Montego Bay and Negril

Thursday we left the house at 7:00 so that we could meet the Greensides in Falmouth.  When we got to Falmouth, we could not see the cruise ship.  We checked at the gate and they told us that it had docked in Montego Bay.  We headed to Montego Bay hoping we could find where the ship was docked.  We finally got to the port but we were not sure where to enter.  One gate we entered took us close and there was a gate that was guarded but the attendant would not let us enter so we walked back to the road and headed towards another entrance where we could see a bunch of buses and taxis.  Lo and behold, there were the Greensides waiting for us.  I am so glad the guard did not let us in the other gate or we could have been waiting for ever.  We all got in the truck and decided to head towards Negril.  If we could have picked them up in Falmouth, we would have taken them back to Ocho but Montego Bay is two hours from Ocho so we decided to head for Negril instead.  The Pearsons gave us a key so that we could use their rest room and then we walked from their condo to the beach.  We had such a great visit and it was so good to see them again.  We left Montego bay around 2:00 and headed back to Ocho since we had to both teach our seminary and institute classes.

Sister Thompson's grandmother died and Sister Thompson was really having a hard time.  The sisters had called earlier while we were in Montego Bay and we arranged to meet them at the branch.  Brian gave Sister Thompson a really nice blessing before  Rohan and Tracy came for class.  Shawn and Kimisha came to the 6:00 institute class and the elders showed up also.  I am sure they were hoping that some investigators would come but no such luck.

Dave and Meda Greensides 

Today it has been raining all day.  We had to go over to St. Ann's Bay to ask a lady who oversees the committee that takes care of the poor if she could come to the Infirmary on Monday so that the humanitarian couple could present the items that are being  donated by the Church.  She graciously agreed to come.  We then went grocery shopping before our appointment with Sister Henry.  I made Sister Henry some cookies and just as we were getting ready to go, it started raining buckets.  We waited for the rain to slow down and then left for Sister Henry's.  We had a nice visit.  It is nice to see her healthier.  After the visit we made another visit and the rain started pouring again.  We decided to call it and day and headed home for dinner.

Ocho, Montego Bay and Brown's Town

January has gone by really fast and I have been quite delinquent in writing in my blog.  I am not going to try and remember lost days but I will write about this week.

Monday was our 49th anniversary.  It is hard to believe that next year will be our 50th.  We got a call from Sister Vacianna that "Food for the Poor" was trying to get ahold of us.  She said they had a form that we needed to get from them.  We thought that we would be going to St. Ann's Infirmary with the Whiteheads, but the truck that was suppose to deliver the washing machines, refrigerator and freezer and other kitchen items put us on hold until next Monday.  Wayne needed some electrical parts so we picked those up for him and then headed to St. Ann's to pick up the form from "Food for the Poor".  We had received some rice and beans in November so we were not expecting to get more food but they had food and some books for us. After they loaded up our truck we drove up to Lime Hall to talk to Wayne about the passing of his mother and drop off the electrical supplies.  We then went home long enough to unload the smaller items and then picked up the Elder's so that they could help Brian carry in the 110 lb. bags of rice and beans. Elder Jones and Elder Cox had not had a chance to e-mail their families so we told them they could use our computers.  We fixed them some French toast for dinner and then delivered them back to the Vacianna's for FHE.  It was pouring rain but we decided to stop at the store and get some bags so that we could package the rice, beans, cornmeal, and TVP.  It is nice to be able to help the families with these extra commodities.

Tuesday morning we dropped Elder Cox's watch off at his apartment and then headed out to the Sister's to do an apartment check.  On the way home we decided to go out to Sister Thompsons and look at her stove.  We called the elders to see what their plans were because we knew that Elder Jones used to work for Sears in their appliance section.  We thought this would be a good service project for them.  All their appointments had fallen through so we picked them up and drove out to Sister Thompsons.  Because the oven wasn't working, we thought the problem might be with the thermostat.  When we went looking for parts, no one had that part.  They said we could get a part in Montego Bay but we figured that Sister Thompson could not afford the $160 part even if we were to pick it up after zone meeting.  Brian did some research on the stove problem when we got home and decided that we should check the igniter first.  That would be a lot less expensive part to replace if we could even find that part!  After we dropped the elders off, we drove over to Rohan's to drop some books off for their school and then stopped in to see how the Llewellans were doing.  We had a nice visit and then headed home for the evening.

Today we drove to Montego Bay for zone meeting.  We left home at 6:50 so that we could pick up the elders.  Zone meetings are always good.  This one was particularly good. On the way home we drove to Brown's Town to drop off a check  to one of our sisters and also take some food to two other families.  We then took the elders to Sister Alexander's cook shop.  I had called her the day before to tell her that we would be bringing the elders up with us and I also asked her what time they close.  When we got there, she had made us some sweet and sour chicken.  It was delicious.  I love it when I don't have to go home and cook.  We all enjoyed the meal.  We didn't get home until after 6:00.  I made some cookies for seminary tomorrow because we are leaving for Falmouth early in the  morning to visit with the Greensides.

Sister Garrett and Sister Thompson.  Sister Thompson is from Jamaica and joined the church  a year before her mission.  

The Ocho and Port Antonio Elders with Sister Garrett.  This was our district before they split us.

This is the North Coast Zone.  Three sisters were added to the zone and they are serving in Montego Bay.  Next to Sister  Wilkinson is Elder Lewis and Elder Lewis.  They are both serving in Port Antonio.  The tall Elder Lewis is from Jamaica and the broad Elder Lewis who is also tall is from Georgia.  

I wish you could see all the houses in this little complex.  One of our sister's lives here with the rest of her family. There are several homes that kind of surround a grassy area.  They are all related.  They do their wash by hand.

Kingston

Monday morning we waited for the plumber to come and fix our faucet.  He was not able to find the parts he needed so he said that he would come on Wednesday.  Right after we left for our monthly trip to Kingston for our FHE, Blossom called to tell us that he had found the part.  She didn't want us to turn around and wondered if it would be okay  for him to fix the sink if the condo supervisor stayed with him the whole time.  We told her that would be fine.  The supervisor tried to open our door but the lock was stuck so Blossom called us back to tell us that the plumber would come on Wednesday.

 Sister Wege was in charge of dinner and choose to do a potato bar.  Our assignment was drinks.  We got to watch "Meet the Mormons" as President Brown was given a copy.  I really enjoyed it - especially the last story.  It shows the reach and power of the atonement.  After FHE we went back to the Whiteheads and spent the night.  They only have one more month in Jamaica and I am really going to miss them.

Tuesday morning, Elder Whitehead made pancakes and Sister Vance came down to visit while Elder Vance was getting ready for the day.  After Elder and Sister Vance left, we took off with the Whiteheads to check a restaurant supply place so that we could order some items for the St. Ann's Infirmary.  The store was kind of like Gigi's Restaurant Supply so I thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the items that they had.  We drove back to the Constant Springs Ward and visited with Sister Wege for a minute and they said our goodbyes and headed to Pricesmart for some grocery buying.  We got home in time to put the groceries away and then we picked up the elders so that we could go with them to an investigator's home.  The gentleman that we visited was such a delight.  He and his wife have been married for 61 years.  They both are very involved with charity efforts.  She is a member of the Kiwanas and had a meeting so she didn't stay.  She is a Baptist but he doesn't go to church with her.  I always have such a good feeling when I am doing missionary work.  After we got home, Sister Mouritson and Sister Garrett came over so that Brian could give them each a blessing as Sister Mouritson was leaving for Nassau to be the district leader over four sisters and Sister Garret was getting a new companion.  I will really miss Sister Mouritson.  She has been a great missionary.

Wednesday I spent the morning working on my seminary lesson.  We didn't have district meeting because it was transfer day.  We were not involved with transfers this time.  I taught my lesson at 4:00 and then we headed out to Huddersfield to drop off some clothes that Sister Pearson had given me for any little girls in the branch.  While I was teaching seminary, Sister Garrett came in with her new companion, Sister Thompson.  She is Jamaican and I am excited to work with her.  I understand she is a terrific missionary.

Thursday morning we studied for seminary and then Brian and I headed to the branch so that we could visit with one of our members.  After the visit we made a couple of visits and then picked up Rohan and headed out to Brother Barbagee's for branch presidency meeting.  I got to visit with Sister Barbagee while they were having their meeting.  She served us some cornmeal pudding that was kind of like a dense cake with spices and raisins.  I really liked it.  She told me that she cooked it on the stove first and then baked it.  She also told me about some of the foods that she likes to cook.  Goat head and cow head are very popular here.  They take out all the eyes and brains so that what you have is bone and meat.  It makes for a flavor full broth.  She also loves chicken feet and cows foot and they make soups with these parts.  They really do not let anything go to waste.  She told me that the cow feet cook faster in the pressure cooker.  They cut of the toe nails and then slice up the foot.  I find that most of the women really like to cook and they are good at it.  They always wash their meat and fish in either lime or vinegar.  They are pretty careful how they cook.  After the meeting we hurried back to the branch so that Brian could teach institute.  Mark had told me that he couldn't come on Thursday so I didn't have to worry about teaching.  I thought I would be teaching the 6:00 class but Jahleem was sick and Raheem didn't come - probably because his brother wasn't coming.  We didn't get home until almost 9:00.

This morning I worked on my YW's lesson while Brian did various odds and ends.  We made a couple of visits and headed down to the branch to pick up a check for one of our sisters.  We had an early dinner and then headed back to the branch for our weekly missionary correlation meeting.

President Brown's son Jarom being held by his oldest brother Jonathan.

Kimolie and her little 5 lb. girl who is only a week old.

Every time we go out to Brother Barbagee's, we pass this house.  They have removed most of the dirt surrounding it.  We are curious to see what they are going to do with it.

The happy couple.  Unfortunately, the picture was a little blurry.

I find that most of the women really like to cook and they are good at it.  They always wash their meat and fish in either lime or vinegar.  They are pretty careful how they cook.  After the meeting we hurried back to the branch so that Brian could teach institute.  Mark had told me that he couldn't come on Thursday so I didn't have to worry about teaching.  I thought I would be teaching the 6:00 class but Jahleem was sick and Raheem didn't come - probably because his brother wasn't coming.  We didn't get home until almost 9:00.

This morning I worked on my YW's lesson while Brian did various odds and ends.  We made a couple of visits and headed down to the branch to pick up a check for one of our sisters.  We had an early dinner and then headed back to the branch for our weekly missionary correlation meeting.

Brown's Town

Sister Wege sent us an e-mail requesting some signatures for two of our members who are on the PEF  program so Monday we decided to make a trip into Brown's Town to get the signatures.  We stopped at Sister Alexanders to get Anika's signature.  She was in the middle of helping her mom make dinner for 140 people.  She had quite the assembly line going.  Sister Alexander  is a very good cook and recently opened a little restaurant.  We decided to check it out and ended up getting sweet and sour chicken.  It was really good.  The chef said, "I'll see you tomorrow."  We told him we lived in Ocho  but little did we know, we would be back up on Wednesday to fix all the problems that we created on Monday so we decided to stop at the cook shop again.  This time we had fried chicken.  I honestly don't know how they can make their lunches so cheap.  We had fried chicken, rice and peas with a nice sauce, a few pieces of curry chicken and a little salad.  We ordered the small size but he gave us the medium size and it was only $350 JD which is a little less than $3.50 US.  I think Sister Alexander must burn the candle at both ends because she also has a full time job.  She is also our Primary president.  On our way home from Brown's Town, we stopped in Lime Hall so Wayne could wash our truck.  We stopped into see Humphrey and Tanesha in Lime Hall also.

Tuesday we made a trip out to Highgate to see Sister Raymond.  We also stopped in Port Maria to see a sister that lives in Highgate but works in  Port Maria at the hospital.  She was very pleasant to talk to.  I wish Highgate wasn't so far away.  I took another picture of one of Sister Raymond's banana spiders.  They are really creepy looking but I hear they are not harmful.

Wednesday we had district meeting and then left for Brown's Town.  On our way back home we stopped at the hospital to see Sister Robinson.  We had met her at the branch that morning before her doctor's appointment.  She was walking down the hill from her house and fell on her bottom and twisted her ankle.  Little did we know that she would go into labor that night.  She lives in Parry Town and their had been a shooting up there.  There was a curfew going on and when she tried to call for a taxi at 1:30 in the morning, no one wanted to go up into that area at that time of night.  She couldn't get a hold of her midwife so her friend called a family member to come and get her.  She left for the hospital at 4:30 a.m. and had her baby at 5:00 in the car.  She ended up going home that evening at 4:00.  Her daughter only weighed around 5 lbs.  She is so cute.  I might add that to get to her home, she had to hike up a hill that nearly killed me the first time I hiked it.  I thought about how easy it is to have a baby at home and how pampered we are.

Thursday we stopped in to see Sister Lewellan.  She was able to get the blood that she needed so she got to come home from the hospital.  We also stopped into see the elder's new apartment.  It will be really nice and in a lot better area.  Right now they live on James Street.  It is in the middle of town and the road is almost always congested with cars and pedestrians.  I taught seminary and Brian taught institute.  It was a good day.

Friday we did a little shopping after Brian got home from the Branch.  I spent the morning studying for my YW's lesson.

Saturday we got the truck washed and then headed for Spanish Town for a seminary and institute inservice.                      After we got home, I put a vegetable lasagna together for our Sunday dinner.  I  invited the Pearsons to join us since they were coming to the branch so that Elder Pearson could do an audit.  I also worked on my YW's lesson.  I might mention that while I was in the kitchen getting the lasagna ready, I heard a sound that sounded like rushing water.  I ran into the bathroom to see if the toilet was overflowing but it was not.  Brian ran into the bathroom and noticed that the hose going to the water faucet had sprung a leak.  He turned off the little valves and took off the faucet thinking that he could just replace the hose but the hoses were permanently connected to the faucet.  I was so glad that it didn't happen while we were in Spanish Town.  We would have had a real flood on our hands and who knows what would have happened with all the electrical cords that we have on the floor for our computers and fans.  I feel really blessed that we were home when it happened.


The branch presidency spoke in Sacrament meeting today.  The talks were really good.  Brian met up with Elder Pearson at 7:00 this morning to work on the audit.  I worked on my lesson and made some bread sticks and a cabbage salad for dinner before Sister Pearson picked me up to go to the branch.  I was disappointed in the turnout at the branch.  You never know how many will show up.  Elder and Sister Pearson and I left right after the block so that I could put the lasagna in the oven while we were waiting for Brian to come home.  We had a great visit and then after the Pearsons left, we went to St. Ann's Hospital with the sister missionaries to visit with Sandra Henry.  Sister Mouritson is leaving Ocho for Nassau.  I hate to see her go.  She has been a very good missionary.  It is amazing how you get attached to these missionaries.

Banana Spider

Negril

All of the senior couples and Sister Wege decided that we would go to Negril for the New Years weekend.
Elder Pearson is in the mission presidency and covers the North Coast Zone in the mission. He and Sister Pearson live in a condo on the beach just outside of Negril.  Their condo used to be in a resort so it is an amazing place to stay at.  There is a great place to snorkel not far from their condo.

  Brian and I left Wednesday after district meeting.  It takes a little over 3 hours from Ocho to get to Negril but the road follows the ocean so it is a lovely drive.  We had a pot luck dinner after we arrived and had fun visiting with the other couples.  We even brought white elephant gifts to exchange.   Because we are all seniors, we did not stay up to welcome in the New Year.  Most of us, however, heard the fireworks at midnight.  Brian and I and the Vances stayed with the Pearson.  The Whiteheads, Halls, and Sister Wege stayed at Cocoa La Palms.  The first morning we were there, we all sat out on the beach while the men and Sister Wege went snorkeling.  That night, we drove to the Moon Dance Resort and ate at the restaurant that overlooks the beach.   The next day we visited an old plantation called Abeokuta. It has a 300 year old swimming pool and the ruins of the old plantation.  It was obvious that a lot of visitors there like Ganja (Marijuana).  One guy we ran into was just coming from his farm.  Mike Vance asked him what he was growing and he said Jamaican Gold.  Mike said, "Oh, you mean wacky tabacky."  It is quite plentiful here on the Island.  After we got home from Abeokuta, we went to Murphy's for dinner.  It is a little cook shop type restaurant.  I had Devils chicken (jerk chicken in a spicy sauce) and pumpkin mashed potatoes and it was delightful.  Brian had jerk chicken and french fries.  Brian and I left Saturday morning around 10:00 so that we could get back to Ocho in time for a baptism scheduled for the river in Lime Hall.  Wayne baptized his daughter Crystal and Brian baptized Lennard.  Wayne usually washes our truck by the river so we knew there was a small pool there.  The water is very clear and the surrounding area is beautiful. We really lucked out because we were the only ones at the river.  The board of directors of our condo decided that we can no longer have baptisms in the pool so now we have to find other places to baptize.  Since Wayne lives in Lime Hall, we thought this would be a good place for the baptism.  It was a nice experience.

Sunset at the Moon Dance Resort

Outdoor restaurant at the Moon Dance Resort.  From left to right, Elder and Sister Whitehead, Sister Pearson,  Elder and Sister Vance, Sister and Elder Hall.

300 year old swimming pool at Abeokuta.  The water comes into the pool by way of a cement aquaduct.  It leaves the pool the same way.

Ruins of the old plantation

Vances, Pearsons and Brian standing by the falls where the aquaduct empties out of the  pool.

Dinner at Murphys

Waiting for dinner at Murphys

Wayne and his daughter, Crystal.

Brian and Lennard.

Sunday we had 62 people at church.  It was nice to see so many.  After church, we made a trip to the hospital to see two of our members and then went over to Sister Lewellans for a visit.

Today we went to Brown's Town to finish up some PEF items for Sister Wege.  We decided to try out Sister Alexander's cook shop and we were very glad that we did.  Brian and I both had sweet and sour chicken and it was very good.  We had the medium size and it only cost us $350 JD which is a little less than $3.50 US.  Most of the little cook shops are very reasonable.  The fast food places like Burger King, KFC, and Pizza hut are a lot more expensive here. On the way home, we stopped in Lime Hall so that we could get the truck washed.  We also made a visit to see Humphrey and Tanisha while Wayne was washing the truck.