Weekend with Sisters Christiansen & Montalvo

How many missionaries can you fit uncomfortably in a Ford Ranger? Count 'em! Left to right, front seat: Elder Hadlock's left ear, Sister Christiansen, President Alvarado's right eye; back seat, Elder Button, Sister Hadlock, Sister Montalvo. Technically, Sister Christiansen was in the back seat.

Racing through the mud where once cameras rolled and filmed pirates.

Four-year-old Louvio raced his book-car up and down the street in front of the Portsmouth chapel where we left Elder Button Friday evening. "When you push the A it goes faster!"

Oh, yes! Did we mention President Alvarado was here for 24 hours?

Reginald was Sister Montalvo's and Sister Christiansen's personal bodyguard in Roseau.

Tuesday morning the sisters bid farewell to their senior sisters and their bed and breakfast!

After all, they came to Dominica to "feed the sheep."

Scenes along the way to San Sauveur.

Beverly kept her children home from school so they could meet the missionaries that know their father. Shaquel missed this picture while he was in the shower.

Who wouldn't fall for Josiah, the seven year old?

" We'll take your love and your pictures back with us to your father in Puerto Rico!" (Left to Right, Back: Naomi, Sister Montalvo; Front: Sister Christiansen, Beverly with Josiah, 15-year-old Shaquel.)

Animal? Vegetable?

What shall we choose as a memento of our visit to Dominca?

Will we ever see one another again?

Hurry up and fill out that stinkin' form.

A Dolphin Tale

Skies were gray and threatening as Dive Dominica's watercraft left Roseau behind in search of whale and/or dolphin. Full of anticipation and excitement, passengers aboard hoped to see at least one of those illusive whales that make these waters their home , . . . . . .

. . . . especially Sister Hymas!

Not one water-dwelling mammal in sight but there WAS more than one beautiful sight.

Look closely in the water at the bottom of the pictures below and

you might be able to see speedy dolphins in their natural habitat.

If you missed those in the pictures above swimming ahead of the boat, you might see the one that cooperated and jumped out of the water when the photographer snapped this one.

Terry, Emmanuel and Hermine at Portsmouth

(L-R) Thirteen-year-olds Terry Walsh and Emmanuel Maximin and his half-brother, sixteen-year-old Hermine Sergius, in the backseat of the Ford Ranger ready for a day away from home. Whether it was sitting on a rock in the shade,

jumping from Francois' porch railing,

smiling(?) for the camera,

or eating finger lickin' chicken at KFC, a good time was had by all.................

.......even this big-eyed crab that came to participate in

............... Jemuna Francois' baptism.

Jemuna Francois' Baptism Day

On Saturday, January 29th, members of the Portsmouth Branch and a few from the Roseau Group gathered at Coconut Beach to support eight-year-old Jemuna Francois.

The Francois Family, formerly Seventh Day Adventists, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about four years ago. Brother Francois said, "and I've never looked back."

Brother Victor Francois baptized his youngest daughter, Jemuna Victora.

He then instructed Jemuna to "Kneel here in the sand," where he also performed the ordinance of confirmation.

Terry Walsh's Baptism

Pretty much everyone stayed after Sacrament Meeting for a brief service before Terry's baptism 23 January 2011, in the Caribbean Sea near his home in Roseau, Dominca. Those wearing white jump-suits rode to the sea while the rest of us walked.

Brother Anthony George was one witness, ..............

Brother Denis Dessanon the other.

Terry's uncle, Reginald Hypolite performed the baptism.

Everyone was happy, including us .............

despite the rain that began to fall immediately thereafter.

Much to our chagrin we were locked out of the apartment when we returned from the sea. President Cook removed the window screen and boosted Terry through the window. Here you see the newly-baptized man of the hour!

16 Jan 2011 Caribbean Area Conference Broadcast

These are most of the people on the right side of the 'chapel' that attended the Sunday session of the Caribbean Area Conference broadcast, others were outside in the 'cry room,' . . . . . . . . . . and on the left are the projectionist and Brother George. If you look closely you can see the Spanish-speaker projected on the front wall. Sunday morning was a multi-language session--President Zayas conducted in broken Puerto Rican English, Willy Giezler offered the opening prayer in German, the first talk was translated from Spanish to Enlgish, and the closing prayer was offered in Dominican English with a Swiss accent.

We bid President and Sister Zayas good-bye at the airport 2:30 Sunday afternoon.

On the way back through the mountains we had a few riders. You can see three of them in rear-view mirror images--one more clear than the other.