What a Marvelous Weekend

President Denzell, 1st counselor, President Gould, President Ruper, the presidency of the Port of Spain, Trinidad Stake

On Sunday, March 1, 2009, about 750 of the saints from Trinidad gathered at 9 am in the Cascadia Hotel Conference Center for the Purpose of Organizing the Port of Spain, Trinidad Stake. It is the creation of the first stake in the West Indies Mission. It was a glorious moment when we all stood and raised our right hand to the square to approve the creation of the first stake in the West Indies Mission (first English-speaking Stake in the Caribbean). Then each of the six branches stood one at a time and approved the bishopric for their new ward. Two branches will be in the stake and two branches will be outside the stake boundaries as is our branch in Tobago. We will remain as part of the mission.

Elder Neil L. Andersen, senior president of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Francisco J. Vinas, of the First Quorum of Seventy and currently the first counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency were assigned to create the Port of Spain, Trinidad Stake.

President Gould shared his feeling on his new calling. Elder Neil L. Andersen is getting the inside information on President Denzel from his long time friend, Brother Victor. They both served in the West Indies Mission under President Robison.

Elder Francisco J. Vinas

President Michael Choo, a counselor in the mission presidency, has been called to serve on the high council.

President and Sister Gamiette (mission president July 1) sat behind us at the conference until he was summoned to the stand because he is a counselor in the mission presidency. We met him at the couples conference. Sister Gamiette is delightful.

We met the Freilou's in the Port of Spain Branch. He works for the American Embassy. They are expecting a baby and will go to Washington DC for a year before heading to Italy. Laura is 6.

Brother Christopher Jasper works for the church in the area of physical facilities. He has been helpful to us as we serve in Tobago. Brother and Sister Belgrave are a strong family in the Port of Spain Ward.

This is our friend Jaqui Mitchell from Arima. Her oldest son returned from a mission in November and was just called to serve on the high council. Her son, Hammon, was the one who played the pan at our couples conference recently.

Our friend Doris who takes care of the mission home is loved by all the couples and the missionaries. She is from Guyana.

We took a different route over Lady Young to Valsayn that runs parallel to Port of Spain. We stopped at the lookout that overlooks the whole Port of Spain and the connecting communities.

Elder and Sister Ross, Elder and Sister Collins, Elder and Sister Leishman