The Gubler West Indies Mission: Suriname

Well we finally made it to Suriname after almost four months in Trinidad. We arrived late Wednesday night, early Thursday morning. We found out that they didn't have an apartment for us, so we are having to stay in a hotel. We have been very nervous, because we have to check out of our hotel on Friday and couldn't find another place to stay because of an Indian Festival they are having in Paramaribo. We have been frantically trying to find an apartment, but everything is closed because of a four day weekend. President and Sister Mehr are here in Suriname because of Zone Conference. They suggested we stay in an Elder's apartment that just opened up and is very nice. So we will be moving there on Monday. We're hoping to make it our home for the next 14 months.

We attended Zone Conference on Friday and District Conference on Saturday and Sunday. They have both been very spiritual days, but very tiring. Elder and Sister Vanderbeek are a Senior Couple already here. We will help them out by taking over a Zone of Elders. Nine new Elders came to Suriname the same time we did. There will be 28 Missionaries in Suriname. They are all Elders and all of them ride bicycles.

Suriname is a flat country and is hard to get around. The people here speak Dutch, but many speak English. Our first day at Church many of the members came up to us and spoke English. They were impressed with Elder Gubler at how he spoke Dutch. It is a difficult language and one we are still going to work very hard at. President Mehr told us it would be all right to use English and if needed, get one of the members to translate for us. He really wants us out here to help take care of the Missionaries.

We had a sweet farewell with the Senior Couples in Trinidad. We've made some wonderful friends there and will miss them. It will take time to get use to this new country. It is different than Trinidad, but I think I will grow to love it here. Again, I'm thankful to be here.