GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME

Everyone has challenges; it's simply a part of life.  Standing up against them is what really shapes us into what we truly hope to be.  The work we are about is the most humbling yet satisfying work in the world.  We often come face-to-face with challenges and situations that are way above our head.  But, if you don't occasionally get in water that is over your head, how will you ever truly know how tall you are.  There are times when it feels like we are treading water, but things are getting better all the time.

LaRae has been in pain for more than a month now.  She received several chiropractic adjustments from Pres. Veirs when they were here last week, but the pain has continued.  She is now going to a physical therapist here on the island.  He was recommended to us as the best doctor on the island. After each adjustment she hurts like crazy, but she feels that she is getting better all the time.  Right now it hurts her to sit, stand, walk, and lay down, but she continues to do the best that she can.

Daniel Aguilar is a fourteen year old young man in our Teacher's quorum.  She is also my prize piano student.  Three months ago he didn't know how to read a single note.  Now he is the accompanist for our ward choir.  This photo was taken when he was playing a special musical number as part of our combined MIA this past week.  It was a "mini-conference."  Each young man and woman was asked to give a 3-5 minute talk.  We had spent time training them how to give a good talk.  The young men and women are getting better all the time.  They are learning how to conduct, speak and perform in ways that are amazing. 

 

Osmar Ortiz has been a member of the church for many years, but like so very many members has never progressed in the priesthood.  He has been a deacon for years.  The Lord is working on the men of the Roatan branch and they are responding.  Osmar is one of two men who were ordained to the Melchezedek priesthood last week - the other was Marlon Orellana.  They are so excited!  Seeing these two men be ordained has awakened a new hope in the hearts of many other men.  They want to be ordained too.  We don't have a lot of priesthood strength in this branch, but things are getting better all the time.

 

Another way that things are getting better is that the reconstruction of our chapel is now underway.  This is a project that is long overdue.  Approximately fifteen workers descended down upon the chapel last Monday and have stripped all the tile off the bathrooms and the baptismal font.  There was actually a baptism scheduled this week that was postponed because of the font.  They have stripped the varnish from all of the doors and door ways and have begun to varnish them again. They are going to repaint every single wall, and replace much of the ceiling tile where it has been stained by leaks in the roof.  They will be working here for more than two months.  They hope to finish the inside of the chapel in three weeks, but they are also going to pave the street that goes in front of the chapel, repaint all of the metal coverings for the doors and windows, completely reshape the chapel grounds, tear down and replace the soffet and much more.  It is a major project and we are grateful to have them here doing the work.  It was badly needed. It will make things much better.

 

 With the calling of Melbin Vasquez (bottom row, right) as the new Young Men's President, things are getting much better for the youth of Roatan.  He is a returned missionary from La Ceiba.  He is a good man and will do his best at this calling. This is our Aaronic Priesthood quorum.  Bottom row from left: David Mejia, Mauricio Ortiz, Alejandro Webster, Melbin Vasquez and son.  Top row from left: Elder Wayne John, Daniel Garay, Oliver Flores, Daniel Aguilar, Christian Zea, Josue Zea.

 

 

The Roatan Young Women's program is now a fully functioning auxilary and is getting better every week.  Top row from left: Karla Zea (1st counselor) Ariana Aguilar, Sister LaRae John, Hailial Ortiz, investigator, Aminda Garay (2nd counselor) and Zulema Zelaya (President).  Bottom row from left: Lauritza Alaya, Daritza Zelaya and Yessi Padilla (Laurel's president)