One-third of the Way Home!

Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains,
Made rich by the sunshine, and lush by the rains.
Set gem-like and fair, between mountains and sea,
Your children salute you, dear land of the free.

~ Guyana's Natl. Anthem (first verse)

Though it is almost impossible for us to believe, today - June 27, 2011 - represents the six month mark since we entered the MTC in Provo on December 27. The time is absolutely rushing by because every minute of every day is full as we work to develop the Employment Resource Services Center in Georgetown, sign up "worthy, ambitious and needy" young people for PEF loans . . . and manage the day-to-day work of the mission office.

It has been a wonderful adventure so far filled with exciting travels, amazing friendships with wonderful people, memorable missionary experiences and life-changing opportunities to grow in the gospel.

The Scariest Thing in Guyana

There are some pretty scary things in Guyana, but what scares Trekker, our Traveling Tiger the most is not the large tree frog on the front wall of our house (although his red eyes looked a little menacing). It is not the 8-foot boa constrictor we nearly ran over this morning – in the middle of town - on our way to the Church (which is the reason we don’t go for evening walks since these very large snakes are nocturnal [who knew?] and come out at night looking for dinner).

Nope, Trekker has decided the scariest things in all of Guyana are the millions of mini-buses running around, lickity-split, carrying up to 20 total strangers in a 12-passenger van! The mini-buses go where ever they want to go, at whatever speed they want to travel, and stop “on a dime” in the middle of the road if they see someone who might want a ride waving their Guyana dollars in an effort to be picked up!

Everyday we take our life in our hands when we start the engine. Trekker is so nervous in the car, he puts his head down and closes his eyes until we are safely to our destination. Yikes!

Trekker Was Our Co-Pilot

Today Trekker enjoyed his first ever play day since we arrived in Guyana seven weeks ago. Our “mystery trip” was an airplane ride to Kaieteur Falls (pronounced Ki-chur) with President and Sister Ricks, newly released Elder Beeson and his parents from Sammamish, Washington and an unknown couple from North Carolina.

At the end of a 55-minute flight – with our Traveling Tiger in the co-pilot’s seat - we circled the highest single-drop waterfall in the world (a sheer drop of 741 feet) considered to be the “crown jewel” of Guyana’s interior (aka “the bush”) before Trekker helped land our little puddle jumper.

After Trekker posed for pictures, we walked a mile or so to the falls through the unique landscapes and forest which make up the 224-square mile Kaieteur National Park, home to a host of rare and endangered species – including the Golden Frog (about the size of a quarter from “stem to stern”).

Only a few more than 2000 people a year visit Kaieteur Falls which makes Trekker feel rather special . . . and only a handful of Guyanese have actually ever been there, likely because of the cost of airfare ($37000 GYD).

The weather was unsettled – pouring down rain in the early morning hours of our day and rainy and foggy all the way to the falls – but as we approached this thundering spectacle, the overhanging umbrella of wispy clouds blew away briefly and we were able to snap pictures to our hearts content.

Trekker got back to the plane soggy and wet, but happy for the experience of flying to these beautiful golden falls. We didn't tell him, but we were thankful his adventure didn't also include finding his Leopard cousin for whom he searched through the whole jungle trek calling "here, kitty kitty." After being there, he is looking forward to more adventures in the bush, which covers 90% of Guyana’s land mass and which our Traveling Tiger thought looks like millions of square miles of broccoli from the air.

Stacy is Mrs. Welch (Again!)

Yep, its official! Stacy and Rick tied the marital knot again on Saturday, June 4 in Pine Valley with Kaytee, Michael and Tara, Kris and Kelly all there to celebrate the happy occasion . . . without us! We always knew they would get back together someday because he was the "one that got away" . . . the one she always referred to as her "best friend" and the one she missed for many years until they found each other again in the big world. We are delighted to welcome Rick back into our family . . . and we know full well why we are in Guyana and what a difference we are making in the lives of young people throughout the country, but it is still hard to miss these important family events. Thanks to Michael for sharing his video and photographs and we wish the newlyweds a happily ever after.

"We Prayed Them Here"

This weekend, 24 students attended the "first ever" Planning for Success workshop where they worked to create their individual Work Plans, Education Plans, Finance Plans, a "Me in 30 Seconds" statement, and develop an effective resume, all designed to help them make a decision as to whether they want - or need - a PEF loan. Not all will decide to sign up - and that's OK, because in the words of a prophet, "the best PEF loan is no loan at all" - but all of these amazing young people who go on and get a good education will one day find themselves among the leaders of this country and the Church.

"We prayed them here," said Brother Griffith (First Counselor in the Georgetown Branch Presidency) as he bore his testimony on Fast Sunday which included expressing his gratitude "for what Elder and Sister Sappington are doing for our kids."

It is an incredible experience to work with a high energy and well-prepared Country Committee, to be here for the beginning of what will be a wonderful future for Guyana's young people . . . and to be the answer to their prayers!

June 1 . . . the Beginning of Guyana's Future!

These faces of Guyana’s future (taken by Elder Sappington at a recent YSA activity in which we spoke on PEF) are among the many worthy and ambitious young church members (ages 16-30) about to sign the “new and improved” Perpetual Education Fund application which goes on-line on June 1.

PEF - a “bold initiative” which this year celebrates a decade of helping more than 50,000 young men and women in developing areas around the world - currently has nearly 750 students in schools throughout the Caribbean, including 17 in Trinidad . . . but only 1 in Guyana!!!

The Guyana Country Committee, on which we serve as the ERS Specialists, is committed to moving PEF forward in a country desperately in need of educated workers in the fields of accounting, medicine, technology, education, computers and in management and administration in all these fields.

We are keenly aware the Lord is mindful of Guyana’s needs and is poised and ready to fulfill President Gordon B. Hinckley's words when he who prophesied in 2001, PEF - a modern miracle and a catalyst for growth in the Church - will make it possible for these people to:

“. . . become leaders in this great work in their native lands”
“. . . pay their tithes and offerings which will make it possible for the Church to expand its work across the world”
“. . . step out of the cycle of poverty they and generations before them have known”

We are so pleased to be part of the beginning of this great work in this wonderful country.