One Year Mark

We have now been serving a mission for the Lord in the West Indies for a year. We have both experienced personal growth in several areas as we have tried to mold ourselves to our picture of a senior couple. We have had angels go before us as we have traveled the roads of Trinidad and Tobago. The spirit guides us in much of what we do even though we don’t always recognize it at the time. Our testimonies have strengthen and deepened.

We served for four months in the mission office located in Valsayn, Trinidad before we were transferred to Tobago. While in Trinidad we observed the preparation for the formation of the Port of Spain, Trinidad Stake. We have watched our little branch in Tobago grow from around 20 to nearly 60 since we came here at the end of September. We have met people who have had spiritual dreams that have led them to accept the gospel. Some who have spiritual dreams (that we understand because of our understanding of the gospel) have not yet come to the realization of the true meaning of those dreams. We continue to hope they will listen to the Spirit and gain an understating of what the Lord is trying to teach them.

Some here on the island of Tobago still think the Church is a “cult” and they don’t comprehend the magnitude of the Church because all they have seen is our humble little building on top of the Green Grocer. Many have heard and believe the usual negative things about the Church. That is one of our jobs, to preach the truth, and dispel the lies put forth by Satan.

Seminary was started in November. There are six students who are eligible to attend; five have attended and two or three will receive a certificate of completion. We have started most of the young women on Personal Progress even though we are still on a two-hour block and don’t have an official YW class. The Primary children age 8-11 are working on their Faith in God even though we have only a one-hour Primary. It is exciting to see them devour the programs and complete the tasks. We go to their homes to help each one complete their goals. We are worried one 13 year old will complete her YW requirements long before she turns 18 and she will have nothing to do!

One of our Mission Goals is to baptize and develop enough priesthood leadership to have a three-hour block before we go home. Of course, we need a new building before that can happen. We don’t have a branch clerk or the computer to complete the tasks, so we must hand carry all donations and membership information to the mission office in Trinidad. It is, at best, a slow process but we can measure growth since we have been here.

We are going to find it hard to leave our “new grandchildren” as we have come to love the people here even more that we expected. They have good hearts and they love the Lord.