We left about 4:30 in the afternoon yesterday to go with Snow's to a meeting out in Las Restaradores.You can count on an adventure any time you leave the apartment! We drove through town after town after town with people out setting in groups talking or playing games. Finally decided they are so social because they don't have television or internet games to keep them occupied. It would probably be better for all of us if we spent more time visiting. One of the missionaries that served here said he hated to go home and leave the atmosphere of friends and family getting together just to visit. I was reminded of the ranch and how we love having everyone there walking around and stopping in to visit.
When we finally got to the Stake Center where we thought the meeting was, the gates were closed and there were construction trucks surrounding the building. Found out the meeting was actually at a different church and picked up an assistant of the Snows who had come in on a guagua thinking the meeting was there too. When we found the church the stake primary was having a talent contest which was so noisy Sister Snow and decided to go in and watch. It was so much fun!! The kids danced, displayed pictures they had drawn, things they had made, they sang songs with parents clapping wildly after each talent.
The men did their presentations to the priesthood and we started home. The guy who we picked up earlier lived way out in some other area so we traveled through city streets, dirt roads, rutted part cement roads, paths that didn't even look like roads! Finally got him home and got lost trying to find
the road we came on. Even with the GPS, that we never leave home without couldn't find a way out! We passed this road we were supposed to go on because it looked like it just dropped off where we were supposed to go. Ended up going back and turning down only to find us going almost straight down and you couldn't see the rest of the road because it was dark and the headlights were shining down - we started laughing because, after all, what else could you do?? When we got to the bottom the road did go up again, and down again. The roller coaster at Lagoon had nothing over this road! Then we were in this backwoods area that looked pretty scary and Elder Snow kept asking his wife if he should stop and ask directions. It didn't look very safe and she was getting mad at him for even suggesting we stop - "There are places you can stop and ask for directions and there are places you can't" she told him between scowls. Made me a bit nervous too but I think he was just trying to get a rise out of her! About 20 minutes later we ran into a road that looked like it would take us somewhere - and it did.. It was quite a trip but I will laugh about it for some time.
Today we went out to the Llanos Branch with the Eickbushes, the Despains, and the Leavitts.
The first time we went there I was amazed that people lived the way they do - today it seemed more normal because we have seen much worse. Gracie had sent some bubble gum for us to take to the girls out there we gave gum to the last time we went so after church we found them and enjoyed them trying to blow bubbles. They loved the gum! I played the piano for them and Sister Despain led.
The hardest thing about playing for them is they don't sing with the piano so you have to keep finding where they are. What they really need is a time to practice music every week!
When we finally got to the Stake Center where we thought the meeting was, the gates were closed and there were construction trucks surrounding the building. Found out the meeting was actually at a different church and picked up an assistant of the Snows who had come in on a guagua thinking the meeting was there too. When we found the church the stake primary was having a talent contest which was so noisy Sister Snow and decided to go in and watch. It was so much fun!! The kids danced, displayed pictures they had drawn, things they had made, they sang songs with parents clapping wildly after each talent.
The men did their presentations to the priesthood and we started home. The guy who we picked up earlier lived way out in some other area so we traveled through city streets, dirt roads, rutted part cement roads, paths that didn't even look like roads! Finally got him home and got lost trying to find
the road we came on. Even with the GPS, that we never leave home without couldn't find a way out! We passed this road we were supposed to go on because it looked like it just dropped off where we were supposed to go. Ended up going back and turning down only to find us going almost straight down and you couldn't see the rest of the road because it was dark and the headlights were shining down - we started laughing because, after all, what else could you do?? When we got to the bottom the road did go up again, and down again. The roller coaster at Lagoon had nothing over this road! Then we were in this backwoods area that looked pretty scary and Elder Snow kept asking his wife if he should stop and ask directions. It didn't look very safe and she was getting mad at him for even suggesting we stop - "There are places you can stop and ask for directions and there are places you can't" she told him between scowls. Made me a bit nervous too but I think he was just trying to get a rise out of her! About 20 minutes later we ran into a road that looked like it would take us somewhere - and it did.. It was quite a trip but I will laugh about it for some time.
Today we went out to the Llanos Branch with the Eickbushes, the Despains, and the Leavitts.
The first time we went there I was amazed that people lived the way they do - today it seemed more normal because we have seen much worse. Gracie had sent some bubble gum for us to take to the girls out there we gave gum to the last time we went so after church we found them and enjoyed them trying to blow bubbles. They loved the gum! I played the piano for them and Sister Despain led.
The hardest thing about playing for them is they don't sing with the piano so you have to keep finding where they are. What they really need is a time to practice music every week!
Thought I had the one of them blowing bubbles but you can see the gum package that they were so proud of.
The sister that the Relief Society lesson was delightful. They have such a high rate of inactivity that they were trying to decide how to help some of their sisters. She told of going to a home where no one answered the door. They looked in the window - none have glass - and there she was crouched under the window. So this sister yells in to her "You might can hide from us but you can't hide from Heavenly Father " Loved it!! Here is a picture of her
Don't know why that picture is so dark because if wasn't on the screen. We talked the RSPres into taking a picture of us all - and it took some convincing because she had never seen a camera but she did a great job.
We got back just in time to break our fast and leave for another meeting. It only took us 1/2 hour to get to the Oriental Stake. We meet with the stake president who had already set up the music program and just wanted someone to teach piano because they had no one to play. That is very exciting! So if we can't find someone in that area to teach we will be doing it. Poor students is all I can say.
Scott's Haitian friend stopped by to thank him for the rice and beans he left for him. It's been a good day here in the DR.
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