Smith's Situation: CELEBRATION

The largest yearly celebration in Grenada, called Carnival, is going to begin in a week, and the Pre-Carnival festivities have been occurring for well over a month. As far as we can tell, Carnival allows people to forget their standards and morals, dressing up like Jab, which is a devilish figure.
In contrast, our church in Grenada just held a CELEBRATION commemorating 25 years since the West Indies Mission was formed. This was a family friendly event held in the Youth Center in Grande Anse, which was free to the public. We invited anyone in the community to participate in our production, which was held on Friday, August first. We've spent the past several months preparing, practicing, making costumes and backdrops, advertising, organizing etc., etc, etc. It has monopolized our time, as well as the time of many good folks. We are grateful to the Grenadian Government and others who have aided in this venture to help bring the church out of obscurity. It was a success!!!
There were 18 talent numbers presented during the evening, including dance, rap, singing, poetry, dramatic reading, drums, karate, soccer tricks, limbo and a funny synchronized swim routine. More than 50 people participated, 11 of them not yet members of our faith. We CELEBRATED family, God, the Grenadian culture, talents and the ability to have a good time while keeping our standards high!!!!!

We held a dress rehearsal on Thursday night

On Friday, bright and early, we began decorating and setting up chairs with the help of our missionaries plus Ricky, Roger and Ryan. We can always count on them! Nice shorts, Elder!

Our Emcee's for the event, Reed Parkinson and Jemin Courtney

Folks began to arrive and the hall began to fill up

Gracie Allen

Sister Smith, Elders Ramdhanie, Pierson, Leany, Francom

Elders Wilson and Smith

Kelvin and Chad

Lights, camera, action!

Alwin, Sister Morris and Rondy

Ronald

Andyann, Jenell, Anna, Rickisha

Jasmin

Naomi, Gabrielle, Shemia, Ajaria

Ye Elders of Israel

Ricky, Jemin, Roger, Chad, Rimble, Kelvin, Asa, Ryan (not shown)

Ryan and Sister Smith

Ryan

Ricky

Rimble

Chad, Kelvin, Asa, Keitana, Octavia

Jasmin and Simone

Linkcy

Celine

Diamond

Simone Cummings and Sister Francom

Sisters Smith, Smith, Grigg and Cummings

The Homer Lee Nation Drummers

Ryan

Sister Smith, Richie, Devon, Enoch, Sister Grigg

Elder and Sister Francom are in charge of CELEBRATION throughout the West Indies Mission.

They came from Trinidad to CELEBRATE with us. We are so grateful for their help!

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!

HERE'S THE REST OF OUR WILD AND VERY BUSY WEEK. WE LOVED IT!!!!

Monday, for p-day, we went to Hog Island with "The Boys" (Roger, Ryan, Ricky and Jemin)

Elders Smith and Witten

Sisters Smith and Grigg with the Cuban cement boats from the 1980's invasion

Crossing the bridge to Hog Island. Elders Wilson and Ramdhanie

Elders Smith, Witten and Dearing

Sisters Grigg and Smith

Elder Wilson

Elder Smith

Ryan and Elder Dearing

Elder Witten and Roger

Ricky and Roger getting lunch ready

Making "Oil down". These boys are the best at making it!

Crab time!

Jemin with the Elders

Ricky

Elders Witten and Wilson

Jemin

Sister Smith taking a snooze

Sister Grigg and Elder Wilson

Elder Ramdhanie

Ryan

Jemin, Akim, Roger, Ricky, Elder Smith, Ryan

TUESDAY WAS DISTRICT MEETING.

We decided to have the meeting at our house

Michael Bruno leaves on his mission in less than 2 weeks!

Elder Witten doing the dishes! What a great Elder!!!! He even mashed the potatoes!

After our Spiritual feast at District Meeting, we had a food feast of lobster and steak. This was a reward for the clean white shirt contest. Everyone worked at getting those dingy gray shirts white again. Some cheated and bought new white shirts! Whatever works!!!!

Since the Sisters didn't have to work at getting their shirts white, we came up with a challenge for them...........be on time!!!!! They are doing excellent!

Snuggle time

We picked up Elder Leany at noon from the airport. He transferred to Grenada from St. Vincent. He was in our Zone in Trinidad when we lived there. He was companions with Elder Smith Jr.....now he will be replacing him in Grenville as Elder Smith was transferred to Guyana on Wednesday morning.