How are you all? We are fine. We are looking forward to Ryan's baptism this Saturday--we will be thinking of him especially on that day.
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| He is growing up so quickly! What a good looking young man. |
We had a cultural night at Outreach on Friday, the 20th--native foods, music, dances, etc., and a professionally-made video of a tour of all the islands--very beautiful and interesting--it was fun to see the places where we have visited or are living, or may never get to visit. Our part in the food preparation was to make lots of rice--the leaders asked for 3 kilos, equal to 6 pounds. It made an awful lot, and most of it was still there at the end of the evening, so we sent some home with the young adults, and gave some to missionaries, and ate some for the next week. 6 pounds of rice filled a kettle a little bigger than a water bath canner!
We have had enough water, no real shortage for us, although we still conserve it. Our tank stays full enough, and it helps us to have the landlord living in the same building, so when he gets low on water, he calls the water truck to come and fill the tanks on the roof with a long fire hose taken to the roof of the building. Only one day has it rained thus far this year--it rained steadily all night a couple of Saturdays ago. When we got to church the next morning, some of the ceiling tiles upstairs near the chapel had fallen down and there was a big mess of broken tiles and water all over the floor. Young men quickly cleaned up the mess.
Today the maintenance workers installed an air conditioner in the Institute room (where we have Outreach, and other meetings). How nice it will be to have a cool spot. The chapel is cool enough, because of many ceiling fans and cross-ventilation windows. But everywhere else in the church is always too warm.
We had a tour of the church a couple of weeks ago, put on by the young adults. They did a super job, and we all invited many people, but sadly no visitors came. But the young people enjoyed giving the talks and displaying their assigned areas for the whole group of Outreach, so it was a fun evening anyway. It is always fun just to be all together.
We visited a day-care center in town where they have children who have cerebral palsy. We wanted to see how we could help them. Two little girls, about 6 and 10, must have felt our love for them, because they both hugged me and did not want to let go. It felt somewhat like hugging our grandchildren, whom we miss so very much!
A couple of nights ago, 60 + high school kids went to EFY in Praia on the main island. They left at night, about 11 p.m., on a huge ferry boat, for a 12-hour ride to the destination. They will be gone for six days. They were all so excited and we are too. The cost of the boat ride and the week of EFY was very low and most of the kids paid it themselves. Airplane flights would have been way too expensive, and impossible for that many people. Hope nobody got seasick!!
One of our friends, a young man who took piano lessons from me, has now gone to Hong Kong for medical school; he left last week. Another friend, a young woman, also one of my piano students, left the first of August to study medicine in Brazil. It is exciting to see them have a dream and then be able to fulfill it--he had worked in the summer on one of the other islands with taking the 2010 census.
Birthdays this month are for Joe on the 19th, and Marie on the 23rd. Have a happy special day!
Davy and Marie and family have moved to Circle, Montana for Davy to teach math, grades 9-12. Matt is teaching 5th grade in Alpine. Grandchildren are all in school by now. We don't know very much news other than this, but we would sure like to hear some more!
We love each of you and pray for you every day. May the Lord's tender mercies be with each of you--He certainly does bless us in this way.
Love always,
Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Elder and Sister
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