Missions are about friendships

Today is "black" Thursday here in Jamaica, well at least for some of us, because Elder and Sister Cheesman left for home.  They had served 18 faithful months in the mission office.  They were creative, fun, efficient, fun, and did we mention had become our very good friends these last 8 1/2  months and they were fun.  We were blessed to have them share our life and work with us during this time.  Cheesmans we love you; we love your testimonies; we wish you the best!  We miss you already.

Sister Gail Cheesman leaving the apartment for the last time.

Shonete Grant of Clarendon Home for the Disabled.

Since companionships are together 24/7 its hard to come home and talk about the events of the day, so we would share our adventures with the Cheesmans.  They claimed their days were pretty routine in the office and so always seemed interested in what we were doing.  When we had tales to tell, we could come back and tell them to our friends.  If they were still here we would tell them about the lizard running through our car today that caused us both to scream like little girls.  They would laugh and Ross would have thrown his head back and say, "Oh, - My,  -Gosh!" 

We would tell them about our plan today to go to Spanish Town, give some hygiene kits to the Clarendon Home for the Disabled, visit Food for the Poor (FFP) and measure wheelchair seats to make a pattern for getting seat cushions made and then be home by noon.  They would be excited to know that our order of ten shipping containers has started to arrive at Food for the Poor and be amazed at the many 100 lb bundles of clothing and the many other items the church is providing to the people of Jamaica.  They would be excited to know that we saw President Smith waiting to pick up two new commercial sewing machines for two sisters in his branch who will be sewing our wheelchair cushions. When we explained that FFP  had an order of supplies for President Blake in Sav-La-Mar that we had to haul to the Spanish Town Building for storage they would understand why we look so sweaty and why our half day job turned into an all day affair that included a few service hours from Elder Peterson and Elder Powell the Zone Leaders in Spanish Town.  Which of course included lunch at Pizza Hut.
These are the things we would tell the Cheesmans, and even though we are always happy to share them with our blog readers and family, we want the Cheesmans' to know that we loved to have their listening ear and their ready smile to keep us encouraged to pursue another day.

Some of the 100 pound bales of clothing that just arrived from SLC

There is a special grandmother in Morgan that will enjoy these pictures of Elder Peterson.  He is a great missionary.



Elder Peterson and Elder Powell - (Elder Peterson is the shorter one)

Now a report on our projects -- the Area Presidency meets on Wednesday to approve projects.  Well, yesterday was Wednesday.  Jamaica had a great day -- Approved were projects for Garland Hall Children's Home in Montego Bay; Brokenhurst Community Center in Mandeville; and YES - the two district Food Initiatives!!!  We are now just one step away from a very large project that we are both excited and scared about.  This is a major initiative and will be the first one under the new guidelines.  Our partner is the Church membership and it will provide chicken, goats, pigs, gardens, and home food storage projects across the two districts.

Yesterday, November 17, was also another big day.  My father turned 80 years old.  Happy Birthday Dad.

A Day in the Life of Our Mission

We haven't done a day in the life for a while now, but today was a day worth noting.  This day was planned yesterday when we received a phone call that a sister from Linstead was in the hospital at Spanish Town and needed a wheelchair.  Okay, time to put our wheelchair assessment procedures into place.  Clearing the delivery of a wheelchair with Food for the Poor, we arranged to pick up Tracy Meddow, our wheelchair monitor and certified wheelchair fitter, to devote her day to assessing Beryl Barrett, our patient.  More about Tracy later, and enough of the background that leads to today, November 11, 2010.

8:30 a.m.:  We leave home to drive to Yallahs, 45 minute drive east of Kingston, to pick up Tracy.

Tracy and Beryl at the hospital.

9:30 a.m.:  Leave Yallahs for Spanish Town -- this is 45 minutes back to Kingston and 35 minutes further west to Spanish Town.  On this drive, we get a call from Susan Moore, Medical Director of Food for the Poor.  She told us that she had received a call from a doctor concerning Vernal McLeggin.  Vernal was measured for a wheelchair at our training, but we couldn't give him the chair because he had a pressure sore.  The doctor said that He was working with Vernal to heal his sores but that the chair Vernal currently had was causing the sores and so he was requesting that Vernal receive the new chair that would fit him properly so he could heal.  Okay we said, not a problem (of course we actually said, "no problem mon").  "Where does he live Susan?"  She thought it was MayPen, about an hour drive west of where we were.  "Can't help him today".
 
11:30 a.m.:  Arrive at Spanish Town Hospital and visit with Beryl.  She is a member with a strong testimony and told us about her conversion -- basically she saw the missionaries walking the streets of Bog Walk and asked them "Whamefo?"  Interpreted means what are you doing here?  They told her and she joined and is one of the few members who is endowed.  Right now, she suffers from endometrial cancer and her entire lower body is swollen, thus the need for a wheelchair.  Tracy proceeds to measure her so we can get the proper size.  The hospital bed she is sitting on isn't ideal to properly measure to determine the size of chair because it's soft and Tracy determines that a 20" wheelchair is needed-- that's a large one.

12:30 p.m.:  Pick up wheelchair from Food for the Poor.  As we drive to the back to pick up the chair, we see a man in a wheelchair who is getting a rough rider chair and as we stop to talk to him we find it is Vernal McLeggin, who actually lives in Spanish Town just 10 minutes from FFP.  He was on his way home with his new wheelchair; he was going to wheel it home from his wheelchair.  So we loaded him and his two chairs and drive him home.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.  We were there at the right time in the right place.  Vernal told us that when he sat in the Rough Rider wheelchair, he was so excited and so at home.  He was very disappointed that he couldn't take it home last week.  His friend here told us that this chair was all he has been talking about.  Today, he has his chair and he is thrilled!  "It is the first time I have sat in a chair and felt at home and comfortable in."

Vernal and his new rough rider.  This is in front of his home. He runs the internet cafe shown just behind him.

Lunch at Angel's Pizza Hut and then to Spanish Town Chapel to pick up some hygiene kits to surprise the staff at Spanish Town Hospital. 

2:00 p.m.:  We arrive at the chapel.  Elder and Sister Herbert and the full-time elders are there.  We visit and load the car --oh, just for good measure we throw in 3 boxes of newborn kits.  Now, back to the hospital to deliver the wheelchair.  We arrive, load the hygiene kits into the wheelchair (hey, we don't want to strain our backs) and push them to the ward.  The nurse of the ward sees us and smiles from ear to ear -- the social worker sees us and says are you the Humanitarian Missionaries?  We have been calling the Preeces for months now.  We have 4 babies on the floor and need diapers.  Do you have any?  Well, let's see, we have those 3 boxes of newborn kits in the car and a few other items.  Go figure -- were we in the right frame of mind or what?  Tracy sits Beryl in the wheelchair and you know what, the chair was too big -- she really needed an 18".  Okay, now what.  As Tracy and I are deciding what to do, Beryl asks me where Elder was; I say he will be here shortly (he was down getting newborn kits).  Then she asks if he would give her a blessing.  Remember the Herberts and full-time missionaries?  Yup, we call them and they tell us they will go get some oil and be there in 15 minutes.  We can't wait until they get here because we have to go back to FFP and get an 18" wheelchair before their warehouse closes

The new wheelchair.

3:30 p.m.:  We arrive back at Food for the Poor, they help us exchange the wheelchair.  We go back to the hospital.  Fit the chair; leave Spanish Town.  The Herberts have just left, the blessing went well.  It all just works out and you know why, because the Lord is in charge and is concerned about each of us individually.

We now drive back to Yallahs, drop off Tracy and then home to Kingston.  Arrive home around 7:00 p.m.

About Tracy.  You may remember the plane crash in Jamaica in December of last year.  She was the missionary returning from Atlanta, Georgia who was on the flight. You may have read her story in the Church News. We heard all the details; learned a lot of her life; saw her magnificent testimony.  That was the best part of the day.  There are days when you are around special people that just make the day a marvelous experience.  Today was such a day.

The best comment of the day was Theron on the way home -- "I can't wait to get back to Utah so I can drive on roads that aren't an obstacle course."  He spends all day looking at the road, dodging potholes dodging cars, and dodging people walking on the road.  It is an obstacle course.  I don't mind; I'm in the passenger seat.

Just a normal traffic day.  Anything goes.

End of the Hurricane Season

After the two weeks of wheelchair training, we were both in somewhat "funky" moods -- well, let's just say we were tired and lazy.  The good news is that it is over - the other good new is that hurricane season is over but the bad news is - there is a hurricane on its way!  So early Sunday morning, President Hendricks directed us to call the branch presidents and have them announce over the pulpit to have members make appropriate preparations for Hurricane Tomas.  Monday, we arranged for a video call between Bennie Lilly, the Area Welfare Manager who lives in the Dominican Republic, us, and President Hendricks.  Tuesday morning found us in the call going over emergency procedures.  We tested the satellite phone, bought a couple of loaves of bread checked our generator, and watched and waited.

The path of Hurricane Tomas

Knowing there wasn't much for us to do; who can re-direct a hurricane. We spent Wednesday and Thursday finishing writing the food initiative project descriptions.  On Friday, we met with President Hendricks and received his official approval of the project.  We are now waiting for Cullimores to talk with Salt Lake to get their unofficial approval before we officially submit it to the area presidency for their official approval before they send it to salt Lake for their official approval.  We officially guarantee you haven't heard the last of this project!  Our final projection is to help over 340 families both LDS and non-LDS, 3 children homes, a reintegration agency, a Mustard Seed Community, and a homeless shelter agency.

Tomas took its time and Thursday night it rained.  Well, let's just say it rained as it normally does, nothing spectacular.  Friday was rainy with breaks of sun.  Saturday was windy (but not as bad as the Uintah Basin) with clear skies.  If this is what a hurricane is like, we'll definitely take it over a tropical depression.  Neala and Elynn's Nicole was only a tropical storm but had 100 times the power of Tomas the Hurricane.  We were prepared (and that's a good thing) but the preparation wasn't worth the outcome.  Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti who continues to go through one devastation after another.  We have a container of emergency supplies and equipment on its way from headquarters but on Friday we were asked if it would be alright to divert it to St. Lucia and we were glad it was loaded and already being shipped.  May they use the supplies to help them clean up and recover.  We are ever thankful that Tomas missed us.  The ground in the mountains is still saturated but our damage is minimal.

The new mission office on 4 Garelli, Kingston 4

The mission office after hurricane Tomas (actually its just the move to a new office)

The Mission Office was moved this week.  The new building will be much nicer, the space use is different but everyone will adapt, and maybe next week they will have the phones working.  This was more tragic than Tomas.  It takes a lot to move an office and set up the new one.  By Friday, they could all sit at a desk and do a little work.  Yup, that's what missions are about; adapting to what needs to be done when it needs to be done.  Thanks for all your prayers about our safety during the non-hurricane.  We declare the 2010 hurricane/tropical storm season officially over.

Someone needs to tell him Hurricane Tomas is over.  He wears everything he owns.

 

"Mormons Hand Out Rough Riders"

That was the title of the Gleaner newspaper article about our wheelchair training and donation.  Although the name Rough Rider is appropriate for the type of chair we are providing, the brand is also used on a small rectangular box kept behind the counter at the pharmacies here in Jamaica -  yep, condoms, and thus the heading will probably improve the readership more than a mundane moniker  such as "LDS Roll Out New Chair".

Getting the chairs ready.  Were we grateful for an air compressor.  This is a Rough Rider chair.

Steve Spencer, PT, teaching the 1st class.

It was April when we started working on the wheelchair project for Jamaica.  We had to convince our partner, Food for the Poor (that didn't take much effort) to participate in the training program which the Church requires for wheelchair distribution.  Once it's decided to do the project, we write the project, get it approved, order the chairs, put all the details together to actually make it happen.  We weren't the only ones working on this, our good friends Kelvyn and Kay Cullimore, the specialists from Salt Lake guided us through the whole thing.  We are grateful for mentors.  The program is taught by physical therapists the Church selects who travel here and conduct 2-days of training and one-day of actually applying what is learned by fitting people for wheelchairs.  Fitting people for a wheelchair you ask?  What's that all about?  It's about preventing life threatening pressure sores and other health risks.  It's about selecting the right type and size of chair to help the person be comfortable and confident, and teaching them how to properly use them and care for them.  We  arranged for about 30 people to come to the training; one-half came Mon, Tues, Wed and one-half came Thurs, Fri, Sat.  The people who were trained fitted 24 people with new wheelchairs on Wednesday and 28 wheelchairs on Saturday.  Those were the paydays for us!  What a wonderful experience.

This is how you use the wrench we gave each student.  At first, she didn't want to be there.

Assessing the patient is critical to understanding the person.

We had great students from 14 different agencies that deal with people with disabilities.  There was one nurse who came grudgingly (no one trained at your facility means no wheelchairs for your facility, so she came).  About one hour into the training, she was one of our best students and could not tell us enough how much she was learning.  That happened over and over with several professionals who attended.  This is a great program and our partner is now distributing wheelchairs to those agencies who have certified fitters. 

Just a few of the stories:
This young man came in with no wheelchair.  He had been shot several months earlier and was now paraplegic.  I watched the fitting and he received one of the "Rough Riders" -- kind of a sports car model wheelchair.  I saw him outside using the chair and saw a young woman watching.  I asked her if she knew him and she told me she was his girlfriend.  The conversation was, 'He looks like he can really use that chair,'  she said, 'It's been a long time since I have seen him smile like that.'  The people in the yellow shirts are the class participants.  Garfield (on the right) uses a wheelchair all the time.  He even received a new one after the training -- fitted just for him.

He is a gunshot victim.

Then, there's the mother who has one arm, no legs, and her chair was literally falling apart.  Look at how her life will be changed.

Nothing stops some people from life.

This man has no legs and he juggles on the street as a way to make some cash.  His old chair had high arms and it was difficult for him to be flexible and juggle.  The streamlined chair with low arms gives him lots of mobility.  I asked if he wanted to have the foot rest removed and he immediately told me, no ma'm, that's for my bag of juggling equipment.

The foot rest will be used for his bags!

The children are extremely sweet.  I could not imagine living in a wheelchair my whole life.  This little gal could not stop smiling.  She came in, in a very small wheelchair.  She has to wheel herself to school over dirt roads.  Wow, what a joy it will be to use this new chair.

On Saturday, October 30, I turned 60 years old.  What a way to spend my birthday -- seeing these people smile, change their lives, and find joy in this program.  These few chairs are only the tip of the iceberg, we had 500 chairs shipped.  The worth of one soul is great in the eyes of the Lord.  Thanks to all who donate to this program.  We'll see whether the headline proves to be an attention getter or not.

Two Rough Riders growing old together.

Update

We've written about a lot of the things that have happened and are happening that i think I will write about the outcome and results.

Remember the big rain storm?  It's gone! . . . . (however we now have new rain).  I always knew that the rain was needed by the plants so that they could grow.  What I didn't realize is that the pot holes also use the rain to grow.  Only they grown much faster than the flowers and trees.  There are a lot of roads that are washed out and the pot holes are flourishing.  Elder and Sister Flake had their car's front tire fall in a pot hole from which they had to have their car extracted.  Speaking of extracted, remember the boat that was smashed on the beach in Negril during the storm?  Here is a picture of it nearing completing of its restoration and a picture of the computer lab at Godfrey Stewart High that we were finally able to finish now that the storm is over and school is back in session.

Repaired catamaran on Coco LaPalm beach in Negril



Godfrey Stewart High School reading lab installation


The Dominican Republic finally got the new cars purchased so our pickup truck has been sold to President Durrant in Santa Cruz and we now are driving the mission president's Toyota Fortuner.  It's nice to have a automatic with all the city driving we do and it's nice to have a vehicle in which the air-conditioning isn't intermittent. 

I'm pretty sure we have mentioned the wheelchair project.  The wheelchairs arrived, and our three physical therapists are here to start the first of the the three day training session for 30 individuals on how to select, set-up and teach the recipients on how to use wheelchairs.  It sounds pretty simple in a one paragraph explanation, but this has been a major undertaking.  We'll talk more about this next week.



Inflating the last of 90 bicycle tires!



Rock House restaurant in Negril



Just a picture to show you that Shanna hasn't pulled her hair out from the frustrations she expressed in our last blog and that we do get to enjoy life on this tropical Caribbean island eating coconut chicken and drinking pina colada as the sun fades on the West coast of Jamaica.  Life is good, and we are enjoying the work and the people with whom we associate.

Rain certainly does make you crazy!

Just a little water on the main road in and out of Kingston.

Okay, two weeks ago we were expecting to entertain the sisters and brothers-in-law with a bright sunny sit on the beach when Tropical Storm Nicole hit.  Well, it was some time before that could happen as it has rained everyday for the last two weeks, it continues to rain; in fact, today it has rained all day without stopping -- well, it drizzles a bit then a downpour, but it never stops.  When we arrived last March, the island had been in a drought for over a year; now it's swimming in water.  With a look on line at the weather coming up, we are set to get another tropical depression in the next 2 days -- depression being the operative word.

The Jamaicans tell us that the rain on your head makes you crazy and that's why they wear scarves or hats.  I think there might be something to this theory. 

Jamaica Power doesn't send their bills "straight" (well, they don't sent them at all to be truthful).  So, the Schaefermeyers have been very busy, with trying to do our work and entertain our guests, and the monthly deadline passed us.  Now, Jamaica Power is very good at disconnecting your power.  Friday morning, off it went.  Elder S was out buying material for our Salvation Army project and I was home cleaning.  I just thought it was another power outage (Pond's know all about that), but this time it was only an outage in our apartment.  Elder S had the phone and the call came to him and he was taking care of things.  Well, we did pay up, they did turn it back on that night, and we now are in the light again.  Everyone told us not to expect quick service on restoring our power, but we did get it.  Crazy!

This is at a member's home - Troy Williams

Creativity - he has a portable generator and charges people to charge their cell phones.

Two days ago, we were driving home from Spanish Town on the 2000 (tollway) and yup, we were going too fast.  Not a problem, it has happened several times, however, this time our truck registration had expired, the insurance document was expired, and it required some very fast talking not to get impounded.  Our truck is being sold--at least that's what they have told us for the past two months-- so, they haven't bothered to license it.  The insurance has been extended but no one gave us a new certificate.  Okay, this is us we're talking about.  We travel about 1500 or more miles (you got that right) each month and there are no more mission cars available. In fact, we are down one car as the Russell's car was stolen two nights ago; they are the senior couple who live in Ocho Rios.  On an island this small you think you could find it, but the chop shops operate very quickly.  The mission auto auction was today and the office is waiting for the check to come through so they can buy the new cars; should happen next week.  Until then, we're not sure!  Guess we are somewhat grounded.  Crazy!

This was just a small trickle before the rains.

We got home from Negril a week or so ago and the apartment had developed a leak in the ceiling.  We called the landlord and he hasn't come by yet--soon come.  Not a good thing in a humid country.  Mold grows quickly.  We haven't pulled any of the ceiling down yet, but we think it's hiding there; and the rain continues to come.  Crazy!

Okay, while I'm venting, poor Elder S has to do all the driving because I can't drive a manual transmission, right hand drive, 4X4 pickup truck.  This means that I can't go shopping unless he takes me.  I can't walk alone and it's too far, and we both are tired at the end of most days and just want to crash.  Needless to say, I'm a little frustrated and would like a little independence.  Okay, I got that off my chest.  Elder S is wonderful about all this; he patiently listens to me vent especially when we have to go to three or four stores just in order to get what we need.  It's the rain -- Crazy!

Now while I'm at it, there is the matter of the rooster that crows day and night, the compound full of dogs that bark all at once at intermittent times for indeterminate lengths of time, and did I mention the rain.  Many, many roads are washed out, homes are being flooded or washed away, our gardens are getting too much water, and we can't find any clipboards for our upcoming wheelchair training.  Crazy!

Crazy yes, but we have food to eat, good work to do, great people around us, a nice home, wonderful kids and grandchildren (It's for sure a little girl for Marc and Brittney - congratulations.), and the gospel to fill our lives with hope.  We see so many that are just struggling to survive; it pains us to know there is so little we can do.  It was a wonderful General Conference and I think every talk was directed to me.  Crazy the dichotomy in the world; we hope we are making a difference in someone's life.  Love to all.  Thanks for letting me vent.

Neala, Elynn and Nicole - Two Sisters and a Tropical Depression

Arrival of the family

As tropical storms go, Nicole was a mild one, certainly not a hurricane but definitely more than a tropical depression.  (You know, I always thought a tropical depression was what happens when you realize your Caribbean vacation is over, but now I find there is a second meaning and it has a lot to do with rain - and a lot of it.) More about this later.

My two sisters arrived last Wednesday for a few days of following little brother around to see what a Humanitarian Mission is all about.  Apparently our blog isn't descriptive enough for them.  On Thursday we took them to a closing ceremony at Achievers School in May Pen.

Bro. Weir at Closing Cermony

A very expensive Mahi-Mahi

Shanna introduced Neala to President Weir who spoke to her for a few moments at which time I turned around an put my head over Neala's shoulder and said, "Brother Weir, She really didn't understand a thing you just said!"  Well, that started "the Neala laugh" and then we did some interpreting to help the conversation along.  The closing ceremony ended the project where we had donated lecture chairs, filing cabinets, copy machines, tables, chairs, 12 computer workstations and an air-conditioner.  The school is located above an electrical parts store and a furniture factory.  It's not much to look at but they are doing a great job - which is why we agreed to partner with them.

Norm doing his deep sea fishing.  It really was the big one that got away!!

On Friday, my brother-in-law Norm and I joined four of the senior Elders and the Mission President at 4:30 in the morning on a deep sea fishing adventure.  Long story short, Norm got the most action spending 1 hour and 45 minutes bringing a very large Marlin up to the boat only to have the line break just as they were about to gaff it!  Elder Russell managed to hook one poor Mahi Mahi and get it into the boat which figures out to be worth about $300 a pound (and we ended up giving it to the boat staff).

Norm's version of almost catch and release

We hadn't even heard about tropical storm #16 (Nicole) but it was already giving us problems - lets just say that three of our ship-mates were not having the best time at sea.  If anyone were to ask, "What's up?" the answer would have to be, "Everything they'd eaten."  After that trip I will no longer complain about the rough Jamaican roads.  The seas around the island are much rougher than the roads.  You know that feeling you get in your stomach when you drive fast over a rise in the road?  We used to call them "fun bumps".  Our boat was climbing up and over many waves that were giving the same sensation but not everyone thought they were fun.

Sunday was church - Neala played the keyboard - they sat through the meetings but I don't think they understood too much of the talks or lessons.

President Durrant delivering Hygiene and Newborn kits

Monday we traveled up in the mountains delivering Hygiene kits in High Gate, Glen Goff, and Guys Hill.  By now the rains had started.

Road to Negril - before the main storm arrived

Storm strewn beach in front of restaurant with drapes over openings

 Traveling to Negril before the main storm hit Tuesday we loaded up and headed to Negril on the West end of the island.  The storm was causing some flooding of the roads, but it is the rainy season so it wasn't too unusual.  We were going to stop in Sav-la-mar to install some more computers in a school but we found that the school was closed because of the storm and it  - and all the others on the island were closed the rest of the week.

We had to change hotel room several times to find the ones that weren't totally flooded.  The sand on much of the 7 mile beach had been washed away.  A catamaran had crashed into our beach and broken apart.  The rain was horizontal and hurt when it hit you. 

Two pieces of a catamaran relocated on our hotel beach

We looked like the on-the-scene weathermen in Florida talking about the severity of the hurricane only without the fancy rain gear. It was amazing to experience the power of a mild storm like Nicole and to realize what a real storm would be like.  We have quite a few trees and limbs down and a we saw a lot of new pot holes and washed out roads.  Kingston has lost several bridges and a dozen homes with a few deaths.  We're now back in our apartment and will be checking on what we can do to help those who have been flooded.