November 15th, 2015

H A L L E L U J A H!

The bubble finally dissolved on Sunday afternoon from Dad's eye and we were on a plane the next morning headed from the Dominican Republic to Panama, then to Trinidad, and onto Suriname in ten short hours. We arrived just in time to take care of zone conferences with our missionaries there and then work with members and leaders the next day. We actually took a minute and found a little Dutch cafe that served pannekoeken and poffertjes for breakfast so Dad was in heaven. It really was delicious. Then we came back to the hotel and got caught up with emails until I went out teaching with the sister missionaries and Dad met with the members and leaders for temple recommends, PPI's, etc.

The next morning we were off to Guyana to repeat the same agenda in Georgetown for zone conferences. Yesterday, we drove out to the countryside in Guyana for more leadership meetings. Today, Dad set apart a twenty year old to serve as a branch president! It was really special.He has faith and loves the Lord, but some in the congregation think that a mere child has been called to be their judge in Israel. We are trying to give him the strength and support that he will need to perform the duties that he will have on his plate. Thankfully the Lord qualifies those He calls.

We got back to Georgetown before sunset so we wouldn't run over cows, pigs, horses or PEOPLE that are walking down the middle of the road. Our flight leaves at 6am tomorrow and arrives in Trinidad by 7:45 hopefully am. You never know in the Caribbean when you will depart and arrive for sure.

It has been so great to be with our missionaries again and we are really looking forward to going home for three whole days to take care of zone conferences in Trinidad. Then we head for the ABC islands to do the same there and return home for Thanksgiving week the following Monday night! Can't wait to have Marielle, Conner and McCrae come for TURKEY DAY!

Thank you for all your prayers and love,

Trini and Dad

Dutch Cafe

Yum

Always better with your eyes closed

My favorite country house in Guyana

Primary kids

November 7th, 2015

Dear family and friends,

We have now been in the Dominican Republic for almost two weeks. We came here originally to attend a mission president's conference for four days but ran into some unexpected difficulties. The night before we left for the trip, Dad was playing the piano and noticed that there was a circular shadow right in the center focal point of his eye. Being a migraine sufferer, he thought he'd better try to sleep it off but it was still there the next morning. When we arrived in Panama on the layover to the DR, he couldn't see much at all through his left eye. We landed in the DR at 1 in the morning and went to the hotel and were in bed by 3 am. The next morning we were able to go to the Santo Domingo Temple with all the other mission presidents and wives from the Caribbean. When we finished the session and were having lunch at the temple, Dad conferred with two members of the Area Presidency who are also doctors. They both had some connections with opthomologists in the city and we were able to be seen that day. Dad was diagnosed with a Vitreo Macular Adhesion. It required surgery and they happened to have a space available the next morning. After Dad consulted with friends of his in SLC at the Moran Eye Center, he felt like he could get it done here. We were very impressed with the doctor. He had attended Duke and Emery for his schooling and had begun an eye institute in Santo Domingo where he taught 12 residents a year. The surgery was textbook and we were very blessed to have been here in the DR because we would have never been able to get it done in Trinidad with the medical care there. Because they placed a bubble of air in the back of his eye, between the tissues for healing, we have had to wait until it dissipates before we can fly home due to pressure changes. So he has had dark glasses on and his head down for 12 days checking out everyone's shoes and trying to be patient.

We have definitely felt the prayers of family and missionaries alike. We have been staying in a senior apt on the temple grounds and the MTC campus. We have had 3 meals a day and LOVE rice, beans and meat! Everyone has been so kind.

These trials of faith have been a tender reminder of the fact that He knows us individually and by name.

We have been able to go to the temple three times and that has been a huge blessing. It has made us appreciate and feel the blessings of being an eternal family. We are very ready to get back to our missionaries as we have missed a transfer of 6 incoming missionaries but at least no outgoing. Somehow nothing has fallen completely apart, but it is really hard to do this job when you are in a different country. 

We actually got out of the apartment yesterday and were able to visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus and the oldest church in the Americas. We were taken by the MTC president and his wife. It was really nice to get some fresh humid air.We are praying for the bubble to burst asap so that we can be ready to go throughout the mission again for zone conferences which start on Tuesday. Please keep us in your prayers. We have definitely learned why PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE.

We love and appreciate all that you for us and each other.

We Love You...
Trini and Dad 

Dad still numb after surgery..therefore the funny grin

Columbus's tomb

Oldest church in the Americas

Flowers on a building I loved 

Santo Domingo Temple

October 28th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

What a crazy week this has been. We were in Guyana for most of the week. We had zone meetings and interviews with our missionaries in Georgetown and then headed for Berbice to do the same. Dad called a 20 year-old to be the new branch president of a congregation called Rose Hall. Right now, Elder Avondette has been acting as branch president for almost a year. (Sr couple) If he continues to lead, then they are happy to follow.But if we can call a local priesthood holder they learn to govern themselves and understand how to run the organization of the church. That has probably been the most difficult part of this mission.The lack of training that the leadership of the church has, had leads to confusion and personal interpretation. Especially when you consider that there are literacy issues that inhibit understanding as well. Many simply can not read. One of the branch president's sent us an email regarding his tithing contributions for the branch that read : (now with many spelling corrections)

Dear President Egbert,

I had no priesthood to help with the tithing at church today. I knew that I could not count the money by myself without two witnesses, so my wife and my 11 year old son watched me. I hope that was ok president. I had them sign their names on the paper as witnesses. I don't know if that was right or wrong but I hope that Heavenly Father will understand and accept the offerings.

We both just cried to see how humble and concerned he was about making things right in the sight of God. It was just one of the many tender moments we experience every week.

After meetings and  interviews there, we left at night to travel back to Georgetown. When the sun goes down, there is NO LIGHT! For two and a half hours Dad had a white knuckle drive back to Georgetown trying to avoid late night impaired drivers with their brights on, animals crossing the road and people out walking on the road,who are as dark as night itself. We will never make that night drive again! It would be so easy to run over something or someone.

We have arrived back in Trinidad and are home for two days before we begin preparing to attend the annual mission president's conference in the Dominican Republic next week.We are excited to be able to attend the temple and meet with the other president's of the Caribbean Missions, the Area Presidency and Elder Christiansen of the Presidency of the Seventy. Remember, he was the one that was with Elder Holland when we were set apart. So it will be wonderful to see him again.

Can't believe it is HALLOWEEN! Have fun trick-or-treating. 

Love, Trini and Dad

Dear Kids and grandkids,

Just wanted to update you on Dad and Papa. I'm afraid that the emails I sent have not arrived. He was in surgery for about and hour. The surgeon came out and said that everything went perfect with the procedure. Thank you for your prayers. He has a  bandage on his eye until tomorrow morning when we go in for his post op appointment and has been trying to rest since we got back to the hotel face down...a little harder than it sounds. But can you imagine your Dad in one place or position for very long? We love you so much and certainly believe in the power of prayer. 

Thank you again,

Mom and Dad

Papa and Grammy

October 22, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry to send our weekly email two days late. We know that you wait at home with baited breath to see what in the world we are up to. This week was spent in the ABC islands. We began in Curacao, which may be my favorite of the three. We walked along the sea dike and then took a ferry over to the other picturesque side of the harbor where there were market vendors selling fish, fruits, and veggies. Along the way, we saw iguanas and hermit crabs out for their morning walk as well. We spent the rest day with our two elders there. They enjoyed interviews with dad, lunch on us, and then we taught three lessons with them. One of the young men that we taught shared the story of his conversion. He said that he had fallen into a deep depression and wondered if God even knew who he was anymore because of his choices. He googled "How can I repent?" Up came LDS.org. Carlos chatted with some missionaries online and they asked if he would like to have some representatives come to his door and answer his questions. He said yes. Then the missionaries in SLC called the mission home and our mission secretary gave the referral to the missionaries in Curacao and they were at this door within two hours. He said that was a miracle. Six weeks later Dad was giving him a baptism interview. He's an amazing young man and can't wait for his baptism. Then we were off to Aruba where we had 4 elders to visit and interview as well as look for two new missionary apartments. By the time we checked out the available apartment choices, took the four of them to lunch and then interviewed we were out of time and back at the airport headed for Bonaire. That little desert island has my heart too. We began Sunday at church by singing the opening song in 4 languages...Dutch, Spanish, English and Papiamento...ALL AT THE SAME TIME! It made me cry to hear so many cultures represented and sung at the top of their lungs! Then Dad and I were asked to spontaneously speak. I had an interpreter and Dad needed an interpreter for the interpreter because he kept switching from English to Dutch to Spanish...and then he finished up with his testimony in Papiamento! His poor brain is just on overload!

Anyway, church was great. The people are so friendly and feel so blessed to have the gospel. We had dinner that afternoon with the senior couple on the island and then interviewed the trio of sisters serving there. Dad had temple recommend interviews at the church later that evening and I went with the sisters to teach. The next morning we took the senior couple to breakfast and then took a tour of part of the island we had never been to before. We saw dive locations, a flamingo sanctuary and lots of cactus! We hope that you have all had a great week. Thank you for the picture of the kids in their Halloween costumes, they looked awesome.  

We love you all!

Trini and Dad

Primary in Bonaire 

Look out for divers sign

 Dive site

 Flamingo Sanctuary

Dutch style apartments

October 12th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm sitting in bed...yes in bed, writing this email because we didn't go to bed until 3:45 this morning. We flew in late last night to Suriname and had tons to do before going to sleep. Emails to write to 50 + missionaries, emergencies to handle like a break-in, a melt down, a medical emergency etc. It just never stops. We thought that if we stayed up long enough we might catch up. But of course we woke up with plenty to do. When we got on the plane last night we sat right in front of a couple from Ogden that asked if we were misionaries. Dad said yes, I am a mission president in this area. He then asked "Do you know William and Verna Egbert?" Dad responded "Yes I do, they are my parents." They were Dr Matis and his wife who were on a vacation to check off more of the countries in the world that they had never been to. He was also Grandma Egbert's orthodontist and his wife, Nadine, was in a book club and knew and loved Grandma. It's a SMALL WORLD! They stayed at the Marriott with us and then we had breakfast together. They have served missions together and love to travel. She is a psychologist for the church and is busy still helping missionaries with different issues.

Saturday we went to a baptism in Point Fortin at the beach. Robert was a very prepared investigator that the sisters found and have been teaching for 6 weeks. The pictures that we have attached is worth a thousand words and I hope you can see the pure joy on their faces. Not a dry eye.Then we went to the confirmation of Isabel on Sunday in San Fernando. She is from Venezuela and speaks only Spanish. A returned missionary in the ward who spoke Spanish confirmed her. Dad and I were invited to speak since the meeting was running short and Dad bore a powerful testimony in Spanish to her of the special gift that she had just received. It was awesome to see the gift of tongues at work. It is hard to believe sometimes that we have only been here three and a half months. So many experiences that would already fill a book. We feel blessed to have this challenging opportunity and are trying to serve Him with all our heart, might, mind and strength. We could not do this without your love and prayers and want you to know we can feel your sustaining presence !

Tight hugs and tender kisses to you all!

Trini and Dad

October 5th, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

It's been another lazy week in the Caribbean...sipping a pina colada with our toes tickling the sand....NOT! We have been in Tobago for the last 3 days helping train  the branch president and enjoying conference weekend with the members and our missionaries. We had pretty good reception for the majority of the sessions and are hoping to fill in the blanks when we get back to Trinidad today. It was a great recharging of the spiritual batteries and as usual an incredible testimony builder. I love the people of this small branch and admire their faith and dedication amidst some pretty challenging circumstances. Most had to choose whether to attend the Saturday or the Sunday session due to the expense of travel from their homes etc. The picture this week is of Sister Cupid! I idolize her. She has been the Relief Society president for years and is the lady that runs the fishmarket by the beach. She is the #1 missionary for the island and practices everyday what she preaches. Her example is contagious and she is a Saint in my book. We only have 2 missionaries serving on the island right now and hope to get two more over here soon. Well, not much more to say other than how much we love and appreciate you all. Put what you learned in conference to the test. There were so many inspiring suggestions and council given. What a blessing to have a living prophet and to know that he speaks with God for the welfare of mankind. Have a wonderful week. we are getting ready to board our flight in just a minute. Glad that it only takes 20 minutes to get home to Trinidad!

Hugs and Kisses OXOXOXO  

Trini and Dad

PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYLAN!

 Tobago sunrise

 Conference with the branch

Sister Cupid

First banana harvest

September 28th, 2015

Hello Family and Friends,

How are all of you? We have been busy with mission transfers this week. Getting 6 new missionaries settled into their areas and sending 14 home. Due to the off balance of missionaries coming and going we had to close some areas of the mission until we can build up the missionary force. We have a greater surge of missionaries in the summer months and as school has started the numbers seem to dwindle a little. We had 2 English 2 Dutch and 2 Spanish speakers arrive. They were all excited to get to work.

After transfer week we headed down to Guyana for a multi branch conference in Berbice. It is like going back in time. Way out in the country about 2 hours from Georgetown the church has 6 small mission supported branches. We have  been training the leadership and setting apart priesthood members in their callings as well as Dad providing interviews for temple recommends they hope someday to use.They do speak English here so that is nice but trying to understand their English can be a trick. We just ask that they slow down.....kind of like understanding your Dad's English.

The people have nothing but their heart to give to the church and transportation keeps them from being able to come to church as often as they would like. They work all day at the market selling their vegetables, fruit or chickens etc to bring home about 8-10 US dollars. They are determined to be self-reliant and it is so admirable. Some work in the cane fields cutting sugar cane and some work in mining in the interior. The people are of East Indian, African, Muslim and Hindu backgrounds and all love God in one way or another. They are very genuine and happy but live at poverty level. We went to visit one family who gave us a drink and a cheese cracker as the rest of the family looked on. They are so giving of what little they have. We are truly spoiled with so many things. Please appreciate all the many blessings and privileged things of life that you have. We saw them cooking dinner over a fire and showering out of a bucket. But that is life in Guyana...very hard! The members are very kind and just are living day to day doing the best that they can to survive. It is very humbling. Their only way out is eduction so they try to help their children go to school but often need them to drop out to help with the family income when they are about 13. It is very sad but it is all they know. We are planning on teaching with the elders tonight before we leave Berbice tomorrow morning.

We just got back from teaching a family of 8 in a house the size of the dining room. There was no electricity so the mother brought in a small oil lamp that helped the 10 of us see well enough to read a few scriptures and explain the restoration. There are no words to explain how poor this family was. Most were on the floor and a few had a chair or part of a chair to sit on. The 11yr old, Eaton, knew every answer to the elders questions and was helping his little sisters understand the pamphlet. It was very humbling. As we said a prayer and left their little home I wondered what gives them hope for a better tomorrow. The only answer was the Savior Jesus Christ. 

We just traveled 2 hours back to Georgetown to visit a sister who is sick in the hospital and then we will meet the elders to take them to dinner.  We head for Trinidad tomorrow morning at 4 am and will get to be home until Friday when we head for Tobago.

We send our love and prayers and hope you and your families are doing well. 

Love you,

Trini and Dad

The animals on the road to Berbice

The backyard of our neighbor this weekend...complete with shower and outhouse.

Most homes in Berbice resemble this one.

The Berbice kids at church in their Sunday best