We fretted the rest of the week as to the approach we should take with the Joneses. Her title seemed important to her and she told me her husband was head of security for the college and was training guards for each of the campus locations. We still weren’t sure of her interest in us because it didn’t seem to be for religious reasons, but more to please her mom. It rained heavily on Thursday evening and again on Friday. We wondered about the condition of the dirt road to their house. The ruts were likely huge puddles of water. We decided we need to call and ask about the condition of the road on Saturday afternoon and let her know that we weren’t sure our Corolla would make it to the house. There was also quite a bit of road damage on part of the paved area from the bad storm that hit Trinidad and Tobago a few weeks ago. She said to wait at the tower and Sam would come pick us up in his car. He was returning from town and stopped and picked us up in his 4 wheel drive and we quickly got acquainted on the way to the house.

Their home is a modified version of the home they had in Florida where they were for many years and evidently Sam built it or at least supervised it. It turns out he is from the US and she is from Arima on Trinidad, where they have a home they are renting while they are there during the week. They plan to retire in a couple of years here in the home they have built. Sam is retired from law enforcement in Florida and she worked in the school systems there and received her doctorate. Dr. Jones has had an impact on the education here in TT and lobby’s for a more progressive system with such things as a teacher certification renewal program. They have 4 children who are all in the US.

We were served spaghetti and meat balls with apple pie and ice cream for dessert. We stayed until almost 9:30. We talked about everything, including politics, backgrounds, and lots of gospel principles. She asked when I would be in Trinidad because she wanted me to speak to her students. I told her that I left that behind when I retired and that now our mission was my focus. They asked about the makeup of the branch. They asked questions and we provided answers throughout the evening. Dad did a awesome job sharing the different principles of the gospel. Sam said he would like to read the Book of Mormon. Lydia never did really say she would read it, though she did say she had a copy her mom had given her over 10 years ago. So they now each have one. They gave us their business cards and said to keep in touch. The visit went way beyond our expectations. I hope they felt the same and were touched by the spirit to know more about the gospel.

We had fast Sunday in our branch because we couldn’t get general conference here. It was the first conference we have missed in a few years. Dad ended up conducting the meeting. Our branch president is very shy and needs lots of training. He doesn’t get it the first time information is explained to him. The elders have tried. Modeling might be a better way.