8/27/2012

I think the tormento (tropical storm) is finally over here!  Very little rain has fallen today but the humidity must be close to 100%.  When I put my shirt on today it felt damp.  I don't think anything would ever fully dry in this humidity.  Thirteen thousand people here have been displaced because of the storm.  That is so sad because these are the poor people anyway then to have what little they have taken away is heartbreaking.  William came in yesterday afternoon.  He hadn't eaten all day and was hungry.  He said they had no food at home for him to bring to work.  We fed him pizza.  Trying to fatten some of these people up but it doesn't seem to be working! His ceiling had leaked all over their furniture.  They are some of the few that even have a couch.  AltaGracie's house filled with water a foot deep so she hasn't been at work here.  You just want to step in and make life better for them but you know it would only be a temporary fix.  So we just do what little we can do without enabling them.
   Today was a busy day studying, making soup, attending two Spanish classes and Family Home Evening.  Elder Hammon's class today was something I have practiced and understand a bit of so it wasn't so overwhelming.  Scott's class has about ten students now.  It is nice to have other students in class that haven't had years of Spanish and are more on my level!
   However at FHE tonight we were at Sister Sanchez's apartment.  I just love her. The lesson was on charity so we read scriptures from 1st Corinthians Chapter one.  I know that it helps me to be charitable when I stop to realize that we are all brothers and sisters.  That perhaps we knew each other in the Spirit World but regardless we are on this earth to help each other.  God loves each of us regardless of our station in life.  I'm trying hard not to be so fearful of people who have different ideas and different lives than we do.  I am basically "gutless"  as my mother used to say.  How I love her and know she must be delighted that we are working with the music program after all the money and time she spent on lessons for me.  I think of her  and Dad often - and Billie and Don and Julie.
   
    

8/26/2012 Is it ever going to end? (Isaac)

    Another day of rain.  It's a good thing this city is made of cinder blocks and cement or it would have all washed away by now.  The Yturraldes went to church with us today since their branch meetings were canceled.  Many of the senior couples that were coming to our ward have volunteered to help different branches (which is what we wished we could do) so they aren't at church with us.  We miss them!  The Ruckers were there today.  We have really enjoyed getting to know them.  Of course it was raining when we came out so Scott went to get the car and picked us up in front of the church.  Brother Yturralde had our umbrella and decided he would take me out to the car then go back and get his wife..  So he motions to me that Scott is there and we take off hustling under the umbrella.  I opened the front passenger door to get in and lo and behold there was Sister Rucker with a surprised look on her face sitting in the passenger seat.  I hurried and shut the door as Scott drove up in our car.  There are four silver Toyota Corollas in our group of friends - and the Ruckers have one of them.  We aren't used to two of them being at our church at the same time though.  We laughed about that all the way home because Brother Yturralde thought it was so funny.  I will have to call Sister Rucker and apologize for scaring her because she didn't see me coming.
    We waited to hear if we would still have lessons out in Oriental but never could get ahold of the high councilman in charge so we just went out there.  They have many, many billboards along the road.  All of the frames were there, empty with the plastic signs rolled up at the bottom of the frame.  Guess they were trying to save them from the hurricane.  Maria met us there but no one else came for awhile.  Maria is my favorite woman out here! We just love working with this group of kids and Maria.  When many of them showed up late we told them we thought they had probably drowned.
We need more teachers for this class because the students are at three or four different levels in learning but we'll do the best we can do.


 A few of the empty billboard sign holders

Maria in front of the Oriental building gate

It is supposed to rain for two more days here.  It will be nice to see the sky again!

8/25/2012 Hopefully the end of Hurricane Isaac

So we thought the hurricane was over yesterday with the howling winds.  All night the noise of the wind blowing through our windows made it difficult to sleep.  It had rained off and on but nothing really out of the ordinary.  But today was another story!  It started to rain and never stopped - water was running everywhere.  The highlight of the storm was watching a garbage bag that had been put out for the garbage truck and was picked up by the water running down the sides of the street.  We watched as it made a turn and went with the water flowing down the McDonalds drive through spilling pieces of garbage all the way through the drive through and out the other end into the street.  There is alot of garbage on the sidewalks and sides of the street here so when it rains it all washes down the little rivers at the sides of the roads and eventually must end up in the ocean. It is amazing to see people walking by dropping wrappers or bottles or anything they don't want, on the ground.
Back to the storm  - water was filling the window glides where the windows slide open and closed and running down the walls leaving big puddles by every window.  In our apartment we have five really big windows.  As the day wore on the paint under the windows was getting bubbly.  I tried to flatten them but then it would start the blizzardy rains again so finally we just mopped up the water and the owner will have to deal with paint.  The walls are cement and I think they just paint a new coat of paint on each time they rent .

A minute in this heavy rain and your sopping wet!

This is the Guagua loading bench - they were trying to keep dry but had to wade through 6" deep water to get to the guagua.

If you look closely you can see the domino players waiting out the storm.  Nothing stops a game of dominoes for those guys!  You could barely see the store across the street.

On both sides of the street there were 3' wide running rivers

  Just when you think the storm is over it starts to rain again. Our upstairs neighbors wanted to go to dinner across the street.  After being cooped up for two days with the storm we thought it would be a great idea.  We were there for an hour but as soon as we got home it started to rain again.  I wish some of this water was going to Utah!  As it is it eventually runs into the river that runs into the ocean.
  There is a guy out in the street yelling at someone but I daresn't look out to see who it is!  I do recognize some of the words  and he sounds mad so hopefully we don't hear a gunshot next.  Anything is possible here in our neighborhood!

8/24/2012 Hurricane Isaac

All we have heard for two days now is how  everyone here is preparing  for Hurricane Isaac  Our thoughts of course have been with our friends who live in such poor conditions that their homes could be totally destroyed.  We pray they all survive the night.
  Schools and offices here have been closed down today.  Very few people have been on the streets. It wasn't until this afternoon that the wind started to blow fiercely.  Hours later it started to  pour.  The rain would lessen then get worse but the wind remained fairly constant whistling through our windows and causing the rain to blow sideways into our windows.  As a result the tracks the windows slide in filled with water and spilled onto the floors in the family room, patio, and bedroom.  Scott was mopping off and on for hours. It is now 8:00 pm and just as it sounds like the wind is dying down it starts whipping through the trees and our windows again.  There hasn't been as much rain as they expected though.  Then again I don't know when it is supposed to move on.  The great thing is so far we have not lost our power for any length of time.  Only 30% of the people here pay for their power - the rest steal it from existing power lines.  That whole business needs to be fixed here.
   Wilton came up to warm up their food and Scott gave him the binoculars to look out at the ocean.  He was amazed - had never seen anything like that before.  Two hours later he and William came back up so he could show William the binoculars.  They are fun.  The missionaries were supposed to go to Williams to teach them  tonight.  I'm guessing that didn't happen with the weather like it is.
    Scott's Spanish class was canceled for today so it has been a long day.  It gets dark here about 7:30 so that makes for a long night.  I am just grateful we have lights and power for the computer.  From the sounds of the wind outside I wouldn't be surprised if they went off at any time.  Could be a long night!!

Behind the tall buildings is the ocean - they are only a couple of blocks from  us.  You can't see the ocean because the rain is so heavy there as it moves towards us.

The first picture is of the storm moving in from the ocean which is about a mile from our apartment.

The second one is when it got to us!

8/23/2012 Hurricane Isaac

    We've spent the day hearing about the nearing hurricane that could result in 20" of rain.  Wish we could send some home!  The most vulnerable things here are the poor people who live in tin shacks that can be blown or washed away and the electricity which goes on and off most of the time anyway.  Those who live in cement cinder block houses just have feet of water in their houses. I'm worried about our friends who work here. We are blessed to live in an area where government buildings are located so our power has been good most of the time.  It was out most of the day the other day and goes off at times but usually comes back on within four hours or so.  The  part of town our church is located in has constant power outages.  A few weeks ago during Sacrament meeting the power went off and the generator clicked back on, then it would go off, click back on until they finally moved the meetings to the lower level of the building so they could save what electricity they had from the generator to cool off the downstairs.  The people who live in that area say the power outages are constant.
   Today was our music lessons with the returned missionaries.  It is always fun to work with those kids. (Anyone under forty is a kid to us these days!)  The three of them are all at different levels so that makes it challenging.  Alwin had taught himself to play the first hymn in the simplified Hymn book.  He is the one who plays so well by ear so you always hope he is actually reading the music.  He is such a talented young man.  Jose is the one with a beautiful voice and is doing well.  He has had lessons before but didn't finish.  His goal is to learn to play so he can play and sing a love song to his girlfriend.  I don't think that is the goal of the church's program but it motivates him so ......
Katty is such a pretty girl who thinks she is so dumb because these boys are far ahead of her.  It is harder for her but she hasn't had the experience they have. I just love her - there is just so much humility in these kids.  So today I had Katty to teach - she speaks little English and my Spanish is marginal but we did ok.  We'll both learn alot!!
    Went to the temple.  I didn't use the headphones in English at all and don't think I will use them again. The Spanish is making more sense to me but I really have a headache after listening so intently and trying to pick out the words and phrases I know and make some sense out of them.  I am so grateful for what I have learned.
   Guess we'll go to bed and see if we are awakened by a storm....
   
   

8/22/2012

Coming to the end of the day is a wonderful thing sometimes!  And today is one of those times.
It's been like Grand Central Station in our apartment the entire day.  First William and Wilton came up. Then while I was skyping with Alysha, (it's so good to talk with her and see the kids) Timila from upstairs came to visit with pen in hand so I could teach her some Spanish.  Soon after she arrived Wilton showed up for his daily Spanish lesson and gospel study with Scott on his lunch hour. It was kind of fun to teach her some basic words that I actually knew!  I don't know how she has remained sane being here not knowing the language and never leaving her apartment or talking to anyone until her husband gets home from work.  Was so glad she came down. By the time she left I only had two hours to get food ready to take to Sister Lilly.  That was a rush because you never know if or how the oven is going to work or if you will have to make another batch of whatever you are making because this one  didn't work out. 
   Brother Lilly works for the church and they live in "the big and spacious building" across from the Casa.  When we got there with supper they wanted to show us through their apartment which is absolutely spacious and beautiful. The Church had bought a number of apartments in this building for the area presidency and the other people who come here to work for the Church. There were five bathrooms, four bedrooms and a maid's quarters, a den, a lovely living room, a big kitchen, walk in closets, etc. etc.  Sister Lilly said when they came here they were shown the apartment and asked if it would be ok for them to live in.  They were so overwhelmed they were speachless.  The Lilly's are such nice people.  She teaches our Sunday School class and does a great job ( in English).  We did ask if they would like to trade us apartments when our kids come....
   Driving in to the parking lot I mentioned to Scott that I had told Sister Lee that I would help her get started with the keyboard training book.  So he calls and asks them to come over for dinner.  I had dishes all over from cooking and baking all afternoon and was pooped so rushing in to clean up the apartment in 15 minutes didn't sound like much fun to me.  Scott figures if we are eating we just as well have someone eating with us!  So the Lee's came for dinner.. I did take some pictures today to put on here so I will have them.  Sister Lee doesn't speak English even though I think she understands quite a bit and it is not easy for me to understand her Spanish so we will see how these lessons go. Might just be great for both of us!
   They left and Elder Yturaldie came to see if I would scan a document of his and email it to him. I couldn't find where the scan went so he went upstairs to get his wife.  She came down and found it and visited for an hour.  Now it is after 9:00 and I haven't really had much of a chance to study all day today.  I will study before I go to bed and hope it permeates deep into my subconscious!

Scott waiting for me to finish blogging so he can listen to the news.

Timila Shrestha studying Spanish

                                                      Brother and Sister Lee

8/21/2012

Six months ago I was in the "let's just get this over with" mode - leaving my family and my home and friends and beginning a journey that we had no idea what would be.  Thank heavens it was six months ago and here we are now somewhat settled in with some idea of what we need to accomplish.  There has been nothing easy about any of part of leaving to serve a mission; but at this point I can say that it has been an amazing learning experience.  And one of the most vivid things we have learned is how valuable senior missionaries are to a mission.  As we have watched our friends here serve in so many different ways we realize that there could never be enough senior missionaries to help in all of the ways a mission needs help!  We have learned how very blessed our lives have been and are so grateful to be able to help here in any way we can.
   Wilton had met the missionaries on his way home last night and they had given him a pamphlet to read.  When he told them he couldn't read they told him to come have Elder Rees read it to him.  So Scott decided besides reading to him, he would try and teach him to read.  The neatest thing of all was when he wanted to be taught how to pray.  He is going to William's on Friday night when the missionaries go there to teach William's family a lesson.  These guys are so humble and teachable.Got some treats made for them to take home.  It probably will be their supper so I did make something nutritious.
  Today my husband said - and I wish I could have recorded it- that he would gladly take me shopping to as many stores as it took to find what I needed to make dinner tomorrow for Sister Lilly and he would not complain.  As soon as he said it he put his hand over his mouth like "what did I just say".  It was pretty funny actually because I know that have must have just accidentally slipped out! Then he said,"You know I was lying, right?"  But he did take me and not complain!
  The handicapped older sister that came every Tuesday to the temple to the 6:00 pm session hasn't been there for a month now.  Tonight they told us that she isn't doing well.  She brought such a sweet spirit with her that I have really missed her.  Pres. Bair was telling us last night that the National Palace gardeners met with them to see how they kept the temple grounds looking so beautiful.
   Got to skype with Kelsey today.  It is always so good to see her.She is amazing!  Then got to skype with Megan and Jace.  Mostly Jace scooting  instead  of crawling over to the computer - which was so cute. We are so blessed. 
 

8/20/2012

Times flies when you are having fun they say - it seems to fly by for us even though much of our time isn't spent doing fun things!!  Studied Spanish much of the morning.  Reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish really seems to help my learning of the language.  Scott's Spanish class grows every week.. Today there were the usuals and two new sisters.  Sister Brown and Sister Rucker are just beginning their trek of language  learning. One of the sisters said her grandson was leaving on a mission to Finland and she lays awake at night worrying about him now she knows how difficult it is to learn a language and Finnish is one of the hardest. It certainly has given me much more respect for missionaries in every way.
  Jamie skyped with us today.  It was so fun to see her and her amazing little girls.  How cute they are! What a blessing skype is.  It is what keeps the senior missionaries from sneaking out and going back home...
  We had FHE at the Cassanovas. Of course it was all in Spanish.  Now I recognize most of the words but don't have time to figure out how they all fit together before they have gone on to something else!  Just keep telling myself "it will come, it will come, it will come".  Met Sister Brown in the hall of the Casa and she said her brain just does not do conjugations of verbs.  I can understand that!
  Yturaldies stopped by to visit on their way home.  He told us about finding a dead body in his orange grove.  He called 911 and they asked him why he had called them - there was nothing they could do at that point.  Quite an interesting story!
 

8/19/2012

   Another weekend has come and gone!  It is unbelievable how quickly the days pass.  Yesterday we prepared for a music lesson in Hainamosa  Our upstairs neighbor from Nepal met Scott at the elevator and asked if we would go to dinner with them.  We don't get home from our lesson until 8:00 pm but he said that would be ok.  It had rained in Hainamosa and the people are generally at home trying to clean up what the rain has washed away at their houses so we were expecting to have very few there.Class begins at 5:00 but no one was there until 5:15 and then only a few.  We started anyway and by the middle of class ten more came.  I am convinced no one here ever has stomach ulcers from worrying!  We were in a hurry to get back for our dinner appointment so we packed up and got out to the car just as the high councilor from their stake who is always there for lessons asked if we could give him a ride to town.  The hour back was interesting as he repeatedly asked "Please be patient with my people".  He claims there are few accidents here even though the driving is atrocious because these people are patient with each other.  I think it is more like a game of "let's see how close we can come to running into another car without actually doing it"!  And the manholes in the streets without covers are always a hazard!  We finally got to where Brother Risco wanted to be dropped off and got back home.
     The Shresthas ,Timila and Ramesh, were waiting when we got back so we walked across the street to Costilla Adan.  Last time we were there I had a summer salad that was delicious so I recommended it to Timila.  Problem was it was a completely different salad this time - and not good at all.  Even the chicken roll we have had many times was different - but actually better!  It was fun to get to know the Shresthas a little.  They have traveled alot with the United Nations and have actually lived apart for long periods of time (years).   He had been in Haiti working before he came here.  She couldn't live with him there so they decided to apply to come to the DR where they could be together.  Neither of them speak Spanish.  They don't have a car.  They have no friends here and never go out - how sad would that be.  (the friends, not the going out).  They are Hindus and explained about their religion to us and asked about ours so it was fun to compare the two religions.  There were many similar things but they do believe that there is an afterlife in which you can come back in any form - animal, etc.
Scott explained to them that we believe we get to be ourselves in the next life. They worship cows so they never eat beef.  On special holidays they are allowed to eat and drink things they cannot have the rest of the time.  They are alcohol, fried eggs, fried pork and chicken, fried garlic, fried onions and some other spice.  We walked back to the apartment and they asked if we would go out with them on Monday night since many of our other nights are busy doing lessons.  Obviously they are desperate for friends if they want to spend more time with us! Will have to get a picture of them.
    Wilton and William were up here during the day planning with Scott how to get their families to church on Sunday.  William works but Oglivia wanted to go and take the kids and Wilton's significant other wanted to go, or Wilton wanted her to go I'm not sure which.  Then Wilton's uncle got sick and he had to spend today taking care of him but still wanted Scott to pick up Josie and take her with Oglivia to church. 
   We got up early so I could finish by primary lesson and Scott could get ready and leave to meet the missionaries and pick up the women and children for church.  I went with the Lees to our ward.  I worried about Scott driving out where these people live but feel protected as we work.  When Scott got to where he was supposed to meet the missionaries and Wilton the missionaries were late so that threw off their plans a bit.  They got to Wilton's to pick up Josie but she had just gotten out of bed and had no intention of going to church.  They went back and picked up Olivia and her three kids and went to church.  There is such goodness in this family of Williams.  I wish their lives were easier but perhaps they are the way they are because they don't have much of anything.
   Primary today was an adventure..  The American kids were all back from their vacations to Utah so I had three more in my class.  One of the boys could have taught the lesson himself he was so fluent in the scriptures.  These are 8-12 year olds so I was really impressed!  One of the new girls more than made up for how good he was as she couldn't set still or be quite for a minute.  What a relief it was when she left to go to the restroom, which is right across the hall, and didn't come back for ten minutes.  That is an awful thing to say, isn't it?!  I am grateful for the teachers that put up with my kids!
  As I was riding home with the Lee's, Brother Lee asked about the music program.  He said his wife has been trying to learn how to play the piano for the past three years while they were serving in Santiago as mission president y esposa.  He wants me to teach her to play.  That is desperation!!
She understands some English but does not speak it.
  Scott drove up just as we were getting home.  We have a good Sunday nap schedule if we are prepared for our Sunday lesson!  We had a couple of hours before we had to leave for the Oriental Stake for lessons.  Here we take ten tecladas, a table, numerous kinds of music books - we need a moving van just to go teach lessons to twenty people. I'll bet no one else drives around with ten keyboards in their trunk!  Scott learned to play by recognizing the notes according to where they are on the scale - not the names of the notes - so he assumed these kids could pick that up in a hurry  Wrong again!  We will try the names of the notes next week.
    It is actually fairly cool here tonight but very muggy!
                                                                     

8/16/202

   You know what the great thing about knowing less than your husband is?  It's you have to study more which means while you study he has time to wash the dishes, iron his shirts, etc.  Sure is nice!
(In that respect only however) I am so grateful Scott knows and studies to increase his understanding of the Spanish that is spoken here or we would be completely lost.
    Made some chicken noodle soup early this morning that I could take to one of the women here who is having such trouble with arthritis but she never answered her phone.  I hope she is ok.  The Snows called and wanted to go out to lunch for their last meal here - they leave tomorrow.  Since we had a big pot of soup we had them come here with the Ruckers (their replacements).  Fools that we are we decided to try another pan of brownies in Yturaldies oven because we thought if we raised the front of their stove the brownies would bake evenly. Oh we were sooo wrong.  This time when I went up to check on them they were all down on the other end of the pan.  Maybe the lesson in all this is:  Quit making brownies - they aren't good for you!  It seemed unreal that the Snows were here with us today and tomorrow will be in Utah.  We have had some very interesting experiences with them here in Santo Domingo.
   As soon as company left we headed up to the Casa for piano lessons.  There were only two of the returned missionaries there today so it was easier to work with them individually.  I love Katty.  She is such a humble, sweet, and pretty young woman.  She served in the West Mission here a year ago and is now helping at the MTC here training missionaries.  Today is the first time she has spoken any English - I didn't know she knew any.  It is harder for her to pick up the lessons so after an hour she was frustrated and tired so we sat and talked.  She helped me with my Spanish and I helped her with English and we had a great time. 
   Today was the inauguration of the new president here.  That made it a national holiday so when we went to the temple there were so many people the mission president told us to come back tomorrow.  It's great that when these people have a day off they come to the temple.  They bring their families so they can be part of the experience and the kids just hang out on the temple grounds and in the Casa if they are staying there.  They have rooms in the Casa that they rent out for $6.00 a night to those who come to attend the temple, usually from outside the country.  It is a great thing for many of these families who can barely afford the travel expense to come here. Here are a couple of darling little girls that were at the Casa with their parents:  These kids love to see pictures of themselves on your camera!

  Now we are home studying because we had many other things going on today.  We are excited for the Baxters and the Gaileys and those great young missionaries leaving from our ward. 

8/15/2012 the rest of the post ....

Couldn't get the pictures to come up on the other post and I wanted Brent to be able to see the Ruckers so am doing another post for the same day!  Elder Rucker reminds me a little of Craig Fisher.   Sister Rucker  isn't short so you can guess how tall he is.

These are the Schoops

                                                           It was a sad but fun night.

Tuesday we went to the temple and then to the Despains to give Sister Despain a music book so she can teach out in the branch they are going to.  They will be such a blessing to that branch!

And here it is Wednesday.  Wilton wants Scott to come and go to church with him out where he lives on Sunday.  I think Wilton and Josie and Oglivia and her kids are planning on going.  Wish I could go because I can't imagine where they would put a church down there where they live and because I really love these people.  Wilton, like many people here, does not know how to read so that is Scott's new project. Reading Spanish is the easiest part! 
  We have studied and planned most of the day.  Then went shopping - much to Scott's dismay!  He even took me to  a new store today that is supposed to be like a Walmart.  And it was.. Still couldn't find Cool Whip though. 
  At the end of another day I am grateful to know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us despite all of our faults.  That we know why we are here and where we are going is so comforting. That when we know we do not have the ability to do the work we are here to do by ourselves, we also know that with God's help anything is possible.  We miss being home with our wonderful family and friends and ward family but know this will come to an end before we feel we have done all we could do to help here.

8/15/2012 Snow's farewell

Monday
   Snow's farewell and the Schoops and the Rukers welcome for Family Home Evening.  I was on the food committee so was to bring apples and the cream cheese apple dip and some Rocky Road Brownies.  We studied and planned all morning and didn't stop for lunch until 2:00.  I decided to wait until Sister Yturaldie got home at 2:30 to bake the brownies in her oven because mine is so retarded. 
 So I went upstairs to put the marshmallow on and lo and behold - the brownies were slopped to one end so they were fat and not done on one end and skinny and overdone on the other end.  Just can't seem to win with these ovens around  here!  Even covering the flat end with more marshmallows and frosting and nuts did not help much.  Oh well - what can you do?!  We missed Elder Hammon's Spanish class getting everything together. I am doing much better in his class though.  Scott's class was at 5:00.  He was teaching us about gerunds and past participles.  Sister Mahon came in a little late and looked as if she was about to break into tears the entire time.  I felt so badly for her and knew the way she responded to Scott's questions that she was feeling so lost with the language - because I have been there so many times myself. We were all glad when we had to leave for the missionary investigator meetings.  Our Samoan missionary had fallen and scrapped his leg then got a cellulitis infection in it so he had been in the hospital for a couple of days and came to the meeting in a wheel chair. I left early to set up for the FHE downstairs.
   The Snow's are such awesome people!  Elder Snow had bought himself a white cowboy hat when he got here and so put it on while he talked and did some great cowboy poetry. He bought a typical hat from here to wear at home when he goes golfing. Sister Snow reminds me of Evelyn Stevens - so on top of everything, always filled with great ideas, and she has been a kindergarden teacher most of her life.  The Ruckers  told about themselves - they previously served a humanitarian mission in Argentina. They will be a great addition to our group.  The Schoops also were introduced.  They are from Curasau which is an island just off the coast of Venezuela.  They are the first missionaries from the church to serve from there and they are sooooooooooooo excited.

These hats are worn by most of the street vendors to keep the sun off!

8/12/2012

 The day started early as Scott had to be to the Enriquello Ward before 8:00 so he left before 7:00.  I had to substitute for Sister Rappley in Primary as she is in Utah for a while.  Haven't taught Primary for many years so it was kind of fun.  The class consisted today of these two:

They  have two Primaries in this ward.  One English speaking and one Spanish speaking.  These two speak both languages but their parents want them exposed to English so they come into Sister Rappleys class.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

I want to put a pictures of Sister Snow and Sister Ford's last day in Spanish class.  Elder Hammon had made these certificates that were priceless!



The Snows had picked up their replacements, the Rukers, last night and they all came to our ward this morning so it was fun to meet the Rukers.  They knew Brent and Ranae from the temple in Mesa and said what lovely people they are.
  Got home from meetings in time to get everything together for our lesson in Oriental.  Today was their first day with the keyboards and did they ever have fun.  Some of these kids have all kinds of talent.  I absolutely love it when out of nowhere they just start singing a song! 

   

 

These are just some of the students!  Massel and Michele; Sarah, Sheril, and Camilla; and Monica and Marcos; Ricardo and Olivert

Ricardo is the youngest but picks everything up so quickly.

So now we are home for the night and all is well.  Wilton and Josie and Oglivia were planning on going to church today.  Sure hope they did.  I'm not sure where the music is coming from tonight but it isn't exactly restful!

8/11/2012

Another couple of days have passed.  When you look back the time is going so quickly but when you realize you still have another year to go it seems like forever!  All but the driving is feeling more comfortable - and I am amazed every time we travel that we don't get in an accident.  Most of the senior missionaries with cars have been involved in more than one accident.  Apparently you just leave the scene of the accident if you do get hit.  Our good friends the Snows were hit by a cop traveling up the wrong side of the road and he didn't even pause.
    We went out to Los Amigos to look for toffee bits so I could make the apple dip for Monday nights FHE.  The only place we have ever seen them has been at Los Amigos.  Sure enough - they not only had toffee bits but whole cranberry sauce as well.  I have been looking for that ever since we have been here!  We thought they would have marshmallows there but couldn't find them anywhere.  I finally convinced Scott to to ask someone where they were.  I was still looking down the isles when I saw marshmallow creme but no marshmallows.  Found Scott with two guys who were stocking shelves - trying to explain what a marshmallow was by squeezing his fingers together and trying to explain that they were sweet.  So I went back and got the marshmallow creme and took it to them.  "Oh, marshmallows" says one of the men.  Scott hadn't used the "marshmallow " word because he knew they wouldn't know what he was talking about.  All in all - it was pretty funny!  But they didn't carry marshmallows...
     We spent most of the day planning for our two lessons this weekend.  We have been studying the scriptures by me reading out loud  the Spanish version then Scott reading the English version.  It has been very helpful to me!
    Wilton and Josie wanted Scott and I to come take them to church on Sunday.  We felt so bad because we would love to do that but Scott has to speak in another ward and I have to teach Primary in our ward then we have to teach lessons out in Oriental Stake at 4:00.  Maybe next week!  Who would have thought when she sat and texted through the film about families that she was deciding she wanted to go back to church.  Always expect the unexpected should be the motto of our mission.  Just when you think you have something figured out it turns out to be something entirely different - either for the good or the bad.
  The Snows called and wanted us to go to dinner with the Friday night group.  Well since we have never been part of any Friday night date stuff we haven't made much of an effort to go out instead of studying.  But we decided to go.  We went to Adrian Tropical with the Shavers, the Mahans, the Glaziers, the Eichbushes, the Haws, and  the Snows.  It was fun to be with this group- among the group they have had about every experience you can imagine. We went over to the Snows after dinner with the Eickbushes and visited.  Surely hate to see the Snows leave!  They are picking up the Ruckers, who are their replacement, tonight and will stay in the apartment with them until they leave next week. The replacements for the McDermids should be coming sometime soon.
   We had a lesson out in the Hianamosa Stake this afternoon.  Don't know where everyone was but we had 12 there don't know what kind of learning disabilities a couple of the older people in the group have but they cannot get their arms going the right way to lead a 3/4 song -or any other time. There is a set of young girls that are twins in the class.  Maybe around 12 or 13 but they are as sharp as can be. 
    Scott has to listen to the news and see what reactions there are to Paul Ryan as Romney's vice president pick.  It makes us sick to hear the news here about what is going on at home.  Honesty in high places seems to be a thing of the past - along with any integrity shown by our leaders. 
   We were so excited to get a wedding invitation for Taylor Thomson.  What a cute couple!

8/9/2012

   The day started with Scott jogging and talking to William, whose wife has been very ill for three or four days with a sore throat, etc.  We wondered if it would be appropriate to ask if she would want a blessing.  Scott decided it would and went back down to talk to William.  He was to call his wife and see if she would like to have a blessing.  When we left for music class about 2:30 he still hadn't talked to her but meantime Scott had found the missionaries who were assigned in that area to see if they could come help him give her a blessing and introduce themselves to William, Oglivia and William's sister.  How many times do these kinds of things actually work out?  Maybe one out of twenty!
So William called and had talked to his wife who wanted a blessing. 
   We had our music class with the returned missionary crew - what a delight they are!  I think Katty and Jose have something going on between them.  He has been working with her with her leading because she is behind.  So here I am playing the keyboard while they are standing in front of me leading the song.  She kept getting mixed up, and even when she didn't Jose had ahold of her arm showing her how to lead.  They are pretty cute!  Alwin is the play by ear student and he is amazing.  He is going through the book so quickly that he is leaving the other Jose way behind.  All three of the students are learning at different levels so Jose Rodriguez has been a great help.  He told us today that he sings in two different choirs.  These young people have so much to offer and will be such a great help to the church in this area.
    Today was Sister Ford's last day in our Spanish class.  Hammons had made a certificate for her that was very nice.  It is sad to see her go but I am sure they are anxious to get home. After two Spanish classes we came home to see if William was ready to go home.  The missionaries were to meet us by the bridge  It is always a surprise when something turns out the way you had  planned!  After a hair-raising experience driving to their area we found the missionaries standing along the road.  It has been a while since we have driven in weeknight traffic here.  There were young men on bicycles with no lights, dark skinned people crossing the busy streets in dark clothing, the usual peddlers with their wagons and bikes with no lights; and finally the CRAZY Dominican drivers who pull within inches of your car.  I thought I would eventually become accustomed to the driving but it isn't happening!
  It wasn't quite as bizarre getting to William's house this time.  There were more lights to help you see where you were going which was both good and bad.  The path is treacherous but there were many cute little girls holding dolls and playing.  I wanted to wear pants but Scott didn't think that was a good idea.  That's because he has never tried to get to William's house in a skirt!!  After seeing the dead dog in one doorway it was a relief to start up William's rickety stairs.  Last time we were there they had no lights on.  This time they had lights on and a TV running.  Two neighbor ladies were there visiting.  Hugging Ogilvia it was evident that she was very fevered but she was gracious and smiling.  The missionaries explained what they would be doing and gave her a blessing.  She is so tiny - with a very big spirit!  They are such genuinely nice people.  The other two women there looked a bit wary.  William walked us out to make sure we were safe - bless him....There were a couple of younger men standing by the car who looked like they could have easily caused us some trouble but they didn't.  We took the missionaries to a church nearby.  It must be the one Wilton and William talk about being close to their homes - it's a good three or four miles.  They are so used to walking long distances that this would just be a short walk for them. 
  We are home and grateful to safe!  We are also very grateful for the opportunites to serve we are given here.  It is amazing how aware of  each of His children God is.

8/8/2012

  What a wonderful cool day it has been today!  Not even too much humidity.  We have had a lot of time to study today but by the time we do scripture study, exercise and breakfast and keyboard practice the morning is gone.  There is so much for me to study in Spanish that I could spent 10 hours a day every day and still not know it!  Between irregular conjugations and indirect and direct object pronouns today has been a study challenge.
  We did get the cookies to our upstairs neighbors and the Lees.  The husband upstairs wasn't home yet and Pres. Lee still was not home so we talked to the wives and had to leave to get to the 6:00 temple session.  We thought the Lees would be moving to their nice apartment that the Snows have been living in but she said they feel like they should stay here for a while.  Certainly not for safety issues I would think!  (They haven't been here through the murder upstairs and the shootings in the street) They are a lovely couple.  The wife upstairs from Nepal is such a pretty woman.  She is home alone all day and I don't know how she remains sane.  Her husband works for the United Nations here but they are transferred all over.
    We decided Thursday is such a busy day with two Spanish lessons and a music lesson that we would go to the temple on Wednesday instead so we saw a different group of senior missionary friends working there.  It is great to have them there.  It reminds me of going to the Ogden temple and having many of our Morgan friends working there. 
   If I never hear the click clack of anyone playing dominoes again it will be too soon!  The men in front of the store are at it again and it is 10:15- they are just getting started.....

8/7/2012 Terible storm! (that's Spanish for terrible)

  We had a preview today of what the scriptures call "the wrath of God".  The lightening strikes and the thunder shook the building, it was raining so hard the water was coming in through the cracks where the  windows slide open .  I have never heard noise like that.  The wind was blowing hard and whistling through the glass.  I was in the kitchen fixing lunch and got so scared (I know that is surprising) I went to find Scott in the other room.  He wasn't going to admit that it was intimidating for him too, but it was!  It lasted about an hour then settled into just rain but it was an hour that made me think about the storms you read about in the scriptures.
  I started making cookies yesterday to take to some neighbors but we went to all of our Monday activities and I didn't get them all cooked.  Finished that today and got them all on plates just in time
to go to the temple. We planned on taking them as soon as we got home but met Tati and her grandchildren in the parking lot and they came over to talk to us. Her grandson is leaving soon to go back to Spain but  her granddaughter is going to stay and live with her. The culture here is so immoral.  She so needs the church to help her make decent decisions that will bring her happiness.  Wickedness never was happiness is not just a statement here - it is the way so many of these people live.  So we still have plates of cookies sitting on the couch.  Maybe tomorrow! We have really wanted to visit with the Nepalize couple upstairs.
  Tonight at the temple there was this couple who looked to be in their mid or later 70's. They are infamous here - or so we hear - because they live on a boat and travel around to different countries doing extraction work.  They have been doing that for 10 years.  When hurricane season hits the islands they just keep moving out of the path.

8/6/2012

   Another busy day!  The Lee's (returned mission president from Santiago who is temporarily living in our building because he owns an apartment here) invited us over for Family Home Evening.  We had other plans with the senior missionaries so couldn't go but decided to make cookies and take them some before we left for classes at 3:30.  Baking in our oven is always an adventure because the bottom burns, the outsides edges overcook and the inside doesn't cook.  Other than that, it's a great little oven.  You can't put a cookie sheet in it because it won't fit.  But the cookies turned out fairly good even if grandmaed on the bottom.  Karolina and Alexis from the Area Presidency Office are so great to help us out.  They have spent hours on our phones trying to get them working and the phone company to fix the line - which is not exactly area work but we certainly appreciate them.  We took them some cookies on the way to Spanish class.  They must have hired those two because they have the biggest smiles I have ever seen.  It's just a joy to walk in that office and see their faces light up and those big smiles appear!
    Just before we left for class we heard prolonged shouting outside.  In the parking lot we walked over to the fence like cement thing to see a bunch of men waving their arms and shouting back and forth so you have to wonder if someone was murdered in the little store there.  But the guard told us that they were just excited because a Dominican had won a race and taken the gold.  That was good news!
     In Elder Hammon's Spanish class today he was teaching us direct and indirect objects in Spanish.  I do know what they are in English but in Spanish I'm lost.  Guess it will take some more intense studying!  Scott taught his Spanish class and we went upstairs in the Casa to be investigators for
the missionaries.  I took my camera but forgot to put the memory stick back in it.  There were three missionaries today.  One is 330 lbs and the other is 120 lbs.  Today there was a missionary from Trinidad who is going to Jamaica and he was 6'6"and all of 150 lbs.  Their Spanish is getting much better.  In Trinidad and Jamaica they speak English so he doesn't have to learn Spanish. It would be difficult to find three more different looking missionaries!  They are great guys though...
    Then we had FHE at the Leavitts but when we knocked and knocked on their door no one answered.  Finally Elder Button came out from a couple rooms away and told us that they had moved down the hall into McDermid's apartment last week when the McDemids left.  The Eickbushes, the Fords, the Bairs, the Hammons, the Levitts were all there.  They had a fun game of building a house and rolling dice which I will have to bring home.

  I want to include two pictures.  One is what I think is the most striking difference between here and other cities I know - the horse drawn cart next to a nice new car is a common sight.

    The other is of a woman selling things in the street.  You will see women quite often carrying things on their heads but not many men do.

8/5/2012

  These Sundays remind me of many Sundays while in the  Stake RS Presidency - meeting after meeting after meeting!  We had early morning Church.  During Sacrament Meeting the power went off and came back on about 20 times - then finally it just stayed off.  They have a generator but were afraid that would also fail so moved everyone downstairs to different rooms.  Many of the churches here have the Primary, Young Men and Women, Relief Society rooms on the bottom floor and the chapel on the top floor.  So we moved downstairs but could not use the air conditioner so it was  h-o-t.!  Those who didn't have anything to use as a fan fell asleep during the lesson.  There were two sisters from Barbaros who were visiting for a week to do temple work.  I guess that island is an English speaking one because they couldn't understand the Spanish speaking teachers but their English is a different dialect than any I have heard!
    We had a lesson at the Oriental Stake so got everything together to go there.  I'm beginning to think they should have let us rent a truck.  To haul 10 teclados, tables, teaching manuals and student manuals, and all of the other paraphernalia that goes with this job is taking up more and more space in the full trunk and the back seat.  If we get stopped and robbed sometime they will think they hit a gold mine of things they could resale.  We thought this class had mastered the conducting skills but in reviewing them found that not to be true. So instead of moving on to keyboard lessons we stayed with the conducting.  Many of the parents had brought their kids and they sat in the back and watched with big smiles on their faces.  They are so excited for their kids to have this experience. 
    The next meeting was in  San Geronimo with the stake presidency and all of the bishoprics in their stake.  They must have a huge stake because they had fifty plus people there.  It gave us the opportunity to give them all the general music plan and let them know that we can help them (?)
One of the bishops want us to speak in his ward next week.  Sad thing is I have to teach Primary in our ward so Scott will have to go alone.  Too bad, huh? Primary is preferable to me!  We were lost for much of the time trying to find the building but the Snows were already at the building and called to see where we were so they gave us some direction, and we found they were parked in front of the building and we were in back of the same building.  It's amazing how big this city is.  I don't know how Scott knows where he is going.  Now I know why I didn't go on a mission as a young woman - I'm such a wimp!  If I don't have ulcers from near miss car adventures here it will be a miracle..

                                                           Elders Mejia and Brimley

Elder Brimlely

  Got home just in time for Scott to call the missionaries so they could go up the street and teach John Paul.  Neither the missionaries or John Paul showed up last time so our hopes weren't too high for tonight. But surprise, surprise - the missionaries came and John Paul was there and they actually had a good lesson with him.  They came back up for ice cream and cookies.  We had ice cream from Wilton's birthday party and Scott bought some boxed cookies from Price Mart to give away. We have seen them quite often as they come here to give lessons and come to our Ward on Sunday.  They are the assistants to the West Mission president and they have tons of  responsibilities.  I have come to the conclusion that it is no fun to be an assistant to the president out here.   

8/4/2012 Hurricane Weather!

   It really seems like Sunday traveling to chapels all over. We worked this morning on our lessons and found that we once again had given away all of our conducting books so Scott went to the Tienda to get another book.  He came home with two but when we got ready to work on the lesson he had picked up two English books instead of Spanish books.  At least we had the CD to work with!
   It had started to rain before we left for Hainamosa but while we were there it rained so hard on the roof of the church that you couldn't even hear anyone talking.  They said one hurricane had just passed by and another was beginning.  By the time we left to come home there was so much water everywhere the streets were flooded- six or so inches on the low side of the road.  It made it difficult to drive and almost impossible to see the open manholes in the road ; plus all of the huge holes in the roads that were filled with water.  No wonder their roads are so bad! We were relieved to get home in one piece but found that we had left some windows open a few inches and there was water standing on the floors in the low spots. 
   At the meeting we met three or so missionaries who were having a baptism in the same building.  One of them came back into the room we were teaching in and asked me to come to the door.  He was a handsome young elder.  He said his aunt had told him to look the Rees' up because he is here in Santo Domingo.  His aunt is Nanette Brown!  You could see the resemblance because he has those pretty eyes that Nanette has.  It was so fun to talk to him.  He was actually the one baptizing the two investigators.  Even better is when we got home I tried to call Nanette.  Jim answered the phone and they were on their way home from San Diego where they had been for a week.  I can't believe we got ahold of them.  It was really fun to talk to Nanette and hear how her family is doing.
  Oh I forgot the best part of the meeting.  There was a sister setting by herself waiting for class to start so I went over and tried to talk to her.  Come to find out she could speak some English.  She said, "Oh you sing in the Tabernacle Choir, right? "  I didn't want to be rude but I couldn't hold back the laughter.  She said I looked so familiar to her she just knew that I sang with the Choir.  I told her that I looked familiar because, after all. we are sisters. 
   On of the best things about teaching music to these people in Hainamosa is they just break out in song - it doesn't matter what is going on.  They love music!  I absolutely love working with them.  Of course all I am doing is playing the keyboard and working the CD on the computer.  There are coordinating things on a disc that go with the lessons so that helps.  We may not know much but the church certainly puts out good aids to teach it's programs.

Elder Esplin in the Dominican Republic.  Happy to be baptizing two converts.

8/3/2012

I can't believe it is August - Fair time in Morgan.  Heard we missed two great farewells this past weekend - Tad Sargents and Swish Wiscombes.  Would love to have been to both!!
  And to think I really believed that March would never end.  Now I'm just looking at all the things we wanted to accomplish and knowing it isn't likely to happen.  If we can just get the information out to the rest of the area and encourage them to establish their programs and help them find someone to teach music in their areas it will be a miracle, the way things move here.
   Yesterday we had our 4:00 Spanish class.  I don't know why I thought learning Spanish wouldn't be that difficult.  40 some years ago when I was in high school it was easy!  I am learning paso by paso.
Wilton lets me practice with him and everything is great until he answers me back and I have no idea what he is saying...Scott teaches a 5:00 Spanish class which is very good for those of us who haven't been here that long.  At 6:30 we went over to the temple.  There were so many people in the session they had to bring in a chair and set women with the men.  I have never seen people get up and leave a session and come back like these people do.  People watching here is great.  I love the temple and the peace that is there.  We met the McDermids on the way out.  They were walking around the temple for the last time before they left for home (Canada).  It is amazing how you grow to love these people then it's time for them to go back home.  Elder McDermid is around 60 and lived with his wife as a nonmember for 30 years before he joined the Church.  He was active much of that time but not a member.  A great guy!
  Today has been a study time - shop time- getting emails off to area and stake leaders- visiting the neighbors. The neighbors are having another sing along over on their roof.  The patio where the women usually smoke and play poker tonight has three men smoking some kind of a thing that has a tube in a bowl or something and looks like a microphone you talk into but obviously has something in it that allows them to blow out copious amounts of smoke.  Doesn't really look legal!  So it's the usual Friday night noise.  But I am going to go to bed and hope to sleep anyway.
    
  

8/1/2012 Some days you just have to laugh!

  Didn't blog yesterday.  The temple opened so we went to our usual 6:00 session. It was wonderful to be there again.  The Bairs, temple president and wife, were in our session.  They are good friends and mentors!  The only problem was I had to go to the bathroom so bad I was completely miserable!!   I kept thinking I was going to have to get up and leave but knew they would have to stop the whole session and I am such a coward.  So I just sat there and prayed I would be able to make it through the session.  (In agony and pain)  Never was so happy for a session to end and just prayed I would make it to the bathroom in time.  Bet they have never seen anyone basically run from the celestial room, down the stairs and into the dressing room restroom before.  I so wanted to learn some more Spanish - oh well.  Maybe next time...
   Today looked to be such a positive day.  John Paul was to meet with the missionaries here to have a lesson.  It was Wilton's birthday so I had made a brownie cake for him and some cheerios treats for the missionaries.  Three o'clock came and neither the missionaries or John Paul were here - which certainly is not unusual for these people.  The missionaries called and said they could not make it because they were in some judges office with someone getting a divorce.  So we planned what we could teach John Paul so it would not be a waste of his time.  Well and hour went by and still no John Paul.  By 4:30 Scott decided to call him.  He had said earlier that he was going at 2:30 to pick up his paycheck.  I think he picked up his paycheck and bought some liquor because when Scott called him he said he would be here by 3:30 - that was at 5:00.  He never did show up so we'll see what he has to say when Scott sees him in the morning.
  Then we had invited Wilton to bring his wife and we would take them out to dinner tonight. He seemed quite enthusiastic about it and kept calling her to see if she was on her way.  And of course she was late. It was Wilton's birthday today so we had baked a cake and took some ice cream and cake down to the workers and sang happy birthday (in Spanish even) to him. Anyway we walked down to the guagua stop to meet her then walked over to McDonalds. It was weird from the beginning as  walked off and she lagged behind.  When we got there they didn't seem to know that we were eating there or something.  Scott thinks they just didn't know how to order.  We got the food and came back to our apartment to eat.  Well during the conversation Josie, his wife, told us that she actually was baptized into the church three years ago.  Wilton had no idea she was a Mormon.
Then she said they were just living together and had stayed together because she had gotten pregnant. Obviously she is no longer active.  The saddest part of the night, and there were quite a few sad parts, was when she showed me a picture of the baby she had last month that had died a day after he was born because he couldn't breathe.  All I could think of was the poor care she probably got because they had no money and that their beautiful little boy could have lived if he had been in the states where there are specialists to deal with respiratory problems.  They have medical care here for poor people  but it is far inferior to the care more wealthy patients get.  Anyway we had planned to show them the "Families Can Be Together Forever" video about the couple who also lost a little girl. Have to say the video is very touching to anyone who has ever been a mother but Josie was texting on her phone most of the time.  When it was over we brought out the birthday cake and ice cream and Josie proceeds to tell us that Wilton does not like her.  We thought she was kidding but when Scott looked questioningly at Wilton, he  put his hands out in a "Yes that's right but what can I do about it" gesture.  By that time I was about to burst into laughter .  She admitted they were fighting and all was far from well with them. And here we thought we could help them find some peace about losing their baby and they were hardly speaking to each other!  Don't think the video helped either...
Much of this conversation started when I asked if I could take a picture of them.  She said he wouldn't because he didn't like her but we finally got them to let us take a picture for us.

I think Wilton would like to adopt Scott as his dad.  His dad fathered 29 kids and probably doesn't even know them.  He is a nice kid - and so is she.

So we come to the end of a day that looked so special when we got up this morning and all I can do is laugh because this is just the Dominican Way of life.