News

Haitian Miracle Diet

Don Fallick — 2008-02-05T19:29:01Z

Genocide à la bonne femme
Common Sense
John Maxwell
Sunday, February 03, 2008 Jamaica Observer

We have some great news for dieters this week!
The Haitians, with a little help from the Americans, the French and the Canadians, have produced a solution to the obesity crisis that now threatens western civilisation.

Haiti's great and good friends in Washington, Paris and Ottawa have, at last, after several years of hard, grinding effort, managed to create the condition known as 'critical mess' [sic] allowing the Haitians to produce a diet which - unlike any other slimming solution - is absolutely guaranteed to work. Other slimming solutions have always had one weak spot: no matter how low-calorie the diet is, dieters can always defeat the purpose by overeating.

The new Haitian diet makes that impossible!
No matter how much you eat you will not get fat!!
This is sensational news!!!

Here for the information of our avid readers is the recipe, direct from the street vendors of Port au Prince.

One caveat: the special ingredient may have to be imported from Haiti. We haven't yet found a gourmet specialty shop in North America which stocks the main ingredient - Glaise de Plateau Central - a special kind of clay from the Central Plateau of Haiti. This clay is yellowish in colour and the best grades contain lots of healthy calcium, guaranteed to make your bones stronger even as your too, too solid flesh melts away.

METHOD

. Take enough Glaise de Plateau Central and dry it in the sun.
. Pound (in a mortar) and sieve the dried glaise, to remove any small stones, twigs, insect parts, bird droppings or other visible impurities.
. Add a little water, enough to make a soft dough
. Add a little fat and a soupçon of salt (gros sel, pounded fine)
. Mix all together forming small - say two-inch - cookies.
. Expose to the sun on a zinc sheet (beaten as flat as possible).
. When dry your mud pies are ready to eat.
Bon appétit!!!
It may sound better in French but it is genocide in any language.

'AND SO SAY ALL OF US!'

The Haitians are giving new meaning to the phrase 'dirt poor'.
Four years after the Americans, Canadians and French beheaded democracy in Haiti, it is now clear that a final solution is in sight for the 200-year-old Haitian problem.

Almost exactly three years ago, on January 30, 2005, I wrote in this column in this paper about the world's commemoration of the liberation of the Auschwitz murder factory 60 years before.
'Elie Weisel, a survivor of the Nazi Holocaust against the Jews, said eloquently:

"In those times those who were in the death camps felt not only tortured and murdered by the enemy, but also tortured and murdered by what they considered to be the world's silence and indifference ."

' ". Those who committed the crimes were not vulgar, underworld thugs, but men with high positions in government, academia, industry and medicine." Weisel said.

I wrote then: 'The world is remembering Auschwitz and the Holocaust. It is not paying any notice to the 200-year Holocaust still under way in Haiti. There too, the people in hazard must feel tortured and murdered by the indifference of a world conned into believing that the high-minded leaders of the United States, France, Canada and Brazil have the interest of the Haitian people at heart when their agents torture, murder, maim and rape Haitians for no better reason than that they support their democratically elected and unconstitutionally removed President, Jean Bertrand Aristide.'
That was in 2005.

Since then the Haitians have continued to languish in suffering. They have had their leaders kidnapped, tortured and murdered, innocent women and children have been killed by the UN occupation forces working to eliminate the enemies of the Haitian ruling elite, the destruction of Haitian democratic organisation meant the death of thousands from hurricane, floods and other natural disasters, and they have waited for hours in the heat of the sun to cast their votes hoping that those votes would have meant a better life for them, or at least a chance for a better life.

That has not happened.

Haiti is still paying for the foreign aid gormandised by the Duvaliers and their allies and they still have no roads, no hospitals, and their medical school started by Aristide with the aid of the Cubans is now the site of the barracks of the occupying forces.

These Haitians are the people who helped the Americans win their independence, destroyed slavery and accelerated the abolition of the slave trade.

They are guilty on all counts and obviously deserve to be punished. They inhabit one of those places Mr Bush called 'the dark corners of the world'.

Three years ago, at the Holocaust commemoration, the US vice president Mr Cheney delivered himself of these words: ".these great evils of history were perpetuated not in some remote, uncivilised part of the world, but in the very heart of the civilised world. . Men without conscience are capable of any cruelty the human mind can imagine. Therefore we must teach every generation the values of tolerance and decency and moral courage. And in every generation, free nations must maintain the will, the foresight and the strength to fight tyranny and spread the freedom that leads to peace."

And so say all of us! And so say all of us!! And so say all
of us!!!

Meanwhile, the Haitians eat dirt.

Website Update

Soren Stoutner — 2008-01-16T07:30:00Z

I just finished a major update to the software that handles the mission website. You should notice a lot of tiny improvements as you work with the site. Please let me know if you have any problems.

To post information, after you log in click on your name in the upper right of the screen. Then click on "Author's home page in this site" to go to your home folder.

New Pictures

Halley Miranda — 2008-01-12T05:27:32Z

Here are some pictures of Elena on her blessing day. Also there are some of us on New Years and also just a few random ones of Daniel, Lily and Elena.

Pouch address

Barbara Fallick — 2006-07-30T13:44:16Z

The church has recently changed the requirements for pouch mail. Please read the instructions carefully before sending any mail.

No checks or any other kind of currency can come this way. If you desire to send a check, please send it to us %Soren Stoutner 444 N. Oakley St. Salt Lake City, UT 84116. He will deposit it in our checking account and we can access it through our debit card. Thanks.

Elder Don and/or Sister Barbara Fallick

Santo Domingo Temple

P.O. BOX 30150

Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

Nicknames

Soren Stoutner — 2007-11-17T19:54:42Z

I posted an audio file of Camilla, Neal, and myself discussing everyone's nicknames.

A tropical storm and a hurricane now added to the list.

Barbara Fallick — 2007-04-23T19:13:10Z

Experts have predicted:

9 hurricanes (average: 6)
17 named storms (average: 10)
1. First Tropical Storm of the Season named Andrea. It is in the news May 9, 2007. Wind gusts are expected to be up to 55 miles an hour. Maps have it hitting northern Florida. In Santo Domingo today, we are experiencing a very rainy day. It is unusual for it to be cloudy and rainy her all day long. This storm has been classified as sloppy and disorganized.
2. The second tropical storm was named Barry and was reported in the United States on June 1st. We had a lot of rain here May 31st. We learned that the weather cites we were looking at only record the impact on the US. They acted like it was no big deal there. Our local report was considerably different: At least nine people have been killed, including two children, in torrential storms which have hit the Dominican Republic. More than 8,000 have been forced to flee their homes. Vast swathes of agricultural land are underwater. Many thousands of people are cut off by the water, waiting and hoping for the emergency services to fly in food and shelter.
The storms hit the republic at the start of the 2007 Atlantic Storm Season, considered by forecasters to be the first day of June. The capital Santo Domingo was badly affected, and authorities have put four northern provinces on red-alert, warning of the possibility of still more flash-flooding and mud-slides.
At this same time, a tropical storm was in the Pacific Ocean headed for Guatamala named Barbara. I really didn't want her to do any memorial damage. If she did, it wasn't big enough to get into the US news.

3. In the North Atlantic, as predicted by NHC yesterday, TD-Three has strengthened into Chantal, and strengthening has continued, tilted but clearly tropical, moving rapidly northeast and being pulled into the strong trough coming off the East Coast, spinning furiously like a biker pedaling downhill, on its way to extratropical transition. Life in the fast lane.

4. Hurricane Dean

5. Erin was downgraded to a depression and started drenching the Texas coast as it moved inland.

6. Felix announced September 2: The Hurricane Hunters have reported back from the tropical wave about 200 miles east of the southern Lesser Antilles Islands and found a closed circulation and 35 mph winds, good enough to justify naming this system Tropical Depression Six. This storm has the potential to become a hurricane in the Caribbean by Sunday or Monday. Visible satellite loops show a considerable improvement in organization occurred today, with low level spiral bands wrapping around the center of circulation, and upper level outflow now visible on both the north and south sides. It is passing far enough south of us that we probably won't even notice it--considering how little we noticed Dean.

7. Gabriel September 8: Subtropical Storm Gabrielle formed tonight, after a day-long struggle trying to figure out which of two centers to consolidate around. Gabrielle finally decided it would use both centers, and a very large and elongated circulation is the result. This makes Gabrielle a subtropical storm, since the heavy thunderstorm activity is well removed from the center of circulation. Had the storm been able to consolidate around a single center, it would have become a tropical storm, not a subtropical storm.

Wind shear is 10-20 knots over the storm. This shear, combined with the rather large and poorly-organized circulation, will not allow much intensification, and Gabrielle will have a tough time becoming stronger than a 55-mph storm at landfall. Gabriel is headed to the east coast of the United States near Virginia.

8. Humberto September 12: A surprise Hurricane Humberto ripped into Texas near the Louisiana border this morning, bringing winds of 85 mph and torrential rains to the coast. Humberto didn't even exist yesterday morning, and grew from a tropical depression at 11am EDT to a hurricane just 14 hours later. As the hurricane intensified, it grew in size and height, allowing the storm to respond to upper-level winds that changed its course to a north-northeastly path. This allowed Humberto to stay over water parallel to the coast for the crucial hours needed for it to reach hurricane strength. Storms like Humberto give us the sobering reminder that as much as hurricane forecasting has improved in recent years, there is still much we do not understand--particularly in regards to intensity forecasting. If Humberto had had another 12-24 hours over water, it could have been a major hurricane that would have hit without enough time to evacuate those at risk.

9. September 14 Tropical Storm Ingrid

10. September 23 Tropical Storm Jerry. Looks to be moving out to see and not a threat to any one.

11. Tropical Storm Karen forms
Tropical Storm Karen formed this morning, midway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles Islands. This large storm is still disorganized, as seen in the latest satellite loops. Low level spirals bands are slowly organizing, and with wind shear 10 knots or less, Karen should be able to steadily strengthen to a hurricane, as predicted by the SHIPS and GFDL intensity models. The HWRF model keeps Karen just below hurricane strength. Later this week, Karen may encounter a region of hostile wind shear in association with a trough of low pressure that will also turn the storm to the north or northwest. This may slow or reverse Karen's intensification.

It currently appears that Karen will not affect any land areas. It is unusual for a hurricane to turn west and hit the U.S. after going as far north as the official NHC forecast has the storm five days from now. The GFS model has consistently shown that Karen will recurve out to sea east of Bermuda next week. However, the UKMET model is showing a more southerly track just north of the Lesser Antilles islands six days from now. Should Karen follow this track, the storm may miss the trough the GFS is predicting will recurve it. In this case, Karen could be a long-range threat to Bermuda or the U.S. East Coast. Karen had hurricane force winds before she dissipated.

12. Hurricane Lorenzo September 27th by Mexico gulf area

13. Tropical Storm Melissa September 29th East of the antilles, looks like it is going to go north and miss us and it is expected to weaken.

14. October 28: Tropical Storm Noel continues to represent a serious rainfall threat to the Dominican Republic and Haiti due to the storm's very slow motion. Noel has essentially stalled out tonight, and is dumping very heavy rains over the southernmost tip of the Dominican Republic--the Barahona Peninsula. Most of Noel's heaviest rains are still offshore, but these rains will move inland over the island of Hispaniola tonight, and pound the island for at least the next two days. This will result in an extremely dangerous flooding situation in the southern portion of both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, due to the high mountains that will enhance Noel's rains.

update on Oct 29, 2007
The Dominican Republic
The worst of the rains for Puerto Rico are now over, but the flooding situation on Hispaniola today will be extremely serious, particularly in the Dominican Republic. Satellite loops show very vigorous thunderstorms reaching high into the atmosphere roiling over Hispaniola. Early this morning, these thunderstorms dumped about 150 mm (6 inches) of rain in just six hours in a region southwest of the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo (Figure 1). Santo Domingo reported a visibility of zero at 2am local time during this heavy rain. Rainfall amount of about 12 inches have fallen over the Dominican Republic's southernmost point, the Barahona Peninsula, according to satellite estimates. The region's only airport weather station stopped transmitting data at 8pm last night.

Another 1-3 inches of rain fell in the past 24 hours over hard-hit Hispaniola, where the death toll is 80. At least 24 people died in Haiti, where deforestation has led to severe flooding problems. In the Dominican Republic, the death toll stands at 56, with many more missing. At least 6,000 buildings were damaged, and 10 bridges washed out. As many as 39 communities remain isolated due to collapsed bridges and washed out roads, and the power is off to over 3 million of the nation's 9.4 million people. The Dominican meteorological service reports that 21.65" (550 mm) of rain fell at Padre Las Casas in the mountains of the central Dominican Republic as of 8am EDT Wednesday. Another 1-2 inches of rain may fall over the island before Noel's rains finally cease. Noel is the deadliest tropical cyclone to affect the Dominican Republic since Hurricane Georges hit Hispaniola in 1998, killing 380 Dominicans and causing over $1 billion in damage to the county. The death toll for Noel makes it the second deadliest storm this hurricane season, behind Hurricane Felix, which killed 133 people in Nicaragua and Honduras.

Noel's death toll
Noel's death toll now stands at 107, with many hard-hit rural areas yet to be heard from. At least 40 people died in Haiti, and in the Dominican Republic, the death toll stands at 66, with 27 missing. According to Reuters, the worst incident appeared to have occurred in the village of Villa Altagracia, outside the Dominican capital Santo Domingo, where two rivers broke their banks and destroyed most of the community of 200 or so houses. Survivors said up to 35 bodies were seen strewn on the river banks there. As many as 52 communities remain isolated due to collapsed bridges and washed out roads, and power is off to over 3 million of the nation's 9.4 million people. The Dominican meteorological service reports that 21.65" (550 mm) of rain fell at Padre Las Casas as of 8am EDT Wednesday. Thankfully, no rain has fallen on the Dominican Republic since dawn today, and Noel's rains may be over. The extreme southwestern tip of Haiti is the only portion of that country to receive more rain from Noel today, and those rains were only about an inch. Noel is the deadliest tropical cyclone to affect the Dominican Republic since Hurricane Georges hit Hispaniola in 1998, killing 380 Dominicans and causing over $1 billion in damage to the county. The death toll for Noel makes it the second deadliest storm this hurricane season, behind Hurricane Felix, which killed 133 people in Nicaragua and Honduras.

Dominican Republic: Tropical Storm Noel OCHA Situation Report No. 6

This situation report is based on information received from United Nations Resident Coordinators in country and OCHA Regional Office in Panama.

HIGHLIGHTS

- The red alert continues to be maintained in 11 provinces and yellow alert in 14 provinces. Tropical Storm "Noel" claimed the lives of 85 people.

- Priority needs are water, sanitation, health, food security and nutrition. Projects under the Flash Appeal are designed to cover those needs.

SITUATION

1. Hour/Date: 17:00 hr. / 7 November 2007.

2. Weather conditions: The National Office of Meteorology (ONAMET in Spanish) reports that a low pressure system continues over eastern Puerto Rico causes scattered showers in the Dominican Republic.

3. Forecast for the next two days: ONAMET forecasts that over the next 24 to 48 hours rain will return in the country. Precipitation will mostly be concentrated in the Bajo Yuna and northeastern zones, which could lead to new flooding.

4. Affected area: The Committee for Special Operations (COE in Spanish) maintains a red alert in 11 provinces and maintains yellow alert for another 14. In the rest of the Dominican Republic the alert has been discontinued.

5. Impact:

National Emergency Commission (CNE) Bulletin 21 (11:00 AM 7 November 2007)
Dead	85
Disappeared	48
Rescued	4,206
Displaced persons	In shelters: 26,426 In homes of families and friends: 53,302 TOTAL: 79,728






Affected houses	Slight damage: 18,053 Destroyed: 1,879 TOTAL: 19,932




Shelters activated	152
Cut-off communities	153
Affected bridges and roads	50

Health, water and sanitation

6. INAPA reports that 155 water systems continue to be damaged, affecting 3.3 million people.

7. The National Hydraulic Resources Institute (INDRHI) increased its damage estimates to 963 million pesos (approximately USD 28.6 million) for the irrigation and training systems in the country.

8. There have been six cases of meningococcica meningitis group B registered in: Santo Domingo Este (3), Santo Domingo Norte (1), San Cristóbal (1) and Guandule (1). Of confirmed cases, three are babies. On 6 November, a three-month old girl died of the disease in San Cristóbal.

Food security and nutrition

9. Thousands of rice, plantain, tomato, onion and other small fruit and vegetable lots were destroyed, particularly in south, Cibao Central and northeastern regions, which remain flooded.

10. Basic agricultural foodstuffs experienced a 30% increase in price yesterday in markets.

11. The General Cattle Ranching Association (DIGEGA) reports that between 8,000 and 9,000 head of cattle disappeared or perished.

Shelters

12. The Dominican Red Cross is assisting more than 36,200 refugees in 226 shelters throughout the country.

PRIORITY NEEDS

13. Most recently identified needs:

Health, water and sanitation

- Potable water and mass and family water storage receptacles; chlorine water purification kits

- Disposable diapers for children and adults

- Portable latrines

- Different sized trash bags

- Mattresses and sheets for beds; mosquito nets

- Medicine and vaccines

- Cleaning equipment for shelters and affected housing

- Psychosocial support

- Water treatment plants

Food Security and Nutrition

Food for children under 3 and adults located in shelters.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

Organization

14. According to Bulletin #21 of the CNE, on 7 November, the number of cut-off communities again increased (155) along with the number of displaced people (79,728).

15. The President of the Dominican Republic visited on 6 November Arenosa and Villa Riva in Duarte province, where he announced the construction of homes affected by flooding. The Government also plans to rent homes to shelter affected populations until their homes are rebuilt. He also announced that on 8 November he would announce measures to rebuild the areas affected by Tropical Storm "Noel".

16. The National Council for Urban Matters (Conau) presents a proposal for housing to relocate people living along the Ozama and Isabela rivers. This proposal includes an extension of 12 million square meters in Las Américas, San Isidro, La Caleta, Mella highway and Duarte highway.

17. The Senate requested executive powers to create a specialized body to avoid people to build again and occupy those vulnerable zones.

18. A Public Health has assured that the shelters and affected communities are under sanitary control, despite some cases of diarrhea, colds, respiratory problems and conjunctivitis cases.

19. Some 840 prisoners transferred out of La Victoria prison have now returned.

20. The Secretary of the Budget warned that economic activity fell by 726 million pesos (approximately USD 21.6 million) in the first week of November due to "Noel".

21. With the "Short Cycle Planting" project, the government seeks to recover 25 essential crops in order to guarantee food production and supply.

22. Agriculture requests that the Army and Police protect crops and properties following a wave of robberies in the south.

Actions

23. Aerial, maritime and land operations for aid and assistance to affected populations continues.

24. Food, medicine, blankets, mattresses, mosquito nets and water distribution and assistance to the population continues.

25. Cafeterias have distributed more than 900,000 cooked meal rations and the Social Plan of the Presidency and the Armed Forces have distributed around 80,450 food rations to affected populations.

26. SESPAS maintains medical personnel, nurses and support personnel in shelters throughout the country, along with epidemiological surveillance through preventive vaccine campaigns, fumigations, and water cleaning and purification efforts. They have also deployed mental health professionals in shelters and distributed fortified food rations for babies.

27. Nationally mobilized funding:

Institution	Amount (USD)	Sector	Type of contributions in kind	No. of Beneficiaries




Gobierno de RD	$7,666,667	Food Aid	Food Aid	246,000

28. Nationally mobilized materials:

Institution	Sector	Type of contributions in kind	No. of Beneficiaries




Gobierno de RD	Shelter	Reconstruction of housing


Gobierno de RD	Logistics	Fuel


Gobierno de RD	Agriculture	Re-planting	1,521,000 hectares


Gobierno de RD	Food Aid	Food Aid	106,040 rations

5 intense hurricanes (Category 3 to 5), average: 2)

I intend to keep track of the named storms and hurricanes. We are only about 1/2 mile from the ocean but there is a considerable hill between us and the ocean which would protect us hopefully from something like a tsunami but that is due to an earthquake, not a hurricane. Anyway, before the season is
over, we may have a story to tell.

1. Hurricane Dean Stirs in Atlantic, May Hit Caribbean Aug. 16 -- Dean became the Atlantic season's first hurricane today as it gathered strength while heading for the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles.

2. Hurricane Felix is plowing towards Nicaragua and other nations in the area. It is expected to hit as a category 5

Is it worth it?

Barbara Fallick — 2007-07-24T22:50:18Z

It takes quite a bit of time and work to make our postings with pictures etc. It is worth it to us if it is worth it to some of you out there. We don't know if anyone even looks at our website and so we wonder if there is not better use of our time. If our website is meaningful to you, please either log on here and tell us or send us a email to tell us.

Clyde and Lora Sue Allred

Barbara Fallick — 2007-06-17T22:01:02Z

Brother and Sister Allred come to us from Colorado Springs, Colorado. However, they are victims of hurricane Rita where they lost their opthamalogist business. Brother Allred is a cousin of Elder Johnson's and saw him at a funeral of an uncle. Elder Johnson asked him what he was doing now and Elder Allred said he was retired. Elder Johnson said that there is no retirement in the church and suggested they submit their papers. They did and here they are. Sister Allred plays the violin beautifully.

Poverty in The Dominican Republic

Barbara Fallick — 2007-06-14T15:24:20Z

My, how time flies when you're having fun. We are now half-way through our mission. Because we live in the same building with approximately twelve other missionary couples plus we have regular contact with others who do not live in the building plus other Americans we see at church on different kinds of assignments (some are church employees, some embassy staff, etc.) we do see quite a bit of going and coming. We find the going affects us the most. It reminds us of our own mortality. Next month a counselor in the temple presidency goes, the following month, Sister Santana, the only Dominican who has been a full time temple missionary with us, and in November, the temple president. Others go as well but these individuals will affect us the most since we serve with them on a daily basis.

There is a lot of poverty in the Dominican Republic as well as a lot of prosperity. The prosperity comes largely from individuals who work for American companies and drugs. We see the prosperity in the SUVs clogging the streets, the fancy apartments, and the fancy stores with prices we're not willing to pay.

Even the poor seem to be able to get clothing, I think largely from donations from charitable organizations which ship used clothing in here. Below is a picture of a primary from a branch where the best paid individuals in the branch are the maids who clean for the missionaries and are paid $15 a week. The kids are dressed in clothing that looks relatively new, and is obviously store-boughten clothing. Also, the poor also seem to be able to get food. I suspect those that live in the country grow their own or barter. Where it never has a time of the year when you can't grow something, that makes things a little easier. Probably the ones who suffer the most from hunger are those in the city where they can't grow their own and have very little income with which to buy anything. Even so, these people seem to somehow get food as they don't appear to be starving, at least the ones we know.

It is the housing which really bespeaks poverty. To see examples of some very colorful shacks and also some pictures of different kinds of street vendors, click on the attached folder.

The Hiatts

Barbara Fallick — 2007-06-11T21:10:18Z

Duane and Sharon Hiatt recently moved into the Casa de Huespedes but they are not newly out. Before they headquartered out of Puerto Rico. When the area presidency came here (last August) they suggested the Hiatts move here. This was not accomplished until April. In his youth, Duane was part of a singing group called the 3 D's. My sister Nancy had one of their records and I remember hearing it as a teen-ager. Sister Hiatt is a tremendous musician. She sings and plays the piano. Previously, she has taught Suzuki piano to handicapped individuals. She is Elder Hiatt's second wife, marrying for the first time at 39. They have a home near Timp-View high school and a farm in Salem.

Brother Hiatt is the composer of "Follow the Prophet". Follow the link to learn more about him composing this song and to see a video of Elder and Sister Hiatt singing "Follow the Prophet" with a Santo Domingo primary.

Plain tuckered out

Barbara Fallick — 2007-06-10T18:25:25Z

Church gets a little long for some people.

Three sisters and their parasols.

Barbara Fallick — 2007-06-10T18:16:41Z

Parasol literally means for the sun. They use huge umbrellas here called paraaguas or for the water. When it really rains here, that is what you need. Parasols are no protection then. The mother of these little girls was very proud to tell me that they had been born into the church. The picture in the link shows them crossing the street on their way home from church.

Jose Rotellini, Sculptor

Barbara Fallick — 2007-05-23T00:25:24Z

Juan Pablo Duarte is credited as the liberator of the Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1844. This liberation is celebrated on the 27th of February and one of the main thoroughfares through Santo Domingo is named 27th of February. In Districto Colonial is a museum dedicated to Durate. As part of the museum are busts of all of the founding fathers done by Jose Rotellini.

Lavar and Jeannine Skousen

Barbara Fallick — 2007-05-21T17:29:23Z

Brother Skousen is a native of the Colonies (in Mexico) and lived there until he was nine when his father died. Brother Skousen is a first cousin of President Johnson. He served his young mission to Argentina and he and Sister Skousen have been Mission President in Carracus, Venezuela. They are the parents of seven children, twenty-eight grandchildren and one great grandson.

The Maugers have an interesting story

Barbara Fallick — 2007-05-16T15:32:52Z

Brother Jean Jaccom Mauger is from Haiti but currently has refugee status in Martinque. Martinque is an island down near Venezuela. Life is rough in Haiti and many Haitians try to leave to find a better life elsewhere but no one wants the Haitians and they have a difficult time being permitted to enter any country. We didn't understand exactly why he has been given refugee status in Martinque but at any rate, he has it. This means, however, that he cannot return to Haiti because if he did, he would love his refugee status. In the meantime, Kettelu, the gal he wants to marry is in Haiti so they meet at the temple. The local laws say they can't get married in the temple until they have been married civilly which is difficult since they are not Dominican nationals. Elder Breillatt suggested they get the Hansens to take them on their boat out to international waters and then Elder Hansen as captain of the boat can marry them. Somehow, they do manage to get married without doing the boat thing so they are then sealed in the temple. They honeymoon in the Casa de Huespedes but are required to visit the temple daily for the low rates they pay. After a couple of weeks Kettelu returned to Haiti and Jean to Martinque and he will try to get her a visa so she can be admitted into Martinque. They except it shouldn't take too long because of his refugee status and they are married. We hope so for them.

On her last day here, we invited them to eat dinner (mid-day meal) with us. That morning there was a session in French which included them and two men and a woman I didn't know. Thinking they might be friends and not wanting to require them to be apart from their friends, I told Kettelu to invite all of them for dinner. Only Kettelu and Jean showed up. They said they didn't know if the others were coming. After dinner, Don's playing the Haitian songs he knows, Haiti Cheri (said Hi-ee-tee cher-ee) and Choucoune (Yellow Bird is to the same tune but the words are different). We also shared Hou! La Menteuse with them. We have it as a download on the computer.

Anyway, in the middle of our music fest, someone knocks on our door and it is the two men from the temple session that morning. One sat down at my keyboard and it was really singing. His name is Remus Muscadin and is a professional musician. The quality of our concert increased dramatically. Remus Muscadin is Haitian but lives in the Dominican Republic Jean Baptiste Paul is a bishop in Haiti.

I had envisioned the Dominicans as being quite musical, but as a group, the Haitians out-shine the Dominicans.