17 January 2010
We think we mentioned last week about Elder Morris breaking out in a itchy rash. Either way, with the blessings of Sister Ellison, the mission nurse, we took him to see Hilaria Gervais, FNP. Hilaria comes at the recommendation of President Nicholas since she serves as his family health care provider. She lives about ten miles north and west of Vieux Fort in a beautiful home with landscaping that had Sister Faux drooling. Hilaris’s first impression was that Elder Morris had come in contact with something he is allergic to. The first item we all thought of was the concrete we were around on Saturday during our service project. Elder Morris cringed at this as his father does concrete contracting therefore he has worked around concrete for a number of years with no problem. After a thorough examination she prescribed some allergy medication for him to take. Because the rash covered most of his body, and we had seen it become much more involved, the pharmacist part in Elder Faux came out and asked her what she thought about treating it with a two or three day dose of prednisone. She rejected that suggestion immediately, and without mincing any words. We are however, happy to report it subsided after a day of two. But Elder Morris still refuses to believe it was the concrete. As a bonus for us Hilaris gave us about a dozen grapefruit fresh from the tree. And speaking of pharmacist we went back to the St Jude’s hospital to follow up on our visit last week with the humanitarian couple. While there Sister Faux suggested I visit the pharmacy and see if I could do some volunteer service there. They were quite receptive to the offer asking that I check back next month after they have completed a little expansion project. Thursday evening we accepted Elders Rosales and Morris offer to go visiting with them at a home in an area known as Grace. We almost had to make a U turn off the main road to get on the road to the investigator’s home. It is a terrible road (?)-steep, rocky, full of ruts and potholes. I (Elder Faux) was a little perturbed to think they would ask to drive the car on this road. A four wheel drive pickup maybe, but not a little Corolla sedan. We made it OK but added about five or six new scrapes to the underside of the auto. But with the spirit we felt during the lesson and the great session we had it was all worth it. But we will walk that road henceforth.
Sister Faux: What Elder Faux did not tell you was the path that led to the house was about as bad as the road up the hill? If we could just video all the trails and roads we have been on we could open some type of a video show. This little island is totally made up of hills up and down. Many pretty places but so many hills.
Our Elders received their transfers yesterday—it is sad when that happens. Elder Thomas is going to St Martin and going to learn French. He does speak a little French, but it will be a learning experience for him. He is a fine young man and we will miss him very much. He is from New Zealand. Elder Rosales also is transferred back to Trinidad and will continue to be a zone leader. He takes his calling as a missionary very serious and is a good elder also. We had him here before and he does great work. He is from Guatemala. Elder Welch and Elder Morris stay and each will have a new companion. We will tell about them as we meet them.
Not too much news this week—it has been a bit cooler. In fact tonight it almost felt cool as we have had a little rain today and sometimes that makes a difference. I think I said that I bought a thermometer a couple of weeks ago. I don’t think the temperature has changed even a degree since we put it up. I think it has stayed on 80º every second—oh, and it was on sale. Do you think it is broken? The temperature sounds nice, but the humidity is not the best. It is 11:48 pm ºand the temp is 78º-maybe it does work, and the humidity is eighty four.
We had a nice sacrament meeting at church today with 46 attending. That was good and the most we have had for some time. It made all of us happy. We had 12 sisters in Relief Society, before we have 4 to 6.
I don’t know if I have mentioned that everyone has security bars on their windows. We like it and make us feel safe. They have finished building an apartment out our back window; they started it the 4th of Dec. It still needs paint but I was told it is finished. We have been asked if we felt the earthquake in Haiti. No, we did not feel anything, but the mission office emailed this morning and said the mission area doctor and three member doctors have left for Haiti and 13 more were coming in today. Once there they will set up a hospital in one of our church buildings. All the churches are okay and also all the missionaries are safe. A terrible tragedy. We wish you a happy and safe week. The Church is true.
Elder and Sister Faux