Nov.28,2010

We have been watching the weather and other news reports for the US
and Intermountain West. Snow is a distant memory for us and we hear
that you have had an abundance of the beautiful "white stuff". We
also have missed the Thanksgiving holiday. It is not observed at all
here, of course. The young missionaries were counseled to not worry
about it but a few of the senior couples and senior sister
missionaries celebrated this wonderful tradition in our apartment on
Thursday evening after serving in the mission office during the day.

Since our last e-mail we have had a very busy few weeks. We had Zone
Leader Council and Leadership Training with all the Zone and District
Leaders coming to Trinidad. It was a logistical fete with trips to
the airport and getting everyone to places of lodging as well as
navigating the immigration needs. We had 11 Elders staying the WIM
apartment in our complex and we were responsible to keep groceries and
other needs in the apartment. The Mission furnished one good meal a
day and the rest was potluck. We heard that the meetings were
outstanding which is usual with President Gamiette at the helm. We
also had the opportunity to have Pres. and Sis. McIntosh stay with us
and Pres. and Sis Ricks stay with Elder and Sister Harris (CES).
They are counselors to President Gamiette and we had not met the Ricks
before. We had a very enjoyable time with them even though it was a
hectic time. The McIntoshs are CES also. They are now called S and
I, meaning Seminary and Institute. Elder McIntosh speaks French and
is a welcome addition to the French side of the Mission. It is good
to meet with other couples and share experiences and gain strength
from each other.

This week we planned to have Thursday off from the office and
celebrate Thanksgiving. We received notice that Dayanara, who is from
the Area Office in the Dominican Republic, come to train Elder Wheeler
and Elder Luster. We thought she would arrive on Friday and we would
still be able to have Thanksgiving. Then came the news that she would
be here Wednesday evening and need to train all day Thursday and
Friday morning. We then decided to cancel Thanksgiving and go to
dinner all together Thursday night. Sister Harris implored us not to
cancel but have Thanksgiving in the evening. She made the rolls, yams
(not available here so she used what they call sweet potatoes) and
bought some pies. I did the turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy.
Sister Luster did a fruit salad and Sister Mimi did green beans. We
were glad that we went ahead and had it; it meant so much to be
grateful for our heritage, membership in the Church, families and all
of our blessings. Elder Wheeler and Elder Luster had quite the
training sessions with Dayanara. She is Spanish from the DR and a
lovely lady. She was there for our devotional Thursday morning and
shared her experience with a terrible car wreck a couple of months ago
and the many "tender mercies" she and her family have experienced
since then. Our devotionals have been such a blessing to start our
days and have blessed us with harmony in the office so that the Spirit
can be with and guide each one of us in our diverse and varied
assignments. Dayanara and Elder Wheeler have developed a wonderful
friendship through e-mail and it was good to meet her in person.
Dayanara and Sister Wheeler hit-it-off right away. It is interesting
that now that our days are numbered, the training is finally here,
better late than never. Dayanara left for home via Miami in the early
afternoon on Friday. Elder Wheeler is exhausted and we were glad for
a quiet Saturday. I was delighted to find Christmas decorations and a
tree here in the apartment and decorated while Elder Wheeler rested.

We had the Angus couple here the first part of the week for a few
hours between flights and again on Friday. We had lunch with them the
first time and then had them for leftovers on Friday evening before
their flight. Elder and Sister Luster came in on Wednesday for office
training and stayed with us at our apartment til Friday morning early.
Elder and Sister Childs arrived back in Trinidad after their training
trip to the French side on Friday afternoon and were here at our
apartment for leftovers also. It was a great group that had leftovers
on Friday evening. We love these couples we serve with. We have very
diverse backgrounds which help the work to move along. We appreciate
each other even though in different circumstances we probably would
not relate.

As you can see, there are many comings and goings. no time for
boredom. We have had many missionaries who have been sick or have
health issues. At present, we have two young Sisters who are living
in the WIM apartment. They are both from Guyana and are having a hard
time toughing it out. They are sweet girls and went to the Chiguanas
branch with us today. We hope that they can return to their
missionary activities soon, as do they.

We love you all and are so grateful for the Christmas season which is
upon us. We look forward to the First Presidency Devotional next
Sunday. You are in our thoughts and prayers!

Much love,
Elder and Sister Wheeler