Returning Home with a Little Souvenir…

It’s a bitter sweet feeling leaving the place you have called home for nearly two years.  There were moments when all you can do is think about being home, followed by experiences that we never wanted to end.  But the time came for us to get on a plane and say good bye to so many people we had grown to love, so many places we had fallen in love with, and we knew it would be a long time before we made it back.

We left a small piece of our hearts with the island of Saint Lucia, but we came home with a whole lot more!  We returned with memories, friendships, and stories to tell, and an experience that we will never be able to forget and has changed our lives.

But we not only returned with memories, we came home with a little surprise.

 

Our adventure ended, but it’s just the beginning a new adventure for our little family. Growing from two to three!

On Christmas eve, to Brandon’s dismay, we found out the girls in our house will soon outnumber the boys, 2 to 1! 

The unknown is an intimidating thing, and often keeps us from pursuing our dreams, whatever they may be.  Though we knew it would be hard, not knowing where dad would be or how we would adjust, we knew only a leap of faith would make it happen.

While I stay in Idaho and grow a baby…Brandon has been here and there, spending 5 weeks in Atlanta the beginning of the year doing a pre-rotation, spending a few short months together with mom and his growing baby, and now he has left for New Jersey to study. 

Bringing my own soap and rags to the hospital to have a baby, was my worst nightmare.  I’m so grateful to be back in America, home from St Lucia, to have our little girl.  But not having Brandon here has developed into my new fear. Say a little prayer for us that we can get him home to meet his little girl when she arrives.

Only 3 weeks left…and the next adventure begins!

Tasting St Lucia

the FLAVORS of St Lucia...
Though my pallet has not changed while living on this island.....I still love a good ol' american cheeseburger, french fries, and a milk shake, but we have had the oppurtuntiy to broaden our horizons you may call it!
People commonly ask us...what do you eat in St Lucia...well here it is!
We have tasted things that we may never get to taste again, and several things I personally NEVER want to taste again.  At any moment in time, I could walk outside and pick a different piece of exotic fruit to munch on for the day.
Some of my favorite fruits now, are things I had never even heard of before...aki,  coco cooli, sugar apples, guava, five finger (star fruit), avocado, bananas, coconuts, mangoes....the list could go on forever! Many people here survive off whatever fruit is in the season at the time. 
...Mangos are my favorite!

Fruits I never want to even look at again....Rose apple and Tamarind!! GROSS! Just say no, if you are ever offered Tamarind Candy!

Funny as it sounds...one of my favorite things they make here is St Lucia is Mac n Cheese! Yeah I know right....they make the best baked Mac n Cheese you will ever have, and they call in "Mac Pie".

Makin Mac Pie with some friends!

 



Other popular favorites are "One Pot"...basically you put anything and everything into "one pot"...which usually ends up pretty good!

They drink whats called "Coco Tea" and dumplings...hot choclate on steroids...rather than opening a packet, stirring and adding a marshmallow, you grind the coco stick, use cinnamon bark, and whip up some homemade dumplings...60 mins later! ha ha...you have "hot chocolate".

St. Lucia comes from an area of the Carribean called the "West Indies", and there is definitely an Indian influence on there food..."Curry" and "Roti" (similar to a burrito, potatos, currry, and meat wrapped in a soft shell) are dishes you can get almost anywhere.

Lucians love there bread.  There is a bakery on every corner...and in every direction.  It comes from the French influence here...they eat long skinny, white loaves of bread. 
One of my favorites things are called "bakes", funny as it might be though...bakes are a scone type bread that is most commonly fried. Figure that one out for me!

 

 Frying up some bakes!

 

Fish...or chicken....(bones included).  I never thought I would eat, shark, stingray, barcuda, turtle, or dolphin...but if they catch it here, they eat it! More often than not...locals just chop it up, bones and all and cook it.  I have learned to chew carefully!

Salt fish and green fig (green banana) salad. Imagine a potato like salad with a mayo base, and thats what you get.  Salt fish is dried, salted, preserved fish, used in alot of dishes.  The salt fish is soaked to rehydrate it and then chopped and used in countless dishes.

They eat potatoes here in St Lucia, but more often they use Breadfruit, Dasheen, Green Fig (green bananas) or Plantains as there starch. All pretty similar and used in many different ways....just like the good ol IDAHO SPUD!

Breadfruit.

My favorite response when I tell people where I am from, "oh...where the potatoes come from!" YES...even half way across the world, in St Lucia, Idaho is known for there POTATOES!

 

Bought at our local lucian super market!

 

Unlike America, you often eat what gets put in front of you here.  You don't always have a choice whether you want this or that.  I have learned to just say a short prayer, pop it in my mouth and chew.  Sometimes its good and sometimes its not so good, but being picky just doesn't fly here!

You learn to adapt and adjust to your surroundings when you are in a forgien place, and even though things may come as a shock at first...you learn to make due and get the most out of your experience. But one thing is for sure...I'm excited to have some good Taco Bell and McDonalds soon!



sometimes being DIFFERENT is ok....

Not many times in my life have I wished I was black....EXCEPT when I am on the basketball court, until now! I thought I stood out among the Polynesians in Hawaii, but this island has taken it to a WHOLE new level. I find myself everyday WISHING I was not a tall blonde white girl, just trying to survive. As hard as I try to fit in, every attempt has failed me so far. I have moments of forgetfulness and think I blend right in (until I look in the mirror or at a picture), but it doesn't take long to remember the truth. Let me tell you why.....

In the beginning, everyone around me LOOKED black. That sounds funny, but I saw color. The longer I am here, color disappears and I no longer see color I just see people. Just like motor bikers who pass on the highway wave, every time I saw a white tourist I nodded, and I'm sure with a look of desperation, my face said..."hey...we are the SAME!"

Though I do not see color, I cannot hardly leave my house without being reminded I am a WHITE GIRL!

For starters, my crazy drunk neighbor does not even let me forget. Though he has finally stopped asking if I have a boyfriend after 6 months....he stills calls me "my girl", asks me to come over and see him, and while offering to carry my groceries tells me he wants to marry me.

It does not matter how far, how fast, or where I go running, without fail there seems to be a different group of men cat calling, making kissing noises, and yelling after me "hey SEXY lady!" (and trust me, I don't look "sexy" when I run!)

I can rarely pass the vagrants (bums) on the street, without them reaching out and begging me to shake their hand, them calling after me "I love you", (...oh please no!)…oh wait, and them "telling" me to give them money. My mother only made that part worst for me...when visiting here in St. Lucia, I lost track of how many times she gave this one particular man money….he knows me even by my car and calls me buddy!

One afternoon I was approached by a good looking guy on a bike…the first words out of his mouth were “me and you would look good together, you are beautiful!” 

Laughing I said, “well that’s nice of you, but I’m married…sorry!”

“…so you are sure there is no chance?”, he said with a smile.

The second time I was approached by a guy on a bike, the exchange was not so innocent.  If I had not been caught off guard by his offer, I may have pushed him off his bike.  Needless to say that the men here are not the most wholesome and innocent!!

The loud kissing sounds, the “hey sexy ladies”, the “my girls”, the “I love you’s”, and the marriage offers….have just become part of my everyday experience here.  Not a day passes that I am not told I am beautiful by a complete stranger.  As appealing as that sounds, those gestures have simply become a reminder to me that I am a WHITE GIRL!  No matter how hard I try to blend in, and forget that I am not black, I don’t imagine the men here will let me forget!!

But being the WHITE GIRL isn't always so bad.  Sometimes being just alittle bit different...is ok! Its experiences like these that make it all worth it......

 

Picking Mangos with my favorites nieces and nephews! They love when I bring them surprises from Idaho...I think I have officially become there favorite auntie! 

 The church donated a bunch of camping gear and cooking stuff to this group of girl scouts.  The couple times they have visited the church, they won't leave me alone :) Combing (braiding) my hair, bugging me about when I am going to "make" my own babies, asking me about Idaho (where the potatoes come from), and I LOVE every second of it...and LOVE all of them!

 Jillian (my friend Jannels niece) brings a smile to my face every time I see her.....she runs towards me with arms out stretched, yelling "Liiinnnndddsseeeey"!

...why are you here??

To be honest…after slipping through immigration three times prior to this, I had begun to believe I just might be able to worm my way out of any situation, that I just may be able to go Visa/extension free for the entire 18 months here, that the Lucian government would not succeed in taking every penny I own….boy was I wrong!

We returned to “paradise” last Sunday.  Every time I prepare to come through immigration I have a routine…fix my hair, wipe my eyes, straighten my clothes, all the time giving myself a silent pep talk to bat my eyes, smile big, and “Play Dumb!”  As I stood in line next to Brandon I knew we were in for it before we even got to the front of the line.  To my misfortune, 6 out of the 7 immigration guards checking paper work were women…my regular routine, a WASTE OF TIME!

We stepped up to the window…”passports please?”  After standing in silence for what seemed like hours, watching her flip back and forth through the pages of my passport, robotically looking for something that was apparently not there, she looked up at me and asked…

”Why are you here?” 
I replied with the only logical answer…”to visit my husband who is in medical school.”  Immediately follow she responded with…”when are you leaving?” 
With a smile I replied…”within the next few weeks, I have not yet purchased my ticket so I am unsure of the exact day.”

And that was all she wrote….

Brandon and I were escorted promptly to the back, also known as fDETAINMENT, where we were commanded to sit down.

Question after question…

Officer…“Why are you here?”
Me…”To visit my husband who is here going to school?”
Officer..."...but why are you here?"
Me....(thinking are you for REAL?)..."to be with my husband."
Officer…”Why do you want to see him?”
…..”ummmm, (with tested patience) because he is my husband.” (forcing my eyes not the roll back into my head and willing myself to not bust out in laughter!)

What seemed like 100’s of repeated questions, some mediocre attempts at intimidating me, and my butt getting sore from the hard chair, the immigration boss hog came to a conclusion.

I would have to pay basically 500 US dollars for the time I had been here “illegally” and had to book a plane ticket home, (so that I had a date that I would be returning to the states), on the spot…which means I did not get the best deal at all.  Until I came up with the money for both of these things, my passport was in custody, and the last thing I wanted was for them to hang onto my passport...who knows if I would ever get it back.  So just as they commanded I paid up.

Lesson learned…next time you are planning to stay in a country illegally, whatever you do…AVOID female immigration officers, because the routine, only works on MEN!!

 

(YES...this picture was taken in detainment...I could not let the experience pass without a picture to remember the moment.)

 

 

...Called to Serve...

If I had been asked a year ago to share a "MISSIONARY" experience....out of desperation I may have come up with some story from my life that could be stretched just enough to do the job, but it would not be easy.  Today, if you asked the same question….it is hard to remember a day passing without a missionary experience.  Missionaries, sharing the gospel, and missionary experiences consume a majority of my time!

I have developed a new found LOVE and APPRECIATION for Sister Missionaries in the past 7 months.  I had no idea before coming to St. Lucia the blessing missionaries can be, not only to those receiving the gospel for the first time, but also to those who were born into gospel.

Basically from the day we stepped foot on this island, the missionaries have been blessing our lives by, eating my cookies, enjoying our cool house, hitching rides in our car, dragging me along to share the word, using our computers, drinking our cold clean water, and crashing our house when they need a quick break from the world….ha ha, which I love every second of….but they have also blessed me with their faith and diligence, their knowledge, there love and support, and there example.

I was so relieved and reassured that you really can find The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints anywhere in the world, just days after arriving in St. Lucia, when Elder Mecham and Elder Rami walked towards me with those white shirts, ties, and little black name tags.

There was an instance connection, bond, and love between Sister Weaver and I, which I doubt will ever be broken, even before I found out she was from Rexburg, Idaho. It was almost as if the Lord had placed her here in St. Lucia, to be a comfort, a guide, and an example to me of how I could make the most of my experience here. 

Sister Udall made me laugh, whether she was trying or not.  We all know how healthy it is to laugh, and we ceased to have a dull moment even when sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

My love and passion for Hawaii and Polynesian blood runs deep, Elder Rivers, who is a Laie boy, taught me that even when life gets tough and it seems to be too much to bear, by following the Gospel of Jesus Christ, being faithfully, and enduring to the end, we can all be happy.

Last but not least, Sister Stephenson loved to do my dishes. There is no greater blessing that someone who loves to do your dishes! Ha….Sister Stephenson’s testimony touched me and her willingness to share her talents, drove me to practice and share my own.

Missionary after missionary has touched my life while being in St. Lucia, and without their love, diligence, and example…I can honestly say I may not have survived.  Missionaries are not just an instrument in Lords hands to preach the gospel….their purpose goes far beyond that.

Growing up in a Mormon community, opportunities to preach the gospel are limited…not so much once you get outside Idaho/Utah, even more so when you move out of the country.  Not a day passes, where I have not had the opportunity to share my beliefs, whether by preaching or by example.  Some experiences are good and some are bad, some are funny and a few have been sad, some come with a memorable story to share, and some I will never be able to forget.

Some of the hardest tears I’ve ever loved to cry came right before I watched one of my best friends, dressed in white, walk into the water and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  After months of questions, pouring out my heart, and testifying…words can’t express the joy that filled my soul.

I was invited by the Sister Missionaries to come meet Jannel, just a couple weeks after getting to St. Lucia, and we clicked from the get go.  She had just had her first few lessons from the missionaries the week before when I came along.  Over five months time, lessons, turned into more lessons, which soon turned into lessons and one-on-one games of basketball, hikes, more lessons, bonfires, swimming lessons, more lessons, and hanging out. The more I got to know Jannel, the more I learned about myself, and the more I wanted her to receive the knowledge and blessings that make me who I am. 

Jannel asked some of the hardest questions I have ever been asked, she created some of the toughest scenarios that can be imagined, and she milked my knowledge and understanding bone dry…the only thing for me to do was, testify.

 

Jannel has been a member of the church for almost three months now and is teaching the gospel principles class in our branch.  Though it was not instantly, but over a short period of time I have seen how the Holy Spirit can change lives.  Since Jannel was baptized, confirmed, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, the light within her brightens every day.  Jannel’s qualities, of Faith, Courage, Confidence, her willingness to stand alone, her testimony, Knowledge, Fun Loving Heart, Acceptance of others, and Persistence….which were present before she was baptized, have become increased tenfold, those qualities now make up who she is. 

The day of Jannel’s baptism I promised her several things, but one thing I hope she never forgets is…

“It won’t be EASY…but it will be WORTH IT”

 
If asked to share a missionary experience today…I may have a hard time deciding WHICH experience to share, but I know there is one experience I will NEVER forget.

 

---MERRY CHRISTMAS---

 Christmas away from home is always hard, but Christmas on an island is that much harder.  Having done this once before I was prepared, but being prepared doesn’t make it easy! Christmas is SNOW, Christmas trees, Christmas music, Christmas lights, spending time with family, and most importantly the birth of Christ.

Being on an island makes ALMOST ALL those things hard to find, instead of SNOW we had RAIN, instead of Christmas trees, we had PALM TREES, the reggae Christmas jams that played in the streets were not your typical songs bringing Christmas joy...everything about Christmas here, is DIFFERENT than home.  But I learned that the one thing that is NOT hard to find, no matter where you are in the world is the Spirit of Christ, which is the TRUE spirit of Christmas.
For such an unordinary Christmas—clearly the least FESTIVE of any I ever had before, I know these special days will remain in my heart forever as one of the sweetest Christmases I have ever had. I think that is because for the first time in my life, I found myself understanding Christmas rather than just enjoying it. I think for the first time, I was getting the message of Christ's birth and life—His message and His mission and His sacrifice for others.  When we understand the TRUE meaning of Christmas, we can find that Christmas spirit wherever we are.

That being said…

On the 14^th, Brandon finished his first semester of Medical school! One semester under his belt, one semester closer to being home, one semester closer to his DREAM! And the much needed 3 week break that followed has been such a blessing. 

Momma and Pappa J got here several days after Brandon’s finals…and so did the RAIN, RAIN, RAIN, and MORE RAIN.  Fortunately, the worst part of the rain was I had to stop playing “All I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan,” cuz I knew that wasn’t going to be happening! The rain cut back on the beach time, but didn’t cut down on the fun. We explored the beautiful botanical gardens and Diamond Falls, hiked New Jerusalem falls, visited the sulfur Volcano, had a warm satisfying MUD BATH, parasailed over the Caribbean ocean, eat some delicious island food, visited the historic Pigeon island, and enjoyed 20 mins of sunshine on Laborie beach.

 The view from the house they were staying at was AWESOME!

 

 

 Diamond Falls and the Botanical Gardens.

 

 I've decided since I can't have a puppy, I will get a goat! so FLIPPIN cute! they both crawled right through the fence and into my arms.

 

 YUMMM....muddy!

 

 Yeah...the driver thought it would be funny to take me and Bran swimming..ha ha!

 

 Lattile Falls

 

 

Desperate times call for desperate measures....a paper tree was the best we could do:)

 
Christmas eve we walked around down town Vieux Fort, which was the place to be. The streets were CRAZY, the music was loud, there were people everywhere, and island was alive. Christmas day was spent watching Christmas movies, talking to Elder Dakota Anderson, talking to family at home, and feeding the missionaries. We were so blessed and happy to get to share our St Lucian Christmas with family. We got spoiled like always, not sure what we would do without them! Love you guys!

around the Island and back again...

Two weeks ago I watched my family walk through the airport security doors toward me, which now ranks among one of the happiest moments of my life! I had missed them so much and I was so excited for them to experience the life I am now living! After hugs and smiles, they wiped the sweat off their foreheads and asked where they could find an AC....ha ha (it’s the cool season in St. Lucia right now.)

MONDAY-
Recovering from JETLAG, means we all got to sleep in a little, get settled in, buy some groceries, and then it was off to explore! We picked Brandon up from school after his tests, piled into my new (OLD) Mit SUV, and headed towards the town of Souferie. Not sure what we were going to find, we headed down a interesting side road, which put the Jackson Hole hill climbs to shame. We happened upon a waterfall hike to some mineral pools.

After the hike we drove into the town of Souferie, where we were quickly and unfortunately conned by the locals trying to get our money. We gave money to the black boys doing flippys off the doc, we bought necklaces for WAY too much, paid a guy who wouldn't take his arm out of the window of the car, we even paid a guy who drug us through town and took us to a horrible restaurant. As fun as it was, 6 white people walking around this town need to all practice saying the word "NO" before they step out of the car! Love the town, but at that point in time, not the people!

TUESDAY-

We again decided to face the insanely NARROW 2 way streets (the truck to the left of us is parked, and we have the van headed towards us that should be on the right of us...aye aye yei!), and the aggressive, cunning, begging locals of Souferie, this time practicing our "NO" skills all the way. Prepared as we were, we were once again taken, by King Nigel for Souferie himself, paying way too much for necklaces

 

We escaped the town and headed up a very steep, mountainous road that led us to our soon to be favorite spot on the island. Ana Chastnet, which is ranked in the top 10 scuba diving places in the world, not to mention the BEAUTIFUL beach, the AMAZING view, and the small amount of people. We snorkeled all afternoon and soaked up some Caribbean rays.

WEDNESDAY-

We got ourselves into a muddy mess, literally! We visited a volcano on the island, which smelled like stinky sulfur, where steam boiled out of the ground, and the boiling water was muddy gray. Yellowstone put this baby volcano to shame, but the MUD bath we took at the end, was something you don't find at home. We covered our bodies with hot, stinky, minerally mud and bathed in a HOT mud pot...our skin felt delightful after

 

We finished the day off, with a BEAUTIFUL hike through the jungle, across a creek, up to some warm baths...but we actually enjoyed the cold creek the most!

 

THURSDAY-

My family got a small taste of living in an under developed country. We went down town Vieux Fort, to the market and the bakery. 3 things we take for granted in America, Wal-Mart, garbage men, and animal control!

We then went to sandy beach, where we rented kayaks and the boys went CLEAR to the Island. We built a sand castle and fed my favorite local stray dogs milk bones from home, and gave them each a name.

 

 

 

 

My Branch Pres, who is a avid fisherman, and his wife and two girls met up with us in the evening and took us fishing. We caught a SHARK and a MAU MAU!

 

 

 

FRIDAY-

Bright an early we left the house and drove to the one of the most photographed places on St. Lucia. Our objective…summit the 2600 ft tall mountain. The GROS PITON, the second tallest mountain on St. Lucia.

Though 2600 ft does not sound tall...it was not an easy hike at all!

I thought I might die...when we were not that high!

Stopping to ask for directions along the way, we found our guide "Ashley", who jumped in with us, headed us down a road I would worry about taking a 4-wheeler down at home, and stopped us at our trail head, found on a beautiful beach. If you can imagine climbing 2000 steep, deep stairs, you will know why we were drenched in sweat from head to toe...but the view was AMAZING!

 

 

 

 

SATURDAY-

Brandon finally had a day off, it completed the day having him there with us! I love bananas, coconuts, and grapes...that’s why they call me Tarzan of the apes!!  We started the day off flying through the jungle on a 8 line zip line course.

 

 

 

We then made our way into the Souferie and back to our favorite place on the Island. This time, after about a 1/2 mile walk we found our own almost private beach, all inclusive with some of the world’s best snorkeling, a black sand beach, and one of the most breath taking views I have ever seen. If you were to close your eyes and imagine paradise....you would be right where we were!

 

 

 

SUNDAY-

One of the highlights of the trip! Church! Unfortunately fishing with the Branch Pres earlier in the week came with a price...ha ha, and my family was asked to bear there testimonies, Jill was asked to play the piano, and Dallin was asked to pass the sacrament. Their attendance at church, almost DOUBLED our congregation, which I loved as well as the members I am sure! Testimonies are such a simple thing, but the spirit at church was incredible and I felt very blessed to be to able to hear from EVERYONE in my family. Especially Elder Dallin Polson, who's farewell I knew I wouldn't be able to attend...I'm sure the spirit touched more than just my heart that day.

We finished off the afternoon taking family pictures on the shores of St. Lucia, honestly, who gets the opportunity to do that, such a beautiful backdrop!

 

 

 

 

MONDAY-

Around the island and back again....IN THE RAIN. We finally got to experience a tropical shower! Unfortunately the rain and the overcast skies clouded our view, but the drive was still beautiful. Up steep windy mountain roads, along beautiful blue coast lines, across rolling hills of banana plantations, and through small fishing towns we went...laughing all the way! Stopping here and there to buy some local goods, a LARGE cantaloupe sized avocado, coconut necklaces, banana ketchup, and carved wood pieces. We finally made it to Castries the city up north, where we went to the market, got local fish n chips, and found a magnificent thing…Mega J, similar to what we call at home, Sam's Club, full of American things that I had not seen for over 2 months now. Life just got a little bit easier.

 

TUESDAY-

We went down to sandy beach to see about kite boarding. To our dismay, it was going to take way too much time and way too much money, so instead we watched for awhile.

The rest of the day we put the boys to good use, working on the car which only got worse. Hours after checking the brakes, filling the spare, and rotating the tires, the right front brake rotor split and car had to really get fixed. We did not let that stop us...bright and early on Wednesday we found a rental!

WEDNESDAY-

Again we packed up the car and headed out of town, this time our destination...Diamond Falls, surrounded by a botanical garden, full of incredible, strange, gigantic, foreign flowers and amazing green foliage, and too many people. So many exotic and amazing plants and flowers to see! Don't get me wrong it was beautiful, but over crowded.

 

 

 

After going for a small drive, we stopped at what is known as one of the best local restaurants in Souferie, Gees Bonmanje. The food was good, but the atmosphere and the view was that much better! Local favorites consists of fish (shark, tuna, red snapper, anything really), baked macaroni and cheese, green fig salad (made with green bananas and sword fish), dasheen and breadfruit (similar to a potato), plantains, and chicken.

THURSDAY-

We headed up north to go to Rodney Bay, the hot spot for all the tourist and cruise ships. We had a mission in mind though, PARASAILING! Mission accomplished...the overcrowded, resort lined beach, was just the place to find what we were looking for! The view from above was spectacular and the experience was worth every penny.

 

 

After leaving the beach we found a local place to eat, called the Lime. The food was spectacular! Unfortunately we realized too late that my mom had left her camera, filled with pictures from the trip and the last 4 months on it, in the bathroom at the resort where we had parasailed. We rushed back, but it was long gone by the time we got there...which put a damper on the day...

Nonetheless, we moved on and visited Pigeon Island. What once was an island; they filled in the gap and is now a peninsula, that has cool old British forts and a little island history. 

 

 

 

 

FRIDAY-

We spent the day enjoying the beautiful blue water, the bright Caribbean sun, and the sand in our toes. A little taste of the island way, nowhere to go, no rush, no hurry, do what you want kind of attitude....my kind of day. After playing in the water, burying Dallin up to his neck in the sand, and lying around, we headed home. We cleaned up, and headed over to Pres and Sister Nicholas where we were fed a gourmet meal of Stingray and Shark! Delicious!

 

 

SATURDAY-

First thing we went down to the market, to check out what kinds of fresh fruits and veggies we could find. We ran some errands and my family made their final purchases.

We then took one last drive to the town of Micoud, and found a place called Lattile Falls. We were led down a small hike where we found several sets of waterfalls, and a rope swing at the end out into the water.

 

 

 

In the evening we drove down to Sandy beach, and met up with the Sister Weaver and Sister Udall (the two biggest blessings in my life here on the island.) We had dinner at a restaurant called the Reef.

SUNDAY-

The day I had dreaded for 2 weeks. After church, my family packed up and I took them to the airport. The only thing positive about them going home was...I knew Bailey would be one happy dog to have them back, jealous!

Saying good bye is always HARD, but I knew I had to be greatful for the two weeks that I was able to share with them. Home is only a phone call away and a plane ride for that matter. Saying goodbye to your favorite brother for 2 years, the HARDEST, but the knowledge I have of the gospel and my testimony of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ makes saying goodbye that much easier. I know that many will be blessed by his sacrifice, hard work, and testimony....and that makes it all worth it! I think of the blessing the Sisters here on St Lucia have been in my life, and I know that someone in Italy will be just as grateful if not more for Elder Polson. LOVE YOU!