Week 22 in St. Thomas

Well here we are at week 22.  Honestly, somedays, I wonder if we can endure this heat and humidity the whole summer?  It is only June and the feeling of always being wet is undeniable.  Thankfully, we do have an air conditioner in our bedroom, so now at night, we turn it on when we go to bed, and sleep much better.  During the mornings and evenings if we are home, we still just use the fans.  We haven't gotten the power bill since we started using the air at nighttime, so that will be most interesting.  


Tuesday we did our regular gig at My Brother's Workshop.  Dick tutored Mikail, and I help Janelle.  They will both be walking in graduation on June 23rd.  We really enjoy the kids there and all the other people that work there too.  Big fans of My Bother's Workshop!
Can you see what this is?  It is fingernails!  At first I thought that the lady had some kind of a a toy in her hands, and then as she sat down next to me at the ferry, I glanced to see what toy it was, and surprise!  It was her fingernails!  Ok, folks, now this is crazy, how does she do anything with these hanging off of all her fingers????  

On Wednesday at our English Class, we did a cooking class.We started and ended singing songs from the Children's Songbook with an app that showed the words (in English) and a bouncing ball to let them know what words to sing....they loved that!   I demonstrated how to make Chocolate Chip Cookies.  None of the ladies had any idea how to make them!  Imagine that???  So they learned words like:  apron, mixing, cup, teaspoon, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda ect., While they were cooking we showed them a video from LDS Media Library.  It was interviewing people with the question:  "What would you do if you just had one day to live?"  After the video we asked them that question. It was interesting to us that no matter where we are from, no matter what our backgrounds are, that universally people would spend time with those that they love, or they would tell people that they love them, and they would share what is most important to them in their lives.  Many of them talked about being grateful for the life they have had.  It was a good evening with these 6 ladies....
On our way home, we got this picture from the Elders in Tortola after their Family Home Evening.  Our mission President's wife asked:  "Why the Doritos?"  The answer from Drew)the guy in blue) was:  "Because everything is better with Doritos!"   Right?


Look close:  apparently his heart doesn't sweat!
I ran across this quote by President Hinkley this week.  I love how optimistic he always was, as was his wife.  Some days are long for us and they don't always turn out the way that we would have liked them to, so I am going to try to remember this quote on those days.....

On Saturday we picked up our mission president and his wife.  Most of you know that Sister Smart is from Tooele and that President Smart's brother was my Bishop growing up.  And Bob was their son Cody's companion in Ecuador twice. So we have a unique connection to them regardless of them calling us to this mission!  We had such a wonderful day with them in St. John.  They had never been there before, so they loved seeing that beautiful little island with us.   For us, it was just such a moral boost.  At times, being here on the island as the only missionaries can be so isolating.  Other times, we (especially me) don't feel like we are doing much good, because we don't have that many people to teach etc. They were so good about putting our doubts to rest and assured us that we are doing exactly what we should be doing and admonished us to not be too hard on ourselves.  We appreciate their support and are thankful for their leadership.  Being a Mission President and wife are not easy tasks, but they are doing a GREAT job.  We love them so much.
Our attempt at a selfie!

President and Sister Smart
Ryan with Claire and Chloe

Dick with our boys
Since Sunday was Father's Day, I can't close until I give a shout out to my dad and to Dick and our boys & Ryan for being such wonderful Fathers.  I think in today's world, that often the important role of Fathers is not honored like it should be.  My father played such a vital role in my life and in who I am today and I am so thankful for him. My husband has been such a great dad to our kids despite losing his dad at 11, somehow he has thrived in that role and because of him, our boys are wonderful dads.  And Ryan, (Joye's husband ) is a wonderful dad too.  Thankful for each one of them.....
Joye with her daddy.

This is such a classic picture of my dad.  He always had a hat on and some kind of a coaching shirt.  There are not many days that go by that I don't think about  him.  He died much to young (59) and I look forward to seeing him again someday and know that he will just love all his grandkids and posterity.  He loved kids so much!  Thanks dad for being you.

Well, that's a wrap. Another week has come and gone. At times it feels like a week is a month, but then I look back at the week and I can't believe that it is Monday again already.

Stay strong and steadfast.  Remember that you are a child of God and that He loves you.
Love,
The Garrisons

Comments

  1. Just a bed of rosesJune 24, 2019 at 6:55 AM

    Hi you two, I was reading this post to Sandra my sister, hers and my husband. We were in the car coming home from 16 days peru, 3rd world country trip. She was so happy to see the Smarts there, of course she knows them. Course you know with God there are no coincidences! Our tour guide had served in Peru. Hes 50 now ut continues each year to bring a group back and keep those friendships alive. They had placed him at first in the poorest of the poorest area, still hasn't changed much and a big drug area. I wish their leaders were not so corrupt so that their people could progress. He said we can do some things but not everything to help. Living in humidity is tough, it makes you realize the slower speed of the residents. Keep loving and being an example

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