How is summer going? Sometimes here on St. Croix I have a hard time remembering what season it is back home! Most of the grandkids have only two or three weeks left in the summer. It seems like it went by really fast. Thanks for the instagram pics. We are glad to see what some of you have been doing for fun. Sure do love and miss you all and sure do wish I could have some grandkid hugs.
We have been doing a lot of service this last month or two. I guess it is summer here, because we have struggled finding people to teach the gospel. I remember Carson's and Parker's letters from Italy during the month of August when everyone took a month vacation. I sympathize with you now! Not that the Cruzians leave the island much, but it just seems too hot for everyone to do anything.
The good news is that our apartment sold to investors who want us to stay here for now. I think it is a couple who want to retire here eventually, but want to rent it until they are ready to renovate and move in. The bad news is that they probably won't want to do any fixing up until they do move here. That's ok. We are used to it as it is. Just glad we don't have to spend time looking for and moving into a new one.
Can you believe it? Tomorrow marks our half way mark. In some ways it seems like we have been here longer than that. In other ways, it makes me want to work harder to make our second half more effective than the first half. It makes me realize we have got to amp it up. Dad isn't going to cut a tie in half like some Elders do to mark hump day. I don't know what sisters do, but I haven't got any plans. I did plan on getting a new purse to mark the day, but my first purse got so worn out that I had to replace it last month. So celebrate for us! Before you know it we will be home and bothering you all again. I mean bothering you even more than we do now.
We have to speak in Sacrament meeting next Sunday about being missionaries again. I feel at a loss to know what to say to motivate members. If you have any ideas, please send them our way. Have you had any good programs at church about missionary work?
Yesterday was our turn to clean the church. We had some helpers this time and it was so much easier! We invited them to come over for a swim in the pool afterwards and we got fried from the shoulders up. The sun's glare on the water is potent.
Elder and Sister Johnson are a missionary couple serving with us. They serve on the island of St. Thomas. This week Elder Johnson had a stroke. They med flighted him to Florida where they determined he had a mass on his brain. They did surgery, but luckily it wasn't cancer, but a blood mass. Not sure what caused it, but all of a sudden their mission ended and they will head back to Salt Lake to recover. It has really caused us to reflect on how blessed we are to be here with the health and strength we have. They have been heavy on our minds and in our hearts. Life can change so quickly. We need to be doing our best so that we will have no regrets. We have loved the Johnsons and will miss them. Crazy thing is that they are from the Valley View Stake (6th ward) in Grandma Bodily's stake. Small world.
That's it for this time. Not much news around here. Just wanted to say hello and let you know how much we love you and pray for you. We have grown to love Fast Sundays here when we fast with a purpose. Today we fasted for a member who needs a job, Elder Johnson's recovery, and that Heavenly Father will help us find someone to baptize. Please keep us in your prayers. We need all the help we can get.
Love you all,
Dad and Mom,
Grandma and Grandpa
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