28 February 2010
Last Thursday was a day that arrived all too soon-as it was the day our family that was visiting with us departed for home. Even though they arrived in Vieux Fort they departed from the airport in Castries. To make the drive to Castries and have them there at the scheduled check-in time meant that we had to arise at 3:30 a.m. – an early hour to start the journey home. But we did enjoy Monday through Wednesday with them. Monday was Independence Day in St Lucia therefore a holiday. Neither Evans nor Betherlie William had to work that day so they invited us, and the elders, to join with them and their family for a beach picnic. They have a favorite spot on the beach that is about a thirty minute walk (they say ten minutes) from their home. It is not just a walk along the beach but includes thick woodland and a swamp-that is dried up due to the drought conditions. It is a pretty spot and we can see why they have been going there for years. Once there Evans soon had a fire going to cook the dinner that Betherlie and her daughter, Evanella, set about to prepared. It consisted of dumplings, pork pig tail, and Irish potato. While watching Betherlie and Evans you got the distinct impression they were the ones you would want to be with if you were hopelessly lost in the wilderness and wanted to survive. If the picnic were not enough we returned to their home in the evening for family home evening which included roasting hotdogs and marshmallows. We were glad our family was here to participate as it provided them an experience they would never have as a tourist. We spent most of Tuesday in Castries showing them various places of interest, letting them do some souvenir shopping, and having lunch at Spinnakers-our preferred restaurant. We drove to Castries on the Caribbean side and returned to Vieux Fort on the Atlantic side so we circle the island. We enjoyed Wednesday at the Anse Chastanet Resort near Soufriere. The family wanted to snorkel and this resort is well known as a snorkeling, and scuba diving, delight. They were not disappointed. We were happy to have Elder and Sister Treseder join with us and to enjoy their company for the day as well. Wednesday night arrived all too soon as there as still some things to do and see, but…
Sister Faux: we just returned from another evening with Betherlie and Evans where the elders provided us with another wiener roast and marshmallows. It was still fun, the elders ask Evans if he had eaten roasted marshmallows before and he said no but it was just like hot ice cream. In two days Betherlie is starting a month vacation and that makes her very happy. She has a few fun things planned to enjoy herself. Boom Boom was not feeling well tonight, she is cutting teeth and makes her miserable. She is a cutie. We enjoyed having our family here very much. Each day was a new adventure but we needed them to stay a couple of days more to get in all we had planned. We have missed all of our family and sometimes don’t think about what good kind people we have in our family. Our Branch President told me this morning how wonderful it was to have Ceci playing the piano for the large crowd of members and investigators we had. Today we did not get a count but was about half as large as last week. It was so great to have real music and have it provided by our granddaughter. Tomorrow we start a new week and more changes are on order. Both Elder Welch and Elder Morris will be leaving Vieux Fort and us. They are both good elders and we have enjoyed them very much. Elder Welch has been here six months so it is time for him to move on but still makes us sad. Elder Morris has not been here that long. He is very pleasant to us and we are sorry to see him go. We will get two new elders and will tell you about them next week. Today our Relief Society President, Sister Nicholas, wife of our Branch President, was released. She is expecting a baby and will be going to England to have her baby and will be staying there for six months. She is leaving Olivia (age 4) here with her dad—that should be interesting. They are having the baby in England so it will have that citizenship. Sister Nicholas will be missed in the branch; she is very friendly and is an excellent cook. In fact, she cooks Sunday dinner each Sunday for the elders. She leaves the last Sunday in March and the president has already warned the elders, no more Sunday dinners. We still have had no rain and so some places have rationed water. Castries people have to be very careful and cannot water plants outside. Elder Treseader just planted some plants at the church and they need water bad but he was told there is a large fine if anyone is caught watering plants. There are so many burned areas everywhere on the island. It is making us nervous and many people are talking about the lack of water. Last night we had an interesting experience as we were invited to go visiting to the Augistine home with Elder Larson. That is the area a service project was done where they put in a large tract of cement steps. I could not believe it and could still barely walk up the steps. They had to pack cement and the sand and gravel a long way in buckets to finish the walk. The church must be true. That will probably be my first and last experience walking those steps. Well it is bedtime so will close and bear my testimony that the church really is true. Love, Sister and Elder Faux