They loaded-up the truck and they moved to Beverly

We were born in the mission on Wednesday and we grew-up and left home on Saturday. This morning we spent some time with the Mehrs (think Mayors) who are the Area Public Relations Missionary couple and live in the Dominican Republic. They taught us about how they can help with the closing ceremonies when we finish a project and they are the ones who will get our pictures in the church news. They have also been staying with President and Sister Graff and so we have had a great time eating out and traveling around with them.

Then it was load up the Toyota truck and head-out for Mandeville. We made a stop in May Pen and replace a computer in the branch clerk's office so President Graff could conduct a video conference this afternoon. He has been speaking with multiple groups of branch leadership throughout the island teaching them about the church employment website that they now have access to. He is asking each branch to have every member who is under-employed or unemployed enter their information on LDSJobs website within the next 60 days. The young elders will be in the clerks office every Thursday from 10-2:00 to open the "LDS Employment Center" to facilitate the computer work. Non-members are also welcome to come to the church and enter their information (ooooh a missionary tie-in). Then those elders not manning the employment center will be visiting with companies to introduce them to the LDS Employment services. Pres. Graff is also arranging with the University of the West Indies to provide sort-term training (think cooking, housekeeping, blue collar work, etc.) He also has three women who are doing Career Training Workshops to instruct on how to interview, write a resume, "me in 30 seconds", etc.

Okay, we met branch president Piper (sp) and installed the computer then on to our new home. We actually found the place on the first try which was quite amazing to us - everything seem to be going so well, then we parked in the carport and I left the keys in the ignition. This is no big deal in most cars, however, ours has an alarm that automatically locks the doors after about 15 seconds! (note to self: get that second key hidden somewhere on the truck). Our landlord bro White offered to call a locksmith but I declined and asked him for a coat hanger and in about 10 minutes had the door open (note to self: hide a coat hanger on the truck also).

The truck was unloaded and then we headed into town to buy the food, again things went very well - we found the town, the store, they took Visa, we found the food, we backed out of the parking stall and met with a woman who was also backing out of a stall right behind us!!!! No big deal, a one inch mark on her bumper and a license plate with a little crease. (note to self: make wife stand outside and direct when backing up - like the elders do).

Driving on the left side of the road is not too difficult other than turning on the windshield wipers when ever I try to turn on the turn signal. The traffic is crazy they drive like maniacs but no one cares or gets upset about it. Their system works quite well - get the maximum number of vehicles over the smallest amount of pavement. Horns are used to alert someone that you are passing, giving them right-of-way, or as a thank you.

Here is a picture of the video conference we attended in the presidents office. He was speaking with about 5 branches at this first conference session. The two APs Elder Tanner and McGraff on left, Pres Graff, Elder and Sister Meher on front with Bro. Osborn (employment specialist, back, Shanna, and two office elders. This mission extends to 5 countries so this video conferencing is also being used to conduct interviews with leadership, branch members, and missionaries.