FIND A NEED AND FILL IT

A couple of days ago we were driving to an appointment.  It had rained most of the morning, as it has done quite often lately.  As we turned down a dirt road we saw children at play in the ocean.  Then we saw... needs that needed to be met. 

There is so much saddness here.  There is so much poverty.  When we saw this scene it overwhelmed us how great a need there is in this land for the basic necessities of life.  The children play and wear smiles on their faces.  We wanted to reach out and rescue them.  But this is the only life they know and they are happy.  Mother Theresa once said, "If you can't feed a hundred, then feed one."  That is kind of what we have been doing here.  We are looking for a need, and then doing whatever we can to fill it.  Here are a few of the things that we have been doing.

After two months of piano lessons and waiting a month to get keyboards from Salt Lake City, we have finally reached the point where the kids are able to play some simple songs.  This is Oliver Flores.  He actually accompanied our hymn in the opening exercises of Mutual.  He was so proud of himself.  I was there to assist a little bit with the left hand, but he basically did it.  The kids were so thrilled that they insisted on singing all three verses and the room was so charged with positive feelings that they almost broke out into applause.  These opening exericises have become a wonderful thing.  This is the first time that the young men and young women have ever held opening exercises together.  They used to have Mutual on different days.  They are loving it.  Christian Zea is  doing his best to direct the music... well, we still have a lot to learn. 

The Young Women's organization is up and running full steam ahead now that LaRae has spent two months training them every week.  She decided to add a few "finishing touches" by making little table cloths in each of the value colors and paper flowers that they can use both as a decoration and in their upcoming Night of Excellence.  The women leaders feel so special! They have never had anything beautiful like this in their classroom before.  They are grateful and constantly express their appreciation. 

LaRae has made binders for the President and her Counselors and Secretary.  These binders have pictures of each of the girls, maps to their houses, the handbook of instructions, agendas and much more.  This has been a great help in showing these women how to organize the program better.  They are now working harder to  implement the Young Women's Personal Progress program.

Wayne has spent many hours creating this branch directory.  A need that we realized existed here was that no one knew where anyone else lived.  There are no addresses or street names.  President Sanchez frequently didn't know who we were talking about in our Presidency meetings.  This book has filled a great need.  Our Elder's Quorum president used it this past week to make home teaching assignments so he could assign families that lived close together.  The missionaries will try to keep it updated after we leave.  It is so easy for members to get "lost" on this island.  This will help fulfill the need to keep track of them. 

Several women in the branch try to make ends meet by running little bakery shops or food stands.  They squeak by, but since the tourists aren't coming yet they are struggling.  LaRae noticed that they really liked Rice Krispie squares.  Our Elder's Quorum President, Dustin Mitchell, came up with the idea of having them sell these in their stores.  The problem is that EVERY food stand sells the exact same thing.  No one has a special nitch.  LaRae translated the recipe, made some samples, gave them to the ladies and is hoping that several in the branch might make a bit more money by selling these treats.

The greatest need is to strengthen the families of our members through marriage.  Today we witnessed our third such wedding since arriving in Roatan.  Kabir and Ohdina Mejia were married today after months of effort obtaining the necessary documents and overcoming concerns.  Now she and her children can be baptized - he already was a member - and they can begin their life as a happy family.  They are looking towards the temple, and we are proud of them. 


It has been an unbelievable privilege to serve here in Roatan.  We have met so many wonderful members and people.  We have learned the truth of a statement made by Albert Schweitzer.  He said,
"Even if it's a little thing, do something for those who have need of a man's help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. For, remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here too."