Let's read

We gave some books to the Amerindians and these little kids came over to me and had me read to them. They were very smart.

Mango, mango

These are huge mango trees on the Savannah in Lethem. More mangoes are eaten in the world than any other fruit, even bananas. These trees are over a hundred years old and produce a great amount of fruit every year. The mango is delicious. You can tell how big these trees are by the size of the SUV underneath. When you drive around the islands and over Guyana, you see thousands of these trees full of the mango. Even a poor begger can find a mango and get something to eat anytime he wants.

Relaxation!!!

When we flew to Lethem by the Brazilian border, we had to take a 2 hr. truck ride back in the Savannah. When we got there, I found this hammock and relaxed a little. Sister Whitehead and I were tired.

Cute girls

Here are some cute Amerindian teenage girls. They make me look like I'm over 7 feet tall.

The men aren't any taller than the girls.

Happy people

We went to several Amerindian villages next to the Brazilian border and gave several items to them. This picture shows them holding up some of the items we gave to them. Toys, hygiene kits, school kits, new born kits, clothing and shoes are some of the items given.

Aren't they cute!!

We are at a huge poultry facility where chicks are born and feed is sold. We purchased 2,500 baby chicks and several sacks of different kinds of feed, vitamins and supplies. We are working with 18 single women who want to start their own business. We will buy them these items but they are responsible to raise and market the meat. They must also re-buy more chicks and keep the system self sustaining. We hope it works. The women are excited.

New members of the Church

We introduced a program to a group of farm women in Linden (2 hours from here) They wanted the Church to help them with the chickens we showed on the previous page. This lady (Alice) was so impressed with the Church that she saw the young Elders one day and asked to be taught the gospel. Since that time, she and her two daughters have been baptized and so have several other members of the group. We don't actually do missionary work but we sometimes have a chance to let the Spirit impress them with the work we do and then the young Elders take over.

Beautiful sunset

We were traveling home one night and saw this beautiful sunset on the big Demerara river. Guyana is beautiful at times.

Our morning walk

This is called the sea wall. It is very long and very big. If it weren't there, Guyana would flood because the land on the other side of the sea wall is 8' lower than the ocean. We get up early every morning except Sunday and take an hour walk on top of the wall. It is about 6' wide so there is plenty of room to walk and see, smell and experience the ocean every day. We enjoy our exercise each morning. This is low tide. High tide splashes on top of the sea wall sometimes.

Will you look at this!!

We were in the middle of Guyana and saw this sign. We couldn't resist taking a picture. The town didn't look like our Clifton but it was fun to think about home for a few minutes.

What's for dinner?

This is how the orphanage cooked all of their meals for over 50 children. It's a lot of work cooking on an open fire where you can't control the heat or weather. We purchased them a large, new stove so they can cook indoors out of the weather. They were thrilled. We also got them a fridge, washing machine and a TV.

Hungry kids

This is inside the dining room at the orphanage. We furnished lighting and power for the room. None of the children are allowed to eat until all have food given to them. When all is ready, they all say a prayer together in unison, then eat. They then clean up and take their dishes to be washed by other older children. A good, fast system.

For Brinley

Brinley, our grandaughter, loves pink houses so I took a picture of this little humble pink house. The people love colors especially on some of their houses.

New born kits

The Church has given several hundred new born kits to the mothers in Guyana. Here Sister Whitehead is giving a kit to a new mother in the Georgetown Hospital. A new born kit contains a blanket, booties, diaper pins, stocking cap, a few diapers and a undershirt.

Tired moms

This is the cesarean section ward of the hospital. A lot of mothers are there after their babies came. One of the mothers we talked to had just lost her baby from complications. Very sad.

New born babies

This is the newborn critical care unit. It actually didn't look too bad to me. It was very hot though.

Babies and more babies

This is one of the maternity wards at the Georgetown Hospital we visited. All of the mothers are in one large room with no privacy. There is no A/C and it was very hot. Their relatives have to bring food and sheets for them. One bed had two mothers on it. This happens a lot.

Poor little donkey

This little donkey is pulling a heavy load of rice and 3 lazy kids. This is one of the ways they transport rice and other items here in Guyana.