Another week to report to you from our mission. Each time something happens during the week I think, "that's what I can tell the family about!" But then when it comes to Sunday night and I am tired, I can't remember anything to tell you. The weeks seem to run the same every week and not much news.
This week the Relief Society sisters held an activity. Lara got in on their disagreements during Relief Society when she was here. They all have different opinions on how things should be done and are quite vocal and gruff when they express them. Mostly it is the ones who never come who express so much disagreement. But finally we met together. A sister gathered 8 coconuts. They met together on Monday and opened them and pressed them (I didn't get to go that day) and ended up with coconut milk. They let it sit in a big pot in the fridge for two days. When we came on Wednesday it was ready to make coconut oil. It separated like milk does, the cream rising to the top and the watery milk below. The coconut cream was firm, kind of like cold butter. They heated another pot on the stove and took all the coconut cream off and put it into the pan and cooked it. The longer they cooked it, the more oil came out of it. When it was done, there was quite a bit of oil and some cooked leftover coconut waste. They let it sit and cool for a day and then strained it through cheesecloth and poured it into two small bottles, about 8-10 oz. each. It was perfectly clear, natural coconut oil. They have hundreds of uses for it, but not a lot is used for cooking. It was more like oil extract and is mostly used on their skin. It was really, really interesting and smelled really good. I don't plan to do it anytime soon, but it was very interesting.
Dad's back has been acting up so he has been hunting online for an inversion board. We couldn't find anyone that would ship one here. On Friday, we were teaching on the other end of the island and stopped in at KMart for a pit stop. Dad wanted to see if they had one. The clerk said they didn't, but just as we were leaving, I saw a dusty box hidden on the bottom of the shelf and there it was! So dad is "hangin out" on the deck, watching the harbor upside down. I hope it relieves his back. There is a member here who also has back problems so dad will give it to him when we leave. That was kind of amazing to find it. Un milagro.
Wednesday morning Jackie Anderson texted me. She and all their family were on a Caribbean cruise. I knew they were going to other islands, but not ours. Monday night their cruise ship was diverted to help another cruise ship so they had to cancel the island they were going to and ported in St. Croix. Their kids stayed in Fredriksted on the beaches there, but she and Gordon took a taxi and came to Christiansted. When we finished with our lesson, we met them and got to spend three or four hours with them. Then we took them back to their cruise ship and they left for another port. It was a fun surprise! to have them drop in. It would have been nice to have seen Dustin and Kim but they were already back on the ship when we dropped Jackie and Gordon off.
Our newly baptized member received the priesthood today and paid tithing. We had two investigators to church. We believe that both of them know the gospel is true but the commitment part is hard for them right now. It is hard to leave what is comfortable and begin anew in our church. We had a member come with us to our visit with John today. The member is Hector who was John's friend since childhood. Hector was able to bear a sweet testimony to John. There was a really good feeling of the Holy Ghost there. I hope that John will think and pray about it more earnestly. John didn't know it the first time he came to church, but he knows several of the members there already. He would be such a great fit and would have automatic friends in the branch if/when he gets baptized.
We met and made friends with a Jehovah Witness couple this week. They told us that Russia was in court arguing about ousting them (JWs) from Russia. We were sad to hear that as it makes religious intolerance worse for everyone. We told them to keep in touch with us about the decision. They called us on Thursday and told us that the court came to a decision and Russia is seizing all their assets and buildings in Russia and kicking them out. Bad news for religion in Russia. We expressed our sympathy to them and feel like we made a nice friendship. We are sad to see that happen in Russia. Hope our church isn't evicted.
On Saturday morning we took some laps in the pool. There were two ladies there. They are cousins, one who lives in England, the other from Detroit. They were so friendly and nice. When they asked where we were from and we said, Utah, their next question was, "Are you Mormon?" When we said yes, they were so excited. The one from Detroit said she had seen the Book of Mormon play a few times and thought it was so good. She was so excited to tell us that. She asked if we had seen it and I said, "no, but I have read the real book." That just went over her head. She was so excited to have something in common with us. Little did she realize that it isn't a flattering view of the church in the play. Kind of a fun experience, though. They were fun ladies and it was fun to laugh about it later on.
We stopped at a little hispanic decoration store that is going out of business. We had been in there before and met the owners. When we stopped in this time they told us they were moving back to the Dominican Republic and asked us if we had ever been there. We told them no, but that possibly we were going in October to our temple there. They got all excited because they live by it and said it was the most beautiful building. They gave us their card and told us to call them when we come. So you can see we made lots of friends this week. No investigators, but had lots of fun meeting people.
Well, for not having anything to say, I wrote a really long letter! Sorry! Hope you had a happy birthday Mike. Sorry about JaKelle's grandpa passing away. We hope Chelsey is feeling better after her surgery. We hope Parker's black eyes are fading after his nose surgery. Alison, we hope you are rested up after your long drive home from California. Dave, congrats on finishing another taxing tax season. Lara, Las Vegas should give you a discount, two visits in two weeks. Kirk, bet you are happy with Ethan's team selection again. Chris and MiKell, we imagine that you are BUSY with soccer and harp. When will you know about the National harp tryouts? Fun to think you were at the motocross with Mike. Carson, we sure appreciate you rescuing the pump in Rockville and then battling the irrigation pipe in Richfield. We think you must be sick of taking care of our things. Ashley, thanks for being patient so Carson can take care of us. Hope you had fun in Montana. Kaitlin and Tyler are house hunting for something to rent as theirs is being sold. Good luck in the search. Grandkids; WE LOVE YOU ALL AND MISS YOU! We are happy when we hear about you and sad to be missing out. But we are excited for the day when you will serve missions.
Well, that's enough. Sure do love you all. The gospel is true. Hang on, Cling to the iron rod. Don't let go.
Until next week, love from dad and mom
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