Family Events

This is the wall by my desk in the Mission Office... there is Sydney's graduation announcement, Eli's and Sophie and Grace's baptism invitations - just to help me get my work done! We sure love our family and wish we could be at their special events ...but know we will get to see them all soon. We are so proud of our children and grandchildren and the good lives they are living - we feel truly blessed each day.

welcome Elder and Sister Wright

The mission welcomed Elder and Sister Wright to our ranks this week. We all went to our favorite Chinese Restaurant and had a great time. The Wright's are currently from Idaho Falls, but have lived in Europe and other places. They will be the CES couple and cover the whole island - teaching PEF workshops and giving Seminary and Institute firesides...they are really great and we've had a good time getting to know them. They will stay in our old apartment in Junction - we get to go down there with them and show them around.

YS Falls with the Senior Couples

Today the Senior Couples took a nice trip to YS Falls...we have talked about how much fun it is until they all wanted to see it ... and several of them have family coming so they really wanted to experience it to be able to know how to bring their family when the time comes. We had a great time - here is the Isaac chaise lounge picture! Sister Smith trying to swing from a rope! All of the senior couples in front of one of the seven falls. Elder Whitehead was the first to get wet - but we all did eventually. Here we are on the Jitney ride up the road to the Falls. Fun, Fun, day!

Random

We found some pretty flowers we haven't seen before - almost like stacked tulips!! so pretty. Here are some cards a friend of Sister Larsen's made for her ...she opened the package in the office so I could see them. The Office Elders do an awful lot of running errands for the office - so I made them some 'turtle' cupcakes - they really liked them.

Visitors from Ocho Rios

This afternoon in the office we had a visit from the Vacianna family from Ocho Rios. Bro. Vacianna is the branch president now and his children Reignbeau and Skye are some of my favorite people on the whole island! .. and his wife is great also. Here are the kids - making the Mission Secretary very happy. Reignbeau said: "I want you to come back." We had lots of fun in Primary - she is just four and finished all the work in preschool - will go to Kindergarten next fall - she'll be five in October. Love these kids!

Sister Henry

Saturday morning Sister Henry, the Relief Society President in Ocho Rios came to Kingston with her daughter. She was coming to get her Patriarchal Blessing and we got to see her at the Patriarch's house for a few minutes. It is nice to have the chance for the Jamaican saints to get their blessings...Casanna - the daughter graduated from BYU Idaho last year and is a returned Jamaican Missionary... sure love these sisters!

Junction 'Care' Package

Last Wednesday we had mission wide transfers ... all the missionaries who are moving meet at the Spanish Town Chapel - meet their new companion and then travel back to their areas of the island. The AP's and the Office Elders help out since they both drive pick up trucks and can haul suitcases and bicycles. This last Wednesday when they got back to the office they had a box from the Saints in Junction for the Smiths! Yay! just look at all the fresh veggies and watermelon - all tasted yummy and we were touched that Brother Gayle would do that for us...he makes a living selling fruits and vegetables - so his giving so many to us was really a sacrifice and we love him for it! Marcus sent a short note with it - he is learning so much - now can write and read pretty good for just a year or two of learning.