March 4th, 2018

Dear Family and Friends,

If we are not in the doghouse, we should be, for not writing in so long. Much has happened in the last few weeks. I know you thought we might be laying on the beach in the warm Caribbean sun, sipping our pina coladas and listening to the waves lapping the sandy shore, but we assure you that has not been the case.

Our last round trip of the mission had some definite highlights; our favorites being time spent with our missionaries and their investigators. One night in Bonaire, Dad was teaching with the Dutch sisters and I was teaching with the Spanish sisters. Both of us had memorable experiences that strengthened our testimonies.

I was privileged to meet a recent convert Nurys. When we arrived, the sisters introduced her to me as the Mission President's wife. She said that made her nervous and she was happy that I would visit her humble home. As the lesson began, the sisters asked her how she had enjoyed her reading in the Book of Mormon. She jumped up to get her scriptures and came back clutching them to her heart. She began sharing how much she loved the Book of Mormon and the prophet Alma's teachings. Then she raised her hands in the air and began tearfully thanking the Lord for the Book of Mormon, her decision to be baptized and the gratitude she had for the restored gospel. It was a sacred experience. I felt like I was intruding on her private conversation with the Savior. I want to be her when I grow up!

These new converts are so pure and clean and I want to ride their coat tails into heaven.

When we were in Aruba, we were able to attend both the Spanish and the English branch. After church, Dad took some pictures of street art. They were amazing wall murals and were really beautiful. I'm not sure the photos will do them justice.

In Curacao we were able to witness a baptism and also look for a mission home and office. The Area has been by to look at our suggested properties and the real estate powerpoint should be in SLC by now awaiting decision. We will probably relocate the mission home and office within 2 months, due to the lack of missionary permit approvals in Trinidad. It is sad since the mission home has been home to the last 8 mission presidents.

We were also privileged to have Elder Kearon and Elder Zivic and their wives visit Trinidad for a day. They are both in the First Quorum of the Seventy and took the time to have a devotional and lunch with us and our missionaries. It was wonderful to meet them and listen to their inspired counsel. Elder Kearon actually lives in our Stake. He and his wife bought the Mecham's home in the Ashley Park ward. Small world!

Last week we held a mission-wide Mission Leadership Council in Trinidad. Dad flies the missionary leaders (Assistants, Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders) in from all the areas of the mission three times a year. We enjoyed hearing about each of their areas, their goals and challenges impacting the work. I taught about leadership qualities and Dad focused his remarks on Joseph Smith, the restoration of the gospel and conducted a question and answer period that the missionaries really enjoyed.

Our plate is full and so are our hearts. We are grateful for the gospel and your support and prayers.

Love, Trini and Dad

January 12th, 2018

Caroni Swamp

January 7th, 2018

Dear Family and friends,

We hope you all enjoyed the holidays and are looking forward to the blessings and challenges that a New Year has to offer. As Dad and I reflect on the past year, we realize how much we have grown in this missionary calling. It has been humbling to see converts enter the waters of baptism leaving behind such colorful and burdening pasts. They are humble, meek and teachable and are grateful for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and spiritual experiences that continue to fuel their desire to follow the Savior. 

As we have fasted today with each of you in mind, we have been filled with the spirit of comfort and the knowledge that each of you are trying to do your part, as you raise your children to be kind, forgiving and understanding of others. We  admire each of you for loving and spending time with each other. Life will always be fragile and unpredictable but we cannot do it, without each other and the Lord. Thank you Jon for reminding us to follow the promptings of the spirit. Thank you for listening to the still small voice. 

Today in fast meeting one of the sisters said "I have learned to Let go and let God lead." Another sweet man remarked, "We don't have to wait for a New Year to decide to be better. Every day we can make a decision to be better than we were the day before. Every day is a new day, and every day is a gift from the Lord." It has been a sobering experience to see how much we take for granted. A church within walking distance, a calling that allows us to serve others,  temples we can see from our kitchen window and a living prophet who speaks with God. 

We are grateful for this experience that has tried our souls and tempered our steel. 

We don't usually get to spend much time at the mission home and in Trinidad, but it has been a blessing to be here the last two weeks. We have enjoyed the roadside fruit stands, bananas from our own backyard, but mostly the fruits of our labors as we have helped bring others unto Christ. 

Happy New Year

Trini and Dad

December 27th, 2017

Happy Holidays,

It is amazing to think that this is the last Christmas away from all of you! Mr Christmas (Dad) made sure to have the lights up on the mission home as well as every palm tree, the gingerbread house baked and ready for me to decorate, and Great Grandma McDonald's anise cookies ready to be eaten, followed by a glass of egg nog with his eyes closed for good measure. Sadly, no long winter naps have been taken, but we have certainly come to appreciate the reason for the season. Three years without the commercialization of Christmas has not been missed. It has been so nice to enjoy the real meaning of Christmas and contemplate the birth of the Savior and what a gift He is in our lives.

No matter what part of the mission we were in, there was evidence that the Christmas spirit was alive and well. Even the poorest of the poor, decorated in some way to celebrate the season. We asked our missionaries to be dreaming of a "White Christmas" different from the ones they used to know....A "White Christmas" of investigators "dressed in white" for their baptism.

Since December is usually the lowest baptizing month of the year, this challenge has been good for their morale and given them motivation to finish the year focused and committed to those they are teaching. We have had almost 50 baptisms so far this month, which is double what we had last year. More are scheduled this week and into January. Dad told them that every time they hear the song, they will remember the White Christmas miracle they experienced during their mission. 

We hope that you have all enjoyed this magical time of year and been a little kinder, a little more giving and a little more indebted to our Savior for all that He has blessed us with.

We love you,

Trini and Dad

November 27th, 2017

Dear Family and Friends

Today was our favorite Sacrament Meeting of the year...the Primary Program. Choose the Right was the theme and the children were very excited. We attended the Chaguanas branch in Trinidad, that has about 8 Primary children and all of them actually came. The Primary President was so happy. She had a few versions of the program ready in case the children didn't make it to church. They did a great job and certainly taught us all that:

" Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”     ---Matthew 18: 3-4

It made us miss seeing all of your Primary programs, but reinforced the blessing of children all over the world learning how the gospel helps them Choose the Right. We are working with young men and women who consistently share the importance of choosing the right as missionaries. Exact obedience brings miracles!

Keep choosing the right in all you do.

We love you...

Trini and dad

November 23rd, 2017

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We are very grateful for each of you and our beautiful grandchildren. Please know how much we love and appreciate all you do for us and each other. Next year we will have turkey day together! 

"To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven."  President Monson

We hope you have a wonderful day with your families.

We love you,

Trini and Dad

October 29th, 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

Last week we were able to attend the Mission Presidents Seminar in the Dominican Republic. It was wonderful to be with the other mission presidents and wives of the Caribbean. It was especially humbling to be able to meet and hear from the new mission president in Puerto Rico. As you may be aware, all of the missionaries were evacuated from that island, following the hurricane. Because of shortages with food, water and electricity there was no way to sustain the missionary force on the island.

As we had lunch with Elder and Sister Smart, the new Puerto Rico president and wife one day, it was very apparent that they are anxiously anticipating the return of their missionaries over the next few months. They said that when President Eyring came to tour the island and offer his support for the Saints, he promised them: "You will survive the physical hurricanes, but will you survive the spiritual hurricanes?" As their spirits were being tested and they were sleeping without air-conditioning, a hot shower and food and water in limited quanitites, Sister Smart said she took a moment to look up at the ceiling and realized how blessed she was to have a roof over her head. Our mission was very fortunate to have had no damage from the hurricanes, as they have been devastating other parts of the Caribbean. Thank you for your prayers!

We also wanted to share a story about some recent baptisms in Trinidad. About a month ago, Vanessa was baptized. Dad was able to do her baptismal interview and was very impressed with her knowledge and her conversion story. Following the baptismal interview, he wanted to demonstrate what she could expect with regard to protocol at her baptism. As he was demonstrating the proper procedure for the ordinance, the prayer that would be given and the things that she could expect to have happen at her baptismal service, her children, nieces and nephews looked on. After Dad did the baptism example for Vanessa, her children wanted him to show them too. Their baptisms were coming up and they wanted a turn. Dad demonstrated for Vanessa's 2 children and then their cousins excitedly said, "Can you show us too, we want to be baptized!" 

Vanessa was baptized that weekend and 3 weeks later her two children Jeremy and Mariella were baptized. She was asked to speak at her children's baptismal service and witnessed to all in attendance, "I have experienced the death of a sinful life, and the birth of a spiritual one. I have tasted the sweet peace of forgiveness!"

She did a wonderful job on her very first talk as a member of the church. She was very proud of her children and is looking forward to having them sealed to her someday.

I asked the sister missionaries why her husband did not attend the baptismal services. The sisters told me that her husband had been killed a little over a year ago, in an accident. Dad and I are so grateful to be part of these new converts lives. They have taught us so many valuable lessons about faith, despite unsurmountable personal challenges. 

Count your blessings!!

We love you,

Trini and Dad