Dear Family and friends,
We have been on the island loop as we have visited Trinidad, Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao the past ten days. It was a once in a mission miracle, that all of our flights were actually on time and we were able to accomplish the schedule that we hoped to keep. We were finishing Zone Conferences, meeting about immigration issues and working with missionaries and members.
Dad was available to mentor leaders with items that seem so simple in our church experience, but so paralyzing for them. The act of releasing someone from a calling, interviewing new candidates, confirming worthiness, and then extending a new calling is a real hurdle that only confidence and experience can help them overcome. It is wonderful to see them perform their duties in such a humble way. All went well and hopefully it won't be as frightening the second time around.
We visited Primary in Tobago and captured a beautiful sunset Sunday evening. We enjoyed Zone Conference in Trinidad with everyone able to fit in the mission home. We started our mission with 63 in Trinidad and 4 zones. Now, we are down to 26 with 2 zones due to the delay in missionary permit approval for the past 7 months. Then we were onto the ABC islands, where Dad met with government officials to allow our missionaries in Aruba be able to stay for 90 days at a time, instead of flying out every 30.
After that, we hopped to Curacao to finish Zone Conference and then ended in Bonaire for leadership training, Melchizedek Priesthood advancements and church. We both spoke at the Bonaire branch Sacrament Meeting (Dad in Spanish and mine was translated) then Dad conferred the Melchizedek priesthood on Brother Mens, the first Dutchman in the branch. He and his family are looking forward to being sealed in the SLC temple exactly one year from the date of their baptism. It was really special. Then I taught YW and Dad taught priesthood. After church, we had dinner with the branch president and his wife. They live in a little apartment that would fit inside a small bedroom and had the missionaries and us over for dinner. We had a picnic outside because there is no room for six inside their little home.Then we visited a family whose parents are struggling with activity, but the four kids come every week. They have been offended somehow, but allowed us to stop by to say hello and before we left we were able to have a prayer with them. Baby steps...everyone needs to be missed and needed! Now we are back in Trinidad for 3 days and then onto Guyana!
Hard to believe January is almost over!
Have a great week....and try to stay warm!
We love you,
Trini and Dad
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