Week 41 in St. Thomas

Week 41?  Can it really be that in just 11 more weeks we will have been out a year?  This week started out good!  We actually had a call from the Temple Square Sister Missionaries with a referral.  Now folks, this is exactly the first time on our mission that this has happened to us.  Apparantely this person called with a request for a Bible and a Book of Mormon.  So we called him, and got his voice mail and asked him to call back and he didn't.  So, we thought, "so much for that!"  But, on Tuesday, we were driving into town and Dick said, maybe we should try that guy again, so I called and left a message and he called me right back.  Long story short....we met him later that day in the pouring rain and gave him the books and had a great conversation with him.  He is a seeker of truth and had done quite a bit of research on the church.  He told us that he actually needed the Book of Mormon because it was the "stick of Joseph" just as the Bible is the stick of Judah and in order to clap you need both!  I told him that I had never heard it put that way, and he said "don't forget who said it!"  Ha!  Anyway, he was delightful and we are looking forward to getting to know him better.  

 Later that night, we had the Elders and the Griffins over for dinner.  We  celebrated Elder Niederhauser being out on his mission for a YEAR!  His mom had sent me his favorite casserole recipe and cookie recipe, so I made those for him.  He and Elder Sigcha gave a great message to the Griffins and we talked about why it is important to do CPR:  Go to CHURCH, PRAY, and READ the scriptures everyday, everyday, everyday.......good advice, right?!



Happy 1 year Elder Niederhauser!

On Wednesday we headed to the Domician Republic with some of the members of our branch to attend the temple.  It has been 10 months since we have been to the temple, so we really were looking forward to going. Before our mission, we went to the temple weekly for years as temple workers and as patrons too.  It has been such a blessing in our life ever since we were first married.  It is at the temple that I find peace from the outside influences of the world, it is a place where I have gone to seek answers to prayers and to ask for guidance in my life and guidance as parents to help our children.  I am so thankful for that blessing in my life, and living so close to one has definitely been a blessing that I have taken for granted.  The people here on the islands, have to plan, save and sacrifice to go.  They are lucky to go once a year!   But they are building one in Puerto Rico!  So that will be a huge blessing to the members here.  


Here is the group! (From left to right:  Aubrey, Becca, Gina, Ginger, Lynn, President Marsh, LaRae, Aleshia, me, Elder Garrison, Wilma and Bruce).   It was Gina's first time to go to the temple, which is very special.  Ginger (our branch president's wife)  was her escort. We left on Wednesday afternoon and came back to St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon.  It was a great trip and we are so glad that we could go!

On Friday afternoon we had some free time, so we went to the aquariam and then to see some really cool caves.  




There is a lot to see in this huge city, and of course we didn't even scratch the surface.  Guess we might have to go back someday and do some more exploring.  The people were very warm and friendly there and it really was an enjoyable trip.

 Meanwhile, on Saturday, in Tortola..........the Elders baptized two new members into the church.  There was another double rainbow that day to commenerate the occasion.  

Nadia, Josh, Angel, Elder Moreno, Elder Maakafi and Jamoll.  
I almost forgot this picture.  This was at the park directly across from the Temple.  We walked there every morning.  This park was alive from 6am on:  Zumba Classes, Boxing, Weight Lifting, Tai Chi, people walking dogs, policeman running together while chanting.....it was amazing!  This heart that we are standing in front of has locks hooked into the grid where people write their names on the locks and then lock them on.  We decided that someday we need to go back there and put on a padlock with our names on it!

 Sunday night we went to dinner at Hassel Island.  That is where our branch president & his wife live and they are so gracious to have the missionaries over for dinner quite regularly.  As you can see, Ginger feeds a lot of mouths and she is a great cook!  We took our friend Angie with us on Sunday for the first time, and also Mario.  (LaMira, Mario's wife had been there before.). It was a good evening of food and fellowship!


Well, that is the week for us.  Can't believe that we will be on to November by the end of the week.  We have some visitors coming this week!  We LOVE to have visitors......thanks for your prayers.  Stand fast.......
Love,
Dick and Donna

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