Sister Metlan Khan is a sweet sister in our East Canje branch in Guyana. She has four children, two girls and two boys. Her last child, Elder Khan, is on a mission here in Guyana. Sister Metlan is a widow. She had a hard married life because her husband would not work, so she had to. He would take her money and buy rum. When he got drunk he would beat her. In 1995 he drank poison and died. Her youngest child was only two years old. This left her as the bread winner of her family. Her brother is a fisherman. Every morning she walks to the river with a bucket in each hand. She fills her buckets with the fish her brother has caught. She leaves the river about 5:30 AM and walks, rain or shine, around the village to sell her fish. She does this until about 9:30 AM. She wears a cap and a skirt and a missed matched long leaved shirt and flip flops. She has a bright yellow rain coat and high rubber boots when it rains. If she doesn’t sell all of her fish, she goes home and cuts them up and lays them out in the sun to dry. This takes about a week. When they are ready she also takes the dried fish along her route to sell. She sells each fish for $200 Guyanese dollars ($1.00 US). They had always rented a home but she was determined to save up to buy property and build a little home of her own. She was able to accomplish her goal with the help of relatives who helped her with the cement, wood and construction. It is one of the humblest homes in Palmyra. We felt sad when we saw where our dear friend lives, until we heard her story and realized how proud and happy she is have her own little place.Every one loves sister Metlan. She is such a sweet lady. She loves the gospel. She has many friends. She is very humble and lives very simply. She does not read or write. The only communication she has with her missionary son is when he can call on Christmas and Mother’s day. Since he is serving in Guyana he will send pictures with us to give her occasionally. She lives alone at this time. One special thing about Sister Metlan is she always has a smile on her face. You look at her situation and think that she has nothing to smile about – but she smiles…
