A Temple Christmas

From 12-2009

While many were hustling from store to store looking for just the right gift for their loved ones, Elder Bullock and I were in the temple with some of our beloved saints from Guyana.

When we were expelled from Guyana last October 28, 2009 by the Guyanese government, there were some saints whom we were still trying to help get to the temple. We promised them we would meet them in the Trinidad airport December 17th and fly with them to the Dominican Republic to spend a week with them there at the temple.

When Elder Bullock and I entered the airport, our Guyanese saints had been watching for us and the look of delight on their faces when they saw us arrive made us feel warm and wonderful. We hugged them all and the children treated us as if we were their grandparents.

From 12-2009

The group of Guyanese saints consisted of the 6 members of the Apple family, John, Nona and their four children; Radicka, and Rowena, both single mothers of 3.

The airport was decorated for Christmas and they were excited to have their photos taken.

Paloma, Matthew and Kevin Apple...

From 12-2009

Radicka...

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Rowena...

From 12-2009

We arrived after 1 am to the temple housing after a full day of flying...Guyana to Trinidad; Trinidad to Panama; and Panama to the Dominican Republic.

The next morning early we guided the Guyanese adults to the temple for their first visit to a temple.

From 12-2009

About noon the Apple family was sealed. It was a very precious moment to watch while the 6 of them knelt together around the altar. I snapped a quick picture in my mind that I hope to keep forever. Here are some pics of their family. Notice how happy they all look...knowing that they have the promise of being an eternal family if they keep the commandments of God.

The Apple family at the temple door...

From 12-2009

Here they are later on the temple grounds...

From 12-2009

Brother and Sister Apple...do they looked excited to be at the temple? Nona is so excited she is giving John a love punch to his chest!

From 12-2009

Here they are as we were leaving for church at a Spanish-speaking branch on Sunday. Can you tell it is raining?

From 12-2009

The Apples live in Bushlot which is a very rural part of Guyana. The Bushlot Branch was one of the branches we served in while we were missionaries in Guyana. Here are a couple of pictures of the house they were living in before we left there.

From Drop Box

Notice the pile of lumber in front of the house. They were given the rights to the lumber of a house that Bro. Apple subsequently had to tear down. He took all the lumber to build his family their own home. It was a short distance away from this house and somewhat larger. Neither house has electricity or piped water.

Elders Lebaron and McNeal took us over there. A few neighbor boys joined them in the photo.

From Drop Box

Brother Apple works in Georgetown all week and comes home to Bushlot on the weekend. They were baptized almost two years ago when we first came to Guyana. Here's a photo of their ocean baptism that we attended.

Their quick wedding so they could be baptized...

From Drop Box

The whole family dressed for their wedding in clothes Nona had made...

From Drop Box

Just before their baptism... a few cousins joined in the pic...

From Drop Box

Nona, John, and oldest daughter, Sasha, walking out into the deeper water...

From Drop Box

What a great blessing it was for us to be present at both their baptism and the sealing of their family in the temple. We love this great family.

From 12-2009

Rowena...

From 12-2009

Rowena lives in Georgetown, Guyana. She is the travel agent who arranged for all our airplane tickets for both our temple trips. I had only met her in Guyana once. When I ordered these last tickets through her, I received an email back from her asking if she could come with us on the temple trip. Of course, I wrote her back, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" We loved having her with us. She had a very strong testimony that was good for all of us.

Radicka lives in New Amsterdam, Guyana, which is about 1 1/2 hours east of Georgetown, the captitol of Guyana. New Amsterdam is just one of many villages that are in a semi rural setting. We lived in New Amsterdam and she was our Relief Society President. She was baptized 10 years ago and was one of the first members baptized in this part of Guyana. When she was baptized, there were only 5 members attending the meetings. Wow!

In the the housing facility for the temple patrons, there are two big kitchens where they are able to cook their meals. The missionary training center that is located upstairs also uses these kitchens so the patrons just have to be sure they do their cooking when the missionaries aren't eating.

Mealtime for our group was always a fun gathering time where they cooked together as one big family. We lazy Americans didn't bring anything to cook. We planned on eating "out", but they kept fixing things for us to eat.

From 12-2009

Rowena (on the left) and Radicka's ancestors are from India. The Apples are Ameridians which means they are Native Americans...or Lamanites. The ancestors of most of the people who now live in Guyana are East Indians (from India), Blacks (from Africa), and Ameridians. And of course, many of them are a mixture of these different races, such as Rowena.

From 12-2009

Check out the cute little round Ameridian/Lamanite faces of the Apple children.

From 12-2009

Bro. and Sis. Apple did most of the cooking. It looks like they've finished the dishes and are ready for fun!

From 12-2009

A little laundry room fun!

From 12-2009

On Monday we made a little walking visit to oldest part of Santo Domingo. We checked out an old fort and they loved taking photos on the....hmmm...you'll see what!

Radicka...

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Rowena...

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and Roberta...

From 12-2009

Can you believe we (I mean me) were able to make it up onto this old tank?

From 12-2009

Elder Bullock, is that you?

From Drop Box

Birds, birds...

From 12-2009

And more birds!

From 12-2009

We visited the oldest cathedral in the West Indies. The ceiling is made to resemble palm branches. It was pretty cool!

From 12-2009

A little look at one of the pretty stained glass windows...

From 12-2009

Here's the only Santa we could find in the Dominican Republic. Too bad the security guards chased us away before our whole group could get in the picture with him. I wanted to sit on his lap!

From the look on everyone's faces you might be able to tell that I snapped the photo as the guard was ordering us to leave!

From 12-2009