Week 32 in St. Thomas

Welp....here we are at week 32!  The best thing that happened this week was that we got Elders back to our island after being gone since the last part of May.  So we are excited about that!  It will be a bit difficult for them at first though because neither one of them have been here before, so they have to learn about it and find places and meet people without another Elder to lead the way, so we will try to help them as best we can.  But we are pretty lame.....
Elder Niederhauser and Elder Sigcha will be serving here in St. 
Thomas.  
Elder Hanson and Elder Makaafi will be in Tortola!

It is amazing how close these Elders get even after just serving together for one transfer.  Friends for life.
We said good-bye to Elder Cox.  He is off to Puerto Rico to be a Zone Leader and he will do great!

Meanwhile in the real world, all the grandkids are back in school again. Hard to believe that we have a senior, a sophomore, a freshman, a 6th grader, a 5th grader, a 4th grader, a 2nd grader, a first grader, two pre schooler and two pre pre schoolers.  Sure do love and miss them all!
Gordie pre pre school, Briggs 1st grade and Eliza Lou pre school!
Ty 4th grade, Tad 2nd grade, Trent pre school and Tayleigh (with her backpack on)...pre pre school!

Chloe is a sophomore! 
Claire is a 6th grader!
La will be a freshman!
And T (Talor) will be a Senior!  Are we really this old?  

So Wednesday night, we set up for English Class and were waiting for our people to come.  So we waited, and waited and waited, and nobody came but then ONE person came!  So we had a pretty good class, and then the last 10 minutes, we just had "English Conversation" with our student.  As we continued to converse, it became apparant that he was struggling with some family things and pretty soon, he was talking in Spanish with the Elders and we had no idea what was going on.  After class, Elder Sigcha asked him if he would like a blessing and he said that he would.  So he gave him a blessing.  We had no idea what was being said, because it was all in Spanish, but what we do know is that the spirit was so strong and that many tears were shed.  As Elder Sigcha finished the blessing he gave this brother a big hug and continued to encourage him....it was the sweetest experience.  That night, we were given a lesson in loving and ministering to the ONE.  It is an experience that we won't soon forget.  

Friday night we had a special visit from Elder Howe and his mom and dad and brother!  It was so fun to see him and meet part of his family.  He was here to pick us up at the airport in January and really was the best Elder and we love him so much!  He is off to BYU and we expect to see great things from him in the future!




On Saturday, The Eastons invited us to come along with them to celebrate her birthday by going on the Hale's "Second Chance" Charter.  We went over to Maho and snorkeled and then to Christmas Cove and snorkeled some more and also kayaked.  It was a beautiful day....I think Dick put it best..."That was the best P-Day on the mission so far! "

Said good bye to the Howe family after church.  They were flying back to Utah right after church.  It was so great to get to have them in St. Thomas for a bit.

We were spiritually nourished at church on Sunday.  The Pickett family are back in the branch until December, so it was a treat to hear their  talks and learn from them.  All in all it was a pretty good week.

Stay strong and steadfast.  
Love,
Dick and Donna

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