Week 48 in St. Thomas


It's December, but it doesn't feel like the Decembers that we are used to at all!  It is still hot and humid most days.  They tell us that the "Christmas Breezes" are coming.....but we are still waiting with jackets in hand....

We started out the week playing Pickle Ball with the Elders.  They are certainly getting better every week.  Elder Fineangonofo is like a wall at the net and Elder Sigcha has a spin on his serve that is hard to return!  We enjoy playing each week and are thankful that we can.  


Pickle ball forever......

I am so mad that we didn't get a picture of this lady on Tuesday when we took her to lunch.  She has been the manager at the Humane Society here in St. Thomas and she has a heart as big as the island and made of solid gold.  It has been such a pleasure to know E.J. Simmons while we have been here and wish her all the best as she goes to her new home in Florida.  We know that where ever she goes and whatever she does that she will be helping the helpless and loving the unloveable.  We look forward to keeping in touch with this great woman. 

After lunch on Tuesday, we went to do a little tutoring at My Brother's Workshop.  This organization does so much good on this island and we are so happy that we can serve a little bit in their organization.  We have met the nicest people there.......


On Wednesday we spent most of the day volunteering for the Red Cross  in a school here doing "The Pillowcase Project".  It is a project where we teach the students how to be prepared for a disaster.  They are supposed to put the things they need for a disaster in the pillowcase that we give them.  
It was fun to be with the kids and with two other presenters: Austin and Diana.  

On Thursday, we did a coloring project with the residents of Eldra Schulterbrandt.  We played bingo and sang some carols and watched a church video too. They are always so appreciative of us coming.  
Is it a problem that when I play bingo I like all the markers to be lined up by color???


On Friday we got to meet our mission secretary Raekwon Yates and his darling wife Frayli.  They brought the elders SMART PHONES, and they were thrilled to get rid of their blue flip phones.....don't mind my hair, I have lost the battle with the humidity here......

If there is one thing that I have learned in life and have had shown to me time and time again on this mission is this:  The Lord truly IS in the details of our lives.  He knows us, He cares about us, He will guide us, HE LOVES US.  We are his children.  He is there for us, we are the ones that turn our backs on Him. Our lives will go better if we will make him a part of our lives.  


We had the Branch Christmas Party on Saturday night and these three YW decorated the tree and the building for it.  They did a great job!  

As I was cooking for the Branch Party on Saturday, I set a pan of rolls that were rising on the back of the stove.  I was making some cranberry sauce on the front burner and as I was standing there stirring it, suddenly there was a huge POP!  I had turned on the wrong burner, and the glass pan was directly on the heat and it exploded!  We had glass everywhere.....luckily no glass went into my eyes as the glass literally flew like 10 feet.  Guardian angels?????  Grateful.

I didn't get very many pictures becasue I was so busy....but it ended up being a great party with some great food!  We had about 50 people there.  

Sunday after church we got to bring Raekwon and Fraylie Yates home with us to have lunch and then take to the aiport.  While we ate, I asked Rae to tell us how he joined the church.  As he told his story, twice, he had to stop because he was weeping.....as a result, so was I of course.  He shared his heartfelt journey of joining the church and it really was one of the sweetest experiences  I have had this week.  They are a special couple and we feel blessed now to call them friends.  


Sunday night we had the Elders and the Juan and Fatima Diaz over for dinner.  They are visiting here from Utah and contemplating moving here.  They are so faith-filled and prayerful about their decisions that I am certain that if the Lord wants them here (and we need them) that they will come.  It is always amazing to me how the Lord works, and how he gets the people in place that he needs.  Another example of how He is in the details of our lives.  

Here's to another week!  Love you all!  Stay strong and steadfast.
Love,
The Garrisons


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