27 June 2010 Sunday

Last week Sister Faux mentioned the birth of baby girls to Swancy and Sister Nicholas. She will relate more about this in her comments.

As a pre-arranged Preparation Day diversion in the afternoon Elder Faux drove the elders to view the Dennery Waterfall located about 5 miles west of the village of Dennery (thus the name). In the last few months we have taken other visitors to this location and have been somewhat disappointed due to the small amount of water flowing over the fall. However today it was spectacular. All the recent rain made for a good flow in the nearby river with an abundance of water coming over the fall. The rain had also washed all the surrounding foliage so it was vivid and green and the thought run through my mind that “this site could easily have been a waterfall in the Garden of Eden”. The elders were equally impressed as well and had a great time getting in the way of the mist generated by the fall so they were all soaking wet by the time we departed. When we reach our apartment we were greeted by the aroma of freshly baked rolls wafting through the screen door. Sister Faux, bless her heart, while we had been having fun she stayed at the apartment to prepare a scrumptious dinner consisting of a chicken casserole, fruit salad, plus the hot rolls, as mentioned, with cinnamon rolls for dessert.

Wednesday was zone conference in Castries. President Gamiette thought it would be beneficial to have the branch and elder quorum presidents meet with us as well. Therefore he scheduled the conference for 4:00 p.m. thus enabling three out of four to be in attendance. Each time we meet with President Gamiette we are more impressed with his enthusiasm, his teaching skills, and the way he uses the scriptures in his instruction. It was a good conference, and with mixed emotions, the last one for us. By taking a break part way through to feast on Subway Sandwiches, and cookies, it was 9:20 p.m. by the time we departed for Vieux Fort. Elder Faux was not that eager about driving home in the dark, and would have preferred staying over. But Firmus Hippolyte, 1st counselor in the branch presidency, who attended in President Nicholas’s absent, needed a ride which we consented to provide. As we parked the auto at our apartment we were both thankful to have had such a fruitful and safe day.

Sister Faux: A week ago Saturday night President Nicholas wife gave birth to a baby girl in England. She seems healthy and I am sure they are happy about her. As she was born in England she will have an English citizenship and some of the privileges of being English. I am sure she must be a beautiful baby. They plan to come home in August or September. Her name is Ceci (same as our granddaughter that has visited here). I do not know the spelling but that is her name. Swancy William also had a baby girl that same night but her baby was a month early and was small- only 4 lbs. We thought she was also healthy but found out later that her lungs were not developed and her heart was on the wrong side. She died Sunday night and so that has been sad for the family. They held a simple service for her on Wednesday that we could not attend as we were in Castries for Zone Conference. We are sorry for the family.

As Elder Faux talked about the elders having a great day last Monday. We have many, many pictures of the falls with the various elders. I did fix lunch for them as I used to do all the time. I have been lazy for a few weeks so I will mend my ways. Zone conference on Wednesday was nice. The elders had been told that due to the later time they were to come feeling full of food. We were to have refreshments and so we decided to have Subway Sandwiches and cookies. They were a hit as usual. No one came to Seminary again on Thursday- that is four times no one has come. I keep thinking that if no one has any interest we should stop; Elder Faux thinks we should continue. We will see what happens this week. Today was our first Sunday with air conditioning but I was disappointed as it was not very cool??? Elder Faux ended up being the one in charge of the men that installed it and also hiring an electrician. I hope it works out okay.

Some of the things I have been thinking of this week are the things that I miss here in the West Indies Mission: I miss not seeing a good roast beef, have only seen minced beef. I miss sour cream, although we find it at times. I miss seeing a nice FAT, cow, horse, goat or a sheep. The pigs look quite fat and they wander all over the town as do the other animals. I miss a nice soft towel; our towels are stiff as they dry in the sun. I miss a nice sidewalk; they are very rough and miserable to walk on. I miss a nice smooth place to drive a car: the roads are full of chuckholes, they have been repaving the road to Castries and it is better in most places. I miss having someone play the piano at church. I miss a nice CRISP box of crackers or chips. I miss blooming flowers: We have many flowering shrubs but not many flowers. I miss nice modestly dressed women. I miss cars that drive on the right side of the road. I hear people saying “It is finished” when they don’t have what we want to buy. But now must say “It is Finished”-almost.

Sister and Elder Faux