Meet the Neighbors

Today Mrs. Lorene Grant (in the middle), who's husband was the US Ambassador from Guyana, invited us to tea.  She lives next to BK International who owns four houses across from us and east of her.  She invited Gwen, who lives two houses to the west of us; Sybil, who lives down a block around the corner on the Eastern Highway, and her cousin who lives in Kitty a few months of the year.

Mrs. Grant has been telling us for months, "Oh, I must invite you to tea." A couple of weeks ago we set up an actual time and day for tea. She surprised us by inviting others, had fresh flowers, and a variety of baked pastries; pine tarts, cheese tarts, salt fish sandwiches, watermelon, ice cream, cucumber and ginger drink, and more.  We took some bran muffins to add to the menu.

We had a delightful time.  The three on the right are widows and we told them about eternal marriage in our temples:)   Gwen and her husband lived in London, Africa, etc.  She taught a nursing Masters class at the University of Guyana.  Her husband has a college in town.  Mrs. Grant and her husband lived in several places in Africa, London, and in Washington D.C. for nine years. She and her husband used to take some of their guests to drive past the Washington D.C. Temple. She loved the Temple's Christmas programs with several choirs. Mrs. Grant's cousin spent 9 years living in India with her husband, and she spends half of her time in the Bronx, New York City.

Sybil told us a great story.  We were talking about how safe the neighborhood is.  She lives alone now that her husband has passed away.  One morning about 7:30, she was awakened by a noise in another bedroom.  She got up to investigate.  As she walked out of her bedroom the robber walked out of another bedroom.  She said sweetly, "Good morning".  He said "Good morning, Granny."  She said, "Let me show you how you get out of this house."  She walked down and got the keys and opened the front door.  He thanked her and walked out, then ran and climbed over the fence and was gone!  She found out that he had found a ladder in the shed and climbed up to a second story window.  He removed the slats of glass to be able to climb in the window.  She said that the detective was still laughing at her story as he climbed on his motorcycle to leave.  She said that she was really blessed, she didn't even feel afraid. A month or so later we met her at Bernice Mansel's wedding anniversary celebration. She introduced us to her daughter, also a guest, as her Mormon friends. She was dressed in finest green brocade gown and her emerald jewelry. 

Mrs. Grant told us that she listens to "Blurred Lines" as she walks.  She was very animated as she showed us how it makes her feel energetic.  We had an absolutely delightful time!  We tried to  introduce the elders to these new friends.

Chris and Marissa's wedding

Boxing Day 2013

Chris, son of President and Sister Chin, and Marissa were married.  They have been building their home in the Chin's back yard for at least a year.  He is a barber, and she teaches school.  They were a very popular couple.  There were 6 groomsmen and 6 bridesmaids who walked down the isle as couples and were followed by the bride and her brother Kurtis Charles.  The outfits were glamorous and the decorations festive.  After the ceremony which consisted of several speakers and then the vows, they took pictures and then had a big sit down dinner.  We were wowed by the colors.

President Chin, Olivia Chin, Grandma, Marissa, Chris, Auntie, Sister Chin, and Chris' father.

Sabrina, Jamal Sobers, and Melissa Gaspar

Jared Crookshank, ? , and Teresa Singh

Love the colors!

Marissa had a beautiful Modest dress.

The Guyanese love to dress up.  Sister Reese is in the orange dress.

The cultural hall looked great.  Nelson Nurse did the decorations.

Christmas with the Elders

On Christmas Eve day, we and Elder and Sister Surujbhan, prepared Christmas dinner for the Elders.  Elder Surujbhan made beef stew and chicken curry and puri (a flat bread with chick peas in it).  Sister Surujbhan made pepperpot ( a popular meat dish made with a cow's face and cassava syrup and spices).  She also cut up fruit and brought soda pop.  We cooked a ham, cheesy potatoes, rolls, jello, and a cake.  It was an interesting mix.
The Elder's were so excited to watch their movie, that they brought the television outside where we were eating under the carport.  We watched "Despicable Me" and laughed a lot.

Christmas dinner under the carport.

Combination Guyanese/American Menu

The Guyanese leave the bones in - maybe it gives more flavor.

Mesmerized by the movie, "Despicable Me"

Elder Loewen, Elder Anderson, Elder Moya, Elder Egbert, and Elder Laney playing the white elephant gift exchange game.

Most exciting gifts; the helping hands t-shirt, ties, aprons.  Least exciting was a jar of change.  The largest coin they make is $10.00 which is worth a nickle.

Starting left, Elder Stephen, Elder Hodgkinson, Elder Loewen, Elder Egbert, Elder Anderson , Elder Moya, Elder Ramdahne, Brother Mingo, Elder and Sister Surujbhan, Elder Laney, me, and in the front Elder Patetefa, and Brother Semple.

Christmas Day, the Elders came over to skype with their families.

My most vivid memory:  I popped out with at least 75 chigger bites.  We still had a wonderful Christmas and got to visit with most of our children.

Visit to St. Cuthbert's Mission

November 7, 2013

Elder Beecher in the tourist shop, looking like an Amerindian warrior!

Elder and Sister Bird came to visit and we started off on our adventure.

The clouds were beautiful.  The road was long and desolate.  The red sand reminded us of southern Utah:)

Finally after 45 minutes or so some signs of life.

Love the clothes flapping in the breeze.

We visited the village store and met a couple sweet ladies.

One lady demonstrated how they make their baskets.  They dye the grasses and make beautiful designs.

We were good customers.

Here we are in front of their gathering place.  They have a big celebration in September for Amerindian Days.

Elder and Sister Bird are from Driggs, Idaho.

We walked up to see the river.  

Elder and Sister Bird came to Guyana to help the Senior Missionaries write up Public Affairs/Humanitarian projects.  They serve on St. Vincent.  We took a drive out to see St. Cuthbert's mission, and Amerindian village.  We were surprised.  We expected something more primitive, but they had fairly nice homes, a windmill, water tanks, even a police office.  We enjoyed a peaceful outing!

Some December Stories

December 29, 2013

It has been a busy month here in Georgetown.  

Public Affairs and Humanitarian meeting.  Elder and Sister Carter are celebrating their anniversary on Dec. 12.  Starting on the left, Elder and Sister Moore (new humanitarian missionaries, Elder and Sister Beecher, Elder and Sister Esplin, Elder and Sister Samaroo, Marcia Mckenzie and President Benn, Brother and Sister Surujbhan, and Brother Acosta.

Delivering newborn kits to the St. Joseph Mercy hospital with the Lion's Club.  Lion Angel, myself, Lion's Club President Ray Seebarran, Rowena Bowen and the Mom and new baby

We had a big gathering at the hospital.  The news reporter was even there.  Elder Beecher, Elder Moore, Lion Davi, two nurses in the back, myself, Lion Angel in the back, Rowena Bowen, Sister Moore, and Brother Acosta.

We took the Moore's to see the zoo which took about 20 minutes.  Elder Moore stepped into a fire ant bed while looking at the manatee.  He danced around trying to brush them all off as they were climbing up his legs.  He got several bites.

This animal looks like a rat with long legs and no tail.

The harpy eagle.

This monkey looks like he has an extra leg.

December 18, we drove to Suriname with the Carters and Elder Richardson to get our visas renewed.  We can only get a 3 month tourist visa.  It is so lush and green in Berbice!

A common sight, guys with long braided hair, note the beads in the braids.  Here we are waiting for the ferry.

We passed this home with lots of Christmas decorations.  Many homes had their decorations up.

There are some nice homes along the way, and also some like this little one.

We helped serve at Bernice Mansell's Christmas dinner for the elderly.  She is standing here with the M.C.  There were about 300 in attendance.  Bernice is 85 and her foundation helps many organizations and individuals.  Hygiene kits from the Church were their Christmas gifts.

They asked if we had anything we could bring to share.  We thought of a suitcase full of eyeglasses.  We thought they could try them out and if they worked for them they could keep them.  They wanted a pair even if they didn't work.  We gave them all away.

Gift bags, and a gathering around the eye glasses.

I wanted my picture taken with these cute brother and sisters.  The girls have their hair all fancy for Christmas.

Delivering Christmas hampers (bags) for the Vreed en Hoop branch.  Me, Christine Jones, Chanel, Joycelyn and the two babies, and Aneeza Cuehlo Douglas.

We delivered the gifts with Elder Loewen and Elder Stephen.  We had to walk through the shoe sucking mud and grass up to our thighs to deliver one hamper.  It was chigger heaven.  Elder Beecher got about 15 chigger bites, and even though I had on knee high rubber boots I got about 75 bites that popped out on Christmas.

The Launching of our Self Reliance Center - November 26, 2013

November 26, 2013 was the launching of our Guyana Self Reliance Center.  Elder Gay, Brother Mike Murray, and Elder Cornish were here on October 22, and after their visit they gave approval for a Self Reliance Center in Guyana.  Many people have been working to help get everything ready.  We have had Self Reliance Committee meetings, a meeting to teach the doctrine of self reliance to the district and auxiliary leaders, Brother Negron arrived and trained the SRC committee, and the new staff for the center.  Yesterday we took Brother Negron and picked up Brother Alvarado at the airport.  On the way home we stopped to pay a visit at MaCorp.  Miguel Oviado, who is over the training there learned about our returned missionaries and their dedication and a plan was made to teach a mechanics course at the church.  Then we had a nice lunch at the Pegasus and hurried to get the rooms set up and ready.  Elder Beecher and I had to go purchase a couple tables.  We were surprised to see that the tables were mity-lite tables manufactured in Orem, Utah.  
We cooked a dinner for the district presidency, Elder Gamiette, our Area Seventy, Brother Alvarado, and Brother Negron, President Goodluck, and ourselves.  Then a training for all the district leaders, after which there was a Devotional and ribbon cutting.
The talks were all about the hastening of the times, and how Heavenly Father is ready to bring his people out of poverty but it all begins with personal righteousness and paying tithing.
Our center will have regular hours, and one-on-one mentoring.  Many workshops will be taught; Planning for Success, Career Workshop, Self-Employment Workshop, and others.  We still have a lot to do to get everything lined up, but it is an exciting time. 

President Bharat, President Benn, President Sobers, Brother Alvarado, President Goodluck, President Reese, President McKenzie, Elder Gamiette, and President Chin cutting the ribbon for the new Self Reliance Center.

Elder Gamiette, Brother Negron, President Goodluck, and President Sobers.

Brother Alvarado, Elder Gamiette, Brother Negron, President Benn, President Goodluck, and President Sobers.

                     President Goodluck, Sister and Elder Beecher

Elder Beecher, Brother Negron, Brother Alvarado, and Elder Gamiette

President Sobers, President Goodluck, and President Benn

Christopher Jordan and Geoffery Watson

President Sobers, Chairman of the SRC and Brother Barrow, Vice Chairman of the SRC.

Sister Singh, Christine Jordan, Elder Gamiette, and Suzy Wong-yip

In the center, Sister Johnson, our District Education and Employment Specialist, and President Bharat from the Vreed-en-Hoop Branch.

Sharmain Ramsay and Sister Chin

Sharon Surujbhan, Sister Murray in the back, Roger Ramnarain in the black, and President Benn

Christine Rawlins in brown, and Candacy in the pink

Top picture: Christine Braithwaite, Suzy Wong-yip, and Sharmain Ramsay.
Bottom picture: President Reese, Sister Norris, Samantha Reese, two sisters from Prashad Nagar, and Sister Goodluck

Sister Rowena Bowen who is over public affairs for Guyana.

A sister from Demerara, and Sister Baccus, RS President from Prashad Nagar

Nicole Baccus, the employment specialist for Prashad Nagar.

We had a nice crowd at the Launching.  I think there were over eighty persons in attendance.  We need to set our hours, advertise, train our mentors, and get started!  We see Heavenly Father's hand at work.  Things are happening.  This SRC will bless many lives.