January 8th, 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

                                                               HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017!!

On New Years Eve we decided to celebrate by inviting the senior couples in Trinidad over for a soup and salad bar. It was fun to have a moment to thank them for all they do to help us run this mission. We are very grateful for the Rasmussen's, Gertsch's, Steckers and Allman's. They are amazing examples of selfless service.

Believe it or not, we have marked the halfway point in our mission. Dad's been encouraged to burn a tie, but he says he needs them. The missionaries always want to trade him a tie, but he isn't too sure that the trade is a fair one. I've happily thrown a couple of wardrobe items in the garbage to celebrate, as the mission wardrobe does wear out.

Following the ringing in of the New Year, we began our Zone Conference tour of the mission. We have been in Suriname this week and arrived in Guyana today. It is the rainy season right now and feels like a sauna! We have a dehumidifier in our hotel and have emptied the gallon container 3 times already.

One of the highlights in Suriname was meeting Vincent. He is the bike repair shop owner for Suriname. He received a call late one night that a major fire had broken out on the block where his shop is located. Vincent called the Crawford's, our senior couple, who always brings him the missionaries bikes and asked if they would pray with him, as the outcome was in God's hands.  The fire burned right to the wall that divides his shop from the neighboring gas station. It was a miracle that the gas tanks didn't explode. The selfie of the five of us shows you his contagious smile! I'm pretty sure he has "branch president" written on his forehead. His bike shop is his livelihood and supports his wife and four children. He is a very religious man and kept praising God for His goodness. He and his family are preparing for their second missionary lesson tomorrow. 

While I was waiting for Dad after conference, a missionary gave me a chocolate covered Stroopwaffle. It was the Dutch version of a Twix. YUM! I wish I could send some home, without them becoming a chocolate puddle in the mail. 

How are your New Years resolutions coming along? Here are President Uchtdorf's thoughts on the subject.

"One day we will look back at our lives and wonder if we could have been better, made better decisions, or used our time more wisely. To avoid some of the deepest regrets of life, it would be wise to make some resolutions today. Therefore, let us:

• Resolve to spend more time with those we love.
• Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants us to be.
• Resolve to find happiness, regardless of our circumstances.

It is my testimony that many of the deepest regrets of tomorrow can be prevented by following the Savior today. If we have sinned or made mistakes—if we have made choices that we now regret—there is the precious gift of Christ’s Atonement, through which we can be forgiven. We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and remove the burden of our sins. His Atonement allows us to leave the past behind and move forward with clean hands, a pure heart, and a determination to do better and especially to become better."                President Uchtdorf

Dad and I are learning and growing daily and are grateful for the tutelage of the Spirit. We are so proud of all of you and share our testimony of the Savior and His perfect example that gives us hope for the New Year. 

We love you all very much,

Trini and Dad

December 24th, 2016

Dear Family and Friends!

We send Seasons Greetings on Christmas Eve from Trinidad, Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao! In all areas of the mission there have been some fun Christmas gatherings and memories being made. We have been in Trinidad the last two weeks spreading the Christmas spirit by caroling at the mall, having a Christmas celebration at the mission home and preparing to have a few missionary orphans over on Christmas Day for dinner and to make their family phone calls. 

It's not beginning to look much like Christmas here, as we walked today in 85 degree temperatures and were the only house on the street with Christmas lights this year. Dad bought his own palm tree a few months ago, just so he could decorate a palm tree with lights for Christmas. He also created this year's gingerbread house to resemble the homes on stilts in Guyana. It was fun to decorate, complete with fruit leather clothes hanging on the line to dry. It was a hit with the missionaries, especially those that had served in Guyana.

At our Christmas party we served a ham dinner with all the trimmings...dessert was Dad's gingerbread cookies sandwiched around Haagen Daas vanilla and dipped in caramel. We also introduced our missionaries to the timeless holiday favorite "It's a Wonderful Life." They really enjoyed it and realize that "every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings." 

We watched the Primary nativity rehearsal last week at church and thought you would enjoy some pictures of that

re-enactment. The children were so excited to play the different parts of the nativity. Dad also met Santa along the walkway of the strip 

mall where the mission office is located. He seems to have great timing when it comes to finding Sinterklaas and Santa in a crowd.

It was fun to Facetime with you for the Grammy Party at Cam's and Grandma's Party at Jan's. It makes us a little homesick, but very grateful for your loyalty to the traditions of Christmas in our family. We are especially thankful that you were all involved in one way or another in helping someone else have a special Christmas. Sub for Santa will always be a highlight in our Christmas memories.

We are thankful to be celebrating the true meaning of Christmas in every way this year. There are no presents under the tree and yet our hearts are full of gratitude for our family, friends and the Savior. Since His birth, the world has never been the same. He defines the reason for the season and we are indebted to Him for everything. 

May you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Half way through our mission...but who's counting???

Love,

Trini and Dad

December 18th, 2016

2016 GINGERBREAD HOUSE

December 12th, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

     We just got back from a week in Guyana, where we are always reminded of how humble the circumstances are, of so many of our members. It is amazing to see entire families that live in these homes on stilts that would be about the size of a bedroom. Most sleep in hammocks that they can quickly tie up to make room for people to eat and get dressed for the day. Outhouses are fairly common and showers are usually taken under the house. Many cook outside where they are close to their little gardens and pets that eventually become dinner. (chickens, pigs, goats etc)

We now have 36 missionaries and two senior couples serving in Guyana. Zone meetings were held with our 12 missionaries in Berbice first. We spent the night in Berbice with the Peterson's, our newest couple, who are from South Jordan. They have 10 children and 38 grandchildren and are tackling the learning curve in the most rural part of this mission. They purchase many of their needs from the market place which is always an interesting experience. Fresh fruit, veggies, meat, eggs and toiletries.

There is one place in town to go out to eat. Church's chicken is a fast??? food restaurant that usually has at least two of the items displayed on the board of over 15. You basically ask...What do you have today? and then order the meal. They ate there once, but couldn't distinguish what part of the chicken they were consuming and then made the executive decision to cook at home. 

Then we were off to Georgetown where we have 24 missionaries and a senior couple, the Fry's, from Evanston. It was a much larger group. After the meeting Dad interviewed and I went to a baptism with the Fry's. Camilla has been going to church since March, but when she began reading the Book of Mormon on a regular basis she knew it was true and had to be baptized. She tearfully expressed her great love for the gospel to and the joy she felt about being able to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

Dad stayed busy the entire time interviewing and counseling elders, members and leaders. He was exhausted mentally and energized spiritually by the simple faith and trust that the members have. It feels good to be back in Trindad, but as usual we feel behind in a job that never seems to be done.

We are grateful to be reminded of the simple things that it takes to be truly happy in this life. There won't be much of a Christmas for our Guyanese saints but they are happy to have a leaky roof overhead, food on the table, and the gospel. They say "I am so blessed."

When you pass people on the street they say BLESSIN'S. We just need to remember to count them!

Love Trini and Dad

December 5th, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and are enjoying the countdown to Christmas. Our week in Aruba with Marissa and Greg was fantastic and we even found a turkey dinner with most of the traditional trimmings at the hotel. It was delicious and I especially enjoyed the clean up! While Marissa and Greg were visiting, we actually had some much needed relaxation and beach time combined with mission opportunities. 

Greg and Marissa were able to go out teaching with us and our missionaries. Dad and Greg each went with a companion and Marissa and I went with the sisters in a foursome. We taught the last lesson before baptism to Ari. Marissa was a great help as she shared her thoughts and testimony in her beautiful Spanish. Ari is from Venezuela and is working in Aruba to support his family back at home. His baptism was the next day and then he was confirmed on Sunday.

Sunday was also the Primary program. The kids did an amazing job and brought the spirit and tears to everyone's eyes. The translator kept saying "I think I am going to cry right now. These little children are so special." It was a great Sunday to be visiting the branch. After church we had to get Marissa and Greg to the airport to make their flight home. It was hard to say goodbye but we were grateful to have them visit.

We have challenged the missionaries in our mission to not just dream of a "White Christmas" but to make it a "White Christmas" as we prepare investigators, dressed in white, to enter the waters of baptism. We have many baptisms scheduled for December and it looks like the forecast is for snow in the Caribbean.

We are grateful for the Christmas season and proud of the generous things that you are doing to bless the lives of others. Thank you for joining the church campaign to Light the World with your Christlike examples. We love and appreciate you so much and declare glad tidings of Christmas joy. A Savior was born and we testify of His reality.

Happy Holidays and all our love,

Trini and Dad

November 21st, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

We have been on a whirlwind tour of the mission with the new Caribbean Area President, Walter F. Gonzalez and his wife. We began in Trinidad. Something really special happened there with one of our elders. Ever since he was a little boy, his mother had taught him to pray and to read the Book of Mormon every day. This council had been given to her in a letter she received from her mission president's wife as she departed from her mission. Elder Carillo was sitting in Zone Conference in Trinidad, when the Gonzalez's introduced themselves and said that twenty two years ago they had presided as a Mission President and wife in South America. He realized his mother had served in their mission and emotionally explained his connection to their church service and the letter that his mother still had from Sister Gonzalez. It was a really sweet moment to be part of.

Then we were off to Suriname and the ABC islands....all in a 72 hour period.There we had more Zone Conferences and firesides. On one day we held meetings in both North and South America. When we arrived in Curacao, your Dad asked if Sinterklaas had come to the island yet. (You may remember he chased him over the bridge last year when we happened to be visiting. He was on his white horse flanked by his zwarte piets.) Anyway, the receptionist at the front desk grabbed the activity calendar for the hotel and said, "He is in the plaza right now. If you hurry you will be able to see him." Of  course we went running over to take a peek at the festivities.That was Dad's spiritual experience for the week as he knew the Lord was mindful of his love for Christmas.

We are missing the Thanksgiving season with all of you. Somehow, I was able to fit in Thanksgiving for 50, following the Zone Conference in Trinidad. Three turkeys, potatoes, gravy, dressing, carrots, green beans, rolls and apple cake. No pumpkin to be found in Trinidad. At least they all left with a full tummy and a few more calories.

We will hope to find a turkey dinner being served somewhere in Aruba to celebrate the holiday this week. Please know you will all be on our list of the things we are most thankful for. You are our greatest blessing!!!

Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING,

Trini and Dad

November 6th, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

Last week was spent in the Dominican Republic at the Mission Presidents Seminar. There were 7 other mission president's and their wives in attendance and we were presided over by the Caribbean Area presidency. We have a new President of the Area, President Walter Gonzalez, who used to be in the Presidency of the Seventy. It was nice to get to know him and understand his vision for the Caribbean Area. The Presidency had received instruction while they were in SLC, the week before conference, to pass along to us. All Area presidencies then take it to their specific regions of the world. A pretty organized way to disseminate information world-wide. The main focus was Preach the Gospel, Sabbath Day Observance, Self-Reliance and Temple and Family History.

It was great to be with other presidents and their wives and share some common mission concerns and discuss some possible remedies. One of the mission president's (James Nuckols) is good friends with Karla's sister and brother-in-law. It's a small world in the church.

We were able to go to the temple in Santo Domingo twice.When dad served as a bishop, he always taught the importance of Temple attendance and how you can feel the power both physically and spiritually. If you touch the temple, the temple will touch you!  It was wonderful to be able to be in Lord's house.

The mission seminar was held at a beautiful resort with conference rooms about and hour a half outside of Santo Domingo. I think my favorite part of the seminar was when we had a breakout session with the wives. They asked 2 sisters to bear their testimonies. One sister was serving in Haiti. She related a story to us about a sister in her city who lost all 6 of her children and her husband in the earthquake a couple of years ago. She hadn't seen her for awhile and was worried about her. She said when I went to her branch and saw her, I began to cry. She told me "Sister Raphael, do not cry for me. If I did not know who my Savior was, then I would be beyond hope, but I know Him and He knows me. I could not have gone on living without the gospel." Needless to say, it was very moving and emotional for all of us.

We just got home yesterday and will leave for the last leg of our zone conferences tomorrow in Guyana and Suriname. We've had a lot to accomplish in 48 hours, but the Lord blesses us when it comes to His work.We are excited to wrap up our Zone Conferences this week and then get back just in time to greet another group of 8 incoming missionaries and say goodbye to 3 that are going home. We could not do this without your prayers and support and we are aware of that everyday. We are hoping that the hearts of immigration will soften so we can get our missionaries into Trinidad. We haven't had a missionary permit granted for Trinidad in almost 6 months, so feel free to offer an extra prayer. 

We love you,

Trini and Dad