Greetings from paradise. We know that it is a beautiful season on the
home front and we hope this message finds you doing well in your part
of the world, which is home to us also. We have fond thoughts of home
and all of you and hope and pray that the gospel is alive and well in
your hearts. The knowledge of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ changes how we do everything.
To begin this week, we are sending out a call for couples. We need
Senior Couples here in the West Indies Mission very badly. There are
many returning home with no one to replace them. They are such a
blessing to the work here as this is such a complex mission. When
you serve here, you are an extension of the mission president in a
profound way. If you have an unexpressed desire, please don't keep
it a secret. Let us know and we will send you the information that
you need to make you a convert to the wonderful experiences that are
here for you as you serve in this part of the vineyard. Hope to hear
from you.
We are having such an experience in the mission office. There are
miracles each day that come to help the work go forth. There are
plenty of challenges and opposition and there is either an immediate
answer or with time the answer becomes evident. We have been
preparing for the zone conferences that will be held from now until
the end of the month with three days of rest for Pres. Gamiette and
his Assistants. Their schedule is daunting. Pres. Gamiette's family
had a holiday break last weekend on the island of Tobago. He
participated in a triathlon and placed first in his age group and
fifth over all. The Assistants came into the office on Thursday
dragging as they had accompanied the President on his morning run. He
really put them through it. Just a little miracle that is the
process. The couple that are serving in French Guiana have a van and
the Elders put gas in it and it is diesel. Thus a major overhaul was
needed and the need that was really there became evident. The couple
have some needs that need to be met. The Elder cannot see well at all
and his wife does not know how to drive a standard transmission
vehicle. There are no vans available with an automatic transmission.
As the days have passed, the solution is coming together. A
humanitarian couple are here in Trinidad and are in an apartment in
the building next to ours. We went to Maracous Beach (the best beach
we have seen) with them yesterday. As we visited with them, they told
of going to Suriname in car that is an extra in Guyana to Suriname.
They are going to Guyana again this next week and would be able to
drive that car, which is an automatic transmission, to French Guiana
and then fly back. Tender mercies are all around if we are watching
and grateful for them. We also had a great conversation with Morel
who was baptized with her family in St. Vincent last week. I was
given a cell phone when we first arrived here in Trinidad. This past
week, I was given another phone which has the number for the WIM
secretary. I boxed the other phone up and left it in the office for
another missionary to use when needed. We had been very busy and as
things started to wind down for the day, I could hear a phone ringing
and ringing. The missionaries had left the office for the day to
proselyte for the evening hours and I thought that maybe one of them
had left their phone. I began to look and then realized that the box
with the phone in it was ringing. It was Morel and she had called 12
times that day trying to call us. One of the things that she shared
was the testimony she had written in a Book of Mormon that she was
planning on using as part of the "Lend a Book of Mormon" program.
Their family will be such a blessing to the growth of the Church in
St. Vincent. We had a great Saturday, we spent the morning getting
supplies for the office and doing a couple of things that couldn't
wait for Monday. And then, we had a beautiful drive and a walk on the
beach that just helped us relax and be ready for another week. We
even had a man serenade us as we ate at an outside food stand.
We have so much to be grateful for! When we think we might be
sacrificing, the unexpected blessings come and we become so, so aware
that our Father and the Savior know each one of us and that the
blessings are there if we have faith and ask. May you feel this
reality this week.
Much love,
Elder and Sister Wheeler
Sunday, June 6, 2010
30 may 2010
How is everyone? We hope that the Memorial weekend is good to all of
you. We want to hear your fish stories as long as they aren't too
exaggerated. We will miss visiting the cemeteries and honoring those
who have given so much so that we can have such a good life. Becky
Reader sent a touching forward about veterans and one of the pictures
that touched me the most was of a parade with a military corps with
the flag marching down the street and the only person standing to
honor them was a gray haired man in a wheelchair. We have been
blessed with a wonderful family including those who came before and
those who are here now!
We have had quite a week. We have learned a lot and have so much
appreciated the young Elders who are teaching us how to navigate on
the computer. It is definitely like the little girl mother would tell
me about. "When she was good she was very very good and when she was
bad she was horrible." When we get it right on the computer it is
amazing and when we don't.......@#^?! We have enjoyed getting to
know those who work in the office on a regular basis, Sister Ellison
who does all the travel and is the mission nurse, the Assistants to
the President and the office Elders. The office Elders are Elder
Morris and Elder Miles and they are very good. We will have to start
calling the "M&M Elders". We have also survived transfers and that
was an experience. When everyone is out of the air and in the right
country, it is a time for celebrating. It is also a very busy time in
the office with missionaries arriving from the MTCs and missionaries
returning home, the new and the old. We had wonderful reunions with
those with whom we have served in St. Vincent. We met the Risenmays
who are here to tour with their missionary and fly home with him. It
was fun to brag about their son to them. He was a very hard-working
Elder and had a great companion; they really tromped the hills in
Calliaqua. The numbers in Calliaqua are a witness of their dedication
and steadfastness. Elder Gilley walked his shoes right off! There is
a picture on the blog of the Elders' shoes left at the front door of
our apartment and Elder Gilley's are the ones that are falling apart.
We also heard from Elder Findlay on Wednesday that the Willliams
family was baptized that morning. We have talked about Morel several
times and she is the best. So, Wilson, Morel and Delano (9) were all
baptized, a wonderful white day at the beach. Morel was one of the
first investigators we met in St. Vincent. It was a wonderful
experience to watch and support them through getting married, having a
baby, waiting for Wilson to be ready and baptism. Now the goal is the
Temple! These are the names of the Elders who have taught and
encouraged them: Elders, Vaea, Moala, Vi, Risenmay, Gilley, White,
Morris, and Prince. Never give up! Shake it off and step up! We
also connected with the Elders from Suriname who are Dutch. It was
fun to listen to them talk and I wanted so bad to have them call
Anneke Marshall. (Mission rules,,,No way!) Elder Swart told me about
his family and how much they have been blessed while he has been on
his mission. His mother had been excommunicated and is now rebaptized
and going to the temple every week. His two brothers were making bad
choices and they went to Utah to live with extended family and are now
doing great and looking forward to serving missions when they are old
enough. We are going to have some wonderful experiences here in the
office with so many coming and going all the time. President
Gammiette and his family are in Tobago this weekend and he is
participating in a triathalon. He runs everyday and swims most, very
fit fella! The Lusters, they were in the office before us, are now in
Tobago. Elder and Sister Hymas finished their mission this week and
they were serving in Tobago. Elder Hymas served as a counselor in the
mission presidency for a lot of their mission and was very dynamic and
will be missed. He helped with our transition here in the office
before going home. Their youngest son is serving his mission at the
same time and will return home in another month. They are foot loose
as they sold everything before coming on their mission and have faith
that they will be blessed in finding a home for their son to come
home to. We have been staying in a bed and breakfast for two weeks.
Breakfasts were great but we are glad to finally be in the apartment
where we will be living. Great to have a place to cook and wash etc.
It is a comfortable, small refuge for us to kick off our shoes and
relax. I enjoyed unpacking more than I ever have, and Elder Wheeler
is making fun of my nesting ablilities. Well, Elder Wheeler is done
with his project here at the office so we are going to find office
supplies on our Pday. We don't have internet at our apartment until
Tuesday.
you. We want to hear your fish stories as long as they aren't too
exaggerated. We will miss visiting the cemeteries and honoring those
who have given so much so that we can have such a good life. Becky
Reader sent a touching forward about veterans and one of the pictures
that touched me the most was of a parade with a military corps with
the flag marching down the street and the only person standing to
honor them was a gray haired man in a wheelchair. We have been
blessed with a wonderful family including those who came before and
those who are here now!
We have had quite a week. We have learned a lot and have so much
appreciated the young Elders who are teaching us how to navigate on
the computer. It is definitely like the little girl mother would tell
me about. "When she was good she was very very good and when she was
bad she was horrible." When we get it right on the computer it is
amazing and when we don't.......@#^?! We have enjoyed getting to
know those who work in the office on a regular basis, Sister Ellison
who does all the travel and is the mission nurse, the Assistants to
the President and the office Elders. The office Elders are Elder
Morris and Elder Miles and they are very good. We will have to start
calling the "M&M Elders". We have also survived transfers and that
was an experience. When everyone is out of the air and in the right
country, it is a time for celebrating. It is also a very busy time in
the office with missionaries arriving from the MTCs and missionaries
returning home, the new and the old. We had wonderful reunions with
those with whom we have served in St. Vincent. We met the Risenmays
who are here to tour with their missionary and fly home with him. It
was fun to brag about their son to them. He was a very hard-working
Elder and had a great companion; they really tromped the hills in
Calliaqua. The numbers in Calliaqua are a witness of their dedication
and steadfastness. Elder Gilley walked his shoes right off! There is
a picture on the blog of the Elders' shoes left at the front door of
our apartment and Elder Gilley's are the ones that are falling apart.
We also heard from Elder Findlay on Wednesday that the Willliams
family was baptized that morning. We have talked about Morel several
times and she is the best. So, Wilson, Morel and Delano (9) were all
baptized, a wonderful white day at the beach. Morel was one of the
first investigators we met in St. Vincent. It was a wonderful
experience to watch and support them through getting married, having a
baby, waiting for Wilson to be ready and baptism. Now the goal is the
Temple! These are the names of the Elders who have taught and
encouraged them: Elders, Vaea, Moala, Vi, Risenmay, Gilley, White,
Morris, and Prince. Never give up! Shake it off and step up! We
also connected with the Elders from Suriname who are Dutch. It was
fun to listen to them talk and I wanted so bad to have them call
Anneke Marshall. (Mission rules,,,No way!) Elder Swart told me about
his family and how much they have been blessed while he has been on
his mission. His mother had been excommunicated and is now rebaptized
and going to the temple every week. His two brothers were making bad
choices and they went to Utah to live with extended family and are now
doing great and looking forward to serving missions when they are old
enough. We are going to have some wonderful experiences here in the
office with so many coming and going all the time. President
Gammiette and his family are in Tobago this weekend and he is
participating in a triathalon. He runs everyday and swims most, very
fit fella! The Lusters, they were in the office before us, are now in
Tobago. Elder and Sister Hymas finished their mission this week and
they were serving in Tobago. Elder Hymas served as a counselor in the
mission presidency for a lot of their mission and was very dynamic and
will be missed. He helped with our transition here in the office
before going home. Their youngest son is serving his mission at the
same time and will return home in another month. They are foot loose
as they sold everything before coming on their mission and have faith
that they will be blessed in finding a home for their son to come
home to. We have been staying in a bed and breakfast for two weeks.
Breakfasts were great but we are glad to finally be in the apartment
where we will be living. Great to have a place to cook and wash etc.
It is a comfortable, small refuge for us to kick off our shoes and
relax. I enjoyed unpacking more than I ever have, and Elder Wheeler
is making fun of my nesting ablilities. Well, Elder Wheeler is done
with his project here at the office so we are going to find office
supplies on our Pday. We don't have internet at our apartment until
Tuesday.
23 may 2010
Hello to all from Trinidad! We hear that you have had snow again.
Does that mean that you have had a wet spring? How is the water
situation for the growing season? Are the lilacs blooming? Just a
little peek, in our memories, at what Idaho is looking like.
We went to our Sunday meetings here in Trinidad today in the Couva
ward and there were about 35 in attendance. They have about 200
members so there is a lot of work that can be done in working with
those who are not coming. Pres. Gamiette has not assigned us yet so
we went to one of the wards that the Lusters have been attending.
This week is transfer week so it will be a wonderfully busy week. We
will have brand new missionaries from the MTC in Prove and also the
MTC in the Dominican Republic. There are 12 missionaries going home
and there will be a great send off. They have done a "marvelous work
and a wonder", many of which we have worked very closely with and
share special memories and tender feelings. We are also experiencing
tender mercies in the office. On Friday, Elder Wheeler was funding
the Elders' J. P. Morgan cards with their missionary support funds and
he came to Elder Johnson and tried to fund his card. When he tried
to submit it for approval, the computer froze and would not let him do
anything until he deleted the information on Elder Johnson's card and
went back to the name list. When he looked at the name list the
second time, he saw that there were two Elder Johnsons and after
further research he realized the he was trying to fund the wrong one.
When he entered the other one, everything worked perfectly. We know
the Lord blesses us in this work! We are getting to know the two
Sister missionaries that are serving in the mission office and they
have both had interesting lives. Sister Mimi is from Canada and is
teaching the Gamiette children English as well as acting as the
receptionist for the mission office. The Gamiettes are from Guadalope
which is French and have quite a challenge coming to Trinidad with
their family of five children. Sister Ellison is the mission nurse
and is also responsible for scheduling all the flights for the
mission. She had 60 flights to schedule for transfers this week.
There isn't any room for being bored!!! Transfers involve flying to
another country and then getting through immigration. We must give
each Elder the right instructions for entry into the country he is
being transferred to. So, we hope that we have covered all the
possibilities that may occur. Keep praying for all of us!
We know that our Father in Heaven is so aware of each one of us and
that we are extremely blessed by our membership in His true Church.
We are so grateful for the Prophet Joseph and the Restoration. We
know that the Priesthood is the authority to act for God. We know
that we can each be guided by the Spirit when we ask humbly for that
help. We know that the Jesus Christ is our Savior and mediator and
that this is His work of which we are all a part. It is very humbling
to realize that we have a part in preparing for His return. May each
of you have a blessed week.
Does that mean that you have had a wet spring? How is the water
situation for the growing season? Are the lilacs blooming? Just a
little peek, in our memories, at what Idaho is looking like.
We went to our Sunday meetings here in Trinidad today in the Couva
ward and there were about 35 in attendance. They have about 200
members so there is a lot of work that can be done in working with
those who are not coming. Pres. Gamiette has not assigned us yet so
we went to one of the wards that the Lusters have been attending.
This week is transfer week so it will be a wonderfully busy week. We
will have brand new missionaries from the MTC in Prove and also the
MTC in the Dominican Republic. There are 12 missionaries going home
and there will be a great send off. They have done a "marvelous work
and a wonder", many of which we have worked very closely with and
share special memories and tender feelings. We are also experiencing
tender mercies in the office. On Friday, Elder Wheeler was funding
the Elders' J. P. Morgan cards with their missionary support funds and
he came to Elder Johnson and tried to fund his card. When he tried
to submit it for approval, the computer froze and would not let him do
anything until he deleted the information on Elder Johnson's card and
went back to the name list. When he looked at the name list the
second time, he saw that there were two Elder Johnsons and after
further research he realized the he was trying to fund the wrong one.
When he entered the other one, everything worked perfectly. We know
the Lord blesses us in this work! We are getting to know the two
Sister missionaries that are serving in the mission office and they
have both had interesting lives. Sister Mimi is from Canada and is
teaching the Gamiette children English as well as acting as the
receptionist for the mission office. The Gamiettes are from Guadalope
which is French and have quite a challenge coming to Trinidad with
their family of five children. Sister Ellison is the mission nurse
and is also responsible for scheduling all the flights for the
mission. She had 60 flights to schedule for transfers this week.
There isn't any room for being bored!!! Transfers involve flying to
another country and then getting through immigration. We must give
each Elder the right instructions for entry into the country he is
being transferred to. So, we hope that we have covered all the
possibilities that may occur. Keep praying for all of us!
We know that our Father in Heaven is so aware of each one of us and
that we are extremely blessed by our membership in His true Church.
We are so grateful for the Prophet Joseph and the Restoration. We
know that the Priesthood is the authority to act for God. We know
that we can each be guided by the Spirit when we ask humbly for that
help. We know that the Jesus Christ is our Savior and mediator and
that this is His work of which we are all a part. It is very humbling
to realize that we have a part in preparing for His return. May each
of you have a blessed week.
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