Dawali, Wakenaam Island to visit Adolphus, Self Reliance Centers

Elder Beecher on Wakenaam Island in the Essequibo River
Wakenaam means "Island waiting for a name"

On November 13th the East Indian people have a holiday called Dawali or Day of the Lights. They fill small ceramic containers with oil and a wick and light them to decorate their houses. The home across the street from us was decorated with tons of beautiful Christmas lights and the Dawali lights. The people invite their friends and family in to enjoy seven curry which you eat on a big waterlily leaf with your fingers. They had a big parade here with floats and a program with entertainment up by the sea wall. It was a big deal. We drove around with the Cooks and looked at some of the lights. We got stuck on a street where cars were parked on both sides and lots of on-coming traffic and not enough room to get down the street. Elder Beecher had to back up in the dark and so many people and obstacles. Ack.
 Because it was a holiday, our friend Adolphus took us to visit his family on an island in the Essequibo River. Adolphus has only been a member about eight months. He wants to be a doctor. He would also like to go on a mission, but he has to work on Sundays. Hopefully he can get things worked out. We went with our friends the Cooks, the humanitarian missionary couple. First we went on a back cracking speed boat ride. The boat would hit the waves so hard we thought it would crack. The boat survived, but it took our backs a couple days to recover.

When we left the water was at this level.
When we returned the water was up to the
top board. The river flows both north and south. 

The Essequibo is about 23 miles across.

Elder Cook scratching the back of Adolphus's pet macaw, Sparky.

Adolphus's back yard.

We went for a walk along the sea wall.

Adolphus's brother Clifton (also called Blackboy by his mother) climbed the coconut palm to get us some coconuts.

Then he whacked the top off with a cutlass (machete) and gave us a straw so we could drink the coconut milk.  

This is the inside of their home - pretty nice.

They have a farm and they raise pigs which they
feed shredded coconut meat.  They also process the coconut oil.
I bet that is good bacon!

Adolphus's mother, Eleen, has this shop at the front of their home where she sells stuff from the garden.  We were glad we went to visit.  Adolphus is the only member in his family and his dad was giving us grief about the word of wisdom.  The dad sang a little song and he had a nice voice, so we sang,"I am a Child of God" to him.  We hope his heart softened a little.  We went on a bus ride around the island.  It was a fun day.
This past week Brother Angel Negron, who is over employment in the Caribbean came to visit.  He taught us a lot and we had three training sessions to train our PEF Country Committee, our Georgetown branch presidents and Employment Specialists, and the Branch Presidents and Employment Specialists out in Berbice.  Outside of the US, they are combining PEF and the Employment Resource Centers to create Self Reliance Centers.  Guyana will have it own Guyana LDS Employment web site.   Everything went well.  On Saturday we drove two hours out and two hours back from the training.   Driving back it got dark.  There are people and animals on the road.  We are so thankful for the angels on our fenders.  Then Bro. Negron took us to his fancy hotel for dinner.  The First counselor in the mission presidency came with us.  His name is Colin Goodluck.  Elder Beecher calls him Our Goodluck.  He is an amazing guy, and so much fun.  You can almost hear him laugh when you look at his picture.  We really enjoy working with him.

President Goodluck

Now we need to train all the Employment Specialists how to teach the Career Workshop.  We have never taught it before, but we are excited.  It is a powerful program.  We are so grateful for all our opportunities and for Heavenly Father's help enabling us to do the things He wants us to do.  We see miracles every day.
Today Sister Beutler and I fixed Thanksgiving dinner for 12 Elders and President Goodluck.  It turned out great.   It's hard to believe it's Thanksgiving.  It's still hot.