MOMENTS OF GREAT JOY

A mission is a lot like life.  We have moments of boredom and well as times where we are so busy that we can't get everything done.  There are times when we plan and other times that we play.  We love and we are loved in return.  We have seen ugly selfishness and unbounded selflessness.  It seems like we get to experience the bookends of every emotion.  And just like our life before the mission, we have moments of great sorrow and of great joy.

 We saw great compassion and selflessness in the arrival of the Bascom family from the Atlanta area.  They arrived on Wednesday aboard Carnival Cruise lines and came bearing gifts.  These precious people had arranged for a young women's project to bring materials and gifts to the  members of the church here in Roatan.  Their's was quite a sacrifice and we were amazed at how much thought they put into the things they brought with them.  One of the things they brought was a whole bunch of geneological materials including four generation sheets.  When we gave them to President Castro, our branch president, he was thrilled.  Yesterday afternoon, Sunday, the ward was invited to a 
fireside dealing with family history.  He literally beamed when he was able to hold these materials up and show them what they had to work with. 

The young women from Georgia were excited about the gifts that they had brought.  They very generously brought ten young women's necklaces and torch medallions.  Not one of our group has ever received their torch necklace.  Our Young Women have their Night of Excellence planned for December 1st and the girls will receive their necklaces at that time.   These necklaces were accompanied by each girl's testimony on a paper with their photographs in front of the Atlanta temple.  We cried with gratitude as we sat around the table and read these precious letters.  We will display all of these letters next Saturday night at the night of Excellence.  Thank you, sweet young sisters.  Your example of selflessness will long be remembered by both us and the precious young women of Roatan. Thank you!

Our table full of the materials and gifts donated by the Young Women from Georgia

As part of the Young Women's Night in Excellence the young Aaronic Priesthood holders of the branch decided to make a tribute video for the girls.  On Tuesday I drove around and picked them up and brought them back to our home to do the filming.  We had a blast!  It took me most of the day, Wednesday, to edit and combine all the movie clips.  But, finally we had a pretty good little video.  It isn't professional - I don't have that kind of computer skills.  We will include a link to our video in next week's blog.  It made us laugh so hard to watch these special young men have so much fun.

We were saddenned this week with the leaving of our dear friends, the Mitchells.  They have played such a big role in our lives these past five months.  It was them that took us in when we were scared to go back into our first home.  They generously invited us into their home for nearly countless dinners.  They loved us and we loved them right back.  The day before they left we went with them to the West End to take a glass-bottom boat tour of the reef.  We paid, boarded the boat, and waited.  Finally, they told us the boat wouldn't start.  So our hopes to see the reef vanished.  But, we did enjoy spending these last hours with them.



Saturday was busy from dawn to dark, as usual.  Piano lessons, seminary, Mutual activities and presidency planning meetings take up much of our time.  However, we did get a couple hours to witness the full circle of success as missionaries.

 
Several of us from the branch drove out to a very private and beautiful beach to witness the baptism of Kabir Mejia.  He was baptized by his father, Kabir David Mejia.  Seeing this was a sweet testimony of how the gospel changes lives.  When we arrived five months ago Kabir was a very different man than he is today.  In these five months we were able to witness his marriage, the baptism of his wife, his ordination to the priesthood, his acceptance of the laws of the gospel and now the baptism of his own son - performed by him.   We are proud of him. 
   This beach was one that LaRae and I stumbled across on P-day long ago.  When we first saw it, it was spotlessly clean.  However, the rainy season brings with it storms that wash the decaying turtle grass up onto the beach.  In a couple of weeks it will dry up and blow away, again leaving the beach perfectly white - just the way these two men were this past Saturday. 

A PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS



Our little 19 year old English Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Britney Webster, told us yesterday that today was her birthday and that never once in her life had she ever had a cake for her birthday.  We decided that everyone deserves a cake once in their life.  It only cost us a little bit, but she cried for five minutes when she saw us standing on her front porch.  Maybe her tears came from our lousy singing, but we think it came from the joy of realizing that somebody actually cares.  Happy birthday, Britney.

The elders here also deserve a treat once in awhile.  All of our lives we have lived amidst the Saints, and have only rarely had the privilege of feeding the missionaries.  Elder Dever, 6'4", 270 pounds, college football player, here tries to open wide enough to put down the famous Palapa Burger from the Parrot Tree Resort.  It is a complete pound of meat.  He was certain he could put it down, but 30 minutes later the score was: MAN - 0,  BURGER - 1.

The rainy season is officially here!  It rains, then rains again, and then after a short break, rains again.  Last night it started raining.  After about 10 minutes of diluge, I put this glass outside on the patio table.  This morning it had 5 inches of rain water in it.  The funny part of the story is that neither one of us even thought that it had rained very hard.  Other storms have been much, much worse.

We still have the same "normal" needs that we had at home.  Haircuts, medicine and shopping take up a portion of our time.  Yessenia Sorto is a member of our ward and has received a bit of training in cutting hair.  For $5.00 I get a hair cut and all the chatter that I can handle.  This sweet gal is the "wife" of a fellow from Idaho.  He comes down once or twice a year, stays for awhile, pays for her rent and then goes back to the states.  I really believe they love each other and we pray that very soon they will be able to arrange things so they can get married.

 Elder Barba was transfered this week to San Pedro Sula.  It's amazing how much we have grown to love him.  These elders that serve with us become much more than just friends.  He was an incredible elder - probably the best that we have seen.  He taught us so much.  He is the only member in his family and was "disowned" by them when he joined the church.  His thirst for the gospel is basically unequaled by any that we have seen.  He studied nearly constantly.  We heard him teach many times and his understanding of the gospel is incredible, especially for one who has only been a member for two years. 

 



One of the jobs that we take seriously is preparing our young men and women for their futures and for their missions.  Here we had a competition between the girls and the boys to see who was best at ironing clothes, tying ties and cooking a new dish to which we introduced them: camel's eye.  They loved it!!!  They kept cooking and cooking until all the eggs and bread were gone. 

And... there we go walking off into the sunset.  From this angle we look a lot like tourists, but believe me, we are missionaries.  We wake up every morning and brainstorm over where we can go and what we can do to bless someone's life that day.  It is a wonderful work.  What an honor to be a missionary.

SYMBOLIC POTHOLES

 

The roads of Roatan are full of potholes everywhere. Only a couple of months ago they were all patched and driving seemed to be smooth and easy.  To a tourist who arrived in September it would have been easy to get the impression that there really wasn't anymore work to do.  The roads were in perfect condition and it was time for the road crews to move on to other places where they were more badly needed.  Then the rains came!  Day after day the heavens poured down upon these roads and the weaknesses of the roads were uncovered.  The pavement was only one inch thick at its thickest part.  The foundation wasn't solid enough to withstand the constant pounding of the weather. Two options were available: either the  road crews could constantly work to keep the pavement looking smooth or the boss could order a strenthening of the foundation.  We have seen an amazing parallel to our work here in Roatan when we have looked at the potholes filled with water.  Storms have arrived and the Lord has seen fit to change the foundation of our branch.



Roatan branch presidency: Enrique Galo, Alvaro Sanchez, Luis Molina

 This week began with the huge surprise that our branch president, Alavaro Sanchez, was going to be released.  This came as quite a blow to us.  Losing him meant losing a very faithful family and the loss of even a single faithful member greatly affects our ability to become a ward.  Their efforts here have been appreciated and they won't be soon forgotten.  Due to health and financial concerns they are moving back to their homeland of Guatamala.
   The week then changed even more when we heard from Dusty Mitchell, our elder's quorum president, that he is going to take his sweet wife, Lacey, back to Canada.  Living here has been very difficult for her and her little children.  Dusty is going to continue to work here and travel back and forth as he needs to do.   We were informed that he also would be released this Sunday.  With the loss of, perhaps, our two greatest leaders we felt a very real sence of concern for the branch.  We have worked so hard to solidify this branch and now because of events that no one had planned nor hoped for, we were afraid that much was lost.

   All week long we visited members and encouraged them to be in church early this week so that they might be there for an important announcement.  It is important for members to have the opportunity to sustain their new leadership and to hear the words that are spoken both by those that are leaving and those that are being called.  President Troches, Counselor in the San Pedro Sula mission presidency, came to Roatan to make the changes.  We arranged for him to interview as many men as we thought might be considered to fill those positions.  He stayed with us Saturday night.

   Sunday morning we sat and waited for the announcement.  Called as our new branch presidency were Rafael Castro, Luis Molina and Merlon Orellana.  Their stories are as different as any three stories could be.  Rafael Castro has been a former bishop, stake president and Area Seventy.  He moved here to Roatan from La Ceiba four weeks ago.  Many of the people here already knew him when he arrived; a couple of them had been in either his stake or in his ward before.  He and his wife, Norma, are powerful, dedicated people who will work miracles for this ward. 
   Luis Molina has now served as counselor in three consequtive branch presidencies here in Roatan.  He and his sweetheart, Maria, are long-time faithful members.  He is a returned missionary.  In fact, he was called to his mission by President Castro, and returned home from his mission and served in the high counsel under the direction of President Castro.
   Merlon Orellana is living proof that the Lord will use the willing of this world.  Four months ago he was living alone, separated from his wife-to-be and his two children.  He occasionally came to church, but largely stayed away.  Then one day, something struck his heart and he decided to change.  He married his long-time girlfriend, Taunia Sorto Orellana, our Primary president, and immediately came back to church.  Four weeks later he was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood.  Two months later he was ordained to the Melchezedek priesthood and has had several experiences with the priesthood.  Today he was set apart to serve as 2nd counselor in the branch presidency.

New Roatan Branch Presidency: Luis Molina, Rafael Castro and Merlon Orellana

The new elder's quorum presidency was also called and set apart.  Our new elder's quorum president is Enrique Galo.  His First Counselor is a young man who just recently moved to Roatan.  His name is Aldolfo Escobar, a recently returned missionary. 
   We worried in vain.  The Lord has His eye on this tiny branch.  He has been preparing it and shaping it to stand on its own without our puny little help.  Seemingly every single week some type of miracle has occurred to strengthen this branch.  People who haven't come to church in a long time are now coming.  Men who had no dream of obtaining the priesthood are being ordained.  Men and women who have lived together for years without marriage are being married and are beginning their preparations for a temple sealing.  Dozens who have never held a calling are now serving faithfully and constantly and have a renewed excitement about the gospel and the church.  And, perhaps, most miraculously, the Lord has sent a steady stream of faithful, active LDS members to us.  Where we once were few, we now have an average attendance of 140 each week.  There is a light and an energy and enthusiasm in the face of nearly every member. 
    After today's meetings we are certain of one thing: Roatan will be fine without us.  We were never the foundation.  We were only privileged to be here to watch the work take place.  Our only question now is whether or not we will be fine without Roatan.  We love these people.  

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)



WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

In five minutes we will reach the reef where we will drift with the tide while we gaze down into the crystal clear water at the brightly colored fish and the dazzling coral.  We have enjoyed kayaking while here at Lawson rock.  The beauty of the ocean here is almost beyond description and it gives us a chance to get away from the sand flies because they don't seem to go out over the water.  We have spent quite a bit of time around the beach and the water.  We would spend far more if it weren't for the flies.  Their bites iritate so badly that we can't sleep for the itching.  However, if we spray ourselves with OFF and wear clothes we don't get too badly bitten.

 

 

We eat a lot that comes from the sea.  The coconut shrimp is wonderful here upon the island.  The dish above was served at Banana-rama.  The owner there, Louis St. Louis allows the missionaries to eat there for free on Mondays.  We have only gone there twice, but the elders go there every single Monday.  We purchased the lobsters from a fisherman in Punta Gorda who was just coming in for the night in his little wooden rowboat.  LaRae cut them up and cleaned them and cooked them for our dinner.  They were wonderful and cost us only $4.00 each.  We know that we could have gotten them cheaper, but we paid the "gringo" price this time.  These people have to make money somehow.

There are so many beautiful sights to see here, but they seem to all revolve around the sea.  The water is so calming, the beaches so inviting and the air so clean.  There is no polution here.  There isn't much noise.  There is no roar of ocean waves as they break over the reef and only then slowly meander to the beach.  The tide is never more than a few inches.  People live in homes built on stilts only two or three feet above the water.  They have never been flooded.

The sun sets in a bed of fire each night.  Sadly it sets quickly.  The skies are completely dark each night by 6:00 p.m. year around.  We love the twenty minutes of dusk here on the island.  It deepens the colors and softens the harshness of the poverty that drapes the land. 

We have come to love the ocean and the people who live by its waters.  It's odd to us that they take it for granted.  We rarely see any local people swimming.  They can't afford to go to the resorts and their groomed beaches, but they don't go to the local beaches either.  I believe that we all tend to take those beauties that constantly surround us for granted.  We hope that you will all take just a moment today to smell a flower or gaze at the snow capped peaks, or the flowing fields of corn.  They each have their own beauty.

 
This is Lawson Rock.  Our condominium is just past these homes.  You can see our beach at the very left of the picture.  This photo was taken from the Lawson Rock dock.  Our time here is now very limited.  We won't be here forever, but we believe that the ocean and these people of the island will stay in our hearts long after we are asked to leave. 

THE GLORIOUS HYMNS OF ZION

One of the greatest blessings that has come our way from this mission is the privilege of being able to sing the songs of Zion with people who love to sing.  They sing their hearts out!  Many of them can't sing on tune, but it doesn't matter to them.  They sing anyway - and they sing loudly.  The chapel actually resounds with the joy of their praises.  Every ward and branch in the Church could learn a lesson from the humble Saints of Roatan.  We thought that today we would include a couple of our favorite hymns in hopes that it will stir your souls as they have stirred ours.

 

A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief

Hath often crossed me on my way

Who sued so humbly for relief

That I could never answer nay

I had not power to ask his name

Where to he went or whence he came

But there was something in his eye

That won my love, I knew not why

 

(Men carrying massive loads of wood for home fires or wares to sell is a very common sight)

I am a Child of God

And He has sent me here

Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me; help me find the way

Teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday

 

(Camilla Flores - named after Pres. Kimball's wife - runs from person to person during Church and we all love her)

Because I have been given Much I Too Must Give

Because of Thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live

I shall divide my gifts from Thee with every brother that I see

That he too made be comforted

 

 

(The Alvarado family lives in this one-room shack where the floor has rotted away.  There are eight people) 

Earth With Her Ten Thousand Flowers

Air with all its beams and showers

Heaven's infinite expanse

Sea's resplendent countenance

All around and all above

Bear this record: God is love!

 

(The Lawson Rock condominium grounds are incredibly beautiful)

 Called To Serve Him, Heavenly King of Glory

Chose e'er to witness for His name

Far and wide we tell the Father's story;

Far and wide His love proclaim

 

(Elder Barba and Elder Dever are faithful missionaries always ready to spread the word)

 How Firm a Foundation

Ye Saints of the Lord is laid for His work in His excellent word

 

(The chapel in Coxen Hole)

 Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?

Have I helped anyone in need?  Have I cheered up that sad?

And made somebody glad? If not, have failed indeed.

 

(Olga Barrios de Fernandez was baptized on October 14, 2012)

 Love At Home

There is beauty all around when there's love at home.

Hate and envy ne'er annoy, when there's love at home.

 

(Belkis Madrid rocks her tiny baby in the sweltering heat of her one-room bunker)

 Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning

Radiant beamed the sun above.

Bees were humming, sweet birds singing

Music ringing through the grove.

(Early morning looking over Mahogony Bay Resort.  This is a private bay for Carnival Cruise lines)

 

Secret Prayer

There is an hour of peace and rest unmarred by earthly care

Where there before the Lord I go to kneel in secret prayer
 

(Sister Sorto, our Relief Society president, bows her head before sacrament meeting begins)

 Sweet Hour of Prayer

Sweet hour of prayer, that calls me from my world of care

 

(Roatan Branch.  October 21, 2012)

Shall the Youth of Zion Falter

In defending truth and right

While the enemy assaileth shall we shrink or shun the fight?

NO!

(The youth of Roatan)

We hope that this little blog brought a bit of joy into your lives like it has done for us.  These hymns are precious little sermons and prayers that have the power because of their melody to remain with us nearly forever.  We hope they stay with you today.

A STROLL DOWN MAINSTREET

We actually don't do much shopping here in Roatan, but when we do we typically don't go downtown.  This is where the people come to shop and to supply their daily needs.  These markets are open seven days per week from dawn until dusk and the streets are typically crowded.  Driving through this market is a pretty precarious affair. 

These little stores sell basically everything that a person could need.  Some stores carry only new things, but most of them sell things that are already used.  The shopkeepers are friendly, and welcoming.  Bartering here is a way of life.  There are two prices for every item - the one gringos pay and the one the locals pay.  And, there is a huge difference between the two.

Food, of course, is the main reason people come to the market.  The staples of life here are rice, eggs, beans, bananas and tortillas.  However, they do have wonderful fruit if you can afford to purchase it.  The green oranges are actually quite tasty.  We very often finish our day with a fruit smoothie of pineapple, papaya, bananas and orange juice.  It doesn't even need sugar it is so sweet. 

Ninety percent of all clothing on this island is used clothing from the USA.  They purchase it by the 1000 pound bale.  Sometimes you will see it all nicely hung up like the one above.  Other times you will simply see an open bale with a sign advertising that every piece of clothing costs 10 lempira = 50 cents.  There are actually only a few stores on the island that carry new clothing. 

In the middle of the market there is an outdoor, public laundrymat.  For just a few cents you can do your laundry at one of the cement pilas.  They actually do quite a business here.  They wash everything here, their food, their clothes and even themselves at these pilas. 

Trinkets abound!  For a couple of bucks you can buy almost anything.  There are no Walmarts or Costcos on the island, but the people get by because they know which stores to go to.  We needed fabric, they told us which store to go to.  We needed a battery for LaRae's watch and sure enough, they knew exactly where to go.  It is an amazing little maze of shops. 

What they can't buy at these little corner shops they send away for from the "big city" - La Ceiba.  A phone call to Ceiba can get  you delivered just about anything by way of The Galaxy Wave - the local ferry boat.  Boxes, bales, letters, suitcases... anything, comes to Roatan for a couple of dollars each.  This is how we get our mission supplies.  We haven't decided what to give each other for Christmas yet, but when we do... well, this is where we will shop.