Doing Good

I have found that whenever I ask our missionaries, "How 'ya doin'," I get the response, "I'm doing good."  To which I smile because I know that grammatically their response should be, "I'm doing well." However, as missionaries they truly are "doing good" for the people here, thus I can easily reply, "Yes you are." They find my response a little strange but they figure it's just something old people say. 

A group of Elders at Chilleatos prior to transfer to their new areas of "doing good".

Some of the other "good" that took place this past week included the second training class at Bodles in Old Harbour for our new Bee Keepers, after which we presented them with their bee veils and smokers.

The fifteen bee keeping participants

Training on how to properly start seedlings in seed trays was conducted by RADA for members of Spanish Town 2 branch.  They each also received a copy of the 100 copies of the Square Foot Gardening books that were donated by SFG in Utah.





At the training one of the sisters brought some cashew nuts which we had been wanting to see in the pod with the fruit.  This picture doesn't have anything to do with doing good, but the cashews taste good!

Cashew nut in the pod at the bottom of the fruit.

Speaking of doing good, we easily recognized a couple of Jamaica Scouters by their uniforms even though they were the first we have seen.  I told them of my connection to scouting and discusses doing a project with them.  We gave them a card so we'll see if they call us. 



Different color uniforms but certainly recognizable as scouters.

Last Saturday we were invited to a meeting of Portmore Self Help where they elect next years officers.  They were planning on doing a wheelchair fitting during the meeting but the person in their organization that was certified got sick and had to be taken to the hospital so we quickly called Tracy Meddow and between her and Shanna and I we evaluated 12 people for wheelchairs.  It was quite a night of doing good and we were good and tired at the end of it.  We're about out of wheelchairs but we have ordered 500 more.



 This young man has Cerebral Palsy and is not a candidate for our type of wheelchairs but we evaluated him and FFP is requesting a chair from another organization.

Elder and Sister Flake helped us do good by installing a water tank on the roof of Dunrobbin Primary School to replace the one that was stolen over Christmas break.

The Three Stooges carry a 650 gallon water tank.

Up and into the security cage.

Today we and the Daniels assisted with crowd control at a health fair conducted by Food For The Poor and the Lyons Club.  We had about 350 patients show up and some of them weren't very patient!

They were provided free access to doctors, blood tests, eye and hearing tests, dental work, and HIV/STD screenings,

Eye testing

It was a good day of doing good, which capped-off a week of doing good, that I think we did quite well.

The community in the top of the mountains

Caledonia, Jamaica, population 350, elevation 1300 ft above sea level, crime rate 0.  This little community nestled high in the mountains above Linstead is not on the roads we normally travel, but travel we did.  We drove the main road to Linstead, took a smaller main road, then a smaller road, then a still smaller road, to a cow trail, to finally arrive at the Caledonia Community Center.  We were surprised that our GPS had the cow trail even though it didn't have the community shown, not that it mattered because we had a personal guide, Norman Douglas.  Norman has lived in this community as he said, 'born and growed here' --  all 32 years of him.  He is the President of the Citizen Association for nine years now and chairman of the school board for eleven years.  He is a farmer and grows bananas and plantains.  His home is next door to the community center -- a little "shack" made of wood where you can see through the chinks in the boards.

This is the main road to Caledonia.  You drive several kilometers and then climb a very steep drive up to the community.

Norman Douglas on the path leading to the water tank.

This is the new water tank.  We are told that it goes down 17' in the ground and then this is the building on top.  Up until a few months ago, when this was finished, they had not running water.

Elder and Sister Preece (our predecessors) met Norman almost two years ago.  They will be the only people we know who can relate to where Caledonia is located.   This community has come together and bought and sold chickens (Preece's gave them 100 chickens) and had other fund raisers to buy cement blocks to build a water tank.  Six or seven men of the community literally carried the block on their heads from the town up a quarter mile foot path to the site where they constructed the community water tank.  Norman said that the children would carry sand and water up the hill for the project after school.  They have run PVC pipe down the hill past most of the homes but need more pipe to complete the project.  They were able to purchase a small gas-powered water pump that they store at one of the homes and literally carry on their heads down a steep slope to the river where it is used to pump water up to a 650 gallon holding tank.  The pump is then carried up to the holding tank and pumps the water to the larger cement block tank at the top of the hill.  Norman also showed us the new power lines that JPS had recently installed providing electricity to his community and talked about the how community had petitioned the utility for several years.

This man was carrying block up the hill the day we were there.

When we arrived, several young girls immediately came out to "carry" us up the mountain.  "Carry" is the term they use for accompany or go with.

Previous to our visit with Norman, we had decided to start only three or four more projects because our time is running out and we are working on the food initiative and we are stretched too thin.  We had put Norman off several times, but he is persistent and the week he called we had a free day and so we agreed to come and look.  My heart was hard, but quickly softened when Norman talked about wanting to get water to the elderly people's homes, how he wanted some chickens to buy them "treats" (a hygiene kit like we give away).  Norman is a true public servant who's only concern is the people that he serves in his community.  He has a true vision of what he wants to accomplish for his community, a track record of getting things done, and a community that works together to improve their circumstances.

As we talked with Norman we asked him to expand his vision and explore the cost of running electricity to the river and install a permanent electric pump.  We are gathering pricing for the pump and piping and have no doubt that we will submit a project for Norman and the people of Caledonia.  The Lord truly led us to a people in need last week and we are truly grateful to have met so many wonderful people on the journey.  It is a testimony to us that the Lord knows all of us, he knows our needs, and he can work miracles when people are faithful and charitable.

The kids had a great time showing us how they slide down the mountain.

The girls kept touching me and wanting to hold my hand.  One got brave and reached up to touch my hair, so I bent down and told them all they could touch it.  They thought that was great fun.

To celebrate our 1 year anniversary "in Jamaica," we present a view of the streets!

Today, March 17, 2011, is our one year anniversary of actually landing in Jamaica.  After the MTC, we spent 5 days in the Dominican Republic so it took us 17 days to arrive.  Wow, what a year this has been.  For those who won't have the opportunity or take the opportunity to come and visit, we thought we would give you a little taste of the sites we see in the streets - daily.  Before we begin, we want to express our deepest sympathy and prayers for our friends and Church members who are suffering in Japan.  This is indeed a tragedy.  We know that the Church is diverting many humanitarian products to this country; please contribute!

We figured out why there aren't many Jamaican basketball players - all of the men with long arm are driving taxi.  They use their arm to direct traffic as they dart in and out of traffic. 

Really, this is not unusual.  They direct traffic with these long arms.  Yes, Wayne, this is the driver and the picture is not in backwards.

 Everyday we see a new person in the wheelchair.  Not sure if the pusher or the rider gets the money.

Just get a wheelchair, find someone to sit in it, and wheel it down the street begging - what a job.

There's always lots of selling going on.  This lady has a customer, no worry mon, you hold up traffic to make your transaction.  There are always lots of things to buy if you're in need.  We call the vendors the "Walking WalMart."  There is the fruit section, the cellphone cover section, the flower section, automotive, fly swatter, and so forth.

Just ignore the cars behind you.  Got to make that sale.

 This is a great picture for NSL Public Works and Rocky Mountain Power.  Who knows where the lines go and don't worry about OSHA.

This is a typical skyline!  Hey, they must be safe, they're wearing orange vests.

Theron has to watch out for motorcycles cutting in and out of traffic and the every present bicycle.  Then of course, if you want to walk across the road, just put your hand out and go.

They carry lots of things on bicycles.

The street scene would not be complete without the goats.  I think they keep the garbage down -- a little.  This is downtown Kingston.

If you can't get food on the street, try the garbage can.

Sugar cane is burned before harvesting so they don't have to haul the leaves.  They light fire to the base of the cane stocks and the fire goes wild.

We wonder what is happening to our lungs because they burn everything here.

We end this little preview of our streets with this picture.  We were out looking at project sites in Kingston and this vendor goes around selling his coconuts.  It only cost J$100 for the picture (about $1.10 US).  We just had to have the picture.

It's not quite the ice cream truck.

We have loved every minute of our time here.  We think of all of you often and Neala will soon be able to count the months on one hand.  Just a little of what we have helped the Lord do:
--We have traveled over 22,000 miles on an island that is 150 miles long by 50 miles wide.
--We have brought in 39,200 hygiene kits.
--We have brought in 15,360 newborn kits.
--We facilitated bringing to Jamaica 1000 wheelchairs.
--We have brought in 1050 bales of clothing.
In addition, we have received approval for and all are mostly complete 18 projects.  The major one is the food initiative.  Within the next 2 weeks, we will deliver 95 hives of bees to project sites.  This is such fun and amazing work.  If you're bored at home, put in your mission papers.  We need more couples!

A True Jamaican Artist - Shun Lawton

Shun Lawton is the second councilor in the Spanish Town District.  He is a former Jamaican missionary, married and has two little children.  He graduated from art school using the Perpetual Education Fund and now is an art teacher at a local high school.  He wants to work full-time as an artist but for now enjoys the steady income and insurance that comes with teaching.  We met with Shun to discuss ideas for a couple of ceramic pieces we would like to have him create and carve containing some of our memories of Jamaica.



Shun sketching ideas for us at his home.

We are quite excited about this as we have seen his work and especially since we know him.  We told Herberts about his work and he made the vase below for them.

Sister Bonnie Herbert, Shun, Tamara, holding Elizabeth and Adam in front, Elder Herbert.  With the vase he created for them.

We told him we wanted a photo journal from start to finish so I went with him to a river bed down by the airport to gather clay. 

 

It doesn't matter what you're doing, you need a machete.

He also needed clay from the other side of the island and since we were traveling there as part of the Herbert's final excursion before they go home, we stopped at a mine and bought 400 lbs of different dirt.  When we got back to his house he immediately started blending, mixing, screening, and preparing the clay.

Mixing and screening clay with his best helper

We all just stood and watched him work so he then pulled out his wheel and began to throw-a-pot.

Elder Flake inspecting the clay

I don't know if this will be one of our pieces but it was fun to see him make it.  This was about one-half hour to throw this pot.  We'll show you the finished pieces as we go along.

This, That and a Third Thing

Last week in our blog we wrote about our "Poor Training" out in Mandeville.  So I'll begin with that point in time on last Saturday.  After our training we visited our community "Water Catchment Project" in Brokenhurst.  This project was discussed in our blog of Jun 20, Pushing The Envelope.  The community members completed the concrete pour and so we went to see how it looked.  When we arrive there were about 10 or so men who were helping to remove the forms and supports.  They (and we) were all very pleased with the way the project had turned-out.  They had worked very hard to erect the forms and remove them in the amount of time that had been allotted for the form rental.

The last of the rented plywood forms to be  removed



Brokenhurst Community Center / Hurricane Shelter / Water Collection system



We then drove back to Kingston for a YSA Dinner/Dance and etiquette activity where we had been asked to speak on dating!  As a 60 yr old, white, American, who had been married for 36 years, I wasn't sure I could relate to 18+ yr old, black, Jamaicans who are looking for dating advice.  But, yes, we had a good time and I think the principles we presented are still valid in today's world, (all dates still should be chaperoned, right?).  We will confess that we lined up one of the couples for the dinner.   He was from our branch and she was from Yallis and they seemed to have a good time and are going on a second date. We'll see if our humanitarian dating efforts work out.

 The picture below represents an occasional discussion between a certain senior couple (who shall remain nameless, but it is a long name)

And the proud stance he takes when she occasionally lets him win.

  



 We spent one day working out the details with the installation company and the 4H representatives on completion of the Shade House project.  They seemed a little surprised that I understood, pumps, piping, drip irrigation and tank elevation and that I was the one making the suggestions and assigning responsibilities (read blame).  I think this project will actually get finished within the next few weeks.

 Below is a couple of men whom we have seen begging in the street near the mission home.  Call us calloused but we wonder if they trade-off who sits and who pushes.

We spent one afternoon with President Smith of the Spanish Town 1st branch looking at 5 acres of property he is proposing to lease and divide up into half acre plots for some of the Food Initiative projects in his branch.  We'll need to have some heavy equipment do the removal of the brush and initial plowing.  Sister Schaefermeyer only required a couple of Benadryl tablets to stop the itching on her legs from the myriad of bites.

While we were in Spanish Town the Herberts asked us to come and set-up a wheelchair for a lady in the branch.  She had already been evaluated and trained on use so we only had to adjust the chair for her.  She had a wheelchair but it was too wide to fit through the doors of her house and so it was essentially useless for her.  She now has a great deal of freedom and will probably be able to attend church more regularly.  She was a great lady and fun to work with.  She was so tall that I had trouble adequately extending the foot rests.  She must have towered over her husband (at back) when she stood.

Saturday found us doing two separate service projects with members of the Constant Springs and Boulevard Branches.  Shanna went with Elder and Sister Flake and painted lines on a parking lot at Maxfield Park Health center and I helped clean debris off a new garden spot at the salvation Army School for the Blind. 

The Jamaican version of raising the flag over Iwo Jima.



We had 13 priesthood members along with four elders and the farmer.



Lessons of "Why I need to go to college" were taught as they dug a drainage ditch for the run-off.

Some people "raise cane" - others chop it with a machette

Today, Sunday, we attended the Kingston Branch Council meeting.  We were both very pleased with the way the meeting was conducted and how it followed the guidelines that were in the handbook and had been taught in the world wide training.  Following the block we had our first ward choir rehearsal that I conducted.  We now have a choir but no accompanist.  I programmed the songs in my computer so it would play the parts I wanted to work on which seemed to work fairly well.  I had a keyboard so that I could play individual parts.  We had 4 tenors, 6 bases, 4 sopranos and no altos, and despite what streotypes you have heard, all black people are not gifted singers.  

The afternoon was spent feeding Elder Luke and Elder Colucci and the mission president.  Sister Hendricks was flying between Jamaica and Miami to help their daughter and her two children return home after visiting the grandparents in Jamaica.  The rest of the evening we enjoyed speaking with family and friends and watching Ali Jo sleep in her mother's arms, until we remembered our accounting of credit card receipts had to be completed before midnight.  We just made it and now will retire and start again tomorrow.

A Blessing from Heaven - Ali Jo Schaefermeyer

Jamaica is a long way and we still have a long time until we can hold our very first granddaughter!   Ali Jo Schaefermeyer, was born February 18, 2011, in Layton, Utah.  What a blessing she is to us and Marc and Brittney and Mason.

Ali Jo Schaefermeyer - 6 lbs 10 oz, 20 inches

Every missionary couple we know has had a new grandchild born while they were serving.  That's why we have Skype and Vonage phones.  That's why we have loving "other" grandparents like Carl and Cindy Pond who we know will hold her for us for the next few months.

Marc and Mason in Jamaica - September 2010

 Congratulations Marc and Brittney.  Don't forget to hug little Mason who has had your full attention for the past 2 years.  Love, Grandma and Grandpa Schaefermeyer, far away on a tropical island.

Poor Training

I'm sure that our blog title "Poor Training" will be interpreted as describing the quality of some training or perhaps the type of people who were being trained.  Well, we performed the training, so I guess the first options probably applies, and some of the people we trained were poor so that definition certainly applies as well.  However the training was to members of the branch councils in the Mandeville District and the topic was "Welfare Principles" from the new handbook of instructions, and as part of our training we defined the difference between the poor and the needy. 

President Morrison introducing the District Welfare Training

You probably have never thought much about the differences between poor and needy and in fact, you probably assumed the two word were synonymous, but they are not.  There are many ways we can be poor - poor in spirit, poor in health, poor habits, poor in knowledge and learning, poor in our ways, poor in our ability to improve ourselves.  Someone who is poor is usually unable to improve themselves without help which usually comes in the form of training, instruction, or knowledge.  Helping someone who is poor often is a long term commitment.  A friend of ours gave us this statement about the poor - "Poor people have poor ways."  A person or family who is needy is looked at as a short term problem that can usually be addressed fairly quickly, they might need food, shelter, water, etc.  The needy have skills and desire to improve, but because of circumstances are in need for a short time until things improve.  For example, a person who has lost their job is in need of a new job and even though they may be without money they are not poor, just needy.  Understanding the difference between the poor and needy is important for the branch presidents and members of the branch council as they are the ones who must determine how to assist.

Following our training, President Morrison, and President Richardson wanted to thank us for their first bee keepers training session that was held this past week at Bodles Research station in Old Harbour.  They were both very excited about the training and how much there was to understand and learn and how interesting it was.
President Morrison related that Brother Russell who is currently keeping bees had talked to him about some concepts of raising bees which President Morrison learnedin the training to be completely incorrect.  President Richardson said that the training class included people who thought they were professional bee keepers who learned that they just "had bees" and weren't true "bee keepers".  Many of the practices that they understood to be correct were not "best practices" and were injurious to their bees and to the success of their apiaries. 

Bee Training at Bodles - 7 of the 19 project people were in attendance.

I also spoke with Brother Powell (a cousin to Colin Powell) who raises goats as a major source of income for he and his family.  I asked him how many of his goats he had lost due to the bad weather of last month.  He said that he had lost 10 of his herd.  I didn't ask how many lived but I know that his herd wasn't much larger than 10-15 animals.  We had been in his area of Junction a few weeks ago and had met with several families that had also lost many goats during the heavy rains of weeks previous.  As this new knowledge made us a little nervous about providing goats to people knowing that they were so fragile, we discussed the issue with our representative from RADA who will provide the training on small animals.  She told us that there are best practices that will prevent the goats from getting sick from the rains and the disease that it causes.  Poor ways can be corrected.

As we have worked putting together the food initiative program, we have insisted that everyone must have training before we will fund their family's project.  I don't think we recognized the importance of this requirement until it all came together last Saturday at our Welfare Training session.  We had just talked about being poor in knowledge and understanding and then we had confirmation of the "poor ways" that many were following in administering and caring for their animals.  Although many people asking for a project had indicated that they had knowledge and/or experience in their particular type of project, most are not currently involved in the endeavor which we now realize is probably a result of failure because of their poor ways.  We now realize that the training may be the greatest gift that we can provide.  The endowment of animals or plants may be a great and tangible blessing, but the endowment of knowledge may be what is needed to "provide for the poor".  Thus, "Training the Poor" will be the best way to take the poor out of the people, as long as it's good Poor Training.