June 13, 2010

,

We have heard from a few from the mountain west this week and it is
good to hear about your lives. We had a senior couple arrive in
Trinidad late last night and they are really feeling the humidity and
heat and they told us the same as we have been hearing from you, that
it has been a wet, cold spring. We must have gotten used to the heat
for the most part because we were quite comfortable while they were
sweltering.

It has been another busy week and we have learned a lot. The office
is still challenging and will probably remain so as they are always
new things to deal with. This next month the West Indies Mission will
gain another island country, Barbados will become a part of our
mission. We have not received any instructions as of yet as to how we
are to help facilitate this change. One of the highlights of the week
came today as we attended the Chaguanas branch conference. A little
over a year ago, the first stake was organized here in Trinidad. The
Stake President, Pres. Gould, talked in Sacrament meeting and then
taught in Sunday School. It was such a treat to see what happens when
someone embraces the Gospel wholeheartedly. He talked of his
conversion 21 years ago as an 18 year old in Sunday School and it was
such a testimony of the Spirit teaching him the truth. In Sacrament
meeting, he started to talk about the booklet For the Strength of
Youth and he started with tithing and said that is too hard so I will
only pay a part and then he tore part of that page out. He followed
that with the way we dress and he said that was too hard so he tore
part of that page out. He continued by teaching that we cannot
rationalize away the principles of the Gospel or the commandments.
That we cannot bring them to our level, but that we must push
ourselves to reach the standards that the Gospel sets. It reminded us
of Marcia in St. Vincent when she read the Doctrine and Covenants and
tore the pages up after she had read them because she was not ready to
make the commitment to be baptized. Serving full time for the Lord is
a challenging commitment but so rewarding. We are so grateful for
this opportunity to serve at this time in our lives.

Thanks to all for your love and support!

Elder & Sister Wheeler