Mission Update February, 2008
Guadeloupe Zone Conference:
Our Zone Leaders, Elder Bezzant and Elder Doumbia, had a
meeting of the 14 missionaries plus us, to do some planning and brainstorming on
how to do our jobs better. They gave some good ideas and then asked President
Gamiette to conduct a discussion. He made some wonderful suggestions and
demonstrated some “door approaches” for the Elders. He had them role play and
practice, so that they can be more effective in finding people to teach. He is
truly an inspiration to all of us. We fed them lunch and let them have some
down time. They work very hard so it was good to see them relax a little. They
are wonderful young men and it is a privilege to work with them and with these
wonderful people in the West Indies.
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French zone conference
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Ping pong match
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Conference eats
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Moule Baptism:
We had another baptism, this time in the north part of the
island, Moule. The nice thing bout this one, is that it involved several
different sets of missionaries, as well as the members of the Branch. It is
always more effective when someone comes into the Church with the help of both
the missionaries and the members working together. The convert had a number of
the different missionaries participate in his program and then he asked the
branch president to do the baptism. Note the picture. The branch president is
considerably shorter than the convert, but they were able to completely immerse
him, after two tries. He says it was worth it because he is sure all his sins
are washed away now.
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Michelet & Pres. Otto
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Missionaries
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Fort-de-France, Martinique:
We travel to this island for both the mission and the
district. The branch at Fort-de-France is trying to relocate from the rented
house they have outgrown. We are helping them select a new place to rent until
they are large enough to buy land and build a chapel. They hope it will be
within the next couple of years. Everything is very expensive on this island,
even more so than Guadeloupe. It is also part of France. We have come to enjoy
the members there. We stay at a hotel that is managed by one of our members,
Yva Jean-de-Dieu, and
she always insists that we eat with her. She is always feeding the members and
the missionaries. So we decided to treat Yva and her friend to an evening
out to dinner. Elder McKibbin finished his mission here so she had a big
dinner for his parents and friends and the branch had a party for him as well.
Can’t say I always like what they serve especially when it has eyes. But, these
are beautiful people. It truly is the end of the rainbow.
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Elders with President Louis-Alexis
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New members
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Missionary serious business
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Dinner with Yva and Roger
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Elder McKibbin farewell
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Elder McKibbin and parents
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Westland and friends
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Beach Day:
Our friends the Gamiette’s invited to spend the day with
their family on one of the holidays. Pres. Gamiette and his Father-in-law both suited up
in wetsuits to go fishing. They have these spearguns and they swam out into the
ocean and were gone for about 3 hours. When they returned, they had caught our
lunch. They cleaned the fish and then the women BBQ’d and we ate the results.
It was lots of fun. We all went swimming and although it is winter, the water
wasn’t cold. Welcome to paradise.
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The Fishermen
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Ready for hunting
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Daddy's back
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Me too
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Home safe
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Catch of the day
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The fisherman
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St. Martin:
We also travel to Phillipsberg in St. Martin. We were
there during a baptism of a young man, the grandson of a member. He is a very
nice youth and they are happy to welcome him into the Church. What a difference
it will be in his life. We were told that every young man on the island is a
member of a gang. We’re not sure what that means, but the young people are in
peril, so we hope his church activity will make a real difference. The baptism
was held at the ocean and the kite surfers were watching the proceedings.
Steve, eat your heart out!
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Phillipsburg windy baptism
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Baptism instruction
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Hurrah for Israel
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Wind surfer paradise
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Photos
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Trip to St. Lucia:
Our dear friends from Canada, the Agnew’s, contacted us to
let us know that they would be vacationing on St. Lucia at an all inclusive
resort. They are mutual friends of ours and the Robison’s. Fortunately, we
were already traveling to Martinique on Church business and Pres. Robison’s said
that he needed to interview us. It just happened that he and Diane were going
to St. Lucia at the same time. Another miracle. We were able to arrange a trip
by ferryboat from Martinique to St. Lucia. We found a less expensive hotel near
where both the families were staying, so that we were able to spend a couple of
days with them. We had a wonderful time just catching up with the beautiful
Agnew daughters and with our friends, swimming and beach walking. We went on a
trip up the volcano and visited the mud baths there and enjoyed the beautiful
scenery. Somebody has to do it, right!
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Ferry arrival
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Forever friends
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Natural shower
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Volcano mud pots
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Mud fun
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Get the point?
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Beautiful scene
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Steve scene
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Man eating tree
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Don't back up
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Two hurrahs
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Rick broke his chair
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See monster
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Sister friends
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The Sherwoods
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We also were able to visit with the Sherwood’s, a wonderful senior couple
serving on St. Lucia and get some training from our office couple, the
Lockhart’s. What great people we are getting to know.
