Week 15 in St. Thomas

On P-Day this week, we went to a new beach (for us).  Lindquist Bay.  It is beautiful, as they all are, but we still love our Brewers Bay the best so far.  It did have some interesting features, one of which was:  a "floating bar." Take a look at the picture below:
Pretty innovative, isn't it????

Some of the sisters in our Branch.  Aren't they all so cute???
From this picture one may think that we beat the Elders at pickle ball again this week, but actually they beat us 3-2, but it wasn't without a fight!  Elder Shah struck this pose numerous times throughout the match....he really cracks us up!
One thing that I  do a lot on this mission is bake!  I bake something for each person in the branch that has a birthday and then we deliver it to them.  Sometimes it is cookies (most times), sometimes it is cupcakes, or brownies or banana bread.  It gives us an excuse to visit, and usually they don't mind at all.



On Thursday night, the Humanitarian missionaries that are stationed in the Dominican Republic, Elder and Sister Rhien asked us to attend a "farewell party" for All Hearts and Hands as they had finished the renovation of the Alvin McBean Recreational Complex here in St Thomas.  Our church (among others)  partnered with them, and supplied materials for them to complete this project.  It was a very nice community event.  That organization is doing so much good and we think it is wonderful that the church partners with them in completing so many humanitarian projects.  

 After we attended the event, we looked up who exactly Alvin McBean was.  Well, he was a Major League Baseball player from St. Thomas!  Quite the icon around here.  If you have a chance to read up on him, I promise it is entertaining!  He is quite a personality.  He didn't attend because of failing health, but his wife attended.  
Our kids asked us why we were throwing gang signs in this picture!  Well, actually we were showing the VI sign....Virgin Islands!  We volunteered on Saturday morning to help the Red Cross distribute smoke alarms to households on the Island.  It was quite enjoyable.  The two young girls are nursing students at the University of Virgin Islands and the other two are the director of Red Cross here on the island and her boyfriend.  We talked  with people from all kinds of places today and installed 22 smoke alarms.  We are going to do it again in May.
"Stop trying to steal the Pen!"  We saw this sign on Saturday when we were doing the smoke alarms.  I love these signs that churches put up.  Honestly, we all just need to trust in God and let Him lead us, He knows us better than anyone knows us because he is our Father.  Sometimes we just need to get out of the way and LET HIM....... 




This was the favor that they pinned on everyone....this is an island tradition too.

 On Saturday afternoon we attended a celebration of life for a sister in the Faith  Weslyan Church.  We met these two students at My Brother's Workshop where we tutor and they invited us and the Elders to this church function. They played the keyboard and sang.   It was quite an elaborate affair, with decorations, favors, and a big dinner and program.  It gave us a feel for what the churches are like on this island.  The people were very welcoming and friendly.  Definitely something we will always remember.  

 Well, that's a wrap for the week.  Every week, I think, what can I possibly write about in the blog this next week, and it seems like there is just always something that crops up that makes our days unique and not exactly like "Groundhog Day"........We are grateful for the opportunity to serve here, what a blessing it is to just get up every morning and try to fill our schedule with serving others and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ;  making sure that we try to follow the promptings of the spirit.  We are thankful for Christ and His teachings, they are such an anchor to our souls.    Thanks again for your prayers......
Love,
Dick and Donna

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