May 13th, 2018

Dear Family and friends,

It's official...the mission home and office contents are on a ship headed for Curacao. They predict a 6-8 delivery and we are praying that we will be able to unload just in time for the new mission president and his wife. It has been bittersweet to see a mission home that has been used by nine mission presidents come to an end. It was a wonderful home for us for the past three years and always held a special spirit as we welcomed and said farewell to over 200 missionaries. Even though we were seldom at the mission home for more than a week a month, we looked forward to sleeping in our bed and enjoying the wonderful mangoes, bananas, birds and iguanas.

We were so tired after readying our personal items for one crate and then immediately getting the items earmarked for the mission home shipping to Curacao, that I took a moment for a therapeutic and well-deserved cry. Sister Melville, who has worked at the mission home for the past four presidents helped me with the final clean up once everything was out the door. She had a hard time seeing the home completely. I will really miss her. She is such a humble, sweet, Guyanese woman who has taught me so many things. I would like to put her in my suitcase and bring her home with me. 

Just as the last of the items were being placed in the moving van, Dad received a call from our immigration liaison in Trinidad, stating that 26 Overseas Missionary Permits had been granted. It was ironic to say the least, since we were leaving Trinidad because we had not received an OMP in about a year and our missionary force in Trinidad and Tobago was at five companionships. In a matter of three years, we had gone from fifty-six missionaries to ten. I guess the proof of the pudding will be if there is any consistency to the approvals moving forward. 

We have one more tour of the mission and then we will wrap up in Curacao, just in time to greet the new mission president and his wife. Today was the last Sunday spent in Trinidad and the members were so kind to us. Somehow we are still standing and we know it is a direct blessing of trying to serve with all our heart, might, mind and strength.

Thank you for your prayers. We can feel your love and support and it continues to sustain us as we approach the finish line.

Love you all,

Trini and Dad