September 13, 2009

Dear family and friends,

Well, how was the Fair? Some of you told us that you were going and this is the first time in my life that we haven't gone. We will miss two of them; they have been a marker in the year for us!

What a great week we have had!!! Yesterday we had three baptisms at different times of the day. We started with Sherwyn and Kyle's (baptized a week ago) mom, Mavis. What a great lady and here countenance was beautiful. Her baptism was in the Kingstown church at 8 a.m. and there was a great spirit there with wonderful testimonies from branch members. At 10 a.m. we went to the beach for Dexter's baptism. I think that we mentioned him in another e-mail. The first time he came to church in Calliaqua, he sat by me and was just like a sponge soaking everything up. He is 18 and will be a great member of the church and a good example to his friends. As we were getting in our cars after the baptism, a couple were headed to the beach and stopped and talked to us. Elder Vaea took the lead and found out that Anthony had joined the church in Canada a decade ago and had not been active for years. We invited him to come to the Calliaqua branch on Sunday. The timing couldn't have been better and he did attend church today and found that he knew quite a few of the members.

Then, the missionaries went to work finding an 8 year old boy's parents to get permission for his baptism. His mom has been deaf and dumb since birth and has done well with her limitations. She is a single mom, lots of them here, and the dad is involved just enough to make things interesting. Solomon was baptized in the ocean about 4 p.m. He acted very afraid of the water to begin with and after his baptism we couldn't get him out of the water. He didn't know what he was feeling but we did. Elder Cronin had learned sign language earlier in his mission and was able to make the baptism understandable for Solomon's mom by signing for her. A very memorable day on St. Vincent!

We have been busy finding apartments for four more missionaries and in the process found another one for us that is farther up the gap with an unbelievable view and a breeze that cools things off nicely. It is also bigger and less money; so we will be moving along with the Elders this week. Transfers are this week and we will lose Elder Moala (going home) and Elder Cottam (has been a great trainer for us on the computer etc. and will be going to Guadeloupe where he will learn French). Elders Cronin and Vaea will stay and we will get six new elders on Wednesday. We have gotten very attached to these young Elders and will miss them greatly.

We also had zone conference in St. Lucia on Thursday and Friday. St. Lucia is a beautiful island with white sand beaches and more conveniences available. There are more resorts, restaurants and shopping. We stayed in a beautiful resort on the beach. The elders stayed in an apartment that is in the basement of one of the branches. There are quite a few perks for the senior missionaries. It was great to meet some of the other couples in the mission. Elder and Sister Collins and Elder and Sister Faux are serving on St. Lucia and Elder and Sister Rasmussen are serving on Grenada. The Collins received a surprise transfer (they thought they would be staying on St. Lucia til their release) to Guayana. Elder Willford Anderson of the Second Quorum of the Seventy was with Pres. Gamiette and it was a great experience being taught by them. We shared breakfast and dinner with them as well as rides to and from the church and it was wonderful to hear their perspectives about what is happening in the Church. Elder Anderson didn't use one note as he taught us for an hour and a half.

We had 45 to Church today!!! We also start seminary in the branches this week. Things will happen with more missionaries here and on several of the other islands. A miracle has happened in Guyana; 12 perspective missionaries from that country have been interviewed and will soon be serving in their home country. Do you think the Lord has his hand in this great work? Trials turn into blessings!

Well, we are calling it a day or should we say a week!!! You are in our prayers!!!

Much love,
Elder and Sister Wheeler