Back to work

We are very happy to be back to work with our misionary assignments.  Yesterday Oct 28th we had our first inservice lesson in Sav-la-mar.  The teachers from Negril also come to Sav for the inservice meeting. Negril is about 18 kil away.  Sister Opoku is the seminary teacher at Negril and Brother Bailey teaches Institute.  Both were in attendance along with Sister Smith who teaches institute in Sav and Sister Woolery who teaches seminary.  These sisters and brother are very dedicated to their callings.  Sister Opoku does not have any students and only 4 potentials who are all inactive. She is trying to work with them to get her class going.  We were impressed that even though she does not have any students she would still travel 1/2 hour to attend the inservice meeting.  I  (Elder Andersen) wonder if I would be that dedicated or just say "no need for me to got to that meeting."  We love the Jamaican saints.  Life is not easy for any of them but they show their love for the gospel and our saviour by doing what they can even with limited resources. Following the inservice lession which was very well coordinated and done by Sister Andersen she went to teh institute classs to attend and observe while I presented the PEF fireside to another potential student.  Whenever we are involved with the PEF firside I have an overwhelming appreciation for President Hinkley and his vision of the potential impact on those who have not. I alwasy come away on a high realizing that we have been given the opportunity to play a small role in that program.

Since we were not going to complete our assignment until 9 pm or so and being 2 1/2 hours away from home we made reservations at CocoLaPalm in Negril.  Negril is the tourist beach on the west end of the island. It has 7 miles of continuous beach and while it was hit hard by the tropical storm Nicole they have been able to restore it as before.  There is one farily large sail boat that did not fare well and is broken up and partially burried in sand about 100 feet off shore.  They have a guard there to prevent people from getting into the weckage as the boat belongs to someone in the USA and they have not been able to contact the person yet so cannot move it until they get permission. We spend a couple hours on the beach on Thursday afternoon before going to Sav and then this morning (Fri) we once again took a walk on the beach and then I went swimming in the Caribbean and Fran went swining in the pool.  The water was very nice and I really enjoyed myself especailly after talking wiith our family in Utah where snow blankets the ground.

Now to the neighborhood.  I started my morning walks right after we got back. It has been fun to reconnect with the people I know.  Marlin is about 32 yrs old and he said he is reading the Book of Mormon I gave hime. I have asked him to get his neighbor Roger Burton (who lives accross the street and is about the same age but inactive) to bring him to church. Hopefully we can get that to happen while we are here.  I had a short viist with Elder Higgin who is the pastor of the penecostal church and he is reading the Book of Mormon I gave him.  I did make an appointment for he and his wife to come to our apartment last Wed afternoon to discuss how the Book of Mormon came about but he had not come by 3:30 I called him and he said unfortunately they could not come and we would reschedule.  I have visited with James Chambers,
Brother Bell, Omar and  Dawn  who all have Books of Mormon but they need more encouragement to read.

Health: I am happy to report that the blessing I received upon returning has been just that .. a blessing. I am doing fine and feel thankful for all the prayers that I was included in as well as the promises given.  The priesthood is real and the gospel is true and we are seeing Jamaica thru new eyes and really enjoying it.

Of course I cannot speak for Fran who is back to hanging out clothes then pulling them down when suddenly it rains the hanging them out again when the sun peeks though then calling "Jack come quick and help me get these clothes off the line" as the rain starts again.   The end for now.  Jack.