April 19, 2015 - Shelley

April 19, 2015

In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s autumn.  The other day, the air was uncharacter-

Istically crisp( by “crisp” I mean the temperature was down to 70) and the sky was overcast.  The huge tree in the yard next to the mission complex has lost all its leaves.  Honestly, I was overcome with a feeling of fall – like I needed to go home and turn on the fireplace and break out the hot chocolate.  Fall is my favorite season.  It only lasted for one day, but it was wonderful!  Things are definitely changing though because the rainy season is almost over, but alas, we don’t really need a fireplace.  

I read on KSL.com that Barry Manilow will have a concert this week in Salt Lake.  I’m trying to get over the fact that I’ll miss that.  ☺

I received a present this week!  Odette Kasey owns the Peage School where we have given sewing machines and fabric for school uniforms.  She made matching dresses for us!  It was a very

nice surprise!  I really like it other than the fact that this style of dress shows off every M&M  I ever ate – but it was such a thoughtful gesture!  In the photo above, Odette is on the right and her daughter, Miré is between us.  Miré teaches at her mother’s school and is expecting her third child in September.  Odette had Miré when she was only 16 years old.  Odette is 45 years old now – so these two could very easily be my daughter and granddaughter!!!  Holy cow!

We had some good news from our son-in-law David Chamberlain.  He served a mission as a youth in the Philippines.  Proper dental care is a great problem there.  For several years, he and some other Utah dentists have been trying to get church approval to have a dental clinic at the MTC in the Philippines.  And as of this week, it looks like this might actually happen!  It would be such a blessing!  I was shocked a few weeks ago when one of the young sister missionaries in our English class had two teeth pulled because they were infected – but maybe that’s the best option available.  I hope to never find out firsthand!

Here’s a picture of another cute gal we met with recently.  (Try to ignore my skeewompus badge!)  Her name is Sister

Bridget and she works at Saint Yvonne’s Eye Clinic.  We are scheduled to have a major initiative in the area of vision later this year.  There is quite a bit of work that needs to be done before the specialist comes from the US in September, so we have been working through three different eye centers that will be receiving new diagnostic eye equipment from the church.  It’s such a small world because the specialist – Dr. Jesse Hunsaker – is from Logan and is the brother of one of our good USU friends, Hedy Eyre.  He has been wonderful to work with so far and we really look forward to having him come with the equipment.  It is needed so badly!!!!

Most of the children that we see are masters at making play out of ANY little piece of wood or old container or rocks or anything!!!!  Very few have what we would know as traditional toys that our children played with.  It’s hard to see the details here, but the older boy was pushing the younger one who was riding on an old plastic bidon like a sled. They were having a great time!

I hope that this carton is readable, but it basically has African boys feeling sorry for North American children because of their awful lives – and they decide to have a fund raiser for them!  Too funny!

We’ve spent quite a bit of time in the office this week while we wait for water projects to be approved.  I have the

most wonderful companion in the whole world!  I have nicknamed him “Schroeder” after the Peanuts cartoon character who hovers over his little piano and plays so fervently.  Clark sits just like that over his computer everyday.  He has put his whole heart and soul into crossing every “t” and dotting every “i” in an effort to get our projects approved.  He’s been creative and very diligent in pursuing every possible avenue to make things work.  I really don’t want to be known as crabby Lucy, even though Lucy has undying love for Schroeder – but I do love MY Schroeder more and more each day!

Have a great week!  Love,  Mom/Soeur Davis