This is what 3 months in Barbados looks like!

 

Coming off a great General Conference we had a great mission devotional this week sharing our favorite talks and inspirations we received.  It was humbling to listen to each of our missionaries, who listened to the very same conference, testify of very different principles and teachings that the Spirit witnessed to them of its truthfulness!  Love these missionaries!

On Thursday, we had our Barbados zone conference.  It was our 2nd one and these are becoming one of our favorite things!  These missionaries truly love each other and the Lord.  What could be more powerful than that?  

Quirky Barbados tip of the week:  when depositing a check at the bank, make sure your 2s have the full curly-que or they might make you come back to deposit again.  Yes, my friends, even if the written out part says it’s a 2 and the clerk admits it’s a 2, one must follow through on the curly-que! 

Doug was finishing up the monthly reports to submit, so there were a lot of late nights at the office this week.  The hurricane that passed by us left a pretty good thunderstorm that brought some gusty winds and flash floods.  Lots of great big palm fronds flying through the air, blown down signs and fences.  This storm was more powerful than the forecasted tropical depression a month ago.  As I watched from the office windows, I just kept hearing in my mind…”Peace, be still!”  

On Saturday, we did a senior missionary outing to the northern tip of the island.  We saw the North Pole.  This is where Santa vacations in the office season .  This side of the island is very different from the southern tip where we live.  We explored a place called Animal Flower Caves.  After exploring, we had lunch at the cafe on the edge of the cliffs.  Had some very tasty breadfruit  tacos. 

Then we headed to one of the last working windmills on the island.  It was a real Don Quixote type mill.  It’s a sugar mill, so it will start producing again in February when the sugar cane crops start being harvested.  

Sister Stoffers & Ellis'

Trivia:  Are these goats  or sheep ?  

These are Bajan black-bellied sheep!  Do you know how to tell the difference?  Goat’s tails go up and sheep tails point down.  Now you know!

While on our outing, we ran into a gentleman who stopped and with a surprised look said, “You’re the oldest missionaries I’ve ever met!”  Of course, we start to laugh.  He’s like, “you’re Mormon right? I recognize the black name tags.”  What he meant was that his experience had only been with the young missionaries.  We got a good laugh out of that!  We really enjoy spending time with those we serve with!

Cherry Tree Reserve Hill 
overlooking the Atlantic Ocean

Last week one of our APs ended up in urgent care (use that term loosely here) after an unfortunate accident with an industrial fan in a restaurant on Grenada.  He ended up with 4 stitches, because there was very little tissue left to stitch to for the rest of his finger.  He was discharged with antibiotics and instructions to get stitches removed in 8 days and daily dressing changes.  Once he got back to Barbados, I got to monitor it.  Poor guy….it was rough!  He was a very good patient though!  We were able to take the stitches out & it’s healing  nicely!  The stitches were like a fishing line!  Whether he keeps his nail or not, remains to be seen!  this Elder!  He’s become a favorite for Doug & I, along with his companion.  We will miss them when they return home, but hope they will visit us when we return!

Ventured out on my first driving lesson on the left side of the road.  Still a bit nervous because roads are narrow with lots of potholes.  I scared Doug a few times with how close to the curb I could actually get, but I didn’t hit anything!  Not sure I’m ready to be a designated driver, but I conquered a fear today!