11 April 2010
It is interesting some of the things you are asked to do and you jump right into it regardless of any previous experience or training. You just acquire a manual, start reading, and praying, that you will be up to the assignment. One of the assignments that come to mind first of all is that of conducting a Literacy Class for three adults who have very limited or no reading skills at all. The introduction in the Teacher Manuel in part states: “Readings in this course and its methods were taken from the scriptures and adapted so that anyone who is called to teach may do so-regardless of previous teaching experience. If you can speak English this course will help you teach people who cannot read or write.” So that is encouraging. The course is titled “Ye Shall Have My Words” and taken from Mormon 9:30. We will keep you posted on how well we do in helping these folks gain some reading skills. We were in Castries on Saturday. Sister Treseder had arranged a training meeting for the relief society, young women, and primary presidencies of the Castries Branch and asked Sister Faux to assist her-which she was happy to do. We enjoy being with Elder and Sister Treseder. Prior to them Elder and Sister Collins were in Castries and we had fun times with these good people as well. One of the blessings of our mission has been the opportunity to meet other senior couples- Rasmussen’s from Twin Falls, Idaho, Wheeler’s from Blackfoot, Idaho, Steven’s from Park City, Utah to name to name a few- and feel of their spirit and desire to be of good service.
Sister Faux: Good Monday morning to you. This week is one of our sad weeks as we say goodbye to two of our young elders. Elder Harris is being transferred to Trinidad, and Elder Lundberg to Suriname, Dutch speaking. We have known two other elders (Ash and Muse) that served there as well as Elder Pence, whose mother takes care of our blog. I know they all spoke Dutch, but our elders here tried to explain how at times they speak Dutch mixed with English, I just don’t understand. Elder Lundberg has been here several months so will miss him in addition to taking care of his sewing projects and hearing his stories. Elder Harris will be going home in August about a month early for school. He is a nice young man and we have loved his visits and stories as well. He mended his own pants here at our apartment and did a pretty fair job. He took sewing in High School so he knows a little, I think the only reason he took sewing in school was because his girl friend was a student in the class. Still a girl friend and we hope she is waiting, she could find no one any better. Elder Harris’s sister put a comment on our blog, thank you. Elders Larsen and Barker will be staying here till the end of their mission- the third week in May. We enjoy these young men also; will talk more about them later.
This week has been a week of much needed rain. There have been so many fires because of the drought all through the hills and sides of the road. We went to Castries on Thursday a few days after the rain started and trees all along the way that looked dead a short time ago all had pretty white or pink blossoms on, it was just like a miracle. Saturday we went up again and the dead grass was a beautiful green. Just like the Garden of Eden, or so I think it must have been. The grass, or rather cut weeds, in front or our apartment is quite pretty also. Yesterday when church service started we had 12 people there and 6 of us were missionaries. People here just don’t get outside when it is raining. A few more came later in the meeting so we ended up with about 26. When it rains it cools the temperature down a bit and feels just great.
Last Tuesday was Elder Faux’s 79th birthday. He still is handsome and healthy and we are happy to be able to serve a mission. We spent most of the day with the elders as we went to Ladera, a resort up near Soufriere. We were able to check one room out and it is fun to see. Each room has only three walls, I think I talked about it before, and looks out over the ocean and the Pitons. I am sorry it is out of the missionary budget. We came back and had Pizza so that was a treat. The elders tried to bake a cake but one egg they dropped in the mix was rotten, so great to live in a third world country. So we had no cake. We did have a nice day and I am thankful to have had him as my partner for 58 years.
Yesterday we had a farewell dinner and I had no idea how great a tuna casserole is??? Anyway they seem to enjoy whatever I cook. I am going home thinking I am a wonderful cook so it is good for my self esteem. Well the church is still true and these young missionaries make it even better.
Oh, by the way we received our go home tickets -July 23! How about that! Love, Sister and Elder Faux