Week 40 in St. Thomas

Here we are in week 40.  When we were at week 4, I wasn't sure we would make it to week 40, but here we are folks!  Monday started out early, as we picked up the elders eagerly anticipating playing pickle ball with them.  It had been a few weeks, due to visitors and whatnot, so we were all looking forward to it!  Well, we get to the courts and all the fences are down around the courts and then looking closer, we notice that the nets are down too!  We were bummed; first,  Price Smart (our Costco or as close as we are going to get here...) we found out that they shut down the food court.  The one place on the island that one could really get a pretty cheap fast meal and a soft serve ice cream cone for a dollar!  It is gone......we have been so sad about that.  Then we find out that the nets are gone on the courts........I know these are not earth shaking problems compared to what our friends that are serving in Africa face!  But for us, these are just two things that were like little perks.......Oh well, Elder Sigcha scouted around in the bushes and came up with a kind of a rope, so we strung it across where the net was supposed to be, and we played!  The elders are definitely getting better!  I accused them of practicing in their sleep or something, because there was a noticable difference.  But alas, we beat them in 2 pretty close  games! We then  mixed up the teams and played two more.  It was a fun morning after all!  We dropped the elders off and stopped by Brewers Bay on our way home and then went back to our apartment to do laundry, cook and prepare a few lessons......
This rope served as our net!
No net.




We had a wonderful visit from The Smart's this week! (Our mission president and his wife.)  He came to do some Branch Business and especially to do temple recommend interviews.  The first picture is a picture of Gina holding her very first temple recommend.  She will be going to the temple next week to the Domican Republic.  We are so happy for her.  The other pictures are the missionaries with the Smarts and the Arnsworth's.  LaMira was baptized in March and now her husband Mario will be baptized Saturday!  We are so excited about that!

 We all went to Greengos for lunch before the Smarts flew back to Puerto Rico.  We are so thankful for their love and their dedicated service to this mission.  

On Thursday, we dropped by to drop off a bag of cookies for J'Da for her 11th birthday.  I don't think you can see very clearly what the little one (Giovanni) has all over him....but he was covered from head to toe with grease.....he had gotten into his sister's hair grease and smeared it all over himself.  We got a great laugh out of that!

On Friday, we headed over to St. John to see Denis.  We took the elders with us.  It was the first time they had been to St. John.  We have a little English lesson/Book of Mormon reading with Denis and he always makes us a yummy dinner too.  He is such a kind, gentle soul.  

 Saturday was Mario's baptism.  He is LaMira's husband and they just got back to St. Thomas about two weeks ago.  It has been a pleasure to teach Mario with the Elders for the past couple of weeks, and we are so excited for him and LaMira to be on this path together.  We had a great turn out from our branch regardless of the 7AM starting time at Magens Bay.





Love the kids that are in our Branch....they are full of enthusiasiam!!

Elder Sigcha and Elder Von Niederhauser.  We love working with them.  

 Sunday, the Primary children (children from 4 to 11 years old) did the sacrament meeting.  A couple of the songs really got to me.  Especially the one called "Choose Him Again."  The chorus lyrics are:

 And we will choose Him again
For He's our Savior and friend
He'll help and guide us each day
And He will show us the way
To be the best us we possibly can
Oh we will choose Him again.

 As the children were singing this song with all their hearts, I was just so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the teachings that help our children "to be the best that they possibly can be."  I know that by following the commandments and especially following Christ that they really will be.

 In my study of the New Testament this week I came across this quote:
" Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without struggle.   But growth cannot come by taking the easy way.

 We must be careful that we don't resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature.

 Not one of the trials and tribulations that we face is beyond our limits.  We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us."(Phil 4:13) 
Elder Paul Johnson

 Well, that is a wrap!  It has been a good week and for that we are grateful.  Thanks for your messages and prayers.  We feel them.   Stay strong and steadfast.
Love,
Dick and Donna

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