Still waiting for Visas!

Tomorrow will be our three month mark.  Time has certainly gone by quickly.  Much has happened the past couple of weeks.  I have had to deal with problems with two of my front teeth that I had crowns replaced back in December.  I went through two emergency root canals, one during our stay at the MTC, I flew back to have a root canal redone, and finally I had to fly back again to have Apicoectomy surgery done on both teeth.  I am finally free of pain and feel confident that we can fulfill this mission.  Elder Gubler has been wonderful and a real trooper by staying here alone for three weeks during that time.   It has been a sacrifice with the expense of airline tickets and Dental procedures.  My two teeth should be made of gold as much money as we've spent on them.   With the power of the Priesthood and many prayers and fasting on my behalf, the Lord has truly blessed us.  We both wanted to fulfill this mission and took these sacrifices to be able to do this.  The medical and dental care is arcade and unsafe at the best over here.  One does not want to get sick or injured here, if you do you'll be on a flight to the United States.  My children have been very giving and supportive in letting me stay in their homes and driving me around during this time. 

These past couple of weeks have been busy opening up new apartments.  President Mehr felt inspired to open up two new areas to Missionaries.  One area was a small village which already had a small congregation of investigators and members.  It was difficult finding an apartment as there were no advertisements in the newspaper for that area.  Elder Gubler went to the Post Office to inquire about an apartment, but was received very rudely by the gal who worked there.  He felt inspired to take his badge off at a small store and was warmly received and helped in locating an apartment.  The apartment is large and furnished and at a good price and will accommodate church meetings.  President Mehr wanted the apartment to be a meeting place for members and investigators.  Elder Gubler and I both felt it was a miracle that we found an apartment at all in this area as it was the only one available.  The Lord really blesses His Missionaries.  This village is called Matura and the missionaries will cover the Northeast area of the Island.

Elder Gubler also opened up an apartment while I was away in another town called Valencia.  He had a stove, refrigerator, washing machine, and all the necessary supplies delivered and set up.  He was very busy while I was away.  This area also has a small congregation of members and investigators that President Mehr wanted a place where they could meet. 

While I was away on one of my dental procedures, Elder Gubler and the rest of the Senior Couples went on an excursion to the Northeast tip of the Island.  This is an area where Leatherback Sea Turtles come up on the beach to nest.  These are very large turtles, 6 ft. long from head to tail.  They are best viewed at night.  He was amazed at these large creatures and said they looked like dinosaurs as they walked from the ocean to the beach at night.  He was also able to see little baby hatchlings as they made their way to the ocean.  He has never seen this species of turtle in all the ocean dives he has made.  They spent the night and on the way up to his room, Elder Gubler said the stairs were covered with frogs.  I wished I could have been there.

We are still waiting for our Visas to Suriname.  Elder Vanderbeek and President Linder, a Senior Missionary and a member of the District Presidency in Suriname, went and visited the President of Suriname last week.  They asked him for help in getting these visas as there are five missionaries and us that have been waiting.  He expressed concern and offered to help.  So, we'll see what happens.  Elder and Sister Vanderbeek are a Senior Couple in Suriname right now.  Elder Vanderbeek is from Holland and emigrated to the United States.  We are anxious to get over there and help them out.

Elder Gubler is doing great with his Dutch.  I am so far behind as it has been hard to concentrate with all the problems I have been having with my teeth.  I am setting a goal to take up the Dutch and hit it hard starting tomorrow.  However, I can pray and bare my testimony.

We had a special meeting with President and Sister Mehr and all the other Senior Couples via the internet on Thursday.  President Mehr called all the Senior Couples as Humanitarian Missionaries.  We will be trained on how to locate and start Humanitarian projects for the Mission.  President Mehr feels that this will be good Public Relations in getting these countries to lighten their restrictions on Missionaries coming into their country.  I felt he was inspired to do this and am looking forward to help out with Humanitarian needs.  The Humanitarian couple that are currently in the Mission are leaving this month and there is not a replacement.

On a sad note, Elder and Sister Brown finished their mission and returned home a couple of weeks ago.  They really helped us when we first came out and were truly an inspiration to the whole mission.  Elder Brown was the auditor for the mission and traveled to the branches and wards of the whole mission and audited their financial records.  They are from Virginia.

I'm so thankful for  the Lord's blessings and the healing power of the Priesthood.  I'm so thankful that I can finish this mission and I'm looking forward to what lies ahead.

At the Hummingbird encounter

Elder & Sister Brown's farewell lunch, they are

the couple in the front middle.

On the way to Turtle Beach

Matura

Dinner at Turtle Beach, unfortunately I wasn't there.

Baby hatchling

Leatherback Turtle

New Apartments

This past week was spent getting an apartment ready in Sangre Grande.  It is difficult getting an apartment ready as most of the apartments are unfurnished.  As of now, the Mission here in Trinidad does not have any storage of furniture, appliances, and etc. to use to furnish an apartment.  Usually in the states, members are used to help with apartments and furnishings for missionaries.  Unfortunately, a majority of the members here are too poor to donate items.   None of the unfurnished apartments come with appliances, such as a stove or refrigerator.  So, in this case, we had to purchase new items.  I think the Elders who are to occupy this apartment were more excited with the new items than they were with the apartment.  Especially with the blender.  They really like the blenders to make smoothies.  This apartment needs a lot of cleaning and electrical work done to it.  The landlord finally consented to pay the cost of installing a 220 amp outlet for an electric range.  This will help out immensely as we have already spent a fortune for items for this apartment.  Here in the West Indies, most items for purchase cost twice as much as in the states as they have to be shipped in.  Fortunately, in Trinidad, there is a Membership Warehouse store that is a Costco called PriceSmart.  We purchased a membership and use it all the time to buy items for personal use and apartments.  We also enjoy their Pizza.  One of the Elders that is to occupy this apartment wished we would have turned it down because it had no air conditioning.  He has been here for six weeks and is always hot.  The best we could do for them were fans.  As I have talked with the missionaries, they do get use to the heat and prefer fans instead of air conditioning.  It just takes time.  The cost of this apartment is $335 a month.  The cost of our apartment is $1100 a month.  Thank Heavens we have air conditioning.

We were also told this week that we need to find an apartment in a small town that 
President Mehr wants to open up to missionaries.  The Zone Leaders called and said that they think they found an apartment that would work.  We use the local missionaries to help us find apartments as they know the area well.  This will help us out immensely in opening up a new apartment.  I told President and Sister Mehr that I feel guilty spending all this money furnishing apartments.  President Mehr told me when he first came to the Mission and looked at the monthly budget, he was astonished.  But, he said I guess that's the cost of doing the Lord's work.  I am very impressed with President Mehr.  He has a great deal of faith.  He knows he is doing the Lord's work and knows the Lord is in charge and things will always work out and they always do. 

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I know He lives and died for me so I be forgiven of my sins and gain Eternal Life.  I'm thankful to be part of this great work and help in furthering the Gospel in some small way even if it means getting apartments ready for missionaries to do their work.  

        

Neighborhood

I have been neglectful in writing my blog.  I will try and be more diligent.  The work here in Trinidad continues.  We had some new missionaries come in and some go home.  It is great to see the enthusiasm of the new missionaries and the growth of the older missionaries as they return home.  Their knowledge of the Gospel and the scriptures as well as their testimonies have increased so much while on their missions.  Elder Gubler and I enjoy being around them.

We took two Elders to teach Juliana, an investigator, this last week.  She was real receptive and anxious for them to come back.  They introduced The Book of Mormon and she committed to read and pray about it.  I was very impressed by the way they taught.  That is one thing I miss by being a Senior Missionary is the opportunity to teach investigators.  Both Elder Gubler and I bore our testimonies of The Book of Mormon.  It is the Word of God and a witness of Jesus Christ.  It is also proof that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God.

The rainy season has started.  It rains almost every day.  Sometimes once or twice a day or other times all day.  When I mean rain, it pours down in sheets.  It kind of cools it off as the clouds hide the sun.  In fact yesterday, it got down to about 80 degrees which felt really nice.  We went and looked at an apartment yesterday in Sangre Grande.  It is on the northeast side of Trinidad.  It is a long ride out there as the traffic is so bad.  The apartment was too far out of town and we had to go through a mud hole to get to it as the street was not paved.  It is hard to find apartments for the younger missionaries.

We also went to the Suriname Embassy the other day to check on our Visas.  They are still working on them, but the gal there seemed hopeful they would be here soon.  We are anxious to go to Suriname.  The Vanderbeeks, a senior couple already there, sent us a picture of a home we might like to rent.  They said it had indoor plumbing and a stream out in front that we could use in case the water was turned off.  I hope they were kidding.  Elder Gubler is doing very well with his Dutch.  I am far behind.  It is a daunting task to learn another language.

I have included some pictures of beautiful homes that we pass each day as we take our morning walks.  We are currently living in a very nice area.  I have also included a picture of our apartment and a picture of a home the Vanderbeeks want us to consider in Suriname.  A bit scary.  

 

Our apartment building.

 

Our current apartment until we get our visas to Suriname.

 

 

Middle home is the Vanderbeeks

 

They found us this home with a creek in front to wash up in.

One Month

This week, we hit our one month mark in the Mission field.  I can't believe that we've been in Trinidad for one month.  Time certainly flies by fast.  We were busy this past week helping a Senior Couple find an apartment and closing out another apartment.  Elder and Sister Reese just entered the Mission field Saturday evening.  They are from Las Vegas and are retired school administrators.  President Mehr wanted them to live down south in a city called San Fernando.  They will eventually be in charge of the apartments when we got to Suriname.  It is difficult to find apartments for Senior Couples, plus Elder Gubler and I have only been to San Fernando two times.  With the help from a former Bishop from the San Fernando Ward, we were able to find them an apartment on Monday.  I feel the Lord really blessed us that day.  It was the first one they looked at and they really liked the location and the apartment.  It was completely furnished and next to a big shopping center which included a mall.  The neighborhood was upscale and safe.  Plus, the apartment fit in their budget.  We felt so blessed that day.

On Tuesday, we were able to close out a senior couple's apartment who went home and move items down to the Reese's.  It went really well.  Elder Gubler called us the property managers and movers of the mission.  It was so funny, the other day Elder Gubler received a call from a woman who asked if he could move her that afternoon.  He had to think for a minute before he realized that he didn't know her and she had dialed the wrong number.  

On a scary note, I got my hair cut and colored last week.  I had received a small trim from a beautician in the shopping center where the mission office is at before that.  I wasn't too impressed with it, but finally after searching for another beauty shop and not being able to find one, I decided to give her another try.  I was desperate that day.  They don't make appointments in Trinidad.  You walk in and wait in line.  She was in the process of cutting a gentleman's hair and another gentleman was waiting.  Another beautician walked in and I thought to myself that I should give her a try.  Big mistake!  I told her what I wanted and she turned the chair away from the mirror and cut away.  I tried to turn the chair around, but she wouldn't let me.  The color turned out all right, but the cut was too short on the sides and very uneven.  Elder Gubler saw me and went and complained to the hairdresser that this was not acceptable.  The older lady tried to fix it the best she could.  Now I know why all the senior sisters grow their hair out or cut it themselves.  Sister Monson said she would cut it from now on.   All I know is a friend by the name of Donna would never last down here with the hairdressers. 

Last Saturday on our preparation day we went to a beautiful beach called Maracas Bay.  It's the prettiest part of Trinidad that I have seen so far.  The drive there was a bit treacherous with narrow windy roads up and down a beautiful green covered mountain passage.  Elder Gubler drove the van with seven senior missionaries.  He did very well and we all felt safe with him driving.  He does very well with the driving over here.  A couple of months ago, one of the young missionaries had an accident with a Porsche on that road.  It totaled both vehicles, but luckily no one was hurt.  We ate the famous bake and shark, which is a piece of battered shark, deep fat fried, on a piece of bread which is a lot like fry bread.  They had different condiments to put on the sandwich.  The fish tasted good.  We enjoyed that afternoon visiting with the other Senior couples on the beach.

I feel very blessed to part of this great work.  We enjoy the members, missionaries and the people here in Trinidad.  It's a beautiful island and they have made us feel very welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

Maracas Bay

 

 



An afternoon with the Missionaries

Elder Gubler and I spent a few hours with two Elders in our District, Elder Warner and Elder Leany.  We enjoy spending time with them because they are such sweet humble young men.  Elder Warner is on his last month in the Mission field.  He spent the last 22 months serving in Suriname in which he spoke Dutch.  In fact when we met him, he was having a hard time speaking English after speaking Dutch for so long.  He's my inspiration.  When we're with him, he's been helping us with our Dutch.  He's from Mesa, Arizona and is a fine missionary.  Elder Leany is from Utah and has been out for four months and is another wonderful missionary.

Our first visit was to an inactive family.  We met with Faith Matthews who is 20 years old.  She and her mother are both members of the Church, but her mother has stopped coming the last couple of months.  Faith comes every once in awhile with her young daughter.  Elder Warner gave a wonderful lesson out of Alma in the Book of Mormon.  He talked about how Moroni was busy preparing his army for battle.  He compared that to our life and how we should prepare ourselves for the 2nd coming of Christ and if we are prepared we should not fear.  We were all able to bear our testimonies of the Gospel and committed Faith to come to church on Sunday and to bring her mother.  

We then went to an investigator's home, Christopher, who lived nearby.  It's interested how they approach people's homes here.  Most of the homes have locked gates.  Instead of knocking on doors, they yell and say something like tap tap, is anybody home.  They are not allowed to go on a person's property without permission.  They told us of an Elder who had one foot on somebody's property and the property owner threatened to call the Police.   Christopher was not at home.

Our last visit was to Brother Michael Garcia.  He has been a member for 20 years and has knee problems and it is hard for him to get around.  What a sweet humble man who comes from very humble circumstances.  He lives in a wood shack with a cement floor.  He enjoys gardening and the Elders showed us all the work that they had done on his property.  They had raked leaves and planted a small vegetable garden.  He has a very strong testimony and the spirit was so strong.  It brought tears to both Elder Gubler and I.  They gave a wonderful lesson on the Savior's teachings out of the Book of Mormon when he visited the people on the American Continent.  It was on doing good deeds in secret, praying in secret, and fasting in secret and how God will bless thee openly.  He was so thankful for our visit.  They were also able to gain an investigator, Peter, Brother Garcia's friend.

It was a great couple of hours that we spent with the missionaries.  It lifted our spirits and taught us some valuable lessons.  Even though Brother Garcia had nothing, he actually had everything and that was membership in the Savior's Church and a strong testimony.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings hope that there is something wonderful and marvelous to work towards in the hereafter than what we have in this life.  I'm so thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It brings so much peace and joy into my life. 

Mission Office

The Mission Office is where the work is done to keep the West Indies Mission running smoothly.  It is where all the finances, travel, immigration, housing, cars, health issues, and problems are handled.  There are currently six seniors working in the office including Elder Gubler and I.  It has been very frustrating lately because the only copier in the office has broken down.  This copier was used for a printer and was old and worn out.  Elder Gubler persuaded them to purchase a new copier which is taking 1 1/2 weeks to get it in.  Sister Ray, who is over mission travel and immigration, said she might as well go on vacation without a printer.  There are only three decent computers which are used by Elder Black (the finance secretary), Sister Black (reception and general office), and Sister Ray (travel and immigration).  Elder and Sister Black's computers both have printers, but the others use the copier as a printer.  The rest of the computers are ancient and inadequate to do the work.  We have had to bring our own computer into the office.  We brought a small portable printer to use for our individual use which we have been using quite a bit.  But, we're getting through it and the work continues.  

Elder and Sister Monson who are over the young adults and youth of the mission are helping out temporarily with the cars.  The Church own many cars which the missionaries use for their work.  Not all missionaries have a car, some use bikes.  Elder Monson says he averages at least an accident a week.  I can see why, as the traffic is horrendous as are the roads in Trinidad.  We are driving a Toyota Corolla which by its condition have been in several accidents.  But it runs and has air conditioning.  Luckily, with the expert driving of Elder Gubler,  we have been able to avoid several accidents. 

Elder and Sister Linton who have been over finance and general office work are transferring to Tobago.  Tobago is a separate island next to Trinidad and the same country, that's why it is called Trinidad Tobago.  It is a much smaller island.  There are two sets of missionaries and a senior couple there and one branch.  They are replacing the Blacks while the Blacks are replacing them.  The biggest job in the Mission Office is the financial secretary.   Since there are ten countries and different currencies, it is a very difficult and stressful job.  He is often seen pulling his hair out because of the complexity of this job.  Elder Gubler is very thankful that we are going to Suriname and that he doesn't have to do it.  But, we still have to learn Dutch which we are working hard at.  Unfortunately, our senior brains do not work as well as they use to.   

Another stressful job is travel and immigration.  Sister Ray, a single sister, handles all the travel which is by airline to the different countries.  She spends thousands of dollars each week purchasing airline tickets for travel.  We've had a couple of funny stories with missionaries and flights.  A Elder who was returning home from his mission got to the airport and couldn't find his passport.  He frantically called Sister Ray who ran to the office to see if his passport was in the safe.  He called back later saying he found it in the bottom of his bag.  By then he had missed his flight home.  Another missionary who had just arrived in the Mission was assigned to Guyana.  He was given a packet with all his travel documents.  He must not have looked in it, because he went to an airline and purchased his own ticket.  The Mission had to reimburse him for that ticket plus had lost money on the other ticket that was not used.  She also takes care of applying for visas.  Some of the countries are very hard to work with.  They often give the missionaries a hard time as they go through passport control even when they have all their papers.  All of the countries are very slow issuing visas.  Some of the countries have a limit on the number of missionaries they will allow into their country.  I feel it is Satan trying to stop the work.  There have been miracles happen all the time.  It is a lot of work to comply with all the different rules and regulations of each country.  Sister Ray said that when she first started learning her job, she would go in the other room and just bawl, thinking that she couldn't handle it.  I've been very impressed with her.  She has only been out for about three months and really knows her stuff.  She is constantly meeting with representatives from the different countries making sure the Mission is following the laws of each of these countries. 

Sister Sanner, a single Senior who lived with Sister Ray, had to go home because of health problems.  She was a nurse and helped the missionaries with their health problems.  They had a miracle happen a couple of weeks ago.  An Elder who was riding a bike crashed into a Maxi, which is a small transportation bus.  He slid underneath the Maxi and his leg was run over by a wheel.  He doesn't recall, but the bike's main frame acted as a shield and protected his leg from serious injury.  The Lord protects his missionaries. 

Elder Brown is the auditor for the whole Mission.  He travels to each of the wards and branches and audits their financial records.  Sister Brown helps him and also works in the Office when she is available.  

I really love these Senior Couples.  They are always so positive and uplifting.  I'm amazed at some of the things they sacrifice to be on a mission.  But as Sister Black said the other day, it is such a small sacrifice when you look at all of eternity.  Each weekday we begin our work at the Mission Office with a devotional.  It always seems that the spiritual thought is something that I need for that day.  The spirit is really working hard and helping all of us. 

We attended our first Fast and Testimony Meeting last Sunday at the Arima Branch.  I was so touched by the testimonies that were borne.  I was hoping to get up, but there was no time.  Elder Gubler jumped up at the last minute and gave a wonderful testimony.  The members of the branch are so loving and welcoming to us.  They are so appreciative that I am able to play for their sacrament meeting and Elder Gubler can play for Priesthood.  None of the buildings have a real piano, they all have an electric keyboard.  That is something that I will miss is a piano.  I'd like to mention some things that a member said in his testimony.  When he heard the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ from the missionaries, he thought how fantastic and wonderful it was.  He had never heard anything like it before.  But he didn't have to take the Missionary's word for it, he found out for himself that it was true by praying and reading The Book of Mormon.  I know that The Book of Mormon is true, because I've read it and I've prayed about it.  It is the keystone of the Church.  For if The Book of Mormon is true then all the rest is true.  It is a fantastic and wonderful message that the Lord speaks to us today through a Prophet of God, that the Priesthood authority to perform saving ordinances such as baptism has been restored and that there is additional scripture along with the Bible to help us know what is true and answers questions:  Where did I come from?  Why am I here? Where am I going when this life is over?   I'm so thankful to be here on this Mission and to be a part of this great work.  It is hard at times, but I know I'm doing the Lord's work.

You will have to excuse the look of my blog, I am having a very difficult time inserting pictures the way I want to.   I'm going to learn better how to blog.
 
 
Elder Black & Elder Linton
 
 

 

Elder & Sister Monson

 

 
Elder Brown
 
 

 

Sister Linton                

 

Sister Black & Sister Brown     

 

Elder & Sister Gubler

 

 

 

 

                    Sister Ray

Apartments

I'd like to talk about apartments on my blog today, since that is what our activities for the past week have been about.  Trinidad is quite modern.  It has quite a few American items, such as food products, restaurants, appliances, and etc.  It is a poor country as there are many that live in tin shacks with a dirt floor and no electricity or running water.  Our apartment is pretty nice and in a good area which is gated.  It has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and quite a large living room area.  It has all the modern appliances except for a dishwasher.  We feel very fortunate to be in this apartment, because we've heard of horror stories from the Senior Couples here.  There are two other couples in this apartment complex.  We do have to get use to small lizards, ants, humidity, dirty water, unsanitary conditions, and a different type of air conditioning.  Elder Gubler accidently stepped on a small lizard in our apartment and tore off it's tail.  He felt really bad.  We do have air conditioning, but they are wall units in each of the rooms.  We only use the air conditioner when we're in that room.

I invited the two couples that live in this complex over for Sunday dinner.  These two couples did so much to help us out when we got here that I wanted to do something special for them.  I decided to prepare crockpot chicken and potatoes.  I have very few kitchen items, just some necessary utensils and dishes.  For instance, I have one fry pan, a sauce pan, 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 glasses, and minimal kitchen utensils.  It was rather difficult, because the crockpot didn't get hot enough to cook the meal in time and I had hurry and cook it in the two pans that I had.  I have to make sure that I use filtered water to wash and cook with.  I didn't have a table cloth or placemats.  But, the dinner was OK.  My guests understood my dilemma since they're the ones that stocked the kitchen.  I do miss my kitchen.

The assignment that we've been asked to do is to be in charge of the apartments.  Saturday, we inspected some of the apartments of one of the zones.  There are four zones in Trinidad.  We met the zone leaders at one of the Church buildings as we didn't know where they lived.  It is very hard to find addresses and your way around in Trinidad, because there is no rhyme or reason to the roads.  They are very narrow and a lot of one-way roads.  The zone leaders took us around to the Elder's apartments.  I must say, the missionaries live in dire circumstances sometimes.  One Elder was sleeping on an air mattress that had a leak and was using a curtain for a sheet.  Another Elder's bed frame slats kept falling to the floor anytime he moved during the night.  There was two collapsed bed frames and one torn up mattress.  The Elders and Sister did clean their apartments pretty good considering the conditions they were living in.  By the way, we did replace mattresses, bedframes and other numerous items.  Also, none of the apartments had air conditioning which would be hard considering the humidity and heat.  Elder Gubler asked an Elder who just arrived how he was doing and he said he was "hot".  I'm sure they will climatize.  The missionaries are great, they were so happy and excited to see us when we came.  They are full of the spirit, they work hard, they love and serve the people and they love the Lord.  Any parent would be proud to have them as a son or daughter.  I love the missionaries. 

I have included pictures of our apartment.  I'm so thankful to be here on this mission.  It is a privilege to serve the Lord.  What an honor to be His representative.  We are so blessed to live in America.