Zone meeting in Montego Bay

I didn't do a post for Monday and Tuesday because Monday was P-day and besides laundry, grocery shopping and waiting in line at the bank for almost an hour, we really didn't accomplish a great deal.  I did get to spend a lot of time in the scriptures and  the seminary handbook so that was a real plus.  Tuesday we were hoping to spend some time with the sister missionaries but they have not been too successful in lining up appointments because the less active really don't want a visit and the members are busy.  They were somewhat discouraged last night when we met with President Lester for a missionary correlation meeting.  We have to depend on them to show us where people live.

Today was zone meeting.  I asked the sisters what time we should be ready to go and they suggested 7:30.  I invited them over for breakfast so that they could park their truck here and we could all leave together.  The Ocho Rios branch covers two parrishes - St. Anns and St. Marys. and the sisters can really rack up the miles with visits.  Normally they would drive and we would take the elders but they keep running out of miles.

I saw a side of Jamaica that I really hadn't seen yet.  The road to Montego Bay is very nice.  It is more like a divided highway.  Montego Bay has an airport and it is also a very popular spot for cruise ships.  We saw three ships on our way to zone meeting.  There are also some pretty plush resorts along the way.  It is a much better place to fly into than Kingston.  I love driving along the coast.  The ocean is so beautiful and you can't beat the air conditioning in the truck when you have a two hour drive ahead of you.  You can really tell that they cater to the tourists.

Zone meeting was amazing.  I was impressed with the quality of missionaries we have in this zone.  One of the elders we met, an Elder Fowlks, told us he was from Gilbert, AZ.  Brian asked him what school he attended and when he said Higley High, he asked him if he knew Joselyn and Jacki and he said that he use to hang out with them sometimes.  Small world.  It was fun to meet the elders in this zone.  The only three sisters that we have in the zone are the Ocho sisters.

Sister Bailey, Sister Walker, and Sister Judd in front of the Montego Bay Chapel 

Elder Fowlks and his companion at zone meeting

 One thing that has amazed me is how easy I can stay awake when Brian is driving and when I am in meetings.  It has been a blessing for me.

After zone meeting, we went to Burger King with the sisters and then headed back towards Ocho.  We stopped to visit an inactive sister in Discovery Bay.  She joined the church in Florida, but when she returned to Jamaica, she lost interest in attending church.  I think it was hard for her to go from an active ward to a small branch.  We invited her to come back.  She gave us each a mango as we left.  I must admit that I have developed a taste for Mangos.  They are so good when they are picked fresh from the tree. We then visited Sister Noble.  She has been coming to church.  She hasn't been able to bring her children because she can't afford the taxi fare for all of them but she is making an effort to come.  Her husband is out of work and they live in very humble circumstances.  We then visited an older sister who lives alone and is completely inactive.  He husband was once a branch president but 15 years ago he drowned.  She is probably in her 80's and the branch is quite a distance from her home so she has been attending another church. (I think she goes to the Seventh Day Adventist church)  We showed her a video clip from the ipad.  She loved it.  I could tell that she was very touched. We always sing a song, say an opening and closing prayer and leave a message when we visit members.  I really enjoy visiting the members.  It was around 7:45 when we got home.  I made a mango, banana and pineapple juice smoothie.  It tasted so good- especially after walking into a hot apartment.  Blossom, the lady who looks after the condos, informed me that our water would be turned off from 7 am to 7 pm.  I am glad I have some water stored.  Jamaica needs rain!!

Elder Hardy and the Ocho Sisters at Burger King