We're NOT Old!

We're NOT old!

We woke up

We lifted our arms

We moved our knees 

We turned our necks

Everything made the same noise

Crrrrrrraaaaaaaaccccccck!

We came to the conclusion

We are NOT old

We are CRISPY!  (and we are positive, n'est pas?)

Bonjour, bonjour nos chers amis chez nous, (our dear friends at home),

New news today:  we heard there are hoards of locusts on Madagascar; a very popular US magazine had a cover article entitled "Heart of Sharkness" naming La Reunion's west coast as the heart of the most shark attacks, and we traveled in a RAINSTORM on a part of the island - Takamaka - that we discovered holds many world rainfall records, most rain in 24 hours, most rain in 1 hour, etc. etc.  We are still learning many new and interesting facts about our little island here, our home for now.

I am home alone on a quiet Sunday afternoon.  Brent is in Le Port with the District Presidency doing  leadership training, and I am here with a heart overflowing with emotions, so I decided that it was "blog time" once again.  Writing always seems to make my brain realign itself and that is a good thing since "I have finally discovered what's wrong with my brain.  On the LEFT side there is nothing RIGHT, and on the RIGHT side, there is nothing LEFT." (sent to me by a friend?)

I had a missionary experience that engulfed my entire heart yesterday.  Brent and I got up early to get in a quick workout before our day began; I was very focused on an hour's workout...it had been a while.  I saw that some of the missionaries were there, so I waved a cheery "Hello" and started my run up the hill.  About one-half hour later, half way through what I had planned, I topped the hill to again see the missionaries.  I had the distinct impression that MY time was over and that I needed to join them.  Two were sitting on the grass, talking seriously together.  When I came up, one got up and the other, a Tahitian sister, stayed sitting, so I walked over, bent over behind her, put my arms around her, gave her a big hug, and asked, "Ca va bien ma fille?" (How's is it going my girl?)  Shoulders shrug, head tips to the side, I know something is wrong.  I didn't sit down with her, just kept hugging her tightly and talking softly in her ear for several minutes, until her feelings opened up, then I sat down.  She said was feeling inadequate as a missionary because she was not teaching anyone right now and she wasn't feeling the Spirit. The work is so difficult here; our elders and sisters sometimes go a long time between real investigators and they can be very hard on themselves.  We talked, she cried, we talked, she laughed and we discovered together, through the spirit, that there is much more to missionary work than investigators.  What about your influence on other missionaries?  What about your example to the members? The impression you make on the nonmembers who see you daily?  What about family and friends at home that are strengthened by your testimony and willingness to be here?  What do you think  Heavenly Father feels when you get up each morning and go out even though you have no one to see and teach?  Sometimes we all have preconceived ideas of what our role is, what success in that role looks like, and we fail to see all of the surrounding aspects that defines our "real" role.  There is so much more to what we are doing than what we THINK we are doing.  One-half hour on the grass helped me to comprehend - to realign my brain - anew, as to expectations, OUR expectations and the larger plan of Heavenly Father's expectations.  Also, it  reminded me to "never  let something to be done be more important than someone to be loved."  Pres. Monson

Lowlight of the week:  This actually happened a while ago, but I wanted to tell you about it.  The Zone Leaders had to go to the church in St Denis and when they opened the door, water came flooding out everywhere.  They sloshed through four inches of water to open the door of the utility closet, which had water squirting from every seam, to discover that a pipe had broken.  Quick call to Brent who changed his clothes and met them there.  What to do?  First of all, let's turn off the main valve.  Done! and then mopping, using the squeegee, and drying as best they could.  This is the second time in four months this building has been flooded.  Nothing here is carpeted, but the walls had absorbed a lot of water, and Brent was concerned about mold.  Got it all cleaned up, came home, and discovered that he had turned the water off for a whole section of the community! The fire department had to fix it.  Darn those Mormons; it's always something!

Highlight of the week:  After church today we were invited to a dinner at one of the branches.  The invitation came through the sister missionaries in that branch stating that a sister there was hosting a dinner and she wanted us to attend.  We were scheduled to be at another branch that morning, but left quickly after church and sped down the highway to St Denis.  A table for 12 had been set up in the Relief Society room, and the sister, a widow, had prepared all of the food herself:  two appetizers, salad, three main dishes and rice (a staple here with every meal).  We all sat down together, had a blessing on the food and began to enjoy the meal.  Someone asked, "Est-ce que votre anniversaire?"  (Is it you birthday?)  She said "Non, C'est une l'aniversaire de la pretrese du aaron." (No, it is the birthday of the Aaronic Priesthood.)  Have you ever thought of honoring that date with a wonderful meal and special guests?   It will be a lasting memory of the meaning of that day for her.  We love the people here!

Elder Heap enjoying the members after an activity.

One of three newspaper articles here featuring the Mormons.  One always approaches these types of opportunities with a little hesitancy because, after the interview, you're wondering, "What will they print?  Will it be positive?"  We have been very blessed though because all of the articles have been factual and positive.  This one covered an entire page of the paper and explained many important aspects of the church; we were very pleased.

Okay, so WHO KNEW that they made florescent lights in lime green?  The tube was white when we bought it!

I went to St Paul to celebrate the Relief Society Birthday with the sisters there.  The church is on the second floor of a building with a little terrace attached ( you will notice in pictures of the south district meetings, we are always outside; we meet on that terrace).  This was the magnificent sky as we enjoyed dinner together.

The "MOM" in me just can't be denied...Easter basket sacks for the missionaries at district meeting (on the terrace), thanks to someone from home who sent the bags and some US treats to put in them along with a few more treats from La Reunion.

This family came into the church in the last few months.  The brother was so excited at the time of our visit because he would be receiving the Priesthood the next Sunday and could then pass the Sacrament.  The woven coco palm leaves you see behind us are used as awnings for their home.

Joanie learning how to weave awnings.  You can see the dry ones on the right that will be replaced by the fresh ones.

Photo taken at the market.  These, of course, are redfish.  I have never bought any, preferring instead to stick with fresh tuna, swordfish, and marlin.  They are such large fish that I can just tell the vendor how many slices and how thick, then  I don't have to deal with those "eyes" when I get home.

Watching the world go by at the morning market.  You can buy a whole coconut, they punch a hole in the top, and you can drink the coconut milk right on the spot.

Elder Heap with our week's supply of fish, fruits, and vegetables heading for the car.  This is a weekly routine that we really look forward to.  I don't think Lee's will have quite the same ambience, do you?

At home, you are getting ready, in about an hour and a half, to watch the Sunday session of General Conference; here we are approaching the close of a fast Sunday.  We will enjoy conference, in French, in two weeks when the CD's arrive and will go to the chapel on both Saturday and Sunday to view conference together on a big screen TV.  I remember well our experience of six months ago.  This morning, before church, the sister missionaries helped me download Saturday's sessions on a USB drive.  We have a port in our little Yaris and will be able to enjoy the talks in English as we drive around the island before we listen to them in French.  Isn't technology wonderful??????

A bientot

The Castaways