Twice Removed from Barack!!!

The principle of “six degrees of separation” refers to the idea that everyone is approximately six steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person on Earth.  If that is the case, I am now just TWO steps away from Barack Obama!!!

When the plight of the desert tortoise was a huge issue in Washington County a number of years ago, I was hired to serve as the administrative assistant to Steve Snow, then-chairman of the much-maligned Washington County Habitat Conservation Planning Committee before he was called to the Church's First Quorum of Seventy.  In April 2012 General Conference, he was given additional responsibility when he was sustained as the Church Historian.

When we were in Guyana, I found a wonderful handwritten (by several missionary couples) history of the Church in "the land of many waters" (time period of 1988 to 1993) in a dresser drawer.  Knowing Steve is now the Church Historian, I brought this historical treasure home with me, intent on delivering it to him at his office in Salt Lake City, but I can’t travel out of the county until early September because of my eye.  As luck would have it, I ran into Elder Snow at Target here in St. George (he’s one of our homeboys) where I told him about my find.  He was excited and offered to stop by the house and pick it up before he and his wife returned to Salt Lake City.  In our family room, we visited briefly about his new assignment and how they were enjoying life in the big city.  That was last week!

Today there was a story on the KSL-TV website indicating "Elder Steven Snow of the First Quorum of the Seventy was appointed to be a member of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  According to the White House, the advisory council "brings together leaders and experts in fields related to the work of faith-based and neighborhood organizations in order to make recommendations to government on how to improve partnerships."

So, if the theory of 6 degrees of separation is valid, Barack and I now have a friend-in-common.  Dang, it really is a small world!!!

Another Sappington Family Reunion

Charlene was here to welcome us home at the end of June, then went home to Fresno and came back in mid-July with Tiffany, Bob, their 3 boys (Ben, Phillip and Josh), and Bob's parents.  Actually, they had a timeshare in Las Vegas so just drove up for the day.  We visited Brigham Young and Jacob Hamblin's homes and enjoyed a bar-be-que chicken dinner (with Dutch oven potatoes).  Stacy and Rick came with their girls (Kendi, Danielle, Taisley and Rilee).  It was the first time Charlene's family had met Rick.  He and Bob - both famous for their great sense-of-humor, particularly relating to the "challenge" of being married to Sappington women - hit it off like long lost brothers!  It was a fun day filled with lots of "remember when" stories, good food and laughter!

Poor Beechers

Elder Bob and Sister Katie Beecher, our replacements in Guyana, drove from their home in Lehi this weekend to spend two days picking our brains so they could learn what we know about PEF, ERS and everything else related to Guyana.  Happy for the chance to share our experiences, we gushed on and on from morning to night until we were quite certain they could take no more, but they seemed excited to hear everything we could tell them.  In the end their eyes were spinning and they had writers cramp from the pages and pages of notes taken . . . but, what a lovely couple!  We are certain they have been called by a loving Heavenly Father and a prophet of God to serve those we love in Guyana.  They left in the late afternoon on Saturday . . . with corks in their ears so the details of our service in “the land of many waters” wouldn’t run out and down onto their shoulders. 

They enter the MTC on September 3 and expect to be in Guyana on or about September 16.  We wish we could go along!!!

Partying On!

On Tuesday, July 4 the celebration of America's 236th birthday at St. George City Park was crowded, the wait was long, but well worth it when the City of St. George provided the biggest and best fireworks show ever!!!  Adyn enjoyed it all, but Skylar wasn't so sure!!!

And just when we thought there was no more fun to be had during our very busy family reunion week . . . on Friday, July 7 we celebrated Adyn's 4th birthday at the Hidden Valley Park and Splash Pad.  Another HOT day in Dixie, but the cold water falls made it bearable . . . and fun for everyone - even the grown ups.

Family Reunion

We flew home from Guyana on June 11 because of my eye problem, but June 28 was the original date for our homecoming so our kids and grandkids had all scheduled a trip to St. George to welcome us back after 18 months.   For the first time in many years, almost every member of the family came . . . five of our six children (David was unable to get away from work), both daughters-in-law, all of our 13 grandchildren, my brother Larry from Seattle, and my sister-in-law from Fresno.  Even the Harris’ with whom we served in Guyana came down from Layton.  Needless to say, late June in St. George was uncomfortably HOT for most family members (up to 106 on one day) and often we had total chaos, but we had a great time catching up on everyone’s news, playing Uno and Skipbo, playing in the water and taking lots of pictures.   The food was delicious and plentiful . . . it was a great weekend!

Our Replacements

If "three is the charm" . . . then five must be "the choice!" because there have been five couples who were supposedly coming to Guyana to take over our PEF, ERS and YSA responsibilities.

The first couple was from Missouri.  They were willing to come to Guyana, they said, on the condition there would be no mosquitos, no humidity, no crime in the country and no planes crashing while they were here!

 

The second couple had already served a mission in Guyana and really, really wanted to come back, but their call to a second mission in "the land of many waters" didn't happen.

The third couple was from our very own Bloomington 7th Ward.  The Hooks had previously served two back-to-back PEF missions in South Africa, so we all thought they were perfect for Guyana.  Apparently the brethren in Salt Lake City thought they were needed elsewhere.  Their call?  Member support missionaries in Independence, Missouri!  Go figure.

The 4th couple , Elder Melvin and Sister Carol Beutler - who we have been told are coming to replace us in Guyana - accepted the calling and are expected to arrive on June 23 from Weston, Idaho (population 450)!  Unfortunately for them, they were required to bypass the MTC in order to have five days with us so we can teach them all we know before we head home.  But, we didn't count on having to go home 3 weeks early because I was diagnosed with a macular hole in my right eye.

Then we heard from Elder Bob and Sister Katie Beecher from Lehi, Utah who say THEY are our replacements.  According to this "over-the-top-eager" couple, their call letter from President Monson says they are Guyana PEF!  We invited them to come to St. George so we could train them . . . they are planning to be here on July 20-21. 

"Hooray," we thought . . . then people in the DR and in the WIM office in Trinidad began asking the same question:  "who are the Beechers and who told them they were going to Guyana?"  Some investigation on my end found that the Beutlers "official" call is to be "member and leader support missionaries" . . . and the Beechers are, in fact, our replacements.

The Beutlers are doing their best to "hold the wheels on the wagon" until mid-September when the Beechers arrive . . . and there is still some question as to how the multi-tasks in Guyana (mission office, PEF, ERS, YSA, distribution center orders, immigration, transfers, etc.) will be divided between these two couples, but at least we are now getting some answers (after FIVE false starts)!

My Eye, Oh My

 The surprise need to come home from Guyana three weeks early was due to the diagnosis of a “full thick macular hole” in my right eye requiring vitrectomy (surgery to remove some or all of the vitreous humor), a membrane peel (removal of clouded vitreous gel and scar tissue off the light sensitive lining of the retina) and the injection of some kind of gas into my eye to stabilize the repair until it is fully healed.  Unfortunately, this treatment could not be done in Guyana. 

Many people have asked whether the time I spend on the computer contributed to my eye problem.  The cause of macular holes is anyone’s guess – although it generally occurs among those over the age of 40 or anyone who has sustained a head or eye injury.  In my case, it could be either!  I am well over 40 but a couple of months ago in Guyana I did a “face plant” in the middle of the street outside of Giftland, my favorite shopping spot in downtown Georgetown.  Then just a few weeks ago I slipped again on a slimy Guyanese fruit while hanging clothes in the back yard, coming down hard on my right knee.  The doctor says the hole was “substantially bigger" than he first thought and “probably occurred much earlier” than I thought, but he assures me there is no connection between a macular hole (which can be repaired) and macular degeneration (which cannot and usually results in blindness).  The surgery was painless but the recovery required looking down at my feet for a week which was quite literally, “a pain in the neck.”  Oh, and I am grounded from any kind of heavy lifting or travel outside of Washington County until the end of August – due to the possibility of blindness caused by “a change in atmospheric pressure.”

Thanks for all your prayers on my behalf.  They really helped. 

Who Knew?

If anyone had told me 18 months ago, leaving Guyana would be every bit as difficult as leaving St. George, I would have, most certainly, argued the point!  Yes, we are anxious and excited to see our kids and grandkids again, but the idea of getting on a plane on Monday, June 11 and leaving behind those we have come to love to the depths of our soul, was extremely difficult.  We pray each day we have made a difference in some small way in their lives by helping them identify skills, find jobs, get into school and/or enjoy wholesome social activities together.  But in addition to improving their lives, our lives are also changed forever as our family circle has been enlarged to include “my other kids” Christopher, Navin, Marcia and Skippy, Temica, Marissa and Alexis, Leon, Yvonne, Nicardo, Jamaal, Simeon and Selwin.  And, oh, how we will miss the Treseders, Summers, Cooks, Benns and our wonderful, faithful church members in Georgetown, Berbice and Linden.   

When we queried our young mission president – who goes home with his beautiful family to Guadeloupe at the end of the month – as to whether we have made a difference, he reminded  us, “we do missionary work because we want to be like Christ.  You are angels sent by the Lord . . . and, no effort is wasted.”  Who knew our purpose in being here was also because our Savior and Redeemer had people He wanted us to meet, help and love His children in Guyana forever? 

Of course, we look forward to being with our family and renewing our friendships back home, but every day for the rest of our lives, our thoughts, prayers and a large piece of our hearts will be in Guyana . . . and from now on, when anyone asks me how many kids I have, I am going to say 41 . . . the six I gave birth to and 35 beautiful Guyanese kids!!!

Things I Will Miss About Life in the WIM

In the 18-months we've spent in the West Indies Mission, we missed many things about our comfortable southern Utah home and our wonderful community. Besides my kids and grandkids, I particularly missed my nail lady, jewelry, a good haircut, a king-sized bed with big, fluffy pillows; a garbage disposal and a clothes dryer, Winger’s, and working in my backyard garden. My companion missed going to the movies on Friday nights, golfing with his friends, un-structured “downtime,” a good steak, real milk and “dry heat” . . . and we both missed the red hills of Dixie.

Now as we prepare to return home, here is my list of things I WILL NOT MISS about the West Indies Mission:

1. Our 24/7 companionship
2. Mosquito netting, mosquito spray . . . and MOSQUITOS!!!
3. The heat and humidity of life on the Equator!
4. Bugs in everything, no matter how tightly you think you’ve sealed the container
5. Super-sized cockroaches, centipedes and snakes (only saw a few, but, still . . .)
6. Horns honking a nanosecond after the light turns green
7. Ridiculously overloaded mini-buses and taxis zipping erratically through traffic
8. “Bad hair days” because of humidity, do-it-yourself haircuts and beauticians who don’t know what to do with my "head from hell!"
9. My very limited missionary wardrobe
10. Standing in line
11. Driving on the left side of the road
12. Dogs barking incessantly . . . especially at night
13. Angry immigration officers
14. Garbage on every street corner
15. Meetings / events which routinely start an hour late!
16. People who set appointments then show up unapologetically an hour late or call 5 minutes before the appointed time to say they can't make it . . . or simply don't show up at all!

On the other hand, there are many things I will miss with a heart-wrenching ache about
the West Indies Mission

1. Chicken and jalapeño panini sandwiches from Mario’s
2. Berbice rice
3. My "Kitty"
4. Hugs and kisses from sisters in every branch
5. The young missionaries and the amazing senior couples with whom we have served.
6. My wonderful Guyanese brothers and sisters
7. Our YSA’s
8. Personal growth from the experience of being in the minority
9. Helping my Heavenly Father build His kingdom in Guyana

Lessons Learned in the West Indies Mission

In the 18 months we have served in Trinidad / Guyana, here are some of the things we have learned:

1. Black truly is beautiful.
2. Being in the minority is a great learning experience.
3. Skin color is not a determining factor for being an outstanding teacher, having dynamic leadership skills or bearing a strong testimony of Jesus Christ.
4. There is a deeper meaning to sacred hymns sung a cappella (on the count of “tree” and wildly off key) or to the accompaniment of a “boom box” and led by an inexperienced 14-year-old chorister – only months in the church.
5. Steel drums make beautiful music.
6. Fresh Guyanese pineapple must be the forbidden fruit which tempted Adam and Eve because it is so sinfully good!
7. Southern Utah does not have really BIG cockroaches!
8. The Church MUST be true to survive the inefficiency and lack of skills of big-hearted volunteer missionaries called to run a mission office.
9. Shark is tasty … especially with “bake” and lots of pepper sauce.
10. Skype is almost as good as “being there.”
11. Not living near a temple leaves me with a “yearning for home.”
12. There’s nothing to watch on TV, but it comes on two / three hours later!
13. The language of the Caribbean is English . . . I think!
14. I still have lessons to learn . . .