Week 30 in St. Thomas



Here we are at week 30. Hard to believe that we have been here almost 1/3 of our mission.  Somedays it feels like we have been here 300 weeks, and then again some weeks seems to fly by.  This week was kind of in-between that.  Because the weeks are somewhat the same, it is tempting to not write every week, but I am using it for our "Mission Journal" so I should press on right?
It was a small turn out for Branch Family Home Evening on Monday night, but we still had fun.  We watched a video about a "modern day Good Samaritan" and discussed what that looks like in our own lives and then we played a really fun game of Jeopardy. It was a bit challenging because the sweet sisters on the left speak Spanish, but they won!  Then we had rootbeer floats and cookies.  I have been thinking about the ministering that we do to others.  Many times it is one-on-one,  (or a small group) and I really do think that ministering one-on-one makes a difference.  I remember when I was in high school.  Many times, I was the only  one that would come to Tuesday activities at church for my age-group, but my teacher, Helen Doran, would still go all out and prepare things for me to do and taught great lessons.     She could have easily cancelled.  As I look back on that time with her, it really did make such a difference in my life.  I hope that when we have these activities and just a few come, that it will make a difference to them too.  That is really what it is all about.  
We played Bingo with the residents at the Eldra Schulterbrandt Home on Thursday.  We give them a piece of candy when they get Bingo.  It is pretty funny because throughout the game they are always saying BINGO! (even though the don't have Bingo...)  Because they want the candy......we end up giving quite a bit of candy out each week!  Dick got a marriage  proposal today too.  
Serving a mission definitely requires a lot of prayer. We are so grateful that it has always been a part of our lives, because honestly it is a life-line. 
Elder Garrison getting all the meals ready to serve at the Salvation Army at Friday's lunch.


As I have probably mentioned about a hundred times before, we miss our grandkids so much!  Thankfully there are some pretty cute little ones in our branches that we can love on......

 Well that is a wrap!  Hoping you all had a great week.  Stay strong and steadfast!
Love,
Dick and Donna

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