April Activities

This is a photo of Presidente Brito. He is the district president in Azua. There are six branches in his district and only the city of Azua itself is big enough to have business concerns that need employees. His members are economically challenged beyond anything our family has experienced. He is young with a tremendous amount of responsibility and he is humble and obedient enough to be concerned about the Perpetual Education Fund as well as all of the other things he must do. Making the best use of the PEF program will make a big difference in his district but only in the future. He (like the rest of us) must balance the many urgent and important tasks he should accomplish with his available time and resources. He is also going to school, has a family and I'm sure has a "to do list" that stretches to infinity. Good thing he has faith that a loving Heavenly Father will provide him with the ability to do what he is asked to do. Above, he and his branch presidents are listening intently to Grandpa teach them about the Perpetual Education Fund.

This is the local car wash. We came down that road behind the cars to see the beach. The road passes over the cement that this stream also passes over to run into the ocean. The beach is about a block behind this point.

This is a view of the beach in Azua. It is called Playa Monte Rio or Mountain River Beach. The river runs into the area at the right on the far side. No tourists come here but some local people were enjoying the beach this Saturday morning.

Here is a typical style older home in the town:

This pink house is more typical than you might think. They do creative things with cement and cement blocks here. What would your neighbors think if you built a house like this one?


We also had the chance to speak to these fine missionaries who were finishing their missions and going home. This is Lissette from the Employment Office giving them an overview of the Career Workshop. When she finished we taught them about the PEF and how to get involved when they got home. The elders from the United States can't participate but we encouraged them get educated and find good jobs in order to donate so that their fellow missionaries in third world countries could get a good education also.

During the last two weeks of April the USS Comfort is here in Santo Domingo. The previous stop was Haiti and from here it will go to Antigua, and a couple of countries in Central America. It is staffed with military doctors and nurses and medical technicians from all of the branches of service as well as public health and several other organizations. They are taking four months to bring medical services to people who couldn't get it otherwise. We spent two days last week and will spend four days this week translating. There are three locations where they are screening patients who need surgery and treating patients who need an amazing variety of help. The first day I helped where they were taking vital signs: blood pressure, temperature, etc. The next time I was with the lab table where they drew blood and did simple tests to provide the doctors with information they needed as they talked with patients. Those who need surgery will be taken by helicopter to the ship where they will receive the surgery and the follow up care that they need through the end of the month. One companion can accompany each patient on the ship.


This is a tiny part of the crowd that waited to be seen inside. Lots of vendors came too, selling fruit and ice cream and drinks and whatever. We heard that about 3,000 people were seen the first week. The pavilion is for hand ball. It had nets like soccer but the balls are not the same and I saw them moving the ball with their hands. This group was doing drills and I didn't get to watch long enough to understand how the game is played.

This mom with her five kids had waited a long time but the son in the orange shirt was a great example of the perfect patient. He watched his blood draw without a flinch and never moved a muscle. His sisters, on the other hand, never stood still.

The nurse below wanted her picture taken with the children and the "Happy Tooth" who was dancing around and entertaining the kids. I heard it was an attorney who was wearing the costume. She deserves credit because it was very hot even without a costume.

This nurse told me that she was shaken by how bad things were in Haiti. There were tickets given to the department of health but instead of giving the tickets to the needy, they were sold and then sold again and again. She said she will never again take her living conditions at home for granted. She said she has a totally new appreciation for a tooth brush, shampoo and running water every day.

The USS Comfort is providing wonderful service to needy people. Grandpa told me he was helping them give out prescription medicine worth a lot of money to people who needed it. I had never heard of this ship before. Apparently it has been making trips like this every other year for many years. Many lives will be saved and even more will be improved by their care. There are so many ways to make life better for others. What are you contributing? Remember you can improve the "comfort" in your own home by being helpful and wearing a smile.

We love you,
Grandma and Grandpa Pettingill

Today is Easter

Easter is a special day. We enjoyed a wonderful Easter because of the Tenisingh family. We picked up our new friends and took them to church with us. The dad is the Branch President in Rosignol, Guyana, the Mom is called Silvie and the daughter is Rachel. The daughter is 14, "almost 15", she says. Our friends, the Bullocks, who are serving in Guyana had told us that this family was coming and we should try to find them. We were very fortunate that last Thursday it was a holiday here for Easter and our office was closed. We went to the temple that morning and ended up in the session in which Brother and Sister Tenisingh were receiving their own endowments. We figured it out by the end of the session and introduced ourselves in the Celestial Room. English speakers are few and far between. We asked if we could attend their sealing session and they were happy to invite us. I was privileged to act as proxy for their first daughter who had died at age four. The temple president, President Harris talked with them in his kind and loving way and explained the sealing ceremony and its significance. He showed them the opposing mirrors and talked about the effect of this ceremony of their lives for all of eternity if they keep their covenants. Rachel came in after the parents were sealed to each other and she and I (as a stand in for their other daughter) placed our hands on the hands of her parents and were sealed to them forever. It was a very special experience. It was a blessing for us to have been able to participate. The parents have been in the temple all day Friday and Saturday. Rachel was able to do baptisms for the dead on each of those days as well. They brought family names and have been able to do proxy work for some of their parents and grandparents.
Our Sacrament Meeting is in Spanish of course. The Tenisingh family recognized many of the temple workers they have gotten to know over the last few days and there were also people from Guadalupe and Martinique they had met as well. Rachel went to the stand to bear her testimony. Her father followed her. I was amazed at how clearly Rachel expressed herself in front of the congregation. She said that she did not speak Spanish and had no choice but to bear her testimony in English which was the only language she knew. She expressed appreciation for the opportunity for their family to come here and receive the blessings of the temple. She bore her testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the restoration of the gospel. Her father followed her. He is more difficult to understand but he told of what he knew to be true and explained how he knew it. He described reading the scriptures and praying about them and told of several principles that were most important to him. These are people who have very, very little of what the world values but they are comfortable and confident of what they know is important. The mom and I were a long way from the aisle but she asked me to go up with her so she could bear her testimony. We had to wait a few minutes because the floodgates were opened for those who wanted to bear their testimonies but couldn't do so in Spanish. Several decided to go ahead and speak in English too. During a small pause we climbed over everyone and went up. I bore my testimony and Sister Tenisingh did so also. She spoke very clearly at the microphone. When she speaks with her husband I have a harder time understanding her but she communicated her faith and testimony very clearly to us American speakers during testimony meeting. Rachel is always easy to understand but the parents use some vocabulary that is completely new to us and their pronunciation is unique to Guyana and influenced by the British. They are sweet, kind people who spend an amazing amount of time and effort to support and help the Saints in their branch in Guyana.
They came home with us for dinner. I'm not sure what I was thinking, we had fajitas and rice and pineapple with brownies for dessert. Not traditional American Easter fare but it worked with what we had and could put together. We had arranged for them to meet with the family history people at 4:00 to learn more information about Family Search to share in Guyana. But until then we drove around the Colonial area of Santo Domingo and got as close to the ocean as the rocky cliffs would let us here in Santo Domingo. Rachel loved the ocean and was happy to have the spray blow on her as she took photos of the water. There were more waves than usual and they splashed up the blow holes and made an impressive showing for us. They were amazed as how blue the water is. As we certainly noticed, the rivers and the oceans are brown with mud in Guyana. They also have a special treat this evening. President Johnson of the Area will hold a fireside for the people here attending the temple at 8:00 PM.
Unfortunately we have commitments tomorrow but we will hope to meet with them again on Tuesday before they return home on Wednesday. It is unlikely that they will ever be able to afford another family trip to the temple but their covenants and memories will be an important part of their lives forever. Someday Rachel plans to return to be sealed to her future husband in the temple. Or perhaps by then there will be a temple closer to their own country.
Dad was on the program to give the closing prayer in Sacrament Meeting so he didn't bear his testimony in church today but wanted to write to each of you today:

Dear Children,

On this Easter day, the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I would like you all to know that I know that Jesus Christ was in fact resurrected. He lives. We also will be resurrected after we die. Our lives are meant to be a stepping stone into eternity. If we choose the right and follow the Savior’s example we will be able to live with Him. If we don’t follow the Savior we will still be resurrected but to a glory less than what we are capable of. We are children of Our Father in Heaven. We have the potential to become like him but only by obedience to His laws and ordinances. May each of you strive to choose the right and follow the Savior. Love one another, do good to those in need, forgive each other and judge not that we be not judged. I love each of you. (see also Moses 6:53-62)

Love

Dad P.

We love each of you and are so grateful to be family! Hope you enjoyed a wonderful Easter Day as well.

Love, Mom/Jeri/Grandma