Helping Hands and a Normal Week

We haven't written a 'week in review' for some time so we thought we would give you a glance at a nearly normal week.

Monday had us traveling to Mandeville (a 3 hr. drive round trip) to buy the remaining steel for the Brokenhurst project.  While we were out this way, we traveled to Santa Cruz (another hour) and visited with the RADA (Rural Agricultural development Agency) parish manager to review the food initiative and training with him.  Each time we meet with the RADA people and explain this project, they tell us that we are taking the right approach.  They are excited and that makes us want to get started right away.  We are going slowly - which isn't much in our nature - but doing so will set a strong foundation for the project.

Tuesday we went to Spanish Town, Food for the Poor, to select library books for the Mount Grace Primary and Jr. High School project.  They let us go into the warehouse and we had full access to about 20 pallets of books in various size boxes and no order, so we dug right in and began opening boxes and selecting books -- these are all donated books from various publishers and schools.  Elder Schaefermeyer was walking on top of pallets of boxes of books, digging deep into boxes, and looking rather like a warehouseman in a white shirt and tie.  We found textbooks from Florida schools and Amercian history books from other schools.  We found novels from various authors and even a case of Dr. Zeuss books.  By the end of the morning, we had 26 boxes of books to take to the school.  We didn't think we could get these in our car so we called our good missionary buddies - the Flakes and Herberts.  They came to help and we pulled a rather good coup.

Our packed car of computers and books delivered to Mt. Grace School, Sav-la-Mar

While working in the warehouse, we have lots of the FFP staff come and talk to us.  We began asking what else they had for schools -- basketballs, volleyballs, and footballs (soccer to you) was one of the choices.  So, we requested 15 of each.  This was done remembering that Sister Herbert had asked us for some balls for some children they had visited last week.  Sister Herbert was so excited to get these balls and we know they have delivered several of them already.  We kept a few to give to kids in our branch and delivered the rest to the school.  You would be surprised at how precious a ball is here and how much fun the kids have playing on dirt fields, no shoes running and stirring up the dust while kicking a ball!  We also threw in a pallet to take to Tracy Meddow so she can build a fruit stand.  It's scary sometimes, we are turning into real Jamaicans.

Wednesday was Elder Flake's birthday so we didn't travel.  We stayed close to home and spent the entire day doing paperwork.  The paperwork for this job is overwhelming.  Our Salvationn Army buddy Derrik called an had the 18 monitors, 3 CPUs, keyboards, mouse, UPS Systems, etc. for the computer lab at Mt. Grace.  So the computer equipment and the book were all loaded into our vehicle which hardly left room for the two of us. In the evening, we went to dinner with all the senior missionaries in Kingston and President and Sister Hendricks.  Since it was his birthday, Elder Flake selected the Rib Kage - but because it was a week day they didn't have any ribs (welcome to Jamaica).  The company was delightful and the dinners we could order were delicious.

Many helping hands to unload the 27 boxes of book, 18 monitors, keyboards, 3 CPUs, UPS,

All the computers, monitors and books were delivered in tact and to the right place.
What is going to be fun is when we see students sit down and use the computers. 

 Thursday - Grandson TAYLOR'S 7TH BIRTHDAY, we had to get deliver all of the supplies in our car - before someone else did for us (No one steals things in Jamaica do they? :)); besides, our car was packed from top to bottom and there was barely enough room for us.  We left early to travel the 4.5 hrs (one way) to Savanna-la-Mar.  Let us say the mileage to Sav is about 110 miles as the crow flies, but 2-lane, 35-45 mph all the way, narrow, pot-holed roads makes for a long drive.  Who's complaining -- we average about 2,000 miles of travel a month.  Anyway, Thursday was 9 hours of travel and 45 minutes of delivery.  As you can see, Elder Schaefermeyer had lots of help.  These kids are always so fun, they are excited to help. 

Friday was a 2-hour meeting with RADA working out the details on a letter-of-agreement for the food initiative.  We are getting so close to starting the training.  In the afternoon, we met with Pastor Jarrett of the Mennonite Church in Spanish Town.  The pastor had sent a letter to Salt Lake and it was scanned at the President's Office (that would be the prophet) and sent to the Caribbean Area Welfare office and then to us.  Pastor Jarrett wanted the Church to purchase a van for their Church; (we don't do vehicles or buildings).  We had a good visit with them and although they recognize a great deal of need in the people in their area, they did not currently have a plan of what they were really trying to achieve so we will probably just supply them with some hygiene kits, clothes, school kits, etc.

Saturday found us in May Pen (about a 1 hour drive each way) to do welfare training for the Mandeville District council and the May Pen Branch council.  We are having the Portmore elders (Elder Luke, Nelson and Ostberg) for dinner on Sunday, so we had to go grocery shopping.  It just takes a long time to get someplace, shop and get home.  We hadn't eaten all day, so I just combined our dinner and lunch together so we could begin our fast.

Sunday:  Church, organ lessons after Church, feeding the elders, and now a few minutes to relate to everyone our week.  There is never a dull moment and rarely time to catch our breath.  However, we wouldn't have it any other way.  Being busy is the fun of what we are doing.  Well, that's a little about our week and it's pretty typical of each week, nothing remarkably difficult, fascinating, or extraordinary, but satisfying and rewarding just the same.