Dear Family,
· The Primary Sacrament Meeting participants: Sister Lofters (Primary President), Sister Daniels,
Javon, Nicola, Rusell, Shanise, Giulivani,
Ruel, Chinel, and Nephihah
· Ann Monique’s baptism and lots of Yallahs Branch support
· Lunch at Chilitos, second picture: Smiths, Flakes, Hendricks, Daniels, and Sorensens.
We had our Primary program yesterday. We were thrilled that all the children came and not one had lost his part. The four children we went to visit and invited to participate all came even though they hadn’t been to church in a long time. All the children did a good job—especially on the songs. This was the first time they had done a Primary program in our branch, so the children were quite timid. We had a large attendance at Sacrament Meeting and there was such a sweet spirit there. I took donuts as a treat for the children for working so hard on their program. They loved them!
We had a baptism immediately after our meetings. We had the most ever come and support Ann Monique. The river was a lovely setting for this ordinance, but I’ll admit Elder Daniels and I looked carefully to see if we could see any crocodiles! Gratefully there were not any nearby. It was less than 5 miles to where we found the crocodile on the side of the road a few weeks before.
After the baptism Elder Daniels took care of branch business before we visited some members and drove back to Kingston. We invited our neighbors, the Smiths, over for Hawaiian haystacks for dinner.
I got up early yesterday morning to wash the baptismal clothes and make tomato/carrot soup for Family Home Evening. The Sorensens have completed their mission and go home tomorrow. We sang Christmas carols and had a testimony meeting after a potluck supper Monday night at the mission home.
Today we went to lunch at Chilitos with all the senior missionaries to bid farewell to the Sorensens. Afterwards we toured Devon House, the mansion of the first Jamaican millionaire. We were impressed with the beautiful workmanship in the home and lovely period furnishings. After our long lunch, we got back to work at the mission office. I had to hurry back to the office because one of the people going to the temple needed a copy of her itinerary. Luckily it wasn’t too far to walk, since everyone else was still in line for their Devon House ice cream cones. Eight people were going on this trip to the temple in Panama.
This week we got the R-1 visa clearance for a Jamaican missionary who will serve his mission in Pennsylvania. We helped him make an appointment with the US Embassy to apply for his visa. It is amazing how many steps and forms immigration requires. We are still waiting for work permits for missionaries waiting to be transferred to the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands.
Friday night Elder Daniels was ready to come home and I just felt we should stay a little longer. So we kept working and between 7:00 and 7:30 I received a phone call from the mother of a missionary returning my call and email from two days before. We would have not been able to talk to her if we had left at our regular time. I’m grateful that promptings come even when we don’t understand why until later.
President Hendricks sent a warning to all the missionaries this week. The elections are getting closer and there is more tension and unrest. All the missionaries are cautioned to stay away from crowds and be aware of their surroundings.
Elder Daniels has had the added challenge of more landlord issues this week. Also our pickup failed “fitness”, so he and the Office Elders have taken it to a couple of shops for repair. The first said oil was getting into the fuel causing the black exhaust. Their recommendation was to disconnect the hose and allow the oil to spray on the motor. You aren’t really surprised that Elder Daniels didn’t think that was a good solution! Today at the dealership, they discovered a computer chip needed to be reprogrammed. Of course Elder Daniels still has bills to pay, receipts to track down, etc.
We love this time of year and are grateful to be helping spread the good news of the Saviors atonement.
Love,
Sister and Elder Daniels
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