The day they arrived was a holiday here in Tobago. It's Monday Easter and they have goat and crab races. We and the Murrays went to the goat races and watched a few...there are many levels, like men with their goats, and then ladies with their goats, and different ages of children racing. It was fun to see and experience this uniquely Tobagian tradition. Probably don't need to do it again though. I think betting is involved with the locals.
Thursday, we had a teaching appointment with Elizabeth and we reviewed the Plan of Salvation and then taught the Principles of the gospel, Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Confirmation and enduring to the end. We invited her to be baptized on the 11th of May. Her newly ordained brother will get to baptized her. Hopefully that will all work out.
Friday: We went back to sister Cupid's and worked on the water pump. It was quite the process but they got it up and running!
Saturday: We went to the Winchester's home to help them cut down a tree. It is a very big tree! They wanted it cut down because the leaves would get on their aluminum roof and rust through it. We can't quite understand why they didn't want to just periodically sweep off the roof since it was easy to get to and not very steep. They wanted the tree cut. So, they borrowed a chain saw and asked a young lad on the street that had a rope to come and help. His name is Isaiah, 15 years old. a complete stranger and he worked very hard. He climbed up and down the tree cutting and lashing the rope to guide the large branches down....which never worked quite like they wanted. They just ended up landing on the roof but thankfully nothing was damaged. They only got half of it cut when Isaiah needed to leave so Mr. Winchester and Dave will do so more next Saturday.
That took most of the day and Dave was pretty exhausted but it was our 20th wedding anniversary and we wanted to go out to a restaurant to eat. He cleaned up and rested and we had a lovely evening out at a very nice restaurant.
Sunday: Our branch President didn't arrive until 9:20. We may have to suggest that the beginning time be changed to 9:30. Unfortunately, I don't believe the branch President has his heart in his calling and I believe the members are suffering for it. It's a tough situation because there really isn't any one else to lead. We only have 6 active males in the branch, which includes Dave and our 94 year old Brother Murray. We are trying to get a returned missionary reactivated but his wife is expecting twins any day and the babies need to get here and settled before they can come to church regularly. He does seem like he wants to do that too. Which makes it easier to help him get back to church.
The Murrays and Us in the Mangrove forrest
On the platform outside the grove
Eating a delicious local lunch
Finally saw a caiman at the golf course, possibly six feet long
We saw a worker taking a nap in the battlement on the golf course
We found a chocolate factory at a place where we had lunch.
He makes the chocolate starting from the cocoa beans. Pretty fascinating!
Ready......Set.......Goooooat!
No need for a photo finish this time
Assembling all the parts for the water system
The intact valve to put in the stream
Leveling a spot to put the pump
Making a quick retaining wall
Another leak! Someone had taken a nail or something and made several holes in the hose.
Electrical tape to the rescue!
It works!
connecting the line from the stream and pump to the garden
All ready to go
Eureka!
Sweet success!
I killed a fly and didn't know where it landed. This was a day later and the ants were having a banquet. These teeny tiny ants come out of nowhere. Very annoying!
The tree
Isaiah hacking away with his cutlass
Dave and the chain saw
you can see the rope did nothing to prevent the branch from falling on the roof
Wayne Winchester, Dave and Tyreese. Exhausted woodcutters!
This spider greeted us on our way to church this morning. Those are 12 inch tiles
It's leg span is 5 inches! Not my favorite thing to see.
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