We should have mentioned this last week but it was still too fresh on the mind. Since our arrival here Elder Faux has followed in the footsteps of the previous couple and each Sunday morning drives to Laborie (15 to 20 minutes one way) to give the Evans William family a ride to church. Last Sunday just Evans and Betherlie attended. As we arrived at the church house we were informed that for some reason there is no water in the building therefore sacrament meeting only today. About this time Betherlie receives a telephone call from Swancy (her daughter) telling her Boom Boom, her nine month old god-baby, has fallen from a chair and broke an arm. Without any hesitancy Betherline tells Elder Faux he needs to take them back home immediately-so away we go. When we are within 45 seconds of their house Betherlie receives a telephone call from Swancy telling her Boom Boom’s arm is not actually broken but that she did hurt it enough to cause minor swelling. Once at the house Betherlie and Evans start making preparation to take Boom Boom back to church with them. Looking at the time I tell them, at the most, there will only be fifteen minutes of meeting time remaining by the time we return so is it worth the effort? Betherlie insists the second hour is going to be held so back we go arriving just as the third elder is finishing his remarks. The fourth elder takes all of eight minutes to deliver his message and then we are singing the closing hymn, the closing prayer is offered and church is over for today. Laborie, here we come for the third time within the last 90 minutes. The elders came to our apartment on Monday to do their weekly e-mail. Elder Welch arrived with what appeared to be a case of pink eye. The mission policy is to ask the mission nurse before seeking local medical attention. Since there is no mission nurse at present we drove to the nearby ‘mall’ and found an eye clinic that took care of him. We attended district meeting in Castries on Tuesday-our last with Elder and Sister Collins. After the meeting we went to Domino’s Pizza for lunch and while eating we remembered that at our very first get together we dined at Domino’s Pizza as well. When we returned to Vieux Fort we could tell Elder Welch was not feeling well. His eye was somewhat better but still bothering him in addition to some cold symptoms. He was planning to go out teaching, but after clearing it with his companion, we insisted he stay at the apartment, doctor his eye and the cold symptoms, and get some rest. Reluctantly he agreed to do so. He was at our apartment the next morning and looked like a new elder. His eye looked good, the cold symptoms under control, and he felt rested. He told us once we left the apartment he went right to sleep and slept the whole night-which did him a world of good.
Sister Faux: Today is Sunday and we were assigned to speak in church again, this has been a monthly assignment and it works out okay. We both decided on our own topic and both chose to speak about callings and how to fulfill them. When some of the members have a calling and for some reason cannot come to fill the assignment – they just don’t come. Then the Branch President fills in, he does a good job but is expected to do that too often. Anyway the talks went okay and we are free for a few weeks. Since we have four elders now I think we will take turns with them. We had about 42 in attendance today and it was a nice day. We had correlation meeting following church and that was needed and turned out well. One of the callings I spoke of was the opportunity of helping to keep the church clean. We have had no sign up for that and today we did get some volunteers to help clean. It will relieve the Branch President very much. Tonight we went to the Williams again and had Family Home Evening. Boom Boom is the star of course, and we had a good evening. Elder Packer and Elder Welch went with us as well as Randy. Evenella gave the lesson and she did a good job, I took a few cookies for refreshments and they had a great fruit? drink so all went well. Last Monday the Elders came and did their email and they came right after lunch time. I thought they had had it but not so. I made them tacos, and I don’t think they had had them since coming on their mission, so that was a good choice. I noticed one elder had five… I also made a fresh banana cake and they savor that as well. Before they left I gave the four of them haircuts so it turned out to be a good day. My sewing classes are going good; still have a few members that have not had a turn as yet. Friday I had three come together and that is fun but makes it slow as they have to wait for each other to sew. I did find someone to cut dress pattern for me so I am anxious to see how that turns out. As I have said, there are no dress patterns on this whole island. There are many tailors and dressmakers but they are so good they don’t need patterns. I wish I could learn that skill. This little project has helped me get better acquainted with the members that come to sew. I like to do it. We had our movie night Friday and that turned out well. I think we had about 29, you just never know who will come. One girl said she had seen the movie “Over the Hedge” 200 hundred times before –so now she has seen it 201 times. If anyone that reads this blog and knows a good movie we could watch, we are open to suggestions. We had our second temple class Saturday night and it was very enjoyable. We hope we can keep a good attendance for that class. We also had Seminary and three girls came and they were almost on time so that surprised us. One note about how the elders travel as they teach. Maybe that is not a good way to explain it, but they carry only a Book of Mormon with them and a small pamphlet or two, no big backpacks or bags. I cannot think how hot it would be to carry a backpack, makes me break out in a sweat just thinking of it. A note about more thing. The earrings’ that I brought with me are all discolored, sort of like the metal in them has turned rancid, or some chemical reaction. I think the heat has caused it or maybe it is because they are so cheap. I did not bring any nice ones, just left them at home. We are enjoying good health, we are happy, and we know we belong to the true church. Life is good. Love, Sister and Elder Faux

We said goodbye to Elders Sturdevant and Lang this week as Elder Sturdevant returned home and Elder Lang was transferred to Trinidad. We were hoping Elder Lang would stay at least one more transfer but no so. This is the second time we have lost both elders at transfer time. However, this time we got four rather than two. The Guyana problem has necessitated, at least for now, the opening of new areas and doubling up in others. Elder Packer, Welch, Westover, and Brague are their names and they come from Arizona, Utah, California, and Oregon. As a note of interest this is Elder Brague’s first week in the mission. For our last ‘fling’ with Elders Sturdevant and Lang on Monday (Preparation Day) Swancy arranged for a bus to take the nine of us to Soufriere and points of interest in between. It was a fun day and with a native driver familiar with the area we did see some interesting places. One site they insisted on was the Jerusalem Falls. It was a 20 minute hike from the road; we crossed a good stream of water thinking it probably came over the falls. Paid our entrance fee, walked up five or six steps and there were the falls-two bamboo pipes empting into two cement containers. (Hope you can see in the picture). We found out they are popular for their “therapeutic value” rather than scenic. Then in the later evening we took Elder Lang to Castries, said our goodbyes, making arrangements with Elder Collins to transport him to the airport Tuesday morning for his early flight to Trinidad. We are going to miss Elder and Sister Collins. They have been such a delight, and so helpful. Tuesday morning the Sturdevant’s joined us for breakfast after which we then departed for Castries stopping along the way near Dennery to ride a “Rain Forest Zip Line”. Not knowing if it was jerky or not Sister Faux opted not to ride being leery of her back. There are eleven towers and you ride the zip line from one to the next. However, there are three times it is necessary to walk from tower to tower. After a few rides you start to enjoy the beauty and scenery as you glide through the trees and foliage, and in some case above them, rather than just holding your breath and hanging on. It was really a blast, and the two guides we had were really fun which added to the enjoyment of the adventure. Once in Castries we got the Sturdevant family settled in their hotel room then joined Elder and Sister Collins at the church to attend a scheduled baptism. This was a nice affair and many branch members in attendance which added to the occasion. We stayed the night with Elder and Sister Collins and Wednesday morning Elder Faux picked up the Sturdevant family and drove them to the airport for their flight to Trinidad. At 10:30 a.m. Elder Brague arrived and at 3:15 p.m. Elders Westover, Packer, and Welch arrived. Since we did not have room in our auto for all four Elder and Sister Collins volunteered to bring two of them Thursday morning- so eventually they all made it. Elder Faux spent five hours with the elders Thursday afternoon, walking and driving, showing them the Vieux Fort area, where many of the members live as well as some of the investigators. At the conclusion we stopped at the apartment and Sister Faux provided tuna fish, lettuce, and slice tomatoes and cucumbers for them make their own sandwiches or whatever-which they did and enjoyed. She also baked some chocolate chip cookies for them to enjoy. Saturday evening we held our first temple preparation class with six in attendance. We hope this will be an incentive for them to set goals and strive to get there. As of now President Nicholas is the only endowed member of the branch.
Sister Faux: Once again a new week begins with new adventures and experiences expected. We were sorry to have Elder Sturdevant and Lang leave us and the View Fort Branch. They were fun elders and made friends will all the branch members and met many investigators. We wish them happiness and good times ahead. Our new elders seem to be very interested and happy to be here. Three came from Guyana and that seems to be a great part of the mission with many baptisms, so hope they will enjoy the challenges this area offers. It has been interesting to me to see how sunburned a couple of them have become. They have spent many months in the sun and I would think they would be very use to being in the sun each day. But their faces are quite red. Elder Faux has been having all the great experiences this week while mine have been trying to teach people to sew. It has been a fun experience and somewhat like I expected---people making appointments and not coming or even calling. Such is the life in St Lucia. Those that have come have had a good experience and it has been fun for me. I do miss all of my equipment I have at home and long to be able to use it. A pair of nice sharp scissors for instance would be wonderful. I do have an unpicker and that will be worn out before we are finished. I keep telling them, “A person that can unpick well turns out to be a good seamstress”. I have a couple of ladies wanting to make dresses, if only we could find a pattern. We are going to a taylor and see if he can help us. Once people join the church it is very interesting trying to keep them active. All seem to have different reasons and we are sorry that they do not continue to come. They are much needed and would add so much to our small branch. I just counted our members and found that about 29 are not coming or only coming occasionally and we really need them. We have 50 on the branch list—it makes me sad. The weather here is still hot and humid, but a couple of days were a tiny bit cooler. The Branch President said that October is usually the month that we get the most rain, so we will see. We wish each of you a wonderful week and a happy life, Love, Sister and Elder Faux

Hey Kris, Having a little trouble with our pictures. Will send as soon as help arrives. (Elders). Love Dora and Dave--

Our main event for the week was attending zone conference in Castries on Friday 14 September. We actually went Thursday afternoon to attend a meeting with mission President Gamiette, President Nicholas, our branch president, and Elder Wilford W. Andersen, a member of the 2nd Quorum of Seventy and 1st councilor in the area presidency. Elder Andersen presented a general message then with President Nicholas we had a one on one session with President Gamiette. During the course of this meeting President Gamiette assigned, not called, Elder Faux as the elders quorum president in the Vieux Fort Branch. Other than a short presentation by the ‘assistants to the president’ President Gamiette and Elders Andersen were the conference speakers. As expected President Gamiette is going about things different than President Robison to achieve the mission goals and outcome. Elder Andersen’s presentation was well done. It was down to earth and easy to relate to. His past two church callings were that of stake president and then mission president. There is no doubt he excelled in each. A most inspiring person. We also had the opportunity to meet a new couple to the mission, Elder and Sister Wheeler, from Blackfoot, Idaho. Through the mission grapevine Sister Wheeler found out that Sister Faux did beautician work so she imposed on her to cut her hair while we were together so they got well acquainted. Thursday evening the four couples-Wheelers, Collins, Rasmussen, Faux- and President Gamiette got together and had dinner together. It is always fun to join with these other couples to enjoy their experiences and feel of their testimonies. We were saddened however when Elder and Sister Collins told us they have been called to serve in Guyana and would be leaving St Lucia then end of September. They have been so much fun to be with and have helped us so many different ways we feel bad to have them leave. Wednesday morning Elder Faux participated in a service project for a branch member. That of pouring a sidewalk St Lucian style. Bags of sand and gravel (?) were just dumped on the ground where part of the sidewalk would be, a bag of cement pour over the sand, and gravel, no concern about portions, water added, and then mixed with shovels. The cement was laid over a wire mesh to firm it up-but no forms used-just spread it out. In the picture you might be able to tell the stones in the gravel were so large it was difficult to make a really smooth surface. But the home owner was happy, President Nicholas was happy, and we were served breakfast as a bonus.
Sister Faux: Yes we feel very sad to have the Collins leave. They have become our dear friends and we have enjoyed them so much. We see them each Tuesday and look forward each week to be with them. That is the way a mission goes- mostly good but some not so good. They will be wonderful as they work in Guyana. We do not know the new couple that will come in but will have the opportunity to get acquainted with them. We only know the couples that come onto our Island for Zone Conference, the Rasmussen’s’ and the Wheelers’ also we met the humanitarian couple the Whiteheads’. Zone Conference turned out very nice for me as I met an elder that is one of my relatives. It is Elder Palmer, an assistant to the President. He is a great grandson of my father’s brother Victor Collard. Elder Faux was speaking with him and he said he was from Nephi, Utah. Somehow they spoke of Fountain Green and he talked of his great grandfather (Uncle Vic) and we discovered we are relatives. It was very exciting to find out that information. I went to his grandmothers (my cousin) funeral a couple of years ago and he said he spoke in the funeral and so it was a happy surprise. He seems like a very nice young man and I was so good to meet him. His great grandmother is still alive and lives in Nephi and I went to visit her last year. She is in her late nineties, Amber and I went to Nephi when she celebrated her 90th birthday. She is my Aunt Melene; she is my only living aunt so that was an added happy time.
Elder Sturtevant’s parents arrived Saturday making him a happy Elder. It was fun to go with him to the airport to meet his parents -as we were about as excited as E. Sturdevant was to have them come. We were invited to lunch with them to Pres. Nicholas home after church today. That was a very nice time for us. Saturday night we went to the William home in Laborie for a BBQ and a nice evening. We had it on the beach with the waves coming in and it was a very peaceful evening. Sister William served chicken, fish and hot dogs- which she called sausages, a green fig salad and I took potato salad and German chocolate cake. When we eat at a restaurant they serve what they call provisions, it is usually rice, plantain (Looks like a banana) sweet potato, Cole slaw, (no dressing), and bread fruit. They don’t eat much dessert and if they have cake it is without frosting. It is all very interesting, -- not good but interesting.
There are dozens and dozens of old cars on the streets. If a car wrecks or doesn’t work anymore it is just parked, usually where there is a lot of green and vines. Soon the vines begin to cover over the car and it is never moved again...I took a picture but will take another one and send later.
This week seems to be a busy week as we take Elder Lang to Castries to be transferred to Trinidad, Elder Sturdevant to go home and then we pick up four new elders. There are three elders coming from Guyana and one new elder from home. So we go to Castries Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then I sew the rest of the week. Fun Week. Love, Sister and Elder Faux

The big event for the week was the baptism of Chervonne. We have mentioned Chervonne (Shavon) before, a pretty nineteen year old young lady, and all the contention and harassment she has dealt with from ‘friends’ and family, her grandmother in particularly, as she has been taught by the elders. Regardless, she decided she wanted to be baptized so it happened Saturday evening. She said she wanted it after dark so no one could see but we talked her into doing it around sundown so there would still be some light. But she ended up having it her way as she was over an hour late. Anyway the baptism went fine and as she came up out of the water she let out a little shout of excitement that just made us all feel so good. With the moon and other lights we could see OK -the only problem was getting pictures of the event that are always treasured.
On the Caribbean side of St Lucia stand two distinctive mounts- the Gros and Petit Pitons, the result of long ago volcanic eruptions. They are well known landmarks even being depicted on the national flag. As part of preparation day we planned to climb the Gros Piton. A member of the branch had climbed it before and said he would be the guide. All set… except when we arrived at the visitor’s center to pay the required hiking fee, which we had been told was EC$20.00 each, we were also informed a guide was mandatory- whom they provided. No one hiked the mountain without one. That was Ok until we were told for the four of us it would cost EC$266.00 which was about EC$91.00 more than what we had! Alas a reminder that finding out for yourself always pays off. The elders were disappointed, especially Elder Sturdevant, as this was probably his last opportunity before he departs for home. So we did Plan Y and visited the Sulfur Springs near Soufriere which literally is a “drive-in volcano”. At various viewpoints you can observe pools of boiling sulfur water belching off vapors and fumes that have a strong rotten egg gas odor. It is quite interesting and a site of much international volcanic study and monitoring.
Sister Faux: Well another busy week has flown by- some things were planned and some not-but we have had a good time. As I said last week I was going to start a sewing class and I would report if I was still sane. I am about as sane as I was before the class so I know some people will be sorry for me but the sewing has been successful. I don’t know if you realize I have no material to sew on and no patterns to make anything. So being the Deseret Industry person that I am, I’ve improvised. We had some bags of clothing at the church that people have donated hoping that someone else could use them. So I sorted through them and found a few things that could be remade into some sort of bags. I brought them home, washed them, took them apart, and now we have a few bags made or started at no cost. One bag is finished and it was made by Randy. I was shocked as I showed him how to thread the sewing machine and he began to sew. He made perfectly straight lines. We took a skirt apart and it is now a nice bag. I hope this will be a good project and help those who are interested to learn to make something they can use. I am always wishing I could play the piano or sing, but now with my sewing skills maybe I have found something that will be good for my friends.
Another exciting event that happened this week was getting new neighbors. There are four medical schools on this end of the island. Students come from everywhere to attend for two years then they return to the states to finish their training. I know some go to the Chicago area. The two years just ended so Elder Faux and I have been alone in this complex for a couple of weeks as everyone has moved out. Our neighbor Cheri will be back soon but everyone else moved back to the states. Our new neighbor next door, Sharon, is going to start school tomorrow. Her brother, Bobby, and sister, Daluet, came with her to help get her set up. Their nationality is Pakistan, have their U.S. citizenship, are Muslim, and live in California. He was so happy to find us here and we spent a good deal of time with them. We took them to the airport after church so now the brother and sister have gone home. I have never known any Muslims so it has been very interesting for us. Dave took them everywhere they needed to go and Bobby was in our apartment more than his sisters. They took us to eat, twice for me, and three times for Dave. He has three Wendy’s in or near Newport Beach, California and, as Bobby tells it, is well to do. He is worried about Sharon as he thinks she will be so lonely. He put us in charge and expects us to take care of her. I hope it turns out good for all of us.
Elder Sturtevant’s parents arrive next Saturday and we are as excited to see them as he is. We will miss him as he is a good missionary and just nice to have around. These elders make my day and I am lonesome if I don’t see them for a day. We had to go to Castries and get a police report for Elder Lang; he needs that to get back into Trinidad. I hope he is going later and not at the same time as Elder Sturdevant. I would think you have heard of the problem in Guyana with the church. That is where our two elders were transferred from. I wonder what is happening there now, we have no idea. That is about it for this week—we had a nice testimony meeting today with only about 28 attending but many bore their testimonies. Have a great week. If you get a chance we would love to hear from you…Sister and Elder Faux
p.s. just a little follow up-Sister Faux shared gave her COLD to Elder Faux. We are fine now.