August 22,2010

Can summer be over and school back in session? Time is flying! School
will start here on September 6. The traffic gets crazier after school
starts. We are also hoping that we will be able to see Mars the end
of the week as it is supposed to look as big as the moon. We live in
an area where it is hard to see the sky because of buildings and trees
etc. so we hope we don't miss it. It is always good to hear from you
and to hear about what is happening in you world.

This has been quite a week. We have had a number of unusual things to
deal with as well as receiving and sending home missionaries. It has
also been transfer week with lots of travel, funding and immigration
issues. We were supposed to have seven new missionaries and we only
got four because three had not been able to get their visas. So, they
will be temping in the States until that happens. They come in with
their eyes big and ready to go. It is fun to watch how quickly they
adjust and get into the work. We also had nine Elders return home.
They have mixed emotions, so excited to being going home to their
families, friends and school and yet hate to leave those they have
come to love here in the West Indies. The Assistants to the President
took them to the airport and they said there was not a dry eye in the
van. We have served closely with some of them and love them like
family. We have watched them boldly share the Gospel and care for and
love the people. Great memories that will make us dear friends
forever. President Gamiette interviews each of the incoming and
departing missionaries and it makes quite a couple of days in the
office. President and Sister Gamiette also have them to the mission
home for dinner and a devotional. To add to the dynamics, we had an
Elder collapse in his apartment and was taken to a hospital. The
hospital was not the best so they took him to another private
hospital. He has been in ICU with heart problems. His parents are
trying to get here but they do not have passports. This young Elder
has only been here 8 weeks and is trying to do missionary work from
his hospital room. He is writing down the names of contacts and
calling people etc. Hopefully they will be able to stabilize his
condition and get home to the States this week. The sad side of all
of this is that Pres. also had four disciplinary councils with two
being sent home. SAD!!! Mission presidents pack a hefty load. Every
time there was a change, it meant changes in assignments and new
needs for travel, immigration and funding. We had a total of eight
transfer sheets before it was all said and done. We are still trying
to facilitate a visa for Elder Vaea and have an appointment for him at
the U.S. embassy at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. We have no doubt that the
Lord will make the right thing happen. Even through the difficult
things this week, there has been a spirit that the Lord's will would
be done. Obedience is such an essential principle and keeps us sa

We had a great experience yesterday. Elder and Sister Angus,
humanitarian missionaries, invited us to attend a 'handing over"
ceremony with them. It was held in Port of Spain at the International
Red Cross facility there. It was a container, semi trailer load, of
wheel chairs, new born kits, school kits, hygiene kits, clothes,
blankets and toys. It had been packed in Salt Lake City and then
trucked across the US and then sent by boat to Trinidad. They don't
always get the kits like they did this time but felt like the Lord had
blessed them as the community of Chaguanas had been flooded the last
couple of weeks with all the rain and was in desperate need of the
supplies that were in the container. It also helped those who are
trying to get ready for school to start. The ceremony was impressive
with the Stake President, Emrol Gould, handing it over to the Red
Cross and Missions International for distribution to those who were
most need. There were members of the cabinet (government) and the
media. there also. All 40 wheelchairs had already been spoken for.
The wife of the administrator for Missions International said that
they were so impressed with the way the kits had been put together.
She said that women must have been a part of that because they were
put together in such a caring, organized and thoughtful way. People
were so grateful to receive them as they were struggling! Our thought
went to home and they days that the youth and Relief Society work to
put these kits together. We saw first hand the gratitude from those
who receive them. We came away knowing that there are caring
thoughtful, good people everywhere. The administrator of Missions
International is a wonderful man who works tirelessly for the good of
others. Elder and Sister Angus are doing a marvelous work throughout
the mission and most especially in Guyana. Watching this will make
fasting and fast offerings more personal. It is so wonderful to be a
Mormon and to be a part of this great work.

We hope you all have a great week!!!