ANOTHER DAY IN THE JUNGLE

The mission sent us to Grenada for 2 1/2 days this week to check out some things for our work permits to that country.  Grenada is a tiny island of just over 100,000 people and is north of Tinidad-Tobago.  It's famous for chocolate, nutmeg and other spices and for a small war in 1983 when Cuba invaded, but the UN kicked the Cubans out.  It's a tropical paradise, dotted with white sand beaches, mountains, thick jungle and small farms cut out of the jungle where they grow oranges, spices, sugar cane, chocolate and other yummy fruits.  The people are friendly, but not overly tourist friendly.  Many cruise ship tourists go there, but it's not a huge tourist hot spot.  That's fine by us.....leaves us more room at the deserted beaches which are gorgeous and clean.  We went on a whirlwind tour throughout the island, visiting all the missionaries in the jungle areas.  We were impressed with the lack of traffic on the roads (after being in Trinidad, this was a much welcomed sight!!!!)  We traveled over very  rugged mountain terrain with the company of 2 experienced young Elders.  Thursday night we went to one of the "group" Family Home Evenings.  There were 5 members in attendance and 6 missionaries. It was a sweet experience.  Such good peeps.
 Our new best buddies, Dallas and Lizzy Wright and their adorable and very busy children, Tytan and Taggart, let us stay with them in their apartment.  They were the perfect hosts!!!!  Benevolent in every sense of the word.  When we grow up, we want to be just like them!!!!  They took us aparment hunting, made us laugh, fed us, showed us around and helped us meet folks in the Branch and in the Government,  let us sleep on their comfy bed and have our own bathroom.  We are so blessed to know them.  Now, if we can just get the Grenadian Government to issue us our permits...........sigh......

Photos of our week

Bright and shiney Grenadian school children.  We have noticed that all the caribbean countries wear uniforms to school.

Very steep driveway to Elders Dall and Hazlett's apartment.  Quite surprised the car made it up without tipping backward.

The sister missionaries...Sisters Kime and Cragun, in front of their apartment

Elders Hazlett, Dall, Ramkissoon (he's Guyanese)

Elders Hazlett, Ramkissoon, Strong, Smith, Dall in front of the Elders apartment, which doubles as the church for the "group" in Guayave (pronounced gwave)  Elders Strong and Ramkissoon live here.

Elders Strong and Hazlett took Elder Smith down behind their apt. where the river runs.  This is where baptisms take place.

Elder Strong showing us his apt.

We are suckers for red heads.  Strong, Hazlett, Smith

In front of the Elder's aparment in Grenville which doubles as a church for another small "group"

We had a FHE with this "group".  A mother and 2 daughters came a little late.

Elders Smith, Dall, Hazlett, Jeppson, Sherren

THE MOST INCREDIBLE SUNSET ON THE PLANET.  Heavenly Father must be smiling!

The above photo is taken from the aparment we would like to rent.  "Woe is me"

Dinner with our new friends, the Wrights.  Dallas is a medical student and Lizzy is one of my "pageant junky" friends.  How lucky can we be?  Kent has his  medical buddy and I have a pageant girlfriend.  Perfect!!!!!!  The cute little fellow grinning ear to ear in the front is Ty.  Dallas is holding Ty's new baby brother, Tag.

The men!!!

This tall, handsome man is the Branch President in Grenada, Pres. Davidson Stewart.  He is a returned missionary, 27 years old and single!!  His Counselor is Bro. Smith, standing next to Kent

Cute little Ty, standing at the gate of the church

Elder Smith and his new buddy, Ty, squatting in front of the "LDS" carving in the lawn.  It's dark, so 

difficult to see!

It's difficult to see these brown faces in the dark of night, but they are there.

Colorful peeps live around here

Amazing boys, amazing water!!!

Can't wait to get to this gorgeous place, for real!

Saturday, we flew home from Grenada in the afternoon then hurried like mad to get over to a "group" FHE in Matura with some of the Elders and Sisters from our District.  There was a strong spirit in attendance, as well as members from Sister Val's family.  What a humble, heavenly night.  This is Sister Val's home.  There is no electricity or water.

Sister Taylor sharing an object lesson with the kids on repentance

More of the object lesson with salt on their tongues.  The salt represented sin.

Elder Evans and Sister Grigg with the kiddos.

Sister Grigg

Elder (red head) Evans

The missionaries and some of Sister Val's family.  We ended up with 29 people at our FHE.

Sisters Grigg and Taylor

A bubblegum blowing contest

This is Sister Val, the wonderful mother of a great posterity.  She has 10 children and countless grandchildren!!!  She was baptised in January of 2013.  Some of her children and grandchildren have also been baptised.

T'WAS A WONDEFUL WEEK!!!!!!!