Senior Sisters Overnighter!

The Senior Sister Missionaries decided to celebrate Sister Hymas' birthday and have an overnighter while we were still all in Guyana. We met at the National Park in Georgetown early Friday, February 26, 2010 and walked three miles around the track (!) Great start to our day. Off we then went to the Hymas Home to spend the night, have supper, watch a "chick flick" and just enjoy!


Sister Collins and Sister Hymas behind the couch and from left to right--Sister Whitehead, Sister Weedon, and Sister Lingren.



Saturday morning we loaded into a boat headed for Bartika--thirty minutes later we arrived and toured (in the rain part of the time) the gold mining community. Had a picnic on the grandstands where they have sailboat races every year....enjoyed!


We returned home in a smaller boat (yikes!)and then toured the community of Parika, where we have a church organized. The markets were laid out all over the streets; how about some blue shoes?

Sister Missionaries in Linden

We have Sister Missionaries in Linden--Sister Bibi Girdharry (whom we had in St. Lucia) and Sister Marcia Gaspar. We are excited to have three sets of missionaries again! The transfer a week before brought Elder Jones and Elder Austin to join Elder Brenkmann and Elder Moses. Here we are--Linden Zone!



It is fun for Sister Collins to have some other girls in the group!

Cipriani Emmanuel Baptism

While we were vacationing on St. Lucia with our family, Linden had a baptism that was special to us as Cipriani is the father and grandfather of one of our largest families on the East side. He was baptized on Elder Collins' birthday, January 17th. The baptism was at 5:00 AM in the Kara Kara River close to the Emmanuel's home......DARK still; but the whole family was there in force and it was really nice. Elder Brenkmann was able to baptize Cipriani and Elder Moses confirmed him a member of the church.

Trip to Berbice

The first week in January took us to Berbice (four hours from Linden--North through Georgetown and then East along the Atlantic Coast) to a funeral for a favorite Aunt of Elder Moses'. Quite unusual to attend one of our Elder's family funerals; but since Elder Moses is from this country and was close, it became apparent that he should attend. We traveled across the Berbice Bridge to get there. The country is quite different from Linden and Georgetown---palm trees, rice fields, and still lots of animals. In fact, you don't want to be traveling the roads after dark!




The funeral was held in a different church and we learned lots about the "traditions of the fathers" by going; they had a viewing prior to the actual funeral at one of the family homes.


After the funeral, we traveled South East to be able to see Suriname across the waters. See the muddy water of the Atlantic Ocean. Elder Moses and Elder Brenkmann have become our best traveling partners! It was a windy day on that coast line!




We took a couple "just fun" pictures on the way home.

Persaud Baptism to start 2010!

On Saturday, January 02, 2010, Sister Sabita (Sharon) and her daughter Tiffany were baptized by the husband, Parasram Persaud (and Dad). He works on the island of St. Kitts and they live here; while there, he has joined the church and came home over the holidays to see that his family received the gospel. We received his referral and had the missionaries start teaching them. They accepted the teachings and it was very, very special when he could be here to help and then to baptize them. There is a son, Theodore, who is not quite old enough to be baptized yet. They are planning and saving money for the family to join Brother Persaud in St. Kitts sometime this summer.

The baptism was held at dusk in the Demerara River right by their family home; Elder Collins and Elder Brenkmann with Tiffany and then with Brother Persaud; also instructing the family during the baptismal program.



Father and Daughter getting ready; Brother Oral McLean with them...A picture of the four Persauds!


And with Elders Brenkmann and Moses......then into the water!


Tiffany is baptized; several of us watching as Sharon is baptized. Just a really special moment in our missionary lives--it's the way it should happen--to a family!

Bananas! And Our Roti P-Day

February 01, 2010 we had a great day! Elder Collins came home from President McLeans with a back-full of bananas and the missionaries came over and the Guyanese missionaries showed all of us how to make Roti.


We each had a job; Elder Austin taking care of the chicken; and Elder Moses making the roti.

Sisters Girdharry and Gaspar instructing Elder Austin on how to peel potatoes!
More potatoes--Elder Brenkmann now with Elder Austin watching/instructing (?) Add them to the chicken and we are ready to season (a little curry and seasonings!) and cook.


Sister Gaspar checking on Elder Moses! Working hard; Aha Perfection!



Everyone is on the action now! Elder Jones is learning how to "clap" the roti! And Sister Girdharry is showing us how it is really done! Elder Austin's turn! Whoa! Hot on the hands!



Ah! Enough of that! While Elders Moses and Brenkmann are still busy doing something!


Come on--get up! There's playing to do!







Food and Jenga! How can you beat a day like that!