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

Saturday Session of Conference

Port of Spain building where the meetings were held. Not many cars can park in the parking lot so many had to park on the street. Most people came to the meeting by taxi or bus.

Two friends since college, Kathy Andersen and Diane Robison spoke to us during the women's session from 3:00-4:45 while the priesthood had a meeting.

The Saturday General Session of Conference for the Purpose of Organizing the Port of Spain, Trinidad Stake was as spiritually uplifting as zone conference had been. Elder Francisco J. Vinas (First Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency and also of the Seventy), who was also assigned by the Brethren to create the stake, spoke in this meeting along with Elder Andersen, President and Sister Robison, President Garcia (President of the Port of Spain District), and Kathy Andersen. The spirit was strong.

President Andersen visitings with the members before the evening meeting.

Memorable Zone Conference

I love the flight back and forth to Tobago. This is a picture of the Caroni Bird Swamp that we visited while we lived in Trinidad. You can see the bird watching station on the left side of the picture. We went past it a couple of times when we went to see the scarlet ibis. It was awesome to see it from the air.

We flew to Trinidad on the 6:40 am flight to attend zone conference at 9:00 am on Friday, February 27, 2009. We started 10 minutes early because everyone was ready to start.

Elder Neil L. Andersen (Senior President of the Presidency of the Seventy) presiding and instructing. We also heard from Kathy Andersen, wife of Elder Andersen and our mission president, Reid Robison and his wife, Diane.

Elder Andersen shared some fun stories about our mission president, which delighted the missionaries as well as the senior couples. The two of them have been friends since they met in the mission field in France and were roommates at BYU and served as student body president (Robison) and vice president (Anderson). As a result of the friendship, Elder Andersen has followed closely our progress toward having a stake organized in Trinidad. It was approved February 12 and as the general authorities were discussing the schedules, etc, Pres Andersen told Pres Packer “if you are so inclined” I would like to be part of the organization of the stake. Pres Packer said, “I’m feeling inclined.”

The young missionaries were instructed to come in their long sleeve shirts. We all stood when President and Sister Anderson entered the room. It was awesome.

Here we are with our missionaries, Elder Huntsman and Elder Barton

The missionaries with Elder and Sister Andersen from all over Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad Stake Announced

Elder Anderson one of the seven presidents of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy, and President Vinas, 2nd counselor in the area presidency and a member of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy will come to Trinidad on Feburary 26th and select the patriarch and stake president to be sustained on March 1, 2009 to organize the Trinidad Stake.

We are going to Trinidad for zone conference on Feb 27 and stay for the meeting for the organization of the stake and the first stake conference. We are excited!

Tobago will remain a part of the mission, since we are still a dependent branch.

A Week in Tobago with the Gilleland's

Here they come!

Namindry Dookran took us on the tour to Argyle Falls

Argyle Falls appealed to everyone

Go John! Go Seth!

Making a friend

Lunch at Jemma's Treehouse Restaurant

These two couldn't resist the playground equipment at the school for the deaf and for disabilities

Great fun!

A little quiet time

Enjoying the breaking waves

Bird watchers

The awesome boogie boarders! Go Girls!

A view off the deck of the Hibiscus Heights Villa

Heading for the deep

Sunday dinner with Elder Barton and Elder Hunstman. Hank went teaching with them afterwards.

last group picture for awhile

Heading home

Book of Mormon Stories

The Williams family, Janelle, Denzel, Natalie, Nikita (front row), Antonia and Kay were delighted to receive the Book of Mormon Stories purchased by your generosity. I suggested they use if for FHE lessons or read together each day, but Janelle wanted to take it and read it all by herself at one sitting. I think they like it!