Week 21 in St. Thomas

On Monday after we studied and did some chores around our apartment, we headed to a new  beach:
Coki Beach.  We snorkeled and had a picnic and it was a beautiful day.  This beach is way busier than the one that we usually go to (Brewers Bay) and Mr. JOMO (joy of missing out) didn't like it too much because they charge to park your car and to park your carcass on their chairs but Mrs. FOMO (fear of missing out )loved it!  Luckily we had our own chairs & umbrella. We saw some pretty cool fish while snorkeling and all in all it was a really nice day and a good way to start out the week.

Monday night we had our monthly FHE.  It was the first one that we have done without the Elders😧. We were worried that nobody would come but we had a great little group.  We taught a lesson about Family History and afterward two of the members asked us to help them with their family history, which we would love to do.  We played a fun game called Mormon Mouthful, which is kind of like Mad Gab and had brownies and ice cream for refreshments.  It was a fun evening.  I am mad that I forgot to take a picture!  

This is 3 bean salad! (really has 4 kinds of beans) It has become quite the staple in our diet here.  Dick makes up a big batch about every two weeks!  When the Elders were here, they had a little joke going about the bean salad.  They said:  "Ain't no party like a bean salad party 'cuz a bean salad party is fun!"  When they left, we printed up the recipe for them on a recipe card, as a momento.😉. It's the little things.

On Tuesday, the Clinton Foundation held a summit here at the University of the Virgin Islands.  Our friend Suzanne tried to get us tickets to attend, but we started the process way to late!  There was high security for the event .  Suzanne actually got a picture with Bill......that wouldn't happen in most places!!

At English Class on Wednesday evening we had a literal explosion of attendees!  Ha....for months, we have had two gals come that speak Haitian Creole as their native language; well, this Wednesday those two ladies invited three more to come  that are from Haiti and we also had Carlos, who is a member from the DR that we just met on Sunday and he brought his aunt Dulce.  It was a great evening.  We ended the evening watching a short church video and having ice cream.  

This is a picture of LaMira calling out numbers for Bingo.  We are so glad that she has been coming along with us to do activities at the Eldra Schulterbrandt Home.  She is so much fun! This week, we gave candy out for the winning games; although, after a while, Dick was just giving it out to everyone!  Oh well......

I ran across this quote again today and thought I would post it.  I love this quote, and honestly need to be reminded of it on occasion.  Nothing is worth ruining a relationship with another person.  To love others really is what we are here on earth for right?  

You just cannot teach a child to pose like this, it is something they are born with!  This picture honestly just cracked us up this week. It is Eliza-she is three and is Grant and Olivia's only girl......as you can tell, she is full of life and gusto!

Friday morning we attended a funeral for the husband of one of our members.  The funeral was in the Christchurch Methodist Church here in St. Thomas.  It was a lovely service, and after going to it, I get how much of a change it is for these islanders to convert to our church. The sermon was wonderful and the Pastor spoke of Christ, but the best thing about it was the singing and the music.....in this funeral of 1 hour and 20 minutes there was 7 songs, either by a special choir or the congregation.  It was very nice.  I loved one of the songs that we sang, here are the lyrics:

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry,
Everything to God In prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.  

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should  never  be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrow share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge-
Tae into the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Don't know about you, but I find that song so consoling and so true to really how we should face our trials and our burdens.  And to hear these island people sing it, was really a beautiful thing.

After the funeral, we hopped over to the Salvation Army to do our regular service at their soup kitchen.  I couldn't help but snap this picture of the hair........it is just astounding to me that in this hot muggy weather that it wouldn't be cooler to just shave it off.....it goes to the floor!

On Saturday we hopped on the ferry and went over to Tortola.  Since Elders were assigned over there, we only go over every month now, instead of ever other week.  The Elders are doing GREAT over there, and have lots of people to teach and the people in the Branch just love them.  We accompanied them to a couple of appointments on Saturday.  One of them was to a lady (above) named Rose.  She has a great knowledge of the Bible and LOVES the Book of Mormon.  She says that she finds nothing in the Book Of Mormon that disagrees with teachings in the Bible, and in fact some of the things she reads in the Book of Mormon helps her to clarify Christ's teachings.  We had a great discussion.  She was very animated.  The Elders asked her if she came to believe that the Book of Mormon was true and that Christ's church had been restored would she be baptized?  She then went on about how she would never attend church on a Sunday!  She firmly believes that we should worship on Saturday.  She is a 7th Day Adventist. But then she admitted to us that she does NOT attend church at all, because she doesn't feel that they study the WORD enough at church.  So she stays home on Saturday and devotes herself to study.  That is the day that she has the Elders come too....so anyway, it was interesting.  Not sure where this will go with Rose, but it was very fun to talk to her and get to know her.

On Sunday in Tortola, I got to teach these five Young Women.  Two of them were visiting from Utah and they had lots of questions for the girls that live in Tortola.  It was so fun to visit with them and teach them. 

Well that's a wrap for this week.  Thanks to everyone that prays for us.  Stay strong and steadfast!  Until next week.
Love,
Dick and Donna