- We have been on Dominica now for almost 6 months. We have loved the many opportunities and experiences we have had. We will be eternally grateful for all the blessings of serving a mission. Most of all, it has been a blessing to be able to focus more on the Savior and our earthly purpose. To think more of others and how we can help them along the covenant path. Our own testimonies have grown as we have watched people progress.
- In July we received a huge blessing. Russ and LeAnn Church arrived on Dominica as a second senior missionary couple. They are from Delta, Utah. Before they came, we were traveling between Portsmouth and Roseau to serve the members in both areas. We were given the choice between the two locations, and we chose to serve in Portsmouth. It is a much more relaxed and less populated city. We love the Churches! We get together every other Friday to explore the island and enjoy one another’s company. We hope that they might be able to come up here to Portsmouth when we leave.
- We continue to help Jill at her farm in the mountains and try to go every week. She grows so many things from Bananas and plantains, guava, papaya, mango, coconut, pineapple, bread fruit, limes, tangerines, cocoa, and more. She is a hard worker. She makes her own coconut oil and sells it. She has started making her own soap and uses local plants as some of the ingredients. She and Shilton have enjoyed learning about ways to strengthen their relationship. We hope there will be a wedding soon.
- We just love all the members of our branch!! Suzie is our best supporter and comes to everything. She is such a great example to all her family. Earnest is a wonderful person who is so eager to help in anyway he can. Hopefully one day his wife Consetta will join him in this gospel. Natasha Joseph is the Relief Society president and is very faithful. Her girls are darling and call us Grandpa and Grandma. We pray that someday their father Martis will accept the gospel. Our sweet friend Leotha stayed by her husband's bedside day after day for months until he succumbed to his illness and quietly passed away. We helped support her with visits of prayer and comfort. The youth are so special!! We have had several over for dinner and a movie and that has been so fun. Nevada and Divisky are sister and brother and were baptized a few months back. They are delightful and we hope that they will continue to learn more about Jesus Christ and his gospel. We will always remember Jeremiah, McKenny, Jervon and all the other youth who supported us for Family Home Evening and movie night. John took some boys snorkeling not too long ago. Even though they were born on this island and surrounded by water, it was the first time for snorkeling for each of them. That was super fun. I made them a breakfast sandwich of toast, turkey slices, cheese, eggs and jam which they loved!! Jeremiah recently asked me if I could make those sandwiches for him to sell. A sign I guess that they were really good!!
- We have been blessed to have Hunter and Tanner McBride (twin brothers from California) who are here attending the American Canadian School of Medicine. They are a huge asset to our little congregation. We sure need them here. They come over every other Sunday with the missionaries for dinner. We love their company and have loved hearing their own missionary stories.
- In July we also got new Mission Leaders. President and Sister Hernandez. They have been absolutely amazing and so supportive. Its nice to get a personal call every now and then. It is also really wonderful to see how they interact with all the missionaries. President Hernandez is an excellent teacher and facilitator. He has such a strong testimony and his love for each missionary is evident. He is also effectively the Stake President over the islands, and he has been very busy helping the islands become a stake. We hope to have two separate branches here on Dominica soon instead of one huge branch where the members are spread between the two biggest cities and areas.
- We are so blessed to serve alongside the missionaries. They work so hard and diligently. Right now we have Elder Soto and Elder Kluge. Serving with the missionaries has been a highlight for sure. We have loved each and every one of them.
- We have loved all the things we have been taught in Mission Devotional and District Council. How turning to the Lord with mighty faith is so important. How setting goals is so important and making plans to focus on what matters most. To find great joy in the work of the Lord and pray to bring about His purposes. To know we are here because we love the Lord and His gospel.
- In these last eight weeks now we are praying to be able to accomplish the Lord's design for us and bring about all the good we can!
This little yellow Finch landed on the table…
Trafalgar Falls is amazing. This pic gives an…
The picture does not do justice to this stunning…
Kristi with LeAnn Church on the trail at…
Elder Kluge's first Portsmouth FHE :)
"Manicou" is the local name for opossum (or as we…
These guys get quite large and are fun to watch!
Kristi with Natasha at her home holding a Cacao…
With Elders Kluge and Soto on our balcony in…
We love hiking up the mountain to Jill's Farm and…
Unlike St Thomas, we have no USPS or Amazon…
Kristi taking in the tropical mountain scenery on…
Chaudiere Pool trail
Another fun remote, wild, and wonderful…
Kristi with Natasha and a tray of Cacao beans…
Our friend Jill is so industrious and capable! …
This is Jill's coconut oil being extracted from…
This is the rather primitive manual coconut…
We spotted this cloud with a rainbow in it from…
We had a really small group one Monday holiday…
We enjoyed hosting all 4 General Conference…
Check out this cruel tree! Looks like a cross…
Christy is a light! We always enjoy their…
Kenny, Jeremiah, and Elijah enjoying a FHE game
After a LOT of sketchy rental cars, we were…
We always take a group photo after our brief…
Nevada was baptized recently. We invited her and…
This was on our short hike to Emerald Pool
Emerald Pool is a beautiful swimming pool…
On the trail to Emerald Pool with Russ and LeAnn…
Kristi adding to the scenery!
Kristi with LeAnn during our visit to the…
We enjoyed exploring the Kalinago territory and…
More exploring!
Jill's soaps are amazing already - she just…
I liked this picture and included it in a slide…
This is another artist's creation of our Savior…
Sister Sumner helping the young Elders to be…
Another different sunset scene with a pillar of…
Then the pillar of light appeared more vivid and…
Fort Shirley is a historic British fortification…
Big Guns (not mine!)
First ever Dominica Youth Conference Aug 31st…
All the Youth Conference participants received a…
Jill's daughters helped us at one of the Faith…
Kristi with one of the groups of our youth making…
We arranged transportation for the youth from…
We had the best lunch together at the little…
Here's some really pretty ladies awaiting lunch…
Martis is a great Dad/husband/friend! This is…
We love this picture of Martis and one of he and…
The kids really loved our Youth Conference. This…
The girls - after swimming and ready to go to…
Some of the girls at Youth Conference with…
Jill's beautiful daughters at Syndicate Falls!
Youth Conference earned lots of "Thumbs Up"…
Kenny, Elijah, and Cornelius at the falls
Bonding through a wonderful, shared experience
The 3 Dominica missionary companionships at the…
Jill with Shaela and Joanna - cute!
Our good friend Shilton (our Young Men leader) in…
We had a great time with all of our Youth…
Meeting together in Portsmouth with youth from…
This picture says a lot about these two young…
Indian River scenery - one of the sites on…
On the Indian River with our guide "Leo"
On our river cruise with the Elders and the other…
We love serving/helping on Jill's farm high in…
The best!
Most of our Portsmouth Branch came for a special…
We love these giant old growth trees in the…
"What a day that will be!" God already knows…
Paix Bouche (pronounced "pay-bush") is a…
Kristi outside a home
We met Kim and Jasmine on St Thomas where they…
We welcomed Tayjuna, Shermiah and Acacia home…
This is Mike's house in Portsmouth that he built…
The Calabash is like a gourd which the indigenous…
Applying some brain (and brawn) to move some…
Or at least a few boulders! We love helping…
We see slow progress every week as we help…
