St Kitts and Nevis

Battered but Unbeaten.  I can identify with him.

We are now on the island of St Kitts.  South of the BVI, St Kitts was also once a British territory but is now an independent country.  It is much larger than Tortola and has a completely different feel. The people are not as friendly, but we can work with that.  The LDS branch is much larger and stronger than the one on Tortola, but that little branch has four missionaries out, two more with calls, and one awaiting his call.  Quite impressive for a small branch of new members.

Kelvin, waiting for his call

The branch presidency of Tortola Branch was changed.  Frank Kalama has been the BP for most of the past 10 years, but it is time for him and his family to move back to Hawaii.  The new BP is a terrific guy who has been coming down to Virgin Gorda every winter with his wife.  They have been on a mission to India and have been spending their summers in North Carolina, but they will now be spending the whole year in the BVI.  They will be terrific.  Leaving those sweet people was a terribly painful emotional experience for us and for them, but that is how life goes.  

We visited the library of a local college.  The librarian, an ardent Obama fan, showed us a book of 1825 records of "captured Negroes" in the BVI.  Priceless.

          

They sort of speak English here

Steep hill on Tortola

Finding our way around the new neighborhood has been somewhat challenging for us old folks, but we are getting there.  Look at St Kitts-Nevis on Google Earth to get a lay of the land here.  The two islands are the result of volcanic activity with plenty of remnants of the islands’ birth process. 

St Kitts Mountains

We went exploring a little bit this afternoon as we drove down through the peninsula.  There is actually a small group on Nevis so we will be going there once in a while.  Meanwhile, we have found our way to the local LDS church.  There are three mango trees on the church lot and the fruit is just ripening.  Boy, are they good!  

We already know a few of the members here.  Jason Benjamin came to Tortola in February to do a church audit and stayed with us for a couple of nights.  We met the Persaud family when we went to the temple in April.  In fact, we spent one whole day with Tiffany and Teo while their parents were going through the temple for their first time.  

Tiffany and Theo

Then we were privileged to witness the family being sealed together.  It will be really fun to work with them again.  Gaye will be doing piano lessons and I will have a lot more to do than I did on Tortola.  We are excited.  By the way, Steve Haymore did his DVM training here a few years ago.  We have met two people who remember the Haymore's fondly.  Small world. Steve grew up just around the corner from us and he and Spencer spent a lot of time together.

Here are some photos of the area and some of the people.

Coqui frogs. They are noisy.

Flambouyant trees in bloom

Mongoose on St Kitts

Green Vervet monkey on St Kitts

10 year old Aukievah.  Love the hair!

Dumb gulls, bathing in a mud puddle

Tortola Hillside Homes

Where we live onSt Kitts, bottom right.

Gaye's favorite piano students

Feeling more in control now!