Always have an emergency swimsuit

Hi everyone! I thought since it was so long between my last posts, that I should do another one to catch up, since I had some time. Our meeting on Sunday was good. We had 30 there. There was a brother that came from the mainland as a visiting speaker for us. He had 5 others with him too, so that was nice for the Watchtower study. I think in all there were 14 publishers there and 16 from the territory. So it was a nice group. Erica came even though it looked very cloudy and could rain at any time. You see she doesn't take her kids out in the rain, because they get sick easy. That is common here... people get sick when it is rainy and 70 degrees like at home in the winter. And in the past when I would invite her, and it looked like it would rain, she wouldn't go. But now, I think she is getting really into coming to the meetings that she wanted to go no matter what. She has been studying her Watchtower good, and picking out comments. This week, before the meeting I spent more time with her helping her to get her comments into english. She commented twice. I really need to help her learn to read english though, that would help her progress even quicker. They are all out of the Learn to Read & Write bro. in our hall, but fortunately Lynn got one to bring to me, and she didn't even know I needed it!

We are making plans for the memorial already. I can't believe it's getting to be that time of year! Since the Oak Ridge Kingdom Hall has to have 3 memorials (Spanish, English & Miskito) and last year English got the last time slot... 9pm, David had told Justin & I to keep our eyes open for somewhere we could rent to have the memorial. Because having it so late effects how many would come, and we want as many to come as possible. So we were looking into some options, and discovered a place next door to Erica's house. It is a big empty store on the bottom with an apartment up top. She said that she would ask the owner about it for us. The next day when we were up there, she had already made plans with the brother of the owner to show it to us. And he said that they would rent to us, and for a pretty reasonable price. So now we are just waiting to see if that is what the brothers want us to do.

Yesterday when were in service, we were having a very off day. It seemed that all of our calls and studies weren't around, or it didn't suit them to study, so we were starting to get discouraged. By 1:30, I became weak, and had the idea to give up on service for the day and drive on up the island to a deserted beach to just hang out for a little bit and enjoy the afternoon. Unfortunately, we did not have swim suits with us though! We won't make that mistake again, because it was a very hot, sunny day, and the water was beautiful! Now, the plan is to keep swim clothes in the car all the time in case opportunity presents itself again. You see, before yesterday, that had never happened before... not having things to do, or people to see. We are normally busy from morning till late afternoon or evening. So we didn't keep our car stocked with emergency swim clothes. But now we have learned our lesson! Living on an island, this is a must. But anyhow, we still had fun. And being in a skirt, didn't completely stop me from playing in the water a little:)

So, as I mentioned, dad & mom Arnold are coming to see us! We are excited to have more company. They are coming in on Saturday and staying for a week. So my next post will probably have the tales of their adventures. Stay posted...

Allen's son Ash, entertaining me while the guys are studying

Looking down our road- I have never seen the mountains of the mainland look so clear before