009-11-21T10:20:00.003-04:00

Meet some of the members of Point Fortin branch as they arrived at what was advertised as a fireside in San Fernando, a ward building that is a one-hour ride from their home. Wow, look how fancy they all look!

From Nov2009

As you may have noticed, most are wearing new dresses for the occasion. Even Frank, our rasta man, in the back has new duds on.

Unfortunately, the satelite broadcast of the fireside never worked and these members from Point Fortin were the only ones to show up.

What's the saying, "All dressed up with nowhere to go?". I'm thinking that is how they were feeling.

So, on their way back home, they soothed their disappointment with a stop at KFC for some fried chicken and fries.

Speaking of being all dressed up, notice the drastic change in Frank, our rasta man with the dreadlocks who was baptized nearly one month ago. In the photo below he has just returned from church and he is looking like a real gentleman, wouldn't you say?

From Nov2009

As for the next trio of elders, they were all in need of haircuts and I happen to have some hair clippers, a necessity for all couple missionaries.

Elder Lang was the first to don my flowered skirt as a drape and trust me to trim away his locks.

If you notice the hair on his lap, you'll realize his haircut is finished.

From Nov2009

Now it's Elder Vance's turn.

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Elder Powers was the last. Is he looking skeptacle or is he sneering at me because he has to wear my flowered skirt? Hmm, I'll have to think about that one.

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By the third haircut I was feeling a little bored of cutting hair so decided to see how I could liven things up. "Yes," I thought, "I'll just start by cutting it in a mohawk. Why not?"

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All is well that ends well. It looks like they're all happy and satisfied with their haircuts.

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They'd better be...they were free!

Sweet Memories of Guyana

2009-11-21T10:05:00.002-04:00

I just found these photos of Sister Hymas, Sister Leishman, and I.

From Drop Box

I was about to take the two of them along with Elder Leishman on a little visiting stroll down the dirt roads and paths of Cow Dam in rural Guyana.

It was Sister Leishman's first visit to our part of Guyana and she was disappointed it wasn't raining because she wanted to see what it was like to jump and wade through the mud puddles wearing tall rubber boots.

So, we took a photo as if we were going to wear them.

Actually, the sun was shining and the mud was all dried up. But, we had fun visiting our great members and even saw an alligator on the way.

From Drop Box

Working through the fix-its

2009-11-21T09:30:00.004-04:00

What does a set of couple missionaries do when their TV and microwave won't work and they live in a town that seems almost pre-electronics age?

Well, of course, you drive out to a cute little house in the country, far from anything, and yell, "Inside...I have a broken TV...can you fix it?"

From Nov2009

Well, this isn't exactly what we did...but almost! Our branch president, Pres. Mohammed, directed the way to the house of his longtime friend, Heydon, who repairs appliances.

From Heydon, on the right, we learned that our branch president's longtime nickname was Plug. Does that mean we call him President Plug? The name has a great ring to it...don't you think?

From Nov2009

If you'll notice in the photo above, there are no stairs to Heydon's front door. I've wondered how he's able to jump onto his porch each time he wants to go inside his house. The elders insist there are some in the back that are covered with stuff but I don't believe them because I've never seen them.

Here is the house of Heydon's sister, one of his only three neighbors.

From Nov2009

And here is his driveway as we turned to leave.

From Nov2009

Radio Shack is everywhere!

Do missionaries love dogs?

2009-11-21T08:46:00.004-04:00

Well, yes, if they are behind a big tall fence with a strong gate that is locked!

Missionaries even preach to them a little from the Book of Mormon when there seems to be noone else that is anxious to hear their message.

From Nov2009

Does Elder Bullock seems to be getting a favorable reaction from these two fiery pit bulls?

From Nov2009

But, occasionally one of the uncaged variety of dogs darts out from the blue...or from the side of their loving master...and takes a little bite out of one of the elder's ankles...as you see pictured below.

From Nov2009

If you look closely at the photo of Elder Josiah Jones' ankle, you'll notice two half moons where the jaws of a sweet little dog clamped down with his teeth and tasted a bit of Elder Jones' blood. You'll, also, notice a few bug bites on his ankle which isn't unusual in these parts!

Of note: Elder Jones' new missionary pants are now sporting a small rip...actually the rip is definitely counted as a badge of courage to the owner of the pants!

On with the story...

The dog ran off never to be identified nor quarantined which seemed to say to the mission nurse, Sister Ellison, "Elder Jones must have the anti-rabies series of shots so he doesn't run any risk of getting rabies!" I wondered if that meant he might start foaming at the mouth and growling at his contacts if he didn't get the shots. Hmmm....

Well, to be on the safe side, we rushed him 3 hours to the north of the island to Port of Spain so he could begin the series of 7 anti-rabies shots. We heard the shots were very unpleasant, perhaps even given right in the stomach through the belly button with a three-inch-long needle. "Oh, poor Elder Jones", we all thought.

After a 30 minute visit with the doctor, Elder Jones, emerged looking as if he had bravely withstood the injection. When we asked him to describe it, he assured us it was as we had previously heard...a three inch needle right to the belly button. I was horrified!

Suddenly, the corners of his mouth began to twitch and to turn to a giggle. And this is what I saw...

From Nov2009

Guess what? Here's what he learned from the doctor. There are no dogs with rabies in Trinidad. Therefore, no anti-rabies shots are necessary. Was I gullible or what?

So, what better thing could we do than to celebrate by eating an overdue lunch at Ruby Tuesdays on our ride back to Point Fortin.

Funny thing...to this day, Elder Jones is still telling everyone he had that big long needle shot right through his navel.

And all the other elders are as gullible as I was!

Missionary Mondays

2009-11-18T08:40:00.003-04:00

Monday is preparation day.

It is the day the elders "are supposed to" clean their apartments, do their wash, shop for their groceries, write letters home and take a few minutes to rest and relax. By 6 pm they are supposed to be back in their white shirts and ties doing what they do best...looking for someone who will listen to their message of the restoration.

From 11-09

Most Mondays the 14 elders in our zone come for lunch at our apartment. I cook for them because I know the rest of the week they eat mostly peanut butter sandwiches and Mac and Cheese.

Some of the meals I've fixed for them are burritos, homemade pizzas, enchiladas, spaghetti, hamburgers, and bbq chicken sandwiches. Sound yummy? Of course! And I always make 1-2 yummy desserts.

I assure you they all go home with their bellies full and happy.

Sometimes before lunch they play basketball. Last week they came prepared to play but when they were ready to play, it seemed noone had brought the basketball. They didn't seem too disappointed...especially because it was pouring rain outside.

So, after they sprawled out on my bed and laughed a while, they decided to play a little dominoes... (Elders Toupou from Australia, Rosalies from Guatemala, Beeson from the States, and Ali from Guyana)

From 11-09

They were so anxious to eat they decided 11 am was a great time for lunch. So, they began early to stuff themselves with enchiladas and lots of ice cream and cookies...(Elder Lang)

From 11-09

Anyone else care for a chocolate chip cookie?

From Nov2009

They exchanged photos with each other with the help of my computer... (the newest Elder Jones)

From 11-09

And, glued pictures on the covers of their planners... (a different Elder Jones and Elder Winzenreid)

From 11-09

The faces on Elder Jones' planner cover are of our mission president, President Gamiette, along with his wife and 5 children.

Some of these planner covers are really creative. Check out this one with a picture of the famous anaconda on it.

From 11-09

Last week they played basketball for a couple of hours in a downpour. When they arrived at my house they were all sopping wet, so they all showered at our apartment and dried their wet clothes in our dryer.

It must be almost 6 pm because Elders Lang and Jones are back in their missionary duds and ready to get back to work. These two live close by us and we spend a lot of time going with them to their appointments. They're teaching us how to be proselyting missionaries.

From 11-09

At our zone meeting later in the week I was able to photo all their works of art (their planner covers)at the end of the meeting. I liked their feet as they admired their handiwork. Can anyone find my big toe?

From Nov2009

Here's a little glimpse of the whole zone at an all-you-can-eat pizza lunch at Pizza Hut after the meeting. If you have a son in the Trinidad South Zone, look for him in the photo gorging himself on pizza?

From Nov2009

This is a flyer one of the elders had with him. It was advertising something at the Catholic church. Does anyone notice anything familiar about it?

From Nov2009

I Love Palm Trees

2009-11-09T00:18:00.004-04:00

Which photo is best? I couldn't decide.

We took a little drive to the southwestern tip of Trinidad and this is what we saw.

From 11-09

We could see Venezuela faintly in the distance out across the ocean.

From 11-09

What makes a coconut tree want to lean?

From 11-09

Did you ever want to paint palm trees? I think about it once in a while!

From 11-09

This view looks too perfect to be real!

From 11-09

Zone Conference

2009-11-08T23:07:00.010-04:00

The perfect cinnamon roll

From 11-09

I learned the afternoon before zone conference that the sister who was in charge of the mid-morning snack for zone conference was sick.

Well, I wasn't going to let the elders starve to death as they sat through the all-day conference, so, all that afternoon I baked. I baked a whole lot of cinnamon rolls...enough for the whole zone conference of 64 persons.

I baked 8 loaves of pumpkin bread and chocolate banana bread.

And, I baked 6 dozen chocolate chip cookies. Well, enough of that!

From 11-09

The cinnamon rolls looked awesome and were gone in a flash! They must have tasted as good as they looked!

From 11-09

The zone conference was fabulous. We learned a lot and it was great to be together with all the missionaries we love so much.

Here's our zone. Elder Bullock jumped in the photo just before me and jumped right in front. So, where else could I plop but right by his side. My blouse was rain soaked because I was the one taking most of the pictures...and standing in the rain to do so!

Notice our mission president, President Gamiette, who is the one standing at the far right of the photo. He looks young enough to be one of the elders. He is about 40. The elders think he is like the energizer bunny because he can accomplish so much and never seems to run out of steam.

From 11-09

I caught a few choice photos of President Gamiette telling how he fell in love with his wife.

For several years he had wondered and prayed about how he'd ever the right girl to marry. When he got home from his mission, he began to really search for her in earnest. He went out with every girl from his island in the Carribean, Guadaloupe. He knew he hadn't found her yet.

From 11-09

Then one day, he learned of a beautiful returned missionary who was visiting his island and her uncle introduced them. He liked her immediately. She had all the qualities he was looking for.

He must have been describing how much he immediately loved being with her and how pretty she was as I snapped this photo.

From 11-09

He asked her to marry him one week after they met. Wow! That was fast! Six weeks later they were married.

From 11-09

The elders were enthralled hearing him tell of their courtship. Hopefully, we'll get to hear his wife's version one day, also!

Lunch arrived 2 hours late. It was a small dob of potato salad, some lentils, bbq'd chicken and rice.

From 11-09

See the hungry elders eat.

From 11-09

After lunch, our zone was responsible to provide the musical number. Here we all are singing "Scripture Power" as we slapped our Book of Mormons.

From 11-09

Here's some of our favorite missionary friends with whom we've served...Elders Ence and Bryan.

From 11-09

Elders Cotton and Weiderhold.

From 11-09

Elders Lee and Ence.

From 11-09

Elders Powers and Vance.

From 11-09

Elders Toupou and Winzinreid (and Rosales in the back).

From 11-09

Elders Chambers and Rosales (our zone leaders).

From 11-09

Elders Clark and Carter

From Drop Box

And of course, Elders Jones and Lang. I can't believe you pulled that face, Elder Lang!

From 11-09

And a shot of us in the kitchen!

From 11-09

We stopped by the mission office before we left for home. Check out the board of all the new elders and those that just left for home.

From 11-09

A Sunrise District Meeting

2009-10-28T20:40:00.002-04:00

Check out how the sunrise looks through the bushes.

From 10-27-09Frank

Last week, Elder Bullock and I were invited to attend a sunrise district meeting in San Fernando, which is about a 1 hour drive from our apartment. Elder Bullock grumbled a little when we had to set the alarm for 3:45 am in order to get there before the sunrise but he obediently jumped out of bed when we heard the ring of the alarm.

Here's a photo of what San Fernando hill looked like when we arrived.

From 10-27-09Frank

Now I just have to make a comment about the elders. I keep making the mistake of believing everything they tell me.

When Elder Toupou said it was only a five minute walk to where his sunrise district meeting was to be held, on top of San Fernando hill, I, once again, naively believed him.

He said, "We'll just walk down this path and we'll be there in no time."

Soon the path turned into a steep road. The elders continued to walk with a brisk step while Elder Bullock and I quickly lagged behind as we huffed and puffed our way along.

Elder Toupou was the only one turning to see if we were still following.

From 10-27-09Frank

We needed to be at the top before 5:45 in order to see the sunrise.

We were almost there when, luckily for us, the elders stopped to look over the cliff.

From 10-27-09Frank

We were just happy to finally stop huffing and puffing and climbing.

Then, I noticed this cute little sign at the edge of the cliff. Hmmmm! "Maybe those elders shouldn't be standing so close to the edge", I thought. But, who cares what an old lady thinks, anyway!

From 10-27-09Frank

When they continued climbing up to this ledge, I knew I wasn't following! Notice, I'm way below them as I snapped the photo.

From 10-27-09Frank

Luckily, they decided we had climbed high enough to see the sunrise and have our meeting, and...out came the sun! Wow!

From 10-27-09Frank

We were all feverishly snapping photos from every angle. I think this was one of the four Elder Jones in the mission.

From 10-27-09Frank

Here he is again posed with our favorite book!

From 10-27-09Frank

The meeting was held around this huge picnic table and here we are as it is finishing.

From 10-27-09Frank

The lesson was well taught by Elder Toupou from Australia about heeding the words of the prophets.

We ended the meeting by each of us sharing why we were serving our missions. I cried a few tears...as usual. Twas a tender moment for all.

Yes, the sunrise was delightful but the district meeting was more than delicious!

It was definitely worth all our huffing and puffing to be there!

Our man, Frank

2009-10-27T22:12:00.006-04:00

Tonight was haircut night…for Nigel Frank, our friend with the dreadlocks that was baptized last Saturday.

What shall I tell you first? About his baptism? Or his haircut?
They were both very exciting occasions!

From 10-27-09Frank

We’ve been teaching Frank for the 4 weeks we’ve been in Trinidad. We have visited him and taught him almost daily through that period of time. When I say “we”, I’m referring to the two young elders, Elder Lang and Elder Cotton, and to us two old folks, Elder Bullock and I.

We’ve had some very eventful evenings teaching Frank who lives alone. During that period he has quit smoking cigarettes and marijuana and quit drinking alcohol and coffee. He has read the Book of Mormon almost daily. He has moved out the two young girls who had moved in with him. He has stopped “liming” with his old friends. Liming means hanging out and drinking.

Frank has made a lot of changes in his life in four weeks time. It took him a while to conquer the cigarettes or he would have been baptized earlier. We are so proud of him.

Saturday he was baptized in the ocean which is a five-minute drive from our apartment.

The water was just the right temperature and they waded in to where it was waist deep.

Elder Chambers didn't hesitate to join them in the water fully dressed when he realized he was needed to witness the baptism!

Notice Frank tucking his dreadlocks into the back of his baptismal suit as he walked.

From 10-27-09Frank

Elder Lang gave him a few instructions.

From 10-27-09Frank

Hooray, they did it!

From 10-27-09Frank

A perfect photo of four happy men!

From 10-27-09Frank

Right after the baptism, we had a testimony meeting. In his testimony, Frank described his baptism in this way. “It was different than just going under the water. My whole soul felt refreshed as I went down under the water and came back up. I was wishing I could go under the water a few more times!”

Sunday he was confirmed and that night we visited him again. Elder Cotton asked him when he was going to cut his hair. Frank had mentioned previously that he was going to do so. Once again, he assured us he was going to cut it.

Elder Cotton pleaded, “Oh please, Frank, cut it before I am transferred on Wednesday. We’ll bring over the clippers on Tuesday night and cut it. I’ve just got to see you cut it!”

So, when we drove up in front of Frank’s house with the clippers tonight, we were wondering if he really wanted to cut off his long dreadlocks. Elder Bullock said, “Let’s not put any pressure on him,” and we all agreed we wouldn’t.

When we walked in his front room and took our usual seats, we could see that Frank was scurrying around getting ready for his haircut.

He was ready…and so were we. We had brought the clippers and had 3 cameras ready to document the big event.

From 10-27-09Frank

Frank asked for a prayer before the haircut began. After the prayer, Frank indicated he was ready for the haircut to begin and Elder Cotton started cutting off all the long dreads with scissors.

From 10-27-09Frank

It didn't take long for Elder Cotton to snip all off. He saved the little one in front for last.

One last quick snip and the front lock was history. Frank was looking pretty calm, wouldn't you say?

From 10-27-09Frank

The pile of dreadlocks...

From 10-27-09Frank

Then, Elder Cotton started plowing through the hair that remained with the clippers. It was slow going because his hair was so thick and curly. Frank said, “I want it shaved with the shortest setting possible,” and so he shaved him bald.

I just had to jump in to help clip off his beard.

From 10-27-09Frank

Aren't we cute?

From 10-27-09Frank

The room was dimly lit so I’m not sure how well we did. We’ll see tomorrow in the daylight. We may have to have a second go around to clip whatever hairs were missed.

Frank looked like a new man. He looked ten years younger after his hair was cut...and he was still grinning.

Here's the finished product!

From 10-27-09Frank

Frank is wearing a huge smile these days! He is thrilled to have been baptized and for the new direction his life has taken.

Here he is wearing the huge hat that he used to wear over his big mop of hair with his big smile.

From 10-27-09Frank

Actually, when I think about it, Frank doesn’t just look like a new man, he is a new man!

Meet Point Fortin Branch

2009-10-15T20:32:00.011-04:00

The Pt. Fortin Branch has 30 members. Meet the young women as they kiss their Book of Mormons at the end of singing "Scripture Power"...

From 10-9-09

The primary kids reverently listening to my primary lesson...

From 10-9-09

The Relief Society partying it up... Branch President Mohammed is standing behind Elder Bullock.

From 10-9-09

The upstairs church...

From 10-9-09

Another perfect photo of the primary kids... The little girl in the red dress wouldn't tell me her name so I had to call her "Red Dress" all through primary.

From 10-9-09

And now you get to see the faces of two of our cute Young Women and two of our young women...if you understand what I mean!

From 10-9-09

Here's a better look at our branch president along with Elders Lang, Cotton, and Bullock.

From Drop Box

And the elders, what are they doing?

From 10-9-09

Here's Elder Bullock with Blessed and Antonio. Anyone have trouble seeing?

From 10-9-09

Our Zone Meeting

2009-10-15T20:15:00.004-04:00

Last week, Elder Bullock and I got to meet our new zone of elders.

From 10-9-09

A great lesson was taught to us by our zone leaders, Elders Rosales and Chambers.

The name of one of the elders I hadn't met before, looked familiar...Elder Wehl. When I learned he was from Suriname, I asked him if his dad and little brother had gone to the temple the month before. Yes, he had been there!

I figured out that we had met his dad at the temple in the Dominican Republic when we went for our temple trip. We were in the sealing room when his dad was sealed to his deceased wife, deceased son and younger son. We knew at that time he, also, had a son on a mission.

Elder Wehl was the son on the mission. How excited I was to show him the photos in my camera of his dad and little brother at the temple.

From 10-9-09

After the meeting, we ate a little chocolate cake, of which Elder Bullock got the last licks.

From 10-9-09

Here's another look at our handsome group of elders. You know, we can be serious... when necessary!

From 10-9-09

Aren't we lucky?

2009-10-15T11:49:00.010-04:00

We arrived in Pt. Fortin, Trinidad, 2 weeks ago.

We knew noone and we were totally confused by the tangle of one-way streets. Elders Lang and Cotton quickly came to our rescue.

From 10-9-09

They began to take us around with them as they did their visiting and teaching. Here are some of the great people with whom we are teaching.

First comes, Nigel Frank. We call him Frankie. Notice the little squeeze I'm getting as we pose for this photo!

From 10-9-09

He's so excited about the Book of Mormon I had to stop in the middle of our discussion and take his photo with it.

From 10-9-09

We strongly suggested to him he needed to ask the two young girls that were living with him to move out of his house before he was baptized. When he told them they had to leave, they refused to go and physically fought with him. Eventually, he had to lock them out of his house to get rid of them.

All that night, they tried to break into his house. They even threatened to burn it down if he didn't let them stay. The girls are gone now but here's a pile of their things they left behind on his veranda.

From 10-9-09

Here's where Frankie lives.

From 10-9-09

The elders wanted me to be sure and get a photo of what is painted on his house (Jah First). It has some special meaning to a rasta man(a man who wears his hair in dredlocks like Frankie does) but I can't remember what it is!

From 10-9-09

Frankie is very anxious to be baptized. He is making lots of changes in his life and we're excited for his baptism to happen very soon! He wants to be baptized in the ocean, which is very close by.

Here's Frankie's neighbor's place just down the block.

From 10-9-09

Here's another house we tried to tract at, but noone was home.

From 10-9-09

Yesterday, the elders led us up to the top of a hill. They had a contact who lived up there they wanted to visit. We parked the car and as we walked down to the house we noticed a young girl washing clothes on the step. It didn't take us long to learn from her that our contact wasn't home.

As we turned to leave, I wondered how I could get a photo of this picturesque scene without the girl seeing me. We were just about out of sight when she walked inside and I was able to quickly snap this photo.

From 10-9-09

Before we climbed back into our car, the elders insisted on yelling "Inside!" to the house across the way. The man poked his head out from the back of his house and said he "might" come to church in response to their invitation, but refused to give them his phone number when they tried to schedule an appointment to come back.

Do you suppose he's interested? Not on your life!

From 10-9-09

Let me introduce you to a special lady, Kathy Ann, pronounced Kattie Ann. We have been meeting with her every day for about two weeks. She reads the Book of Mormon every day and is about on page 100.

I'll invite you to walk with me along the fence back to her house. On the right behind the fence are two big pit bulls that bark at us as we walk towards her house.

From 10-9-09

Here's the house which we pass on our left.

From 10-9-09

At last we are at Kathy Ann's house. We'll climb the steps, remove our shoes and pass through the curtain that hangs at the door.

From 10-9-09

The last couple of times we've taught her, her "man" has been there for us to teach. They have lived together for 8 years. Yesterday, when we met with them, they said they had some exciting news for us. With a little coaxing, they finally told us they were hoping to get married and baptized next week. Yes! It was exciting news!

Here they are pictured with two of their three daughters just after they shared their good news with us. They are looking pretty pleased in this photo, don't you think?

From 10-9-09

The little girl's name is Blessed. What a great name for a darling little girl. Why didn't I think of that when I was naming my little girls? Check out her fancy hairdo both front and back!

From 10-9-09

As we turn to leave, the pit bulls, once again, bark ferociously at us and cause us to shake a little more in our boots.

From Drop Box

It looks like the elders have made it safely by the dogs.

From 10-9-09

We're hoping for some baptisms next week. If they happen, I'll let you know for sure!

Did I really do this in Guyana?

2009-10-07T02:38:00.014-04:00

When I accidentally stepped into this big muddy alligator trench, Elder Bullock called out to the elders, "Don't pull her out until we get her picture!" I think he had momentarily forgotten about the small alligators we had seen in this same trench earlier that evening.

From 2008-4-17TrenchFall

I got a little mud on my new skirt, but at least I didn't drop my umbrella or my flashlight!

From 2008-4-17TrenchFall

Is that mud oozing out of my boots?

From 2008-4-17TrenchFall

This was my first try at crossing one of these boards. We were on our way to a house that is out of sight in this photo. You'll notice,Elder Bullock let me go first!

It wasn't so bad getting there, but an hour later when we returned in the dark, things didn't go so well. Three of us fell off the board into the water. And judging from my past record with muddy trenches, do you suppose I was one of the three? I'll just let you guess the answer.

How safe does this bridge look? It didn't look very safe to me!

From Recently Updated

The elders, all three of them, kept beckoning me to come.

From Recently Updated

Do you suppose I wanted to fall into another muddy trench? Well, this time I made it across.

From Recently Updated

Alligators are common in all the larger trenches around town, ones just like the one I fell in. They aren't huge but we've seen ones a lot bigger that the one pictured below.

One night after dark, the elders arrived in a taxi with this little feller. They had just caught it and were excited to share it with us. Notice, he is still alive but his mouth is tied shut. I can't believe I touched him and even held him. It looks like Elder Bullock was hoping for a midnight snack.

From Drop Box

Later, the elders caught another one and perhaps you remember I cooked it and we all ate it. When they caught the Anaconda and skinned it, I had no interest in cooking and tasting it.

We'll miss crossing the many little bridges that are in front of every house. There are trenches and water everywhere in Guyana.

Here's my last goodbye to Guyana and now we're on to more missionary adventures in Trinidad.

From Recently Updated

Did I really see this in Guyana?

2009-10-07T02:22:00.024-04:00

A beautiful sunset through the coconut palmtrees.

From Drop Box

A load of Les Schwab's tires.

From Recently Updated

Workers in a rice field. Are they planting it or what?

From Recently Updated

Is it a used rice sack?

From Recently Updated

Jade's wash on the line against a fabulous backdrop.

From Recently Updated

Downtown Georgetown...

From Recently Updated

Guyanese women venting their frustrations as they wack everything in sight with their cutlasses. It seems that every Guyanese has one, even the little kids.

From Recently Updated

An unwanted guest! Did I ever mention I hate snakes?

And that goes double for this one!

From 2009-09Snakes

Well, well, what do I see here?

From Drop Box

A moving van.

From Drop Box

Special houses...

From 2008-03-28HouseFaves

From Drop Box

A four-family house. Can you tell lots of people live here from the clothes hung to dry everywhere possible...even on the fence?

From 2008-03-28HouseFaves

A mama, thinking about starting her wash.

From 2008-03-28HouseFaves

The darling house of my good friend and neighbor, Natasha, who lived right across the street.

From 2008-03-28HouseFaves

One of the many Guyanese who said to the elders, "Come on in and let's chat about what's in this book!"

From 2008-03-28HouseFaves

Mormons expelled from Guyana!

2009-10-06T23:42:00.020-04:00

From 2009-9-3CID

On the evening of September 1, 2009, four policemen knocked on the door of Elder and Sister Evans, one of the 7 senior couples that were serving in Guyana, South America. They were told to grab their things, that they were being shipped from the country immediately. They had overstayed their stay in Guyana. They quickly attempted to pack until the police suddenly changed their minds and told them to leave their things behind. They just wanted had to hand over their passports and come with them to the Criminal Investigation Department. The Evans were able to make one phone call to President Hymas, of the mission presidency, to notify him of their plight before their cell phone was seized.

President Hymas was told to have 39 more of his missionaries, including himself and his wife, at the CID by 8 a.m. the next day. The 39 names included those of us who were on a special list prepared by the Immigration Department as those who had, also, overstayed their stays in Guyana. The Evans were detained all that night, being forced to sleep on the dirty, wooden floor of the CID office. Someone offered them a foam pad to sleep on.

Early the next morning, the rest of us arrived.

From 2009-9-3CID

They took all our passports and we were assured we’d be finished by 10 a.m. The day passed slowly as we waited for them to tell us we could leave. We were at one end of a large rectangular-shaped room. At the opposite end of the room were about 10 desks with workers sitting at them doing their work.

From 2009-9-3CID

One of these workers kept quieting us down as we talked with one another. The elders either sat on the floor or had to stand as we waited.

From 2009-9-3CID

There were about 5 chairs and 2 small benches where the seniors took turns sitting.

From 2009-9-3CID

Where'd this handsome guy come from?

From 2009-9-3CID

It was hot. Elder Huntsman definitely thought so!

From 2009-9-3CID

We were hungry and thirsty. The police did allow an escort to go with Elder Treseder to his car so he could get the water jugs from his trunk.

From 2009-9-3CID

Most of all, we were bored. So, the elders played games.

From 2009-9-3CID

By afternoon, we were becoming impatient for our freedom. Someone suggested, “Let’s sing.” Sister Hymas stood in the middle of us with one small hymn book and began to ask for requests of what hymns we would sing. At first we sang began to sing softly “I Am a Child of God”. One by one, we sang each elder’s request and our volume increased. We sang for 2 hours.

From 2009-9-3CID

As we began to sing, “Called To Serve” someone said, “We have to stand for this one”. As we stood, our voices got considerably louder and suddenly one of “them” told us to be quiet and stop singing! President Hymas politely answered something like, “You haven’t treated my boys well and now they are going to sing!”

When we stood to sing, I looked out the 2nd story window next to where I stood, and noticed several photographers trying to snap our photos. Apparently, they could hear us singing because the next day in the news it was reported that we were “singing “We Shall Overcome” from our cells.” I could see myself standing in the right window of the photo that appeared on the front page of the Guyana newspaper the next day under the headlines that read, ILLEGAL MORMONS ASKED TO LEAVE. Another newspaper had on its front page, MORMONS EXPELLED FROM GUYANA…given 30days to leave.

By 7 pm that night, I began to think we would all be sleeping on the dirty floor for the night. There surely wouldn’t be pads for us all. Fortunately, after a visit to the President of Guyana, Barat Jagdeo, by President Hymas and one of the other senior missionaries, we were finally allowed to leave…with our passports in hand…but with the instructions to be gone from Guyana by the end of September. Here's a group photo of all of us.

From 2009-9-3CID

We're all looking pretty happy because they just informed us we could finally leave!

Story continues below...

Only 20 can stay!

2009-10-06T23:42:00.019-04:00

After our long day of detainment, the Guyana immigration department continued to insist that all 41 of us who were on their “list”, needed to leave Guyana by October 1. Secondly, the church could have only 20 LDS missionaries in Guyana at one time. At the time they made the ruling, we had close to 70, which included 7 senior couples. Thirdly, all missionaries would have to have work permits to stay in Guyana.

We had all applied for these work permits many times but the immigration office had continued to set them aside and not issue them to us. Now, they were telling us we were all illegal because we had no work permits. Whatever...

Story continues below...

Saying goodbye to the elders

2009-10-06T23:41:00.045-04:00

September was a very hectic time for all of us, missionaries, in Guyana. We had a lot of work to do in preparation for the departures of most of the foreign missionaries, including us. We had apartments to close, furniture from these closed apartments to be moved and sometimes sold, , landlords to settle up with and most of the elders to be shipped to the various islands of the mission.

We had a pizza luncheon at our apartment for them their last pday. Here’s some photos of the day. Notice that not a crumb of food remains on any of their plates!

From Recently Updated

Burt and Ernie look like they're enjoying themselves! Whoops, I mean Elders Bullock and Lingren.

From Recently Updated

And me with my dear friend, Geeta, who is so tiny, and the two sister missionaries, Sisters Treseder and Lingren.

From Recently Updated

Elder Welch taking his last swing in our hammock.

From Recently Updated

Bye bye, Elder Lundberg…

From Recently Updated

and Elder Manwill

From Recently Updated

and Elder Noah

From Recently Updated

and of course, us too, Elder and Sister Bullock!

From Recently Updated

The night before the missionaries began departing, Elders Olsen and Lundberg baptized a great family, the King family. Elder Lundberg, are you drawing our attention to your white legs?

From Recently Updated

On the days of September 13-15, the majority of the foreign young elders left Guyana. It was transfer week. It was so sad to watch the mass exodus of most of our elders.

Here you see Tall boy, who arrived at 5:30 am with his van to take a load of elders to the airport.
A final goodbye to Elders Lundberg, Bullock, Huntsman, Packer, Westover, Coronado and Linton…

From Recently Updated

Elder Huntsman and Elder Westover’s faces seem to say, “Do we really have to go?”

From Recently Updated

Now that the missionary force in Guyana was so diminished, the mission had to come up with a new plan in order to keep the missionary work in Guyana going. The new plan would depend on the young Guyanese saints. The mission would interview all the young Guyanese boys from ages 18-25 and try to find 14 of them that were worthy and willing to be called as full-time missionaries to be companions to the 14 foreign elders that would be allowed to stay in Guyana. The remaining 6 of the 20 would be 3 new senior couples, those whose names weren’t on the CID’s “list”.

The mission feverishly interviewed boys all over the two districts in Guyana. The young Guyanese boys seemed to come out of the woodwork. It was like they were just waiting for something to call them forth into action. Almost none were in school. Most had been out of school for 2-6 years. Almost no young people attend school after they are 16 and many stop school at 12 and begin to work, many becoming the primary breadwinner for their fatherless families.

While the boys in our district were being interviewed, I sat at a table and filled out the missionary papers for about 10-12 of them. There was a real excitement in them. They had huge smiles on their faces and when asked how they felt about being missionaries, they made comments such as “I’m ready and anxious”.

We're going on a mission!

Within a few days, the mission presidency had picked out the names of 14 boys to submit to the First Presidency for approval to serve as full-time missionaries as the first “wave” of Guyanese missionaries. Most of these boys were 18 years old. Three of them were from down our way, and two of them were still 17 being several weeks shy of their 18th birthdays. Two of our three new missionary boys, Winston Henry and Aaron Persaud...

From 2009-9-3CID

Here's Winston again.

From 2009-9-3CID

And a couple of photos of our third missionary, Steve Narine, with his family.

From 2009-9-3CID

Steve is on the left in the red shirt and his 16 year old brother, Leon, in the blue shirt is one of the temporary mini missionaries.

From 2009-9-3CID

Steve, Aaron and Leon each weigh less than 105 lbs!

These 14 boys all began to complete their medical and dental exams as required by their missionary applications . Probably none had been to a dentist before so this was a big deal for them. They had to have tetanus shots and blood tests, etc. The applications had to be completed and sent to the First Presidency before they could get their official calls from Salt Lake.

One of our 3 boys didn’t have his passport so we had to make the all-day trip to the passport office with his parents. We also had to help them with rounding up their clothes, shoes and suitcases. As the foreign elders left Guyana, each were asked to leave some of their shirts and ties to help outfit these Guyanese boys who barely had 1 white shirt and 1 pair of church pants. None of them had a decent pair of shoes or money to buy a pair. Over 40 shirts and 80 ties were donated by these elders who were forced to leave. Some of us gave up our big suitcases and the district helped buy their shoes and the other clothes they lacked.

Temporary companions were needed

2009-10-06T23:40:00.016-04:00

After the mass exodus of most of the foreign missionaries (the American elders), the two zones in Berbice, Guyana, (out in the sticks) where we were serving were left with only 6 foreign (American) missionaries and one full-time Guyanese missionary. Seven of these would be the elders left behind for the branches in our district. Notice, Elder Jordan on the left is Guyanese.

From 2009-9-3CID

Here’s some chocolate banana bread I made them. They finished off all 3 loaves before I could get a piece!

From 2009-9-3CID

These 2 zones normally had 20 elders. One of these elders was assigned to each of the six branches and his companion was to be one of the newly recruited Guyanese missionaries. Unfortunately, these 14 Guyanese boys weren’t ready to serve because they were still struggling to complete their physicals, passports, and dental. So, none of these six elders had a companion.

A second plan was initiated was needed to gather temporary companions of these American elders until their new Guyanese companions were ready to serve. These boys just needed to be at least 16 years old and there was no requirement of how long they had been a member of the church. They would serve the 2-3 weeks as mini missionaries until the “real” missionaries were ready to serve.

So, our 6 elders paired up to make 3 companionships and went looking for their temporary companions (mini missionaries to be) while they waited for their Guyanese companions to finish their missionary papers. It took about 7-10 days for them to round up their temporaries and to get them moved in with them. By the time we left, September 28, they all had just gotten their mini-missionary companions. One boy was 17 and had been a member for 2 weeks. Another was 16 and was the younger brother of one of the 14 Guyanese boys who were actually being called to be full-time missionaries. These young boys were thrilled to be missionaries. Their smiles were huge. As you can see below, they didn't know how to tie their ties.

From 2009-9-3CID

Here they are with their zone leader companions and 16 year old Kevon who is a mini missionary wanna be.

From 2009-9-3CID

One of the mini missionaries, Ameer, was barely 17. He said to me, “I’ll serve for a whole year as a mini missionary and then 2 more years as a full-time missionary, if they need me.” Here is is with his companion, Elder Prince.

From 2009-9-3CID

One 16 year old boy came up to me as I was walking into church and said, “I want to be a missionary.” He wasn’t even on the list.

Some funny things happened as these American boys were teamed up with the young Guyanese boys. Elder Duncan, one of the zone leaders, called me about noon the first day and said, “We have a little problem. Our Guyanese companions won’t eat cold cereal for breakfast. They want rice and roti (like a tortilla) for breakfast like their mothers feed them. What are we going to feed them? Here they are trying to eat my American dinner of tamale pie. They definitely loved the chocolate cake for desert.

From 2009-9-3CID

Looking on the bright side

2009-10-06T23:39:00.006-04:00

Meanwhile, we prepared to leave Guyana ourselves. We had been there 19 months. We had served in 3 of the branches. We had dear friends all over these branches. We had just gotten home from our temple trip 5 days before that awful day of detention at the Criminal Investigation Department. We didn’t want to leave. We dug in our heels. But we had no choice. We threw out what we could as we tried to fit our things into 3 instead of 4 big suitcases. Every day I shed a few tears. We had expected to serve in Guyana for 4 more months and it just didn’t feel good to suddenly be told we had to leave….now!

We had many sweet goodbyes, parties and farewell love notes. We felt very loved and appreciated as we prepared to leave. We will never be the same after all that we have experienced and learned during our time in Guyana. One of the things we learned is that we don’t need so much “stuff” to be happy. We were happy every day in Guyana though we had very little of what we were used to living with back home. It was gratifying to us to be able to love, teach and give service to a people who were so badly in need of it and so appreciative of it.

Now, we are serving in Trinidad in a small town in the south of the island, Point Fortin. We hear little of what is going on in Guyana. We expect that most of the 14 new Guyanese boys have all begun to serve with their experienced companions. At first they will be serving as mini missionaries until they are able to attend the Missionary Training Center and temple in Santo Domingo, DR and return as regular full-time missionaries to serve out their 2 years of missionary service.

I'll end by quoting the words of President Hymas, “As you drive around you’ll see the "new companionships" -- one white guy and one Guyanese. We will still be out in the streets on the Lord's errand! It is profound to see the local young men taking over for their "brothers" who had to leave. It is the Lord's work and as the scriptures poignantly remind us "...it is the work of men that are frustrated, not the work of God that is frustrated..." It is quite a testimony to be a part of such faithful young men and young women who have willing left jobs, family, and friends to alleviate the crisis in the missionary effort in Guyana.”

We know the missionary service of these young men will be a huge blessing to the growth and strength of the church in Guyana. Just think, in two years there will be an army of returned missionaries there…like the righteous army of young men who were led by Helaman.

And, the temporary mini missionaries will have returned to their homes to eat roti a little longer with their families while they dream and anxiously await their turn to serve as full-time Guyanese missionaries in the West Indies Mission.

We made it... to the Temple!

2009-09-01T22:20:00.036-04:00

How good can it get? Jade and Travis Sancho are together with their family just days after they were sealed as an eternal family in the Santo Domingo Temple, in the Dominican Republic. They look like they couldn't be happier if they lived in a palace.

From TempleTrip

When we arrived in Guyana as missionaries 18 months ago, February 28, 2008, we first met this darling couple and their baby, also named Travis. They had just been married and baptized 12 days before. The photo below was pasted to the wall inside their home. Travis is proudly holding their marriage certificate.

From Drop Box

The elders were anxious to take us to their home for Family Home Evening . We followed them through the darkness down the unlit dirt road and path that led to the small wooden two-room structure that was their home. There was one old chair which they eagerly offered to me. The rest sat on the floor for the FHE. For the closing song we sang, “I Love to See the Temple”. As I sat there, I had the feeling that I was in a little corner of heaven.

At the end of the FHE, Travis proudly told us they had begun saving to go to the temple. They had set aside $600 GD, the equivalent of $3 USD. I wondered how they would ever in their lifetime be able save enough.

As we said good night, I turned in the absolute dark of the night and snapped this photo. Notice the two white buckets they use to wash their clothes and bathe.

From Drop Box

Though Travis(22)and Jade(17)were very young, they were committed to living the gospel and eager to learn their duty as a member of the church. They accepted callings and went out regularly to their neighbors and relatives with the young Elders. Their testimonies grew rapidly and very quickly they became some of the real stalwarts of the New Amsterdam Branch. A year after they were baptized, Travis was called to be the New Amsterdam Branch President. Jade at 17 began teaching the Gospel Principles class after being a member for just a few months.

In the photo below they are at the airport, ready to take off for Santo Domingo. Travis was looking pretty handsome in his light blue suit! And Jade, she is a real beauty.

From TempleTrip

On August 22, 2009, the Travis and Jade Sancho family, which now consisted of four, was sealed in the Santo Domingo Temple as an eternal family.

Travis and Jade both commented on how thankful they were to be sealed to their children, little Travis (2 ½) and Janelly (7 months). Jade said that little Travis looked like a little black angel in his white clothes and bow tie as he stood at the altar to be sealed to them.

During the first months of our mission, we gradually became closely acquainted with the members of the 3 branches of the Canje District of Guyana where we served. We noticed some very dedicated and faithful members of the church, though most had been members for 1-3 years.

We also, became aware of the poverty in which they lived. Their homes lacked electricity and inside plumbing. Their villages had very little sidewalks and paved roads. These dirt roads and paths became very muddy, especially after heavy rains. None of the members owned cars so they walked or rode bikes wherever they went, often along these muddy paths that led to their homes.

Sometimes, the whole family traveled together on one bike. Here you see the Kirton family riding home from church on their bicycle...together. Overload!

From 2009-04-19BahadurFamIndianHair

When we met them at church they seemed just like us, but when we visited their homes, we found they lived differently. Their homes were lacking of any of the modern conveniences that we have in our homes. We realized how hard they worked just to cook and feed their families without stoves and refrigerators, and to wash their dishes without faucets and sinks with running water. We learned, too, that scrubbing a family's wash all by hand, as they all do, was hard work.

When it rains heavily in Guyana, which it often does, they have to trudge through the muddy paths and roads to get to their church meetings, along with their children.

From Drop Box

We were amazed that they could make it to church without being covered with mud. We noticed that the faithful came to their meetings, even when it rains and the paths are full of mud. We gained a great respect for these saints, as they served valiantly in spite of the difficult circumstances in which they lived.

Let me stop a minute to tell you more of the poverty of these Guyanese people. Sometimes they go to bed hungry, because there is not enough to eat to fill their stomachs. I have heard their children cry for food when there is no more. I have heard of them eating dirt to fill their growling stomachs. The buckets of water that are outside their houses are filled each day and carried from somewhere down the road. Often, I've seen the children struggling to carry these buckets to their homes. One day, a little boy had two buckets that he was taking turns carrying a short distance. I volunteered to carry one of those buckets for him. He was not a big boy but the bucket I carried for him was heavy...and he was carrying two of them quite a distance.

These people are so clean. They bathe daily from from these buckets of water somewhere behind their houses. Their outhouses are usually made of corrugated metal and set somewhere in their yard. When it rains, many of their houses fill up with water which they have to wade through in their boots until the water subsides. Sometimes, the rain water even brings snakes into their houses.

Here you see Alicia and Aliena Kirton one of the many times their house was filled with rainwater. They spent last Christmas on their beds because the house was full of water to their ankles. And yes, they've had snakes come in with the water. Just a few weeks ago, Ulric was bitten right in his house by a snake and had to spend the night in the hospital. Yuk, I hate snakes!

From Drop Box

Jobs are almost impossible to find. There is no industry in these villages. Most men are cane cutters, fishermen, or carpenters. Their homes are made of wood and are usually built by the men of the family…if there are men in the family!

When we learned that in the Canje District consisting of 6 branches there were only 5couples that had been sealed in the temple, most of them a few years earlier, we wondered how we could help more of these faithful members, like Jade and Travis, get there.

We decided we could and would help them. We would initiate a “temple roundup” of those who were worthy, those who had been serving in their branches, attending their meetings regularly and keeping the commandments. They deserved the opportunity to have the blessings found in the temple.

After clearing with our 3 branch presidents our proposed lists of temple goers, we approached these persons to invite them to prepare to go to the temple. We scheduled 3 sets of Temple Preparation Classes, one in each of “our” branches and invited them to attend these classes in preparation for a temple trip sometime in the months to come.

Those who attended the classes were eager to prepare for the temple and their excitement to go grew. In April, our first group was interviewed for their temple recommends by their branch presidents and the mission president, President Robison.

From Temple trip

Elder Bullock had to instruct the branch presidents how to give the interviews and fill out the recommends. There was only one recommend book to be shared by the district so it was necessary for him to carry it from branch to branch for each president to use as he did his interviews. Sister Bibi, who has been a member for 10 years sobbed when she came out from her interview and said, “I never thought I would get to go to the temple in my lifetime.”

Meanwhile, we began to make weekly trips to Georgetown to the passport office with our people to get their passports. Georgetown is a 2 hour drive from where we live and we had to arrive at the office by 7:30 am in order for them to make it in. That means we had to leave by 5:30 am. Applying for the passports was an all-day project and we suffered many setbacks… and were blessed by many miracles. The lady at the passport office said Ulric’s expired passport was damaged and that he must pay an additional $18,000 ($90 USD) to get it renewed. Ulric didn’t have the money so returned home that day extremely disappointed and sullen. Two weeks later after getting a new haircut, a new passport photo, wearing a different outfit, and having his whole family (and us)pray constantly, he returned to the same passport lady and was miraculously allowed to pay the normal fee of $4,000 ($20 USD) to renew his passport.

When the Area Presidency learned of our group’s plans to attend the temple, we received a letter from them saying that the Temple Patron Fund couldn’t fund them all and that we were to be selective about who had sacrificed enough to go. We wondered how we could choose who was most deserving. How could we decide who would be left behind?

We decided we would search for an economical way to get our people to the temple. We knew flights to the temple in Santo Domingo was very expensive. We learned that Venezuela required the Guyanese to have a visa requiring a bank statement showing funds of $150,000 GD in the bank, which none of them had; Colombia was dangerous and across some very high mountains; and the Brazilian temples were too far from Guyana. None of these options would work for us so plans were made to fly to the Santo Domingo Temple. We would just have to find a way to get them to the temple in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

From TempleTrip

We knew our faithful Guyanese saints could never in their whole lifetime be able to save enough to pay for their airfare to Santo Domingo. If they were going to be able to go, they would have to have help. We hoped that the Temple Patron Fund would be able to pay for the flights for part of our group, but wondered how we would pay for the rest. Another problem arose. We, as missionaries, had taught these saints that families are forever. We found that some of our families didn’t want to go to the temple if they had to leave their children behind and not have them sealed to them.

We knew that the Temple Patron Fund was only able to pay for the couple who was being sealed, which excluded their children. We had a real dilemma. We needed some help to get them to the temple. We pondered and prayed over how to do so. We decided to give our family and a few close friends the opportunity to help with the payment of some of the flights. And our plan worked. We were able to get just enough to pay for the flights not covered by the Temple Patron Fund.

None of the Guyanese ever knew if their tickets were funded by the Temple Patron Fund or by our family members. I’m sure they assumed the money all came from the fund. Each Guyanese was asked to pay $25,000 for the expenses that were above and beyond the price of their airplane tickets. This extra money paid for their transportation to and from the airport in Guyana, the Guyana airport tax, their Dominican Republic visa, 7 nights in the temple housing, photos and 10 pair of garments. Each person brought the food they would cook and eat for the week in their suitcase.

In the weeks before we left for the temple, we spent many hours helping each person fill out their pedigree chart. We were, then, able to enter their information in the http://new.familysearch.org website and print out their family names that were ready for them to do their temple work. We collected a total of 80 of their family names.

Here you see Travis walking from his house with his suitcase…

From TempleTrip

Below you can see the two excited and mostly naked Thakoor boys, Workman and Bushman, with their two friends, as we collected their suitcases with the mission van from their homes the day before we left.

From TempleTrip

The morning we began our journey from New Amsterdam began at 3:45 am with us gathering them in the dark from their homes with the mission van. We were later joined by a 2nd van who collected those from Rosignol and Bushlot and we all travelled the three hours to the airport. Everyone was so excited when we arrived. They each pulled their various pieces luggage from the van, many of which had been borrowed from the young elders in their areas.

Our group consisted of three senior missionaries, Elder and Sister Bullock and Sister Hymas, 17 adults and eight children. The total was 28 persons. Here we are at the airport. We're quite the group, aren't we?

From TempleTrip

Let me introduce you to the rest of the members of our group who attended the temple. First the men…

From TempleTrip

Where was little Travis? Where'd he go? Oh, there he is with the other two little guys, Bushman and Workman who were, also, being sealed to their parents.

From 2009-8-29TempleTrip

And the women, of course!...

From TempleTrip

Notice Sister Hymas on the left who came to help! She ended up being our social coordinator and helped everything run more smoothly.

The teenage girls...Alicia Kirton (15), Kavita Thakoor (15) and Aliena Kirton (almost 12). Where's Vicki Kirton? He is 16.

From TempleTrip

And, adorable little Janelly Sancho!

From 2009-8-29TempleTrip

Here we are all together!

From TempleTrip

I’ll begin with Nanda and Ulric Kirton and their two daughters, Alicia (15) and Aliena (11).

From TempleTrip

When we first approached Nanda and Ulric about going to the temple, Ulric was having a lot of problems living the Word of Wisdom. Nanda, who serves as the District Primary President, became discouraged with him and decided she would have to go to the temple without him. When she showed him last April her temple recommend, he said, “You can’t go without me.” She answered quickly, “Oh, yes I can and I will!” He pled with her, “No, you have to wait for me.” She said, “I won’t wait!” He immediately stopped drinking and smoking. He attended every meeting and accepted a calling. He was completely committed to preparing himself to be worthy to enter the temple.

When Ulric's recommend was signed by the mission president July 14th, we were all thrilled. It was an answer to all our prayers. He would be going with us to the temple. The family was ready to be sealed. Ulric was recently called to be the 2nd counselor to the branch president. When we shared the highlights of our first day in the temple at our group’s family prayer, Ulric’s highlight was taking his wife through the temple. He also said later to the elders, “The sweetest kiss you will ever get is across the altar of the temple.”

From TempleTrip

When Nanda awoke the morning after they arrived home from the temple, she discovered that Ulric had gathered their dirty garments and had washed them in a small white bucket by themselves and hung them on the line to dry. Later he said to her, “This white bucket is the bucket we will use to wash our garments.” Nanda said to me later, “This is not the Ulric that I married. He has become so helpful since we went to the temple. This is one of the blessings I see instantly. I am so thankful for it. Now, he is the one who makes sure we have family prayer, family home evening and read our scriptures each morning. This morning we knelt amidst all our dirty clothes that were spread over the floor from our trip and said our family prayer… at his request.”

Rajendra (Bow) Thakoor and his wife, Shanmattie, have 9 children. Only the four younger children are members of the church, Vicki (16), Kavita (15), Bushman (8), and Workman (7). Bow and his family were baptized about 3-4 years ago. He serves as the ward mission leader and she is a primary worker though neither know how to read. Bow and Shanmattie are especially kind and sweet. They love their family and have expressed over and over their appreciation to us for helping them take these 4 children to the temple to be sealed as a family along with their deceased son.

Here they are with the children they took to be sealed in the temple. They were inside one of the airports. There's Vicki, their 16 year old son who never seemed to be in any of the other photos!

From 2009-8-29TempleTrip

Bow is a carpenter and used all his savings, $100,000 ($500 USD), for his family to go to the temple. He withdrew it all from the bank and gave it to us for his family’s expenses. Here is their home.

From reduced

It was very difficult for us to take his savings for his family to go to the temple, but he gave it without hesitation.

This is the fireside where the Thakoor family cooks. This is typical of how many families cook. Kavita Thakoor (15) is cooking rice for the family’s lunch.

From reduced

The day we drove their family the 2 hours to Georgetown for their passports, 2 of their family members vomited all the way to and from the passport office. None of them complained at their discomfort. We almost were unaware it was happening. We had such love and respect for this family of six after spending 10 difficult hours with them that day to get their passports so they could be sealed in the temple.

Here they are at the temple doors. Don't they look so beautiful?

From TempleTrip

Dyiaram Samaroo is a school master and his wife, Shankutala, is a teacher. He serves as the Bushlot Branch President and she serves as the primary president and institute teacher.

The first time I crossed this bridge that leads to the Samaroo's front door, I counted 102 steps from the start of the bridge to their house. You can see that when it rains, it is like a real bridge through a huge trench of muddy water. The long boards buck up and down as you walk along it. Can you imagine how scary it is to cross this bridge in the pitch dark? There are no street lights, you know!

From Drop Box

Here's their before-going-to-the-temple picture...

From TempleTrip

And here's their after photo!

From TempleTrip

President Samaroo's comments since going to the temple are, “My entire perspective of the Church has changed. I can see the whole picture of the gospel now. There is so much more to it than I realized before. My testimony is so much stronger now. For the entire week, I was able to make many sacred covenants to Heavenly Father and I learned more about the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Leonard Allen is a cane cutter. He cuts cane from 4:30 am to 2 pm. He is the branch clerk for the Rosignol Branch. He and his wife, Gaitree, have 12 children, five of whom are deceased. Three of these deceased children died as adults. Their home is very humble. They don’t have enough clothing for their children but they were able to save $50,000 ($250 USD) for their share of their expenses to go to the temple.

I yelled out, "Smile!" to Gaitree as I took this shot and this is what I got!

From TempleTrip

They completed their temple work and their five deceased children were sealed to them. It was a thrill for them to kneel around the altar and be sealed with these children they loved so much. They said, “We feel so joyful coming to the temple and doing all these sacred ordinances. We are so proud that we can’t express ourselves.”

From TempleTrip

Meet Yudhistirnauth Krishna Persaud and his wife Sabitree. Krishna is the District Clerk for the Canje District and Sabitree is a sacrament meeting greeter. They were almost giddy to be attending the temple after being members for about 4 years. Can you tell by their big smiles?

From TempleTrip

Sabitree was like a little kid in the airport. She wanted her picture taken standing by everything...even this crazy guy!

From TempleTrip

Yudhistirnauth (Krishna) and Sabitree were able to be sealed in the temple with their three daughters. One of them, Sister Munro, is serving a mission in the Dominican Republic. She traveled to the temple to be sealed with her parents and her two deceased sisters.

From TempleTrip

Sabitree had a huge smile on her face all week long while we were at the temple. Today, Sunday, after being home for 2 days, she said , “The spirit is flowing. I testified today in church about the temple. My home is heaven now. Krishna is a loving husband now. The missionaries want me to go out with them to testify about the temple.”

From TempleTrip

These five women came without husbands for various reasons...Tasha, Sunita, Samantha, Geeta and Bibi (l-r)

From TempleTrip

Geeta Rampersaud is the shortest. She has been a member for four years. She serves as Relief Society President and Seminary Teacher. Her husband is a Hindu who Geeta doesn't expect will ever join the church. Here she is in front of her home with him.

When Geeta was invited to come to the temple, she eagerly replied, “Yes, I want to go.” For the past several months her husband has not been able to find work. In spite of their difficult financial situation, Geeta withdrew their savings to pay for her expenses of going to the temple. While she was gone for the week at the temple, her husband cooked and cared for her blind mother.

In speaking of the temple Geeta said, “Coming to the temple was a dream come true. I could only look at a picture of a temple before but you have made it a reality for me. My experience was...well, I can’t explain it. It burst my heart with joy knowing my Heavenly Father loves me so much. I promise to repay you by serving, serving, serving. I know this gospel is true. I will make you proud of me and my serving! Thank you very much.”

Geeta is on the left and Tasha on the right in the photo below.

From TempleTrip

Somawattie (Samantha) Bacchus is married to an inactive member of the church. They have three young sons. She and her husband were baptized two years ago.

Check out how excited she was just to climb up the stairs of the airplane that flew us out of Guyana.

From TempleTrip

I think there were only two of our Guyanese group who had ever flown on an airplane.

Samantha teaches primary and is there every Sunday prepared to teach her primary class. She and her husband attended the Temple Preparation classes together at her request but living the gospel is not his top priority at this time. When she realized that he was not ready or worthy to take her to the temple, she begged us to let her come by herself. She said, “I need to come to the temple. I want the blessings of the temple. I want and need to be able to wear the temple garments.”

So, the decision was made that she would come without her husband. She expressed her love for the temple over and over. She said, “I am so glad that I came and did all that needs to be done. I’m so glad for all the wonderful things that I have experienced and learned. I will repay you by always being faithful to my covenants and my callings in the Church. I love being a sister of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Samantha loves learning the primary songs. She memorizes the words before she even knows what the melody sounds like. In one of the airports, when some of us women were excitedly singing in the restroom, "I Love to See the Temple", she was more than eager to be part of the singing. When we discovered the attendant was a member of the church, we hugged and squeezed her and Samantha wanted our picture with her. Here is the photo of that delightful moment! Samantha is on my left.

From TempleTrip

Samantha yearns for the day when she can return to the temple with her whole family for their sealing. Check out how darling these little boys are. I'd want to be sealed to them, too!

Here are Samantha's 3 boys...

From Drop Box

Bibi Majid has been an active member of the church for nearly 10 years. She is the District CES Coordinator. She has three children but is divorced. One of her daughters, Nazeema (29), has served a fulltime mission. She was very excited when she learned we were having a temple trip and that she would be able to go. She is the one who sobbed with joy after she got her temple recommend to go for her own ordinances. Geeta is hugging her.

From 2009-04-10WeddingJadeRoopaBibiCowdam

While we were at the temple, she kept saying that her dream would be to live next to the temple and be a temple worker. She couldn’t say enough good things about being in the temple. She was especially thrilled to be sealed to her deceased parents and to do the temple work for her grandmother who raised her.

Bibi is on the left of the photo with Samantha, Tasha and Sister Hymas to her left.

From TempleTrip

Dhanwattie (Tasha) Rampersaud was married at age 14. Here she is at 29, the mother of 7 children, about to enter our plane to the temple!!

From TempleTrip

Tasha and her husband live in a small 3 room wooden structure that the two of them built. She has no inside plumbing, electricity or any of the normal amenities or conveniences that we as Americans expect to have. None of those of this group do. She lives down a bumpy dirt road as most of the others do. Her husband doesn’t read and earns a living for his family by carrying loads of wood and other items for others with his 2 donkeys and large donkey cart.

From DropBox

Here's Tasha with her family. Seems there's one "extra" in the picture. She only has seven!

From Drop Box

Tasha and her husband began the Temple Preparation Class together but he dropped out after a couple of lessons. It became evident that going to the temple was notas important to him as it was to her. Tasha is the Rosignol Primary President and was baptized along with her husband four years ago. She has been very active since she was baptized. He does not hold the Aaronic Priesthood, yet. She asked, “Can I come to the temple without him? He says I should go.”

Here she is, about to enter the temple!

From TempleTrip

Her husband cooked for and cared for their seven children, ages 2-14, while she was gone for the week. She was so grateful to be able to go to the temple. After witnessing the sealing of the other families she said, “I’ll be back to the temple in 2-3 years with the rest of my family to be sealed as an eternal family.” We hope that her dream comes true.

Sunita (Drupatie Thomas) has been a member for three years. Her husband is a member but we’ve only seen him at church two times since we arrived in Guyana 18 months ago. She is the Young Women’s President of the New Amsterdam Branch. She begged to be able to come along on this temple trip. She has said, “I love the temple very much. I’m so happy. I love everybody in the temple. Everyone is so nice. So, I must thank you.”

Sunita loved the stuffed animals in the airport and had some very crazy fingernails. It's too bad you can't see them!

From 2009-8-29TempleTrip

In the four days our group spent in the temple, we did 115 endowments which included their 17 live endowments. The work and sealings for their 90 deceased were completed which included them doing all the baptisms, initiatories and sealings form them. These family names kept them working in the temple at a feverish pace to complete these ordinances by the time we were ready to leave for home. Five members of our group were able to be sealed to their deceased parents.

The three teenagers in our group, Alicia Kirton, and Vicki and Kavita Thakoor were able to do baptisms for the dead three times for a total of 60.

But, the best was watching the live sealings of the 6 couples in our group of which five of them were sealed to their children.

Besides going to the temple for the first time, most of our Guyanese saints experienced these other firsts… first time to fly in an airplane or to leave Guyana, first time to use a washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer, electric iron, electric stove, escalator, elevator, automatic door, shower, hot water, AC, inside toilet, carpet, vacuum or the underground Metro. Here they are riding the Metro, with Sunita Thomas on the left and Bow Thakoor on the right.

From TempleTrip

It was the first time they had ever seen cement sidewalks with curbs, a beautiful grassy lawn, streets without mud and a trench alongside filled with stagnant, mosquito-infested water and garbage, and a modern grocery store complete with an ice cream cone machine, roasted chickens, great big sausages , a beautiful array of fruits and veggies and a bank.

It was the first time they had ever cooked a meal in a modern kitchen with 4 microwaves, 4 refrigerators, 4 stoves, and sinks with running water. There were two of these big kitchens in the temple housing, right next to each other. They had a great time all cooking their meals at the same time.

From TempleTrip

It doesn't look like very much cooking is getting done from the looks of this picture!

From TempleTrip

It was the first time they had used a washer or dryer. Elder Bullock is with this group in the laundry room and he's trying to teach them how to do their wash in a way other than what they are used to...with a bucket of soapy water, a scrub brush and another bucket of clean rinse water.

From TempleTrip

Some funny moments were the first time Sister Samaroo tried to step on the escalator...She squealed as her feet suddenly began to move beneath her; when the door of the elevator closed with some Guyanese inside and no one knew what to do next to make it move; when their leftover chowmein had to be defrosted because it was put in the freezer the night before instead of the refrigerator; when they tried to use the washers before they were instructed and pulled their dripping wet clothes from the washers just 5 minutes into the cycle to be put into the dryer; when President Samaroo was shocked with a cold water shower on his head because he didn’t know how to set it for warm water (the Guyanese all bathe daily outside with a bucket of water); when they all complained of being too cold with the AC in their rooms; watching them explore the modern grocery store and fill their carts with big long sausages to take home that can’t be purchased in Guyana; watching them go repeatedly up and down the tall escalators in the Metro station as if they were five years old; and watching several of them stack plates high with cookies served at the FHE to take to their rooms for a later snack.

Some other special moments were the lovely Sunday meal that was prepared and served for them by the senior missionaries; attending 3 hours of church in a Spanish-speaking ward; attending a Family Home Evening where they were able to listen to a General Authority, Elder Coleman, share his conversion in person; and having an adventure through the city which included walking to the grocery store, changing their money at a bank, and riding the Metro and...the escalators...up and...

From TempleTrip

Down and up... and down, again!

From TempleTrip

Here they are enjoying the Sunday dinner prepared for them by the senior missionaries.

From TempleTrip

One of the daily highlights of our trip was our family prayers that were held each morning and evening. Before we all knelt for prayer on the large rug in the middle of the TV room of the Temple housing, Sister Hymas invited us each to share one (or two) highlights of our day. Sharing these highlights was a precious time for remembering. I looked forward to their comments and was thrilled by them.

Here we are sharing highlights of the day before family prayer...

From TempleTrip

Let me try to remember a few of these highlights:
“My highlight for the whole week was being sealed to my wife and children.”
“My highlight was listening to the men’s chorus at the FHE”.
“My highlight was listening to a General Authority speak in person.”
“My highlight was looking in the mirror and thinking I looked like an angel dressed in my white temple dress.”
“My highlight was how I felt as I took the place as Sister Bibi's mother. I'll never forget how I trembled all over as she was being sealed to her parents.”

Other comments we've heard since we’ve come home:
“For someone who didn’t feel too good about herself, I came home feeling like an angel.”
“When I looked in the mirror, I felt like a bride. I’m going to make my home a temple. I’m not going to let Satan in my home.”
“By the 3rd time through, I could give all the answers correctly.”
"It was so joyful to see our men perform the various priesthood assignments in the baptistry when we did our baptisms."
"I loved the feeling each time I was immersed into the water as I was being baptized for others."

Some stressful moments were when the plane reservations for six members of our group were not in the Copa Airlines computer system when they tried to check in at Trinidad and fly on to Panama and Santo Domingo. We waited at the counter for 5 ½ hours before the problem was resolved. Those without seats included the 7 month old Janelly Sancho, and one child from two of the other families. We were given seats for these six just minutes before our flight left for Panama. We barely made it to the gate before the airplane departed.

When we reached Trinidad on our way home, we thought we were home free only to be told there was no seat for 11 year old Aliena Kirton who would have to fly “standby” because somehow her reservation from Trinidad to Guyana had been canceled. Again, the problem was resolved at the last minute before the plane took off

When we arrived back to Trinidad we had a surprise visit from President Gamiette, our mission president.

From reduced

Each member of the group was able to share with him their highlight for the week.

Here we are, Elder and Sister Bullock.

From TempleTrip

Being able to escort this group to the temple was a rare privilege for us. We shall never forget this experience. We were blessed every step of the journey.

The temple presidency and workers treated us like royalty and made our temple visit the best it could be. We are so thankful for their tender, loving care of all of us. They made us feel loved and special every day that we were there.

The area presidency provided so much of the funds for the transportation for our group all the way from Guyana to the door of the temple.

Our friends and family were such a support to us and helped make this temple dream come true for these precious Guyanese saints.

We owe thanks to all of those who helped us accomplish this "temple roundup".

Here is Elder Bullock saying to me, "We did it and it took your brains and my muscle!"

From reduced

I hate snakes!

2009-09-01T22:18:00.007-04:00

I heard the elders yell, "Sister Bullock!"

I ran to the doorway and looked downstairs to where they were calling from and this is what I saw...

From 2009-09Snakes

You've got to know that I hate snakes. Elder Huntsman, who lives in the apartment below, loves snakes. We have had some heated discussions about whether snakes were good...or bad. I don't give in easily on this one!

This one happens to be an anaconda and he was big, black and slithery. I get the creeps just thinking about him.

From 2009-09Snakes

Elder Huntsman was determined to pick it up and play with it for a while. Check the tail of the snake. It worked it's way right into his mouth. Look how fat that guy is. I mean the snake, of course!

From 2009-09Snakes

Then, of course, Elder Barton had to get in on the act and play with it, too. I'm still shuddering as I look at these photos.

From 2009-09Snakes

Check out how long he was...I think about 12 feet long.

From 2009-09Snakes

When they had had enough fun playing with it, they pulled out a huge knife and with one wack, Elder Coronado chopped off its head...and wasted no time in getting it skinned.

From 2009-09Snakes

Notice the skinned snake is hanging from the staircase to my apartment. It was there for several hours until it began to smell! I don't know what happened to the snakeskin but I know they saved some of the snake so they could cook it and say, "I tasted anaconda!" The rest was thrown back into the trench.

From 2009-09Snakes

I learned later that the snake was acquired from another elder and had taken up residence for a while in our building before its shocking introduction to me!

Baptisms in the Berbice

2009-08-19T22:31:00.014-04:00

Wow! This is the mighty Berbice River and a baptism is about to be held.

Let's take a few photos of the event.

From 2009-8NewAmBaptisms

It is the baptism of Maria and Dhanraj. Elder Olsen couldn't look happier about the fact that he will be the one doing the baptisms.

From 2009-8NewAmBaptisms

Now it's time to get serious and see how they can get through the mud at the water's edge to the river. Where'd your feet go, Elder Olsen?

From 2009-8NewAmBaptisms

Are you wanting your hands in the mud, too?

From 2009-8NewAmBaptisms

Maria and Dhanraj look a lot more at ease walking in to the brown river water than Elder Olsen.

From 2009-8 NewAmBaptisms

That's a pretty big smile I see there on Maria's face. Her baptism must have just finished.

From 2009-8NewAmBaptisms

There's an even bigger smile on the elder who baptized her.

From 2009-8NewAmBaptisms

I'm wondering what is on Elder Barton's mind in this photo.

From 2009-8NewAmBaptisms

Maybe, he is trying to figure out how he and Elder Huntsman can extract Maria from the water.

This way looks like it worked! What do you think?

From 2009-8NewAmBaptisms

We're going to the Temple!

2009-08-18T23:43:00.005-04:00

Two days from now, Elder Bullock and I will rise at 3 am to start our amazing journey to the Dominican Republic Temple with 25 Guyanese who have never even seen a temple. We will be gone for 8 days, which means we'll be in the DR for 6 days.

We will all be attending the temple all day every day the temple is open while we are there to complete the temple work for the members of our group and for their deceased family members.

Everyone that is going is thrilled that they are the ones that are getting this special opportunity. Of course, we've been to the temple many times, but going with a group this size for their first time and being with them as they fulfill the dream of a lifetime is almost too much for me to take in.

I have no pictures, yet, but you can bet when I get home, I'll have a slug of them. You'll have to watch for them on this blog.

Right now I'm trying to imagine how the various members of this group are feeling. I'm wondering if they are able to sleep these days as our departure date gets closer and their excitement builds. Many thought they'd never have this opportunity. The temple is so far and the fare for the flight is so out of their reach. And, yet, they are going to the temple!

Thanks to all of you that helped them make this trip to the temple happen for them!

Good night, and I think I'll try to sleep!

Want to go crab hunting?

2009-08-18T22:59:00.007-04:00

Meet the Bushlot Branch.

They are one of the smaller branches in our district but they are a united bunch of families who attend church every Sunday and love to have activities together.

Their president, President Samaroo, is seated in the left front.

From 2009-8MainSt

Recently, they decided to go crab hunting. Here you see Ravi trying to find a crab in the deep, soft mud.

From Drop Box

Here's a few more photos from the activity. Alvin really does have legs, but where are they?

From 2009-8MainSt

Elder Bowen, do you feel anything wiggling and pinching down there? It might be a crab!

From 2009-8MainSt

Is that you, Elder Coronado?

From 2009-8MainSt

Wow, you're muddy!

From 2009-8MainSt

Here they are at the end of their hunt.

From 2009-8MainSt

Everyone washed off in the trench before they went home. Mmm, yummy trench water!

Tell me, does crab hunting look like fun?

The end of the day

2009-08-18T22:27:00.005-04:00

Here's what we look like at the end of the day when the 4 elders serving in New Amsterdam drop by to say good night. Left to right, they are Elders Lundberg, Huntsman, Olsen and Barton.

From 2009-08Elders

Main St. New Amsterdam

2009-08-18T20:37:00.005-04:00

What's a ginup? They are green, have a peeling sort of like a lime, and they are a great treat for the Guyanese. For me, they are better to look at than to eat. Here's how cute they are...

From Drop Box

I was waiting on Main Street for my friend to meet me to do a little school shirt shopping. I was entertained by the big produce trucks that pulled into town and set themselves up to sell to the public. Notice the bananas which have been carefully stacked onto the small table to sell. We buy pineapples from trucks like these. Pineapples are more than delicious in Guyana and they are in season almost year round.

From Drop Box

This truck came speeding through town and I barely caught it with my camera. It parked just down the block and began to sell more produce.

From 2009-8MainSt

This little stand on the left side of this photo is a shoemaker stand. There are probably at least 5 stands around town like this where you can have your shoes repaired. They have no power so they must do all their work by hand. I had my shoes repaired once and they turned out perfect.

From 2009-8MainSt

Here's the happy guy from whom we buy our bananas. He parks his van on the street and counts the money he makes selling bananas. He is there until he's sold all his bananas. I buy 40 at a time and I never have any left over for banana bread. The elders just gobble them down. They must never buy fruit.

From 2009-08Elders

Little Kids

2009-08-18T20:04:00.007-04:00

Everywhere there are just so many cute little kids. This one was running around naked when I dropped by her house to see her mom. The mom grabbed a bucket, threw some water in it and stashed the little girl into the bucket...to play? for a bath? Who knows, but here she is.

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

Check the pretty teeth.

From Drop Box

This gal knows how to pose!

From 2009-8MainSt

And this one knows what counts most!

From 2009-8MainSt

Sunday afternoon in Bushlot

2009-08-18T17:32:00.008-04:00

An afternoon of visiting...well, that's one of my favorite things to do! And here's one of the reasons why. ...It's all about the bridges. Check out this one. Doesn't it just beckon you to cross over it to find out what lies beyond?

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

Every house has a bridge in front of it. These bridges have led us into the lives of many choice Guyanese families. And I have just loved meeting them on their own ground!

Elder Bullock had an audit to do for a couple of hours so I found two young companions to go visiting with me. I knew they would know the way to everyone's house and that would be a big help for me...besides I wanted their company.

Aren't they cute? Meet Dolly on the left along with Sasha on the right!

From SemGraduation09

These are Dolly's parents. When I first arrived to pick her up, they were sitting under their house in the shade cleaning a bunch of little fish for their dinner. They probably caught them in one of the trenches.

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

You can barely see that Nanda is cleaning out the guts while Jimmy is scraping off the scales. Doesn't that just make a cute couple thing to do?

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

This is Jillian, Dolly's scrumptious little sister. Doesn't her whole face just light up when she smiles?

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

Our first visit was to Sister Washington. Notice the cord on her iron. I mean, notice that there is no cord! She says she cut it off and just heats up the iron on her stove.

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

Dolly and Sasha chose the rest of those we visited and of course our visits were to some of the other youth in their branch.

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

At each visit, we added another young person to our backseat to accompany us for the next families we visited. By the time we arrived at the Narine's, we had added Alvin and Priya.

The Narine family has 4 daughters and their dad's name is Tall Man. You can guess why!

Here are all the young people who ended up with us at the Narine house... the 4 who came with us plus 4 members of the Narine family . One daughter and the dad are missing from the photo. The mom is on the right wearing the blue skirt.

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

Just before we arrived at the Narine's house, Elder Bullock called to say he was finished with his audit and asked if I'd come get him from the church. You'll see him in some of the next photos.

The Narines have this old fashioned tractor that I just loved. I had to climb inside and try it out. One of the Narine girls quickly found me a hat so I'd look like a real farmer as I posed for pictures.

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

Here's the front view. Isn't it classic? They tell me it still works; it just needs a new huge back tire and when they get some money, they'll buy one and start using it once again.

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

Suddenly, I noticed something hanging on the line that I knew would make a great background for a photo with Elder Bullock. I said to him, "Will you move over here just a bit and let me snap your photo?" And guess what, he did. Check it out!

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

As we turned to leave, the Narines walked us to our car. I paused so I could take a photo of their house.

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

We walked on a little farther and Cinthia asked, "Oh, please take my photo hanging by my knees from the tree." You can see that Alvin just had to get into the photo, too.

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

By this time, we'd been gone for hours and unfortunately, I had to make a little rest stop right about here!

From 2009-08-10BushlotDay

Well, that's all for now!

Just down our street

2009-08-07T14:11:00.006-04:00

I was walking up our street the other day and stopped to talk to my neighbor and to take a few photos of her visiting grandkids. I first found them peeking out this door/window.

From SemGraduation09

When she saw I wanted their photo, she quickly beckoned them to come out and pose for me. So, here goes with their photos:

Notice the "fireside" area at the back of the house where they do their cooking and their clothes hanging on the line.

From SemGraduation09

Notice their three beautiful little faces.

From SemGraduation09

Then, I realized I was missing the best part of the photo...

From SemGraduation09

Granny's proud look and her classic fence!

Tidbits of Guyana

2009-08-07T12:24:00.009-04:00

Do you want to see where we buy our bread?

From VicBibiLeave

Yes, it's from this little stand that is only set up there and open for business between 4:30-8:30 pm. It's a couple of blocks from where we live. The rest of the sister missionaries love the bread, too, and stock up on it when they come to New Amsterdam.

There are little bread stands up and down Main Street every afternoon but this one is my favorite because they sell wheat bread. This lady's husband bakes all the bread each day starting at 6 am and then, she does the selling of it each evening. That's how they make their living. A loaf costs $1.00. I usually buy 5 loaves at a time.

Once when we were in Georgetown, I spotted this gal sitting with her mom on a bench outside the market. I complimented her on her hairdo. It looks pretty cute, right?

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

Suddenly, she grabbed her hair and as she lifted it, she squealed, "It's a wig!"

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

I was so delighted that I made her repeat her actions so I could share them all with you!

Recently, senior missionaries, Elder and Sister Lingren, moved to Canje. They are just 10 minutes down the road from us. When they mentioned they'd like a washer, we hired the only available transportation, a horsecart, to deliver it.

From VicBibiLeave

After unloading the washer, the horse raised its tail and did you know what right in the middle of their driveway. It was no problem, though, for the driver who quickly scooped up the wet biscuit dough with his hands and carried it off to the weeds! Then, he leaned over and rinsed off his hands in one of the rain puddles in their driveway.

I've learned to never shake hands with horsecart drivers!

This is the building the church has rented where the Bushlot Branch meets.

From VicBibiLeave

I just stepped outside to grab this photo at the end of one of the weekly Book of Mormon firesides we teach to this branch.

If you could see inside, you would find about 30 of them happily playing....

From VicBibiLeave

Yes, it's Musical Chairs. Who says it is a game just for children?

At our firesides on Ammon and the People of Ammon who buried their swords, we had the elders or Roger dig a hole somewhere outside with my biggest spoon to bury the paper swords of the class members. They had written on their swords something they promised Heavenly Father they would always do...or not do!

This is the Rosignol Branch:

From Drop Box

The church rents this building and the Rosignol Branch holds their church meetings in the downstairs. A family lives in the upstairs. The chapel is very spacious inside.

Here they are burying their swords in Rosignol Branch:

From VicBibiLeave

Here is the New Amsterdam Chapel which is owned by the church. It is about 5 short blocks from where we live.

From Drop Box

The building is very small and last week 140 people attended. There must have been a lot of squishing, because there's not room for that many people to have a seat inside without sittting on laps.

And here's the spot found and dug by Roger in New Amsterdam Branch:

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

Richard who is in the front of the last photo is 12. The next Sunday his mom tried to get him to stay home from church to take care of his sick younger brother so she could go to church and teach her primary lesson.

Richard said, "I can't stay home from church because I wrote on my sword that I buried that I would always go to church!" Was there a solution to the problem? They all went to church, even the sick younger brother!

Here's a little look at some of the seminary kids at the seminary graduation. There were a lot more but these were the only ones I could coax into my photo.

From VicBibiLeave

The sun is so hot that it is normal for ladies and girls to carry umbrellas to shade themselves. I'm regulary scolded for forgetting my umbrella. Here is our good friend, Radicka, who is the Relief Society President, and her 15 year old daughter, Dolly, whose real name is Christine.

From VicBibiLeave

Noone is called by their real name!

Parbattie is called Nanda, Drupatie is Sunita, Khemwattie is Geeta, Tunisia is Jinny, Hamida is Sherry, Khelawan is Frankie, Rajendra is Bow, Ravindra is Bushman, Satesh is Workman, Somawattie is Samantha, Dhanwattie is Tasha, Jainarine is Gabbar, Yudhistirnauth is Krishna, David is Tall Boy, and on and on. There are some call names that aren't so nice such as Fat Boy, Big Head, Sausage and Cockroach. How'd you like one of those? My favorite is the call name of a young girl in Bushlot who is called Pretti. What woman wouldn't like that one?

I think I'll end with a couple of photos of Elder Bullock just so you know he's still here.

From VicBibiLeave

Yes, he's had a few problems with his face. First it was his lips and now it is his cheeks.

He's looking a lot better now.

From VicBibiLeave

Vickey & Bibi are off to the MTCs

2009-08-06T15:32:00.011-04:00

Do you remember Bibi and Vickey? Well, they are finally on their missions.
Here's Bibi:

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

And Vickey:

From VicBibiLeave

Vickey and Bibi are cousins. Nearly 8 months passed between the time they first turned in their applications to serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until they flew off for the Missionary Training Centers.

It is soooooooooooo challenging for a young person from Guyana to get ready for their mission departure. You just can't imagine how long it takes just to get their birth certificate and passport so they can leave Guyana. Then, on top of that, they sometimes have to apply for a visa to enter the US if they need to go to the Language Training Center in Provo or if they are serving in the US.

It was so scary the day we went to the US Embassy for them each to be interviewed for their US visas. Vickey was approved, but Bibi was declined so her mission call had to be changed. Their dates of entrance to the MTC were changed and postponed time after time because each of these steps took so long to complete.

Now Bibi and Vickey are Sister Girdharry and Elder Danesh. Elder Danesh has just completed his MTC training in Provo, Utah, and is finally in his first area in Long Beach, California and Sister Girdharry is just about to leave the MTC in the Dominican Republic to become the very first sister missionary in the West Indies Mission.

Here are some photos of their goodbyes and departures.

Vickey left first. The night before he left, he stopped by with some of his many cousins that live right in his neighborhood. Do you notice something strange about them? They are all girls! His sister is sitting on top of the couch in the very back. She's 14 and a cutie.

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

Bibi and Alisha both accompanied Vickey to the airport and give him their special cousin sendoff.

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

After we dropped off Vickey (now Elder Danesh) at the airport, we stopped by Elder and Sister Evans, who are senior missionaries in Georgetown, for a little visit and a breather. We were tired because it takes nearly 3 hours to get to the airport from where we live.

Here we are once again, Bibi, Alisha and Sister Bullock.

From VicBibiLeave

When we picked up Bibi to take her to the airport, it was dark dark dark! Most of her family walked out with her from her house that is way back down the dirt road you see in the background of their photo to tell her their final goodbye. Two of her siblings are not in the photo. Bibi is pretty short but her mom is a lot shorter !

From Drop Box

Here is Elder Bullock's final hug for Bibi/Sister Girdharry:

From VicBibiLeave

Her parting words to us were, "You're going to come see me, aren't you?"

As Bibi left us and entered the airport, there were no tears ...just a big excited smile that stretched clear across her face!

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

When Bibi arrived in Trinidad, she met her new companion, Sister Comejo, at the airport and they flew on to the MTC in the Dominican Republic together. They were instant friends. When they arrived at the MTC, they learned they were the only sisters in the whole MTC with a group of new elders!

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

We've heard back from both Elder Danesh and Sister Girdharry and they are doing well and are happy!

And guess what? We have another missionary with his call. Meet Roger Ramnarain. He leaves for the West Indies Mission in October so we're already hustling around finding his white shirts, etc. Lucky for us...he already has his birth certificate and passport and he won't need a visa to enter the US! Whoopie!

Here you see Roger reading his mission call that was just printed off on my computer.

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

Roger turns 26 this month and is barely able to serve a mission because of his age. He was baptized just over a year ago and is so excited to serve. At present, he is the 1st counselor to the New Amsterdam Branch President, Travis.

And here's one more photo just to let you know he's really happy about his call!

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

We are always looking for Guyanese young people who can serve missions. We have a couple more we think we'll be sending off before we leave Guyana in January 2010.

So Many School Shirts

2009-08-06T15:08:00.003-04:00

Yes, we purchased a lot of school shirts!

The families of two elders that served here, Elder Lang and Elder Dayton, sent us some $$$ to buy school supplies for the children.

We decided that school shirts for the new school year that starts in September would be a good idea. We took our tape measure to church, measured the shoulder span of each school child and noted what the color and size each child needed. Every school has a different color. (Notice the kitchen of my new apt. in the background.)

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

Notice the colors in this photo. They also have burgundy, navy, and blue/white checked. That's Geeta from Rose Hall in the background. She helped me give out the ones in Rose Hall.

We decided it would be best to hand the shirts out at church so they would be motivated to be there. We've been back to each branch at least two Sundays to hand them out.

We put a cute little note in each pocket so the children would know who the shirts were from.

From VickeyBibiLeaveForMissions

Here they are in Rosignol primary just after we have handed some of them their shirts. The children in Rosignol each were given 2 shirts.

From VicBibiLeave

We were able to buy school shirts for the school children of three branches: Rosignol, New Amsterdam, and Rose Hall, which included the teenagers that are still attending school.

The children can not go to school if their family doesn't have money to buy them a uniform. And that isn't so uncommon here in Guyana.

I can't remember just how many shirts we bought but it must have been around 200 shirts.

Wha happen dere, Elder Bullock?

2009-06-21T01:33:00.015-04:00

One afternoon, Elder Bullock's lips began to swell. By the time we needed to leave to teach our fireside, here's what he looked like...

From 2009-06Missionaries

I think there really is a kissing spider!

From 2009-06Missionaries

He said to me, "I can't teach the fireside. You'll have to do it alone. They won't be able to look at me and take me seriously!"

Everytime I looked at him, I started to laugh. I didn't recognize the face of the man I was living with! Where was the handsome football player that I married?

I agreed to teach the fireside alone, but insisted I needed his help to teach the Temple Preparation Class that followed the fireside.

As he tried to teach the Temple class, he kept noticing the members of the class snickering at him as he spoke.

All was well the next day, but I'm sure glad I caught his funny look with my camera!

Goodbye to President & Sister Robison

2009-06-20T20:26:00.013-04:00

Here they came! And Elder Bullock and I were tucked in there, too!

From 2009-06 Zone Conf

Drum roll!

From 2009-06 Zone Conf

Elders were standing at attention!

From 2009-06 Zone Conf

President and Sister Robison arrived at their last Canje zone conference.

From 2009-06 Zone Conf

Elder Bullock took the reins at the end of the ride.

From Drop Box

Notice the Canje chapel in the background...and my new peach colored skirt!

From 2009-06 Zone Conf

The elders found the horse cart (pronounced harse keyart) back on the main road and we all climbed on for the ride along the road to the chapel.

What a perfect setting for photos of our 2 zones with the Robisons. The Berbice zone with Yours Truly...

From 2009-06 Zone Conf

And the Canje zone, with Elder and Sister Treseder.

From 2009-06 Zone Conf

Elder Ritchey, on the left, prepared a beautiful missionary song with 8 other elders. Sister Robison got in on the "show" as she videoed it. Elder Olsen was jamming and improvising on the piano in the background.

From 2009-06 Zone Conf

Elder Ritchey and Elder Olsen lunching down on tamale pie (made without tamales!) and putting on a show for me and the camera.

From 2009-06Missionaries

Goodbye, President and Sister Robison. We love you and are so grateful for all you have taught us and done for us, your missionaries! Sister Robison is holding the memory book our 2 zones made for them with photos and lovenotes from each of us. Elder Ritchey was responsible for the making of the memory book.

From 2009-06 Zone Conf

Arrival Day Celebration

2009-06-04T00:44:00.008-04:00

"What a cutie she is!" That's what I thought when I saw her.

From 2009-05-15

Eight of us senior missionaries took off the morning to go to the celebration of the arrival of the first group of indentured servants from India. We found a large crowd of Guyanese East Indians gathering, many who were dressed in beautiful jeweled outfits. We spent about 4 hours getting to and from the celebration and waiting for it to be begin. We about lost our hearing because the speakers were so loud!

I got bored waiting and began to take photos of those around me. These women were seated behind me and we quickly became friends. They even shared their cookies with us.

From 2009-05-15

The smiles of this couple were as beautiful as their outfits!

From 2009-05-15

When I saw this bright orange outfit, I politely asked the woman to stand so I could snap a photo of her. She was very obliging!

From 2009-05-15

Here's my pretty little girl in green, once again. I especially love this color green with their brown, brown skin. There are some very beautiful Guyanese East Indian women and girls!

From 2009-05-15

We were only able to see the first 2 dance numbers before it was time for us to leave. There were 35 more dance numbers listed on the program.

I think I was the only one of our group who was disappointed to leave. Surely, Elder Bullock was cheering!

As we were leaving, we saw this mother and daughter arriving. The mother was quite the babe.

From 2009-05-15