One more scary thing...

...as a follow up to last night's Halloween celebration I thought I would share the pictures Elder Risenmay captured of making blood pudding in Trinidad - a perfect Halloween treat for next year?




Actually they don't really celebrate Halloween very much in the mission. However we just happened to be in Grand Case, St Martin last night - one of the few places that celebrates - and there were trick or treaters everywhere.

Mango Mousse

I know it is a bit odd to put a recipe here but I have had so many requests that it's just easiest to put it on the blog. Maybe you can make this sometime for your RMs - to remind them of the fabulous mangos of the West Indies.

By the way, we had this last night with the departing elders plus a complete turkey dinner - yum! (I will put up pictures later today).

Mango Mousse

1 env. unflavored gelatin
6 tbsp. sugar
1/4 c. cold water
1 1/2 c. fresh mango puree (from 2 lg. ripe mangoes) (can use frozen or maybe try with other fruits?)
1 tbsp. lemon juice
2 lg. egg whites, at room temp.
1/2 pt. (1 c.) heavy or whipping cream

In microwavable 1-quart bowl, combine gelatin and 4 tablespoons sugar. Stir in water and microwave uncovered on high 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until gelatin and sugar dissolves. Stir in mango puree and lemon juice. Chill mixture just until it mounds slightly. In small bowl, with electric mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually beat in remaining 2 tablespoons sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into mango puree mixture.

In small bowl with beaters, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold mango mixture into whipped cream (reserve a little cream if desired, for garnish). Divide mango mousse among 6 serving dishes. Chill mousse until firm. To serve, garnish with whipped cream, mango slice and mint sprigs, if desired.
Serves 6

The great men of Canje and Berbice

(women too)

You may wonder about their table manners after looking at this

From Sept 08

From Sept 08

From Sept 08

From Sept 08

From Sept 08

But they are actually enjoying a Guyana style zone conference lunch of curry and roti (forks optional).

Sorry moms, I hope you can reform them when they come home. This is how you eat curry in Guyana. However, President Robison is very firm with the elders about gentlemanly manners. They will be fine husbands and fathers some day.

They sure do love Guyanese cooking. You see, they are not allowed to eat in homes at all in Guyana. This rule was put into place before we came on our mission and it decreased missionary sick days by 70%. It's tough on the wonderful Guyanese sisters who want to mother and fatten up your sons, but it is for the best.

Here is the delicious meal - roti, curried chicken and pineapple (Guyana pineapple is the absolute best in the Caribbean)

From Sept 08

Roti is Guyana and Trinidad's version of bread (and fork). It makes a perfect 'scoop' for curry.

From Sept 08

The expert - Elder Kippins is from Guyana and serving in Guyana

From Sept 08

Elder Lang is officially the pickiest eater in the mission. But the missionary miracle is happening (after two weeks in the field) and he actually ate two bites of curry.

From Sept 08

Here are the 'moms' of Guyana who made our delicious lunch

From Sept 08

and this is where they cooked!

From Sept 08

that's right - out back behind the church (we do have a kitchen in the church, but I guess it couldn't handle this big pot)

From Sept 08

Brand new Elder Baantjer thinks dessert is good too

From Sept 08

The zone conference was great.

The assistants had some fun teaching the elders that you can't do anything in missionary work without first finding someone to teach as they challenged a team of elders to beat them in soccer - with no ball!

From Sept 08

They also compared these fun video clips to typical responses missionaries get when

street contacting:

(if it won't play go here)

tracting:

(if it won't play go here)

and member referrals:

(if it won't play go here)

the elders decided they'd much prefer member referrals where people are more likely to 'jump into the water' and be baptized

Check out these great looking 'red tied' elders (singing a musical number)

From Sept 08

Don't they look sharp? I happen to know that Elder Ritchie and Elder Dayton shined the shoes of the elders in their zone before zone conference

From Sept 08

The testimonies were wonderful. Here are a few phrases:

"I learned the secret to missionary work - it is to be happy."

"I stand in the presence of greatness. You are some of the greatest men I know."

"I am so happy, SO HAPPY! I will never ever know the same happiness I know now."


Here they are - great missionaries

Berbice

From Sept 08

Berbice on fire

From Sept 08

Canje

From Sept 08

Canje ready to get it done!

From Sept 08

and the assistants - Elders Hyde and Laurtizen, the new 'traveling assistants' for Guyana, and Elders McDaniel and Williamson

From Sept 08

After zone conference we had a missionary fireside in the New Amsterdam building.

Here come the members and their friends

From Sept 08

From Sept 08

The Bahadur family - brand new members

From Sept 08

and cute little Travis

From Sept 08

To finish the day, while President Robison conducted interviews, I went visiting with Elder and Sister Bullock. They took me to Cow Dam - dirt roads, tiny wooden houses and no electricity. It was dark! I could only see Elder Bullock's bright white shirt a few feet in front of me with my little flashlight.

From Sept 08

I can't describe how sweet it was to spend time with new members Travis, Jade, and their little son, Travis jr. Their home was humble, lit only by a small lantern, but the spirit was bright. Travis bore his testimony saying that he loves the Gospel and would serve God for the rest of his life. He said he is working hard to learn his duty as a member of the church and as first counselor in the branch presidency. Jade teaches the Gospel Principles class. We closed our visit by singing "I love to see the temple" - in hopes that soon, this sweet family will be able to go there and be sealed for all eternity.

From Sept 08

From Sept 08

Missionary work is the best!

Suriname Zone Conference

We had zone conference today and I think we wore the Elders out!

But it was great.

We talked and talked about commitments, dispensations, apostasy, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon from 8:30 AM until lunch at 1:30 and then President Robison took the Elders aside and talked some more.

They are great young men - so dedicated and obedient.

I just know the work in Suriname is going to explode. They are doing well now but there is incredible potential there for building the church and moving towards having a stake.

Here are a few pictures (it may seem like all I take pictures of is food - but that is when I have a break and can grab my camera!):

This is the most fantastic lunch in all the mission - Indonesian food made by the Salijos. These are just the starters!



The first time I has zone conference lunch in Suriname I made the mistake of thinking the starters were the entire meal. Now I know there is always something wonderful to follow. This time we had Saoto Soup





















The missionaries love it!

Pannekock and Poffertjies

We are in Suriname and were able to have a Dutch pancake meal with the Zone Leaders (Elder Robinson and Elder Sorber) and the Assistants (Elder Walker and Elder Heslop).

It was delicious

Pannekock are thin pancakes cooked with cheese, meats and other toppings


Poffertjies are small puffy dessert pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar (oops - forgot the take the picture before we dug in)


Be careful Elder Robinson!



(1 US dollar = 3 Suriname dollars)