Letter from
Jamaica
Well this
week we had an unwelcome April fool’s joke…our internet stopped working and we
were left without internet for two days.
After discovering that it was our wireless internet box that died we
went and purchased another one; so we are up and running again. It only took two days to get this figured out
and now most of everything back to normal. Our Magic Jack phone is still not
working and neither is the printer but we will continue to work until we get
those back up and running as soon as we can.
We also had
two wheelchairs to deliver this past week. The picture below is of the street
we delivered the second one too. It
looks pretty good but the truck was just about too wide to fit. It was about
5:30 pm and the people usually start coming out to visit with their neighbors
about this time of evening. The heat of
the day starts to dissipate and people get to visiting with each other. This
was a pretty friendly street and everyone smiled or waved to us as we went
by. We were asking where the lady lived
we needed to deliver the wheelchair to but no one knew who she was. Then Tracy
(our wheelchair monitor) started asking for the lady who walks with a walker
and really struggles trying to get around. The people said “oh you mean ‘mum!’”
It turns out that she has a lot of people who just call her ‘mum’ as she helps
those she can around the neighborhood. She is a nice lady who is helping to
take care of her daughters, granddaughters, and great grandchildren too. She
was cooking Chicken Foot Soup in her little outside kitchen hut and it sure
smelled good. She lives in Portmore.
We also met
with the Director of the FISH Foundation about partnering with them for dental
equipment and help with our prospective Jamaican missionaries. This is a great foundation that serves the
poor and needy here in Kingston.
We met with
Pres. Blake at the Self Reliance Center and decided to make some combined trips
this next week to see if we can help each other do our respective work. Much of
what we do and what they need can be done in a cooperative effort.
Also this
week we headed up to Port Antonio to meet with the Branch President up there to
discuss starting a Food Project there.
Conference
weekend was wonderful! We enjoyed watching it on the internet. We were able to
see all of the sessions. We had the Mortensen’s and the Senior Sisters here and
shared lunch and desserts…always good times.
Well another
week has come and gone and we have just completed 18 month of our mission. Time is starting to wind down so quickly now
that it is scary to think of all we want to get done before we are called to
return home. Dad’s eyes are holding up for us and we have been told by Pres.
Brown to not drive after dark so we are trying to be obedient. It is hard when there is so much to do and we
have to depend on the goodwill of other to assist us if we need to be out after
dark. We have been blessed to be
surrounded by such good people here in Jamaica who are willing to give us a
lift to meetings or appointment that will keep us out after dark. The Lord blesses us so much. There is no way
we can ever repay him but to be diligent and obedient to his commandments. We love the work. We love the Lord. We love
the people of Jamaica. We love our families who make our mission possible.
Without all of your love and support we would be lost. Thank you for all you do
for us and for the Lord…Keep the Faith and Hold to the Rod!
Love
Mom and Dad
Grandma and
Grandpa Murdock
E/ S Murdock