See how time flies when you are busy....We have been all over Island doing all sorts of service.
A couple of weeks ago we attended a Humanitarian Project Turn-over for a project to help the Red Cross upgrade some classrooms for kids that they help bring up to speed with their studies so they can matriculate into the regular school system. Now that was cool.
We also helped Elder and Sister Arrington, the Humanitarian couple, haul a bunch of Humanitarian kits to donate to an organization here in Jamaica. They are stored in a shipping container behind the Spanish-town Chapel. There is all sorts of stuff in it. Chainsaws, generators, medical stuff and much much more. It is there in case there is a disaster that needs fixing.
There are 3,000 boxes with 5 hygiene kits in each that have expired items, so they are donated and then replaced. We only made 2 trips with 150 boxes each trip.
So there is more work to do there.

Sunday before last we attended the Branch in Yallahs and went to a Baptism afterwords.(see pics)

Yesterday Elder McKenzie (Lee) and I went to the University of the Northern Caribbean and met with the head of the theology department. Dr. Bwambali. Elder Mckenzie has set up some lectures and presentations at the school, so we did a preview presentation. That went great. By the way, it is a Seventh-Day-Adventist University. They are excited to partner with us on ways to reduce crime in Jamaica.

Just today Sue, the McKenzies and I were in Mandeville to a funeral for Sister Barrett. She was the mother of the 2nd Counselor in the Mission Presidency. I was asked to Preach the Sermon. It was a great experience to be able to talk on the Plan of Salvation to a captive audience. We were there for over two hours and had to leave before they headed to the burial site (a plot on the family compound) I am jealous.
We (Sue and I) are headed to Port Antonio at 5:30 in the morning (3 hour drive) I get to call, sustain, and set-apart two Elders Quorum Counselors and a 2nd Counselor in the Branch Presidency. It is such a blessing for us to see the Church growing here in Jamaica.

So I hope the Ambulance has a key.

This is called an Apple here in Jamaica ???

Inside the Apple. It sort of reminds me of an Asian Pear
texture wise, but not as good.

This was the Baptism of a girl in the Yallahs Branch.
We met in the yard of a member for the service. Sat under a mango tree while we had the short little service.

Then we walked a block to the Font.

The font. The water was freezing....it was about 74 degrees.
The outside temp was about 85.

We live about a mile and a half from the bay where we can buy fish and Lobster really cheap.
These little fellas cost $500 Jamaican. $3.75 US each.

Bread fruit grow to the size of a cantaloupe and they are as hard as a rock.
They are a giant green potato type fruit. They would definitely do some damage.

Sister Barney note....I walked into a doctor's office in Ocho Rios. The receptionist was found sitting in this tiny cubicle. She was extremely friendly and polite. As we chatted she told me that she had been working for this doctor for 16 years and loved her job. Meaning, she had spent all of her working hours in this tiny space. 

This school is for children that are not able to attend the public schools,,,for various reasons, usually because they have been naughty. The Red Cross finds them wandering the streets and provides another chance for them. 

Our church took this school on as a humanitarian project. Built a bathroom, kitchen, painted the walls and added fans.  Here are 4 of the students who's lives are being changed.

Sister B again.... Amazing story. I met this mother before the program started, She said her son, Daniel, had been kicked out of the public school because he was failing every class. While giving myself a tour of the facility  I was looking around the classrooms and out of curiosity, picked up a spelling notebook from the top of a stack on the teacher's desk. It said "Daniel" on the cover and as I glanced through, every page I opened had a 100%!!! This program is working, and now these  "once lost children have been found". An amazing success story!!!

These would be cool names for a pair of dogs or cats or any animals I guess.

I hate finding these in the apartment. Sue found this one in the tub.

A recently returned missionary in the May Pen Branch. He served in the Dominican Republic.
                                                                 He is 6' 11" ..... he wants to go to college.                                                                          If anyone reading this has a connection at BYU.....now is the time to jump on this!