We have been here one week now and so much has happened. Everything is new to us and there is so much to know. The Joneses have been so very kind and helpful in this transition. Elder Jones is the current executive secretary to the Area Presidency here in the Caribbean Area. They have carefully planned our orientation, creating a book of helpful procedures, instructions, and helpful information.

The Colemans picked us up at the airport. Elder Coleman is in the First Quorum of the Seventy and a Counselor in the Area Presidency. He and Judy are friends from Pleasant View so many years ago. It was so good to see familiar smiles after a long flight and an unfamiliar country. It was very kind of them.

We went to church in the Piantini Ward on Sunday. I learned to say "Como esta" and "Muy bien" Ed on the other hand, made many new friends there. We had dinner with the Area Dr. and his wife, Elder and Sister Kilgore, from Washington.

We got up early went to the bank and shopped at Nacionel, the supermarket here . After, we went to the Christmas devotional for the Area Employees. Elder Coleman spoke. Following the devotional, we had our first authentic Dominican meal. I cannot complain. It was very good. I love the eggplant lasagne.

Tuesday was a wake-up when we headed to the office with the Jones. THE TRAFFIC!!! It really is like playing chicken with cars, it reminds me of playing bumper cars only they seldom actually hit, miraculously. The drivers do everything that would cause road rage in America but it doesn't here. The cars are honking all the time either warning you they are coming or that you aren't moving fast enough for their liking but that is it, no yelling and screaming, no mean jestures. It is all amazing how it works. On the other hand, you may only go 5 miles in one hour and no one follows rules, lights or lines. It is all a little baffling. Enough on traffic....for today.

At the office we met the Area Presidency and most of the Area employees. Never has there been so many nice people in one place. All speak English and most speak it very well, however, they are willing to take the time to help others (like, me, Jayne) speak Spanish whenever possible. We spent most of the week learning the procedures and responsibilities of our new jobs and we have three more days to learn the rest. The hard part of all of this is that the long time employee assistant to the Presidency is in the hospital and will be out until May. She really is the one that knows how everything in the office works. She is expecting a baby and is having complications. A new assistant was hired and he started Monday along with us. Ed said to him, "How do you say in Spanish. "The blind leading the blind."? Alex, the new employee, thought that was pretty funny. I won't go into all of the responsibilities because that could get a little lengthy and more than a bit boring to read about, however, the work is not boring. Interesting developments are happening all the time.

The Joneses have also oriented us on all of the other essentials like good restaruants, banks, grocery stores, and yesterday they showed us a nice beach about an hour away. It was fun. The water was a little rough for here. (Not bad at all). We snorkled and dove for shells. We ate at an excellent place right across the street from the beach. The ocean water is warm here.