August already.....

I can't believe that it is August already and I am 1/3 of the way through my mission here in beautiful Puerto Rico.  The past couple weeks have been pretty busy.  We completed another round of 5 Zone Conferences with Pres/Sister Boucher, received 16 new missionaries and 19 completed their missions and went home along with a senior couple, Elder and Sister Card.  This meant some great time spent at the mission home.

We enjoyed a great dinner at the Mission Home as a farewell for the Cards.  They have been serving the past 6 months on Tortola with the previous 6 months on Antigua. This is their 3rd mission.

Fortunately, missionary health issues have been minimal and no cases of Dengue or Chikungunya at this time although there are 350+ cases on the island.  We have really been blessed and the missionaries continue to be vigilant with insect repellent.  We do get a lot of strange rashes, upper respiratory viruses and gastrointestinal viruses, as well.

It is a good thing that I took a couple photos or I wouldn't remember what had happened.  Along with the 'work', we manage to get the senior couples together at least once a week for food and games.....they all came to my apartment last Friday night to watch The Saratov Approach.  A couple from my MTC group (the Carters) were in the movie along with their son.  Interestingly, they are assigned to Russia now.

Dave and Steph will be visiting Aug 13-18.  I am really looking forward to their visit.  We will spend one night on Vieques which is a Puerto Rican island accessible by ferry from Fajardo.  It is a good thing they weren't here last weekend since all ferries were shut down with the pending Bertha system.  We just got heavy rains which are a blessing since we have had little rainfall.  Water rationing is delayed until at least late August.

Today, I drove to Arecibo to check on an Elder with a sprained ankle - not too bad - took him an air splint.  He is a pretty big Samoan/Hawaiian boy and we had to secure the top velcro with duck tape :o)  After treating them to lunch at Wendy's, I met up with Sister Dawid and Sister Dacosta at the Mall and gave them a ride home.  Back to Bayamon and a quick trip to the nail salon before getting home about 8:30pm.

The photos below are after dinner at the Mission Home.  The Senior sisters had been helping Sister Boucher prepare food for Zone Conference in the kitchen and, when I went into the Living Room, the 'picture' was quite striking with all those guys in white shirts assembled on white couches. (I do have to add that the Brethren along with President Boucher did dinner dishes before retiring to the living room.)

President Boucher on the right with Elders Bennett/Nadauld/Eakle/Card left to right

Others not visible in the photos are Elders Wentzel/Castaneda and Helm.

Elder/Sister Card

L to R - Sister Dacosta (Honduras), Sister Ramos (Mexico), Me, Sister Allred, New Sister Oborn/Sister Dye (both US)
This was transfer day and Sister Oborn was brand new - Dinner at Denny's