Ode to Linus

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of a dear friend and loving bus. Linus will truly be missed. If you have any parting thoughts, please list them in the comments section.

Sea Kayaking

I like to go sea kayaking at sunrise once or twice a week. Some mornings the water is as smooth as glass. I love the view of the island from the water looking in.

Jessica's volunteer work

Jessica has been volunteering at one of the schools in town, Holy Cross Anglican Primary School. They need a lot of help.

She's been working with two kids in particular, Aldair and Javier, who were going to get kicked out of school for behavioral problems unless they had a guardian in class with them.

Today Jessica taught the kids how to correctly say "tree" and "three." It's a tough distinction. The end result: tree and trrrrrree.

Sayuri and Jessica. BFF's!

Tropical Storms & Severed Digits

We lucked out yesterday. The tropical storm missed us, although it caught the south end of mainland Belize. We had some pretty intense rainfall and some high waters, but nothing serious.

A member of my maintenance staff cut his finger off in a golf cart engine yesterday. We rushed him to the doctor in San Pedro after I went and found his finger. Nasty stuff.

San Pedro Branch

The church is growing on the island. When I went to church the first time in January there were about 10 people there. Yesterday we had 72 people in sacrament meeting! We filled the chapel twice, once in the morning English meeting and once in the evening Spanish meeting. Jessica and I will be working hard the branch. I am serving as the Elder's quorum president, the executive secretary, and the branch clerk. Jessica will be recieving a calling next week. I've been going out with the missionaries about twice a week. We've been promised that if we can average 50 people at church for six months the area president will build us a chapel. Since the area president happens to be Elder Clarke, who was my mission president, I know him quite well. I send him pictures several times a week of the various church functions, so he can see how badly we need a chapel. In other words, I'm going to pester him until he builds us a church! These are the pictures I sent this week.

English Sacrament Meeting.

Spanish Sacrament Meeting.

Elder's Quorum

Primary taught by one of the Elders

Institute class

Jessica on our way to church to watch conference. We had a little rain that day.

Not a real great turn out for conference.

Meeting with the mission president and priesthood leaders. This is where we meet for church. The road gets a little nasty during the rainey season.