Party Time!

St Martin 09, 10, 2015

On Thursday we spent the day inspecting the Missionary apartments. We were able to see all of them except the sisters, which is by the church, but Terri had seen that the other day.

All of the apartments were very nice! One had an incredible view of the bay where all the cruise ships come in.

 

In the afternoon we went to visit a home-bound member to give him the sacrament. He was a very faithful member, who has been ill for some time so hasn’t been able to come to church.

 

Terri and I went back to our condo so that the Thompsons could spend time packing and perhaps go to the beach.

On Friday we did errands—went to mail stuff, pay some bills (strangely enough, most bills on the island are paid for in cash, or you have to go to their office as you cannot pay on-line). The lines here at the stores, at banks, at utility companies, at government offices, etc., are VERY long. They never have enough people working to service their customers. And, they are all on ‘island time’, meaning, no one is in a hurry. Fortunately many places have a ‘senior line’ for those older than 60. These are almost always shorter. One obvious perk for us!

Friday night was busy: we had a church meeting, three LDS sailors had invited the ward to their boat, and there was a youth bon fire on the beach.

While driving around on errands I had stopped to get some extra maps. While there three men saw our missionary badges and came to talk with us. The owner Martin Frey was from Salt Lake—he actually lives very near where I grew up on Cottonwood Lane!—and two others were sailing around the world and visiting small LDS congregations along the way. They were in St Martin getting a part for their boat. The invited us, and the Ward, to come see the boat and have a party. We were all for that!

The boat was fantastic! It was a 57 foot catamaran with about 100 foot mast. It had four bedrooms (two on each side) and great living/kitchen area, and lots of room.

After going to tour the boat for an hour or so, we went to the beach, not far from where we are staying, for the youth fireside. They started a small bon fire, and had a missionary, the Branch President, and Martin Frey from the boat, say a few words. Then we ate hot dogs, cooked marshmallows, and had some cake (they had brought a farewell cake for the Thompsons).

Saturday we go to help clean the church and have a District training meeting that night. We are getting independent…we have the truck and Terri has officially taken over the Medical phone from Sister Thompson. They are staying home to pack.