The steel drum band played "Roll out the Barrels." Funny since the steel drum evolved out of the barrels abondoned by the US Navy on the island nation of Trinidad. Its amazing how resourceful people can be when there is no other choice.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
We spent a few hours at the PCC yesterday. This place is so beautiful that you can turn your camera in any direction and take a beautiful picture. (I didn't mean me) This week our devotional speaker was 
Michael Teh of the first quorem of seventy. He is the area president over the Asia or North Asia area. President Wheelwright told us on Friday that Brother Teh told him that no member lost their life in the Japan earthquake or tsunami. Every member had been accounted for. Brother Teh's talk was awesome too. You can find it at byuh.edu then devotionals, then recent or previous devotionals. Many other great talks are there too like last week John H. Groberg spoke, he was fun. He is the G.A. that the movie The Other Side of Heaven was written about. I was asked to run an errand to his appartment so I got to met him and his wife. They are amazing just as you would expect. I have so many incredible experiences here that I would not be able to even dream about at home.
Michael Teh of the first quorem of seventy. He is the area president over the Asia or North Asia area. President Wheelwright told us on Friday that Brother Teh told him that no member lost their life in the Japan earthquake or tsunami. Every member had been accounted for. Brother Teh's talk was awesome too. You can find it at byuh.edu then devotionals, then recent or previous devotionals. Many other great talks are there too like last week John H. Groberg spoke, he was fun. He is the G.A. that the movie The Other Side of Heaven was written about. I was asked to run an errand to his appartment so I got to met him and his wife. They are amazing just as you would expect. I have so many incredible experiences here that I would not be able to even dream about at home.
We had another barbeque with the Kapu's the other day. Kamaka is standing in the yellow. She and Liz bring us treats all the time. Liz is sitting on the left in front of her mother Silvia. And Silvia's mom is in the front on the left. The others there were extended family. We sure love this family and not just because they are great cooks. They have taken us in as family and always are watching out for us.
This is Cindy and Blair Packard, founders of the www.careforlife.org. They work in villages in Africa to stablize families, improve living conditions, and educate and empower the villagers to earn a living. They not only deal with all of the ravages of poverty but they also deal with the challenges of aids and maleria. They have dramatically increased hope. Here are some of their stats: reduced local infant mortality from 138/1000 to 64/1000, families drinking safe water from 15% to 99%, families who live in improved housing increased from 45% to 95%, people sleeping under mosquito nets increased from 46% to 97%, families using latrines increased from 46% to 97%, households with pest infestation decreased from 79%n to 5%, small family businesses increased from 15% to 36%, children attending school increased from 28% to 48%, people tested for HIV/AIDS increased from .9% to 30%. These are some of the 30 areas that are regularly evaluated. 1 in 9 mothers die from complications of childbirth, since the inception of FPP no women participating has died as a result of complications of pregnancy. Life expectancy in Mozambique is 39 years, 54% of Mozambicans live below the world poverty level. 26.5% HIV rates exist in Beira Corridor (their area of focus). This is just an average couple with an idea. They pay for all of their own airlines tickets and any of their own expenses. Nothing that is donated to them goes to wages or to travel. I am very impressed with them and what they have done.
Jerry and Ella Simons with John and DeAnne
Jerry helps the poor in the Peruvian highlands develope basic infrastructure to improve life and restore hope in mountian villages. His moto is "God's work, Peruvian hands and American generosity" All labor to build clean water delivery systems, domestic animal shelters, schools and community bathrooms is provided by villagers. He has an amazing catalogue at www.HopeProjects.com where you can buy a pair of animals to give to these hard working simple folk. Jerry's rule about the animals is they are to never be killed. They are breeding stock and the villager who gets the animals must recieve one weeks training in the care of the animals and must give the first offspring to the next qualified family. Jerry is a no nonsense LDS guy who funds his own overhead so 100% of donations are used to feul his hope building machine. We are truely inspired by his efforts.
DeAnne Tippetts and Becky Douglas
Becky shared some pictures and stories of her work in India. She has set up a non profit organization to help those afflicited with leprosy in India. It is amazing what one person who cares can accomplish. She was one of several speakers sharing ideas about what average people can do in the second half of their lives to make the world a better place. You can see what this stay at home mom is up to at www.RisingStarOutreach.org 
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