Santiago Mission Home visits

As we have said before, we go to the northern Dominican Republic to see Elderes and Hermanas in the Santiago mission home every other Wednesday.  Pres Lee and Sr. Lee are great hosts to us there, they are finished their three years at the end of June.  They invited us to a lunch this week, Elder McDermid made the trip and we went to the Camp David Restaurante on a high hill overlooking Santiago.  There are two Cadilacs inside the building there, one a Black 1956 limo used by the dictator Rafael Trujillo and another car, a 1957,  used by his son, the commander of the air, sea and land forces of the DR. 



Pres Miguel Lee, Cindy and I, and the McDermids
at Camp David



Commandante en Jefe

The son's limo.

We will miss the Lee's but will keep in touch as they will be living in Santo Domingo.
















We have been doing a bang up business in ingrown toenails lately, maybe hot weather makes them get more infected.  The Elders all take pictures, of the gore and of me when we are finished.



Elder Cabrera, from Mision Oeste

 The motos here are used to haul people and loads.  Extension ladders, propane tanks, huge bags of rice and a family of five are not unusual.



Out the car window shot of an ungainly load, Safety is not
job one.



Innovacion Ortopedica Laboratorio - Fitting prostheses

Yesterday we were able to go to a clinic that makes prosthetic limbs, and watch some patients be fitted for new prostheses.  This company has received help from the Humanitarian missionaries here, so we were invited to see. 

The economics of a country and people influence many decisions.  Generally speaking a below knee amputation is better for function and mobility than an above knee amputation.  An above knee, however, is cheaper and heals faster...so what do you suppose a poor person gets?  Likewise, when bones are badly broken, requiring expensive rods or external fixation for months, or a quick amputation(that is much cheaper), what do you suppose happens?  So this country has one of the highest rates of amputation in the world.

A below knee mold is formed with
plaster cast.

A child's foot

Applying the plaster rolls to make an
 upper leg mold.



A job well done.



Puerto Rico Mission Visit May 6 - May 12, 2012

We went to Puerto Rico with the McDermids and with the Pres of the Caribean CCM, Pres. Glazier to visit the zone conferences.  We had three days (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) of zone conferences, with a total of five zones.  Our presentations were a review of good health practices. The Glazier's stayed with Pres Alvarado in the mission home and we stayed in an apartment nearby with the McDermids. The island is a pleasant break overall, clean and more orderly.  We had time to visit a park that is a rainforest, El Junque on Monday.  On Wednesday we drove west and stopped at the Camuy River caves and at a large radio dish observatory, the Arecibo Observatory. 

There is a new mission nurse in Puerto Rico, her grandson is serving in the mission too.  She is doing a great job teaching exercise and monitoring health conditions.

Jorge Alvarado did a magic show for us
on Sunday night.



La Cascada Coca, in El Junque rainforest.




La Mina Falls, a pleasant up and down
hike of about 1/2 mile




Traditional dance at San Cristobal forteleza
in Old San Juan




Demonstrating a proper curl or sit up
for the San Juan Zone on Tuesday



With Sr. Visker at the Arecibo Observatory

Camuy Caves north entrance.

More teaching of exercises for the Ponce and Caugas
Zones on Friday.

Caugas Zone with Sr. and Pres. Alvarado and Pres. and Sr. Glazier.

Bayhibe Dive and Snorkel Trip

We were tired from Jamaica, arriving to our apartment at about 11:30 on Friday, but we were committed to a day outing with the seniors, I had told Pres Glazier I would dive with his son, as everyone else was snorkeling. So in the car at 6:30 and off we went.  It turned out very well.

The diving was safe and fun to do, I haven't been very active for awhile but it comes back. Visibility was good, 40 feet or so. The cataamaran we were on was fun, the group had plenty of room and lunch was good, hurray for ScubaFun.


The Piscina Naturelle is a large sand-bottom area about 3-4 feet deep where
boats anchor to socialize, swim and snorkel.





Eager for my first of two dives.  I slept well on Saturday night.



Jamaica

Our call is to serve the Caribbean area, with the McDermids, for missionary health.  Last week we flew to Jamaica for a mission visit during Zone Conferences.  That should be a quick flight, but unfortunately there are no direct flights.  So through customs we go, and go.  First to Miami, then to Montego Bay.  We did conference with the missionaries on Saturday in Savannah la Mar and Branch conference there on Sunday, Pres. Hendricks is the ecclesiastical leader in Jamaica too, no stakes yet. We had a beautiful room in Negril(Rondel Village) and did get to walk the beach there in the early am on Saturday.

Assistants, Pres and Sr. Hendricks, the McDermids and Cindy
at Savannah la Mar Zone conference.

Sav Elders are enthralled.

Relaxing in Negril after Conference.

Spectators for ingrown toe surgery.  We used a table in
the Relief Society room.

After Sunday meetings we drove back to Kingston, very bad roads in parts of Jamaica.  Monday in Kingston we did some calls but mostly had time to see the mission home, office and meet a few of the Elders and senior couples. Tuesday we drove to Ocho Rios, a popular tourist spot. Cruise ships dock there and the well known Dunn's Falls are near there. The missionaries are generally well in Jamaica, clean water and food help alot.

Ocho Rios Zone Conference

Houses on way to Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios ready for the tourists and cruise ships.



Ocho Rios Murals





















Wednesday was zone conference in Kingston, at the La Crescent building. A larger group of missionaries, and a bit more lively too. I brought my ingrown toenail kit to the island and fixed one in Sav and one in Kingston.



Lounging in the GA bedroom in the Kingston Mission Home.

 Thursday we were off to Grand Cayman, a place I have been to dive three times, but not for many years.  The area has change completely, apparently a hurricane in 2004 resulted in a major rebuilding program.  Large banks, accounting firms and lawyers seem to have taken over. We stayed at Sunshine Suites, nice pool and just across the street from the beach.

Arrival was windy in Grand Cayman on Thursday
Morning.

We had a break and did a little drive and walked along
 the north part of 7 Mile Beach.

No time to change clothes, we caused a few looks.

Discussing a case.

Choosing new interior colors for the Grand Cayman building.

The building in Georgetown is near the airport, the Branch is strong with over 120 members in attendance most Sundays. There are only two Elders there, they weere hammered for hours by us, luckily we escaped for two hours in the afternoon for a short drive and beach break on 7 Mile Beach.

Activity in the Republica Dominicana

It has been awhile for a post, too much going on.  We have had some busy clinics and  traveling to do.  We have been well so don't worry. 



Cindy has been assigned to coordinate FHE for the senior missionaries, there are so many now that we don't fit our room.  58 people if everyone comes.




We have been stopping at the Rica outlet on the way home from Santiago, discount juice and real butter. Plus they have a good greenhouse with lots of beautiful exotic plants.




We're off to the land of the Bolt.



Humming along

We have been doing well, routine for the most part.  We have gotten comfortable driving, some things that driver's do are still astounding but usually we don't have much adrenaline involved with getting about. This picture...

tells a sad tale.  Ignore the empty popcorn bag and the empty tetrapac of milk.  Boxed irradiated milk might make a good story of its own.  The empty Dots box is a reminder that we don't get our usual candy here.  Chocolate at Pricesmart is the usual brands, but licorice, Jujyfruits and Dots are not to be had. This time, in May, when I go to Puerto Rico I am bringing back a serious amount of candy. I still have a box of Jujyfruits that Liz sent in a box of clothes for Mom.  So don't feel too sorry for me.  In addition, mango season has started, so I don't need anything else sweet to eat now.



Just a picture of our neighbors drying their wash.




Reid Cornish got an Ipad2 when they were back
for conference. He is sharing some apps with Cindy.




Reid was also taking pictures of all the couples,
so I got one for my camera in our lining room.




For Easter we had a group dinner, we have about 50 when we get together now. There have been several replacement couples and some new Temple missionary couples. It makes me less needed in the Temple, English and basic French used to be of some value, but now there are a lot of options.