Discovering Tobago

Here we are in beautiful Tobago!  This island is only 6 miles long and 2 miles wide. The saying goes, "Nothing is very far away in Tobago." Honestly, We feel like we've died and gone to heaven with our surroundings but lack the dear people we love so much!
Monday the 11th we finished all the cleaning and packing and said goodbye to our home of 4 months in Guyana. There are many things I will not miss but they are already documented so there is no need to rehash them.
Pamela has a sister that lives in Wales, which is on the way to Georgetown, so we picked up Pamela, Joel and sweet Ra-ella and drove into Georgetown. Wales is beautiful with rice paddies and sugar cane fields. We arrived at Pamela's sister's home, which was amazingly beautiful and very modern. We had a nice visit, she fed us and we said our last goodbyes to them. Many tears later, we were on our way. These folks will never be forgotten and have a lasting place in our hearts.
We got into Georgetown and went to the mall to kill some time. It really is a pretty good one. We dropped the car off and took our bags to the Whitaker's. We had a lovely dinner and a nice visit with them. We slept well and were up Tuesday morning at 4 am to get to the airport by 6. Our favorite taxi driver, Sherlock, got us safely to the airport. Our flight was on time and we landed in Trinidad. Going through immigration was nothing like last time. We walked right up to the portal and got all of our papers stamped and approved. We can stay in Trinidad for one year and then we have to get another medical exam and probably pay another $67 US each for another visa. Going through customs was another breeze. Word to the wise, if you are going to the Caribbean, don't go during "Carnival" which is the last of Feb. to the second week in March. It is a mad house.
The Trinidad missionaries picked us up and drove us to the William's (the senior couple in Trinidad)
We walked around a bit by the apartment and were delighted to discover a wonderful grocery store with all kinds of food we haven't seen for months! Frozen blueberries to put on my oatmeal! That afternoon the Williams took us to a fabulous shopping mall! Wow! We spent a couple of hours there and then went back to the apartment. The Williams are so gracious and kind.
The next morning, Elder Williams drove us to the airport and we flew the 20 minute flight to Tobago. We got a very nice lady taxi driver to take us to President George's, (the branch president here) home where the mission car was being stored. President George had put the battery from his car into the mission car (not sure exactly why...) so we had to go find a place to buy a battery to give his back.
So, we googled battery places in Tobago and headed out. We found it and they didn't have any and suggested another place giving us directions that we really couldn't figure out. We drove around for  awhile stopping at any car place we saw, learning they had no batteries and instructions to find another place. We saw quite a bit of Tobago...the streets are very narrow and instead of ditches on each side of the road they have 6 by 4 inch cement strips that line the ditches, pretty precarious driving situation. We googled batteries again and it came up with Massey's which is like Target. We found it, they put a new battery in, we dropped off the other battery and we were off to get the keys to our new home.
Our new place is on a golf course and walking distance to the ocean. I don't want to gush about living here but we feel very spoiled with this opportunity. There is a walking path around the course and we discovered a Mangrove forest with a boardwalk through it. Mangroves are critical in stabilizing shore lands and protecting them from erosion. Fascinating! It's the dry season here so it's not especially green but there are still some lovely flowering trees and bushes to enjoy. It will be fun to see it come to life when the rains begins.
The condo itself is lovely too. It has a very large kitchen, two bedrooms, three bathrooms, living/dining area, a washer and dryer, (I washed Dave's white shirts 3 times with bleach to get all the Guyana water stain off of them and I almost forgot to use the dryer, ) a dishwasher, a TV and stereo system, really great internet, a back deck, a swimming pool, no loud music, barking dogs or chickens and clean water 24/7! Like I said, I don't want to gush.... It's all on the ground floor as well. No more climbing that long set of steep stairs with groceries.
We went and bought groceries and started unpacking. That was all Wednesday!
Thursday, we unpacked some more and tried to get our phones to work here, which we are still working on. Hopefully we will get that done tomorrow on Monday. We went to the Elder's apartment that has been vacated and met with the landlord to terminate the lease. He was very nice. We then started packing up stuff to move out. It really wasn't much, just a lot of Books of Mormon, pamphlets, and other things. Unfortunately it was up a very long flight of stairs so it was up and down carrying as much as we could each time. We still need to go back and get the bed and mattresses and then it will be all cleaned out. Some other Elders had come earlier a couple months ago and clean out the kitchen contents so it wasn't very much to do. We did find two cricket bats and two cutting swords  under the bed. These swords are used for cutting down weeds and chopping coconuts open. Not sure what to do with them...
Friday, with such a wonderful internet, I finally got to knuckle down and figure out the new assignment of Housing Manager. There are 68 properties that have to be managed in 6 different countries, Renewing and Terminating leases, sending out apartment inspections, and procuring other housing as needed. And...keeping accurate documentation in a file. I have shed a few (many) tears with this but now I feel like I can do it and even feel somewhat proud of myself that I'm getting it. Dave has helped a lot with teaching me how to work an Excel spreadsheet and how to download and transfer files etc. There is no way I could have learned these things without him. I don't know how long I will have this assignment but now it doesn't matter because I get it....mostly.....and it will only become easier the more I do it. Yay for doing hard things and getting way out of my comfort zone!
Saturday was more Housing work for me and Dave worked on the financial report again. It's a difficult task when you have three different currency to deal with and keeping track of what the Church pays for out of mission funds and what we pay for out of our pockets. Really, I guess we pay for it all since we pay into the mission fund every month. It just has to be separated and reported on every month. I also got a professional hair cut that will grow out to be fairly cute, I think...
Sunday, we had stake conference with a video / Skype type thing. There were 16 people that came. It was pretty good but a little hard to hear clearly what was said. Afterwards we visited with Pres. George to find out how we can help him and the members while we are here. It was decided that we would do our visiting, trying to love people back to church and start some "linger longers" like we had in Mississippi, and organized some branch activities as well. We are excited to get to work!
All in all, it's been a busy week and Dave and I continue to improve on our understanding of each other and figuring out how to do things. Being married for 20 years with spouses working is very different then being retired/plus mission companions 24/7  and it has introduced some new situations that we have had to work through. It all boils down to: we dearly love each other and we are completely committed to our marriage and to serving the Lord. It is quite the ride!

 Our first sunset in our new place

 One of the views

 I don't know where all the people are, but these beaches are quite nice. 

The brownish orange stuff is seaweed. Evidently, it has been very bad this year. 

This is just a short walk from our place.

 Cool looking water pipes

 There is a lovely lily pond on the path around the golf course

 This is as large as a dinner plate

 There are white ones, lavender ones and hot pink ones

 The leaves are amazing too!

 We spotted a mom and her chicks walking on the lily pads

 This flower is only dime size

 This is a tiny one too

 Beautiful hibiscus every where 

 This is a cool pod of something...maybe we will see it in bloom another time

 It looks like a tree died and they made it into a planter

 This is a mangrove forest. This picture doesn't show how really cool this is

 A very large...probably the size of a Reese's Peanut butter cup, spider. 

Notice how thick and tangled up the roots are.

 The boardwalk in the mangrove forest. You can't see it but the tree sends branches down into ground and more sand and mud gather around the roots and new land is created. Fascinating!

 This is our new home away from home. We occupy the whole lower level. 

All of you Senior couples, look how you could live....we really need you!

 Notice the sign....

 I don't know what these birds are yet but I will find out. 

They stand in groups all looking the same way....interesting

This is the Excel spreadsheet for the mission housing. I think I can...I think I can... I know I can!

The whole effect with a panorama

Saying Goodbye...

This has been quite a busy, emotional week for us. Knowing this is our last week here in Guyana and our last week with these darling people.
Tuesday we taught the second temple class and we were hoping to teach one more on Thursday but the Emamudins weren't able to come so it didn't happen. We had our last YSA with the group here on Friday. Dave got 5 pizzas and some drinks and we had a good message from Andy and then we just ate and visited (gaffed). We had some good laughs as we talked about all the expressions of the Guyanese people. Here are a few:
When you walk by someone and say: Good morning, or good afternoon. the reply is usually; "araht araht or yea yea." Guyanese people say "Good night" as a greeting rather than a farewell. If they are mad at you they are "vexed" at you. When you want to visit someone at their home, you go up to the house and outside of the yard you yell "inside, inside" then if they are home they come to the door. When you ask someone to come and do something or ask them how long it will be they say "just now, just now" which could mean anything from 5 minutes to an hour or more. When you want people to bring something with them like their scriptures you asked them to "walk with them" If they need to know what time they say "what o'clock?" When you ask someone how they are they say "I tryin" When they are explaining an event they say "me tell she tha me n know what he tell she" meaning: I told her that I didn't know what he told her. Chatting and talking is called "gaffing or gaff" for example "we just gaffed or we were just gaffing" If there is a lot of something they say " it's plenty, plenty" If you are asking directions they say " go more down, down an ax anyone n they'll tell ye"
 It's really delightful and even though we have been here for 4 months, it's still a bit of a challenge to understand everything that is said but oh how we want to understand it all. When anyone, especially the children were talking to me I wanted to get every word. I feel that way when my grandchildren talk to me. I don't want to miss anything they are trying to tell me or share with me.
Saturday we worked getting everything packed and everything cleaned. Cleaning involves a couple loads of laundry and bed sheets which have to be hung out to dry hoping it all will dry quickly so you can get it packed and cleaning the large rugs without a vacuum, only a broom, sweeping "plenty, plenty' sand from the floors and then mopping, super cleaning the showers and toilets and cleaning out all the cupboards etc.  That afternoon Pres. Ramdeholl called and asked me to give a brief history on the Relief Society for the branch'es Relief Society birthday celebration. It was to begin as 5 pm. I prepared my remarks and then I drove to the church for 5. Did you get that? I drove! Dave was still working on getting packed since we can only have 50lbs per bag and we only have two bags to check plus our carry on so it's quite a process to get that to work. So he stayed home and I drove. I was a little nervous cause I knew I would be coming home in the dark but I prayed and it seems like the few times I have driven, there is very little traffic on the road, which was the case this night too. Praise the Lord! When I got to the church and Elder Weeks wasn't with me everyone asked me "Sister Weeks, did you drive?" I know, so amazing! I arrived at a few minutes before 5 and It didn't begin until 6:40. I wasn't going to go at all but then the Pres. called and so I thought well, ok, from 5 to 7, I can take a break from working and then come and finish later....well, I hated to do it but I left after I gave my little part. I didn't want to have to do any cleaning or much work on the Sabbath.
Sunday....our last Sunday in this sweet little branch. We got to speak and say our goodbyes. Dave made a huge pot of his veggie chili and a very large chocolate cake and we had asked a few sisters to make some Roti. So, there was "plenty, plenty" of food. There were about 68 people there. Not everyone wanted to try Dave's chili because it is quite different from the food that is usually eaten but those that did really enjoyed it and asked for his recipe. We got and gave lots of hugs and shed tears. Being here has been such a learning experience. Learning things we never expected to learn. Being here has been such a blessing, a blessing of love, friendship and being able to serve a people who are generous and humble. We have been taught by them and we are forever changed because we were here.
What have we learned from being in Guyana? I've learned that there are good and dear people all over the world, members and non members. I've learned that these good people have incredible hardship and scarcity in their lives and yet they create ways to survive and even help each other a long the way. I've learned that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the best way to make a hard life easier to bear and more meaningful. I've learned that education is critical for a society to progress and get better. I've learned that tradition is hard to break, such as rarely starting things on time and everyone just expects it and accepts it. I've learned that rules and the enforcement of rules makes a society safe and enjoyable and without rules, it is scary chaos. I've learned that living in the USA is a privilege and blessing that most people who live there do not appreciate, even with it's problems, it's a pretty amazing country. I've learned that the Lord created a whole bunch of different fruits and vegetables that are yummy and not so yummy and that some people eat some pretty unique things. I learned that even though you can't communicate with words, a smile and a hug speak volumes of love. There is an  elderly Eastern Indian lady with no teeth that sits at her little shop that we walk by sometimes daily down in the market where the church is. We would catch each other's eye and smile. Just the last few weeks I have stopped and given her a hug. One time Dave walked by without me and she asked where I was and so he gave her a hug too. It is truly a blessing and such a joyful feeling to share a moment of acknowledgement and love between us. I have learned that we shouldn't let those chances pass us by.

 We are leaving Guyana...

 Have to put a flower picture in

 Sister Haake and I. She has been a dear friend to me and I will miss her!

 The steps we walked up many many times to our apartment. This is when I felt my age.

 Our "ride" for 4 months. We definitely needed the four wheel drive to get around here. 

This last week we had two flat tires. 

 The traffic going into MacKenzie from Wismar across the bridge. We left at 5:15 to get to our 6 pm temple class and what should have taken only 15 minutes took us 45 minutes and we arrived right at 6pm to the church.

 This is the reason for the traffic. 

A random marching band that stopped traffic going to and from the bridge for over an hour.

 These are two of the dedicated, hard working missionaries struggling to bike  on 

bumpy, thick sandy roads. 

 This is the Bohnes. They are the humanitarian couple here in Guyana. They came to Linden to see if there are some projects they can help with in connection to the Self Reliance program of the church.

 We found another fruit! This is a Sopapilla

 It isn't ripe and is not good to eat when it is not ripe. It makes your mouth stick together cause it sucks out all of the moisture. It's like you sucked on pine sap or glue. 

Not a very pleasant experience. I hope we can taste a ripe one sometime.

 We said "Good bye " to these fabulous missionaries we have had the honor of working with.

Elder Lewis, Elder Bigelow, Elder Holman and Elder Moracca

This is the Linden, Guyana Branch. There were actually people here that we have never seen before. but most of the usual members were there and some had already gone before the picture. TJ, Godfrey, Romeo, Bro. Hoodith, Lisa, Sarah, Molly, Nafur, Bro. Ramdeholl, Sasha, Sunita, Elder Morocca, Rockly, Sarah, Rebekah, Pennie, Amos, Sis. King, Robert, Susan, Alice, Manouska, Sis. Ramdeholl, Pamela, Phil, Roydale, Elder Bigelow, Joel, Renese, Haniff, Bro. Hussein, Elder Holman, Elder Lewis, Bro. John, Ronaldo, Joshua, Aaron, Romario, Esha, Colis, Adrianna, Romeo. This faces will always have a tender spot in our hearts.

Tender Times

Monday the 28th we looked at a few more apartments and found one that would work. In the afternoon we finalized our apartment in Tobago. This place will be quite a lifestyle change and we are looking forward to it, but, even as I say that my heart is tender because we know we are leaving people we love dearly so the excitement is tempered with sadness as well.
Before we left Tobago I did take the opportunity to swim in the cove and ride the waves. I do love the ocean!
Tuesday we flew to Trinidad and then back to Georgetown. Our good taxi driver, Sherlock, was there waiting for us to drive us to Georgetown. We picked the car up which had been repaired and all of the tons of sand cleaned out of it! Then we made the harrowing drive back to Linden in the dark....until you have experienced it you could never understand the overriding feeling of fear that envelopes me for 2 hours each way. Even as I write this, the pit of my stomach is aching as I bring up the memories. The drivers are lawless, risk takers and drive at high speeds and you never know what they might do. Obviously we made it home or I wouldn't be writing this but it takes something from me and my relationship with Dave gets wounded because he doesn't fear like I do and drives very much like the Guyanese but he feels at peace because he trusts in the Lord's protection. This has truly been one of the hardest lessons of the mission so far. Having to do this drive as often as we have has been very taxing on our relationship and there has been need of lots of patience, understanding, forgiveness and curbing criticism. All of which usually doesn't happen until we have been home for a day or two. Sad, I know. I am writing this as my history of the mission and it is not "peachy" all the time. Anyway, perhaps and hopefully, I won't be writing about the horrors of driving anymore.
Wednesday, we did a little shopping for food to last us a little over a week and Dave worked on the expense report that is quite involved with three different currencies and is required each month. We got a call from President Baird asking me to accept the assignment of managing ALL of the apartments in the Trinidad Port of Spain Mission......I didn't put an exclamation point here because I'm trying to catch my breath.....Sister Thackery, part of a wonderful senior couple, has been doing it and they are going home on March 10th and there is not another couple coming to replace them, so I get to do it......the only thing that helps me with this is that quote "whom the Lord calls, He qualifies" This will be a great challenge for me but Dave is a wiz at this stuff and I know he will help me along the way. So, that meant another trip to Georgetown to get trained by Sister Thackery, which we did Thursday in the day, which is better than the night but not by much. We spent a couple hours with the Thackerys drinking out of a fire hose and I came home pretty much in a daze.
So get this. the housing manager is responsible for leasing and terminating all of the living quarters of all of the missionaries in the mission. That's six countries and seven different areas since Tobago is an island off of the country of Trinidad and with 130 missionaries (give or take) plus they have to be inspected every month, the smoke alarms and the water filtration systems need to be maintained and ordered and apartments renewed as the lease expires....are you sensing my stress level rising? Really, it will be good for me and a part of me is excited to get into it but we don't have a good internet right now so it will be something I delve deeper into as soon as we get to Tobago. Sister Thackery has gotten it in very good shape and in a comprehensive format so it will be good.
Friday we had a nice visit with the Emamudins, Molly and Haniff. We are trying to get the temple cards ready for their parents so they can take them to the temple when they go. I can only imagine the joy that will be felt as we get to do these beautiful, precious ordinances for them and their deceased parents. Sarah their daughter will get to do the Baptisms for her grandmothers! I can hardly wait!
That evening we taught the first lesson on the temple prep class and it was wonderful! We are trying to get in as many of the seven lessons as we can before we go.
Saturday was a day to remember forever!  Pamela and Joel were Baptized!!! We gathered for the Baptism and just a few minutes before it was to start, Elder Moracca asked if I would give a talk on Baptism. Before this mission, if someone would have asked me to give a talk at the spur of the moment I would have been a nervous wreck but here, you just talk about what you know and testify and it's all good. I was grateful to be able to do that. Dave was able to Baptize Pamela and it was so tender. She has waited many years to be Baptized. She needed to get married and Joel was kind of dragging his feet and she also didn't want to get Baptized without Joel. So, they got married and Joel stopped smoking, drinking and agreed to be Baptized! Holy Cow!! Truly, this is what joy feels like! Heavenly Father gave us such a blessing to be here in Guyana and meet and fall in love with these precious souls and then witness as they covenant to be followers of Christ. They have had a lot of very good missionaries who taught them well over the years. Praise the Lord!
Sunday, we went to church and as I was sitting waiting for the meeting to start, I felt some things sharp on my skirt. Here in Guyana there is a grass that has very sharp, tiny seeds that cling to everything they touch and they don't wash off, you have to pick each one off with your fingers. Well, I looked at my skirt, which I had washed, and there were several of these seeds. I started picking them off one by one and the feeling rushed over me.....this my be the last time you have to pick these seeds out of your clothes and I started to tear up. This area has been hell and heaven all at the same time, not hell as in the place to live but more hell in the scarcity, hardship and Dave and I learning more about each other in different situations. We will never be the same because of what we have been able to experience. We thank our God for the great blessing of being here!
Dave was able to Confirm Pamela such that she can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Sweet Sabbath day!

 Pamela and Joel Maksyhung

 Aren't they the cutest!

 Family, branch members and missionaries

 Sweetness!

 JOY!!

 Haniff baptized Joel. They live in the same area in Lower Kara Kara

 Us and the beautiful Maksyhung family

 This is Rambutan. It's a fruit grown in Mexico but we found it at the market in Georgetown

 Isn't this cool!

 It has the texture and similar taste to a grape

 Mammea fruit...it's a fruit....looks more like a potato or something like that

 sliced and peeled, the texture is like a firm peach. I'm thinking it wasn't as ripe as it should have been

 Each side has a pit in it. Very curious and very yummy

 I have no idea what the history of this car is but it's been here for years. They prefer to leave vehicles where they die for whatever reason. Makes for interesting yard art eh? 

 This is a better picture of the Kisskedee bird. I love it's yellow breast. 

There are also baby blue birds but we haven't been able to get a picture of one. 

 Look closely at where the helmet is...Many Rastafarian men have long long dred locks and wear stocking caps to bundle them up. I don't think the helmet will protect his head though.  

 It's amazing to see people walk around very normally balancing large things on their head

 Here we have garbage pick up on our street. Notice the Rastafarian with the yellow hat. When I see them  my neck hurts thinking about supporting that much weight on my head.

The darling lady in red holding the baby and her children's father come to church very often. She and I have a soul to soul connection. We have never really talked but we just love each other. She isn't a member yet, but I hope someday she will choose to be. Her name is Lisa Daniels

Today, Sunday, is Mashamana. It's a holiday of sorts. Tons of people milling around, kind of a dancing parade and lots of loud music which we will probably get to enjoy into the wee hours of the morning.  We don't have internet in our apartment so we tried to go across the bridge to go to the church to get some things done and the bridge just had a continuous stream of cars coming onto our side, so we had the brilliant idea to ride the boat across!

Which we did!