Chicken coop projects

We have over 300 projects we are working on in Jamaica. I think we have over 150 chicken coops that need to be built. All of the participants (member of the church or not) have to take several hours of classwork to learn about raising chickens, marketing, and the upkeep of the coop. After they have completed their coarse, we come out and help lay the building out and help square the building for them. Most people here have no idea about how to build a square building. Members of the branch come and finish the building and those that finished their project are expected to help those that came and helped them. We found out that most of the members here have never really associated with other members that much. These projects make it so they have a lot of association with each other and get to meet their neighbors. This picture shows several members and non-members digging footings for the little coop.

Typical coop

The whole idea of building these coops and other projects is to help members start being self sufficient and being able to supplement their meager incomes. Members of the branches come and help each other build these projects with a little help from us seniors. We design the project, buy the materials and make sure it is started and finished properly. We don't worry about craftsmanship or the time table because the people in Jamaica have their way of doing things and we don't interfere too much. So far, the little coops have been a great blessing to the members and non-members alike. They take such great pride in building these little structures and give us great big hugs and smiles throughout the project

Coop on a roof

You wouldn't believe the weird places that we help build coops. This project was for a member that only had a roof to build the coop on. As you can see, it was a challenge and I worry since hurricane season is starting soon and I don't know how much wind it can take. I tried to anchor it down as best I could. We also build on hillsides and in places that scares me because of the difficulty in getting materials to the job site.

My chick-mobile

We had to convert my little pickup into a chicken hauler because the company that sells the chickens do not deliver them to every little customer. We had 3 deliveries that day and the truck was really stinky and messy from all of the chickens. Sister Whitehead even picked up 2 chickens at a time and put them into the truck. This is Elder Schaefermeyer and a member helping me with the chickens. Elder Schaefermeyer is the missionary I will replace.

Happy Sister Grant

This is Sister Grant. We helped her build the first chicken coop in a town called May Pen. We try to build a coop in a remote area so the other members that are building coops can come and see exactly what they are supposed to look like. She is a single sister that we gave 40 laying hens so she could sell 3 dozen eggs a day. She will make about 7 dollars a day doing this but it is a lot to these people that have nothing.

P-Day

Every once in a while, we get to take a special day and just relax and goof off as senior missionaries. There were 10 of us seniors that made a trip to the East side of the island to visit the famous Reach Falls. This picture is of a view of the ocean where we stopped and ate lunch before we continued on with our journey. Beautiful water. This beach is about 2 hours from Kingston.

Reach Falls

Our goal was to get to this falls on our p-day activity. This is a very secluded falls called Reach Falls. You have to drive about 3 hours from Kingston to get there but it was worth it. We had to hire a guide to take us to the falls from the parking lot but he stayed with us the whole time. What suprised us was how cold the water was. Apparently, it comes out of the side of the mountains somewhere thus making it cold as it filters through the mountian. This was the coldest I have been since I arrived in Jamaica.

A clean Jamaica river

Doesn't this look like heaven. It was to me because I was able to swim in clean, clean water for a few minutes.

Happy Seniors

Here we are at Reach Falls. It's absolutely beautiful and the water so clear but sooo cold. There were 10 of us seniors that went to the falls that day and enjoyed the day together.

Sister Whitehead in the cold water

Corliss was wearing her regular P-day clothes and wasn't getting wet until she decided she was too hot to take it anymore. The water was so cold that it took her breath away. It was absolutely refreshing to me since I sweat so easily.

Another interesting sign in Jamaica

I wonder how much money this gentleman makes selling this stuff. How does he collect enough of the stuff to sell it anyway.

Clifton 2nd Ward missionaries

Here is a picture of the five missionaries from our ward back home in Clifton. We were all at the MTC the same week and got to visit a little.

This is our apartment building. We live on the lower level. There is good security and we have to drive through a very tall gate that is opened with an electric clicker we have in our truck.

Our apartment

This is a picture of the inside of our apartment. It has two bedroom, two baths, washer and dryer and A/C throughout. It's new and very comfortable.

The Shaefermeyers

The couple we are dinning with are the Schaefermeyers from North Salt Lake. We will be replacing them as the humanitarian country directors here in Jamaica. They have less than 3 months left on their mission and we will miss them. We work with them daily on all of the projects they have ready for completion. We are dinning at a very nice restaurant in Negril.

Beautiful sunset

This is a wonderful view of the sunset that Negril is famous for. The sun was setting about 7 P.M. and I was able to capture it before it disappeared.

Emergency response

The Church installed a large container of emergency supplies in the back of one of our chapels. These supplies will be used in case there is a need from a disaster. We will be involved with this container and it's use over our mission.

Area initative

An area initative is a project that has been approved by the Church. Sister Whitehead is standing next to a 5 acre field that has been cleared so 11 members of the Church can grow large gardens to supplement their meager incomes. We have 300 projects like this in Jamaica to work on over the next 18 months of our mission. Some of these initatives include chicken coops, goats, pigs, bees and raised gardens.

Wonder market

Sister Whitehead is at a farmers market in a little city called Negril. The farmers were selling everything raised in that area. Markets like this one is usually a cheap place to buy fruits and vegetables.

Beautiful Jamaica

Elder Whitehead is standing in a members yard that is next to a mountain. Jamaica is such a beautiful island and has such lush foilage.

One of the many funny signs in Jamaica

It isn't uncommon to see men going to the bathroom anywhere they want. This is a sign we saw on a large college campus in Kingston. I doubt that anyone pays attention to it.