Perplexed but not in Despair

Monday, after the storm, we mopped up the church and were pleasantly surprised that there really wasn't any lasting damage.
We got the flyers for movie night and drove around the island delivering them. We would have handed a lot of them out on Sunday but church got canceled because of the storm so we needed to get the word out. We got several delivered in the next few days. We hit almost every member's home so we felt good about our effort.

Leana called us and told us she had received her email notifying her of her mission call but she couldn't remember her account password to open it. So, we went over to her home and got all that figured out and watched her as she read the call. It was really amazing and she is going to go to Salt Lake City, Utah! I'm not ashamed to tell you we cried! What an adventure for her! SNOW!!! and...we'll get to look her up and take her to lunch or something when we get home. We recommended to her to get all her winter stuff there, mainly cause you can't find winter coats here! She reports to the Provo MTC January 28th. Now, we'll get Christian's passport and send his application off this coming week.

We spent most of our week indoors doing housing stuff and newsletter stuff. It's my first issue of the mission newsletter so I am still learning how to download and place pictures etc. on this new program. We have to do negotiations with landlords that want a raise in rent and when we are terminating apartments and they want us to repair and fix things that aren't really our responsibility. Usually we are happy to forgo a return of our deposit and everyone is happy.

Thursday mission night was a bust...again. but while we were waiting for anyone to show up we thought perhaps we should change it up and do a line dancing activity instead. I guess people need to have basic needs met before they are interested in feeding their souls. Jesus fed the people and then He taught them. We can't feed the people food but we can try to engage them in something fun and then perhaps after we are friends they will desire to hear and listen to a gospel message. We feel like we just need to make opportunities and wait and see what happens.

Friday Movie Night came....and the power went out over the entire island! COME ON!!! Can we not catch a break here?! We were there early to set up and there was no power. Luckily, Dave had downloaded the movie and we could just watch it on his lap top. We had popped several bags of popcorn in preparation. When we got there we saw Sister Cupid sitting on the steps waiting. She had errands in town and decided to stick around and stay for the movie. Since there was no current (which is what they call power) so no AC, we set up chairs outside and watched the movie there. We each got 3 bags of popcorn and enjoyed the movie, the stars and the fire flies. Funny thing though, the current came on 10 minutes before the movie was over! I was glad Sister Cupid was there because we would have just gone back home and maybe had licked some wounds for having another activity go bust. We are "convinced" that if the power hadn't gone off we would have had more people join us. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed by not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."

Saturday was spent preparing for the Stake Relief Society's visit on Sunday. They were coming to do some training and we were going to feed them lunch and then go visiting after the training. I had done some calling to arrange to visit some sisters and basically, had no one tell me yes, it was always, I'll let you know on Sunday...I was excited to have the Stake here because the sisters here have been quite resistant, even offended with my direction or leadership, feeling like too often senior couple missionaries come in and take over. We have tried very hard to not do that and I have felt sad as I have learned that they feel this way. I shared that with Sister Kotiah, Stake RS Pres, and suggested I not stay for the training, she agree with me because she wanted to empower the branch RS presidency. I think that turned out very well. They came to the condo for lunch and then we went to see Irma and Alison Santana. We had wonderful visits with them and Sister Dookran was able to experience what ministering looks and feels like. The Lord's program is powerful and effective when actually done and more so, when done with love.

 Dave made his extremely yummy bread sticks for lunch

 Mopping up the water from tropical storm "Karen"

 The Lord giving us a "high five" for our efforts! 

at least, that's the meaning we put on this cool statue.

 Leana reading her mission call!

 Popcorn and a movie....

 outdoor movie on the "little" screen

  Stake Relief Society Presidency. starting left: Sister Monica, Sister Dookran, Sister Kotiah, 

Sister Samad and me