Blessings

On Tuesday, we were cleaning up the church building - usually do it on Monday, but we had a Play Day on Monday this week! We got a call that one of our members - a teenager who come to Seminary more than any other students - was taken to the hospital from school in Highgate - about 50 Klm away. We drove there and found her in a hallway - no beds available - getting an IV drip. She had an aunt visit from another island who had heard about a cholera alert - so she put bleach in the water bottle in the fridge - apparently too much bleach! It made Jody-Ann sick. Jody's mother was with her so we didn't plan to stay long. Jody did want a blessing - so Elder Smith used his portable consecrated oil and did both the annointing and blessing - it was at the end of a hallway and a little bit private...or so we thought. After we said our goodbye's we walked outside and a young lady came up to us. "May I have a prayer also?" she asked. I asked her what for? "For deliverance" - she said. "Deliverance from what? I asked.
"From stress" - was her answer. So Elder Smith said a nice prayer for her, in the courtyard of the hospital. I love it when total strangers can feel and sense the power of the Priesthood and desire it in their lives. Neat experience - glad Jody wasn't held overnight - we met them from the bus they took back to Ochie and helped them get two prescriptions at the drug store. We really enjoy being shepherds to the flock!

Rocklands Hummingbird Sanctuary -Jamaica

This Monday, Feb. 28th - Preparation Day three of the senior couples, four missionaries, and Sister Russells daughter Linda and son Brandon (former Jamaican Missionary) visited the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary just outside of Montego Bay. It was really fun - several of us had birds land on our fingers and eat the sugar water from the small bottles that they gave us. Pictured are Elder Smith, Elder Russell and Elders Fangulua (Ocho Rois) and Elder Randel (MoBay). We had lunch at a great Chinese buffet, then afterward went to Wendy's for Frosty's - did you know they have oreo, m&m, cookie dough, ones now! yummy!

last of the branch activity!

Here Bro. and Sis. Richardson did a cute dance to something about Airplanes - just want you to see the shirt that she cut up to make a baby sleeper!! The food was yummy! Pot of spaghetti, buttered bread, and pepperoni, cheese, ham/pineapple and supreme pizza's.

More branch activity

Sis. Richardson's showed some of her drawings and pictures, also a baby sleeper and hat she had sewn out of one of her husbands old shirts! Then Paul did a funny skit about reading the Book of Mormon, having to hide from his mother to do it...too true.
Here are the only two Primary children that came - they led us all in "Following the Prophet" - it was fun.

Friday Branch Activity - Talent Show

We had a fun branch activity last evening - Young Men in charge. The first picture is of the Richardson's - he is the YM President and she is the YW President. They will be married a year in May and are trying to get to the temple on their anniversary..they are expecting their first child in July. Next is Elder Fangulua playing his guitar and singing an original song: "Choices" - Elder Peterson was the 'opening' act - going over to the light switches and flashing them on and off as he introduced Elder Fangulua!! that was fun! Then the 1st C Elder Grant, gave a poem - The Touch of the Master's Hand - great. Elder Smith and I learned from the Children's Songbook - how to sign "Love One Another" - it is pretty simple and we enjoyed doing it.

English - Spanish Battle site 1658

This is the Rio Nuevo Battle Site Historical Park - near Ocho Rios. We went there on Monday, Feb. 21st - The English beat the Spanish and took over Jamaica because of this battle! There were a few artifacts in the small museum that were interesting. The Spanish fort consisted of many young Mexican boys - some who never held a gun before. The Spanish fled to Cuba and the English developed the island.

My Dad's Mission Companion

Hello world,
On Sunday, February 20th, we had the Caribbean Area Auditor from the Dominican Republic come to Ocho Rios - an Elder and Sister Snow, from Roosevelt, Utah. His father Alva Snow, was one of my Dad's, Glenn Smith - mission companions in the Eastern States Mission, 1941-43. What a small world! By the way, the Branch passed the audit with flying colors!! Elder Snow was an accountant and served a Spanish speaking mission when young - Sister Snow is struggling with Spanish - but has mastered it enough to say prayers! They travel to the whole area and have to change what side of the road they drive on, their currency, etc. Their kids told them to enjoy because at home (Roosevelt) they were shoveling 8 inches of snow!!
Elder Snow remembered Gramps (my Dad) coming to Roosevelt to deer hunt with his dad. He even remember that famous Deseret News picture of the 5 hunters, 5 big bucks, opening day!! Uncle Harold was one of the five, Dad, Gene Gibb, Alva Snow and I don't know the other one - I told Elder Snow that I have a copy of that picture and he wants one - in a year and a half when I get home. They just began their mission in Janaury but are out for 18 months so we should be home around the same time....The Church is such a 'small world' - go halfway around the globe and run into a person who knows your family!! Always mind what you are doing - ala Granny!