A Season of "Firsts" and "Finally's"

Hello All, ca va bien? (How are things?)

It has definitely been a season of "firsts" and "finally's" for us on the island lately, and I thought it might be interesting to share a few of the more unique ones with all of you.

FIRSTS:
We received our first TRAFFIC TICKET for making an improper left-hand turn, which is interesting because we had no idea we were doing something wrong.  The streets here have arrows painted on them telling you which way you can turn, where to enter, all kinds of information, but the traffic moves so fast and the drivers are making such crazy moves that looking at the street arrows is almost impossible.  Also, when the-powers-that-be change their minds about what should be happening, they don't remove the previous arrows, they just paint another one someplace else on the street.  No one really pays any attention to the arrows, but occasionally the police show up and start pulling people over and handing out tickets, which is what happened to us.  Brent spoke only English to the officer, but it didn't work...he spoke English back!

We also found our first COCKROACH in the apartment and he looked well fed!  Actually though, that isn't the best part of the story.  The zone leaders stopped by our apartment to go over some mission matters and brought us some cake wrapped in tin foil.  I ate some and told Brent how good it was. but he was trying not to eat that late at night and passed on sampling some.  I double wrapped it in tin foil to guard against ants. (We never see them unless food is left out, but if we drop a crumb, they show up by the hundreds.  Little tiny ants, no bigger than the dot of a pencil lead.  We are paranoid about crumbs..."You dropped a crumb; hurry, hurry clean it up!!!!) Anyway, I wrapped it up nice and tight, and we went to bed.  In the middle of the night, Brent got hungry and padded into the kitchen in the dark, unwrapped the cake, and took a big bite.  He immediately felt ants all over his hand and arms, flipped on the light, and sure enough, the cake along with his hands and arms, was covered with ants.  There was a lot of jumping around, water running, and spitting into the garbage can going on when the cockroach emerged...probably fascinated by such energetic movement.  Brent would have stepped on him, but, of course, his feet were bare and the little critter got away.  Every time I open a cupboard door, I peer carefully in before putting my hand anywhere.

I encountered our first LIZARD in the kitchen. (Summer is coming and so are the critters.  Everyone talks about the lizards because they make little clacking noises at night, but we have never seen any.) I was wiping off the counter top, moved a container of wooden spoons, and saw a little gray dob which I promptly tried to wipe up.  The gray dob sprang to life, his fat little fingers, or toes, who knows? spread out and running towards me.  He looked like a body full of joints; I have never witnessed so many working parts as he ran over the top of the counter and disappeared behind the stove.  Another reason to look carefully before putting anything anywhere.  We have never seen either of them again, but it does give one pause.

Our first time not being able to enjoy GENERAL CONFERENCE live.  It was the middle of the night here when conference was broadcast.  We have watched it in segments on our computer, but General Conference won't be viewed here by everyone until next weekend when we will watch it - in French - on the DVD's the church sends out to all the branches.

FINALLY'S:

I finally found BAKING SODA.  It comes in little packets like yeast and is called Chimique, (now who would make that connection?) so now I can bake cookies.  Do you think the cockroach and the lizard will be impressed?

We finally have turned a little corner with the LANGUAGE.  Both of us are feeling more comfortable - Brent, of course, is way ahead of me - but we both have had our struggles with understanding everything and with speaking it ourselves; we are now seeing some progress.  Even though the people speak so rapidly, there are times when I can understand whole sentences.  It is absolutely such a blessing and such a relief.  Don't misunderstand, there is SO FAR to go, but just being able to understand some of it fills me with gratitude.  Brent has been blessed with the level of language he needs to complete his many administrative responsibilities; times when full use of the language has been needed, it has been there for him, and he recognizes the source.  The blessings are immediate and obvious.

And FINALLY, we wish to share an experience we had this week that brought home the purpose of why we are here and how the simple things are the most important.  We drove about thirty miles to the town of Le Port where we met the missionaries who then directed us up the mountainside, I don't know how many miles - we drove for a long time - to the home of a handicapped sister who needed her temple recommend signed.  Brent had a very touching interview with her while I visited with her very lively ninety-three year old mother.  This sister will probably never be able to use her recommend, her handicaps are severe and the closest temples are either South Africa or Switzerland, but she was thrilled to have it, realizing the importance of that little slip of paper in her life.  The drive home was a quiet one as we appreciated the privilege of meeting with her and being able to be a part of the joy that having a current temple recommend brought.  (You might be interested to know that the mission president, who is 500 miles away is the only other person who can sign a temple recommend for the members, and his visits here are only about every two months, with limited time to accomplish all that needs to be done.  It might have been impossible for her to meet with him, and challenging for him to be able to travel up to her home, so far away, to meet with her.)  Again, what a blessing to be here and to be able to serve.

Highlight of the week:  Hearing from so many of you; WE LOVE IT!!!!!!

Lowlight of the week:  Trying to download a new set of photos that I couldn't wait to include on the blog this time, and having my computer not recognize them as photos.  I'm helpless; any suggestions?  I can view them on my camera, but that doesn't help you see what I wanted you to see.  Fewer photos this time, but good ones.

Couldn't resist because of the matching colors.  If you look to the left...yes, it is a McDonald's...we didn't realize until later that it was part of our picture or we would have included the whole name.  Even the missionaries won't eat there, which tells you that it is REALLY bad.

This is the prefecture where we spend so much time making sure all the visa requirements of the missionaries on the island are met.  We get a knot in our stomachs every time we have to go there; it is like the arrows on the streets, changes seem to be made randomly, just to complicate everyone's life.

This photo was taken on a Pday, which we didn't take because we were furnishing an apartment in a new area.  A very hectic day, with a lot of running around. (One of the elders who will live there is at least 270 lbs....trying to find a twin bed strong enough to hold him was tough.) Later in the day, we drove by the biking velodrome where we could see mega activity.  Didn't even hesitate.  We parked, got out, and "went to the races" for a couple of hours before going back to work.  It was glorious!

This was a Wednesday morning after our weekly trip to the outdoor market.  I always scrub all purchases carefully before putting them in the fridge.  They looked so fresh and beautiful that I just had to snap this photo.  (FYI - the lizard was just to the left of the lettuce.)

Our best to all of you.  Thank you for who you all are and all you do to make a difference for good in the world.

Au bientot!